Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Devastated by Fire
SERIES: Firehouse 13
AUTHOR: Lizzie James
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 93 Pages
RELEASE DATE: October 8, 2022
BLURB:
Devastated by Fire is book 7 of Firehouse 13, a 12 part series releasing throughout 2022, but it can be read as a standalone.
Liam
Womanizer. Player. Manwhore.
They’re all titles I’ve leaned into over the last few years.
But, I’m finally settled, working as a volunteer firefighter alongside my best friend, and being a part time EMT; I have it all. At least on paper.
The thing nobody knows, is that I’m a liar. A fraud. A fake.
Hiding my sexuality behind a smokescreen has become second nature, and it’s not good. Especially when feelings start creeping up for someone they shouldn’t be.
Greg
Serving as a police officer in the local Sheriff’s office is exactly where i’m meant to be. I’m the gay police officer, and I’m comfortable enough in myself not to be ashamed of it.
Sparks fly when the local firefighter crosses my path, but with his reputation, it’s clear to see he’s not ready for more.
Friends by day, lovers by night, but how long can it stay that way? Am I enough for him to start a life together with, or am I just a fun phase that he will soon get tired of?
REVIEW:
Liam is a firefighter and a lifelong womanizer. Then, one day he met Gregg, and everything felt right. However, Liam battles with reconciling the past with the present. Nevertheless, Gregg is a patient man who believes Liam is worth the wait.
This story is a shortie and a goodie – a cop and a firefighter/EMT; what a delicious combination.
The tale is told in the first person – mainly from the viewpoints of Liam and Gregg, with an odd chapter thrown in from Liam’s best friend, Aiden. For the majority, world-building is limited to home and work, which is appropriate for the length of the story. It also stays focused on the job at hand, which can be challenging to achieve in any work of fiction, so kudos to the author there.
The relationship that Liam and Gregg have is lovely and beautifully written. Liam is a man who has heard horror stories about coming out, and given that Gregg is his only male relationship, Liam is understandably anxious. A hefty percentage of the story is dedicated to how, when, and who he should come out to and the resulting reactions. The emotions of this process leapt off the page and were an emotional delight to read.
As for their intimate interactions, there are explicit sexual scenes, but for the majority, they fade out, which I found refreshing. Too many stories let sex take over instead of letting the story shine. This story had a superb balance between the two allowing the story to do its thing.
Of course, given the title and the first responder backdrop of the story, I was given a superb view of life within the fire and police station. And yes, there are high-octane times too.
Devastated by Fire is a snippet of a few months in the life of Liam and Gregg, and apart from the blurb being more of a prologue and the story finishing a touch abruptly, I think it’s as close as it gets to being perfectly balanced. It contains a range of scenes from snuggling, tears, a variety of anxious times, and the heart in mouth – all in good proportions.
Lizzie James is a best-selling author. However, this is the first time I’ve read one of her books. I’m sure it won’t be the last. Her style and content are right up my street.
RATING: 
BUY LINK: