One of the best books Kelly has ever written! A true-must read novel if ever there was one, for lovers of romance and Kelly both. - The British Bibliophile
Thank you to Kelly Elliott for sending me an ebook Advanced Readers copy for me to read and leave an honest review, as part of her ARC team
NOTE - This review will contain no spoilers, as always, but will make reference to elements within the book's blurb. So if you wish to go into this read without knowing a thing about it, please scroll away from my review...now
Fighting For Love is a re-publication of Kelly's original book of the same name, which was first published on April 4th 2017. This is the second novel within the Boston Love series and is a complete standalone so it can be read independently from the first book.
Book One, Searching For Harmony was also a re-release of the book with the name name, but one I have yet to re-read myself. It was a surprise re-release for even us closest Kelly Elliott readers, so I've got it on my TBR to re-read very soon. It, like Fighting For Love is a standalone read. Which means it can be independently read from others in the series but as I always recommend with standalones with more than one book in the series, go back to the first book purely for context. Kelly always does a great job at dropping nuggets of information as to who's who, as well as what's happened with who, you'll get the full feel for the world the series in and the supporting characters who'll pop up in more than one book.
*Please note* -- if you do decide to read these re-releases and would like to leave a review here on Goodreads afterwards, please leave them on the new listings with the new covers. Not the old--original--book's listing!
What happens when a flirty, live-in-the-moment fireman with a reputation meets a career-driven, focused woman? Embers, sparks and plenty of embers AND sparks. Good thing that there's a fireman around with his very own hose to douse the budding flames if need be. His job--not that he knows it at first--is to inspire the lawyer to loosen up and join him in his live-in-the-moment attitude, as well as trusting in the power of love. A lot easier than it sounds, but luckily for her, he's not the guy to give up on a good thing no matter how forbidden or cautious she may be.
Finn Ward is a simple man. In his life there are only two passions: enjoying his life as a firefighter and coveting his bachelor status as a single man. Nothing more, nothing less. Not everyone in his life sees things though his eyes, however. His loving parents often remind him that he needs to find someone and settle down with them. That's a big 'hell no' for Finn. He just wants to have fun while he's young enough to enjoy himself. At least, that's what he's told himself and lived by right up until he attends a union meeting he really doesn't want to be at and like the flip of a light switch, it seems that settling down doesn't seem as bad after all.
Rory Adams, a fresh-out-of-school lawyer, is seeking to make a name for herself in the big, competitive world of law while working for her mother's firm. Not easy to do when anyone and everyone assumes things about you because your mother owns the firm, and everyone thinks what they want to about you. Rory doesn't then have time for silly games. She's a woman on a mission and is determined to keep on track and achieve her goals. Cue a certain fireman in a certain meeting they're both attending, and those plans of hers to stay on track are thus immediately detailed. This is where those smouldering embers between them, kick in. Only, it looks like they're to be doused before they have a chance to catch, because the man who Finn works for so happens to be Rory's father. She is a forbidden flame to his striking hot match.
Neither of them saw the other person coming. Not even a mile away. Both aren't looking for the other and certainly nothing permanent to tie them down with, but they didn't envision such a strong reaction and connection that sparked and continues to keep them together. The smouldering embers are now a fully-lit fire. One they have to keep under control so that only they can feel the heat and no one else. Their time together turns everything upside down in the best of ways. Finn's wild ways are tamed by Rory and in turn, he shows her a good time and proves that you can have fun without dedicating your whole life to work you might not even be enjoying.
Fires can only be tamed for so long before they run wild and out of control. The same can be said for Rory and Finn's "secret" romance. Tendrils of flame sneak ever closer to those whom they've kept out of their secret circle, threatening permanent risk of being extinguished. Will Finn and Rory survive the smoke and mirrors, truths and lies to get to the other side? Or will they become victims of their own burning desire? There's only one way to find out.
Seven years ago when I read this story for the first time, I liked it. Though I was heavily into cowboys and small-town romance at the time--Kelly's stories included, of course--, I had a soft spot for the occasional non-cowboy and Finn was one of those men. All these years on, re-reading and re-discovering his and Rory's story only cemented why I liked them so much in the first place. The only thing that's changed is I no longer like this story, I love it! Firefighters are one of my literary--and real life--weaknesses, and I've definitely fallen for Finn all over again.
Thank you to Kelly for not only giving me one of my top reads of the month, but of the year! Everyone should discover (or rather, re-discover in some cases), Finn and Rory and find out why sometimes getting too close to the fire won't always get you burned.
Five stars!