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cherryblossomreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Sooo that happened 😍
Okay, jeg er... Wauw. Da den startede, var jeg helt okay med, at det her var en fluffy, blød fortælling om at hele efter traumer. MEN så vendte det hele og der blev faktisk gravet i de traumer, og den blev mørkere og mere alvorlig og jeg elsker det.
Læs TW, hvis du har nogle emner, du er sårbar overfor.
Okay, jeg er... Wauw. Da den startede, var jeg helt okay med, at det her var en fluffy, blød fortælling om at hele efter traumer. MEN så vendte det hele og der blev faktisk gravet i de traumer, og den blev mørkere og mere alvorlig og jeg elsker det.
Læs TW, hvis du har nogle emner, du er sårbar overfor.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child death, Death, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
jennp28's review against another edition
dark
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is a sweet and spicy romance wrapped in a lot of trauma. Tread lightly if abusive relationships or grief are triggers for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Infidelity
xanthe87's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Up in Flames is a really wonderful story that brings to light men's mental health and the mental/emotional abuse that they can also experience in a relationship.
It starts with a mixed bag as Remy is left at the alter by his now ex and Sanden is the one left to tell him. Never mind that he doesn't really like Eman anyway, and has crushed on Remy for a few years, he will take the hit and do everything he can to make sure Remy is ok, inclusing join him on his honeymoon.
My heart constantly went out to Remy with everything he has to go through in this story to reach his HEA. Sanden does all he can to support him but is also aware that Remy has to come through this being able to trust and be happy for himself before they can have a fulfilled and deep relationship. That proves hard for both men when what they offer each other is that sense of care, support and friendship that they're in need of, especially when it comes to the end of theirs shifts as firefighter/EMT. Sanden isn't without his own trauma in his past either but is far more reluctant to deal with things.
I think the way that Eden and Saxon have written both characters and the journey they go on, both individually and together, is emotive and gives you something to think about. I hope that we hear more from these men in the future and it's great to have cameos from others met in the authors' previous series. A highly recommended, surprisingly non hockey book from these two authors.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
It starts with a mixed bag as Remy is left at the alter by his now ex and Sanden is the one left to tell him. Never mind that he doesn't really like Eman anyway, and has crushed on Remy for a few years, he will take the hit and do everything he can to make sure Remy is ok, inclusing join him on his honeymoon.
My heart constantly went out to Remy with everything he has to go through in this story to reach his HEA. Sanden does all he can to support him but is also aware that Remy has to come through this being able to trust and be happy for himself before they can have a fulfilled and deep relationship. That proves hard for both men when what they offer each other is that sense of care, support and friendship that they're in need of, especially when it comes to the end of theirs shifts as firefighter/EMT. Sanden isn't without his own trauma in his past either but is far more reluctant to deal with things.
I think the way that Eden and Saxon have written both characters and the journey they go on, both individually and together, is emotive and gives you something to think about. I hope that we hear more from these men in the future and it's great to have cameos from others met in the authors' previous series. A highly recommended, surprisingly non hockey book from these two authors.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
so_many_books's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Saxon James and Eden Finley is an author duo we romance readers know well already. However, with Up in Flames, they stepped out of their usual lighthearted and rom-com storytelling.
Up in Flames is a book that deals with very much more difficult and painful topics than what we are used to from this iconic duo. In this book, there is a big focus on dealing with and healing from past trauma. Do I think it was done perfectly? No. But it did deal with the topics with the required care and honesty.
TW: past death of a sister (child), domestic and emotional abuse, car accidents, house fire
Remy and Sanden are not new characters if you've read Gabe and Aleks's story in Foolish Puckboy.
Remy is Eman's finance in that book, and Sanden watches from afar with concern in his eyes as his best friend, Eman, treats Remy poorly. This conflict is explained and depicted in this book.
Remy is left at the altar, and Sanden is the one who has to break the news. They throw a petty party and try to forget about Eman and what a not nice person he is. They even go to the honeymoon together. Of course, platonically at first. But then things change.
Let's first talk about Sanden. His long-time crush on Remy did a number on him when he needed to watch him cosy up with his friend. He sees the hurt in Remy, so he does not want to take advantage of the situation. However, they soon fall into lust and become each other's escape from problems. Which is not healthy. Sanden's own problems with his mental state chase him into Remy's arms for comfort.
And Remy is a victim of emotional abuse. Even if he needs a long time to realise the manipulation he was subjected to, he is too fast to fall into a relationship again.
While their care is genuine for each other, their early days seemed very unhealthy, and I was glad this was addressed in the book. Mental health is a very important topic, and I am always happy to see it explained in a book, especially in a romance book. I think we often overlook toxic behaviour when it comes to romance, and it was a very good point in my book that here it was addressed and dealt with.
A very important message of the story was that you can not care for someone and love them if you haven't cared for your own problems first.
While I think the book was a way more serious one than what I'm used to, the usual humour and spiciness was still present in the book. The characters were loveable as always, and I hope to see more of them and some of the side characters as well.
I think the spice was way too much for a story of this caliber, but that's probably just my taste. I can't imagine falling into bed as a coping mechanism, but here it was pretty much that. It kinda rubbed me the wrong way that the most important link between the MCs was this chemistry and little else.
Overall, it was a good thing to see this duo venture out into more serious waters with their storytelling, and I hope to see them develop as authors in this department!
Up in Flames is a book that deals with very much more difficult and painful topics than what we are used to from this iconic duo. In this book, there is a big focus on dealing with and healing from past trauma. Do I think it was done perfectly? No. But it did deal with the topics with the required care and honesty.
TW: past death of a sister (child), domestic and emotional abuse, car accidents, house fire
Remy and Sanden are not new characters if you've read Gabe and Aleks's story in Foolish Puckboy.
Remy is Eman's finance in that book, and Sanden watches from afar with concern in his eyes as his best friend, Eman, treats Remy poorly. This conflict is explained and depicted in this book.
Remy is left at the altar, and Sanden is the one who has to break the news. They throw a petty party and try to forget about Eman and what a not nice person he is. They even go to the honeymoon together. Of course, platonically at first. But then things change.
Let's first talk about Sanden. His long-time crush on Remy did a number on him when he needed to watch him cosy up with his friend. He sees the hurt in Remy, so he does not want to take advantage of the situation. However, they soon fall into lust and become each other's escape from problems. Which is not healthy. Sanden's own problems with his mental state chase him into Remy's arms for comfort.
And Remy is a victim of emotional abuse. Even if he needs a long time to realise the manipulation he was subjected to, he is too fast to fall into a relationship again.
While their care is genuine for each other, their early days seemed very unhealthy, and I was glad this was addressed in the book. Mental health is a very important topic, and I am always happy to see it explained in a book, especially in a romance book. I think we often overlook toxic behaviour when it comes to romance, and it was a very good point in my book that here it was addressed and dealt with.
A very important message of the story was that you can not care for someone and love them if you haven't cared for your own problems first.
While I think the book was a way more serious one than what I'm used to, the usual humour and spiciness was still present in the book. The characters were loveable as always, and I hope to see more of them and some of the side characters as well.
I think the spice was way too much for a story of this caliber, but that's probably just my taste. I can't imagine falling into bed as a coping mechanism, but here it was pretty much that. It kinda rubbed me the wrong way that the most important link between the MCs was this chemistry and little else.
Overall, it was a good thing to see this duo venture out into more serious waters with their storytelling, and I hope to see them develop as authors in this department!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Cursing
inkiereads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was amazing! I love Remy and Sanden, they’re both such great people dealing with very heavy things. Not just what they encounter on their jobs (EMT and fire fighter), but also in their personal lives. The balance between the heavy topics like emotional abuse in previous relationships, and the sweet moments of them falling for each other is so good. It never feels too heavy, but it is handled with the seriousness it requires. It’s emotional and sweet, and I just couldn’t put the book down! And I loved Gabe popping in now and then, I think it’s always great to see characters from previous books again!
I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book
I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Grief
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Fire/Fire injury