I have VERY conflicted feelings about this book and have gone back and forth on my rating a million times. While I liked the writing in the book, I think my main issue was the plot direction the author decided to take us in and since this is *my* rating, the fact that I didn’t like these directions does lower the rating a bit. But by no means do I think this is a bad book, different aspects just weren’t for me.

This book starts out from Alec’s perspective with the prologue where you learn what his feelings are, we then don’t get his pov back until around halfway through the book, and even then they are for short periods so a majority of the book is told from Oakleys (FMC) pov. We learn early on that one of the big factors of the story is that this all takes place around Blaze, Oakley’s father’s fire company. So, if you’re looking for a book related to fireman academy this ~could~ be for you.

Another big factor, again that you learn within in the prologue, is that Oakley is in love with Alec’s younger brother, Rowan. I’m a big fan of the best friends’ brother/brothers friend trope. I really liked the banter between our two MCs in regards to the brother and honestly wish the tension would have gone on longer. While our MMC is very much an alpha a** and is jealous and possessive of our FMC, I wanted them to not get together for a while…

BUT while I do think they hook up a little early for my taste.. the number of twists in this book gave me whiplash… I’m not even kidding. I was getting weird looks from my dog because I kept gasping and yelling “NO.” If you’re looking for a book with twists you’ve found one alright. Now some of the twists that happened led to some of those plot points I was referencing that I didn’t like. If you want some spoilers on these specific plot points see the bottom of the review where I’ll have a little spoiler/rant section. In regard to some of the twists, I felt like the explanations were a bit questionable. Like I didn’t fully understand them and they were done a little quick. I don’t know maybe I’m just dumb.

While I’m talking about things I didn’t like, our FMC makes a certain decision that really felt quite out of character for her in regard to the MMC and a side character. I felt it was a bit odd and I don’t really understand what the point was. Like the whole scene could’ve been skipped and I don’t think it would’ve made a difference. Again, spoilers at the bottom.

I’m a big groveling fan. When the MMC messes up I like to see them grovel for a while. Homegirl Oakley BARELY makes this man sweat. Like miss girl, the amount of crap you had to deal with in this book and you just gonna be like okay its ~fine~???? Now it is a romance so obviously, there is a HEA but she could’ve made him beg a bit more for it. Girly really went through hell for about 70% of this book and he had the audacity to only have a 2 paragraph apology, no sir. I would have needed a whole year to get over it with him begging me every day.

Oh, and if you’re looking for spice, it’s lacking. While there is a bunch of sexual tension we only actually see them have sex twice and that’s all within the same scene and they aren’t long scenes.

The longer I think about this, this is a bash every person in this book besides Oakley post. They all really kicked her while she was down in some way.. every single character really hurt Oakley in some shape or form but it’s all fine in the end?? Oakley is a better person than me.

Anyways, I didn’t hate this book it just had some elements I was expecting and that I didn’t care for so it is a bit lower of a rating. However, I’m definitely willing to read more from this author to see what else she has to offer.

Okay, so below I’m going to get into VERY spoilery territory so proceed if you dare.

Giving you more time to leave…

A little bit more..

Alright, here we go. When I tell you this mans Alec put our girl Oakley through the wringer. I’m shocked she didn’t smack him sooner because I woulda lost it. So we find out about 50% of the way through the book, after Alec has been begging for Oakley to give him a chance, they finally have sex, and then…… his fucking wife shows up. Yes, you read that right, a wife. And you know what happens after that… he continues living in Oakley’s house… with the wife. Mhm. Mhm. Now personally I think I would’ve smacked the shit out of ’em right then and there but no Oakley just goes to her room because what else. So what does Alec do you might be asking? Well he hasn’t seen his wife in a while and she wants him.. so.. he picks her up and takes her to the bedroom… where Oakley then has to hear ~sounds~… all night… When I tell you I about threw my fuckin phone… AND IT HAPPENS MORE THAN ONCE. Like, excuse me??? So at the end of the book, it’s revealed they weren’t actually having sex because he is oh so devoted to Oakley and that is apparently fine and dandy with Oakley but uhm hello??? they were doing other things to be making those sounds! While Oakley and Alec weren’t “officially” together the implication was definitely there so I would definitely consider this to have the cheating trope in it, especially since he has a damn wife.

Now I also mentioned a scene where Oakley acted extremely out of character. Homegirl has had this resolve that she hates both Alec and the wife. ESPECIALLY the wife. So what happens when the wife invites Oakley into bed with her and Alec… OAKLEY SAYS OKAY AND GOES WITH HER. I’m sorry what??? She has literally hated her this entire time and vice versa. I’m sorry but girly why did you think that was a good idea. You can’t stand to see the wife touch his arm, what are you doing going in there while she kisses all over him?? Absolutely not. Over my dead body.

So those were the two main things that bothered me. While there are plenty of other things I could mention those were the ones that annoyed me the most. Oh except one last trope that I hate… the pregnancy trope… which this has… even though they only had sex twice…. *sigh* it’s fine.

Wait actually no I’m not done. HER DAD LITERALLY KNEW THAT HE WAS MARRIED AND YET STILL PUSHED HER TO GO FOR IT. I’m sorry but what the fuck????? What dad in his right mind would push his daughter to be with this man KNOWING he has a wife??? He HAD to know how much that was going to kill her yet he still pushed it. The way every character in this book betrayed her in some way is just wild to me. But it’s all peachy keen at the end?? I could never.

Content Warning

Content warnings may give spoilers to some major plot points. If this is a problem for you do not read the content warning

Death of a Parent, Death, Fire, Infidelity, Violence, Depression