REVIEW: Fan the Flames by Michele Dunaway

 
Fan the Flames by Michele Dunaway: When Brad’s best friend dies on assignment, he leaves Brad with a difficult task–to look after his wife. Only Brad always harbored feelings for Scarlett, stepping aside in high school only because Todd wanted to ask her out.

I liked Brad. As much as he always wanted Scarlett, he never pushed her into a relationship; instead he allowed her to take her time to move on from Todd and get to the point where she was ready to be with someone again. In the meantime, he worked to turn his house into a home for Scarlett and her daughter, Colleen. He even painted and decorated Colleen’s room to match the one she had in California, and built her a pink playroom.

Scarlett did the best she could, trying to move on from her loss and being a single parent. She struggled at times, but she never gave up. I would have liked to see her stand up to her mother a bit more as she seemed to let the woman run all over her, making decisions for both her and Colleen. She had stated she didn’t want that to happen, but she let it occur anyways.

The interaction between Colleen and Brad was sweet. They instantly took to one another. This is one of my favorite conversations that Scarlett had with Colleen about Brad when he was on duty at the firehouse.
“When will Brad get back?”
“I don’t know. He has to go help people.”
“Is he a hero? Grandma says people who help others are heroes.”
“He’s a hero,” Scarlett said.
Colleen nodded. “Our hero.”

This is a sweet story of finally getting to be with the person you’ve always wanted. It’s pretty straight forward with little drama or suspense, but even without all that their journey was enjoyable.

Book Info:

August 18, 2015 | St. Martin’s Press | Man of the Month #2

Former Navy SEAL turned marine rescue firefighter Brad Silverman is tasked with his toughest mission yet: taking care of his best friend’s wife. The only problem is that Scarlett Harrison has always been the one-the one who got away, the one who held his heart, and the one who has always been off limits…

Now widowed Scarlett returns to her childhood home in St. Louis, determined to get her life back on track. She misses her husband but can’t fight the attraction she feels for sexy fireman Brad. As she spends more time with him, the connection they have had since high school grows stronger. Are they finally ready to overcome their pasts and lose their hearts to each other?