After escaping my controlling ex-boyfriend and moving to Redwood Bay, I swear off men for good. The only company I need is my new rescue dog, Queenie. Meeting gorgeous firefighter Lochlan Bell at puppy training class doesn’t count because he’s straight, yet for some bizarre reason he’s decided to become my friend. When he suggests pretending to be my boyfriend for Thanksgiving to stop my concerned family from worrying about me, the lines start to blur. Even if Lochlan suddenly realizes he likes men, though, he’d never be into a nerd like me. Right?
LOCHLAN
Who knew that pulling a trembling puppy from a burning building would lead to meeting my new best friend? Dario Garcia-Perez is so cool and smart, I’m surprised he puts up with a dumb jock like me. But I can tell he’s running from something that hurt him real bad. Or someone. It takes me way too long to realize that all these protective feelings I have for him might mean something else. Something more. Something amazing. Just as we start getting closer, though, Dario’s past comes back to haunt him. The difference now is that he has me, and I’m not going anywhere.
Igniting His Flame is a red-hot, standalone MM romance. It’s the first book in the found family Redwood Bay Fire series. Join the members of the One-Thirteen house as the heat turns up and they find true love! This book features a completely oblivious bisexual himbo, two four-legged best friends, a childhood bedroom with only one bed, a shared obsession with all things sci-fi, a disaster at the amusement park, an ex with a dangerous vendetta, and a guaranteed HEA with absolutely no cliffhanger.
Content Warning: This book deals with a past domestic abuse situation between Dario and his ex. No violence occurs on page.
I'm not rehash the blurb here, but jumping straight in.
I bloody LOVED this book!
In a review for a previous Welch/Juliet book, I said I didn't enjoy it because it was first person/present tense/ and multi POV. If you follow my reviews, you'll know I'm not a fan. Well guess what? I didn't even notice this book was written as such!
I think that this can best be described using something from the book. This is a labrador meeting a scared puppy, and that labrador being the one thing that can help the puppy get over his trauma!
Lochlan is a fire fighter and pulls a puppy from a fire. Dario adopts a dog, after coming to town to get away from his abusive ex. The dogs bond way faster than the men, but they really don't waste much time. I loved how at ease Dario was with Lochlan, right from the start, despite his past. Lochlan is straight, so nothing to worry about. But Dario still crushes and crushes HARD on Lochlan.
I loved the others in the fire crew. They helped Lochlan to see that maybe he wasn't as straight as he thought. Metaphorically speaking, by dashing his head against the wall the make his see just what Dario means to him! I loved that it was Lochlan who makes the move, rather than Dario. But given Dario's history, it was understandable.
I loved the was both sets of parents accepted the new partner for their son. Dario's had reason to be wary, but they do give Lochlan a chance, and the man does come good.
Apart from the drama with the ex, there is little angst. And I loved that there wasn't. Dario does have some history that is high angst, but nothing on page, and he is getting the help he needs to get over that.
It's so freaking cute, I just went "ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" when I finished it, and it really is full of the warm and fuzzies! I'm looking forward to getting to know the other guys in the crew!
Can't fault it, really so....
5 full and shiny stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere and no puppies were harmed in the writing of this book!
HJ Welch
(Author)
