Series: Brotherhood by Fire (Book 2)
Relationships. Firefighter Rafe Donovan avoids them
whenever possible. He loves dating women, but he makes sure they know up front
that he's in it for fun, great sex and nothing more.
Fun. As an ER nurse and official caretaker of her
disabled grandfather, Carmen Lewis doesn't have time for fun. But Rafe has been
there for Carmen--and her grandfather--time and again, and he's clearly
interested in her. She knows he's a player, but she's tempted by his charm and
incredible body. And maybe a little fun isn't a bad thing, as long as she keeps
her heart away from this fiery game she's enjoying with a very hot man.
Love. It doesn't take Rafe long to realize that until now
he's only been playing at romance. With Carmen he feels searing passion and
heart-tugging emotion for the first time. Now he has to convince Carmen that
what they have together is the real deal.
This was a terrific story of family ties, letting go of
the past, and finding love when you least expect it. Rafe is a firefighter with
a reputation of giving the ladies a fun time, but not getting too close. His
relationships rarely last more than a few weeks. Even his brothers have noticed
and call him on the superficiality of it. That begins to change when he ends up
in the ER under the care of his neighbor Carmen. He's been attracted to her for
a while, but she shows no interest in him.
Carmen's life is busy. She has her job as an ER nurse
that keeps her on her toes. She also lives with her grandfather and has been
caring for him since his stroke. She appreciates the help that Rafe has
provided, and he's certainly easy on the eyes. But she isn't so sure that
getting involved with him would be a smart thing to do.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between
Rafe and Carmen. Carmen avoids dating and men, having been burned by a cheating
ex-husband and is not sure she can trust her heart or her judgment. I liked how
her friend Tess gave her a bit of a nudge out of her safe little box and
encouraged her to see where the sparks between her and Rafe might go. It was
fun to see Carmen make the overtures when she took food to Rafe when he was on
medical leave. Rafe is all-in when he realizes that Carmen returns his interest
and also doesn't want anything serious.
Though they started out intending just to have fun together,
it didn't take long for the lines to blur. The chemistry between them is
strong, but they also find themselves just enjoying being together. Rafe knows
about Carmen's divorce and realizes that it will take time for her to trust
him. Though his reputation is that of a player, Rafe also has a caring nature.
I loved watching the little things he did for her, from foot rubs to helping
her around her house. Carmen doesn't quite know what to make of him because he
is so different than her ex. As those differences start to break down her
walls, Carmen finds herself growing closer to Rafe. Because their jobs are so
similar, both she and Rafe understand the toll that it can sometimes take on
them. There's a fantastic scene where Carmen helps Rafe through a traumatic
event at work, something that emphasizes just how deep their feelings have
grown.
Just as it looks like their future is assured, Carmen's
grandfather experiences a medical crisis. Carmen is swamped with guilt and
pulls back, leaving Rafe devastated. I ached for both of them as Carmen's fears
come between them. I loved how Rafe's mom helped him see that he shouldn't give
up on them. At the same time, Carmen's grandfather showed her that life is too
short to let the past dictate the future. I loved the ending and seeing how Rafe
shows Carmen that he's there for her no matter what happens.
I loved the importance of family to both Carmen and Rafe.
Carmen's relationship with her grandfather is a close one. Her grandparents
raised her after her mother died, and he is all the family she has. Carmen
tends to be a little overprotective since his stroke which he has no trouble
pushing back about. Rafe had a rough start to life with drug dealer parents. He,
Jackson, and Kal met when they were homeless street kids, and were later
rescued from a fire by Mr. Donovan. They were taken in and adopted by the
Donovans. I loved seeing the closeness and love in the Donovan family. The
three brothers are there for each other when needed. They also have a great
time teasing each other about anything and everything. The guys will also drop
everything if their parents need them for something.
Though this is the second book in the series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone. That said, I want to go back and read Jackson's story, as it sounds like a good one, too. I also look forward to Kal's story.
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