
Author
Jo Davis, and her book
"Under Fire" have hooked me! I love romance stories with firefighter heroes (my first apartment landlord was a sexy firefighter - unfortunately for me he was also married). I loved "Under Fire" and specifically the hero firefighter Zack Knight. This is book #2 in her
"The Firefighters of Station Five" series.
Back blurb: "Zack fights fires and saves lives, yet his own thirst for life has run dry—until he comes to the rescue of a sharp-tongued exotic dancer named Corrine Shannon who soon has the normally shy hero burning out of control.But just as they are consumed by flames of passion, they find themselves under fire from two relentless enemies with fifty million reasons to succeed. Can they withstand the heat while trying to save their own lives—or will their newfound romance be extinguished as fast as it began?"
The most compelling aspect of the story for me was the realism of the characters. The hero was not rich, he was dirt poor and near to homeless. He was sick but couldn't afford time off work to get treatment and heal. His boss (whose story I can't wait to read) runs up one side of Zack and down the other, chewing then spitting him out and Zack does nothing to defend himself. Not the typical alpha hero of romance stories. Zack used to be the fat kid nerdy geek and he still wears glasses but now his body is buff and he's good looking though he's still a virgin. He's clueless about women, relationships and sex because he's never had any of it. Again, not your typical alpha hero, but Zack really is all hero and I adored him. The heroine, Corrine "Cori" Shannon is a stripper who hasn't had sex is ages. She dances to earn money to put herself through nursing school.
Zack and Cori meet when Zack accidentally rear ends Cori's SUV. Again, you'd sort of expect the woman in these books to cause the accident and the alpha male to be all put out about "women drivers" (funny that men pay higher insurance premiums I'm guessing they are involved in more accidents and speeding tickets than women, but still women have the bad rap for being poor drivers, go figure!). After their fender bender Cori's tire is shot out and she ends up in another accident with her SUV dangling over dangerous waters and fireman Zack rescues her only to have himself plunging into the murky waters below and nearly losing his life. Zack is in (and has been in) a deep depression and is ready to die and end it all, but his fire department buddies are not ready to give up on him and neither is Cori. Cori stays with Zack during his recovery and when Zack finds out he is homeless because of his enormous debts, Cori opens her home to him.
Cori's got her own problems. Someone is stalking her and she scared to be alone. Zack is homeless and still recovering so he can't work. These two need each other and move in together. There is sexual tension from the beginning, as both desires the other and it's only a matter of time before Zack finally learns the pleasure of sex. His first experience is rather interesting - *grin*. While Cori's mouth is occupied with Zack's throbbing penis, she sticks her finger in his butt and finds his pleasure spot much to Zack's delight! He explodes and can't wait to do it again! Cori is perfect for Zack and he's everything she needs in a man. These two compliment each other to perfection, each filling a need in the other making them whole and truly happy for the first time in their lives. Cori gives Zack hope and a will to live and love for the first time in his life. Zack gives Cori faith and security and contentment with her life.
While Zack attempts to keep Cori safe from her stalker, figure a way out of debt and get back on his feet, he takes numerous beatings, a gun shot wound and gets knifed (I couldn't help but think of all those "Jason" movies when you think he's dead but nope! He's back!). Zack spends a good deal of time in the hospital, but he's a true hero - a geeky hero with a super high IQ that saves Cori's life.
There are several twists and turns in the story that bring them all full circle. Zack and Cori have their happy ending while the story leaves us begging for the next book in 'The Firefighters of Station Five' series.
I give this story 4.5 stars out of 5.