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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
Rowan, whose nickname is King, is a firefighter with the Sky Ridge Hotshots. The book starts 6 years prior at the funeral of his former Sup. He’s there with his best friend from High School, Jacob. When at the funeral Rowan see’s Violette who is cold towards him and he calls her his greatest regret. After the time jump we learn that Jacob died on the job shortly after the funeral. Rowan blames himself for this constantly and even has been putting off a promotion because of it. I truly want to give Rowan a hug and for him to get some real therapy for the grief of losing his best friend. Violette, who goes by Vi, is the twin sister of Jacob. She recently moved back to Sky Ridge with her daughter after separating from her husband. She is working as a nurse in the burn unit which brings up memories of losing her brother. She’s also working a side job at Shifty’s to make ends meet. This is when she sees Rowan for the first time in years. She is not happy to see him and is still broken-hearted over their past. Even without knowing her past, I’m on Vi’s side. The book is written in Dual Timelines. The main timeline is present day with flashbacks to Vi and King’s senior year of High School. In the present timeline Vi hate’s Rowan and he wants to make it up to her. She calls him her “other ghost” as though a part of him is dead to her. This builds a lot of interest in the book because in the other timeline they are really close and it’s clear they both really like each other. So you really wonder why they are no longer on speaking terms. During the timeline of them in their senior year of High School Rowan is charming and clearly cares about Vi. Their first date is adorable and I love the way he boosts her up. Rowan is very obviously a good man despite whatever happened in High School. The way he wants Vi is sweet and so honest but he also knows whatever happened is his fault. You can tell that she’s been really hurt by Rowan. In the past timeline Vi is extremely self conscious. She doesn’t like her body and compares herself to the cheerleaders at her school. She is shocked that Rowan would want to take her out. Rowan stays consistent with his love/obsession for Violette in both timelines. During the present time, King falls in an ash pit and has second degree burns so he is taken to the hospital burn unit where Vi works. Going back to the High School timeline we learn that Rowan and Violette were so close to their happy ending in High School but something happened with Jacob that led to King ending things with Vi. I know whatever it was he made the only choice he thought he could and it’s written that way instead of making you hate him but I still hate it for Vi. It’s also written in a way that you cannot wait to find out what really happened. Vi is constantly on guard with Rowan in both timelines. She doesn’t think she’s good enough for him and then she doesn’t trust him. Sometimes I don’t like when characters are so guarded but Vi is so vulnerable in it that I love and understand her completely. Rowan and Vi have so much history with one another. The way that they cared about each other in High School was so sweet and honest to a first love. The way that Violette doesn’t trust Rowan in the present is valid but it’s not cruel and I think that’s important to her character. Their chemistry is beautiful and innocent while still being spicy. I can see this being a top couple for me. I do always love a second chance romance, especially when the reason for it not working the first time is something that was a little bit out of their control. This book moves a little bit slower than Fight did, but that's not a bad thing. Being set in two timelines does give it the ability to slow down without bogging on. It’s also a big of a slower burn since the broken trust between the two characters is deeper than Fight was. The dual timelines also lead to this book being compelling to read. All I want is to know why Rowan ended things with Vi and I want to keep reading until I get there. The parents being wingmen to both Vi and King are so cute. There is a lot of love in this found family and I love reading it. I also love whenever Xander gives Rowan shit for going after Vi because it gives big brother vibes but in a way that really shows how much he loves both of them. I said it in my review for Fight, I cannot wait to get into Xander’s book. You can feel the world that Pailey Hope built through her writing of Rowan on the job. The way she describes him being out putting out the wildfire is very clear and you can imagine it. When he falls through the ash pit and is dealing with his burns you can feel it. The second half of the book slows down a bit more with not much happening. It focuses on Vi’s dread of Rowan going on a call and her ex husband being the worst. It’s not bad that it’s slow but I do think the conflict could’ve been a little more interesting without it having to be between the characters. Troy slowly makes his way into the book and he is the worst. His lack of care for Hollie’s feelings is so frustrating but also is very realistic. My biggest gripe with this book is how the post car crash scene was done. I think it was very quick and sort of lacking in substance. I think if Troy was a more fleshed out character it would’ve been different but I also don’t need his POV. The way that Rowan is with Hollie and Vi is so beautiful and well written. He tries to be respectful of Troy but also doesn’t allow Vi or Hols to feel unwanted. Vi’s fear about Rowan’s job as a hot shot is valid after losing Jacob. The way that Rowan validated those fears but still made sure she understood she needed to speak to someone was very realistic. Paisley Hope’s writing style in this book makes it very bingable. Aside from the sponge bath scene, dialogue isn’t cringey even though it easily could’ve been in the High School timeline. It’s very honest and a bit innocent. In the end the way that this couple loves each other is so beautifully written. There is no third act breakup but there is still conflict with her worries about his job and her ex. But the trust that these two have for one another and their love is well done. It would’ve been easy for Vi’s trust issues to continue after the truth came out but the author chose a different path and I loved that. I gave this book 4.75 stars rounded up to 5 on vibes alone. I think that this book was near perfect. I cannot wait to read Danielle Baker’s book and finish out this series with Xander and Teddy.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If Paisley Hope writes it then I am reading it, and in this case, listening to it! These hotshots—fire! You’ll have to fan yourself off with this one because Rowan Kingsley is a dirty one!
This is a second chance where the flashbacks give you a past of these two characters and history to build upon their story and tension. Violette is back in town after several years, as a single mom, and ends up treating Rowan/“King” when he winds up in her burn unit.
The duet narration between Gideon Frost and Samantha Brentmoor was perfect. They had a great connection and made the pacing flow so well. They made the raw moments connect and the spice hit just right.
This trilogy is just incredible and each author has added their own little mix and blended themselves into the world perfectly. I can’t wait to see how the series wraps up.
I feel like I start every review the same, but god, I love a good dual timeline, second chance romance! I love how Paisley wove in Vi & Rowan’s past with their present. Showing all that past hurt/trauma, and how it led to where they are today, and their healing. When Rowan and Hollie did their little impromptu Super Pets concert in the living room I straight up DIED from cuteness overload.
Sam perfectly portrayed Vi’s strength as well as the trepidation she feels surrounding letting Rowan back into her life. And her kid voice?! Absolutely incredible as always. She absolutely carried this story and made this audio for me. I felt like it took Gideon awhile to find his stride as Rowan, and it distracted me from the story at times.
Sam perfectly portrayed Vi’s strength as well as the trepidation she feels surrounding letting Rowan back into her life. And her kid voice?! Absolutely incredible as always. She absolutely carried this story and made this audio for me. I felt like it took Gideon awhile to find his stride as Rowan, and it distracted me from the story at times.
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Oh my god THIS BOOK WAS SO FREAKING GOOOOOOOD! I am eating this series UP! Firefighters and second chances? Pleaseeeeee I’m weak in the knees
Rowan & Violette dated in high school and were perfect together but something ended up tearing them apart, leaving them both broken hearted. Years later, they are both back in the same town again and old feelings start to revisit the surface … Will it work out a second time?
I honestly was won over by Rowan so fast because you could tell he was such a good guy & that he really only had eyes for one girl…but my god the things he did for Violette had me SWOOOOONING like never before! I am obsessed. OBSESSED I TELL YOU!!!
Type: audiobook (thanks MLA)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
Brothers best friend
Second chances
Firefighter x nurse
Single mom
Small town
They take care of each other🥹
Rowan & Violette dated in high school and were perfect together but something ended up tearing them apart, leaving them both broken hearted. Years later, they are both back in the same town again and old feelings start to revisit the surface … Will it work out a second time?
I honestly was won over by Rowan so fast because you could tell he was such a good guy & that he really only had eyes for one girl…but my god the things he did for Violette had me SWOOOOONING like never before! I am obsessed. OBSESSED I TELL YOU!!!
Type: audiobook (thanks MLA)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
Brothers best friend
Second chances
Firefighter x nurse
Single mom
Small town
They take care of each other🥹
Format: Immersive.
Narrators: 🎙️ Samantha Brentmoor & Gideon Frost
Narration Style: 🎧 Duet
Whispersync For Voice Ready? ✅ Y
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Plot 💬:
Rowan King never expected to walk into the local pub and come face-to-face with Violette Taylor, the girl he let go, his best mate’s sister, and the one he’s never been able to forget. He used to be her Rowan. Now he’s just King, the guy who vanished without so much as a goodbye.
She’s back in their hometown for good now. A single mum. A burn unit nurse. Still the only woman who’s ever truly undone him. She’s the one that got away… and from the look in her eyes, she hasn’t forgotten how much he shattered her heart.
When an accident on the job lands him in her hospital, tension builds and regrets are there but not spoken about. She wants distance. He wants redemption. And fate has clearly not finished with them.
Add in a dual timeline (yes, we get to see their teen romance and their grown-up wreckage 😭), a hella cute kid, and all the messy healing. Yep. I’m unwell.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Audiobook 🎧:
These two were so goooood! Every whisper. Every pause. Every “I never stopped loving you” moment HITS. Perfect match, no crumbs.
Samantha Brentmoor: Queen of quiet pain, fierce resilience and KID VOICES! She nailed Violette’s internal chaos without ever making her feel weak.
Gideon Frost: A new to me narrator. If grief and longing had a voice, it’s him. A deep, gravelly voice which is also soft and calming. Absolute melt. He brought Rowan’s inner battles to the surface perfectly.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sizzle Scale:
Warm: 🌶️ 2.5/5 – this is a slow burn with emotional edge. It’s forehead kisses, flashbacks, and “it’s always been you” kind of heat. No smut till later but the longing and build up will have you eating out of the palm of Paisley’s hand.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bookish Bite:
Protect broke me in the best way. It's trauma, grief, love, and growth all tangled up in fire jackets. Rowan is soft, sweet, and seriously swoony. Violette’s just trying to keep her shit together while co-parenting a literal ray of sunshine (Hollie 🥹 I would die for you! Cutest book kid ever!). I love a messy, gut-wrenchy, beautifully-written second chance, and Paisley delivered on all of them. I cried. I healed. I “gaaaahhhh”-ed when he dressed up in a Super Pet costume for her kid. 💀 This man. THIS. MAN. I’m thought I locked myself into this series with the first book but this one just solidified it.
Tropes:
✔️ Second Chance
✔️ Brother’s Best Friend
✔️ Single Mum
✔️ Wildland Firefighter + Trauma Nurse
✔️ Dual Timeline
✔️ Emotional Wreckage
✔️ Cute Kid Overload
✔️ He’s Injured + She Cares For Him
Content Warnings:
⚠️ Off-page death of a family member (through flashbacks).
⚠️ Grief, anxiety, and panic attacks.
⚠️ Emotional distress related to a loved one’s dangerous profession.
⚠️ Descriptive injury sustained during a wildfire scene.
⚠️ Recovery and healing from physical trauma.
Narrators: 🎙️ Samantha Brentmoor & Gideon Frost
Narration Style: 🎧 Duet
Whispersync For Voice Ready? ✅ Y
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Plot 💬:
Rowan King never expected to walk into the local pub and come face-to-face with Violette Taylor, the girl he let go, his best mate’s sister, and the one he’s never been able to forget. He used to be her Rowan. Now he’s just King, the guy who vanished without so much as a goodbye.
She’s back in their hometown for good now. A single mum. A burn unit nurse. Still the only woman who’s ever truly undone him. She’s the one that got away… and from the look in her eyes, she hasn’t forgotten how much he shattered her heart.
When an accident on the job lands him in her hospital, tension builds and regrets are there but not spoken about. She wants distance. He wants redemption. And fate has clearly not finished with them.
Add in a dual timeline (yes, we get to see their teen romance and their grown-up wreckage 😭), a hella cute kid, and all the messy healing. Yep. I’m unwell.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Audiobook 🎧:
These two were so goooood! Every whisper. Every pause. Every “I never stopped loving you” moment HITS. Perfect match, no crumbs.
Samantha Brentmoor: Queen of quiet pain, fierce resilience and KID VOICES! She nailed Violette’s internal chaos without ever making her feel weak.
Gideon Frost: A new to me narrator. If grief and longing had a voice, it’s him. A deep, gravelly voice which is also soft and calming. Absolute melt. He brought Rowan’s inner battles to the surface perfectly.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sizzle Scale:
Warm: 🌶️ 2.5/5 – this is a slow burn with emotional edge. It’s forehead kisses, flashbacks, and “it’s always been you” kind of heat. No smut till later but the longing and build up will have you eating out of the palm of Paisley’s hand.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bookish Bite:
Protect broke me in the best way. It's trauma, grief, love, and growth all tangled up in fire jackets. Rowan is soft, sweet, and seriously swoony. Violette’s just trying to keep her shit together while co-parenting a literal ray of sunshine (Hollie 🥹 I would die for you! Cutest book kid ever!). I love a messy, gut-wrenchy, beautifully-written second chance, and Paisley delivered on all of them. I cried. I healed. I “gaaaahhhh”-ed when he dressed up in a Super Pet costume for her kid. 💀 This man. THIS. MAN. I’m thought I locked myself into this series with the first book but this one just solidified it.
Tropes:
✔️ Second Chance
✔️ Brother’s Best Friend
✔️ Single Mum
✔️ Wildland Firefighter + Trauma Nurse
✔️ Dual Timeline
✔️ Emotional Wreckage
✔️ Cute Kid Overload
✔️ He’s Injured + She Cares For Him
Content Warnings:
⚠️ Off-page death of a family member (through flashbacks).
⚠️ Grief, anxiety, and panic attacks.
⚠️ Emotional distress related to a loved one’s dangerous profession.
⚠️ Descriptive injury sustained during a wildfire scene.
⚠️ Recovery and healing from physical trauma.
Format: Immersive.
Narrators: 🎙️ Samantha Brentmoor & Gideon Frost
Narration Style: 🎧 Duet
Whispersync For Voice Ready? ✅ Y
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Plot 💬:
Rowan King never expected to walk into the local pub and come face-to-face with Violette Taylor, the girl he let go, his best mate’s sister, and the one he’s never been able to forget. He used to be her Rowan. Now he’s just King, the guy who vanished without so much as a goodbye.
She’s back in their hometown for good now. A single mum. A burn unit nurse. Still the only woman who’s ever truly undone him. She’s the one that got away… and from the look in her eyes, she hasn’t forgotten how much he shattered her heart.
When an accident on the job lands him in her hospital, tension builds and regrets are there but not spoken about. She wants distance. He wants redemption. And fate has clearly not finished with them.
Add in a dual timeline (yes, we get to see their teen romance and their grown-up wreckage 😭), a hella cute kid, and all the messy healing. Yep. I’m unwell.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Audiobook 🎧:
These two were so goooood! Every whisper. Every pause. Every “I never stopped loving you” moment HITS. Perfect match, no crumbs.
Samantha Brentmoor: Queen of quiet pain, fierce resilience and KID VOICES! She nailed Violette’s internal chaos without ever making her feel weak.
Gideon Frost: A new to me narrator. If grief and longing had a voice, it’s him. A deep, gravelly voice which is also soft and calming. Absolute melt. He brought Rowan’s inner battles to the surface perfectly.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sizzle Scale:
Warm: 🌶️ 2.5/5 – this is a slow burn with emotional edge. It’s forehead kisses, flashbacks, and “it’s always been you” kind of heat. No smut till later but the longing and build up will have you eating out of the palm of Paisley’s hand.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bookish Bite:
Protect broke me in the best way. It's trauma, grief, love, and growth all tangled up in fire jackets. Rowan is soft, sweet, and seriously swoony. Violette’s just trying to keep her shit together while co-parenting a literal ray of sunshine (Hollie 🥹 I would die for you! Cutest book kid ever!). I love a messy, gut-wrenchy, beautifully-written second chance, and Paisley delivered on all of them. I cried. I healed. I “gaaaahhhh”-ed when he dressed up in a Super Pet costume for her kid. 💀 This man. THIS. MAN. I’m thought I locked myself into this series with the first book but this one just solidified it.
Tropes:
✔️ Second Chance
✔️ Brother’s Best Friend
✔️ Single Mum
✔️ Wildland Firefighter + Trauma Nurse
✔️ Dual Timeline
✔️ Emotional Wreckage
✔️ Cute Kid Overload
✔️ He’s Injured + She Cares For Him
Content Warnings:
⚠️ Off-page death of a family member (through flashbacks).
⚠️ Grief, anxiety, and panic attacks.
⚠️ Emotional distress related to a loved one’s dangerous profession.
⚠️ Descriptive injury sustained during a wildfire scene.
⚠️ Recovery and healing from physical trauma.
Narrators: 🎙️ Samantha Brentmoor & Gideon Frost
Narration Style: 🎧 Duet
Whispersync For Voice Ready? ✅ Y
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Plot 💬:
Rowan King never expected to walk into the local pub and come face-to-face with Violette Taylor, the girl he let go, his best mate’s sister, and the one he’s never been able to forget. He used to be her Rowan. Now he’s just King, the guy who vanished without so much as a goodbye.
She’s back in their hometown for good now. A single mum. A burn unit nurse. Still the only woman who’s ever truly undone him. She’s the one that got away… and from the look in her eyes, she hasn’t forgotten how much he shattered her heart.
When an accident on the job lands him in her hospital, tension builds and regrets are there but not spoken about. She wants distance. He wants redemption. And fate has clearly not finished with them.
Add in a dual timeline (yes, we get to see their teen romance and their grown-up wreckage 😭), a hella cute kid, and all the messy healing. Yep. I’m unwell.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Audiobook 🎧:
These two were so goooood! Every whisper. Every pause. Every “I never stopped loving you” moment HITS. Perfect match, no crumbs.
Samantha Brentmoor: Queen of quiet pain, fierce resilience and KID VOICES! She nailed Violette’s internal chaos without ever making her feel weak.
Gideon Frost: A new to me narrator. If grief and longing had a voice, it’s him. A deep, gravelly voice which is also soft and calming. Absolute melt. He brought Rowan’s inner battles to the surface perfectly.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sizzle Scale:
Warm: 🌶️ 2.5/5 – this is a slow burn with emotional edge. It’s forehead kisses, flashbacks, and “it’s always been you” kind of heat. No smut till later but the longing and build up will have you eating out of the palm of Paisley’s hand.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bookish Bite:
Protect broke me in the best way. It's trauma, grief, love, and growth all tangled up in fire jackets. Rowan is soft, sweet, and seriously swoony. Violette’s just trying to keep her shit together while co-parenting a literal ray of sunshine (Hollie 🥹 I would die for you! Cutest book kid ever!). I love a messy, gut-wrenchy, beautifully-written second chance, and Paisley delivered on all of them. I cried. I healed. I “gaaaahhhh”-ed when he dressed up in a Super Pet costume for her kid. 💀 This man. THIS. MAN. I’m thought I locked myself into this series with the first book but this one just solidified it.
Tropes:
✔️ Second Chance
✔️ Brother’s Best Friend
✔️ Single Mum
✔️ Wildland Firefighter + Trauma Nurse
✔️ Dual Timeline
✔️ Emotional Wreckage
✔️ Cute Kid Overload
✔️ He’s Injured + She Cares For Him
Content Warnings:
⚠️ Off-page death of a family member (through flashbacks).
⚠️ Grief, anxiety, and panic attacks.
⚠️ Emotional distress related to a loved one’s dangerous profession.
⚠️ Descriptive injury sustained during a wildfire scene.
⚠️ Recovery and healing from physical trauma.