Friendly Fire

Rescue & Redemption #1

by Morgan James

Don't miss Gray and Claire's story, a small-town, friends-to-lovers romantic suspense from USA Today bestselling author Morgan James.

Claire Ever since I lost my boyfriend to a car accident five years ago, I haven't let myself get close to anyone. But that's okay, because my best friend Gray more than makes up for it. Then the dreams start. Each night my head hits the pillow, it's his face I see, his arms I feel wrapped around me. Though I try to hide my feelings, it gets harder every day. The one man I desire most is the one I can't have. I'm in love with Grayson Thorne... And he can never know. Grayson I knew I wanted Claire the moment we met. She wasn't ready for a relationship then, so I waited patiently. Bided my time. For two years we've been best friends; we do everything together—except the one thing I really want from her. But I've seen the way she's been watching me recently. I know she feels the shift between us, and I'm ready to make her mine. Unfortunately, someone else has Claire in their sights, too. The incidents start small—a misplaced memento here. A hang-up call there. But when things go from bad to worse, I'll do everything in my power to protect her… Because Claire is my best friend. The love of my life. My everything. Friendly Fire is a small-town, friends-to-lovers, romantic suspense full of thrills, a dash of humor, and all the feels. Don’t miss the rest of the books in the Rescue & Redemption Series! #0.5 Silent Treatment - Finn and Harper #1 Friendly Fire - Grayson and Claire #2 Cruel Vendetta - Drew and Emery #3 Reckless Pursuit - Aiden and Izzy #4 Dangerous Desires - Vaughn and Sienna (Summer 2023)

Genres: Friends To Lovers, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Small Town Romance, Slow Burn

270 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 2022

About the author

Morgan James is a USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty romantic suspense novels. She spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book and cut her teeth on the likes of R.L. Stein and Christopher Pike. When not writing, she can be found at her home in Ohio with her husband and two kids.

Reviews

[Jennifer Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire has pretty much been closed off since she lost her boyfriend, with the exception of Grayson, her best friend. They both have feelings for the other but neither will cop to it because they don't want to ruin it all with feelings. However, lately it's becoming harder & harder to keep it under wraps, and Grayson is ready to make her his. Of course life is never that easy, and danger is stalking Claire with little incidents escalating to bigger things so now it's going to take everything in Grayson to keep her safe & maybe just maybe they have a shot at a future as a couple. Friends to lovers romance isn't always my favorite since it can be a hit or miss, but Morgan James did it perfectly in my eyes as I couldn't take a break from the story for anything. Of course the suspense element definitely added more to the story (though I still would have loved it without it) as it's totally my jam. I've fallen in love with this author to the point that I'm already impatiently waiting on her next new book so I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[Michellelovesreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me two days to read, that says something right 😂

[Lindsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was really bad. Two stars is generous, but I kinda liked the characters so I’m leaving it.

[Sarah | Retro Girl Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire hasn’t wanted to get close to anyone since she lost her boyfriend to a car accident five years ago. As long as she has Grayson Thorne, her best friend, by her side, she knows she’ll be okay. The only problem? Claire can’t stop dreaming about him, and not in a platonic way either.

Meanwhile, Gray has been in love with Claire for the past two years, ever since he first saw her. He’s been waiting for her to see how well matched they are, and now, he thinks she might finally feel the same way. But when Claire realizes that someone is trying to cause her trouble, Gray goes into protector mode.

Wow!!! This book was absolutely incredible! It had it all - action, romance, drama, suspense, and steam. I loved Claire and Gray’s story. Best friends to lovers has always been one of my favorite tropes, and this book did not disappoint! They had their struggles, yes, but I was rooting for them the whole time!!!

Claire. She’s such a sweetheart, and I admire her for her dedication to her students. I think Claire has been through a lot, so she was afraid of finding love again. I’m so glad Gray was able to show her how wrong she was! Gray. Oh my gosh, this man. He’s so kind, and caring, and that protective streak! I just loved everything about him. I totally recommend this book if you like small town and/or best friends to lovers romance!

[Lori Wilen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has left me without words...it was that good! I wish I could give it way more than 5 stars and I thank Morgan James for my ARC. This review is my honest opinion and all my own words. Morgan has become one of my favorite authors and one of the great characteristics of all her books is that they have a wonderful plot. This book was no exception. I knew it would be good after reading the Quentin Security series and meeting Gray in the last of that series in Con and Grace's story. This book had me sitting on the edge of my seat and kept me enthralled from the very beginning to the very end. There were twists and turns throughout and it was never obvious despite the fact that I was able to guess one or two. I thought Gray and Claire were an adorable couple and I am so happy that this was only the first in the series and we will be meeting up with them again in future books. As always with Morgan's books, the sex scenes were so tastefully written and were so very integral to the story. If you are a Morgan James fan then you are in for a treat with this new series, with characters that are wonderful to know. If you have not read Morgan James before this is a great book to start with as it is the first of the series and is so beautifully written and crafted. Y'all I can't wait to go back to Cedar Springs and read more about Gray's siblings, Jane and Dex, and a whole host of wonderful other characters.

[S.V. Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my, all the feels! I am big fan of Morgan James, and of the Quentin Security Series. So when Morgan James announced she was coming out with a new series, and that the first book would feature Gray Thorne, whom we met in Con and Grace story Devilish Intent, I was super excited! This book did not disappoint. The slow burn, the angst, the worry, the fire and chemistry between Gray and Claire. I am always a sucker for a romantic suspense/mystery, and this book delivered. Gray and Claire were consistent characters, which is a blessing. Their base characteristics were steady, while we watched them grow. And grow they did. Much more for Claire than for Gray, but their story was definitely sweet. The antagonist in the end was believable, I just wish there had been a few other hints throughout the book that the characters missed that would have made the reveal a bit more powerful. The only criticism that I have is continuity in the last few chapters. Nothing so bad that it ruined the book, nor something I couldn't remedy in my head, but something that was noticeable enough for me to write something. I can also see the set up for the rest of the series, in a new mystery/case for the Cedar Springs Police to solve. All in all, I look at a story, and a writer’s ability to tell that story, and Friendly Fire delivered. I received and advanced copy for an honest review.

[Shawna Jimenez more.books.forever · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gray and Claire!! Yessss. This is Friends to Lovers at its finest! The chemistry between these two is spectacular. Claire has been through some of the most heart breaking loss and Gray is there for her from day one. Their friendship with one another is what makes their love story feel like so much more. This baby has all the things tears, suspense, heat fire spice and will have you from page one. I love watching the growth between Claire and Gray and I was fully invested in their relationship. All in all a fantastic book. I am loving the beginning to this new series and I cannot wait for the next book.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this one in a book subscription box a while ago and thought I'd give it a try! I love a good friends to lovers trope. I do feel like the first half of this book was kind of slow and tons of miscommunication but I did enjoy the second half. I loved the suspense aspect. I also love how protective Gray was of Claire. They were cute together. There is one part of the plot that isn't wrapped up in the end but I know it probably continues in book 2 of the series.

[Samantha Hickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every girl needs a man like Gray!!!

Friendly Fire is a small town, friends to lovers, romantic suspense that is full of thrills, some humor, and all the feels.

So many feelings!!!!!!!!

Claire is a high school guidance counselor that is still dealing with the pain of losing her college boyfriend. Thank God she has her best friend Gray, who is a cop.

They both have feelings for each other, but have never admitted it. And oh boy, when they finally confess, the sparks are HOT!!!!

Strange things start happening to Claire, and her past has come back in a way you wont be expecting!!

I am so in love with this book!!! I couldn't put it down once I started! This was my 1st book by Morgan James and now I can't wait to read more of her books!!!

[Bec McQuillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

New series, awesome book!

I love and hate reading the first book of a new series by an author I love. There is that anticipation of similar characters but in a different light.
I love how Morgan, creates these in-depth and unique characters and Claire and Gray are no different.

They are best friends that both have feelings for one another but don’t want to change what is between them.
The chemistry and spice of their relationship is great and engaging. You want them to have their happily ever after. But can they survive a stalker that is intent on harming Claire.

This book is available on May 31st 2022, grab your copy.

[Sejal Shah Srinivasan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire, a student counselor, meets Gray, a police officer, and they hit it off instantly. He becomes her best friend, her confidante. Gray loves Claire but is unable to voice his thoughts, lest their friendship be affected. Claire, totally oblivious to her feelings, discovers her love for Gray after a sudden epiphany. Finally, after 2 long years, they stop dancing around each other and give in to their attraction. In the meanwhile, weird occurrences start happening to Claire. From strange phone calls to creepy crawlies hidden in her home and work place, someone is out to get her. Scared, she takes Gray's help, and he takes over the investigation. What will happen to Claire and her relationship with Gray? Who is this unknown enemy? Will Gray be able to catch the culprit and save Claire?

Right from troubled teens to gory murders, from slow burn to full on steam, this book has it all. Claire is a sweet and independent girl, and natural caregiver. Gray, handsome and stoic, dotes on her and loves her unconditionally, ready to wait for her to reciprocate his feelings. The interactive moments and the chemistry between them both is hot. The narrative is extremely edgy, and the story keeps you hooked on to the edge of your seat. The side characters are awesome and am waiting for Drew's book to take the story forward. A romantic suspense that's racy and full of thrills and the feels, this is one great read.

This was my first book from the author and I loved it. Am excited to read more of her work.

I got an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

[Kelchickbooklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morgan James never disappoints with her excellent writing and emotionally gripping books and Friendly Fire is one that deserves more than five stars. Gray, who was introduced to us in Devilish Intent, finally gets his own story. She writes a story of two best friends, Gray and Claire, whose feelings grow into more than just friends. Their story is full of angst, chemistry and true love. The slow burn between them is what makes this story one that is addictive. I loved how Ms. James grabs your attention right from the start and keeps it right up to the very end.

Gray and Claire's story is one that has two best friends afraid to tell one another their true feelings as they are worried that their friendship might suffer and they could lose what they have. Clare finds herself in a situation that she is not sure want to do about. She is having hot and steamy dreams about her and Gray together but will she ever tell him or try to act upon them. When things start to happen that are out of the norm, will she just brush it off or will she tell Gray, who is the local chief of police? When these incidents become increasingly uneasy and she receives something that is disturbing and finally tells Gray, what will he do? Gray who has been in love with Claire since they met is also worried about acting upon his feelings. She means too much to him to let anything get in the way of possibly losing her as a friend. He is also dealing with incidents of the possibility of date rapes that have been happening in their small town. Could there be any connections between what is happening to Claire and these other incidents? When he does confess his feelings, how well does she react? When danger shows its ugly head, how will Gray deal with the situation?

Ms. James had my heart beating faster and I was sitting on the edge of my seat with the twist and turns that were throughout the book. She always delivers a book that has you wanting more. Her writing style and storylines are addictive and elegantly written. I highly recommend you pick up this book and make sure you have a comfortable spot to read and a good chunk of time as you will not want to put this book down. I'm excited to read the next installment in this series.

[Becca Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ 2🌶
I received an ARC for this, to share my honest opinion.
This is a romantic suspense, with some mystery to it, and has a small mystery storyline you can tell will play out in future books.
Gray and Claire have been friends for the last 2 years, when she told him when they met that she wouldn’t date anyone. But he has secretly loved her the whole time, and one night everything changes when she has a steamy dream. The fight it for a bit, scared the other doesn’t reciprocate the feeling, but finally due to some mysterious things happening to Claire, they are brought back together. But now they have to figure out who is threatening Claire and where to go from there.

I enjoyed the mystery part of the story, trying to figure out who was targeting Claire. It kept me guessing and was exciting as it came together. However, the romance part, although sweet, just fell flat for me. There was miscommunication thag I felt was unnecessary and then a rush from friends to lovers that just felt like we had missed a big chunk of how they got there. Overall, it was a good read, especially for the suspense.

[Bree · Rating 2 out of 5]

That was pretty bad. Soppy with a side of stalking, rape and attempted murder. I’ll end my journey with this series at book 1.

[Kelchickbooklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morgan James never disappoints with her excellent writing and emotionally gripping books and Friendly Fire is one that deserves more than five stars. Gray, who was introduced to us in Devilish Intent, finally gets his own story. She writes a story of two best friends, Gray and Claire, whose feelings grow into more than just friends. Their story is full of angst, chemistry and true love. The slow burn between them is what makes this story one that is addictive. I loved how Ms. James grabs your attention right from the start and keeps it right up to the very end.

Gray and Claire's story is one that has two best friends afraid to tell one another their true feelings as they are worried that their friendship might suffer and they could lose what they have. Clare finds herself in a situation that she is not sure want to do about. She is having hot and steamy dreams about her and Gray together but will she ever tell him or try to act upon them. When things start to happen that are out of the norm, will she just brush it off or will she tell Gray, who is the local chief of police? When these incidents become increasingly uneasy and she receives something that is disturbing and finally tells Gray, what will he do? Gray who has been in love with Claire since they met is also worried about acting upon his feelings. She means too much to him to let anything get in the way of possibly losing her as a friend. He is also dealing with incidents of the possibility of date rapes that have been happening in their small town. Could there be any connections between what is happening to Claire and these other incidents? When he does confess his feelings, how well does she react? When danger shows its ugly head, how will Gray deal with the situation?

Ms. James had my heart beating faster and I was sitting on the edge of my seat with the twist and turns that were throughout the book. She always delivers a book that has you wanting more. Her writing style and storylines are addictive and elegantly written. I highly recommend you pick up this book and make sure you have a comfortable spot to read and a good chunk of time as you will not want to put this book down. I'm excited to read the next installment in this series.

[Alysia Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quote: "I wanted to be her rock, her shoulder to lean in when things got tough. I wanted to be her everything."

Spice, romance, thriller/mystery
This book has it all!

Guy falls hard for girl, girl rejects guy and so begins their their relationship in the "friend zone". For two long years Claire and Gray hangout together and remain friends, until one night ends with a spicy dream and the morning after leads to awkwardness between the two. Although miscommunication occurs, they soon become focused on the cruel pranks & random phone calls Claire receives. Gray immediately goes into protective mode. Being protective over others as a police chief comes with the territory. Who is behind these pranks? What do they want? When will it stop?

I personally resonated with the story between these two characters because it's how my own relationship with my husband began. Slowly over time, friendship turned into something more. Also, Claire works as a guidance counselor at a high school and has a soft spot for kids who come from broken homes, having come from one herself. As a teacher, I always have a soft spot for kids struggling to handle life, especially when their parents are making poor choices.

Although I'm not a huge fan of the miscommunication trope, I do understand it's necessary to story lines. I absolutely love a protective man who wants to keep his woman safe from harm. This was a book I would consider to be a comfort read, even though it kept me on the edge of my seat trying to find out who is terrorizing Claire. The storyline flowed well and I liked how everything was wrapped up in a nice, neat bow at the end.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read for Morgan James and I have to tell you, I was hooked! Claire Gates is a counselor at the local high school and Grayson Thorne is the chief of police in their town. When they first met, Gray was attracted to Claire instantly and tried to pick her up, which she shut down right away, so he decided to be her friend. Years later they are best of friends and see each other often for dinners and movie night.

Claire was coming out of a bad relationship and did not want to date anyone when she moved to this new town. Two years later and now Gray thinks its time to make her see that he is in love with her but always chickens out, afraid to lose her friendship if she doesn't feel the same. One night after dinner and a movie, they fell asleep on Claire's couch and woke up realizing their hands were all over each other. Claire panics and shuts down on Gray. He blames himself for Claire not speaking to him since he was ready to tell her how he felt and the whole situation after that night proved to Gray she was not interested in him as anything other than a friend.

Little did Gray know that night opened up Claire's eyes to Gray as more than a friend. While Gray is blaming himself for the distance between them, Claire is avoiding him because she didn't realize that she was in love with him. Their story is so good with lots of angst, misunderstandings and someone wanting to hurt Claire. I loved their story, I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read more from Morgan James.

I received an advance copy for my honest opinion.

[Rebmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire and Gray’s story is a wonderful slow-burn best friends to lovers romance with a good amount of suspense thrown in to make this book riveting. Claire, a school guidance counsellor, met Gray, the Chief of Police in Cedar Springs, two years ago and put him firmly in the friend zone. He knew immediately that she was his “one”, the only woman for him, but he was content to bide his time and be the best of friends to her until she was ready. But waiting for that day to come has been hard and Gray has made up his mind to tell Claire how he really feels about her. He doesn’t know that Claire has begun to think of him in whole new light, but the sexual dreams she is having about him have left her feeling scared. She scared to lose his friendship, of being rejected and of not being good enough for him. So just when Gray is ready to pull her closer, Claire is pushing him away and running scared. Unbeknownst to either of them, someone dangerous is skulking in the shadows ready to exact revenge for an incident that happened years ago. There couldn’t be a worst time for them to be distancing themselves from each other and refusing to reveal their love, their fears and their dreams to each other. As the danger escalates and another predator is hunting and hurting women in their community, will Claire and Gray get the chance to finally reveal all to each other and claim their own happily ever after?

I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Tea_Reading_and_Oz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good start to the series! Looking forward to seeing how a certain storyline will continue in the next book.

This was kind of half romance and half suspense or mostly romance and 1/4 suspense more toward the latter half of the book. I kinda wish there was more suspense because the suspense was a little slow to start, then ramped up at the end, but it looks like there might be more as the series goes, possibly? The main culprit though I wasn't expecting. Or at least I thought it might be them cuz they were a little much but I didn't expect the reasoning behind their actions. That person was seriously insane though.

Now onto the characters. I really did love Claire and Gray, before and after their little mishap. The instance of miscommunication was the only time I didn't like them. I think that's because I don't like the miscommunication trope. They were really good together though. Claire didn't completely rely on Gray, she did a little to start but they weren't entirely dependent on each other by the end. Even though Gray is very possessive and protective he still lets her have a life. And whew, I think Grey is my new favorite of Morgan's guys, cuz he is *chef's kiss* in all the good ways.

This had some faults, but I still really enjoyed this and am looking forward to the next one that I hop is gonna be Gray's brother.

[Katslovesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent friends to lovers romance story with a dash of suspense and a wonderful beginning for a brand new series by Morgan James.

Claire and Grey have been best friends for two years, but Grey knows he wants everything with Claire and has been secretly in love with her unfortunately Claire has been dealing with guilt for an accident she thinks was her fault and is unable to see what has been in front of her , but everything changes after a dream that makes her realise the desire and want she feels for Grey.

At the same time they are exploring a relationship, terrible crimes are happening around town and Claire is being target with small incidents that are escalating day by day.

Grey is ready to protect the woman he loves and won't rest until he finds the person responsible for the crimes but not everything is as it seems and shocking revelations almost at the end of the story made this book the perfect suspenseful romance.

This first book on the series was perfect and I can't wait for what's to come next.

[•Cici• Theory of A Dreamer Book Blog♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read Ms.James's work before i've been wanting to pick up more of her books! As soon as Friendly Fire was announced it caught my eye right away. I instantly knew i had to read it next! I picked it up as soon as i could and got right into the Rescue and Redemption world! I so enjoyed this story!

Claire and Grayson's journey pulled me in! These two are best friends, as feelings come into the picture i couldn't wait to see how everything would play out for them!

I really liked their friendship and getting to see these two tackle things. I wasn't sure what all to expect in this story and that got me into it even more! I was so glad that i got to jump into both of their minds and dig deeper with them. The chemistry between these two was so great! I loved the way both Gray and Claire had me feeling many things!

Claire was such a strong character. Gray definitely got into my heart! I appreciated the realness that both characters showed throughout! Their story definitely kept me on my toes as well!

With Friendly Fire, Ms.James has created such a good read that will pull you in! I am so looking forward to more from her and the Rescue and Redemption world!


*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from Wildfire Marketing Solutions / the author*

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morgan James has knocked it out of the park with this first book in her new Rescue and Redemption series. But, of course, I expected nothing less from MJ's fantastic storytelling.

Friendly Fire takes us on an adventure with Grayson Thorne, the new Chief of Police, and Claire Gates, the high school guidance counselor. Gray has had the hots for Claire for the past two years. Bidding his time, hoping their friendship would blossom into something more. At the same time, Claire seems perfectly content with their friends' only situation until a very steamy dream changes her perspective. Once kisses are exchanged, Chief Thorne wastes no time claiming Claire as his forever more. However, dastardly deeds perpetrated by an unknown source are causing Gray to become increasingly concerned for his town and his Claire.

My idea of a perfect story contains a great romance full of loveable characters and a well-thought-out criminal element. Morgan James always provides this in every book she creates. Five stars for Friendly Fire, characters from other series who make appearances, and the unsolved mysteries that will leave you eager for book two!

[Hilary Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an absolutely adorable friends-to-lovers romance. Little bit of suspense. Little bit of spice. Whole lot of fun! I devoured this book in one single day. This sweet and mysterious story had me clinging to every page. Bravo Morgan James. This would make the perfect lazy beach read or even a rainy day where you’re stuck inside.

Claire is a High School Counselor. Gray is the small town’s Chief of Police. After being friend-zoned for two years he takes a leap of faith to tell her how he feels. As it turns out, someone else also has their sights set on her. A series of creepy stalker-type events have Claire on edge. Gray is investigating an unrelated creep that’s drugging and assaulting young girls around town. Who is stalking Claire? Who is assaulting the girls? The twists. The turns. I didn’t see that coming. I really really pray that this author puts out a sequel because there’s an unanswered question and I am absolutely in love with Claire and Gray. They’re SO CUTE!

Thank you again to Morgan James for my ARC. This review is my honest opinion. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go find another Morgan James book!

[Marni Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to start by saying how much I absolutely love Morgan James. I can honestly say that I have read all her books / series and there has never been one I have not simply adored . That being said Friendly Fire is the first installment in her brand new series ( Rescue and Redemption) and trust me when I say it is a emotional rollercoaster in every sense of the word . Best friends and slow burn are two of my very favorite tropes to read and Claire and Grays emotional journey has the best of both worlds. Two characters that are so unique and beautifully written as as well as likable , relatable and very Multi layered , you will not be able to stop yourself from falling in love .Friendly Fire exceeded all my expectations it has everything a perfect romance should , it’s Dark , suspense, mystery, heartbreaking, heartfelt, angsty , filled with non stop action , unexpected surprises, humor , witty banter , off the charts chemistry, family , love , romance , friendships, second chances and much much more . It’s simply unforgettable and unputdownable
a few seco

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What in the what!?!

What the heck is wrong with me that I've never read anything written by Morgan James before!! I loved this book so much and now I'm excited to go read her other work. This book had me drawn in from the first page and I couldn't put it down. It's a best friend to lovers story. Claire is a high school guidance counselor who's not interested in dating since the death of her boyfriend in a car accident. Gray is the chief of police and has been in love with Claire for 2 years now. One night while watching a movie they fall asleep cuddling on the couch. During the cuddling Claire has a "dream" about Gray and it forces her to realize she's attracted to Gray and she loves him. They start avoiding each other because neither one of them wants to slip and confess their feelings and ruin their friendship. But once someone starts harassing Claire all bets are off. The book is filled with love, steam, mystery and intrigue. Give it a read you won't be disappointed!

***received as an ARC from the author for leaving my honest review***

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in a new series and this is Grayson and Claire’s story. These two are best friends who have feeling for each other, but they don’t want to ruin their friendship. Gray has been patiently waiting for Claire to be ready for more in her life. When some incidents happen, and Claire becomes the target of a stalker, will she tell Gray, who is the chief od police? This is a well written story which is a friends / lovers’ romance, with engaging and relatable characters, undeniable chemistry, suspense, intrigue, angst, humor, witty banter, emotions, and love, which leads to an addictive page turner. I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Wildfire Marketing Solutions and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carissa Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have so much love for Grayson and Claire. Their friendship is adorable, dinners and movies and all the banter. I knew their chemistry was bound to be explosive with all that build up and I was not disappointed. I loved Grayson’s protectiveness over Claire and how he always knew exactly what she needed. I loved Claire’s caring heart and always wanting to help the kids who came to her. I also loved her relationship with her sister and feel like we all need someone like that in our lives. I loved the twist about who the culprit was who was messing with Claire. And I also loved the Easter Egg of appearance from the Quentin Security Series. If you love friends to lovers where the guy falls first and the girl gets to be her own hero, this book is definitely for you! Can’t wait for more from Morgan!

[TLynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friendly Fire is the first book in the Rescue and Redemption series by Morgan James. This was a new-to-me author and I found it to be well written, paced perfectly, with plenty of depth. I love small-town romances and friends-to-lovers books and with the addition of intrigue and humor; this was the perfect book for me.
Claire had lost her college boyfriend in a car accident and after that, she quit dating and letting people close. She was content with her life until she starts having dreams about her best friend Grayson. She wants more than friendship now but fears losing his friendship.
Grayson had fallen for Claire when he met her, but she had turned him down. So, he became her best friend and waited for her to be ready for a relationship. After several years of friendship, he works up the nerve to tell her about his feelings. Only things don’t go as planned and now her life is in danger.
I am so glad I discovered this author and had a chance to read this book. I enjoyed meeting all the characters and watching Grayson and Claire’s relationship change from friends to lovers. I look forward to reading future books in the series.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Suzanne Normandeau Legault · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written spicy and hot romance with a twist of suspense and danger makes this book a page turner. I couldn’t put it down once I started reading it. This authors writing is addictive and alluring. The characters are strong and powerful, very determined at pursuing each other and the danger surrounding them! Grayson is the police chief and Claire is the guidance counsellor at the local high school. When she finds herself in danger and unconsciously aware of it, Grayson will stop at nothing to protect her. Filled with thrilling suspense and mysterious behaviours , Grayson and Claire must navigate the journey together. A very slow burn romance that starts with a very solid friendship and leads them into a friendly fire 🔥 bliss! A 5 stars ⭐️ rating and a most recommended reading!

[Sharon A Shovan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good story! Has all the aspects of entertainment that I love. Best friends, mystery, angst, sexy times, misunderstandings and all the action you can take. Gray and Claire have been best friends for at least 2 years. Gray has had extra feelings for Claire right from the start but was afraid of losing their friendship. He did not want to rock the boat. Then when he finally decided to tell her, they had a very strong misunderstanding and things cooled off for awhile. And besides that Claire is having some strange things happening to her. Can these two fix this situation? What about her strange happenings? Looks like there is quite a few things to get straightened out for them. Good luck!