Up in Flames by Jennifer Blackwood

It takes one little spark for enemies to ignite into lovers in a searing-hot novel by USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Blackwood.

Sloane Garcia has butted heads with Reece Jenkins ever since he was a colossal jerk of epic proportions on a night she’d rather forget. So what if he’s overconfident, ultramasculine, and hard muscled? When she finds out he’s on the auction block at the annual firefighter’s charity event, she decides to give this cocky firefighter a dose of his own medicine. Now that she’s won the hunk, he’s on call—to do whatever Sloane wants.

Sure, Reece and Sloane had a rocky start, but he had his reasons. None of that matters now that he’s the bachelor at her beck and call, tasked with granting her four wishes in four weeks. He runs into burning buildings for a living, but nothing will be as tough as dousing the flames Sloane ignites in him. What started out as just a game might end up with Reece losing the one thing he swore he’d never give up: his heart.

Book 2
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~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/F Romance

Sloane and Reece's story was somewhat disappointing for me. The history that Sloane and Reece have is not well developed or deep. It was an encounter that left one embarrassed and because of that, somewhat vengeful.

Sloane doesn't like Reece. She believes that he was cruel and is just not for her; despite his attempts to mend their relationship, she is immature and annoying about it. When she sees a chance to get her revenge, she jumps at it.

Reece is a risk taker and he knows it. But when a risk almost costs him his team and injures him, with his captain already disliking him, Reece is coerced into an auction to raise money for a good cause.

Sloane and Reece dance around their attraction and the history they have – their immaturity is rampant in this story.

I was very disappointed in how the characters handled the situation. Even the fire captain was immature in this book. I am hoping in the next installment that there is a little more adult romance and less young adult behavior.

Also Available in the Flirting with Fire Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our Burning Up post.

Jennifer Blackwood is the USA Today bestselling author of the Rule Breakers, Drexler University, and Snowpocalypse series. Aside from writing contemporary romance, Blackwood teaches English in Oregon, where she lives with her husband, son, and unruly black Lab puppy. When she isn't writing or teaching, you can find her binge-watching some of her favorite TV shows, such as Supernatural and Gilmore Girls.

Connect with Jennifer

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Google+  ~  Instagram

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Up in Flames (Flirting with Fire #2) by Jennifer Blackwood to read and review.

Burning Up by Jennifer Blackwood

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.

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance

Erin is out of work due to her school’s budget cuts. It comes at a time when her mom needs her back in Portland to help after surgery, so Erin reluctantly heads home to Portland for the summer. Despite loving teaching, she's worried that she will get stuck at home. Erin has been running from home for a while but doesn't truly know why or what she's running from.

Jake is a firefighter who loves his job. While he knows that this is what he was meant to be, he also has been struggling a little in his personal life. Being a single dad isn't easy, but his daughter always has and always will come first. Now that she is headed into the dreaded teen years, Jake will take all of the help he can get from his buddies.

Erin and Jake have a history simply because Jake and her brother are very good friends. She has had a crush on him since forever and even though they are now adults, she can't help but feel that pull.

These two dance around their attraction a lot and it was somewhat slow in getting to their actual relationship. Despite that, it was a story more about finding yourself and doing what makes you happy – being flexible enough to not walk away from a good thing. I can't wait to see who gets the next story.


Sarah – ☆☆☆
This is a sweet and simple romance between a teacher and a firefighter. Erin returns to Portland after losing her job in California and runs into Jake, a childhood family friend.

There isn’t a whole lot of plot holding this story together. Erin reestablishes herself with her family and childhood friends while job hunting. Erin’s story is so ordinary that I found my mind wandering at times.

I didn’t have a great deal of empathy for Erin. She feels young and whiney and I really didn’t get the resentment she feels towards her family. Jake could be a more likeable character, but he is really only sketched in and we don’t necessarily get to know much about his motivations.

There is some heat in this book but it is usually overshadowed by angst and guilt. There is a little bit of relationship and character development at the end of the story but most of the book is pretty slow.

Jennifer Blackwood is the USA Today bestselling author of the Rule Breakers, Drexler University, and Snowpocalypse series. Aside from writing contemporary romance, Blackwood teaches English in Oregon, where she lives with her husband, son, and unruly black Lab puppy. When she isn't writing or teaching, you can find her binge-watching some of her favorite TV shows, such as Supernatural and Gilmore Girls.

Connect with Jennifer

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Google+  ~  Instagram

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Burning Up (Flirting with Fire #1) by Jennifer Blackwood to read and review.