Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Steamy Dreamy Hearts
SERIES: Hearts on Fire
AUTHOR: Skylar M. Cates
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 176 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 29, 2025
BLURB:
Captain Smack
I’ve too many responsibilities for my firehouse, young daughter, and ailing mother. I can’t indulge in some inappropriate crush. Off-limits. Even if Caleb won’t leave my thoughts.
I didn’t think I’d survive losing my husband.
Or notice another man, ever again.
But I notice him.
Caleb
Despite the accident that left me disfigured, I love my job, especially since I transferred to another firehouse. If only my ex would leave me alone and others wouldn’t pity my scarred face, my life would improve.
And, oh yeah. I need to stop pining after my boss.
I might be stalking him…Just a little?
Captain Sean Smack is a total fox. But I have to stop.
Together
They face a wildfire and each other.
Steamy Dreamy Hearts features firefighters, forced proximity, age gap, opposites attract, forbidden workplace romance, a single dad, and mental health representation. Although part of the Hearts on Fire series, it can stand solo.
REVIEW:
I really enjoyed the previous book in this series, Nerdy Dirty Valentine, and am really glad I chose this book.
Caleb is the sweet, chili burning, new member of the firestation. He was horribly disfigured as the result of a fire accident at his old station. His loser of a boyfriend, who also worked at his previous station, couldn’t handle his pretty face being ruined when it happened but now can’t understand that they are over and shows up at Phin and James wedding. But Caleb has had it with Tanner and is finally just done! Plus he can’t seem to keep his eyes of his station’s captain. Captain Sean Smack has been grieving his husband that died and trying to care for and raise their little girl Erin plus watch out for his aging mother. But the sweet Caleb, who’s been though so much in his young life already, keeps catching his eye. When the two wind up going as a team to help out with the raging wildfire in California more that the fires are heating up and this inferno can’t be contained any longer!
How could anyone resist a hero like Caleb that wound up permanently disfigured from a fire gone wrong. His sunny, upbeat personality, especially after such a horrendous accident and long recovery, would have driven most people in his situation away from firefighting and hiding away. But that’s simply not Caleb. Yes, he let his former boyfriend walk all over him after abandoning him in his greatest time of need. But, with the help and encouragement of his best friend Phin, he grew strong enough to say enough is enough. And then he waited until Sean finally let down his guard and let him in. And they were so good for each other. Caleb understood that Sean’s loss of his husband Dan was traumatic. And that his little daughter Erin came first. But I was really pissed at Sean for a bit. Thankfully Phin helped pull his head out of his backside. Because what he did to Caleb wasn’t right and he got off pretty darn easy in my opinion. I would have required a lot more groveling and romancing after that.
I don’t know how many more books will be coming in this series but I am really enjoying these two books and hope for more in this universe.
RATING: 
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