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Phoenix Ridge Fire Department #1
Sparks Fly
Will the right woman be enough to thaw Lieutenant Hunter's icy heart?
If you love Grey's Anatomy and Station 19, you'll love this steamy Age Gap Enemies-to-Lovers Romance
Veteran firefighter, Lieutenant Hallie Hunter has fought hard to win her place in the male dominated world of firefighting. In Hallie’s quest for promotion to Captain, she is tasked with training the new recruits.
Kaia Montgomery is a young and spirited new recruit whose teamwork skills are lacking and Hallie’s attraction to her is immediate and consuming. Hallie knows she must shut down her attraction to Kaia. Hallie is her boss and Hallie is determined to get promoted to Captain this year.
At a big High Rise fire Kaia ignores protocol and puts her own life in danger. How can Hallie continue to manage Kaia and keep her own desires at bay?
Sparks fly between them both on and off the fireground. Hallie wants her, but she also needs to discipline her unruly new recruit.
When they can no longer resist the magnetic pull of each other, how can Hallie save their careers and keep Kaia out of the dangers that she keeps rushing into?
Find out today with this exciting new series about hot sapphic female firefighters!
If you love Grey's Anatomy and Station 19, you'll love this steamy Age Gap Enemies-to-Lovers Romance
Veteran firefighter, Lieutenant Hallie Hunter has fought hard to win her place in the male dominated world of firefighting. In Hallie’s quest for promotion to Captain, she is tasked with training the new recruits.
Kaia Montgomery is a young and spirited new recruit whose teamwork skills are lacking and Hallie’s attraction to her is immediate and consuming. Hallie knows she must shut down her attraction to Kaia. Hallie is her boss and Hallie is determined to get promoted to Captain this year.
At a big High Rise fire Kaia ignores protocol and puts her own life in danger. How can Hallie continue to manage Kaia and keep her own desires at bay?
Sparks fly between them both on and off the fireground. Hallie wants her, but she also needs to discipline her unruly new recruit.
When they can no longer resist the magnetic pull of each other, how can Hallie save their careers and keep Kaia out of the dangers that she keeps rushing into?
Find out today with this exciting new series about hot sapphic female firefighters!
137 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 12, 2024
250 people are currently reading
510 people want to read
About the author
Emily Hayes
138 books231 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
March 23, 2025
Nice book.
Of course as usual, anything by this author is not highly realistic to real life but it was a good and short read.
Of course as usual, anything by this author is not highly realistic to real life but it was a good and short read.
January 11, 2025
2 stars due to a pet peeve
I'm not a fan of insta anything, love, relationships, angst, conflict resolution, etc. This book had a lot of it. I almost dnf, but pushed through it. Therefore, this rating reflects my personal dislike of it. Others may not have the same hangup.
I'm not a fan of insta anything, love, relationships, angst, conflict resolution, etc. This book had a lot of it. I almost dnf, but pushed through it. Therefore, this rating reflects my personal dislike of it. Others may not have the same hangup.
May 9, 2025
Sparks Fly? If beating one's head against the wall can produce sparks--be careful, because that is what this book will make you want to do.
There are ways this book could have been tolerable, and I don't simply mean "better writing", even if that's what it boils down to.
A better developed and more carefully constructed relationship between Hallie and Kaia would have helped tremendously. The "instant relationship" that many reviewers have noted not only rushes that, but it also immediately contradicts the professed anti-chauvinist/anti-misogyny messages spouted by the characters.
Hallie has fought her way up the pig-headed and sexist ranks for eighteen years and is on the cusp of becoming a captain. Her shot at leading the new recruits could be the last notch in her belt to earn her captaincy. She has earned her status and now she wants to show that a woman has the intellectual, physical, and emotional capabilities necessary for true leadership.
Kaia, the probie (they call her a rookie, which isn't incorrect, but the more common term would be "probie" for probationary firefighter. Let the cops be rookies) has also experienced the disrespect of being underestimated and undervalued because of her gender in the male-dominated world of firefighting. Even more, she has experienced it at home, where her father thinks she should be a nurse or a teacher, like a normal woman. She wants to show she is stronger, faster, and smarter than any man!
For the rest of the book, they toss all of those ideals into a dumpster and light it on fire. They immediately behave just like a bunch of macho jerk men would think two women, especially lesbians, would behave and confirm the worst stereotypes.
On the first day--the first freaking day--both of them start making googly eyes at each other and losing focus--if the men could read minds they would have been thinking "just like a woman!"
Kaia, for all intents, then sexually harasses her superior officer in the shower with the arrogance of a, well, a sexist pig.
In between lustful thoughts, Hallie correctly criticizes Kaia for grandstanding and lone-wolf behavior. Kaia responds with petulance. Instead of ripping her a new one, Hallie is turned on.
A few days later, the Chief learns Kaia has trouble playing well with others, instead of Hallie taking the initiative like, y'know, a leader, he makes Hallie give her personal instruction on teamwork.
On the first day of the personal training, Hallie worries that banging Kaia might damage their careers--because it would and it should (spoiler: it won't because love *gags*). Hallie mostly engages in calisthenic drills that have fuck-all to do with teamwork and spends most of the time ogling Kaia's butt. They nearly kiss before the arrival of the men breaks it up.
A serious fire event disrupts any private discussion and, the first chance she gets, Kaia rushes off alone (see: grandstanding) into the burning structure. She saves a dog. Hard to argue with doing that, I guess except it violates protocol and puts herself and potentially other firefighters in danger.
Hallie rips into her on the scene. Kaia is arrogantly petulant once again. Hallie promises to continue the reaming at the station. Clearly, there's only one thing Hallie can do! She goes down on Kaia in the shower. That'll teach her a lesson--but good! Wait...
Hallie, minutes later, gets called into the Chief's office and he questions the private training's success given Kaia's actions. This is after one private class, jackass! But Hallie doesn't point that out. Instead, she worries that the dynamic with Kaia is a lit fuse. Excuse me? A lit fuse? Your face was just buried in her crotch ten minutes earlier. The fuse isn't lit. The bomb has exploded.
Later that week (or was it the next day?), Kaia blatantly flirts with Hallie in the break area. Hallie suggests they meet up for a hike on the weekend (because apparently there aren't fires on the weekend and firefighting in this world is 9-5).
After the sexcapade under the stars and some more hookups, Hallie is over the moon. Until she hears the male probies whispering, making hurtful suggestions that the two may be hooking up. That it is absolutely true doesn't seem to matter. So, instead of taking ten seconds to explain this to Kaia, she specifically targets her for harsh criticism.
Kaia is upset, to the point of tears (women, right?) and Hallie realizes she went overboard. Kaia can't believe Hallie would choose her career over what they had (literally, just sex). That night, Hallie apologizes in the only way she can, by going down on Kaia and then banging her with a strap-on.
Hallie is once again on Cloud 9 as is Kaia. The next day (of course) another fire. Kaia runs off on her own. Again. Shocker. She gets trapped. Gasp. To correct this protocol breach, Hallie throws out the protocol and runs in by herself to save her and also nearly dies. Now, Kaia is mad at Hallie and Hallie realizes (again) that the relationship is clouding her judgment.
Now, for some reason, the guys like Kaia even if both women are secretly miserable. Kaia takes a train to her parents to tell her retired Firefighter father of all her ethical violations--I mean, her tortured love life and he, in defiance of all sense, tells her, in not so many words, to chuck her career for love. I mean, of course but also--are you kidding me?
On the train trip back, somehow, they have collision with another train. Hallie is injured! Mass Casualty! Kaia starts to freak. The Chief, suggesting he knew of their massive improprieties, tells Kaia to go be with Hallie in the hospital.
Hallie gets better. Nobody cares that a lieutenant was banging a probie. In fact, they give her a promotion and tell her of an all-women fire crew up in Phoenix Ridge. Wait! You mean, that wasn't what this was? The first in the "Phoenix Ridge Fire" series never actually goes to Phoenix Ridge? There have been a couple real-life instances of an all-female crew, so there's that--but that there was one relatively close to Hallie that she had never heard of is just stupid. Then again, that describes the entire story so it's all on brand.
There are ways this book could have been tolerable, and I don't simply mean "better writing", even if that's what it boils down to.
A better developed and more carefully constructed relationship between Hallie and Kaia would have helped tremendously. The "instant relationship" that many reviewers have noted not only rushes that, but it also immediately contradicts the professed anti-chauvinist/anti-misogyny messages spouted by the characters.
Hallie has fought her way up the pig-headed and sexist ranks for eighteen years and is on the cusp of becoming a captain. Her shot at leading the new recruits could be the last notch in her belt to earn her captaincy. She has earned her status and now she wants to show that a woman has the intellectual, physical, and emotional capabilities necessary for true leadership.
Kaia, the probie (they call her a rookie, which isn't incorrect, but the more common term would be "probie" for probationary firefighter. Let the cops be rookies) has also experienced the disrespect of being underestimated and undervalued because of her gender in the male-dominated world of firefighting. Even more, she has experienced it at home, where her father thinks she should be a nurse or a teacher, like a normal woman. She wants to show she is stronger, faster, and smarter than any man!
For the rest of the book, they toss all of those ideals into a dumpster and light it on fire. They immediately behave just like a bunch of macho jerk men would think two women, especially lesbians, would behave and confirm the worst stereotypes.
On the first day--the first freaking day--both of them start making googly eyes at each other and losing focus--if the men could read minds they would have been thinking "just like a woman!"
Kaia, for all intents, then sexually harasses her superior officer in the shower with the arrogance of a, well, a sexist pig.
In between lustful thoughts, Hallie correctly criticizes Kaia for grandstanding and lone-wolf behavior. Kaia responds with petulance. Instead of ripping her a new one, Hallie is turned on.
A few days later, the Chief learns Kaia has trouble playing well with others, instead of Hallie taking the initiative like, y'know, a leader, he makes Hallie give her personal instruction on teamwork.
On the first day of the personal training, Hallie worries that banging Kaia might damage their careers--because it would and it should (spoiler: it won't because love *gags*). Hallie mostly engages in calisthenic drills that have fuck-all to do with teamwork and spends most of the time ogling Kaia's butt. They nearly kiss before the arrival of the men breaks it up.
A serious fire event disrupts any private discussion and, the first chance she gets, Kaia rushes off alone (see: grandstanding) into the burning structure. She saves a dog. Hard to argue with doing that, I guess except it violates protocol and puts herself and potentially other firefighters in danger.
Hallie rips into her on the scene. Kaia is arrogantly petulant once again. Hallie promises to continue the reaming at the station. Clearly, there's only one thing Hallie can do! She goes down on Kaia in the shower. That'll teach her a lesson--but good! Wait...
Hallie, minutes later, gets called into the Chief's office and he questions the private training's success given Kaia's actions. This is after one private class, jackass! But Hallie doesn't point that out. Instead, she worries that the dynamic with Kaia is a lit fuse. Excuse me? A lit fuse? Your face was just buried in her crotch ten minutes earlier. The fuse isn't lit. The bomb has exploded.
Later that week (or was it the next day?), Kaia blatantly flirts with Hallie in the break area. Hallie suggests they meet up for a hike on the weekend (because apparently there aren't fires on the weekend and firefighting in this world is 9-5).
After the sexcapade under the stars and some more hookups, Hallie is over the moon. Until she hears the male probies whispering, making hurtful suggestions that the two may be hooking up. That it is absolutely true doesn't seem to matter. So, instead of taking ten seconds to explain this to Kaia, she specifically targets her for harsh criticism.
Kaia is upset, to the point of tears (women, right?) and Hallie realizes she went overboard. Kaia can't believe Hallie would choose her career over what they had (literally, just sex). That night, Hallie apologizes in the only way she can, by going down on Kaia and then banging her with a strap-on.
Hallie is once again on Cloud 9 as is Kaia. The next day (of course) another fire. Kaia runs off on her own. Again. Shocker. She gets trapped. Gasp. To correct this protocol breach, Hallie throws out the protocol and runs in by herself to save her and also nearly dies. Now, Kaia is mad at Hallie and Hallie realizes (again) that the relationship is clouding her judgment.
Now, for some reason, the guys like Kaia even if both women are secretly miserable. Kaia takes a train to her parents to tell her retired Firefighter father of all her ethical violations--I mean, her tortured love life and he, in defiance of all sense, tells her, in not so many words, to chuck her career for love. I mean, of course but also--are you kidding me?
On the train trip back, somehow, they have collision with another train. Hallie is injured! Mass Casualty! Kaia starts to freak. The Chief, suggesting he knew of their massive improprieties, tells Kaia to go be with Hallie in the hospital.
Hallie gets better. Nobody cares that a lieutenant was banging a probie. In fact, they give her a promotion and tell her of an all-women fire crew up in Phoenix Ridge. Wait! You mean, that wasn't what this was? The first in the "Phoenix Ridge Fire" series never actually goes to Phoenix Ridge? There have been a couple real-life instances of an all-female crew, so there's that--but that there was one relatively close to Hallie that she had never heard of is just stupid. Then again, that describes the entire story so it's all on brand.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2025
Sparks... definitely sparks!
OMG-this was nail-biting at times! I loved it! Women in a male-dominated field fighting to prove that they have what it takes and more.
Hallie and Kaia both love being firefighters. They both have worked hard to get where they are in their careers. They both still have a lot to prove. Neither of them can help being drawn to the other... even if it could jeopardize everything they've worked for.
This was hot🔥🔥🔥 in so many ways! Exciting, intense, lots of action, passionate... it was wow! Total page turner... and firefighters!😍
OMG-this was nail-biting at times! I loved it! Women in a male-dominated field fighting to prove that they have what it takes and more.
Hallie and Kaia both love being firefighters. They both have worked hard to get where they are in their careers. They both still have a lot to prove. Neither of them can help being drawn to the other... even if it could jeopardize everything they've worked for.
This was hot🔥🔥🔥 in so many ways! Exciting, intense, lots of action, passionate... it was wow! Total page turner... and firefighters!😍
August 10, 2025
I enjoyed the book enough to finish it in one day, but the story felt a bit to rushed for me. It lacked the pull between the two main characters, and there was not much of a built up tension wise between them. Yet overall, the story had great potential. And it was enjoyable enough to continue.
October 21, 2024
meh
The entire ‘overwhelming passion’ angle doesn’t do anything but make for a frustrating read. Two female characters both trying to make it in the man’s world of firefighting. Could be an interesting read.
Except all of it is is two idiots who can’t keep their hands off one another, risking their careers time and again with stupidity.
Veteran Hallie cannot apparently put the words together to say ‘we work as a team because we function as a team, and you running off to prove your superiority breaks the team and puts not just yourself but everyone else in danger’, not the all important ‘I don’t care how much we want each other, we are meant to be doing a job, not fucking in the locker room’.
I get that it’s meant to be ‘passionate’ but it comes off as two 14 year olds who won’t keep their hands off each other in the classroom so they can grope one another after school. Time and place.
The entire ‘overwhelming passion’ angle doesn’t do anything but make for a frustrating read. Two female characters both trying to make it in the man’s world of firefighting. Could be an interesting read.
Except all of it is is two idiots who can’t keep their hands off one another, risking their careers time and again with stupidity.
Veteran Hallie cannot apparently put the words together to say ‘we work as a team because we function as a team, and you running off to prove your superiority breaks the team and puts not just yourself but everyone else in danger’, not the all important ‘I don’t care how much we want each other, we are meant to be doing a job, not fucking in the locker room’.
I get that it’s meant to be ‘passionate’ but it comes off as two 14 year olds who won’t keep their hands off each other in the classroom so they can grope one another after school. Time and place.
November 17, 2025
A bit two dimensional for me. I enjoyed parts of it. I maaaaay get the second book to see of its any better, but I don't hold out hope.
September 18, 2024
I really wanted to like the book, because of female firefighters, but it's terribly written. First the lieutenant to avoid the guys being sexist became sexist. Secondly there is almost no friendly interaction between the MC's and the crew. Or other friends. Looks like they exist in a bubble for weeks.
October 10, 2024
I couldn't get into it. DNF'd after chapter 2.
August 15, 2025
Sparks Fly by Emily Hayes (Phoenix Ridge Fire Department #1)
3.75 Stars
Spice - Open Door, Explicit
Tropes - Age Gap, First Responders, Workplace, Lieutenant/Rookie, Injury [NOT Enemies to Lovers!!]
Format - Novella, Dual POV, Third Person Present Tense
I was scrolling mindlessly through KU and Sparks Fly jumped right out at me. An eight book sapphic firefighter series? Colour me intrigued! I was expecting to jump right into a feminist fantasy with an all-female fire station with this first book in the series, but was surprised to find more of a ‘woman in a man’s world’ narrative, with our two leads the only women at Station 3 (as it turns out, they transfer to the promised all-female station at the end of this book).
Additionally intriguing is the cover of this book, with a model who does not match the description of either lead (is the model with her long brown hair and light skin supposed to be Hallie, with her cropped blonde hair and icy blue eyes, or is she curly-haired, full-lipped, dark-skinned Kaia? I didn’t expect a mystery in my firefighter romance!)
Characters
Hallie is an ambitious, legacy firefighter and a little bit of a daddy’s girl. She takes her career extremely seriously, but secretly worries that she’s missed the chance to have a family of her own. She is the first female lieutenant at Station 3, and intends to be its first female captain too.
Kaia is the impulsive rookie, determined to make her own way and prove to her father (and men in general) that anything they can do, she can do better. She is cocky and stubborn, and struggles to act as a part of a team, potentially jeopardising her future at Station 3, and resulting in her being assigned special one-on-one training sessions with one Lieutenant Hallie Hunter.
As I implied above, there were a lot more men than I expected given the premise of the series (only one woman has a speaking role in this book besides the two leads). Few of the other characters stand out, likely owing to the fact that Station 3 is not the permanent location for this series, and we probably won’t be seeing many of these characters again. Hopefully we will see a lot more in the way of found family in the books to follow!
Plot and Pacing
This book is marketed as an enemies-to-lovers romance. It is decidedly not that. It isn’t even dislike-to-lovers. You could call it mutual-respect-with-a-dose-of-instalust-and-occasional-exasperation-to-lovers (with forbidden romance and forced proximity elements).
Beyond that, the pacing is mostly pretty good with solid action scenes. There were a few hiccups, with Hallie going from “we can’t possibly be together” to “let’s go on a hiking date this weekend” in the span of one conversation with very little prodding. She seesaws back and forth as to whether she and Kaia should be together throughout the book.
A little bit odd to me was what felt like a third act breakup around 60% of the way through the book, resolved as quickly as most such things are. Hallie calls things off “for good” shortly after this, following which Kaia almost immediately is able to start forging connections and acting as part of the team with the other rookie firefighters and Hallie is able to do some soul searching and decide whether her career really means that much to her if she has no-one to spend her life with.
Representation
The rep in this book is actually pretty solid for the most part. Both leads are queer women (Hallie is explicitly a lesbian, and Kaia’s exact identity is unspecified), and Kaia reads as a Black woman (described as having dark eyes, dark curly hair, full lips, and brown skin) although no characters are specified as being any particular race.
Hallie and Kaia are two of only three women who appear to exist in this book (the third being Hallie’s mother), although this promises to improve in later books. There is little to no disability rep.
Spice
There are multiple spicy scenes throughout this book, including one in the shower at work as well as while on a hike in a public park. Exhibitionism aside, the scenes are not particularly kinky, though they lean largely more towards being steamy than romantic.
Final Thoughts
Sparks Fly is a fun, spicy novella with solid action scenes. The chemistry is palpable and the world felt realistic and well developed given the format and the genre. This book is perfect for readers who love forbidden workplace dynamics, age gaps, and characters with strong opinions and fiery personalities. It is not for readers who crave an enemies to lovers dynamic.
3.75 Stars
Spice - Open Door, Explicit
Tropes - Age Gap, First Responders, Workplace, Lieutenant/Rookie, Injury [NOT Enemies to Lovers!!]
Format - Novella, Dual POV, Third Person Present Tense
I was scrolling mindlessly through KU and Sparks Fly jumped right out at me. An eight book sapphic firefighter series? Colour me intrigued! I was expecting to jump right into a feminist fantasy with an all-female fire station with this first book in the series, but was surprised to find more of a ‘woman in a man’s world’ narrative, with our two leads the only women at Station 3 (as it turns out, they transfer to the promised all-female station at the end of this book).
Additionally intriguing is the cover of this book, with a model who does not match the description of either lead (is the model with her long brown hair and light skin supposed to be Hallie, with her cropped blonde hair and icy blue eyes, or is she curly-haired, full-lipped, dark-skinned Kaia? I didn’t expect a mystery in my firefighter romance!)
Characters
Hallie is an ambitious, legacy firefighter and a little bit of a daddy’s girl. She takes her career extremely seriously, but secretly worries that she’s missed the chance to have a family of her own. She is the first female lieutenant at Station 3, and intends to be its first female captain too.
Kaia is the impulsive rookie, determined to make her own way and prove to her father (and men in general) that anything they can do, she can do better. She is cocky and stubborn, and struggles to act as a part of a team, potentially jeopardising her future at Station 3, and resulting in her being assigned special one-on-one training sessions with one Lieutenant Hallie Hunter.
As I implied above, there were a lot more men than I expected given the premise of the series (only one woman has a speaking role in this book besides the two leads). Few of the other characters stand out, likely owing to the fact that Station 3 is not the permanent location for this series, and we probably won’t be seeing many of these characters again. Hopefully we will see a lot more in the way of found family in the books to follow!
Plot and Pacing
This book is marketed as an enemies-to-lovers romance. It is decidedly not that. It isn’t even dislike-to-lovers. You could call it mutual-respect-with-a-dose-of-instalust-and-occasional-exasperation-to-lovers (with forbidden romance and forced proximity elements).
Beyond that, the pacing is mostly pretty good with solid action scenes. There were a few hiccups, with Hallie going from “we can’t possibly be together” to “let’s go on a hiking date this weekend” in the span of one conversation with very little prodding. She seesaws back and forth as to whether she and Kaia should be together throughout the book.
A little bit odd to me was what felt like a third act breakup around 60% of the way through the book, resolved as quickly as most such things are. Hallie calls things off “for good” shortly after this, following which Kaia almost immediately is able to start forging connections and acting as part of the team with the other rookie firefighters and Hallie is able to do some soul searching and decide whether her career really means that much to her if she has no-one to spend her life with.
Representation
The rep in this book is actually pretty solid for the most part. Both leads are queer women (Hallie is explicitly a lesbian, and Kaia’s exact identity is unspecified), and Kaia reads as a Black woman (described as having dark eyes, dark curly hair, full lips, and brown skin) although no characters are specified as being any particular race.
Hallie and Kaia are two of only three women who appear to exist in this book (the third being Hallie’s mother), although this promises to improve in later books. There is little to no disability rep.
Spice
There are multiple spicy scenes throughout this book, including one in the shower at work as well as while on a hike in a public park. Exhibitionism aside, the scenes are not particularly kinky, though they lean largely more towards being steamy than romantic.
Final Thoughts
Sparks Fly is a fun, spicy novella with solid action scenes. The chemistry is palpable and the world felt realistic and well developed given the format and the genre. This book is perfect for readers who love forbidden workplace dynamics, age gaps, and characters with strong opinions and fiery personalities. It is not for readers who crave an enemies to lovers dynamic.
January 3, 2026
✔Sapphic Book Bingo Challenge 2026 🌈✨: Main Board - Character is a Firefighter
4 stars. I LOVE a sneaking around/‘we shouldn’t be doing this but we can’t help’ it type of relationship and Hallie and Kaia’s romance starts exactly like that. Hallie is Kaia’s lieutenant so there’s a power dynamic there where Hallie really does hold all the cards in the relationship. I can see why some readers didn’t like this but baby that type of shit is my JAM. I love it.
I loved how dramatic this was, the push and pull between them, the spice (though I’ve definitely read spicier from this author) and I thought both characters were so badass. I loved seeing Kaia grow and mature as she starts the book as the lone wolf who didn’t know how to be a team player within the unit and Hallie realizing that she could have both her career and a love life. The development for both characters was pretty good. I thought this was a quick and fun read and felt like an episode of a daytime soap with some sex scenes. No complaints from me. I’ll definitely be continuing on with this series.
Spice: ❤️🔥❤️🔥/❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
4 stars. I LOVE a sneaking around/‘we shouldn’t be doing this but we can’t help’ it type of relationship and Hallie and Kaia’s romance starts exactly like that. Hallie is Kaia’s lieutenant so there’s a power dynamic there where Hallie really does hold all the cards in the relationship. I can see why some readers didn’t like this but baby that type of shit is my JAM. I love it.
I loved how dramatic this was, the push and pull between them, the spice (though I’ve definitely read spicier from this author) and I thought both characters were so badass. I loved seeing Kaia grow and mature as she starts the book as the lone wolf who didn’t know how to be a team player within the unit and Hallie realizing that she could have both her career and a love life. The development for both characters was pretty good. I thought this was a quick and fun read and felt like an episode of a daytime soap with some sex scenes. No complaints from me. I’ll definitely be continuing on with this series.
Spice: ❤️🔥❤️🔥/❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
May 19, 2025
This was a fast-paced novella exploring the dynamics of a female-female romance within the confines of a male-dominated field.
In Lieutenant Hallie Hunter's quest for the position of captain, she has been directed to train the year’s new recruits. One of the new recruits is fiery Kaia Montgomery. Kaia, while strong and determined, must set aside her ego and constant need to prove herself to instead learn how to work with a team. She put her team and Lieutenant Hunter in danger during her learning process.
The constant adrenaline highs and locker room sharing make for a highly complex romance.
I was looking forward to listening to this one, as it was a newer release narrated by the legendary Lori Prince. And while Lori’s performance was excellent, as always, the story lacked a lot of substance to be believable. The romance felt rushed—the relationship lacked the depth and development necessary to make the reader believe the intensity of the physical attraction.
However, it was a quick and spicy read - an excellent palate cleanser.
In Lieutenant Hallie Hunter's quest for the position of captain, she has been directed to train the year’s new recruits. One of the new recruits is fiery Kaia Montgomery. Kaia, while strong and determined, must set aside her ego and constant need to prove herself to instead learn how to work with a team. She put her team and Lieutenant Hunter in danger during her learning process.
The constant adrenaline highs and locker room sharing make for a highly complex romance.
I was looking forward to listening to this one, as it was a newer release narrated by the legendary Lori Prince. And while Lori’s performance was excellent, as always, the story lacked a lot of substance to be believable. The romance felt rushed—the relationship lacked the depth and development necessary to make the reader believe the intensity of the physical attraction.
However, it was a quick and spicy read - an excellent palate cleanser.
April 25, 2025
“if you love greys and station 19 you’ll love this” is not at all an accurate or appropriate way to hype this up on Kindle Unlimited. To compare this to those types of shows that have so much drama and depth, the bar was set really high, and this book did not come close to that.
I’m not saying this to be rude, I did appreciate the lesbian element to this type of story/ line of work, but it was so predicate, cheesy, and just not an exciting read. I think because it was such a short book, there wasn’t enough time for you to get to know the characters much and for their relationship to build. They were both pretty flat and stereotypical characters, and the story felt rushed with a ridiculous climax.
I’m not saying this to be rude, I did appreciate the lesbian element to this type of story/ line of work, but it was so predicate, cheesy, and just not an exciting read. I think because it was such a short book, there wasn’t enough time for you to get to know the characters much and for their relationship to build. They were both pretty flat and stereotypical characters, and the story felt rushed with a ridiculous climax.
December 4, 2025
it's not that it was bad, I was just bored. Hallie too quickly forgets about her career and starts an affair with the rookie. Personally wasn't a fan of the rookie, she was careless, and had zero capability of being a team player, at least as far as I got since I abandoned this book while they were out hiking. Ever man in the book so far, except for Hallie's father and captain were generic a-holes who seemed to hate women. I mean, the Leytenant who left was leaving a job he loved for his wife and child, so maybe he is being colored by Hallie's disdain for him. I don't know, I just wasn't connecting with the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2025
“I love you, Kaia. I’m so desperately, hopelessly in love with you. And I’m sorry it took me so long to realize that my career means nothing to me if I don’t have you to come home to.”
Just the book I needed to start the year off. Hallie and Kaia's relationship is basically summed up in the title - full of flying sparks. This was exactly the trope I was looking for, I mean, hot sapphic firefighter (do I need to say anything more).
PS. I will admit that the hiking scene has given me a fresh perspective on the phrase "A night under the stars."
Just the book I needed to start the year off. Hallie and Kaia's relationship is basically summed up in the title - full of flying sparks. This was exactly the trope I was looking for, I mean, hot sapphic firefighter (do I need to say anything more).
PS. I will admit that the hiking scene has given me a fresh perspective on the phrase "A night under the stars."
September 16, 2024
Fire in Their Blood
Lieutenant Hallie Hunter works tirelessly to be the best in her firefighter department and get a promotion to Captain. When she’s put in the position of training the new class of recruits, she know it’s her chance. Kaia Montgomery is a fire brand who stands out from her teammates. Working to prove herself, she is head strong and driven. The attraction between them is a consuming passion that makes them flame. Great beginning to a sapphic series.
Lieutenant Hallie Hunter works tirelessly to be the best in her firefighter department and get a promotion to Captain. When she’s put in the position of training the new class of recruits, she know it’s her chance. Kaia Montgomery is a fire brand who stands out from her teammates. Working to prove herself, she is head strong and driven. The attraction between them is a consuming passion that makes them flame. Great beginning to a sapphic series.
August 14, 2024
This was another enjoyable read from Emily
I like the strong woman perspective of the book. And the chemistry between Hallie and Kaia can start a house fire, but insecurities and pride gets in the way sometimes, and makes life difficult for all involved. But it all worked out for the best in the end.
I like the strong woman perspective of the book. And the chemistry between Hallie and Kaia can start a house fire, but insecurities and pride gets in the way sometimes, and makes life difficult for all involved. But it all worked out for the best in the end.
August 22, 2024
Breathless
Well I for one love this new series by Ms Hayes,if you like me loved Station 19 then this is the first book for you. Lt Hunter takes no prisoners when it comes to new rookies until she meets new recruit Kaia Montgomery and the spark between them soon turns into a blazing inferno. Enjoy the ride
Well I for one love this new series by Ms Hayes,if you like me loved Station 19 then this is the first book for you. Lt Hunter takes no prisoners when it comes to new rookies until she meets new recruit Kaia Montgomery and the spark between them soon turns into a blazing inferno. Enjoy the ride
January 21, 2025
I enjoyed this
The only problem I had was both women's carrreas meant so much to them why they would risk all that. It would be especially hard on Kaia they seemed to take that risk without even knowing each other. Later I could understand after you go to know each other but in the beginning that I found a little unbelievable.
The only problem I had was both women's carrreas meant so much to them why they would risk all that. It would be especially hard on Kaia they seemed to take that risk without even knowing each other. Later I could understand after you go to know each other but in the beginning that I found a little unbelievable.
February 27, 2025
Did take me a while to get through this one, read it in chunks and glad I finished it. Not a bad read with the instant relationship. Been a better read, if the author developed a relationship between LT. Hallie Hunter and Kaia Montgomery, then hid the relationship while at work, pretend that they hated each other at the station and made the story better.
September 16, 2024
More needed
Needed more back story I feel the story just moved too quickly to really explore the characters. I liked the premise of it being around fire fighters and what it entails I need more though.
Needed more back story I feel the story just moved too quickly to really explore the characters. I liked the premise of it being around fire fighters and what it entails I need more though.
October 9, 2024
Interesting idea to go back and forth with the two characters perspectives with it being 3rd person and in the present tense. It just makes things a bit more present, speaking on time here, than say past tense being more about, well, it being in the past.
December 1, 2024
I love a good queer female read
This book was great. I love the balance of career and love. The accuracy of the scenes narrated. It was refreshing to read a queer book with a happy ending , that didn’t cheat on the story line.
This book was great. I love the balance of career and love. The accuracy of the scenes narrated. It was refreshing to read a queer book with a happy ending , that didn’t cheat on the story line.
December 15, 2024
Tumultuous ride
A lieutenant and a rookie who try to fight their attraction, and when they finally are ready, disaster strikes. As they heal, they find each other’s love, and can move on to a new adventure, together.
A lieutenant and a rookie who try to fight their attraction, and when they finally are ready, disaster strikes. As they heal, they find each other’s love, and can move on to a new adventure, together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2025
This was...underwhelming. It could have been great, but it felt extremely rushed. I would have liked way more character building instead of immediately into an "I'm obsessed and in love with you" timeline. I'll give book 2 a try, but I don't have much hope for it.
August 16, 2024
Can’t wait for more
I can’t wait for more from this amazing author. I love the heat and romance. Looking forward to more in this series.
I can’t wait for more from this amazing author. I love the heat and romance. Looking forward to more in this series.
August 21, 2024
perfect
Such a perfect push and pull love story until something makes them wake up and smell the smoke. Can’t wait for their next adventure.
Such a perfect push and pull love story until something makes them wake up and smell the smoke. Can’t wait for their next adventure.
August 21, 2024
Cute quick read
This a was quite a nice quick read for me. Enjoyable characters, in an enjoyable story, with decent pacing. Let’s see how the next one goes.
This a was quite a nice quick read for me. Enjoyable characters, in an enjoyable story, with decent pacing. Let’s see how the next one goes.
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