Holly‘s review of Flashback by Jill Shalvis
Contemporary Romantic Suspense released by Harlequin Blaze 1 Aug 08

First things first: That cover? Totally hot. Yummy fireman. Mmmm. Ok, moving on. I read this book before I read the first one in the series, Flashpoint. I have to tell you…I was very disappointed in this the first time around. My major issues stemmed from the plot and the way things progressed after the way the first book in the series left off. I decided to read the first before deciding for sure on this one and I’m glad I held off. The actions of the characters and overall story arc worked much better having read the first and understanding where all the motives of the characters. I highly recommend you read these in order.

Aidan and Kenzie spent a summer getting hot and heavy with each other until Aidan broke it off. He was scared of falling in love, but too bad for Kenzie she already had. Now she’s back in town because her brother was murdered in a fire. She and Aidan meet up again and realize they’re both still attracted to each other. They pick up where they left off, but Kenzie is determined to find the person who set up her brother before he died, and to keep her heart protected.

I really liked the banter between Aidan and Kenzie. I actually chuckled out loud a couple times while reading it. I also liked them together. They had great chemistry and the sexual tension fairly leapt off the pages. I really liked that Aidan respected Kenzie and treated her as grown woman. That was refreshing.

I really appreciated Kenzie’s dedication to proving her brother wasn’t the arsonist everyone thought him to be. I was completely on her side in the beginning, wondering right along with her why no one doubted her brother had actually been guilty of arson before his death. As a sister I imagine I’d act the same way she did.

The problem is, I think she took her tough girl, I-can-do-everything-all-by-myself attitude a little bit too far. I get that Aidan had hurt her in the past. I even get that he deserved payback for that. What I don’t get is why she had to purposely put herself in danger to prove it. Or why Aidan let her.

That was my other problem: Aidan let her. She’s being followed by some creepy dude, getting random phone calls on her cell from some anonymous person, and after nothing more than a token protest about her not calling the cops, Aidan decided to let it go. While I appreciated him letting her do her thing in the beginning, it started bother me the longer it went on.

The suspense aspect wasn’t done badly, I suppose, though I did figure it out early in the book (well, part of it, anyway). I guess I was just disappointed in Aidan’s refusal to push the issue and Kenzie’s refusal to back off, even a little bit. I suppose if I’m being fair, it was her brother, her only relative, with whom she was extremely close. So it makes sense she’d want to clear his name. I guess the way she went about it just didn’t sit right with me.

I really loved the two of them together, though. Their chemistry was off the charts and I love how – when they were fighting with each other – they both paid attention to the other and did their best to support, comfort and care for each other. When Aidan was feeling down about work or stressed out, Kenzie offered him unconditional support. When Kenzie was upset over having lost her brother, or trying to puzzle out the mystery surrounding his death, Aidan didn’t hesitate to work with her and support her. I loved that.

Overall I had some issues with the characters by themselves, but they really worked for me as a couple. The plot was interesting and moved along well, but I wasn’t surprised by the twist (not surprising since I rarely am).

Grade: B+

Summary:

Firefighter Aidan Donnelly has always battled the flames with trademark icy calm. That is, until a blazing old flame returns—in the shape of sizzling soap star Mackenzie Stafford! Aidan wants to pour water over the unquenchable heat between them. But that just creates more steam….Kenzie is not the delicate, fragile female she looks like. She has one clear objective, and nothing will stand in the way of her goal—well, nothing but the red-hot touch of a certain dangerously sexy fireman, that is!

Read an excerpt here

Read Holly’s review of Flashpoint here.