Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Through the Flames
SERIES: Carlisle Fire (Book 1)
AUTHOR: Andrew Grey
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 228 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 18, 2023
BLURB:
Kyle Wilson hasn’t had it easy. His insecurities and nasty home life made him lash out as a kid, and when he finally came out as gay, his family disowned him. Then, just when he’s pulled his life together and gotten his construction company running, he’s caught in a fire and forced to take costly time off.
When firefighter Hayden Walters rescues a man from a burning building, he’s just doing his job. He doesn’t expect it to turn his life upside-down, but the man is none other than Hayden’s high school bully.
He definitely doesn’t expect Kyle to come to the station to thank him in person.
With awkward apologies out of the way, Kyle and Hayden realize they have a lot in common. And when it turns out someone set the fire at Kyle’s construction site to target him, they find they can solve each other’s problems too: Hayden needs a place to stay while his apartment is renovated, and Kyle doesn’t want to be alone in case the firebug strikes again. Things between the two of them quickly heat up—but so does the arsonist’s agenda. Can they track down the would-be killer before it’s too late?
REVIEW:
This one took me by surprise but in a good way. I was so sure I knew where this was going and color me shocked on how it all came out!
Kyle Wilson life just keeps getting rocked. First his fear of his homophobic and demanding father had him lashing out in high school and he became the school bully! Then his parents disown him when he finally came out to his parents. But he has worked hard to change his ways and build his life up from nothing. He has a successful construction company and is proud of his work. He has bought a house and tries to never be that kid he was lashing out because of his insecurities and the home life he was thrown out from. When he wakes up in the hospital disoriented and suffering from major smoke inhalation he never would have imagined that the hunky fireman that literally saved his life was the boy he bullied so fiercely in school, Hayden Walters. Hayden has had to put up with his school bully’s brother at the fire station. The man is mouthy and obnoxious. When he winds up not only saving his fellow firefighter’s brother but discovering that they are estranged he’s angry and confused. But a mutual friend is bound to make sure that the two men see all sides of their past. When Kyle’s house is tampered with Hayden knows he has to do the right thing. But can he forgive and forget the boy to get to know the man?
It would take a truly special person to forgive the years of torture and anguish that Hayden endured under the bully Kyle was. But having Rachel open his eyes to what the true reasons for why Kyle lashed out was what he needed to start bridging the gap and mend feelings. Kyle was no longer that bully but a sweet yet insecure man. I loved that when Mitzi entered their lives she was the puzzle price that made their picture whole.
I did not see this story going the direction it turned. I was sure that Jason was somehow behind everything and it had to do with taking over his dad’s business. But I was truly shocked when things started changing rapidly. I really liked this ending much better and it gave you those warm, fuzzy feelings of hope.
I am eager to read more of this series.
RATING: 
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