A second chance romance with a bit of suspense and a whole lotta sexiness. Then toss in sexy firemen and you have an enjoyable read.

It’s fun seeing how they’re all finding their loves and moving forward. I need to get caught up with all the other books.

Mixed feelings on this one. 3.5 stars.
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I have read one of the prior books in the series so I was familiar with the characters for the most part. It took me a little bit to recall everyone, but I was looking forward to getting back in the Firehouse.

I have mixed feelings about the story however. While I can appreciate Wren’s situation and thought process, I think it was chicken crap that she ran. I actually held a grudge against her until about halfway through the story because of this.

She destroyed lives and relationships and I just thought that wasn’t cool. Trust is a big thing in a relationship and including this kind of storyline in a book like that may lose the trust with the readership too. It is a delicate balance.

I absolutely loved Grant. He is a true sweetheart and loves her so much unconditionally. That to me made the story worthwhile and the ending was beautiful because of the way he forgave her. Plus, the tight circle of friends that became family was something we could only wish for in our own life.

There was one other area that really bothered me and seemed very abrupt in it’s conclusion. Not to add any spoilers here but once you get towards the end of the book you will understand. And just to mention, there are triggers in this book too.

Overall the story was good and definitely the last quarter of the book was the best for me. I actually shed a few tears as everything came together and that made up for a lot of parts I didn’t care for.

I’ve read several books by Shannon and have always enjoyed them. This one just didn’t set with me over the choices the heroine is crafted to do. Along with keeping babies secret, I think women (or men) running in bad situations is going to be a hardline no read for me in the future.

this was a nice wrap up to the series and it was good to see updates on the other cast of characters. i had a hard time connecting to the heroine and i could relate a lot to the hero and how frustrated he was with her. i felt like she just moved through everything too quick. from running scared to telling everyone everything. plus the ending felt pretty anticlimatic.

**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the ARC in exchange for an honest review**#FlareUp #NetGalley

This was a 3 star for me!! A second chance tale! Although firefighters are always fun to read about and it was a sexy read there was smth missing! Overall it was an sweet romance read!

Flare Up is a fabulous romantic suspense by Shannon Stacey. Ms. Stacey has delivered a well-written book and loaded it with outstanding characters. Wren disappeared after her boyfriend beat her brother until he had to be hospitalized. She felt safe enough to begin a new life and a new romance. A phone call was all it took to leave her boyfriend and go into hiding again. Grant was angry and hurt when Wren left him, but when he found her as her apartment burned he wanted answers. Wren and Grant's story is packed with drama, humor, action, sizzle, suspense and just a tiny bit of angst. I enjoyed this book from cover to cover and look forward to reading more from Shannon Stacey in the future. Flare Up is book 6 of the Boston Fire Series but it can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow this one takes you on a rollercoaster of a ride with everything that happens throughout this book. A breathtaking, breath holding, fast paced, action romance story full of twists and turns and scary adventures that these characters have to go through to get their HEA. Loved it! Definitely recommend

At the risk of sounding like an echo, I'm joining the reviewers here who are moaning about the weak ending to this series. But then the past two books haven't exactly thrilled me either so I can't say I'm surprised - very disappointed, yes, but not surprised - at how it's all being wrapped up.

Like others, I was anticipating Grant and Wren's story. Why was she so mysterious and then why did she ghost him? Well, suffice it to say the reality and reasonings of the book left me underwhelmed. Then the ending. Hmmm, not so great.

{{My review will be posted to my blog on Friday January 18th}}

[I received an arc for an honest review]

Flare Up by Shannon Stacey is the 6th book in her Boston Fire series. I wasn't aware of this before I went into it and without having read the first five books I was able to get into the story fairly easily. Yet I wish I had read them because the main couple in this had a relationship during the previous books.

Five months ago Wren walked away from Grant, the man who loved her, abruptly and without explanation. Grant was left hurt and confused. Now Wren is back, and he can't wrap is mind around it. He is still hurt and confused but won't let her walk away from him again. The threat that caused Wren to run is still present, but she realizes she may have acted in haste. Now she has to try to start over with her life, her friends and her relationship with Grant. But it isn't long before her threat becomes a problem again.

I felt for Grants character and what's not to love about a loving, caring fire fighter. Wren was harder for me to care for and I think that's because I didn't read the previous books in the series so all I know her as is the one who broke Grants heart. The whole group of friends in the novel were wonderful and fun, and I was left once again wishing I had read the other books' haha Bonus points go to the novel for making me feel at home with the setting. I live in Boston and could picture the different locations easily and have experienced many local pizza places where the food outshines the wait staff. Overall, I felt the story progressed nicely and kept me entertained but it kind of just ended, there was no big confrontation to solve the situation. It was just over with, and they got their happily ever after.

Flare Up by Shannon Stacey was a good second chance romance filled with family, friendship and love. I would definitely by interested in reading more books by Shannon Stacey in the future.

I do enjoy this series but this story felt a little rushed.
I wanted a little more danger and intrigue to the stalker ex storyline. When confrontation did happen, it really livened up the book.
Having said that, I found the central love story between Grant and Wren to be very sweet.
I loved how their friends rallied around the couple, trying to keep them safe and together.
Unfortunately, I found the conclusion an anticlimax too.
Overall, not my favorite of this series but still a decent read.

2.5 Stars

What a bummer. I was actually intrigued how the author would spin Wren’s ghosting on Gavin and the circumstances that brought them together. Yet when it finally arrive, I was left dissatisfied as the delivery wasn’t quite what I expected them to be.

The glaring stumbling block was the question why Wren had done what she did to Gavin. The logic she came up with just flabbergasted me. Her violent ex trying to make contact weirded her out into disappearing, but she didn’t want to completely lost touch with Gavin so she was still staying around - just not around - hoping that when things back to normal she could just popped back into Gavin’s life. How could she expect (hope, wish?) the problem resolved when she did NOTHING about it except hiding?? Perhaps I don’t have to try to understand the logic of abused mind to sympathize with them, but it was really hard for me to cheer for Wren on this one. If it were up to me, I’d rather Gavin found a totally different character for their HEA! I mean, I’m all for second chance and everything, provided the turnabout and redemption act were acceptable enough.

And another thing is Wren’s ex; for a lone villain he seemed to be so good in outwitting everyone. To have said ex to practically stalking them without them get ANY hunch, even when say Gavin felt someone staring too long at him while among his crew??

I think the saving grace of the story for me is the firehouse brethren and camaraderie between them; the back and forth jibes were still entertaining just as much as candid and open conversation between the men. But even those could act so much as buffer when the main plot failed to amuse me. The sad thing is, “Flare Up” being the final installment of the series that I was hoping it could end with positive bang. Alas, it just didn’t work that way...


Advanced copy of this book is kindly given by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Looking for a second chance romance? Shannon Stacey has a wonderful one for you. Grant and Wren meet up again when he saves her during a building fire. Grant is shocked she is still in Boston after dumping him months earlier. He gets her a place to stay with friends and they tentatively start to date again and work through their feelings and issues.

For Wren, her abusive ex finding her is terrifying after what's he's previously done, actions that cost her only remaining family to disown her. She is scared that Grant will turn on her once he learns the truth, as the only person she trusted did before. Grant, on the other hand, can't understand why she found him so easy to walk away from when he and his friends would've helped her. Nothing is solved easily but the love and attraction are still there so they rebuild and work their way to trusting each other. The time apart felt like a fresh take because it wasn't too long and too often the reason for the separation is hidden too long in the book, which is not the case here.

The breakup means that some of Grant's friends and family are a bit weary of Wren pulling another runner so it's a relief when she temporarily moves into a room in Cait's mom's house (Cait is the heroine of the previous book, Hot Response). In the review copy I received, her mom's name was not the same as it is in Hot Response, which may be corrected in the final copy and is the reason why I omit it here. It helps Wren as she has support from a mother figure, as well as her employers and co-workers at her two jobs. It makes all the difference as she moves on from her past.

This is one of the best second chance romances I have had the pleasure of reading. The character development, pacing, and storyline make it stand out. Highly recommended!

I love a second chance romance and after seeing how broken hearted Grant was following his break up from Wren and her subsequent disappearance in the previous book in Shannon Stacey’s Boston Fire series, I was looking forward to seeing how their reacquaintance played out.

“I’m not sure excited is the word I’d use.”

Sadly, Flare Up was an uninspiring end to what has been a great series. The opportunity was there to give Grant and Wren the story deserved and the guys a decent send-off but with an underdeveloped weak storyline, everything fizzled out. Nice epilogue to end on though.

***I received this book via NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review***

I was so excited about this book and was pumped when NetGalley approved me for an e-ARC.

Shannon Stacy is a fantastic writer. I love the world she has built in the Boston Fire series. Not enough people talk about world building in romance. So I was already invested in these characters. But this is also a reunited-lovers story. That is my favorite trope.

Grant was a great hero. He's justifiably a little standoffish when he first reconnects with Wren, but he isn't the jaded hero who shows up all the time in romance novels. I love reading about male characters who are open to being in a relationship.

Wren is actually the more withdrawn character. I really liked reading her journey and growth.

They were a fun couple. And I like the push and pull of their interactions as they reconnect. It is a different dynamic than you see in a lot of romance. That's probably why I love this trope so much.

I have a really tiny issue wiht this book. And it's probably a personal issue. Grant's best friend's name is Gavin. These names are just too similar for me. I kept confusing who was who. Like even when writing this I had to look up the hero's name to make sure I got it right. I haven't read Gavin's book (it's the only one I haven't read in this series) so maybe reading that will help.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. The ending had a feeling of being a series ending which would make me sad. I really like these characters. At least Ms. Stacey has other books I can read to get me by.

I love this series by Shannon Stacey. This wasn't my favorite of the Boston Fire books, but that didn't keep me from devouring it - much like I do with all of Shannon Stacey's books.

Grant and Wren are ex's and not for a great reason. She called it off one day and that was that. They are reunited during a rescue and while she is still trying to keep her distance, he's not hearing it. He's a little more determined to figure out what went wrong and make things work between the two of them.

I didn't love Wren's character, but I still enjoyed the overall story. I loved reading about Grant's family connections and I liked that there was a little more suspense than usual in this book. Even though this wasn't my favorite of all of the Boston Fire books, I'd still buy it and recommend it to friends!

4 1/2 stars.
I love this series so much!! This group of firefighters is such a great bunch od people and a wonderful family. They all have each others backs in and out of work. I am so happy to finally get Grant Cutter's HEA. I have been waiting for it, and to find out what the heck was up with Wren. Poor Grant! She absolutely gutted him when she left. I had a hard time with Wren sometimes, but Grant is amazing!! They are able to rekindle the flame they once had but this time it burns brighter and hotter with total trust and honesty!!

I have read all of Shannon Stacey’s work and I’ve enjoyed them all, this fell a little flat for me. I didn’t really care for Wren. She seemed to me a little whiney. Just not my favorite book of hers but I will continue reading for sure!

Sexy firefighters are always fun to read about, and this book was no exception! Shannon Stacey definitely knows how to turn up the heat (pun intended!) and get readers excited about the buff, alpha men in this series. The relationship between our hero and heroine was well developed but largely off screen, so to speak. I felt like a prologue was needed in order to help the reader understand the couple's past sooner. It took me a while to understand what exactly had happened between them and why they were in love. Since the love was already there at the start of the book, I didn't get to see the romance bloom, which is half the fun.

The last person Grant Cutter expects to carry out of a burning building is his ex-girlfriend, Wren Everett, but that is exactly who he finds in his arms. Thinking Wren had left Boston five months ago when she abruptly ended their relationship, Grant is stunned, confused, and hurt. As she recovers with mutual friends, it soon comes to light the real reason why she left him, and Grant must reconcile his heartbreak with his protective instincts when it comes to Wren. Their relationship may have ended, but his feelings for her never died. Now he must decide if their love is worth a second chance.

Both characters were engaging and unique, and I loved seeing their interactions with each other. However, as mentioned above, having the romance develop prior to the book's first page made it hard to really connect with them as a couple. Instead of showing their love develop, we were told about it, and that takes some of the enjoyment out of the romance. Wren's reasoning in leaving Grant was also confusing - here you have this strong firefighter surrounded by other strong men, but you don't trust that he can protect both himself and you from your ex? It was eventually explained, and the reader starts to understand where Wren's fear is coming from, but it was a little too late for me. I enjoyed seeing them fall in love again at Grant's parents' house, which was probably my favorite part of the book. That's where the emotions really flowed from the pages, and I could feel their love. I wish the rest of the book had more of that. The book seems like it could be enjoyed as a standalone, but I suspect it may have been better had I read the previous books. Maybe I would have felt more connected to the characters had I done so.

I have read Shannon Stacey before, and she is consistently a solid read. While this book wasn't my favorite, it is still one I would definitely recommend. It certainly sparks my interest in reading the other books in the series!

Wren moved from Virginia to Boston to get away from her controlling ex. He went to prison after beating up her brother. She meets Grant, a firefighter, and slowly lets him in. She gets a phone call and believes it her ex. She breaks up with Grant and goes into hiding. Five months later, the crew gets called out to an apartment fire and Grant finds Wren in one of the apartments. He is shocked and angry for her breaking up over the phone. They never stopped loving each other but Wren was just terrified of what would happen to Grant if her ex ever found her. After explaining all this to Grant he understands her mindset but thinks she should have talked to him about it. But when things start to happen and Grant is hit in the head, will Wren take off again or will she stay and fight for the man and family she loves?
Hunky firemen, crazy ex, and an scared woman. Steamy and some action.
Great story and you’ll love the characters.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *

Oh, man. I felt for Grant when Wren walked out on him in the previous book. Buuuuut, running like she did made me think something was up and I'm glad to see I was right. (because I like being right!)

Stumbling over Wren throws Grant's world into a tailspin. He's nowhere near over her and that makes him willing to listen to see what sent her running from their relationship in the first place. Which is awesome. Finding out about the fear she's been living with eases some of his hurt, but it's not all puppies and roses.

On her end, Wren knows she hurt Grant with her actions. She knows her secrecy with him the first time around made things worse. So she's determined to be more honest. Because hurting him ultimately hurt her and that's not a good way to rekindle a relationship.

The rekindling part was pretty awesome, btw.

We got to see familiar faces, spend some quality time at Kincaid's, and watch a romance bloom again. Perfect!

Boston Fire series seems to trade off between on story being more mystery\suspense and the other more romance with a small tiny little bite of a mystery\suspense.

Flare Up is romance with a small bite of mystery\suspense that might disappoint readers if they are expecting the stalker part of the story to be the lead. Its not and it only gets a slight mention at the end.

The story is a second chance romance that readers of the series have been waiting for.

The story had me scratching my head trying to figure out why she ran away because it didn't make any since. The author wanted to create tension and build up but will leave most readers as confused as Grant was as to why Wren left. It almost feels as if the author didn't have a reason for her leaving and came up with something that could fill .25 % of the book to give a readers a reason for this second chance romance.



Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Carina Press for the advance copy Shannon Stacey Flare Up