Early Review of Caught by You (Love Between the Bases #2) by Jennifer Bernard

Title: Caught by You: A Love Between the Bases Novel
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Love Between the Bases (Book 2)
Format: Paperback; 384 pages
Publisher: Avon (December 29, 2015)
ISBN-10: 006237219X
ISBN-13: 978-0062372192
Author's Website: http://jenniferbernard.net/
Notes:I received an eARC from the publisher for review purposes.


Donna and Mike have been flirting all season with it never going beyond. That suited both of them just fine. Everyone knows Mike takes a Vow of Celibacy at the start of every season and Donna, well, her life is complicated enough without adding a relationship into the mix. The attraction between the two is strong, and Donna likes nothing better than to tease the handsome young catcher for the Kilby Catfish. Knowing Mike always keeps Vow has made Donna a little more daring and reckless with her flirtation than she would otherwise be. Things, however, are about to change...

'"I've got news for you, Red." he whispered (...) "Season's over. The Vow of Celibacy has expired."

Donna's entire body, including her suddenly dry mouth, reacted to that piece of information. With a strangled squeak, she hurried toward the desk. (...)

"I'm going back to Chicago tomorrow, But before I go, I'd like to do something."(...) "We've been dancing around each other all season. Don't you want't to see if there's anything to this chemistry?"

Her eyes widened, "Here? Are you trying to add public indecency to all those fines?"

"Just a kiss. One kiss. There's nothing indecent about a Kiss."(...)

"There is if you do it right." And she lifted her mouth to his.' 

This was a fun story showcasing Ms. Bernard's hilarious brand of humor which keeps me chuckling, and looking forward to each new book she writes. Her stories give me that warm fuzzy feeling that puts you in a good mood long after you've read. This is the second book of the Love Between the Bases series and while I recommend you read 'All of Me' first, you won't feel lost if you don't. The reason for the recommendation is that this romance truly starts in 'All of Me', so if you want to see this one from start to finish, you'll want to read the first book in the series.

Donna is the kind of person people flock to. She's fun, good-looking, and the type of person who stays with you through thick or thin. While she looks like someone who is carefree, her life hasn't been all rainbows and fairy tales. She's got problems and her philosophy in life is you can either let things get you down and cry or, as she prefers to do, laugh at what life throws at you, and never let it get you down. That philosophy has worked great until now. Four years ago, at the age of 18, she got pregnant and had a child. While he's been living with his grandparents, the goal she's been working towards is standing on her own two feet and taking care of him full time. Suddenly that plan is put into jeopardy when her ex-boyfriend, her son's father, decides after years of having nothing to do with his child that he wants full custody.

Mike Solo is an all around nice guy with a grin that promises every kind of fun. He's also a talented baseball player who's been working towards getting himself into the major leagues. He's the kind of guy you expect to go places and do big things. His position on the team is catcher and he's got a reputation for being able to help pitchers become better. He has a knack for boosting their confidence and assisting with their pace. Many of the pitchers he's worked with have moved on to the majors. He's hoping his time has finally come.

What I liked about this story is these two seemed perfectly suited for each other. They each had been burned by someone they trusted which is one of the reasons why taking things slow during the season worked out well for each of them. They got to know each other's character prior to entering an actual relationship. The book does delve into some heavy material, so it's not as lighthearted a read as Ms. Bernard's The Bachelor Fireman of San Gabriel series, but it was well done and added some drama.

Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. The heat between these two radiated off the pages. The flirty banter and teasing that went on between the two was grin worthy. Mike Solo is definitely one of Ms. Bernard's more swoon worthy characters. The only thing that bothered me is that Donna told no one, not ever her best friend, about her son. I wondered how often did she see him? I'd think keeping a child a secret for four years would be a hard thing to do in a town like Kilby. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating this one gets a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

Order of the series:

All of Me (Love Between the Bases #1) by Jennifer Bernard

Title: All of Me: A Love Between the Bases Novel
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Contemporary Romace
Series: Between the Bases
Format: Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon (May 26, 2015)
ISBN-10: 0062372165
ISBN-13: 978-0062372161
Notes: I am part of Jennifer Bernard's Street Team which means I love her books enough to help get the word out when they get released. I also occasionally get free swag and access to ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies), but I'd still be part of her street team even if those weren't offered.  

Some relationships end amicably. Some relationships end with hurt feelings. When Sadie broke off her relationship with Hamilton Wade, however, it ended in a most horrific way. He posted pictures of her in various states of undress on Facebook as well as circulating an embarrassing video, all of which she had no idea he'd taken. After being betrayed so badly, Sadie's hesitant to get involved with anyone again. When Caleb Hart starts paying her attention, she's determined not to make the same mistake twice by dating the wrong type of guy, but Caleb is making that decision hard.

Caleb Hart was in the major leagues until his pitching took a turn for the worse. Now playing for the Kilby Catfish, a minor league team, he's hoping to break his streak of bad luck and get himself back in the majors. He's a nice guy who has helped raise his younger siblings, Like Sadie, he has a past, but unlike Sadie he's managed to keep it a secret. When he feels a strong attraction to Sadie, he'll try to convince her to take a chance on him but will their pasts get in the way?

While no one's perfect, each will end up wondering if the other can accept 'All of Me.'

This is the first book of a new series that I thoroughly enjoyed. It brought to light some of the dangers the age of camera phones brings with it--namely that pictures and videos can be taken very easily without someone's knowledge. It reminded me a little of the Paris Hilton's sex video that was released by her ex-boyfriend. While Paris managed to gain notoriety and profit from her embarrassing video, Sadie gained nothing but a bad reputation. Yes, ladies it's a whole new world out there and you need to be careful.

I enjoyed how the book had so many uplifting messages like we shouldn't let our past define us and that things can get better. I adored Sadie's inextinguishable spirit which never let her give in to the despair of what her ex-boyfriend did to her. Bouncing back from something like that would not be easy. Additionally, I like how Ms Bernard touches on how we are our own person and aren't defined by the mistakes our parents make. We can choose to be our own person, learn from other's mistakes, and choose our own path.

Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. While the book touched on some serious subject matter, it still contained a lot of Jennifer's signature humor. It delved into a wide range of emotions and I liked how these two likable characters got what they each deserved--each other. As I read, the saying, 'When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." came to mind. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a  STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Early Review of It's a Wonderful Fireman (The Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel #6.5) by Jennifer Bernard (Novella)

Title: It's a Wonderful Fireman
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel
Format: Paperback; 240 pages
Publisher: Avon Impulse (December 23, 2014)
ISBN-10: 006238936X
ISBN-13: 978-0062389367

Author's Website: http://jenniferbernard.net/

Notes: I received an eARC loan from the publisher.

Dean Mulligan never had much of a childhood. He grew up being moved from one foster home to the next. Christmas was not a day to look forward to as it was never any different from any other day. If anything, bad memories from childhood Christmases past lingered with him as an adult. It's no wonder he didn't grow up to have any Christmas holiday spirit. But it was more than that. Dean grew up thinking he wasn't worthy of being showered with gifts, didn't deserve to find happiness, didn't merit being loved. This year, however, Dean is going to realize the hard way that he has something to celebrate and that he's finally found the place where he belongs.

When an author tries to take a bit of an old classic and work a bit of its magic into their own story it usually goes one of two ways--it's either a hit or miss. Luckily, Ms. Bernard managed to zero in on the essence that made the classic, It's a Wonderful Life, such a wonderful story and use it to her advantage to create another memorable and enjoyable read of her very own. I absolutely adored the story and felt it captured the spirit of the original very well.

Dean Mulligan is a giver. After all he's been through he somehow managed to turn out to be a pretty great guy, but he doesn't see himself that way. He's been told by various people over the years that he'd never amount to much, that the world would be better if he'd never been born, and that he is no-good. While he's tried not to, a part of him has always believed that and so he's kept his distance from others. When he and Lizzie meet, he feels something for her he's never felt for anyone else, but doesn't feel worthy of her. He's even warned her that their relationship can't go anywhere. When he finds himself ironically trapped in a burning Christmas store, he figures it's just his luck he'd die in such a way. Christmas had never been kind to him. But as he lies there struggling in and out of consciousness, he's made to see what life would be like if he hadn't been around for the ride.

I couldn't help but give this one 5 out of 5 roses. It was the type of feel good story that makes you warm and fuzzy all over and is a perfect read for this holiday season. It was full of humor, touching scenes, and a happy ending. I loved the relationship between Dean and Lizzie and how she never gave up on him. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

Early Review of The Night Belongs to Fireman (The Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel, #6) by Jennifer Bernard

Title: The Night Belongs to Fireman
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense/Firefighters
Series: Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel
Format: Paperback; 384 pages
Publisher: Avon (September 30, 2014)
ISBN-10: 0062273698
ISBN-13: 978-0062273697

Author's Website: http://jenniferbernard.net/

Notes: Received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley. I am one of Jennifer Bernard's Hot Readers.


Fred Breen is one of San Gabriel's latest firefighters to become the center of the media's attention. The firefighters originally gained media attention for a curse that had allegedly been placed on the firehouse by one of their own who'd been jilted by his mail order bride. Despite the fact that over the last few years the bachelors and bachelorettes of the firehouse have proved time and time again that the curse is broken, the media's attention to the group hasn't dissipated. When Fred saves a group of women trapped in a limo during their bachelorette party, he gains some unwanted media attention as well as the attention of the female population of San Gabriel. Fred, however, has eyes for only one female--one of the woman he helped save from the limo.

Rachel hates confined spaces and media attention of any kind. When the limo she and her friends are riding in crashes, keeping her face out of the papers is her top priorities second only to making sure her friends are safe. The daughter of a very rich man, she'd been kidnapped years ago as a child and held in a cage. That spurred her fear of confined spaces and while she'd escaped, the kidnapper was never captured and is still at large. Over the years, her father managed to keep her out of the press but at a cost. While she escaped one cage, a protective bubble complete with a body guard has prevented her from truly living. While her first encounter with Fred did not impress, moments later, as he and his fellow firefighter, Mulligan, come to the rescue, she sees the true man and something in Rachel starts to stir. Can he be the one to break down the barriers she's surrounded herself in?

This is the sixth book in The Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel series. If you haven't read any of the previous books, that's okay. Each book stands on its own. Some characters from previous books make appearances while others are mentioned, but you won't feel you've missed anything other than some good stories which you may wish to read later. 

I was once asked if I could be any celebrity which one would I most like to be. I responded, "None." I can't imagine having paparazzi hounding me 24/7 hoping to snap an embarrassing picture as I try to go about my day-to-day life. While it might be fun for a day or so, I think it would get old quick. While Rachel isn't famous, her kidnapping years ago would make her a person of interest to the media, and if her identity is revealed, the press would be after her in a flash. Add in that her kidnapper is still at large and you can understand why she would want to stay off the radar. Plus, her father's wealth combined with her being his only heir, makes her very appealing to fortune hunters. You can understand why she isn't very trusting of others and why she'd question anyone's interest in her. When Rachel meets Fred, she sets off his knight in shining armor nature which puts Rachel on high alert. Her first thought is her father must have hired him to be a bodyguard. This sets up an extremely fun first meeting and Fred can't quite figure out what he did wrong.   

Fred is a fireman with training in urban search and rescue. He comes from a long line of career soldiers and is the first to break tradition in many years. His brothers give him a hard time about it, but Fred would rather protect people without having to shoot anyone. With Fred, what you see is what you get, and what you get is an extremely nice guy wrapped up in a very handsome fireman package. I guess you can't knock Rachel for thinking he'd be too good to be true. I must admit, I rather like the idea of a guy who saves people pairing up with a woman who saves animal. Rachel runs a wildlife refuge for injured animals.

Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. I enjoyed the bumps this couple had to overcome to make their relationship work. The added suspense of someone possibly attempting to kidnap Rachel due to her father's congressional tesimonywas a nice way to bring these two closer and draw out their feelings. While this one still contained some of Jennifer Bernard's signature humor, the suspense out shined the humor in this one. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, I give this one STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

Order of The Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel:

Early Review of How to Tame a Wild Fireman (The Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel, #4) by Jennifer Bernard

Title:How to Tame a Wild Fireman: A Bachelor Firemen Novel
Series: Bachelor Firemen
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Paperback; 384 pages
Publisher: Avon (September 24, 2013)
ISBN-10: 0062273655
ISBN-13: 978-0062273659
Author's Website: http://jenniferbernard.net/
Notes: Received and eARC from the publisher via Edelweiss.


Sometimes in order to find yourself, you have to go home...

Patrick 'Psycho' Callahan's life was sent off coarse ten years ago when he and his brother were involved in a life threatening accident. At the time, he'd been enrolled at Princeton with a career in Law or politics in his foreseeable future. But one tragic night changed everything. His father blamed him for his younger brother's near death and cast him out of the family. After finding himself banned from the hospital his brother was recovering at, he finally took the hint and left, never to return. Secretly, he blamed himself too.

While Patrick may have found his calling--to be a firefighter--that night, he lost a part of himself that has never been restored. While usually well hidden and not blatantly obvious, it subtly could be seen in the way he took chances, risking his own life at times, when others would not. While Captain Brody may not have clearly seen it, he could sense something, and so when Patrick did something really stupid--getting drunk and stealing a construction company's equipment in an attempt to dig a swimming pool/hot tub in the firehouses back yard--he sent him to Nevada where a wildfire was raging out of control near Patrick's hometown of Loveless, Nevada.

When Lara Nelson left Loveless, Nevada years ago she did so with a smile. After her parents deaths, she'd come to live with her aunt who was the equivalent to Dr. Ruth with, at one time, her own radio show called 'Ask the Sex Guru'. Her aunt also owned and ran a center called the Haven for Sexual and Spiritual Healing. Because of her aunt's unorthodox profession, Lara, as you can imagine, was the butt of constant jokes, smirks, snide remarks and speculation. She'd had a best friend who helped her get through it all, but upon graduation she'd left and never looked back. She'd become a respected doctor and loved her job. Now upon her aunt's death, she's inherited the Haven for Sexual and Spiritual Healing and has come back to Loveless to decide what to do with the facility.

Before either Lara and Patrick had left Loveless, they'd known each other fairly well because Patrick's younger brother, Liam, was Lara's best friend. While sparks of attraction had been lit before the night that had changed everything, neither had ever acknowledged or acted upon them. Now seeing each other in the midst of one of the area's worst wildfires, those sparks will be rekindled and ignite into something to rival the fire raging around them.

Can I just say I simply adore Ms. Bernards books? They're fresh, smart, funny, and I love them all. This is the fourth book in The Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel series and I truly enjoyed  it. If you haven't read the previous books in the series, don't worry, they can be read as standalones. Each book focuses on a different couple, so you won't feel lost. The common thread that binds them all together are the firemen and firewomen from the San Gabriel firehouse and the supposed curse that is believed to plagues them all--"According to firehouse legend, Virgil Rush, a volunteer fireman from the 1850's, had been heartbroken when Constancia B. Sidwell, his mail order bride, had run off with a robber on her way West. The other firemen, always quick to tease, tormented him so much he laid a curse on the town vowing that the firemen of San Gabriel would have as much trouble finding love as he had. Ever since then, the firehouse had possessed an unusually high number of bachelors."

I just love the background Ms. Bernard created for Lara. Just try to picture in your mind, if you will, being the niece of Dr. Ruth, the famous sex therapist, because Lara's aunt essentially does the same thing. I can only imagine all the jokes and what not that would come along with the territory. People getting the wrong idea about you. People giving you a hard time not to mention all the advice your aunt would probably try to feed you. The fact that Lara lived with her aunt at a facility named the Haven for Sexual and Spiritual Healing could only have made matters worse. Not to mention that she moved in with her aunt during those awkward preteen years of middle school and continued to live with her during high school when most people are just trying to find and define themselves. She's smart, strong, loyal and a bit of a spitfire and I'm sure part of that can be attributed to what she went through in school. 

Patrick is the type of guy girls swoon over. He's never been serious about any woman, but seeing Lara again seems to wake something inside him. There is something about her that he responds to. He finds her opinion of him matters more than just about anyone else's, but the fact she is his brother's best friend makes him hesitate to make a move. I love that this gorgeous hunk of a man is unsure of himself around her, but can't help teasing and provoking her because, unlike most woman, he feels at ease with her and eventually can't help himself.  

Overall, I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. A wonderful combination of humor, romance, and family healing which gave the book a rather well-rounded feel. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. If you haven't yet tried this series, I HIGHLY recommend that you do. Reading Ms. Bernard's books always put me in a good mood.

Order of the series:

Early Review of Sex and the Single Fireman (The Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel, #3) by Jennifer Bernard

• Title: Sex and the Single Fireman: A Bachelor Firemen Novel
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Contemporary Romance
• Format: Paperback; 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (January 29, 2013)
• ISBN-10: 006208898X
• ISBN-13: 978-0062088987
• Author's Website: http://jenniferbernard.net/
• Notes: Quotes will need to be checked against the final copy as I read the eARC.

The odds were against it. The chances of it happening were next to null. But on that Thanksgiving Day the seemingly remote happened. They met...

She glanced to her left. In the lane next to her, a black-haired, black-eyed giant of a man in a black Jeep aimed a ferocious scowl her way. He pointed to the cell phone at his ear and then at her radio, then back and forth a few times.

"Excuse me?" Sabina said sweetly, though he had no chance of hearing her over the blaring radio. "If you think I'm going to turn my radio down so you can talk on your cell phone while driving, forget it. That's illegal, you know. Not to mention dangerous."

He yelled, "Can you please turn that down!" in a deep, gravelly voice like that of a battlefield commander sending his troops into the line of fire.

While the first time wasn't the charm, the second time almost was before she got cold feet and left him hot, bothered, naked and waiting in a hotel room...

"I shouldn't even be thinking about it. But I am. We're two single adults alone on Thanksgiving. And I'm very attracted to you. Extremely so. It's throwing me for a loop, honestly." He smiled ruefully. Between the groove in his cheek and the desire in his eyes, Sabina felt herself melt.

Would the third time be lucky?

Suddenly she remembered the nature of the big happening today. The new training officer was starting.

He was rumored to be a total hard-ass. They'd been told they'd mind him at lineup.

She rushed to her locker, grabbed her uniform, ran to the female dorm area, and changed in record time. From the kitchen she heard a deep, unfamiliar voice. Tightening her belt she dashed down the corridor. Maybe she could sneak in a at the back of the crowd. Maybe the new training office would never notice her. Maybe...

She skidded to a halt next to Vader, pinned to the spot by a pair of smoldering back eyes glaring at her from what seemed impossible height. 

"You're in trouble now," whispered Vader out of the corner of his mouth.

He had no idea.

As Luck would have it, the new training officer was the guy she'd left naked and wanting in Reno. Do you suppose she could just blame it all on Reno?

This is the third book of The Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel series. The series got it's name from a curse..."According to firehouse legend, Virgil Rush, a volunteer fireman from the 1850's, had been heartbroken when Constancia B. Sidwell, his mail order bride, had run off with a robber on her way West. The other firemen, always quick to tease, tormented him so much he laid a curse on the town vowing that the firemen of San Gabriel would have as much trouble finding love as he had. Ever since then, the firehouse had possessed an unusually high number of bachelors."

Most people love holidays. They look forward to them. They celebrate with friends and family and have a great time. Others, however, dread them and find them to be depressing, lonely, and a trial to get through. Such is the case for Sabina Jones, it's Thanksgiving and for the umpteenth time she's made her yearly pilgrimage to Reno. It had been 13 years since she'd heard from her mother. 13 years she had spent Thanksgiving alone. Thirteen is always a bad number.

Sabina is a San Gabriel firefighter who works hard and has earned the respect, trust and friendship of her fellow firefighters. They fondly refer to her as 'Two'  being that she is only the second female firefighter the station has ever had. She's self imposed a strict policy to never to date another firefighter so as to not break up the rapport she has with them. She went to Reno in an attempt to escape from Thanksgiving. A time when memories of her mother and past were at their worst. At the time, She never could have guessed  that in a couple of days her world would be turned upside down. her past was about to come back to haunt her. A past she tried to bury 13 years ago and put behind her. A secret about herself she's never disclosed to her fellow colleagues.

Rick Roman was traveling across country to start a his new job and start fresh. He had lost his wife in the chaos of 9/11 and had finally decided to leave the ghosts behind and attempt to start a new life with his son out in California. Part of the reason they'd picked California was due to his son's love of baseball and his wish play it year-round. He'd been hired by the San Gabriel Fire Department to try to curb the publicity associated with the fire house's alleged curse. Little did he know that the woman who was driving him crazy would cause him so much trouble.

Overall, this one gets a 4 out of 5 roses. I am becoming a huge fan of Ms. Bernand's books. They always put me in a good mood and leave me awaiting the next one. They are full of fun, charm, and wickedly hilarious circumstances that make you grin. I'm shelving this one under my Pick-Me-Up shelf. If you're looking for a book to lift your spirits, you may want to try this one. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one got a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

Order of series:

Early Review of Hot for Fireman (The Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel #2) by Jennifer Bernard

• Title: Hot for Fireman: A Bachelor Firemen Novel
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Contemporary Romance
• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (May 29, 2012)
ISBN-10: 0062088971
ISBN-13: 978-0062088970
• Author's Website:  http://jenniferbernard.net/

And another one bites the dust...

"I suppose I could use a hand"...Katie knew it was a mistake as soon as the words left her mouth. A whole night of working side by side with a man with such devastating good looks, the kind of looks that belonged on a movie screen where they could remain a fantasy, would lead to nothing but trouble.

Katie Dane had been asked by her parents to watch the Hair of the Dog, her family's pub. Her dad had suffered a stress-induced heart attack and was attempting to take it easy by going on an extended vacation. Shortly after taking over the care of the bar, she understood why her father's life had been so stressful. She was having a tough time trying to break even and pay the bills that kept rolling in every week. Desperate for escape from the family money pit, she comes up with a plan, albeit a bad one, to burn the place down and cash in on the insurance policy.

Ryan Blake, a former San Gabriel fireman, had gone on an extended leave of absence a year and a half ago after an incident in which he didn't follow the department protocol. The incident had nearly cost a woman her life and had almost ended Ryan's career. If Ryan hadn't rushed out alone to take the call, things would have ended differently. Prior to that he'd been the department's wunderkind, one of the department's youngest and most successful firefighters beginning his career at the age of 19. He'd been deemed a natural. After taking time to reflect upon what happened and wrap his head around it, he was finally back in San Gabriel looking to get his job back.

When Ryan walked into the Hair of the Dog, he wasn't looking for a job, and Katie wasn't looking to hire. Sometimes things just have a way of happening.

This was such a fun story. I was laughing, shaking my head, and grinning from ear to ear. This is a very lighthearted read. If you're looking for a little pick me up, then you might want to pick up this book.

Katie is a straightforward type of person who speaks her mind. She also has a soft spot for her family and can't seem to tell her parents she really doesn't like nor wish to take over the pub for them. At times I wanted to figuratively knock some sense into her, like when she devised her scheme to set the bar on fire. I guess her mother never told her not to play with fire?

Ryan was a great character. Loyal and big-hearted, he just kind of steals your heart as the story progresses. His plan to help the bar was my favorite. Just a hint--it involves fireman and not much else. *grin* Oh, and it   involved a bachelorette party.

I loved the way the relationship between Ryan and Katie mimicked the four stages of a fire. It started slow with an incipient attraction--there wasn't much to detect just a little heat. Then things started to smoulder between them. Eventually, the relationship became flammable with visible flames. Finally, heat erupted between the two as they became engulfed in their feelings. All right, there was a point at the beginning that saw a spike in heat, but isn't that still consistent with a fire? When you light a fire with a match, for instance, there is that initial flame you get from the chemical reaction sparked on the match head. Hmmm...could the author have done this on purpose??? I wonder. On, the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

Where did the series get it's name? I believe from the following:
"According to firehouse legend, Virgil Rush, a volunteer fireman from the 1850's, had been heartbroken when Constancia B. Sidwell, his mail order bride, had run off with a robber on her way West. The other firemen, always quick to tease, tormented him so much he laid a curse on the town vowing that the firemen of San Gabriel would have as much trouble finding love as he had. Ever since then, the firehouse had possessed an unusually high number of bachelors."

Song that played in my head while reading this one--'Light My Fire' by the Doors. lol It should be noted there were many songs referred to in this one. The author could probably create a playlist for it if she hasn't already.

Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. It was a lighthearted, smile earning, and a laugh evoking read. I only wish I was able to get my hands on the first book of the series before reading it.

Notes to keep you in the know:
According to http://safetyguide.web.cern.ch/SafetyGuide/Part3/38.0Fire.html - A fire develops typically in four stages, and fire detectors are designed to detect some characteristic effect of one or more of these stages:
- Incipient stage. No visible smoke, no flame and very little heat. A significant amount of invisible (but -sometimes smellable) combustion particles may be created. This stage usually develops slowly.
- Smouldering stage. Smoke, but no flame and little heat.
- Flame stage. Visible flame, more heat, often less or no smoke, particularly with flammable liquids and gas fires.
- Heat stage. Large amounts of heat, flame, smoke and toxic gases are produced. The transition from the previous stage can be very fast.

Order of Series: