SYNOPSIS: Firefighter Austin Monroe never expects to rescue Lindsey Winters and her son, Josh, from one of the many fires he's called out on. After all, he thought that his former partner's widow was still living in the home he'd visited his partner in. Lindsey has sworn never to rely on a man again, but she doesn't have many options when Austin offers her and Josh a place to stay while their home is repaired. Can love bloom under these conditions?
MY THOUGHTS: I knew right away this was going to be a tougher read for me. For some reason, I struggle with books where a best friend or partner dies and then ends up in a relationship with the person's widowed spouse. I always wonder if the ghost of that person is somehow there between them, coloring the relationship in some way. However, having said that, Laura Iding made this concept work quite well. Some of the details she incorporated into the story made the happily-ever-after seem workable, even likely, in this case.
I really liked some of the parenting aspects addressed in this book. Lindsey's determination not the have various men hopping in and out of Josh's life is more than commendable. I also liked the way Austin interacted with Josh, particularly with a solution he came up with for Josh's recent problems at school.
Now... these issues are sort of spoilers so don't read further if you aren't interested in seeing them.......and I should note that the following issues are probably ones that my job as a social worker causes them to have a bigger effect on me than they will on most readers........
I did struggle, however, with the way bullying was addressed. Surely at least a comment to the school about the behavior of the cop's son towards Josh would have been warranted! And I can't imagine allowing a school principal to demand a report from a counselor to allow a child back into school when all he's done is skip a few days and use foul language once! I have to reread some of the areas to make sure I didn't miss something here.
On the flipside, I DID like the fact that Laura Iding showed that grief can be expressed in a multitude of ways and truancy is one of those ways. So as you can see, THE FIREFIGHTER AND THE SINGLE MUM offered quite the mixed bag of emotions and reactions from me!
This is one I ordered
This is one I ordered too. I will probably get to it after I read the rest of the books you loaned me. Curious to see though how I'll take the issues you pointed out.
The D2K Paranormal Junkies ~ 2008 Book Challenge Blog
Deb...
I wondered how the issues would hit you since you are in the school system as well. But they might have hit me harder since I deal with a lot of that stuff specifically so I'll be curious as to your thoughts after you read it.
The D2K Paranormal Junkies 2008 Challenge
May have to move
May have to move it up as I'm curious now.
The D2K Paranormal Junkies ~ 2008 Book Challenge Blog
Deb...
you can let me know when you read it if I missed something with how they addressed the issues, then. It just bugged me, but it wasn't because the book was bad but rather because of what I do for a living that I wanted to advise them to do more, if that makes sense.
The D2K Paranormal Junkies 2008 Challenge
Interesting
Interesting comments, Deb.
I actually like books where best friend's of dead people get together with the widow/er. I think I like the whole push/pull of this is wrong/but I have feelings for this person. It makes great conflict and can be really emotional. My 3rd book dealt with that - 2 brothers both loving the same woman and I loved the tortured kind of dynamic. Of course, its all in the execution.
Love, love, love this cover and Laura's experience as a trauma RN always shines through her books. I'm so excited to be meeting Laura for the first time in a few weeks.
Amy
Brisbane General Trilogy out Sept.
Sept -Top-Notch Surgeon, Pregnant Nurse.
Nov - Dr Romano's Christmas Baby.
Feb 09 - The Single Dad's New-Year Bride.
Amy...
The cover is great, isn't it! I know there are a lot of folks who like the theme even though I struggle with it so I hope I made it clear that Laura did a great job with it and my issues with it were my own. Funny, but two siblings loving the same woman doesn't hit me the same way unless one dies and then I can't help but wonder if that ghost is between them (so speaks the paranormal book lover here!). This book really poked at a lot of my touchy points but that isn't necessarily a bad thing since overall this book made me think a lot more as a result....and I'm going to be very interested once Deb and Merri read it to see how their reactions differ! And how exciting about meeting Laura!
The D2K Paranormal Junkies 2008 Challenge
Very good review,Debbie,
I have this on order also. Regarding the situation with a spouse dying,my mom passed in 1995(just shy of their 50th anniv. by 2 wks)Dad was definitely distraught for a long time . Then a couple yrs. later he remarried but to one of their long time "friends" who Mom tolerated but secretly despised. I still have problems with this as I can feel Mom and her disapproval,yet I need to be here for Dad. Does indeed make it challenging! Cheryl
Cheryl http://peacefulpond.blogspot.com/
Thanks, Aunt Cheryl
I'll definitely be looking for your review on this one as well! I think it's a sensitive issue but I will say that Laura Iding made me believe in the happily ever after of these two!
The D2K Paranormal Junkies 2008 Challenge
Er, yes....
Yes, Deb, the brother (who she was married to - lets call him bro A) died. But she secretly loved the other brother - bro B - since she was a little girl and they had been in a relationship but Bro B, through guilt over driving the car that paralysed Bro A, stepped away from the picture when it was obvious that Bro A loved her too and wanted her.
Okay....so it's complicated...but I LOVED this story and the whole tortured mess these people found themselves in knocked around by the whims of fate.
Amy
Brisbane General Trilogy out Sept.
Sept -Top-Notch Surgeon, Pregnant Nurse.
Nov - Dr Romano's Christmas Baby.
Feb 09 - The Single Dad's New-Year Bride.
Amy...
since it's your book, I have no doubts I'd like it. Plus that twist is what makes it intriguing, too!
The D2K Paranormal Junkies 2008 Challenge
I can't wait to read this.
I can't wait to read this. I can see grief leading to friendship leading to love, esp. to the person who has shared the grief. I am looking forward to this one a lot as well as Amy's.
AKA Merri
Family Challenge Team: The Spine Breakers with my dh Glenn AKA Phaedrus
Merri...
the theme is a tough one for me for some reason. I almost wish you'd read it before me as I bet that would have led to some good discussions to help me through those issues. Having said that, my issues with the book are personal and don't reflect on the book at all as it is an exceptionally well done book. This book evoked some very personal reactions from me but in a very good way, if that makes sense. It was exactly the book I needed to read at the moment!
The D2K Paranormal Junkies 2008 Challenge