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Showing posts with label Firefighters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Firefighters. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Book Review: Flare Up (Boston Fire #6) by Shannon Stacey + giveaway

Flare Up (Boston Fire #6)
by Shannon Stacey
January 29, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Carina Press
Series:
Format: Print / Digital eBook
Print ISBN: 9781335924599
Digital ISBN: B07GBC1TP2
Nursing a broken heart while everybody around him seems to be drowning in happiness has Grant Cutter wondering whether staying with Engine 59—or even Boston Fire—is in his future. It’s tempting as hell to pack up what fits in his Jeep and hit the road. But then a 911 call brings the woman who shattered his heart back into his life, and he knows he won’t ever be able to fully leave her in his rearview mirror.

For a few months, Wren Everett had thought the nightmare of her past was behind her and she might live happily ever after with Grant. Until she got the phone call letting her know the time her ex had spent in jail for assault hadn’t cooled his temper or determination that she belonged with him. Cutting ties with Grant was the hardest thing she’d ever had to do, but it was also the only way to keep him safe.

Now that Grant is back, he’s not letting Wren push him away again. And even with the trust issues between them, Wren dares to hope she and Grant might have a future together after all…if they’re willing to fight for it.


I can remember watching the movie Backdraft (woot Kurt Russell!) when I was a kid and being mesmerized. All the amazing actors filling the screen, sexy/scary situations, macho maleness pouring all over. I LOVE IT. So of course I had to give this one a go. Didn't know a thing about the previous stories and I will say that may have hurt the overall experience just a tad.

Our leading male Grant is HOT, he's alpha all the way around but with a soft side that comes out only to those closest in his life. Wren is the gal he can't get enough of and I did, for the most part, enjoy the pair and their struggle to find happiness. I didn't like aspects of the two when it came to finally making a decision if they are or are not going to have a relationship. It was too much back and forth for me.

A good deal of action and interaction between Grant and all his firehouse bros. I loved a lot of the banter and fun times that the guys would have as a team and family. Overall I enjoyed the story for what it was.

Getting 3 and 1/2 Sheep





KD

Excerpt:
Copyright © 2019 Flare Up
Shannon Stacey
The apartment was small—one room and probably barely legal—so it only took a few seconds to follow the coughing to the person on the floor near the window. While Aidan did a quick check of the bathroom and under the bed to make sure there was nobody else, Grant crouched down next to the person he was pretty sure was a woman, despite having a throw blanket over her head.

“Fire department,” he said. “Let’s get you out of here.”

Her cough was so weak and ineffectual, he didn’t bother asking if she could get up and walk. Instead he rolled her, intending to lift her and carry her out.

Then the throw blanket slipped away from a sleep-tangled mess of blonde curls, revealing dark blue eyes he saw in his dreams, and Grant’s world stopped.

“Wren.”

He hadn’t seen her in five months, since she’d told him on the phone she didn’t want to see him anymore and then ghosted. No explanation. No compromise. Nothing but five months of a broken heart that hadn’t even begun to heal yet.

What the hell was she doing in this place?

Grant. Her mouth formed his name, though no sound got through her constricted throat. The grayish cast of her skin and lips terrified him, and he started to hoist her up.

Aidan was at his side. “I’ll carry her out.”

“I’ve got her.” Despite the shock and pain from seeing her again, Grant wanted to hold her. He wanted to cradle her in his arms and feel that sense of contentment holding her had always brought him in the past.

There was no time for that. After draping her over his shoulder, he stood and headed for the door. It wouldn’t be a comfortable ride for her, but the only thing that mattered right now was getting her out of the building and to an ambulance, where they could give her oxygen. Her body had gone totally limp by the time he reached the stairs, but he refused to consider the possibility she’d need medical care beyond that.

They’d gotten there in time, and that’s all there was to it.

He heard voices in his radio and was aware Aidan stayed right behind him, but Grant didn’t stop moving until he hit the clear, frigid air.

He paused to get his bearings and then headed for the ambulances on standby. Some of those voices in his radio must have warned them he was coming, because Cait opened the back of her truck and waved at him.

Cait Tasker was not only an EMT, but she was engaged to Gavin Boudreau, who was Grant’s best friend and with the Ladder 37 crew. E-59 and L-37 were parked side-by-side in the firehouse and always rolled out together, so Gavin was on scene, too. And Cait knew Wren. The four of them had spent a lot of time together before Wren walked away from him and didn’t look back.

By the time he reached the ambulance doors, he could feel her stirring. Not a lot, but she had to be breathing in order to regain consciousness and that was enough for now.

Because it was so damn cold and she was small, they didn’t bother with the stretcher. He handed Wren up to Cait’s partner, Tony, who turned away with her.

“Oh my God, Grant.” Cait looked at him, her expression mirroring his thoughts. “What the hell was Wren doing living here?”

“I don’t know. She’ll be okay, right?”

“We’ll take care of her. Are you okay?”

He didn’t answer. As he watched Tony fit a mask over Wren’s face, her eyes met his and, no, he wasn’t okay.

Questions tumbled through his mind. Why was Wren living in this place? Why had she disappeared from his life so abruptly? How could she still be in the city and not miss him enough to at least send a text message?

Had she known he’d been days away from buying her a ring and asking her to spend the rest of her life with him?

About the Author:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shannon Stacey lives with her husband and two sons in New England, where her two favorite activities are writing stories of happily ever after and off-roading with her friends and family. You can contact Shannon through her website, www.shannonstacey.com, as well as sign up for her newsletter.


GIVEAWAY

In celebration of the release of Shannon Stacey’s FLARE UP, Carina Press is offering ten (10) lucky winners their choice of a paperback copy of a backlist Boston Fire title! Applicable titles: include Heat Exchange, Controlled Burn, Fully Ignited, Hot Response, and Under Control. To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Sheep Interview: Joan Swan + BLAZE giveaway

*update: Intimate Enemies if free for the kindle right now-use link at bottom of post
Today we have the goddess of multi-tasking and man-titty covers! (seriously...have you seen her covers?) Joan talks with us about Blaze, book 2 in her Phoenix Rising series, ropes, fear and firemen. Did I mention the sexy man titty covers?



Sharon: For our readers who haven’t read your Phoenix Rising series would you tell us about it?
Joan: Love to! Adore this series! Bunch of hot guys, couple of sexy, kick ass girls, one nasty, powerful enemy… 

Oh, you meant seriously. Yeah, I can do that too.

A mysterious explosion at a military warehouse injuries a team of seven hazmat firefighters, killing one. The contents of the building, chemicals used by the Department of Defense, have inflicted the team with various paranormal abilities. Abilities the government wants to study covertly. Abilities the team wants to understand and expose.

Each book in the series focuses on different members of the team and their struggle with the aftermath of the explosion. And as the group delves deeper into the incident and uncovers pieces of the puzzle, their personal issues are complicated by a powerful enemy trying to keep its secrets. 

Sharon: *looks at Katie* she had me at bunch of hot guys… 
Katie: Agreed. 
Joan: Yeah, I tried stopping there with my editor…didn’t fly. They’re soooooo picky. 

Katie: I’m a cover lover and lady your covers are hot! Do you think covers matter to readers? 

have you guys seen these covers?!
Joan: Yep. Sure do. The majority of readers say they prefer the cover to reflect the story within the book. Many will tell you they get ticked off when it doesn’t. And they get really ticked off when it’s misleading.

Many readers will tell you they love sexy covers. Many will tell you they loathe them. Many readers will also tell you one thing and buy another. People are so interesting!

Also, it seems to surprise readers that in traditional publishing, authors have almost no input on covers. Cover design is generally farmed out to freelance artists who know very little about the book they’re designing for. And while authors often fill out an “art sheet” regarding their book’s cover, the input I’ve received from dozens of authors, including NYT bestsellers, is that the house does what the house wants.


I guess I lucked out. <G> 

Katie: Plus people just have different tastes. But I like my man to taste hot like your covers!
Joan: I knew I liked you!


Sharon: Fever, your debut came out earlier this year. How long was your journey from “hey, I’m gonna write a book!” to “Hey, I wrote a book!”? 
Joan: Ten (10) looooooooooooooong years. Oh, wait…that was from “Hey, I’m gonna write a book!” to “Hey, I published a book!” I think the first book took me about a year. They all took me about a year until I sold. Then—whap! Deadlines. It’s amazing how fast you can write when you have deadlines! 
Sharon: how many do you have written already?
Joan: *choke* As in publishable? None. They’d all have to be rewritten. But there were nine before FEVER.
Oh, but I did rewrite INTIMATE ENEMIES, which was a 2x Golden Heart finalist, and self-published it. Very pleased with the result. It’s gotten fantastic reviews. <G> 

Katie: I look through your bedroom closet right now, what deep dark secret would I find? Bodies?
Joan: Me…trembling in a corner… Oh, no wait, that would be the secret to the next question.
Um…fear. Lots and lots and lots of fear…all stuffed waaaaaaay back in the corner so I can actually DO things with my life. 

Sharon: NOBODY PUTS FEAR IN A CORNER! Sorry, don’t know why that popped into my head <G>
Joan: LOL, sounds like your fear needed a voice. Just keep your fear out of my closet. If my fear pipes up, I’ll know where it came from.


photo: acyee_x
Sharon: You have a family, a daytime job, you write books and you have a very active blog…what’s your secret…clones? Cyborg? Eating Wheaties of the gods? 
Joan: OCD. Severe. Bordering on insanity. 
Katie: You have found a home Joan, insanity and the flock walk hand in hand! Weeeee!!! 
Joan: Hallelujah! I won’t be the only one talking to gremlins now!
Sharon: talking? we breed the suckers!
 
http://gremlins.wikia.com/wiki/User:Hill_Nothing_fan



Time for a little fun... Take a deep breath (so you can smell the sheep) and go with your gut! 




Sharon: zip lines or rope course?
Joan: ZIP LINES!! Ropes?? are you KIDDING??? 

Sharon: ropes are very popular in romance ;)
Joan: Wait…were we talking romance? Can’t I change my answer? 


Katie: Coke or Pepsi?
Joan: Oh, man, that’s a dangerous question. I’m only answering because I’m behind the protection of a screen…Pepsi. (Diet) 

Sharon: *dropping to knees and pumping fists in the air* YEESSSSSSS!
Katie: Joan, I thought we had something special going?! *Sobbing*
Joan: *covering face with hands* Good Lord. I knew I should have taken the fifth. 


Sharon: skipping or shuffling?
Joan: Skipping, shuffling makes me feel like an old lady.


Katie: Fist bump or High five?
Joan: High five…guess I am showing my age there <G>

Katie: Pfft. Let’s high five!
Joan: *smack* 


Sharon: manicure or pedicure?
Joan: Pedicure. I use my hands at work (the day job) and there’s no point in a manicure.


Katie: Under the covers or on top?
Joan: HAHAHAHAHA!! That question implies a bed. 


Sharon: O_o you don’t have a bed?
Joan: Didn’t say I didn’t have one…just don’t…you know…always use it…;D


Check out Fever and Blaze. Book #3, Rush, comes out Oct 2013 and Book #4 comes out April 2014


About the author:
I was never a star English student or a Literature buff, but I’ve always had a creative soul and an active imagination. Writing was a natural culmination of those two talents.

Sexy romantic suspense is my genre of choice, and, occasionally, I like to dabble in the lighter side of paranormal as well. I write the Phoenix Rising Series, FEVER, BLAZE, and two more books coming in 2013, for Kensington and the Covert Affairs Series, INTIMATE ENEMIES, independently.

A triple RWA Golden Heart finalist, I am a lover of craft and closet-hoarder of writing craft how-to books. I’m a recovering OCD perfectionist…bet you can just imagine how well that’s going.

In my day job, I work as a sonographer at UCSF Medical Center, rated one of the top ten best medical centers in the nation – a location with an intensity that makes me slightly—okay majorly—insane. This seems to work well with my inner writer. Access to abundant character material—and I’m not only talking about my patients—is a fringe benefit.

I’m married to my own personal hero, a veteran firefighter, we have two beautiful daughters and are blessed to live in the heart of wine country on the gorgeous Central Coast of California. 

To keep up with my latest news & releases please visit me online: 






Phoenix Rising Series




FEVER 

Book 1 
Dr. Alyssa Foster will admit to a bad boy fetish…

But when she finds herself face to face with a convicted murderer with a ripped body, a determination for freedom and an eye on her as his get out of jail free card, Alyssa knows she’s in deep trouble…. Not just because Teague Creek is a prisoner desperate for freedom, but because his every touch makes her desperate for more.

A man with a life sentence has nothing to lose…

Teague Creek has one shot at freedom, but his plan to escape with a hostage develops a fatal flaw: Alyssa. On the run from both the law and deadly undercover operatives who know of his strange abilities, he needs to avoid trouble, but every heated kiss tells him the fire between them could be just as devastating as the flames that changed him forever.

Purchase Links: 





Add to your Goodreads Shelf



BLAZE 
Book 2 
The hotter they come, the harder they fall…

With a man like him, every mission becomes personal…
Ever since FBI agent Keira O’Shay started tracking a young boy named Mateo, she’s felt a connection even her empathic abilities can’t explain. Sheneeds to save Mateo from the cult leader holding him hostage. Nothing can interfere with that—not even the reappearance of Luke Ransom, the hot-as-hell fire captain she’s regretted walking out on for three long years.

Losing Keira left Luke vulnerable—in every way. When they were together, the powers each possesses were mysteriously enhanced. But it’s the sexy, surprising woman beneath the tough exterior that Luke’s really missed. Even if she betrayed him utterly. And even if agreeing to help her uncover a government conspiracy means watching his life and his heart go up in flames again…


Purchase Links: 


Joan Swan's BLAZE Blog Tour Schedule
chance to win a book at every stop!
Tour runs from September 17 - October 6
September 17 - Grave Tells - http://gravetells.com/
September 18 - Book Reader Addicts - http://bookreaderaddictsgiveaways.blogspot.com/
September 19 - Pearl's World of Romance - http://pearlsworldofromance.wordpress.com/
September 20 - Under The Covers - http://underthecoversbookblog.blogspot.com
September 21 - Reading Between The Wines - http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/
September 22 - Riverina Romantics - http://riverinaromantics.blogspot.com/
September 23 - Reading on The Wild Side - http://readingonthewildside.blogspot.com/
September 24 - United By Books - http://unitedbybooks.blogspot.com/
September 25 - My Keeper Shelf - http://mykeepershelf.blogspot.com/
September 25 - The Reading Café - http://thereadingcafe.com/
September 26 - Ramblings From This Chick - http://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com/
September 27 - I Smell Sheep - http://www.ismellsheep.com/
September 28 - Paranormal Haven - http://www.paranormalhaven.com/
September 29 - Just Romantic Suspense - http://www.justromanticsuspense.com/
September 30 - Just Romantic Suspense - http://www.justromanticsuspense.com/
October 1 - Close Encounters With The Night Kind - http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/
October 2 - Book Monster Reviews / Literal Addiction -
Book Monster - http://bookmonsterreviews.blogspot.com/
Literal Addiction - http://www.literaladdiction.com/
October 3 - Books-n-Kisses - http://www.books-n-kisses.com/
October 4 - Readers Confession - http://www.readersconfession.com/
October 5 - Book Lovin' Mamas - http://booklovinmamas.blogspot.com//
October 6 - Cocktails & Books - http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com/


GIVE AWAY
US/CAN Only
Joan is giving away a print copy of Blaze
To enter:
1. talk to raffle dude
contest ends Oct. 3

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Katie, showing some love!

While attending Dragon*Con 2012 you couldn't help but notice all the fine Atlanta men (and women) guarding the city and keeping the convention crowds safe. I made a personal sacrifice and decided to, for the greater good of the website, snap some shots for all to enjoy. It was a struggle but one I did in the name of Sheep!

Don't we make a cute couple?




I was taken to the gun show!







Thank you to everyone who puts their lives on line to keep America safe. Run out there and give some hugs to these brave people! They deserve it. :)