Brave the Heat (McGuire Brothers, #1)

by Sara Humphreys

[EBookObsessed]

In her first contemporary story, Sara Humphreys proves that she doesn’t need to hide behind the gimmick of vampire teeth and magic to write a good story. Brave the Heat is a sweet romance which focuses on getting past the fears of the past so that you can grab hold of the future that you want.

The first book in the McGuire’s Brothers series focuses on the eldest brother, Gavin. Always the protector, a childhood trauma lead Gavin to his career as a firefighter. Gavin has been promoted to Fire Chief of their local town of Old Brookfield. There have been some suspicious fires around town and it is looks like they have a budding arsonist running around. Gavin isn’t about to let any of his men get hurt and he is determined to find this person and make them pay before someone gets hurt.

The heat of the fires might be nothing compared to the burn in Gavin when Jordan McKenna comes back to town. Jordan was Gavin’s high school sweetheart and the woman who walked away with his heart. That was fifteen years ago, not that he hasn’t felt the pain every day of those years. Gavin doesn’t want to risk his heart all over again, but having Jordan so close, and with her two adorable little girls in tow, does he even have a chance?

Jordan left town because of her drunk and abusive father. She wanted to live her dream in New York City. A dream she didn’t think Gavin shared or even supported. A dream which bubble burst a long time ago. She ended up married to a man who was a wealthier, slicker version of the abusive, controlling, and drunk father she ran from. She has returned to Old Brookfield after an ugly divorce to at last confront her dying father and to provide her young daughters with a more stable a home life than she had.

But her biggest regret is that she, even for a moment, thought Gavin was anything like her father. She ran away and left behind someone who truly loved her but is it too late to try again? It is not just Jordan’s heart she would be risking this time. She is trying to protect her daughters too. Can she risk their little hearts if Jordan and Gavin can’t get past their own painful past.

THOUGHTS:
I enjoyed this group of characters presented in this new series. We even get a quick glimpse of the other hot, sweet brothers and potential storylines for the next novels.

At first I had an issue with what I saw as a B.S. break up which had torn these two lovers and best friends apart fifteen years earlier. Then I really started thinking about it. At 18, most of us aren’t mature enough to talk things out and a stupid argument can mean the end of the world. Most 18 year old’s don’t have enough life experience to realize the mistakes they are making or their own misjudgments. So, yeah, I can see the 18-year-old Jordan and Gavin having a misunderstanding and not discussing their actual feelings or trying to contact each other after Jordan leaves. They would be holding on to hurt feelings and pride long after their breakup and never thinking the other also wanted to start again.

Sadly, 15 years later and their communication skills are not much better. There are some crossed signals of who wants to move forward and who wants to put on the brakes. They eventually figure it out and both pull up their big girl panties and talk out their desire for a second chance.

And you also can’t lose with any story containing adorable kids or a smart dog. :)

Received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.