Heat Exchange by Shannon Stacey (Boston Fire #1)
Released: August 25, 2015
Contemporary Romance
Carina Press

Reviewed by Mandi

Lydia escaped Boston and her overbearing firefighting family and finally feels like she has a life of her own. Even though she doesn’t love being a waitress, she has an apartment and her own parking space. But when she gets a call from her sister Ashley, who tells her she has separated from her husband, she knows she is needed at home. Ashley works at the family owned bar, but knows if she goes into work the entire town will come in and ask her why she has left her husband, so she begs Lydia to come back and work for a little bit.

Aidan is Lydia’s younger brother’s best friend. A firefighter (as is Lydia’s brother and Ashley’s husband – are you keeping up??) Aidan is a good-guy hero. Not only because he saves lives, but he is just a decent dude. He has the hots for Lydia, but Lydia’s ex-husband was a firefighter and besides the marriage not working out, Lydia vowed to never love a firefighter again because of the constant worry when they are at work. But with Lydia back home, and Aidan showing up, it’s hard for her to keep that promise.

The first in a new series, Shannon Stacy sets up the family and the town well. I liked the firefighter atmosphere. I liked Aidan at work with his good buddies, not only in action but sitting around the firehouse with good banter. Aidan’s firefighter co-workers are as close to him as brothers – it was very good camaraderie. But there were also things that didn’t work for me.

Aidan and Lydia have nice chemistry, but I felt like all that happens is they work up to having sex. And while the sex scenes were nice and hot, I wanted more actual romance and courtship between them. The actual romance fell a little flat for me. Part of the reason it falls flat and my other frustration with this book, is Lydia’s sister. Ashley and Danny (her husband) separate at the beginning of this book, and their separation and drama of trying to get back together completely overshadows Aidan and Lydia. It takes away so much page time that could have been spent with our main couple. I assumed it was all a set-up for Ashley and Danny to get their own book next – and I enjoy books about already established couples who have lost their way. But instead, it kind of gets resolved in this one. There was just too much going on with Ashley and Danny and not enough with Lydia and Aidan.

It was a nice read, but lacking a little too.

Grade: C+

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