Erin Jenkins has come home to Portland for the summer. She lost her job as a teacher due to cut backs and has come home to help her mom with the family business. She runs into her brothers best friend Jake whom was also her childhood crush at the bagel shop one thing leads to another and he invites her to be his date to his sisters wedding .

Jake Bennett is a firefighter and a single dad raising his daughter since she was a baby. He has created a safe and happy life for them both, not letting anyone too close. He runs into Erin and he has an instant attraction to her, he knows her stay is temporary and decides its the perfect no strings attached situation.

When they both realize that they have feelings for each other will it be enough to make Erin stay in Portland?

This was a good book and drew me in from the very beginning. I mean who doesn't love a hot single dad book?

Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

Burning Up

**received an ARC in exchange for an honest review**

This is the first book in Jennifer Blackwood’s new series, Flirting With Fire, and there will definitely be some flirting going on. Erin is a sassy, determined woman who knows what she wants and Jack is a handsome father who will do anything to protect those he loves. When these two come together sparks will fly and they will challenge each other like no one has before.

Erin is home to help out her family and to look for a new job, back in California. But her mother would love nothing more than her daughter to move back to Portland. For Erin she left this life 10 yrs ago, there is nothing here for her, or is there.

Jake knows that Reece’s sister Erin is off limits when she comes to town and he has no problem with that until he runs into her and needs her help. He can’t get over how much she has changed and how attractive she is all grown up. But he needs to remember that she is off limits and he just needs her help for the weekend.

As Erin and Jake dance around one another the sparks between them continue to fly. And soon they are unable to stop themselves from giving one another a chance. But is Jake willing to take a risk on Erin when he has so much at stake? And is Erin willing to give up her life in California for a life with Jake?

Jake and Erin have harbored feelings for each other fire years, but he is her brothers' best friend. When she comes back to her hometown after ten years, she accidentally takes his bagel order and sparks are reignited. Even though he knows he shouldn't, he invites her to his sister's wedding, which she accepts. Once there, circumstances keep pushing them together, and eventually the spark combust.
She had one foot out the door, because she plans on going back to California. He is cautious, because he has a young daughter that he has to protect. Just when everything seems to be going well, she gets her wish. Jake realizes that he can't ask her to stay, even though he wants to. When she tells him that things are over, he is torn up, and so is she. If it hurts this bad, how can it be the right choice? Will Jake give her another chance when and if she realizes she was never meant to be anywhere but with Jake?
Lived this book from beginning to end. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

***ARC Provided by the Author and Montlake via NetGalley***

4.5 Stars

I think I read this book at exactly the right time. I was in-between jobs through no fault of my own, kind of like Erin and I could really relate to her desire to put down roots while struggling with the unknown and where she would even be living in the next six months.

Jake is a single dad, so roots are all he knows. Roots, and caution, and playing it safe, and not getting involved so he doesn't get hurt. He says it is for his son, that he is cautious for him...but really it is to protect himself from getting hurt...so of course he falls for a woman who is leaving.

So many books are about people who are opposites, or who have reasons that their relationships won't work. But occasionally, there are books like this one, that you believe and that speak to you in a way that really resonates with you and where you are in your life.

Oh, and there is a kraken. Well, a reference not a real kraken (totally different book at that point, huh?) and, really, who can resist reading a book with a kraken?

I enjoyed this title, and I recommend it.

“Burning Up” had the ingredients I usually like in a book: firefighter, childhood friends, brother’s best friend/best friend’s sister, single dad. There were at least the firehouse camaraderie or close-knit community one grew up in to look forward to. Alas, for all the potential this book had, it just didn’t work for me.

I’m not sure which troubled me more, the characters - considering none of them endear themselves to me, not the leading hero/heroine nor the supporting ones - or the info dump scattering all over to process. There is disliking the characters but still loving the story, then there is disliking the characters and they just ruin the whole thing for you. Sadly, for me this book fell on the later.

For someone who seemingly bright and liked by many people, Erin just felt selfish and annoying to me. She left Portland for California sun and some “personal” reason had to do with her family. But I just didn’t get that smothering vibes on the story. I did feel she was annoyed at a lot of people and quick to quarrel with her family. There were also her favorites “I’m only here for the Summer” and “I’ll be leaving soon” that made her sounded like a broken record, yet I still didn’t get what (cause) had her running and her resentment over staying.

On the hero part, Jake was perhaps a tad better than his love interest as in him trying to do the best for his daughter. That saying, this firefighter - a lieutenant at that - was prone to bury his head in the sand to avoid some issue, like refraining from texting back (not dealing with it would solve the problem) or just evade/ignore the person(s) altogether. Me think this was not an attractive trait at all.

Also let’s not forget the hot and cold tango between Jake and Erin. The endless push and pull were just too exhausting to read. In fact, I have no idea what attracted them both to each other, other than lust. I’m not buying their instant attachment went deeper than that (and don’t get me started on Jake’s supposedly close friendship with Erin’s brother, Reece, or the bro-code he staunchly held). In the end, I didn’t have it in me to care whether they ended up together or if the grand gesture was enough to salvage the story. Which was really sad.

This is my first time reading Jennifer Blackwood’s books and it’s so unfortunate to experience this the first time around. I was so excited to start a new series from a new-to-me author that I trudged on reading, even while frowning over a scene to another. Well, I guess the writing style just didn’t click with me. If nothing, there’s a pair of (supporting) characters I found a tad interesting from a couple of scenes here. But I’m not sure, I guess I shall take the wait and see stance for now.

Burning Up is the start of a series about firemen and the women they fall for. What's not to enjoy!?! Gorgeous, hunky firemen...yeah, thought you would catch on quick!

He is her older brother's best friend. He is a single dad. He is a fireman. He is her every high school fantasy. He is...Jake Bennett.

But Jake Bennett doesn't do relationships, or he didn't!?!

This sweet story is about coming home and finding yourself. Now if only her friends and family could get their acts straight! I look forward to more Flirting With Fire.

I can’t get enough of Jennifer Blackwood’s way with words. She is sweet and witty and hilarious. This was my first time reading a book by her and y’all better get ready to read more of my thoughts on her other books because this will certainly not be the last time you see her name in this blog. I’m well on my way to becoming a huge fan of hers.

Books about characters getting together with their childhood crush/brother’s best friend are amazing on their own but add a single parent who also happens to be a firefighter into the mix and you have yourself a super fun and steamy romance almost as hot as the cover. Jennifer’s amazing talent for story telling, charming and witty characters absolutely nailed every little thing in this romance. The pacing of Erin and Jake’s relationship is perfect, just when you think things are about to move quickly, things slow down yet again. It is definitely on the slow burn side of things and I loved that. The chemistry and the connection between the characters is natural and effortless. And reading Jake’s interactions with her daughter had me—and will have you—melting away because he tries his best to be a great parent and he is adorable.

The only reason I’m giving this a four instead of a five is because I felt like I didn’t really get to know Erin (the heroine). Even though some chapters are narrated from her point of view I still felt like I never got to know her on a deeper level and that led me to confusion because I didn’t understand the reasoning behind some of her decisions.

In case you didn’t catch my subtle message, I definitely recommend this book. It is a fun contemporary romance story that you will absolutely enjoy if you’re a hopeless romantic.

Erin Jenkins escaped Portland, Oregon when she was eighteen and was loving her life as a teacher in California until being in her probationary period and budget cuts left her jobless in the Summer holidays. Now her mother has had surgery and needs Erin to run their peanut butter food truck while she's out of commission. Back in her childhood home, complete with squabbling siblings Erin feels like she's dying inside. Then a meeting at Barrry's Bakery with her brother's BFF Jake Bennett brings back memories of her schoolgirl crush.

Jake is no longer the bad boy he was at school, not with a twelve year old daughter to take care of as a single dad. These days his life is his job as a firefighter and being the best dad he knows how to be. When he runs into BFF Reece's little sister Erin he can't believe how cute she's become but he doesn't have time for a woman in his life, does he?

This is a bit like Shannon Stacey but with slapstick. This is the third book I've read by Jennifer Blackwood and I've got to say slapstick seems to be her thang. This time it consists of a hotel TV permanently stuck on acorn channel and a broken remote control. Eye roll. I didn't find it amusing.

Also, this was yet another book where the guy changed absolutely nothing and the girl turned out to be a loser, a child and incapable of knowing her own mind. Yawn.

I'd like to say I want to read Reece and Erin's friend Sloane's story but I'm afraid that Reece will turn out to be a saint and Sloane an immature girl afraid of something silly, oh and that there would be slapstick!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I loved this book! As I've come to expect from a Jennifer Blackwood book the story is filled with humor, witty banter, and a nice slow build romance. Jake Bennett is a single dad and a firefighter (had me hooked right here!) who is happy with his life and isn't looking for anything permanent with a woman. A little summer fun though? That would be nice. Erin Jenkins is just back in Portland for a short time. It's been ten years since she's been home and she's out of there as soon as she finds another teaching job in California. That doesn't mean she can't have a little distraction with Jake while she's stuck there. Sounds like the perfect plan for both of them. Until it isn't just fun anymore...

Fun, flirty and sexy that's the best way to describe this humor filled story. I definitely recommend it.

I’ve read a few books by Jennifer Blackwood, but I have to say that the writing on this one didn’t really please me.

I was a little taken aback by the fact that this book is told on the 3rd person. I didn’t like it at all. There is still the dual POV, as we get to see both sides of the story, but this was the sort of situation that the 3rd person POV didn’t work at all. This book would have had a lot to gain if it was told on the first person.

The pacing was also off. It took ages for the book to develop. The slow pacing combined with the 3rd person POV, made the book extra slow!

I liked the characters. I’m crazy for single dads, and Jake has a teen daughter, so extra points. I liked his personality, and I loved that he had his priorities straight. I also liked Erin, though I had a harder time identifying with her. I understood her need to get away and all that, but at the same point, I didn’t. She has her best friends close to home, she didn’t make an effort to actually get along with her family, …, I just felt like she was a bit over dramatic at times.

I did enjoy their romance and their connection, though it was a bit of instalust/instalove. I liked the fact that they had known each other since forever, but I thought that it could have been made better. The fact that he was her brother’s BFF should have been emphasised, and the connection between them should have been brought up from the past. However, most of their connection steamed from a more recent thing, and I thought it had potential, but it ended up not living up to it.

Overall it’s an okay book, but when I read the blurb I was expecting something utterly different and more engaging. I’m sad I didn’t get that. I’m going to take a break from this author, I haven’t been enjoying the writing, and maybe it’s just not for me.

I love a amazing firefighter read. Burning Up has met amazing and surpasses it. Not only do you get hot firefighters but you get a brothers best friend read too. Wait did I forget to mention something. I think I did, you also get single father read too. Eek yep just wait until you meet Jake. Jake will have your ovaries pulsating with his hot single father ways. Erin she is a bit of a free spirit. She's a bit of a runner too. Searching for something that probably many can relate to. Even while you're reading how she is back in her hometown you can't help but wonder when and if she is going to run again once her time is up for the summer. And if you haven't figured out from Jake being her brothers bestie yet that she has lusted after him for years. Awkward moments between the two lead to some hilarious moments that will have you laughing your booty off. Erin and Jake have awesome chemistry and I love how Bailey takes to Erin too. Burning Up keeps you in laughter and awe moments through out the book. You wont want to miss this read especially if you love hot firefighters. Oh yeah one more thing be prepared for meddling mothers that may leave you in stitches. I so can't wait to see where this series goes.

While I enjoyed the story, there was too much buildup and not enough payoff. The first half of the book felt very repetitive, with a similar scenario repeating itself over and over again with the same frustrating result. After 70%, it felt like nothing had really happened aside from some existential soul-searching for each of the characters. For a book titled Burning Up, I wanted more heat and less teasing. The romance ultimately developed way too slowly for my taste.

I typically gravitate more toward a hero while reading a romance, yet I found Jake to be aggravatingly stubborn. His mixed signals drove me crazy and I wish it hadn’t taken so long for him to get a wake up call. I felt similarly in regards to Erin’s career and living situation. Her character was amusing and entertaining, yet she was also conflicted for much of the book, which just made that part of the plot seem to drag on and on.

As much as I loved the four previous books by this author, Burning Up didn't have the same lighthearted feel and humorous banter that, along with the steamy love scenes, made me enjoy her books so much. I unfortunately won't be able to recommend this book and therefore won't be posting a review on my blog.

Rating: 2.5 Stars

Due to budget cuts, Erin Jenkins lost her teaching job, but this puts her in the perfect position to be home in Portland for the summer. A fact that Erin's not too happy about, actually, as she hasn't been home in ten years for any extensive amount of time. With nothing else to be done, she'll help out at her family's food truck and scour the internet for any and all teaching positions posted. No matter what, Erin plans to leave for California at the end of the summer with another teaching position. What Erin doesn't expect is to run into her childhood crush Jake Bennett.

Ever since the birth of his daughter nearly thirteen years ago, Jake Bennett has been dedicated to raising her in a loving home especially after her mother left when she was very young. So his personal life has pretty much fell to the wayside. When his mother and sisters insist he bring a date to his sister's upcoming wedding, he figures inviting Erin along will be the safe bet. Being the little sister of his best friend, he practically grew up with her, but he soon realizes a lot can change in ten years, and his sudden attraction to Erin is proof positive of this.

As they begin to tentatively date, they'll have to figure out where they stand before Erin's summer deadline is up.

I really liked that, for the most part, Jennifer Blackwood did a great job early on in the story of dispelling my expectations. With the mention of the wedding and Jake needing a date, along with the convenience of Erin being there and available, I figured the storyline would follow the path of the "wedding hook-up". I liked that I was proved wrong, and that Jake and Erin's relationship was paved with a few more complications than I had anticipated. While Jake getting back into the dating / relationship game is something that he must overcome, I felt like Erin's struggle with being home again and all the memories it brings up was the main focus of the story.

Instead of going to a community college, Erin decided to break out and go to a school in California, waiting until she was halfway out the door before cluing her mother into this fact. Erin's actions ultimately put a strain on her family relationship especially with her older brother and younger sister. I felt like the Jenkins family dynamic was an important part of the story, and while I understand the issues of strain and disappointment, I wanted a little more fixed by the end in regards to the siblings relationship. I hope that upcoming books in the series will feature Erin's siblings and we'll get a little more closure.

I liked and appreciated the way Jennifer Blackwood portrays the position of indecision Erin is in throughout the story. She doesn't want to admit how much coming home has actually been good for her, beyond sparking up a romance, but she also truly loved living in California and loved teaching at her school. It goes a long way in speaking about how people and their perceptions can change over time.

I'm pretty positive Erin's brother Reece will get his own book since the series is called Flirting with Fire and he works as a fireman with Jake. Jennifer Blackwood teases a potential match-up for Reece so I'm anxious to see how that may play out. I'm hoping that the youngest Jenkins, Andie, gets a story because there is blatantly something that she's dealing with in the background of Erin's drama. So I hope we get to find out what it is.

Overall, I enjoyed this read. I loved that it threw any expectations out the window early on and allowed me to enjoy the blossoming romance between Jake and Erin.

Burning Up is a decent Firefighting novel. The book has Romance, humour and heat. This is the first book in the ‘Flirting with Fire’ series.

Burning up is about Erin, who moved back home after losing her dream job. She runs into Jake her high school crush and sparks begin to fly. They have both grown up and changed over the years. Are they able to get over their own fears and come together or burn out?

Erin is a strong and suborn female lead. She has a unique personality which kept you from knowing if she would go left or right. Jake is the reformed bad boy turned sweet single Dad. He was finding his own path to follow. I loved reading about these characters.

I love the storyline of Erin and Jake’s relationship. They are coming together after not seeing each other for 10 years and their chemistry is strong right from the start. I also felt that their story didn’t start until half way through the book, the first half being filled with a lot of backstory that I pushed through. Making life choices for Erin and Jake wasn’t easy, going back and forth with personal struggle was a stable throughout the book.

‘Hello there Mr. Firefighter, I think my house is burning down. Please, carry me to the safety of your bed.’

Erin’s continuous lusty thoughts throughout the book were an absolute highlight for me and I found myself smiling as I read them. Who doesn’t want a sexy fireman to come and rescue them? I would have loved more of their intimate scenes between the two of them, they have so much spark.

After reading through the first half of the book I was truly able to get into the storyline that ended in some big decisions about their futures. I felt the book was abruptly finished and left me wanting another chapter or an epilogue to close out their story. I hope to read future books in this series as Jennifer setup a solid path for other characters to showcase their stories.

Ratings;
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Heat: 4/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Overall: 3.5/5

3 Crushes Become Real Stars
* * * Spoiler Free
We have the gal who left home to get away from a mom who was always out of control. She became a teacher in California but unfortunately got laid off... meaning she is back home helping the mom.

The firefighter she has had a crush on since forever was her brother's best friend. Since she had been gone, he had a relationship that went south but ended up with a pre-teen daughter.

Now he just lives for his job and daughter... he has no time for anything else...at least that was until this woman came back.

Sparks start to fly but our dad keeps pushing her away... Best friend bro code- no little sisters...also he needs to make sure his daughter doesn't get attached to someone who could be going back to California again.

Will they connect and make it...That is the question. This is the start of a new series for Jennifer Blackwood.


A gifted copy was provided by Montlake Romance via NetGalley for an honest review.

Sparks start to fly but our dad keeps pushing her away... Best friend bro code- no little sisters...also he needs to make sure his daughter doesn't get attached to someone who could be going back to CA again.

Will they connect and make it...That is the question

This was an enjoyable story. That not only drew me in from the start, but had enough about it to hold my interest throughout.
As not only were both main characters likable, but they shared a spark. And their romance was sweet, fun and easy to read. Not to mention there was minimal angst, plenty of lighthearted moments and lots of likable secondary characters. Including Jake's fellow firefighters and Erin's two best friends. So there is plenty of potential for future stories in this series and Burning Up was a great start to it.
And I would happily recommend it to others. Especially if you have enjoyed other stories by Jennifer Blackwood.

A sweet slow burn read! Jake was a sexy, sweet single dad who was charming with a side of swoon. Erin was such a wishy washy character & I wanted to smack her at times to make her wake up & see what is in front of her. She finally gets her head out of her butt & gets her hea, but it took a while. I really wish there would have been an epilogue, I love to see where relationships go after the hea. Great writing & sweet romantic storyline.

Erin Jenkins returns home to Portland for the summer after losing her teaching job in California due to budget cuts. She’s determined to make this trip a temporary one and is hoping to land another teaching job back in California as soon as possible. She left Portland 10 years prior to spread her wings and find herself, plus get away from her meddling mother and she isn’t planning on staying longer than necessary.

When she runs into her teenage crush (her older brother’s best friend) Jake Bennett, she realizes her feelings have never gone away, even after all these years.

Jake is a firefighter and a single dad. His priorities in life are his job and his daughter. Relationships haven’t been a priority for him ever since his ex left him with their daughter soon after she was born. All he wants is to provide a stable and loving home for his daughter. But when Erin walks back into his life, he’s questioning everything and he’s not sure he can stay away, even if he did promise Erin’s brother all those years ago he wouldn’t go there with her. But Erin is all grown up now and the feelings/attraction are just too strong to resist.

There’s a time limit for them though. If Erin gets a teaching job back in California, she’s leaving town. Can they keep things light and fun or will real feelings get in the way? Tough decisions ahead for these two.

Burning up is a great start to Jennifer Blackwood’s Flirting with Fire series! A fun and sexy read and great chemistry between the characters!

**I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

This was such a fun and sexy romance that made me laugh. I am looking forward to the next installment in the series.

After losing her teaching position in San Francisco due to budget cuts, Erin Jenkins returns to her hometown of Portland for the summer. While avoiding her mother’s attempts to convince her to move back permanently, Erin runs into Jake Bennett, her older brother’s best friend and her childhood crush. When Jake runs into Erin, he sees her as the perfect solution to his lack of date to his sister’s wedding and his mother’s attempts to set him up with her neighbor. During the wedding weekend, things heat up between Erin and Jake and they soon find themselves involved in a no-strings summer fling. With Erin’s stay only temporary, neither Erin or Jake expected anything more than a fling until they slowly find themselves falling for each other.