One Match Fire caught my attention because it has a second chance romance and it's set at a summer camp. It had all the ingredients for a perfect swoony romance, but I wound up not being all that into the story. I liked Amy and Paul's character individually. They were both in the process of trying to figure out their lives. I just didn't get the connection I was looking for between two. Like I mentioned, they had a shared history together tied to the summer camp, but I didn't find that their history was explored in a compelling way. They also got back together fairly quickly. I was hoping for more angst, more waiting, and more of an emotional connection between the two. However, most of the book wound up being a whole lot of sex. I'm a fan of the sexy times in books too, but I do think with a romance there is something as too much and One Match Fire ventured into that zone for me. All that being said, I enjoyed the camp elements to the story. They made for a unique romance, in my opinion. I also thought the writing was pretty strong here so I will certainly be reading more from this author in the future.

My review of this book was published at All About Romance on August 17, 2018. You can find the review here: https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/one-match-fire-by-lissa-linden/

It has also been cross-posted to my account on Goodreads. (www.goodreads.com/lynnaar)

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/F Romance – Second chance

First off, I would categorize this more as a young adult, coming of age story, but you only really get to see the grown up version of the characters, so it was somewhat strange.

Amy and Paul grew up seeing each other for one-week increments during the summer. However, for that one week, they were the best of friends and as they got older, they became more... or at least Amy thought so. However, when Paul's secret is revealed, Amy leaves and never looks back.

Paul didn't know why Amy had left like she had and for several years, he has pined over her. He was able to live his dream, but now realizes that something is lost or missing in his life. He decides, kind of on a whim, that he needs a drastic change.

Amy is going through the motions of life but isn't living. When her eyes are sprung open to that, she knows that she needs to find a place that makes her happy. That place where she can dream again and not worry about someone else's dreams.

Amy heads back to the place that she was once the happiest in her life and there, she finds Paul. This is where the story takes on a much different feel. For me, it went from a second chance romance beginning to a young adult story. Amy was emotionally stunted and Paul as well. Neither was really past their young selves enough to know or act like mature adults.

And despite the emotional twists and turns in this story and the truth reveals, despite the sexual chemistry between the two characters, they had very poor communication and had to learn what a relationship was throughout the story.

So, while it was a sweet second chance romance, it was more young adult than I was expecting.


Sarah – ☆☆☆
I usually love all the feels in a good summer camp story, but while this one had some very sweet and sexually charged moments, it didn’t entirely work for me.

I think my big issue is with the characters. Amy and Paul seem to have both been emotionally frozen at the age of sixteen. They both carry an unbelievable amount of emotional baggage from their teenage camp romance. Honestly, the angst in this story feels totally disproportionate to Amy and Paul’s previous relationship and neither Amy nor Paul seems to have done any genuine adulting in the decade since they last met. I found Amy’s lack of self-confidence and her need for perpetual self-reinvention annoying, and I hated the way Paul just seemed to coast through life, insulated by his inheritance in a fluffy bubble of white boy privilege.

There are some great camp scenes of hiking, canoeing, and shelter building – but camp romances are usually about young adult/new adult characters and with older characters, much of the self-discovery magic is missing.

One Match Fire caught my attention because it has a second chance romance and it's set at a summer camp. It had all the ingredients for a perfect swoony romance, but I wound up not being all that into the story. I liked Amy and Paul's character individually. They were both in the process of trying to figure out their lives. I just didn't get the connection I was looking for between two. Like I mentioned, they had a shared history together tied to the summer camp, but I didn't find that their history was explored in a compelling way. They also got back together fairly quickly. I was hoping for more angst, more waiting, and more of an emotional connection between the two. However, most of the book wound up being a whole lot of sex. I'm a fan of the sexy times in books too, but I do think with a romance there is something as too much and One Match Fire ventured into that zone for me. All that being said, I enjoyed the camp elements to the story. They made for a unique romance, in my opinion. I also thought the writing was pretty strong here so I will certainly be reading more from this author in the future.

So good! Think about your favorite summer camp experience and the super cute guy who gave you a kiss. Yes, that guy! He's the one you've been pining over. He seems to like you, protects you from those typical boys who try to pop your bra. This guy is cute and funny and cool. He kisses you and then he talks in his sleep and ruins everything. You leave, running, and don’t see each other for years and years. Now, you have career burnout and are looking for a change. You head back to camp and he's there, sexier than ever and still confused about why you bolted. This is that story. It’s fresh, heartfelt and, yes, hotter than a one match fire in some places. I loved every, I can almost taste the HEA, moment.

I received an ARC of this book, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A light-hearted, sexy read about adults who fall for each other a second time around in summer camp.

Take my advice and don’t make the same mistake that I made. Do not – I repeat, DO NOT – think that it’s a good idea to read ONE MATCH FIRE by Lissa Linden during downtime at work. Not unless you want to explain to your coworkers while you’re blushing or fanning your flushed face. Read this contemporary romance in the privacy of your own home.
ONE MATCH FIRE is Lissa Linden’s debut novel, and it is due to be published on March, 1, 2018 by Carina Press. The novel is about Amy and Paul their reconnection at a summer camp that they both attended as teenagers. Amy and Paul were best friends for two weeks every summer when they both attended summer camp. That is, they were best friends until Paul broke Amy’s heart and she never came back. Until now. Paul has been working as the director of the camp for the past five years, and now it’s time for him to move on. To return to civilization and a social life that doesn’t involve hanging out with the local wildlife. Amy has turned into a workaholic and she suddenly realizes that she needs a break. So she accepts the job as the new camp director, hoping that returning to where she was happiest will help her find herself. She certainly doesn’t expect to find Paul there. During the two weeks they have together before the kids arrive for camp, Paul and Amy reconnect. And they keep reconnecting. Paul wants to remain at camp and see if he and Amy can make their budding relationship to work. Amy wants Paul to leave because she doesn’t want to risk losing herself in a relationship when all she wants to do is find herself at camp. Paul has to show Amy that she can have both.
ONE MATCH FIRE is a fun, steamy romance that does not lack on the, well, “romance.” The second-chance romance between Paul and Amy is very sweet, and readers will find themselves cheering these two on. Linden tells the story from both of their perspectives, alternating chapters between Amy and Paul. Getting into both of their heads shows the internal battles that they are both facing in this relationship. The novel is well-written, the characters are full developed, and the plot is captivating.
I had no idea that summer camps could be so life changing. Makes me wish I had attended some when I was a kid. After reading ONE MATCH FIRE, you’ll never look at summer camp the same way again.