Jennifer is a new to me author. I truly did enjoy this book. Plus look at the hot cover.. how could you not want to read it

I requested this several years ago and I don't think it's a book for me anymore. So I will not be reviewing at this time, but if I do read it, I will update this review. Thank you for the opportunity.

I went back and forth between snaughling through this book, then wanting them to get out of their minds! The just needed to get it together and get together!. Get to the making the magic happen!

We are shown once again that firemen are sexy and steamy (see what I did there ;) )

I was happy to have a good fun read that made me enjoy reading!

Her reads are now on my TBR!

BURNING UP is the first book of the FLIRTING WITH FIRE series and was an enjoyable read. Erin and Jake are at the forefront but so are their families, including his daughter and the firefighters Jake works with, one of whom is Erin’s brother. We get to know the characters a little at a time, but I could feel their angst throughout.

Erin was laid off from her teaching job in California and moves home to Oregon for the summer. She doesn’t want to be there and lets everyone know it. Her goal is to get a new teaching job in California and return “home.” Throughout the story it doesn’t seem like she has a lot to go back to but is hell-bent on getting back there. She and Jake connect after she returns to Portland, and she begins to see things through his eyes. His daughter, Bailey, is a tween and keeps Jake on his toes! The interactions between the characters ranged from sweet to problematic, but the reader gets to know them quite well. The descriptions of the downtown Portland area made me feel like I was there.

The way Erin and her siblings were portrayed seemed real, as did her annoyance with her mom one minute then love and acceptance the next. Erin seemed to be pulled in more than one direction, and Jake knew that he had to protect his daughter at all costs. But why did he want to get out of his comfort zone with Erin? The story had a nice flow to it and a happily-ever-after. There was some sizzling loving as well as closure. I was happy to see that the second book in the series, UP IN FLAMES, will be out later this year!

Blackwood is a new-to-me author, and I look forward to reading more of her contemporary romances.

When a book just leaves you wanting more....

I really loved everything about this book, but I mostly loved that Erin and Jake are so respectful of each other and their needs.

They each go into the relationship knowing it can only be what it can be but as they spend more and more time together they each start to develop deeper feelings. I loved that neither tried to push the other in the way that would have made it easier for themselves. They let each other make their own decisions.

Jake has a life and he has to be cautious with his heart and I loved the way he loved his daughter. They have such a beautiful bond!!

Erin is stuck. She’s always run away from Portland but this time around she doesn’t seem to know what she’s running from anymore. She misses her family and her friends and everything about her hometown. She’s afraid to make a leap.

This book kept me waiting till the very last second and I loved all of it!! I loved Jake and Erin together and definitely wish we could have gotten a bit more of them in the end.

Burning Up was an absolute joy to read. The kind of joy that had me waking in the middle of the night, only to hide out under the covers so I could read it until the sun rose. And though I had a few mornings of blurry-eye-syndrome from my lack of sleep, it was so, so worth it in the end.

I adored Erin. She was fun, career motivated, and as sweet as can be. And Jake? Wowzers... The epitome of hot firefighter and sexy single dad. Together, these two characters had an amazing connection, and man did I love how they came to find their HEA.

If you love romantic contemporaries with loads of heart, laugh out loud humor, and some serious bedroom sizzle, then I highly recommend Burning Up. It's phenomenal.

This was my very first Jennifer Blackwood book and I throughly enjoyed it! This story was hot and steamy and entertaining while being at times funny and at time serious.

I liked the characters in this new series from an author also new to me. he chemistry built slowly between the main characters. With an easy writing style, low angst and simmering drama, it all came together for a satisfying, firefighter-filled read.

This was a hot firefighter romance read that I really enjoyed reading. There was definite heat between the two characters that made it an addictive read. I enjoyed this story from start to finish

I enjoyed this book this was a cute sweet read and I can't wait to read more from Jenifer Blackwood and I totally recommend this If you liked a slow burn romance

***3.5 Stars***

Sweet, fun, flirty, but man did Erin and Jake give me whiplash. I got why they both had their hang ups, and quite honestly didn’t blame them in the least, but after awhile it got a little tiring how Jake didn’t want to be in a relationship, not really, and how Erin NEEDED to get out of town and back to her “life”. But outside of that, it was a good read filled with a cast of interesting characters who brought a lot of life and depth to the story.

This book had me laughing out loud from the very first page! Jake and Erin fit so well together and I’m glad they finally got their HEA. I did feel that the story didn’t flow as well in some places and I almost put it down but I’m glad I persevered as it was a sweet story. I did feel that an epilogue would have been nice but it wasn’t essential, just my preference. Overall I did like this read and would read more in the series.

BURNING UP is book 1 in the Flirting With Fire series. It's a contemporary brother's best friend standalone and my first read from author Jennifer Blackwood.

Erin Jenkins returns home to Portland after being laid off of her teaching job. Although unfortunate, the timing couldn't be better since it's summer and her mother really needs Erin's help at home while she's recovering from an injury. She runs into her brother's best friend, Jake and immediately recalls the teenage crush she had on him. Jake is a firefighter and a single dad. He's not looking for any kind of relationship but he does need a no strings attached date for his sister's wedding. Erin seems perfect for the job if only he can keep their sexual attraction from exploding.

This one was 3.5 stars for me, rounded up to 4 because I'm nice like that! :-) First, the good stuff. The writing itself was technically good and by that, I mean it was a light, easy to understand read. The first half or so of the book was simply fabulous! It was funny and sexy. I loved how dedicated Jake was to his daughter and in that same vein...I enjoyed the overall feeling of family and how important it is to have family at your back.

Now, here's why I didn't rate it higher. Although the first half was great, I didn't feel the same about the last half. I just felt like Jake and Erin denied their true feelings for each other SO much. It became repetitive. Bottom line, I was so flippin' excited to see Jake and Erin come together but it seemed to take forever, LOL! And at one point, I actually got mad at Erin for her treatment of poor Jake. I guess that shows how invested I was in these two characters!

So, in the end, I was slightly disappointed in the heroine as well as the pacing of the last part of the story. Will this ultimately keep me from reading more by Jennifer Blackwood? Nope! I think this one had a lot of potential and I'd like to see what else she has to offer. Told from dual POVs with a happy ending. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

🔥🔥🔥🔥1/2 flames

Have you ever discovered a new author after reading a book that they wrote with another one of your fav authors?

Well, that’s how I discovered Ms. Blackwood. She co-wrote a book with an author I adore, RC Boldt, and the book, Tap That (a must read!!!)

Burning Up was absolutely perfect! The writing, the character development, the supporting characters and of course the main characters.

The chemistry between Erin and Jake was off the charts!!! 😫😫😫😫....because I just need more of Jake and Erin!!!!

I can’t wait to continue this series.....I really want Reece’s story.....I’m also looking forward to reading more from Ms. Blackwood.

Burning Up is the first novel in the Flirting With Fire series by Jennifer Blackwood. This novel revolves around a free spirited woman and one grounded firefighter who also happens to be a single father. This is also the first novel I have read by Jennifer Blackwood. As you all may know, I love finding and experiencing new-to-me authors! It's like christmas morning, you never know what you're going to get when you first dive into it.

Erin Jenkins is a free spirit with dreams of getting out of the small town life she calls home, so that's what she does after high school. She hightails it out of there. Now she's back home after getting cut from her teaching job.

Jake Bennett doesn't need anything in his life but his daughter, his family and friends, and his job. So when a blast from fantasy's past comes blowing back in town, Jake does everything he can to dampen down the rising emotion. He's always been attracted to Erin but given the fact that she's his best friend's younger sister, he knows not to screw around with Bro Code..... or does he.

My Thoughts:

Okay, let's start off on an honestly note.... I liked Erin and Jake's story but I felt the chemistry and overall relationship could have been stronger. When I started Burning Up, I was grinning from ear to ear. I'm a new fan to the 'firefighter' trope, and one thing I love about this trope is the majority of these men are strong alpha studs. They get shit done, and aren't about to let anything like a little fire and heat stop them. There were moments in this novel where I saw Jake's alpha vibe shine bright, and I freaking loved those moments. I loved when he thought Erin was hurt and moved heaven and hell to get to her, only to discover the emergency call wasn't her. Those moments I saw truth and emotion. I saw a man caring and doing everything in his power to rescue the woman he 'unknowingly' loves.

There were also moments where I squealed due to Jake's dad roles. I loved the fact that he cared so deeply for his little girl and pushed his life to the backburner in order to play the role of both mother and father.

But then there were moments where I was annoyed....and those moments....revolved around Erin and Jake's actual relationship. It was to the point where I was seriously, mentally and emotionally, frustrated with the back and forth. Jake needed to make up his damn mind. Either you want to bonk each other or you don't...I felt sorry for Erin and the back and forth signals Jake was sending her way. Burning Up brings a whole new meaning to the phrase SLOW BURN.

Now the question of if I recommend this book or not???

If you are into Slow Burn romances where the slow is extremely slow and the buildup is basically ancient, then you would probably love this novel. But if you are like me and think there is an exception to the term slow burn and if the couple doesn't at least engage in a little romp time by the forty percent mark, chances are you probably won't care to much for this one. The choice is in your hands. It's a cute novel, I was just expecting a little more from this one due to the blurb.

This is my first read from Jennifer Blackwood, but it certainly won't be the last.

Burning Up had me burning up. Jake and Erin had a chemistry that was off the charts hot. Despite the fact that they resisted each other for as long as they could, at a certain point they just couldn't hold off their attraction for one another any longer.

My heart swooned when I saw Jake with Bailey. He is such an amazing single father, that you can't help but smile, and fall in love with him, and all the things he does for his daughter.

One thing that did annoy me with this novel, was all the back and fourth action. Yes, it did add to the tension and spark between the characters, however, at a certain point, it just got a little much and I could have done without some.

I cannot wait to see what Jennifer has in store for book 2. It is bound to be just as smoking hot!

4/5 Stars!

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I am looking forward to reading other books by this great author.

This is Book #1 in the Flirting with Fire series. Erin was definitely flirting with Jake at his sister's wedding, but he would not across the bro code. Her brother is his best friend. They had combustible chemistry!

This is my first book by this author and it won't be my last. I can not wait to read Book #2.


☆☆☆☆
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!
Melissa

Just loved it. This was such a sweet romance I really like a good brother best friend romance and this one did not disappoint Jake is a single dad and a firefighter and when Erin was a teenager she had a major crush on him when she comes back to town while she is between jobs she runs into him and the attraction is still there. I liked these two together but I totally got his fear of him and his daughter being abandoned again Erin does have a habit of running. This was a really good start to the series I really enjoyed it.

I was looking forward to reading Burning Up as it sounded very interesting. However, the writing and characters were tough for me to get into. At this time, I'm setting aside the book.
Thanks to the publisher for considering me for a review copy.