This book was so entertaining. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and was involved until the end. The characters were complex and interesting. I found the story to be well paced and engrossing throughout the whole book. I was invested in the couple throughout the book and felt all the emotions through both the highs and lows of the story.The side characters were such an integral part of this story as well. This is the love story i needed to read at this time. If you want an entertaining and well written book this is it for you

I was quick to pick this one up as it's about smoke-jumpers and was glad I did. A tragedy occurred while they were teens between the fathers of Meg Buchanan and Lance Roberts (who were best friends) and tore both families apart. Lance didn't handle it well and cut the Buchanans out of his life, but now he has returned to join the new jumper team managed by the Buchanans. Most of the family are not welcoming, except Meg. Their chemistry is electric, but Lance has a secret. Also someone is sabotaging Lance's chance and innocent people are getting caught in the crossfire.
I thought the story started a little slow but eventually is picked up the pace. I like the story of Lance and Meg, there was some suspense, and there was also some emotional moments while the readers see the characters in the aftermath of the accident, who was able to move on and who still struggled. I will definitely be reading the next in the series.

The Smokejumpers series presents a group of rookies in the smokejumpers. Ten years ago Lance’s father and his best friend didn’t survive after a fire and the investigation concluded about the first man’s responsibility. Lance’s mother took her teen son and fled the state, neither ever giving any news. Now Lance, s firefighter himself, comes back apparently to enlist in the same unit as his father but secretly to try and reveal the truth about the mortal accident.

Meg is the deceased friend’s daughter, and one of her oldest brothers was best friend with Lance. After the accident they had to cope with the pain of losing their father and their friend, so they all are very hostile when Lance arrives. Because of course when someone doesn’t stay in touch after a terrible accident affected everyone one must hate him, as if the father’s fault rested on the son’s shoulders too…

The attraction is immediate between them two, but little by little we learn they were already attracted to each other as teens but never act on it. Lance is a bit reticent because he doesn’t want this attraction to influence his search for truth, Meg is very reticent because she’s just got the job of physical trainer for the rookies and she doesn’t want anyone to reproach her for becoming too friendly with someone under her orders. There a lot of sexual tension between them but also a lot (or too much) introspection about what the y want in life and their attraction for the other, and what’s more each of them is stuck on his convictions about the other as about their fathers’ deaths. However we can see them evolve, Lance tries to make peace with the past and Meg tries to understand that she fled the familial problems and the weight on her shoulders.

There a part of suspense because Lance is quickly targeted by someone who begins by little pranks like ruining his clothes but quickly comes to more dangerous things like damaging hi parachute before a jump, and if I suspected a part of what had happened ten years before I didn’t imagine the one making these problems and why.

All in all this is a book pleasant to read in spite of these negative points.

I fell in love with Marnee Blake's writing while reading her debut trilogy. While New Adult is not my usual cup of tea, Blake's suspense-filled, action-packed, NA paranormal series kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning pages until I finished each riveting story. When she announced her new series - contemporary, romantic suspense stories set within a community of smokejumpers in the Pacific Northwest - I didn't even have to think before jumping onboard. I am happy to report that this first book, Tempt the Flames, is a satisfying page-turner that has me eagerly anticipating the books to come.

Ten years ago, one fateful mistake resulted in the deaths of both Meg's and Lance's fathers, best friends and fellow smokejumpers. The accident was blamed on Lance's father and, in an instant, life was changed for both families. Sympathy and compassion were heaped upon the Buchanans by the residents of their small town while Lance and his mother were treated with suspicion and animosity. They eventually left Redmond, moving to California and Lance, burdened with guilt and anguish over his father's actions, cut ties with his best friend, Hunter Buchanan and the girl he had always secretly liked but could never have, Hunter's younger sister, Meg.

Over the past ten years, Lance has made a name for himself in California firefighting and now he's returned to Redmond to fulfill his dream of becoming a smokejumper. But small town memories are long and so are those within the smokejumping community. Will he be given a fair chance? Will people judge him on his own merits or will he forever be tainted by his father's actions? And how far will they go to stop him if they discover why he's really there?

Contrary to what Lance believes, his family wasn't the only one adversely affected by the events of that tragic day ten years earlier. Blake does a great job of showing the fractures and dysfunction that have grown within Meg's family as well. Everyone who was impacted by that day still struggles with it's fallout, including Meg and Lance. Will their deepening relationship bring the forgiveness and healing they, and their broken families, desperately need or be the final straw that rips them apart forever?

Tempt the Flames pulled me into Blake's high-risk world of smokejumping and into the minds, hearts, hopes, and fears of her characters. I'm intrigued by several of these characters and can't wait to find out which of them will be putting his heart on the line next.

If you enjoy contemporary romantic suspense with plenty of emotion, sizzle, action, and a mystery with enough twists and turns to keep me guessing through most of the book, I encourage you to give Tempt the Flames by Marnee Blake a try.

I was looking forward to this book based off of it's description. It is a good premise. Unfortunately it did not live up to expectations. I found the characters to be very childish and annoying. The suspense was not very suspenseful and somewhat predictable.

The Smokejumper series is off to a great start with the first book Tempt the Flames. All the characters are strong, compelling characters that easily draw readers into their story especially the hero and heroine, Meg and Lance. The best friend’s little sister is all grown up and the attraction is hotter than ever, but their romance is on shaky ground due to the emotional issues that stem from the deaths of their fathers, so while their attraction is hot enough to ignite from the beginning, the relationship has a few hurdles to overcome before it blazes to life.

The past causes all the characters emotional strain and the author does a great job of portraying the intense friction as well as the sizzling chemistry between Meg and Lance. The story has a steady to fast paced and smooth flowing plot that keeps readers hanging on to the edge of their seat in anticipation of what will happen as someone tries to keep Lance from learning the truth of that long ago fire. Determining just who the culprit or culprits are is quite difficult as they are several suspects and I have to say that the conclusion to the conflict was quite surprising.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Kensington/Lyrical Laison for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. First time reading this author. This book was not for me. I was interested in it due to the fact that I know nothing about smokejumpers. But I couldn't handle the angst, nepotism and deceit. I basically skimmed the book. I never really connected with the main characters Meg and Lance. I didn't understand Megs job or why the entire family wanted to be firefighters. The book seemed slow in places and then bam, you name it it happens in the last 2 chapters. I rate this a 3. I think that there are many who will enjoy this book, it just wasn't for me.

A quick but interesting start to a new series. I liked Meg and Lance, their angsty history, and their attempt to move forward...together. I'll be keeping my eye out for more from this author.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias.

This was my first book by the author, and I truly enjoyed it! I'm highly anticipating the next book in this series!

Meg Buchanan comes from a small town in Oregon, and a family legacy of firefighters. Smokejumpers, to be more precise. She always thought she'd be one too, but after her father died battling a blaze 10 years ago, under suspicious circumstances, she's deathly afraid of fire. So, instead, she became a physician's assistant, and now she's the assistant trainer at Redmond Air Center, where the smokejumpers train, and live, while on shift. She's going to be helping to train the new recruits this year. Her oldest brother, Will, is already a smokejumper. Her middle brother, Hunter, is a recruit this year. Her uncle runs the place. So, she's trying to feel as though she not only belongs there, but that she made it there by more than just her last name. Imagine her surprise when another new recruit shows up. Someone she hasn't seen in 10 years, since the fire that killed both their fathers. Lance Roberts.

Lance Roberts was Hunter Buchanan's best friend growing up, and he always had a thing for Hunter's younger sister, Meg. But, all that ended 10 years ago, when both their fathers died fighting a wildfire, and everyone blamed Lance's dad for he, and Jason Buchanan, being in the wrong place. Lance just couldn't make that story make sense, and he's come back to town for 2 things. One, to become a smokejumper, and earn his place in the same job his father loved. Two, to discreetly look into his father's death, and find out what really happened. But, someone really doesn't want him there, and they are going to great lengths to see Hunter run out of town. Or possibly even killed.

Lance and Meg's explosive chemistry was apparent from the first, as was her soft spot for him. She tried to intervene any time her brothers came down on him, or gave him unearned grief. She also tried to help him rekindle his friendship with her brother, Hunter. Because she knows how hurt her brother was after Lance left town 10 years ago. Meg has zero plans to fall for him herself. In fact, that is the WORST thing she could do. Her family would never understand and it could cause a rift that might never be repaired. But, Lance is still the same old Lance, and she still loves him, even after all this time. He still wants her too, but she's his trainer, and it's safer and better for them both to not get involved. Better for their hearts, their families, and their jobs. Famous last words...

I really enjoyed getting to know a little about the side characters here too, including some of the other new recruits. I especially liked Lance's friend from their jobs in California, Dak. His book is next, so I'm excited about that. The suspense plot kept me guessing throughout, and I wasn't able to guess the bad guys for sure until the end. I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story, and I liked how it all played out. Meg and Lance were both great characters, and you really felt for them and their predicament.

Overall I really enjoyed this story, and I'm so glad I took a chance on a new-to-me author! I look forward to book 2!

I feel a bit bad giving this only three stars, it's probably worth about a 3 1/2. I enjoyed most of the book. I liked both Meg and Lance and liked the way that they rediscovered their feelings for one another.
There were, however, a couple of things that for me at least, stopped this from scoring better. Firstly, I didn't quite buy the idea that the whole community would be against Lance for something that his father had supposedly done. It just didn't ring true. My second issue was with the end of this book. The last few chapters felt rushed and I didn't really like the big reveal as to who was causing the trouble. I'd already guessed what happened with Meg and Lance's fathers and I felt that the other part of the mystery was just a bit much.
I don't want to give the impression that I didn't enjoy this book. I really did. I liked Meg and Lance and their romance. I also think that it set up a series well and I would like to see where it goes next. It looks as though there's plenty of material for future stories, with a whole cast of fit firefighters who might have stories to follow. I'd be interested to see what happens with each of them in future books.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What an interesting story of two families who were at one time one big family brought together by two men who loved putting out fires. One day ten years ago it all changed both their lives were all cut far too short forever.
You see Meg Buchanan and Lance Roberts’ dads were smokejumpers in Redwood, Oregon. They had grown up together and were buddies on each other’s smoke team. They had made a jump with some rookies and didn’t make it back alive on their last jump. Although, the official report couldn’t make any real call as to finding fault talk was that since JT (Lance’s dad) was the risk taker as far as extreme sports, and whatnot and Jason quieter than JT caused him to be the one to jump on the wrong side of the fire.
So, ten years later Lance was offered a chance to try out for the same spot for the Redwood Smokejumpers. Therefore, that would be his big chance to start his own private investigation into what happened the doom-filled day. Shattering six children and the two, widows as well. Instead of being honest with the one woman in the world who has always meant the most to him, Meg, he lied through omission to her.
What started out as small pranks to get him to leave the tryout became no laughing matter rather quickly. Scary to say, making those around him a target on so many levels. When he would back away from Meg. During those times making serious situations even more serious, it made her wonder who lives like this. Was the man she was in love with even worth it?
Meg would then stiffen her spine and walk away. Only seeing him at the training sessions. Oh yeah, did I fail to tell you she just happened to be one of his physical fitness trainers who could pass or fail him during this course? You know to basically be a jumper? Good thing she’s not petty and he’s extremely fit because he was hands down the top of the class.

See who is gunning for Lance but who gets caught in their crosshairs. Find out if what the townspeople say about Lance’s dad is true for the last ten years or if the answer will surprise you as it did me. Most of all, see if Lance can stiffen his backbone enough to be the brave and honorable man who can love and take care of Meg. Something that’s she’s needed over the last ten years. I give this: 5 stars. Provided by netgalley.com.
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My Rating: 3.5 Stars

The horror of one bad call killed two smokejumpers and destroyed a town, two families and lifelong relationships. Now Lance Roberts has come back to Redmond in an attempt to uncover what really happened the day his father was responsible for killing both himself and his best friend’s father. Lance needs to prove he has what it takes to be counted on in the dangerous world of smokejumpers, but will can he?

Meg Buchanan lost her father, her family was destroyed and her heart was broken that fateful day. Now she is an instructor at the latest smokejumping class and not only is Lance her student, but she must struggle with all the confusing emotions seeing him again has brought to the forefront. Will she find forgiveness? Will the town? Is Lance still paying for the sins of his father? Is that morally right or has this small town proven how cruel it can be?

TEMPT THE FLAMESby Marnee Blake is fueled by the flames of the past and small-minded hearts. As Meg struggles throughout much of the book with her conflicting feelings about Lance, I couldn’t help but wonder how anyone could dump the deadly events on his family, especially when no one knew exactly what happened that day, or is that true?

A quick read with tons of angst and conflicting emotions that grew tedious at times. As two people let the past get in the way of their future.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Lyrical Liaison!

Series: The Smokejumpers - Book 1
Publisher: Lyrical Liaison (September 11, 2018)
Publication Date: September 11, 2018
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Print Length: 192 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com

Meg Buchanan is excited to become the new trainer in the area smokejumper class and now see her brother’s old friend and her first love is in the class, her nerve level is high. Lance Roberts wants to not only make this class, he wants to find out the truth about both his and Meg’s father’s death and hopefully clear his dad’s name. But when little annoying things start happening that soon escalate to people starting to get hurt, it becomes a matter of life and death.
I enjoy finding new authors and series and The Smokejumpers series by Marnee Blake is the well worth reading – you won’t be disappointed. Tempt the Flames grabbed me from page one and couldn’t put it down until the end. I am looking forward to the next one in the series.

Meg Buchanan and Lance Roberts have always been drawn into each other’s orbits, after being separated for a decade, they’re now reunited as assistant trainer and rookie with tons left unsaid and a good dose of suspense on the side. Throw the dangerous, adrenaline-fuelled world of smokejumping into the mix and that’s pretty much Marnee Blake’s new series in a nutshell, which I’m actually quite excited about. 

As an establishing novel, ‘Tempt the Flames’ does a good job of introducing the smokejumper rookies around whom the series would presumably be written. And to jump straight in (pun not intended!) with the second-chance, best friend’s sister forbidden tropes with the weight of tragedy behind them is something that makes for a solid plot with tons to be resolved. 

There were parts of the storytelling that seemed to falter, however: bits that dwelled too long in the protagonists’ head which slowed the pace (Meg and Lance, who pretty much spent the majority of the time dancing around each other, then prevaricating about whether they should be together or not), the sudden glut of events and twists happening towards the end that came out of left field before the rushed closure, and the writing of action scenes that didn’t quite get my heart into my throat as I’d hoped. 

My quibbles aside, I do think that 'Tempt the Flames’ is a good start to the series and I’m still eager to see how it all shapes out .

4.5 Stars The first book in the Smokejumpers series Marnee Blake has a winner!!
I loved Tempt the Flames, Lance and Meg are fabulous together and along with the dynamic world and characters I was engaged in the emotion, danger and secrets throughout. I look forward to reading more and will be recommending this to other readers.

4 1/2 star Review......

Tempt the Flames is the first book in Marnee Blake’s Smokejumpers and it has set the bar high for future books in this series. Fabulous world building, intriguing and complex characters, misconceptions, secrets and life threatening danger, all combined to make this a story I couldn’t put down till the very last page.

Lance and Meg are wonderful together; and while the past and the present battle to destroy their fragile relationship, the passion and love they share is soul deep. I loved the mystery and intrigue of the storyline, and had moments of heartache and anger on behalf of our heroes.

I can’t wait to see who Ms Blake chooses for her next foray into the exciting world of smoking hot fire fighters, who thrive on the adrenaline and danger that drives them into flames.

Family Tragedy effects the friendship between the Buchanans and the Roberts. Ten years after two fathers perish while fighting a fire their children have a chance to rekindle their feelings. The story was good with strong characters. Love finds Meg and Lance and assume the series will continue with her brother's stories. A copy of this book was provided by Kensington Books via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."

I'd make that nepotism work for me if I were her.

Hel-lo, Alpha Male. Is he going to mark his territory next?

Dak doesn't know he just walked into the lion's den with Scar.

Will, you realize you just called your father a mindless idiot.

Can I be a trainer? Please?

For the love of Pete, tell Joe about the note!

Lance's mom is much better off.

I bet Joe as the rookie made a mistake, and his brother covered for him, ending up losing his life.

Nope, never skydiving.

If it hadn't been Hunter, it would have been him. How is no one seeing that?

Stubborn mule. Don't you know you never go inside alone, Will?

I hope her mother will do better from now on.

Knew it.

Dak is right, it was a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Meg comes from a family of firefighters but she is a nurse practitioner. Her father was killed ten years ago when a jump went wrong and he and his best friend, Lance’s dad, were burned up. Lance is a firefighter but wants to be a smokejumper like his father. He knows it’s going to be tough because everyone blamed his father for their deaths. Meg is the physical trainer to the new recruits and has had a crush on Lance since they were kids. Someone doesn’t want him there and are sabotaging his equipment and almost gets Meg’s brother Hunter killed. When his truck stalls and he wrecks, he realizes stuff his getting serious. On the last day to jump, lightning hits and a fire starts. Lance and Meg’s other brother Will are partnered together but when Lance spots a cabin, him and Will go to see if it’s empty or not. A man is fighting the fire outside and Will goes inside. Will is trapped and Lance saves him and gets him out of the cabin. But the surprises are just starting. Can Lance stay and have a life with Meg or will he runaway again?
Suspense, action, sex, and a man looking to prove everyone he’s not like his father and that he didn’t get his best friend killed. Really good story. Meg was going from wanting Lance to being upset he was there, she wanted him but didn’t want to want him.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for Netgalley *

What a wonderful story full of twists and turns, mystery, grief, love and redemption. Meg and Lance after lusting after each other as teens finally get their chance. Lance while going through smokejumpers training tries to clear his Father's name. Someone has it out for Lance and sets out to get rid of him. There remains lots of questions surrounding the deaths of Lance and Meg's Fathers. This is a quest for the truth. A true page turner! This book will keep you on your toes till the end!