Review: Feeding the Fire by Andrea Laurence

feeding fireTitle: Feeding the Fire by Andrea Laurence
Rosewood Series Book Two
Publisher: Pocket Star
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 251 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Pepper has no interest in Grant Chamberlain…until she accidentally wins him at a school auction and finds the mega-hot firefighter impossible to ignore. Find out what happens next in the second playful and sexy ebook romance in the Rosewood series!

Living in the small town of Rosewood, Alabama, hairdresser Pepper Anthony has one rule—never date a Chamberlain. She’s always said, “the only thing worse than being ignored by a Chamberlain is being dumped by one.” But Grant Chamberlain, town fireman, isn’t used to rejection, and Pepper has consistently turned him down since high school. She isn’t intimidated by his family; she’s one of the few who refuses to take their crap.

When Grant volunteers at the charity bachelor auction, to his surprise, Pepper buys him. She hadn’t meant to, but Adelia Chamberlain dropped a cold drink in her lap, sending her leaping into the air at precisely the wrong moment. Suddenly she had a massive bill to the town and Grant at her disposal. Since the money has to come from her “restore the house” fund, she decides to use Grant for manual labor instead of romantic dinners. Grant is happy to help, sweaty and shirtless, because one way or another, he’s going to get Pepper to admit she’s attracted to him. All it takes is a small spark, and soon they’ll be fanning the flames.

Review:

Feeding the Fire is a very charming enemies to lovers romance by Andrea Laurence. This second installment in the delightful Rosewood series featuring the Chamberlain clan is a very entertaining read that is sure to be a hit with old and new fans.

Grant Chamberlain has been in hot pursuit of Pepper Anthony since high school, but with one notable exception, Pepper has deftly avoided getting caught by the sexy fireman. The two indulged in a fiery one night stand, but Pepper vowed to never repeat that mistake no matter how tempting he is. But when Pepper inadvertently wins Grant at a bachelor auction and he learns her accidental bid cost her the money she saved up for the renovations on her fixer upper, he offers to help her with the work. Although Pepper would really rather not spend a week with Grant, she has no choice but to accept his help. Once Grant quits trying to charm her pants off, Pepper finds herself seduced by his sincerity and despite a few lingering doubts, the two agree to openly date. But secrets from the past intrude on their fragile relationship and Grant’s need for honesty forces him to issue an ultimatum that could destroy their chance at happiness.

Pepper and Grant are from completely different backgrounds, but surprisingly, this is not keeps them from becoming involved with each other. Pepper has long refused to date Grant because of her family’s long standing enmity for the entire Chamberlain clan. She has no idea what is behind her mother’s vehement dislike of his family, but she and her brother, Logan, take her warnings to stay away from them to heart. Another reason Pepper refuses to date Grant is his carefree approach to dating. An inadvertent discovery in his childhood left a strong impression on him and his fears from that incident make it impossible for him to commit to a relationship. He has never confided in anyone about what he learned so he has quite the reputation as a ladies’ man around town. Their one night convinced him his attraction to Pepper is very different from what he has felt for other women, but Pepper’s avoidance of him makes it impossible for him to figure out exactly what he wants from her.

The relationship between Pepper and Grant builds slowly and it is quite enjoyable watching their efforts to move past the issues that have kept them from dating. Pepper uses humor to deflect his attempts to seduce her but there is never any doubt that their attraction is mutual. Grant takes her refusals gracefully but he never resists the opportunity to try to woo her back into his bed. His tenacity is admirable and he spends quite a bit trying to understand why he is so drawn to Pepper.  Grant also takes some well-meaning advice to heart and he does not squander the opportunity to show Pepper that he is genuinely interested in her.

There are also a few secondary story arcs in addition to the romance between Pepper and Grant. That pivotal moment from his childhood continues to have a big impact on Grant and he is a stickler for honesty and although he kept quiet about what he uncovered, he abhors secrets. This becomes a huge stumbling block for him and Pepper after a shocking revelation from her mother makes Pepper the keeper of information that she is unable to share with anyone. A surprising resolution from a peeping tom storyline highlights how damaging even innocent secrets can be and this becomes the catalyst for Pepper’s family to disclose closely guarded information to one another. But the implications from these long held secrets extend beyond their family and this eventually causes serious problems for Pepper and Logan.

Feeding the Fire is an excellent addition to the Rosewood series. The characters are very endearing, the storyline is engaging and the romance is sweet yet sexy. Andrea Laurence again perfectly captures all the subtle nuances of small town life which makes it a fun place to visit. Definitely looking forward to next installment in this terrific series.

My reviews of the other novels in the series can be found HERE.

2 Comments

Filed under Andrea Laurence, Contemporary, Pocket Star, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Rosewood Series

2 Responses to Review: Feeding the Fire by Andrea Laurence

  1. Timitra

    Thanks for the review Kathy

  2. Cindy DeGraaff

    Thanks for the review!