5 Smooches!

Synopsis

Taima, a.k.a. Tai, is the last person people come to for help. He’s the fuck up… the bad boy… the guy that only looks out for himself.

Which couldn’t be further from the truth.

He’s fought hard to become the man he is today. He’s a hero in the public’s eye. A firefighter that the young all the way to the old turn to for help at the lowest point in their lives.

What people don’t know, though, is that he’s no hero. He’s the reason his sister is dead, and he’ll spend the rest of his life trying to right that wrong.

Then one split second decision has him coming face to face with Mia Darling. The woman changes his life, making him reevaluate everything he thought he had figured out, and showing him the tenderness he never knew he needed.

Just like always, though, his luck runs out.

When the smoke settles, Mia’s gone, and Tai realizes there’s no way he can live the rest of his life without her. He’ll show her just how hard a bad boy will fight to get his woman back, and he’s not opposed to fighting dirty.

Review

“He’s a bad boy. He just hides it better than most.”

Tai spent his teen years and early twenties cultivating reputation for being an irresponsible, selfish bad boy. He racked up massive debt, and he was the fun guy, the party guy, but not a guy anyone could count on. Older now, he’s working on changing that perception and paying down his debt. A fellow firefighter gives him an idea as to how he can earn some extra money and through that, he meets Mia.

“I was desperate.”

Mia is a nurse and the single mom of eight-month old, Colton. Colt’s deadbeat dad is not a part of their lives, not in any way. After getting devastating news about Colt’s health, Mia comes up with a plan she hopes will help to save her son, and that’s how she meets Tai.

“He’d been our only hope. Some way—somehow—I had to change his mind.”

Tai is having second thoughts, though. Instead of going through with Mia’s plan, Tai comes up with alternate option, and he and Mia work together to get it organized. Mia is finally feeling hopeful, and Tai is all-in for the beautiful but scared single mom and her fireman-loving little boy. Tai is with her every step of the way, and the attraction between them is undeniable. But when the unthinkable happens, Mia shuts down and shuts everyone out, including Tai.

“You doin’ alright?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m doing alright.” And I was. And getting better every day.

It’s two months later when Mia finally reaches out to Tai to apologize. Even though he’s hurt, he can’t fight the pull he feels to her. Someone in Kilgore isn’t feeling sympathetic toward the grieving young mother, though, and Mia finds herself embroiled in a mess that could cost her everything she has left. Just as her life is unraveling, a leak in the KFD is exposed, but the consequences of discovering who is behind it are far greater than anyone could have anticipated. With all the drama – legal and otherwise – swirling around them, will Mia and Tai be the support each of them needs to get through it all or, like everything else around them, will they crumble under the weight of it?

“You and me against the world.”

Kilgore Fire Department is another new series from the incredibly talented Lani Lynn Vale. She introduced her readers to the Uncertain Saints MC earlier this year, and like that series, KFD is a bit grittier and edgier than what we usually see from her. I was excited about the change in her typical tone and writing style in Whiskey Neat, and I’m thrilled with the progression of it in Shock Advised. This book tackles some difficult subjects, but Vale manages to pull it off with her usual brand of snarky and smart humor.

Keeping pace with her unprecedented slate of releases—she put out 11 books last year and looks to be on par to do the same this year—Ms. Vale has introduced a whole new slate of characters to her readers. As a diehard Lani Lynn Vale fan, I am giddy with anticipation to get my hands on these are new characters’ stories! One of the things I love about Lani’s books is the way that she ties in her previous works and characters so effortlessly and naturally, so it’s no surprise to see some of our favorite Freebirds and KPD-SWAT characters making appearances here.

I loved this book so much, and I’m so excited about this series! Five smooches from me for Lani Lynn Vale’s Shock Advised!

~ Danielle Palumbo

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