Arden Lennox’s charmed life may be in pieces, but she’d sooner get her hoohaw bleached than move back in with her parents. She’s no longer the prom-queen princess married to the football star. She’s a broke, penniless widow, and it’s time she stood on her own two feet.An under-construction unit in a quaint Chicago brownstone is cheap (free), but it comes with an unexpected surprise. Tyler … Tyler Ramirez, her brother’s gawky high school best friend, is now a smoking hot firefighter who spends most of his spare time in her unit hammering, drilling, and screwing. Usually with his shirt off—a temptation she has no intention of indulging.
Tyler can’t believe his high school crush is living right across the hall, or how fast his fierce lust for her comes blazing back. She’s still gorgeous—a little sadder, a little quieter, but still with the amazing smile and sweet body that fueled his awkward teenage fantasies.
Despite her best intentions, Arden can’t resist grown up Tyler but the sparks between them send her into full retreat. And by the time she realizes the heat between them could last a lifetime, it could be too late to tell him…
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An awesome story for my introduction into the writings of Kelly Jamieson. Arden is returning to her home town after her adult life has fallen into ruins. She is forced to move into an apartment owned by her brother that is being renovated by her brother’s friend Tyler. Tyler had a secret crush on Arden all through school but she was the unattainable, older girl who was the “prom queen” princess. The playing field is now level with Tyler as a hot fireman and Arden reduced to being a waitress to start over again financially. Trying to keep their desire for each other in the friend zone has been a lesson in futility. Dreams and secrets need to be shared not hidden from each other if they ever hope to move forward. I loved this gang of friends and hope that Kelly Jamieson will some day tell the story of the supporting characters. While I wait, there are so many more stories that I can explore from this author.
What a fantastic best friends sister romance! I loved it so much! It was a heartwarming story of healing, rediscovering yourself and finding love.
I loved Arden and Tyler! They made a great couple! Tyler has had a crush on Arden forever and wants to be with her. It just takes longer for Arden to realize she does too. This story was well written with amazing characters! I really hope we get more stories from this group of friends! If you like a fantastic romance you’ll want to read Firecracker! You’ll love it too!
Newly widowed Arden has no choice but to move back to her hometown and moves into a building her brother is renovating. Tyler had a crush on Arden in high school, but she was off limits, and he is now an overprotective and hot fireman who just so happens to be her neighbour. This is a beautifully written story which contains off the chart’s chemistry, passion, emotion, and is a heart-warming and entertaining steamy read, which had me enthralled throughout this riveting tale. I highly recommend for all.
I love it when I am so totally invested in all the characters I meet in a book before I even get halfway through. Not only did I care very much about the fate of Arden and Tyler, but all the friends we meet as well. I look forward to getting their HEA’s some day too. From the get-go I was in Arden’s corner as she tries to begin again after the loss of her husband. Luckily her brother has a place for her to live but little did she know how much her life would change once she moves in. With the support of friends and her new neighbor across the hall who isn’t so new to her life, Tyler, her life was about to go on a brand new trajectory. I loved watching Arden and Tyler figure out their feelings and come to the realization that they are everything the other needs and so much more. This is such a wonderfully sweet and heartwarming story with just the right amount of heat. I love this couple and hope to get more of them as their friends find love.
Cute story. Brother’s best friend. Arden had a rough start in this book. Tyler helps her come out of her shell, as well as her brother and Mila also being there for her. I loved how Arden and Tyler unknowingly fell in love. It always happens when you least expect it. It was sweet that he crushed on her for years and was finally able to build something real with her.
Firecracker is a sweet, sexy and passionate contemporary romance, with strong themes of family and friendship.
Arden’s life is in turmoil. She’s a young widow, struggling to cope and in desperation she reluctantly relies on her younger brother’s charity to move into his building that is under renovation. She’s quite independent, and resilient, but at times her headstrong nature was a little frustrating.
Tyler is Arden’s younger brother’s best friend. He was the geek, who metamorphosized into a sexy fireman who is quite handy with a tool belt. He’s my kind of hero, a protective, kind, alpha who’s compassionate and willing to do anything for those he cares for most.
The side characters are endearing and charismatic. They were honestly what made this book for me. I loved the fun interactions and banter within this circle of friends and hope that we get more of their stories in the future.
While the book sounds exactly my cup of tea, I didn’t like it because the hero constantly talks about the heroine as ”the prom queen”. Like she is the perfect, porcelain doll afraid to break, a girl completely out of his reach. I was annoyed when that happened so many times in a book, I wanted to smack him.
I also feel like the heroine overreacted at times, she wanted the attention all to herself and I just… it was one of those moments you roll your eyes at the character’s action.
The last two chapters were just ”meh”. Not entertaining, and to be honest – I wouldn’t miss them if they were deleted. They didn’t add anything to the story.
Overall, this book could be so much better but for me, it just fell flat.
3-3.5 stars.
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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I loved this book. Arden is trying to start over after her husband’s death and moves into one of her brother Jamie’s properties. Tyler, a firefighter, also lives in the building. I loved Arden and Tyler, their connection and undeniable chemistry. The story was very well written, the storyline flowed smoothly from page to page, the characters are well developed and likable. I really enjoyed this book from the first page until the last and recommend you read it for yourself.
This standalone contemporary romance from Kelly Jamieson is about a young widowed woman who moved home after the death of her husband. She is there to pick up the pieces of her life, but never thinks she is going to fall in love again, especially with her brother’s best friend. Characters that click, smoking hot chemistry and the nerdy boy that grew into a hunky firefighter and construction guy working on the building she is moving into to get her life back on track.
I really enjoy Kelly’s style of writing, her characters are strong yet vulnerable, people we can relate to in real life. Tyler and Arden’s story will pull at your heart strings and having you rooting for their love and HEA.
Crush turns into love years later!
Firefighter Tyler Ramirez had a crush on his best friend’s big sister forever and now she was moving back to Chicago finally after being widowed. Arden Lennox was moving back from Phoenix and it was better than living with her parents at their retirement home in Florida while she was trying to get her life back together. Arden was staying in an apartment that her brother owned that was under renovation for free. Arden couldn’t afford any rent because she was broke
Tyler wasn’t sure about Arden’s return but he found out he still had a crush on her but Arden wasn’t so sure about even thinking about dating after her heart had been broken.
I loved Firecracker because it shows that a crush can change into true love when they meet again.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I thought that this was a very good read. Arden and Tyler are realistic, complex characters and their story is filled with lots of deep emotions, tension, drama, turmoil and angst. Each of these characters had faults, issues and baggage that strongly effected who they were, their actions and the evolution of their relationship. Tyler was in my opinion, was a completely swoon worthy book boyfriend and Arden came across as very genuine and sympathetic. That is not to say though that I did not often find her quite frustrating because I did. Regardless, I enjoyed this book.
Not just a my brother’s best friend book, so much more! Arden is coming home with her tail between her legs, or so she feels accepting her brother’s help after her life has crashed down around her. After living the high life reality dropped her down hard, living in a work zone of an apartment Arden decides she needs to take back her life. But when she meets her floor mate, not the nerdy geeky teenager any more Tyler has become a hot alpha firefighter. But Arden has decided that she’s not looking for a relationship but Tyler has had a crush on Arden since a teenager, but now he’s a man and his feeling good deeper. Wonderful story of getting your bearings and starting over and opening yourself to more.
Slow burn gives way to unforgettable. Firecracker sneaks up on emotions, playing peekaboo with the heart. Jamieson takes a different approach this time around. Arden and Tyler missed their chance the first time. Can each let go of the heartaches of their past and take a chance on finding a happy ending together? Stroll through a new beginning that will steal away with your heart.
This is a sweet romance where the secondary characters play a g\huge role in the story This is a group of friends you would want to be apart of
Tyler had a huge crush on Arden his best friends sister at school but he was a nerd and she was a cheer leader so it was never going to go anywhere She married the local football star and should be having the perfect life. Only problem she is now a widow broke and needing her brothers help because there is no way she is returning to her parents home. So she has moved into a unit block her brother is renovating only problem her new neighbour is her brothers best friend but the nerd is now a screaming hot firefighter who likes to work shirtless on his days off. The attraction between them is instant but there is no way Arden is giving her heart again. Can he convince her he si the one for her. You will have to read to see
Arden is a widow at 28 and she’s lost just about everything she owns and with the help of her younger brother she moves back home to Chicago to leave in an apartment that he is renovating. Tyler is a firefighter, best friends to Jamie, who just so happens to be Arden’s brother, and has had a crush on his new neighbor since he was a teenager.
Arden is trying to find who herself when she comes back home, she doesn’t want a relationship. When she was younger she was the prom queen, had everything going for her. Tyler works hard as a firefighter, despite not having the approval of his mother, but in his spare time he helps out his best friend with apartment renovations. He was always a geek, at least that is how Arden remembers him. After a traumatic event in his childhood, Tyler is very overprotective and it shows when it comes to Arden.
From the moment they met again there was a connection between the two of them, though they both tried to avoid it, well mostly Arden. It just took one storm for them to break and from there things were explosive between Arden and Tyler.
Jamie, Mila, Tyler and Arden were “roommates” and I loved the friendship and pseudo family they built, plus Norton, Liam and Danny added some fun and lightness to the story. This is definitely a group of friends I wanted to go out with. I hope we get more of them in the future!
Firecracker is a sweet brother’s best friend romance that had a little bit of drama, a great group of friends and plenty of romance.
Entertaining love story! Ashley @ Carolina Chic’s Read
Arden returns home to live in her brother’s apartment building to start over! Arden thought she had the perfect life until she lost her husband and had to move back home and start over! Tyler has had a crush on his best friends sister since they were teenagers, when she moves into the apartment building with her Brother and his friends will these feeling come to the surface and will there be a happily ever after. These two have sparks that can’t be denied will they let them fly. Can’t wait to read more about this group of friends!
I loved this book. I’m a huge fan of Kelly’s hockey books, but this was a nice change. Arden is on a journey to find herself after being widowed at a young age. Tyler, her little brother’s best friend, is all grown up and knows who he is. Arden is determined to make it on her own. Tyler is determinedly show her she doesn’t need to. Every time they’re together the sparks fly. Kelly gave us a story full of tragedy, comedy, family, friendship, childhood crushes, love, lust and new beginnings.
“None of us have it all figured out, but maybe we’re not supposed to. It’s the journey where we learn the things that help us grow and prepare us for the destination…even if we’re not sure what the destination is. Even if it changes along the way.”
I love Arden’s every day celebrations & Tyler’s persistence and patience. I love that Jamie treated them like adults and didn’t have a temper tantrum over them being together & Mila’s laid back yet fun personality. I love Danny’s devil-may-care attitude and Liam’s quiet caring.
This book has a great cast of characters. I am hoping (**hint hint** Kelly Jamieson) we get more of their stories!! Especially Liam… he has captured me and I just know he has secrets he’s waiting to tell.
***ARC provided for an honest review***
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Arden seemed to have everything in life until things got turned upside down upon her husband’s death. Now trying to rebuild her life, she leaves Phoenix and heads back to Chicago to live in an apartment that her brother is remodeling in his building. She’s basically homeless, penniless, jobless and in despair. She knows it will take time to get back on her feet, but she’s glad she’ll at least have her brother close.
Tyler is Arden’s brother’s best friend. He is a firefighter and one of his hobbies is doing construction work, so he is doing most of the work in the apartment across the hall from him. He’s always been fond of Arden, but when they come face to face for the first time in years, he’s changed so much physically from the gangly teen he was that she doesn’t recognize him.
As Arden and Tyler spend more time together, the sparks begin to fly for both of them, but Arden really doesn’t want to get involved with anyone. She’s trying to find herself, and the last thing she feels she needs is to be in a relationship. Will the chemistry win out or will Arden be able to keep her distance from the man that has turned her head?
Not only did I love Arden and Tyler, I loved the group of friend around them. It just gave the story such a richness. They were all great together; so supportive, loving, helpful and there was even tough love when it was needed. This was such a great story and I really hope we might get Jamie, Arden’s brothers story!!
Firecracker by Kelly Jamieson is a sweet and warm-hearted romance, a ‘my brother’s best friend’ and ‘bro-code’ mixed into one.
Arden is on the edge when she meets up with Tyler again. He’s her younger brother’s best friend and not the guy she’d ever have looked at twice. Not while she was married anyway, but she’s a lonely and devastated widow now and things have changed. The truth behind her husband’s death had me wanting to wrap her up in my arms. She’s harboring some deep-seated pain and feelings of guilt over what happened. She has a tendency to push those closest to her away in an effort to not feel.
Tyler was soo sweet. He’s been crushing on Arden since they were both teenagers and now that she’s on her own, and he is too, he’s going to go for it. He’s a firefighter and lives next door to Arden. He’s always willing to help those in need, but knows when to step back too.
The chemistry and attraction between them was well developed but the group as a whole had a greater dynamic. I’m looking forward to more stories from the other tenants in this building.
Have a fan and ice water ready, cause this story is smokin’! Debra @ Janise’s Jivin’ Book Blog
Arden and Tyler have known each other a long time due to him being her brothers best friend. When Arden moves to Chicago and lives in an apartment under construction that her brother owns it comes with Tyler as the guy across the hall.
They totally have a sexual chemistry that makes your panty’s melt! To add to the heat he is also a firefighter and he is the one doing the construction on her apartment.
This tale gives us all the things we could want, fun, heat, love, a shared past and some tragic moments that need to be recovered from before a true relationship can be had.
A truly enjoyable read that you won’t want to put down.