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Crash
A year ago, after a gut-wrenching shift at work, Taryn Falvey made a huge mistake: she fell into the arms of fellow paramedic Nick Kanelos. Since then they’ve kept their distance, knowing their lives are too messy to mesh.
Taryn’s got her hands full keeping her many siblings and alcoholic mother from slipping into grinding poverty. A normal relationship—a normal life—isn’t even on her radar.
After that desperate night of passion, Nick retreated to the big, empty house he used to share with his late wife. Now it’s just him, his mutt, and his memories rattling around the empty rooms. He’s taught himself not to need anything or anyone too much, but he hasn’t been able to get Taryn off his mind.
Can these two professional rescuers manage to save themselves—and each other? Or are they diving heart first into certain disaster?
Taryn’s got her hands full keeping her many siblings and alcoholic mother from slipping into grinding poverty. A normal relationship—a normal life—isn’t even on her radar.
After that desperate night of passion, Nick retreated to the big, empty house he used to share with his late wife. Now it’s just him, his mutt, and his memories rattling around the empty rooms. He’s taught himself not to need anything or anyone too much, but he hasn’t been able to get Taryn off his mind.
Can these two professional rescuers manage to save themselves—and each other? Or are they diving heart first into certain disaster?
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 20, 2018
About the author
Ruby McNally
8 books24 followersRuby McNally double-majored in psychology and cognitive linguistics before ultimately deciding her talents lay elsewhere. She grew up hiding her diary from her five brothers, who will never know she writes romance. She lives in Boston and has no cats. You can visit her online at rubymcnally.tumblr.com or follow her on Twitter @Ruby_McNally.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 9, 2024
I am fully fucking obsessed with this series.
I heard about this book through Kate Clayborn’s Instagram story, and, if she’s swearing by something, I’m buying it. But I did NOT imagine it would be this good!!!!!
The night I started this, I did that thing where you convince yourself you’ll just read one more chapter and then you’ll definitely go to sleep, but what actually happened was that I slept for three hours total and then had to go into work and pretend I was a fully functioning human being.
So, this series is about first responders, and this first book (novella?) is about two paramedics, Nick and Taryn. Taryn is twenty-four and has a very complicated home life; she has four younger siblings – three of them actual children –, many bills to pay and no way to pay them, and an alcoholic mother.
Nick’s life is no piece of cake either. He’s almost a decade older than Taryn, and is a widower. He divides his time between the ambulance and his family’s diner, and has no plans to complicate his life or bring emotions into him.
The story is incredibly fast-paced, SO well-written, and the actual hottest. No slow burn here!!! It’s sizzling from the very start!!!
I couldn’t believe how much the author managed to pack into this novella. There was so much to explore between the two characters and their issues, but it felt like the sex was always happening? Incredible.
I loved this beyond. Go read it!!! Like, right now!!! YOU’RE WELCOME!!!
I heard about this book through Kate Clayborn’s Instagram story, and, if she’s swearing by something, I’m buying it. But I did NOT imagine it would be this good!!!!!
The night I started this, I did that thing where you convince yourself you’ll just read one more chapter and then you’ll definitely go to sleep, but what actually happened was that I slept for three hours total and then had to go into work and pretend I was a fully functioning human being.
So, this series is about first responders, and this first book (novella?) is about two paramedics, Nick and Taryn. Taryn is twenty-four and has a very complicated home life; she has four younger siblings – three of them actual children –, many bills to pay and no way to pay them, and an alcoholic mother.
Nick’s life is no piece of cake either. He’s almost a decade older than Taryn, and is a widower. He divides his time between the ambulance and his family’s diner, and has no plans to complicate his life or bring emotions into him.
The story is incredibly fast-paced, SO well-written, and the actual hottest. No slow burn here!!! It’s sizzling from the very start!!!
I couldn’t believe how much the author managed to pack into this novella. There was so much to explore between the two characters and their issues, but it felt like the sex was always happening? Incredible.
I loved this beyond. Go read it!!! Like, right now!!! YOU’RE WELCOME!!!
January 13, 2024
Stellar writing and strong characters, plus the gritty reality of life in Western Massachusetts…I am absolutely going to be trying more from this author!
Taryn and Nick are both EMTs. Nick is clearly into Taryn, though trying to hide it. But when she breaks up with her boyfriend, all bets are off. Except Taryn uses sex to distract and to cope with her wreck of a family life, which she keeps a secret, while Nick is trying to figure out how to move forward after the death of his wife three years ago. Taryn’s family issues are no joke and stressed me out to no end. I so badly wanted her to ask for help, even while being aware of why she didn’t. But still!!!
Taryn can be spiky and mean as a result of her responsibilities (and codependency with her alcoholic mother). I had no idea how much Nick would be able to take or whether he should or if Taryn could step up to the plate to be there for him. Watching them navigate the ups and downs kept me enrapt. They’re not perfect. Far from it. And yet they make it work.
While the setting doesn’t play as big of a role as other rural romances I’ve read, it had that same lived-in weary vibe, while also providing a different lens through their work as EMTs. I want more like this!
Characters: Taryn is a 24 year old white EMT and a redhead. She helps take care of her younger siblings Connor (9), Caitlin (11), and Mikey (6) with the help of her brother Jesse. Nick is a 33 year old white EMT and co-owns a family diner with his sisters. He has a rescue dog named Atlas. This is set in Western Massachusetts.
Content notes: alcoholic mother, past and present alcohol poisoning , child physical abuse (one instance: ), professional ethics violation (MMC and FMC opt not to report , codependency, substance abuse and drug dealing (FMC’s brother), past death of MMC’s wife (Huntington’s disease), past infidelity (FMC was dating someone when she had sex with MMC one year ago), home arson (everyone’s okay), physical assault, poverty, credit card debt, MMC’s rescue dog was likely abused before he adopted him, descriptions of patient’s accidents and injuries (including domestic violence, cancer, fire), past attack by patient, secondary character’s baby has a heart defect (healthy after surgery), past death of MMC’s parents, past death of FMC’s grandparents, past death of pet dog, on page sex, truck sex, anal play, alcohol, cigarettes (secondary character), STD stigma, casual ableism, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialist language, ableist language, mention of FMC’s father not being involved (left when she was 4)
Taryn and Nick are both EMTs. Nick is clearly into Taryn, though trying to hide it. But when she breaks up with her boyfriend, all bets are off. Except Taryn uses sex to distract and to cope with her wreck of a family life, which she keeps a secret, while Nick is trying to figure out how to move forward after the death of his wife three years ago. Taryn’s family issues are no joke and stressed me out to no end. I so badly wanted her to ask for help, even while being aware of why she didn’t. But still!!!
Taryn can be spiky and mean as a result of her responsibilities (and codependency with her alcoholic mother). I had no idea how much Nick would be able to take or whether he should or if Taryn could step up to the plate to be there for him. Watching them navigate the ups and downs kept me enrapt. They’re not perfect. Far from it. And yet they make it work.
While the setting doesn’t play as big of a role as other rural romances I’ve read, it had that same lived-in weary vibe, while also providing a different lens through their work as EMTs. I want more like this!
Characters: Taryn is a 24 year old white EMT and a redhead. She helps take care of her younger siblings Connor (9), Caitlin (11), and Mikey (6) with the help of her brother Jesse. Nick is a 33 year old white EMT and co-owns a family diner with his sisters. He has a rescue dog named Atlas. This is set in Western Massachusetts.
Content notes: alcoholic mother, past and present alcohol poisoning , child physical abuse (one instance: ), professional ethics violation (MMC and FMC opt not to report , codependency, substance abuse and drug dealing (FMC’s brother), past death of MMC’s wife (Huntington’s disease), past infidelity (FMC was dating someone when she had sex with MMC one year ago), home arson (everyone’s okay), physical assault, poverty, credit card debt, MMC’s rescue dog was likely abused before he adopted him, descriptions of patient’s accidents and injuries (including domestic violence, cancer, fire), past attack by patient, secondary character’s baby has a heart defect (healthy after surgery), past death of MMC’s parents, past death of FMC’s grandparents, past death of pet dog, on page sex, truck sex, anal play, alcohol, cigarettes (secondary character), STD stigma, casual ableism, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialist language, ableist language, mention of FMC’s father not being involved (left when she was 4)
August 18, 2023
4.5⭐️ I saw this book on Kate Clayborn’s IG and I don’t usually trust author recs, but I’m so glad I did. I loved this one. The characters are messy and kind of broken, but they go together so well. The writing is really good and compelling. Amazing chemistry. The characters are dealing w grief and trauma and addiction in a very real way as well. Not a light rom com, but really well done IMO. Bonus points for western Mass location. Been through those towns so many times. My one nitpick is there is no ikea anywhere near there. Other than that, locations were genuine. Highly recommend this one. Didn’t want it to end, wish I could follow up with them.
August 14, 2023
JFC, this book. I devoured this. Pretty much a perfect book, imo!!!
I often don't look for readalikes because, well, every author is different. But reading this gave me SUCH strong Kate Clayborn circa Chance of a Lifetime series vibes that I got more and more upset about getting closer and closer to finishing a book :D
The feelings of melancholy and beauty are so acute in this beautiful book, in a way that felt similar to Kate Clayborn's Luck of the Draw — primarily because the characters are dealing heavily with grief and also, there's a paramedic! lol
Ruby McNally's book is MUCH heavier and laden with CWs, but that also makes the book more intense and the payoff so much sweeter. The prickly heroine who puts on a facade, the still-waters-run-deep hero ... my absolute kryptonite.
Also, jeeeebus is this book hot. It’s hot not because the sex is titillating but because it’s so tender and emotional and represent a lot in the arc of the characters’ relationship.
I often don't look for readalikes because, well, every author is different. But reading this gave me SUCH strong Kate Clayborn circa Chance of a Lifetime series vibes that I got more and more upset about getting closer and closer to finishing a book :D
The feelings of melancholy and beauty are so acute in this beautiful book, in a way that felt similar to Kate Clayborn's Luck of the Draw — primarily because the characters are dealing heavily with grief and also, there's a paramedic! lol
Ruby McNally's book is MUCH heavier and laden with CWs, but that also makes the book more intense and the payoff so much sweeter. The prickly heroine who puts on a facade, the still-waters-run-deep hero ... my absolute kryptonite.
Also, jeeeebus is this book hot. It’s hot not because the sex is titillating but because it’s so tender and emotional and represent a lot in the arc of the characters’ relationship.
December 20, 2018
From my blog;
Holy. crap. This book.
This book totally blew me away in so many ways. First, awesome character development without being TOO character driven. I loved Taryn and Nick, and I loved Taryn’s little siblings, and I loved Nick’s sisters, and I loved their coworkers. I love that they are their own protagonist throughout the book. Taryn cannot seem to get out of her own way and Nick is constantly questioning himself and where he is in processing a difficult life change. But they desperately need each other and not in a Hallmark movie kind of way, like their souls and bodies totally crave each other ALL THE TIME.
These characters are flawed. They can be passive aggressive, they’re self conscious, protective, defensive, and are under such real life stress. They’re completely relatable and amidst all of their stress, you can feel their desire to help others before themselves. They struggle with imperfect family dynamics at different levels that play a big role in making them who they are.
The dialogue and narration in this book was so wonderful. The narration felt like someone was sitting in front of me telling me this story. I feel like a lot of narration seems “rehearsed”, which is fine and can help the story flow smoothly, but this style of narration had me sucked in instantly. The sentences that went something like this; “Well-yeah.” and “Which-okay.” felt like I was in the character’s brain feeling and thinking everything right along with them. It was written how people actually talk! It’s fabulous!
Then there’s the romance. And holy heck, that romance. Steamy, super hot, but not at all trashy. HOW DO YOU MAKE A SEX SCENE SO APPEALING?! I don’t know, but Ruby did it. I read a good bit of romance and even the best ones sometimes get a little cringey, but I did not cringe, nope, I sat with my eyes wide open just devouring the words. The sex scenes aren’t quick and each one is different. Nothing bores me more about a romance novel than when the sex scenes are just the same thing every 10 pages. I would say there are probably 3-5 descriptive sex scenes in this book, and plenty more less drawn out moments. The chemistry between these characters is angsty but tender at the same time. They have about a 10 year age gap too, and I know not everyone loves that, but hey, I love it.
I love this book and am so pissed that I don’t get to follow these characters further. The characters were well developed while still leaving tons of space for the story about their jobs as EMTs, their family dynamics, how they became who they are, and of course, their smoking hot romance.
5 stars, easily competing for the #1 romance of the year for me. DON’T EVER STOP WRITING THESE BOOKS!!! And also, please write a sequel for Nick and Taryn…
Holy. crap. This book.
This book totally blew me away in so many ways. First, awesome character development without being TOO character driven. I loved Taryn and Nick, and I loved Taryn’s little siblings, and I loved Nick’s sisters, and I loved their coworkers. I love that they are their own protagonist throughout the book. Taryn cannot seem to get out of her own way and Nick is constantly questioning himself and where he is in processing a difficult life change. But they desperately need each other and not in a Hallmark movie kind of way, like their souls and bodies totally crave each other ALL THE TIME.
These characters are flawed. They can be passive aggressive, they’re self conscious, protective, defensive, and are under such real life stress. They’re completely relatable and amidst all of their stress, you can feel their desire to help others before themselves. They struggle with imperfect family dynamics at different levels that play a big role in making them who they are.
The dialogue and narration in this book was so wonderful. The narration felt like someone was sitting in front of me telling me this story. I feel like a lot of narration seems “rehearsed”, which is fine and can help the story flow smoothly, but this style of narration had me sucked in instantly. The sentences that went something like this; “Well-yeah.” and “Which-okay.” felt like I was in the character’s brain feeling and thinking everything right along with them. It was written how people actually talk! It’s fabulous!
Then there’s the romance. And holy heck, that romance. Steamy, super hot, but not at all trashy. HOW DO YOU MAKE A SEX SCENE SO APPEALING?! I don’t know, but Ruby did it. I read a good bit of romance and even the best ones sometimes get a little cringey, but I did not cringe, nope, I sat with my eyes wide open just devouring the words. The sex scenes aren’t quick and each one is different. Nothing bores me more about a romance novel than when the sex scenes are just the same thing every 10 pages. I would say there are probably 3-5 descriptive sex scenes in this book, and plenty more less drawn out moments. The chemistry between these characters is angsty but tender at the same time. They have about a 10 year age gap too, and I know not everyone loves that, but hey, I love it.
I love this book and am so pissed that I don’t get to follow these characters further. The characters were well developed while still leaving tons of space for the story about their jobs as EMTs, their family dynamics, how they became who they are, and of course, their smoking hot romance.
5 stars, easily competing for the #1 romance of the year for me. DON’T EVER STOP WRITING THESE BOOKS!!! And also, please write a sequel for Nick and Taryn…
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September 24, 2018This was not my favorite. While I liked the portrayal of what it’s like to be poor and have a parent who’s an addict, this book felt so disjointed. You have Nick being a widower AND Taryn’s tumultuous home life AND they’re paramedics AND a romance that I honestly just didn’t get. I didn’t enjoy Nick and Taryn as a couple, didn’t understand their dynamic or attraction, so overall this fell flat for me. I’d skip this one and go straight to Singe if you’re intrigued about the series.
January 7, 2024
I loved the EMT mc's and that setting. It was really different and interesting. I liked the inevitable feeling of Nick and Taryn, I didn't even really mind their history. The kids were cute, I would have loved to see more interaction between all of them.
The lack of maturity from Taryn bothered me. She would shut down or turn to physical stuff instead of having any conversation with Nick and he just let her get away with it. It got really frustrating by the end.
It moved very quickly for me. At times, it felt disjointed.
The lack of maturity from Taryn bothered me. She would shut down or turn to physical stuff instead of having any conversation with Nick and he just let her get away with it. It got really frustrating by the end.
It moved very quickly for me. At times, it felt disjointed.
April 14, 2024
I had seen someone compare the writing here as comparable to Cara McKenna's, whilst I wouldn't agree with that I will say that if you like working class romances with real characters like After Hours by McKenna this will certainly scratch that itch.
September 15, 2023
Content notes: Taryn Falvey is a mid-20s white woman, EMT; Nick Kanelos is a white man pushing 40, is a widower, and works with Taryn as an EMT. They live and work somewhere in Western Massachusetts.
CW: grief (wife, died from complications of Huntington's in the past). Addiction (alcohol, drugs-secondary characters), overdose scares, medical procedures and emergencies (both for EMT work and secondary characters), child abuse (off-page, described), parental neglect, violence, fear of losing home/work/kids. Cheating (in past, main characters historically hooked up once before breaking up with their partner).
Actual rating: 4.5 ⭐ (good lord did i need an epilogue)
OKAY now that I've noted everything, gosh i have to say Crash swept me absolutely away. What an absolutely captivating contemporary romance that was so full of angst i could wring it out and serve it up to you like a hot cup of coffee from the Kanelos siblings' diner. It was absolutely delicious for me.
Kanelos and Falvey have been dancing around each other since Falvey's first days as an EMT and both are still thinking about a torrid hook-up they had on Kanelos's counter after a particularly hard emergency run. Falvey had a boyfriend, and told Nick it was a mistake. Now, Taryn has broken up with her doctor boyfriend because he got too close to her family's problems, and turned his nose up at them. Taryn's been trying to keep her younger siblings and her alcoholic mother housed and safe, but on her meager salary and the suspicious fist-fulls of cash her brother keeps bringing home, things are getting dicey. Taryn can't get involved with another squeaky clean, too good widower who might see how messy she and her family are, but can't seem to stop wanting him.
For Nick, its been three years since the death of his wife and high school sweetheart. She was his first and everything, but now he's drawn to the surly Falvey who knows just how to push his buttons. Now that she's finally single and she keeps throwing down the guantlet for Nick to make a move, he can't help but do so, even if he's terrified of losing yet another love of his life.
Whew, this was so scorching-ly sexy and also such a hard-won HEA. The age-gap was handled so well, and I really was not sure how we'd get these two to the same place. I was Worried™!!!!
But seriously, these two are in HEAT (call 911 i think the kitchen counter is on fire). Both Nick & Taryn like to take the lead, and they'll fight for it too he he.
I must note, the writing was truly exceptional. I can't really describe it well, but it was both spare and also each word held weight. the characters were so alive on page, even if we only met them briefly. There's a scene where Nick has to take Taryn to his family's Greek diner and the way the author describes his oldest sister and how she discover he's sleeping with Falvey merely through context clues, damn. masterful.
Author Kate Clayborn described this as being similar in tone and feel to Cara Mckenna's work and I heartily agree with her.
If you love weighty, sad but ultimately so hopeful contemporary romances this is definitely one to check out. I'll be reading the next in series featuring firefighters, but will be skipping the cop book (these were first published in 2018).
Ruby McNally is a penname for author Katie Cotugno (who i know for writing weighty love stories and YA)
CW: grief (wife, died from complications of Huntington's in the past). Addiction (alcohol, drugs-secondary characters), overdose scares, medical procedures and emergencies (both for EMT work and secondary characters), child abuse (off-page, described), parental neglect, violence, fear of losing home/work/kids. Cheating (in past, main characters historically hooked up once before breaking up with their partner).
Actual rating: 4.5 ⭐ (good lord did i need an epilogue)
OKAY now that I've noted everything, gosh i have to say Crash swept me absolutely away. What an absolutely captivating contemporary romance that was so full of angst i could wring it out and serve it up to you like a hot cup of coffee from the Kanelos siblings' diner. It was absolutely delicious for me.
Kanelos and Falvey have been dancing around each other since Falvey's first days as an EMT and both are still thinking about a torrid hook-up they had on Kanelos's counter after a particularly hard emergency run. Falvey had a boyfriend, and told Nick it was a mistake. Now, Taryn has broken up with her doctor boyfriend because he got too close to her family's problems, and turned his nose up at them. Taryn's been trying to keep her younger siblings and her alcoholic mother housed and safe, but on her meager salary and the suspicious fist-fulls of cash her brother keeps bringing home, things are getting dicey. Taryn can't get involved with another squeaky clean, too good widower who might see how messy she and her family are, but can't seem to stop wanting him.
For Nick, its been three years since the death of his wife and high school sweetheart. She was his first and everything, but now he's drawn to the surly Falvey who knows just how to push his buttons. Now that she's finally single and she keeps throwing down the guantlet for Nick to make a move, he can't help but do so, even if he's terrified of losing yet another love of his life.
Whew, this was so scorching-ly sexy and also such a hard-won HEA. The age-gap was handled so well, and I really was not sure how we'd get these two to the same place. I was Worried™!!!!
But seriously, these two are in HEAT (call 911 i think the kitchen counter is on fire). Both Nick & Taryn like to take the lead, and they'll fight for it too he he.
I must note, the writing was truly exceptional. I can't really describe it well, but it was both spare and also each word held weight. the characters were so alive on page, even if we only met them briefly. There's a scene where Nick has to take Taryn to his family's Greek diner and the way the author describes his oldest sister and how she discover he's sleeping with Falvey merely through context clues, damn. masterful.
Author Kate Clayborn described this as being similar in tone and feel to Cara Mckenna's work and I heartily agree with her.
If you love weighty, sad but ultimately so hopeful contemporary romances this is definitely one to check out. I'll be reading the next in series featuring firefighters, but will be skipping the cop book (these were first published in 2018).
Ruby McNally is a penname for author Katie Cotugno (who i know for writing weighty love stories and YA)
September 20, 2023
I enjoyed reading this. The writing style is fresh and different; it took me a while to get used to it, and it wasn’t entirely my cup of tea, but it was very readable. Both of the main characters were likeable; Nick was a sweetheart and my heart went out to him. I liked how steady and kind he was. Taryn, in comparison, was a much more complicated character. Prickly and stubborn, but with a lot of heart. I felt very sorry for her and the major plot involving her family was heartbreaking.
In fact, both Nick and Taryn had heartbreaking backstories that were sensitively handled. They were messy, with no clear answers or solutions, but handled very deftly. Some parts of this book were heart-wrenching and difficult to read (I really would urge people to check the content warnings), and it honestly did catch me by surprise because the book itself feels so light in tone. It’s skilfully done – the heavy content is lifted by the writing style and stopped it from becoming grim and dour.
The one part of the story that really did need work, for me, was the ending, which was very blunt. The story as a whole needed rounding off better as I felt like there were a lot of things that were left unresolved. It would have benefitted the book a lot to have had an epilogue or something to soften the ending.
That said, it didn’t detract too much from the rest of the book, and the thing is this book has a very good, very lovely romance at its heart. The bond between Nick and Taryn felt very deep and real; they had some really touching, emotional scenes. There was an earthiness and realism to the relationship that was quite fun, and I liked how the author managed to make this book very romantic despite that. The chemistry between the two of them is really hot and the sex scenes were so good; very sensual, realistic, and also sensory as well.
Overall this book was quite emotional for me and beautifully done, even if I did have issues with the ending and took a while to warm to the writing style. It’s a refreshing read and one that will stick with me.
Content Notes: Paramedics, friends-to-lovers, age gap.
Warnings:
Other: .
In fact, both Nick and Taryn had heartbreaking backstories that were sensitively handled. They were messy, with no clear answers or solutions, but handled very deftly. Some parts of this book were heart-wrenching and difficult to read (I really would urge people to check the content warnings), and it honestly did catch me by surprise because the book itself feels so light in tone. It’s skilfully done – the heavy content is lifted by the writing style and stopped it from becoming grim and dour.
The one part of the story that really did need work, for me, was the ending, which was very blunt. The story as a whole needed rounding off better as I felt like there were a lot of things that were left unresolved. It would have benefitted the book a lot to have had an epilogue or something to soften the ending.
That said, it didn’t detract too much from the rest of the book, and the thing is this book has a very good, very lovely romance at its heart. The bond between Nick and Taryn felt very deep and real; they had some really touching, emotional scenes. There was an earthiness and realism to the relationship that was quite fun, and I liked how the author managed to make this book very romantic despite that. The chemistry between the two of them is really hot and the sex scenes were so good; very sensual, realistic, and also sensory as well.
Overall this book was quite emotional for me and beautifully done, even if I did have issues with the ending and took a while to warm to the writing style. It’s a refreshing read and one that will stick with me.
Content Notes: Paramedics, friends-to-lovers, age gap.
Warnings:
Other: .
September 24, 2018
This was SO steamy. And I loved it. But I didn't love it just for the romance. Nick was a great character. He was damaged from his wife's illness and death and his desire for Taryn was so genuine. I loved all their interactions and the time they spent together. I also really enjoyed the EMT parts; it was interesting to learn about a job I had really no knowledge about. I also liked the Taryn parts with her family. I wish we got a little more closure with Rosemary, at least hearing about how she reacted to the house burning down, but the way they all stuck together through the hard times was inspiring.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and hope the next in the Lights and Sirens series is just as good! Maybe we'll even get some fun cameos from my fave characters in this one.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and hope the next in the Lights and Sirens series is just as good! Maybe we'll even get some fun cameos from my fave characters in this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2023
HOLY CHRIST YESSSS!!!! i adored this book, couldn't put it down, Taryn and Nick's story was a beautiful and raw and amazing ride. One thing i loved in this book is how Nick talks to Taryn, how real and true it felt. The patience and the depth of this man, GOD. It set me on fire.
The story was heartbreaking many times and i cried at least 2 times. I rarely cry guys, but the writing was truly amazing. Loved it. New fave.
I also loved the side characters, especially Doc, whose development really got me from ''she' s annoying'' to "i love this woman and she deserves the world". I hope she gets her own book.
The story was heartbreaking many times and i cried at least 2 times. I rarely cry guys, but the writing was truly amazing. Loved it. New fave.
I also loved the side characters, especially Doc, whose development really got me from ''she' s annoying'' to "i love this woman and she deserves the world". I hope she gets her own book.
October 19, 2018
For a book that's not that long, it sure did take me a long time to finish. And I think that was due to the writing style, and how I got a little lost in the stubbornness of Taryn for a bit. But I really liked this, and her and Nick's relationship was so solid and warm. I get why it took the both of them so long to reach that end, but man, it could drag on. (And I just saw the next main characters for Singe and Bang, and now I'm incredibly sad I don't get a Doc book).
October 8, 2023
Found this bc Kate Clayborn recommended it, will now not only read literally whatever she writes but also will blindly trust her recs after this one. Whew. So much emotion conveyed in almost economical language. This was very well done. I do sort of wish there was an epilogue, but not because I don’t trust the HEA, but honestly I just wanted to see Taryn and Nick happy for a minute longer and to see how they were working everything out.
September 24, 2018
Meh. Wasn’t the best, but it definitely wasn’t terrible. It’s got a plucky main character and some pretty cool careers as EMTs. But overall? I didn’t love the love story 🤷🏻♀️Here’s to hoping the next are better and we’ll get to meet some other fun characters? :)
October 1, 2023
I didn’t expect to like this as much as I did! Taryn could be really frustrating at times and I often felt like Nick was letting her walk all over him. BUT I was really rotting for them 🥹 Also lots of good spice throughout the book. I’m excited to read the others in the series!
October 14, 2018
Real rating: 3.5 stars! I liked this but I struggled with the female protagonist (Taryn) a bit. Loved Nick though. Looking forward to rest of this series!
October 19, 2018
I really wanted to like this. I'm sad that I didn't.
July 3, 2020
This book was exactly what I needed. Just the right amount of heavy and sexy.
Shelved as 'dnf'
July 11, 2022DNF at 4%. Got bored. Might come back to later on.
September 25, 2023
This was so good!!!!!!
November 9, 2023
I was pretty entranced by this book!
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