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The Mixed Six-Pack #1
First In
She lost her inheritance. He stole her job. When these rivals start playing with fire, sparks fly, donuts melt, and hearts burn.
★★★★★
At 24 and just 5’4”, Sophie Beaulieu may not look like the best candidate to become the first paid chief of the Lily Valley Volunteer Fire Department. But the crew have faith in her and everyone expects she’ll get the job. A job she needs to keep her family home after her father dies.
So when an arrogant and hot as Hades career firefighter rides into town wearing the new chief’s helmet, nobody is more shocked or angry than Sophie.
Nick West is convinced this small-town job is his ladder to a chief promotion in the city. Nick's been an outsider all his life, even in his own fractured family, so he has no trouble taking on the opposition, whether that’s the haters within the department, or the feisty woman he takes on as his Deputy—despite their explosive chemistry.
As the competition rages like an uncontrolled bush fire, sparks fly between Nick and Sophie, both in and out of their turn-out gear. Will their romantic fling be extinguished by their egos, or can they fan the flames to find their forever?
~~~
First In is a steamy, contemporary romance and the first stand-alone book in the Mixed Six-Pack series. If you like off-the-charts chemistry and enemies-to-lovers tales that end in a satisfying HEA, you'll adore Danika Bloom's emotional—and funny—love story.
★★★★★
At 24 and just 5’4”, Sophie Beaulieu may not look like the best candidate to become the first paid chief of the Lily Valley Volunteer Fire Department. But the crew have faith in her and everyone expects she’ll get the job. A job she needs to keep her family home after her father dies.
So when an arrogant and hot as Hades career firefighter rides into town wearing the new chief’s helmet, nobody is more shocked or angry than Sophie.
Nick West is convinced this small-town job is his ladder to a chief promotion in the city. Nick's been an outsider all his life, even in his own fractured family, so he has no trouble taking on the opposition, whether that’s the haters within the department, or the feisty woman he takes on as his Deputy—despite their explosive chemistry.
As the competition rages like an uncontrolled bush fire, sparks fly between Nick and Sophie, both in and out of their turn-out gear. Will their romantic fling be extinguished by their egos, or can they fan the flames to find their forever?
~~~
First In is a steamy, contemporary romance and the first stand-alone book in the Mixed Six-Pack series. If you like off-the-charts chemistry and enemies-to-lovers tales that end in a satisfying HEA, you'll adore Danika Bloom's emotional—and funny—love story.
344 pages, ebook
First published May 4, 2020
411 people are currently reading
668 people want to read
About the author
Danika Bloom
23 books247 followersDanika Bloom is a USA Today bestselling author who always wanted to be the mom in The Partridge Family or The Brady Bunch. Since she only had one child, she lives out her mom-of-many fantasies in her romance series about bands of brothers.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Danika, that's kind of creepy when you think about it. Moms writing steamy rom-com about their sons ... you might want to rethink this bio.
Join my Bloom'n email list to get news about ARC opportunities, new releases, and other love&stuff.
Find my books on Amazon
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Danika, that's kind of creepy when you think about it. Moms writing steamy rom-com about their sons ... you might want to rethink this bio.
Join my Bloom'n email list to get news about ARC opportunities, new releases, and other love&stuff.
Find my books on Amazon
Follow me on BookBub
Say hello to me on Instagram
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
February 8, 2022
1 Star
Spoilers
Would have been higher but then I was hit with this at 80%⬇️ and I really wish I would have dnfed so i didn't have to do this long rant😅
I’d been busting my ass, doing the best job I could as chief of this department, sleeping in a cot for fuck sake, sharing my room with fire trucks for the last month so that I’d be here for all the evening calls. Except weekends. I needed some sanity and I got that in the city. And by sanity, what I was really getting was forgettable sex. Sometimes. Just as often as not I’d go home alone after a night out with Dylan, especially on the nights that he’d mention Sophie when I was just about to walk out of a bar with a chick who cared about me as little as I cared about her. It was just about the sex and we both knew it. He’d say something like, “Have a good night. I’ve got to get going, too. I have a call with Sophie in the morning,” or “Great hanging out with you, brother. Say hi to Sophie from me when you see her.” It’s not like I wasn’t already thinking about her. I was and that’s why I was cruising Dylan’s haunts with him, to try to get her off my mind. But when he’d say her name it was like he’d just conjured her and she was right there, able to see what I was about to do, her eyes sad. Those sad eyes broke my heart.
Yes such sad eyes that made him still sleep with other women on the weekends when him and Sophie arent together. So apparently, to the author, the hero taking the heroine's virginity, them flirting and falling in love, going on non-date dates (and this is all over a period of six months, in which they slept together and messed around at the beginning of those months), but the hero still sleeping with multiple ow while being overly possessive about the heroine and keeping men away from her counts as "no cheating". Great way to throw that in there at 80% in the book, at the same time the heroine and hero are having really cute moments together, and you expect them to finally be together together.
Could have been a decent book too. At least a 3 star. There were some others things that were annoying though. Too much sexism for one. Sexism in the fire department, sexism when the hero thinks the heroine will be all clingy when he takes her virginity. Sexism when he makes other men back off from her and tells her not to flirt and comments how he doesn't want her to wear a really revealing bikini because then other men can see, all the while, he's doing weird strippers shows where women throw themselves on him and post that everywhere on social, and of course, while he's still sleeping with other women, while supposedly falling in love with the heroine, again, way too far into the book.
I also didn't like the miscommunication and the omission of details. Hero doesn't tell her he got the promotion, and goes down on her while she's drunk. Heroine later misheard a convo and "breaks" up with the hero and kicks him out with no details as to why. It makes it worse that this miscommunication lasts almost the whole book and is the reason they arent together, and hero goes back to sleeping with ow in this time, while heroine can't get over him. Also, him doing the stripping shows and not telling her, so she thinks he is a hardcore player and doesn't want to get back with him right away. This part made me more mad because hero then says he shouldn't have done it because he doesn't want her to think that way, and the brother comments saying he never went home with any of those women so it's not what she thinks. Actually it's still exactly the way she thinks, because him not going home with those women specifically, but instead, he's going home with the women he meets at bars, because that's so much better. Then when they get back into a relationship, a year passes and we get essentially no details or grovel or her finding out he WAS a player.
Which then of course leads me to how gross the hero is. He takes heroine's virginity, then goes to sleep with ow after they "break up". I doubt he even waited a month before sleeping with ow. We also get tons of details of him and past other women. Such as him having sex, how much he fingered them or went down on them, or just thinking about the sex or places he went to with them, one of which he ended up going to with the heroine. There is a LOT of internal thought from the hero about his past experiences. He refuses to buy drinks AND supply the condoms for them either as he doesn't want to feel like a "wallet and sex toy" or something along those lines, even though he's literally using them too. So him buying condoms for the heroine was such a big deal for him🙄 double standards to the max.
Lastly, just a few more random things I didn't like, were things such as how most bad situations were just swept under the rug, such as her brother actually being her dad and all of her siblings want her out of the inheritance and house. Such a life altering, crappy situation to be in, and yet I feel like the aftermath was all just eh. She couldn't even have a loyal hero to be with her through it all. I'm not really religious at all, but I also wasn't a fan of the Catholic and Mormon jabs. Murray's whole cancer and death situation (medically assisted death) was such an afterthought and way too controversial and gloomy to be in this type of book too. I just felt like it was a shock factor and a way to give the heroine everything.
There was also some things that were said and then later retracted so it was confusing. Such as heroine saying she's technically not single as she had a fiance who wanted to wait for marriage before moving on and having sex, but then later saying she is single because said fiance was already with someone else. Or how hero says he was having sex with women on the weekends, but his brother says he wasn't sleeping with any in the pics (well, most of them), but this was such a nonsense statement as he was still sleeping with women, just not the ones in the pics.
I also didn't like the way they finally get back together. They have no convo. Basically just "I love yous", Murray is dying and bought the house for you, then a "1 year later" and heroine is pregnant. We did get development in their relationship but it was all screwed up when I found out he was still sleeping with ow right up until they get together which was the end of the book, because he was doing this WHILE their relationship was getting stronger and deeper. Just no.
And a last note, the lawyer stuff was confusing. Heroine was too back and forth on things, and some things just didn't make sense imo.
Overall, meh. There were some funny and cute moments, and I could have swept a lot of the bad under the rug, but hero sleeping with ow while heroine was pining and not even dating or anything, after she loses his virginity to him, just ruined it all for me. Definitely wont be reading the next books either seeing as they're all tropes i hate; manwhore hero, second chance, single dad, and im sure heroine will be virgin/celibate/or inexperienced in all of them. Waste of writing potential.
Spoilers
Would have been higher but then I was hit with this at 80%⬇️ and I really wish I would have dnfed so i didn't have to do this long rant😅
I’d been busting my ass, doing the best job I could as chief of this department, sleeping in a cot for fuck sake, sharing my room with fire trucks for the last month so that I’d be here for all the evening calls. Except weekends. I needed some sanity and I got that in the city. And by sanity, what I was really getting was forgettable sex. Sometimes. Just as often as not I’d go home alone after a night out with Dylan, especially on the nights that he’d mention Sophie when I was just about to walk out of a bar with a chick who cared about me as little as I cared about her. It was just about the sex and we both knew it. He’d say something like, “Have a good night. I’ve got to get going, too. I have a call with Sophie in the morning,” or “Great hanging out with you, brother. Say hi to Sophie from me when you see her.” It’s not like I wasn’t already thinking about her. I was and that’s why I was cruising Dylan’s haunts with him, to try to get her off my mind. But when he’d say her name it was like he’d just conjured her and she was right there, able to see what I was about to do, her eyes sad. Those sad eyes broke my heart.
Yes such sad eyes that made him still sleep with other women on the weekends when him and Sophie arent together. So apparently, to the author, the hero taking the heroine's virginity, them flirting and falling in love, going on non-date dates (and this is all over a period of six months, in which they slept together and messed around at the beginning of those months), but the hero still sleeping with multiple ow while being overly possessive about the heroine and keeping men away from her counts as "no cheating". Great way to throw that in there at 80% in the book, at the same time the heroine and hero are having really cute moments together, and you expect them to finally be together together.
Could have been a decent book too. At least a 3 star. There were some others things that were annoying though. Too much sexism for one. Sexism in the fire department, sexism when the hero thinks the heroine will be all clingy when he takes her virginity. Sexism when he makes other men back off from her and tells her not to flirt and comments how he doesn't want her to wear a really revealing bikini because then other men can see, all the while, he's doing weird strippers shows where women throw themselves on him and post that everywhere on social, and of course, while he's still sleeping with other women, while supposedly falling in love with the heroine, again, way too far into the book.
I also didn't like the miscommunication and the omission of details. Hero doesn't tell her he got the promotion, and goes down on her while she's drunk. Heroine later misheard a convo and "breaks" up with the hero and kicks him out with no details as to why. It makes it worse that this miscommunication lasts almost the whole book and is the reason they arent together, and hero goes back to sleeping with ow in this time, while heroine can't get over him. Also, him doing the stripping shows and not telling her, so she thinks he is a hardcore player and doesn't want to get back with him right away. This part made me more mad because hero then says he shouldn't have done it because he doesn't want her to think that way, and the brother comments saying he never went home with any of those women so it's not what she thinks. Actually it's still exactly the way she thinks, because him not going home with those women specifically, but instead, he's going home with the women he meets at bars, because that's so much better. Then when they get back into a relationship, a year passes and we get essentially no details or grovel or her finding out he WAS a player.
Which then of course leads me to how gross the hero is. He takes heroine's virginity, then goes to sleep with ow after they "break up". I doubt he even waited a month before sleeping with ow. We also get tons of details of him and past other women. Such as him having sex, how much he fingered them or went down on them, or just thinking about the sex or places he went to with them, one of which he ended up going to with the heroine. There is a LOT of internal thought from the hero about his past experiences. He refuses to buy drinks AND supply the condoms for them either as he doesn't want to feel like a "wallet and sex toy" or something along those lines, even though he's literally using them too. So him buying condoms for the heroine was such a big deal for him🙄 double standards to the max.
Lastly, just a few more random things I didn't like, were things such as how most bad situations were just swept under the rug, such as her brother actually being her dad and all of her siblings want her out of the inheritance and house. Such a life altering, crappy situation to be in, and yet I feel like the aftermath was all just eh. She couldn't even have a loyal hero to be with her through it all. I'm not really religious at all, but I also wasn't a fan of the Catholic and Mormon jabs. Murray's whole cancer and death situation (medically assisted death) was such an afterthought and way too controversial and gloomy to be in this type of book too. I just felt like it was a shock factor and a way to give the heroine everything.
There was also some things that were said and then later retracted so it was confusing. Such as heroine saying she's technically not single as she had a fiance who wanted to wait for marriage before moving on and having sex, but then later saying she is single because said fiance was already with someone else. Or how hero says he was having sex with women on the weekends, but his brother says he wasn't sleeping with any in the pics (well, most of them), but this was such a nonsense statement as he was still sleeping with women, just not the ones in the pics.
I also didn't like the way they finally get back together. They have no convo. Basically just "I love yous", Murray is dying and bought the house for you, then a "1 year later" and heroine is pregnant. We did get development in their relationship but it was all screwed up when I found out he was still sleeping with ow right up until they get together which was the end of the book, because he was doing this WHILE their relationship was getting stronger and deeper. Just no.
And a last note, the lawyer stuff was confusing. Heroine was too back and forth on things, and some things just didn't make sense imo.
Overall, meh. There were some funny and cute moments, and I could have swept a lot of the bad under the rug, but hero sleeping with ow while heroine was pining and not even dating or anything, after she loses his virginity to him, just ruined it all for me. Definitely wont be reading the next books either seeing as they're all tropes i hate; manwhore hero, second chance, single dad, and im sure heroine will be virgin/celibate/or inexperienced in all of them. Waste of writing potential.
May 5, 2020
This is a first time read of this author for me and I really loved the characters in this book they were witty with off the charts chemistry.
Nick is on his way to an interview when he ends up helping with an accident, which is where he meets Sophie a volunteer firefighter and the sparks between them are palatable from the start. But when he discovers that they are both applying for the same job things change. Nick is determined and desperate to impress his father, but Sophie calls to something he wasn’t looking for or even realised that he wanted. Will they find their happily ever after?
Sophie wasn’t expecting to be attracted to the man who stole the job that was meant to be hers, but he’s everything a firefighter should be and being his deputy is killing her. Every interaction she can feel the chemistry between them and no matter how much she tries to deny it she knows she can’t. But she’s just lost everything her home, her father and the job she deserved. Can she past that or will the firecracker that she is continue to go it alone?
This was a book that was in danger of melting my kindle the scenes are seriously hot but it doesn’t detract from the story and I loved how strong Sophie was. Highly recommended read and I’m so looking forward to more on this series. It does slightly drag a little about halfway through so I’m dropping my rating to 4.5 🌟 read. I am voluntarily reviewing an advanced copy of this book.
Nick is on his way to an interview when he ends up helping with an accident, which is where he meets Sophie a volunteer firefighter and the sparks between them are palatable from the start. But when he discovers that they are both applying for the same job things change. Nick is determined and desperate to impress his father, but Sophie calls to something he wasn’t looking for or even realised that he wanted. Will they find their happily ever after?
Sophie wasn’t expecting to be attracted to the man who stole the job that was meant to be hers, but he’s everything a firefighter should be and being his deputy is killing her. Every interaction she can feel the chemistry between them and no matter how much she tries to deny it she knows she can’t. But she’s just lost everything her home, her father and the job she deserved. Can she past that or will the firecracker that she is continue to go it alone?
This was a book that was in danger of melting my kindle the scenes are seriously hot but it doesn’t detract from the story and I loved how strong Sophie was. Highly recommended read and I’m so looking forward to more on this series. It does slightly drag a little about halfway through so I’m dropping my rating to 4.5 🌟 read. I am voluntarily reviewing an advanced copy of this book.
January 6, 2021
Book: First In
Author: Danika Bloom
Type: The Mixed Six Pack #1
POV: First Person - Dual
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4 Stars!
Age: Sophie Beaulieu - 24, Nick West - 28.
Review to come.
Author: Danika Bloom
Type: The Mixed Six Pack #1
POV: First Person - Dual
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4 Stars!
Age: Sophie Beaulieu - 24, Nick West - 28.
Review to come.
May 1, 2020
This book was good! I loved the main characters - Nick and Sophie - their witty banter, and steamy chemistry that just burns up the pages. Nick is a swoon worthy dream who has felt disconnected from his family his entire life. Sophie is the youngest in her family and sacrifices her own time and future to care for her ailing father. Both have past regrets. Both are looking forward to a more solid future. Both are drawn to the other like a moth to a flame. If you like stories built around firefighters, strong female leads, and hunky alpha males then this story is for you!
*I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
*I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Want to read
February 17, 2023🎁 FREE on Amazon today (7/22/2020)! 🎁
May 10, 2020
A new author for me, one I discovered on Instagram. This read was so informative, the research taken and the knowledge is what I crave, it's those details that make a story more compelling. And Danika delivered on all fronts.
The characters Nick and Sophie were engaging, they were relatable and you could feel them, their story and the struggles they faced daily. Though Sophie's story had me wanting to punch someone. Seriously who does that to someone?
I was literally on the edge turning pages wondering where it was all going and how it was going to end up. Danika really delivered in the suspense side for me it had me thinking long after I finished. I will be keeping her on my one click list of authors who can combine a story, steam and engagement factor because she did all that and more.
The characters Nick and Sophie were engaging, they were relatable and you could feel them, their story and the struggles they faced daily. Though Sophie's story had me wanting to punch someone. Seriously who does that to someone?
I was literally on the edge turning pages wondering where it was all going and how it was going to end up. Danika really delivered in the suspense side for me it had me thinking long after I finished. I will be keeping her on my one click list of authors who can combine a story, steam and engagement factor because she did all that and more.
September 12, 2020
Canadian, Steamy, Small Town Romance
First In is the kind of small town romance that you stay up all night reading because it's impossible to put down. Danika Bloom brings the main characters and a Canadian small town to life with the sort of steamy romance that makes you wish you had memory loss... that way, you could read it over and over again like it's the first time. Can't wait for more books from this amazing new author!
First In is the kind of small town romance that you stay up all night reading because it's impossible to put down. Danika Bloom brings the main characters and a Canadian small town to life with the sort of steamy romance that makes you wish you had memory loss... that way, you could read it over and over again like it's the first time. Can't wait for more books from this amazing new author!
April 26, 2020
Fun and sexy book about two firefighters fighting for the same job but some seriously sparks light up between Nick and Sophie. Lots of funny moments and lots a great steamy moments. Solid writing.
***I was provided with an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review**
***I was provided with an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review**
May 4, 2020
I don’t usually read Romance but who can resist a hashtag like #sexyfireman. That hashtag turned out to be the alpha male of this story. He’s an arrogant, ambitious, calendar-worthy sexy fireman desperate on pleasing his father. She’s a strong, caring, volunteer firefighter who’s just lost her father, her home, and the promotion she had her future riding on. It’s a great hook. The stakes are high. And the tension as tight as a full blast fire hose.
Since this was a Romance, I figured a "happily ever after" was hovering around the last page. What kept me reading were the details. Bloom’s personal experience with sexy firemen and volunteering as a firefighter herself provided bird’s eye insight into the goings-on of a volunteer firefighting department. I learned plenty. Things like, they’re usually called to motor vehicle accidents rather than fires; like the chief’s job is more about management, leadership, and economics than anything else; like how dedicated these volunteers are to their work.
There are plenty of contemporary Romances set in small-town America, but what makes this story different is that it’s crossed the border into small-town Canada. Lily Valley is a small community on the Sea to Sky Highway that runs between Vancouver and Whistler, two places most people will recognize, and if they don't, they're easy enough to find.
But what really makes this story tick are the characters. Nick West, though arrogant and entitled, has a big heart behind those pecs. It takes Sophie Beaulieu’s courage and determination for him to find it, but it’s there. Sophie is a kick-ass, French-spouting, independent woman who doesn’t need Nick to come to her rescue. This I like. Crack dialogue. Excellent fights.
And then there’s the sex. I don’t know all the ins and outs of the Romance genre, but I’d call it explicit. Parts are named, actions described, and our #sexy fireman spends a great deal of time trying to put his hose back on the truck which put a smile on my face. Seriously Nick. How old are you? Every time he even thinks about Sophie, he’s ready to roll. The sex doesn’t override the story though; it compliments it. The characters develop emotionally and once their misunderstandings get sorted it’s obvious that a happy ending is underway.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Since this was a Romance, I figured a "happily ever after" was hovering around the last page. What kept me reading were the details. Bloom’s personal experience with sexy firemen and volunteering as a firefighter herself provided bird’s eye insight into the goings-on of a volunteer firefighting department. I learned plenty. Things like, they’re usually called to motor vehicle accidents rather than fires; like the chief’s job is more about management, leadership, and economics than anything else; like how dedicated these volunteers are to their work.
There are plenty of contemporary Romances set in small-town America, but what makes this story different is that it’s crossed the border into small-town Canada. Lily Valley is a small community on the Sea to Sky Highway that runs between Vancouver and Whistler, two places most people will recognize, and if they don't, they're easy enough to find.
But what really makes this story tick are the characters. Nick West, though arrogant and entitled, has a big heart behind those pecs. It takes Sophie Beaulieu’s courage and determination for him to find it, but it’s there. Sophie is a kick-ass, French-spouting, independent woman who doesn’t need Nick to come to her rescue. This I like. Crack dialogue. Excellent fights.
And then there’s the sex. I don’t know all the ins and outs of the Romance genre, but I’d call it explicit. Parts are named, actions described, and our #sexy fireman spends a great deal of time trying to put his hose back on the truck which put a smile on my face. Seriously Nick. How old are you? Every time he even thinks about Sophie, he’s ready to roll. The sex doesn’t override the story though; it compliments it. The characters develop emotionally and once their misunderstandings get sorted it’s obvious that a happy ending is underway.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 9, 2020
What do you do when you find out the hot guy you met during a car accident, and then have drinks with (and more), is the same guy who is vying for an wins the job you need?
If you're Sophie you eventually put on your big girl pants and move forward.
Sophie and Nick have great chemistry, what they don't seem to have is the ability to actual communicate with each effectively.
This book was full of misunderstandings and lack of communication, but at the same time I loved every scene that Sophie and Nick had together.
The thing that kept me interested though, was everything that Sophie was going through with her siblings. Once it was resolved I did wish that there was a scene to explain why the siblings, especially one in particular, was so adamant about completely disinheriting Sophie. They were complete jackasses, so maybe that's why the author didn't waste anymore time on them.
It's just hard to believe that these unforgivably selfish people were raised in anyway by the person who loved Sophie the most.
If you're Sophie you eventually put on your big girl pants and move forward.
Sophie and Nick have great chemistry, what they don't seem to have is the ability to actual communicate with each effectively.
This book was full of misunderstandings and lack of communication, but at the same time I loved every scene that Sophie and Nick had together.
The thing that kept me interested though, was everything that Sophie was going through with her siblings. Once it was resolved I did wish that there was a scene to explain why the siblings, especially one in particular, was so adamant about completely disinheriting Sophie. They were complete jackasses, so maybe that's why the author didn't waste anymore time on them.
It's just hard to believe that these unforgivably selfish people were raised in anyway by the person who loved Sophie the most.
August 17, 2020
3.5 Stars
I absolutely loved the beginning of First In. I loved the banter between the two main characters, Sophie and Nick, I loved the chemistry and I loved the sexy times. However, it started to go down the hill after the misunderstanding those two had.
Sophie is a volunteer firefighter who has applied for the position of the chief. She was sure that the job is hers, however in the last minute the job is taken by Nick. I really like Sophie's character, she was independent, kind and strong woman with big cojones. She was way too good for the likes of her eight siblings who I wished burned inside a building with no way out, every last one of them. It was utterly disgusting the way they treated Sophie. Because of the way she grew up, she was a bit insecure which made her jump to conclusions that ruined her relationship with Nick. Then there few occasions where Nick did something to impress her, but she manipulated it in her head and made it into something it was not. That was quite frustrating.
While I liked Nick at the beginning, he lost most of the brownie points for the way he was acting after the misunderstanding with Sophie. Even though he still pined for her, he resumed to be in sexual relationships with other women, and that is a big no no. While one can argue that he was single and technically free to do what he wants, I do not like my heroes to be sexual with other women after meeting the heroine. That is a major turn off for me.
This book is painfully slow burn. It starts hot and heavy and then after the argument, Nick and Sophie just danced around each other, neither of them wanting to bring up the issue surrounding their relationships. While we got lingering gazes and tender touches here and there, they were separated for over 6 months which felt like half my life. They both have baggage from the way they were brought up but neither of them made the first step to talk to the other for a long time. They wasted a hell of a lot of time not talking about the important things and it was not until there were only couple of chapters left that they finally resolved their issues.
I must say though that the ending was really cute.
I really liked the side characters, Dylan and Murray. Sophie deserved someone like Murray in her corner since she struck out in the family department. I am curious to learn more about Dylan.
"Are you hungry? he asked.
Sweet Jesus, what was he offering me?
"You mean hungry for a burger, I assume?" I said, but in my mind, I was wishing he was asking if I was hungry for something a little more raw.
I absolutely loved the beginning of First In. I loved the banter between the two main characters, Sophie and Nick, I loved the chemistry and I loved the sexy times. However, it started to go down the hill after the misunderstanding those two had.
Sophie is a volunteer firefighter who has applied for the position of the chief. She was sure that the job is hers, however in the last minute the job is taken by Nick. I really like Sophie's character, she was independent, kind and strong woman with big cojones. She was way too good for the likes of her eight siblings who I wished burned inside a building with no way out, every last one of them. It was utterly disgusting the way they treated Sophie. Because of the way she grew up, she was a bit insecure which made her jump to conclusions that ruined her relationship with Nick. Then there few occasions where Nick did something to impress her, but she manipulated it in her head and made it into something it was not. That was quite frustrating.
While I liked Nick at the beginning, he lost most of the brownie points for the way he was acting after the misunderstanding with Sophie. Even though he still pined for her, he resumed to be in sexual relationships with other women, and that is a big no no. While one can argue that he was single and technically free to do what he wants, I do not like my heroes to be sexual with other women after meeting the heroine. That is a major turn off for me.
This book is painfully slow burn. It starts hot and heavy and then after the argument, Nick and Sophie just danced around each other, neither of them wanting to bring up the issue surrounding their relationships. While we got lingering gazes and tender touches here and there, they were separated for over 6 months which felt like half my life. They both have baggage from the way they were brought up but neither of them made the first step to talk to the other for a long time. They wasted a hell of a lot of time not talking about the important things and it was not until there were only couple of chapters left that they finally resolved their issues.
I must say though that the ending was really cute.
I really liked the side characters, Dylan and Murray. Sophie deserved someone like Murray in her corner since she struck out in the family department. I am curious to learn more about Dylan.
May 5, 2020
“I love you, too,” she whispered. “And I’m really scared.” “So am I. Scared shitless. But I realized that I’d rather have a year or a month or even a week of the happiness I feel when I’m with you than live in a place where I know I can’t get hurt. That’s not a life. Not a life I want anyway. I want a life with you for as long as you’ll have me in it.” “Forever,” she said planting a kiss on my mouth. “That works for me.”
WARNING: This review does contain some spoilers!
It’s important to note that I’ve never read a fireman romance novel that I liked. I always feel like it’s too much of a stretch to be believable, and sometimes the storylines are outlandish and a little too dramatic for my taste. That’s not the case with this book. This story is about a woman who is a volunteer firefighter and the man she falls for: her chief.
I absolutely loved that this book was written with dual POVs. I always appreciate when we get to experience what both characters are thinking and feeling during a story. Especially with this one, when sh*t goes down a little over fifty percent of the way through the book, we are able to see the aftermath pretty quickly from both sides.
Sophie is the bomb.com. She’s completely herself all the time, she loves her life (for the most part), she’s caring and considerate, she’s smart and driven, and she’s all about woman power. I love how spunky and sophisticated she is and how, even though she meets the man of her dreams, she doesn’t change anything about herself. She has absolutely no filter and that’s part of the reason Nick falls for her. Nick is a super sexy, cocky, motivated firefighter who shows up in Sophie’s hometown of Lilly Valley to interview for the position of firefighter chief. On his way to the interview, there is a major car crash that he pulls over and helps direct. That’s where he meets the volunteer fire fighter crew including Sophie (who is the one in charge) and the other men (none of which are important in any capacity). He falls for Sophie immediately, commenting on how she is the smallest firefighter he’s ever seen, but she knows what she’s doing and can command a group just as well as any man. He immediately wants to take her out and sleep with her, but before he can do that, he finds out that he got the job as chief over her. He still takes her out and they mess around a bit after she’s had a few drinks, but he tells her the next day who he is, and she is not about it. She’s furious with him for lying by omission and not telling her that he is the new chief even though she had been speaking poorly about whoever the new guy was the entire time they were drinking. It’s a pretty hilarious few chapters of Nick trying to get back into Sophie’s good graces.
Eventually Sophie gives in and invites him over and they get it on, and that’s when we find out that *ahem* Sophie is a VIRGIN! So now you know what “First In” actually means LOL. I love it. They have incredible sex and chemistry and, because there is no place to rent in town, Nick moves into Sophie’s house as her roommate. Now this is where I was a little sad and disappointed with the plot. We only get a few chapters of our couple being a happy couple. Just as soon as they are living together, Sophie overhears a conversation that ends with her kicking Nick out of the house. It was pretty upsetting. Although, in the end everything gets fixed up and our couple get their sweet HEA, I do wish we had been given more scenes of them together. I always enjoy basking in the happiness of a couple before the big bad thing that tears them apart comes into play. Anyway, overall I really enjoyed this novel and would definitely recommend it to a friend! 4 stars!
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
“You heard me. I love you. And I need you. I need you in my life. Not as my deputy. Not as a friend. I need you like I need air. Like I need water.”
WARNING: This review does contain some spoilers!
It’s important to note that I’ve never read a fireman romance novel that I liked. I always feel like it’s too much of a stretch to be believable, and sometimes the storylines are outlandish and a little too dramatic for my taste. That’s not the case with this book. This story is about a woman who is a volunteer firefighter and the man she falls for: her chief.
I absolutely loved that this book was written with dual POVs. I always appreciate when we get to experience what both characters are thinking and feeling during a story. Especially with this one, when sh*t goes down a little over fifty percent of the way through the book, we are able to see the aftermath pretty quickly from both sides.
Sophie is the bomb.com. She’s completely herself all the time, she loves her life (for the most part), she’s caring and considerate, she’s smart and driven, and she’s all about woman power. I love how spunky and sophisticated she is and how, even though she meets the man of her dreams, she doesn’t change anything about herself. She has absolutely no filter and that’s part of the reason Nick falls for her. Nick is a super sexy, cocky, motivated firefighter who shows up in Sophie’s hometown of Lilly Valley to interview for the position of firefighter chief. On his way to the interview, there is a major car crash that he pulls over and helps direct. That’s where he meets the volunteer fire fighter crew including Sophie (who is the one in charge) and the other men (none of which are important in any capacity). He falls for Sophie immediately, commenting on how she is the smallest firefighter he’s ever seen, but she knows what she’s doing and can command a group just as well as any man. He immediately wants to take her out and sleep with her, but before he can do that, he finds out that he got the job as chief over her. He still takes her out and they mess around a bit after she’s had a few drinks, but he tells her the next day who he is, and she is not about it. She’s furious with him for lying by omission and not telling her that he is the new chief even though she had been speaking poorly about whoever the new guy was the entire time they were drinking. It’s a pretty hilarious few chapters of Nick trying to get back into Sophie’s good graces.
Eventually Sophie gives in and invites him over and they get it on, and that’s when we find out that *ahem* Sophie is a VIRGIN! So now you know what “First In” actually means LOL. I love it. They have incredible sex and chemistry and, because there is no place to rent in town, Nick moves into Sophie’s house as her roommate. Now this is where I was a little sad and disappointed with the plot. We only get a few chapters of our couple being a happy couple. Just as soon as they are living together, Sophie overhears a conversation that ends with her kicking Nick out of the house. It was pretty upsetting. Although, in the end everything gets fixed up and our couple get their sweet HEA, I do wish we had been given more scenes of them together. I always enjoy basking in the happiness of a couple before the big bad thing that tears them apart comes into play. Anyway, overall I really enjoyed this novel and would definitely recommend it to a friend! 4 stars!
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
“You heard me. I love you. And I need you. I need you in my life. Not as my deputy. Not as a friend. I need you like I need air. Like I need water.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2020
Sophie loses the promotion to fire chief to an outsider. Nick wants to job to make his resume look better; he's not planning to stay in Lily Valley forever. When he makes her his deputy chief, they have to navigate maintaining a professional relationship while figuring out their personal attraction to each other. They both have family issues to resolved. The Beaulieu's have a huge family secret; well, it's really just a Sophie secret because they all know but can't/don't/won't share it with her. She and her attorney, Dylan (Nick's brother), work together to try to outwit her much older siblings. Nick's father had children from other wives, and Nick has obviously not ever been the favorite, always seeming to be a disappointment.
This is just an incredible book! Sophie is one of the the most kickass characters ever. She curses in French, gives her all to the job, and loves with her whole heart. Nick is tough, bossy and arrogant, but there's a softer side of him peeking out occasionally. When they decide to work together, they play off each other's strengths and weaknesses beautifully. The banter between them is witty and amusing, and sometimes snarky. I can't say much about Murray without a spoiler, but he can be absolute riot at times, and a truly terrific friend always.
Give this new romance author a chance - she absolutely does not disappoint!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is just an incredible book! Sophie is one of the the most kickass characters ever. She curses in French, gives her all to the job, and loves with her whole heart. Nick is tough, bossy and arrogant, but there's a softer side of him peeking out occasionally. When they decide to work together, they play off each other's strengths and weaknesses beautifully. The banter between them is witty and amusing, and sometimes snarky. I can't say much about Murray without a spoiler, but he can be absolute riot at times, and a truly terrific friend always.
Give this new romance author a chance - she absolutely does not disappoint!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 14, 2020
A heartwarming love story of two strong-willed characters, with just enough steam to have me fanning myself. A very satisfying read, perfect for these troubled times.
May 4, 2020
When heading for an interview firefighter Nick is stopped by an accident ahead and goes to help.
Stopping for an accident fireman Nick West phones to say he will be late for his job interview then goes to help. Using his first responder training he starts assessing the injured when he is called over by a runner and finds a small child face down in the mud. He turns him over carefully and finds he is not breathing so starts CPR to keep the blood flowing in his organs until help arrives. When he sees the first local fireman he yells to get the AED as he has a child who needs it. This is how he meets the smallest volunteer firefighter he has ever seen Sophie Beaulieu. When he gets to his interview he finds she is the local firefighter up for the job he has applied for.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Stopping for an accident fireman Nick West phones to say he will be late for his job interview then goes to help. Using his first responder training he starts assessing the injured when he is called over by a runner and finds a small child face down in the mud. He turns him over carefully and finds he is not breathing so starts CPR to keep the blood flowing in his organs until help arrives. When he sees the first local fireman he yells to get the AED as he has a child who needs it. This is how he meets the smallest volunteer firefighter he has ever seen Sophie Beaulieu. When he gets to his interview he finds she is the local firefighter up for the job he has applied for.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 5, 2020
Nick and Sophia want the same job to be Chief at the Lily Valley Volunteer fire department they both have good qualifications but Nick gets the job one problem they met earlier at a car accident he asked her out before he now that they were up for the same job but it doesn't matter write big deal yes especially when Sophia finds out.
Sophia is livid she just spent the night making out with her boss and complaining about him to his face i hate him and he drives me nuts with his mixed moods but when he has know place to stay and he becomes my roomier things really get crazy hot until the next morning I hate him again so why do I still want him so much. These two like each other want each other one of them despises the other but after all the drama they love each other. Good read can't wait for the next one.
I was allowed to read and advance copy of this book via Booksprout and this is my honest review.
Sophia is livid she just spent the night making out with her boss and complaining about him to his face i hate him and he drives me nuts with his mixed moods but when he has know place to stay and he becomes my roomier things really get crazy hot until the next morning I hate him again so why do I still want him so much. These two like each other want each other one of them despises the other but after all the drama they love each other. Good read can't wait for the next one.
I was allowed to read and advance copy of this book via Booksprout and this is my honest review.
December 16, 2022
The MMC Nick is so awful, I'm not sure how the author thought he would be someone to root for. He encourages Sophie to get drunk while staying pretty sober himself, then has sex with her while he knows that she wouldn't want anything to do with him if she knew he was the new captain. Then a few chapters later, he says that he thinks women who go to bars to find hookups are trash, even though that's exactly what he does. And he admits that it makes him a prick but doesn't really care because he's such a catch. WTF?!
I couldn't get over my dislike of Nick throughout this. I also thought the story was convoluted and went in weird circles. Most of it felt pointless by the end. No thanks.
I couldn't get over my dislike of Nick throughout this. I also thought the story was convoluted and went in weird circles. Most of it felt pointless by the end. No thanks.
May 5, 2020
This was a very enjoyable read by Danika Bloom and the first in The Mixed Six Pack Series. Nick and Sophie were simply amazing together. The chemistry and the interaction between them was sizzling hot. Nick lands his dream job only to learn that Sophie was after the same job. The heart wants what the heart wants. But with both Nick and Sophie both having problems with family that definitely affect their relationship. Can they work together and find their HEA? Once you begin reading, you will not be able to stop until the last page.
May 21, 2020
This book was an electric read its the first iv read by this author but for sure il be wanting more.
Nick and Sophies book is fab its easy to read and follow and you cant help but fall in love with them both.
Nick and Sophies book is fab its easy to read and follow and you cant help but fall in love with them both.
May 4, 2020
Loved this book. It is sweet, funny, it will keep you interested till the end. The chemistry and banter between Nick and Sophie is amazing. A great start to this series. This is my first time reading this author and it will not be the last. Looking forward to what will come next.
I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 4, 2020
The start of The Mixed Six Pack series a well written story, by an Author I have not read before. Nick West and Sophie Marie Beaulieu's story, they meet at a highway accident. He is on his way to a job interview, both of them are firefighters. I want to read the next book in this series. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 5, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It was a great read. Well written, with great characters and I loved the back and forth between them. Swoon worthy, for sure.
***I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.***
***I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.***
May 6, 2020
First In is, the 1st book in the The Mixed Six-Pack Series. This book is a steamy, small-town firefighter romance with great characters that are at odds from the begining. This is a fun and sweet story that I absolutely love the the characters and the story. A must read This is a well-written small-town book with Characters with depth that are well-constructed that have a lot of chemistry. I cannot wait for the next book by a new favorite Author. A must read
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 4, 2020
I was taken in with this story from the very start- what an intro! This is a first time read for me by Danika Bloom and this series holds a lot of promise.
Overall this is I loved the flirty banter and it was sweet, sexy and emotionally charged with a lot of chemistry from the off set.
However, I felt like the middle dragged a bit and moved too quickly at the same time. Nick lost some H points from me, and I loved Sophie as a person, her character grew. All in all I was entertained and found the secondary characters quite endearing.
I received this free arc from the author through BookSprout in exchange for an honest review.
3.5-4 stars for me.
Overall this is I loved the flirty banter and it was sweet, sexy and emotionally charged with a lot of chemistry from the off set.
However, I felt like the middle dragged a bit and moved too quickly at the same time. Nick lost some H points from me, and I loved Sophie as a person, her character grew. All in all I was entertained and found the secondary characters quite endearing.
I received this free arc from the author through BookSprout in exchange for an honest review.
3.5-4 stars for me.
August 4, 2020
I loved Nick & Sophie. Scorching hot, their banter was witty and their chemistry was undeniable.
A little bit of that enemies to friends to lovers vibe that I love so much.
Plus. Sophie was a take no crap kinda girl, and there’s nothing I love more than a heroine with backbone.
An alpha man is fantastic, but write me a charismatic heroine, and I will love you long time.
A little bit of that enemies to friends to lovers vibe that I love so much.
Plus. Sophie was a take no crap kinda girl, and there’s nothing I love more than a heroine with backbone.
An alpha man is fantastic, but write me a charismatic heroine, and I will love you long time.
October 29, 2022
Superb firefighter romance!
This book started off with a heart-stopping action sequence that sucked me in right away, and it was quickly followed by a plethora of laugh-out-loud moments as the exquisitely executed enemies-to-lovers arrangement is set up. Nick and Sophie have all the chemistry in the world and their emotional connection is palpable. How they manage their working relationship against their personal relationship was expertly handled with a surprising amount of honesty and authenticity rather than the genre's usual formulaic progression.
The writing is inventive, creative, and at times outright hilarious. Their first intimate time was like none other I've read. Plenty of passion, sure, but with a couple added elements that reminded me more of my clumsy youth than the typical fantasy book boyfriend experience. This story is far more complex than a simple romance, with Sophie's family estate issues and Nick's relationship with his brothers, plus Murray's role in everything shows that a minor retiring character can be so much more in the hands of the right author.
I loved that this story gave us such detailed insight into the inner workings of a remote, small-town volunteer fire department. The politics, the public perceptions, the variety of personalities, all worked together to bring a sense of realism to this fictional world.
The only thing that kept this from being a five-star read for me was that their estrangement runs on for far too long, even after the misunderstanding and misconstrued intentions part is cleared up. At one point, Sophie seems to forget that she initiated the break-up when she wonders why he isn't trying to get back together with her. The timeline seemed to drag on with weeks and weeks added here and there even though it didn't seem necessary to stretch the whole thing out over so many months. Still, these issues are worked through eventually to get this couple to their well-deserved HEA.
I was even more impressed with this book when I realized that it was written by a relatively new author. There's a lot of talent here with a fresh approach to constructing relationships, and I'm looking forward to reading more in this developing series.
This book started off with a heart-stopping action sequence that sucked me in right away, and it was quickly followed by a plethora of laugh-out-loud moments as the exquisitely executed enemies-to-lovers arrangement is set up. Nick and Sophie have all the chemistry in the world and their emotional connection is palpable. How they manage their working relationship against their personal relationship was expertly handled with a surprising amount of honesty and authenticity rather than the genre's usual formulaic progression.
The writing is inventive, creative, and at times outright hilarious. Their first intimate time was like none other I've read. Plenty of passion, sure, but with a couple added elements that reminded me more of my clumsy youth than the typical fantasy book boyfriend experience. This story is far more complex than a simple romance, with Sophie's family estate issues and Nick's relationship with his brothers, plus Murray's role in everything shows that a minor retiring character can be so much more in the hands of the right author.
I loved that this story gave us such detailed insight into the inner workings of a remote, small-town volunteer fire department. The politics, the public perceptions, the variety of personalities, all worked together to bring a sense of realism to this fictional world.
The only thing that kept this from being a five-star read for me was that their estrangement runs on for far too long, even after the misunderstanding and misconstrued intentions part is cleared up. At one point, Sophie seems to forget that she initiated the break-up when she wonders why he isn't trying to get back together with her. The timeline seemed to drag on with weeks and weeks added here and there even though it didn't seem necessary to stretch the whole thing out over so many months. Still, these issues are worked through eventually to get this couple to their well-deserved HEA.
I was even more impressed with this book when I realized that it was written by a relatively new author. There's a lot of talent here with a fresh approach to constructing relationships, and I'm looking forward to reading more in this developing series.
May 4, 2020
Lots to love here: Nick and Sophie were well-drawn characters and their chemistry was palpable, the supporting cast was interesting and varied, the plot took some unexpected turns that worked well to build tension and show off facets of the characters, and I learned how to swear in French.
The opening scene/meet-cute was nearly flawless. Totally got me hooked on the characters and made me want to know more. After that, I couldn't stop turning the pages to devour every word. Will definitely read more in the series.
Includes several great tropes, including: hottie fireman, 'didn't know who you were until after our one night stand', 'overheard something and misunderstood it completely', a bit of enemies-to-lovers (including some great snarky banter), and some opposites attract.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The opening scene/meet-cute was nearly flawless. Totally got me hooked on the characters and made me want to know more. After that, I couldn't stop turning the pages to devour every word. Will definitely read more in the series.
Includes several great tropes, including: hottie fireman, 'didn't know who you were until after our one night stand', 'overheard something and misunderstood it completely', a bit of enemies-to-lovers (including some great snarky banter), and some opposites attract.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 15, 2020
A good start to a series.
This is a new author for me, one I have enjoyed reading. I thought the story was interesting and flowed well; it held my interest. There were a few things I saw coming and a few that I didn't, I didn't agree with some of the decisions Nick made and I wish that they would have communicated better with each other and in some cases other people. It was funny, sweet, sexy, sad and I definitely want to read more of this series and hope to see Nick and Sophie in those books too.
This is a new author for me, one I have enjoyed reading. I thought the story was interesting and flowed well; it held my interest. There were a few things I saw coming and a few that I didn't, I didn't agree with some of the decisions Nick made and I wish that they would have communicated better with each other and in some cases other people. It was funny, sweet, sexy, sad and I definitely want to read more of this series and hope to see Nick and Sophie in those books too.
May 9, 2020
4.5 stars
I was blown away to discover that this book was set in the province I lived, written by a Canadian author. So. Very. Cool.
This story brought a hunk-of-burning-love alpha male with a petite firecracker of a gal together. What started off as a one night stand, took it's time in the slow burn romance genre. At times, this was painful for me as I wanted all the sex, lol! I enjoyed the romance, twists and turns and the redefinition of family.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was blown away to discover that this book was set in the province I lived, written by a Canadian author. So. Very. Cool.
This story brought a hunk-of-burning-love alpha male with a petite firecracker of a gal together. What started off as a one night stand, took it's time in the slow burn romance genre. At times, this was painful for me as I wanted all the sex, lol! I enjoyed the romance, twists and turns and the redefinition of family.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 1, 2021
Action packed, sexy, fun, engaging and emotional adventure filled with danger, suspense and undeniable passion... an edge of your seat read from beginning to end and so hard to put down. Really enjoyed the charters I got to know on this journey.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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