Fireworks (True North Book 6) by Sarina Bowen Series: True North #6
Published by Tuxbury Publishing LLC on November 13, 2018
Pages: 343
Format: ARC
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
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Skye Copeland is on paid leave from her broadcasting job after accidentally drawing a pecker on the traffic map.
Let that sink in. Like it’s her fault the traffic pattern that day created a perfect schlong?
Skye isn’t laughing. She needs this job. And that’s the only reason she’s agreed to chase down a story in her least favorite place—that hell on earth known as Vermont.
A quick trip. In and out. Much like - never mind. Skye can sneak into the town that once tried to break her, get the story and get back into the good graces of her producer. Easy peasy.
Except things go sideways even as she sets foot over the county line. Her step-sister is on the run from a violent drug dealer. And the cop on the case is none other than Benito Rossi, the man who broke her teenage heart.
His dark brown eyes still tear her apart. And even as she steels herself to finally tell him off after twelve years, the old fireworks are still there.
Things are about to go boom.
I am a big fan of the True North series. I can’t get enough of the cozy Vermont town and the hard working, fun characters that live there. Fireworks is a second chance romance that has all the makings of a great addition to the series.
Skye is my favorite part of the story. I related to her vulnerability and how she underestimates her worth. She is so loving and giving that I found myself wanting to fight all her battles. Benito is a hot cop and her ultimate dragon slayer. He is also Skye’s first love and breaker of teenage hearts. Reunited after 12 years apart, it’s time to heal old wounds and either stoke those old flames or extinguish them forever.
There are quite a few aspects to keep you interested in this story in addition to the reunion. You have Benito’s major drug bust in the works, Skye’s creepy stepfather to contend with, the mystery of what went down around the time Skye left, and Skye’s job problems.
It’s the story’s execution left me feeling lukewarm. It is told in alternating chapters from Skye’s and Benito’s perspectives—a pretty standard device in modern romances. There are also chapters that flash back to 12 years ago and are told in the third person so you know what multiple people are thinking. It felt jarring to me. I had a couple issues with the plot as well. Skye is super quick to start a romantic relationship with Benito before they’ve fully aired their issues. It isn’t even until the end of the book that she gets a semi decent explanation for his past behavior. I really liked Benito’s protective nature, and they make a fine couple. I just didn’t feel fully invested in their relationship for some reason. I also didn’t care for Skye’s flighty, selfish stepsister. Raye is just plain annoying, and Skye’s devotion to her makes Skye seem like a doormat.
This quick read is entertaining, but not my favorite in the series.
Recommended for fans of:
Second chance romance
Hot cops
News reporters
Trailer park drama
Sephora
** I received an early copy to voluntarily read. This does not affect my opinion or content of this review. **
About Sarina Bowen
Sarina Bowen is the award-winning author of more than thirty contemporary novels. She has hit the USA Today bestseller’s list nineteen times and counting. Formerly a derivatives trader on Wall Street, Sarina holds a BA in economics from Yale University.
Sarina is a New Englander whose Vermont ancestors cut timber and farmed the north country since the 1760s. Sarina is grateful for the invention of indoor plumbing and wi-fi during the intervening 250 years. She lives with her family on a few wooded acres in New Hampshire.
Sarina’s books are published in over a dozen languages on five continents.
I really liked this one, but I had the opposite feeling. Sky actually drove me a little nutty with the contradiction I felt in her character.
Great review!
I love the book world and hearing about different opinions! 🙂
I didn’t like Raye either, she was self-absorbed, selfish and not very smart :-/ I loved Skye and Ben and didn’t mind the flashbacks. Well until they had sex for the first time – I didn’t know Sarina could be such a c*** blocker! Blue ovaries.
I kinda get why the many flashbacks annoyed you. Great review, Angela!
Blue ovaries! 😂
😂