Rescued by the Firefighter: An Instalove OTT Forbidden Short Read Romance

by Debra Elise

She’s not my type…but I want her anyway.

I need her with a burning intensity that leaves us both breathless.

She wants marriage and kids.

I want the freedom to eat tacos or ice cream for breakfast and to sleep naked on my days off—all day, and with her next to me.

And I really don’t want anyone counting on me for piggyback rides unless I’m hauling them from a burning building.
I don’t even care that she’s following her joy and writes romance novels for a living. Much.

I don’t care that she’s the sister of one of my buddies in the firehouse.

And I really don’t care that he’s threatened to flatten anyone in our station that looks at her for more than five seconds.

I may not believe in happily ever after, but I believe I want Stassi Sheridan more than I want to become captain. And I really want to be Pineville Fire & Rescue’s next captain.

I’ve never met anyone like her, and she might just change my mind about everything .

54 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 16, 2026

About the author

Debra Elise, a USA Today Bestselling Author, lives with her husband and their two teenage sons in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Her books are steamy & sweet featuring later in life characters across several genres.

A self-proclaimed extroverted introvert, when not writing or procrastinating, she enjoys a strong cup of coffee, a good nap and teasing her three 'boys' into displaying their killer smiles. Visit Debra at www.debraelise.com

Reviews

[Lynn Sell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book pulled me in right away and from one of my favorite authors makes that a win -win! We meet Stassi who is a romance author that sets her oven on fire. She doesn’t cook or bake but decides that she will make a berry cobbler to help with her writing for her story. When the fire apartment gets there, it is Austin that sees her first. From there, the instalove sparks fly as they are interested in each other. This story made me laugh at Stassi’s predicament with her stove and the bumbling of the main characters not knowing how the other felt. Then to swooning at the thought of being rescued by a handsome firefighter who gets a new stove to replace the one that was on fire. This author is great a writing and is an absolute go to for me! If you are looking for books with romance and instalove vibes, check her out!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Chandra Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some love stories start with sparks.
This one starts with smoke… and a very unfortunate attempt at baking.

Rescued by the Firefighter by Debra Elise is a sweet, funny, and swoony short romance that leans into the charm of opposites attracting — and the panic of realizing the one person you want might want something completely different from life.

Stassi Sheridan is a romance writer who decides she should probably understand cooking if she’s going to write about domestic bliss. The result? A flaming oven and an emergency call. Enter Austin — firefighter, commitment-avoider, and the last man who believes he’s built for happily-ever-after.

The chemistry is immediate, but the conflict is clear.
Stassi dreams about marriage, stability, and a future. Austin dreams about freedom, lazy mornings, and not being responsible for anyone outside a burning building. He rescues people for a living — he just never planned on staying.

What makes the story work is Austin’s internal struggle. He falls first and hard, but doesn’t trust himself to keep someone happy. Coming from a past without much love, he doesn’t know how to be the dependable person Stassi deserves — and that vulnerability gives the romance heart beneath the humor.

Stassi, meanwhile, is warm and patient without being pushy. Their connection builds through awkwardness, small gestures, and the realization that relationships don’t come with instruction manuals — even for a romance author.

What you’ll find inside:

Firefighter hero who falls first

Forbidden crush (friend’s sister)

Opposites: commitment vs freedom

Light humor and cozy moments

Fast-paced, feel-good romance

It’s quick, charming, and easy to read — the kind of story that makes you smile more than stress, with just enough emotion to make the payoff satisfying.

⭐ A warm, low-angst novella perfect for when you want laughs, sparks, and a hero discovering love is harder — and better — than any fire he’s ever faced.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rescued By The Firefighter by Debra Elise was a great short read.
As a spicy firefighter instalove OTT romance it had me hooked and entertained from the start with it's engaging main characters, Austin and Stassi.
Austin, a firefighter aiming for a captain's promotion and confirmed bachelor rescues Stassi, a romance writer, from an oven fire in her house and is instantly captivated by her. Stassi, despite the somewhat dramatic situation, is reeling with thoughts of Austin and sparks between them are evident.
Regardless of comments from his colleagues that Stassi's brother, a fellow firefighter, has warned all the station to stay away from his sister, Austin is drawn to pursue Stassi. Austin has previously sworn off love and relationships due to his childhood and lack of good experiences and can't explain to the strong feelings of falling hard and fast for Stassi.
Stassi has doubts of her own due to Austin's lack of contact but a kind gesture fuels their instalust which soon turns to sizzling chemistry.
The steamy and spicy moments and navigation of their feelings as they get together had me turning pages right through to the satisfying HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debdutch · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Rescued by the Firefighter” by Debra Elise

-A kitchen fire and a failed cobbler bring romance author Stassi face-to-face with firefighter Austin, and the sparks fly instantly. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.

Their instalove connection is sweet and funny, especially as Austin wrestles with his fear of commitment and his unloving past. Lighthearted, swoony, and heartfelt, this Pineville Fire & Rescue story delivers charm, laughter, and a satisfying happily-ever-after.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

A house fire in Stassi's oven leads to meeting Austin (a firefighter who works in the same firehouse as her brother, but on different shifts) They had an instant connection, but he took a couple days before contacting her. He had come from a home that was not loving and didn't know how to handle a relationship. She was ok with that, she was a romance author and would lead him through it. A cute stoty.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda Bonanno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debra Elise has recently become a favorite author of mine, she knows how to grab onto her readers from the 1st page to the last. The story of Austin and Stassi is one of not thinking that someone isn't your type but you soon realize that no matter the obstacles you want them forever. This is the 2nd book of the Pineville Fire & Rescue series and you don't want to miss it!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[LA FITCH · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very entertaining story of a firefighter meeting his forever while putting out a kitchen fire. Austin works at the same station as Stassi's brother but different shifts. Stassi is a romance writer and can't get Austin off her mind. Their HEA will keep you engaged right to the end.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great short instalove romance. Austin and Stassi met by chance. I like heroes who don’t expect to fall love and then it hits them like lightning.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I liked how Austin and Stassi's relationship started and how he wasn't backing down on pursuing her. Stassi returns his feelings.