Review: Fan the Flames (Search and Rescue #2)

Title: Fan the Flames

Author: Katie Ruggle

Pub Date: June 7, 2016

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Rating: 4 Stars

I loved the second installment of the series, which has much more suspense than the first one. I was in nail biting mode from the first chapter. The romance, another slow burn, was cute.

Both the heroine and hero were pretty badass. Rory is a socially awkward woman who knows her way around a gun. As a gun shop owner with a backroom full of illegal guns, she sells to both citizens and criminals alike. Ian walks in two worlds as a motorcycle gang member by birth and a firefighter by choice. He's also the main suspect in the continuing murder plot.

From the prologue, I believed that Ian would have a POV. He doesn't. You only get Rory's view so I initially felt cheated. I soon got over my annoyance because Rory's life is crazy interesting. Plus unlike the previous book's hero, Ian's emotions are open and he's direct about his past and his feelings.

Ian and Rory have always crushed on each other but both thought the other was unattainable. I did find it unbelievable that the guy nicknamed "Beauty" for his perfect looks wouldn't make a move on Rory after knowing her for a decade and being her only friend for 3 years. Even when they discover their mutual attraction, Ian must coax Rory into a relationship and it took 65% of the book for them to have a real kiss. Rory has zero experience with men so they have to build slowly from there.

Verdict

This was an exciting read filled with action, suspense, fire rescues, family drama, fun secondary characters, and a badass couple. 

Review: Hold Your Breath (Search and Rescue #1)

Title: Hold Your Breath

Author: Katie Ruggle

Pub Date: April 5, 2016

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Rating: 3.5 Stars

This was the first non-paranormal romance book I read in a long time. Surprisingly, it engaged me right away and made me remember how enjoyable I find all types of romances.

I would categorize this romance as a slow burn. Lou and Callum work together, and he's her boss, so it took a push to cross that boundary. They end up living together (for safety reasons) before ever defining their relationship. They hadn't really kissed or crossed into romantic territory. But because of the stalker issue, they spend a lot of time together and we watch their feelings grow. Their interactions were really sweet. There was no sexy time until the last 15%. 

Callum was an intriguing hero, and I was dying to know his inner thoughts. But we don't get his point of view. Only the heroine and her stalker get one. So I was disappointed. I had trouble connecting with him because he is very reserved. With his expression mostly unreadable, we only know him through his actions. He's very protective of Lou, giving of his time, money, and things. And we know she's the only one who makes him smile. But we don't why he falls for her or when his interest started. I loved his jealousy though.

As a romantic suspense, the book was light on the suspense. The action happens in the last 10%. There was only one exciting event in the middle. Otherwise, the characters were just going about their day to day lives while excitedly trying out some amateur investigating. I was not exactly holding my breath in suspense.

Which leads to my warning, we don't find out the identity of the murderer. The book ended at 74% on a cliffhanger and a preview for the series' next book. The murder investigation was probably the least interesting part of this book so it's a strike against the next one if that's what it is about. But I'll give it a chance.

Verdict

This is an entertaining read for anyone wanting to read a slow to burn romance with a strong and silent hero.