Painting with Fire

A slow burn, sweet romance

This is the first book in a series called “Survivors Find Love”—so that said trigger warning for child sexual abuse (pre-story)—and each book features at least one character overcoming trauma from their past. In this story, wildfire specialist Charlie accompanies his best friend and co-worker, Jessie, home for her mother’s funeral. To say Jessie’s family is dysfunctional is an understatement, but she goes to support and reconnect with her nephew Bastian. Bastian is a highly successful but reclusive artist designing and painting collectible dolls. When Jessie and Charlie show up on his doorstep, he’s pushed to be more social, pushed out of his comfort zone… and Charlie is clearly smitten.  While Bastian has faced a lot of the trauma from sexual abuse in his childhood, this novel is a settling in to a new normal with a sweet romance. There’s no magical healing, but there is love and acceptance. If you enjoy it, Charlie, Bastian, and Jessie make important appearances in the rest of the series to date: An Arresting Ride and Range of Emotion.