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Smokejumpers #1
Into the Fire
Boone Hatcher stayed.
Five years ago, the fire on Carson Ridge killed Dutch Kroeger—the man who taught Boone everything—and shattered the crew Boone called family. Boone survived. He took over Silvertip. And he's spent every day since making sure he never loses another man.
Dante Vega ran.
He was the best natural jumper Dutch ever trained—and the only one who saw something on Carson Ridge that didn't belong. Concussed, grieving, and unable to make anyone believe him, Dante walked away.
Eventually, he stopped believing himself.
Now Dante is back.
He says he only wants to requalify. Boone knows better. Too much between them was left unfinished; too many questions neither man would ask, but five years apart hasn't done a damn thing to kill the attraction.
Then another fire behaves in a way it shouldn't.
Boone has spent five years keeping everyone safe. Dante has spent five years running from what he remembers. This time, neither of them can walk away.
Because someone erased the truth about Carson Ridge.
And fire has a way of bringing buried things to the surface.
Into the Fire is the first book in the Smokejumpers series, featuring second chances, found family, men who jump out of planes, and a hard-won HEA.
Five years ago, the fire on Carson Ridge killed Dutch Kroeger—the man who taught Boone everything—and shattered the crew Boone called family. Boone survived. He took over Silvertip. And he's spent every day since making sure he never loses another man.
Dante Vega ran.
He was the best natural jumper Dutch ever trained—and the only one who saw something on Carson Ridge that didn't belong. Concussed, grieving, and unable to make anyone believe him, Dante walked away.
Eventually, he stopped believing himself.
Now Dante is back.
He says he only wants to requalify. Boone knows better. Too much between them was left unfinished; too many questions neither man would ask, but five years apart hasn't done a damn thing to kill the attraction.
Then another fire behaves in a way it shouldn't.
Boone has spent five years keeping everyone safe. Dante has spent five years running from what he remembers. This time, neither of them can walk away.
Because someone erased the truth about Carson Ridge.
And fire has a way of bringing buried things to the surface.
Into the Fire is the first book in the Smokejumpers series, featuring second chances, found family, men who jump out of planes, and a hard-won HEA.
245 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 23, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 4, 2026
4 Stars
Don't mistake what you're getting into here for romance. This is mystery with a side of romantic interest.
Terminology: It took me a while to understand what I was reading and who was who. Being introduced to a whole base of Jumpers plus the terminology and routine of something so foreign to me had me trying to decipher every word. Not to mention Declan Rhodes' writing style and this was a maze of who said and done what.
Mystery: The set up was interesting and the progression picking up by half the book and raising the thrill every few pages had me at the edge of my seat.
Side romance: The back bone of the story. A deep strong love that was literally on hold for 5 years. It picked up quite abruptly and never let go. Without over the top heartbeats or angst, these two men just loved one another.
Writing style: Interesting, hard to read (or understand sometimes) and unique to Declan Rhodes. A subtle sarcasm, a manly voice, no frills language yet never straightforward or sometimes too blunt.
A cliff hanger, a promise the overall story continues in the next book.
At least we got an HEA (of sorts) for Boone and Dante
Don't mistake what you're getting into here for romance. This is mystery with a side of romantic interest.
Terminology: It took me a while to understand what I was reading and who was who. Being introduced to a whole base of Jumpers plus the terminology and routine of something so foreign to me had me trying to decipher every word. Not to mention Declan Rhodes' writing style and this was a maze of who said and done what.
Mystery: The set up was interesting and the progression picking up by half the book and raising the thrill every few pages had me at the edge of my seat.
Side romance: The back bone of the story. A deep strong love that was literally on hold for 5 years. It picked up quite abruptly and never let go. Without over the top heartbeats or angst, these two men just loved one another.
Writing style: Interesting, hard to read (or understand sometimes) and unique to Declan Rhodes. A subtle sarcasm, a manly voice, no frills language yet never straightforward or sometimes too blunt.
A cliff hanger, a promise the overall story continues in the next book.
At least we got an HEA (of sorts) for Boone and Dante
September 25, 2026
This failed epically as a romance. I’m usually not a fan of second chance romance but both Boone and Dante sounded so great I just wanted to know.
Five years ago Dante was was a jumper and witnessed a suspicious tragedy but because of his concussion, the man he loved - Boone; did not believe his story about the events so he left. Now he is back and questions about what happened five years ago are starting to arise.
There was a hint of romance but overall it was just paragraphs of writing about the mystery in the background (well I guess it’s the main event now). If you like mystery go for it, but I’m here for the romance and I didn’t get that.
In addition to that, the writing style took a lot of concentration. At times I had no idea who is speaking and it kept just jumping from person to person. I got into the rhythm of the writing eventually but it left me feeling offside and the story itself was bland and disappointing.
And (!!!) the mystery wasn’t even that good. I knew who it was yet those two boys just kept on trusting the wrong person. Being deliberately obtuse is just downright annoying.
But anyway. I really really like Dante and Boone (or whatever scene we did get of them together) so I feel terrible about the low rating.
Five years ago Dante was was a jumper and witnessed a suspicious tragedy but because of his concussion, the man he loved - Boone; did not believe his story about the events so he left. Now he is back and questions about what happened five years ago are starting to arise.
There was a hint of romance but overall it was just paragraphs of writing about the mystery in the background (well I guess it’s the main event now). If you like mystery go for it, but I’m here for the romance and I didn’t get that.
In addition to that, the writing style took a lot of concentration. At times I had no idea who is speaking and it kept just jumping from person to person. I got into the rhythm of the writing eventually but it left me feeling offside and the story itself was bland and disappointing.
And (!!!) the mystery wasn’t even that good. I knew who it was yet those two boys just kept on trusting the wrong person. Being deliberately obtuse is just downright annoying.
But anyway. I really really like Dante and Boone (or whatever scene we did get of them together) so I feel terrible about the low rating.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Into the is the first book in the Smokejumpers series. I couldn't put this book down once I started it. This is the story of Boone and Dante. I loved these two and the chemistry between them was hot. I loved watching them work through their issues to build a relationship. I loved the plot and the twists and turns it took. I love fire fighters and smokejumpers are some of the bravest ones in my opinion. This was a story that kept me reading until the very last page. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I would definitely recommend this book as a 5 star read.
received a free review copy
received a free review copy
October 3, 2026
This is Declan’s new series, immersing the reader into the world of the smokejumper, those men trained to jump from planes into often inaccessible burning forests to fight the fires from the ground. There was a prequel, The Ready Room, which introduced the characters at the Silvertip base, and set up the fledgling romance between Boone and Dante. When Into the Fire begins, Boone is now the leader of the base, it is five years after the prequel, and Dante is returning to the base after a five year absence. He had left after a fire that claimed the life of the former team leader, and had witnessed some anomalies of the fire that raised questions, but a concussion and a partial loss of memory put his account in question. Those missing memories, and questions still remaining about the Carson Ridge fire persist today, and Boone and Dante delving into it again is the catalyst for some unexplained “accidents” as they try to solve the mystery of who might be sabotaging equipment and how it could tie back to the fire five years ago.
The romantic connection between Boone and Dante is more secondary to the questions about the Carson Ridge fire, but as they get closer and work together, the relationship between them deepens and the dangers fuel the emotional development of a more defined name to what they are building. The mystery of who and why takes a more primary role in the book, and excellent world building of daily life on the base helps to give background and substance to flesh out the interactions between the team members as they go about their regular routines on the base as Boone tries to figure out who on the team is betraying them all. I had my predictions too, but never made the connection, so that kept me intrigued and engaged the entire time. Things between Boone and Dante are resolved at the end of the book, but it sounds like the mystery itself isn’t yet solved, especially the motive behind it all, so I’m looking forward to learning more in book 2.
I will admit that I didn’t totally understand some of the more technical things in the book, and a map of the base could have been helpful for me, at least. I will need to look up info on packing parachutes and doing practice jumps from towers to clarify the iffy pictures in my head, but that didn’t detract from the story for me, if smokejumping is something of interest, or parachuting out of planes, or technicalities of reading fires catches your attention, this book could be for you, all that plus a mystery and romance combined. What else could you ask for?
The romantic connection between Boone and Dante is more secondary to the questions about the Carson Ridge fire, but as they get closer and work together, the relationship between them deepens and the dangers fuel the emotional development of a more defined name to what they are building. The mystery of who and why takes a more primary role in the book, and excellent world building of daily life on the base helps to give background and substance to flesh out the interactions between the team members as they go about their regular routines on the base as Boone tries to figure out who on the team is betraying them all. I had my predictions too, but never made the connection, so that kept me intrigued and engaged the entire time. Things between Boone and Dante are resolved at the end of the book, but it sounds like the mystery itself isn’t yet solved, especially the motive behind it all, so I’m looking forward to learning more in book 2.
I will admit that I didn’t totally understand some of the more technical things in the book, and a map of the base could have been helpful for me, at least. I will need to look up info on packing parachutes and doing practice jumps from towers to clarify the iffy pictures in my head, but that didn’t detract from the story for me, if smokejumping is something of interest, or parachuting out of planes, or technicalities of reading fires catches your attention, this book could be for you, all that plus a mystery and romance combined. What else could you ask for?
October 24, 2026
I gave this author another try after DNFing a previous book. I did read this whole story but I felt REALLY lost throughout just like their other work. Is there another book before this one? I didn't see anything listed and this is the first in this series so what is the deal. Are we writing books with connected characters from other series? Why does it always feel like jumping in the middle of a 25 season show and hoping a new storyline will help you not feel like your lack of knowledge of previous characters won't matter.
I like the two MMCs together but we definitely didn't get a good build of their relationship. The story was probably too technical to feel like you know wtf is happening without some sort of guide to smoke jumping sitting open in a browser next to you.
There was good mystery and I would probably enjoy future books since I know have a reference point but I really would love to know if there was something that came before that gives these 2 their initial meeting and falling in love. Maybe some back story on Dutch and R.Mendez. it all fell a little flat if this is the actual start of a series.
I like the two MMCs together but we definitely didn't get a good build of their relationship. The story was probably too technical to feel like you know wtf is happening without some sort of guide to smoke jumping sitting open in a browser next to you.
There was good mystery and I would probably enjoy future books since I know have a reference point but I really would love to know if there was something that came before that gives these 2 their initial meeting and falling in love. Maybe some back story on Dutch and R.Mendez. it all fell a little flat if this is the actual start of a series.
October 6, 2026
Five years since Boone was in love with Dante. There was an incident, Dante got hurt and someone died but no one believed Dante so he left. Now he's back to recertify and Boone helps him try to solve what happened. In the process, they fall again. Everyone's a suspect, it gets technical sometimes but it's an intriguing mystery and you want the guys to be together, badly. It was doubt and a lack of trust before, now it's trust no matter what. So good! I received a copy of this and this is my voluntary opinion.
October 11, 2026
This is a very hard book to read and follow. The writing is very technical and detailed about smokejumping and very factual. I DNFd at 30% as there hasn’t been any mention of emotion or feelings. Everything feels like a statement or a transaction and it’s hard to get invested in the characters.
October 3, 2026
An unsolved death gets an answer when love returns to the Silvertip US Forest Service outpost
The mystery dates back five years, before we meet Boone Hatcher, who is trying to recover from the death of the previous outpost leader, Dutch Kroeger, who died in the Carson Ridge fire. Now Boone leads the outpost, and a surviving crew member returns to seek requalification as a smoke jumper and renew his relationship with Boone.
Dante Vega suffered a concussion in the Carson Ridge fire, and his memory of that day is scrambled. He remembers some things, including a vision of someone who wanted to hurt the fire jumpers, and who might be familiar.
His return to Silvertip is his search for resolution to the events five years ago, to jump without fear again, and to share a bed with Boone.
The latter goal is met easily, but the others are more troubling as things start happening at the Silvertip outpost. Dante suffers when someone opens his packed parachute and fixes it so the chute will foul.
Saying more about the mystery would ruin the plot, but there is love here, a true concern for the men who depend on others for their safety and who find someone they had trusted has violated that trust, repeatedly. For Boone and Dante, it is a pleasurable return to working side-by-side, and to knowing what to look for when there is yet another fire at Carson Ridge.
“Page-turner” does not describe the pull this book has. Declan Rhodes could likely get college degrees for the amount of study he must do to present these very factual circumstances without separating from reality and to wrap a romance around this mystery.
The mystery dates back five years, before we meet Boone Hatcher, who is trying to recover from the death of the previous outpost leader, Dutch Kroeger, who died in the Carson Ridge fire. Now Boone leads the outpost, and a surviving crew member returns to seek requalification as a smoke jumper and renew his relationship with Boone.
Dante Vega suffered a concussion in the Carson Ridge fire, and his memory of that day is scrambled. He remembers some things, including a vision of someone who wanted to hurt the fire jumpers, and who might be familiar.
His return to Silvertip is his search for resolution to the events five years ago, to jump without fear again, and to share a bed with Boone.
The latter goal is met easily, but the others are more troubling as things start happening at the Silvertip outpost. Dante suffers when someone opens his packed parachute and fixes it so the chute will foul.
Saying more about the mystery would ruin the plot, but there is love here, a true concern for the men who depend on others for their safety and who find someone they had trusted has violated that trust, repeatedly. For Boone and Dante, it is a pleasurable return to working side-by-side, and to knowing what to look for when there is yet another fire at Carson Ridge.
“Page-turner” does not describe the pull this book has. Declan Rhodes could likely get college degrees for the amount of study he must do to present these very factual circumstances without separating from reality and to wrap a romance around this mystery.
September 24, 2026
'Into the Fire: A MM Firefighter Romance' (Smokejumpers series, Book 1) (Kindle)
by Declan Rhodes
September 2026
Amazing action-adventure! I was so enthralled by this storyline I couldn't stop reading til I was finished reading (@2:00am, lol)...
Ah well, who needs sleep?
Rhodes writes so realistically that I swear I could smell smoke and hear the roar and crackle of the flames as they devoured the forest!
This was also a mystery, but I won't spoil it by talking much about it.
The whole storyline is full of nail-biting, clutch-the-pearls moments! All that and a rough emotional but ultimately sweet ex-lovers reunion and the re-kindling (yeah, yeah I caught that, ha!) of a love story that ended abruptly 5 years previously, after a deadly smoke jump that left their crew boss, Dutch, dead and another crew member, Dante, badly injured including a concussion...so he can't quite fit pieces of his memory together of what actually happened that day. Yet....
Jeez-a-loo, you gotta read this book! It's so well written that I felt I was right there along with Boone & Dante and the rest of the guys as they discover something is out of whack and weird accidents start to happen, things that have no logical reason to be happening!
So part of this tale gets wrapped up, but something of a mystery remains to be solved in the next book. Can't hardly wait to read the next installments in this new series featuring smokejumpers!
My new favorite series!
Oh, and I'm not going to make the obvious joke about how smokin' HOT these guys are!
(oops!)
Two thumbs up! 👍👍
by Declan Rhodes
September 2026
Amazing action-adventure! I was so enthralled by this storyline I couldn't stop reading til I was finished reading (@2:00am, lol)...
Ah well, who needs sleep?
Rhodes writes so realistically that I swear I could smell smoke and hear the roar and crackle of the flames as they devoured the forest!
This was also a mystery, but I won't spoil it by talking much about it.
The whole storyline is full of nail-biting, clutch-the-pearls moments! All that and a rough emotional but ultimately sweet ex-lovers reunion and the re-kindling (yeah, yeah I caught that, ha!) of a love story that ended abruptly 5 years previously, after a deadly smoke jump that left their crew boss, Dutch, dead and another crew member, Dante, badly injured including a concussion...so he can't quite fit pieces of his memory together of what actually happened that day. Yet....
Jeez-a-loo, you gotta read this book! It's so well written that I felt I was right there along with Boone & Dante and the rest of the guys as they discover something is out of whack and weird accidents start to happen, things that have no logical reason to be happening!
So part of this tale gets wrapped up, but something of a mystery remains to be solved in the next book. Can't hardly wait to read the next installments in this new series featuring smokejumpers!
My new favorite series!
Oh, and I'm not going to make the obvious joke about how smokin' HOT these guys are!
(oops!)
Two thumbs up! 👍👍
October 7, 2026
The series started with a really good introduction to each character. Pay close attention, each character plays a role further along in the mystery. My favourite side character so far is Shep and his lemon-yellow truck. I hoped and wished the whole time that he wasn’t the bad guy, it wasn't until closer to the end of the book that my prayers were answered and I started figuring out who the culprit could be. Although we are still left on a cliffhanger... grrr... we find out who, but we don't find out why. This was the first book I have read by Declan, where all the answers were not given, I'm not sure if I liked it.
Boone and Vega were both likeable and strong characters, although not much history is given of their past before their 5-year separation and in the 5 years between. They fall quite easily back into a relationship when Vega rejoins Silvertip. The story flows easily between the rebuilding of who they are together and the mystery of what happened on the ridge 5 years before that killed their friend and coworker Dutch. I had to really pay attention; Declan has an all-encompassing writing style that if you are not 100% paying attention (you all know it can happen) you miss an important description, or clue, and then you are lost. I really love Declan's interesting mix of romance and mystery; I look forward to unraveling this one (because it was really just a HFN not a HEA)... and Sheps story!
Boone and Vega were both likeable and strong characters, although not much history is given of their past before their 5-year separation and in the 5 years between. They fall quite easily back into a relationship when Vega rejoins Silvertip. The story flows easily between the rebuilding of who they are together and the mystery of what happened on the ridge 5 years before that killed their friend and coworker Dutch. I had to really pay attention; Declan has an all-encompassing writing style that if you are not 100% paying attention (you all know it can happen) you miss an important description, or clue, and then you are lost. I really love Declan's interesting mix of romance and mystery; I look forward to unraveling this one (because it was really just a HFN not a HEA)... and Sheps story!
September 29, 2026
INTO THE FIRE - DECLAN ROADS
This was the first book in the Smokejumpers series.
Boone and Dante were lovers before a tragedy separated them, and now five years later they meet again and have a chance to forgive and find their way back to one another.
Dante returns to get re-certified as a smoke jumper after walking away from the job when nobody believed his statement regarding the fire that killed his former leader. Boone was not going to let Dante walk away from him again, and despite telling him he now believes what was shared years before, Dante can’t let go of the initial doubt.
Mysterious accidents begin happening as the two of them try to figure out what really happened on Carson’s Ridge, and working together to figure out who is trying to stop their investigation brings Dante and Boone back to the solid ground they thought they lost forever. While their path to HEA was full of unexpected doubts and fears, the love is always there keeping their bond strong.
There are a lot of interesting insights into the lives of smokejumpers, and suspense that keeps the reader on the edge, and the love and support these characters have for one another is what makes Declan Rhodes a must read author! I look forward to the next book in this series.
This was the first book in the Smokejumpers series.
Boone and Dante were lovers before a tragedy separated them, and now five years later they meet again and have a chance to forgive and find their way back to one another.
Dante returns to get re-certified as a smoke jumper after walking away from the job when nobody believed his statement regarding the fire that killed his former leader. Boone was not going to let Dante walk away from him again, and despite telling him he now believes what was shared years before, Dante can’t let go of the initial doubt.
Mysterious accidents begin happening as the two of them try to figure out what really happened on Carson’s Ridge, and working together to figure out who is trying to stop their investigation brings Dante and Boone back to the solid ground they thought they lost forever. While their path to HEA was full of unexpected doubts and fears, the love is always there keeping their bond strong.
There are a lot of interesting insights into the lives of smokejumpers, and suspense that keeps the reader on the edge, and the love and support these characters have for one another is what makes Declan Rhodes a must read author! I look forward to the next book in this series.
October 3, 2026
This is a great launch into Rhodes’s new Smokejumpers series. The cast of characters is entirely new and well developed, and the intrigue begins almost immediately, gradually building into a suspenseful thriller.
Rhodes does an excellent job of explaining what it means to be a smokejumper—their role in fighting forest fires, the specialized equipment they use, and, perhaps most importantly, the extraordinary discipline required to do such a dangerous job. These details add realism to the story without overwhelming the reader.
After five years, someone returns determined to solve a mystery—and from there, things become increasingly complicated.
How can I describe the story without giving too much away? Intrigue. Relationships. Mystery. Death. Attempted murder. Cover-ups. Doubt. Realization. Ghosts. And, of course, this being Rhodes, there is plenty of MM spiciness along the way.
But then there are the markers. What are they? Why are they there? And what do they mean? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
A strong and intriguing beginning to what promises to be another fascinating series from Rhodes.
Rhodes does an excellent job of explaining what it means to be a smokejumper—their role in fighting forest fires, the specialized equipment they use, and, perhaps most importantly, the extraordinary discipline required to do such a dangerous job. These details add realism to the story without overwhelming the reader.
After five years, someone returns determined to solve a mystery—and from there, things become increasingly complicated.
How can I describe the story without giving too much away? Intrigue. Relationships. Mystery. Death. Attempted murder. Cover-ups. Doubt. Realization. Ghosts. And, of course, this being Rhodes, there is plenty of MM spiciness along the way.
But then there are the markers. What are they? Why are they there? And what do they mean? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
A strong and intriguing beginning to what promises to be another fascinating series from Rhodes.
October 7, 2026
Declan Rhodes has begun a new series with his signature elements of found family, puzzling mystery, fast action and romance firmly in place.
Into the Fire introduces the reader to the world of smokejumpers. The deep research Rhodes clearly devoted to writing in this rigorous and risky world offers fascinating insight, and the language of smokejumping is technical yet approachable. I appreciate that Rhodes trusts the reader enough to plunge them straight into the complexities of this work. I love reading a mystery/romance wrapped in a world I know nothing about!
Boone and Dante parted on a small lapse in understanding; five years later they honestly and quickly clear away the needed apologies and get down to the business at hand: learning who and what Dante saw that no one else believed. Their work and personal partnerships are both a pleasure to see, characterized by strong feelings, absolute trust, and shared experience. This is a quiet second-chance romance centered on a mystery, and it's an absolute pleasure.
Into the Fire introduces the reader to the world of smokejumpers. The deep research Rhodes clearly devoted to writing in this rigorous and risky world offers fascinating insight, and the language of smokejumping is technical yet approachable. I appreciate that Rhodes trusts the reader enough to plunge them straight into the complexities of this work. I love reading a mystery/romance wrapped in a world I know nothing about!
Boone and Dante parted on a small lapse in understanding; five years later they honestly and quickly clear away the needed apologies and get down to the business at hand: learning who and what Dante saw that no one else believed. Their work and personal partnerships are both a pleasure to see, characterized by strong feelings, absolute trust, and shared experience. This is a quiet second-chance romance centered on a mystery, and it's an absolute pleasure.
October 3, 2026
5 years ago, Dante walked away from his smokejumper job after a fire killed one of their own. Boone, once close to Dante stayed, knowing he made a mistake with Dante but not knowing how to rectify it. Now Dante has returned to take up his smokejumper role, can Boone and Dante pick up where they left it and what did go on at Carson Ridge.
From the start you are immersed in a mystery, as Dante and Boone try and piece together the events of 5 years ago. Not knowing who they can trust and trying to pick up where they left off.
Going into this book I had not got a clue what a Smokejumper was, but I knew that with Declan Rhodes' descriptive writing I would soon learn.
With such a dangerous job I could not put this book down, wondering if they would survive every time a fire broke out. How they need to trust their team and the amount of training they needed to do.
Glad that Shep is getting his story
From the start you are immersed in a mystery, as Dante and Boone try and piece together the events of 5 years ago. Not knowing who they can trust and trying to pick up where they left off.
Going into this book I had not got a clue what a Smokejumper was, but I knew that with Declan Rhodes' descriptive writing I would soon learn.
With such a dangerous job I could not put this book down, wondering if they would survive every time a fire broke out. How they need to trust their team and the amount of training they needed to do.
Glad that Shep is getting his story
October 7, 2026
Thank you for the book, here is my honest opinion:
This is a promising start to this new Smokejumpers series, with some good world building and lots of characters for future books. For my personal preference, it’s leans too heavily on the mystery side of the plot that the second chance romance between Boone and Dante feels very much in the background. It was a bit hard to get into as there are so many character names to track. There is also loads of details about smoke jumping, like the gear, rigging, technique- that I just don’t personally care too much about. The mystery is pretty good, not too complicated or surprising but done well, overall. It’s a good start, I liked Dante and Boone together, they have an authentic and appealing connection- I just wanted more relationship building and less smoke jumping mystery plot.
This is a promising start to this new Smokejumpers series, with some good world building and lots of characters for future books. For my personal preference, it’s leans too heavily on the mystery side of the plot that the second chance romance between Boone and Dante feels very much in the background. It was a bit hard to get into as there are so many character names to track. There is also loads of details about smoke jumping, like the gear, rigging, technique- that I just don’t personally care too much about. The mystery is pretty good, not too complicated or surprising but done well, overall. It’s a good start, I liked Dante and Boone together, they have an authentic and appealing connection- I just wanted more relationship building and less smoke jumping mystery plot.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Classic Declan Rhodes. Boone and Dante have a history. Seven years ago, they were working out of Silvertip and dancing around each other. Five years ago, the Carson Ridge fire happened crew boss Duttch was dead and Dante was concussed, and nobody believed what Dante saw. Dante left and now Boone is crew boss and if it's p t him, he will never lose another crew member. Then the Whitmore Creek fire occurred. The fire was acting strangely. Dante was remembering more about Carson Ridge, and someone is not happy.
Boone and Dante work together to investigate the Carson Ridge fire and to rekindle their relationship. But there is a traitor and saboteur in their midst; it's someone inside the fence; someone they consider a friend. I wonder if we will see the name Curt Wray again.
Boone and Dante work together to investigate the Carson Ridge fire and to rekindle their relationship. But there is a traitor and saboteur in their midst; it's someone inside the fence; someone they consider a friend. I wonder if we will see the name Curt Wray again.
September 23, 2026
This story was good. There were parts to it that I didn’t understand much. I think the author makes an assumption that the reader is going to know something about being a smoke jumper. I don’t want a thorough lecture on it, but a little bit of info would have been nice. The author’s way of writing this one felt very short or curt. I liked Boone and Drake. None of these guys really talk very much so you couldn’t really get to know them at all. Communication is not their forte. I wonder if that was supposed to be their character or just the way this series is going to be. I have read other books by this author that weren’t that way, so I can only assume it was written that way for a reason. The overall story kept me on the edge of my seat. It was a good read.
September 28, 2026
Declan takes us into the world of smokejumpers--those who jump from a plane into the area of forest fires to help mitigate the fires. This is the story of Boone and Dante. The book starts with Dante returning to the crew he left five years ago after the leader was killed in a fire to get re-certified. Boone is now the leader and he is very strict about inspections and ensuring that everything is in top order due to what happened five years ago. Prior to the deadly fire, Dante and Boone shared a kiss, but after the fire, Dante left without letting anyone know where he was going or doing. We are witness to Boone and Dante's dancing around each other, and we do see them finally reconnect. There is romance and a bit of mystery in this book--looking forward to the rest of the series!
October 6, 2026
Boone and Dante had a connection that really worked for me. There’s so much history and unresolved emotion between them, and I liked seeing them find their way back to each other while dealing with everything that happened five years earlier. The smokejumping setting also added an intensity that kept the story feeling dangerous from start to finish.
I especially enjoyed the mystery surrounding Carson Ridge and the way the pieces slowly started coming together. The combination of second chances, found family, romance, and a fire that clearly isn’t behaving normally made this a gripping start to the series. I’m definitely interested in seeing where the Smokejumpers go next.
I received a free ARC and this is my honest review.
I especially enjoyed the mystery surrounding Carson Ridge and the way the pieces slowly started coming together. The combination of second chances, found family, romance, and a fire that clearly isn’t behaving normally made this a gripping start to the series. I’m definitely interested in seeing where the Smokejumpers go next.
I received a free ARC and this is my honest review.
September 27, 2026
A simply outstanding read. What a great kick off to a series about smoke jumpers a group I know little about. I am sure each book is gonna educate me. This one revolves around Dante and Boone. A accident left Dante with a concussion and little memory of a wire in which one of their own died. Five years later these two connect and drama appears and they must try to solve it. I loved this relationship as it is about working through past issues and learning to trust before a true relationship can exists. A great first book that had the perfect blend of romance and suspense. I read in one sitting (As I always do with this author) as I had to know how it ended. I am so ready for book two.
November 2, 2026
Suspense plus romance!
Declan Rhodes writes about smoke jumpers like he's done the job himself, and makes you feel like you've done it too. His descriptions of the way it feels to know from the pitch of the engine that this time, the plane is taking off, not just idling, the way it feels like a buzz under your feet in the air, how it feels to tumble out the door into the turbulence and then through it. Then he describes the difficult terrain they have to navigate to stay out of the fire's path, and how it's so close behind them they can hear where it is and don't have to look back... You feel the dread and urgency. The romance is very satisfying, too!
Declan Rhodes writes about smoke jumpers like he's done the job himself, and makes you feel like you've done it too. His descriptions of the way it feels to know from the pitch of the engine that this time, the plane is taking off, not just idling, the way it feels like a buzz under your feet in the air, how it feels to tumble out the door into the turbulence and then through it. Then he describes the difficult terrain they have to navigate to stay out of the fire's path, and how it's so close behind them they can hear where it is and don't have to look back... You feel the dread and urgency. The romance is very satisfying, too!
September 29, 2026
4.8
Rhodes, as always, is in firm command of his technical vocabulary, in this case, fire fighting. He has done his homework/research, and it shows in this tense story of finding out who set a fire on Carson Ridge.
Boone has taken command of the station and Dante, after five years, has shown up to regain his qualifying papers. Their fire reignites, and the story unfolds again around Carson Ridge. The sections on parachuting were terrific and I was sorry that Shep didn’t get to keep his rescue dog. That was a bummer.
Rhodes, as always, is in firm command of his technical vocabulary, in this case, fire fighting. He has done his homework/research, and it shows in this tense story of finding out who set a fire on Carson Ridge.
Boone has taken command of the station and Dante, after five years, has shown up to regain his qualifying papers. Their fire reignites, and the story unfolds again around Carson Ridge. The sections on parachuting were terrific and I was sorry that Shep didn’t get to keep his rescue dog. That was a bummer.
September 27, 2026
Its been five years since Dante and Boone have seen each other. What should have been a start to a relationship ended when Things happened on Carson Ridge leaving Dante with a concussion and their crew boss dead.
After five years Dante is back to re-qualify to jump again and Boone's carefully controlled life won't be the same.
I enjoyed Boone and Dante. Together they work to solve what happened on Carson Ridge, second-chance, enemy within, smoke jumpers and found family.
After five years Dante is back to re-qualify to jump again and Boone's carefully controlled life won't be the same.
I enjoyed Boone and Dante. Together they work to solve what happened on Carson Ridge, second-chance, enemy within, smoke jumpers and found family.
September 26, 2026
This is a great start to the new series. Enjoyed the suspense and the second chance romance. Great book.
September 29, 2026
3.5 stars
October 1, 2026
I am not really sure I would consider this one to be a romance, more like a mystery, but I am also not sure that it lives up to that title.
I do not feel like the mystery itself was flushed out properly. I am so confused about who has done what and the ending left me even more confused.
There was not enough character development for Dante and Boone and there were some parts that left me confused as they seemed to contradict something that had been written earlier.
All that being said, I now need to know how the mystery plays out, so of course I will be reading the next book.
I do not feel like the mystery itself was flushed out properly. I am so confused about who has done what and the ending left me even more confused.
There was not enough character development for Dante and Boone and there were some parts that left me confused as they seemed to contradict something that had been written earlier.
All that being said, I now need to know how the mystery plays out, so of course I will be reading the next book.
October 4, 2026
Good book but it's not an easy read, the technical terms were hard to follow.
Dante and Boone are hot together
Dante and Boone are hot together
October 29, 2026
DNF @ 51%, after way too much flat/monotone writing
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