Secrets, everyone has them, everyone loves finding out the dark, seedy secrets that others have. There is just something about uncovering someone's dirty laundry that is so appealing. Which is partly why I like those kind of books. Always trying to figure out the dirty secrets before they are revealed and not to toot my own horn, I am a pretty good sleuth. Throw in a little bit of sisterly love, mystery, intrigue and this book wasn't too shabby.

This book has it all; secrets, family, tragedy. This book is told from two perspectives, sisters Ellie and Amelia. Ellie is a paramedic and gets a call to her sister's home. Shots have been fired at Amelia's home. Thus what begins a suspenseful read about secrets, family secrets. This book kept my interest and the ending was very good. Good afternoon read but be prepared, you may finish it in one sitting!! Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review. Highly recommended.

I adored When I'm Gone by Emily Bleeker, so was looking forward to another great novel.
I was not disappointed. The author knows how to incorporate family drama, trust, and mystery into a great tale.
The devastation of fire and what caused it bring about many questions as the book travels through a timeline and the two sisters views on what is transpiring in their life at that particular moment. Multi-voice and timeline novels apply to me as it allows for so much more depth and layers. The mystery and thriller aspect of this one is quite different, making for a nail biting and very enjoyable read.

There was no inner debate when I saw this title available on Net Galley: sisters, tragedy, suspense, and family secrets? Count me in. That's exactly what I got. One day read, kept my attention and had me guessing until the end. Some of my suspicions were indeed correct, but the very ending of the book still left me reeling. The last few pages will sneak right up and stun you.

Ellie is a smart young woman with high aspirations: she wants to be a doctor. Her plans have been put on hold, working a rewarding but stressful and not quite ideal job as a paramedic in the town she swore she'd leave behind. Family comes first, and she's returned to help her sister care for her ailing father.

Big sister Amelia is juggling their father, her husband, her two children, housework, and the occasional gig as a cellist. She's struggling under the weight of her many responsibilities, especially because her husband doesn't support them caring for her father and gets frustrated when she gets behind on the housework.

A phone call changed the lives of both sisters not so long ago: the news of their loving father's stroke. Now a different kind of call will change everything for Ellie: gunshots. Paramedics needed. Must be an accident, she thinks. People don't shoot each other in Broadlands. Even more surprising: the address is one she recognizes. One she's spent holidays at and played with her two adorable nieces. Her sister.

The chapters jump back and forth between time and sisters. When we hear from Amelia, we're hearing about before the shooting. Her everyday struggles, keeping herself afloat and exploring new opportunities. With Ellie, we follow as she struggles to make sense of this tragedy and figure out why anyone could possibly want to hurt her family.

I had some confusion about characters. Ellie and Amelia are called by their first names, letters that don't correspond to the first letter of their name, and their last names. It got confusing at times. Also, why name two brothers Collin and Caleb? One is Ellie's boyfriend, one is Amelia's ex and family friend. Maybe it's because I read entirely too many books, but I kept getting them confused. I know it only has the first letter in common, but when added to the many names the sisters go by, it was just too much.

A strong four. I am curious if this story has any possibility of continuing. I would read a sequel!

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

With this latest, Bleeker continues to prove that she's a excellent storyteller who can create characters you care about and root for as well as a complex plot that will engage and entertain you. This time, Ellie is a woman who has had to change her expectations in order to help her family- but she's confronted in the worst way possible with the fact that many things she believed about that family are not true. The alternating voices of Ellie and her sister Amelia frame this book. The mystery and tragedy spool out in a measured way (no spoilers). While not overly complex, the whole thing kept me guessing. Bleeker has a straightforward writing style which I liked. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Try this one for a tale of two sisters, family secrets, and good characters.

I was first introduced to Emily Bleeker when I read her previous novel, When I'm Gone. If the previous novel was any indication, I knew I would be in for a treat when I read her new novel, Working Fire. Needless to say, Working Fire did not let me down!

Amelia would love to devote all of her time to being a cellist, however, that doesn't pay the bills. She is married to a former firefighter, Steve, and spends her days taking care of her family and her father, Chief Richard Brown. Steve owns his own business, Broadlands Roofing, and employs an old friend (and first love) of Amelia's, Caleb.

Ellie never wanted to make her hometown of Broadlands, Illinois her permanent residence. For a brief time, she got her wish when she left to attend medical school. That all changes when she receives a call from her sister, Amelia...their father, Chief Brown, has had a stroke. Ellie drops out of medical school, and returns home to help her sister take care of their father. Ellie spends her days as a paramedic, and during her free time, she is either caring for her dad or spending time with her fiance, Collin (Caleb's brother).

Ellie has seen a lot working as a paramedic, but nothing could have prepared her for the call from dispatch telling them that they are needed at her sister's house. Arriving on the scene in record time, Ellie finds her brother-in-law in the driveway, suffering from a bullet wound. She soon discovers that Amelia is in the house, barely alive, and she fights to try and save her. Initially, Amelia suspects that it was some type of robbery, but as she will find out, things aren't always as they seem.

Once again, Emily Bleeker proves what an amazing storyteller she is. She beautifully weaves together mystery and suspense with human emotion. This is a story filled with heartbreak and also devotion to family. The mystery is just that...and will keep you guessing until the very end of the book. The story is told from the alternating views of Ellie and Amelia, both in present and past tense. As the story unfolds, you begin to see that there is more to the robbery than meets the eye. The characters are complex and well-written. This is a story filled with suspense and mystery, but it is also a story highlighting the bonds between family and friends. All of the characters have a history, and all have ties to one another.

Overall, this is truly a fantastic story showing the lengths we are all willing to go to for the ones we love...even if it's against our better judgement. The twists and turns in this story are constant, and the end of the story will completely catch you off guard. I strongly recommend reading this book...you will not be disappointed!

I would like to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book. My views are my own and are in no way influenced by anyone else.

Good book kept my interest and kept me guessing as well.Told in alternate points of view of the two sisters in the book, Amelia and Ellie and different time frames.Captures the feel of a small town and its secrets.Some times things are not as they first seem and sometimes we can reach decisions not based on all the facts.This was a book that kept me page turning wanting to find out was was really going on.I enjoyed it and hope other readers do too.Thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.

The reason we readers continue to come back for these family centered sagas is for one thing-SECRETS. Whether an author proclaims that their book contains a giant secret, a bunch of little secrets, or something in between, I can't help but immediately becoming drawn to said book. We all love a story that makes us feel normal less dysfunctional, and WORKING FIRE was just that story. Were all the components and character choices realistic? No, but I think if every story was 100% realistic we wouldn't have enjoyable fiction that grabs us and makes us feel things (even if those things are "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING PEOPLE?!"). I did find myself yelling at the sisters a few times, but overall this was such an enjoyable, binge-worthy read; I can't imagine anyone getting to the end without becoming a little riled up. Bleeker has consistently published books that I enjoy; each one tends to be a little different than the last, so I always know I'm picking up something fresh. WORKING FIRE was no different and I'm pleased as punch to state that once again, she's crafted a wholly enjoyable tale that was equal parts gripping, tense, and emotional. Highly recommended for readers looking for a fast pace with a focus on family drama and secrets, because BOY are there some whoppers here!

WORKING FIRE appealed to me originally because it is set in small town Illinois and the best-selling author, Emily Bleeker, lives in suburban Chicago. As such, it seems to fit nicely with ideas expressed in "Keep Summer Reading Alive All Year" (appearing in August 26th's Wall Street Journal) wherein Will Schwalbe extols the benefits of reading a variety of titles, especially those chosen randomly. WORKING FIRE was a fun surprise to read because it involved action, tension, mystery and a clever shift in time to tell the story of two sisters, Amelia and Ellie. The latter is a paramedic who answers a 911 call at her sister's home – finding gunshot victims and the start to a traumatic few days. Amelia, much older, is seemingly defined by her role as mother (to Katie and Cora) and wife to Steve. Amelia's high school boyfriend, Caleb, and a newcomer real estate investor, Randy, also feature in the story which is told in flashbacks beginning about six weeks prior to the shooting. Dealing with issues of family loyalty and trust, WORKING FIRE delves into complex relationships and is filled with secrets, suspense and manipulation in a contemporary setting.

Link to Wall Street Journal article:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/keep-summer-reading-alive-all-year-1503671250

This was my first book I’ve read of Bleeker and I am now a fan. This book was fantastic! This particular story was written both in the present and the past. I usually don’t like books like that because it is hard to keep track of what time period things are occurring in but this book was well written. The way it was written with little snippets of information being revealed when the author wants it revealed allows for an engrossing and suspenseful book. Since the storyline is written the way it is, the pieces don’t start fitting together until closer to the middle/end of the book so it’s tougher to guess what is going to happen. The ending also wraps up the story but does leave a little bit of mystery to it, like it could go into a sequel if Bleeker choses to go that way.

This is a great read and I will be checking out other books by Emily Bleeker.

I received this book "Working Fire" from Netgalley for my honest review.

I did like this book. The story is about Ellie who is a paramedic and her sister Amelia. When Ellie hears a 911 for her sisters address everything changes. Who shot Amelia and her husband Steve? There are plenty of twists and turns in the story. Suspenseful.

The story begins with Ellie Brown returning to her home town to care for her father. When working as a paramedic she gets a call out that will affect her life forever and lead her to question everything she thought she knew about her loved ones.
I had heard some great things about Emily Bleeker’s writing and her previous book, so jumped at the chance to review this one.
I loved the way the Bleeker adds depth by coving both before and after the incident. It gave a great perspective.
I am usually a massive fam of family centred mysteries/thriller and this read didn’t disappoint.
The whole book was incredibly intense and a great edge of your seat read. I loved the writing style and the twist genuinely kept me guessing from beginning to end.
A must read for any mystery fan.

Working Fire starts with a bang when a young woman who had to return to her home town to care for an ailing father, is called to her sister 's home to find she's been shot. From the get-go it's clear that intrigue and secrets from the past are waiting to haunt the present. Told in alternating points of view in different times, the novel zips along to its surprising conclusion. Will appeal to fans of domestic suspense and family drama.

Working Fire is a contemporary novel with a touch of mystery. This is the story of two sisters and told from both perspectives: Ellie's and Amelia's. We know that Amelia has been shot, so the present narration helps us understand Ellie's grief and determination to find out what happened. At the same time, we learn about Amelia's life before the shooting and what exactly leads to that moment.

I loved the relationship between the sisters and the family tragedy, their love for their father and the sacrifices that they had made. I despised some of the other characters but found them interesting nonetheless. The writing is subtle and engaging and the book touches various themes like family, love, marriage and lies.

I was always interested and wanted to know what had happened, but I thought there were too many unnecessary details and I struggled a little, skimmed through some pages because of that. The ending was unpredictable and introduced some interesting discussions. What would have we done?

There is a bond between sisters that I can't relate to but love reading about. This is a wonderful mystery/thriller and the third book by Emily Bleeker. It kept my interest and I read it quickly. Sisters Ellie and Amelia alternate narrating the devastating betrayals and secrets that are uncovered by a terrible incident. . I liked how we know from the first chapter who the victim is but as the story unfolds the reader gets a much broader view, and it's not at all what you expect. I'd like to read more by this author.

I really enjoyed this book and found myself reading quicker at the end to see what happened. I never guessed the ending at all. I was very frustrated with Ellie's behaviour in the final chapter but I can't say why without giving the story away.

Thank you Netgalley for my copy.

Thank you to the amazing Amazon Publishing for sending me this book in exchange of an honest review.

I was excited about this book, for numerous reasons. First it was my first Emily Bleeker read, Second because I to live in Illinois and I am counting down the days until I can leave. Last but not least, and probably the most important, the book sounds fantastic.

So as the above synopsis states, Ellie must figure out where her devotions lie, and who in her life she can trust. The one negative thing I will say about this book, is I HATE how her side of the story ended. To me, Ellie is lacking something, and is very selfish. I was pissed at her during the last 2 or 3 pages. I am hoping there is some kind of sequel in the works.

Now, saying all of that. This book was good. Nice and twisty, the kind of book that makes you question every person. Really you just cant trust anyone. I like books that do that. I did guess parts of this book, the reason behind the shooting was fairly predictable, kind of saw it coming early on. But the smaller parts with the secondary characters are what make this book. Getting the back story on all of them, spread throughout the story, made for a really fast, enjoyable read.

I am glad I got to review this one, and I am thankful to Amazon Publishing for sending it to me! I will most definitely be reading more Emily Bleeker. I read in her acknowledgement that she thanked Catherine Mackenzie for helping her so much with this book, and I loved that, Catherine Mackenzie writes some incredible books as well!

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Emily Bleeker for the opportunity to read and review her latest work.

I really liked her last book, When I'm Gone, and was excited for the opportunity to read Working Fire. This book did not disappoint.

Ellie and Amelia have a very close sisterhood bond - their mother died when the girls were young and they were raised by their dad, a now-retired fire chief in their town. When their dad has a stroke, Ellie leaves medical school to come back to their hometown and help care for him. Amelia is married with two young girls and is busy trying to shuffle her musical career, work at her husband's roofing business, and take care of the girls and her dad.

Ellie is working as a paramedic in town and receives a call about a shooting at her sister's address. From that point on, everyone and everything she has counted on is now called into question. The story is told from Ellie's viewpoint in the present contrasted with Amelia's voice starting months before and working to the present to give background information.

A very good read with a surprising ending!

Ellie thought she'd escaped her hometown, but has to return to care for her father who's had a stroke. Working as a paramedic, she gets a call that no one wants to get- she's called to a shooting at her sister's home. The story is told in present and past, laying out the events that led to the shooting and why it occurred. A good "who done it" that kept me turning the pages!

Ellie, a paramedic, recognizes the address that comes in from dispatch immediately- it's her sister's house, and someone is hurt. She arrives to find both her sister and brother-in-law fighting for their lives. The story is told from Ellie's perspective in the present, and her sister Amelia's perspective over the past few weeks, and the differences in what they know proves how much we sometimes don't know about the people closest to us.
This was overall an enjoyable story, but it felt like there was a lot of hurry up and wait- the plot would rush forward as more was revealed about Amelia's condition and what had happened that day, but the parts of the plot in the “earlier” sections moved somewhat slowly (though they were important to set up the story for the final reveals). With all the twists, the last quarter of this book absolutely flew as all the pieces came together- not totally in ways I was expecting, either, which is always ideal!