Title: Fire Inside
Series: N/A
Author: Dawn Douglas
Narrator: Randy Fuller
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 3 hours and 12 minutes
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (02-23-2015)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
Blurb: After ten years as an active duty Marine, Captain Eric Ramos is rejoining civilian life. His first job is chauffeuring, assisting, and generally keeping track of NBA young gun Tyler Haley. Tyler’s had a rough few months, and his team owner is convinced he needs some hand-holding if he’s going to keep delivering wins for the St. Louis Fire Foxes.
Instead of the arrogant, over-privileged athlete Eric expected, Tyler is a big, blond, lonely twenty-three-year-old who needs more than just an employee to keep him in line. While taking care of Tyler, Eric changes from employee to friend, to something more. And when Eric realizes that something is burning the kid up from the inside out, he’s determined to find a way to help him before Tyler’s carefully constructed façade turns to ash.
Product Link(s): http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5061
Reviewer: Tams
Review: Ebook review June 2014
Short, Sexy and Steamy! My three favorite colors!!
Retired Marine Eric Ramos is taking on civilian life as the personal assistant/bodyguard for a Professional Basketball player that hasn’t had the best of luck with his staff. After fighting for our country as a marine, suffering from PTSD and dealing with ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ in the military… Eric is pretty sure he can handle one spoiled basketball player. Boy does he have his work cut out for him.
From the first meeting Eric is mesmerized with the tall, lithe basketball player with white blonde curly hair and sad eyes. Tyler Haley is very much like a child. Perhaps growing up in the system robbed him of something that he is now starving for, a life unlived.
Eric quickly learns how Tyler works, his little ticks and what sends him over the edge. Tyler suffers from panic attacks and he is oddly very shy and withdrawn. Over the first few weeks that Eric and Tyler work in close quarters, Tyler stars to let down his guard and get more comfortable with Ram (what Tyler calls Eric).
Little by little Eric begins to peel back the layers that Tyler hides under and they get under one another’s skin. But just when Eric thinks that he’s figured out how to care for Tyler and keep him safe and happy, the damn bursts. The one promise Eric made to himself, that he wouldn’t fall for his client, is about to become a very easy promise to break.
I loved everything about this little story! Eric is this large and in charge semper fi ex-marine that storms into Tyler’s life and makes Tyler feel something he never thought he could feel, safe and comfortable. Tyler is a conundrum. Very strong and confident on the court but so childlike and insecure at heart.
When you learn Tyler’s story, what he went through growing up, it will break your heart. And for him to have someone there to love and protect him in that most vulnerable moment when he finally tells someone the truth, feels comfortable enough with someone to tell them the truth, it’s a thing of beauty.
Must read for fans of the genre. If you love a short story that has a lot of charisma and charm, along with passion and slow burning love, you will love this book!
Audiobook review March 2016
The story was narrated by Randy Fuller and while I thought he fully captured Ramos with the tone he chose for him, his voice is very mature so the tone for Tyler sounded too old for him.
This is one of the audio books that wasn’t quite as good for me as the written version. It was an enjoyable listen, the tones, inflections and nuances were all there and in the appropriate fashion, and I just couldn’t get used to the tone for Tyler.
I’d still say you would probably enjoy listening, definitely would enjoy reading.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *