I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.
Jessi Noelle has a talent, that's for sure.
This is a novella based on one of the characters from the first novel. It was an interesting read, with well-developed and relatable characters.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters were interesting and the story kept me immersed. I wasn't sure how much I was going to like it toward the middle, but I'm glad it turned out the way it did!

Jessi Noelle's previous book, Through the Inferno, told the story of injured firefighter Jason and nurse Zoe. It was warm, rich and layered, following them as they moved through the phases of their relationship, each person dealing with their own trauma, but stronger together. This novella tells the story of a side character in Through the Inferno. Vince is Jason's fellow firefighter, who has taken time to find some resolution around his role in Jason's injury. Vince meets up with photographer Aidan on the job. Their courtship is brief. Vince's coming out is barely explored, and the rest of the events in the story seem abrupt. Where Through the Inferno was driven by the characters of Jason and Zoe, in Pulse of My Heart things just seem to happen to Vince and Aidan, and they barely react. It's too bad that such strong source material didn't have a better companion.

Pulse of My Heart is the second story from Jessi Noelle in the Inferno Series. You could read it as a stand alone…there’s enough information in it – but I think it would be better to start with book one because it’s fantastic as well!

Vincent Franklin (a supporting character in “Through The Inferno”, is back firefighting. He made a mistake that cost another firefighter and a child their lives. It was also the mistake that ended the career of his friend and colleague, Jason Merones. (Main character in the first book of the series.)

Vincent still has a lot to prove … and a lot of trauma he’s still dealing with. When he rescues a puppy from what should have been a simple fire… the burns on the small creature and its lifeless body reignite his grief. He saves the puppy only to find out but the moment his emotions overwhelm him is captured by a freelance photographer. Of course he gets teased about crying over a puppy but those people in his life know that his response was about his past and what happened to his friends.

Vince goes to visit the wonder of the injured puppy only to find out that her visiting nephew is the one who took the photograph!

After an initial bumpy start, Irish freelance photographer, Aiden wins Vince over. Okay, he MORE than wins him over, Aiden ignites an attraction in Vince he’d never explored before.

When Vince realizes he might be attracted to men, he enlists the help of his friends fiancée Zoe. Zoe is one of the Main characters from the first book and I loved her! She gives Vince some frank talk and encouragement and he acts on his desires.

The interaction between Zoe an Vince is lovely, frank and a wonderful example of how we are all works in progress. Great work by the author with some super sensitive subjects.

Vince and Aiden fall for each other. Aiden is sent to a war zone and the unthinkable happens.

I don’t want to ruin the plot of this novella. For something of this length it’s packed with emotion and it’s quite remarkable.

I will definitely read anything by Jessi Noelle in the future.