A great continuation of Lee & Dirk's story. Again a fairly light story overall, but then that is what is expected with this author (well at least, it's what I expect).

There are times where great drama is appropriate. And then there are times when things just happen and problems don't drag on forever, but solutions are found reasonably easy. This book definitely falls in the latter category. But it's done with such grace and good humour that it makes for a fun and entertaining way to pass a few hours!

Looking forward to finding time to read the next one. ( )

As with the first book, the cover drew me right into the story and reminded me of the great story that was the beginning of Lee and Dirk's lives together. They have certainly come a very far way since they came out of the closet – pretty much for each other's sakes. The sometimes mundane obstacles of daily life is what this book is all about in terms of their relationship. Of course, to make things more interesting, Andrew also throws in a major point of disagreement at their workplace, then makes them struggle through it. I was involved from the first to the last page!

Dirk is no longer the asshole he used to be – well, mostly. He still has his moments, but with Lee's help he is beginning to see how they affect others. That understanding, and his love for Lee, are more than enough incentive to try to change. He is still emotionally insecure, which only makes sense because years of hiding who he really is don’t vanish overnight. He is far less repressed that he used to be, and the joy he gets from making love to Lee is definitely making him a happier man.

Lee is as friendly and outgoing as ever. He has an amazing idea to help save the fire station from being closed due to budget cuts and is crushed when Dirk doesn’t want him to follow up. Being a stubborn man, he pursues it anyway. Tensions mount and I was fearing the worst for a while.

The scenes between Dirk and Lee are as intense and extremely hot as in the first book. Maybe even more so, because the emotional closeness that was only starting then is coming into full effect here. They are both vulnerable to each other and need to get used to the influence that has on how they communicate and live together. Not an easy thing to learn, and Andrew describes the issues with great understanding and sensitivity. If you like fire fighters, men who try to out-stubborn each other, and if emotionally intense relationships are your thing, you will probably love this book as much as I did. I hope there will be another installment soon!





NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )

3.5* ( )

I remember the first book in this series, and it was a little darker, a little heavier on drama; Strengthened by Fire, while having a moment of two of "tension" between Lee and Dirk (but nothing huge, just the adjustment movements of a newly formed couple), it is way lighter, actually it remembered me those "seasonal" romances where a well-known author writes a novella for their fans using a beloved pair from a previous series.

The By Fire Series is a spin-off of a series Andrew Grey is setting in Carlisle, a small historical town, so the mood of the story isn't "huge", meaning that, everything seems nearer, both from an emotional than physical point of view.

It's probably wise to read Strengthened By Fire in order, in here, Lee and Dirk are already a couple and the whys and whens of their relationship is all in the previous book. Nice note is that, while I'm reading a lot, and I read the previous book long ago, those two characters where still fresh on my mind, proof enough they were good characters.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008UW93SU/?tag=elimyrevandra-20