Evan Donovan is a big muscled giant of a man, whose size and strength make him uniquely qualified to be a smoke jumper. No matter how great or how treacherous the challenge, he gets the job done. But when he agrees to look in on a friend’s ex-wife after a suspicious brushfire, Evan learns that some jobs are too hot to handle. Especially when it involves a scorchingly sexy woman…
SHE’S PLAYING WITH FIRE
Faye Duncan is a photographer on a mission, shooting fires for a magazine. But her first encounter with a wildfire isn’t nearly as wild as her first night with Evan Donovan. The moment she meets the bigger-than-life hero, the sparks begin to fly. But things really catch fire when Evan learns she may have taken a photo of the arsonist setting the fires. Evan is determined to keep Faye safe. But if he expects her to trust him with her life, he’ll have to open up his heart—even if someone gets burned…
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
SLOW BURN, the second in The Smoke Jumper series, released earlier this week on March 26th. The minute I read about smoke jumpers, I knew I had to make them the heroes of a series. The elite of the wildland firefighters, smoke jumpers parachute into the very heart of the smoke and flames. The first and last line of defense between small town Northern California and the fires that burn there every summer, the smoke jumpers are protectors to their core, putting their lives on the line with every jump. Hard-bodied, rough around the edges, and absolutely determined to do whatever it takes to hold the line between the wildfires and civilization, smoke jumpers are the ultimate bad boys of summer who ride into town to protect and defend—and leave as soon as the flames are out.
Of course, I like setting things on fire, in no small part due to the firemen who show up—and Jack Donovan is one heck of a firefighter. Together with his brothers, he runs a smoke jumping operation and parachutes into danger without hesitation. There’s nothing he won’t do to keep Strong, California safe.
Whether you want your firefighter dark and gritty, or whether you’re looking for a sweeter read, I have plenty of favorites parked on my keeper shelf. There are plenty more books that could go on here, but these are the ones that stuck in my head and that are my go-to reads. After all, it’s hard not to fall in love with a fireman!
- Bromance. Reading J.R. Ward introduced me to the term, but I’m hooked. Smoke jumpers, hotshots, firemen—they come in packs of the non-furry sort and they share a close bond with their brothers-in-arms. Some talk more than others, while others would settle for an emotive punch-in-the-arm and passing of a beer, but they always, always have each other’s back. The firefighters of Station Five in Jo Davis’s TRIAL BY FIRE are a delicious example of this.
- Action. There’s plenty of action when things keep going up in flames. Buildings, forests—and the heroine. That works for me. It’s amazing how close two people can get, both physically and emotionally, when lives at stake. One of my favorite parts of Cynthia Eden’s DEADLY HEAT is the intense attraction between Special Agent Kenton Lake and Lora Spade. Plus, anytime the heroine rescues the hero? Love it!
- Uniforms. I admit it, I’m a sucker for a man in uniform. And getting him out of that uniform? Is even better. Kensington did a fabulous job on my covers stripping the hero out of his clothes (and there’s video of it too! http://ti.me/vACN6w)
- The villains. When you start setting things on fire, you get some complex, twisted villains. Nora Roberts’ BLUE SMOKE, anyone?
- Honor. These are men—and women—who do the right thing. Who ride out on the truck or jump out of the plane, because there’s a job that needs doing and they’re willing to do it. No matter what it takes—and even if it takes everything. Lindsay McKenna’s wounded hero in DEADLY SILENCE isn’t easy to forget.
And my favorite part of firefighter romance? The welcome home, when the fire’s out, and he’s coming home, sooty and tired and victorious. When the hero of SLOW BURN, Evan Donovan, lands after a tough fight against a stubborn wildland fire, he heads straight for Faye Duncan’s arms:
“I need a shower,” he growled. “Something to eat. And sleep. Sleep would be real good right now.”
She sat there. What else did he need? What did he want? He prowled closer, as if there was something, all right, and despite the guys all around them, it was as if they were alone in their own little space. That, or maybe Evan’s jump team had more manners than she’d given them credit for.
He leaned over her, caging her in his arms. “You want to know what else I need right now, Faye?” His smoke-blackened face was fierce and triumphant.
“You tell me,” she murmured, “and I’ll make sure you get it.”
“That sounds good.” He was close enough now that his mouth was only inches from hers. The good manners were fading now; some of the jumpers called good-natured jibes, watching the two of them getting up-close and personal on the stairs. “I want that shower. You want to know why?”
She looked at him, but, God, his thumb was caressing the corner of her mouth, and she didn’t have anything more to say.
“Because,” he continued, his voice rough and low, “I’m taking you to bed, Faye, unless you say no. I want to hole up and make love to you and forget all about this damned fire for a night. I don’t even want to talk about it.”
“No talking, just kisses. Got it,” she said breathlessly.
He backed her into the stairs, letting her feel the hard metal railing at her back. “So you up for kissing me all better tonight, Faye?”
He didn’t wait for her answer. Instead, he kissed her, hard and raw and primitive. His mouth devoured her, his fingers threading through her hair. She was pinned in place. There was no shame, no worry about any audience. Only him and her. She gave back as good as she got. She wanted this connection. His mouth on hers and hers on his. He was alive, and he was there, and, in that moment, this homecoming was all that mattered.
Have a firefighter book to suggest to me? I love adding to my TBR pile! Name names for a chance to win a $20 gift card to the online bookstore of your choice (Amazon, B&N, Kobo… winner’s choice!)
I recently read another Nora Roberts romance, Chasing Fire. It was also about smokejumpers. Not very heavy on the romance (like so many recent NR’s), but it gave a good insight into the Missoula smokejumpers world.
A favorite of mine is Flashpoint by Jill Shalvis.
Bella Andre Hot shots series. Love her witing!
Bella Andre has a great firefighters trilogy. Hot Shots, fighting forest fires.
Blue Flame by Jill Shalvis, Jennifer Bernard’s fireman series is v.g. also – particulary the Fireman Who Loved Me.
Looking forward to reading “Slow Burn”
My all-time favorite firefighter is Captain Harry Brody from “The Fireman Who Loved Me” by Jennifer Bernard. I just love him to pieces!
My two favorites have already been given- Jennifer Bernard’s series and Bella Andre’s series. Love those books.
sneaking a peak by Eden Summers
Rather than a firefighter hero, how about a firefighter heroine? All Summer Long by Susan Mallery is part of her Fool’s Gold series and I loved it. It’s a lovely story about a strong, but ordinary woman who meets a gorgeous model guy who falls hard for her.
Kathryn Shay has written Feel the Heat. Wonderful and special.
The only other Firefighter romance I’ve read was by Bella Andre as well.
I remember reading “The Smoke Jumper” by Nicolas Evans many years ago and found the whole smoke jumping career very interesting to read about.
The two I would recommend have already been mentioned: Chasing Fire (Nora Roberts) and All Summer Long (Susan Mallery.) Thanks for the excerpt.
Amy Knupp has a few books with firefighters…
I can’t add new authors to your list here…Shalvis and Bernard. BUT I can suggest some firestarters, lol. Jennifer Ashley and G A Aiken have Dragon books that have fires that need to be put out, lol.
I have two favorites if you like m/m stories. Damon Suede’s HOT HEAD is an all-time favorite: sweet, funny, touching, and unbelievably sexy. It’s about an NYC firefighter who realizes that he’s fallen in love with his best friend on the squad. The dynamics of the firehouse and the firefighting scenes are really vivid and believable (I would not be surprised if Suede had been a fireman), and there’s a beautifully written, sensitive depiction of 9/11 and its aftermath from the firefighters’ view. Lynn Lorenz’s THE BEST VACATION THAT NEVER WAS is about a firefighter who falls hard for the guy he rescues one night. It’s fun, sweet, and multilayered, with an unexpected but very sensual turn into BDSM territory (Jason is the best Dom ever!).
I’m a fan of Jo Davis’ Firefighters of Station 5 series.
Bella Andre Hot Shots series. Love her writing!
Oooh… firestarters. Now that you mention that, it might explain my dragon fixation 😉 I love, love, love G.A. Aiken’s books and Angela Knight has some interesting dragons as well (Kel! Yay!).
i havent read any firefighter novels in a very long time. I can see im going to put a lot on my TBR list. They all sound good
Seducing Simon by Maya Banks and Just one of The Guys by Kristin Higgins
Amy Knupp and Jill Shalvis have some great firefighter novels. 🙂
The Fireman Who Loved Me by Jennifer Bernard
I saw Jo Davis and Bella Andre are already mentioned, those are the two I wanted to recommend.
I also recently read a ménage story (m/m/f) with 2 firefighters: ERICA’S CHOICE by Sami Lee (Samhain Pub) which is one of my 2013 fave reads!
WHITE HEAT by Jill Shalvis is indeed hot!!
PLAYING WITH FIRE
PLAYING WITH FIRE BY KATE MACALISTER
I LOVED Brotherhood of Fire… And it’s a ménage to boot:)
I can’t think of any book title about firefighters. I love firefighters. I think they are so hot and tough.
Definitely the ones mentioned by Shalvis, Davis, and Andre, and a few by some Samhain authors–MJ Fredrick’s Hot Shot, which I really enjoyed, and Beth Cornelison… Cathryn Fox has several including Brazen, Wet, and One… Karen Erickson, Donna Alward, and Shelli Stevens all have titles there starring firefighters also! So many great reads!
Books by Jo Davis especially Under Fire. Loved it!
I don’t have any books to recommend but I’m busy gathering up ideas for future reading for myself! Sounds like some great titles including Annie Marsh, who is a new-to-me author. Thanks for the giveaway.
I haven’t come across many firefighter romances but I think they make wonderful heroes. They are brave, strong and literally, hot 🙂 From the comments here I’ve added a few to my TBR so hopefully I’ll get my fix of firefighter romances 🙂
Katie McCalister, Jill Shalvis, Bella Andre and Jo Davis, Amy Stump all have great reads about firefighters.