After the Storm - Amy Knupp (HS #1813 - Nov 2012)

Series: Texas Firefighters (Book 6) 

With a hurricane heading for the Texas coast, Nadia Hamlin needs to evacuate. Now. Before she can leave, however, there's one more thing she has to do -- despite the risk. But that delay lands her trapped in her car in the middle of the storm. Fortunately, firefighter Penn Griffin arrives. Unfortunately, her good-looking rescuer suffers a career-ending injury in the process.

The only way Nadia can think to make amends is to help Penn get back on his feet. Even if he doesn't want anything to do with her, she won't give up. Her determination has an unexpected impact. Because soon he can't seem to get enough of her. 

Very good book.  When Penn ended up injured after trying to rescue Nadia it ended his career as a firefighter.  As this is all he ever wanted to do he is trying to figure out what he wants to do with the rest of his life while he recovers.  He had been attracted to Nadia for several months but after two disastrous dates caused by crises at work he gave up on her.  He felt that it was important to have some balance in life and she just didn't get it.  When he was recovering from his injury Nadia kept coming around trying to help.  He is angry about the loss of his career and always seems to take it out on her.  He knows he shouldn't and that it isn't really her fault but he can't help himself.  He also can't stop the attraction that is still there.  He finds himself seeking out her company and enjoying it, but also still has bursts of anger that he only shows to her.  I liked the way that Penn would seek her out even though he kept trying to fight it.  I also liked seeing his interaction with his sister.  I also really liked the way that his mom came to visit and how she got to see what his life at been like as a firefighter.  It went a long way to mending the rift between them.  When he went back home to visit it gave him a chance to admit to himself that he was scared of the future without firefighting and actually think about his relationship with Nadia.  Nadia was definitely a workaholic with the way she was doing so much with the hotel.  She found that crises always seemed to interrupt her social things so she gave up on them and just worked.  She felt horribly guilty that Penn had been injured while rescuing her and was determined to help him.  She refused to let his anger and rudeness drive her away for long and kept going back.  I liked the way that she was there for him when he needed to talk and the way that she would practically force him into doing  things.  She also still felt a strong attraction to him but because of his injuries they kept getting frustrated.  I liked the way that she would try to get him thinking about his future.  When they visited the site of a fire she had a marvelous idea but he was still resisting any talk of what he would do once he recovered.  When her mom told Nadia that she was thinking about selling the hotel Nadia finally understood how Penn was feeling, which gave her a bit more empathy when dealing with him.  I loved the ending and the way that Penn was finally ready to move on.

Island Haven - Amy Knupp (HS #1789 - July 2012)

Series: Texas Firefighters (Book 5) 

Mercedes Stone has no time for men. Between caring for her sick grandmother, running her own business and volunteering at her family's women's shelter she barely has time for herself. So dating a man as complicated as Scott Pataki is definitely out of the question.

That doesn't mean she'll turn her back on Scott's pregnant teenage sister. Even if helping her does put Mercedes dangerously close to the temptation that is Scott. It's not just the killer abs and dimples that make him so irresistible. It's the man she sees when his guard is down. If only she could help him realize the importance of family. And remind herself that his family doesn't include her. 

Good book.  Mercedes is helping Scott's teenage half sister.  Gemma needs a place to stay, but Scott has already said no once.  When Mercedes confronts him, he is somewhat distracted by an attraction to her and ends up letting Gemma stay.  As Scott will only be there six more weeks, he figures he can handle it.  Over the next several weeks they end up spending some time together and the attraction grows.  At the beginning of the book Scott is really obnoxious.  He is rude and antisocial.  As the book goes on we find out that he has anger issues that have been caused by his father's infidelity and its effects on the family.  These issues have also caused his extreme negativity, to the point that it has affected his attitudes as an EMT.  He is planning to leave and take a job on a cruise ship, leaving everything behind.  As Mercedes finds these things out, she also sees that Scott is actually a very caring man who feels things deeply.  He doesn't know how to deal with the feelings and this is what causes most of his troubles.  Mercedes has her own set of issues, mainly being an overwhelming sense of responsibility.  She takes care of everyone else rather than dealing with her own feelings.  I liked the way that he finally hit the bottom and realized that it was his choices that caused the way his life had been going.  I thought that his final solution was just right for the direction his life should go.