When their career paths bring two high school sweethearts together again, the forest isn’t the only thing ablaze…
Fire behavior specialist Luis Riviera goes where his job takes him. But when he’s assigned to an arson investigation in Central Oregon—the place he left his broken heart twenty years ago—he’s afraid of being burned all over again.
Tucker Ryland had planned to join his first love, Luis, in LA after high school graduation, but life got in the way. Now a fire management expert and a divorced father of teen twins, Tucker’s thrown for a loop when he finds himself working side by side with his Luis, now all grown up and more intriguing than ever.
Though consumed by a grueling fire season and family responsibilities, the two men discover their bond has never truly broken. Tentative kisses turn to passionate nights. But smoking sheets aside, old hurts and new truths stand in the way of this time being the start of forever.
Luis Riviera is assigned to an arson investigation in the last place he ever wants to be - his old high school stomping grounds in Central Oregon, where he experienced his first broken heart.
Tucker Ryland has been devoted to his family and his job as a fire management expert, and had all but forgotten the disastrous end to his own teenage years.
Neither man ever expected to come face to face again. Both men are thrown for a loop when they bump into each other on the first day of Luis’ assignment.
I gotta say - I found Luis’ initial behaviour to be a bit much. Granted, he had been hurt by Tucker’s actions, but that was two decades ago. His actions just seemed a bit too petty and childish.
But I really liked everything that came after that reunion. The second chances trope can be so overdone and “quick” sometimes, but Annabeth Albert handled it like a pro.
While there are definitely lingering feelings, the emotional rekindling is gradual. Tucker and Luis don’t just automatically fall back in love.
Tentative kisses turn into fiery nights, and pretty soon Luis and Tucker are having a series of unofficial dates.
The two rediscover what drew them together as boys, and there’s an entirely new discovery of the men they’ve become.
I was all for it! It was easy to root for them.
The family dynamic is also entertaining. Tucker’s teenage boys were great. Wade was a hoot, and Walker’s angst was entirely believable. Bonus points for how great Tucker’s relationship with his ex-wife is!
On the downside - I just couldn’t get into the firefighting. It just seemed to drag and I’ll admit I skimmed some of those parts.
Regardless, the happy ending was great and I really liked that it went in a bit of an unpredictable direction!
If you’re looking for an entertaining second chances MM romance with strong themes of family and growth, give ‘Feel the Fire’ a try!
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