Review: Just this Once

JUST THIS ONCE by Lena Hendrix
Fiction, Romance, Steamy
3++***

Blurb: In a rugged small town on the coast of Michigan where heartbreak lingers but love always finds a way, sparks fly between a fireman and the daughter of the fire chief after an unforgettable one night stand.

THOUGHTS: Emily is a junior high school teacher who, after a nasty breakup, moves from Virginia to the small town in Michigan where her mother and stepfather live. She’s a substitute hoping for a permanent position. She lives in a tiny apartment and follows the rules–most of the time. But one night, she throws all to the wind. After a dance with a handsome stranger, she goes home with him for a very hot fling. But the next morning, when she sees his fireman’s uniform in the closet, she runs out without any explanation.

And thus begins the ups and downs of the affair between Emily and Whip King. Whip is a fireman/EMT who works for Emily’s father, the Chief of the Fire department. Even though they know they shouldn’t be together, they can’t help themselves. And the townspeople begin to notice.

While I liked aspects of Emily’s personality, there were times when I also disliked her. She goes against everything she believes in and has a one-night stand with someone she doesn’t know. Then does it again…and again…etc. And while I admire what she does for her student, she does go against the rules when she reports abuse. As a teacher, yes, she is required to report suspected abuse, but she doesn’t bother to find out all the facts. She is impulsive and, at times, reckless even though she tries to come off as a shy schoolteacher/librarian.

As for Whip, there are nasty things in his background, the mystery surrounding his mother doesn’t show up until late into the book and is not solved. I presume that will happen in later books. Plus he decides to confront his father but that doesn’t happen beyond him asking about his mother. Other than that, he never really faces his father.

There is a HEA for the story, but there are also threads left dangling leading us to believe those will be solved in future stories. I will note that this book was previously published. Also, that it is definitely hot with Emily and Whip falling into bed any time they could and descriptively.

If you like it hot, pick this one up.