BEA'S BOOK NOOK "I can't imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once." C. S. Lewis “If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” ― Oscar Wilde

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Blog Tour Review & 2 Giveaways: Sparking the Fire by Kate Meader

Series: Hot in Chicago #3
Publisher: Pocket Books
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: September 27th, 2016
Challenges: Finishing the Series Reading Challenge
Buying Links: Amazon* | BAM | Google Play | Book Depository* | ARe* | iTunes | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from the publisher:

About Sparking the Fire, Book 3:
Heating up reading lists this Fall will be Kate Meader’s highly anticipated Sparking the Fire, the “sexy and sassy” (#1 New York Times bestselling author Jude Deveraux) steamy third novel in the Hot in Chicago series, where former lovers unexpectedly reunite for a sizzling affair that will have the director yelling, “Quiet on the set!”

AN OLD FLAME STILL SIMMERS…
Wyatt Fox, resident daredevil at Engine Company 6, needs a low key job to keep him busy while he recovers from his latest rescue stunt. Consulting on a local movie shoot should add just enough spark to his day. But then in struts Molly Cade: the woman who worked his heart over good, and then left him in the Windy City dust.

BUT WILL A NEW SHOT AT LOVE LEAVE HER BURNED?
Actor Molly Cade, America’s fallen sweetheart, finally has her shot at a Hollywood comeback with a dramatic new role as a tough-as-nails firefighter that promises to propel her back into the big time. And she’s not going to let anything stand in her way—even a certain brooding, blue-eyed firefighter she’s never quite been able to forget…Their story is straight out of a script: irrepressible, spunky heroine meets taciturn, smoldering hero. But these two refuse to be typecast, and when the embers of an old love are stoked, someone is bound to get burned…

My Thoughts:

I've been waiting for Wyatt's book, wanting to know more about him, get to know him better. Wyatt's the quiet one, the responsible one, reserved and unemotional. Or is he? Not surprisingly, there's more to Wyatt than what we've seen so far.

We see a very different side of Wyatt right from the beginning and man, is he smoking! Lots of emotion, lots of passion, and so much heat it's a wonder the book didn't burst into flames. I liked that peek and wanted to know more. Wyatt has been hurt in the past and felt unloved, still feels that way despite his family's love and attention, so he holds a piece of himself back, stays on the sidelines.

Molly has also been hurt and she's still recovering. Her life was turned upside down and now she's trying to rebuild it. That brings her in contact with the Dempseys, particularly with Wyatt. The chemistry was strong between and just about jumped off the page. They can't keep their hands off of each other, which presents some problems. She's trying to keep a low-profile and a squeaky clean image and so is Wyatt, though for very different reasons.

I didn't completely buy into the part of the story line where Wyatt had to keep a low profile and avoid drama, though that latter is no hardship for him. But the reason for it felt forced, a conflict manufactured for the sake of the story instead of arising organically. The rest of the story though, that worked for me. Molly and Wyatt were wonderful together and I loved that Wyatt respected Molly and didn't patronize her or assume she needed rescuing and yet he was so protective of her and took care of her.

The rest of the Dempsey family was out in full force and it was good to see them all again. They were raucous, bawdy, and joyful. After the romance, the best of the story was the family interactions. Meader gave us the range of family life - not just the love and the support and commitment but the disappointment and anger and slights that happen too. The highs and lows were all there and the quiet times in between. Meader caught the messiness that is family and drew me in. I'm still not a fan of Eli but I like this family and their devotion to each other. They're not perfect but they're good and they're honest.

With a sizzling romance, some family drama, lots of humor, and even some Shakespeare, "Sparking the Fire" delivered a story that will sweep you away.




Praise for Sparking the Fire, Book 3:

“The tale of hot firefighters and the women—and one man—who love them has come to an end. Meader ends this series with role playing, fierce family loyalty and multiple orgasms. The male protagonist goes through a transformation that showcases his vulnerability, insecurities, possessiveness and protectiveness. The many instances of a family sticking together through it all are more than enough to tug on the heart strings, but the steamy sex and sentimental pillow talk make this book a must-read.”

—RT Book Reviews Four Star Review, Scorcher

“Can a firefighter and a movie star really make it work? Meader (Rekindle the Flame, 2015) immerses you in Wyatt’s tight-knit family of foster siblings that she’s built throughout the Hot in Chicago series, and readers will feel like part of the family in no time. Her descriptions of Chicago will leave fans wanting to travel to the Windy City and fall in love with their own firefighters.” —Booklist



About the Author: 

Kate Meader was raised on romance. An Irish girl, she started with Catherine Cookson and Jilly Cooper novels, and spiced it up with some Mills & Boon. Now based in Chicago, she writes romances of her own, where sexy contemporary alpha heroes and strong heroines match each other quip for quip. When not immersed in tales of brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron or a fire hose, Kate lives on the web at katemeader.com.


The publisher is doing a Fire Giveaway to celebrate the third in Kate Meader’s Hot in Chicago series, Sparking the Fire. The winner will be sent one copy each of Flirting with Fire (book 1) and Playing with Fire (book 2).

Rules: You can visit all sites on the blog tour (see list after the rafflecopters) to enter the Fire Giveaways – but keep in mind you can only win once! U.S. only. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Please read the privacy policy and giveaway policy.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HOT TIP: Kate is also offering a $25 Amazon gift card during the Sparking the Fire release tour. It will run Monday September 26 to Friday October 7. Enter here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

September 14:

RT Book Reviews - Excerpt



September 20:




September 23:




September 26:

Harlequin Junkie - Interview

Under the Covers - Interview





September 27:








September 28:







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October 3:















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October 6:











The Librarian – Blog Talk Radio Author’s on the Air - Interview Only - Listen Live at 7:30 pm ET!




October 7:












7 comments:

  1. I've been hearing good buzz about Meader's books and other than the somewhat contrived issue this one sounds great. Plus I love a romance with lots of family interaction!
    PS - saw your tweet about your furbaby and my thoughts are with you. Hope everything is okay.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Katherine, he's hanging in.

      I like Meader's books, she writes steamy romances and great relationships.

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  2. A good friend of mine once told me a great cover and good review gives the reader a heads on.

    ReplyDelete
  3. My dad was a fireman, so I know how hot it gets and all that equipment is heavy. Firemen have to be in great shape to climb ladders, rescue people and work those long shifts at the fire station. I want to see how the spunky lady gets her smoldering man. I bet the sparks fly and sizzle.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We get to see some of that when the heroine does a brief training. The romantic sparks definitely fly and sizzle. :)

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