2.5 Stars: Book 2 in the Flirting with Fire series, Up in Flames left me a little conflicted. I met these characters in book 1 and looked forward to their book. I enjoyed their interaction but did find some of the back and forth a little childish and tedious. I wanted to love this book so much but just felt it missed the mark. In saying that I would hope others would still pick up this book and read it for themselves. I will read more of this series and more by this author

This whole book is set out to prove that the saying THERE IS FINE LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE. It was so fun to read how much they wanted to avoid each other but ended up spending more time together. And all this bonding leads them to realize why they were attracted to each other before "the incident".

All in all I really liked this story but I'm not sure what is up with blue hair...but that's personal opinion and has nothing to do with my rating 👍

***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***

A fun, lighthearted Enemies to lovers story that was very enjoyable to read, I loved Sloane and Reece’s banter and chemistry! You can always count on Jennifer Blackwood for a rom com that keeps you engaged from start to finish!

3.5 Stars

Up in Flames was an entertaining read with a great enemies to lovers romance between two people learning to love again after past romances gone bad.

After Reece Jenkins was an epic jerk during one of her weaker moments, Sloane Garcia avoids him at all costs as the two can’t be in the same room without fighting. When Reece ends up on the auction block at the annual firefighter's charity event, Sloane decides to bid on him and give him due comeuppance. Forced to grant any four wishes Sloane asks for, Reece thinks this task will be nothing compared to running into burning buildings. But as the two spend more time together, Reece realizes he might end up losing his heart to the last person he would have expected to fall for.

Sloane spends most of her time working as a nurse practitioner at the local hospital and helping out at a local animal rescue. Sloane loves helping others whether they be human or animal and is amazing at doing so. After a ten-year relationship went bad, Sloane has been slow to reenter the dating world as she believes it will lead to nothing but heartache. Reece always knew he wanted to do something that would help people, so becoming a fireman was an easy choice. Reece dedicates himself to his job and knows he could never do anything else. After his relationship with his highschool sweetheart went sour, Reece has kept his relationships on the easy side.

Sloane and Reece have great physical chemistry that’s apparent in their every interaction despite the verbal sparring and their obvious dislike of one another. I enjoyed the times they playfully bantered and how they were also able to have deep meaningful conversations that they couldn’t have with anyone else. When their relationship turns physical it’s incredibly hot and I wished there had been more scenes where they were alone. My only issue with their relationship was sometimes I felt they went too far with their cutting remarks against each other. I get that the romance was enemies to lovers, but I don’t like when the characters continue to hurt each other over and over again.

The couple from the first book, Erin and Jake, make numerous appearances throughout the book as do Reece’s family and his fellow fireman. There are several very cute scenes with Erin and Jake which was nice to see as I really enjoyed their book. There are a few great scenes between Reece and his youngest sister which were wonderful and I wish there had been more of them. Peaches, the dog Reece is fostering, absolutely stole the show and I loved watching this big alpha male fall for a princess dog.

Overall Up in Flames was an enjoyable read and I’m excited to read more from this author in the future. I definitely recommend this series if you’re looking for some hot contemporary romances.

Up in Flames

After reading the first book in this series I was super excited for Reese and Sloane’s book. These two had tension for dayyyys. And we finally got to see why.

Reese has been attracted to Sloane, his younger sister’s BFF, since high school. But we she comes on to him drunk while they’re both single for the first time in over a decade his chivalry comes out and he denies her....in a very heartless way. But it’s only to protect his own walled up heart.

The conflict between these two had been brewing for over a year. Reese, a firefighter, is up for review and his chief is not cutting him any slack after being shot on what should have been a routine call. Sloane, a sassy ER nurse practitioner (with omg! Blue hair!! Loved that, as I had blue hair in high school), decides to tortured him by bidding for him time in a charity auction that his chief made him sign up for. Reese owes Sloane 4 favors in 4 weeks.

Over the course of a month, creative and eccentric Sloane colors Reese’s life and breaks down the barriers between them.
But after Sloane sends a email to Reese’s boss while drunk, potentially costing Reese his job, can he forgive her?

This was an awesome story. I LOVE a good enemies to lovers story and this one was perfection. I enjoyed their teasing (Reese’s nickname for Sloane was ‘Smurfette’), the texting, the volunteering...and the pup Peaches with his Blake Sheldon phobia had me in tears with laughter. Check this book out if you like sexy firefighters, sassy heroines, laughs and 4 alarm sexual tensions you won’t be disappointed.

A little bit of a slow start, but then I really got into it. I loved the banter between Sloane and Reece. I liked reading how that hateful banter started to turn endearing. This is a true enemies-to-lovers read and though not one of my faves, it's definitely worth reading if you like that trope in addition to a good slow burn. I also loved Peaches and the whole thing with Blake Shelton. It definitely added some levity to the story.

Oh what a wild ride Sloane and Reece were. I LOVED their banter in Burning Up and Blackwood did these two justice as there were push and pull plus hilarious banter! Once again Blackwood tosses something in that I just cannot unsee or think when it comes to something. Dang Roomba! Overall, this was a smooth read, while it could feel a tad childish at how the chores occurred, it was totally worth the ride. If you liked the first book, you will enjoy this one very much!

Reece Jenkins and Sloane Garcia have known each other for years. Unfortunately, they’re no longer the easy going friends they were during the HS years, but more like enemies.
Forced to participate in the charity firefighter’s auction, Reece’s services will be acquired by Sloane who will have him on a short leash for a whole month or until her 4 favors are done.
This enemies to lovers story is a fun, fast read. The characters’ have great banter and a strong attraction, but they let their past issues get constantly in the way.
I found it to be a nice follow up to the first book in the series.

Sloane is an ER nurse and has known Reece since they were kids. Reece is a firefighter and goes up for auction at a charity event. Four for Four, four “wishes” in four weeks. They have been at each other’s throat since he turned her down when she propositioned him while drunk. She won the bid and now plans to make him miserable. What neither expects is the attraction between them to be explosive.
Enemies to lovers story. Funny and sexy with a cute dog and plenty of sharp ,witted jabs. Second in this series and can’t wait for the next one.

A friends, to enemies, to lovers story that captures the reader from the very beginning.

As a first read from this author, this book has given me to a new author to explore and no doubt enjoy.

A quick, enjoyable and fairly tame read.

This is the second book in the series, and I enjoyed it more than book 1!

Reece Jenkins is a top notch firefighter, and the older brother of the heroine, Erin, from book 1. He had a horrible breakup with his high school sweetheart about 10 years before, and he's never gotten serious with anyone else since then. It's always one and done for him. He has no one to worry about in his life but his family, and his team at work (which includes his lifelong best friend, Jake, the hero from book 1), and that is how he wants it to stay. No one to think about, or answer to. But, his new chief at the station hates him, and has basically ordered him to participate in the firefighter's auction at a charity event. The firefighter being auctioned has to do 4 favors in 4 weeks for the winner. He has no idea how the woman who bids on him will change his life. Especially since he's already known her for so many years.

Sloane Garcia is an amazing nurse practitioner in the ER, and she loves her job. She has also been an honorary member of the Jenkins family since she was a kid, and became best friends with Erin. She was always over there with Erin, and following Reece and Jake around growing up. Once they hit high school, at 4 years their senior, Reece wasn't really in the same friend group as the girls, and he had a serious girlfriend, so they all weren't as close. Then a year ago after a terrible breakup, Sloane was drowning her sorrows at the bar when Reece offered to drive her home. She came on to him, and he declined, in the STUPIDEST way possible, and she's never forgiven him. Now, all they do is snipe and bicker at each other, and it's driving the rest of their friends insane. She decides to get ultimate revenge on Reece by winning him at the auction. She'll have 4 solid weeks to make his life miserable. Best laid plans...

Reece and Sloane had chemistry like whoa, and everyone could see it, even through their constant fighting. Reece has always wanted Sloane, but she was drunk that night, and he refused to take advantage of the situation. He's felt tremendously bad about how he turned her down though, and now she hates him, and won't ever let him get a word in long enough to apologize. When they finally start spending time together after the auction, things begin to change. Reece is finally able to apologize for the part he's played in their feud, and Sloane finally actually listens to him, and believes that he's sorry. They both start to see each other in a new light, and it was so fun to watch.

Reece's foster dog Peaches was a hilarious character unto herself! I loved watching all her antics, especially her fear of a certain famous country singer, which made me laugh out loud every time. The supporting cast, including Reece's family, and work friends, Sloane's friends at the hospital, and her other best friend, Madison, made for an entertaining group. I especially loved getting to know the youngest Jenkins sister, Andie, a little better. I'm hoping we learn even more about her in the future. Madison was also a hilarious, and I'm hoping her story will be next.

I liked how the main characters really learned to communicate with each other, and I always appreciate when the issues they face in the story aren't due to a lack of communication. Reece was honest about his failings in his dealings with Sloane in the past, and Sloane was honest about her hurt in how the situation was handled. She was also finally healing from her horrible breakup and the awful things her ex said to her, so she was better able to realize that the grudge she'd been holding wasn't solely about Reece anyway. I really liked that once they started truly talking to each other, they realized how much they enjoyed each other's company. The conflict was believable, and I really felt for both of them while it was all going on.

I definitely recommend this story, as I liked it more than book 1. Both characters in book 1 felt so wishy-washy to me about their feelings, even in their internal monologues, and I didn't feel that way here. I felt these main characters were much more honest with themselves about their situation, and I appreciated that a lot. I will definitely be looking forward to more in this series.

I thought this book was very enjoyable. It's a lighthearted and fun enemies to lovers story that just made me smile. Reece and Sloane have history. They had one incredible night together then Reece turned into a major jerk. Sloane's never forgiven him and now he's at her mercy after she "buys" him at a charity auction. He has to fulfill four wishes for her and it's fun to watch her make him squirm. Will they be the same when this is all over?

This is a great read filled with lots of snark, humor and fun. I definitely recommend this one.

ok this book has a great cover i'll give it that. But i'm really struggling to get into this. I tried, really i did. it's just not drawing me in. The premise really sounded fun but I'm sadly gonna DNF this one.

And honestly the first thing Sloane does to Reece after she won him in the auction is force him to adopt a dog??? How is that getting back at Reece? That just rubbed me wrong. Also making Reece eat dog cookies thinking it was regular cookies???? smh.

Yeah i'm done.

This is my first book by Jennifer Blackwood and I really enjoyed it. Its a super fast ready of frenemies to lovers story. The banter between Reese and Sloane is off the charts and you can see that they truly like each other. I will be reading her other book in the this series as well.

This was a fun book to read. Second in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone. This was my first book by the author. It's full of fast paced witty banter and grown ups still figuring themselves out!

Sloan and Reece have butted heads for years. What seemingly started out as the annoying brother to sister's best friend relationship grew into a mutual loathing. But fate steps in to turn the two from enemies to something else entirely. Along the way, both grow as people and take the reader on a fun journey.

Reece starts out as every stereotype of a book firefighter...hot, muscled, cocky, outspoken, loyal, horny, and not looking for a relationship. He's also the brother of Sloane's best friend. So they've known each other for a long time. Sloane is a great nurse, with blue dyed hair, funky sense of style, bad track record with men, and has thought Reece is hot for too many years. Their story arc was fun to watch...a bit like watching a “Gilmore Girls” episode; full of witty banter and innuendos and missed connections

Sloane has wanted Reece for years, and after throwing herself at him in the past and getting turned down, she tries to be over it. But she drunkenly misunderstood being turned down. So she doesn't know it, but the wanting goes both ways, it's just their words and actions stopping their relationship. The years of banter and mistrust, but their desire for each other ends up overpowering those factors. And Reece keeps the hunky firefighter stereotype alive and well with his prowess and mastery with Sloane.

It took me a bit to get sucked into the book. The premise was great. The dialogue was witty and characters fun. But it seemed to take awhile to set up their backstory. Once it got going, it was fantastic. Though the whole time I just wanted to bash Reece's Chief and wonder why he was in charge. (Management, I mean really!)

I loved how the author created a great book family for Reece and Sloane. Since this is book two, I'm interested in going back to book one to get to know Reece's sister; as well as looking forward to future books about the rest of the hunky men at his fire station! This may not have been my favorite book ever, but it was an entertaining read.

Favorite Quotes:
“You didn't actually kill my brother and then hide his body, did you? Because that might be a breach of the friendship code.”
“You deserve to be worshipped.”
“Seriously, look what you do to me. How is it one minute you can be so sweet, and the next I want to throttle you?”
“Oh, she liked that smile. It promised hair-pulling, panting, using-the-Lord's-name-in-vain things.”
“She liked this. That he alreadly knew her drink of choice. In some ways, there was no guesswork.”

Star Ratings:
Plot = 4/5 Characters = 4/5 Heat = 4/5 Writing Style = 4/5 Overall Rating = 4/5

This one sadly just didn’t do it for me. I had a very difficult time enjoying the writing style...this is my first book by this author so maybe it is my own issue. Dnf @ 20%.

First, this cover is the sexiest thing I have seen all year! Yes ma’am give me a slice! How much would you pay... I mean donate... to have a sexy firefighter at your beck and call for four weeks. As for me, romance is tricky for me. I do not like when they are too fake and I felt like this one fell right into that category. I dnf at 15%.

As a woman I am not impressed with Sloane... What woman isn't thankful that a man looks out for her when she is completely intoxicated and doesn't take advantage of. I would be understanding if she was completely embarrassed with herself, however, she treats him like crap and he is described as a "colossal jerk of epic proportions". If Blackwood really wanted him to be hated, then she should have made up something better or just inserted that they had some long history of "picking" on each other since she is friends with his sister, Erin.

Reece is your typical man whore, as most men are in contemporary romance novels and I don't even need to read the book after Sloane "parched" Reece. I can already read the rest of the book in my head with out having to waste my time.

After receiving this book to review, I learned that it is apart of a series and I was excited to check out the first novel. However, and unfortunately, after not making it through this one I will probably just pass on this super sexy fireman series and wait for another one to cross my path.

A seriously hot read with a solid plot. Overall I liked how the author was able to bring the two main characters together. Enjoyed.

Up in Flames is the second book in the series and is about Reece and Sloane, who have kind of followed a friends to enemies to friends to lovers pattern.

Sloane is a Nurse and Reece is a firefighter and the chemistry is there if they could learn to set aside their stubbornness. I thought the book was engaging and I enjoyed book two more than book one. I did enjoy reading about these group of friends and I'm guessing some of the unanswered questions from this book will hopefully be answered in book three, so I am looking forward to that.

I honestly am not sure how to rate this book. While I really enjoyed, and was frustrated with both Sloane and Reece at various times, I never felt I couldn’t finish this book, Yes, the auction trope can be overused. True, Reece is a bit of a man-whore...but in his favor, we only hear about that, we never “see it” in action. For someone who doesn’t take crap from anyone, Sloane seems a bit fragile if one comment from a year ago keeps her in a state of dating suspended animation.
But for all those points, I came to this conclusion. I liked this book. I’m a siblings-best-friend trope fan, so it’s in my wheelhouse. I enjoy a good friends-to-enemies tale, as long as it’s well done and the friction between the leads isn’t vindictive. While Sloane may zing the heck out of Reece, she’s honestly worried when he is injured. And while he might have gotten around the hospital where Sloane works, Reece isn’t “dating” around in the story.
What I didn’t enjoy was what I felt was the lack of a great friendship between the Sloane, Erin and Madison. I think their connection could have been developed better. And having not read book 1, I’m not sure if it’s an ongoing issue or confined to this one. I got more bromance with Reece and the guys, but even that didn’t satisfy my love of a great guy friendship.
All in all, I thought this was a good book. I like Blackwood’s writing style and excellent dialogue and banter, which made me smirk and giggle. A solid 3.75 stars from me for Up In Flames