EMT Cait Tasker doesn’t feel like she’s living her own life. Her mother’s second husband suddenly died six months ago and after a frantic call from her teenage half-brother fearing that his mother was going to do something drastic, Cait moved in. She’s now been taking care of the family and giving emotional support while still working. She doesn’t go out with any but one friend now, and she certainly doesn’t date. She thought about asking firefighter Gavin Boudreau out but when she was about to do so he called her “ma’am” and made her feel a hundred years old. Needless to say she never asked. Since then Cait’s been giving Gavin a bit of shit and he can’t understand why.

Gaving thinks that Cait is pretty hot but he can’t figure out why she doesn’t like him. He can’t stop thinking about her and even gets caught by her teenage brother checking out her ass. Oops. When Cait finally tells him about the “ma’am” issue eh just looks at her like she’s crazy. He calls every woman ma’am! Once the pair actually start dating they can’t get enough of each other. Gavin wants Cait with him all the time and hates that whenever they’re in bed she has to get up and leave to take care of her family. Gavin thinks it’s been long enough and Cait needs to break away but Cait’s not ready to do that and it may be the point of contention that neither can get past.

I really like this series. I was so happy to see that Stacey had written another book set in this world. Gavin was a good man who was raised right (with manners) and that’s why he called every woman ma’am. It was actually pretty cute, imho. He was kind, giving and loyal and had a wonderful sense of humor. I liked him, a lot.

I liked Cait a lot too but since she was in such a kind of stressful time in her life, with a lot going on, it was hard to see the true Cait. She was a good daughter for taking care of her mother and brother but I was with Gavin, she needed to start easing away from them and start letting them live their lives. It really took Gavin coming into her life for Cait, and her mother, to see this.

Overall a pretty great book. Love, lust, humor, family, firefighters…what more could I ask for? :) If you haven’t read any books in this series you’re missing out on some great contemporary reads.

Rating: 4 out of 5

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When you fall for another person you also have to be fully involved with their family, whether it’s their work family or their blood family.

Cait is an EMT who has an almost unhealthy relationship with her twice-widowed mother and allows herself to be caught in the crossfire between her mother and her teenaged brother. Diane, Cait’s mother, depends too heavily on Cait to be her sounding board, her rescuer, and the main person in her life. Part of the reason is Cait is fearful that her mother will harm herself, but part of it is Cait likes the role of savior and won’t or can’t cut that off.

Gavin is a young firefighter who feeds off the endorphins that are part and parcel of his job. When he starts seeing Cait off the job he can see what is happening to her at her home and doesn’t like it but decides to be patient. Turns out he can’t be patient as long as it would take for Cait and her family to cure what ails them.

I liked the fire and rescue scenes that are sprinkled throughout the book, and the way that drew Cait and Gavin together. I think you would have to be a first responder to be able to react appropriately to another first responder and offer the comfort and listening ear that is required in a partner. Cait is slower than Gavin to realize where their relationship needs to go in order to have a long term connection. It all boils over one night over a family dinner and it looks like this is not going to work out. It takes deep introspection on both of their parts, plus family members sticking their noses in and realizing that they also have a part to play in this if it’s going to work out.

This is a great story and is part of a wonderful series that I am going to go back to read. Since I’m reading it out of order, obviously this can be read as a stand alone story, but it will cause you to want to get the back stories of their friends and family, so be prepared to read the rest of the series, including the ones to come.

4 stars!
I love a good firefighter book! And one set in Boston, I am all in! Gavin was cute and thoughtful as well as a typical Bostonian with attitude for days (I can say it, because I am one too).
When he sets his sights on Cait, he has his work cut out for him. She is equally sassy and outspoken, but when she loves, she loves fierce. Right now, all her attention is focused on her mom and brother. They need her to get through grief, and she focuses all her energy on them.

Gavin and Cait were great. I loved their story. And I love this series.

An enjoyable story, interactions...banter, joking with each other, true to life scenarios, and intelligent dialog...between the Firefighters, but I just didn’t feel the chemistry between Gavin and Cait. There wasn’t an emotional attachment between the two that stood out for me. Though Gavin seemed to have the depth needed for believability, Cait fell flat...her circumstances at home were too drawn out to be believable.

Having enjoyed the story of the Firefighters, I’d like to give the series another chance and hope to see a good balance of chemistry between the main characters.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Wow great book!!! This author is new to me but she definitely gained a reader after I read this book!! I'm definitely going to read the rest of the books in this series!! But this book could be a standalone I didn't feel out of the loop or anything because I didn't read the other books first! It just made me want to find out more about everyone lol thank you netgalley for sharing this book with me it was definitely a great read! I highly recommend it!! Don't miss out!!! This author definitely gained a new reader! Thank you!!!

I was so excited to read this book. Gavin and Cait were a perfect match. Their relationship had everything, fun, laughter, bantering and even arguing and heart ache. I absolutely love this series and can’t wait for more in this series.

Gavin Boudreau isn't sure why Cait Tasker is so prickly around him. As a firefighter, he generally gets along pretty well with the EMTs he works with. But Cait stymies him. She doesn't seem susceptible to his usual charms.

Cait had toyed with asking Gavin out. But then he Ma'amed her. She assumed that it was his way of letting her know (rather rudely) that she was too old for him. But, after an intense call, the two bond and Cait takes Gavin to breakfast. And then she spends the night at his apartment (he's not there; she just needs to get away from her family for a little while). And then... well.

I liked that Gavin and Cait actually talked to each other (for the most part). I didn't like that Gavin was such a jerk but it was nice to see his family talk to him and tell him when he's stepping out of line.



Three and a half stars

This book comes out April 24

Follows Fully Ignited

This was such a great book! I was hooked from the very first page.

Shannon Stacey has written a page turner with amazing characters!, Cait is kind, dedicated and has committed herself to taking care of her mother and step brother after the death of her step-father and Gavin, a fire fighter is a sexy, confident guy that oozed charm. Their relationship didn’t start out well and took a while to progress but once it did their chemistry was off the charts and you couldn’t help but hope for happiness for them both.

It was great learning more about what is involved as an EMT and also a fire fighter, I enjoyed this aspect and how dedicated they were to their chosen careers.

The secondary characters were all written well, my heart broke for Cait’s mum and brother. Gavin’s team were all wonderful as was Cait’s partner Tony.

I thoroughly enjoyed Shannon Stacey’s writing style, it was engaging and enetertaining and the character interactions and the banter was perfect.

Thank you for the opportunity to read Hot Response, I will definitely be picking up more books by this author.

Cait sometimes has to point out the obvious to Gavin, “you asked if I was naked in your bed and told me you had a raging hard-on. And we were just kissing.” Gavin tries to have the best intentions, “when we were coming upstairs, I planned to put on some music. Be romantic and seduce you into my bed.” He blew out a breath, making her hair tickle her neck. “The kitchen floor’s not very romantic.” I liked this book, I loved Cait and Gavin.

Hot Response by Shannon Stacey is a fantastic contemporary romance. Ms. Stacey has provided us with a well-written book and filled it with outstanding, lovable characters. Cait is EMS and Gavin is a firefighter. Gavin is interested in Cait but she has family issues and doesn't have time for romance. Their story is loaded with drama, action, humor and sizzle. I totally enjoyed reading Hot Response and look forward to reading more from Shannon Stacey in the future. Hot Response is book 4 of the Boston Fire Series but can easily be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I SO needed this book! Gavin and Cait were PERFECT! And even though the tears were flowing at the end, I loved the whole story. The misunderstandings that started the whole thing, the fun they had together, the problems with Cait's family, the "breakup", and the resolution. This was just the book I needed to read. And I cannot wait to read more in this series!

Another winner.

What do you do when the hot guy you meet at work, and are just about to ask our for coffee, calls you ma'am? Hatred like the fire of a million deadly suns.

Cait Tasker is an EMT. She has moved back to Boston to help her mum and step-brother after her step-father's death. She feels like her life has been put on hold while she mothers her mum and her step-brother. She had a thing for Gavin Boudreau until he called her ma'am and made her feel even older than she already does. But since her team frequently work alongside the firefighters of Ladder 37.

Gavin on the other hand likes an easy life and 'easy' women,as the youngest firefighter on Ladder 37 he's not about settling down. The feisty EMT that gives him the evil eye is definitely not his type - so why is he dreaming about her?

But when Cait steps over a line and has to apologise to Gavin they find that first impressions can be deceiving and maybe enemies can turn into lovers. But Cait is only in Boston temporarily and her family come first.

I really enjoyed this, maybe it was the situation in which Cait found herself, caring for her family and putting her life on hold, maybe it was that both Gavin and Cait were lovable characters, people you'd want to drink with in Kincaid's pub, people you'd want to shoot hoops with on a Saturday morning (not that I've ever done such a thing, but I could).

This was funny, sweet and charming. Definitely one of Shannon Stacey's best to date.

Shannon Stacey’s firefighters are always fantastic entertainment but I think ‘Hot Response’ has so far, knocked this series out of the park as a firefighter and an EMT get off on the wrong foot due to a small series of unintended misunderstandings.

Gavin Boudreau and Cait Tasker didn’t seem like the kind of characters who would have worked out based on the blurb, but the story that Stacey tells turned out to be quite a different one. I never quite even got the idea that Gavin was only up for a good time, and that he tuned out to be an absolute prize—all about family, thoughtful and considerate—surprised me pleasantly, as much as how into the relationship with Cait when that finally took off. That their relationship was hampered by a large issue in Cait’s life was going to be a conflict that I saw coming from afar, though I was glad to see that resolved relatively quickly (though a little abruptly).

What stood out however, was the progression of their relationship; none of it felt forced nor boring, as I was engrossed in the day-to-day routines of them working as first responders and how their jobs intersected from time to time. The episodes with their own families did made me cringe at times, as were the very relatable struggles that both faced, particularly Cait’s, though I could understand Gavin’s own position on Cait’s reluctance to move on.

In any case, ‘Hot Response’ made a perfect weekend read for me: there was a comfortable mix of angst, action and banter and I loved reading about the interactions between the whole fire crew. My only tiny complaint is the rather abrupt resolution and end to the book, though it’s not something I should be nitpicking about because there’s clearly more of this beloved crew to come.

Sweet and hot story. First responders, family drama, friendship and love.
I enjoyed every bit of this story.

I loved the relationship between fireman Gavin and EMT Cait! They are a perfect match and the chemistry is off the charts. A fun romance read.

Gavin and Cait, the main couple, just seemed to fit perfectly together, folks. Well, that is after the embers of anger sparked by a simple misunderstanding are fully extinguished. Once those are fully doused these first responder heroes turn the heat right back up in a completely different way. Yeah, glaring glances eventually switch to hot, searing kisses and eventually some very heated, steamy scenes. All of which unfold at a leisurely pace as they slowly but surely get to know one another.

You do get to experience a few rescue scenarios that showcased these highly skilled/trained professionals at work, along with mostly Cait’s family drama when they are off the clock. I especially enjoy this type of element as it portrays the main characters as strong and gives their relationship a cohesive aspect outside the passionate bedroom scenes.

Gavin is the epitome of a good guy hero. He’s always willing to help and make time for his siblings and parents, plus his posse of co-worker friends are an extended family, as well . He is the picture of patience as his slowly unfolding, bonding relationship with Cait turns to love. Cait, however, struggles with having a life of her own while juggling helping her mom and teenage step-brother emotionally get back on their feet after a tragic loss. I couldn’t help but feel Gavin got this one right, folks. There is some relationship angst fall-out that I mostly saw coming, but I still enjoyed the inevitable making up afterwards conclusion.

Quite a bit of time is spent on these lovebirds taking it day by day and slowly incorporating one another into their daily lives. This was more of a heart-melting than heart stopping romantic read, folks. I’m pleased to announce it appears we have at least two more sequels to look forward to. Book 5, Under Control, will feature a single dad firefighter who falls for a leading lady who lives in a corporate, suit and tie business world. No doubt this firefighter will ultimately end up teaching her the fundamentals of finding true success and happiness. She'll be sure to rescue his heart, as well.

Title: Hot Response, Series: Boston Fire (Book 4), Author: Shannon Stacey, Pages: 384, stand-alone but part of a series, EMT heroine, firefighter hero, enemies to lovers, leisurely paced, very steamy scenes, romance safe (no cheating, no OW/OM drama, no love triangle).

Book 1 – Heat Exchange, (Lydia & Aidan), 8/25/15, Pages: 336
Book 2 – Controlled Burn, (Rick & Jessica), 11/24/15, Pages: 384
Book 3 – Fully Ignited (Jamie & Scott), 2/23/16, Pages: 352
Book 4 - Hot Response (Gavin & Cait), 4/24/18, Pages: 384
Book 5 - Under Control (Derick & Olivia) - Not yet released
Book 6 - Flare Up - Details not currently available.

(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review, nor is there any affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley.)