This was a DNF for me.

This book was sadly a slightly below average romance read. It bills itself as being hot and sexy and I guess it could have been if the "humor" was not so flat and forced.

When Melissa's grandma forces her to attend a firefighting charity auction, Melissa is nothing but embarrassed. (Side note: these events can be a lot of fun if you go in with the right spirit. All Melissa felt was embarrassment and annoyance and thus it made the entire auction rather embarrassing). She has no plans to bid on a fireman but since it's her grandmother's birthday, she'll attend. But she cannot take the auction for long and as her grandmother is in the midst of bidding on a blond fireman for her, Melissa is scuttling out of the room where she falls flat on her face and is rescued by Fire Captain Harry Brody. He's making sure the auction is running smoothly though he isn't participating.

When the fireman who was "won" by Melissa's grandmother bails on the date (which made me dislike him immensely. Seriously, man up and take the elderly woman out. It's not the end of the world and she paid good money for this date), Harry steps in and finds that much to his surprise (but NOT the readers by any means) that he is not dating an elderly woman but instead, her granddaughter, Melissa. The sparks fly between them but they both have a lot of baggage and frankly it seems Melissa has never gone on a date before because she is awkward city around Harry for much of the book.

I liked Harry infinitesimally more than Melissa because he was just a nice guy (who unfortunately let his past relationship weigh him down for way too long). He does the right thing. I thought it was really sweet that he had planned a true date for an old woman even if it would not be a typical date. Unfortunately, Melissa really grated on my nerves and I found their romance to be forced in many situations. The "comedic" happenings of the book (and I use that word very lightly) try to give this book a rom-com flavor but it just is not happening. Klutzy situations get old fast. And then, the kicker of all things is something that happens in the end which seemed, given the lighthearted tone of the book, strange. I do not want to spoil it but I really thought the author should have avoided that particular plot.

I love a great fireman story. Fireman are one of my favorite romance hero archetypes and while I didn't mind Harry, I wasn't completely sold on his romance with Melissa by any means. She frustrated me to no end as did the hijinks of her grandmother. Aren't there enough romance stories with interfering grandmothers out there now? I have no desire to read the next book in the series (Hot for Fireman: A Bachelor Firemen Novel) particularly given the "hero's" actions in this book.

Harry redeemed the story slightly for me but overall, this book was a below average romance story. If you truly want to read it, borrow it from your local public library.