Spotlight & Giveaway: The Firefighter’s Dilemma by Mariah Ankenman

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Mariah Ankenman to HJ!

Hi Mariah and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, The Firefighter’s Dilemma!

 
Hello Romance Readers!
 

Please summarize the book a la Twitter style for the readers here:

When two frenemy firefighters team up to compete in a reality game web show, the sizzling attraction they’ve ignored for years threatens to explode putting the game and their future at risk.
 

Please share the opening lines of this book:

“I call dibs on first shower!” Kincaid shouted.
“Dude, no. You had dibs last time,” Ward complained. Stephanie Díaz chuckled to herself as she watched her fellow firefighters fight over who got to wash off the ash and smoke smell first. Sometimes it paid being one of the only female firefighters in the company.

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

• I was binge watching Brooklyn 99 while writing this book…readers might notices a few of the characters share names similar to characters on the show.
• Stephanie Díaz was named as an homage to the character Rosa Díaz and the actress who played her Stephanie Beatriz (I just love her so much, her talent is amazing).
• Ward’s brother’s came to life after I saw a photo of triplet construction workers…plot bunny!
• This is the first Mile High Firefighter’s book where the crew never goes to a call on page.
• The unique snacks Díaz buys Ward to torture him are readily available at most gas stations along the I-70 Corridor.

What first attracts your main characters to each other?

Ward finds Díaz take charge attitude impressive, but when he glimpses her soft inner core that’s what really makes him fall.
Díaz knows Ward is hot, but what really gets her is his caring nature and his refusal to throw her under the bus just to get a win. He puts their friendship first and that is what gets her to throw caution to the wind and go for it.
 

Using just 5 words, how would you describe your main characters”love affair?

Steamy, secret, surprising, end game.
 

The First Kiss…

“One kiss,” she repeated. “And if we don’t feel anything, we go back to being friends and me kicking your ass in training drills every week.”
A laugh left him. “Okay, and if we feel something? Then what?”
He saw the worry in her eyes. Worry things would go wrong? Or that they’d go right? He had no idea, but if she was willing to see, so was he.
“Just shut up and kiss me.”
She leaned forward. He dipped his head down, brushing his lips along her jaw until he came to that sweet spot below her ear. He pressed a soft kiss there, grinning when she rewarded him with a soft moan of pleasure.

Without revealing too much, what is your favorite scene in the book?

The cave scene by far! I took the Only One Bed trope, said “hold my martini” and put the characters in a cave. I just love putting characters in unusual places for love scenes (check out the art studio scene in The Wedding Dilemma). It was such a fun scene to write, but I don’t think I’d like to try it out in real life, lol. #OnlyOneCave

“Beautiful, you have to stop, or we won’t be able to put those condoms to their intended use.”
She laughed softly. “Well, we can’t have that, can we?”
He grinned, his hand sliding down her body as he followed her lead to kneel on the pile of clothing. “No, we can’t.”
His fingers found her first. Soft and light, like the whisper of a butterfly’s wings. Torturous in their feathered exploration.
“More, Eli,” she demanded.
He chuckled. “So, you’re in charge in the cave?”
“Yes,” she panted. “I’m in charge in the cave.”
His breath blew across her as he whispered, “Then your wish is my command.”

If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would be absolutely crucial to include?

The rock climbing scene. It’s not just another competition scene, it’s the moment where Eli lets his feelings for Stephanie slip when he see’s her in danger. It’s a breaking point for them. Where she feels the need to prove herself, no matter the consequences, and he realizes that watching her put herself in danger is more than he can bare.

Suddenly, her foot slipped, shin scraping against the hard, gritty surface of the rocks as she fell slightly and slammed into the wall. Pain sliced into her. Burning, searing white-hot pain enveloped her lower leg. A warm, wet sensation coated her shin, and she knew she had to be bleeding. Holding back a cry, she clenched her teeth and shook it off. There was no time.
“Stephanie!”
At Ward’s worried call, she glanced down to see his face, pale white.
“I’m okay,” she called down to him.
He shook his head. “You’re bleeding. Let’s go down.”
It was just a scratch. She moved her leg, wincing as the move shot a bolt of fire through the appendage. Okay, maybe more than a scratch, but she wasn’t letting it slow her down. She was not giving up. Not now.
“No. We have a person who needs rescue.”
His brow furrowed, worry and anger filling his eyes. “It’s just a game.”
Maybe to him, but not to her. It was a chance to prove herself, and she wasn’t letting a silly scratch get in the way. Even if it did hurt like hell.

Readers should read this book …

If you want a quick, steamy, laugh-out-loud read with these tropes in it:
Frenemy to lovers
coworkers
secret fling
pining
banter
forced proximity
ONLY ONE CAVE!
Then be sure to check out The Firefighter’s Dilemma

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

I’m a part of the Happily Ever After Patreon and we’ve got a fun line up for 2023. I’ll also be releasing some novellas this year that were in last years Patreon and one from an anthology that’s ending.

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: $20 egift card to The Ripped Bodice

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: Have you ever had a crush on a friend?

 
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Excerpt from The Firefighter’s Dilemma:

“Can you believe she thought we were a couple?” Díaz said with a laugh as she moved to the cabinet to grab a glass.
He watched as she filled the glass with water from the sink. Leaning back against the counter, he crossed his arms over his chest, trying his best not to take her disbelief to heart. He knew she didn’t mean to offend him, but damn if it stung his pride to know that, to her, the idea of them dating was ridiculous.
“I know, right? I’m totally out of your league.”
She slowly lowered her glass. Hard gaze focused on him. If looks could kill… Whatever. He wasn’t scared of Diaz’s death glare. He’d been the recipient of it many times over their four-year friendship.
“You think so?” she asked, one dark brow arched.
Keeping his smirk in place, he didn’t back down as she advanced toward him. “Oh, I know it, honey.”
The glare dissolved into a beautiful, seductive smile. Her teeth came out to gently bite her lip. She stepped even closer until they were inches away. His eyes widened as her hand lifted, fingertips gently touching his chest and trailing down his stomach, brushing over his abs, which clenched in reaction to the woman he’d wanted for years finally touching him in a way he’d never dreamed she would.
What. Was. Happening?
He didn’t have one fucking clue, but no way in hell was he going to stop it. He stood stock-still, letting her touch all she wanted, waiting with bated breath to see where this was going. What she was doing. His heart pounded in his chest as her fingers slid to the top of his pants. His cock hardened to the point of pain, straining to get out of his jeans and into the woman standing inches away.
“Ward?”
His name came out as a breathy whisper from her lips. He sucked in a sharp breath. “Yeah?”
Her finger slipped into the top of his jeans. She tugged slightly, making enough room for her hand to slip inside and—
“Holy shit!” he yelped as a gush of cold water poured down his pants, over his junk.
Díaz stepped away, laughing maniacally. “That’s for calling me honey and saying you’re out of my league when we both know I’m way out of yours.”
He jumped up and down, the water more surprising than cold. On second thought, after a moment, the chill of the liquid set in. His hard-on protested the rapidly cooling temperature by immediately disappearing. Honestly, he should have seen it coming. He was baiting her, and Díaz never backed down. It wasn’t like he hadn’t pulled his share of pranks on her.
At least the cold water handled one problem, but now it was causing others. Namely, discomfort. Unzipping his jeans, he started to pull the offending clothing away. Díaz squealed. Literally squealed. A sound he’d never thought he’d ever hear from her. It surprised him so much he paused mid-undress and glanced up.
She slapped a hand over her eyes. “What are you doing, Ward?”
Seemed rather obvious to him. “I’m taking these wet jeans off.”
“Well, do that in your bedroom. This is the kitchen. People eat here.”
“This is your fault, you know.”
She waved one hand in the air, the other still covering her eyes. “Whatever. Just go get naked in your own room. Nobody wants to see that.”
Ouch. But he’d be more upset if he hadn’t noticed her fingers spread just a touch and the hint of a greedy eye taking him in. Hmmm, so Díaz did find him attractive.
Maybe not enough to want anything with him, but enough to sneak a peek of the goods. He filed that away in his vault of Stephanie Díaz information.
“Plenty of people want to see me naked, and you don’t have to spill water on me to receive that pleasure, Díaz.” He chuckled as he moved out of the kitchen and down the hall to his room, calling over his shoulder. “All you have to do is ask.”

Excerpts. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Firefighter Stephanie Díaz won’t let anyone stop her from becoming the youngest female fire chief in Denver. Not the jerks who’d like to see an ambitious Latine woman admit defeat. Not the ultra-bro firefighters she has to work with. And definitely not her ridiculously hot and often infuriating, fellow firefighter Eli Ward. Now Stephanie has the chance to prove to everyone that she’s got what it takes…but there’s one helluva catch.

The Battle of the First Responders is a live, balls-out competition in the secluded Rockies and Stephanie has been selected—along with Ward as her partner. On the line are their reputations, a whole lot of cash…and the promotion they’ve been fighting for. Teaming up is the perfect chance to finally settle their never ending one-upmanship, but it also exposes the smoldering attraction they’ve held at bay.

Now their days are fueled by a high-stakes, adrenaline-fueled competition. Their nights are filled with sizzling deep kisses that steal her breath away. But this sexy little fling is about to set off a five-alarm blaze she can’t control…
Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Goodreads |
 
 

Meet the Author:

Bestselling author Mariah Ankenman lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her two rambunctious children and loving spouse who is her own personal spell checker when her dyslexia gets the best of her.

Mariah loves to lose herself in a world of words. Her favorite thing about writing is when she can make someone’s day a little brighter with one of her books. To learn more about Mariah and her books follow her on social media or sign up for her newsletter.
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