“Wicked Burn” by McKenna Jeffries & Aliyah Burke

Not everyone can be saved.  It’s a sad truth firefighter Yasmine Van Court has to face one night when she rescues a child from a fire but is unable to rescue the baby’s parents.  Yas cannot forget the fire, nor can she forget Sedeo Parker, the man who lost his sister and brother-in-law that night.  Despite the tragic circumstances of their meeting, Yas felt an instant connection to Sedeo and she can’t resist checking up on him and the little girl she saved. 

His niece, Shelby, is all Sedeo has left of his sister.  Struggling with grief and the trials of raising Shelby on his own, Sedeo is surprised to find the beautiful Yas on his doorstep.  For Sedeo, his desire for Yas wars with his anger that she didn’t rescue all of his family.  But the pull between them is too hard for either to resist.  In the aftermath of a terrible loss, it’s up to Sedeo to see if he can face the past in order to have a future with Yas in it. 

“Wicked Burn” creates beauty from tragedy with a story that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming.  The pain of what Sedeo lost was immense, and it broke my heart.  However, this loss made “Wicked Burn” all the more compelling because I so wanted him to find happiness.  Yas is a wonderful heroine; strong, patient, and kind.  She fit Sedeo perfectly and the two of them generated the best kind of heat.  As for Shelby, I absolutely fell head over heels in love with the adorable little girl.  She was too cute for words and was every bit as important to the story as Yas and Sedeo. 

A captivating read from beginning to end, I thoroughly enjoyed “Wicked Burn.”

“Dangerous Beauty” by Roscoe James

Ex-marine and firefighter Stephanie Irene Nolan, or Sin as her friends call her, isn’t anyone’s idea of a princess.  Slightly scarred from her time in Iraq and with features she doesn’t consider pretty, Sin isn’t the most secure about her looks.  What she is confident about, however, is her ability to win the annual Fire Bucket Brigade race.  Sin wins, but she’s nearly beaten by a devastatingly sexy stranger.  There’s something familiar about Brandon Long, but she can’t figure out what.  All Sin knows is that he’s determined to win her heart…and someone else is determined to end both their lives. 

Passion burns as hot as the flames Sin fights in this fantastic story by Roscoe James.  What I love about “Dangerous Beauty” is that neither protagonist has always been physically perfect.  Though her body is incredible, Sin doesn’t think her face is that attractive.  As for Brandon, while he might look like he fell off a romance cover, that wasn’t always the case.  What’s different about this story is how the characters perceive each other and themselves is a backdrop to the beginning of their romance. 

“Dangerous Beauty” is a sexy, exciting tale I could not put down.  I was up reading late into the night, eager to see Sin, the most unlikely of princesses, find her Prince Charming in Brandon.  This is the first story I’ve read of Mr. James’s and it definitely won’t be the last.  Simply fantastic! 

Hearts Afire: August is a fantastic anthology about brave women who risk their lives every day to save others and the strong men who love them.  With two sizzling, enchanting stories I won’t soon forget, I can definitely say that Hearts Afire: August is one perfectly hot read!