Lieutenant Ashton Hyland lives by a simple code of being All In as a firefighter, a friend, and a lover. She’ll risk her life to save anyone, even a tiny kitten. She has a crew that trusts and adores her. A best friend who loves her above everyone else. But what she doesn’t have is someone who will be All In with her. She wants a wife and a family. But being a firefighter who risks her life for the lives of others makes it hard for lovers to see a future with her. At forty-years old, time seems to be running out to have the full package – to have a full and happy life. But when an ex decides to give their relationship another try, hope begins to burn bright. Can Ashton hold onto love and her career, or will everything burn in the fires of fear?
Amy DeMeritt is an author of Sapphic romance and an occasional poet. She is a lover of the arts, coffee and tea, a day of sitting on the beach watching the waves crashing against the shore, and good books and music to get lost in. (A good thunderstorm is one of her favorite forms of music.)
Amy takes inspiration from every experience in life and gives her imagination full reign to take a small detail and expand it into an intricate tale. Weaving experience, interests, and even pushing the boundaries of personal comfort, Amy’s stories take a reader on a journey of varying emotions and the joys and trials of love, romance, and growing as an individual, all of which are embodied in an entertaining plot with complex characters.
1,25 stars Well, I personally don't go around kissing my friends on the mouth, cuddling them topless/naked, chatting with them when they walk in on me having sex, etc nor would I be comfortable if my friends constantly sounded like they wanted to screw me. And even if I was comfortable with that, I would most definitely not be genuinely confused as to why my romantic partner thinks it's inappropriate and feels threatened.
So I quit reading at the 20% mark, because I feel more and more strongly like everyone involved is an raging idiot and/or has severe "red-flag-level" boundary issues. Or both. The only semi-sane one was Erin and she was somehow the villain because of it. And I say semi-sane, because she was still into Ash despite her bullshit, and a fully sane person would've run for the hills.
The 0,25 stars above minimum score are for the fact that it's a completed and grammatically well edited book. So someone might like it. A lot of people actually did. I read the reviews. And often felt like I read a totally different book.
Interesting… Ash is a firefighter who gives her all to every situation. She has great friends, a wonderful crew but what she really wants now is a forever kind of love and a family. She thinks maybe she has found that with her ex, who loves her but can she really be the one or will Ash’s job get in the way?
This was a different kind of book for me. It is written in present tense which I would imagine would be pretty difficult to do. It was hard for me to read. The story is interesting, the sexy bits just that, the drama of the fires is excellent and the relationships… well, unique. I liked the characters but some of the boundaries blurred, at least for me. Ash is so naïve or oblivious to things that are just not appropriate. The best friend, Grace, often kisses Ash on the lips and thinks nothing of walking in on Ash with her ex, Erin, after they have sex and chats with them. She is a pain in Erin’s side and Ash doesn’t see anything wrong with it. . Ash saves a young woman, Skylar, early on in the book and they become friends but she picks up Grace’s habit of kissing Ash on the lips and she also sees Ash topless and hugs her that way and Ash sees nothing wrong or weird with that. Skylar helps Ash dress after knowing her just a short amount of time and that’s another thing, everything happens really close together, like weeks… Way too fast…Anyway that’s my opinion, judge it for yourself.
I’m sorry but I burst out laughing at the ridiculousness of these people. Ashton is utterly clueless. The only sane person in this book was Erin and they tried to make her out to be the villain. The breakups were not about Ashton’s job, they were about the overbearing narcissist stalker of a “best friend” Gloria! I was completely dumbfounded with their relationship. I’m sorry but kissing and calling each other babe and honey when you are just friends in the way they were? Who does that? I would lay down my life for my friends but I respect them and that none sense crosses all types of boundaries. Her walking in on Ashton and Erin and Ashton doesn’t do anything?! Not once was Erin defended by Ashton. Ashton being “all in” was complete BS. She treated Gloria with more respect than Erin. How do you turn around being caught with another woman sleeping on top of you to your actual girlfriend, with whom you are “all in” with, not wanting to be with you because of your job?! I’m stunned at this book. Erin run away as fast as you can. You deserve a hell of a lot better than this. Ashton enjoy your pity party. It’s not your job, it’s the denial you are in about Gloria. The threesome of Gloria, Ashton & Skyler, you deserve each other. Have fun.
This was a rollercoaster, I usually am very good at predicting the ending of a book but this one kept on my toes wich I really appreciate. That being said, the relationship dynamics are a bit weird but I got used to it and understood a little more toward the ending. Plus I loved Gloria, I wish she had a story of her own.
Ngl, the relationship/friendship dynamic between Ashton and Gloria confused me so much at the beginning. Add the on again, off again Erin to the mix and I was just hanging by a thread but as the story moved along, the dynamic made more sense and thus the story got easier to understand for me. Despite the rocky start, the story stood firm and all in all, it was entertaining.
I liked the firefighter stuff so I will give this 2 stars. The main character is delusional or just a pig, she deserves to be alone. She kisses another woman and let's her see her naked and expects her girlfriend to be okay with it. Then meets another woman and immediately kisses, snuggles, and let's her see her naked and expects her girlfriend to be okay with that too! But everyone thinks the girlfriend is a jerk. I've known my best friend for 30years and never once have I missed her on the mouth, or stood naked washing in front of her. This character does it every other page, serious boundary issues by all these people. I really hope she isn't based on a real person/relationship. I skimmed the last 30% of this book and was glad it was over.
I don’t often dislike books, and I don’t often skip through big chunks of them, but that was the only way I could finish this. The only character I actually liked and really felt for was Erin who was treated appallingly through the whole thing. Ashton, the protagonist is vapid, self centred and really can’t see her hideous best friend for what she is. All Ashton is interested in is being “adored” and the centre of everyone’s universe. She’s “all in” with anyone who will give her attention. Her relationship with her best friend is also ridiculously unhealthy and just sets the story off on the wrong footing. As for Gloria: this woman does not have one single redeeming quality. She’s rude, she’s obnoxious and she will do anything she can to destroy any kind of relationship her best friend has that she doesn’t approve of. Skylar just gave me the ick! Her character came across as immature and annoying. It seems Ashton was only into her because she fawned over her so much and clearly wanted to get into her pants from the get go. So that’s the characters and some of the writing wasn’t much better. The dialogue was clunky and repetitive at times and there was a lot of telling and not showing. Also, if anyone kissed each other on the lips once more, I was going to scream. I appreciate that writing a book is NOT easy, it takes time, it takes blood, sweat and tears. This book had the potential to be so much more. It’s a shame it fell so short.
Amy DeMeritt is a fabulous author that I cannot get enough of. Reading her books, I gain a connection to each and everyone of her characters. The love she writes about is musical and made to last. Ashton, Gloria, Erin and Skylar has to each find their way in how they form relationships. This book promises contentment and delivers with wonderful happy feelings.
I don't like not finishing books, but after starting and stopping this multiple times during the last couple of years it's currently a dnf for me. I don't like the writing, the story is completely over the top and the characters are just creepy and weird.
I understand, being a firefighter is dangerous , my cousin is one. Ashton's relationship with Gloria goes too far. Do you really think that is acceptable behavior between friends Then Skylar gets hero worship / love and wants a friendship. Erin has her issues, I understand that but seeing Ashton and Skylar asleep together raises questions. Gloria doesn't help the situation at all. She pretty much decided that Erin wasn't a good choice from the beginning for Ashton, that could be a major factor in the on again, off again problem in the relationship. . Ashton may be a great firefighter but lacked maturity in her friendships. Skylar was going after her from the get go and Gloria helped her succeed. Seriously, how many partners/ wives are going to tolerate that kind of behaviour from their spouse!!! The firehouse sex on the desk, really. They both should have been terminated, you kinda of figured everybody knew what was going on. Ash later in the book referred to the issues. Dissappointed, not something I would recommend. Nice record collection though. All in to me means, commitment to the one person you want to spend your life with, Ashton wasn't really all in with Erin, sex doesn't make all in she let Gloria decide for her. Gloria choose Skylar and that pretty much says it all.
I have mixed feelings about this story. The friendship between Ashton and Gloria went way beyond what a friendship should be. To me Erin was the most sane person in the group. Skylar was sweet but went too far when Ashton and Erin were together. Gloria was just too much. I gave this a 4 but it could have easily been a 3. Too much mouth kissing between friends.
I really enjoyed this book. The dynamics of the relationships between the characters is great. This is the first book I read by the author and I would read more.
I wanted to read this book from Amy DeMeritt after reading Detour. I loved the angst free story and the love that was evident. But what the hell happened here. There was nothing but angst in this book. Once I was a quarter of the way through, I just kept shaking my head. There was so much wrong in this book. Gloria and Ashton’s relationship was a little over the top. Erin who had commitment issues because of her job and because of Gloria. She was made to be the bad guy and I disagree with that. Maybe if Ashton did put her first and was truly all in as the book indicates, the story would be different. Enter Skylar and now you have a young woman saved by Ashton and hero worship is all over her. Yes, I get it - Ashton was HOT. But this story was border line erotic fiction and not a lesbian love story. Why did I give it four stars instead of two, because yes maybe Gloria did understand Ashton better even though she does basically mess with Erin. She knew the person to be in Ashton’s life had to take it all. And once she convinced Ashton to look at Skylar differently and she does. Things changed. The relationship that develops is one that is respectful of Ashton’s job and her responsibilities. Also understanding what “All In” really means. So the last quarter of the book definitely got better. I think Detour is so much a better written book and should be read after this. I still love Amy’s writing.
Wow! An amazing peek into the life of a firefighter committed to saving lives. Miss DeMerritt wrote an exciting yet irritating character in Gloria. At times I wanted to just slap her and tell her to get a life. Then there was Erin who just couldn't let go of Ash but couldn't stay either. A well written selfish character. Ash, the career firefighter, selfless, committed to her team and her community, was just a badass on the job and wanting a special someone who wouldn't ditch her because of her job. Who is that someone? I can't write anymore because it will spoil the heat of this story. Well written, effective scenes of being inside burning buildings and the hazards to firefighters. I recommend reading it.
Great story and enjoyable read. This about a firefighter call Ash whose has a girlfriend called Erin a vet and part time firefighter but they keep breaking up as Erin is not happy about Ash being a full time firefighter. Also Ash best friend is Gloria which doesn't help. One day they are called on and it's a block of flats and they find that the fire doors are locked and the sprinklers don't work. They manage to get everyone out safely and the fire under control. Erin tells Ash it's not working and end things again. This time Gloria tell her to find someone new. Now this is a story about trust, insecurities,new love and friendship. Amy DrMeritt the author did a great job writing this.
Ok here’s the thing. Even though I gave it 3 stars I liked it. I’m so very torn with how this book played out. At first I couldn’t get a feel of how it was gonna go. Then I didn’t know where I hoped it would go. By the time I was wanting Erin out of the picture and wanting nothing more for Gloria and Ashton to be together it never went there and I don’t know how I feel about the ultimate two of Skylar and Ashton.
I’m saying I get you can’t help who you fall for, but I’m 43 I wouldn’t have some crazy notion that a 23 year old would look at me and think anything other than I’m old. So it’s hard to believe in that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
📍 “Loneliness is a state of mind caused by a sense of being without something or someone you need. If you have exactly everything and everyone you need, you would never experience loneliness.” + • + • + • +
A dedicated firefighter lieutenant longs for someone willing to be all in with her but the dangers & risk of her job along with the unusual & intense relationship with her best friend have left her wondering if her future will be one of love or loneliness.
I found this book hard going at the start. I didn't like Erin at all. But Ashton was a sexy Firefighter with a top class friend Gloria. She always had her back . She loved Ash and always wanted the very best for her. Then Skylar was saved in a 🔥fire that nearly cost them both their lifes and fell in love with Ash was perfect. I loved ♥ the way their love grew for each and the icing on the cake was the way Gloria gave them her seal of approval. I loved their love and ALL IN worked out in the end 💘
I thoroughly enjoyed the firefighting parts, excellent writing.
Don't get me started on the romance aspect. Utterly infuriating, confusing, mind-boggling (not in a good way) and cringe. So many boundaries were crossed. All that aside, I've gone cross-eyed over how many times there's kisses on the lips, lips, lips... gah!
The writing was done in third/present which made it difficult to immerse myself in the story, plus there were several editing mistakes.
It wasn’t a total disaster. The sex was hot and the fires were hotter. 3 stars.
I have read quite a few books by Amy and I have to say I have loved them all. Not one story has been a let down. She has a wonderful writing style and such a lovely way with words. You can't help but fall in love with the characters. I started reading this and finished it within a day as I just couldn't put it down. I recommend Amy's novels to anyone that wants to read something truely amazing
I loved all the characters in this novel and their interactions. Loved Gloria ! This book shared so many emotions on so many levels but I mostly bonded with the ideals and high standards of Ash. This story was refreshing with a good dose of “sitting on the edge of your seat”. A good refreshing romance novel.
So I really liked Skylar and how her and Ash slowly got closer. I however found Gloria to be a very abrasive character, I understand she was supposedly doing things for Ash's benefit and I approved of some of it but the way she steamrolled over everything made her a bit of a chore. All in all not a bad book but the side characters were a bit too annoying for me
Again, amazing character builds and all of the characters being different, celebrated and the reality of having Chosen Family thru various sources. Love all the love of different levels and that the characters are different but queer community. Representation honoured. So many happy feels in this book.
My only complaint with this book is I couldn't put it down and ended up staying up way too late last night to finish it. This story reinforces the thought that age doesn't matter, it's who you are inside that speaks to the other person. Really well done!
As with every book I've read from Amy DeMeritt, the characters are vibrant, the storyline is enthralling, and the writing is excellent! I have a very hard time putting down a DeMeritt book one I start one. These books all belong on your must read list!
This was not just a heartfelt romance, but also a romantic journey of Ashton finding the woman that would be all in. All in with the ups and downs of life and the dangers of her job as a firefighter....
An enjoyable romance novel that has you twisting and turning until the end. The author created believable and deep characters that show friendship, lovers and found family. Started and finished reading in 24 hours. It was a great read.
I love firefighter books and this one was great! Lots of love, great friendships, hurt/comfort and lots of action. I really enjoyed this book! Thank you Amy DeMeritt!