RECKLESS

RECKLESS                                                         KIMBERLY KINCAID

SOMEONE’S BOUND TO GET BURNED…

Zoe Westin may be a fire captain’s daughter, but feeding the people in her hometown of Fairview is her number one priority. Running a soup kitchen is also the perfect way to prove to her dad that helping people doesn’t always mean risking life and limb. But when she's saddled with a gorgeous firefighter doing community service after yet another daredevil stunt, the kitchen has never been so hot.

Alex Donovan thrives on adrenaline, and stirring a pot of soup doesn’t exactly qualify. He’s not an expert at following the rules either, not even when they come from the stubborn, sexy daughter of the man who's not only his boss, but his mentor. Determined to show Zoe that not every risk ends in catastrophe, Alex challenges her both in the kitchen and out. One reckless step leads to another, but will falling for each other be a risk worth taking, or will it just get them burned? 
MY REVIEW:

     Zoe Westin and Alex Donovan had history.  Only Alex has always thought of her as a little girl or as his captain’s daughter.  On was it only in that way?

     Five years later and now Alex has been at Station Eight for the last eight years.  Where Zoe’s father is captain.  So they have seen each other at functions.  The last one being her graduation picnic before college.  The last anyone heard she was off working under a famous chef when she finished culinary school.

     Alex on the other hand (Teflon as the guys call him) because he’s slick enough to sell a cape to Superman.  No matter what trouble it always just slides right off of him.  He felt that life was full of too many should haves and maybes, which did not appeal to him.  If he wanted it he did it without a pause.  He would deal with the fallout later.  He could handle it no matter how big, how bad, or how dangerous.

     This time though he went against department policy endangering not only himself but his partner too.  So one month no pay and 4 weeks community service.  He has no idea though that his boss for the next 4 weeks is the all grown up and shapely Zoe Westin, the captain’s daughter.

     Zoe on the other hand came home from college and started a program for those in the community that really needed it.  She is the director of Hope House’s Soup Kitchen-feeding people and making a difference, one meal at a time.  The thing is she is seriously under staffed.  They could make a difference with good, steady, reliable help.  Failure is not an option.  It is the only truth she had left.

     Now she finds out they are sending her another community service worker to babysit.  Each one more trouble than they're worth.  It was more energy than she had most days to train them to only not have them really help or by the time they get it they're gone not to be seen again.  This one on the other hand it appears, upon stumbling on him, is different.  She knows him in fact she embarrassed herself five years ago in front of him.

     Of course when they start to talk he has no clue who she is.  Then he insults her program saying he just wants to put in his time and get out.  Then when he ask about her boss she says who she is and that she’s the boss.  He appears shocked.  She says she will release him to work someplace else he says no that he will work it out there.  Then she ask why he was sent there.  She gives her harsh opinion on his actions and he cold shoulders her.  But she’s better at the “Ice Princess” gig.  Alex in some ways is still pissed in others he admires what she does on a daily basis.  Yet, even more so he found himself lusting over her before he knew who she was.

     Zoe just can’t figure out how anyone from Station Eight ended up having to do volunteer hours with her soup kitchen even mandatory ones.  Especially when she and her father are barely speaking since her parents’ divorce.  Not to mention he knows how she hates his job and all that goes with it.

     See how two people who have so much to love and yet so much more to fear meet in the middle.  Can they see past what has grounded them to their chosen professions?  Or can they see what made them important were just substitutes for things missing?

     I really enjoyed the risk this author has her characters taking emotionally and physically.  It keeps you on your toes throughout the read.  The community closeness had that family feel.  I give this 5 stars.  Provided by netgalley.com.  Follow us at:  www.1rad-readerreviews.com.