Blue Moon Mystery Saloon

Sparking the Fire

Hot in Chicago Series, Book 5, by Kate Meader, Pocket Books, September 2016.

* An e-galley was provided by Pocket Books and Edelweiss for an honest review. 

 

Sparking the Fire by Kate Meader
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

SPARKING THE FIRE by Kate Meader is a warm, witty romance and is the fifth book in the sizzling HOT IN CHICAGO series. Sadly, this is the final book in the series and focuses on the last of the Dempsey firefighting family to find his happily ever after.

Wyatt Fox is a 6'3" tall, dark and badass ex-Marine firefighter who's doing light duty while he's nursing a shoulder injury from his latest rescue. He's assigned as a consultant to a movie being filmed about his firefighting foster sister, Alex, and, lo and behold, the star is none other than the hottest hookup he's ever had, actress Molly Cade. He's never forgotten the wild and wanton week he spent with her five years before. Molly is desperate for this movie to succeed. Her Hollywood sweetheart image has suffered from negative publicity, both from her failed marriage and leaked nude pictures. Imagine her surprise when she discovers her story consultant is none other than the man she spent five glorious nights with when she was a fledgling actress and that he's part of the Dempsey clan featured in her film. This follows their renewed connection and all their trials and tribulations in developing a deeper relationship.

Though I hadn't read any of the previous books in the series, I was able to follow this one without any trouble. The main characters are very different from each other, and as I read through the whole series (I purchased all the other series' books the minute I finished this one), I noted that each person stays true to his or her own distinct flaws and strengths. You can even recognize a character just from how they talk (similar to the unique characters in Kristen Ashley's awesome ROCK CHICKS series).

Pros:
1. The plot and subplots are realistic and are interwoven skillfully.
2. Every scene is important to the overall storyline, not just filler to increase page count.
3. Characters are all unique and stay true to their strengths and flaws throughout the series.

Cons:
None that I can tell.

Overall:
SPARKING THE FIRE is a delightful second chance romance starring an alpha firefighting male and a strong actress female, and their story is the perfect ending to the HOT IN CHICAGO series. If you like men-in-uniforms romances, this series should be one of your top choices to devour at the beach. So bon appetit and happy reading!

If You Like This, You Might Like: THE CHICAGO REBELS and TALL, DARK AND TEXAN SERIES by Kate Meader, ROCK CHICKS SERIES by Kristen Ashley, FBI/US ATTORNEY SERIES by Julie James, SEX, LOVE & STILETTOS SERIES by Lauren Layne, HOT ZONE NOVELS by Carly Phillips, CHICAGO STARS SERIES by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

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Soulmates

A Novel by Jessica Grose, William Morrow, September 2016.

* An e-galley was provided by William Morrow and Edelweiss for an honest review.

 

Soulmates by Jessica Grose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

SOULMATES, by Jessica Grose, is an unusual book presented through narration, newspaper articles, and different points of view. The book opens as associate lawyer, Dana Morrison, sees a newspaper with her estranged husband's name on the front page. The article tells about the bizarre death of her husband and his girlfriend in a New Mexico cave. Though she's still upset from when Ethan ran off with Amaya to practice yoga and live the lifestyle promoted by a self-proclaimed guru, Lama Yoni, Ethan's mysterious death concerns her. So begins her quest to find out what truly happened to him.

Dana contacts the sheriff's department having jurisdiction over Zuni Retreat, where Ethan and Amaya taught couples yoga. The staff can't give her much information, as Lama Yoni's high-powered lawyers have prevented the sheriff's office from ever visiting the Zuni complex. So Dana decides to sign up for a three-day stay at the retreat to discover whatever she can about the owner and what might have happened to her husband. In the Zuni library, she finds a book written by Ethan describing why he separated from her. Dana acknowledges the problems he saw in her, while also realizing Ethan was a free-loading narcissist. She also believes something's shady about the Zuni Retreat. Once back at work, Dana no longer has any motivation to work the long hours needed to become partner in her firm and takes a six-month sabbatical to delve into a lengthly investigation into Ethan's life at Zuni and his unexplained death in New Mexico.

Pros:
For the most part, the story is funny and not boring at all.
The story is told through several different writing techniques.
The characters are well-developed with unique quirks and relatable flaws.

Cons:
The ending. It didn't mesh with what I thought I knew about Dana's character.

Overall:
SOULMATES is a unique mystery full of quirky characters. I would recommend it to readers who prefer character-driven stories and/or those who enjoy mysteries. It's also a perfect book to take on vacation or for a relaxing weekend at home.

If You Like This, You Might Like: SAD DESK SALAD by Jessica Grose, ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN and EMMA IN THE NIGHT by Wendy Walker, THE PERFECT STRANGER by Megan Miranda, THE LIGHT WE LOST by Jill Santopolo

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