Amazing. I couldn't begin to explain this steamy fantastic read. He's HOT in all the right ways, and she's absolutely perfect for him. This story was addictive, and keeps you on the edge of your seat!! A MUST READ story for every romance reader!!

Up In Flames

**received an ARC in exchange for an honest review**

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Next up in the Flirting With Fire series is Up in Flames and you do not want to miss out on this book. Sloane and Reese will heat up your kindle with the sparks that fly between them. I love how they dance around one another but at the same time care about the other person and want to help anyway they can. Even though they have grown up together they still are learning things about each other and make them fall for the other more and more. I can’t wait to see what will happen next in this series!

Reese loves his job as a firefighter and isn’t afraid to take a risk, but it’s beginning to become an issue with his boss. And this time around he is stuck having to participate in the firefighter auction and hopefully his sister will take pity on him and buy him. Unfortunately his sister’s best friend does and she is going to give him a run for his money.

Sloane is still bothered by the rejection she received from Reese and can’t help her reaction to him each time she sees him. But when he has to enter the firefighter auction she knows this is her opportunity to get back at him for what happened. She is going to make sure she uses her time wisely with him and make sure he doesn’t know what to expect each time. And little does she know that he is full of surprises.

But is she ready for what will happen when they spend all this time together?
Will he change her mind on how she feels about him and maybe even give him a chance? And is he ready to let Sloane in and finally give in to how he feels about her?

Where do I begin? Jennifer Blackwood has always had a way of snagging me with her stories! Up in Flames is no exception. These types of stories are my favorite. It is a blend of second chances, once friends now enemies turned to lovers, and the forbidden theme of falling for your sister's best friend that creates a unique tension I cannot get enough of! Sloane and Reece have so much tensions between them. There are only two options: fight like cats and dogs OR a sexual relationship that is off the charts. Since the second seems to be off the table due to a past encounter, they are always picking at each other. Their banter is phenomenal. I found myself laughing so hard in this book! There is never a dull moment with these two. And then when Sloane comes up with a plan to make Reece pay for all of his past indiscretion, it is plot gold. These two work, and once they get past their preconceived notions, it is just what you want to read about. The ups and downs add depth and dynamic to the story, giving this girl a book she adored. Needless to say, Up in Flames has everything you want in a romance book. It has laugh out loud comedy, genuine characters, real conflict, and emotion. I cannot wait to see what comes next in the Flirting with Fire series!

I loved the first book in this series, couldn’t wait for this book. It definitely didn’t disappoint! Sloane and Reece were perfect for each other. Very good enemies to lover type of book. Definitely a well written book and flows well.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/F Romance

Sloane and Reece's story was somewhat disappointing for me. The history that Sloane and Reece have is not well developed or deep. It was an encounter that left one embarrassed and because of that, somewhat vengeful.

Sloane doesn't like Reece. She believes that he was cruel and is just not for her; despite his attempts to mend their relationship, she is immature and annoying about it. When she sees a chance to get her revenge, she jumps at it.

Reece is a risk taker and he knows it. But when a risk almost costs him his team and injures him, with his captain already disliking him, Reece is coerced into an auction to raise money for a good cause.

Sloane and Reece dance around their attraction and the history they have – their immaturity is rampant in this story.

I was very disappointed in how the characters handled the situation. Even the fire captain was immature in this book. I am hoping in the next installment that there is a little more adult romance and less young adult behavior.

Reese is a very good firefighter that has been rolling around in bed with more nurses that he should. So much so that almost all the nurses at the hospital have something against him. When he ends up in the hospital, as a patient, because of a misjudgment at work, he gets to be treated by Sloane. She's his sister best friend and the girl he treated like garbage a year ago.
Sloane is now a certified nurse practitioner at the Portland General Hospital and during one of her rotations, she has to tend to her best friend brother. He got shot and she stitched him up even though what she wanted to do was punch him. She had a small crush on him and a year prior he had been a colossal jerk to her, so she kind of hated him now.
When Sloane bid and win Reese on a charity auction that makes him be at her beck and call for a month, things turn towards a different path between them. Could this two get past their differences and fall in love?
The character development was great. I had so much fun watching this two fall in love even with all the difference and problems they had along the way. Even more so with the ending of the story, when a drunken mistake almost pulled them apart.
I had no problem with reading the book from cover to cover. It hooked me from the beginning and even though it had some parts where it seemed a little slow, for me personally, there was no point in which I broke away from the story. I read it all in less than a day.
The writing was well done and I really liked the description. It wasn't a flourish one, for which I'm grateful, but a simple style with enough detail to fill my need for information and not too much to become a chore to read it. I also loved the fact that the issue between Reese and Sloane was explained early in the story because it gave better context to it all than if the author should have waited and put it at the middle or something.
I would recommend this book to those that love the "hate to love" trope or "the sister's best friend" trope. I would also like to say that even though the book is #2 in the series, it can be totally read as a standalone.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book provided by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

Reece and Sloane had all the elements to really make the story work: friends who had an attraction to one another, a messy past involving a rebuffed advance and great chemistry.

They also had a plot that was believable and an author I really enjoy.

So, why 3 stars? I'm going to be honest and say I really don't have that answer. I never connected with them or their story. I've thought about it, and other than the idea that he's dated (not totally positively) all of the nurses Sloane works with, there was nothing about this I can pinpoint as less than well done.

So, I'm going to say it's a little like mushrooms. I don't like them. I don't have any specific negative feelings or reasons...I would just rather not find them in my food.

In all seriousness, I'm sure this is just me and that everyone else will love this book and I'm going to get "what's wrong with you???" messages for this one.

Overall, I recommend this title. Enjoy it.

Enemies to lovers? That’s what this book is about! If you think running into burning buildings is dangerous for Reece, just wait until Sloane wins him on the auction block for 4 weeks! Can what begins as a game turn serious or will it just be Slaone’s way of revenge?

Author Jennifer Blackwood creates some noteworthy characters in her novels and Up In Flames is no exception. Another top pick in reading.
Review copy received from the publisher via Netgalley

Reece and Sloane have a past but that doesn't stop Sloane from bidding on the hot fireman at a bachelor auction for payback.

What ensues is a sexy romance that includes four wishes Reece must grant to Sloane, and explanation for a night in the past and an ache that burns as hot as any fire he ever has to fight.

Loads of fun and romance. Recommended for fans of the firefighters are hot genre!

Another fantastic story for the series, I enjoyed the overall story and the heat (see what I did there) and chemistry between Sloane and Reece is pretty hot.

When seasoned firefighter, Reece, is shot at the scene of a fire, the nurse practitioner who stitches him up is the one woman who hates him - his sister's best friend, Sloane. And when I say hate, I mean HATE. Why does she hate him so? She propositioned him previously during a night when she was already feeling low thanks to her douchey ex, and he turned her down in really the cruelest way possible, then proceeded to bed all the nurses in her department. Yeah...ouch!

But Erin, Sloane's friend and Reece's sister, tells her she knows a way Sloane can get a little even, Sloane takes her up on it and bids and wins him at a fundraising auction. Now Reece is hers to make do what she wants. Does Reece dare back out? Not if he wants to keep his job, ordered to do so by his boss, the chief who has always had it out for him.

As the two spend time together, some of Sloane's anger seems to abate, and the two start thinking of indulging in their MUTUAL attraction. But, Sloane's still not sure if she can trust Reece, considering the harsh way he rejected her before and that he is a player at heart, and Reece is still so damaged by his ex's betrayal that he can't even think of defining whatever it is the two of them are starting to develop. Will they ever be on the same page?

I wanted to love Up in Flames, unfortunately I just never connected with Reece and Sloan. They were kind of boring I guess you could say. Not to mention that although their banter was sometimes witty and fun, a lot of the times, it veered into the mean and vicious territory. Enemies to lovers can be a hard trope to balance, to do right, and I'm afraid the author didn't quite find the right balance here between the enemies and the lovers. Too much enemies and not enough lovers. Still, I see potential in the writing, and in this series, so I'll probably read more of this series.

A sexy, fun firefighter romance. I really loved the hero, Reese. Great read!

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I tried reading this book on 2 occasions and I just simply could not get into it.
The writing is good - just the story did hold my attention.
I usually love firefight romance books. And from the way he is described, Reese sounds hot!

This was my first book by this author.
Although it wasn't for me, it might be for you.

This iis the first book I've ever read from Jennifer.

It was just brilliant!!!

I loved the story and the characters were amazing!!!

This story is about a firefighter and the girl he in love/hate, because those feelings are never far from each other’s feelings. So what can you do when your feelings changes from hate to something more. This book have humor,love and some sweet revenge.

I was given this ARC to give an honest review, from netgalley.

Sloane has always been a no nonsense kind of gal. She works hard in the ER and has the respect of her fellow coworkers. When she finally decides to let loose and have some fun, she's humiliatated when she propositions Reece. Reece, her best friend's brother, has dated or slept with all the nurses she works with, so she figures why not? When Reece turns her down with cruel words, she takes it personally. A huge hit to her self esteem and confidence.

Reece has always had a crush on Sloane, but knew she was off limits as she was his sister's best friend. After a night of drinking, Reece finds himself in a predicament. He wants Sloane, but knows he's not "the one" for her. So he says mean, hurtful things to her in order to push her away. None of what he says is true, but he knows she deserves better than him. Reece also has his Chief, who's approaching retirement, to contend with. So his focus needs to be on work, not Sloane.

In efforts to keep his job, Reece agrees to be auctioned at the firefighter's benefit. Seeking revenge, Sloane uses the opportunity to purchase Reece's services, 4 duties in 4 weeks. Sloane starts off giving Reece jobs that she knows will mess with his sterile, orderly life--like fostering a dog and cleaning out dog cages. Reece completes all tasks without complaint as he knows the Chief is looking for a reason to transfer him. When Sloane discovers the "true" Reece, she can't quite make herself torture Reece anymore. But one email sent in error to Reece's boss could destroy what they've built.

Who doesn't love a novel with a hot fireman, a cute dog who picks out her outfits, and an intelligent heroine??? I absolutely loved Reece's interactions with his foster fur baby! Soooo adorable. I could also relate to Sloane's struggles with self esteem and insecurities with love. I enjoyed the couple's friends and commeraderie as well. I highly recommend this novel and the rest of the series. I read a gifted copy and all opinions stated are my own.

Two matches can start an inferno. Reece has known Sloane since she was young. He wanted her when he was in high school and as adults the attraction has just grown. Now she is a nurse at the local hospital and bumps into Reece on the regular but their relationship is complicated. Reece is a 10 year veteran firefighter and has no clue why Sloane is so frosty with him. When Sloane buys his services at a charity action she vows to make his life miserable. This arrangement forces them to interact more and the attraction is ready to spark.

There are a lot of themes to this story that require hard truths to come out. The dialogue is fun, flirty and snarky. I enjoyed the writing style and the way the story progresses. Even though this is Book 2 in the series, I didn’t feel like I missed out on the other character’s stories.

2 headstrong people who are so right for each other but outside influences keep them apart. This was a fun read with lots of sparks between Sloane and Reece. This story had lots of different elements to it that made the story that much clearer to the reader. Enjoyable story.

My preferred book character rules of conduct kept me from overly enjoying this one, folks. You see, as an avid romantic at heart, I’m just not particularly into unapologetic, womanizing manhos. That is definitely how Reese, the hero, first came across. His day job as a fireman had him putting out fires and saving lives on a daily basis, but according to his referenced former nighttime sexcapades he was well known for unleashing havoc and heartbreak with his “once and done”, “use them then lose them”, non-dating philosophy. Blaming that misbehaving on a former broken heart, which he claimed made him afraid to love again, turned this courageous fireman into an emotionally cowardly lion.

Knowing he’s formerly messed around with almost a dozen of the heroine’s fellow nurse co-workers made me glad they are all hospital employees. Hopefully, being in this field, they know to get checked for STDs after their brief, smexy few hours with him. Better yet, they should sign up for some therapist couch time to find out why they did it in the first place. You see, he always made it perfectly clear he didn’t want a real relationship, and they had to have known about the previous OW since they worked together.

He actually did the right thing with Sloane almost a year ago when a would be smexy encounter went sideways. However, the hurtful, tactless manner it was done had me shaking my head. She’s not gotten over it either, folks. I would have rather seen her smile and kill him with kindness though, instead of turning bitter, resentful, and sarcastic. Not that I didn’t enjoy and even chuckle sometimes when she talked about him or put him in his place. At least she was calling him out his bad boy behavior, while others looked the other way.

It did seem childish of Sloane though to resort to acts of revenge. “Let it go, lady…” is what I wanted to convey to her. Her backlash comments could be funny, but a vengeful, catty attitude doesn’t look good on anyone. Nor does immature behavior.

As the plot unfolds as spelled out in the synopsis, they naturally start spending time together, and we quickly start to see a better side to Reese. Honestly though, having his own heart broke in the past should have made him want to be a better man, IMHO.

I did somewhat let go of my beef with Reese for a while and started to accept things as they were. Unfortunately, my interest in this romance completely went up in flames from the mediocre writing that crept in. Reasons to dislike Reese and find him annoying also kept reoccurring. Sloane also started to get on my nerves. She went from sassy to a sappy, doormat heroine.

Title: Up in Flames, Series: Flirting with Fire (Book 2), Author: Jennifer Blackwood, Pages: 300, stand-alone but part of a series, enemies to lovers, former manho/firefighter hero, nurse heroine, author I usually really like, knucklehead moments, steamy scenes. Rating: 2.5 stars

Book 1 - Burning Up (4 stars)
Book 2 - Up in Flames (2.5 stars)

(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review, nor is there any affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley)