Burning Ambition - Amy Knupp
Harlequin Superromance
Harlequin, 2011
ISBN: 9780373717026
N.B. This book is a North American release
My rating
From the back cover:
"Captain Joe Mendoza has wanted to be fire chief since he was four years old. And now he's one step away from making assistant chief. But that's proving to be some big step now that the chief's daughter has joined his crew. He's promised he'll keep her safe—and promised himself to keep things strictly business.
Faith Peligni has battled her way back from an on-the-job injury in San Antonio, and she's stronger than ever. Even if as the first female firefighter on the San Amaro Island crew—and the chief's daughter—she's expecting some heat. But with the impossibly distracting Joe Mendoza as her captain, who knew it could get this hot?"
I picked this book up when I was in NYC recently, I did so for two reasons; the first is that I used to enjoy reading books from the Mills and Boon Superromance line, which is no longer available in the UK (some of the Harlequin Superromance titles may be released under the Mills and Boon Cherish line but I'm not sure so don't trust me on that!). The second reason is the cover! Who could resist it, it has a gorgeous firefighter holding tiny, tiny kittens! It's so cheesy it's good! Those two things aside, this was a really enjoyable read.
The heroine Faith has just started her new job as a firefighter in her home town's Fire Department, she has two things against her. First of all she is the daughter of the current and well respected Fire Chief and everyone expects her to get an easy ride. Secondly she is female, and the first female ever in the department. The hero Joe has been asked to look out for Faith by her father. Joe is on the verge of being promoted, which will bring him one step closer to his life long dream of becoming Fire Chief. In his attempts to look out for Faith he discovers that she is determined to prove herself and doesn't need or want Joe's help. Both of them form a bond through their love of their careers and with helping each other with their own current personal/family troubles. As their feelings for one another turn to love, each is forced to choose between them or their careers as it seems they can't have both.
This was a really enjoyable and interesting book. I think the issues of sexism, and females in a male orientated career was handled and written really well. It is clear that the author has done plenty of research into this, which really helps to make everything believable. As a result of this Amy Knupp has also written a fantastic female character who is brimming with confidence in her abilities and determined to prove it. What I particularly liked about the character of Faith is that she wasn't portrayed in any stereotypical way, it would have been easy to write the female character as a bit of a tomboy since she is in a 'mans' career, but this is not the case, instead she is a normal girl. I also liked the male character of Joe, having him a little older that usual was a nice element, he was mature, caring and encouraging (not to mention good with kittens, yes they make an appearance, swoon!!)
I liked the balance of two normal people trying to juggle their professional and personal lives as well as realising their growing feelings for one another.
This is a very heart warming romance, with the right amount of sizzle, fantastic characters and issues that we can all relate to. I definitely recommend it.
Xx
No comments:
Post a Comment