Oh, my. I've said this before and I'll say it again... I love verbal foreplay! Banter between two characters that are so damn oblivious but you see the chemistry? Holy Hotness, Batman! I've discovered a handful of authors who are on a whole different level when it comes to verbal foreplay and Jennifer Blackwood is definitely one of my favorites. I loved it in Burning Up, the first book in the Flirting with Fire series, and I devoured it in Up in Flames.

Ask anyone if they would put Sloane Garcia and Reece Jenkins in the same room and the response would be a resounding NO! It didn't always be like this. As his little sister's best friend, Reece saw a lot of Sloane growing up. If he's being honest, there was also a time in high school where he harbored a crush on her. Those amicable years went out the window the night he royally fucked up. You see, Sloane also had a minor crush on Reece growing up and after a pretty painful break-up, she gathered the courage to make a move only to be brutally shot down. After that fateful night, these two can't stand each other. And when they are in the same room? Everyone but them can see the attraction under all of the death glares.

I am in love with this series. The first book was fantastic. Up in Flames was so freaking good. I hope that the last book is just as good and that it is a certain pair of best friends. Going back to the banter between Reece and Sloan. While I loved it as a whole, there were moments when I felt they took it too far. There's funny banter and there's hurtful banter. I do think some of it was unnecessarily mean. I did like how they grew as characters and realized how hurtful some of it was. That's why I loved it as a whole. I loved the funny and sexy banter, but I also loved the growth and journey the characters made through everything else. Overall, great book. I love this series and I'm hoping the last book is Madison and Hollywood. I've got my fingers crossed.

DNF @ 22%. I’m so sorry but it’s totally a me thing. It really got me mad what Sloane chose to pick for her chore for Reece. I’m not a dog person, I like cats. If someone chose for me to foster a dog for 4 weeks because we have this love-hate thing going on and feels the need to get back at me, I’d be super pissed. He’s a firefighter with long ass hours, how is this good for a dog. Oh wait, you worked it out with his mom? So then the dog is pretty much for his mother? See, totally a me thing that chapped my booty. It’s a dick move to make someone foster a pet if the can’t properly take care of it. Poor dog. Okay, okay I know I sound ridiculous but I can’t help getting irked at the pretend people.

But on the positive side, I liked the cover, the writing was pretty good. I didn’t realize this was the second book in the series since I’ve never read anything by this author before. I didn’t feel lost or anything with the previous couple although their story sounded interesting. Just because I got my big girl panties in a twist about this one thing doesn’t mean I won’t check out her other books.

Thank you Net-galley, author, Promotional Tour company and Montlake Romance Publishing Company for the copy of this story.

I really enjoyed this story. This story had many parts where I was laughing because of the banter between Sloane and Reece. It was priceless! The two grew up together as Sloane is best friends with one of Reece's sisters. The chemistry between them is off the charts.

Reece is a firefighter whose job is on the line because the chief at his house is out to get him for some reason. He is known as a player, but he has so many good qualities that the player side of him wasn't a huge deal for me. He volunteers, he helps his family all the time. He is over all a great guy!

Sloane is a nurse practitioner, she has walls built up around her heart mostly because of something Reece said to her at one time, which yes it was cruel and I wanted to smack him for it but not everything is what it seems.

I love that one thing is this story was not evolved because we will get more books. This i the first book I have read by this author as it is a book 2 I have went and bought book 1 but it can be read as a standalone as I had no issues figuring out that was going on. I do look forward to reading book 1 as I wan't to know more about the main characters in that book. Thanks for a great read!

Again? Yes. Again. It was the cover that drew me in.
Five stars for that Thinker of a firefighter...but I digress.

My first Jennifer Blackwood story. I liked her writing style, pace, and the getting-to-know-you convos and humor in the first half of the book. I say this because the "auction" trope has never been a fave of mine, especially when the participant is being forced to participate. I'm looking at you chief! Again...that cover drew me ;)

Still, I do lurve me some second chance frenemies to lovers trope!! How doesn't working out all those issues that could easily have been righted with one, maybe two, intelligent grown-up heart-to-hearts! So I hung. And then the author started to throw lots of obstacles in our MCs paths. As if his job being on the line wasn't enuf (auction shenanigans and her "report" back to the chief after the favors are done) there was...well...I'm not gonna tell you cause it would spoil the plot. Let's just say that the author could have weeded out 2/3 of the hurdles and gave us more backstory on the OM and Sloane's relationship, more of Sloane (a nurse) being concerned about Reese's "accidents" on the job. Scheesh. He gets **** AND **** AND a concussion, but what the heck, he's got a doctor's slip to return to work so let's just not talk about it again. And speaking about not talking about IT, their first intimate encounter was with happy fingers...then snap...they jump apart...act like NO THAT CAN'T EVER HAPPEN AGAIN! Then in the next (heavy) breath they go right back to a discussion on decorating his apartment. WTH. Can't these young people ever talk through anything that means anything???

I did like the writing. It flowed pretty smooth, just all the plot hurdles (way too many IMHO) slowed it down. I really liked the humor, some of it was silly (and made me laugh) and some of it was really witty (which kept me engaged). I liked Blake Shelton ;) So between the awesome cover, the humor, and the secondary cast of thousands (I loved that both our MCs have loving families), and Reece (a really great guy albeit clueless about a lot of stuff) I am rating this a 3*

A couple of things where big holdups for me. First, why didn't Erin, Reece's sister and Sloane's best friend, intercede more? Why didn't any of their childhood friends? I also didn't feel all the plot points had enough, or any, closure. But my biggest thing was Sloane.

I liked her in the beginning, but she did not grow as a character for me much beyond the 50% mark until the very end of their journey. She was plainly and continually mean to Reece (yeah, yeah, I get it *air quotes* she had "shields") far too long after they started to work toward each other. And Reece had a hard way to go to prove he cared about her. She saw to that. And he did show he cared (that was pretty swoony stuff). Some of the things Sloane said to him made me want to throat check her. Drunk email was not even the worst of it. But that's me. You might be more sympathetic. You might like this chaotic girl-child with blue hair LOL. Cleary Reece thought she was worth it in the end. I can deal with that, my man. I can deal. Try not to get hurt so much anymore, okay? Someone has to dress Peaches responsibly.

*ARC received through NetGalley for an honest review*

This is book 2 in the Flirting with Fire series and can absolutely be read as a standalone. I didn't read the first book before this one and understood everything that happened. This one is about Sloane Garcia and Reece Jenkins. Sloane and Reece have been at each other's throats ever since he was beyond rude and mean when Sloane was already down. Sloane tries to stay away from him but it's hard to do when he is her best friend's brother and their friend's are all mutual. But when she finds out that he is going on the auction block for the firefighter's annual charity event, she can't help but to buy him and try to find ways to get back at him. But neither of them thought about the fact that they are now forced to spend time together, and to actually work out the issues they may have. Even when something else happens that wasn't planned on or even meant to happen.

I really liked this book! Sloane was beyond snarky and cracked me up all over the place! And the way she doesn't put up with any kind of snark or meanness just made my day! I didn't start off liking Reece. I thought he was beyond a jerk and just didn't respect women at all. But he redeemed himself by the end, and after understanding what happened, it made it a little more understandable. Even if I still didn't like how he acted. On a whole though, I really liked this book. Both characters ended up likable and definitely showed how they grew and learned to move on from their pasts. Now I need a book about Hollywood!

First I have to say that I loved this book, but what happened with the arsonist?
This is an enemies to lovers story. Sloane and Reece have known each other most of their lives. Including childhood. For the last year she has hated him and he's done his best to avoid her. This was difficult since he's a firefighter and she's a nurse practitioner in the E.R.
They end up as much more than enemies.

Up in flames is the second volume in the Flirting with the Flames series but it can be read alone without troubles, even though the couple of the first volume appears several times here.

Reece and Sloane have known each other since childhood as Sloane is one of Reece’s sister’s best friends (who’s also the heroine of the first book). One year ago Reece said something hurtful to Sloane and since then they are in some king of squabble where they ignore each other or throw spiteful words to each other’s face. There’s some time before we learn really what happened, and frankly I found this reason ridiculous. <spoiler> Reece found Sloane completely plastered in a bar, he took her home, and she made advances on him. In order not to take advantage of her he said he wasn’t interested by her and never will </spoiler> and she took it veeeery badly. So yes there are other ways to say that, but to the point of despising him like that it’s really exaggerated, especially as it comes not from a stranger but from someone whose personality she knows.

Because of that they bicker through almost the whole book, while alternating with moments where they inwardly and repetitively wonder about their attraction for the other. There a lot of sexual tension between them but I was soon tired of their digs.

We also have the big cliché of a hero who was hurt and disappointed by an ex, here his high school girlfriend who dumped him during his firefighter formation, and since then he’s become a womanizer who sleeps with everyone (except the heroine) without ever becoming attached to anyone. As for Sloane she was dumped by her longtime boyfriend who told her hurting reproaches and that’s supposedly why she took so badly the hero’s words a few time later.

In the negative points there’s also the hero’s chief who hates him and wants him transferred in another station but we never know why. He reproaches the hero everything that can happen even when the hero visibly didn’t do anything, and to punish him he forces him to participate to the firefighters’ auction (people can bid to buy four favors from the firefighter on the auction block). Once again I found that to be a bit childish from someone near retirement but it’s just a way to force Reece and Sloane to get together because of course she jumps on the occasion to be able to belittle the hero. And then there’s a plot with an arsonist that’s not solve in the end when the book ends with an epilogue one year later.

On the other side there are quite a few scenes funny and light, especially due to the fact Sloane forces Reece to foster a Chihuahua. Of course the dog’s presence allows Reece to show some good sides and softens Sloane’s feelings toward him. There are also a lot of friendly interactions between Reece and his friends, or Sloane and her friends.

But all in all it’s a book that has too many things I didn’t appreciate, too bad.

I received a copy of this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first time reading a book from this author and it was a pleasant experience. Sloane is a no nonsense, spit fire nurse who holds a grudge against her firefighter friend Reece. She wins him in a fundraising auction with the intend to make him to her bidding and get back at him for rejecting her when they were younger. I enjoyed the bickering and felt they were well matched. Some of the scenes were a bit awkward and unoriginal but as a whole the characters had great chemistry and the story engaging.

From the moment Sloane Garcia met Reece she fell hard for his sexy smirk and knee weakening one liners, but she was younger, and his sister's best friend, so he kept a safe distance, and she developed an unshakable crush. One night after a few too many she finally works up the nerve to make her move, thinking maybe he finally would feel the same, but he shuts her down, and it hurts something fierce. And that is when her deep hatred for the man starts, every time he is around she tries to find a reason to vacate the premises, and if he dares talking to her, she gives him nothing but icy stares.

Then her friend mentions the firefighter auction, and it's as if a miracle of sorts just pops into her lap, it's the perfect way to exact a little revenge, and pay him back for the hurt he caused her that night. She is more than ready to make him pay, but once the game has begun she realizes she may have bitten off more than she can chew!

As soon as I cracked the cover on this one, and these two started to dish out the banter I couldn't help but want to get comfortable, and see how it all played out... and wow what a spicy little game of revenge it turned out to be! These two were made for one another, they had chemistry for days, and their heated little exchanges did not disappoint, they brought on the heat, angst, and emotion, and had me feeling every ounce of it. There is even a little mystery happening in the background that keeps you wondering how that is going to play out later in the series, I can't wait to see what happens with that. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, it was steamy, dramatic, and riddled with the feels, and of course came with a irresistible firefighter who knows just the right words to have you swooning throughout! Highly recommend!

I requested an advanced copy of this title, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

UP IN FLAMES by Jennifer Blackwood is a fun contemporary romance. It has great dialogue between characters and a few really hot 🔥scenes! It also shows lifelong friendships and loving families. The romance between a Firefighter and Nurse includes a small foster dog that loves to dress up!

Sloane and Reece’s banter was priceless!!!! The history that the two had played a HUGE part in how they were with each other...

This series is the first time I have read this author. I did enjoy the story line but to me it needed to be a little more exciting. I lost interest in the book and it make myself finish it. Not sure if I would recommend it to anyone.

I received this book from Net Galley for an honest review.

An enemies to friends to lovers romcom. Up In Flames is filled with lots of LOL moments. It is a slow burn between the two characters and does take a little long to build, but the funny moments outweigh the anticipation for the characters to figure out they actually do like each other.  

Sloane Garcia grew up with the Jenkins family. She's best friends with Erin Jenkins, his sister, who just happens to be dating Reece Jenkins best friend as well. The group is tight and by all accounts she should be off limits, but Reece can't stop thinking about the tiny nurse with blue hair that he calls Smurfette.

Sloane is feisty, strong willed, and doesn't take any crap from him. It should turn him off, but her attitude mostly has the opposite effect. Reece has been unable to stay away and when he's bought by the very woman he's trying to avoid at a bachelor auction it begins to change everything.

Sloane doesn't know what came over her. She prefers to save her money, not spend it on frivolous things like infuriating men at bachelor auctions. However, when Reece stepped onto the stage at the Fireman's Four by Four something possessed her and she had to have him, perform chores for her that is.

Four chores over four weeks. She'd make him pay for all the humiliation he'd caused her. Maybe once his time was done she'd finally get over her infatuation with him and they can go back to just being friends again, if that is even possible.

Up In Flames is a fun, lighthearted read about enemies that turn into lovers. The writing was great, though there were some inconsistencies that I would blame on the editors. Sloane and Reece have been at each others throats for the past year. Sloane made a pass at Reece when she was drunk and he turned her down in a very harsh manner. It played into the insecurities that Sloane already had and she hasn't liked Reece since. Thanks to an auction, Reece is at Sloane's beck and call. From there, the pair familiarize themselves with each other again and fall in love.

I loved the characters! Reece was a jerk in how he rejected Sloane but he was a great character overall. I loved Sloane to pieces and sympathized with her. Blackwood did a great job creating two characters that were interesting on their own. The chemistry between the characters was palpable. I would definitely read another book from Blackwood!

This was a good story I highly enjoyed this story line and characters.
I now am off to read book 1.
I highly recommend this book

*3.5 stars* Up in Flames by Jennifer Blackwood was an entertaining, fun and sexy enemies-to-lovers read! Even when Sloane and Reece are at odds with each other, the chemistry is strong with these two! If you enjoy a slow-burn romance, this one is for you.

Looking forward to the next book in the series!

Although this was my first read by this author I have to say I loved it up to the point when Sloane did something very stupid when a reader of course know that this would in the future be the cause of all problems and possible break up.

Really stupid.

That’s the only thing I had to knock down a star otherwise I really liked this enemies-to-lovers book!

4 stars.

loved this book so much. I enjoyed reece as a character so much and I loved seeing his story develop with sloane. full review to come on the blog!

Up In Flames Review
By: Jennifer Blackwood

📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚

Definitely hot hot hot!!! But so much more.

Let me start by saying I have become a huge fan of this author. She writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some are quick witted story lines are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills.

Sloane Garcia has butted heads with Reece Jenkins ever since he was a colossal jerk of epic proportions on a night she’d rather forget. So what if he’s overconfident, ultramasculine, and hard muscled? When she finds out he’s on the auction block at the annual firefighter’s charity event, she decides to give this cocky firefighter a dose of his own medicine. Now that she’s won the hunk, he’s on call—to do whatever Sloane wants.
Sure, Reece and Sloane had a rocky start, but he had his reasons. None of that matters now that he’s the bachelor at her beck and call, tasked with granting her four wishes in four weeks. He runs into burning buildings for a living, but nothing will be as tough as dousing the flames Sloane ignites in him. What started out as just a game might end up with Reece losing the one thing he swore he’d never give up: his heart.

I really enjoyed this book and it kept me engrossed throughout. I really loved the characters and the way they interacted with each other. This is a fun, hot, romantic must read book and I would definitely recommend this book to
This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in dual POV my personal favorite this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know your 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.

Thanks Netgally for letting me read and review.📚💕

This was my first book of Jennifer and I will definitely read her books in a future.She is amazing.. Up in flames is a story of Sloane and Reece , nurse and a firefighter who knows each other their hole life. Their relationship looks like a battle between the cat and the mouse,they are constantly in a conflict because they fear their true feelings . This book was really funny and relaxing .I enjoyed in their witty dialogues ,I read it in a few hours and I recommend it to everyone. Thank you very much Montlake Romance and Net Galley for this opportunity .