Friday, November 6, 2015

review || BURN FOR YOU by Stephanie Reid


25803403
Self-Published | October 16, 2015 | Romantic Suspense
Protector, book 3
★★★★★

SOURCE: INKSLINGER

Vic Russo is just one of the guys. Except she’s not a guy. A paramedic, affectionately known as Vic within her firehouse, Victoria is a permanent fixture in the friend zone. But when her childhood crush, firefighter Graham McAndrew, becomes single once again, she decides enough is enough. It’s time for Graham to see her as the woman she’s become. There’s only one problem. A photo of her in the arms of another man has captured the nation’s attention.

Jason Meadows is not thrilled to have his police work interrupted by a small media craze. In fact, he’d be content never to see Victoria or that photo-gone-viral again. But a series of fires in town, paired with a growing attraction to the quirky paramedic, make staying away impossible.

Determined to ferret out a potential killer, Jason enlists Victoria’s help as his eyes and ears inside the firehouse. And while threats rise from within, Victoria is forced to choose between the love of her past and the man who’s ignited her fire within.

{ about stephanie reid } .

Stephanie   Reid

Stephanie Reid writes contemporary romances with heart, humor, and a happily ever after. She holds a master’s degree in Human Development Counseling and enjoys using counseling theories on her fictional characters (and from time to time her husband).

A Chicago suburbanite by birth, Stephanie now resides with her husband and three children in central Illinois.

{ review } .

In a week of many books -- something I'm no stranger to -- this was the one that stood out.

This was the one that I wanted to keep reading, in the car, at lunch, at work...

This was the one that (even though I read the end because I'm a loser reader like that) I didn't want to end.

...and then to find out it's book three in a series? Oh, be still, my heart, because you've just found a new author to devour.

Stephanie's ability to write emotion was well showcased here. We have Victoria and her love for Graham -- the push-pull friendship, off and on relationship -- and her feelings in regards to her mother as well as the guys at work, including her rig partner.

And we have Jason... We have Jason and his anger at the system when he's given a different job, we have his uneasiness with the whole arsonist case, we have his disbelief in love and forever because of his childhood -- which further goes into play with my favorite scene in the book (at the end) where we see him extremely vulnerable. While I liked him throughout the book, it was that single scene that truly did me in for this man.

She was easily the most likeable, annoying person he'd ever met. --Jason on Victoria

Both of these people have ex's that formed their ability to bond with others. Both have issues that keep them wanting to stay away but equally, wanting to be with the other.

I loved that Jason call's Vic 'Toria', because when he asked for her by 'Vic', she simply added 'Toria' because she wants to be known as Victoria. She hates Vicky and Vic; she wants to be Victoria. I loved that Victoria loved with her whole heart -- even when it made her vulnerable and look like she was willing to be pulled along (Graham was such a smug bastard...), but more than that, I love that she got to know Jason inside and out.

This was not an insta-love story. This story takes place over a few months' time, making everything seem real and believable. My one point of sadness was I felt the very end of the epilogue felt a little bit flat -- but prior to those last few paragraphs, this was such a greatly written story, and definitely one I'll read again.

Oh. And Preston's next. I can't wait to meet the lady who will get him out of his house.

{ giveaway } .

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