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Fighting Fire #1
Fighting Fire (Part One): The Intern
Claire Reynolds has had to fight for everything that she has achieved in her life. An erratic foster-care upbringing has left her determined to put in the hard work necessary to achieve her dreams and build a solid future.
Armed with her MBA and a five-year plan she has landed a prestigious internship with Bellingham Developments. If she excels, she will surely be offered a permanent job and a chance to make her mark in the industry she loves.
Enter Andrew Bellingham, heir to the Bellingham empire. Drew is most definitely not a part of any five-year plan. His playboy reputation is often the talk of the town; but Claire is surprised to find that Drew is completely the opposite of the gossip that surrounds him. Charming and intelligent, not to mention devastatingly handsome, Drew is a man who gets what he wants. And despite his father's dismay, what he wants is Claire...
SNEAK PEEK!
“I’m going to leave you two to it,” Nora said, “but might I suggest actually speaking directly with the man?” Her eyes sparkled with humor.
“I should go with you,” I insisted. I felt like it was rude to let her leave alone.
“Take some time to sort him out and I’ll see you on Monday. Good job this week, Claire. I couldn’t have asked for a better intern."
I seriously had the coolest boss ever, but I heard the veiled warning in her words of advice. I needed to make the drama go away so we could focus on work.
“Flavor of the month?” Drew frowned as he took Nora’s vacant seat beside me.
“I’m flattered...” Honesty, that's what Nora had recommended.
“But?”
“How is this hard?” I blurted much to his amusement.
“You’re adorable when you’re mad.” He chuckled.
“Drew! Please try to understand...I, I come from nothing,” I stammered. “I grew up in foster care and I’ve had to claw my way here. Failure is not an option - failure is the difference between having a roof over my head or a spot on the street. This internship is everything, and I cannot risk the possibility that this could turn into a real job, on a silly flirtation. I understand you want to irritate your father and that showering your attention on a nobody like me is a good way to do that...but it’s too much of a risk for me. Can’t you understand that?”
“Two things and then I will leave you to your evening,” he said softly and I could see the anger flashing in his eyes. “First, I had no idea how much this job means to you and I didn’t realize my attention could be such a negative thing. I promise I will not bother you at work. I would hate to think I could jeopardize your future. Second, I am not trying to piss my father off by...what was it? ‘Showering my attention on a nobody like you’. I resent that you would even think of yourself in that light. I find I’m incredibly intrigued by you, Claire. I happen to think you are beautiful, funny, charming, completely refreshing and the more I get to know you the more I like you. I admire your drive and dedication and now that I know something of your background, I think I am in complete awe of you. I won’t interfere with your internship, but I would like to make you aware right now that I absolutely intend to pursue your attention outside of work.”
I was completely overwhelmed by his words as well as his anger. Anger that I didn’t see myself the way he saw me. I was still reeling when his lips brushed mine in a tentative kiss that sent my heart racing in my chest.
“Good evening Claire,” he whispered as he stood to leave me.
Armed with her MBA and a five-year plan she has landed a prestigious internship with Bellingham Developments. If she excels, she will surely be offered a permanent job and a chance to make her mark in the industry she loves.
Enter Andrew Bellingham, heir to the Bellingham empire. Drew is most definitely not a part of any five-year plan. His playboy reputation is often the talk of the town; but Claire is surprised to find that Drew is completely the opposite of the gossip that surrounds him. Charming and intelligent, not to mention devastatingly handsome, Drew is a man who gets what he wants. And despite his father's dismay, what he wants is Claire...
SNEAK PEEK!
“I’m going to leave you two to it,” Nora said, “but might I suggest actually speaking directly with the man?” Her eyes sparkled with humor.
“I should go with you,” I insisted. I felt like it was rude to let her leave alone.
“Take some time to sort him out and I’ll see you on Monday. Good job this week, Claire. I couldn’t have asked for a better intern."
I seriously had the coolest boss ever, but I heard the veiled warning in her words of advice. I needed to make the drama go away so we could focus on work.
“Flavor of the month?” Drew frowned as he took Nora’s vacant seat beside me.
“I’m flattered...” Honesty, that's what Nora had recommended.
“But?”
“How is this hard?” I blurted much to his amusement.
“You’re adorable when you’re mad.” He chuckled.
“Drew! Please try to understand...I, I come from nothing,” I stammered. “I grew up in foster care and I’ve had to claw my way here. Failure is not an option - failure is the difference between having a roof over my head or a spot on the street. This internship is everything, and I cannot risk the possibility that this could turn into a real job, on a silly flirtation. I understand you want to irritate your father and that showering your attention on a nobody like me is a good way to do that...but it’s too much of a risk for me. Can’t you understand that?”
“Two things and then I will leave you to your evening,” he said softly and I could see the anger flashing in his eyes. “First, I had no idea how much this job means to you and I didn’t realize my attention could be such a negative thing. I promise I will not bother you at work. I would hate to think I could jeopardize your future. Second, I am not trying to piss my father off by...what was it? ‘Showering my attention on a nobody like you’. I resent that you would even think of yourself in that light. I find I’m incredibly intrigued by you, Claire. I happen to think you are beautiful, funny, charming, completely refreshing and the more I get to know you the more I like you. I admire your drive and dedication and now that I know something of your background, I think I am in complete awe of you. I won’t interfere with your internship, but I would like to make you aware right now that I absolutely intend to pursue your attention outside of work.”
I was completely overwhelmed by his words as well as his anger. Anger that I didn’t see myself the way he saw me. I was still reeling when his lips brushed mine in a tentative kiss that sent my heart racing in my chest.
“Good evening Claire,” he whispered as he stood to leave me.
43 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2013
8 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 18, 2018
It was so good; I wanted to cry when it ended. A must read for all.
January 30, 2014
I enjoyed the story and the characters, except for Drew's father who is a complete jerk. I was disappointed in how easily Drew gave in to him. I'm anxious to see what happens next, but the price is holding me back. While this book is currently free, each following novella is $2.99 a piece.
February 13, 2014
3.5 stars
What a crappy note to end on; all to get the reader to purchase the next story. I would rather pay one price for a complete story instead of reading things piecemeal. Not sure I'll continue this series - there wasn't enough of a story to get me hooked.
What a crappy note to end on; all to get the reader to purchase the next story. I would rather pay one price for a complete story instead of reading things piecemeal. Not sure I'll continue this series - there wasn't enough of a story to get me hooked.
June 30, 2023
Fighting Fire ~ Part 1: The Intern is the first part of the relationship of Drew Bellingham and Clair Reynolds and both their business and personal relationship. I've had this copy in my list of books to read for several years and now the rest of the story is no longer available ~ my bad. With 'the old mans' objection the Clair's background coming from the foster system and that his son marry a socialite is coming between them as it ends...
April 24, 2014
*spoilery potential*
I'm a sucker for romantic-esque books and this was a quick, cute read, done on my commute to work and lunch break. And for a free first instalment was quite decent.
Despite a few incorrect spellings here and there and extra quotation marks or commas here and there it was something easy to digest, held my interest, and I will be buying the "book" for $4.99 on Ibooks I actually want to know what happens (even though I "know" what the ending is going to be like, I want to read!) but the "cliffhanger" "ending" (terms used loosely) was predictable and while it worked on me I really do wish she hadn't done that because just reading the blurb of the second "book" gives it away and then it's like what was even the point. I do wish she'd kept their relationship going because I KNOW the vindictive dad will do something evil, leave the threats for when the plot has developed a little further.
Felt very "Beautiful Bastard" to me, still a great job and like I said before for a free book is excellent, and I have bought the final "books."
Their relationship did feel VERY rushed. She basically fell onto his lap, minimal flirting, or maybe I have just read too many books where the chase takes up so much space. It's like one day she starts her internship the next she's with the boss' son galavanting around town giggling and being stalked. Oh. Of course he owns a club. Again, very BB. Ridiculously hot. Also parental issues.
What really does irk me is that authors like this lull you in with a free first instalment then charge for the rest, when they aren't really books in the first place. I don't mind if if I get a whole book for free first, then buying the rest of the series, it will give me a proper picture of the plot and characters and 99% of the time I throw my money at them regardless if it's written well enough then the author would have hooked me in to make me buy. Money making gimmick and I fell for it. This first instalment of one book does not really do that, yet my morbid curiosity will be the death of my savings. Clever marketing money making tool, but when the blurbs give everything away it's really annoying. Before even buying the 2nd instalment I know the outcome and can guess how it all ends...
Pretty good for a random free "book" I am pleasantly surprised with this one
I'm a sucker for romantic-esque books and this was a quick, cute read, done on my commute to work and lunch break. And for a free first instalment was quite decent.
Despite a few incorrect spellings here and there and extra quotation marks or commas here and there it was something easy to digest, held my interest, and I will be buying the "book" for $4.99 on Ibooks I actually want to know what happens (even though I "know" what the ending is going to be like, I want to read!) but the "cliffhanger" "ending" (terms used loosely) was predictable and while it worked on me I really do wish she hadn't done that because just reading the blurb of the second "book" gives it away and then it's like what was even the point. I do wish she'd kept their relationship going because I KNOW the vindictive dad will do something evil, leave the threats for when the plot has developed a little further.
Felt very "Beautiful Bastard" to me, still a great job and like I said before for a free book is excellent, and I have bought the final "books."
Their relationship did feel VERY rushed. She basically fell onto his lap, minimal flirting, or maybe I have just read too many books where the chase takes up so much space. It's like one day she starts her internship the next she's with the boss' son galavanting around town giggling and being stalked. Oh. Of course he owns a club. Again, very BB. Ridiculously hot. Also parental issues.
What really does irk me is that authors like this lull you in with a free first instalment then charge for the rest, when they aren't really books in the first place. I don't mind if if I get a whole book for free first, then buying the rest of the series, it will give me a proper picture of the plot and characters and 99% of the time I throw my money at them regardless if it's written well enough then the author would have hooked me in to make me buy. Money making gimmick and I fell for it. This first instalment of one book does not really do that, yet my morbid curiosity will be the death of my savings. Clever marketing money making tool, but when the blurbs give everything away it's really annoying. Before even buying the 2nd instalment I know the outcome and can guess how it all ends...
Pretty good for a random free "book" I am pleasantly surprised with this one
July 31, 2014
Here's the thing, I picked up this book because it was free. Soooo for free, it was worth it. 44 pages flew by and it wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible either.
I liked the idea. I have a guilty pleasure, I guess you could say, for these sappy romances set in the corporate world with a rich hot guy in a suit and the down to earth female lead.
What I liked:
The nickname the male lead, Drew had for Claire. It was cute, simple despite the cliche of it.
...
that's it, I guess.
What I disliked:
The flow. Things moved WAY too fast that I felt like it I was just, ugh. She "fell" for him too fast, as he did her. They encountered their first official problem (at the end) but I guess that's the point of it being so short. At least they didn't say they loved each other quite yet....
Drew and his incredible technique to know his "girlfriend" and what she was thinking or feeling without being there to really know for sure. Like, what? I get what the author was doing, my boyfriend actually does this when it comes to me and when I over think things. but it took him a good year of dating to know me that intimately, and that's with us being friends for about another year and a half before! I don't know, minor detail I suppose but I was like eh. I put it off as another side effect of an incredibly short "Pt 1"
The length, the length, the length! This I don't understand at all. I haven't read the rest of the series yet, but my thought is that the author could have combined all the "parts" and just made a regular novel. I don't get the purpose of dividing it up to something even shorter than some novellas I've read! My first thought was that my Nook didn't download the book correctly, but it did. Still, it was a free book so I didn't complain too much.
Overall I thought the book wasn't that bad. I've read SO much worse with books twice as long than this. Yes, it did make me curious so I'll keep reading and hence the 3 star rating.
We'll see how the second part goes!
I liked the idea. I have a guilty pleasure, I guess you could say, for these sappy romances set in the corporate world with a rich hot guy in a suit and the down to earth female lead.
What I liked:
The nickname the male lead, Drew had for Claire. It was cute, simple despite the cliche of it.
...
that's it, I guess.
What I disliked:
The flow. Things moved WAY too fast that I felt like it I was just, ugh. She "fell" for him too fast, as he did her. They encountered their first official problem (at the end) but I guess that's the point of it being so short. At least they didn't say they loved each other quite yet....
Drew and his incredible technique to know his "girlfriend" and what she was thinking or feeling without being there to really know for sure. Like, what? I get what the author was doing, my boyfriend actually does this when it comes to me and when I over think things. but it took him a good year of dating to know me that intimately, and that's with us being friends for about another year and a half before! I don't know, minor detail I suppose but I was like eh. I put it off as another side effect of an incredibly short "Pt 1"
The length, the length, the length! This I don't understand at all. I haven't read the rest of the series yet, but my thought is that the author could have combined all the "parts" and just made a regular novel. I don't get the purpose of dividing it up to something even shorter than some novellas I've read! My first thought was that my Nook didn't download the book correctly, but it did. Still, it was a free book so I didn't complain too much.
Overall I thought the book wasn't that bad. I've read SO much worse with books twice as long than this. Yes, it did make me curious so I'll keep reading and hence the 3 star rating.
We'll see how the second part goes!
August 1, 2015
These are short 80 page novellas & are good. I like the character of Drew he's funny & charming, Claire is also funny & charming but she also has a great head on her shoulders when it comes to responsibility & career development. She had a plan & Drew wasn't supposed to be a part of it but he ended up winning her over. They were enjoying their relationship until his father & their boss decided that she wasn't quality material for a wife for Drew. With that he blackmailed Drew into breaking up with her or cost her her internship & future jobs in her field. Dad's a creep, just because Claire came from the foster system she isn't good enough for his society life & family name. The first book has gotten my attention as to what is going to happen in the next ones. Humour, anger & sadness is what book one brought,, bring on book two.
August 4, 2015
Someone please read this book so we can bounce thoughts off of one another?!
I was disappointed with this book, it started off great, made me laugh, and then it just wasn't a good book anymore.
Review can be found on my blog:
my blog
I was disappointed with this book, it started off great, made me laugh, and then it just wasn't a good book anymore.
Review can be found on my blog:
my blog
August 14, 2016
This was just ok for me. Unfortunately it didn't grab my attention enough to want to read the next in the series but it wasn't bad. I wasn't a fan of the ending but I understand that it's leading to the next one.
January 25, 2014
I like Drew, his dad sucks! Good story!
December 11, 2013
good read but hate the ending
December 20, 2013
Loved the playful banter between the characters.
April 24, 2014
Good story
This was a good story with good characters. I am sorry that it was so short and will have to buy the next book to continue the story.
This was a good story with good characters. I am sorry that it was so short and will have to buy the next book to continue the story.
June 30, 2014
Enjoyed quite well, really sets you up the the series.
August 26, 2015
It just wasn't strong enough. Everything was rushed in the end and it seemed weak at points.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews