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Firefighter/Pyro #1

The Firefighter and the Pyro

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Exposing his secret could send his career up in flames… Closeted firefighter and EMT Derek Mercer runs into burning buildings for a living, but the thought of having his orientation exposed terrifies him. Casual hookups inevitably lead to partners wanting more than he’s able to give, but he never thought he’d make the mistake of lusting after a coworker. Especially one who suspects him of arson. Scrutinizing multiple incendiary fires, state arson investigator Zander Tam struggles to untangle the private lives and potential motives of his suspects while guarding his past. When his initial target—a dangerously handsome firefighter—sparks an irresistible lust, pursuing the investigation means putting his personal life and professional life at odds. When the arsonist manages to turn the tables by framing Derek and Zander for his horrific crimes, the two men must risk everything, even exposing their darkest secrets, to catch a killer.

347 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 10, 2014

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Nix Knox

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for Gigi.
2,148 reviews1,060 followers
July 16, 2014


You get a lot for your money with this one, The Firefighter and the Pyro by Nix Knox! It was a mystery, a romance, a BDSM thrill ride, a sweet and touching love story, a firefighter on the job tale, a comedy and a drama all wrapped into one. While some parts of the story definitely interested me more than the others, I was never bored and was easily able to follow along with all the technical information about the arson investigation.

Two things really stood out for me while reading this story. 1. Both MCs, firefighter Derek Mercer and State Arson Investigator Zander Tam, were shown through an unfiltered lens that showed every one of their many flaws. And really? That just made me love each one of them more, which is actually unusual for me. I tend to prefer my heroes on the straight and narrow with a little bit of perfection thrown in. 2. Before these two MCs decided to start a physical relationship, they talked and talked and talked about it, weighing the pros and cons. I was getting nervous, thinking the sex was going to be lifeless and scripted because of this, but this actually set up a pattern for these men to be incredibly open and honest with each other throughout their entire relationship which was delightful to watch unfold and made the sex INCREDIBLY hot. Boy oh boy, there are a few scorching scenes in here!

This is a great story with well fleshed out, fascinating MCs and a compelling story line, but it did suffer just a bit from weaker secondary characters and too many obvious plot twists. Very minor flaws, but enough to drop a star. If GoodReads ever goes the way of the half-star, my rating would be a 4.5. This story was a delight and I am anxious to read more from this author!

I can HIGHLY recommend The Firefighter and the Pyro to all fans of a good old fashion M/M romance. There's drama and angst and romance and a HEA made of caramelized sugar.

Profile Image for Christelle.
808 reviews
June 3, 2017
An arsonist is wracking havoc in the city where Derek, a firefighter, works. The heat is escalating and Zach, one of the best investigator is brought on the case. First, Zach is suspicious of Derek’s behaviour until he realizes it all comes down to sexual attraction and the fear from Derek to be outed. They decide to let the sparks work their magic and bit by bit, they share their secrets and put up a united front to stop the arsonist.

Even though the identity of the arsonist is obvious from the start, I really enjoyed the plot and the twists that spiced up the investigation. Add to that two great characters who don’t fight their attraction but keep up a great front to get their HEA, even after the arrest of the arsonist. This story is tagged with “BDSM” but it felt more “kinky” for me and the sex was really HOT, no pun intended.

A very entertaining read for me !!
Profile Image for SamJ ★Needs a HEA★.
609 reviews908 followers
September 13, 2014
Copy received in exchange for an honest review

★Book Basics★

Genre : - Contemporary M/M Romance
Series : - Stand Alone
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author? - Yes
Rating - 5


★Review★

I really really enjoyed this book.

It drew me right in at the start, and I fell a little in love with Derek and his internal thoughts on if and how he should approach Zander.

Derek is an in the closet fire-fighter, but the attraction he felt to Zander, and wondering if he is gay too, made for an interesting first couple of chapters.

I cannot even begin to understand how it would feel to be in Derek or Zander's shoes, in such a career like they have, hiding your true self due to the effect it could have on your career, but I felt the author dealt with in an honest way.

Derek and Zander had a lot of sexual tension, and the build of their relationship was great. They not only had to deal with the suspicion of being the criminal landing on them, but dealing with coming together in a relationship that could mean something, while not losing who they were.

The secondary plot of who was setting the fires (although for me, I guessed who it was as soon as they entered the picture), was done well, and never got too bogged down in the technical details, but it is not a book based on the "guess who" aspect of the criminal, but more on how the actions of someone can have far reaching complications and consequences.

All in, it was a great read, with a very endearing couple, who you rooted for, feared for, had your heart break for.

I would certainly read more by this author.
Profile Image for Z-squared.
296 reviews113 followers
July 21, 2014
Are you a Supernatural fan? Did you ever wonder what Sam and Dean would do if they were:

a) Not related
b) Gay
c) Firefighters?

If so, then this book is for you!

Nix Knox specializes in writing about men that grapple with being gay in a community and/or job setting where that identity is not only frowned upon, but a career-killer. In this book, we tackle the notoriously homophobic firefighting community. Of course, workplace homophobia is only one of the many obstacles Derek and Zander have to overcome to be together, and this book has a nice balance between internal and external emotional tension. I wouldn't exactly call this a thriller, but the backdrop of an arson investigation certainly keeps the story moving. And if you're like me and enjoy a dash of education with your romance, then this book has the added bonus of an accessible, but detailed insight into firefighting and arson investigation. Light BDSM and role-play also kept things exceptionally smexy.

At its heart, The Firefighter and the Pyro is a sweet love story about two smokin' hot (heh) alpha men and their HEA. Just don't tell Sam and Dea-- I mean, Derek and Zander that my favorite character is actually Derek's loveable schlub of a lawyer, Glenn (he totally stole the spotlight, IMO).
Profile Image for Issa.
419 reviews21 followers
January 4, 2015
We begin with Derek Mercer, an EMT and firefighter cleaning up at a fire. There is an arsonist in town causing havoc and this is not the first of the arsonist’s work Derek has been to put out. his time however Zander Tam, arson investigator and Derek’s secret crush, is on scene. Despite the circumstances and Derek pushing forty, he reverts to the mind set of teenager thinking cheesy and just ridiculously silly sexual thoughts about Zander to the point he can’t even answer when Zander asks a question. I lost a lot of respect for Derek in the beginning and could not believe he was an experienced first responder.

However, the author cleverly turned this silliness into something more. Zander notices Derek is off and begins to think Derek could be responsible for the fires. Zander peeks into Derek’s life and Derek realizes he’ll need to come clean about his crush and trust Zander will keep his confidence otherwise Zander will destroy Derek’s career with his investigation.

Despite this interesting early twist (which is resolved very quickly), the book goes into neutral and sits there for half of the book. Derek comes clean, Zander reciprocates which moves into one of the oddest and over the top dominant sex scenes I’ve read in a while. The incident goes sideways but the boys hook back up, talk and talk and talk, then hook up for more sex exploring their varied kinks. I flipped through the sex trying to get back to the meat of the story, as the arson investigation seemed to have been forgotten, and put the story down several times too frustrated to continue.

Expectations low, I wasn’t prepared for the stunning second half of this book that grabbed me and didn’t let me go. Zander is the pyro named in the title and I was floored by the creativity of making a pyro an arson investigator. But really, who better to do the job then someone who loves fire as much as Zander does. The case finally comes back into play. The arsonist tries to frame Derek for his crimes and goes after Zander as well. It’s non stop as Derek and Zander are stalked, investigated, questioned, attacked, then finally approached to help take the arsonist down. Derek and Zander’s lives are irreparably changed and I hurt with them as they face the backlash from their former comrades. But I loved their unity, their strength to keep going and trust in each other. I also appreciated how the author kept the end real without sugar coating but still kept a happy vibe.

Overall this turned out to be a tale of two stories. The first half was wanting, full of sex and explanations dropped in that didn’t mesh with entire story. The second half was great full of action, emotions, realism, and creative twists I’d never read before.

I received a free copy of this story as part of the Goodreads M/M Group DBML Program in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Kate.
2,259 reviews355 followers
March 31, 2016
A spark neglected makes a mighty fire. ~Robert Herrick~ Ms. Knox has written a solid story with loveable characters. 3.5 - 4 gathering flame stars.

 photo images1_zpsa9dd6657.jpg


Derek Mercer is in the closet in some cases that isn't bad especially since he is a fire fighter and most of them are still homophobic. Derek is great at his job but over the last couple of months there is a pyro running around terrorising Towering Pines. The arson investigator has already been called on to the crime scene and Derek Mercer is extremely attracted to hjm. Derek wants to ask him out although he isn't sure if he has the same secxual orientation.

Zander Tam is the arson investigator on the cases in Towering Pines he runs into Derek and it is a bit akward. Zander asks Derek to give him a call if anything comes up. Derek ends up being a suspect but his name is cleared pretty quickly. There is a stand off between Zander and Derek and things get hot and heavy fast.

The banter between Zander and Derek is great. Ms. Know get their chemistry down right but I still felt it difficult to connect with the characters.

Hey, Zander, are you aware that you are an arsonist? Yeah, you're setting my pants on fire. Derek shook his head. No way that was stupid

Ms. Know balanced the kink out in this book well with both Derek and Zander still being tender and sweet with one another. They are both very alpha and like to top but somehow it just works. Although they both didn't want anything serious that is what they got and I didn't see that fetish coming but hot damm.

Absence diminishes small loves and increases great ones, as the wind blows out the candle and fans the bonfire. ~François Duc de La Rochefoucauld ~

"We're gonna cuddle naked on the couch while watching the game. All manly like." "I don't know if anyone can cuddle in a manly way." "We'll have raw beef in one hand and our dicks in the other. Manly as fuck." "That's pretty manly."

So I was aware who the culprit was from the beginning it just clicked but it doesn't matter as there were so many twists and turns that it wasn't predictable.

So my biggest problem was how to start this review but after thinking about it for a long time in the end I did pretty well.


This book was given to me yby Ms. Knox in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Ms. Knox this has been a pleasure to read.
Profile Image for Tessi4M.
538 reviews22 followers
December 20, 2014
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I never met a man like Derek. I know I never will again.

After a series of arson in Towering Pines, state arson investigator Zander Tam is sent to assist the local authorities.
Firefighter Derek Mercer has been crushing on Zander for a while and is more than happy to offer his assistance in the investigation.
After a bit of a misunderstanding and awkwardness the two men get closer.

The physical attraction is there from the beginning, but they need a lot of creativity to work around the fact that they are both tops. We got some smoky hot scenes with Derek and Zander role-playing and taking turns giving the other the chance to live out his fantasies. In Derek's case one he wasn't even aware he had ;-)
Overall their sexual encounters were a great mix of alpha male strength and insecurity over submitting and giving up control to someone else.

I found it refreshing how they both accepted it as they moved past the fuck buddy stage. There was no panic at discovering they had deeper feelings for one another as is so often the case in MM books. They just went with the flow and I really enjoyed watching their interactions. Plenty of funny banter but also very intimate moments. It was beautiful to watch how they both gave each other comfort, support and strength when the pressure of the outside world became too much.

Derek wasn't significant to the world. Or, hell, even to the men he'd worked with for over a decade, but to one man, he truly, deeply, and thoroughly mattered.


The level of suspense from the arson investigation was increased when the arsonist suddenly seems to target Derek and Zander directly. Inspite of having guessed who the bad guy was fairly early on I still enjoyed this storyline.


On the downside, there were some gaps in the logic that annoyed me.
Example: "Wait." Derek picked up one of the photographs. "Who's this?"
"Alec Speer. He's another arson investigator."
Well, hello? Derek would know Alec. He just met him in the hospital, like, two days ago???
Profile Image for Reflection.
355 reviews63 followers
December 30, 2014
'The Pyro and the Firefighter' is a wonderful cocktail of romance, mystery and eroticism that had me intrigued from the first to last page.

I enjoyed the two main characters Zander and Derek and the fact that these two guys are smoking hot ('scuse the pun). They both have successful careers, and both have acknowledged to themselves that they are gay but for various reasons they have not felt it necessary to out themselves to colleagues.

The storyline was great as Zander notes Derek's attempts to flirt with him and decides he must be hiding more than social embarrassment. These two are alpha guys with a taste for kink and a willingness to adapt to each other, switching roles to top and bottom by negotiation. Yep, hot!

I was a little disappointed that I worked out who the culprit setting the fires was almost too soon, however I needn't have worried, as the plot continued to twist and turn in unexpected ways, leading both characters to reevaluate and decide what their priorities in life might be.

The book deals well with life and love, acceptance and rejection of living in a world where judgement is quick and homophobia is rife and both Zander and Derek have been molded by experience, expectation and fear of discrimination.

This is a great read full of surprises with shades of light and dark and at its heart, a romance between two guys who each find their soulmate and the courage to fight for a future together.

I was lucky enough to be provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by the M/M Romance Group Don't Buy Me Love event. If you are looking for a story part mystery, part romance with hot love scenes I recommend this to you as a fun read with serious undertones. A book that will keep you interested and engaged and cheering for the good guys.
Profile Image for Pati.
871 reviews
December 17, 2014
Nix Knox has brought us a wonderfully entertaining, seemingly well researched novel set in the homophobic world of firefighters.

We get to follow along with firefighter Derek and State Arson Investigator Zander as they fall in love while trying to catch an arsonist.

While the subject matter is serious I caught myself laughing many times throughout the story. Derek's thoughts are sometimes hilarious. As for Glenn, well I'll just say no matter what may be lurking in that briefcase I'd want him in my corner if I were ever in need of a lawyer! I also teared up a couple of times and sat on the edge of my seat as well. Though I must admit that I did know who the arsonist was as soon as the character made an appearance, I don't think that many people will figure it out that quickly. I only did because I'm a natural born detective, grew up in a law enforcement family and profiling has always fascinated me, so it's rare when an author can fool me for long. Knowing what I knew so early did not detract from the story though.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a highly involved, can't put down, full length romantic suspense novel.

My favorite quote: "We'll have raw beef in one hand and our dicks in the other. Manly as fuck."

I received this book from the Author through the m/m romance group's Don't Buy Me Love Program in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Profile Image for Indu.
90 reviews29 followers
March 28, 2022
A really fun and intriguing book.


This story follows Derek, a firefighter, who is attracted to Zander, who is here to investigate a series of fires in the city.
The plot was quick paced and realistic, and the suspense part of the story was great.

The sexual tension between Derek and Zander was literally tangible and ensured that the plot flows at a wonderful viscosity...

The character development was perfect. I love the way Derek was portrayed... his doubt, his hesitation and the way he fumbled around Zander was all endearing.
His thought process really caught me in....
The way he wondered if Zander would want what he needs...
All realistic, and heartwarming..


Though I am just getting started on this genre, and 'The Firefighter and the Pyro' certainly captured my interest....
I would definitely love to read more work by Nix, as her writing style is very fun and engaging.

5 out of 5 stars.

Recommended for all M/M lovers, this book promises to hold you on tight till the very last page...

Profile Image for Lisa.
3,417 reviews134 followers
December 22, 2014
I was given a copy of this book free by the author for an unbiased review.

I enjoyed this book. Derek, is a firefighter / EMT. Zander is a state fire investigator. Both are attracted to each other, both are Alphas. Each with a secret.
It was interesting to see how the author made them work. 2 alphas in the bedroom, taking turns to top. The story was interesting. A fire bug is setting fires in the town where the 2 live and they are eventually framed for setting the fires. The mystery is good. I didnt guess the arsonist until the reveal.
Although both mens secret cause them problems, they seem to be dealt with in a realistic way.
A book full of hot man sex, which I love. The only thing I didnt like about the book was the dressing up in ladies panties by one of the MC's. That really doesn't do it for me.
An enjoyable read and highly recommended.
Profile Image for F..
1,343 reviews65 followers
January 28, 2018
A great story of two halves. The first is Derek and Zander meeting and finding out about each other with the back drop of the arsons. The second half is when the arsonist turns ugly and Derek and Zander need each other to stay grounded. Like how everything didn't really turn out all rosy and neat but left Derek and Zander at a crossroad deciding which way to go.
5 stars
Profile Image for Mari  Cardenas.
2,277 reviews28 followers
January 3, 2015
*** Copy provided by the Author in exchange of a fair and honest review. ***

*** 4.5 Stars, rounded up because I really loved it! ***

When I started the story I was certain of two things:
1. I loved Derek, he’s such a fantastic character, tridimensional, self-deprecating and fun. I just adored his inner musings!
2. The author had done a ton of research/knows a lot about firefighting and arsonists. I was truly impressed by how realistic it was written, and truly, if you’re reading a story involving firefighters you want to see the focus on it, so I loved that.
I wasn’t as certain I’d like Zander, he’s the strong and silent type, and it took me a while to warm up to him, but once he started trusting Derek and letting him in, I did quite the turnabout. My favorite of the two was still Derek, but Zander came a close second. I love vulnerable, broken men, hee.

The story’s focus in on Derek and Zander’s communication, and how different a relationship can be when you’re older and wiser, and in their case, when they’re so equally matched. Both alphas, but willing to compromise to work things out between them. There was chemistry between them and the sex scenes were hot, although, my favorite parts where more when they were talking to each other and just being together, rather than the light BDSM or the sex itself.

The arsonist angle was really intriguing and had me wondering if my suppositions were right up until they framed Derek and Zander for the fires. That completely threw me out for a loop. However, the amount of trust Derek and Zander had built between them by that time, made it all the better for me. Never mind that once we got until this part of the story it sort of exploded for me, in a good way. I just couldn’t put it down, the action, the intrigue, the investigation, it was all like watching a Criminal Minds episode and I loved every second of it!

Sara and Glenn were so perfectly suited for Zander and Derek as their lawyers! Glenn especially had me laughing out loud in several parts. It was just awesome! Detective Kent was great, too, I really wouldn’t mind reading more on him. And while I had suspected who the arsonists were, it was still quite a surprise how it all played out.

I’m truly in awe at Nix Knox’s writing talent. Really, writing an action-packed, fast-paced, detail-oriented story like this and do it so masterfully can’t be easy, but she makes it seem so. It was nearly flawless and smooth and I just can’t get over how good it all was. Humor, action, suspense, angst and one very hot love story all wrapped in one fascinating package. I hadn’t read any stories by this author, but let me assure you I would go looking for the rest as soon as I can.

Profile Image for Bookjunkie12.
307 reviews
December 31, 2014
I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review through the Goodreads M/M Group DBML program.

When I first started reading The Firefighter and the Pyro I wasn't sure I was going to like it. The first couple of chapters were mostly internal monologues which I found frustrating because how are Derek and Zander supposed to get together is they don't talk to each other...by chapter six I think Nix Knox was trying to prove a point about communication. And let me tell you I am soooooo glad I stuck with this story.

Derek the closeted firefighter has a crush on Zander the arson investigator and has no clue how to making his feelings known without possibly outing himself. Zander is kinda in the closet himself, 5 years after his divorce from his wife he's only just starting to accept his sexuality but he isn't flying a flag; besides he has much bigger secrets to keep.

From the blurb you know the two men get together and let me just say the sex is HOT between the two. You also know that they are framed for a string of fires being set in Towering Pines. It doesn't take to long for you to get a good idea of who the real arsonist is but the way Nix Knox put this story together all the events still felt like a whoa moment. I don't even know if that last statement makes since but trust me it was like whoa!

The way the two are accused of setting these fires had my mind spinning because it was so complete and I was wondering how are they going to clear their names it didn't seem possible and I KNEW they didn't do it.

This story really had it all; hot firefighter, light BDSM, murder, suspense, humor, and most importantly an HEA. About the HEA I really appreciated how the story didn't just end after the bad guy is caught you get almost a year later with ups and downs and Derek and Zander building a life together...loved it!

So I finished reading this book back on the 16th of Dec but the first chapter of The Mormon and the Dom had me clicking BUY so fast I didn't even pause at the end of that one before buying The Cop and the Criminal. I can honestly say I enjoyed all three of Nix Knox's books she knows how to spin a story and capture your attention and hold it until the very end...
Profile Image for Alexis Woods.
Author 47 books84 followers
December 21, 2014
(This story was received free in return for an honest review via the Goodreads Don't Buy My Love program.)

The Firefighter and the Pyro took by breath away. The opening chapter of firefighter Drake speechless, except in thought, as he stares at his crush, arson investigator Zander, had me in stitches. And these weren't your young 20-something men, these were guys who were close to forty, and being close to that age myself gave me a real appreciation for their thought processes. They were secure in jobs they loved, and no one ever wants to lose their job, especially with the fear of retaliation by co-workers you once thought of as friends.

I really enjoyed the slower progression of their romance because their work kept them apart, oh! but once their got down and dirty it was a sight to behold. To each their own kink and I loved how the author had these two alpha men play off each other perfectly. The little snippets of thoughtful comtemplation, sharing of secrets and funny lines had me spellbound.

The backdrop of the whole story is the hunt for the Towering Pines arsonist. I'm never very good at figuring out the suspect, but this mystery was easy, still it was exciting to see the action reach a climax and it's subsequent conclusion.

You know I'm hooked when I finish a book and immediately go and buy another by the same author. I did: The Mormon and the Dom. Just a little spoiler to say I loved everything about this book too (except for the title).
Profile Image for Amanda.
71 reviews
December 30, 2014
I received my copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review through the "Don't Buy My Love" event hosted by the M/M Romance Group on Goodreads.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Main Characters: Derek is a gay firefighter, firmly in the closet because of his job. Zander is an arson investigator, nicknamed the "fire whisperer". Both men are very much alpha males, which makes for some interesting dynamics between them. I think ultimately the fact that they're a good match comes through in the story. The interactions between them really show how well they work together, not just physically but emotionally as well.

Plot: I'm not sure if the arsonist plot was supposed to be a mystery, because I knew who it was pretty early on. I did really like seeing the MCs work on their relationship, coming to terms with what they both wanted. The arson worked more as a catalyst to bring them together, and at times keep them apart (at least physically).

Other Notes: This book took a bit for me to really get into. The first few chapters didn't really draw me in, but once I got about 5 chapters in I started to like Derek and Zander.
120 reviews4 followers
January 3, 2015
The Firefighter and the Pyro is an interesting story about two similar men who discover shared passion after a lifetime of hiding themselves. Zander is a Fire investigator and Derek is a firefighter, who is under suspicion for setting fires in their town. The author provided an well researched looked into a topic I didn't know very much about, arson and arson investigation. I feel like the author respected the reader's intelligence and didn't dumb down the subject. The author used a few cool expressions, like 429 which I never heard before and had to look it up. I wasn't expecting Zander's backstory, but it provided a lot of depth to his character.
I found the beginning of the relationship moved a little fast for my taste. Derek attended a conference that Zander spoke at, but they didn't meet each other until the first fire. Derek harbours a crush on Zander even before they ever talk and they seemed to fall into a routine very quickly, primarily based on physical attraction, I guess. Both men are unsure of the other's motives and completely unable to communicate. There is a lot of internal questions, instead of just talking about it and finding out. One thing that bothered me was how many times the men joked about being it being girly or needing to man up whenever they talked about feeling or emotions.
The sex scenes between these two intense people were incredibly original and super hot and more than a little kinky. The issue of Zander's size and the difficulties associated with that were legitimate, somehow that doesn't get addressed very often.
This was an impressive story by a author I hadn't read before, but will definitely check out. A copy of the story was provided in exchange for a review.
Profile Image for Dreamer80.
420 reviews
January 4, 2015
This book was pretty great.
Who doesn't love firefighters? Who doesn't want to see two TOPS turning bottoms on occasion?
This book has a very good plot with all kind of things that I like: heroes, rage, love, very hot sex scenes, trust, betrayal, and so on..
Nix did really an amazing job and word after word, I thought I was inside the book, feeling what Zander and Derek were feeling. Plus, the pyro mistery and Zander's past..so worth it.
I don't want to say more because I'm not a fan of spoilers but, trust me...this book needs to be read by you, guys.
This book deserves my 5 stars.
Profile Image for Trio.
3,544 reviews200 followers
May 13, 2017
Loved it. It was my favorite Nix Knox book so far. The author does the most amazing job of character development, I fall in love with these guys every time. I'm crushing on Derek big time right now :P
Also, I am impressed with what an in depth job the author does writing about the subject of arson and fighting fires - I learned a lot of interesting facts, I learn something new in every Nix Knox book I read. I would definitely recommend this book, esp. if you like hot firefighters *sigh*.
Profile Image for Tracy.
801 reviews1 follower
June 4, 2015
I loved everything about this
The story was great but what I loved the lost was seeing these two Alpha men try and navigate themselves towards a relationship and love
I absolutely loved when Derek did his role play scene for Zander
Reading that and the other scene that Zander did for Derek was so freakin hot
I would highly rec this book to all my friends
Profile Image for Daphne .
715 reviews1 follower
June 4, 2017
I had to force myself to finish this book. It picked up about halfway through but getting there was painful for me. The misogyny was strong all throughout and it just wasn't necessary. The story itself was interesting, tracking the arsonist although it was clear early on who it was. The relationship was better at the end but the beginning was painfully awkward and so unlikely (the bdsm bits were so random and out of the blue, the first sexual encounter in a relationship is that? Wha?). Your mileage may vary, so many people loved this book judging by the stars but it was not for me.
Profile Image for Chanty.
501 reviews5 followers
October 11, 2016
Holy smoking hotness!!! This was hot. A firefighter and an arson investigator are burning up the pages. This is definitely recommended if you are looking for some mystery, some childhood drama, some BDSM and talking MC's. Yes, you read right. Talking MC's. It is refreshing. They made me feel the connection between them. They made me feel how they cared about each other. They made me feel that they were standing up for each other. Wonderful!! Definitely recommended!
Profile Image for Antisocial Recluse.
2,711 reviews
March 31, 2017
I love this story

I'm not sure if this is the third or fourth time I've read this but this time I remembered to up my rating. There was a rocky start to this. The first chapter or so, Derek sounded like a teen trying to ask a date to the prom. Zander was also a little strange and very detached. Their first sexual encounter was weird and not successful. I think I understand what the author was trying to convey, that Derek was blindsided by his attraction and Zander had invested all his emotion in his work and had no social skills. It just wasn't conveyed well. After that encounter, they were able to take the time to communicate and then the story took off like, well, wildfire.

Zander and Derek became much more complex characters. The main part of the book was about the connection they were establishing. Both are large men, muscular alpha types (manly as f**k!) and they had to find a balance. There were some seriously hot sex scenes, where they each allowed the other to take the dominant role. There were panties, fleshlights, leather and a motorcycle gang that was my favorite. (No menage.) It all occurred over more than three months of work on fires and investigation of the arson, punctuated by long separations. They spent lots of time in conversation and the passage of time was evident in the narrative. There wasn't excessive detail either, but you could tell that the author put effort into learning about firefighters and fire investigation.

The book was written in third person, but the narrative alternated the thoughts and viewpoints to build the characters quite well. It was kind of easy to guess the arsonist but the rest of the events came as a surprise. It was excellent suspense and I really felt for what Zander and Derek had to go through. They were each other's support. Their banter and wit was quite humorous. Both were in the closet and there are some large doses of homophobia. The story was well constructed, well researched and rich with action. Secondary characters were also done well, though few were present through the whole narrative.

Now I'm going to read the sequel and hope that I enjoy it as much. I recommend this book highly.
Profile Image for Tj.
2,225 reviews67 followers
April 8, 2016
3.5 Stars

This was a well built story. The author does a good job building everything up and then BOOM and the recovery from that. I found it an interesting read. By putting two "alpha" males together in the story it created a different sort of balance and contrast to the relationship compared to other stories. I did feel there was a bit of an error in the characters in that they acted and reacted much younger in much of the story than they were. Still the ages do come into play when the blow up happens and after.

It was a good story but I didn't really connect to the characters. I think I had a hard time with the overt sexism of the characters. There seemed to be a lot of relating to anything feminine as negative. The author tried to dissipate this some but it didn't work for me and I still felt that in the story. It threw me off and made it difficult to relate to the characters.

Overall though I have to say it was a good story and I enjoyed it.
41 reviews
September 22, 2014
**Copy received in exchange for an honest review***

Surprisingly I enjoyed this book, I never saw myself as a fan of M/M books but I wanted to read this with an open mind and I am glad I did.

I fell in love with the main character Derek from the start and loved watching as he fell in love with Zander I really felt the struggle of attraction and mis understanding in the beginning and the love they felt for each other as their relationship developed. My heart ached for them both as their story unravelled and they were both under suspicion, I found this book both interesting, frustrating, hot and engaging from start to finish I couldn't put it down.
Profile Image for Chanty.
501 reviews5 followers
October 11, 2016
Holy smoking hotness!!! This was fantastic. A mystery, some childhood drama, firefighters/arson investigators, BDSM and talking. Yes....finally a couple that talks!!!! Even about the hard stuff. It was wonderful. I can definitely recommend this to everyone looking for something more. I know I found it in this book. I really liked the connection between the two guy's. They go through a lot but stick together. I always rate a book by how a couple in a book make me feel. Well in this case they made me feel plenty.
Profile Image for Kristy Maitz.
2,725 reviews
June 27, 2015
Nix Knox had good idea with that story plot but.....

Main character is Derek from whom we start the story. He is interesting guy and story is pulling till he get to know Zander; the other MC. The way how writer wrote him is unpleasant and because of it I got bored with whole thing.

So, it was quick read which could be done much better but it seems Nix Knox has to grow into writing a pulling story from start to the end.




Profile Image for Melissa.
66 reviews
December 2, 2015
I almost didn't even look at this book just because of the name. I'm so glad I did. The writing was great and the story grabbed me and didn't let me go. I thought the love story was better than the mystery part. The detail and information was so great that it made me understand the story so much more.

I recommend this and I', looking forward to reading the sequel.
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