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Fated #1
Under My Umbrella
It’ll take more than a fire hose to cool down this attraction…
Fated, Book 1
Rain, rain, go away. That’s Jenna’s mantra as she suffers through yet another rain-soaked walk home from work. At least the tight butt of the guy walking in front of her offers some distraction. When he turns around and asks to share her umbrella, she realizes his front view is as smokin’ as the back. What better way to get up close and personal with the object of her ogling?
Brett noticed his hot little neighbor weeks ago, but until now hadn’t worked up the nerve—or found the opportunity—to approach her. Too many hours at the fire station has left him longing for something more out of life. Like the company of a sweet, sexy woman. Maybe, if he’s lucky, kindling a relationship.
Jenna surprises herself again when she offers to let him dry off in her apartment. One minute he’s toweling off his hair, the next their chemistry explodes in the hottest sex either of them have ever experienced. And suddenly they’re both wondering if he’s the match to her tinder, or if it’s too much, too fast…
Contains smokin’ hot sex with a delicious stranger who turns out to be her neighbor who turns into the hottest firefighter she’s ever met. Grab a glass of ice water to cool these flames!
Fated, Book 1
Rain, rain, go away. That’s Jenna’s mantra as she suffers through yet another rain-soaked walk home from work. At least the tight butt of the guy walking in front of her offers some distraction. When he turns around and asks to share her umbrella, she realizes his front view is as smokin’ as the back. What better way to get up close and personal with the object of her ogling?
Brett noticed his hot little neighbor weeks ago, but until now hadn’t worked up the nerve—or found the opportunity—to approach her. Too many hours at the fire station has left him longing for something more out of life. Like the company of a sweet, sexy woman. Maybe, if he’s lucky, kindling a relationship.
Jenna surprises herself again when she offers to let him dry off in her apartment. One minute he’s toweling off his hair, the next their chemistry explodes in the hottest sex either of them have ever experienced. And suddenly they’re both wondering if he’s the match to her tinder, or if it’s too much, too fast…
Contains smokin’ hot sex with a delicious stranger who turns out to be her neighbor who turns into the hottest firefighter she’s ever met. Grab a glass of ice water to cool these flames!
73 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2010
14 people are currently reading
719 people want to read
About the author
Karen Erickson
98 books1,436 followersUSA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson lives in central California with her family. Being a romance writer and bringing her characters to life is her greatest dream come true.
She also writes as NYT & USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy.
Sign up for Karen's newsletter!
https://www.karenerickson.com/newsletter
She also writes as NYT & USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy.
Sign up for Karen's newsletter!
https://www.karenerickson.com/newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
August 7, 2015
Sweet and sexy low/medium angst novella read about a firefighter H and his neighbour. Safe romance.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
December 30, 2010
This was a really cute story of fated love. I got a little tired of his inner dialogue about women who chase after men in uniform, lol, but other than that, it was a cute, quick read. And very steamy.
November 5, 2010
Short and sweet. Not how I like my men, but good things for an erotic short story. This didn't feel like erotica though. Sure they were getting the hot monkey boom boom on in less than an hour of meeting each other, but the lack of graphic description and the characters thinking, "It's fate. I love him/her. But I can't say anything, it's too soon! Oh woe is my damp panties/strained zipper!" made this read more like a romance than erotica.
Whether you believe in love at first sight or love within the first few days or whatever, I always get a happy little glow daydreaming about the possibility of it. Wishful thinking? Hells to the yeah. But daydreams are what keep single gals sane. Plus, dude was a firefighter. That always helps a little story like this along.
Whether you believe in love at first sight or love within the first few days or whatever, I always get a happy little glow daydreaming about the possibility of it. Wishful thinking? Hells to the yeah. But daydreams are what keep single gals sane. Plus, dude was a firefighter. That always helps a little story like this along.
March 24, 2013
I read the blurb and I knew it was a short story. So I knew what I was getting into but this story did not set my blood on fire. I kept reading but I really didn't find anything spectacular about it. It was just blah. My heart was not in this story at all. Their chemistry did not come across to me. It was just words.
January 9, 2013
absolutly love these books! Great hot reads
May 31, 2013
Too short but a cute story..
July 3, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. Sweet not a lot of angst.
December 28, 2014
I would have gave this book a better rating had I not been annoyed with the main female character towards the end. I am so tired of reading these romance books where the women are wimpy and just keep throwing themselves at the men. Give the guy some space and freaking relax already.
In this book, Jenna and Brett fall in love quickly and unexpectedly. They are walking in a rain storm, and she shares her umbrella, and they fall into bed together. They sleep together for a few days, and she's out with her girlfriend and decides she's in love with him, and she absolutely HAS to see him because he's been working the last two days. So she shows up at his fire station and tries to give him oral sex in the fire engine he drives, and even though he wants to he tells her no because he doesn't want the guys to rush in and find one or both half naked. He wants to be respected at the station, and he wants her to be respected because she deserves it, and he wants his co-workers to get to know her because he is in love with her, and he wants to keep her around for a long time. So she gets huffy, and keeps pushing the issue which in turn makes him angry. She apologizes, but she still thinks he's angry, but while he's trying to tell her he's not mad, they get a call, so everyone rushes in. She backs into the corner to get out of the way, and just before driving off he tells her he'll call. Well he's too busy at the station to call, so he sends her texts between fighting fires and catching some sleep. She gets mad that he couldn't bother to call, so she doesn't text him back. She knows she's over-reacting, but she starts bawling in the lunchroom at work, only to have her best friend drag her to the bathroom and talk her into going to see him and tell him how she feels. Why couldn't she just leave him be for a few days while he was at work and talk to him later or let him come to her?! I mean if you are so distraught thinking this guy is mad at you and doesn't feel about you the way you feel about him... why can't you just let him cool off and definitely let him come to you?! I hate pathetic women who just can't stay away, and they come off as stalker-ish. Other than that it was a good story.
In this book, Jenna and Brett fall in love quickly and unexpectedly. They are walking in a rain storm, and she shares her umbrella, and they fall into bed together. They sleep together for a few days, and she's out with her girlfriend and decides she's in love with him, and she absolutely HAS to see him because he's been working the last two days. So she shows up at his fire station and tries to give him oral sex in the fire engine he drives, and even though he wants to he tells her no because he doesn't want the guys to rush in and find one or both half naked. He wants to be respected at the station, and he wants her to be respected because she deserves it, and he wants his co-workers to get to know her because he is in love with her, and he wants to keep her around for a long time. So she gets huffy, and keeps pushing the issue which in turn makes him angry. She apologizes, but she still thinks he's angry, but while he's trying to tell her he's not mad, they get a call, so everyone rushes in. She backs into the corner to get out of the way, and just before driving off he tells her he'll call. Well he's too busy at the station to call, so he sends her texts between fighting fires and catching some sleep. She gets mad that he couldn't bother to call, so she doesn't text him back. She knows she's over-reacting, but she starts bawling in the lunchroom at work, only to have her best friend drag her to the bathroom and talk her into going to see him and tell him how she feels. Why couldn't she just leave him be for a few days while he was at work and talk to him later or let him come to her?! I mean if you are so distraught thinking this guy is mad at you and doesn't feel about you the way you feel about him... why can't you just let him cool off and definitely let him come to you?! I hate pathetic women who just can't stay away, and they come off as stalker-ish. Other than that it was a good story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2018
Jenna hates walking home in the rain, but she’s thankful she at least remembered her umbrella. Especially when a handsome, soaking wet stranger asks to share it with her. It turns out the stranger, Brett, is a firefighter who lives nearby. When Jenna boldly asks Brett if he wants to dry off in her apartment, they go from strangers to lovers in a flash. Was their rainy day meeting a sign they’re fated to be together?
Chance encounters lead to explosively hot sex in Under My Umbrella. Karen Erickson throws two gorgeous protagonists together and lets the sparks fly, making Under My Umbrella one deliciously erotic read. Yet, while I enjoyed the steamy hot sex between Brett and Jenna, I never felt that I truly got to know them. This made the romance between them fall a bit flat because I couldn’t really understand why they fell in love with one another. There was also a slight problem three-quarters of the way through the book. I won’t spoil what happens, but Jenna’s character inexplicably changes a bit, and not for the better. This made the climax of the book it’s low point, I’m sorry to say. Still, as an erotic story, Under My Umbrella definitely works.
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
Chance encounters lead to explosively hot sex in Under My Umbrella. Karen Erickson throws two gorgeous protagonists together and lets the sparks fly, making Under My Umbrella one deliciously erotic read. Yet, while I enjoyed the steamy hot sex between Brett and Jenna, I never felt that I truly got to know them. This made the romance between them fall a bit flat because I couldn’t really understand why they fell in love with one another. There was also a slight problem three-quarters of the way through the book. I won’t spoil what happens, but Jenna’s character inexplicably changes a bit, and not for the better. This made the climax of the book it’s low point, I’m sorry to say. Still, as an erotic story, Under My Umbrella definitely works.
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
February 16, 2012
It's the first novella/short story of that kind I read and I have to agree with most of the comments that I kind of fell short. Yes, I get it's a short story and I know what to expect, but I kind of missed the tension, the build and the reward in the end when they finally got together. I don't mind thrown into hot sex right from the start, but give me at least a little bit story so I can get a hang of the characters, but didn't get any connection to the characters. I'm missing that too, because I wanna swoon over the too.
But well, for what it was, it was a good read and entertained me for the evening. (And still wondering for how long that kind of sexual attraction will last.)
But well, for what it was, it was a good read and entertained me for the evening. (And still wondering for how long that kind of sexual attraction will last.)
May 13, 2013
it was a very short read only 8 chapters. It was a good story though about a fireman & a graphic designer meeting in a rain storm on the street on the way home from work. It's quick into bed & quick to fall in love even with the usual drama of does he or she really like me or is it a short lived romp. I wish that it would've gone on further & I hope that this couple is in the book 2 of this series.
July 17, 2014
What a short read.
I finished this one less than an hour, I thought it's going to be a long story but apparently it's not. But I enjoyed it anyway.
I don't really like the character's inner talk. It's boring and I crave for conversation between Jenna and Brett. And to be honest, Jenna seems a bit 'needy' to me. I mean, she's insecure and I think it's kind of annoying.
But overall, I liked this book even though not exactly my favorite.
I finished this one less than an hour, I thought it's going to be a long story but apparently it's not. But I enjoyed it anyway.
I don't really like the character's inner talk. It's boring and I crave for conversation between Jenna and Brett. And to be honest, Jenna seems a bit 'needy' to me. I mean, she's insecure and I think it's kind of annoying.
But overall, I liked this book even though not exactly my favorite.
December 25, 2012
well i have read many short stories... they comes in full package short sweet sexy ...
but here i did not get that hold .. i mean, i get the Love at fight sight concept but sex at first sight ... don't know.. it lacked a spark you know, when you read something, you keep expecting like WOW what will come next...
but it was a ok Read.
but here i did not get that hold .. i mean, i get the Love at fight sight concept but sex at first sight ... don't know.. it lacked a spark you know, when you read something, you keep expecting like WOW what will come next...
but it was a ok Read.
March 9, 2013
This was cute story but um just seemed a little rushed to me for the love connection. But it was cute and I love a man in uniform. Still, how was she going to get upset with a man because she wanted to get down but he was at work. Can the man have a little respect for her? Dang... Seemed too much at once.
October 11, 2011
Under My Umbrella is an engaging story about love at first sight and believing that Fate plays a hand in our lives. To read my review in its entirety, please visit http://bookreviewsandmorebykathy.com/...
August 15, 2010
Heat: 3 out of 5
Kink:
It was pretty good. I really can't put my finger on what is missing but I would like to read more by this author to see if she can write better. I did like the premise but didn't live up to my expectations.
Kink:
It was pretty good. I really can't put my finger on what is missing but I would like to read more by this author to see if she can write better. I did like the premise but didn't live up to my expectations.
June 25, 2011
This is one of the few books where I actually enjoyed the cover more than the contents. Not that the story was bad - it was just too short to be emotionally engaging, and I couldn't bring myself to like the female lead, particulary when she pressured Brett to get it on at his job site.
December 8, 2015
3.5 stars
This book did not have much to it beyond sex.
Typical I love you without the testing...
Happily ever after.
I've read better.... it was not a repulsive read in any way... But neither is it memorable.
This book did not have much to it beyond sex.
Typical I love you without the testing...
Happily ever after.
I've read better.... it was not a repulsive read in any way... But neither is it memorable.
November 2, 2010
This ended way too soon! I wish there was room for character and plot development because there's potential in this story.
February 25, 2011
Very quick read. New to me author.
July 31, 2011
It was okay. I really liked the whole idea of this story, but it was just a little too quick and easy for me.
June 16, 2012
This was a good short story! I aways want more with short ones but this finished well didn't feel like I was left hanging.
January 21, 2015
A fun and fast paced little love story!
July 8, 2013
2.5 Stars!
May 18, 2012
Really liked it! I thought this would just steamy with no real story but there's some emotion involved and I really liked it!
April 20, 2012
All they do is have sex. Then they decide they are in love. $2.80 on March 2011
June 12, 2012
really hot, moved a bit too fast i think and was more about sex than love. if you really think about it you can't fall in love with someone in weeks in most of the time your having sex... can you? :s
October 22, 2012
The first in the Fated series, with a chance meeting in the rain. Hot and sexy, a great feel-good book that's perfect for any weather :-)
August 25, 2013
Didnt realize this was a novella and well I just wanted more!
January 8, 2013
This book rocked, good story and great sizzle!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews