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Rick Gullotti lives the good life. He fights fires, dates beautiful women—though none long enough so they cast wistful glances at jewelry stores—and has great friends. And thanks to helping out the elderly couple who own his building, his rent is low. But when concerns about their health lead him to contact their only son, his life starts getting away from him. Jessica Broussard has no interest in leaving sunny San Diego or her cushy corner office for Boston, but her father—who happens to be her boss—dispatches her to deal with the grandparents she's never met. She's unprepared for the frigid winter, loving relatives who aren't the monsters she's been led to believe, and the hot, scruffy firefighter who lives upstairs. At first, Jessica is determined to get back to her comfortable life as quickly as possible. All she has to do is talk her grandparents into selling their monstrosity of a house and moving to a retirement community. But she underestimates Rick's dedication—and his considerable charm. Nobody's taking advantage of his friends on his watch, even if that makes the tempting southern California girl with the long legs his adversary. Unfortunately for them both, the only thing more urgent than the matter at hand is their sizzling chemistry, and it's quickly becoming too strong to resist.
Publication Year: 2015
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Warning…you WILL fall in love with Rick. He is so sweet with the Broussard’s because he cares, not just to get a deal on rent. He truly wants what is best for them. He’s a leader, the firefighters that work under him truly look up to him, trust him, and try to emulate him. He’s a great friend who would do anything for anyone. On top of all that, he’s smoking hot and sexy.
I was ready to dislike Jessica. I’m sure Rick was, too. But Jessica is quick to win everyone, including the reader, over. She always defends her father and his choices, and in some ways I can understand that. He is the only person who has always been there for her. Even if he’s a pretty selfish guy, he still was there when nobody else was. He made some terrible choices in life and they shaped Jessica’s life. To her credit, even with those deep ties she has with her father, she still understands why her grandparents aren’t ready to fully embrace the choices he made.
Rick and Jessica both seem to realize what subject NOT to talk about with each other, and that works for them for a while. But once this sensitive subject does finally rear its head they both handle it so, so, so badly. Yet once again, calmer heads prevail…for the most part.
The addition of Marie and Joe Broussard is wonderful in this story. They can give such a great perspective after many years of marriage…ups and downs, good times and bad, compromise. All things this couple have had to do over the years. That, along with their love for both Rick and Jessica, makes them the perfect couple to be the ones with the wise words in this story.
See full review at https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.com/2017/11/17/controlled-burn-book-review/
A simple, straight forward romance. I knocked one star off because a lot of the relationship staging (Davey'e estrangement, etc) relied on characters reacting with a more complex purpose than we actually see. There's little to know drama, which I like, but also very little to make anyone feel real, either.