Author: Elizabeth Coldwell
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Pages/Word Count: 157 Pages
At a Glance: A stronger book than the last, with a fun, slightly quirky hero.
Reviewed By: Jennifer
Blurb: Will their passion burn out of control?
Connor Wabsik’s career as a firefighter is on the line after he punched out his commanding officer. Redemption is possible in the form of a move to a sleepy California mountain town, but it will mean leaving his old life behind. What he doesn’t know is that his destiny waits for him in Riesgo. Fate has paired him with a human mate, Andy McGuire—a man with secrets of his own. Connor is fighting to protect the town from a dangerous firestarter. When Andy’s life is threatened, will Connor be able to keep him safe, too?
Detective Andy McGuire is unlucky in love, but when he meets Connor, the handsome new recruit to the Riesgo Fire Service, things start looking up. How can he stop a serial arsonist from destroying everything he holds dear? And as passion threatens to burn out of control between him and Connor, what will happen when Andy learns that the man he loves might not be what he seems?
Review: The Lionhearts series is continuing strong, and I’m hoping there will be more in the future. Coldwell continues to think up new scenarios for her lions and their men, and each character is different from the last. In this book there’s Connor, the firefighter and lion shifter, and Andy, the small town detective. Also present for a few pages are Cesare and his mate from the previous book.
After getting in trouble at work for punching his commanding officer, Connor has two choices: find a boring job or take a position in the small town of Riesgo, where they just happen to need a new firefighter. After his interview, Connor is offered the job and before leaving town, runs into Andy. He knows instantly that Andy is his mate, and sparks fly between the two, but after bad luck with his sort of ex, Mitchell, Andy is worried about finding a man who wants to be more than just an occasional tumble.
While there are still some of the same themes as the other books regarding hiding one’s true identity as a shifter, there was a lot of light humor in this book. Connor is such a goofy guy, and I couldn’t help but love him from the first page. I mean, really, who faces off against a bear and then starts quoting Yogi Bear? Completely dorky, and so endearing.
Though there seems to be no official mention of it on some sites, readers should be forewarned that there are some mild BDSM themes. Nothing major, really, but Andy does enjoy his submissive streak, and Connor likes to take charge, so there are moments when Andy is tied up with bondage tape, or some toys are used. It’s not heavy, though, nor is it every time, so those who don’t enjoy it could easily skim those scenes and still enjoy the story.
If you’re new to the series, that’s okay. Each book has new characters, and the plots are not connected. While previous characters might be mentioned, it is not necessary to read their story to understand what is happening. Honestly, this might be a good one to start on if you’re new and want to try it, because the mystery is solid, the humor is there, and Connor does give some background to the world Coldwell has written for this series.
You can buy Pride Under Fire here:
The Novel Approach Reviews 
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