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American Heroes: The Firefighters #1.5
Flash Storm
A sexy firefighter gets a second chance with his first love in
New York Times
bestselling author Jill Shalvis’s fan-favorite novella.
Sam Reed—firefighter and volunteer for Search And Rescue—is the definition of fit: sculpted muscles, hard abs and the ability to stride into any blaze. But he’s about to walk into a fire that even he might not be able to put out. And its name is Sara. Sara, his ex-girlfriend. The Sara he’d proposed to one day only to find out the next that she’d bailed and moved to Paris. Without a word.
Now she’s back. And on their mountain. Heading for their spot. But without a guide and in the middle of a wicked storm, she’s headed for disaster. Unless he can rescue her. Rescue them both.
Let the sparks fly....
Originally published in 2008.
Sam Reed—firefighter and volunteer for Search And Rescue—is the definition of fit: sculpted muscles, hard abs and the ability to stride into any blaze. But he’s about to walk into a fire that even he might not be able to put out. And its name is Sara. Sara, his ex-girlfriend. The Sara he’d proposed to one day only to find out the next that she’d bailed and moved to Paris. Without a word.
Now she’s back. And on their mountain. Heading for their spot. But without a guide and in the middle of a wicked storm, she’s headed for disaster. Unless he can rescue her. Rescue them both.
Let the sparks fly....
Originally published in 2008.
55 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2008
166 people are currently reading
223 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 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 20, 2018
This was way too short to really get much of the history between these two but Sara and Sam were hot and heavy five years ago until she left. Sam's heart was broken and now she is back........it was okay, not too hot and definitely not long enough!
August 18, 2018
DNF. I read it for about 20 minutes and gave up. I wasn't too impressed with the heroine who went hiking in sandals and puts in a fake search and rescue call to reconnect with her ex that she hasn't seen in five years. Then they take refuge in an abandoned cabin and have sex (minus a condom) before she's had a chance to try and explain why she left her five years before to find herself.
May 4, 2020
Flash Storm was a quick and enjoyable read focusing on a second chance romance.
Sam Reed deals with difficult situations every day in his work as a firefighter and as a volunteer for search and rescue. But nothing could have prepared him for the situation he finds himself in on his latest search and rescue mission. A hiker is alone on a mountain with a storm approaching and it's his ex-girlfriend Sara. The Sara who broke his heart after he proposed and she fled the country the next day. But now she's back and headed to their old spot with no idea the storm she's walking into.
Despite how short this novella is, there's a lot packed into it. Sam and Sara never had the opportunity to resolve their relationship five years ago due to Sara fleeing to Paris the day after Sam proposed. With that kind of premise, I was unsure how the author would manage to get these two back together before the end of the story. However, after hearing Sara's backstory, you definitely sympathize with her and can understand why she left the way she did. Even Sam understands it when he tries to think past the pain and betrayal. Ultimately Sam leaves it to Sara to repair their relationship which I appreciated as she was the one who damaged it. One aspect I will say that the two don't need to fix is their physical relationship. The pair have amazing chemistry and the author manages to add in a few very sexy scenes into this short story. Overall I was happy with the way they resolved everything although I will say the ending of this story is a bit abrupt and that could have used a bit of work.
Flash Storm was a fun read and it's definitely one of the better older novellas I've read from the author. I would definitely recommend this story if you're looking for a quick, sexy read.
Sam Reed deals with difficult situations every day in his work as a firefighter and as a volunteer for search and rescue. But nothing could have prepared him for the situation he finds himself in on his latest search and rescue mission. A hiker is alone on a mountain with a storm approaching and it's his ex-girlfriend Sara. The Sara who broke his heart after he proposed and she fled the country the next day. But now she's back and headed to their old spot with no idea the storm she's walking into.
Despite how short this novella is, there's a lot packed into it. Sam and Sara never had the opportunity to resolve their relationship five years ago due to Sara fleeing to Paris the day after Sam proposed. With that kind of premise, I was unsure how the author would manage to get these two back together before the end of the story. However, after hearing Sara's backstory, you definitely sympathize with her and can understand why she left the way she did. Even Sam understands it when he tries to think past the pain and betrayal. Ultimately Sam leaves it to Sara to repair their relationship which I appreciated as she was the one who damaged it. One aspect I will say that the two don't need to fix is their physical relationship. The pair have amazing chemistry and the author manages to add in a few very sexy scenes into this short story. Overall I was happy with the way they resolved everything although I will say the ending of this story is a bit abrupt and that could have used a bit of work.
Flash Storm was a fun read and it's definitely one of the better older novellas I've read from the author. I would definitely recommend this story if you're looking for a quick, sexy read.
May 5, 2019
Disappointed
I don't usually rate a Jill Shalvis book so low, but I guess there's always a first time. The ending was so abrupt, I was shocked. I really would have loved a longer last chapter, or maybe another one after. In spite of already strongly developed characters, this book just suddenly stopped. I realize that Sarah said what she finally needed to say to Sam, but it just didn't settle right with me. Was a sizzling hot story, but I felt it needed a lot more substance.
I don't usually rate a Jill Shalvis book so low, but I guess there's always a first time. The ending was so abrupt, I was shocked. I really would have loved a longer last chapter, or maybe another one after. In spite of already strongly developed characters, this book just suddenly stopped. I realize that Sarah said what she finally needed to say to Sam, but it just didn't settle right with me. Was a sizzling hot story, but I felt it needed a lot more substance.
August 4, 2021
Short story
Short story cute story line wished it would have built.up to something else. Perhaps it does. Ill have to check and see if there's a follow up book. But I mean who doesn't like a book with great love scenes.....
Short story cute story line wished it would have built.up to something else. Perhaps it does. Ill have to check and see if there's a follow up book. But I mean who doesn't like a book with great love scenes.....
August 4, 2021
Its short. I don't get the purpose of these short stories in between books. There were no other character but these two so it didn't set the scene for anything. But hey who doesnt like hot sex in the remote wilderness?
June 6, 2025
Quick cute read
This was a very quick read about second chances. Sam & Sara were once in love until her feelings scared her and she left for 5 years. She's back and hoping for a second chance.
This was a very quick read about second chances. Sam & Sara were once in love until her feelings scared her and she left for 5 years. She's back and hoping for a second chance.
September 13, 2018
Meh. Story made no sense.
September 14, 2018
I love a good second chance romance. Even for a novella it had kind of an abrupt ending. I enjoyed the story and loved the characters.
December 29, 2018
Felt forced
March 23, 2019
More of a short story than a novel. While I love Jill's books this one did not have enough depth
March 27, 2019
Trust in Love
This is a quick read about trusting in the love you found in another and also about forgiveness. Sometime second chances are in order.
This is a quick read about trusting in the love you found in another and also about forgiveness. Sometime second chances are in order.
February 29, 2020
Oh dear.
December 17, 2021
Nancy
Great short story. The story line was good and right the point to the end! Characters were in young love which grew into adulthood love. Thanks for the story.
Great short story. The story line was good and right the point to the end! Characters were in young love which grew into adulthood love. Thanks for the story.
January 5, 2022
DNF at 45%.
June 12, 2019
Not much to this novella. They were a fantastic couple until she abruptly left without telling him. And then she comes back after five years expecting him to just forgive her and take her back as if nothing happened. They immediately have sex after he rescues her from a storm in which she was "hiking" and then return to civilization where a week later all is forgiven, they love each other, and live happily ever after. It took me about 40 mins to read this story and I feel like it was a waste of time.
August 11, 2016
Meh - nothing to write home about ... She is flighty , he has been hurt ... They reunite - sparks apparently fly, but I don't feel them... I'm TOLD about them on numerous occasions, but I don't find the sex scenes scorching at all ... They settle their differences and end up together - The End.
March 30, 2019
There's really not much plot to this racy novella; it could have been worse, but not really worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews