Jennifer Bernard

Prelim Review: Contemporary romance and myself are in a weird relationship. I read them more now then I did before, but its still not a genre I can confidently say I enjoy wholeheartedly.

That said SEX AND THE SINGLE FIREMAN is an entertaining and satisfying read. I haven't read the previous books in the "Bachelor Fireman" series ([b:The Fireman Who Loved Me|12832043|The Fireman Who Loved Me (The Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel, #1)|Jennifer Bernard|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1329491127s/12832043.jpg|17982241] and [b:Hot for Fireman|12832079|Hot for Fireman (The Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel, #2)|Jennifer Bernard|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1331943161s/12832079.jpg|17982281]), but surprisingly this didn't impact my enjoyment of the book at all. I found that the backstory for Sabina and Roman, individually and together, was enough to keep me interested in the story.

As for the heat...well...I can't make myself write a pun. I just can't. But you get the idea.

This was also a bit of a crossover appeal novel. Not just firemen, but also a lot is delved into with Sabina's life as a child TV star and the lasting impact that has. In a world where child stars are routinely paraded on tabloid and magazine covers, or in blog reports and Hollywood Scandal shows as having difficulties adjusting to their adult years, I found it refreshing that Sabina took that step and walked away before it came to that. Roman for his part had a lot to deal with because of the death of his wife (also a firefighter), raising his son alone and being Sabina's boss, but I was more invested in his present circumstances (struggling to find the same passion he once had for being a firefighter) and where that ultimately led him.

The tension is palatable throughout the novel, but it never feels...strained I suppose is a good word. The two of them don't get together until fairly late in the book (last third), but that connection is still there. It was almost sweet really, how they both obviously wanted to encourage the other, but was thwarted by overly ambitious mothers, coworkers who didn't know when to quit and regulations that could strangle them.

I was not a fan of the resolution between Sabina and her mother Annabelle. While the truth wasn't particularly surprising, given the circumstances, what was surprising was that it took them this long to get to the bottom of things. So it turns out Max, Sabina's old agent, is a creep and a thief. Okay. So you're telling me that they were both so mad at each other they didn't even so much as look into how they were doing? They're mother and daughter! They couldn't possibly be so bullheaded as to not care if the other was alive or not.

Otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was a (really) quick read and was perfect to jumpstart my want for romance once more.… (mer)

Terrific book full of humor, love, family, and friendship. In the previous book, All of Me, Donna and Mike met when Mike stepped up to protect her during a bar fight. What followed was several months of back-and-forth flirting that culminated in a scorching kiss in a library closet, guaranteeing that neither forgot the other during the off-season. But when Mike returns to Kilby in the spring, the fun and feisty Donna has changed so much that Mike barely recognizes her.

Donna has a reputation as a fun-loving party girl until her ex and his fiancée decide they want full custody of Donna's son, Zack. His paternal grandparents have raised four-year-old Zack for heartbreaking reasons. Donna has visitation, adores her little Zack-ster, and wants to get him back. However, Harvey and Bonita have wealth and power on their side. When her lawyer tells Donna she must clean up her act, she takes it to heart and reinvents herself with a new job, clothes, and attitude.

But the sparks of attraction between Mike and Donna can't be denied and flare up whenever they are near each other. Mike has a unique method of self-control during baseball season, but being around Donna puts a strain on it. When his actions jeopardize Donna's custody quest, he devises the perfect fix - ask Donna to marry him.

Mike is a good man. He's a great example to his fellow ballplayers and protective of those he cares about. I love his relationship with his brother Joey and the impact that relationship has on his life. However, he avoids anything related to love, having been burned several years earlier. I ached for him because of the story behind that relationship.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Mike and Donna develop. The flirting and banter between them are fun, and it's easy to see how right they are for each other. I loved how they trusted each other, sharing things no one else knew about them. As they grow closer, Mike refuses to see that what he feels for Donna is love, not just protectiveness. When the custody battle gets vicious, and Mike realizes he may be doing more harm than good, he sets her free, even though he doesn't want to let her go.

Many times, Mike, Donna, or both get involved in situations that complicate their lives. Many of these situations are laugh-out-loud funny, while a few are deeply emotional. I loved the fight on the baseball field and Donna's method of ending it. I adored Mike's big moment when he went to bat for Donna in the custody battle.

The changes Mike and Donna experienced throughout the book show how they learned about who they were and what was important to them. I especially liked how Mike helped Donna see what a warm, wonderful, and outstanding mother she was.

Secondary characters in the book played essential parts in the story. I loved getting to know other Catfish players like Trevor, Dwight, and Jim. Their support of Mike after his return from Chicago was heartwarming. I also like the team owner, Crush, and his love for his team. Donna's ex, Harvey, is a wimp throughout the book. His fiancée, Bonita, is a nasty piece of work who needs to be taken down a peg or two. The power family in town, the Wades, have far too much influence, and it's always fun to see someone go up against them and win. I loved Mike's brother Joey and his belief in Mike. His story was inspiring and heartbreaking and had a profound effect on Mike.… (mer)

Four Weddings and a Fireman is a cute romance novel that packs a punch!

I love weddings. I love firemen. This book seemed like a natural fit when I found it at a clearance book center. Unfortunately, this book was not made for me. It's still a very good book - it's full of romance, angst, drama and hilarity - it's just not my cup of tea.

Cherie and Vader are a pretty unique couple. She doesn't want to commit (he proposed twice) yet he's totally obsessed with her. Every few pages we hear how hot Vader is (well, his body. Maybe not him) and we see Cherie discuss how she doesn't want to be with him but does want to be with him. It's like a game of romantic cat and mouse, but it takes almost 400 pages to get somewhere with it.

I had not read the previous books, so I didn't get to see the build up of any of the relationships. That's my bad, I picked up the 5th book at the store and they didn't have the previous four. I think this book would have gone over a pinch better with me if I had been able to see everything that had happened previously. How did these two fall in love? It seemed simply they were already 75% of the way into the relationship and I was missing a lot.

Cherie has a tough and interesting back story that I found super hard to follow. That's part of the reason why I wish I read the previous books. Had this been discussed earlier? How is her life so wild? It seems like she was in a cult, and her 12 siblings all have really weird names. It was just so strange to learn about this like halfway through the novel. I felt blind-sided and super confused. It did make a lot of sense on why she is the way she is, but it just seemed so over the top for me, personally.

Honestly, this book felt like a giant mixed bag of drama and emotions. This felt like a Hallmark movie on steroids that was born from a Soap Opera and a Hollywood Gossip Magazine. I was at a point where I wanted to DNF this book because I knew I wasn't going to enjoy it (that was about halfway through), but I wanted to finish this book. I do think it's a great dramatic read for people who wants lots and lots of drama.

My biggest pro of this book is the cover. My goodness, that's what drew me in. The synopsis was great, the title was cool but the cover is just absolutely stunning.

Overall, this will be a hit for some people! It's dramatic, has lots of crazy, insane plot lines and has a good amount of romance. It's just not for me!

One out of five stars.… (mer)