Book Review - In Flames By Jessica Jayne
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Book Review,
Jessica Jayne
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My rating: 5 of 5 starsI was approached by Jessica back in January about reading and reviewing her Book More than Friends and to read her in draft Book of In Flames. I loved More Than Friends, so I knew I was going to love In Flames as well. I received a copy of In Flames while it was in Beta Read form still and While I LOVED this Book, I know how Myself and other readers LOVE an HEA and an Epilogue to go with that HEA. I was so happy When Jessica took my feedback and gave us an Epilogue.
We start the story with Gracelyn who has been a widow for one year now after her firefighter husband Chad died during a fire. Gracelyn has been left to raise her two children herself, and she has had a hard first year . The week before Chad had died Gracelyn had found out he had cheated on her and had asked him to leave , telling him that she needed space to think about everything. A week later he died in a fire. So the heartbreak is a little more intense for her at times, because they had been separated when he had passed away. She has had help from friends and family along the way , but it still has been a stressful, heartbreaking year of everything.
The one constant in her life through the last year has been Chad’s Brother Matt, who was also there when Chad died in the fire. For the last year Gracelyn and Matt have been each other’s shoulder to lean on. They have both helped each other to deal with Chad’s death. Matt has helped her with the kids, and has become very much closer to Gracelyn. Before the one year anniversary of Chad’s death Matt started to have feelings for Gracelyn, but has not acted upon those feelings until now.
Emotions run wild on the one year anniversary of Chad’s death and Matt finds Gracelyn in her bedroom on the floor sleeping, he can tell she had been crying. When she wakes and finds out Matt is there , she starts to cry again, Matt comforts her and one thing leads to another and they are sleeping with each other.
They decide because of everything that it can not happen again. They try really hard to not let things between them go any further, But feelings are not something you can turn off.
“I’ve put out every kind of fire in my job, but I cannot put out
this fire that is burning inside of me for you. What am I going to do with you?”
I do not want to tell you all that happens , I want you to be able to read this and get the full effect of the story for yourself. I will say this you will LOVE Gracelyn and Matt.
I will say this , this is not an easy road for Matt and Gracelyn once they decide to see where their feelings for each other go. There is going to be some surprises, Some angry parents , and an angry ex-wife.
“I told you earlier that I didn’t think I could make love to you again and walk away. And I can’t. More importantly, I won’t. I know some people will be hurt by my wanting to be with you… by us wanting to be together. I know we will have a rocky road with the family for a period of time. I know we will likely be the talk of the town for a while. I didn’t plan this. I did not plan to fall in love with you. But I did! I love you! I love you! And I am not letting you go. Ever.”
There is a HEA and an Awesome Epilogue as well . Jessica did an amazing Job writing this story and I am so glad I had the pleasure of reading it before release and discussing it with her.
Book Blurb:
Gracelyn Riley married a firefighter and she knew that came with some risks. But she never imagined herself widowed in her early thirties with two children to care for on her own. Even though she had asked her husband, Chad, for a trial separation the week before his death because she found out about an affair he was having, dealing with the last year without him has not been easy. Her brother-in-law, Matt, has been the rock that has kept her from collapsing.
As a fireman, Matt Riley had been at the scene when his brother was killed. Several other firefighters had to hold him back to keep him from going after his brother in the collapsing building. The last year has been difficult for Matt. He suffered greatly from survivor’s guilt and drank himself into oblivion on several occasions. His one saving grace has come in the form of his sister-in-law, Gracelyn. Her friendship has pulled him through time and time again.
With the year anniversary of Chad’s death upon them, Gracelyn and Matt turn to each for support and comfort. What they didn’t expect was to realize that their feelings for each other may go well beyond the solid friendship they share. Can they overcome the guilt and the scrutiny of their family and friends to find love together?
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Chris, Thank you so much for the review and for all your help in getting this story told. Your feedback was very beneficial! You're the best! Jessica
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