Review: Controlled Burn by Shannon Stacey (Boston Fire #2)


Note: This ARC was provided by Carina Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lieutenant Rick Gullotti more than appreciates the fact that he's been fortunate in his life. He's doing a job that he loves, is surrounded by men he trusts and considers his brothers, and even lives in a home with low rent and has landlords that he would do almost anything for. When one of them ends up in the emergency room, concerns over the elderly couple spring up once again, especially with a home as big as theirs. The sudden appearance of a granddaughter no one in their community even knew existed has Rick wary and cautious. He's not sure just how much he can trust Jessica Broussard, especially when it appears she's angling to sell the home her grandparents own. As much as he suspects her motives, he can't deny the attraction he feels, but he can't fall for a woman who lives in San Diego, no matter how much he wants to.

Controlled Burn is the second book in the Boston Fire series from bestselling author Shannon Stacey. I had this book scheduled for review on December 1, because that was the listed publishing date on NetGalley. Lo and behold, I found out earlier this week that it already came out on November 24. Lesson learned: confirm date of publication on Goodreads and don't just rely on the date posted on NetGalley. Anyway, this second in a series brought with it a story about Rick Gullotti, firefighter with the Boston Fire Department's Ladder 37, and Jessica Broussard, a financial planner working in her father's company in San Diego. There's a certain level of wariness that they feel for each other when it pertains to their motivations for helping Joe and Marie Broussard, but there's also chemistry that simmers between them.

I liked the romance that went on with Rick and Jessica. There's a lot of tension between them, and not just sexual in nature. Their relationship develops over the short amount of time that Jessica spends with the grandparents that she's only meeting and getting to know for the first time, but they're in such close quarters that I can't really fault the pacing. Rick was a supporting character that stuck out in the first book, so I'm glad that he gets his own happily-ever-after here. He's a really great guy who is a true asset to the BFD and is loyal to those that matter most to him. He's always been seen as someone who would never settle down--a reputation he shares with Scott Kincaid, whose story is up next in the series (YES!)--but it's clear that Jessica inspires him to consider a future he'd like to share with a significant other someday soon.

At the beginning of the story, I could relate to how Rick felt towards Jessica. I wasn't sure if she was someone I could immediately trust, especially since she never made any move to get in touch with her paternal grandparents before. She was also very focused on pleasing her father, but I loved how her character evolved throughout the story. Being around her grandparents and really getting to know them brought out a softer side to her. Then there was Rick, who may have been the opposite of the kind of men she usually dated--especially since most of them were actually younger than her--but was exactly what she needed in her life. There was this whole song and dance between them that lasted for a good portion of the book, but it was like necessary foreplay because when they finally got together, they fit together perfectly.

Aidan Hunt and Lydia Kincaid, the lead characters from the first book, Heat Exchange, do make appearances in this story, as do Danny and Ashley Walsh, but it's my curiosity about the latter couple that has yet to be abated. They were a significant part of book one, and with what happened to Danny here in book two, I would love it if they had their own book as well, one that would show how they actually fell in love before getting married, how they dealt with their separation, and what happened afterwards. Of course, that could be wishful thinking on my part, but hey, I have nothing to lose by putting it out there, right? I am looking forward, though, to Scott Kincaid's story because the guy has finally gotten bored with the dating scene. 'Til then, I hope you enjoy Controlled Burn as much as I did. This one receives four stars. ♥

Date Read: 25 November 2015

Learn more about Shannon Stacey.

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