Flashpoint is the beginning of the Forged in Fire series. Skye Jordan has turned her creative talents to firefighters, their families, and their intrepidness as well as their flaws. This is a somber story with Natalie suffering from the fire’s destruction; painfully and deadly. My heart went out to her thinking if I had been her I would have moved away, far away. She had ties in the city with her mother but still as one event after another happened I wondered if it wasn’t Cole that she really couldn’t leave.

A love story that involves survivor’s guilt, opioid addiction, misplaced loyalty, future promotions, family and the bonds that exist between firefighters. There are real fires to put out, real burns to heal, angst to deal with along with drama and more drama. You just have to read Cole’s and Natalie’s story to see how they make their way through it all.

It is the first in the series so of course you can read it on its own. One small subplot on the side making you wondered if that firefighter will be the one to get his story next.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Flashpoint by Skye Jordan has so much that I don’t even know where to start. There’s firefighters, love, steamy scenes, loss, action, just so much to love. When Cole loses his best friend Evan during a fire, he tries to be there for Evan’s wife, Natalie. As the widow to a firefighter, it’s been hard for Natalie to gain back all that she lost. After Evan’s death, Cole and Natalie’s friendship changes and she hates that but is she ready to risk love again on someone who risks their own live everyday? I loved both of these characters so much! There really is so much heat between these two every time they come together that you end up wanting that sacred happily ever after for them.

From the very first chapter, I knew I was going to enjoy this story as the dialog and camaraderie among the firefighters was so welcoming. Cole Jackson lost his best friend, Evan, while fighting a house fire. It has been two years since his death and Evan’s widow, Natalie, knows that it is time to move on with her life. She has always wanted to have children and it is time for her to start dating. She is attracted to Cole, but can’t get involved with another firefighter. When he learns that Natalie plans to date, Cole wants to be the man in her life. He was halfway in love with her when she married Evan, but stepped aside and was content to be their friend. As her life suddenly becomes complicated, a fire at their diner, her mother’s injury and possible health issues…now is not the time to get involved with anyone. Once again, Cole steps in to make her life easier and to convince her that they belong together. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Loved it... Cole a fireman who is born to lead but has to earn his way to the top even with a father like his... Natalie who dreams of owning her own bakery but works with her mom at her mom's cafe... Yeah it isn't all steamy scenes but tells a great story....

Flashpoint is definitely a must read. Natalie’s husband was a firefighter and died in a fire. Cole was best friends/childhood friend with him. And also a firefighter. He has helped Natalie in the two years since her husbands passing. And has always had feelings for her. But didn’t feel right doing anything because she was his best friends wife. Now Natalie has decided that she needs to get back out there and date. Cole needs to decide if he’s willing to let her go, or make his move. This was such a well written story. It is so good. I was drawn in from the beginning. It’s definitely a must read!!

This was a great romance. It had depth and the characters were fully developed and had real life problems. The story did not get bogged down and had me hooked throughout. Really enjoyable escape. I am really looking forward to reading the next in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read a preview copy of this book.

I received this arc from Netgalley for an honest review.

A story that really has many different perspectives. One you have Cole the firefighter who lost his friend Evan in a fire the night that they both were working and beforehand they had words. He has been carrying guilt around for the last two years.
Then you have Evan’s widow Natalie who has only been working as a baker and volunteering through the firefighter’s association to keep her active. Now though she wants, no needs to start dating. She knows she does not want to date a firefighter because her father and husband were both lost to fighting fires.
Her problem is when she meets her date, she does so at the bar that Cloe and his other two friends and firefighters run now. When Cole sees the said man, he also sees red. For her part, when sees Cole introduces said date to him she has forgotten the poor man’s name. After Cole spills drinks on the table and onto her shirt he has time to speak to said man when she arrives back at the table only to have her date leave to take her mother to bingo, or bunko whichever he can’t remember. She of course is not happy, but Cole is.
After that night he works towards wanting to prove to her that he wants to be with her to date her, as much as she wants to, she has her own fears, and then when her mother is injured in her own fire everything starts to change for her once again. She knows she wants to live again she just doesn’t know if Cole is worth that chance, maybe it is easier to walk away from him than to lose him in a fire. Well, she gets to make that choice as well. This is a very good story that deals with many different issues and has really good characters. Very much worth the read. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

Flashpoint is the first story in Skye Jordan’s new Forged in Fire series and provides readers with a heartfelt and interesting insight to the mindset of people who have suffered tragedy yet acknowledge the need to keep moving forward and live life to their terms. The storyline is well-written, and the character portrayals show empathy and the struggles they endure when dealing with moral dilemmas. An enjoyable and entertaining story that gives readers just enough to want even more.

I really enjoyed this book. It had some great characters in it and kept up the pace. Action sequences were well written and exciting.

The couple had great chemistry and I was rooting for them all the way. Personally I do not understand the notion of the widow of a fireman not being able to date another fireman, but the book described the concept well.

This is the first book in a series for this author. This is my first book of this author to read. I liked it for the most part. I am not a fan of the "f" word and felt it was thrown in to fill a quota or something.
I liked Cole and Natalie. I liked the story told from both POVs.
Pretty fast read.

Built on forbidden attraction and the woes of life in general, 'Flashpoint' by Skye Jordan seems to straddle the point where fiction tends to cross the boundaries into the struggles and tragedies that plague us.

On the one hand, it's about two people reconciling themselves to the idea that they can and are allowed to be attracted to each other after a 'respectable' period of time has passed after the death of a spouse. On the other hand, it's also a story about conflict coming in the form of life throwing obstacle after obstacle in your path so quickly that it's hard to take a breath, let alone sit, reflect and act.

Natalie/Cole's story was overall a heartfelt one; I'd expected a lot more angst to surround them but was surprised and somewhat pleased with the general maturity with which they dealt with their growing relationship and their decision to stay together. It did feel a little implausible however, that Cole went from denying his feelings for Natalie to the sudden snappy turnaround that she was all he wanted, as the latter spent most of the book being overwhelmed by the circumstances that she'd found herself in.

What stood out however, was Jordan's writing of firefighting - and the toll it takes on relationships and subsequently, how many of these first-responders look at life. It was one that I liked for its matter-of-fact, non-technical-laden portrayal of a difficult profession that seems to garner all sorts of reactions. That Natalie/Cole worked their way through this particularly thorny issue was gratifying to read at least.

Still, 'Flashpoint' is more sweetness than fire, leaning more towards romance and less heart-pounding action. As the first book in a series, it's definitely one that I sort of liked, though its predictability had my enthusiasm waning somewhat towards the end.

3 stars

This is a sweet and steamy read about second chances. We meet Cole and Natalie who have known each other for a while. Natalie was married to one of Cole's friends who tragically died and although he harbor feelings for her he feels like he can't let anything happen for the memory of his friend.
I have to admit I was drawn to this book for the cover because the death lover trope is one of my less favorite tropes and this is front and center of this book so thats on me. Now, moving that aside I did like some things of this book. The relationship building between our main characters was lovely. I adored Natalie as a mother. She was amazing. Cole was great too but my favorite character was probably Natalie's mom. That woman was amazing!
I do wish them getting together was different and not "under pressure" but overall it was an entertaining sweet story to read.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This first story in the author’s new series, Forged in Fire, is also the first book I have read by this author. After reading it I have to confess I have become a fan.
This story belongs to Cole Jackson, and Natalie Ryan. Cole is a Lt. at the local fire station. A man whose childhood was tough, and who has worked hard to not end like his father. He is also the man that has been in love with Natalie for many years. But she was married to his best friend Evan and that was a line he would never cross.
Two years ago, Natalie lost her husband to a fire and has vowed that after losing both her Dad and Evan to fires , she would never get involved with another firefighter.
But the heart has it’s own mind.
Can Cole convince Natalie to take a chance on them? But more than love is at stake. There is trust, lies of omission and rumors that can damage Cole’s chances to move up in his career.
This is an emotionally filled story that will touch your hearts. It’s also a story about family, duty, new beginnings and finding love.
I am looking forward to what else this author has in store for us in the next book in the series.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

I received a complimentary copy of Flashpoint in exchange for an honest review. Honestly, I just love Skye Jordan and everything she writes, and Flashpoint did not disappoint. Cole and Natalie were doomed from the beginning, and I really couldn't envision how those two would overcome their obstacles, let alone become a couple, but Jordan made it work.

Great story and very well written. Keep them coming Ms. Jordan!

I enjoyed this one. While it was slow going at first it made up for it. The content is full of heart, angst and heat and I loved the ending.

I requested this book because A) the cover is HOT; and B) FIREFIGHTERS.

That said, this is not my typical kind of book. I do enjoy a well written contemporary romance but I don't usually care for first person present tense POV with a lot of inner thoughts amongst the characters. But I am so glad I was given the opportunity to read this one.

The POV really worked with this book, especially flipping back and forth between Cole and Natalie. It was great to get both their perspectives. I liked the firefighting details and terms that were thrown in throughout the story, making it feel truly authentic.

Both Natalie and Cole were admirable characters, both trying to deal with grief and guilt after the death of Evan, amongst other problems life was throwing their way. Though poor Natalie really was getting the wind kicked out of her in this book, with one problem after another. If I had one complaint about this book, it would be that too many bad things happened to Natalie, and I'm not even talking about the death of her husband two years prior. But the good news is Cole was there for her to help her get through these rough patches. She was a very strong character, and would've gotten through on her own, but with their friendship and attraction a beautiful love grew. Faced with outside forces trying to keep them separated, in the end they learned to compromise and communicate and take a stand for each other.

I enjoyed seeing the brotherhood of firefighters interact together and felt the sense of family connections they had for each other. I look forward to the next book in this series to see what happens next.

Flashpoint (Forged in Fire) by Skye Jordan
This is Natalie and Cole's story... she is the widow of his best friend Ethan and he has always had feelings for her. They are a very strong H and h. This book as all the angst, tears, laughter, secrets, "lies", feelings and steam to get us a very HEA. I hope there are more books for the wonderful people in this story.

This was a really well written and layered story. We first meet two firefighters, Cole and Evan, in the forehouse and then at a fire, the story then picks up a few years later when we meet Nathalie, the widow of one the firefighters, Nathalie has a lot on her plate including taking care of her mother. Cole has been at her side since that fateful day 2 years ago and their relationship starts to develop into a romantic one. There are a lot of obstacles in their way ( the politics of the fire dept were quite interesting) and they are able to conquer them all.

Great read, more emotional than I was expecting.

Natalie lost her firefighter husband, Evan, while he was battling a fire. He had demons in his closet, ones Natalie knew nothing about. When her mother is hurt in a fire, Natalies life is once again thrown into turmoil, when along comes Cole. Cole was Natlaie's friend since college, and also Evan's best friend. Cole has been fighting his attraction to Natalie since he first met her, but he can no longer hold back. Will a relationship with Natalie cost Cole the respect of his firefighter buddies? Will Natalie be able to give her heart to another man who risks his life for a living? What will happen when the ghosts of Evan's last year surface?
Love the characters in the story. Read this in one sitting, couldn't put it down.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

4.25⭐
It's been ages since I last read a Skye Jordan story. So, I jumped at the chance to read Flashpoint: the first in Ms Jordan's new Forged in Fire series. And what a great start to the series it was. Although a much more emotional read than I was anticipating I was hooked early on; and I really found the firefighter thinking and how it impacts those even on the periphery very interesting. And whilst the romance wasn't as hot or impactful as I was expecting it was very engaging.

Furthermore, there was a lot going on in this story, which made it hard to put down, and great to read. Which is why I would recommend it to others, and look forward to reading more from this series in the future.