Jo Davis does a spectacular job of telling the life of a firefighter. Every book that I read in this series leaves me wanting more.

Danger and uniforms are a great combo!

There’s just somethin’, somethin’ about a man in uniform and this author’s firefighters have all that and more! I’ve read the Station Five series so of course I needed to dive into Sugarland Blues when it crossed my radar. Immediately. STAT! Where have these men in blue been hiding?

Clay and Melissa’s meeting seemed be random but the connections that developed between them were anything but. Clay was recovering from life-threatening injuries but was working hard to get back to the job he loved. That he lived for. Melissa found herself back home, looking for justice, not love. What started as happenstance soon became fate…

Oh the twists and turns that these two had! Two steps forward, 3 steps back in their goals while danger and life-threatening situations dogged every step. These characters were straight-forward, open and very likable – just the way I like them! Nothing contrived or false, other than the uncertainty that is bound to happen when things happen a mite too quickly.

While the plot may have unfolded in a not unpredictable manner, that didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the journey. I may have arrived late to the party but I’m just glad to be here as apparently, there are many Sugarland firefighters who found their one and I need to read them all…

I have been a Jo Davis fan since her Firefighter of Station Five series. I decided to take the leap to the Sugarland Blue series.

I have been sitting wondering how to phrase my thoughts with regards to this review… For me, Face the Flames was a hard book to get into. I felt that the storyline and characters feel short for me this time around.

That being said, I am not going to give up on Jo Davis. I love that she writes Firefighters and Law Enforcement books. I am such a sucker for those storylines given that my husband is a cop. The amount of time that she takes to make the story right to represent these fields properly is impressive to me.

Even though this book was not for me, this will not be my last Jo Davis book!

These type of books are pure candy. A sexy, hot romance with some over the top drama thrown in and BAM - entertainment.

Meet Clay Montana - local paramedic/firefighter who gets in a horrible accident while on his way to answer a call. A year later finds him working hard to get back to the life he knew. Having to relearn basic motor functions hasn't deterred him and he's determined to get his place back on his team. While out on a walk one day he happens upon a robbery where the clerk was shot. That's when Melissa Ryan enters. A detective new to the area - or rather back from a long break - she is instantly taken with Clay and the feeling is mutual. But funny thing about small towns, turns out her cousin is the one who caused Clay's accident. Talk about an awkward connection.

The story itself was pretty solid. I enjoyed Clay's relationships with his teammates. You could really feel the trust and loyalty between all of them and that added to the story. Melissa was also fairly solid just she had the added drama of a legit crazy family. The two of them together flowed nicely. They had an instant connection, but not instalove. They went out on dates and had conversations so that we could feel their connection.

But I do have to say, the drama was a little much. I mean, how many times can one guy hurt his head in such a small amount of time? And then another family has a son that gets shot and then the dad is in an accident. I mean, I get that it's a small town but geez. These people must just have extremely bad luck. Also, if it's such a small town with it's own hospital, how does that hospital suddenly become so over busy that it needs beds? Is the entire town coming in? I feel like this may be something I missed because this is the first I've read in this series and it is number 6.

All in all, a solid romance with a hot fireman. What more could you want from a quick read?

Face the Flames is the sixth book in the Sugarland Blue series by Jo Davis. I have not tread the previous books in the series, but was still able to fully enjoy the series. Those that have read the other books will likely get more out of the read just because of the prior knowledge about the characters that appear as secondary players in the story.

A near-fatal accident left firefighter/paramedic Clay Montana with devastating injuries. Now, after a year-long recovery, Clay is focused on one thing: getting his body back to form, so he can return to the job he loves. And then a chance meeting with a fiery redhead changes his life. Detective Melissa Ryan may be the new cop on the block, but she s no stranger to Sugarland. It is where she lived with her violent, criminal uncle a man she needs to see behind bars. But when she meets Clay at a crime scene, the down-but-far-from-out firefighter makes her rethink her priorities. Getting close to Clay is intoxicating, but Melissa must keep her wits about her if she s to protect them from a man with deadly intentions

Face the Flames is a small town, first responder romance. Clay is towards the end of his recovery after a serious accident that almost killed him and Melissa is a police office a little obsessed with busting the Uncle that runs a huge illegal moonshine operation. When they meet they instantly connect, and almost instantly start dating. I think the getting together was a little too easy, and while sometimes it really does work like that I felt like they never really talked about any issues or expectations they had about their relationship. They only focused on the external or danger related issues. I was a little bothered by a couple things- like how Clay's internal dialogue got all cave man when Melissa was hurt or in danger. She is an officer, it is going to happen- and pretty regularly, even though the circumstances at the time were a little out of the ordinary. I also got a a little frustrated with the lack of concern about Clay and his head injuries. I have known people that have been told to avoid alcohol and change jobs after receiving too many concussions- I would think that Clay would fall in that category by the end of the book. While I enjoyed the read, I was a little annoyed with how little the two discussed anything and how many twists put them in danger and the hospital.

Face the Flames is a romance that seemed both too easy and too hard to me, but kept me happily reading and entertained for a summer weekend. I think fans of the series will consider this a must read, but those that want more character development might not want to start the series here.

It took me a while to read this book but I like it!Clay and Melissa were great together.They were fun and at the same time cute!!

✦Review: Face the Flames (Sugarland Blue Novel) by Jo Davis http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-8cR
Publication Date: March 7, 2017
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 4 Stars

I love the Sugarland Blue series, who doesn’t like hot first responders, and Clay is no exception. He had a realistic quality that I found quite endearing and only made him sexier. Melissa was also very likeable, so that I cared what happened to her right off. The story was sexy and full of constant danger. My only complaint would be that some of the situations were rather improbable and a few times, unnecessary. That being said, it was a fun, quick read that has me looking forward to the next installment.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

A combination of firefighter, detective and suspense always catches my eye and makes me want to read the book. Even though Face The Flames was about a Paramedic and not a firefighter, I was still interested in the story. I was curious to see where Jo Davis would take this story and how she would end it.

Right from the beginning, Clay Montana had my heart and his mother had my sympathy. An accident while on duty almost took his career and his life. He’s rebuilding his life and desperately trying to get back to his squad. Witnessing an armed robbery may be the worst and the best thing that could have happened to him.

Detective Melissa Ryan was my ideal policewoman. Strong, strong-willed, smart, sexy and knows what she is doing. Vulnerable when needed … bad-ass when provoked. She knows how to work a case, when to step back and take a second look and when to push forward. She also knows a good thing when she sees it. And, there was just something about Clay Montana that drew her in.

Enter her Uncle James and a series of events that will either make her career or kill her. Clay vows to protect her any way that he can as he gets his position with the FD back. Melissa vows to protect him as she works to take her Uncle down. Together, they vow to live their lives to the fullest, side by side.

The plot line of this story was fascinating. I enjoyed the way she wove the story around both the police and fire departments, showed how they can and do work together. The supporting characters enhanced the story. I loved Clay’s mom and the guys in both the fire and police departments. They were smart, funny and supporting. She portrayed the thin blue and thin red lines perfectly. So, why a 4 and not a 5 star review? I felt like the sex scenes were forced. Some of the dialogue just wasn’t pure to the way both Clay and Melissa were portrayed. They also jumped into the sexual relationship quickly. I didn’t feel like there was a complete connection between the two of them as they fell into bed. But, with that aside, I really did enjoy the writing of Jo Davis.

Well written romance story about a badly injured and reccovered fireman who meets a tough but beautiful detective. The two are instantly attracted to each other but Det. Ryan has bigger problems - her uncle who is into crime up to his eyeballs.

I like the pacing of this story and the interesting back stories for both characters. I shall be happy to recommend this book to readers.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

After a severe wreck, on his way to a call firefighter/paramedic, Clay Montana, was dealt a severe head injury. He has spent the last year recovering and had to relearn how to do just about everything including walking! Now he’s chomping at the bit to get his job back and is so close he can taste it!

While taking a walk one day, he hears gunshots, he follows them to a gas station where he sees a man fleeing, and he knows he can’t catch the gunman, but goes inside and saves the young clerk from bleeding out until help arrives. Also, responding to the scene is fiery little redhead, Melissa, who Clay instantly knows he wants to see more of!

Melissa’s uncle is a career criminal, but one that is very smart and careful. Nobody has been able to touch him, but Melissa has moved back to Sugarland with the sole purpose of finally taking him down! But her uncle is well aware of her intentions and is determined to take her out before she gets the chance!

I usually like this series and I wanted to like this installment, but unfortunately I just didn’t. I found the romance between Clay and Melissa to be rather cheesy. And their first hook-up looked like a start to a bad porno, and unfortunately their later couplings weren’t a whole lot better.

“Anything I can do to speed along your recovery?”

Giving her a smoldering look from under his lashes, he said, “I thought you’d never ask.”

Then he reached for the towel secured at his hip, and flung it aside.”

They drove me nuts both referring to the other as “my lover” in their thoughts or “my man” and “my woman,” very rarely did they think their actual names.

A sexy firefighter and a bad-ass cop, I thought for sure I would love this book. But I found Melissa to be pretty weak, the proverbial damsel in distress. And Clay really wasn’t much better. He’s been trying to get back with his team for a year and he finally gets back and all he cares about is his ‘woman’. He was pretty whipped if you ask me.

I found all that happened to this couple all at once to be too much to be believable. And, they spent way too much time in the emergency room!

I found the idea of this book to be good, but it just lost it in the execution, which is a real shame.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

I enjoyed a lot about this story. I particularly liked that when we initially meet Clay (aside from the prologue), he is not at his best physically, but is recovering from an injury that was sustained on the job. This is an interesting twist to a firefighter story, as usually they are the macho heroes with no weakness. I liked the difference.

I liked that Melissa was a police officer. That they were on equal footing when it came to being in public service, but that she was recognized as being capable of doing her job. There was some mention of the idea of women in traditionally male roles, but it was definitely not the focus, which I also liked.

The evolution of the relationship between Clay and Melissa felt authentic and I believed it. I thought they acted as people who were in a relationship that is just beginning, and who are a little reluctant to get involved due to where they each are in their lives and the things they are facing.

I liked going along for the ride, so to speak, with Clay as he worked to get his position back with his team (no spoilers on how that goes) and I thought the resolution was handled fairly well.

I thought there was, at least in my opinion, a little too much time and focus on the secondary characters and while it did enhance the story, I also thought it pulled away, a little, from the central narrative. But not enough for me to say I didn't like the story. I did.

I recommend this book.

The stories are always good by this author however they tend to feel rushed and this is no exception

It seems like I've been waiting a long time for this book. Mostly because it has been a while. We were all shocked when Davis had Clay getting hurt and we weren't sure if she was going to kill off this character.

Each book that came after the crash we waited to hear news about clay. Was he going to make it? Was this the end of poor clay?

I'm happy to say, and you can tell by the fact that he got his own story, that Clay didn't only make it, he rallied back to the living. I can't tell you how happy I am of that fact. He was always a good character that you wanted to know more about.

I think Davis decision to leave him up in arms add to the anticipation of his story. It was like you stood next to him, waiting and worrying.

The other wonderful part of this story, besides the fact that Clay is doing well is the fact that it brought both of the The Firefighters of Station Five & Sugarland Blue series together. I'm so glad we got to visit with everyone.

Because of Clay going through so much he needed someone special to be his partner, in life that is, and he found that in Melissa. I was worried that he wouldn't find anyone that could be perfect for him, but I didn't need to.

Melissa has some of her own issues, a killer family is on the top of that list. But even with all that she does a wonderful job of keeping her life on a good path. She works very hard at it. I loved both of these two characters and really enjoyed reading their story. I can't tell you how happy I am that they are both happy and healthy.

As much as I enjoyed this story, and I did very much I did have a few slight issues. One big one was the fact that it seemed that every other second Clay was or Melissa was in the hospital. Really, like after all Clay had been through they would have let this happen, or should I say keep happening. I'm not saying any of it was his fault, it was just a little over the top.

Other then that one bigger issue for me the rest didn't take away from the story. It's very much a good story, and if you've been waiting for Clay's story I promise you'll be happy. I would tell you that I think and this is only my opinion, I'd read both series from the beginning to really enjoy this one. Knowing the characters from the other book will give you a better idea of who everyone is. They are all so good that I know you'll breeze right through them.

Firefighter Clay Montana has been fighting for one year trying to recover from a near fatal accident. A one point he almost gave up but fought through it. He sees Detective Melissa Ryan at a crime scene and finds a new reason to keep trying. Melissa has returned to Sugarland as a new detective with the intent of bringing down her criminal uncle. This battle will put her and Clay's life in danger. Fellow firefighters and detectives will have their backs throughout the ordeal. Clay and Melissa realize that together they can face the flames and find happiness.

Face the Flames by Jo Davis is the 6th book in her Sugarland Blue series. We have been waiting for Clay’s story, and it did not disappoint. Almost immediately, we see Clay in a major accident driving the Fire station emergency vehicle. The story then shifts to months later, as Clay is still in rehab, pushing himself to be able to prove he can go back to work at the Fire House, but Clay still has a way to go.

While painfully pushing himself doing walking exercises, Clay notices a robbery attempt. He was just in time to save the young boy behind the counter, but the robber got away. It is here that we meet our heroine, Detective Melissa Ryan, as she reports to the scene of the crime.

Both Melissa and Clay are attracted to each other from the start, as their chemistry heats up the place quickly. Clay has always been a playboy, and teases his co-workers who have found their mates; but his perspective after the accident changes him, and he slowly begins to see that maybe just maybe he wants to find one girl to spend his life with. Though he is somewhat handicapped, he is determined to court Melissa.

Melissa is new to Sugarland and the police force. She has been a cop for years, but decides to return home to help bring her criminal uncle to justice. The focus of this story besides Clay and Melissa’s scorching hot romance, is the tense danger that both Melissa and Clay will be put in the middle of, as her Uncle and his men will stop at nothing to bring them down.

Rather than tell too much more would be spoilers, but the story is intense at times, and very sexy other times. I thought that this story did have more sexual scenes then in the other books, which at times did take away somewhat from the other tense story line. I love seeing the other characters from Sugarland play a part, especially Melissa & Clay’s co-workers. Both Clay and Melissa were wonderful together, and Melissa was very supportive in Clay’s determination to be able to go back to being a fire fighter. Face the Flames was a very good exciting story, with a great couple, great supporting cast, and a evil villain. I suggest you read the entire Sugarland Blue series.

I have been a fan of Jo Davis for a long time, and her firefighter and police heroes have been some of my favorite reads, however this one just didn't work for me. It wasn't bad, the writing wasn't bad, the storyline wasn't bad.... I just didn't CARE. I didn't love Clay and had a hard time seeing him as hero material. I gave up on this halfway through because I was bored. So disappointing!

I normally like firefighter romances, but this one fell short for me, for a few reasons. One was that none of the characters were well drawn. The villain is pure evil and for the first half of the book, we’re just told that he’s evil, not shown. The hero and heroine are evidently free of flaws, and they both fall for each other immediately.

Clay is in a place where he no longer wants to sleep around. The novel begins by him driving the ambulance to a scene and even though he’s in an emergency vehicle racing to an emergency and he has the green light, a driver hits the driver’s side door, which lands him in the hospital for months and in rehab for months after that.

Melissa is a new detective in town. She’s worked as a cop for years, but has returned to Sugarland to see if she can bring her uncle down—the FBI couldn’t do it, but she thinks that because she’s family, she will have an in. This seemed like a great conflict, except it gets introduced and then essentially ignored for several chapters.
The romance has no conflict at all. They both fall for each other immediately. Clay has the personal need to overcome his injuries and get back to his job, but there is nothing in the way of them falling for each other and having tons of sex.

The tons of sex of otherwise good stuff detracts from the tension, so instead of mounting tension, the reader gets a tense scene, then no tension, then tension, etc. It wasn’t a recipe for a successful read.

Oh man, i read this series so long ago and to see there was another one out i jumped at the chance to read it.
I was not unhappy, i love the way Jo writes, I loved the characters new and old and i absolutely loved being back in this world.

I'd give the book a solid four .5 star rating for the mystery and the romance and an extra half of a star because of the author, and that COVER!

Review will be posted on the blog during release month

NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4
CLAY!! I am so glad that we finally go Clay’s story. As all of the guys/gals start to fall in love Clay finds himself the odd man out. But he is okay with that or he thought he was. There is nothing like almost dying to put your life into perspective.
Clay is great. I really liked his grit and determination to get back into the Station house. Throw in the tough new Detective Melissa Ryan and you get fireworks from the word go. I enjoyed the fireworks between these two. But I am thinking these two need to live in a safety bubble.
I loved how all the guys/gals of Station Five are always there for each other too. I can’t wait to see what is next in this series for us.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.