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Brotherhood by Fire #1
Hot to the Touch
Firefighter Jackson Donovan doesn't look back--as a rule. So when his past comes roaring back to life in the form of not-so-damsel-in-distress Becks Benning, the last thing he wants to do is relive old times. No matter how tempting she makes it seem . . . Now thanks to his two interfering brothers, Becks is living with them while she looks for a new place and tries to pick up the pieces of her tattoo business that went up in flames. Which means a grown up, smokin' hot Becks is in his house, sharing meals, and digging up old wounds. And despite his better judgement, the more time he spends with this smart, artistic, incredible woman the more he wants her in his bed--and his future. Becks always had it bad for Jackson. Unfortunately for her, not much has changed--he's still honorable, hard-working, sexy as sin--and closed off. But there's more than one way to get to a man's heart and if Jackson doesn't want to recall old memories, she'll just have to help him make new ones. Because now that she's found Jackson again, she's not letting him go. Contains mature themes.
336 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2019
About the author
Jaci Burton
145 books8,184 followersJaci Burton is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of over 85 books. She lives in Oklahoma and when she isn’t on deadline (which is often), she can usually be found wrestling with her uncooperative garden, wrangling her dogs, watching an unhealthy amount of television, or completely losing track of time reading a great book. She’s a total romantic and longs for the happily ever after in every story, which you’ll find in all her books.. Visit her website at www.jaciburton.com for excerpts, book information and contests.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews
December 31, 2023
Compelling backstories and hot firefighter romance. Bex and Jackson knew each other from when they were kids in the foster care system/living on the streets. They were separated the night Jackson and his brothers were rescued from a fire and adopted. Now, years later, Bex is barely getting by, her tattoo shop catches fire, and it’s Jackson’s turn to rescue her, then his brother’s turn to offer her a place to crash with them until she can get back on her feet. The characters are what make this one. Really easy to relate to with backstories that work.
May 2, 2019
This story was so sweet! It's been a long while since I've read anything from Jaci Burton, but this first book in a whole new series was a great re-introduction. Hot to the Touch was most definitely Jackson and Becks' story, but I loved how much time was spent on the family. I got to know a bit about everyone, encouraging me to want to learn even more about them. These characters knew their fair share of pain and neglect. Growing up on the streets, they were the lucky ones who found a new lease on life. Jackson and his brothers almost died in a fire and were rescued by a firefighter in more ways than one. Not only did he save their lives that night, he and his wife ended up adopting all three of them. They weren't brothers by blood, but brothers all the same. I loved their bond and how nothing could ever cut their connection. This family was 100% solid.
This book was super easy, sexy and cute. It had very little drama, unless you count Jackson's determination NOT to confront his past and how defensive he got when he was cornered. Low on angst, this couple was all about each other and those that they cared about. I'm in love with Becks and her attitude toward life. She gives back, appreciating how lucky she was. She pays it forward, grateful for every break she's ever had. And she's compassionate, the perfect foil to Jackson's self-recrimination. Depending on how you look at it, their relationship developed extremely fast or extremely slow. What was supposed to be casual was anything but, and I loved how Becks challenged Jackson for more. This is a read for anyone who likes their romance hot and light.
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This book was super easy, sexy and cute. It had very little drama, unless you count Jackson's determination NOT to confront his past and how defensive he got when he was cornered. Low on angst, this couple was all about each other and those that they cared about. I'm in love with Becks and her attitude toward life. She gives back, appreciating how lucky she was. She pays it forward, grateful for every break she's ever had. And she's compassionate, the perfect foil to Jackson's self-recrimination. Depending on how you look at it, their relationship developed extremely fast or extremely slow. What was supposed to be casual was anything but, and I loved how Becks challenged Jackson for more. This is a read for anyone who likes their romance hot and light.
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March 19, 2019
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The first in a new series following three firefighting brothers, Hot to the Touch was a steamy fast paced read. After his parents were killed in a car accident, Jackson was sent into the system, only to become a teenager living on the streets. He finds himself a sort of leader trying to take care of kids younger than him but really bonds with two other boys, Rafe and Kal. When a firefighter ends up rescuing them one night, they finally find themselves adopted and in a happy home but Jackson still bears the scars of those early years.
Rebecca “Becks” had a crush on Jackson when they were homeless kids and missed him when he and his “brothers” disappeared. When fate brings them back together, she finds herself attracted to the man. With some matchmaking brothers, healing old wounds, and sexual tension, two former homeless kids may just get their happily ever after.
I enjoyed the set-up of Jackson and his brothers being rescued by a firefighter only to be adopted by him and grow up to work along side him. In order to create some tension between Jackson and Becks, the author had him being unnecessarily rude and short to her. His poking at her for cleaning and cooking while she stayed at their home (she loses hers after a fire) was forced and had him coming off more of a jerk than grumpy teddy bear. His supposed reluctance to love anyone (he seems to have no problem loving his brothers and parents) was dragged through the whole story and only overcame/worked through at the very, very end (90ish%). I'm not even sure I understand the big deal about him not wanting to discuss and/or wallow about his past as a homeless kid.
Becks was a positive character with her raising herself up to become a business owner. However, I felt like her character was never really delved into. She ended up being adopted by a good family but there's no foundation felt from that and her journey from doodling artist to tattoo business owner delivers no emotional impact. She still visits her old stomping grounds and brings essentials to homeless kids but they are such short scenes that they never fully make an impact.
The romance between the two definitely had their steamy moments but since the emotional components weren't fully there for me, I had a hard time connecting. I got from both of them that they found the other sexually attractive and some emotional carryover from Becks' childhood crush but I was never able to feel their connection. Jackson's “don't ever want to talk about the past” dominated the story and it kind of felt like we were spinning our wheels for the majority.
The writing style had a lot of short sentences, which I think hurt the flow for me. The characters also felt very surface, their issues are stated but never expanded on, delved into, or flushed out, making this feel a little dry. There was also an inclusion of a secondary character that is probably being set-up to be a heroine in a future book and her actions felt over-the-top and forced to try and create some friction. The outline and character issues were there but the depth behind them wasn't, this was a fast read but not particularly engaging.
The first in a new series following three firefighting brothers, Hot to the Touch was a steamy fast paced read. After his parents were killed in a car accident, Jackson was sent into the system, only to become a teenager living on the streets. He finds himself a sort of leader trying to take care of kids younger than him but really bonds with two other boys, Rafe and Kal. When a firefighter ends up rescuing them one night, they finally find themselves adopted and in a happy home but Jackson still bears the scars of those early years.
Rebecca “Becks” had a crush on Jackson when they were homeless kids and missed him when he and his “brothers” disappeared. When fate brings them back together, she finds herself attracted to the man. With some matchmaking brothers, healing old wounds, and sexual tension, two former homeless kids may just get their happily ever after.
I enjoyed the set-up of Jackson and his brothers being rescued by a firefighter only to be adopted by him and grow up to work along side him. In order to create some tension between Jackson and Becks, the author had him being unnecessarily rude and short to her. His poking at her for cleaning and cooking while she stayed at their home (she loses hers after a fire) was forced and had him coming off more of a jerk than grumpy teddy bear. His supposed reluctance to love anyone (he seems to have no problem loving his brothers and parents) was dragged through the whole story and only overcame/worked through at the very, very end (90ish%). I'm not even sure I understand the big deal about him not wanting to discuss and/or wallow about his past as a homeless kid.
Becks was a positive character with her raising herself up to become a business owner. However, I felt like her character was never really delved into. She ended up being adopted by a good family but there's no foundation felt from that and her journey from doodling artist to tattoo business owner delivers no emotional impact. She still visits her old stomping grounds and brings essentials to homeless kids but they are such short scenes that they never fully make an impact.
The romance between the two definitely had their steamy moments but since the emotional components weren't fully there for me, I had a hard time connecting. I got from both of them that they found the other sexually attractive and some emotional carryover from Becks' childhood crush but I was never able to feel their connection. Jackson's “don't ever want to talk about the past” dominated the story and it kind of felt like we were spinning our wheels for the majority.
The writing style had a lot of short sentences, which I think hurt the flow for me. The characters also felt very surface, their issues are stated but never expanded on, delved into, or flushed out, making this feel a little dry. There was also an inclusion of a secondary character that is probably being set-up to be a heroine in a future book and her actions felt over-the-top and forced to try and create some friction. The outline and character issues were there but the depth behind them wasn't, this was a fast read but not particularly engaging.
March 5, 2020
Lieutenant Jackson Donovan is a firefighter in Ft. Lauderdale who encounters a resident in a building that’s fast being consumed with smoke. She’s reluctant to be rescued because she’s trying to save her own business equipment. Becks Benning is a tattoo artist and just can’t afford to have her tools go up in smoke, literally. When the smoke clears, she’s stunned to see who just rescued her...years ago her 12-year old self had a major crush on Jackson. Unfortunately, he doesn’t remember her at all.
This story turned out to be much more than I’d expected, in a very, very good way. I only selected the audiobook because of my history with the author and I couldn’t be happier for the surprise. Jackson is one of three boys who were rescued from a burning house by Josh Donovan. They were homeless boys not related by blood but by their circumstances. That firefighter adopted them and all of the boys are now firefighters. There was so much devoted to insights about the realities of homeless children on their own in the streets, opting to live there instead of staying in the foster care system.
Then there’s the developing relationship between Jackson and Becks. She’s embraced her past, which includes a lot of lows with the highs and Jackson was one of them. He, however, has chosen to focus only on his life that began when he was rescued by his father. It’s closed him off somewhat, disconnecting emotionally from most things. Of course that gets in their way and the path to his own rescue was well crafted.
I enjoyed everything about this story, including Becks profession. I don’t pretend to understand the fascination with body ink but I got much closer, really appreciating what it has come to represent in terms of personal expression. It’s really defined well through the character. This series also finely portrays alternative family structures, so much so that I was wistful about not having opted to foster older children. I learned so much here and got to enjoy a wonderful romance. And, the narrator delivered a good performance, especially with Becks, though I wasn’t crazy about her interpretation of Jackson. It wasn’t bad, just a bit exaggerated. Otherwise, I was very happy with my choice to listen to this story. I’m excited about the prospects of the two stories to come.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Tantor Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
This story turned out to be much more than I’d expected, in a very, very good way. I only selected the audiobook because of my history with the author and I couldn’t be happier for the surprise. Jackson is one of three boys who were rescued from a burning house by Josh Donovan. They were homeless boys not related by blood but by their circumstances. That firefighter adopted them and all of the boys are now firefighters. There was so much devoted to insights about the realities of homeless children on their own in the streets, opting to live there instead of staying in the foster care system.
Then there’s the developing relationship between Jackson and Becks. She’s embraced her past, which includes a lot of lows with the highs and Jackson was one of them. He, however, has chosen to focus only on his life that began when he was rescued by his father. It’s closed him off somewhat, disconnecting emotionally from most things. Of course that gets in their way and the path to his own rescue was well crafted.
I enjoyed everything about this story, including Becks profession. I don’t pretend to understand the fascination with body ink but I got much closer, really appreciating what it has come to represent in terms of personal expression. It’s really defined well through the character. This series also finely portrays alternative family structures, so much so that I was wistful about not having opted to foster older children. I learned so much here and got to enjoy a wonderful romance. And, the narrator delivered a good performance, especially with Becks, though I wasn’t crazy about her interpretation of Jackson. It wasn’t bad, just a bit exaggerated. Otherwise, I was very happy with my choice to listen to this story. I’m excited about the prospects of the two stories to come.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Tantor Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
April 22, 2019
I really love shows that have to do with police officers and firefighters, so when I saw Jaci Burton was writing a new series about firefighters, I knew I had to get my hands on it!
Jackson Donovan became a firefighter with his two brothers after they were rescued from a fire when they were little. Jackson hates thinking about the past and where he came from, but when he rescues a woman from his past from a fire, Jackson isn't sure he can ignore his past anymore. Becks is forced to relocate when her tattoo shop and apartment are ruined from smoke damage from a fire. When she has nowhere to go, Jackson and his brothers offer their home to her. Becks finds herself falling for Jackson all over again, but he's closed off and isn't opening his walls up anytime soon.
I really love a book where the couple is forced to live together, so it was super cute when Becks decides to move in with Jackson and his three brothers. There's definitely no avoiding each other now! I enjoyed learning about their history as Becks made them revisit where they all came from. That being said, the rest of the book was a bit slow and we rehashed Jackson's inability to think about the past over and over again.
The romance was cute, but aside from that, this fell a bit flat. I did enjoy Jackson and his brothers and the set up for the next book sounds very intriguing. As for Becks and Jackson, I was left wanting more of their current lives and less of them trying to confront the past when Jackson so obviously didn't want to. I also wanted much more firefighter action than we got. We got a few scenes of them on the job, but the rest of the time was slow paced and harder to get through. I definitely want to continue on in this series, but this first book didn't do it for me as much as I wanted it to.
Jackson Donovan became a firefighter with his two brothers after they were rescued from a fire when they were little. Jackson hates thinking about the past and where he came from, but when he rescues a woman from his past from a fire, Jackson isn't sure he can ignore his past anymore. Becks is forced to relocate when her tattoo shop and apartment are ruined from smoke damage from a fire. When she has nowhere to go, Jackson and his brothers offer their home to her. Becks finds herself falling for Jackson all over again, but he's closed off and isn't opening his walls up anytime soon.
I really love a book where the couple is forced to live together, so it was super cute when Becks decides to move in with Jackson and his three brothers. There's definitely no avoiding each other now! I enjoyed learning about their history as Becks made them revisit where they all came from. That being said, the rest of the book was a bit slow and we rehashed Jackson's inability to think about the past over and over again.
The romance was cute, but aside from that, this fell a bit flat. I did enjoy Jackson and his brothers and the set up for the next book sounds very intriguing. As for Becks and Jackson, I was left wanting more of their current lives and less of them trying to confront the past when Jackson so obviously didn't want to. I also wanted much more firefighter action than we got. We got a few scenes of them on the job, but the rest of the time was slow paced and harder to get through. I definitely want to continue on in this series, but this first book didn't do it for me as much as I wanted it to.
April 29, 2020
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I really enjoyed this book. I have seen Jaci Burton's books around for quite some time but never picked one up before I started reading this book. I think I made a good choice by starting at the beginning of a new series. It did take me a while to get through this book but that has more to do with the things going on in the world than anything else. I had a good time with this story and am glad that I finally gave this author a try.
Jackson is the oldest of brothers and has always felt like it is his job to protect those he cares about. He was homeless as a child and bonded with two other boys that he now considers to be his brothers. The trio was adopted by a firefighter who saved them when they were trapped in a burning home. All three men are now firefighters. During the course of clearing a fire, he encounters Becks who was also a homeless child but he doesn't remember her from that date. His brothers offer to let Becks stay with them for a while after the fire destroys both her apartment and business.
I really liked Jackson and Becks. Their history was a little different than what you might find in a typical romance. They had fantastic chemistry and were both dealing with issues from their past. Jackson tended to keep things in and wasn't always open to sharing like Becks hoped he would. I really thought that they were a good fit and I was really eager to see things work out for them.
I would recommend this book to others. It was a great start to the trilogy that left me eager to read the other brothers' stories. I look forward to reading more from this wonderful author.
Initial Thoughts
It took me some time to read this book but that has everything to do with the state of the world right now. This is actually the first time that I have picked up Jaci Burton's work and I did enjoy it. Becks and Jackson were both great characters and their backstory was different that anything I have read in the past. I enjoyed Jackson's relationship with his brothers and parents and look forward to reading more in this series.
Book source: purchased
I really enjoyed this book. I have seen Jaci Burton's books around for quite some time but never picked one up before I started reading this book. I think I made a good choice by starting at the beginning of a new series. It did take me a while to get through this book but that has more to do with the things going on in the world than anything else. I had a good time with this story and am glad that I finally gave this author a try.
Jackson is the oldest of brothers and has always felt like it is his job to protect those he cares about. He was homeless as a child and bonded with two other boys that he now considers to be his brothers. The trio was adopted by a firefighter who saved them when they were trapped in a burning home. All three men are now firefighters. During the course of clearing a fire, he encounters Becks who was also a homeless child but he doesn't remember her from that date. His brothers offer to let Becks stay with them for a while after the fire destroys both her apartment and business.
I really liked Jackson and Becks. Their history was a little different than what you might find in a typical romance. They had fantastic chemistry and were both dealing with issues from their past. Jackson tended to keep things in and wasn't always open to sharing like Becks hoped he would. I really thought that they were a good fit and I was really eager to see things work out for them.
I would recommend this book to others. It was a great start to the trilogy that left me eager to read the other brothers' stories. I look forward to reading more from this wonderful author.
Initial Thoughts
It took me some time to read this book but that has everything to do with the state of the world right now. This is actually the first time that I have picked up Jaci Burton's work and I did enjoy it. Becks and Jackson were both great characters and their backstory was different that anything I have read in the past. I enjoyed Jackson's relationship with his brothers and parents and look forward to reading more in this series.
Book source: purchased
April 3, 2019
2 STARS!
Hot to the Touch by Jaci Burton is a brand new series about firefighters #yum 🔥
The story begins in the past. Jackson gets caught in a house fire after seeking shelter for the night with his foster brothers, Rafe and Kal. The brothers make it and are saved... This pivotal point drives them to become firefighters. As a twist of fate, they are adopted by the firefighter who saved them. 👨🏼🚒
Present day, they're on their way to a call when Jackson--our hero--comes face to face with his past. Becks.
Becks used to hang with the Donovan boys when they lived on the streets. Jackson and her were close. Becks even harboured a crush on him when they were teens... but Jackson can't seem to remember her. Not only awkward but no bueno. 👎🏼
Jackson and Becks have great sexual chemistry between them but sadly, not much of an emotional connection. Jackson remains guarded and reluctant to open up about the past. It isn't until close to the end of the book that Jackson finally opens his eyes!
Hot to Touch was a sexy and steamy quick read. Not particularly engaging, so it was difficult for the novel to completely captivate me. However, I can say I loved how the Donovan boys built up their lives and made something out of themselves. Same with Becks as she becomes a business owner.
Overall, I just needed more. Though this one unfortunately was not my cup of tea, I still look forward to exploring other novels by Jaci.
*AN ARC WAS KINDLY PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.*
Hot to the Touch by Jaci Burton is a brand new series about firefighters #yum 🔥
The story begins in the past. Jackson gets caught in a house fire after seeking shelter for the night with his foster brothers, Rafe and Kal. The brothers make it and are saved... This pivotal point drives them to become firefighters. As a twist of fate, they are adopted by the firefighter who saved them. 👨🏼🚒
Present day, they're on their way to a call when Jackson--our hero--comes face to face with his past. Becks.
Becks used to hang with the Donovan boys when they lived on the streets. Jackson and her were close. Becks even harboured a crush on him when they were teens... but Jackson can't seem to remember her. Not only awkward but no bueno. 👎🏼
Jackson and Becks have great sexual chemistry between them but sadly, not much of an emotional connection. Jackson remains guarded and reluctant to open up about the past. It isn't until close to the end of the book that Jackson finally opens his eyes!
Hot to Touch was a sexy and steamy quick read. Not particularly engaging, so it was difficult for the novel to completely captivate me. However, I can say I loved how the Donovan boys built up their lives and made something out of themselves. Same with Becks as she becomes a business owner.
Overall, I just needed more. Though this one unfortunately was not my cup of tea, I still look forward to exploring other novels by Jaci.
*AN ARC WAS KINDLY PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.*
May 7, 2019
5 stars
Yep, Jaci Burton knows how to write hot firefighter's and knows how to write a different kind of story with that firefighter. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, the twists and turns and the back-story behind both Jackson and Becks. It was an interesting and emotional read.
Yes, Jackson was a little standoffish towards Becks when he first saw her. But, he had his reasons. The past and the guilt that he had always had a hold on him. He didn't like to relive or think of the past. He always felt the guilt of only saving and being there for Rafe and Kal not being there for the rest of the kids he swore to protect. Life had was good to him and he refused to relive the past or the guilt would eat him alive.
Becks had no idea what she was going to do. The fire destroyed her business and her home. Moving in with Jackson, Kal and Rafe was about the only option she had. Yes, they knew each other from the past. Yes, she was always a little in love with Jackson. No, he didn't want to talk about any of it. There has to be a reason and it's not beyond her to find out why. She's surprised when she does find out but understood. Now, it's time to change his mind, show him the woman she turned into and the love that he doesn't think he deserves.
Hot To The Touch was beautiful. It had a little bit of everything in it. It was a story about love but also about forgiveness. Learning to forgive yourself for something totally out of your control is one of the hardest things to do. Sometimes you just have to lose what means most to you to find the forgiveness within yourself so that you could get that love back. And, Jaci Burton did a beautiful job of showing this, of bringing out the love and showing us what pleasures can be found when you do find that one person that completes you but also makes you see yourself for who and what you really are.
3.5 stars
Hot to the Touch is the first in a new series by Jaci Burton and has all the makings of a good trilogy. The focus of the series is on three men that have bonded together being homeless as teenagers, that now live and work together as firefighters in Florida. 14 years ago, they were saved from a house fire by a firefighter who later would adopt all three boys. When Jackson, Rafe and Kal go out on a call, they run into someone from their past, which for Jackson should be left in the past. Becks, short for Rebecca, loves that she has reconnected with the brothers from long ago but doesn’t understand why Jackson doesn’t want to think about it. There is an attraction between them but is it enough to build something more together?
Becks was a heroine one can easily like and her thoughts and actions felt genuine. She made something of herself as a tattoo artist and now that the fire has displaced her, she can expand her business at a new location. Things are good for her now but she’s never forgotten where she came from and helps other homeless teenagers in the community. Jackson and her didn’t see eye to eye on this subject and she just couldn’t figure out why. He wasn’t forthcoming and she didn’t know if it was worth the effort. When things heat up between them and move to an unfamiliar place, she’s unsure of these feelings and how Jackson might react to them. Love isn’t something she is familiar with and it’s hard to be vulnerable. Can she rely on her new feelings for Jackson or will she be in this relationship alone?
Jackson was a character I had a hard time understanding and liking for the majority of the book. He ran hot and cold with his feelings. One minute he is nice and giving and the next he is angry and indifferent to Becks. I was getting whiplash with how quickly he switched. That being the case, I didn’t feel a connection between him and Becks. I don’t think Jackson was developed enough as a character throughout the story to get me to like him, especially to like him with Becks.
Jaci Burton is one of my favorite authors and her writing keeps me coming back with each new story she puts out. Her writing is enjoyable, her storylines are genuine, her characters are 3 dimensional and her sex scenes are hot and steamy. Somehow Hot to the Touch had a hard time smoothly transitioning from friends to lovers, then to being in love. I missed Jackson’s reckoning and I thought that should have been highlighted better in order for me to feel he was worthy of the heroine. The story was good but I felt it could have been better. I’m not giving up on this series because I’m thinking that this was a fluke and the others will be better. Hot to the Touch had potential but only felt lukewarm in the end.
April 17, 2019
Well, it's a spot weird reading a book that's not from Burton's Play-by-Play series. But, oh, firefighters. I can get on board with that!
The Gist: Jackson and his brothers have arrived at a business fire only to find the owner was a girl they knew as kids. And, well, they decide to take her home with them. *nods*
I liked Jackson and Becks. They've had interesting and difficult lives but turned into pretty great people. Hardworking, dedicated, caring. A bit damaged from the past but not broken. They'd both grown up homeless living on the streets as runaways. They've had hard lives but made something of themselves and do their best.
The romance was there but fairly light. Getting past some hangups and dealing with the past (or trying to avoid it). I definitely got their attraction and the chemistry was there for sure. I didn't quite feel the falling in love but I could see it beginning.
It was an interesting start to the series. I liked all the characters --hero/heroine and his brothers/family. They're all good people. The set up was interesting, too, with them having been homeless and reconnecting. Adoption and checking in with the current kids living on the streets where they grew up. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what goes down next with his brothers.
The Gist: Jackson and his brothers have arrived at a business fire only to find the owner was a girl they knew as kids. And, well, they decide to take her home with them. *nods*
I liked Jackson and Becks. They've had interesting and difficult lives but turned into pretty great people. Hardworking, dedicated, caring. A bit damaged from the past but not broken. They'd both grown up homeless living on the streets as runaways. They've had hard lives but made something of themselves and do their best.
The romance was there but fairly light. Getting past some hangups and dealing with the past (or trying to avoid it). I definitely got their attraction and the chemistry was there for sure. I didn't quite feel the falling in love but I could see it beginning.
It was an interesting start to the series. I liked all the characters --hero/heroine and his brothers/family. They're all good people. The set up was interesting, too, with them having been homeless and reconnecting. Adoption and checking in with the current kids living on the streets where they grew up. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what goes down next with his brothers.
May 2, 2019
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
3.5 hearts
The Brotherhood by Fire is well named as a series about "brothers" who are firefighters. I love series where the characters in each book are siblings and I love firefighter romances. I have read and enjoyed Jaci Burton in the past.
Hot to the Touch is a fun and fast read. The firefighter aspects were mostly secondary to the romance and character development of the main couple. As the first book in the series, there is some world building and history on the main characters. The topic of homeless children is part of their histories.
I guess I would call this a friends to lovers romance but it is more like an acquaintances to fuck buddies to lovers progression. Both Jackson and Becks are attracted immediately and nether is initially looking for a long-term commitment. But as they get to know each other, neither is sure of the other's feelings. It isn't like they are dishonest with each other (any more than they are with themselves). Things just change as time passes and they know more of each other.
As one might expect, sexy times are hot and sizzling. Both Jackson and Becks are giving lovers. I expect to read on in this hot series!
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
3.5 hearts
The Brotherhood by Fire is well named as a series about "brothers" who are firefighters. I love series where the characters in each book are siblings and I love firefighter romances. I have read and enjoyed Jaci Burton in the past.
Hot to the Touch is a fun and fast read. The firefighter aspects were mostly secondary to the romance and character development of the main couple. As the first book in the series, there is some world building and history on the main characters. The topic of homeless children is part of their histories.
I guess I would call this a friends to lovers romance but it is more like an acquaintances to fuck buddies to lovers progression. Both Jackson and Becks are attracted immediately and nether is initially looking for a long-term commitment. But as they get to know each other, neither is sure of the other's feelings. It isn't like they are dishonest with each other (any more than they are with themselves). Things just change as time passes and they know more of each other.
As one might expect, sexy times are hot and sizzling. Both Jackson and Becks are giving lovers. I expect to read on in this hot series!
September 22, 2019
As a fan of Jaci Burton’s contemporary romances, especially her Play by Play multi-sports series, I’m always happy to see her name on an upcoming new release. So when I saw that she was starting a new series featuring firefighters, I quickly added Hot to the Touch – the first in her Brotherhood by Fire series – to my to-read shelf. I’m happy to say that it’s an enjoyable read, delivering a sexy romance that touches on some serious subjects but still maintains a lighthearted feel.
Jackson Donovan grew up quickly when he was a homeless kid on the streets after his parents died and the foster system did him no favours. But things changed for the better when he and his two brothers by choice, Rafe and Kai, were rescued from a fire in an abandoned home where they’d set up camp. Their rescuer, a firefighter – and their guardian angel – not only saved their lives that night, he and his wife took the three boys in as foster sons. Their lives improved immeasurably, and all three are now fully-fledged firefighters themselves, working under their father, Battalion Chief Josh Donovan. Jackson has recently received the rank of Lieutenant and his eye is firmly on the future, not the past.
When a call brings Jackson and his crew to a smoking strip mall and the door of the tattoo shop Skin Deep, Jackson finds himself rescuing a woman from the shop, one who is desperately trying to save as many supplies as she can as Jackson drags her out to safety. Becca – Becks – Jenning knows the fireman was right to get her out and away from the danger but she still laments the loss of her rented shop and despairs at the thought of having to start over, especially since her living quarters were on the second floor. But fate has actually been kind, because it turns out that she knows these men. At one time, Jackson, Rafe and Kai had been part of a group of intrepid homeless kids that she credits for helping her survive those tough days when she herself was on the streets. When the three boys disappeared one night, no one knew what had happened to them and the resulting scattering of their group brought Becks into a new and decent foster home. From there she’d made something of herself, advanced her artistic skills and made a credible career as a tattoo artist.
When Rafe and Kai, delighted to see Becks alive and well, offer her a room in the house they share with Jackson, Becks can’t refuse; after all she has nowhere else to go. Jackson is less enthusiastic about their houseguest for two main reasons; one, he finds her attractive which he feels is inappropriate considering how they just met again, and two, he has no interest in rehashing ‘the good old days’ when they were all homeless on the streets together. But under the same roof, it’s hard to maintain much distance. Soon, a mutually agreed upon no strings attached affair is heating up their nights and anytime they can get the house to themselves. But with Becks firmly involved in helping homeless while looking for a new place to set up shop and Jackson avoiding anything that reminds him of his past, can there be a future for them?
It’s not that surprising to have a plot that involves a group of foster kids that end up employed together and often in some kind of service to society. What makes this series idea unique, however, is having Jackson, Rafe and Kai start out as homeless kids, as well as the discussion that ensues later resulting from Becks’ work with a new group of homeless kids who live in the area where the four of them once lived. It’s a stark truth that there will always be circumstances that leave children vulnerable, whether it’s the death of parents with no surviving relatives to take the children in, parents addicted to drugs or alcohol, foster homes ripe with abuse that leave children on the run and banding together for safety. For Jackson, the death of his parents at the age of six is what led to him eventually being on the streets and once he was rescued from that life, he put a lot of effort into forgetting those days ever happened. He can’t completely forget because he has Rafe and Kai still in his life, but everything else, including Becks’ existence has been forgotten.
When she re-enters their lives, Jackson is forced to come to terms with things he’d rather forget. This is especially true because he likes and admires Becks as well as being attracted to her physically, and she tries to make things better for the homeless kids whose situation she fully understands. She knows they pride themselves on their independence and ability to survive on the street but aren’t going to reject help offered with sincerity and not out of a place of superiority. Coming to terms with those days and how they’ve made him who he is now, and realizing that he can take pride in being a survivor is a slow process but one helped by honest conversations with Becks and his brothers.
While the background of homeless children is definitely a grim one, the work Becks does and the fact that the main characters survived life on the streets and made something of themselves gives the story a hopeful air and prevents it from being too depressing. And as always, the author delivers a sexy and passionate romance with some steamy scenes and strong, likable characters who have to compromise and hash things out to get their happy ending. Secondary characters Rafe and Kai add those scenes of teamwork and brotherly camaraderie that make for some humorous moments and give some hints for stories to come. If you’re looking for some unique character backgrounds and a sexy and interesting romance, Hot to the Touch is definitely worth checking out.
This review also appears at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
Jackson Donovan grew up quickly when he was a homeless kid on the streets after his parents died and the foster system did him no favours. But things changed for the better when he and his two brothers by choice, Rafe and Kai, were rescued from a fire in an abandoned home where they’d set up camp. Their rescuer, a firefighter – and their guardian angel – not only saved their lives that night, he and his wife took the three boys in as foster sons. Their lives improved immeasurably, and all three are now fully-fledged firefighters themselves, working under their father, Battalion Chief Josh Donovan. Jackson has recently received the rank of Lieutenant and his eye is firmly on the future, not the past.
When a call brings Jackson and his crew to a smoking strip mall and the door of the tattoo shop Skin Deep, Jackson finds himself rescuing a woman from the shop, one who is desperately trying to save as many supplies as she can as Jackson drags her out to safety. Becca – Becks – Jenning knows the fireman was right to get her out and away from the danger but she still laments the loss of her rented shop and despairs at the thought of having to start over, especially since her living quarters were on the second floor. But fate has actually been kind, because it turns out that she knows these men. At one time, Jackson, Rafe and Kai had been part of a group of intrepid homeless kids that she credits for helping her survive those tough days when she herself was on the streets. When the three boys disappeared one night, no one knew what had happened to them and the resulting scattering of their group brought Becks into a new and decent foster home. From there she’d made something of herself, advanced her artistic skills and made a credible career as a tattoo artist.
When Rafe and Kai, delighted to see Becks alive and well, offer her a room in the house they share with Jackson, Becks can’t refuse; after all she has nowhere else to go. Jackson is less enthusiastic about their houseguest for two main reasons; one, he finds her attractive which he feels is inappropriate considering how they just met again, and two, he has no interest in rehashing ‘the good old days’ when they were all homeless on the streets together. But under the same roof, it’s hard to maintain much distance. Soon, a mutually agreed upon no strings attached affair is heating up their nights and anytime they can get the house to themselves. But with Becks firmly involved in helping homeless while looking for a new place to set up shop and Jackson avoiding anything that reminds him of his past, can there be a future for them?
It’s not that surprising to have a plot that involves a group of foster kids that end up employed together and often in some kind of service to society. What makes this series idea unique, however, is having Jackson, Rafe and Kai start out as homeless kids, as well as the discussion that ensues later resulting from Becks’ work with a new group of homeless kids who live in the area where the four of them once lived. It’s a stark truth that there will always be circumstances that leave children vulnerable, whether it’s the death of parents with no surviving relatives to take the children in, parents addicted to drugs or alcohol, foster homes ripe with abuse that leave children on the run and banding together for safety. For Jackson, the death of his parents at the age of six is what led to him eventually being on the streets and once he was rescued from that life, he put a lot of effort into forgetting those days ever happened. He can’t completely forget because he has Rafe and Kai still in his life, but everything else, including Becks’ existence has been forgotten.
When she re-enters their lives, Jackson is forced to come to terms with things he’d rather forget. This is especially true because he likes and admires Becks as well as being attracted to her physically, and she tries to make things better for the homeless kids whose situation she fully understands. She knows they pride themselves on their independence and ability to survive on the street but aren’t going to reject help offered with sincerity and not out of a place of superiority. Coming to terms with those days and how they’ve made him who he is now, and realizing that he can take pride in being a survivor is a slow process but one helped by honest conversations with Becks and his brothers.
While the background of homeless children is definitely a grim one, the work Becks does and the fact that the main characters survived life on the streets and made something of themselves gives the story a hopeful air and prevents it from being too depressing. And as always, the author delivers a sexy and passionate romance with some steamy scenes and strong, likable characters who have to compromise and hash things out to get their happy ending. Secondary characters Rafe and Kai add those scenes of teamwork and brotherly camaraderie that make for some humorous moments and give some hints for stories to come. If you’re looking for some unique character backgrounds and a sexy and interesting romance, Hot to the Touch is definitely worth checking out.
This review also appears at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
April 22, 2019
Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog: https://romancingthereaders.blogspot....
I'm always excited and nervous about a new series from an author that I enjoy. When you are really liking their series it's a little hard to jump ship per sec. But I'm always game so here we are. The first in her new series, Brotherhood by Fire is Hot to the Touch.
I really enjoyed this one. It sets up the series well and introduces you to the main characters of the series.
I really enjoyed Jackson even though he was closed off about his past. I understood why he did want to think about that time in his life even if it might have made him feel better. But I did like how I felt she kept at him about it. Yes, she was in love so she wanted to "fix" him but enough is enough. Take a break.
The relationship of the brothers is a great one to read about. I love how the bricker back and forth and try to one-up each other. Boys will be boys. You really believe that they've known each other for most of their lives by the way they act. I laughed more than one.
I also liked Becks too. She was so well grounded and even though for her life hadn't been as kind as it has been for Jackson, she handled it all well. She never forgot where she came from and gave back. It's hard not to like that about her. All around she's a good-natured person, one you'd like to call a friend.
As a whole, this is a wonderful story that I think you'll enjoy. It was a little light in the romance but I wondered if that was because of their past. Even though Jackson didn't want to remember what happened then, I felt he was very comfortable around Becks, like they've known each other forever. and because of that, you don't get that beginning of a relationship feeling with them. Not a bad thing because it works for them.
I can tell you that I'm looking forward to more in this series and can't wait for the next book to come out which isn't till next year.
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ARC received for an honest review
I'm always excited and nervous about a new series from an author that I enjoy. When you are really liking their series it's a little hard to jump ship per sec. But I'm always game so here we are. The first in her new series, Brotherhood by Fire is Hot to the Touch.
I really enjoyed this one. It sets up the series well and introduces you to the main characters of the series.
I really enjoyed Jackson even though he was closed off about his past. I understood why he did want to think about that time in his life even if it might have made him feel better. But I did like how I felt she kept at him about it. Yes, she was in love so she wanted to "fix" him but enough is enough. Take a break.
The relationship of the brothers is a great one to read about. I love how the bricker back and forth and try to one-up each other. Boys will be boys. You really believe that they've known each other for most of their lives by the way they act. I laughed more than one.
I also liked Becks too. She was so well grounded and even though for her life hadn't been as kind as it has been for Jackson, she handled it all well. She never forgot where she came from and gave back. It's hard not to like that about her. All around she's a good-natured person, one you'd like to call a friend.
As a whole, this is a wonderful story that I think you'll enjoy. It was a little light in the romance but I wondered if that was because of their past. Even though Jackson didn't want to remember what happened then, I felt he was very comfortable around Becks, like they've known each other forever. and because of that, you don't get that beginning of a relationship feeling with them. Not a bad thing because it works for them.
I can tell you that I'm looking forward to more in this series and can't wait for the next book to come out which isn't till next year.
Follow me on:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
https://twitter.com/Romancingreader
ARC received for an honest review
May 9, 2019
Heat, denial and confusion…
Jackson was a jerk. No really, he was. Faced with Becks, a spectre from a past he’d spent years blocking out, meant he had a few choices. Instead of embracing her as a long-lost friend, his choice was to be obnoxious and push her away. Of course, his family was having none of that and neither was Becks…
Fire tore them apart so having it bring them back together seemed fitting. That sparked a new path for both of them, one that was paved in awkward conversations, uneasy remembrances and soon, romantic feelings. This story was all about emotions – ones you denied, ones you couldn’t help and others you had to share. There was a lot of back and forth with the push and pull haunted by painful memories they both shared. How to overcome them was the difficult task but Becks was quietly insistent that anything was possible…
Sweet, sultry, with just the right amount of drama to keep things percolating, this was a great start to a new series. And, of course, firefighters!! With more to come… ~Diane, 4 stars
Jackson was a jerk. No really, he was. Faced with Becks, a spectre from a past he’d spent years blocking out, meant he had a few choices. Instead of embracing her as a long-lost friend, his choice was to be obnoxious and push her away. Of course, his family was having none of that and neither was Becks…
Fire tore them apart so having it bring them back together seemed fitting. That sparked a new path for both of them, one that was paved in awkward conversations, uneasy remembrances and soon, romantic feelings. This story was all about emotions – ones you denied, ones you couldn’t help and others you had to share. There was a lot of back and forth with the push and pull haunted by painful memories they both shared. How to overcome them was the difficult task but Becks was quietly insistent that anything was possible…
Sweet, sultry, with just the right amount of drama to keep things percolating, this was a great start to a new series. And, of course, firefighters!! With more to come… ~Diane, 4 stars
May 27, 2019
First in the Brotherhood by Fire contemporary romance series revolving around three self-proclaimed brothers who made good and became firefighters in Fort Lauderdale. The couple focus is on Jackson Donovan and Becks Benning.
My Take
For a character-driven story about fire, Hot to the Touch is so wooden. It's all tell, and I found it very hard to finish. To be honest, I'm not sure why I did. Except.
I liked the story concept, kids in a bad situation who make good, which is why I upgraded it to a "2". If only Burton had managed to infuse any excitement or enthusiasm in this. Everything was so happy-happy, well, except for that blackmail Becks was pulling on Jackson. That was a pisser.
It is sweet that the boys landed so well, and I love the sound of the house their mom gave them, that the boys live and work together.
Burton managed a few conflicting issues: that Jackson is Rafe's and Kal's boss, the friction Becks negatively generates with Jackson, Jackson's avoidance of his past, Becks' stance against dreaming, and the stupid aspect of the running away meme — gimme a frickin' break. As for Becks' "confession" at the end...a little quick, wasn't it? Which makes it a lame move, IMO.
I was a bit confused about when Becks opened her shop. Burton had her having a first day and then a few chapters later, she was opening her new shop.
The Story
It began in 2005, the rescue of three homeless boys and their introduction into a better life.
A life that leads to careers in firefighting just like their dad. A career that leads to battling a smoky fire at Becks' tattoo shop and two of the brothers recognizing a long-lost friend.
Now thanks to Jackson's two interfering brothers, Becks is living with them while she looks for a new place and tries to pick up the pieces of her tattoo business that went up in flames. Which means a grown-up, smokin' hot Becks is in his house, sharing meals, and digging up old wounds. And despite his better judgement, the more time he spends with this smart, artistic, incredible woman, the more he wants her in his bed — and his future.
As for Becks, well, she's always had it bad for Jackson. Unfortunately for her, not much has changed — he's still honorable, hard-working, sexy as sin — and closed off. But there's more than one way to get to a man's heart.
The Characters
Rebecca "Becks" Benning had been homeless with the boys and is now a successful tattoist with a love for writing poetry. Skin Deep is Becks' business. Apprentice applicants include Hwan. Martin is a talented tattooist, as is Don, a friend of Becks'. Margie Vasquez, a commercial real estate agent, is Becks' best friend...who has lousy parents.
The Donovans
Jackson Donovan was the leader of their homeless band that included his "brothers", Rafe and Kal. They were lucky to be adopted by Josh, a battalion chief at Station 6, and Laurel Donovan, a social worker, after the fire. Jackson is now a lieutenant at Station 6.
Carmen is the boys' next-door neighbor; Jimmy is her grandfather.
Station 6
Fellow firefighters include Tommy Rodriguez; Ethan Pressman (he's married to Penny); Ginger Davidson; Mitchell Hendricks, who is in the middle of a divorce; Callie Vassar (an ex-girlfriend of Jackson's); and, Zep. Captain Kendall Mathias is in charge. Lieutenant Leo Stockman is Jackson's next-shift counterpart. Miguel Acosta and Adrienne Smith are partnered up as their EMTs.
Tomas is Tommy's grandfather and the family operates a family restaurant and bar near the beach.
Their fellow homeless, 2005...
...included Greg, Amy, Littles, Melinda, Red, and Mason.
Today's homeless kids
Lexie; Red is now Old Red, and he, Miss Peggy, and Mason are still homeless; Aria; Georgia is their leader; and, Eddie.
Dave was Becks' jerk of a landlord. Bethany and Henry were lousy foster parents. Rosie had been a good foster mother to Becks. Tandy is only one of Rafe's girlfriends. Tina is the woman who mentored Becks in the art of tattooing. Jessie, an exotic dancer planning on a law career, is one of her repeat customers. Hailey is a new customer. Ellen Grayson is another real estate agent.
The Cover and Title
The cover is mostly black in its background and Jackson's fire gear with its fluorescent yellow stripes and red suspenders dangling below that gorgeous six-pack. The text starts with a red testimonial to the right of Jackson's neck. Below his waist is the author's name in a pale yellow, just below that is an info blurb in white, and just below that the same yellow for the title. A red band, just big enough for the series information in white is below that.
The title is all about the sizzle between Becks and Jackson, Hot to the Touch.
My Take
For a character-driven story about fire, Hot to the Touch is so wooden. It's all tell, and I found it very hard to finish. To be honest, I'm not sure why I did. Except.
I liked the story concept, kids in a bad situation who make good, which is why I upgraded it to a "2". If only Burton had managed to infuse any excitement or enthusiasm in this. Everything was so happy-happy, well, except for that blackmail Becks was pulling on Jackson. That was a pisser.
"Own your happiness as well as your sorrow. It makes you who you are."It's a dual third person point-of-view from Becks' and Jackson's perspectives, so we learn what they're feeling and thinking, experience scenes where they're present. I do like Becks' thought that "she was worthy, and [that] her parents hadn't been worthy of her", although it's sad about her fear of loss.
It is sweet that the boys landed so well, and I love the sound of the house their mom gave them, that the boys live and work together.
Burton managed a few conflicting issues: that Jackson is Rafe's and Kal's boss, the friction Becks negatively generates with Jackson, Jackson's avoidance of his past, Becks' stance against dreaming, and the stupid aspect of the running away meme — gimme a frickin' break. As for Becks' "confession" at the end...a little quick, wasn't it? Which makes it a lame move, IMO.
I was a bit confused about when Becks opened her shop. Burton had her having a first day and then a few chapters later, she was opening her new shop.
The Story
It began in 2005, the rescue of three homeless boys and their introduction into a better life.
A life that leads to careers in firefighting just like their dad. A career that leads to battling a smoky fire at Becks' tattoo shop and two of the brothers recognizing a long-lost friend.
Now thanks to Jackson's two interfering brothers, Becks is living with them while she looks for a new place and tries to pick up the pieces of her tattoo business that went up in flames. Which means a grown-up, smokin' hot Becks is in his house, sharing meals, and digging up old wounds. And despite his better judgement, the more time he spends with this smart, artistic, incredible woman, the more he wants her in his bed — and his future.
As for Becks, well, she's always had it bad for Jackson. Unfortunately for her, not much has changed — he's still honorable, hard-working, sexy as sin — and closed off. But there's more than one way to get to a man's heart.
The Characters
Rebecca "Becks" Benning had been homeless with the boys and is now a successful tattoist with a love for writing poetry. Skin Deep is Becks' business. Apprentice applicants include Hwan. Martin is a talented tattooist, as is Don, a friend of Becks'. Margie Vasquez, a commercial real estate agent, is Becks' best friend...who has lousy parents.
The Donovans
Jackson Donovan was the leader of their homeless band that included his "brothers", Rafe and Kal. They were lucky to be adopted by Josh, a battalion chief at Station 6, and Laurel Donovan, a social worker, after the fire. Jackson is now a lieutenant at Station 6.
Carmen is the boys' next-door neighbor; Jimmy is her grandfather.
Station 6
Fellow firefighters include Tommy Rodriguez; Ethan Pressman (he's married to Penny); Ginger Davidson; Mitchell Hendricks, who is in the middle of a divorce; Callie Vassar (an ex-girlfriend of Jackson's); and, Zep. Captain Kendall Mathias is in charge. Lieutenant Leo Stockman is Jackson's next-shift counterpart. Miguel Acosta and Adrienne Smith are partnered up as their EMTs.
Tomas is Tommy's grandfather and the family operates a family restaurant and bar near the beach.
Their fellow homeless, 2005...
...included Greg, Amy, Littles, Melinda, Red, and Mason.
Today's homeless kids
Lexie; Red is now Old Red, and he, Miss Peggy, and Mason are still homeless; Aria; Georgia is their leader; and, Eddie.
Dave was Becks' jerk of a landlord. Bethany and Henry were lousy foster parents. Rosie had been a good foster mother to Becks. Tandy is only one of Rafe's girlfriends. Tina is the woman who mentored Becks in the art of tattooing. Jessie, an exotic dancer planning on a law career, is one of her repeat customers. Hailey is a new customer. Ellen Grayson is another real estate agent.
The Cover and Title
The cover is mostly black in its background and Jackson's fire gear with its fluorescent yellow stripes and red suspenders dangling below that gorgeous six-pack. The text starts with a red testimonial to the right of Jackson's neck. Below his waist is the author's name in a pale yellow, just below that is an info blurb in white, and just below that the same yellow for the title. A red band, just big enough for the series information in white is below that.
The title is all about the sizzle between Becks and Jackson, Hot to the Touch.
May 8, 2019
Hot to Touch by Jaci Burton is the 1st book in her new Brotherhood by Fire series. I am big fan of Jaci Burton, having loved her Hope series, and another one of our reviewers loves her Play by Play series. I really enjoyed the start of this new series.
The story starts when a fireman is trying to rescue Rebecca (Becks), our heroine, who is desperate to save things she needs from her store. The fireman doesn’t care about those things, and he is forcing her out of the store fire to save her life.
Jackson Donovan, our hero and fireman who saves Becks, starts off on the wrong foot with her, as he was a bit rude. To his surprise, his two brothers (they are adopted) recognize Becks as their long lost friend from 15 years ago, when they were homeless and their friendships helped them survive on the streets. The three boys (Jackson, Rafe & Kal) were trapped in an abandoned house fire, when a firefighter rescues them, and eventually he adopted the three boys giving them a normal home to live in.
The brothers are happy to have found Becks, and offer their house as a temporary place to stay. Jackson, who does not relive the past, does not remember Becks, and continues to give her a hard time. Becks remembers the old days when she had a crush on the young Jackson, and was surprised he didn’t remember her, but in time she can tell he blocks the past from his mind.
While Becks is happy to be staying in a nice house, and enjoys the camaraderie of the boys, she slowly loosens Jackson’s resolve, and a slow built romance will begin for both of them. Jackson, knowing he is hard on Becks, tries to win her over, and help her find a new store for her tattoo business. At first, I wasn’t crazy about Jackson, especially his rudeness; but in time the sparks between them was steamy hot.
What follows is a nice romance, though a difficult start, with an excellent story about homeless children and foster care. I loved that Becks would visit those youngsters that were homeless, and bring them food, or even help one of the young girls get adopted. I also loved when one of the older girls started to work for Becks. A very nice addition to this story line.
The firefighter story line was also good, as that is the backdrop of the series. Hot to Touch also had some great secondary characters, such as Rafe, Kal, Aria, the boy’s parents, to name a few. I got used to Jackson as the story progresses, as he explains to Becks about how he blamed himself all those years ago, and why he did not want to relive the past. Becks to me was the star of this book. I loved her independence, street smarts, confidence and ability to not let anything stand in her way. Great heroine.
Hot to Touch was a well written story line by Jaci Burton. I loved the story about how the boys became brothers, found a loving home and parents; and how Becks survived moving around in different foster homes and was the strongest one of them all. I wholly recommend you to read Hot to Touch.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
The story starts when a fireman is trying to rescue Rebecca (Becks), our heroine, who is desperate to save things she needs from her store. The fireman doesn’t care about those things, and he is forcing her out of the store fire to save her life.
Jackson Donovan, our hero and fireman who saves Becks, starts off on the wrong foot with her, as he was a bit rude. To his surprise, his two brothers (they are adopted) recognize Becks as their long lost friend from 15 years ago, when they were homeless and their friendships helped them survive on the streets. The three boys (Jackson, Rafe & Kal) were trapped in an abandoned house fire, when a firefighter rescues them, and eventually he adopted the three boys giving them a normal home to live in.
The brothers are happy to have found Becks, and offer their house as a temporary place to stay. Jackson, who does not relive the past, does not remember Becks, and continues to give her a hard time. Becks remembers the old days when she had a crush on the young Jackson, and was surprised he didn’t remember her, but in time she can tell he blocks the past from his mind.
While Becks is happy to be staying in a nice house, and enjoys the camaraderie of the boys, she slowly loosens Jackson’s resolve, and a slow built romance will begin for both of them. Jackson, knowing he is hard on Becks, tries to win her over, and help her find a new store for her tattoo business. At first, I wasn’t crazy about Jackson, especially his rudeness; but in time the sparks between them was steamy hot.
What follows is a nice romance, though a difficult start, with an excellent story about homeless children and foster care. I loved that Becks would visit those youngsters that were homeless, and bring them food, or even help one of the young girls get adopted. I also loved when one of the older girls started to work for Becks. A very nice addition to this story line.
The firefighter story line was also good, as that is the backdrop of the series. Hot to Touch also had some great secondary characters, such as Rafe, Kal, Aria, the boy’s parents, to name a few. I got used to Jackson as the story progresses, as he explains to Becks about how he blamed himself all those years ago, and why he did not want to relive the past. Becks to me was the star of this book. I loved her independence, street smarts, confidence and ability to not let anything stand in her way. Great heroine.
Hot to Touch was a well written story line by Jaci Burton. I loved the story about how the boys became brothers, found a loving home and parents; and how Becks survived moving around in different foster homes and was the strongest one of them all. I wholly recommend you to read Hot to Touch.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
May 7, 2019
3.5 Stars!
Hot to the Touch is the first book in an all new series from Jaci Burton. Told from dual points of view, Hot to the Touch follows the story of Jackson and Becks. When it comes to Jackson’s past, he wants nothing more to put it all behind him. He’s come a long way since being in foster care and is happy with the life that he’s made. All is going to plan until Becks turns his world upside down… When Becks’ business and apartment goes up in flames, it all seems hopeless. That is until Becks runs into a blast from her past. You see, Becks grew up with Jackson and his brothers. The only problem, Jackson doesn’t remember who Becks is. Despite that little fact, Jackson isn’t about to let someone down in their time of need. So, he offers her a place until she gets back on her feet. As much as Jackson wants to stay away and leave the past behind, there is something about Becks that calls to him and is impossible to ignore. Will Jackson and Becks take a chance on love or will their chemistry burst into flames?? There’s only one way to find out….
Overall, I thought this book was a good read. I loved the idea of the story. I mean, you can’t go wrong with firefighters and romance. And Hot to the Touch was a fun one to spend the day wrapped up in.
I really enjoyed the plot of this story and found the characters to be really likable. I appreciated the rough backgrounds that these characters came from and I liked seeing how far they all came. I loved the camaraderie that Jackson shared with his brothers. You could tell that they would always have one another’s back, no matter where life would take them. And Becks was a great addition to their little family. She just fit right in with the guys and did what she could to earn her keep. You could tell that she was real and had the best of intentions. And I loved seeing her put Jackson in his place! Speaking of Jackson, the sparks between these two were flying all over the place. It honestly was a joy to watch. Sure their relationship wasn’t perfect and there were a few bumps along the way, but honestly, what relationship doesn’t have ups and downs? In the end, these two kept me on my toes and I couldn’t wait to see how their story would play out.
Hot to the Touch is a great start to the Brotherhood by Fire Series. I had a great time getting lost in this story and am looking forward to seeing where this series will go next.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*
Hot to the Touch is the first book in an all new series from Jaci Burton. Told from dual points of view, Hot to the Touch follows the story of Jackson and Becks. When it comes to Jackson’s past, he wants nothing more to put it all behind him. He’s come a long way since being in foster care and is happy with the life that he’s made. All is going to plan until Becks turns his world upside down… When Becks’ business and apartment goes up in flames, it all seems hopeless. That is until Becks runs into a blast from her past. You see, Becks grew up with Jackson and his brothers. The only problem, Jackson doesn’t remember who Becks is. Despite that little fact, Jackson isn’t about to let someone down in their time of need. So, he offers her a place until she gets back on her feet. As much as Jackson wants to stay away and leave the past behind, there is something about Becks that calls to him and is impossible to ignore. Will Jackson and Becks take a chance on love or will their chemistry burst into flames?? There’s only one way to find out….
Overall, I thought this book was a good read. I loved the idea of the story. I mean, you can’t go wrong with firefighters and romance. And Hot to the Touch was a fun one to spend the day wrapped up in.
I really enjoyed the plot of this story and found the characters to be really likable. I appreciated the rough backgrounds that these characters came from and I liked seeing how far they all came. I loved the camaraderie that Jackson shared with his brothers. You could tell that they would always have one another’s back, no matter where life would take them. And Becks was a great addition to their little family. She just fit right in with the guys and did what she could to earn her keep. You could tell that she was real and had the best of intentions. And I loved seeing her put Jackson in his place! Speaking of Jackson, the sparks between these two were flying all over the place. It honestly was a joy to watch. Sure their relationship wasn’t perfect and there were a few bumps along the way, but honestly, what relationship doesn’t have ups and downs? In the end, these two kept me on my toes and I couldn’t wait to see how their story would play out.
Hot to the Touch is a great start to the Brotherhood by Fire Series. I had a great time getting lost in this story and am looking forward to seeing where this series will go next.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*
May 14, 2019
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Hot to the Touch by Jaci Burton is the first book in a brand new series following three brothers who survived the streets together and grew up to be firefighters. This is my very first Jaci Burton book; it’s a fast and easy read, but not engaging at all. I don’t have a lot of feelings towards this book. I don't hate it, neither do I love it. I just thought it was terribly boring. I can barely remember what it is about, even though I just finished it a couple of hours ago. In fact, I would have preferred that this book pissed me off – at least then it would have left a lasting impression on me.
Jackson and Becks had no chemistry whatsoever (this book is so uninspiring that I actually had to stop and try to remember the protagonists’ names). The steamy scenes did nothing to me. The emotional depth of their relationship also feels very hollow. I feel like it wasn’t developed as deeply as their sexual relationship was developed. The beginning of their relationship also felt so repetitive. Jackson gets all defensive for no reason and talks shit to Becks. Then his brothers are like “wtf man?” and then Jackson apologizes to Becks and she forgives him. Rinse and repeat for at least the first third of the book. Moreover, I didn't like the continuous push and pull about their pasts. While Becks had good intentions about motivating Jackson to talk about his past, I also thought she came across as pushy at times.
Not only did I fail to connect with the hero and heroine, but I was also unable to connect with the supporting characters. I think the only character I liked was Margie and she was barely in the book. What’s also really strange is that Jackson and his brothers sound like teenagers even though they’re supposed to be grown ass men. Jackson only sounds like a man when he’s with Becks. It’s all very weird. There was also a lot of filler with TOO MANY DETAILS about Jackson and Becks's jobs. At first, I enjoyed learning about their jobs, but it got to the point where I was fed up with the information overload. Tl;dr: I was bored out of my mind.
I probably won’t continue reading this series, especially after finding out who the next couple will be (I don’t like the heroine chosen for Rafe). I do want to give Burton another shot though – maybe one of her popular sports romances.
Hot to the Touch by Jaci Burton is the first book in a brand new series following three brothers who survived the streets together and grew up to be firefighters. This is my very first Jaci Burton book; it’s a fast and easy read, but not engaging at all. I don’t have a lot of feelings towards this book. I don't hate it, neither do I love it. I just thought it was terribly boring. I can barely remember what it is about, even though I just finished it a couple of hours ago. In fact, I would have preferred that this book pissed me off – at least then it would have left a lasting impression on me.
Jackson and Becks had no chemistry whatsoever (this book is so uninspiring that I actually had to stop and try to remember the protagonists’ names). The steamy scenes did nothing to me. The emotional depth of their relationship also feels very hollow. I feel like it wasn’t developed as deeply as their sexual relationship was developed. The beginning of their relationship also felt so repetitive. Jackson gets all defensive for no reason and talks shit to Becks. Then his brothers are like “wtf man?” and then Jackson apologizes to Becks and she forgives him. Rinse and repeat for at least the first third of the book. Moreover, I didn't like the continuous push and pull about their pasts. While Becks had good intentions about motivating Jackson to talk about his past, I also thought she came across as pushy at times.
Not only did I fail to connect with the hero and heroine, but I was also unable to connect with the supporting characters. I think the only character I liked was Margie and she was barely in the book. What’s also really strange is that Jackson and his brothers sound like teenagers even though they’re supposed to be grown ass men. Jackson only sounds like a man when he’s with Becks. It’s all very weird. There was also a lot of filler with TOO MANY DETAILS about Jackson and Becks's jobs. At first, I enjoyed learning about their jobs, but it got to the point where I was fed up with the information overload. Tl;dr: I was bored out of my mind.
I probably won’t continue reading this series, especially after finding out who the next couple will be (I don’t like the heroine chosen for Rafe). I do want to give Burton another shot though – maybe one of her popular sports romances.
February 1, 2020
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
A hot firefighter, yeah count me in. When Jackson Donovan and his brothers, Rafe and Kal, rescued Becks Benning from a burning building. She lost everything - her home and her tattoo business. Thing is, they recognize one another. They were once in the same foster home. Out of compassion, loyalty and shared memories, they invite her to stay with them until she can start over.
Rafe and Kal treat Becks with respect and kindness. On the other hand, Jackson treats her rather harshly. Fine, Becks thinks. She just wants to get back on her feet, but meanwhile, she proves she is no slouch as a roommate. So, why is Jackson treating her the way he does.
Becks has never forgotten Jackson and cannot believe that they were brought back together by the fire. Sharing their past memories just might be the way to get to know him again. But, Jackson is having none of it. To him, the past is best left buried and that is that. Becks is determined to reach him. Can she succeed and can this couple find a sweet future together?
Hot to the Touch is wonderful as the first book in a new trilogy. Jaci Burton has no problem creating a sexy and thrilling story. I love how she brings in both passion and emotion to all the couples she writes. I loved Becks and Jackson's story and I was glad to go right to the next book in the series, Ignite on Contact, and read Rafe's story. Now, I am eager for Kal to get his.
Years past I have read over thirty of Ms. Burton's books. It was a real treat to get back into her books with this series, and I hope as time goes on to get into the backlist titles I have missed.
A hot firefighter, yeah count me in. When Jackson Donovan and his brothers, Rafe and Kal, rescued Becks Benning from a burning building. She lost everything - her home and her tattoo business. Thing is, they recognize one another. They were once in the same foster home. Out of compassion, loyalty and shared memories, they invite her to stay with them until she can start over.
Rafe and Kal treat Becks with respect and kindness. On the other hand, Jackson treats her rather harshly. Fine, Becks thinks. She just wants to get back on her feet, but meanwhile, she proves she is no slouch as a roommate. So, why is Jackson treating her the way he does.
Becks has never forgotten Jackson and cannot believe that they were brought back together by the fire. Sharing their past memories just might be the way to get to know him again. But, Jackson is having none of it. To him, the past is best left buried and that is that. Becks is determined to reach him. Can she succeed and can this couple find a sweet future together?
Hot to the Touch is wonderful as the first book in a new trilogy. Jaci Burton has no problem creating a sexy and thrilling story. I love how she brings in both passion and emotion to all the couples she writes. I loved Becks and Jackson's story and I was glad to go right to the next book in the series, Ignite on Contact, and read Rafe's story. Now, I am eager for Kal to get his.
Years past I have read over thirty of Ms. Burton's books. It was a real treat to get back into her books with this series, and I hope as time goes on to get into the backlist titles I have missed.
May 22, 2019
Review & Giveaway: HOT TO THE TOUCH by Jaci Burton https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-b7K
Publication Date: May 7, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 5 Stars
I am in love with the Donovan’s! I enjoyed the three brother’s banter and closeness…especially the story of how they came to call themselves brothers. As the eldest, Jackson carries a burden from his past that he tried to ignore. Thankfully Becks was the right person to reach inside him and break him free. That journey was heartfelt and sexy. What a combo. Becks could hold her own with the hesitant, and sometimes grumpy, Jackson. Her self-assurance – despite her past – was not clichéd, instead it was just right. Making them a couple that you wanted to know. I cannot wait for book 2!
*Review copy provided by Pengiun in exchange for an honest review.
~*~*~*~
Kindle https://amzn.to/2M1jZzJ
Publication Date: May 7, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 5 Stars
I am in love with the Donovan’s! I enjoyed the three brother’s banter and closeness…especially the story of how they came to call themselves brothers. As the eldest, Jackson carries a burden from his past that he tried to ignore. Thankfully Becks was the right person to reach inside him and break him free. That journey was heartfelt and sexy. What a combo. Becks could hold her own with the hesitant, and sometimes grumpy, Jackson. Her self-assurance – despite her past – was not clichéd, instead it was just right. Making them a couple that you wanted to know. I cannot wait for book 2!
*Review copy provided by Pengiun in exchange for an honest review.
~*~*~*~
Kindle https://amzn.to/2M1jZzJ
June 13, 2019
★★ 3.5 stars! ★★
April 10, 2019
Hot to the Touch (Brotherhood by Fire #1) by Jaci Burton
4.5 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: Foster Care
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Kal, Rafe and Jackson all grew up in an adoptive home. However, they started out living on the streets with their own small family. Jackson was always the protector and when they were separated from their group, he took it on himself to ensure his brothers' safety.
When the boys all grew up, they became firefighters. Running in to a fire, Jackson saves a woman from a fire in her work place. What he doesn't expect is to have this person be a blast from his past. Becks was someone who used to live with them when they were homeless. Now, she's doing well for herself and is all grown up.
This is more of a story about finding love and wanting to be a better person to earn that love. Guilt is a powerful barrier and if it's not dealt with, it can ruin a perfectly good relationship. Jackson hates to remember his past. It's painful and something he actively tries to forget. However, in order to truly love someone, the past has to be dealt with.
Jackson has to figure out whether or not his past is powerful enough to hold him back from loving Becks. I loved watching his family support him, as well as kick him in the butt at times.
I hope the other brothers get their own stories.
4.5 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: Foster Care
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Kal, Rafe and Jackson all grew up in an adoptive home. However, they started out living on the streets with their own small family. Jackson was always the protector and when they were separated from their group, he took it on himself to ensure his brothers' safety.
When the boys all grew up, they became firefighters. Running in to a fire, Jackson saves a woman from a fire in her work place. What he doesn't expect is to have this person be a blast from his past. Becks was someone who used to live with them when they were homeless. Now, she's doing well for herself and is all grown up.
This is more of a story about finding love and wanting to be a better person to earn that love. Guilt is a powerful barrier and if it's not dealt with, it can ruin a perfectly good relationship. Jackson hates to remember his past. It's painful and something he actively tries to forget. However, in order to truly love someone, the past has to be dealt with.
Jackson has to figure out whether or not his past is powerful enough to hold him back from loving Becks. I loved watching his family support him, as well as kick him in the butt at times.
I hope the other brothers get their own stories.
March 12, 2019
Received an ARC for an honest review.
LOVED. LOVED. LOVED! Jaci Burton's newest series is off to an amazing start with Jackson and Becks. Having once been homeless on the streets together, Becks and Jackson are reunited when her shop catches fire. Before you know it, his brothers (by heart, not by blood), have welcomed her into their home. Jackson doesn't know how to deal with this blast from his past - a past he's done everything in his power to keep down.
This book literally had everything. It had so much heart. And not just with Jackson and Becks. Seeing Jackson with his brothers and parents was where a lot of the heart lies. Seeing how far Becks has come was a sight to behold. Seeing the boys' parents and how much they loved their sons was beautiful. Then you have the heat - and it's a Burton book, so you know the heat is off the charts...scalding as ever. There's humor and well-written characters that came to life for me.
I read this book in one sitting and I cannot wait to see what Kal and Rafe get up to in their books. If it's anything like the love Jackson found, it's going to be one for the history books.
LOVED. LOVED. LOVED! Jaci Burton's newest series is off to an amazing start with Jackson and Becks. Having once been homeless on the streets together, Becks and Jackson are reunited when her shop catches fire. Before you know it, his brothers (by heart, not by blood), have welcomed her into their home. Jackson doesn't know how to deal with this blast from his past - a past he's done everything in his power to keep down.
This book literally had everything. It had so much heart. And not just with Jackson and Becks. Seeing Jackson with his brothers and parents was where a lot of the heart lies. Seeing how far Becks has come was a sight to behold. Seeing the boys' parents and how much they loved their sons was beautiful. Then you have the heat - and it's a Burton book, so you know the heat is off the charts...scalding as ever. There's humor and well-written characters that came to life for me.
I read this book in one sitting and I cannot wait to see what Kal and Rafe get up to in their books. If it's anything like the love Jackson found, it's going to be one for the history books.
March 12, 2019
This is the first book in the Brotherhood By Fire series and the first book by Jaci Burton that I have read. I enjoyed it immensely and had a hard time putting it down. The plot was engaging and moved along at a steady pace.
This book introduces the three Donovan brothers who are not really brothers, but grew up together homeless until they were adopted by Josh and Laurel Donovan. Josh is a firefighter who rescued the boys from an abandoned house that caught fire. Now they are all grown up and have become firefighters, too. This book targets Jackson Donovan, the oldest of the three. One night on a fire call, they end up rescuing Becks Benning whose tattoo business and apartment went up in blaze. Becks is one of the homeless kids they used to hang out with when they were young. Only now, she is all grown up and smoking hot. She and Jackson are attracted and the sparks are flying.
Thank you to Penguin Random House and Berkley Romance for this advanced reading copy that I received. I enjoyed it a lot and am happy to be introduced to a new author that I will definitely be reading more of. I can't wait to read the other books in this series.
This book introduces the three Donovan brothers who are not really brothers, but grew up together homeless until they were adopted by Josh and Laurel Donovan. Josh is a firefighter who rescued the boys from an abandoned house that caught fire. Now they are all grown up and have become firefighters, too. This book targets Jackson Donovan, the oldest of the three. One night on a fire call, they end up rescuing Becks Benning whose tattoo business and apartment went up in blaze. Becks is one of the homeless kids they used to hang out with when they were young. Only now, she is all grown up and smoking hot. She and Jackson are attracted and the sparks are flying.
Thank you to Penguin Random House and Berkley Romance for this advanced reading copy that I received. I enjoyed it a lot and am happy to be introduced to a new author that I will definitely be reading more of. I can't wait to read the other books in this series.
May 23, 2019
I AM HERE FOR IT!
Seriously, hot firefighting brothers that had a rough beginning in childhood, you are speaking my language. I love reading about characters that have struggled, but succeeded despite the odds. It is really interesting to see the struggle to connect as an adult, because of the lasting impact of childhood adversity. I think Jaci Burton did a wonderful job, showing this struggle in a realistic way. I really enjoy the dark parts of characters, especially when they embrace them and grow. The compassion of the characters in this story is so special. Becks is a little spitfire with her own strengths and insecurities. Jackson is avoiding his past, and we all know that won’t make it go away. This is a journey of healing and finding love, and I adored every second of it! I cannot wait for Rafe and Kal’s stories.
Thanks to the First to Read program for the eARC in exchange for a honest review.
Seriously, hot firefighting brothers that had a rough beginning in childhood, you are speaking my language. I love reading about characters that have struggled, but succeeded despite the odds. It is really interesting to see the struggle to connect as an adult, because of the lasting impact of childhood adversity. I think Jaci Burton did a wonderful job, showing this struggle in a realistic way. I really enjoy the dark parts of characters, especially when they embrace them and grow. The compassion of the characters in this story is so special. Becks is a little spitfire with her own strengths and insecurities. Jackson is avoiding his past, and we all know that won’t make it go away. This is a journey of healing and finding love, and I adored every second of it! I cannot wait for Rafe and Kal’s stories.
Thanks to the First to Read program for the eARC in exchange for a honest review.
March 19, 2019
A steamy start to a smoking hot romance series that is sure to get your blood boiling. This fast-paced read is sure to pull you in and hold your attention until the very end. Hot to the Touch is a sexy read that is perfect for fans of romance stories.
March 6, 2019
This is the first Jaci Burton book I've read in a long time. I loved it. Now I need to go back and catch up with Jaci's other books.
May 30, 2019
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
When I saw that Jaci Burton was starting a new series and it would be about firefighters, I was super excited. I feel like I haven't read enough firefighter romances and Jaci Burton can always deliver on a sweet and sexy story. There were several things about HOT TO THE TOUCH that I enjoyed, but others felt a bit forgettable to me. I loved all the characters we were introduced to in this first installment. The two main characters as well as the side characters, who I'm excited to read books about. But probably my favorite aspect of this story is the found family bond. The hero has 2 brothers but they are brothers by choice. They met as children on the streets trying to survive and formed their own little family since then until they were adopted all together. Ms. Burton writes families and friendships so well and this was another perfect example of that.What I think was a bit lackluster for me was the conflict. While I enjoy that Ms. Burton's stories tend to be low on angst and sometimes low on conflict, I couldn't help but feel this one felt like a made up conflict that I just couldn't quite comprehend why it would be such a big deal keeping them apart. So I was missing some of the real tension throughout this story.That being said, I did enjoy the chemistry between our two main characters. I liked the heroine most of all because she's made something of herself without forgetting where she came from and wanting to give back.If you're in the mood for a sweet and laid back story that will introduce you to some hot firefighters, be sure to pick this one up. I for one can't wait for the next installment in the series.
*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Francesca❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
May 10, 2019
Thank you so much to Berkley and Netgalley for sending this to me!!
*3.5*
I really liked it and had a lot of fun flying through this! Surprisingly this is my first book by Jaci Burton! I own a bunch of her books and I’ve heard nothing but great things but when I saw she was coming out with a Firefighter series I knew I wanted to get my hands on it ASAP! And now I’m definitely eager to pick up more books from her!
This story follows Jackson and Becks who knew eachother from the streets when they were kids. They both have had a really hard life and share a devastating past but Jackson is very closed off and doesn’t want to talk about it. When he rescues Becks from her tattoo shop burning, she ends up moving in with him while she gets her feet back under her. She also is living with Rafe and Kal, Jackson’s other two brothers from when they were kids. It’s a really sweet kind of second chance romance since she had a huge crush on him when they were kids, now their relationship is FLAMING with sexual tension.
Overall, I really did like this book. It was easy to read, light even though it dealt with some serious issues and the romance was really hot. I think I just had a hard time coming around to Jackson. He kept not wanting to talk about the past and it kept being brought up CONSTANTLY to the point where it got a bit frustrating. I liked the family moments between the brothers and Jackson’s parents but the way Jackson would treat Becks because he didn’t want to confront the past got repetitive. It was the same conflict that kept coming up but when it all came to a head, it felt a tad anti climatic in a way. And not too much actually happened in the book which made it a bit slow towards the middle portion. I really liked the last two chapters and all the steamy moments between Becks and Jackson. They had a ton of sexual tension and I loved how this book took place in the summer. I thought Becks was a great character and I was rooting for her the whole time. I liked how Jaci Burton talked about a serious issue that is homelessness in kids and foster care. So even though not a lot happened in this book, I found her writing to be captivating and addicting.
I especially loved Rafe and Kal so I’m very excited to read their books!! Be sure to pick this one up if you want something hot to read this summer!
*3.5*
I really liked it and had a lot of fun flying through this! Surprisingly this is my first book by Jaci Burton! I own a bunch of her books and I’ve heard nothing but great things but when I saw she was coming out with a Firefighter series I knew I wanted to get my hands on it ASAP! And now I’m definitely eager to pick up more books from her!
This story follows Jackson and Becks who knew eachother from the streets when they were kids. They both have had a really hard life and share a devastating past but Jackson is very closed off and doesn’t want to talk about it. When he rescues Becks from her tattoo shop burning, she ends up moving in with him while she gets her feet back under her. She also is living with Rafe and Kal, Jackson’s other two brothers from when they were kids. It’s a really sweet kind of second chance romance since she had a huge crush on him when they were kids, now their relationship is FLAMING with sexual tension.
Overall, I really did like this book. It was easy to read, light even though it dealt with some serious issues and the romance was really hot. I think I just had a hard time coming around to Jackson. He kept not wanting to talk about the past and it kept being brought up CONSTANTLY to the point where it got a bit frustrating. I liked the family moments between the brothers and Jackson’s parents but the way Jackson would treat Becks because he didn’t want to confront the past got repetitive. It was the same conflict that kept coming up but when it all came to a head, it felt a tad anti climatic in a way. And not too much actually happened in the book which made it a bit slow towards the middle portion. I really liked the last two chapters and all the steamy moments between Becks and Jackson. They had a ton of sexual tension and I loved how this book took place in the summer. I thought Becks was a great character and I was rooting for her the whole time. I liked how Jaci Burton talked about a serious issue that is homelessness in kids and foster care. So even though not a lot happened in this book, I found her writing to be captivating and addicting.
I especially loved Rafe and Kal so I’m very excited to read their books!! Be sure to pick this one up if you want something hot to read this summer!
March 26, 2019
3.5 stars
I received this book as an ARC from the Penguin Random House First to Read program. This was actually my first Jaci Burton book but I love a good firefighter romance so I thought I would give it a read.
Jackson and Becks knew each other when they were younger, Jackson was the leader of their group of homeless kids. The group got separated during a storm and Jackson and his two brothers took refuge in an abandoned house. The boys all woke up to the house being on fire and firefighters coming in to rescue them. As luck would have it the boys were all adopted by the firefighter that carried Jackson out of the house. Jackson and Becks don’t see each other again until her tattoo shop catches on fire and he ends up dragging her out. Jacksons brothers recognize Becks right away and jump right back to their friendship from childhood but Jackson has blocked out the past so he doesn’t remember her. As Jackson and Becks spend more time together the chemistry increases until they both slowly want more.
Hot to the Touch definitely delivered on the romance aspect, and Jaci Burton delved into the characters past and their emotions so much that I couldn’t help but be very interested in knowing how things would turn out for all the brothers! This seems to be the year for second chance romances for me so I was thrilled to find out that this wasn’t one. Even though the characters knew each other from their childhood a relationship never occurred when they were younger, so we were witnessing the first try for romance in Hot to the Touch. This was a good romance story, but Jaci Burton delved into deep issues about the foster care system and child homelessness, she didn’t just gloss over the fact that they were homeless as kids there was so much mentioned about how they felt during that time. I enjoyed reading this book, but there were parts of the book where it just felt like the same thing was being repeated. There were only so many times Jackson could claim he didn’t want to talk about his past and Becks trying to push him to acknowledge what happened when they were younger.
I received this book as an ARC from the Penguin Random House First to Read program. This was actually my first Jaci Burton book but I love a good firefighter romance so I thought I would give it a read.
Jackson and Becks knew each other when they were younger, Jackson was the leader of their group of homeless kids. The group got separated during a storm and Jackson and his two brothers took refuge in an abandoned house. The boys all woke up to the house being on fire and firefighters coming in to rescue them. As luck would have it the boys were all adopted by the firefighter that carried Jackson out of the house. Jackson and Becks don’t see each other again until her tattoo shop catches on fire and he ends up dragging her out. Jacksons brothers recognize Becks right away and jump right back to their friendship from childhood but Jackson has blocked out the past so he doesn’t remember her. As Jackson and Becks spend more time together the chemistry increases until they both slowly want more.
Hot to the Touch definitely delivered on the romance aspect, and Jaci Burton delved into the characters past and their emotions so much that I couldn’t help but be very interested in knowing how things would turn out for all the brothers! This seems to be the year for second chance romances for me so I was thrilled to find out that this wasn’t one. Even though the characters knew each other from their childhood a relationship never occurred when they were younger, so we were witnessing the first try for romance in Hot to the Touch. This was a good romance story, but Jaci Burton delved into deep issues about the foster care system and child homelessness, she didn’t just gloss over the fact that they were homeless as kids there was so much mentioned about how they felt during that time. I enjoyed reading this book, but there were parts of the book where it just felt like the same thing was being repeated. There were only so many times Jackson could claim he didn’t want to talk about his past and Becks trying to push him to acknowledge what happened when they were younger.
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