Playing with Fire (Hot in Chicago, #2)

by Kate Meader

As the only female firefighter at Engine Co. 6, Alexandra Dempsey gets it from all sides: the male coworkers who think she can't do the job, the wives and girlfriends who see her as a threat to their firefighter men, and her overprotective foster brothers who want to shelter their baby sister at all costs. So when she single-handedly saves the life of Eli Cooper, Chicago's devastatingly handsome mayor, she assumes the respect she's longed for will finally come her way. But it seems Mr. Mayor has other ideas…

Eli Cooper's mayoral ratings are plummeting, his chances at reelection dead in the water. When a sexy, curvaceous firefighter gives him the kiss of life, she does more than bring him back to the land of the living-she also breathes vitality into his campaign. Riding the wave of their feel-good story might prop up Eli's flagging political fortunes, but the sizzling attraction between them can go nowhere; he's her boss, and there are rules that must be obeyed. But you know what they say about rules: they're made to be broken…

• ISBN10: 1476785929
• ISBN13: 9781476785929
• Publish Date: 8 October 2015 (first published 29 September 2015)
• Publish Status: Transferred
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Pocket Books
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

So, I am going backwards through Meader's catalog, and I am happy to say, I enjoyed her earlier books too.

Both hero and heroine were very complicated characters, but their attraction to each other was nothing but straight forward and white hot. I loved the tension and the banter, and I really liked when Eli showed his tender side, well, as tender as Eli can get.

This was a lot of fun, and anyone who knows me is aware, that the way to my heart is through the ending, and this one definitely won my heart.

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[Cocktails and Books]

This review was originally posted on Cocktails and Books

Alexandra Dempsey, a member of the fire fighting Dempsey's and the only female at Engine 6 has spent the last few months trying to focus a bit on her, including going on dates to find a man who wants to be with her for her and not the notoriety of being with the bad ass firefighter who took a saw to a very expensive sports car. What she doesn't know is the man the drives her crazy, but is incredibly hot, is the one she should be focusing on.

Alex and Eli are most definitely hot together. If ever there was a thin line between love and hate, it was with these two. They fought, almost incessantly, in a foreplay kind of way. But for both of them, this unwavering need to pick at the other, was really their unwillingness to admit they truly had feelings for the other. As soon as they did admit it and stop fighting themselves and each other, they discovered there wasn't another person they wanted. Of course, they were their only obstacle. Their jobs, Alex's family and Eli's ex did a fabulous job of getting in the way of their HEA. But when they finally decided nothing else was more important than the other, the HEA came pretty quickly.

I don't know what to say about PLAYING WITH FIRE that will do it justice. Kate Meader made me a believer in mayor Eli Cooper when I thought it would be a cold day in hell before I could ever get behind that pompous ass. But rooted for him I did in this very entertaining, very hot entry into the Hot in Chicago series.

[kimbacaffeinate]

Coffee Dates with Playing with Fire

• First date: Alex and Eli Cooper the town Mayor clashed in book one with wicked banter and one-line zingers. I was anxious to see their relationship unfold. To be honest I was also a little nervous as I was not a complete fan of Eli. However, the novella Melting Point showed another side of Eli that made my heart soften. Our first date has Alex saving the mayor's life and oh, how the sparks fly. Zing. Crackle, Bam! I slipped right into this date and loved how realistic Meader made Alex. She is outspoken, passionate and acts like a tomboy but underneath that exterior lies a passionate woman looking for a man her equal.


• Second date: Alex’s hair is uncontrollable, she has a body like Marilyn Monroe and I want to be her bestie. I loved her attitude and she needs it working at the firehouse and dealing with the boys. She and Eli enter an arrangement to help his campaign. I love the arrangement trope, as it never really goes like they expected. The rest of the Dempsey clan is outraged when they see Alex and Eli stepping out on the town and I loved all the tension. Meader begins to peel back Eli’s layers and exposes his dominate side. She did a wonderful job of providing the back story to the man he is today. As things begin to heat up between them neither is willing to admit this is anything but physical attraction. There is a subtle dominate/submissive theme in Playing with Fire and I loved the realistic, heated approach Meader took. Fans of Jennifer Dawson will enjoy Meader’s style.


• Third date: Secrets, political maneuvers and character growth provided a few bumps on our last date.  Eli opens his mouth and inserts his foot a lot but we witness tremendous growth from him. I found myself rooting for Eli and Alex.  At this point I could not set the story down. Meader weaves in the other Dempsey siblings, some town politics and plenty of humor to keep the reader engaged. Plenty of swoons and heartwarming deets curled my toes and made this late date positively delightful.

Copy provided by publisher This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer