Xander (our lead MMC) is in his early 40's he has been a hotshot (wildland firefighter) for many years now and even though the job is dangerous he doesn't know what he would do without it he loves it just like his dad did. As a younger man he watched his parents relationship crumble because his dad chose his career over his wife and kids... even after that Xander went out to work with his dad when he was old enough. Unfortunately, his dad passed away in the line of duty just months before he was set to retire he died doing what he loved and Xander feels he will head down that same path he's married to his job.
Xander doesn't do long term relationships he doesn't have room in his heart for anyone else (besides his job) and he knows that his job is dangerous and a lot to put on a partner so he stays far away from anyone that might make him want things, things like a future (marriage, kids, the white picket fence etc...). He has especially tried to keep a distance from his best friend's sister Teddy and for years he was able to do so since she was happily married... but things have changed Teddy has recently become a widow and with 2 young children and one on the way she moves to town to be closer to her brother in the duplex right next to Xander... talk about temptation she's everything that he knows he shouldn't want and she is in mourning.
Being next door has it's perks including when Teddy goes into early labor who comes to the rescue but Xander he delivers the new little one and maybe just loses a little bit more of his heart in the process. While Xander had in the past spent most of the time at the station when they weren't out working an active fire he can't help from staying at home (closer to Teddy and the kids... what if they need him).
Teddy is grieving the loss of her spouse they were high school sweet hearts and she has made a pact with herself not to fall in love again losing her husband almost killed her she can't possibly do it again... especially not with the super sweet, caring, handsome as sin man next door with the super dangerous job... not to forget mentioning that he is her brother's best friend and boss.
Can Teddy ever let down her walls and give Xander a chance? If she gives him a chance she'll also have to accept his dangerous job and the fact that she could lose him just like she lost her first husband, could her heart handle 2 great losses? If she asks him to give up his job will he, that's a big part of his life.
Xander towards the end of the book receives some surprising advice from a trusted source that leads him to think that maybe some things could change in his life and it would be ok.
*Brother's best friend/Boss *Age Gap *Hero/Firefighter *neighbors *love after loss
*Grieving/loss of spouse *FMC widowed single mom *curvy FMC *pregnancy
*Dirty talk *Grumpy MMC *supportive family/crew *spice
What I liked about this book:
- Xander is really sweet to Teddy and the kids he is truly swoon worthy reading material + he is a handsome firefighter! (as evidenced by the front cover and the description of this guy)
- I liked the curvy FMC representation and the fact that Xander was very body positive towards her helping her come out of her shell (minus the scene where he was thinking she was soft everywhere, not toned in a single place... or however it was described)
- The kids were cute
- I like that there was more scenes about the MMC's job in this book, if it's going to be part of the "hot shot's firefighter's series" and we had a whole big section at the front with different terms at least some of them were used in this book.
- Had some really sweet sections between Xander and the kids where they were starting to look up to him as a father figure even before the FMC and MMC were officially together and after they were together when it was shown how much the kids loved him and he loved them.
- The FMC had some very supportive inlaws who came to help with the kids
- supportive girlfriends for the FMC, Supportive crew for the MMC
- Happy Ending
- Xander is 42 he's too young to retire... so what is he doing for work to support the family that is growing and... he wants to have more children, Teddy only works 2 days a week as a dispatcher... I would like to know their secret on how they pay their bills on her salary? Even if he has savings he isn't getting social security or anything yet.
- I got the Audible companion for when I'm in the car and while the male voices for the adults were fine it really took me out of the story the first time Teddy was talking to her son Dalton (who is supposed to be 8) and what sounded like a college frat boy was speaking...
- Xander keeps calling Teddy "momma" I guess it's supposed to be hot (cause she likes it) I thought it was kind of cringe
- A lot of the FMC's sections focus on insecurities around her body, she has had 3 kids... she's not going to look like a Dallas Cowboy's Cheerleader and we as the reader wouldn't expect her to... what else is going on with her? Is that her personality?
- I know everyone grieves differently but the FMC was already falling for and having an intimate relationship with a new man less than a year after her husband passed away (while she's still wearing his wedding ring because she's not fully over him and his mom is on board with her having this new relationship). I kind of wished that the author had pushed that part out a bit more to give it more time... this feels like when my dad's best friend had recently passed away but his wife was already dating another guy before he was even gone.
- The MMC keeps discussing how "old" he is... I'm around the same age... settle down there
- A lot of repetitive story line
- Timeline was a bit spotty/hard to figure out at times (she gets pregnant with another man's baby 3 months? after having her last child)
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