Wildfire and Roses by Hope Malory
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (229 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by MistflowerSparks fly when tenacious mountain climber and hiker Beasley McLemore meets hot smokejumper Will Gregor on a search and rescue mission in Yosemite. Getting together, however, isn’t easy. Strong-willed Beasley is bent on building a thriving landscaping business back home in the foothills of the majestic Smoky Mountains. Busy working 24/7, she has no time or energy for a man in her life…she thinks.
Scorched by love in his past, Will is content to live near awe-inspiring Lake Tahoe where he saves lives and forests as a remote wildland firefighter. He doesn’t need a committed relationship complicating his dangerous lifestyle…he thinks.
The company from initial idea to earning “Innovator of the Year.” Elaine is a published author, award winning cialis generika professional speaker, coach, mentor, and trainer. Water retention is another https://unica-web.com/archive/1999/agenda99.html generic cialis overnight common side effect reported by users. Today, shilajit anti sildenafil india online aging pills for men is erectile dysfunction. There are many factors that can disturb blood pressure, yet exact cause for hypertension is not known. cialis on line Through life-changing events and a family mystery, each must question long held beliefs about work, love, and life. Looming over their blossoming love affair is the 2,400 miles separating their homes and livelihoods. Will love keep them together or distance tear them apart?
When I read “Sparks fly when tenacious mountain climber and hiker Beasley McLemore meets hot smoke jumper Will Gregor on a search and rescue mission in Yosemite.” in the blurb, I couldn’t wait to read this story. That snippet sounded like a nice juicy medium rare steak to me. Top that off with “Through life-changing events and a family mystery,” I thought I was in for a delicious book glow.
I had to adjust my expectations a bit. Even though the story wasn’t as strong as I hoped, I was still satisfied with the scenic descriptive writing style, the well-developed side characters and pace of the book. Those are important characteristics for me and if a book is good, they’re in there. That’s a strong plus for Wildfire and Roses.
Instead of a book glow, the novel left me feeling like I do when I go to my favorite restaurant, order my favorite steak and it arrives not cooked as expected. Instead of complaining and returning it I still eat it because, hey, steak. So, while it still tasted good, it wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for. That’s pretty much sums up how I felt about this book.
The author switched things up with her character’s personalities. I found the hero, Will Gregor, to be relatable but his character was suppressed to an unrealistic humbleness, mixed with a slightly elevated estrogen level. It wasn’t exactly a match for his job description. As for Beasley McLemore, the heroine, she had a bit too much testosterone going on with her skill set. I love a strong leading lady but there needs to be a delicate balance between the two characters to convince me of their chemistry.
If I were to compare the book to a recipe, a baker needs the right amount of flavoring and spices to make it work. And, I know reviews and taste buds are all subjective. While I still connected with Will and Beasley, I struggled with the on again off again dynamic between them.
Overall I enjoyed the plot thread and found Wildfire and Roses to be an entertaining read. I loved the moral message of prioritizing work, love and life. I think that was a realistic struggle that many of us deal with on a daily basis. I loved the flare of drama and thought the ending was complete. Will and Beasley left me with a satisfied ending. There’s enough solid writing in this book to make it worth a recommend.
Speak Your Mind