Charlie “Wood Chuck” Fox knows his best friend and fellow wildfire firefighter Jessie Row had a major family break up in her past. Charlie has adopted her into his heart and into his huge family and when Jessie gets word her mother has passed away, Charlie fears returning home is going to tear her up.Bastian Hart’s choice of career as a doll painter has put him at odds with his family. He’s made … He’s made a sanctuary for himself on the San Juan Island of Friday Harbor, an hour away from his family. He welcomes his aunt Jessie and her friend Charlie into his house as they all prepare for the upcoming funeral. Charlie and Bastian discover a spark of smoldering fire igniting between them, but Charlie is unwilling to push and Bastian hesitant to trust.
They will have to wade through pain, hate, and fear to find their future together.
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‘Painting With Fire’ is a deeply emotional story filled with hope and love. I’m grateful to the author for writing it and exposing some of the horrors that so many people in this country suffer through. It is hard for me to read it because I had an idyllic childhood compared to Bastian and Jessie, so I have difficulty relating to what they endured, although it certainly breaks my heart. I think Charlie and Bastian’s story is a wondrous tale of escaping the dark and reaching the light.
Charlie and Jessie are wildfire firefighters and have been best friends for ten years. Jessie’s mom recently died and even though they hadn’t spoken in all of those years, Jessie and Charlie head north to Washington and the beautiful San Juan Islands to stay on Friday Harbor with Jessie’s nephew, Bastian. Bastian has little to no contact with his mom and sisters who are an hour away and, in fact, he communicates more with his aunt than anyone else in the family. To say there is a history of abuse, neglect, and disinterest toward Bastian from his mom is a mild way to phrase it. That and a general hatred toward him for his successful career choice of painting dolls but not sharing his wealth with them.
Bastian is an artist and the dolls he paints can command in the thousands of dollars. I learned a lot about Asian ball joint dolls and all the myriad ways they can be painted and dressed. Plus Bastian does YouTube instructional videos and has a Patreon page where his fans can watch him create his works of art. It was really rather fascinating and kept me from getting too bogged down into the horror that constituted Bastian’s mother and sisters. Personally, I felt Jessie and Bastian were too nice to these people who had done nothing but hurt them.
Charlie and Bastian’s story is a genuine and beautiful love story. I adore the way Charlie is with Bastian, respecting his feelings and his concerns, without ever making Bastian feel wrong about his thoughts and anxieties. I especially like the way Charlie is fascinated with the dolls and Bastian’s art, and doesn’t make Bastian feel weird. Bastian brings a sense of home to Charlie (and Jessie) that is desperately needed for someone who can be gone for months at a time. Charlie needs to have a home and Bastian is ready to make one with him.
A beautiful story that was filled with love and hope. There was a little angst, especially near the end, but nothing so overwhelming that I felt drowned in it. Mostly I just drowned in the beauty of the island, the friendship Jessie and Charlie share, and the love that grew between Bastian and Charlie.
This is an extraordinary book! But I need to warn you: you are going to spend a lot of time crying. The author made trigger warnings and she meant them. The topic is hard and emotional and you cannot avoid fall in love with the characters, specially Charlie and Bastian. Their love is inspiring! But more than that you read the book hoping Bastian get his HEA because really you cannot stand anything more happen to him and the author doesn’t disappoint. I received this book as an ARC and It is the first book I ever read of Lissa Kasey but I assured you it will not be the last. Loved it!!
***Possible Spoilers***
Charlie & Bastian are a lovely couple. Their immediate connection is awkward and cute and made me want to hug them both. Their romance and HEA was surprisingly smooth and straightforward, considering Bastian’s past. There was no discounting that past though. The author, responsibly, had Bastian work with a therapist regularly, which allowed him and Charlie to really connect.
Jessie is a steadfast secondary character who lends support to the storyline and the main characters. Her strong presence bolsters both main characters in their tentative steps towards each other and with her easy acceptance, assure them that she will remain a big part of their lives.
The author made me want to visit with them in that beautiful house near the water, to see the fields of lavender and to pet the alpacas. I have also gained an interest in the process of doll painting. Who knew?
Other characters made me want to drive cross country and kick their a##es. It’s characters like those who give the word family a bad name. Good job on making me hate them, dear author.
Painting With Fire is the first I’ve read by this author, but it will not be the last.
I look forward to more in this series.
I really enjoyed Painting with Fire. I liked the slow build even though it was in a short period of time. I liked learning about dolls and making videos for selling. I liked that there was some history Bastian had and how respectful Charlie is. It was a sweet, short read and I recommend this book.
Wow Bastian and Charlie, what a wonderful couple. The past, the jobs, the current. This book is a wonderful emotional read, with amazing characters and a beautiful story line and concept.
Painting with Fire is the first book in the Survivors Find Love series by Lissa Kasey. It is a great story that has a lot of emotion in it – sadness, pain, passion and love. Its beautiful, emotional and amazing. Charlie and Bastian are wonderful characters and I completely fell in love along with them.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.