Fully Involved

by Erin Dutton

A love that has smoldered for years ignites when two women and one little boy come together in the aftermath of tragedy.
An early morning hotel fire turns out to be anything but routine, and firefighter Reid Webb's best friend and partner, Jimmy Grant, dies. Guilt-ridden and grieving, Reid feels responsible for her partner's young son, Chase. She would do anything for him, even if that means spending far too much time in the company of the woman she's harbored feelings for since high school. Isabel Grant doesn't know anything about raising children. But when she returns to her hometown to assume custody of her orphaned nephew, she gets a crash course. Isabel's struggle to keep her footing in the midst of chaos is further complicated by her growing attraction to Reid, a woman whom Isabel blames for her brother's death.

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, Lesbian Romance, LGBT, Lesbian Fiction, Firefighters, Audiobook

208 pages, Paperback

First published November 19, 2007

About the author

Born and raised in Upstate New York, Erin Dutton moved to Nashville, Tennessee several years ago. No longer a Yankee, and yet not a true Southerner, she remains somewhere between the two, and is happy to claim both places as home. Her days are spent earning a living, while her nights and weekends are divided between several of her favorite things: writing, reading, golf, and her friends. Erin is the author of ten romance novels and the recipient of the 2011 Alice B. Medal for body of work.

Reviews

[Harrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the death of her best friend, Jimmy, Reid now has to raise Jimmy's kid with his little sister, who was also Reid's childhood crush. They don't get along in the beginning but till they get along way too well. I liked that the romance and that it was slowly developed. Reid and Isabel had great chemistry. The book felt a bit dramatic at times or maybe that's just because I didn't connect with the characters.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

With “Fully Involved”, author Erin Dutton puts several lesfic tropes together, adds a terrific narrator, and delivers a delightfully entertaining story.

Lesbian MC Reid has been in love with straight girl MC Isabel for twenty years, but has never let her know. That’s a long time to pine after a straight girl!

After the tragic death of Isabel’s brother Jimmy (who was Reid’s best friend and firefighter partner), Isabel returns to town for the funeral, and is thrust into the role of guardian for Jimmy’s now orphaned young son Chase. Isabel plays the will-I-go-or-will-I-stay theme song for awhile as she decides whether to take Chase back home with her, or to move into Jimmy’s house, next door to Reid and Reid’s mother, Meredith.

Deciding to act in Chase’s best interest, and minimize change for him as he struggles with grief, she stays…and begins getting to know the adult Reid, whom she blames for Jimmy’s death, and also harbors bad feelings about their years together as children. Individually and together, the women are consumed with grief, guilt and anger. With such intense emotions already in play, Isabel becomes confused as she soon finds herself attracted physically to Reid.

Even as Isabel falls in love with Reid, she keeps her shields. She’s not afraid of being attracted to a woman, but she’s afraid that with Reid’s dangerous job as a firefighter, Reid could be killed and taken away from Isabel. Sigh…this “I’m afraid I could lose you” trope occurs in several books I’ve read recently and it’s kind of annoying. I mean seriously, thinking “I might lose you so I won’t be with you” is really sort of just deciding to lose you right now on purpose. Oh well, without some drama lesfic would be boring, I guess. Well, except for the sexy scenes!

Eventually, of course, we have an HEA, and Chase is cool with it. I liked both characters and enjoyed their path to sex and romance. 4.4* - recommended more than many of my 4* rated books, but just shy of 5*

[Loek Krancher]

Two thumbs up!

The whole family is being torn apart by a devastating fire. The loss Chase has to endured tossed them down a joint but unwanted path. Pent-up frustrations and unspoken desires makes it all very difficult. Both drew a line for them not to cross and there were unspoken rules. Raw emotions are running high. Sometimes actions speak more than words but it also can make situations very inconvenient. Can Isabel put her fears aside or will her fears control her life forever? The bond between Chase and Reid was touching and did feel so real. The storyline is strong and the characters are lovable and well developed. The moments that they couldn't hold back anymore were so passionate and sizzling hot. This is a real pageturner and I absolutely will read it again.

[Lex Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars. I have been trying to read more of Dutton's books, and a book with a woman firefighter appealed to me. I enjoyed this. I liked how the main characters really did not get along in the beginning of the book. This was not a love at first sight type of book. Both characters had a lot of issues to work on. And I thought Dutton did a great job of building chemistry between the MC's.
I also enjoyed the actual firefighter scenes, thought they were will done.
I will continue to read Dutton's books.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really really great story. Moved me to tears in places.....though I'm the biggest sap alive so that may not mean much. Sweet romance.

[Kexx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book - loved it. Full of grief (know that as enter book), child care and woman struggling with her sexuality. Highly recommended.

[Laure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written & very touching story ... simple and very effective like I appreciate.
Since I'm a very sensitive person, it made me become very emotional from time to time but I deeply loved this novel.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ratings - 3.5

[Tory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I have been trying to find something to read and this is probably the 4th or 5th book I started. The only difference is this one engaged me right away so I was able to read it all. Sometimes I am hard to please. I recommend this book.

[Alex Lfr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't say I didn't enjoy the book but there was something missing. First of all, an epilogue because the ending was kinda abrupt for me. Isabel didn't really work with everything that made their relationship impossible or difficult, she just changed her mind about being with Reid when I felt like a lot of things where still between them. It kind of felt like insta-love on her part too, which didn't really work for me when we know Reid has had feelings for her her whole life. Everything I enjoyed about the story is related to Reid, a complex character for whom I felt deeply...and maybe those little things that didn't work for me were because of Isabel.
All in all, a good read with some ansgt and steamy scenes that I enjoyed. It’s a solid 3,5 for me

[Joc · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was nice enough. I didn't find either Iz or Reid well-developed enough for me to become fully involved. There was a huge amount of potential to have incredible tension and drama but it didn't quite get there.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A loss of a friend brings love home again

📍 “She sometimes yearned for this kind of interaction, talking with someone about plans for the day over morning coffee. The warm feeling of knowing she had slept next to that person the night before, comforted by their solid presence.”

📍 “Love was a soft, warm feeling in her heart and the knowledge that this was the person she wanted beside her.”
+ • + • + • +

Its a masterful combination of a second chances, friends to lovers, life after death romance story supported by a mystery thriller providing the framework, drawing the reader in a deeper connection to the characters which increases the investment in the narrative, all while preventing boredom & doldrums from spoiling the experience.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Warning: this text may contain spoilers** What is it with lesbian books and firefighters and cops and death and pride? Pride is a crutch for the insecure and it's not attractive. and seeing a psychiatrist being a bad thing? What kind of parent or guardian wouldn't want their 7 year old to see a counselor if both their parents are dead... It almost seems like neglect to not have them counseled. And idk Reid just pissed me off with her approach to the kid... But the prideful butch always gets away with being immature and brooding... And I'm not a fan of kids in ff books in general. Idk I love "more than friends" because I just loved the premise of bf ex so even with the whole cop thing it wasn't over done, it didn't bother me.. here it was just too much. But it was well written enough and about lesbians so I gave it 4 stars even though I hated Reid.

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

When life long best friend Captain Jimmy dies in a fire, co-firefighter Reid is racked with quilt. Reid was with him when he died and gets promoted to his spot as fire captain. Jimmy lived next door with his son (7 yrs.) Chase and now his sister is returning to the town she left years ago to take over parenting. Reid is there for the son but there are past feelings with Isobel. Reid was always attracted but Isobel wants nothing to do with a firefighter especially after her brothers death.

This is a slow build romance. Reid is the brooding narrator. Trying to be helpful and professional. I like the book takes place over time so there isn't insta anything. I would liked to have seen Reid and the son get some counseling. Other books by Dutton have shown the benefits of getting help.

[Mizzumi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars for Erin Dutton. A book that I really liked and recommend reading despite its rushed ending and that there were times when I wanted to slap Isabel for being unnecessarily cruel and Reid for being so weak and a pushover for her 😉 But in the end it's all worth it and that's the most important thing.

[AL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really beautiful book. Nice story with some very emotional moments and a nice end....I am looking forward to read more of her books....easy to read with beautifully described characters.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

story is well written.
After the date with Nathan you hear nothing more about this while he is an alpha man so a little more rivalry could have been between him and Reid

[TuSaiCosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love it..So much. one of my favorites

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was about 3.5 or so stars for me. It is a sweet romance and I enjoyed the slow build between the two MCs, Reid and Isabel, and how they grappled with their grief and falling in love. I might have rated it even higher, but I’m not that big of a fan of the trope of the MC who thinks they are straight until they’re suddenly attracted to the other MC. Sure, sexuality is fluid and all, but it’s just not my favorite storyline. Even given that, I feel like Isabel working through both her grief and newfound attraction to a woman was well done (except maybe the really stupid date with the jerk dude who works with Reid - felt a little late in the book for that). I did also enjoy how they related to the kiddo in the book and how they formed an unorthodox family.

[Ayse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like All Erin Dutton books, this was very well written. However, the straight girl falls in love with lesbian trope is done to death and really off-putting. If there was some indication that Isabel had also been aware of and partially in love with Reid from their childhood, which was why her relationships with men didn't work out, it would have gone a long way to explaining the way the events panned out later. As it was, there was no real motivation for her actions. Its a shame, I would have given this one 4 stars for the well developed plot and integration of the kid, but I loath this kind of thing.

[Monisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. I really do. I've reread it so many times, and I fall in love with it every single time. However, there are some things that weren't discussed/resolved in the end that really needed to be before Reid and Isabel got together. They really needed to sit down and have a talk so they could have the foundation they needed for a solid relationship. There were a lot of not okay emotions between them and harbored resentment and just a mess of things. But aside from that, the rest of the story was really good.

[Jessica Roberson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good

This is the second book I have read by this author. I feel that the first one, CAPTURING FOREVER, was better. I did enjoy the story, but it felt like a resolution was reached abruptly at the end. I also would have liked an epilogue depicting their relationship working out for the long haul since Isabella waffled back and forth throughout the book. It would have been enjoyable to see their successful relationship rubbed in Nathan and Susannahs faces too. Overall, I enjoyed it.

[Sue Online · Rating 3 out of 5]

It would have received a 4 star rating except for some editing issues which confused the plot. I guess there are so many authors now, editors are overwhelmed. In this story the flashback to childhood was problematic because of who lived where and when. So close, so close.

[Ezra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. I liked both main character but just felt like before the book ended, I would have wanted to see one really good talk/discussion. And probably one follow up chapter to give us a 3-6 months later glimpse.

[Mirtha Siblesz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sweet story!

Ah the angst of love! This was a very sweet story. Talk about struggling with unrequited love! Dutton really did a good job with the character development to get us to the final point of the story! Well done!

[Sandi Setlak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fully involved

Good story but did take a while to get going. None the less a wonderful love story and an honor to firefighters and what they face each day.

I would have liked a better ending with what comes next!

[Gill · Rating 2 out of 5]

When tragedy befalls a firefighter, his best friend gets drawn closer to his sister, with whom she's been in love for years. The simple plot plays out as predictably as most Bold Strokes romances.

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

So much tiresome melodrama, and another predictable BSB offering.

[Milkiways · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me humor is very important, this book has good story but no humor or twists though!!!

[Urooj Siddiqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read, I just wish the ending came with an epilogue.