Julian doesn't get close to people. It's never really explained why, I think he was disappointed with his family so long ago he didn't know how to open up to people and give them his trust. So while his firefighter team appreciate his skills he isn't really liked.. Howard always wanted to see more to him so he was the one giving him most of the chance and also when he saw how much he is into Grace - Kat's sister as well as Howard's wife - he simply accepted it, not worrying he'll hurt her (money placed on the other way around..) Julian falls HARD for Grace. He keeps trying to get to her, to make her date him but nothing.. until she finally does.. when he gets hurt and she visits him she realizes how much more there is to him than the womanizer.. But even with his feelings for her, he doesn't want to push her, he is willing to accept the parts that she is willing to give him, even though it breaks his heart. ~sigh~ though Julian isn't what I'd consider my "type" that part of him TOTALLY won me over.
I could really relate to Grace. In a way I AM her. I mean, I"m no successful lawyer ;) but I AM someone finding it hard to commit and to lower my guards to let a man in. I could SO understand her struggle with herself. She didn't really want to fall in love with him even when it was kinda obvious to her she is already or almost there. Yet she is still a loving and caring person in general and she does value the friendship she built with Julian it's just the next step is freaking her out. So while most people would look at the two of them and say Julian is the one who needs to grow up, it's the other way around. Julian was having fun and do stupid things as long as nothing of value was in front of him, but as soon as he realized he wants Grace, everyone else around him disappeared and it was all HER. Another endearing quality right there!
The mystery starts when Grace and Julian meet with a client of hers which shocks Julian to his bones. His tormentor from his past, a past that he has buried years and years ago. Julian doesn't know how to warn Grace from this man without telling her the truth.. so in the end he does exactly that, but more than that, when he sees a young man kidnapped (?) from a local bar he makes an unconscious connection to his past and helps Detective Shane Ford (the one who helped Howard in the first installment and made an appearance in the second - he is Shea Ford [Cori's best friend] twin brother) bring a closure to one HELL of a creepy case. Unlike the previous ones we got a glimpse into the killer's head in this one beside the MC POVs it was even more chilling getting the POV of one of the victims, same one Julian saw leave with a man looking a bit "off" as though he was drugged yet not being fast enough to stop the guy taking a ride to his doom.
I really enjoyed this one. It was strong on the suspense, creepy and scary as hell, yet it was also sweet with Julian and Grace building their relationship with one another and yeah also hot with our half Latino half Italian lover boy ;) It was fun getting a bit of the two couples from the previous installment as well as a few snippets and hints into what's to come in the next ones. Also the team FINALLY does some sort of intervention where Sean is concerned - trying to make him choose to LIVE and not exist until he poison himself to death. It was nice finally seeing his good side (up until now he was a total jackass!) I really can't wait to get his story! But first we have Tommy's HEA with Shea Ford. I've heard there's a spin off to this series with cops, I have a feeling it's going to be of Shane and Julian's brother. I really want to have my hand over them!
Great read! I'll be jumping to the next one right away :
Additional Details: Kindle Ebook, 298 pages, 19-20 June 2015 / On GoodReads
ABOUT THIS SERIES
This series is an EXCELLENT Romantic Suspense. It has it all, sexy firefighters, YUM on the outside and sensitive on the inside resulting in sweet romance with plenty of steamy sex. It has suspense galore the fires always licking at the edges and taking our precious heroes into medic care. The women are smart and sexy, not being left out with all the action and not giving the guys a break when they need to put their over protectiveness and priorities straight or just being there, sitting by their bed and showing them real love and care.
There is a spin-off series centering around cops called "Sugarland Blue". Some of the cops mentioned in "Firefighters of Station 5" has a book of their own in the spinoff - Like Shane (1st installment) being Shea's brother - the MC in "Line of Fire" and Tonio (2nd installment) being Julian's brother - the MC in "Hidden Fire".
Books:
1. Trial By Fire [Howard Paxton & Kat McKenna] (Published 8 August 2008) ★★★★★
2. Under Fire [Zack Knight & Corrie Shannon] (Published 5 May 2009) ★★★★
3. Hidden Fire [Julian Salvatore & Grace McKenna] (Published 1 December 2009) ★★★★★
4. Line of Fire [Tommy Skyler & Shea Ford] (Published 4 May 2010) ★★
5. Ride the Fire [Eve Marshall & Sean Tanner] (Published 7 December 2010) ★★★★½
Books:
1. Trial By Fire [Howard Paxton & Kat McKenna] (Published 8 August 2008) ★★★★★
2. Under Fire [Zack Knight & Corrie Shannon] (Published 5 May 2009) ★★★★
3. Hidden Fire [Julian Salvatore & Grace McKenna] (Published 1 December 2009) ★★★★★
4. Line of Fire [Tommy Skyler & Shea Ford] (Published 4 May 2010) ★★
5. Ride the Fire [Eve Marshall & Sean Tanner] (Published 7 December 2010) ★★★★½
 |  | |  |  |
No comments:
Post a Comment