Reader friends, I don't know if you're ready for Ignited. SE Rose and Sierra Hill have created this beautiful book that is filled with love, loss, heartache, and trauma.
Ignited takes you on Nick's journey from what happened overseas, to leaving the military and coming home, to his struggle with PTSD. Now this book isn't only about Nick. He does have a love interest. Becca is a pediatric nurse who has a huge heart. She is full of love, compassion, and understanding. Becca also has the ability to see Nick for who he is. She sees the pain, the heartache, the trauma, and longs to walk him through that battlefield. These two start off as friends, but eventually their story takes a turn, and these friends become lovers. But of course a love story is never that simple. Our characters can not simply have their happily ever after without a bit of hardship thrown in. It is in that moment that my heart really went out to Nick. Oh who am I kidding, throughout the book his story tugged at my heartstrings.
My heart and head aren't really here with me --I left them overseas. It's been hell, and I have a long road ahead of me.
Maybe it was everything Nick had been through. Maybe it was the trauma he was still dealing with. Maybe it was just him in general. Nick drew me in, and had my attention throughout the book. It's as though I was waiting for the moment when it was all going to go up in flames (so to speak). Nick's PTSD was going to get to that point, unless he reached out for help. Quite frankly I wanted to see how he was going to deal with it all. What steps was he going to take to work towards healing, and what coping skills he was going to find to work through future events.
Half the time, I feel like a bomb ready to detonate, but the second I'm in Becca's presence, I'm better.
"Stop making fun of me. You're not being very nice. And you just ruined the whole Captain America vibe you had going on."
That little line showed had me smiling, and it showed another side to Becca. In addition to all that was happening with Nick, she also had her career. We saw her go through the emotional aspects of her job, and the highs and lows she experienced each and every day. Then we also witnessed her jumping in when needed later on. Becca isn't a woman who will sit on the sidelines and let others perform a task she is capable of. She is an amazing woman who loves hard.
Nick, I know whatever you went through must have been really hard. I'm sure I can't imagine it. But I wanted to bring you here, to see this, because even when you're in a really dark head space, there is still beauty you can see in the world, if you are just willing to look around you.
The scene that hit me hardest though was when Nick and Bianca spoke on the phone. That caused tears to fall. The emotions were strong in that scene, and I felt them all.
"Remember how you and Juan wanted to take that hike and watch the sunrise? You were going to have a guys' trip, remember?"
"Yes, I remember. Sunrise Cliffs; its name is Sunrise Cliffs."
"Go do it."
After that scene, when Nick was talking to Tyler and Liam about everything, the emotions were still strong. Here was Nick talking to his siblings, and they made it known they were by his side. They would take this journey with him. It wasn't just them though, it was Callie and Becca speaking up too. With everything Nick had been through, he had found a support system here at home. He found his team that would walk beside him, and support him however they could. Yes, Liam and Tyler are his brothers, but that doesn't diminish the bond that they have. And in that moment, that bond was extremely strong.
Nick, no matter what happened to you. Let yourself be happy; let yourself be loved.
Absolutely loved this book, and I look forward to reading more in this series. These characters, that SE Rose and Sierra Hill have created, have won a spot in my heart, and I'm not ready to let them go. Now that being said, I need to go back and read Burned. I need to see how Ty and Callie's relationship started, and the hurdles they faced in their path toward forever.
Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on Ignited. Hopefully I haven't spoiled anything for you. I think I've been fairly vague about the happenings of the story. If you are someone who enjoys reading firefighter romances, or stories of past military members, then I hope you'll give Ignited a read. This small town, friends to lovers romance will grab your heart. Or at least that was the case for me.
Laura
My world was dark and cold...until she ignited a spark.
When I left to serve in the military, I had a plan for my life. I saw a future with a wife and kids and all the things my parents have together. But that was before I saw the horrors of combat.
Now I’m back in my small-town working alongside my brother as a firefighter. I’m slowly learning to live again with one very big complication. It comes in the form of a small, feisty, attractive woman who just happens to be the best friend of my brother’s girlfriend. And as fate would have it, she’s also my new neighbor.
Becca Carmichael drives me crazy with her absolute perfection. She’s all I ever wanted before I left to serve. And now, she’s everything I can’t allow myself to have.I’ve tried to keep my distance, because I know I’m not what she needs.
But a spark ignited between us the moment we met and it turned into a burning desire that is getting harder to douse each day.
She needs to stay away from me, but I’m not sure I can stay away from her.
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| Cover Design: Y'all That Graphic |
When I left to serve in the military, I had a plan for my life. I saw a future with a wife and kids and all the things my parents have together. But that was before I saw the horrors of combat.
Now I’m back in my small-town working alongside my brother as a firefighter. I’m slowly learning to live again with one very big complication. It comes in the form of a small, feisty, attractive woman who just happens to be the best friend of my brother’s girlfriend. And as fate would have it, she’s also my new neighbor.
Becca Carmichael drives me crazy with her absolute perfection. She’s all I ever wanted before I left to serve. And now, she’s everything I can’t allow myself to have.I’ve tried to keep my distance, because I know I’m not what she needs.
But a spark ignited between us the moment we met and it turned into a burning desire that is getting harder to douse each day.
She needs to stay away from me, but I’m not sure I can stay away from her.
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About the Authors
USA Today & International Bestselling romance author, S.E. Rose lives near Washington D.C. with her family. When she's not wrangling her cats or keeping up with her kids, she's plotting her next story. She loves all things wine, coffee, and cats. In her non-existent free time, she enjoys traveling, going to concerts, binging on her favorite shows, and reading, especially if it's a good mystery or comedy.
Connect with S.E. Rose
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SIERRA HILL wrote and published her first contemporary new adult romance in 2014 and has since published over thirty novels. She is a 2020 RONE Award-Winning author of Game Changer, as well as award-winning college sports series, Courting Love, and the twice award-finalist erotic ménage serial, Reckless – The Smoky Mountain Trio.
Sierra lives in the Seattle area with her husband of twenty-five years and their rescued German Shepherd. When not writing, she enjoys baking, reading, and traveling to see her favorite alternative rock band, Pearl Jam.
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Thank you to Sierra Hill, SE Rose, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with a review copy of Ignited.
