Burning Up

Flirting With Fire, Book 1

By: Jennifer Blackwood

Narrated by: Dara Rosenberg

USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Blackwood fans the flames of desire in her smoking-hot series about firefighters and the women who want them…

Unemployed schoolteacher Erin Jenkins is back in Portland, the town she hasn’t called home for more than a decade. It’s not the way she wants to spend her last days of summer: in between jobs and avoiding her mother’s snooping by escaping to the ice-cream aisle. But when the opportunity arises for her to accompany her brother’s best friend—her lifetime crush—to a wedding, summer gets a whole lot more interesting.

Firefighter and single dad Jake Bennett has built a nice, safe wall around his heart—no romance, no getting burned. That doesn’t mean he’s ruling out a fling. Considering Erin’s visit is temporary, they’re the perfect fit for a scorching no-strings one-night stand. Or two. Or five. Until the worst thing happens: Erin and Jake are feeling more. Damn that four-letter word.

Now their hearts are on the line, and when their smoldering summer comes to a close, it’s going to be harder than ever to put out the fire.

©2018 Jennifer Blackwood (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

very good

Loved it !! this story. the narrator is so fantastic it's like your really there!! good overall

Great listen

I was laughing after first few minutes. I loved the story kept me on edge and choosing sides on edge, that's what makes a good story to me.

Over the top and a little predictable

This brother's best friend, single dad romance was light-hearted. The plot was a little predictable and some of the episodes were a little over the top. Jake and Erin had great chemistry. Jake was a good guy and a great catch. Erin was too stubborn and I still didn't know why she was so hell bent to leave. I couldn't connect with Erin at all.

Dara Rosenberg did a great job narrating the story. I would have DNF'd the book if I was reading. The audiobook was an ok choice as background entertainment while I was crafting.

Fun and lighthearted

I started off this story giggling and knew this would be a fun book. I think, from the cover, I expected a much more serious book but this is definitely a rom com. And a fun one, at that. Erin lost her job and is forced to go home to Portland but her heart is set on returning to California. (This continuing narrative really became a bit annoying because it didn't make sense to make it such a strong point in her life). Jake, a single dad, gets close to Erin but the relationship is strained because of her desire to return to CA. Can they figure out what is most important for them both?

I listened to the audiobook. Dara Rosenberg was a fine narrator but I wish that there was a dual narration (there is for the second book, which I'm listening to now!). But overall, she did a great job reading the story to capture the lightness and fun of the story.

What a delight!

Such a delightful ride! Absolutely adorable! So funny and cute and sexy! The humor is all the right places! My first book by Jennifer Blackwood and definitely not the last! Delicious writing! Love it! Love it! 👍👍👍👍

Awesome

I really enjoyed this story. Only Erin pissed me off a few times. I know they said it was a casual thing. But I felt she was just using him until she went back to California.
But overall i loved the story

Easy breezy

This was an easy book to enjoy. There wasn’t too much drama or angst just a good old fashion love story with a happily ever after.

Cute book

I really enjoyed the book. Can really connect with the main character and her feeling a bit lost. Only critique is I wished for a little more with the family and explored there dynamic. But a really good book overall.

Definitely heating up in here....

I'm a huge fan of falling for the brother's friend trope. Erin and Jake's story was a really good one and I enjoyed listening to it. There were some laugh out loud moments and some hot moments as well. The narration was good, but I would have loved to have a guy narrate Jake's part. I just think it adds a little more.

Jake is a single dad and one thing he doesn't do is let random women into his life. But when his best friend's sister comes back to town, he finds that Erin is all grown up and he definitely can't stop thinking about her. Erin has had a crush on Jake for as long as she can remember. When he asks her to be his date for his sister's wedding she thinks she is finally getting a chance with Jake!

There is definitely a tug of war that goes on with Jake's feelings throughout the book. He's a single dad, so can he afford to not only put his feelings at risk, but those of his daughter as well? At times I wanted to yell at him, to just let go and give it a try! Erin took a long time as well to come around to see that all she needed she had in Portland, so why leave again?

It was a good story though and I will definitely read the next one! Bring on the hot firefighters!

My Thoughts on Burning Up

This best friend's little sister romance was a really good read. It was also a single parent story which I love. Jake seemed like a good dad and I absolutely respected how he made caring for his daughter his top priority. That's the kind of guy you can't help falling for. So I absolutely couldn't blame Erin for doing it. I also couldn't blame her for the struggle and indecision she went through trying to decide what to do when it came to balancing her career with matters of the heart.

I listened to and read this book and found that while narrator Dara Rosenberg did a good job, I also was looking for a bit more. More variation in the different character tones. More focus on really distinguishing her male from female voice. Luckily the style this book was written in helped with making it a better experience overall, but I still think this book would have been a better listening experience with either a male narrator reading Jake's POV, or just more distinction from this narrator.