Still Burning by Leora Gonzales

Ignite

Sasha Kendall grew up in a family of firefighters. So when she falls hard for Jack Turner, her brother’s best friend and fellow firefighter, everyone's thrilled. But when her brother is killed in the line of duty, Sasha knows she can’t handle another loss. Jack will have to choose between her and his career...

Smolder

Jack knew Sasha was meant for him right away—the same way he knew he was meant to fight fires and saves lives. Letting Sasha go was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do. But even though she left town, he’s never given up hope that heat between them still burns...

Repeat

Four years later, Jack and Sasha meet again at a friend’s wedding—older, wiser, and hotter than ever. Will they flame out, or do they finally have what it takes to keep their love alive for good...

Book 3
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Second Chance Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Sasha comes from a family of firefighters. However, when she loses a family member to a tragic fire, she knows that she’s not strong enough to love another firefighter and risk losing someone else.

Jack has always loved Sasha and loved being a firefighter. But when his best friend is lost to a fire, he doesn’t realize that he’ll lose Sasha too. Despite losing her, he knows that he’s supposed to be a firefighter.

Years later, when Sasha and Jack see each other again, their chemistry is still there. But after years of hiding and trying to survive, Sasha and Jack have to decide whether or not they have grown enough to try their love again. With someone around their small town setting fires, an old flame popping up and causing trouble, and old insecurities creeping up, they will have to fight to figure out if they can love each other again.

This left you feeling like they were going to try again for a relationship, but with unanswered questions looming over them and the town, it’s a wonder whether or not they will make it. I am looking forward to the next book and hope that questions left hanging will be answered.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
The reality of having a loved one work in a dangerous profession is something that some families know nothing about and others, all too much.

Having a spouse, brother, sister, mother, or father work as a law enforcement officer, a firefighter, or an EMT is both a source of pride and a silent fear. When the worst happens, it takes more than a day, a month, and sometimes years, for the person grieving to realize that the sacrifice of their loved one was made freely. The person running toward the danger is a hero both in life and in death.

Sasha's grief over the loss of her brother was compounded by the fact that a) she was dating his best friend – also a firefighter, and b) she saw the grief that her sister-in-law faced. Deciding that she couldn't be the person who waited for the call, she not only left Jack, she left town.

Jack knows why Sasha left. Jack's own demons haunt him day and night. The "could haves" tear him up inside and only the thought of Sasha gives him peace.

Jack and Sasha have many issues to overcome, yet they are determined to give love another try.

Also Available in the Braving the Heat Series

Book 0.5
Buy Links

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B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Melting Snow post.

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Simmering Heat post.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Taming Fire post.

Leora Gonzales is an original Kansas girl who misses the Sunflower State every day. She spends time reading, writing... and making sure her two kids don’t kill themselves or each other. She’s addicted to tattoos, good food, good company—and finding lots of reasons to laugh or smile every day.

Connect with Leora

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Still Burning (Braving the Heat #3) by Leora Gonzales to read and review.

Taming Fire by Leora Gonzales

Steam

Yoga instructor Louise Pine is the ultimate caretaker. Everyone around her seems to have an emergency, but Lou hasn’t met a fire she couldn’t put out—until she’s faced with the hunky, bossy firefighter who crashes into her own backyard—and her life. No one tells Lou what to do, yet somehow the guy’s take-charge style makes her tingle...

Simmer

Phoenix “Nix” Jones is used to calling the shots, whether he’s dealing with his younger siblings or taking on a dangerous blaze. Luckily, the fire at Lou’s is a false alarm. But the heat the fit and feisty woman ignites is far from dying out...

Afterglow

As the sparks turn into 5-alarm passion, can two strong-willed people end up engulfed by love—or will they crash and burn?

Book 2
Buy Links

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B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

This is the second book in this series and I did not read book one. However, I never thought that I was missing something.

Louise is always willing to help out her family. She knows that since she is the oldest, her family has come to rely on her to pick up the slack. She knows that she is not what some would think of as typically beautiful, but she's comfortable with herself and her friends.

Nix is a seasoned firefighter who has been around the block in terms of the pole bunnies that hang around. He has also started to notice that his friends have begun to find women who are worth holding on and having real relationships with.

On a call, Nix meets Louise, who is flabbergasted why there are firefighters breaking down her back gate. When she realizes that she scared her nephew, who is staying with her temporarily, she immediately goes to comfort him. But not before Nix gets an eyeful of Louise's robe clad body.

What follows are several events that help Nix and Louise develop a friendship and relationship. They have amazing chemistry and I love how Louise isn't afraid to stand up to Nix and how Nix isn't one bit threatened by Louise's ability to say what she wants, means, and needs. Louise's family, for the most part, leaves something to be desired. I wanted to yell and scream at some of her family members, and found myself thinking some choice words whenever they came up in the story.

I hope we get to see more of this fun loving group!


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
The characters in this book meet under unusual circumstances. Louise's 4-year-old nephew calls 911 when he sees a fire in the backyard not knowing that his aunt is outside and there is no danger. The fire department shows up with sirens and flashing lights and breaks down her gate to put out the fire. Nix is immediately taken with the distraught Louise, but Louise has her hands full and is no mood to flirt.

Nix and Louise meet again at a friend's backyard barbeque and sparks fly. As they get to know each other, they have to decide if what they have is real and if they can make it work with the demands of a firefighter’s life.

A cute story of how a chance meeting can lead to so much more.

Also Available in the Braving the Heat Series

Book 0.5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Melting Snow post.

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Simmering Heat post.

Leora Gonzales is an original Kansas girl who misses the Sunflower State every day. She spends time reading, writing... and making sure her two kids don’t kill themselves or each other. She’s addicted to tattoos, good food, good company—and finding lots of reasons to laugh or smile every day.

Connect with Leora

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Taming Fire (Braving the Heat #2) by Leora Gonzales to read and review.

Simmering Heat by Leora Gonzales

Where there’s smoke...

Spark

Growing up as the privileged daughter of two doctors, Jasmine Kingford always thought the housekeeper’s son was hot—and the feeling was mutual. But back then there were lines they couldn’t cross. Good thing they’re all grown up now—and in the same wedding party...

Blaze

As best man for a fellow firefighter, Leo Trask is floored to discover the maid-of-honor is a blast from his past. One that ignites fireworks that have been brewing for years. Soon enough, he and Jasmine are having a very private, all-night-long celebration of their own—and it’s clear neither wants it to end there...

Wildfire

Jasmine’s all too happy to finally shed her pampered princess demeanor with Leo. What she finds is a connection—and a complication—she didn’t expect. Leo’s the opposite of the nine-to-five guy she planned on. She wants a nursing career, kids, and a man who’s home by dinnertime. Leo’s an irresistible bad boy with a dangerous, unpredictable job. And he’s everything she never knew she wanted, and more...

Book 1
Buy Links

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B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆
3.5 stars

This is a sweet coming of age romance between a nurse and a firefighter. Jasmine is the child of two affluent and controlling doctors and Leo is the son of her parents’ housekeeper.

The connection between Leo and Jasmine is all sorts of insta-love – except that while they are strangers when they meet as adults, they did grow up together. I still think Leo comes across almost stalkerish at the start with caveman declarations and Velcro tendencies. Jasmine starts the story timid and flattered by Leo’s attention.

Even with their shared history, Leo and Jasmine’s romance moves too quickly for me. Conversations about love, jealousy, and future babies happen almost from first meeting. There is an assumption from the start that they will be together, and it doesn’t leave much room for sexual tension. Some of Leo’s lines are incredibly cheesy. There is a fine line between infatuated lover and possessive caveman and Leo steps over the line a few too many times for my tastes.

I enjoyed watching Jasmine grow up and establish herself against her parents. I like that her parents aren’t single dimensional baddies but some of the changes in her parents are drastic and instant. I’m not sure a lifetime of poor relationship habits can be broken so quickly.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
I enjoyed this book. Leo and Jazz were basically raised together as his mother was the housekeeper for her family while she was growing up. Her parents are doctors who spent more time on their patients than with their children, so in effect, Leo's mom was Jazz's mom.

Leo wants to get to know the grown up Jazz. Wants to know what makes her tick, the reason she wants to be nurse, and the million other things that makes Jazz unique. Jazz wants to know Leo as well, but she's still the insecure girl that he remembers even though she hides it well.

Having to face her fears or losing what she loves most, Jazz has to decide what truly matters.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆
This is the first in a new series, and given that it will feature firefighters, some we've met already, it is going to be scorching hot!

I enjoyed reading this story, and was happy with the direction it took. Whilst Leo and Jasmine fall for each other pretty quickly, it fits with their past, his profession, and the whirlwind that are Winter and Will. There were certainly some suitable candidates for future books introduced too.

The one funny thing was that I was distracted by it being written in the third person. Usually I have to think about who narrated the story, or didn't after I have finished the book, but here I was very aware of it all along. It didn't stop me enjoying the book, it was just noticeable and unexpected.

There is some lovely humour, some warm and fuzzy bits, and some heated romance, which altogether made for an enjoyable read.

Also Available in the Braving the Heat Series

Book 0.5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Melting Snow post.

Leora Gonzales is an original Kansas girl who misses the Sunflower State every day. She spends time reading, writing... and making sure her two kids don’t kill themselves or each other. She’s addicted to tattoos, good food, good company—and finding lots of reasons to laugh or smile every day.

Connect with Leora

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Simmering Heat (Braving the Heat #1) by Leora Gonzales to read and review.

Melting Snow by Leora Gonzales

Hot

Broke college student Winter Snow wants Christmas to be over. Thanks to her annoying name, this time of year always leaves her feeling Scrooged. The only cheer she wants is cold hard cash from her mall cleaning job—until a surprise offer from a hunky firefighter sparks one sizzling midnight temptation...

Hotter

William Holiday needs a replacement elf for his fire station’s fund-raiser. Convincing Winter she's perfect for the part—and giving her some one-on-one training—is a task he’s happy to take on. Because her irrepressible smarts and luscious curves are making this seductive Saint Nick want to deliver all night long...

Burn

Winter isn't betting on more than an X-rated Xmas fling. But Will plans to show her they have more in common than their quirky last names—enough to keep their wildest holiday wishes coming true...

Book 0.5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Novella Romance

Winter is just trying to make sure that she keeps a roof over her head and can continue with her education. When she finds herself a good job cleaning up the mall at night, and enjoys it because her boss is fun and a good person.

Around the holidays, she just wants to make sure that she makes enough money so that she doesn't have to worry about rent or books. When she is working one night, she is noticed by Will. He is a local firefighter who is helping to set up a fundraiser in the mall.

There is an instant attraction and the story kind of goes from there. They hook up and spend the holidays together. They have quick chemistry and they share some steamy scenes, but there is also a lightheartedness to their relationship that was refreshing.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆
This wickedly hot, short novella is just the thing if you want a quick, spicy read.

Winter Snow works nights at the mall as part of the cleaning crew. One night, the local firefighters come to set up for their annual fundraiser, and Will Holiday can't help but notice the curvy Winter as she goes about her duties.

Sparks fly between them from the beginning, and as they get to know each other better, they soon realize that they are a perfect fit. Almost as if Santa knew what they needed.

Leora Gonzales is an original Kansas girl who misses the Sunflower State every day. She spends time reading, writing... and making sure her two kids don’t kill themselves or each other. She’s addicted to tattoos, good food, good company—and finding lots of reasons to laugh or smile every day.

Connect with Leora

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Melting Snow (Braving the Heat #0.5) by Leora Gonzales to read and review.