Book two of this series is definitely more angst filled, in my opinion. Lots of hate-lust that grows into something more but it is quite a ride to get there.

Fitz is the firefighter chief who has this weird combination of being part of the community and also holding most people at arms length. His friendships with his lifelong friends and his relationship with his sister and nephew are so complex and there is so much love, but dang if love is not hard for this man.

Antoine is the hot shot from San Fran who has been hired to update the town. Fans of the Irons and Works spinoff trilogy Breaking the Rules will recognize him as the twin brother of Marcel. And oh my goodness I lvoe seeing this side of the man who just wants a home and accidentally finds it.

I didn’t realize how much it actually hurts me to read the kind of hate-lust romances that turn into something sweet, but this one was harder for me to get through. Fitz really upset me with how he treated Antoine and while the sweetness finally made it. It’s a journey to get there.

Still loved this book, still rate it highly, this one just wasn’t as low angst as the first and it kind of threw me a bit. But their HEA is well worth waiting for.