Hot to the Touch

I knew this book was going to be fill with emotion. But I didn’t know it would hit me as hard as it did. I full on ugly cried like it was my job. And I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way. This series as a whole has rung me dry in the best way possible. But Sam and Cass burrowed deeper into my heart than a couple has in a good long time. Trying to work together, despite their differences and personal animosity ( especially on Cassandra’s part). Hiding their grief as they navigate Maya and Spence through their own sorrow and towards a new life. Oh, and shooting off flames and smoke while they do so. The chemistry is outstanding, as is the dialogue. From the snark to the honesty, every interaction was so well written and had layers of things said but also unsaid. I adored it all! And all the wonderful secondary characters that I’ve loved from other books were right there. That’s the icing on the cupcake. I’ll miss these Chicago Rookies, but I’m excited to see who will be born from the pen of Kate Meader in the future. 5 stars.

Opening this book right before work wasn’t my smartest move. It’s one of those riveting, emotional stories that makes you resent having to adult. I greatly resented not being able to devour it in one sitting. Like most great enemies-to-lovers stories, the snark and banter started immediately. Cassie and Sam, connected through marriage of her sister to his brother, have always had a contentious relationship. The two rarely see eye-to-eye. Unsurprising since they’re complete opposites. Cassie’s sensible and cautious while Sam is a fun-loving himbo. Circumstances force them together and each sees a different side of the other. Sam has more depth than Cassie or anyone else gives him credit for. Sam realizes there’s a reason Cassie has always been the rigid, responsible sister. The longer they’re together, the less their differences matter and the more they’re drawn to each other. The heated exchanges turn into an entirely different type of heat. The kind that Kate Meader excels at writing. I truly enjoyed Cassie & Sam’s journey finding each other and for one of them, the family they’d always yearned for, and the other, something they never realized they wanted. I hate that this is the final Hot in Chicago Rookies book, but what a way to wrap up series! Hot to the Touch is another steamy, often funny, and extremely emotional read I highly recommend. For a more enjoyable experience, I suggest reading books one and two in the series first.

First let me say, that I am sad that this is the last in the Hot in Chicago series. If you haven’t read the prior books in the series, you can still read this as a standalone. But you should read them, as they are all great reads. This book has it all, a hot firefighter, an annoyed sister in-law, tragedy, laughs, and a lot of steam. Sam Killian and Cassandra Ferguson are in laws (his brother married her sister), and they are always sniping at each other. When a tragedy occurs, they have to get past their differences to take care of their niece and nephew. Make sure to have some tissues handy, as my “allergies” acted up a few times while reading this book. Overall, great read and great way to end the series. I received an ARC of this book from the author for my honest review.

I love enemies to lovers tropes and this one was fantastic. I devoured it! I will warn you though that this book is emotional, it deals with death and survivor’s quilt after a tragedy that brings Sam and Cass together. Ms Meader did a fantastic job with her characters as they navigated their loss, while becoming co-parents with someone they didn’t get along with. And then watching these characters put the children first and come together was such a heartwarming experience. I loved Sam and Cass’s journey! Sam Killian, took a while to finally settle and figure out his place, but now he knows who he’s meant to be and that is a firefighter, someone who makes a difference. He is a rookie firefighter who just earned a spot on the Rescue Squad at Engine 6 in his hometown of Chicago. But his first day on the job the call to an accident changes his life forever. When he finds his brother and sister-in-law in a fatal car cash and he could do nothing to save them. Cassandra Ferguson has always had a problem with her sister’s brother-in-law Sam. So when he shows up in New York she doesn’t know why he is there. Until he tells her that her sister and his brother were killed in a car accident. Cass knows that her sister asked her to be the guardian for her niece and nephew but at the will she finds out that she will be sharing that responsibility with the bane of her existence, Sam. These two have so much to work through as they struggle with survivors guilt and grief. But as they focus on the children and their issues it cements a bond that was never there before. Soon the close proximity to each other as well as the sizzling chemistry between them helps bring them closer still. But will Cass ever give Sam a real shot with his reputation? I loved this story so much! The gratitude that something beautiful was borne from all the pain knows no bounds. I received an early copy and this is my honest review!