You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

A review by enchantingreads_rosyreviews
Always Heated by Irene Bahrd

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.5

"'You deserve better than anything I can offer. The other women were just a good time; one night with no strings attached. You? You’re all the strings. You’re the girl you bring home to Mom and Dad, the girl you settle down with, the girl who would force me to grow up.'”

This book grabbed ahold of me & didn’t let me go! The storyline was unexpected: friends since childhood come up with a marriage pact for 10 years in the future, but she’s with someone else when he’s ready to make good on that promise.

"I rush past him to the bathroom and change into his shirt. It’s a mistake; it smells like him. Like a fucking weirdo, I pull the neck of the shirt to my nose and breathe it in. Friends can sniff each other’s clothes. It’s a thing. I’ve read about it somewhere. If I keep to my side of the bed, everything will be fine."

This book is cozy with the small-town vibe, it brings the spice (10+ years of pining will create tons of tension), there’s so much heart, Cassidy is a relatable & lovable character plus Travis is a dream who showers her with love & support to prove he’s the right one for her (who doesn’t love that… oh, & he buys + remodels a lake house for them… so there’s that, too.)

"'That fucking book you love so much? He has no idea what it means to burn for her. There’s fucking lava in my veins, Cass. The love I have for you courses through me. You’re mine to protect...'"

I’m really loving this series & highly recommend this book!

Yet again, we have another surprise from Irene's typical story, & yet again, just like the first book in this series, I loved this one. I especially liked the unique elements of this story: the naps in particular. Here are two people who work unusual shifts: a firefighter who works 24-hour shifts & sometimes spends a couple of days fighting a fire without much of a break + a woman who works several jobs, one of which being overnight shifts as a postpartum nurse. So it only makes sense these characters understand the importance of a good nap. But to have it become a part of their relationship together, using it as a way for them to grow closer? That's amazing & I love how Irene wrote those moments.

"'If I’m not busy, I feel guilty, like I should be doing something, anything... If I’m busy, I can avoid everything.' Except, when I’m with Travis, nothing else exists. I don’t feel like I need to be busy. I was in bed for weeks, and he met me where I was at, made sure I was safe and healthy—or as healthy as anyone can be in the middle of a spiral."

Plus, I love how there's a callback to some of my fave romcoms as Travis does "research" on how to make the grand gesture. And the ending is so funny! 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings