Fire and Icing by Savannah Scott: Book Review

Details

• Genre: Contemporary romance
• Series: The Firemen of Waterford TN (Book #1)
• Length: 390 pages (Kindle edition)
• Publication Date: June 25, 2025

Tropes

• Fake relationship
• Opposites attract
• Forced proximity
• Small-town romance
• Slow burn

My Rating

Book Description

“Talk about making a bad first impression. 

The rookie at Waterford’s fire station literally hauled me out of my own home—over his shoulder. Was my kitchen on fire? Yes. Did I have it nearly contained? Also yes.

And now he’s been tasked with making up for his overzealous rescue attempts by showing up to my bakery to grovel daily. And beg for my donuts. 

Don’t get me wrong, the man is built like a redwood, has the personality of a golden retriever and eyes you could get lost in for days.

But I’m not dating. Not after my last serious boyfriend left town without looking back. I’m devoted to three my hometown, my bakery, and my friends.

That is until an opportunity to enter a baking contest catches my eye. And I need a partner. Enter the rookie. Yes, the same one who easily lifted me and slung me over his shoulder. My best friend and business partner, bless her heart, suggests we fake a relationship—just for the sake of the contest. It seems like a simple fix.

Don’t worry. It’s not like I’m going to fall for him. I’m immune to his charms. Mostly.”

— from Goodreads

My Review

Warning: this book will make you crave donuts 

Dustin Reed is one of the most endearing MMCs I’ve ever read. He’s extroverted without being obnoxious. And although he can be overzealous and impulsive at times, he’s also self-aware enough to realize that. It was great watching him slowly be accepted by the other firemen as well as the residents of Waterford. 

It took a while for Emberleigh to warm up to him. But after they started fake dating, there was no going back!

Their romance kind of gave me Anne and Gilbert vibes.

There wasn’t a third-act break up, which is always a plus for me. Instead Dustin and Emberleigh hit a rough patch, communicated with each other, worked through things and ultimately, came out stronger for it.

Dustin gave his dream a shot and found it wasn’t what he truly wanted. While Emberleigh realized that she won’t always be left behind and that she can spread her wings without abandoning her hometown.

I loved watching Emberleigh come up with desserts for the competition.

(Wish they made a TV show similar to that in real life. Like a cross between Great British Bake Off and Worst Cooks. I’d watch it 😊) 

Favorite Moments

🔥 kiss on the cheek
🍩 playing guitar for Emberleigh
🔥 nicknames
🍩 the contest
🔥 the festival
🍩 “My answer is yes” 
🔥 Dustin’s songs
🍩 love confession

Favorite Quotes

“Emberleigh leans in and whispers ‘You’re good at this.’

‘At what?’

‘Pretending.’ If only she knew how real this feels to me. Because I’m all in and this fake dating thing? It’s getting harder to fake by the second.“

Savannah Scott

“‘My plans are pretty boring.’

‘Nothing about you is boring.’ His eyes are on the road as if he didn’t just pay me the highest compliment anyone has ever given me.“

Savannah Scott

“‘Alls I’m sayin’ is, don’t waste your life in fear. It’s a liar and a jailkeeper.’“

Savannah Scott

“‘Can we start over?’ she asks, hope evident in her voice. I smile, brushing a tear from her cheek.

‘We don’t need to start over. I like our beginning. And everything we’ve shared so far. And I’m pretty sure I’m going to be a huge fan of the rest of the story too. I don’t want to start over. I just want to keep going.’“

Savannah Scott

“‘I realized one thing in Nashville. I love performing music.’

‘That’s what you realized?’

‘Oh. No. That was just one of the things. There were actually two things.’

‘What was the other?’

‘I love you more.’“

Savannah Scott

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