She was my best friend’s wife—strike one.
Now, she’s a firefighter’s widow—strike two.
And she wants nothing to do with a man who risks his life every day—strike three.
Keeping an emotional distance from Natalie while still taking care of her after Evan died has been one of the biggest challenges of my life. One I’ve managed for two years.
Right up until she starts dating again, which kicks off a heated argument and ends in a soul-searing kiss. Once that line is crossed, there’s no going back.
I eat, breathe, and sleep firefighting. It’s not just what I do, it’s who I am. I fuckin’ love this job. I never thought I’d ever let anything come between me and my career, but Natalie isn’t just anything. In fact, she’s everything—everything I never knew I wanted but now can’t live without.
The odds aren’t in our favor. If this job doesn’t tear us apart, the secret I’ve been harboring will.
Review:
OMG, loved!
I did not want to put Cole and Natalie’s story down once I started. Their chemistry was off-the-charts hot, and I was more than sympathetic with her wanting to move on from her first marriage. And poor Cole–he 100% deserved to be able to move on from the guilt he’d been feeling over Evan’s death–honestly, he is such a good guy.
And I mentioned the hotness, yes? 😉
I loved the relationships in this book. Not only Cole and Natalie’s, which I might have already referred to as enjoyable, but also Natalie and her mom; Natalie and Tina, her BFF; Cole and his firefighter brothers; and even Cole and Evan. The relationships are what make this book really shine, and let me know that this series is definitely one I will be here for.
Ms Jordan got the complexity of being a young widow exactly right here. I was more than a little annoyed with the general presumption that being with Cole, her dead husband’s BFF, was a betrayal of Evan that would influence Cole’s ability to get promoted–he’s dead, people, and has been for two years!–but since it all worked out in the end I’ll give them all a pass.
(Except for Nora. That woman gets no such consideration from me.)
Bring on the next Forged in Fire book; I’m ready!
(Though LOL, I have to admit I’d totally forgotten all about the kittens and their names until Bates jumped up on Logan’s lap. I guess even big strong firefighters are still twelve-year-old boys at heart. ;))
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.