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stormyways13's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
crtsjffrsn's review
3.0
Troy Barnes feels like things are going well in his life--or at least well enough. He enjoys his work as a firefighter and things seem to be working between him and his roommate/boyfriend-on-the-downlow. But after Troy is injured while saving a young man from a fire and is asked to move out so his roommate's pregnant girlfriend can move in, things no longer seem as solid. Not entirely sure where to go or what to do, Troy accepts an offer from paramedic Alex Tate to crash with him until he gets on his feet. Troy knows Alex loves to flirt, but the invitation doesn't mean anything more than a friend helping out a friend, right? Or at least it doesn't have to. Unless that's what Troy really wants. But before these guys can start to understand any fire that might start burning between them they'll need to track down the arsonist who is striking sites around the city...
I found myself enjoying this story quite a bit. Even though it was clear where the relationships would be going from early on, the banter between Alex and Troy (and Alex's family--who are incredible) kept me smiling throughout my entire read. There are a couple of unexpected twists, which served as just enough to keep me on my toes at a few points in the book. This is the start of a new series, and I look forward to continuing to read it as future installments come out.
[Disclaimer: This review is based on an advance reading copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.]
I found myself enjoying this story quite a bit. Even though it was clear where the relationships would be going from early on, the banter between Alex and Troy (and Alex's family--who are incredible) kept me smiling throughout my entire read. There are a couple of unexpected twists, which served as just enough to keep me on my toes at a few points in the book. This is the start of a new series, and I look forward to continuing to read it as future installments come out.
[Disclaimer: This review is based on an advance reading copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.]
sonny's review
5.0
Shit! I'm barely into Chapter 1 and this Author's writing style is hitting its mark with me- also, I cannot help but get rampant "Rescue Me" [an old FX network TV Show w/ Denis Leary] vibes off this story already. Hell...I AM IN!! w/two more books in my future...hells yeah!!
Troy [36m] is a firefighter [NYFD] & Alex [28m] is an EMT/paramedic who has liked Troy [nicknames him "Hero"] from afar.
I LOVED Troy's background as an ex-Army soldier who has been in a "roommate-ship" with his old Ex-Army buddy, Ian.
In the era of Don't Ask, Don't Tell they've been in a discreet gay relationship until suddenly Ian has gotten a woman pregnant and kicks Troy out of their joint apartment.
Being in New York City means that it'll be difficult for Troy to find a place to stay, but Alex finds him snoozing on the EMT's two-seater couch and promptly takes him home to heal from serious injuries after a warehouse explosion/fire.
Alex has an equally complex past as he only likes ONS-es and especially doesn't want men who are on the rebound, which is what he considers Troy is, so, yeah, they have a great bonding friendship being roommates, at first.
Alex is fine being an EMT but his first love was being an MD/a Doctor, but a terrible older Ex, who was one of his professors in med school easily took away his dreams, causing Alex to not just have a broken heart but a ruined college education.
I loved everything about this book, from the MCs to the descriptions of firefighting...to Alex's curly blond hair and striking blue eyes to the great flirty banter and ultimately the awesome chemistry of the MCs, too.
I liked the rest of the firefighters who we'll meet in the other two books...and I even enjoyed the sweet secondary story of the young trans teenager, Sammy, that Troy saved from the first fire and whom everyone kept uplifted that one of Alex's family members would agree to take Sammy in as a foster kid.
I even liked, Connie, who was Alex's niece as she weaved in and out of his life/apartment, stirring things up but ultimately becoming a Big Sis to Sammy when it counted.
This is a new M/M Author for me and I will be coming back to them as often as possible; they tick off all of my favorite boxes in storytelling.
Even if there was some Crazytown twists in the fire's possible arson investigation...I liked it because it didn't change the way the Author had the story unfolding, the two MCs remained who they always were and always would be.
HEA's all the way around!!
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