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Firefighter #3
Seeing Red
IT ONLY TAKES A SPARK
Summer Abrams left everything behind-the warehouse fire that took her father's life, the town where her world fell apart, and her best friend in the world, Joe Walker. All she carried with her was guilt. Now, twelve years later, another fire has devastated the same warehouse, and Summer returns to Ocean Beach to search for answers. But what she finds first is an old flame that never went out . . .
Joe Walker has become the town fire marshal-sexy, strong, and an expert at keeping people at bay. The only person he ever let into his heart broke it and left town without a word. Now that she's back, Joe swears he won't fall for Summer again . . . but the heat between them is irresistible. As he tries to help her heal the past, can he take a risk on building a future with Summer?
Summer Abrams left everything behind-the warehouse fire that took her father's life, the town where her world fell apart, and her best friend in the world, Joe Walker. All she carried with her was guilt. Now, twelve years later, another fire has devastated the same warehouse, and Summer returns to Ocean Beach to search for answers. But what she finds first is an old flame that never went out . . .
Joe Walker has become the town fire marshal-sexy, strong, and an expert at keeping people at bay. The only person he ever let into his heart broke it and left town without a word. Now that she's back, Joe swears he won't fall for Summer again . . . but the heat between them is irresistible. As he tries to help her heal the past, can he take a risk on building a future with Summer?
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2005
62 people are currently reading
1190 people want to read
About the author
Jill Shalvis
386 books13.8k followersJill Shalvis is a NYT, USA Today, and Amazon Top 100 bestselling author of small-town romance and romcoms, known for big feels, found family, and plenty of shenanigans.
If you love small-town chaos, meddling friends and neighbors, sizzling chemistry, and heroes who fall hard for the one woman they absolutely did not plan on, you’re in the right place. Jill’s books blend laugh-out-loud moments with emotional gut punches, slow-burn tension, and deeply earned happily ever afters.
She writes the stories she loves to read: small-town romance and romantic comedies packed with heart, heat, second chances, grumpy/sunshine sparks, and the kind of found-family vibes that make you want to move right into the pages. Many of her series are perfect for binge-reading, and a number of her books are available in Kindle Unlimited and at major retailers.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably plotting new ways to torture her characters, avoiding laundry, or daydreaming about fictional men and the strong, complicated women who bring them to their knees—and then making them work for it.
You can follow Jill here on Goodreads to keep up with new releases, add her books to your shelves, and discover which small town you want to get lost in next.
If you love small-town chaos, meddling friends and neighbors, sizzling chemistry, and heroes who fall hard for the one woman they absolutely did not plan on, you’re in the right place. Jill’s books blend laugh-out-loud moments with emotional gut punches, slow-burn tension, and deeply earned happily ever afters.
She writes the stories she loves to read: small-town romance and romantic comedies packed with heart, heat, second chances, grumpy/sunshine sparks, and the kind of found-family vibes that make you want to move right into the pages. Many of her series are perfect for binge-reading, and a number of her books are available in Kindle Unlimited and at major retailers.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably plotting new ways to torture her characters, avoiding laundry, or daydreaming about fictional men and the strong, complicated women who bring them to their knees—and then making them work for it.
You can follow Jill here on Goodreads to keep up with new releases, add her books to your shelves, and discover which small town you want to get lost in next.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
August 24, 2013
Rating 3.5 stars
It's unusual to read books that have the hero more into the heroine than vice-versa but this book had this. The hero used to be the fat kid with an abusive father and the heroine was his best friend who he had feelings for but she never saw him that way and when her dad died she went away. Twelve years later there is another fire, the hero is no longer fat and the heroine appears on the scene again. The hero for the entirety of the book is shown as more vulnerable than the heroine, who lives in the 'now' and leaves at a moment's notice. I have to say this book was decent, not the Shalvis we love now. And the poor hero by the end he had been battered so much.
It's unusual to read books that have the hero more into the heroine than vice-versa but this book had this. The hero used to be the fat kid with an abusive father and the heroine was his best friend who he had feelings for but she never saw him that way and when her dad died she went away. Twelve years later there is another fire, the hero is no longer fat and the heroine appears on the scene again. The hero for the entirety of the book is shown as more vulnerable than the heroine, who lives in the 'now' and leaves at a moment's notice. I have to say this book was decent, not the Shalvis we love now. And the poor hero by the end he had been battered so much.
December 17, 2015
3 stars
July 14, 2019
Good read...beach perfect :)
November 13, 2011
Summer Abrams and Joe Walker were best friends. They grew up together, went to school together, and she stood by him when he was being bullied by their peers. She was always there for him when he’d creep into her bedroom after going another round as his drunken father’s punching bag. She was his rock and he loved her. She loved Joe, but as a friend. Though his stigma of being the “fat kid” didn’t bother her, she was hopelessly besotted with the school jock. Then an altercation and a tragic accident that killed her father changed both of their lives forever. Summer leaves shortly after graduating without a good bye or a backward glance. Twelve years pass before they see or speak to each other again, but the circumstances are anything but good. The rebuilt warehouse belonging to her family has burned down for a second time, and Summer has returned. Joe is now the fire marshal and responsible for investigating the cause of the fire. Feelings, both old and new, swirl between whenever they’re together. But any kind of future they may have is uncertain because of their commitment issues, and there seems to be an arsonist endangering their lives. The question is, will they be able to defeat their personal demons before they destroy any chances at love or will the very thing they fear be their demise?
I have only read one other book by this author, and I loved it. The majority of my friends have had high praises for her Lucky Harbor series. I haven’t read any of them yet, but I heard they were incredibly romantic. I’m going to make the assumption that the Firefighter series is at the opposite end of the spectrum. Not to say this wasn’t romantic, but it had a very healthy dose of angst throughout the entire story. After reading the excerpts for the other two books, I think there will be a common theme of a heroine who looked up to the male parental figure in her life, and after losing him becomes emotionally stunted. In other words, don’t fall in love because losing that man would be heartbreaking.
Summer was one such heroine. She was broken and still suffered the after effects of that tragedy twelve years ago. She had occasional panic attacks, she didn’t like closed spaces, she was estranged from her mother and the rest of her family, and she wasn’t capable of having anything more that no strings attached sex. She was seen as someone who ran from her problems, so when she decided to stay a while and help her mother, no one believed her. She felt unwanted, left out and very alone. The first time she made advances on Joe, he rejected her and that stung. According to her, no man had ever turned her down. She wasn’t a bad person, she just never dealt with her feelings in a proper or healthy manner. Therapy would have done her some good.
Joe was a little broken as well. He always got dumped because of his inability to open up, and he let work get in the way of his personal life. Even though he’d gotten older and matured, he still felt like the fat loser he was in high school. I guess the weight came off, but the scars remained. When Summer returned, he couldn’t forget his old feelings for her, but he showed incredible restraint towards her. What I loved about him was that he never took any crap from Summer. He made his feelings clear every single time – what he did and didn’t want. In my eyes, he was practically a saint. He stole the show, and he had the best lines.
There is no denying that there was chemistry. Their tiptoeing around old feelings and difficult conversations pulled at my heart strings, but I can’t say that I liked Summer. I understood her pain, but if she could show some empathy for her mother and her cousins, I didn’t see why she couldn’t do the same for Joe. I disliked her more every time she would deflect a question or an uncomfortable situation by baiting Joe with sex. He continued to be her rock, to be there for her in any capacity with the added hope that one day she would let that barrier down and let him in. This went on until for 80% of the book. For me, her hem-hawing dragged on a little too long. This is what I meant by “a healthy dose of angst”.
I thought the pacing was good. The main characters came with a lot of baggage, and they needed the time to sort through it all. It did drag in a few areas, like the constant interruptions during (potentially) pivotal discussions, either by phone calls or Summer’s mother “having a moment”. I got a little annoyed being buoyed up only to be let down. As for character development, I was Team Joe all the way. Summer, like I said, was very slow on the uptake. I’m not a fan of a near death being used to jump start a character into deciding that life is too short to not go after what they really want. It just seems terribly cliché. There were a few steamy scenes, and the sex was consummated but not graphic. Despite my issues with parts of the story, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t keep turning the pages anyway. After all the drama, I definitely wanted to reach that happy place of a HEA, especially because of Joe. I just realized that I have the first book, I just haven’t read it. After this roller coaster, I’m not exactly eager for more angst, so I’ll probably be saving it for a very rainy day. I think I’ll stick to the author’s more recent books for the time being. Also, this book can stand on its own.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review.
I have only read one other book by this author, and I loved it. The majority of my friends have had high praises for her Lucky Harbor series. I haven’t read any of them yet, but I heard they were incredibly romantic. I’m going to make the assumption that the Firefighter series is at the opposite end of the spectrum. Not to say this wasn’t romantic, but it had a very healthy dose of angst throughout the entire story. After reading the excerpts for the other two books, I think there will be a common theme of a heroine who looked up to the male parental figure in her life, and after losing him becomes emotionally stunted. In other words, don’t fall in love because losing that man would be heartbreaking.
Summer was one such heroine. She was broken and still suffered the after effects of that tragedy twelve years ago. She had occasional panic attacks, she didn’t like closed spaces, she was estranged from her mother and the rest of her family, and she wasn’t capable of having anything more that no strings attached sex. She was seen as someone who ran from her problems, so when she decided to stay a while and help her mother, no one believed her. She felt unwanted, left out and very alone. The first time she made advances on Joe, he rejected her and that stung. According to her, no man had ever turned her down. She wasn’t a bad person, she just never dealt with her feelings in a proper or healthy manner. Therapy would have done her some good.
Joe was a little broken as well. He always got dumped because of his inability to open up, and he let work get in the way of his personal life. Even though he’d gotten older and matured, he still felt like the fat loser he was in high school. I guess the weight came off, but the scars remained. When Summer returned, he couldn’t forget his old feelings for her, but he showed incredible restraint towards her. What I loved about him was that he never took any crap from Summer. He made his feelings clear every single time – what he did and didn’t want. In my eyes, he was practically a saint. He stole the show, and he had the best lines.
There is no denying that there was chemistry. Their tiptoeing around old feelings and difficult conversations pulled at my heart strings, but I can’t say that I liked Summer. I understood her pain, but if she could show some empathy for her mother and her cousins, I didn’t see why she couldn’t do the same for Joe. I disliked her more every time she would deflect a question or an uncomfortable situation by baiting Joe with sex. He continued to be her rock, to be there for her in any capacity with the added hope that one day she would let that barrier down and let him in. This went on until for 80% of the book. For me, her hem-hawing dragged on a little too long. This is what I meant by “a healthy dose of angst”.
I thought the pacing was good. The main characters came with a lot of baggage, and they needed the time to sort through it all. It did drag in a few areas, like the constant interruptions during (potentially) pivotal discussions, either by phone calls or Summer’s mother “having a moment”. I got a little annoyed being buoyed up only to be let down. As for character development, I was Team Joe all the way. Summer, like I said, was very slow on the uptake. I’m not a fan of a near death being used to jump start a character into deciding that life is too short to not go after what they really want. It just seems terribly cliché. There were a few steamy scenes, and the sex was consummated but not graphic. Despite my issues with parts of the story, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t keep turning the pages anyway. After all the drama, I definitely wanted to reach that happy place of a HEA, especially because of Joe. I just realized that I have the first book, I just haven’t read it. After this roller coaster, I’m not exactly eager for more angst, so I’ll probably be saving it for a very rainy day. I think I’ll stick to the author’s more recent books for the time being. Also, this book can stand on its own.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review.
July 25, 2013
3.5 stars
As some of you may know, I’m a pretty big Jill Shalvis fan. Her publisher decided to rerelease this book that was no longer on the shelves for readers to have and devour. Of course when I learned it was about a firefighter, I jumped at it like a rabid dog.
SEEING RED has all the sparks that makes Shalvis’s writing shine, but for me it lacked that finishing touch that I think years of experience with writing can bring to a book. This is one of Shalvis’s earlier works and you can definitely see her talents there on the page. But I don’t think it’s up to par with her latest works.
The book starts off with Joe and Summer together as best friends. Joe is a little on the chubby side and he often gets bullied because of that. Summer, on the other hand, is fresh as a daisy and many of the teenage boys are looking to pick her up. Unfortunately, those young memories leaves a bitter taste in Joe’s mouth and results in a tragic event that scars both of them in their adult lives.
As we fast forward years later, Joe has changed drastically and has made himself a fire marshal. But seeing Summer again only reminds him of his troubles with his weight as a younger kid. With that, more insecurities follow and the tension between them doesn’t necessarily equate to the sexual kind.
To be honest, I had a hard time liking Summer’s character. I found myself immediately becoming protective of Joe and felt that her returned presence wasn’t a good thing for him at first. She left him high and dry once and I feared that history would repeat itself even though Summer was trying so hard to fit in again in her older life. I don’t know what it was about Summer’s character that irked me so much. I just had a hard time accepting her at first. In a way, I don’t think I saw her as worthy to be with Joe, especially after she broke his heart as a kid.
So even though I didn’t really like Summer’s character and thought the writing wasn’t as polished as her newer works, I do think it’s worth the read. It’s a great little summer book that will tide you over for the next anxiously awaited Shalvis book!
*ARC provided by Netgalley
December 7, 2017
This was a nice romantic suspense story - kind of mystery lite. Shalvis really draws out the romance on this one, and the steam is on a more palatable level.
The audio by Laura Heisler is passable but not great. She's largely unemotional and there's no range for the voices she does. It was far more like she was reading rather than voice acting. That said, she wasn't horrible enough to put down the audio and pick up the print book.
Overall, it's Jill Shalvis and I love that every time I pick up one of her many books I know I'll enjoy the story.
The audio by Laura Heisler is passable but not great. She's largely unemotional and there's no range for the voices she does. It was far more like she was reading rather than voice acting. That said, she wasn't horrible enough to put down the audio and pick up the print book.
Overall, it's Jill Shalvis and I love that every time I pick up one of her many books I know I'll enjoy the story.
June 4, 2015
Awww, Jill Shalvis is so good! One of the best of the genre, for sure! This isn't even one of her best books and still very enjoyable!
August 13, 2021
#3 in the Firefighter series
Although I'm a huge Shalvis fan and I've enjoyed this series so far, this book was somewhat disappointing. Summer and Joe were friends for many years--he the misfit because of his size. But when they are both victims of a warehouse fire, she leaves town without a word and they lose touch. Joe goes on to become the fire marshal and is now investigating yet another fire involving Summer's mother's shop. Summer comes home to provide support and reconnects with Joe. I liked that she was friends with him during high school when he didn't have any other support, but that promise was not fulfilled when she left town. She ran scared, for what seemed like no real reason, and can't deal with the panic attacks she experiences now. I would have liked her better as a tougher, more loyal friend. Instead it was all about her--nobody is close to me, nobody trusts me, I need an escape, etc. I liked Joe much better since he buckled down and changed things, making a successful life for himself. His one weakness is Summer, and he's falling under her spell again, just like he did when he was a teenager. I felt frustrated with both of them. But the story was interesting, the mystery about the fires was somewhat surprising (although I should have figured it out sooner), and the romance was nice. Overall, this has been a very enjoyable series.
Although I'm a huge Shalvis fan and I've enjoyed this series so far, this book was somewhat disappointing. Summer and Joe were friends for many years--he the misfit because of his size. But when they are both victims of a warehouse fire, she leaves town without a word and they lose touch. Joe goes on to become the fire marshal and is now investigating yet another fire involving Summer's mother's shop. Summer comes home to provide support and reconnects with Joe. I liked that she was friends with him during high school when he didn't have any other support, but that promise was not fulfilled when she left town. She ran scared, for what seemed like no real reason, and can't deal with the panic attacks she experiences now. I would have liked her better as a tougher, more loyal friend. Instead it was all about her--nobody is close to me, nobody trusts me, I need an escape, etc. I liked Joe much better since he buckled down and changed things, making a successful life for himself. His one weakness is Summer, and he's falling under her spell again, just like he did when he was a teenager. I felt frustrated with both of them. But the story was interesting, the mystery about the fires was somewhat surprising (although I should have figured it out sooner), and the romance was nice. Overall, this has been a very enjoyable series.
August 15, 2013
Joe Walker was a overweight high school kid who had few friends and try to hide from his abusive father. The only person he trusted in the world was his best friend Summer who lived next door. He friendship was more important that the deep feelings he had for her, until one day it became hard to hold them in; and he ran. Joe ran to one place he felt safe, the warehouse her parents used for their store, the one place Joe and Summer would go to talk. Summer oblivious to Joe’s feelings followed him there. The one place they both felt safe would soon become a place that brought painful memories and the starting point for Summer to run away.
I like friends to lover’s stories, and I like them even better when one character makes a huge transformation. Joe Walker is no longer the overweight kid he was in high school. Now he is a fire marshal, and due to the rigors of the job has the body many women drool over. What I liked was that Joe had some of the same insecurities from his youth when he and Summer reunited. He didn’t all of a sudden grow confidence with his hot body. Bravo Jill Shalvis for having Joe lament over the demise of his diet over a bag of chips! Summer holds a lot of pain, most emotional tied back to her mother. It was something I could understand and seemed believable given the plot of the book. Her shift in thinking was gradual, which was also credible. I enjoyed all the secondary characters; and some of them were characters. There were steamy scenes but not the main focus of the book, the plot and characters took center stage.
I am embarrassed to say this is my first Jill Shalvis book (with all the recommendation I have had why have I waited so long), but it won’t be my last. I am glad I picked it up; great writing and unique cast of characters kept me interested and will bring me back.
I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
I like friends to lover’s stories, and I like them even better when one character makes a huge transformation. Joe Walker is no longer the overweight kid he was in high school. Now he is a fire marshal, and due to the rigors of the job has the body many women drool over. What I liked was that Joe had some of the same insecurities from his youth when he and Summer reunited. He didn’t all of a sudden grow confidence with his hot body. Bravo Jill Shalvis for having Joe lament over the demise of his diet over a bag of chips! Summer holds a lot of pain, most emotional tied back to her mother. It was something I could understand and seemed believable given the plot of the book. Her shift in thinking was gradual, which was also credible. I enjoyed all the secondary characters; and some of them were characters. There were steamy scenes but not the main focus of the book, the plot and characters took center stage.
I am embarrassed to say this is my first Jill Shalvis book (with all the recommendation I have had why have I waited so long), but it won’t be my last. I am glad I picked it up; great writing and unique cast of characters kept me interested and will bring me back.
I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
December 31, 2013
It was a pleasure to read an older work by Jill Shalvis. It is because of this talented author that I became obsessed with firefighters, so it only seemed appropriate to try one of the books in her Firefighter series.
I loved the relationship between Summer Abrams and Joe Walker. There was so much chemistry, yet so much struggle. It was fun to experience the resolution of all of their feelings for each other. This friends to lovers plot was well-written and the angst behind each character was excellent! The past seemed to dictate a lot for each of them, and thankfully, they were able to help each other work through those issues. Between Summer hiding behind her nature adventure tours and Joe behind his camera (how sexy), it was refreshing that they decided to live in the moment!
Summer's family was instrumental in this book, and it made it interesting to sort through everything going on there. The warehouse fires lead to a good element of mystery in the story that added a lot for me as well.
A great read!
Rating: B+ (4 1/2 stars)
Review copy provided by author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the relationship between Summer Abrams and Joe Walker. There was so much chemistry, yet so much struggle. It was fun to experience the resolution of all of their feelings for each other. This friends to lovers plot was well-written and the angst behind each character was excellent! The past seemed to dictate a lot for each of them, and thankfully, they were able to help each other work through those issues. Between Summer hiding behind her nature adventure tours and Joe behind his camera (how sexy), it was refreshing that they decided to live in the moment!
Summer's family was instrumental in this book, and it made it interesting to sort through everything going on there. The warehouse fires lead to a good element of mystery in the story that added a lot for me as well.
A great read!
Rating: B+ (4 1/2 stars)
Review copy provided by author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2009
My first JS book....It wasn't a bad book per se... the story was well done and well written, and I loved the Hero (Him and his firefighting goodness was definitely a highlight!)
What I didn't like... or rather couldn't like was the Heroine... While her actions and responses seemed more reality inspired, they didn't make me like her very much. And we didn't get to see nearly enough of her family, for me to get a real feel for them.
So this one gets just two stars from me, as well as the hope the next JS book I read will be better!
May 15, 2014
Mystery isn't really Shalvis' strength but tortured heroes are. I enjoyed this series!
June 24, 2017
FTC : I originally requested this on NetGalley but failed to download it in time. I bought this copy but my review will also be posted to NetGalley.
Quick Scores :
Plot – 2/5
Romance – 2/5
Sexy Times – 4/5
Characters – 4/5 for Joe and 2/5 for Summer
Chance of a re-read? – No.
Hash-Tags
#second-chance-romance #suspense #fire-fighter #previously-unattractive-hero #annoying-heroine
Nix Synopsis
After a viscous fire took her Father, Summer left and never once looked back. She left everything and everyone to escape her grief; including Joe.
When another fire brings her home to help out her family, she finds she can’t escape the memories of the past or Joe.
Now a Fire-investigator, Joe can’t avoid Summer as often as he would like to as he struggles to find the cause of the fire that brought her back. No longer the “chubby-loser” that he thought he was, he can tell that Summer is attracted to him (of course she is *head-desk*) but he can’t help but remember how much she hurt him the first time round. She keeps pulling him closer and then pulling away, showing him that she isn’t going to stick around any-time soon.
When the fire stops looking like an accident and more fires happen, Joe finds himself unable to keep his distance as he struggles to protect her. But can he protect his heart from her in such close quarters?
What I liked
This is one of Jill Shalvis early works and I have to say I like her suspense-voice. It was unexpected; gone was the prose layered with a fine layer of sugary sweetness and in it’s place was a delightful beat of danger and intrigue. I would buy more of her suspense.
What didn’t really work for me
Wow, so much. I will start with the fact that this book three in the series but they aren’t linked. Honestly, this series isn’t for me and I won’t be picking the others up.
I didn’t like Summer. I didn’t like Summer at all. She hurt Joe and over and over throughout the book and, I’ll be honest, I don’t even think she gave a shit that she did. She made the man crawl through broken glass and his only crime was being in love with her. She was awful and all the way through the book I couldn’t fathom why he tried so hard with her, why he kept giving her chances to hurt him.
I have a big problem with books that use body image as a central theme. Joe is a hero obsessed with his weight (which is wildly unusual I will give you). As a former “chubby-loser”, it is mentioned over and over again how hot he is now, how now he has no issue with girls etc. It sucks but I suppose that’s the way this world works HOWEVER my major issue is that the heroine never noticed him before and now seemingly can’t get enough of his muscles, his arms, his muscley back etc etc etc…. another thing to add Summer’s faults is how superficial she is; I couldn’t help hate her a bit more anytime he judged his food by how many calories were in them. I struggle with this trope anyway but alongside Summer being a complete prat, it ruined the book for me.
One line sum-up!
A flightly heroine returns home to help her family and hooks up with her former friend because he got a lot hotter.
Quick Scores :
Plot – 2/5
Romance – 2/5
Sexy Times – 4/5
Characters – 4/5 for Joe and 2/5 for Summer
Chance of a re-read? – No.
Hash-Tags
#second-chance-romance #suspense #fire-fighter #previously-unattractive-hero #annoying-heroine
Nix Synopsis
After a viscous fire took her Father, Summer left and never once looked back. She left everything and everyone to escape her grief; including Joe.
When another fire brings her home to help out her family, she finds she can’t escape the memories of the past or Joe.
Now a Fire-investigator, Joe can’t avoid Summer as often as he would like to as he struggles to find the cause of the fire that brought her back. No longer the “chubby-loser” that he thought he was, he can tell that Summer is attracted to him (of course she is *head-desk*) but he can’t help but remember how much she hurt him the first time round. She keeps pulling him closer and then pulling away, showing him that she isn’t going to stick around any-time soon.
When the fire stops looking like an accident and more fires happen, Joe finds himself unable to keep his distance as he struggles to protect her. But can he protect his heart from her in such close quarters?
What I liked
This is one of Jill Shalvis early works and I have to say I like her suspense-voice. It was unexpected; gone was the prose layered with a fine layer of sugary sweetness and in it’s place was a delightful beat of danger and intrigue. I would buy more of her suspense.
What didn’t really work for me
Wow, so much. I will start with the fact that this book three in the series but they aren’t linked. Honestly, this series isn’t for me and I won’t be picking the others up.
I didn’t like Summer. I didn’t like Summer at all. She hurt Joe and over and over throughout the book and, I’ll be honest, I don’t even think she gave a shit that she did. She made the man crawl through broken glass and his only crime was being in love with her. She was awful and all the way through the book I couldn’t fathom why he tried so hard with her, why he kept giving her chances to hurt him.
I have a big problem with books that use body image as a central theme. Joe is a hero obsessed with his weight (which is wildly unusual I will give you). As a former “chubby-loser”, it is mentioned over and over again how hot he is now, how now he has no issue with girls etc. It sucks but I suppose that’s the way this world works HOWEVER my major issue is that the heroine never noticed him before and now seemingly can’t get enough of his muscles, his arms, his muscley back etc etc etc…. another thing to add Summer’s faults is how superficial she is; I couldn’t help hate her a bit more anytime he judged his food by how many calories were in them. I struggle with this trope anyway but alongside Summer being a complete prat, it ruined the book for me.
One line sum-up!
A flightly heroine returns home to help her family and hooks up with her former friend because he got a lot hotter.
February 6, 2019
I wasn't really pulled in to this story. I'm a long-time Shalvis reader but this book fell short of my expectations for some reason.
I love firefighter/arson investigator books; this one had both; couldn't get hooked in.
I couldn't warm up to ANY of the characters, including he hero who was the best of the lot. I realize the hero, heroine, and her family went through a lot of heartbreak so I cut them some slack but I felt their overall personalities would have been the same even if there hadn't been any tragedy in their lives, and the tragedy simply amplified the things I didn't like about them. I felt the hero deserved better - I really didn't like the heroine at all.
I look forward to reading the other 2 book in this trilogy. The author states that each book is a stand-alone but at least one other books does tie-in with this one. Fortunately I have both and will tackle them at some point in the near future. Perhaps the other two will be more entertaining.
I love firefighter/arson investigator books; this one had both; couldn't get hooked in.
I couldn't warm up to ANY of the characters, including he hero who was the best of the lot. I realize the hero, heroine, and her family went through a lot of heartbreak so I cut them some slack but I felt their overall personalities would have been the same even if there hadn't been any tragedy in their lives, and the tragedy simply amplified the things I didn't like about them. I felt the hero deserved better - I really didn't like the heroine at all.
I look forward to reading the other 2 book in this trilogy. The author states that each book is a stand-alone but at least one other books does tie-in with this one. Fortunately I have both and will tackle them at some point in the near future. Perhaps the other two will be more entertaining.
January 25, 2021
This book was a different read than what I've come to expect from Jill Shalvis, but she still brought about an engaging story and nice romance to the page. I can't say that I really liked Summer. She was okay, but I wanted to shake some sense into her more times that I cared to count. I loved Joe, though. He deserved way better than Summer, but he was nice and charming and of course, loyal.
I realized after I started reading the book that it was part of a series, but I don't think it mattered much because I was able to follow the story without any problems.
All in all, a quick, kinda suspenseful read.
I realized after I started reading the book that it was part of a series, but I don't think it mattered much because I was able to follow the story without any problems.
All in all, a quick, kinda suspenseful read.
August 25, 2020
I usually really enjoy Jill Shalvis books, but not this one. This was a bit of a struggle to read. I was surprised because-- firefighters!!
But alas, this one was a bit of a slog for me. I really did not like Summer's character; she was really flighty and her back and forth and interest in Joe, perceptively, after realizing he got 'hot' and is no longer the 'fat kid' kind of irked me. That may not have been how Shalvis intended for her character to be interpreted but that is how I interpreted this character-- shallow.
But I will say, I adored Joe and his insecurities.
2.5 stars
But alas, this one was a bit of a slog for me. I really did not like Summer's character; she was really flighty and her back and forth and interest in Joe, perceptively, after realizing he got 'hot' and is no longer the 'fat kid' kind of irked me. That may not have been how Shalvis intended for her character to be interpreted but that is how I interpreted this character-- shallow.
But I will say, I adored Joe and his insecurities.
2.5 stars
March 23, 2025
This series just didn't draw me in. The female lead in this book annoyed the heck out of me - treating her friends & family poorly but then whining about it when they all act like a loving family but she's not included. And she treats Joe like garbage. it was not my favorite Shalvis series at all.
August 27, 2013
This Firefighter Brings the Heat
He was her best friend. She was his world. Then tragedy struck and tore Summer Abrams' life apart. Crippled by grief and forged by loss, Summer ran from her hometown of Ocean Beach. She ran from the loss of her father. She ran from the suffocating emotion of her family. She ran from the strength and importance of her friendship with Joe Walker. She ran, and never stopped running. Then the call came.
Twelve years after the warehouse fire that irrevocably altered her life, the beast has struck again. The first time drove Summer away. The second brought her home.
She hadn't expected her return to OB to be easy, not after so many years, but her family's chilly reception still hurts. Summer is determined to reconnect with them, to reforge the bonds she had once cut so cleanly no matter how uncomfortable she is with the effort. She's just as determined to reconnect with her former best friend Joe, who has grown into a fine specimen of manhood.
The longer she stays in town, however, the more she feels pushed out the door. Her mom certainly doesn't seem to want her around, and Joe, now a fire marshal and investigating the fire that brought her back, is no more welcoming. Maybe it's been too long. Maybe time doesn't heal all wounds.
When another fire breaks out and almost takes Summer's life with it, she is forced to face another grim possibility. Maybe her return has stirred up ghosts that someone is desperate to let lie. Maybe, just maybe someone she loves wants her gone...permanently.
~*~
I've pretty much come to the conclusion that if a book has Jill Shalvis' name on it, I'm going to enjoy the read. Of course some books I like more than others, but the sheer consistency of entertainment her books provide sets Shalvis apart and is a large part of why she's one of my favorite authors. And this re-release of a 2005 title just goes to show she's been good for a long time.
The sticky widget with re-releases is whether or not they'll feel dated. That can quickly ruin a read for me. Fortunately, that wasn't a problem here. The big reveal during the book's climax felt a little old-school and a trifle cliched because of it, but nothing really struck me as completely anachronistic.
This book has a much stronger suspense plotline than I was expecting. I'm used to, and love, Shalvis' contemporary romance novels, especially the Lucky Harbor series (which absolutely should not be missed), but they're lighter than this one so the emotional depth and darker elements in this story took me by surprise. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. I love romantic suspense, and felt this was a solid example of one.
I fell hard and fast for the fabulous Joe Walker. Shalvis sure didn't go easy on the poor guy, but he's a great character. His horrible childhood and the emotional detritus from his struggles with weight as a teen made him such a sympathetic hero. And I'm a total sucker for a guy who's loved a girl his whole life, even after she ripped his heart out. The fact that he is now a totally hot, if often emotionally unavailable firefighter was just icing on a very delicious cake. Sexy, strong, and oh-so-endearing, I adored everything about him.
Summer, on the other hand, was a bit of a harder pill to swallow. My feelings about her are far more complicated. On one hand, I appreciated her for her flaws and damage. I find flawed and/or damaged characters intrinsically more interesting and believable than their picture-perfect counterparts. Not necessarily more likable, just more interesting. Summer definitely wasn't always likable.
In fact, through most of the book she struck me as wounded but selfish with it, and her self-involvement was often cruel, albeit unintentionally so. I felt for her yearning for family bonds and struggle to fit in, but shuddered at her casual dismissal of Joe's plainly-spoken boundaries and the legitimate reasons for them. Too many times and for too long into the story I felt Joe deserved a lot more than Summer was willing or able to give. And emotional cowards have always been a major turn off to me. That made it hard to really embrace her in her romantic role, even though I heartily appreciated those flaws in regards to her family issues and the suspense elements of the plot.
I had some minor quibbles with one or two other elements of the story, and I was a little disappointed that Joe and Summer's fight before the first fire was never really addressed, but mostly I was thoroughly entertained by this book and totally smitten with Joe. I haven't read the preceding books in the series, but can happily say that had no impact at all. This read like a stand-alone novel. Of course, I want to read those preceding books, but that has less to do with them being a part of this series and everything to do with that name on the cover. They're Jill Shalvis books. A guaranteed good time.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Forever Yours publisher Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
He was her best friend. She was his world. Then tragedy struck and tore Summer Abrams' life apart. Crippled by grief and forged by loss, Summer ran from her hometown of Ocean Beach. She ran from the loss of her father. She ran from the suffocating emotion of her family. She ran from the strength and importance of her friendship with Joe Walker. She ran, and never stopped running. Then the call came.
Twelve years after the warehouse fire that irrevocably altered her life, the beast has struck again. The first time drove Summer away. The second brought her home.
She hadn't expected her return to OB to be easy, not after so many years, but her family's chilly reception still hurts. Summer is determined to reconnect with them, to reforge the bonds she had once cut so cleanly no matter how uncomfortable she is with the effort. She's just as determined to reconnect with her former best friend Joe, who has grown into a fine specimen of manhood.
The longer she stays in town, however, the more she feels pushed out the door. Her mom certainly doesn't seem to want her around, and Joe, now a fire marshal and investigating the fire that brought her back, is no more welcoming. Maybe it's been too long. Maybe time doesn't heal all wounds.
When another fire breaks out and almost takes Summer's life with it, she is forced to face another grim possibility. Maybe her return has stirred up ghosts that someone is desperate to let lie. Maybe, just maybe someone she loves wants her gone...permanently.
~*~
I've pretty much come to the conclusion that if a book has Jill Shalvis' name on it, I'm going to enjoy the read. Of course some books I like more than others, but the sheer consistency of entertainment her books provide sets Shalvis apart and is a large part of why she's one of my favorite authors. And this re-release of a 2005 title just goes to show she's been good for a long time.
The sticky widget with re-releases is whether or not they'll feel dated. That can quickly ruin a read for me. Fortunately, that wasn't a problem here. The big reveal during the book's climax felt a little old-school and a trifle cliched because of it, but nothing really struck me as completely anachronistic.
This book has a much stronger suspense plotline than I was expecting. I'm used to, and love, Shalvis' contemporary romance novels, especially the Lucky Harbor series (which absolutely should not be missed), but they're lighter than this one so the emotional depth and darker elements in this story took me by surprise. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. I love romantic suspense, and felt this was a solid example of one.
I fell hard and fast for the fabulous Joe Walker. Shalvis sure didn't go easy on the poor guy, but he's a great character. His horrible childhood and the emotional detritus from his struggles with weight as a teen made him such a sympathetic hero. And I'm a total sucker for a guy who's loved a girl his whole life, even after she ripped his heart out. The fact that he is now a totally hot, if often emotionally unavailable firefighter was just icing on a very delicious cake. Sexy, strong, and oh-so-endearing, I adored everything about him.
Summer, on the other hand, was a bit of a harder pill to swallow. My feelings about her are far more complicated. On one hand, I appreciated her for her flaws and damage. I find flawed and/or damaged characters intrinsically more interesting and believable than their picture-perfect counterparts. Not necessarily more likable, just more interesting. Summer definitely wasn't always likable.
In fact, through most of the book she struck me as wounded but selfish with it, and her self-involvement was often cruel, albeit unintentionally so. I felt for her yearning for family bonds and struggle to fit in, but shuddered at her casual dismissal of Joe's plainly-spoken boundaries and the legitimate reasons for them. Too many times and for too long into the story I felt Joe deserved a lot more than Summer was willing or able to give. And emotional cowards have always been a major turn off to me. That made it hard to really embrace her in her romantic role, even though I heartily appreciated those flaws in regards to her family issues and the suspense elements of the plot.
I had some minor quibbles with one or two other elements of the story, and I was a little disappointed that Joe and Summer's fight before the first fire was never really addressed, but mostly I was thoroughly entertained by this book and totally smitten with Joe. I haven't read the preceding books in the series, but can happily say that had no impact at all. This read like a stand-alone novel. Of course, I want to read those preceding books, but that has less to do with them being a part of this series and everything to do with that name on the cover. They're Jill Shalvis books. A guaranteed good time.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Forever Yours publisher Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
November 5, 2018
great book. these books are part of series but i feel this one could stand alone. Goo characters that had humor sarcasm and issues. Passionate scenes btwn HEA and families and co workers. Underlying mystery which was interesting too:)
January 25, 2019
The best of the series
This story grips you from the start. The characters drag you in. Jill Shalvis is a master of the details... What they are thinking and feeling. The background and surroundings held with the story and make it come alive.
One of my favourite writers.
This story grips you from the start. The characters drag you in. Jill Shalvis is a master of the details... What they are thinking and feeling. The background and surroundings held with the story and make it come alive.
One of my favourite writers.
August 5, 2018
3 1/2 stars
January 27, 2019
this is the best book of the firefighters series l like this one best since it had more to do with fires
December 13, 2019
This might be my favorite book by Jill Shalvis so far and that is saying a lot. This felt like such a genuine love story with a great mystery and lots of romance. Highly recommend it!
January 7, 2020
Joe and Red are a potent couple. Their story is really the progression of a school age friendship to a modern day relationship, told with a lot of action in between. I enjoyed it.
February 14, 2022
Nancy
Great book! Loved the characters ! interesting and intriguing storyline! Really surprised ending! Wow! Thanks for the interesting storyline about fire investigation!
Great book! Loved the characters ! interesting and intriguing storyline! Really surprised ending! Wow! Thanks for the interesting storyline about fire investigation!
September 4, 2022
Enjoyed this read, it had a mystery to solve and lots of romance. Great vacation/beach read.
August 6, 2013
**ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) in return for an honest review.**
http://ripeforreader.blogspot.ca/2013...
Twelve years ago, Summer Abrams barely survived a fire that destroyed her family's warehouse and took her father's life. It was also the last time she saw her next door neighbour and best friend. She packed up and left town shortly after she recovered, to get away from the grief and the memories. She makes her life as an outdoor guide and only returns for brief visits. But now the same warehouse, which is still in the family, was hit with another fire, and Summer comes home to Ocean Beach to help her mother deal with the investigation.
As an eighteen year old, Joe Walker was head over heels for Summer, but she never saw him as more than her best friend. Seeing her after all these years at the same warehouse, at yet another fire is more than a little unsettling. But as one of the fire marshals, it look like Joe has no choice but to deal with the one person he had ever been close to, the only one who made his childhood bearable. This time though, he is determined not to lose his heart again, and have her walk away.
Summer recognizes Joe immediately, but only because she had known him so well. He had grown into a big, strong and very sexy and self-assured man, and she felt an immediate physical response to him.
But there was so much awkwardness between them, much left unsaid and undone. For the most part from her side, and she feels she needs to explain, to apologize, but words have never come easy. Joe can still read her like a book though, just like he could when they were younger.
Summer decides to stick around Ocean Beach until the investigation has come to a conclusion, and temporarily work with her mother and aunt in their business. Just when she is about to leave, there is another fire, and Summer wont be leaving after all. As her encounters with Joe are heating up and her feelings become more involved, someone is starting to send threats.
Joe was set on keeping is distance, but how is he supposed to keep her safe and not give in to his feelings for her at same time. When Summer finally decides to make a leap of faith, she may already be too late.....
****
A story from Jill Shalvis' Firefighter Series, originally published in 2004-2005 and re-released in 2013, this is the third and last book.
As a romantic suspense novel, SEEING RED, does not disappoint! Engaging from the prologue onward, there wasn't a moment where I wanted to rush the story along, or felt dissatisfied. The pacing was perfect, the buildup of suspense nicely executed, and the chemistry flawlessly translated into words, just as I have become accustomed to in Ms Shalvis' writing.
The characters, Joe and Summer, had me a little frustrated at times. The push and pull of their interactions and the indecisiveness with respect to their relationship is just something that goes against my nature. I am all for throwing your stuff out on the table and dealing with things head on. The fact that Joe continues getting suckered in to letting Summer use him for what amounts to a physical release, without him laying down he law, just doesn't sit well with me. But this is all about differences in personality, between the characters and myself....and the fact that I managed to get engaged enough to actually get frustrated with them, shows the quality of the author, in making the characters come alive on paper. So if this is a reflection on Ms. Shalvis, it would only be in the most positive of ways, her talent in creating credible people from words alone.
Having said that, I would not have minded seeing some of the secondary stories a bit more highlighted......in particular the connection between Joe's partner and Summer's mother. Now that is an interesting sub-plot right there, older woman with tons of baggage, with younger man.
As a mother, one thing tugs at my protective instincts, though. Would I ever, in any way, put my sibling's needs over even the remotest possibility of a threat to one of my children??? The answer is a solid NO.
And once you have read the book, you will hopefully understand what I am alluding to with that statement.
A scorching hot and twisted tale of love and connections!!
http://ripeforreader.blogspot.ca/2013...
Twelve years ago, Summer Abrams barely survived a fire that destroyed her family's warehouse and took her father's life. It was also the last time she saw her next door neighbour and best friend. She packed up and left town shortly after she recovered, to get away from the grief and the memories. She makes her life as an outdoor guide and only returns for brief visits. But now the same warehouse, which is still in the family, was hit with another fire, and Summer comes home to Ocean Beach to help her mother deal with the investigation.
As an eighteen year old, Joe Walker was head over heels for Summer, but she never saw him as more than her best friend. Seeing her after all these years at the same warehouse, at yet another fire is more than a little unsettling. But as one of the fire marshals, it look like Joe has no choice but to deal with the one person he had ever been close to, the only one who made his childhood bearable. This time though, he is determined not to lose his heart again, and have her walk away.
Summer recognizes Joe immediately, but only because she had known him so well. He had grown into a big, strong and very sexy and self-assured man, and she felt an immediate physical response to him.
But there was so much awkwardness between them, much left unsaid and undone. For the most part from her side, and she feels she needs to explain, to apologize, but words have never come easy. Joe can still read her like a book though, just like he could when they were younger.
Summer decides to stick around Ocean Beach until the investigation has come to a conclusion, and temporarily work with her mother and aunt in their business. Just when she is about to leave, there is another fire, and Summer wont be leaving after all. As her encounters with Joe are heating up and her feelings become more involved, someone is starting to send threats.
Joe was set on keeping is distance, but how is he supposed to keep her safe and not give in to his feelings for her at same time. When Summer finally decides to make a leap of faith, she may already be too late.....
****
A story from Jill Shalvis' Firefighter Series, originally published in 2004-2005 and re-released in 2013, this is the third and last book.
As a romantic suspense novel, SEEING RED, does not disappoint! Engaging from the prologue onward, there wasn't a moment where I wanted to rush the story along, or felt dissatisfied. The pacing was perfect, the buildup of suspense nicely executed, and the chemistry flawlessly translated into words, just as I have become accustomed to in Ms Shalvis' writing.
The characters, Joe and Summer, had me a little frustrated at times. The push and pull of their interactions and the indecisiveness with respect to their relationship is just something that goes against my nature. I am all for throwing your stuff out on the table and dealing with things head on. The fact that Joe continues getting suckered in to letting Summer use him for what amounts to a physical release, without him laying down he law, just doesn't sit well with me. But this is all about differences in personality, between the characters and myself....and the fact that I managed to get engaged enough to actually get frustrated with them, shows the quality of the author, in making the characters come alive on paper. So if this is a reflection on Ms. Shalvis, it would only be in the most positive of ways, her talent in creating credible people from words alone.
Having said that, I would not have minded seeing some of the secondary stories a bit more highlighted......in particular the connection between Joe's partner and Summer's mother. Now that is an interesting sub-plot right there, older woman with tons of baggage, with younger man.
As a mother, one thing tugs at my protective instincts, though. Would I ever, in any way, put my sibling's needs over even the remotest possibility of a threat to one of my children??? The answer is a solid NO.
And once you have read the book, you will hopefully understand what I am alluding to with that statement.
A scorching hot and twisted tale of love and connections!!
August 7, 2013
Slick‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
Review copy provided for an honest review
4 STARS
Sometimes reading a reissue of a book presents many challenges; times have changed, technology has changed, and we all know how much the world has changed. What I’m beginning to realize though is that if a writer is strong, if they have a well developed story, interesting characters, fun dialog, and some great superb sexiness it doesn’t matter what’s changed because you are so involved with the story you don’t care about what’s changed since the book was first released. You find yourself wrapped up in it and living it with the characters and enjoying every minute of it. That’s exactly what I did when reading the re-issue of Seeing Red by Jill Shalvis.
Joe Walker and Summer Abrams were best of friends until a fire during their high school years killed Summer’s father and left her reeling. She left town and hasn’t been back much since but now a fire in the same warehouse her mother and aunt still own has her back in town and trying to reconnect with her family and Joe. While Summer hasn’t changed all that much, Joe has gone from pudgy teenager to sculpted Fire Marshall and its throwing Summer for a loop. Most of all both Joe and Summer are dealing with an unbelievable attraction, one Joe’s always had and one that Summer would very much like to do something about.
First off, the characters…wow, in addition to Summer and Joe both of whom I really loved we have Joe’s partner, Kenny, who is a great friend and voice of reason. Then there are all of Summer’s relatives as well as the employee’s of Summer’s mother and aunt’s furnishings store. A big cast but not overwhelming and the additional cast really did add some interest and entertainment along the way. Summer was at times a little hard to read, she’s very closed off and with reason but I loved watching her icy exterior melt away the more she got involved with her mother and of course with Joe. I hate that she hurt Joe over and over but I honestly don’t even realized what she was doing. She is just so use to being on her own and not letting her emotions get in the way that she doesn’t think about other people’s emotions.
Joe is one of those guys that would give you the shirt off his back. He’s dedicated to his job (to dedicated according to his past girlfriends) but other than Kenny he doesn’t let anyone see him. It’s hard when Summer returns because she knows so much about him and his background. They both have hard time reconciling the people they were in their youth with the people they are today and that leads to some very intense moments between them.
As the fire investigation rolls along things get tense and then Summer uncovers a discrepancy in the books of the store. When she begins receiving threatening text messages, Joe becomes even more unnerved. During this time their relationship has a lot of ups and downs but we also see both Summer and Joe coming to terms with their past and breaking down the barriers they’ve both put up over time.
I very much enjoyed this story there was enough excitement to keep it interesting but it didn’t overshadow the love story. I like that Summer worked to repair her relationship with her Mom, Aunt and cousins and of course Joe. The secondary romances were somewhat of a surprise but no less entertaining. While I figured out early on who the “bad guy” was in this story, I’m not sure everyone would I just happen to be really good at solving mysteries. Even though Seeing Red is a reissue it has withstood the test of time and anyone who enjoys Jill Shalvis’ work will enjoy this one. Heck anyone who loves a good romance with hot, hunky fireman will love this one as well!
Review copy provided for an honest review
4 STARS
Sometimes reading a reissue of a book presents many challenges; times have changed, technology has changed, and we all know how much the world has changed. What I’m beginning to realize though is that if a writer is strong, if they have a well developed story, interesting characters, fun dialog, and some great superb sexiness it doesn’t matter what’s changed because you are so involved with the story you don’t care about what’s changed since the book was first released. You find yourself wrapped up in it and living it with the characters and enjoying every minute of it. That’s exactly what I did when reading the re-issue of Seeing Red by Jill Shalvis.
Joe Walker and Summer Abrams were best of friends until a fire during their high school years killed Summer’s father and left her reeling. She left town and hasn’t been back much since but now a fire in the same warehouse her mother and aunt still own has her back in town and trying to reconnect with her family and Joe. While Summer hasn’t changed all that much, Joe has gone from pudgy teenager to sculpted Fire Marshall and its throwing Summer for a loop. Most of all both Joe and Summer are dealing with an unbelievable attraction, one Joe’s always had and one that Summer would very much like to do something about.
First off, the characters…wow, in addition to Summer and Joe both of whom I really loved we have Joe’s partner, Kenny, who is a great friend and voice of reason. Then there are all of Summer’s relatives as well as the employee’s of Summer’s mother and aunt’s furnishings store. A big cast but not overwhelming and the additional cast really did add some interest and entertainment along the way. Summer was at times a little hard to read, she’s very closed off and with reason but I loved watching her icy exterior melt away the more she got involved with her mother and of course with Joe. I hate that she hurt Joe over and over but I honestly don’t even realized what she was doing. She is just so use to being on her own and not letting her emotions get in the way that she doesn’t think about other people’s emotions.
Joe is one of those guys that would give you the shirt off his back. He’s dedicated to his job (to dedicated according to his past girlfriends) but other than Kenny he doesn’t let anyone see him. It’s hard when Summer returns because she knows so much about him and his background. They both have hard time reconciling the people they were in their youth with the people they are today and that leads to some very intense moments between them.
As the fire investigation rolls along things get tense and then Summer uncovers a discrepancy in the books of the store. When she begins receiving threatening text messages, Joe becomes even more unnerved. During this time their relationship has a lot of ups and downs but we also see both Summer and Joe coming to terms with their past and breaking down the barriers they’ve both put up over time.
I very much enjoyed this story there was enough excitement to keep it interesting but it didn’t overshadow the love story. I like that Summer worked to repair her relationship with her Mom, Aunt and cousins and of course Joe. The secondary romances were somewhat of a surprise but no less entertaining. While I figured out early on who the “bad guy” was in this story, I’m not sure everyone would I just happen to be really good at solving mysteries. Even though Seeing Red is a reissue it has withstood the test of time and anyone who enjoys Jill Shalvis’ work will enjoy this one. Heck anyone who loves a good romance with hot, hunky fireman will love this one as well!
April 7, 2024
Narrated by Laura Heisler B
I am delighted that the Firefighter books by Jill Shalvis finally made it to audio. For years they were out of print and I scoured used bookstores to find copies of White Heat, Blue Flame, and Seeing Red. I remember feeling particularly special when I finally got my hands on Blue Flame after two years of looking. I have to admit I feel like an old-timer who “walked uphill in the snow each day” to go to school. I did it the hard way while the young whipper-snappers get to download the eBooks or, better yet, listen to the audiobooks instantly.
And that brings me back to the audio format of Seeing Red, narrated by the new-to-me Laura Heisler. The first thing to realize is the three books in this “series” are actually stand-alone stories. Although it’s been years since I read all of them, I don’t remember any common thread in the books except they involve firefighters. That’s a good thing, since it means you can just as easily begin with Seeing Red as any of the other books.
Summer and Joe were best friends growing up. Summer, the pretty outgoing daughter of a hippie-influenced interior decorator mom and a writer dad, doesn’t see Joe as “the fat kid.” Instead, he’s simply her best friend and keeper of her secrets. To Joe, the son of an abusive father, Summer is not just a best friend and confidante, she’s also the one he loves. Their young friendship ends when Joe, Summer, and the young man Summer hopes will be her boyfriend fight about their relationship in the basement of the family warehouse. During this fight the warehouse catches fire and the three barely make it out alive. When Summer is well again she leaves town and in the ensuing twelve years, her visits home are infrequent and short.
While Summer has been making her living as a wilderness guide, Joe has become a firefighter and finally a fire marshal. He is now trim and muscled from years of working out. Their paths meet again when the family warehouse burns once again, and Joe and Summer are thrown together as the investigation leads to arson, and then reopens the case on the original fire. Summer still has memory lapses and panic attacks from the previous fire. Added to that, her family and friends, including Joe, don’t trust her decision to stick around until the fire is investigated. She has spent the last twelve years running away so what’s different now?
My favorite character in the book is Joe. He’s honest, capable, and completely down to earth. Summer’s character sometimes seems obtuse and selfish, unable or unwilling to see the power she has to hurt Joe. But I do like the way they both come around to the happy ending. (Come on, that’s NOT a spoiler. This is romance, after all.) My least favorite character was Summer’s mother. She seemed determined to push Summer away. Her character acted too weak and timid for the way she is described.
For me, Laura Heisler as a narrator is much like Jill Shalvis as a writer. They are perhaps not the most gifted in their field, but very solid and reliable. I look to Shalvis for a fun, dependably enjoyable read and am never disappointed. It appears Heisler will be that sort of narrator for me. I can see myself finding her name as narrator and thinking, “Oh, good! That should be enjoyable.” She performs the male and female voices quite well and mostly gets the emotional intent of the scenes. Her narration is just a tad slow for me, but that’s minor. Overall a good effort.
I am delighted that the Firefighter books by Jill Shalvis finally made it to audio. For years they were out of print and I scoured used bookstores to find copies of White Heat, Blue Flame, and Seeing Red. I remember feeling particularly special when I finally got my hands on Blue Flame after two years of looking. I have to admit I feel like an old-timer who “walked uphill in the snow each day” to go to school. I did it the hard way while the young whipper-snappers get to download the eBooks or, better yet, listen to the audiobooks instantly.
And that brings me back to the audio format of Seeing Red, narrated by the new-to-me Laura Heisler. The first thing to realize is the three books in this “series” are actually stand-alone stories. Although it’s been years since I read all of them, I don’t remember any common thread in the books except they involve firefighters. That’s a good thing, since it means you can just as easily begin with Seeing Red as any of the other books.
Summer and Joe were best friends growing up. Summer, the pretty outgoing daughter of a hippie-influenced interior decorator mom and a writer dad, doesn’t see Joe as “the fat kid.” Instead, he’s simply her best friend and keeper of her secrets. To Joe, the son of an abusive father, Summer is not just a best friend and confidante, she’s also the one he loves. Their young friendship ends when Joe, Summer, and the young man Summer hopes will be her boyfriend fight about their relationship in the basement of the family warehouse. During this fight the warehouse catches fire and the three barely make it out alive. When Summer is well again she leaves town and in the ensuing twelve years, her visits home are infrequent and short.
While Summer has been making her living as a wilderness guide, Joe has become a firefighter and finally a fire marshal. He is now trim and muscled from years of working out. Their paths meet again when the family warehouse burns once again, and Joe and Summer are thrown together as the investigation leads to arson, and then reopens the case on the original fire. Summer still has memory lapses and panic attacks from the previous fire. Added to that, her family and friends, including Joe, don’t trust her decision to stick around until the fire is investigated. She has spent the last twelve years running away so what’s different now?
My favorite character in the book is Joe. He’s honest, capable, and completely down to earth. Summer’s character sometimes seems obtuse and selfish, unable or unwilling to see the power she has to hurt Joe. But I do like the way they both come around to the happy ending. (Come on, that’s NOT a spoiler. This is romance, after all.) My least favorite character was Summer’s mother. She seemed determined to push Summer away. Her character acted too weak and timid for the way she is described.
For me, Laura Heisler as a narrator is much like Jill Shalvis as a writer. They are perhaps not the most gifted in their field, but very solid and reliable. I look to Shalvis for a fun, dependably enjoyable read and am never disappointed. It appears Heisler will be that sort of narrator for me. I can see myself finding her name as narrator and thinking, “Oh, good! That should be enjoyable.” She performs the male and female voices quite well and mostly gets the emotional intent of the scenes. Her narration is just a tad slow for me, but that’s minor. Overall a good effort.
August 6, 2013
3.5 stars - My review cross-posted from Wit and Sin: http://witandsin.blogspot.com/2013/08...
After surviving the devastating fire that killed her father, Summer Abrams fled her hometown of Ocean Beach. It’s been twelve years since that fateful day, and now Summer is back in O.B. after another fire occurs in the same warehouse her father died in. But painful memories aren’t all that Summer left behind over a decade ago. Returning to O.B. throws her in the path of sexy fire marshal Joe Walker, a man who’s practically a stranger to her even though they were once inseparable.
Twelve years ago Summer broke Joe’s heart, and though he’s come a long way from pudgy best friend, Joe fears it’d be all too easy to fall for Summer once more. He’s determined not to get involved with her, even though her newfound desire for him makes it nearly impossible for him to resist her. But even if he could manage to convince himself to stay away from Summer, his job ensures that he can’t. His investigation of the new warehouse fire leads him to believe that neither this one nor the fire all those years ago were an accident. And when the arsonist begins targeting Summer, Joe will do all that he can to protect her, even if he loses his heart to her all over again.
What is it about a Jill Shalvis hero that makes you want to dive right into the story and claim him for your own? After reading Seeing Red , I’ve added red-hot fire marshal Joe Walker to the already long list of Ms. Shalvis’s heroes that I love. From the very beginning Joe captured my heart. As a teenager he was beaten by his father, bullied by his peers for being a bit overweight, and was desperately in love with Summer, who never saw him as more than her best friend. My heart broke for Joe, and even though he’s a seriously sexy adult for most of the story, Ms. Shalvis shows how the scars of childhood don’t always leave you. I yearned for Joe to find someone who could get past the walls he built around his heart. It comes as no surprise that that someone who does is Summer. Summer isn’t as instantly likeable as Joe, but she’s a flawed heroine who makes mistakes but owns up to them, earning her my respect. She has battles of her own to fight and her personal journey in Seeing Red was every bit as compelling as the romance.
Though I wouldn’t necessarily classify Seeing Red as romantic suspense, there is a fair amount of action to be found in the arsonist plotline. I’m afraid I can’t really write about this part of the story without spoiling the book, so I’ll simply say that I found the lurking threat of danger in Seeing Red highly entertaining.
Seeing Red is the third book in Ms. Shalvis’s Firefighter trilogy. Since none of the books in the series are connected, you can safely read Joe and Summer’s story without having read White Heat or Blue Flame. That being said, eagle-eyed readers will surely be delighted to see Jake (the hero of Blue Flame) make a cameo in Seeing Red .
Jill Shalvis is one of my top autobuy authors and her books never disappoint. I greatly enjoyed Seeing Red and I can’t wait to read the other two books in the Firefighter trilogy.
After surviving the devastating fire that killed her father, Summer Abrams fled her hometown of Ocean Beach. It’s been twelve years since that fateful day, and now Summer is back in O.B. after another fire occurs in the same warehouse her father died in. But painful memories aren’t all that Summer left behind over a decade ago. Returning to O.B. throws her in the path of sexy fire marshal Joe Walker, a man who’s practically a stranger to her even though they were once inseparable.
Twelve years ago Summer broke Joe’s heart, and though he’s come a long way from pudgy best friend, Joe fears it’d be all too easy to fall for Summer once more. He’s determined not to get involved with her, even though her newfound desire for him makes it nearly impossible for him to resist her. But even if he could manage to convince himself to stay away from Summer, his job ensures that he can’t. His investigation of the new warehouse fire leads him to believe that neither this one nor the fire all those years ago were an accident. And when the arsonist begins targeting Summer, Joe will do all that he can to protect her, even if he loses his heart to her all over again.
What is it about a Jill Shalvis hero that makes you want to dive right into the story and claim him for your own? After reading Seeing Red , I’ve added red-hot fire marshal Joe Walker to the already long list of Ms. Shalvis’s heroes that I love. From the very beginning Joe captured my heart. As a teenager he was beaten by his father, bullied by his peers for being a bit overweight, and was desperately in love with Summer, who never saw him as more than her best friend. My heart broke for Joe, and even though he’s a seriously sexy adult for most of the story, Ms. Shalvis shows how the scars of childhood don’t always leave you. I yearned for Joe to find someone who could get past the walls he built around his heart. It comes as no surprise that that someone who does is Summer. Summer isn’t as instantly likeable as Joe, but she’s a flawed heroine who makes mistakes but owns up to them, earning her my respect. She has battles of her own to fight and her personal journey in Seeing Red was every bit as compelling as the romance.
Though I wouldn’t necessarily classify Seeing Red as romantic suspense, there is a fair amount of action to be found in the arsonist plotline. I’m afraid I can’t really write about this part of the story without spoiling the book, so I’ll simply say that I found the lurking threat of danger in Seeing Red highly entertaining.
Seeing Red is the third book in Ms. Shalvis’s Firefighter trilogy. Since none of the books in the series are connected, you can safely read Joe and Summer’s story without having read White Heat or Blue Flame. That being said, eagle-eyed readers will surely be delighted to see Jake (the hero of Blue Flame) make a cameo in Seeing Red .
Jill Shalvis is one of my top autobuy authors and her books never disappoint. I greatly enjoyed Seeing Red and I can’t wait to read the other two books in the Firefighter trilogy.
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