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Singe
Addie Manzella does her best to keep her complicated personal life separate from work. But after the funeral of a colleague who died in an arson fire, things come to a head. She goes tequila shot for tequila shot with fellow firefighter Eli Grant—a contest that ends in the bedroom.
Sure, the sex is great—okay, it’s the best of her life—but Eli clearly isn’t a long-term kind of guy. Though his post-divorce antics read more goofball than player, he’s a complication she doesn’t need.
Bold, brassy Addie is a serious threat to Eli’s determination to hide a dark history. Not even his ex-wife knows the whole story behind the burn scars on his body. Yet he can’t resist the challenge of pursuing Addie—especially since she clearly likes being chased.
The fire that took their friend, though, isn’t the last. As more buildings—and more lives—go up in flames, Eli’s past comes roiling to the present. Threatening to send their fledgling romance up in smoke.
Sure, the sex is great—okay, it’s the best of her life—but Eli clearly isn’t a long-term kind of guy. Though his post-divorce antics read more goofball than player, he’s a complication she doesn’t need.
Bold, brassy Addie is a serious threat to Eli’s determination to hide a dark history. Not even his ex-wife knows the whole story behind the burn scars on his body. Yet he can’t resist the challenge of pursuing Addie—especially since she clearly likes being chased.
The fire that took their friend, though, isn’t the last. As more buildings—and more lives—go up in flames, Eli’s past comes roiling to the present. Threatening to send their fledgling romance up in smoke.
- GenresRomance
193 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 14, 2018
1 person is currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Ruby McNally
8 books25 followersRuby McNally double-majored in psychology and cognitive linguistics before ultimately deciding her talents lay elsewhere. She grew up hiding her diary from her five brothers, who will never know she writes romance. She lives in Boston and has no cats. You can visit her online at rubymcnally.tumblr.com or follow her on Twitter @Ruby_McNally.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 20, 2023
Oh hi, guess what, this one is also fucking amazing!!! Also kept me up half the night. My work week has been delightful; thanks for that, Ruby McNally.
This is essentially a series about hot first responders with issues and trauma, and I am very much here for it.
The second book moves on to firefighters! As a Chicago Fire fan, I was in my element here.
The main characters are Addie and Eli. Addie is the religious daughter of the former Fire Chief of the county (and therefore, forbidden fruit). Eli has recently gone through a divorce and is now enjoying the bachelor life by bringing home a different woman every night. Basically, they are complete opposites.
The book starts as all the firefighters are hanging out in a bar after the funeral of one of their own. It’s a somber mood, which might explain why Addie, against all her instincts, decides to go home with Eli for a one night stand.
The problem is, the one night stand becomes a multiple night stand, and, before she knows it, Addie finds herself unable to bring herself to end their arrangement.
Even though this whole series is a little dark and deals with traumatic subjects, I thought this one was a lot heavier than the first one. Eli had *a lot* to unpack with his family history, so much so that I actually couldn’t see how he would get his happy ending.
As we continued to see them struggle as a couple, there was also an underlying plot of fires being intentionally set throughout the country, which was an interesting mystery to explore.
I loved this book and I loved this couple. Go read it!!!
This is essentially a series about hot first responders with issues and trauma, and I am very much here for it.
The second book moves on to firefighters! As a Chicago Fire fan, I was in my element here.
The main characters are Addie and Eli. Addie is the religious daughter of the former Fire Chief of the county (and therefore, forbidden fruit). Eli has recently gone through a divorce and is now enjoying the bachelor life by bringing home a different woman every night. Basically, they are complete opposites.
The book starts as all the firefighters are hanging out in a bar after the funeral of one of their own. It’s a somber mood, which might explain why Addie, against all her instincts, decides to go home with Eli for a one night stand.
The problem is, the one night stand becomes a multiple night stand, and, before she knows it, Addie finds herself unable to bring herself to end their arrangement.
Even though this whole series is a little dark and deals with traumatic subjects, I thought this one was a lot heavier than the first one. Eli had *a lot* to unpack with his family history, so much so that I actually couldn’t see how he would get his happy ending.
As we continued to see them struggle as a couple, there was also an underlying plot of fires being intentionally set throughout the country, which was an interesting mystery to explore.
I loved this book and I loved this couple. Go read it!!!
August 20, 2023
4.5⭐️ I’m loving this series of hot, damaged first responders. Couldn’t put this one down either. My only complaint is that the end comes so fast. I need an epilogue or follow up to make sure they are all ok bc they all seriously need therapy and a few easy days thrown in.
February 20, 2024
McNally’s brand of contemporary romance is utterly compelling to me. Her writing is reminiscent of Kate Clayborn and Ruthie Knox and the characters are complex and well-drawn. This didn’t have quite the same strong sense of Western Massachusetts as the first book in this series but it’s there nonetheless.
Addie and Eli are firefighters on the same engine. They have a one-night stand following the funeral of a fellow firefighter that turns into another and another. She doesn’t take him seriously but his feelings quickly become more real, though he has trouble articulating that to her. They get caught up in this dynamic of hooking up and staying in some sort of limbo where neither has to risk true emotional intimacy or pay attention to things like professional regulations.
That can only last so long. Eli’s avoidance of dealing with his past trauma has put him on a path of alcoholism or alcohol dependency post-divorce, while Addie is realizing how messed up her family is toward her cousin Jenn, who their grandma kicked out as a teen because she was caught making out with a girl. Addie maintained ties with Jenn but hasn’t reckoned with her family until now, since she was a teen when it all went down. Meanwhile, they’re battling arson fires at work.
This is tackling a lot of issues, all of which could and should have been developed further. Instead, deeper conversations get neatly pushed aside in favor of external conflict. The arson subplot almost seemed tertiary until the end when it kicked into high gear and provided a loophole for Addie and Eli to profess their feelings. Given the concerns about Eli’s use of alcohol, I really needed those conversations to happen and to see more about how he was going to move forward. It’s not enough to see him think about wanting a drink and not taking one. I also wish Addie had called out her aunt and grandma over their mistreatment of Jenn but at least
There’s a lot I loved about Addie and Eli. Their dynamic started out as brash and playful but evolved into something real. Addie has had difficulty orgasming in the past and while Eli, like his romance predecessors, immediately has the magic touch, I did appreciate how Addie eventually had to risk vulnerability and have a conversation about it and together they figured out what would work. Eli still struggles to open up to Addie but he tells her more than most, even if he waits too long to tell her everything. They have the start of something good. Hopefully he’ll get the support and treatment he needs to stay on that path.
Characters: Addie is a 24 year old white Catholic firefighter. She has a stray cat named Chicken Cat. Eli is a white firefighter. His ex-wife has custody of their dog Hester. This is set in Berkshire County, MA.
Content notes: concern of alcoholism/alcohol dependency (MMC), MMC drives drunk (no one is hurt), arson fires and one casualty, first degree burns on hands, smoke inhalation, recent death of fellow firefighter, past death of MMC’s brother (arson fire), past death of MMC’s father (suicide), MMC’s dog is hit by a car (recovers after surgery), past divorce (ex-wife left MMC for someone else), familial homophobia (FMC’s grandmother kicked out FMC’s lesbian cousin in high school and the extended family won’t go to Jenn’s wedding), violation of professional regulations (coworkers on the same engine are forbidden from dating), sexism, burn scars, past sexual shaming by ex for difficulty orgasming, FMC slut-shames MMC, pregnant secondary character, vomit, past death of FMC’s uncle (motorcycle accident), unsafe sex practices (no condom for penetrative sex without discussion of STI or pregnancy prevention beyond FMC telling MMC to pull out, which he does. She’s not on birth control.), on page sex, workplace sex, sex toy, masturbation, alcohol, inebriation, excessive drinking, hangover, casual misogyny (e.g. “bitch” seat), STI stigma, casual acephobia, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialist language, ableist language, hyperbolic language around suicide, mention of post-divorce weight gain
Addie and Eli are firefighters on the same engine. They have a one-night stand following the funeral of a fellow firefighter that turns into another and another. She doesn’t take him seriously but his feelings quickly become more real, though he has trouble articulating that to her. They get caught up in this dynamic of hooking up and staying in some sort of limbo where neither has to risk true emotional intimacy or pay attention to things like professional regulations.
That can only last so long. Eli’s avoidance of dealing with his past trauma has put him on a path of alcoholism or alcohol dependency post-divorce, while Addie is realizing how messed up her family is toward her cousin Jenn, who their grandma kicked out as a teen because she was caught making out with a girl. Addie maintained ties with Jenn but hasn’t reckoned with her family until now, since she was a teen when it all went down. Meanwhile, they’re battling arson fires at work.
This is tackling a lot of issues, all of which could and should have been developed further. Instead, deeper conversations get neatly pushed aside in favor of external conflict. The arson subplot almost seemed tertiary until the end when it kicked into high gear and provided a loophole for Addie and Eli to profess their feelings. Given the concerns about Eli’s use of alcohol, I really needed those conversations to happen and to see more about how he was going to move forward. It’s not enough to see him think about wanting a drink and not taking one. I also wish Addie had called out her aunt and grandma over their mistreatment of Jenn but at least
There’s a lot I loved about Addie and Eli. Their dynamic started out as brash and playful but evolved into something real. Addie has had difficulty orgasming in the past and while Eli, like his romance predecessors, immediately has the magic touch, I did appreciate how Addie eventually had to risk vulnerability and have a conversation about it and together they figured out what would work. Eli still struggles to open up to Addie but he tells her more than most, even if he waits too long to tell her everything. They have the start of something good. Hopefully he’ll get the support and treatment he needs to stay on that path.
Characters: Addie is a 24 year old white Catholic firefighter. She has a stray cat named Chicken Cat. Eli is a white firefighter. His ex-wife has custody of their dog Hester. This is set in Berkshire County, MA.
Content notes: concern of alcoholism/alcohol dependency (MMC), MMC drives drunk (no one is hurt), arson fires and one casualty, first degree burns on hands, smoke inhalation, recent death of fellow firefighter, past death of MMC’s brother (arson fire), past death of MMC’s father (suicide), MMC’s dog is hit by a car (recovers after surgery), past divorce (ex-wife left MMC for someone else), familial homophobia (FMC’s grandmother kicked out FMC’s lesbian cousin in high school and the extended family won’t go to Jenn’s wedding), violation of professional regulations (coworkers on the same engine are forbidden from dating), sexism, burn scars, past sexual shaming by ex for difficulty orgasming, FMC slut-shames MMC, pregnant secondary character, vomit, past death of FMC’s uncle (motorcycle accident), unsafe sex practices (no condom for penetrative sex without discussion of STI or pregnancy prevention beyond FMC telling MMC to pull out, which he does. She’s not on birth control.), on page sex, workplace sex, sex toy, masturbation, alcohol, inebriation, excessive drinking, hangover, casual misogyny (e.g. “bitch” seat), STI stigma, casual acephobia, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialist language, ableist language, hyperbolic language around suicide, mention of post-divorce weight gain
January 11, 2024
Firefighter MC's is a great idea. The little details about being a female firefighter and the added challenges were well done. The opening interaction between Addie and Eli was lighthearted and realistic in a way that had me chuckling. I would've loved more communication between them, they were both terrible until the very end.
Like the first, I love the concept and setting. I think the writing style has a stream of consciousness quality that just isn't working for me.
Like the first, I love the concept and setting. I think the writing style has a stream of consciousness quality that just isn't working for me.
February 4, 2024
I bought this series so fast when I realized it was actually written by Katie Cotugno, under a pen name.
Romance Friends, Cotugno is one of THE most underrated romance writers and I feel compelled to recommend anything she writes. This series is 🔥🔥with complicated, edgy characters whose pasts are filled with hidden hurts. They aren’t perfect, and the endings aren’t tidy but my god can this woman write passion and romance and emotion and pure heat.
She’s mostly YA (which I also love) but her grown up stuff is *chef’s kiss* imo.
Romance Friends, Cotugno is one of THE most underrated romance writers and I feel compelled to recommend anything she writes. This series is 🔥🔥with complicated, edgy characters whose pasts are filled with hidden hurts. They aren’t perfect, and the endings aren’t tidy but my god can this woman write passion and romance and emotion and pure heat.
She’s mostly YA (which I also love) but her grown up stuff is *chef’s kiss* imo.
Read
September 19, 2018This was a good, enjoyable read. I may like Katie’s romance more than her YA at this point. I really liked that both main characters are firefighters. I don’t typically give romance novels star ratings, but this was overall a fun NA read.
August 24, 2023
sadly, this one is a no for me.
too much bitchiness from Addie and the raw, spontaneous writing was pushed so far it became annoying. also, this book is too short to have a satisfying development of the characters and their relationship, it feels like a mix of a novella, a draft and fanfiction.
a bit disappointed but i'll still read the third book in this series. it wasn't an aweful time.
too much bitchiness from Addie and the raw, spontaneous writing was pushed so far it became annoying. also, this book is too short to have a satisfying development of the characters and their relationship, it feels like a mix of a novella, a draft and fanfiction.
a bit disappointed but i'll still read the third book in this series. it wasn't an aweful time.
May 2, 2024
I put all of Ruby McNally's books on ice because Crash was so good that I couldn't bear to read anymore.
This one was just okay. I think it has the same emotional skeleton as Crash, but none of the impact, so it ended up just being too messy people drifting along. It never really felt like the book was climbing or working towards something in the same intense way that Crash was, which made that book much more emotionally satisfying to finish in a way this just didn't.
This one was just okay. I think it has the same emotional skeleton as Crash, but none of the impact, so it ended up just being too messy people drifting along. It never really felt like the book was climbing or working towards something in the same intense way that Crash was, which made that book much more emotionally satisfying to finish in a way this just didn't.
October 4, 2018
At first, I didn't like this story as much as McNally's Crash, but then I really got into it and ended up liking it a whole lot more—and I really liked Crash! The romance between Eli and Addie is previous and so sweet. Sure, it starts as a one-night stand situation, but the way Eli falls for Addie, and how she takes longer to really believe him and let herself fall too, it pretty perfect. McNally does a great job with the non-romance parts as well, making the secondary characters interesting and the underlying storylines, like with arson and Jenn's wedding and Eli's backstory, parts I looked forward to reading rather than something I skimmed when trying to get to the steamy bits.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the third in this series!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the third in this series!
October 3, 2023
Wanted to like this more but Eli is an alcoholic who needs therapy and maybe rehab!! And it’s not Addie’s job to fix him but dang she does not realize it / doesn’t care to really ask him anything about his life including why he has full body scars??
September 25, 2018
I liked this one much better than the first. The characters felt softer somehow. I dunno. But I like that they’re firefighters and they seem to have actually fallen in love. I’m a fan :)
October 15, 2018
Real rating: 3.5 stars. I’m liking her romance novels!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews