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jonetta's review against another edition
4.0
Rafe Donovan is a skilled firefighter with a winning smile and personality. He might be unfairly classified as a “player” because he’s unwilling to be in a committed relationship but he treats his short term partners with dignity and respect, always clear that he’s just about having fun. When a backdraft sends him into the emergency room, his next door neighbor and ER nurse Carmen Lewis is on hand to take care of him. He’s wanted a reason to get to know her better and doesn’t squander the opportunity. Carmen, however, keeps him at arm’s length…until she doesn’t.
This was the story I was hoping it would be. Rafe and Carmen are pretty special people. She’s devoted to her career and taking care of her grandfather who is recovering from a stroke he had several years ago. She lives with him and doesn’t have time for fun or romance, especially given her disastrous marriage that ended in divorce. I adored how Rafe pulled her out of that rut without being forceful about it, just using genuine charm and interesting ideas. It was impossible to not become invested in their romance, which developed so nicely, even if it started out solely as a physical one.
These were two people who weren’t looking for a commitment and drifted into one quite naturally. He taught her how to have joy in life outside of work and she gave him a reason to free his heart to someone who earned it. I listened to the story and enjoyed the narration, though hearing the steamy bits these two created was a whole other experience! The reason I began this series is because of the firefighting element and the bonding of the three brothers. There’s so much of that here, too, so this turned out to be a wonderful listening and story experience (loved the epilogue). I’m looking forward to the finale featuring the youngest brother, Kal Donovan.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Tantor Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
This was the story I was hoping it would be. Rafe and Carmen are pretty special people. She’s devoted to her career and taking care of her grandfather who is recovering from a stroke he had several years ago. She lives with him and doesn’t have time for fun or romance, especially given her disastrous marriage that ended in divorce. I adored how Rafe pulled her out of that rut without being forceful about it, just using genuine charm and interesting ideas. It was impossible to not become invested in their romance, which developed so nicely, even if it started out solely as a physical one.
These were two people who weren’t looking for a commitment and drifted into one quite naturally. He taught her how to have joy in life outside of work and she gave him a reason to free his heart to someone who earned it. I listened to the story and enjoyed the narration, though hearing the steamy bits these two created was a whole other experience! The reason I began this series is because of the firefighting element and the bonding of the three brothers. There’s so much of that here, too, so this turned out to be a wonderful listening and story experience (loved the epilogue). I’m looking forward to the finale featuring the youngest brother, Kal Donovan.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Tantor Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
earl_of_book_dragon's review against another edition
3.0
Low stress, nice story, nice characters, no bad guys or outside stressors keeping the MC apart. Just a chill read.
ssejig's review against another edition
3.0
Rafe Donovan and Carmen Lewis live next door to each other. They also interact when their job paths cross (he's a firefighter and she's an ER nurse.) Rafe is interested but Carmen is hesitant. She had a pretty bad marriage that she doesn't want to repeat and her life is already full with her job and taking care of her grandfather with whom she lives. Rafe convinces her that he just wants to take her out for a thank you, that it's not a real date.
Things escalate from there with the two of them having lives that get more and more intertwined. But can Carmen trust a known player with her previously battered heart?
I liked the first book in this series a little more just because I connected with the characters more.
Things escalate from there with the two of them having lives that get more and more intertwined. But can Carmen trust a known player with her previously battered heart?
I liked the first book in this series a little more just because I connected with the characters more.
kindlelovingmom's review against another edition
4.0
This was a sweet, sexy, friends-to-lovers story. I enjoyed it very much! It's book 2 in the series, but it stands alone pretty well.
Rafe Donovan has had a very interesting life. His parents were horrible people, and dangerous drug dealers, so he ran away as a kid, and met his brothers, Jackson and Kal, while living on the streets. They took care of each other, and they were doing ok. But, one night, the vacant house they were sleeping in caught fire, and they almost died. A fireman named Josh Donovan saved their lives, and then he and his wife Laurel adopted the 3 boys. So, after that, he was safe and had a great family. He grew up to be a firefighter, along with both his brothers. He likes to date around, but he's never been serious about any one woman. Maybe it's remnants of his messed up childhood, but he doesn't emotionally depend on anyone but family.
Carmen Lewis is an ER charge nurse. She grew up mostly with her grandparents after her mom died, and her dad split, when she was a kid. Later, after her abuela passed as well, it was just her and her grandfather. He had a stroke a few years ago, and her young marriage had ended in divorce, so she moved in to take care of him. The Donovan brothers have lived next door for the last several years of Carmen's time living in her grandfather's house, and they've all helped her out with caring for him, here and there. Rafe has been especially helpful. She's always been attracted to him, but she had no use for a man in her life, after her ex, so she's always ignored the pull. But when Rafe is injured on a call, and she takes care of him at the hospital, he asks her out, to a "thank you" dinner, and she grudgingly says yes.
Rafe and Carmen had a sparking connection, but they both thought they were just going to have a good time, and it would be nothing serious. Best laid plans, and all that! They both felt comfortable with the other right away, since they already knew each other pretty well, and so it was easy for them to fall into a relationship. Once they both realized how much they were starting to care for the other, they had to decide if they were willing to truly open their hearts to love.
Rafe's brothers were awesome, and I enjoyed seeing them again in this story. They have a typical loving, competitive, brotherly relationship, and watching them give each other a hard time was always funny. Carmen's grandpa Jimmy was a total doll, and I loved how he looked after her, while she was trying to care for him. Carmen's best friend, and fellow nurse, Tess, was awesome too. I'd love to get a little short story about her and her amazing husband!
Both these characters had some pretty steep emotional walls to scale before they could imagine really being together long-term. They'd both been hurt before, in very different ways, by people who were supposed to care for them, and they weren't eager to allow it to happen again. I enjoyed watching them both slowly fall in love, and then actually realize they were in love. It seemed to sneak up on them both, and it was very satisfying to read.
This was a sweet story, while still being plenty hot, and I liked it very much! I'm looking forward to Kal's story next! He started training for a different, more elite, type of firefighting job in this book, so I'm curious to see how that changes his life going forward!
ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Megan from Alpha Book Club
Rafe Donovan has had a very interesting life. His parents were horrible people, and dangerous drug dealers, so he ran away as a kid, and met his brothers, Jackson and Kal, while living on the streets. They took care of each other, and they were doing ok. But, one night, the vacant house they were sleeping in caught fire, and they almost died. A fireman named Josh Donovan saved their lives, and then he and his wife Laurel adopted the 3 boys. So, after that, he was safe and had a great family. He grew up to be a firefighter, along with both his brothers. He likes to date around, but he's never been serious about any one woman. Maybe it's remnants of his messed up childhood, but he doesn't emotionally depend on anyone but family.
Carmen Lewis is an ER charge nurse. She grew up mostly with her grandparents after her mom died, and her dad split, when she was a kid. Later, after her abuela passed as well, it was just her and her grandfather. He had a stroke a few years ago, and her young marriage had ended in divorce, so she moved in to take care of him. The Donovan brothers have lived next door for the last several years of Carmen's time living in her grandfather's house, and they've all helped her out with caring for him, here and there. Rafe has been especially helpful. She's always been attracted to him, but she had no use for a man in her life, after her ex, so she's always ignored the pull. But when Rafe is injured on a call, and she takes care of him at the hospital, he asks her out, to a "thank you" dinner, and she grudgingly says yes.
Rafe and Carmen had a sparking connection, but they both thought they were just going to have a good time, and it would be nothing serious. Best laid plans, and all that! They both felt comfortable with the other right away, since they already knew each other pretty well, and so it was easy for them to fall into a relationship. Once they both realized how much they were starting to care for the other, they had to decide if they were willing to truly open their hearts to love.
Rafe's brothers were awesome, and I enjoyed seeing them again in this story. They have a typical loving, competitive, brotherly relationship, and watching them give each other a hard time was always funny. Carmen's grandpa Jimmy was a total doll, and I loved how he looked after her, while she was trying to care for him. Carmen's best friend, and fellow nurse, Tess, was awesome too. I'd love to get a little short story about her and her amazing husband!
Both these characters had some pretty steep emotional walls to scale before they could imagine really being together long-term. They'd both been hurt before, in very different ways, by people who were supposed to care for them, and they weren't eager to allow it to happen again. I enjoyed watching them both slowly fall in love, and then actually realize they were in love. It seemed to sneak up on them both, and it was very satisfying to read.
This was a sweet story, while still being plenty hot, and I liked it very much! I'm looking forward to Kal's story next! He started training for a different, more elite, type of firefighting job in this book, so I'm curious to see how that changes his life going forward!
ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Megan from Alpha Book Club
mildy_lozza's review against another edition
3.0
I love Jaci Burton - NO secret there.
But I don't know what's wrong with me when it comes to this series?! I just can't seem to get into them as much as the 'play by play' series.
Don't get me wrong the story is well written and I liked Rafe and Carmen but I just couldn't bring myself to care about the outcome. Plus at times Carmen kind of annoyed with me how intense she was. Look I'll probably read the next one but I'm not holding my breathe that it will knock my sock off. :)
But I don't know what's wrong with me when it comes to this series?! I just can't seem to get into them as much as the 'play by play' series.
Don't get me wrong the story is well written and I liked Rafe and Carmen but I just couldn't bring myself to care about the outcome. Plus at times Carmen kind of annoyed with me how intense she was. Look I'll probably read the next one but I'm not holding my breathe that it will knock my sock off. :)
audiobooks_sweettea's review against another edition
4.0
I've been a long time fan of Jaci Burton so I was excited to read this one. I mean serious cover love for instant addiction! Yep! Whew! Had to break out the fan for this one. I'm so excited I read this. I didn't get to read the first one in the series, but I was not overly confused by this one and it read like a stand alone to me.
Being a CNA and married to my own Firefighter, this novel was awesome, in my eyes. I loved getting to learn about Rafe and his past, and how he came to be a fire fighter. I could feel his emotions seeping off the page and into my heart like they were my own. ER nurse Carmen is another amazing character. I saw a lot of myself in her, being divorced, in the nursing field and a care taker of my father when he was sick. Seeing her with Rafe, watching their attraction for each blossom, it really set the sparks for this novel!
If you are looking for a hot, captivating romance read, then look no further. Burton's characters are all chiseled perfectly for their roles, and her plot lines never fail to capture my soul. This page turner will make you read for more hot firemen, or maybe it'll make you wanna set your own fire to get your own firemen coming to the rescue! Hats off to Burton, and I can't wait for the rest of these novels!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
This review was originally posted on Cover To Cover Cafe
Being a CNA and married to my own Firefighter, this novel was awesome, in my eyes. I loved getting to learn about Rafe and his past, and how he came to be a fire fighter. I could feel his emotions seeping off the page and into my heart like they were my own. ER nurse Carmen is another amazing character. I saw a lot of myself in her, being divorced, in the nursing field and a care taker of my father when he was sick. Seeing her with Rafe, watching their attraction for each blossom, it really set the sparks for this novel!
If you are looking for a hot, captivating romance read, then look no further. Burton's characters are all chiseled perfectly for their roles, and her plot lines never fail to capture my soul. This page turner will make you read for more hot firemen, or maybe it'll make you wanna set your own fire to get your own firemen coming to the rescue! Hats off to Burton, and I can't wait for the rest of these novels!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
This review was originally posted on Cover To Cover Cafe
howardsgirl1's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
lamullikin14's review against another edition
3.0
I did love the characters individually and together. I also didn’t mind their mini conflicts they each had. I think I am over the trope of “I was wronged by one guy, even though the guy was garbage human being, I’m putting off all men and relationships”
vee79's review against another edition
4.0
This is book 2 in the brotherhood by fire series and I was first introduced to Rafe in book 1 of the series.
Rafe is a sexy firefighter, who is not looking for anything serious and enjoys the life he lives. Carmen is his next door neighbor and also the nurse who is there when Rafe is brought in to the ER following an accident on the job.
With some time off after the accident Rafe is restless but starts to spend time with Carmen. They both have their own issues that they are dealing with, but are drawn top each other. Rafe is sweet and Carmen has feelings for her hot neighbor. As they spend time together you see the chemistry spark up. The question is can they both get past their issues to make things work? This romance is sweet and it builds. The way Rafe is with Carmen and her grandfather makes you fall for him. I have enjoyed the series so far. Another well written romance by Jaci Burton that will have you smoldering.
Rafe is a sexy firefighter, who is not looking for anything serious and enjoys the life he lives. Carmen is his next door neighbor and also the nurse who is there when Rafe is brought in to the ER following an accident on the job.
With some time off after the accident Rafe is restless but starts to spend time with Carmen. They both have their own issues that they are dealing with, but are drawn top each other. Rafe is sweet and Carmen has feelings for her hot neighbor. As they spend time together you see the chemistry spark up. The question is can they both get past their issues to make things work? This romance is sweet and it builds. The way Rafe is with Carmen and her grandfather makes you fall for him. I have enjoyed the series so far. Another well written romance by Jaci Burton that will have you smoldering.