Out of the Frying Pan

Love in Flames #1

by Elouise East

alternate cover edition of ASIN B094L1V272

How do the sins of another affect the lives of those around them?

Dean has nothing in common with Oliver, except that he likes to eat food, and Oliver likes to make it. But something is pulling Dean towards him, and the attraction sparks a fire they never anticipated.
But Oliver’s hard-earned restaurant is burnt to the ground, and both their lives are thrown into turmoil when the evidence piles up. Was it Oliver’s fault or Dean’s?
Their relationship is on the rocks already. Who can help them see what’s right in front of them?

An MM romance about taking a chance and believing in yourself.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Queer, LGBT, Firefighters, Ebooks

244 pages, ebook

First published October 7, 2021

About the author

Elouise East writes sweet and steamy connections in gay romance. She also touches on taboo stories under the name Elouise R East.

Books that tell the stories where friendship and family are the focal point - be it blood family or chosen - are very important to her. That’s why she includes a variety of personalities, talents, ages, situations and abilities as she believes a story or character needs. She wants her characters to be real, to be relatable, to be free to have whatever views they tell her they have. And trust her, most of the time, she does not have any say in the matter!

Her characters come to life on the page for her as well as her readers. Their stories unfold in front of her as she writes, and she has very little input into how they want to be shown. Just like real life, the lives of her characters change with every choice, every interaction and every conversation. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

She writes books that are emotionally realistic, even if liberties are taken with other aspects of the stories. She doesn’t know any other way to write. It comes from deep inside.

Who is she? A single parent to two children living in the UK. An avid reader who still tries to devour every book she can get her hands on. A student of learning about any subject that takes her fancy. An author of books she would read herself. And a romantic at heart who loves anything cheesy.

Who’s joining her on her journey?

Join my newsletter for regular updates, exclusive content and a free story being told chapter by chapter: https://elouiseeast.com/newsletter

She loves stalkers... ;-)

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Reviews

[Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the characters, but it narrated every single tiny thing they did in their everyday lives. I skimmed through two thirds of it without missing any character development or plot. Not sure why it rubbed me so wrong here, because I've really enjoyed this author in the past. I'll definitely keep reading her books!

[Candice]

DNF at 43%

[Onyerbike]

DNF @ 20%

I'm checking out now. Firefighter Dean is convinced he can't ever have a relationship because being a firefighter comes with long hours and dangerous conditions. I cannot stand the whole martyr complex in characters. Oh, woe is me, I'm destined to be alone forever because my job is slightly inconvenient to a stress-free relationship! Boo. Hoo. His Commander is married. Many of his colleagues are married. Firefighters the world over have figured out how to have their careers and a family life. Cops, doctors, and military members too. Ffs, you could be a librarian and be killed by a runaway bus on your lunch break one day. Just admit you're scared of commitment and be done with it already. Sheesh.

And I don't even know what Oliver's story is. Busy restaurant owner, bad breakup, yadda yadda. Whatever. Nothing so far has given me anything to get invested in. 🤷‍♀️

[Shawna (endemictoearth)]

DNF @ 76% - Yes, I almost made it, but just couldn’t be bothered when the author threw a third out of nowhere rando POV in the mix (all three rando POVs? Have books upcoming in the series. Only reason they’re included.) The first 40% or so read pretty well, but then things got both over the top and stilted, somehow. Tempted to give it 1 star, but I'll leave it unrated. It seems to work for most people.

[Heather MMRomanceReviewed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I was easily able to guess the plot twist, Out of The Frying Pan had endearing main characters, fun side characters and a sweet romance that carried you through the entire book.

See my full review here:
http://www.mmromancereviewed.com/2021...

I received an ARC to facilitate my review.

[L H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dean just wants to do his job without having to deal with the prejudice and negative behavior that comes with others of small mind. He is a firefighter but instead of thank you for your service he has to deal with bullying. When he gets the chance to transfer someplace where he has a shot at doing his job and being accepted he takes it. There he meets Oliver who is trying to keep his focus on being a chef, he even cooks in his spare time to help others, but they are two lovely souls who meet and there is a spark. This is such a lovely story and I found myself rooting for these two to find their way past whatever issues they felt they had to a life with one another knowing that they would be in good hands with one another. Great start to the series.

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

[Jamie Lee Zonneveld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of the Frying Pan is the first book in the Love in Flames series by Elouise East. This book is about Dean and Oliver. This book came just as I was totally into Chicago Fire so a book about a fireman..... Yes please! I really liked the story of Dean and Oliver. Their story was sweet, sexy, full of feels and very well written.

[Denise Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed Dean and Oliver's story.
Dean moved to Cambridge to start over. He had had a lot of problems at his previous fire station with the men being homophobic. His new crew were LGBT inclusive. With the hours and shift patterns Dean worked he knew he was better off single. Until he went into the restaurant Oliver owned.
Oliver had spent his life making his restaurant successful, foregoing relationships as his last one went bad. He worked too many hours to give any one enough time. But when he saw Dean he wanted more.
Both men have busy scheduled but wanted to try to make a relationship work.
Oliver found it hard to believe that someone as fit as Dean would want him, as he was slightly rounded, he was very insecure.
Their relationship grows , with Oliver learning to trust Dean, and Dean being there for him.
When things get bad Dean is ready to walk away, but Oliver is not ready to loose him .
Couldn't put it down , with their highs and lows compelling reading.

[Jenny (Nyxie) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tags: Firefighter / chef / attracted but don’t want relationship / larger figure / sweet

Very sweet book. The characters encountered adversity but were (almost too) sweet and loving to each other about the whole thing. I tend to prefer things a little grittier. Overall enjoyable read though.

[Tom · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 81%
This turned way too saccharine towards the end, and neither MC felt compelling enough to read any further

[Mandy (MP Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firefighter Dean was unwittingly outed as gay at his previous fire station and then things became very uncomfortable and so after hearing rumours he transferred to another station which welcomed everyone without any exclusions. He didn't know anyone and was determined not to become a pest from all the invitations he received from the chief and his colleagues, he found the restaurant Nourris Moi which soon became his haven from the loneliness he was feeling. Oliver's dream of owning his own restaurant had become true and after three years he was turning a profit. The restaurant was his life and he had no time for anything else until a certain firefighter became a firm fixture at one of his tables. Oliver was still focused on his business, but he couldn't help but pay attention to the quiet and reserved newcomer. Can Oliver and Dean find a balance between their career needs and what their hearts are crying out for?

This was just such a sweet love story between two very busy people who were able to find ways to make everything work. I think Dean was the key to that as he did as much as he could to support Oliver. They were such a sweet couple and I was so glad that Dean was able to get Oliver to see that it was no good to anyone to work so hard that you were ill. The guys at the station were great and it was a joy to see such supportive colleagues working together. Easy to read, feel and understand I was thrilled that they found each other and happiness. Contains mature content of a MM relationship.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dean and Oliver's Story . . .

Both Firefighter Dean and restaurant owner/chef Oliver have thrown themselves into their work to push the loneliness away while they help others. But when Dean discovered Nourris Moi was a great place to eat and observe people, he became a regular. A friendship developed between Dean and Oliver, both continuing to be busy but aware and intrigued with each other. Moving into a slow burn, will they continue to fight a relationship? Or will they realize they are perfect for each other?

These two characters are kind, caring people who give freely to others from their generous hearts. Oliver even devotes his “spare” time to cooking for the homeless shelter. Will they allow each other into their life so that they can also receive the love they freely give to others? The reader will also appreciate the love and support coming from the community as well. Goodness and kindness is not always recognized, but it definitely should be. Dean came to the right place to find his happiness.

[Brianne McCallum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great start to this new series. This was a quick read that I couldn't put down from start to finish. It was a sweet, low angst, heartfelt story with some steamy moments. I really enjoyed both characters and thought they had great chemistry. The characters and their relationship were well developed and felt very organical grown over time at a believable rate even though this was a shorter length story. I absolutely would recommend it. Looking forward to more books in the series.

Dean is a firefighter who is new to his team and the town. He left his last place due to a prejudice environment. This new team is very accepting. He wasn't looking for love. Too many exes had a problem with his career choice but he can't fight the instant sparks he has with Oliver, a chef where he regularly eats after shift. Oliver works long hours everyday and doesn't have time for a relationship but can't say no to something casual.

[Nina Diab · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! Dean is a firefighter who transferred to a new station to escape bullying and prejudice over being gay. He was accepted by the crew and enjoyed the new atmosphere. He goes for dinner at a popular and recommended restaurant, and is drawn to Oliver, the owner and chef. Oliver is very attracted to Dean, but he works very long hours at the restaurant and cooking for a shelter. He doesn't have the time to devote to a relationship. This book is a beautiful story of two people coming together and learning to trust and open up. This book does deal with some homophobia, insecurities about one's weight, and some trust issues. But the author develops these characters wonderfully and supporting characters really give the feeling of family, support, and community. I recommend this book. 5 stars.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of the Frying Pan is about two men that each have faced adversity before taking a chance on each other. Dean has a dangerous job and is alone and lonely because he feels he would not want to subject a partner to constant worry. Oliver is an OCD perfectionist when it comes to his restaurant and he doesn't have time to invest in making a relationship work. What little extra time he has, Oliver devotes to cooking food for a shelter. They cannot fight the attraction and the goodness they see within the other. Dean tries to help lighten Oliver's load, but is afraid Oliver won't understand his intentions. When all seems lost, they have to find a way to let go and decide what's important in life. Good story of dealing with different types of people from across the spectrum, including bigotry and neighbors that would go out of their way to help a friend.

[Latecia Jennings · Rating 4 out of 5]

New series and a very enjoyable romance. This was sort of an opposites attract romance where the two MCs had an instant connection....the chef and the firefighter...nice. While it wasn't always so warm and fuzzy with their romance, I like how they were willing to make it work. I will say some areas dragged a bit but it picked right up. I like how the author introduced some characters...giving them their own POV throughout the story. Little angtsy/drama with some spicy scenes thrown in..not too cheesy but it had a whole lot of heart...wonderful support from family and friends. Nice ending that leaves you anticipating the next book in the series.

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

[E.Muddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story about two men who believe that they’re better off alone, until they find each other that is. Dean and Oliver’s relationship progresses naturally as they both know they finally want more, and are willing to work around their busy schedules. I thought it was touching just how supportive Dean is of Oliver, especially when it comes to Oliver’s insecurities. And although there are some ups and downs in their journey, when it comes down to it, Oliver really fights to keep Dean by his side. It’s heartfelt and sweet, and with a good amount of emotional depth to the characters. A great start to a new series!

[Roger R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received this novel as an ARC and read it. My response to the story is I LOVED it! Dean, the firefighter moved to a town because he heard that this particular fire station was very accepting of firefighters who are gay. He was recommended to visit Nourris Moi, a restaurant owned by Oliver, the Chef by his boss. All the way through the book, you could feel the sizzling of a frying pan between the two! Throw in an antagonist which would eventually test the relationship. Such a wonderful story to read! I would recommend 6 stars out of 5 if I could! There’s a 2nd book after this one. I would strongly recommend reading this one first even though the two books could be standalone.

[Devy B · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Not in the mood to write a full review.

Full RTC

I liked it but the multiple Povs of the Mcs who are getting their books next annoyed me , I had to skip some of them.

It’s refreshing to have a no perfect Mcs, Oliver is overweight and was insecure.
Dean and him were sweet together, Dean is amazing with him, he helped him a lot through everything in his life.

No angst, just a little bit drama. The side characters are awesome.

I loved Jason but unfortunately I won’t read his book for personal reasons.

I would love a book about the married couple with kids Paul and Queen, how they met and got together.

[Marsha L Respess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story very much. I enjoyed how Dean, who had to transfer from the old fire station due to homophobia and extreme harassment, met Oliver, who had a successful restaurant but had a terrible break-up with an ex who tried to take away his dream, meet and very gradually become involved even though they both thought it would never work. I loved the people at the station but not surprised that
Evan turned out to be such a villain and the people at the restaurant except for thieving Rikki and the wonderful people at the shelter. There was drama and tragedy and then triumph and I was teary-eyed at the end. I will definitely read about Jason.

[Gavin Stephenson-Jackman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dean has moved to Cambridge to start fresh at a new fire station that he hopes will be more accepting of diversity, what he didn't expect was to find Oliver, the owner of Nourris Moi. Oliver is dedicated to his business and has taken on preparing food for a local shelter, so he has little time left to even consider a relationship. All it takes is one night and the two men are hooked and trying to find time for each other. A homophonic attack aimed brings the two together even more. Through their difficulties both men find that they have more friends than they imagined and the balance to be together.

[AL · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited for the series! There is something about firefighters that just draws me to the stories. I loved how the author approached the subject and whom she chose to pair Dean with. Oliver is a great character and not the obvious muscles Adonis of a person, which makes him even more awesome.
The story is very contemporary and touches on actual issues, making the story believable and relatable.
The secondary characters promise more fun to come and I’m all here for it!

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aside from having two of the sweetest men ever something I truly liked about this story is that one man was not perfect. In most m/m romances the men are drop dead gorgeous with beautiful, chiselled bodies, Oliver is not perfect, he's very aware and shy of his slightly overweight body, but Dean doesn't care, he likes Oliver because he is a good man, kind and earnest. A cozy, lovely read, although there's no huge angst there is drama, as well as some homophobia, I just loved it.

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet story

Everyone needs a Dean. He was so dependable and oh so loving. Oliver was gentle, kind and thoughtful. It was a simple story of two men falling in love with little angst. I liked how communication was the key and yes they did communicate all the time.
Of to read the next one. Oh Jason is not in the list of characters at the start of the book but he plays a big part in the book.

[Robbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

They absolutely can’t have a relationship…

One has zero free time, so can’t be with anyone, the other has a dangerous job, and can’t be with anyone. So they both can’t be with anyone, together, and in just three weeks of snatched minutes here and there, they both give up fighting it. There’s a couple of high stress events to cope with, but they come out the other side smiling, with a HEA to deservedly enjoy.

[Leslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

needs an editor.

The backbone of the story is simple. Firefighter meets chef, firefighter and chef start dating, chefs restaurant burns down, chef rebuilds Restaurant, firefighter and chef live happily ever after. However, there is so much unnecessary detail that it takes twice as long to get through the book as it should, and the backbone of the story gets lost in all of the fluff. Add to that lots of discrepancies in the story, and it’s a bit of a slog.

[Sarah Mitcham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving Onwards.

MM, Contemporary romance, easy to read page-turner with a guaranteed HEA. Great characters and action throughout the story. Some angst but overall a sweet and steamy romance. Thoroughly enjoyed reading their story and to be back in Cambridge with lots of characters we've already met.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable and sweet read! I felt so bad for Dean but watching his and Oliver’s relationship evolve was awesome. These two men were so great together! This was a very well written story with amazing characters! Highly recommend!

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

[Cynthia Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dean is a firefighter who transfers to Cambridge Fire & Rescue because of prejudices where he worked before. He's happy where is now but a little lonely. He meets Oliver, the owner of the restaurant Nourris Moi, and thinks maybe his lonely days are over. Oliver doesn't have time for romance. He's too busy with his restaurant. I really enjoyed this book.

[Wei · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book of this author's, and I was blown away by the fantastic story of Dean and Oliver. The characters were adorable, and felt real, the community heaven like. I especially loved the rich details the author supplied. They definitely added depth to the story.

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