Flirting with Fire by Kate Meader

April 22nd, 2015 Kimberly Review 71 Comments

22nd Apr
Flirting with Fire by Kate Meader
Flirting with Fire
by Kate Meader
Series: Hot in Chicago #1
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Heat Level: One FlameOne FlameOne FlameOne Flame

The first installment in Hot in Chicago, a brand-new, sizzling series from Kate Meader that follows a group of firefighting foster siblings and their blazing hot love interests! Savvy PR guru Kinsey Taylor has always defined herself by her career, not her gender. That is, until she moved from San Francisco to Chicago to be with her fiancé who thought she wasn’t taking her “job” of supporting him in his high-powered career seriously enough—and promptly dumped her for a more supportive and “feminine” nurse. Now, as the new assistant press secretary to Chicago’s dynamic mayor, she’s determined to keep her eye on the prize: no time to feel inferior because she’s a strong, kick-ass woman, and certainly no time for men. But that all changes when she meets Luke Almeida, a firefighter as searingly sexy as he is quick-tempered. He’s also the second oldest of the Firefightin’ Dempseys, a family of foster siblings who have committed their lives to the service—if Luke’s antics don’t get him fired first. When Luke goes one step too far and gets into a bar brawl with the Chicago Police Department, Kinsey marches into Luke’s firehouse and lays down the law on orders from the mayor. But at Engine Co. 6, Luke Almeida is the law. And he’s not about to let Kinsey make the rules.

Oh baby, wait until you meet the Dempsey family! Flirting with Fire is the first in Kate Meader’s Hot in Chicago series. She delivered a sweet, humorous, hot, and heartwarming romance all while introducing secondary characters whose books I cannot wait to read.

Coffee dates with Flirting with Fire

  • First Date: Our tale begins when we meet Kinsey Taylor a PR guru working for the mayor of Chicago. She is walking into a Firehouse right into the lockers wearing a pair of Jimmy Choo heels and mentally questioning (despite the terrific sale) why folks wear these painful things. Right away, I like her. She is on a mission to find Luke Almeida a firefighter who caused a PR nightmare for the city when he slugged one of Chicago’s finest at an afterhours bar. She has been tasked with fixing things. I love Kinsey’s snark and the chemistry between her and Luke has me giggling. Their banter mixes annoyance, anger and sizzling attraction. My friends this could get interesting.
  • Second date: I love strong, intelligent and competitive woman. Despite the shitty reasons for this Callie girl to be in Chicago and a few hang-ups from the fallout she is polished, thinks about all parties involved and dang if she doesn’t like our boy Luke. I love sibling stories and Meader made my heart melt with her unruly Dempsey family. Luke is not the oldest, Wy is but Luke is the one that takes care of the others. By nature he is a fixer and his promise to his father only boosts his determination to protect and care for them. From his tats to his curly long dark eyelashes, Luke will make you swoon. He is invested in the community and his backstory will pull at your heartstrings. Luke and Kinsey work together to fix the PR nightmare and get him reinstated. The banter and slow building heat made their interactions a blast. We also get side-stories involving Luke’s sister, Alexandra, and his sexy confidently homosexual brother Gage, as he pursues a reluctant local chef. The Mayor and Alex have a little something brewing me thinks and I am curious.
  • Third date: Now that the PR project is completed things can finally heat up between Kinsley and Luke and oh baby. These are both strong characters and the heat is off the charts, but Meader gives us tenderness too. Each giving the other something that has been missing. Ah, dang things were going so well and BAM enter miscommunication, fears and airplanes. Things get a little bumpy but I closed this book with a smile. I was given a lovely epilogue as a parting gift. One of the things I liked was that despite the short span of the actual romance Meader gave us a realistic wrap-up. I am eager for more stories regarding the Dempsey’s and this fine Chicago Firehouse.

Caffeinated Conclusion: My dates were a success despite a few bumps and I loved how developed the characters, even the secondary ones are. I am excited for book two, Playing with Fire, scheduled to release September 29, 2015. The synopsis indicates it will be about firecracker, female, fire fighter- Alexandra Dempsey.

Photo of kimbacaffeinate
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

Related Posts

71 Responses to “Flirting with Fire by Kate Meader”

  1. Lindy

    Awesome Date!!! I loved the banter and slow building heat it this one as well! I can’t wait for Alexandra’s story. I too love stories with siblings in it, and I agree that even the secondary characters were amazing!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I am excited about Alex..she is snarky and I adore that 🙂

  2. Blessie (Mischievous Reads)

    Ah, men in uniform. Gotta love em. And I totally love me a fiesty female character. Such a fantastic combo, can’t see anything go wrong with that! Awesome review, Kimba! 🙂

  3. Cyn

    Ooh, this looks nice! I enjoyed Kate Meader’s chef series; how can I say no to hot firefighters? haha. Glad this was an enjoyable read! Thanks for the review, Kim (:

  4. Bookworm Brandee

    Ooh, I want to meet the Dempsey family!! You know I love a snarky heroine. And sexy banter. And a well developed cast of characters. Yep, I’m gonna meet these Dempsey’s. 🙂

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Enjoy Brandee, I liked how well rounded this is and despite being in the city it has a small town vibe

  5. Silvia

    ‘sweet, humorous, hot, and heartwarming‘ you say? Huh, perhaps I should add this series to my TBR list . . . Yep, I definitely should! Thanks for the suggestion, Kimberly!

  6. Benish

    Aahh, a fire fighter romance – that’s something cute. I’ve read one similar book when I was about 17. Sounds like an interesting series though.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I haven’t read many firefighter stories, but I did like that this deals with family.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Thanks Alreem, I did I loved the mix of family and romance

  8. sharonda

    Nothing like a firefighter romance to get your blood pumping 🙂 I like the sound of this one Kim…happy to hear the dates went well!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      It was fun Sharonda, and yes a man in uniform makes gets me heated.

  9. Kathy

    I just finished Feeding the Fire so now I’m craving more firemen! I’ll have to read this soon =)

  10. Jillyn

    I just got this in the mail, I can’t wait to read it. Great review 🙂

    I’m a sucker for firemen and books set in my hometown!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Happy reading maybe you recognize some of the sights

  11. Melissa (Books and Things)

    I like Kinsey. Don’t get the Jimmy Cho fascination either. LOL Also love the sound of the Dempseys. Why haven’t I met them yet? Need to start a fire I guess… 🙂 This sounds delish!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I am the same and this is a curl up and forget about the world for a few hours 🙂

  14. Lanie

    Interesting, don’t really like the cover but I think the book coming out about a female firefighter is definitely one I’d read.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      These will work as standalone since each deals with a couple.

  15. Katherine

    Boo on the miscommunication but other than that this book sounds really fun! I love the sound of Kinsley’s character though really if you just keep the gorgeous Jimmy Choo’s on you get past the pain and lose feeling in your feet and then you can wear anything!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I hope you do Debbie..this is a fun start to the series.

  19. Angela Adams

    “…things can finally heat up between Kinsley and Luke and oh baby.” Great incentive to read this book! Thanks for the post.

  20. Sophia Rose

    LOL! I see ‘fighting’ and ‘Dempsey’ and I think of the boxer by that name, but a brawling firefighter works too.

    I haven’t read a good firefighter romance in a while and like you I love that it comes with a surrounding family group. Poor gal getting ditched, but it sounds like she got something much better for it.

  22. Heidi

    No complaints for me…. a series with hot sexy fire fighters sounds great. Yes please.

  24. Quinn's Book Nook

    Okay, this looks awesome, and definitely influenced by Chicago Fire which is okay by me! Thanks for the review. I love romances with firefighters and Kinsey seems like a great heroine.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I love men in uniform period. This was a great start!

  27. Felicia The Geeky Blogger

    I love when the secondary characters are fully developed. It really does lend to the overall stories. When I am in the mood for contemporary this is going on my list.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I am the same, and love that the family is at the core of this tale. She really did a wonderful job of making me curious about them all.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I do too Ali and yes I think you will like this family.

  29. Nick

    Well hello there, beautiful man on the cover!
    I haven’t heard of this book before today, but this is SO going into my TBR pile, Kim! Kinsey sounds like a fantastic MC. Love that she’s feisty and smart. And the chemistry sounds yummy too.
    Lovely review!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Enjoy Nick..I love how this is balanced and has humor too. Did you get my gift?

  30. Braine

    I am excited to read Alex’s book too! Her thingy with the mayor should be interesting. I love this series so much!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Right. I loved the little banter and Alex speaks her mind.

  31. Mary

    It would be even better if the cover model were shirtless. I mean, really. Heh. And nothing wrong with a few bumps along the way!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Oh agreed..would be a great ToT then. Ya need the bumps to get to the happy.

  33. Red Iza

    Your opening sentences below the blurb just got me, but I’m a little wary about the miscommunication problem – a big pet peeve of mine. But oh well, I’ll read it ! Great review !

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Let’s just say it wasn’t overdone and for that I am thankful. We need a little drama..lol

  34. Ramona

    What is it about men in uniform, lol? This one is another winner, not only because of the fireman MC, but also because of Kinsey, who sounds like a girl after my own heart. I can see the potential of these two coming together from miles away! Add to the mix well developed characters and decent writing and … this goes on my list! Thank you for another impressive review 🙂

    • kimbacaffeinate

      All of the characters were interesting and strong. I hope you dive in and enjoy!

  36. Melliane

    Oh fireman! you know, when I think about it, I think I haven’t tried a book with them in it and now I’m so curious to try! It looks so much fun! thanks for the review!