Heat Exchange

Lydia, a firefighter’s daughter, sister, and ex-wife, knows too well the repercussions of getting involved with someone within that career. After living away from her family for some time, she is called back home when her sister is experiencing marital strife. Her life is again immersed into the firefighter fold and the arms of Aidan, her brother’s best friend and a firefighter. My biggest issues in this story was the quick speed of the romance and that I just didn’t fully click with Lydia. I didn’t feel like there was enough tension built up before the first kiss, let alone anything else. As for Lydia, she came across as very brusque and at times disrespectful to Aidan. His character was very sweet, so it made her seem even rougher. As the story progressed I softened a bit towards Lydia and ended up enjoying how the second half of the story played out. I really liked the secondary story line with Lydia’s sister Ashley and her husband Danny. Their hea was more satisfying than Aidan and Lydia’s. I also loved some of the banter and one-liners. There were definitely a few LOL moments. After reading the included first chapter for the second book in the series, Controlled Burn, I have a sense the series will continue to improve. I recommend reading Heat Exchange for an easy enjoyable read with the intention of moving onto the next book in the series.

3.5 stars–HEAT EXCHANGE is the first installment in Shannon Stacey’s contemporary, adult BOSTON FIRE romance series focusing on the men and women of the Boston Fire Department. This is fire fighter Aidan Hunt, and bartender Lydia Kincaid’s story line. Told from several third person perspectives HEAT EXCHANGE follows several paths including the building but forbidden relationship between Aidan and Lydia; and the breakdown of a marriage between Ashley Kincaid and her fire fighter husband Danny. For four generations, the Kincaid men have all fought fires with the Boston FD, and the daughters have all married members of the fire fighting team. With Ashley’s marriage on the rocks, and Lydia’s marriage to her fire fighting husband destroyed by his infidelities, Lydia finds herself in a struggle with her relationship with Aidan Hunt-her brother’s best friend and partner on the job. What ensues is a secret and clandestine relationship between Aidan and Lydia; and Ashley’s struggles as she considers her options for the future. HEAT EXCHANGE is a story about family; about the bonds of brotherhood in the Boston Fire Department; and about long standing traditions and rites of passage in a close knit community of fire fighters and the people they love. Lydia is from a long line of proud fire fighters and knows that the ‘brotherhood’ has always come before family, and in this Lydia continues to battle her attraction to Aidan, and the knowledge that her relationship with Aidan will destroy what’s left of her relationship with her family-especially her brother Scott……and to be completely honest, I had some issues with some of the story line premise. Lydia’s actions, temperament, mindset and ego made for a difficult heroine to like-our hero had to make a choice between his job or the woman he loved. And the fire fighters placing family secondary in importance behind the ‘brotherhood’- screamed all sorts of problems with anyone entering into the fire fighting world. Shannon Stacey blends first responder technology and terminology into a story line about ‘brotherhood’, love, family and the future. The premise is entertaining and energetic; the characters are colorful, real, and charismatic; the romance is a struggle to a happily ever after.

Lydia lives in New Hampshire and waitresses at a restaurant. She gets a call from her sister telling her her and her husband are separating and she needs Lydia to come back to Boston and work their family bar for awhile. Aiden is a firefighter and Lydia’s brother’s best friend. He has always had a crush on her but she wants nothing to do with firefighters. Her ex, her father and brother are one and she knows the brotherhood comes before anyone else. They can’t keep their hands off each other but must keep it a secret because firefighters aren’t supposed to date another’s sister. So they lie to everyone while having incredible sex. Once the cats out of the bag, things go downhill between Lydia, her brother and Aiden. When her sister reconciles with her husband she knows it time to go back home. Aidan realizes he loves her but can he give up his job and keep Lydia or will he lose her forever? Excellent story. Lydia is pushing and pulling away from Aidan, she can’t make her mind up. A little funny with some steamy sex. Firefighters and the women who try to love them. A roller coaster of an affair where there are plenty of ups and down.

This is the first book I’ve read by Shannon Stacey but it won’t be the last! I really enjoyed this story. The characters were relatable and interesting. I loved the bond that the firefighters have and their code of honor. Aiden had a hard time hiding his relationship with Lydia because he didn’t like not being open with his best friend, who is Lydia’s brother. His feelings for her were stronger, though. Lydia had issues because she didn’t want to be with another firefighter, but her feelings for Aiden were strong, too. I wanted to smack her brother Scott for a while because he was being a jerk. This book really drew me in and I’m definitely going to read more of the Boston Fire stories!!

A good start to this new series, and as a fan of Shannon Stacey and a good firefighter novel this story certainly ticks all my boxes. As it is full of flawed yet lovable characters, has little angst, a hot male lead character and some fun, sexy moments. Although I did have issues with Lydia the main female character in the story, and at one point was ready to throw my Kindle across the room, because she frustrated me so much. Luckily though she redeemed herself and my Kindle was saved!! I did, though like her sister Ashley and husband Danny, and I enjoyed the secondary storyline between them. And this is mainly why there is some angst in the story. Overall though a good and easy read, and I will definitely be looking out for the next book in the series. And I would happily recommend this story to others.

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