ARC Review: FLIRTING WITH FIRE by Kate Meader

Kate Meader has a brand new series featuring a band of firefighter foster siblings and their blazing hot love interests. Book 1 is soon to be released and you guys would not want to miss this.

Title: Flirting with Fire (Hot in Chicago #1)
Author: Kate Meader
Publishing Date: March 24, 2015
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Source: ARC from publisher
Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | iTunes | BAM | IndieBound | Powell’s | Simon & Schuster

The first installment in Hot in Chicago, a brand-new, sizzling series that follows a group of firefighting foster siblings and their blazing hot love interests!

Savvy PR guru Kinsey Taylor has always defined herself by her career, not her gender. That is, until she moved from San Francisco to Chicago to be with her fiancé who thought she wasn’t taking her “job” of supporting him in his high-powered career seriously enough—and promptly dumped her for a more supportive and “feminine” nurse. Now, as the new assistant press secretary to Chicago’s dynamic mayor, she’s determined to keep her eye on the prize: no time to feel inferior because she’s a strong, kick-ass woman, and certainly no time for men.

But that all changes when she meets Luke Almeida, a firefighter as searingly sexy as he is quick-tempered. He’s also the second oldest of the Firefightin’ Dempseys, a family of foster siblings who have committed their lives to the service—if Luke’s antics don’t get him fired first. When Luke goes one step too far and gets into a bar brawl with the Chicago Police Department, Kinsey marches into Luke’s firehouse and lays down the law on orders from the mayor. But at Engine Co. 6, Luke Almeida is the law. And he’s not about to let Kinsey make the rules.

 

Why did I want to read it?

It’s the first full-length book from a brand new series from Kate Meader! I know she tide us over with her novella in the anthology Baby, It’s Cold Outside but it has just been too long since her last book. And oh my gosh, firefighter siblings! Yes, I’m there!

 

What worked for me?

What I really appreciate about Kate’s writing is that she allows her readers to get to know her characters really well. Luke and Kinsey are a power couple and that term goes for so many ways. They both are people with unbelievable strength and I don’t entirely mean physically. They find their strength in their bonds with their family, in the dedication and love they have for their professions, their innate integrity and goodness. And they’re both smart and sharp and sexy as all out. It was an amazing journey for me as a reader to get to know these two, their not-so-good past relationships that have shaped how they perceive relationships to be, the choices that they had to make that have pretty much defined the paths their lives would take.

I’m glad to see that Kate still delivers that great banter between her characters. Sparks flew every time Luke and Kinsey go head to head be that as adversaries or, let’s just call a spade a spade, when the sexual tension feels heavier and heavier with each scene. They’re no pushovers. And boy are they a couple of stubborn people! But they know what’s worth fighting for and worth fighting over and that compromise does not mean capitulation.

The romance was great. There’s a part towards the last quarter of the book where I was surprised by the turn of the story and to tell you the truth disappointed. BUT only for a while. Because it turned out to be one of my favorite things in the story. I kid you  not. The way Kate explored that particular plot line, well, color me impressed. There was gradual realization and understanding on my part. And then complete acceptance. And then I thought, of course there’s no other way Kate could have written out this story. lol 🙂

And of course, how can I not mention the rest of the Dempseys! They’re fiercely loyal and they’re great people to hang out with, basically. Oh my gosh, I want to read all of their stories. Like, now! or Yesterday! Beck’s story I read and loved in REKINDLE THE FLAME. But I can’t wait for Wyatt, Gage, and Alex. I loved getting to know a little about them in this book. But I particularly would beg for Alex’s story. I’m just so glad that her book is up next, due out by Fall, I think.

 

What did not work for me?

I really enjoyed reading this book from cover to cover. And while I wouldn’t exactly label this as a did-not-work-for-me scenario, I did feel that there were a couple of scenes that felt a bit repetitive in terms of plot movement; just that back-and-forth sort of feeling. There were also a couple of times where I felt there was more telling than showing so I didn’t get that full experience on those parts.

 

My over-all take on it?

This was a great new beginning for a new series from author Kate Meader. You can’t miss meeting Luke and Kinsey, who will basically make you laugh, entertain you with the sexy times, and of course touch your hearts with the power of their love story. And of course, you wouldn’t want to miss getting to know the Dempseys a little better.

 

My rating:

 

 

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from the author/publisher in exchange  for an honest review. Yes, these are my honest and personal thoughts on this book.

 

Kate Meader writes contemporary romance that serves up delicious food, sexy heroes, and heroines with a dash of sass. Originally from Ireland, she now makes her home in Chicago, a city made for food, romance, and laughter – and where she met her own sexy hero. When not writing about men who cook and the women who drool over them, she works in an academic library. Visit her website at http://katemeader.com and follow her on Twitter @kittymeader.

Connect with Kate Meader:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

 

 

More Kate Meader on the blog:

Feel the Heat (Hot in the Kitchen #1)
All Fired Up (Hot in the Kitchen #2)
Hot and Bothered (Hot in the Kitchen #3)

Rekindle the Flame (Baby, It’s Cold Outside Anthology – Hot in Chicago #0.5)

Author Interview #1

Guest Post #1

 

 Have you read any of Kate’s books? Do you have your favorites?