Hot Response

March 19, 2018
The enjoyable latest installment of Stacey’s contemporary Boston Fire series (after Fully Ignited) combines blazing passion and a certain sweetness. Hunky firefighter Gavin Boudreau can’t figure out why EMT Cait Tasker seems to dislike him; he admires her feisty attitude and unshakable competence. Cait’s just as interested in Gavin, but she thinks he sees her as undateable because he refers to her as “ma’am.” Once they connect—while preparing to deliver a baby in an apartment hallway—their explosive chemistry forces them both to put aside their limiting beliefs about each other and give in to delicious lust. Things progress well until Gavin invites Cait to move in with him; Cait’s twice-widowed mother and her teenage half-brother seem to be unable to function without her living with them. Stacey soon has her appealing hero and heroine stewing in their own private pain and searching for the path to happiness. This is a sweet treat that will keep series fans very happy. Agent: Kimberly Whalen, Whalen Agency.

Narrator Tatiana Sokolov plays up the heartfelt romance between Boston firefighter Gavin Boudreau and EMT Cait Tasker. Annoyance quickly becomes attraction for Cait after she and Gavin are trapped in a burning house with an unconscious child. Sokolov has a charming mid-range voice with magical lighter edges--it's a pleasure to listen to her say just about anything. Her enchanting tones accentuate the heady rush of falling in love. Sokolov handles Cait's difficult homelife with equal sensitivity. As Cait and Gavin navigate their relationship, Sokolove gives listeners reasons to side with both of them. Her delivery of the difficult Boston accent, while giving a regional flavor, is less successful. Her pronunciation of "r"s and vowels is not consistent, proving a slight distraction from an otherwise memorable audiobook. C.A. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine