Rating: Very Good
Source: NetGalley
Description: Firefighter Cole Everett's life revolves around the firehouse. Committed to saving lives - and to the guys who always have his back in the most dangerous moments on the job - Cole's focus is a coveted spot on the Fairview Rescue Squad. When his captain asks him to mentor a rookie firefighter, he jumps at the chance, hoping it will help to prove his skill. But the new "guy" is none other than Savannah Nelson, a female firefighter as stubbornly determined as Cole is, and a whole lot curvier in all the right places...
Savannah won't let anyone extinguish her dream of fulfilling her family legacy and becoming a top notch firefighter - and she's happily surprised when strong-willed, sexy Cole is willing to give her the chance she deserves. Concentrating on the job isn't always easy when the heat between them flares higher every day, but Savannah won't give up - not even when one of Station Eight's veterans seems bent on trashing her reupation. To stop a string of possible arsons, Savannah and Cole will need to eliminate every distraction - but can they let their love go up in flames? (from Goodreads)
Genre: Romance - Contemporary
Why I Picked This Book: I really enjoyed another series by Kimberly Kincaid and I really liked Cole in earlier books so I was excited to see he had his own story.
My Impression: I'm going to be honest here - I didn't love the first book in this series. I mean there were scenes I liked and Kincaid can always keep me reading but they weren't a couple I really connected with, really cared about. But this one... I'm writing this on 3 hours of sleep because I had to get up at 6ish and I was up till 3 wanting to find out just how it all worked out for Savannah and Cole. I mean we can probably blame some of that late night on beginning of school stress (does his name to be written on every pencil or just the box? Why oh why does school start so freaking early? etc.) but this book was a contributing factor.
For starters I really just loved Cole (whose name for some reason I'm convinced is Ian. Not sure why that is but my brain's stuck on it) and Savannah. They have a lot in common as they're both dedicated to firefighting with a singular drive that excludes most everything else. They're both wired to try harder, do better, learn more. But where Cole takes the stoic role 99% of the time Savannah's filter is a bit on the broken side. She has a tendency to say what she thinks and to respond defensively. However, while she has some impulsive tendencies she is also ready to learn and more than willing to work. I liked how their relationship developed and found the jump to a personal and romantic relationship realistic. This was a partnership that worked on both a professional and personal level.
One aspect of this book I really enjoyed and really resonated with me was Savannah's entrance into the fire department. I think in general firefighting is a very male dominated profession and Kincaid doesn't dance around this fact. Savannah knows that's going to be an issue from the beginning and faces that head on. That being said it isn't the focus. While proving that she can be just as good a firefighter as a man is important her primary goal is just to be a damn good firefighter. While there is some initial reservations ranging from uncomfortable to hostile from the guys at Station Eight it dissipates pretty quickly with only one exception. There is a little more pressure on her because of her gender but I felt that it was done well and neither overstated or understated. While no part of me would ever be a firefighter I have been one of the few females in a profession and it is a scenario I'm more than a little familiar with.
The side characters were fantastic. I loved the guys at the firehouse. While I didn't love Donovan in his own story he's an entertaining side character and his and Savannah's interactions made me smile. I liked seeing more of Rachel and O'Keefe who are paramedics, Crews, and Jonesey. He's a character I wouldn't mind seeing get his own book. Savannah's family is a minor role but I enjoyed seeing her interactions with her father and her brother. While they show their support and are obviously very close they don't go all protective and trust Savannah to make her own decisions which I really liked. Her brother Brad is also a character I wouldn't mind seeing more of.
I really enjoyed this latest from Kimberly Kincaid. I loved the characters right from the start and couldn't wait to see how everything came together. The side characters really added to the book without being a distraction and this was a book I didn't want to put down. Now I'm off to get cup of coffee #3 because 3 hours of sleep doesn't feel like nearly as much as it did in my college days.
Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Absolutely! I'm a little worried that there's not a preview for the next book at the end of this one. I'm not ready to tell Station 8 goodbye!
Would I Recommend this Book?: If you like contemporary romance this is a good read. While this is the 2nd in the series you could jump in here with no issues whatsoever.
