The Fireman's Pole by Sue Brown

 

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Sparks of passion ignite between the lord of the manor and the hot, new firefighter. But when Ben’s home goes up in flames, will Dale be in time to save his life?

Dale runs from the big city to a rural fire station to nurse his broken heart. But he immediately incurs the wrath of the handsome lord of the manor when he knocks over the village maypole.

Ben is used to people avoiding him. But the sexy, new firefighter is not like everyone else. Everywhere Ben goes; Dale is there too, and Ben can’t ignore the magnetism between them.

Will Ben ever forgive Dale for knocking over the maypole? Will Dale wait for Ben to disentangle himself from a relationship he was forced into? Will the villagers, the fire fighters, and the staff at the manor house, stop interfering in their relationship?

So many questions and no time to answer them, as an arsonist’s crimes are escalating, and Dale is worried that Ben could be his next target.

My Rating - 4 Stars!

The Fireman's Pole is a delightful opposites attract romance by Sue Brown. Part suspense, part romance, I couldn't put this one down. From the first sentence, the tone and writing style had me hooked. 

The combination of small town, opposites attract, and an arson investigation is well done. 

Ben's nobility, a  Lord who owns the whole town. When the tale starts, he has a girlfriend who we know early on is not one he loves. The poor man is closeted and fighting it every day. Upon meeting Dale, he finds himself facing a man worth coming out for. 

This is the tale of Dale who refuses to be forced into the closet and the Ben who's never been out. This is a story with a destroyed May Pole, town traditions, and a smart "girlfriend." It's also a tale with a ruthless businessman. 

The Sabrina part of this story definitely surprised me. I expected it go a completely different way, and was pleasantly surprised with the way it carried out. 

The arson part of the story is a good light mystery, as well as something for the men to work on together.

This book was exactly what I needed when it feel into my hands. It's nothing too deep, something a little bit different, and an easy read. We all need stories like this at times. 

The Fireman's Pole is a great read. Sue Brown completely surprised me with this little gem. From start to finish, I feel in love with these men and their story. I highly recommend it when you're in the mood for a sweet, fluffy romance.

Feel the Fire (Hotshots #3) by Annabeth Albert

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The third installment of Annabeth Albert’s Hotshots series—the emotions and intensity of Chicago Fire with the raw, natural elements of Man vs. Wild .

When their career paths bring two high school sweethearts together again, the forest isn’t the only thing ablaze…

Fire behavior specialist Luis Riviera goes where his job takes him. But when he’s assigned to an arson investigation in Central Oregon—the place he left his broken heart twenty years ago—he’s afraid of being burned all over again.

Tucker Ryland had planned to join his first love, Luis, in LA after high school graduation, but life got in the way. Now a fire management expert and a divorced father of teen twins, Tucker’s thrown for a loop when he finds himself working side by side with his Luis, now all grown up and more intriguing than ever.

Though consumed by a grueling fire season and family responsibilities, the two men discover their bond has never truly broken. Tentative kisses turn to passionate nights. But smoking sheets aside, old hurts and new truths stand in the way of this time being the start of forever.

Danger lurks everywhere for Central Oregon’s fire crews, but the biggest risk of all might be losing their hearts. Don’t miss the Hotshots series from Annabeth Albert: High Heat, Burn Zone and Feel the Fire.

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Feel The Fire is a beautiful second chance romance. This is the third book in Annabeth Albert's Hotshots series.

Tucker and Luis have a past full of pain and regret. They are two former boyfriends who are now working together. Their relationship is full of want, need, and desire. It's full of pain, heartache, and longing. 

They are two men who can't easily be together long term, as life always continues to give them obstacles. Their journey is one of accepting the past and realizing that plans can change. It's about accepting the circumstances and forgiveness.

It's a riveting story, full of fires and a search for an arsonist. There's some action and danger in addition to the budding romance, to which the men bring plenty of heat themselves. The title is a delightful play on words, as only the author knows if the "fire" in the title is about the forest fires or the heat between the men.

Written in alternating 3rd person pov, this book is riveting from the start. The authors include some wonderful secondary characters, including Tucker's children. I love his sons. Their addition to the storyline adds a whole lot of fun. The family dynamics with his ex wife is also fantastic. 

Feel The Fire is an enticing tale of second chances. Annabeth Albert brings a slew of emotion to this story as the men know what they're developing is short term.  I love these men and this series. 

Deacon's Defender (Protect and Serve #2) by Pandora Pine

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Hot on the trail of a crazed arsonist, Fire Captain Ozzy Graves has been ordered to stick close to the number one suspect in the string of deadly fires; mild-mannered newspaper reporter, Deacon Fairbanks.

Spending time with Ozzy is a dream come true for Deacon, who’s been in love with the ornery captain from afar. Deacon’s wildest dreams become reality when Ozzy asks him out.

The new relationship burns hot, but there’s trouble in paradise. Each of the lovers is keeping a devastating secret that could not only threaten to send Ozzy and Deacon’s fledgling relationship down in flames, but the entire city as well. 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Pandora Pine's Deacon's Defender is a great addition to the Protect and Serve series. The second book in the series, reading the first book is necessary to set up the mystery.

As part of the ongoing series storyline, there are more fires being started and the mystery of finding the arsonist remains. It's a a good mystery weaved with a budding romance. And with the ongoing evidence, there's a huge conflict of interest. 

It's an enjoyable tale of two men who are attracted to each other, but each has a secret. Ozzy and Deacon are an enjoyable couple. Their backstories are complex, making them both intriguing characters. They each have their own struggles and together, an even bigger one.  

Ozzy's physical scar makes for a wonderful aspect of the story. With his scars being a tough thing for him his entire life, Deacon brings a whole new perspective to the scars, creating some sweet and tender moments. 

All told in 1st person pov, from Ozzy's pov, I love the fast pace, quick wit, and amazing dialogue. 

Once again, the McCoy family, with Ozzy as one of the sons, is adorably charming and lovable. I want to be a part of their family. I love everything about them. They are as supportive, yet full of banter as well. 

Overall, Deacon's Defender is wonderfully entertaining. Pandora Pine kept me riveted with the mystery and intrigued with the romance. It's the perfect blend when you're in the mood for some suspense with your love story. 

Long Shadow (Hamarsson & Dempsey #2) by Elle Keaton

Title: Long Shadow

Author: Elle Keaton

Genre: MM Romantic Suspense

Series: Hamarsson & Dempsey, Book 2

Tropes: Opposites Attract; Hurt Comfort; Family Found

Release date: May 7, 2020

Standalone: No

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Niall’s known nothing but betrayal. All Mat wants is Niall’s heart; what will it take for him to coax Niall in from the cold?
Mat's connection with Niall is tenuous. One step forward, two steps back. Since that night on the beach Niall's been avoiding Mat like a bad case of the flu--which, ironically, most of his deputies have come down with. What will it take for Niall to believe Mat wants him for who he is?
Mat's overworked, Niall's unnerved, and then things really go sideways.
Will a killer destroy everything before Niall realizes they are stronger together than apart?
Long Shadow is a dual POV about a broody introvert and a somewhat patient Sheriff. Mat will have to prove to Niall he's the man for him. The Hamarsson and Dempsey series follows the same couple as they find their way to their happily ever after.

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Long Shadow, the second book in Elle Keaton's Hamarsson & Dempsey series, picks up where Conspiracy Theory leaves off. 

This story includes an ongoing mystery, plenty of cute kid time, and further development for Matt and Niall's relationship. Their chemistry remains strong, and they continue to entertain.

It's another good book, full of suspense and mystery, intrigue and danger. Add in romance and sex and it's a fun ride. 

Told in dual pov, both characters are well explored. However, this one does seem a little slow to me at times. Things definitely pick up as the story progresses, but this one was tougher for me to stay focused at times. Overall, the author's writing remains crisp and smart, with two characters who keep the readers intrigued and a mystery that keeps the reader interested. 

Long Shadow is a good continuation of the Hamarsson & Dempsey series and I am excited to see what comes next for these men.  

He paused at the guardrail, his hands jammed into the pockets of his jacket for protection
from the cold. As he stood at the end of the road, the fog began melting away, slow at first and then faster, until he could see all the way across the water to the mainland crouching in the distance. Niall took a deep breath of the salt-laden air, filling his lungs, then released it. As he stared out at the dark silhouette of land, something unnameable inside himself loosened a bit further, a nearly tangible click into place. Piedras felt right.

Niall didn’t feel like an old-timer, but he did have a history on the island; he existed here
as more than a bitter homicide cop. Some islanders—like Mat Dempsey—even seemed to want him there. Most of the residents seemed to accept Niall’s presence, and the few who whispered behind his back… well, that’s the way things had always been.

And, he thought as he breathed in and out again, more than likely the camper was no big
deal. He was making a mountain out of a molehill—something his grandmother used to say quite often. There was likely a perfectly good, lawful reason the owner was driving around the island and only using facilities when they were less likely to run into other inhabitants.

The cop in him protested. Niall tried to ignore it.

His thoughts drifted further afield, as the fog continued to fade, to the sexy and very
available Sheriff Dempsey. Mat seemed to see right into Niall’s soul and never once
flinched—he actually thought he liked Niall. Mat was something Niall had never had in his life, or not often, anyway. Mat represented family, safety, commitment. Given everything Mat had done since Niall had come back to Piedras, it should be easy for Niall to trust him. But he
couldn’t find the off switch for the little voice inside that pinged a warning every time he and
Mat got close.

It was, however, proving difficult to stop thinking about him.

Elle hails from the northwet corner of the US known for, rain, rain, and more rain. She pens the Accidental Roots, Never Too Late, Hamarsson and Dempsey and the Home in Hollyridge series', all set in the Pacific Northwest. Elle’s books feature hot mm romance with the guarantee of an HEA. The men start out broken but they always find the other half of their hearts.

Elle loves both cats and dogs, Star Wars and Star Trek, pineapple on pizza, and is known to start crossword puzzles with ballpoint pen.

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