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Firefighter Romance #1
Fighting the Flames
Three years ago, Jessie Taylor had the best summer of her life after running from her cheating boyfriend and taking time for herself. She'd escaped to her family's beach house in Cape Cod to lick her wounds and heal, vowing to never open herself up like that again. Never trust anyone but herself.
Then she met Ryan James, the sexy firefighter next door who set her on fire with just a touch.
They melted together, soothed each other's hurts. She felt too much. It scared her. She ran.
Now, Jessie's still alone and her entire life has gone up in flames. It's a miracle she's even alive. Ryan saved her... she couldn't believe it was him. She didn't realize he lived so close.
Fate can be kind or cruel. It can give a gift and then take it away.
Jessie had tried to run from fate her entire life. There would be no running from it this time.
Fighting the Flames is a stand-alone novella. Look for other books in the Firefighter Romance Series, including Fanning the Flames and Kindling the Blaze. These novellas can be read in any order, however, they are best experienced in sequence.
Then she met Ryan James, the sexy firefighter next door who set her on fire with just a touch.
They melted together, soothed each other's hurts. She felt too much. It scared her. She ran.
Now, Jessie's still alone and her entire life has gone up in flames. It's a miracle she's even alive. Ryan saved her... she couldn't believe it was him. She didn't realize he lived so close.
Fate can be kind or cruel. It can give a gift and then take it away.
Jessie had tried to run from fate her entire life. There would be no running from it this time.
Fighting the Flames is a stand-alone novella. Look for other books in the Firefighter Romance Series, including Fanning the Flames and Kindling the Blaze. These novellas can be read in any order, however, they are best experienced in sequence.
166 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2014
About the author
Leslie Johnson
67 books129 followersLeslie is a California native but recently moved to Arizona after a stint in Arkansas. She enjoys travel and being with her grandchildren.
She is an avid reader of many genres, but prefers romances with travel or thriller themes. She loves writing about strong women and strong men because the world needs both!
Please visit me at:
http://lesliejohnsonauthor.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie...
She is an avid reader of many genres, but prefers romances with travel or thriller themes. She loves writing about strong women and strong men because the world needs both!
Please visit me at:
http://lesliejohnsonauthor.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
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June 28, 201510% into the book and I'm already so annoyed with the female MC, Jessie, that I want to lobotomize her and bitch slap her with her own brain.
First, let me say I don't like books that have weird timeframe jumps and this one starts by saying "three years ago" and then mixes in what's happening then with shit that happens even further back to explain why she is where she is when it's "three years ago." I hate when an author tells 75% of the story in some backdrop thought.
Stay With Me While I Give You The Backdrop
Three years ago..."
She's laid up in her lover, Ryan's, arms. So we don't get to see how this relationship begins or evolves into a summer affair. No, we are TOLD it happened. As she lays there, she is TELLING readers about how she and Ryan met and started a summer fling and all about the cheating boyfriend from back home.
She TELLS readers that after her father dies, Jessie discovers he had a 20 some odd year affair. At the time, she had a long-term boyfriend, Derrick, that she "knew was the one & loved. She emotionally pushes this boyfriend away for fear he too will wind up being a cheater like her old man. Of course, this push coincidently is what she says causes him to cheat with her friend. The fact she's making excuses for him should've forewarned me that I'm dealing with a doormat, TSTL character.
Anyhoo, the cheating bf apologizes and begs her to marry him. She takes the ring and they both agree to take the summer apart (FREE TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT) to think about the marriage proposal and future of their relationship.
Now, back to the "three years ago" timeframe...
She says she's been seeing Ryan exclusively for "the best two months of her life." She says she loves him, but she's due to leave to go back home in the am. He asks her to return home with him instead and continue their summer fling as a serious relationship. She says yes.
Then, bam she jumps up in the middle of the night to return to Derrick and see where there relationship goes because she's afraid of the what ifs with Ryan.
OKAY, THIS Chick Is F'ing Dumb As Treebark
Now, here's why this chick is TSTL (too stupid to love) & why I DNF this at a mere 13%.
Example 1:
"Finally, Jessie had taken the ring, but hadn't put it on her finger. She made it clear that she would spend the summer at the beach and think about his proposal. When she returned, she'd give him an answer. In the meantime, they were both free to do as they pleased."
Yet, a few pages later she says:
"It's not as if she hadn't just spent the entire summer cheating on him. Plus, Jessie was horrific to him those last few months before he'd sought the comfort in the arms of another woman."
^ She makes excuses for him actually cheating with her friend while they are in a committed relationship, but guilts herself as "cheating" when they aren't even f'ing together. Wtf?
Example two:
Speaking about Ryan... "There were no doubts that she loved him."
A few pages later still speaking of Ryan.... "She'd done that once, trusted her life to another and had her heart pulled out of her chest as a result. Not again. No matter how she felt about him, she couldn't place her future in the hands of another man."
Turn a few more pages and she's now talking about Derrick... "She was willing to give Derrick a second chance. She couldn't live with the what ifs if she didn't. She'd always wonder if she'd thrown away something beautiful because of his one time lapse in judgement. Trusting him would be difficult, but he deserved it.. They deserved it."
Oooookay, so she can't allow herself to trust her heart to the guy that she says she loves and never gave her any reason to doubt him because he might cheat BUT she's going to give her heart and trust back to the guy that she already knows cheated because he deserves it?!? Wtfuckedy-f-hell kind of logic is that?!?
So, that right there ^ !!!! Nah, I'm done with your ass out of the gate. I'm not going to be wasting brain cells on stories with characters that dumb!
First, let me say I don't like books that have weird timeframe jumps and this one starts by saying "three years ago" and then mixes in what's happening then with shit that happens even further back to explain why she is where she is when it's "three years ago." I hate when an author tells 75% of the story in some backdrop thought.
Stay With Me While I Give You The Backdrop
Three years ago..."
She's laid up in her lover, Ryan's, arms. So we don't get to see how this relationship begins or evolves into a summer affair. No, we are TOLD it happened. As she lays there, she is TELLING readers about how she and Ryan met and started a summer fling and all about the cheating boyfriend from back home.
She TELLS readers that after her father dies, Jessie discovers he had a 20 some odd year affair. At the time, she had a long-term boyfriend, Derrick, that she "knew was the one & loved. She emotionally pushes this boyfriend away for fear he too will wind up being a cheater like her old man. Of course, this push coincidently is what she says causes him to cheat with her friend. The fact she's making excuses for him should've forewarned me that I'm dealing with a doormat, TSTL character.
Anyhoo, the cheating bf apologizes and begs her to marry him. She takes the ring and they both agree to take the summer apart (FREE TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT) to think about the marriage proposal and future of their relationship.
Now, back to the "three years ago" timeframe...
She says she's been seeing Ryan exclusively for "the best two months of her life." She says she loves him, but she's due to leave to go back home in the am. He asks her to return home with him instead and continue their summer fling as a serious relationship. She says yes.
Then, bam she jumps up in the middle of the night to return to Derrick and see where there relationship goes because she's afraid of the what ifs with Ryan.
OKAY, THIS Chick Is F'ing Dumb As Treebark
Now, here's why this chick is TSTL (too stupid to love) & why I DNF this at a mere 13%.
Example 1:
"Finally, Jessie had taken the ring, but hadn't put it on her finger. She made it clear that she would spend the summer at the beach and think about his proposal. When she returned, she'd give him an answer. In the meantime, they were both free to do as they pleased."
Yet, a few pages later she says:
"It's not as if she hadn't just spent the entire summer cheating on him. Plus, Jessie was horrific to him those last few months before he'd sought the comfort in the arms of another woman."
^ She makes excuses for him actually cheating with her friend while they are in a committed relationship, but guilts herself as "cheating" when they aren't even f'ing together. Wtf?
Example two:
Speaking about Ryan... "There were no doubts that she loved him."
A few pages later still speaking of Ryan.... "She'd done that once, trusted her life to another and had her heart pulled out of her chest as a result. Not again. No matter how she felt about him, she couldn't place her future in the hands of another man."
Turn a few more pages and she's now talking about Derrick... "She was willing to give Derrick a second chance. She couldn't live with the what ifs if she didn't. She'd always wonder if she'd thrown away something beautiful because of his one time lapse in judgement. Trusting him would be difficult, but he deserved it.. They deserved it."
Oooookay, so she can't allow herself to trust her heart to the guy that she says she loves and never gave her any reason to doubt him because he might cheat BUT she's going to give her heart and trust back to the guy that she already knows cheated because he deserves it?!? Wtfuckedy-f-hell kind of logic is that?!?
So, that right there ^ !!!! Nah, I'm done with your ass out of the gate. I'm not going to be wasting brain cells on stories with characters that dumb!
February 10, 2016
got this free download just a few minutes ago from the author. sounds like it will be a great read has been good so far. was good
December 18, 2014
Very good read.
Keep them coming.
Very good romance and has a fast storyline. I would definitly read it again. I love firemen!
Keep them coming.
Very good romance and has a fast storyline. I would definitly read it again. I love firemen!
February 20, 2018
the hreo won
Chose the book for the title and preface. The cover is also good. Story line kept moving easy to follow. love the.hero won
Chose the book for the title and preface. The cover is also good. Story line kept moving easy to follow. love the.hero won
January 10, 2015
Despite wanting to show Jessie the obvious ways her heart should have gone I really liked her. She is trying to do the right thing, what makes sense, but sometimes following your heart makes more sense. Ryan is a great hero, man and lover. Having been through his own relationship tragedy he would have understood her issues if she'd told him. The age old relationship killer attacked again, Mr. Poor Communicator. I enjoyed the flow of the book and understanding the reasons behind her choices. Steamy sex scenes are firefighter worthy and Ryan is dreamy for sure. Jessie seems a little dramatic and more of a martyr than I like but the story is good and worth it.
February 3, 2015
She goes to the beach for the summer to think about a proposal from the boyfriend who cheated on her. She meets a man and falls in love. But she runs because she is afraid of being hurt. After along time of getting to know her ex again she finally agrees to marry him. Only once again things go wrong and she runs away to start over.
Yes, she runs in to her old flame and now she has to decide whether she can take a chance on lo ing him.
Yes, she runs in to her old flame and now she has to decide whether she can take a chance on lo ing him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2016
Yeah, not going to push through this book
I'm stopping at 32% read. I'm a fan of fast romance novels and love free reads, but this is bad writing. A writer should recognize when s/he needs a better support team. The bouncing between past and present tenses inside a sentence as well as paragraphs is bad. To bounce between first person narrative and third person in the same sentence is just lazy.
I'm stopping at 32% read. I'm a fan of fast romance novels and love free reads, but this is bad writing. A writer should recognize when s/he needs a better support team. The bouncing between past and present tenses inside a sentence as well as paragraphs is bad. To bounce between first person narrative and third person in the same sentence is just lazy.
December 29, 2014
I did not like the heroine at all. She was constantly talking about trust issues and cheating and betrayal but she was still going to marry derrick? So stupid. Ryan was so sweet she definitely didn't deserve him. Poor guy was desperately in love with her dumb ass. It all worked out for the best but it didn't have to be so complicated.
January 11, 2015
Jess spent the summer at her parent's beach house trying to sort out her life. What she wasn't expecting was Ryan who had rented the house next door. She was trying to come to term with her cheating boyfriend but spending time with Ryan made her happy. But at the end of the summer, she went home to her boyfriend to have closure. Three years later she had it but she was alone.
February 1, 2015
Jessie has big trust issues. After her father's death, she finds he had a 20 year love affair with another woman despite being married to Jessie's mom. She then finds her boyfriend having an affair. She spends the summer at the beach, meets Ryan, has a summer fling and rabbits because of her trust issues.
I gave the book 4 stars because it is well written. I just don't like Jessie's character.
I gave the book 4 stars because it is well written. I just don't like Jessie's character.
February 9, 2015
I loved this book. You will laugh, get angry and fall in love with the characters. Jessie and Ryan go about finding love in the round about way. I was so wrapped up in the story that I didn't see that I was at the end until it said The End.
This definitely a book that you need to read. I look forward to reading more from Leslie and of this series.
This definitely a book that you need to read. I look forward to reading more from Leslie and of this series.
February 9, 2015
When Jessie Taylor meets Ryan James at her families beach house they have an instant attraction. After she leaves him at the end of summer she goes home to get her self together. Little does she know fate, and fire, has other plans for the two of them. I enjoyed the story and will definitely be looking for the rest of the series.
June 9, 2015
Who doesn't love a story about a fireman?! This is one of those stoelries where the main characters have that deep connection that jumps off the page and sucks you in. Of course one makes those decisions that keeps you guessing just where they'll end up. It's a sweet story, yet a frustrating tale to the end.
January 2, 2015
This is a quick read with a fast developing plot. I enjoyed the book, but I was left wanting more. It would be nice to learn more about this couple. I hope this series continues with this series continues this plot line, because it is a great start!
June 26, 2016
This is the first book I have read from this author but it definitely won't be the last. A well-written, passionate story about two people who have been hurt before. They must overcome their broken pasts to build a strong future.
April 11, 2015
Fighting the Flames
This book was sexy, hot, intriguing, and full of heat! I enjoyed reading it from the beginning to the end. This was as a awesome book to read. I would definitely recommend this book to read!
This book was sexy, hot, intriguing, and full of heat! I enjoyed reading it from the beginning to the end. This was as a awesome book to read. I would definitely recommend this book to read!
June 8, 2015
Ok but.....
I found this to be a good book but it could not seem to hold my interest and I found myself skipping pages. I'm sure that it just was not what I was looking for in a book but others might.
I found this to be a good book but it could not seem to hold my interest and I found myself skipping pages. I'm sure that it just was not what I was looking for in a book but others might.
June 10, 2015
A sweet romance
This quick read is filled with just the right amount of angst and steamy romance. While it could have been a bit longer to tie up loose ends, it's still an enjoyable read.
This quick read is filled with just the right amount of angst and steamy romance. While it could have been a bit longer to tie up loose ends, it's still an enjoyable read.
July 11, 2016
Great read!
This was a good story about love and trust. Some men are very trustworthy and some just can't be with just one woman. It took a tragedy for Jessie time realize that. And Ryan's heroics where tremendous. I would know that as my husband was a volunteer fireman.
This was a good story about love and trust. Some men are very trustworthy and some just can't be with just one woman. It took a tragedy for Jessie time realize that. And Ryan's heroics where tremendous. I would know that as my husband was a volunteer fireman.
December 11, 2014
Seriously? Where were all the details?!
January 4, 2015
Good read
For a shorter story this book is a great read I think she did a great job writing it .
For a shorter story this book is a great read I think she did a great job writing it .
January 9, 2015
Plot kind of weak - resolution at the end is just to stop the endless stupidity of the two characters.
January 11, 2015
Wow, that was intense! When I first read the synopsis, I thought it would just be okay, something to read. I was wrong, it was AWESOME! I am sooo going to add Leslie Johnson to my must read list!
January 10, 2015
good read. love books with hot sexy firefighters
January 12, 2015
3.5 stars
January 21, 2015
weak story line , too many grammatical errors and questionable punctuation ! It just did not flow ! Edit, Edit , Edit and when you've done that, Edit it again! Disappointing read !
January 27, 2015
Fast read
This book was a fast read, very hot and steamy. I look forward to reading more books from this author.
This book was a fast read, very hot and steamy. I look forward to reading more books from this author.
January 30, 2015
It was a light easy read.
January 30, 2015
Love these two, glad they reconnected!
May 9, 2015
This story has great potential. I wish it were developed a little more rather than rushed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews