I received an eARC of this book via NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

I devoured this one! There is no other way to explain it. All Fired Up by Dylan Newton is the second contemporary romance set in Wellsville and featuring the Matthews brothers. Imani Lewis is taking an extended summer vacation from her hectic life as a publicist at Cerulean Books. The extended hours and stress are catching up with her in the form of panic attacks and insomnia. Now her grandmother is having double knee replacement surgery, her best friend is expecting her first baby, and she’s been offered a big promotion. Imani needs a chance to decide what she really wants in life, and 12 weeks off helping Gigi recover is just what she needs. However, she’ll have to deal with the youngest Matthews brother, her wedding one-night stand and the man that just won’t leave her be.

I adored Imani. She has risen in the ranks as one of my favorite characters so far this year. She is a beautifully flawed character, easy to relate to and easy to root for. It was easy as an observer to see what was going on with Imani, pretty much from the get go. This woman is a workaholic, control freak, who cannot leave anything to chance. She craves order in her life and creates it every where she goes, either through organizing or multiple, color-coded to-do lists. The unpredictable nature of being home at her grandmother’s is just what she needs to release some of the pent up stress before her body tells her enough is enough.

Zander may just be my favorite Matthews brother (I will withhold final judgment until I’ve read Ryker’s story next year). He is the youngest of the three. With his live and let live attitude and Peter Pan complex (Imani’s description, not mine), he flits through life without any true commitments. That’s what he appears to be from the outside. However, he is nothing like the playboy everyone believes him to be. He is generous, empathetic, and has a heart of gold. This man would literally give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. It is easy to see why Imani would be attracted to him.

Overall, I loved All Fired Up. Zander’s pursuit of Imani is sweet as he approaches her with the intent of letting her take the lead, just what the woman who always wants control needs. These two balance each other out and make a believable couple. I absolutely loved Gigi and her foul-mouthed parrot Lancelot. If you enjoy romantic comedy, I highly recommend it.

Final Thought: All Fired Up by Dylan Newton is a laugh-out loud, heartfelt romance that teaches us that sometimes it’s ok to not be in control.