“Romance, heartbreak, a small amount of steamy, and lots of gritty, determined story.”—Amazon reviewer She’s secretly burned for him for years.Derek Severson left his career as a firefighter after tragedy shook him to his soul. Running his uncle’s beachside bar on a south Texas island gives him the chance to heal, find peace, and avoid entanglements. That is, until Macey, his childhood friend, … until Macey, his childhood friend, tracks him down.
After two years abroad in a developing country, Macey Locke is ready to dive in to her Peace Corps-inspired foundation. But when she learns Derek is suffering, she can’t turn her back. Six weeks on a tropical island to help the guy she’s loved for years? No-brainer.
Derek can’t help but notice she’s not the same girl he used to know. She’s more. More self-assured, more determined, more irresistible. But is she enough for him to let go of his newfound fragile peace and give in to the passion sparking between them?
Playing with Fire is a stand-alone novel with a heartwarming and satisfying HEA in the Island Fire series.
Dive into this sexy, engrossing series today!
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As with any romance novel, I always know the main characters will eventually get together; the unknown is what will transpire on their journey. Derek is hurting and Macey is the one who can bring him back from the depths of grief. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Stubborn hero, but broken men who can be fixed are sexy
Wonderful story! I didn’t want to stop reading until the end.
Funny and great read.
I love fire fighter and second chance romances. This was a great read.
Really enjoyed, I could not put it down.
I would definitely read this book again.
Good book – first by this author that I’ve read
Very entertaining and kept me interested. So realistic in the romance and the life changing event of Derek.
It was an easy, quick read. Good story.
Good book. Loved the characters.
I couldn’t put it down!
I read a lot of books, some I can’t remember just days later. This one is one I remember and recommend.
Good book
Good read.
PLAYING WITH FIRE is a standalone read with a HEA. It is set on Amaro Island off the Texas coast. Derek is an ex-firefighter that has moved to the island to take over his uncle’s bar. Derek lost his girlfriend in a fire a year ago. Since then he has gone into a deep depression and has given up on living as well as resigned his position as a firefighter in the Dallas area.
Deeply concerned for her son’s well-being his mother enlists the help of his childhood friend Macey. Macey has just returned from a tour with the Peace Corps. It has been a while since she has seen Derek but she was more than willing to help. She has always been in love with him but he never saw her that way. That was then this is now. She has changed a great deal while she has been away. She sets out to help him any way she can. He doesn’t want help. He insults her and does everything he can to get her to give up on him and to leave. She sticks.
This is a good romance, a bit of a drama as she pulls him out of his mental funk. I really enjoyed it and I definitely recommend it. It does have some sexy scenes if that is a problem for you. A good story, an entertaining read.
I was not paid for this review. I am not a writer nor do I know one. I am not kin to this author. I am a reader and this is my opinion, nothing more, nothing less. 9/19/18.
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was very emotional and heartfelt. I could feel Derek’s pain and could understand his behavior. I felt so bad for Macey and my heart broke for her, knowing how she felt about Derek and how hard she was trying to break through the walls he built. I was rooting for her from the start. My heart hurt for Derek and the pain and guilt he felt for what he lost and what he went though.
So many emotions were felt while reading this book, and I couldn’t be happier to have experienced them all because this was so well-written. Everything flowed seamlessly, and it showed what a talented writer Amy Knupp is. I am looking forward to reading more in this new to me series!
If the definition of a talented author is one whose stories grab your attention from page one, and not only hold it, but make you feel deep emotions for the story and the main characters, then we can add to that definition the name of Amy Knupp.
This first book of her Island Fire series centers around Macey Locke and Derek Severson. They had been friends since they were 5 years old and would frequently spend their days in the restaurant owned by their mothers.
As they got older they went their separate ways. Macey to work in Thailand in the Peace Corps and Derek became a firefighter in Dallas, until tragedy strikes leaving him a shell of himself. He leaves Dallas to go to San Amaro Island to escape life and help his uncle run a shack on the beach. When Macey returns to the US, she’s asked by Derek’s Mom to please check on him. Off she goes with the intention of spending 6 weeks in a tropical island. That’s when the plot thickens.
The story was engaging, with very complex characters. But what I appreciated most, was the author’s ability to make us feel the grief Derek was experiencing and Macey’s need to help Derek . A man she has been in love most of her life. All this making it at times a heartbreaking as well as heartwarming story.
The secondary characters were just as entertaining and one can see the potential for stories .
Kudos to the author for this wonderful story.
I was gifted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.