On a Night Like This: Firefighters, family drama, and a second chance at love!

I really enjoyed On A Night Like This by Barbara Freethy. It is the first book in the Callaways series. I purchased it as free book on Amazon and thought it sounded like something I would enjoy reading. I loved it and now cannot wait to read the other books in the series. I could not put it down. Barbara Freethy has shown that she is an amazing storyteller. On A Night Like This is the story of Aiden Callaway, the second oldest Callaway son and smokejumper, and Sara Davidson, the former girl next store and NY lawyer. Sara returned home to San Francisco after being gone for ten years to surprise her father and celebrate his sixty-fifth birthday. Sara has never had a close relationship with her father, Stephen and it became even more strained following the death of her mother, Vickie. With Sara's surprise visit, Stephen forgets he has a pot of the stove. which leads to a kitchen fire. Stephen rushes to the basement and falls down the stairs. Aiden sees the smoke and rushes in for the rescue. Aiden had been Sara's teenage crush, and all Sara remembers is how Aiden rejected her when she was in high school. Sara and Aiden are both dealing with issues. Sara wonders why her father does not want to be part of her life and Aiden, who has moved back home, is dealing with the death of his best friend and fellow smokejumper, Kyle. Everyone wants to blame Aiden for Kyle's death, but Aiden doesn't remember the events that happened in the moments before Kyle's death, since he suffered a fall down a hill and concussion. Sara and Aiden fight their feelings and Sara tries to help Aiden uncover what really happened to Kyle in the moments leading to his death. The more Sara and Aiden deal with their difficulties, the closer they get. Sara realizes that she has always judged her relationships with other men to her unrequited feelings for Aiden. I loved that On A Night Like This is a more than just a romance,there are dilemmas that both Sara and Aiden are facing that need to be resolved. I love all the descriptions of the San Francisco setting that Barbara Freethy detailed. I love the Callaways and am looking forward to reading the other books in the series. I really enjoyed the poignant and bittersweet moments in the story as well as the plot twists. I loved trying to figure out what really happened to Kyle. I thoroughly enjoyed On A Night Like This, who doesn't love a second chance at love romance.

Oh the heartbreak this book brings it is really a story inside a story with two people who are torn apart by family and friends. I found it very easy to relate to Sarah having a father a lot like hers. Never being good enough always trying to be the best but never able to make him proud. Unlike her I said the heck with it at a younger age. She sticks it out demanding answers that won’t be easy to deal with. What a very good start to what looks like it will be a wonderful series. Aiden finds his self in a place where he feels the world is against him and he feel they might be right. Unable to remember all that happened that day when he lost his best friend he turns away from those that love him to try to put the pieces together. He is a very kind hearted man who takes the blame for many things in his childhood that got him in trouble. He really has a weakness but you won’t find out about that until later on. He loves action and adventure which is one reason he pick the job he picked. He gets high off of danger, excitement and thrills those same things that took his friends life. He has to take a step back regroup and rethink his life and how the information he finds out will not only affect him but those around him. Was he the cause of his friend’s death or was it an accident? My heart went out to so many characters but none as much as it did for Sarah. Her father I wanted so much to slap for the way he treated her. From the first page I wanted so much to jerk her out of them take away her pain and tell her how worthy she was. It seems there are secrets that will come to light and rock her world more than anyone can guess. She is a very strong wise woman in so many ways. Now face to face with her young love from the past she must put it behind her and move forward but one look and she isn’t sure she can to that. Only home for a few days that is until something happens that keeps her longer she finds her life intertwined again with Aiden’s. As they go on the hunt for the truth working together they just might find more truth to their emotions than either of them are ready for. The story moves pretty steady giving you a very touching romance. Their past comes to ahead when questions are asked, emotions are strong as things get out of hand again with one step forward and two back something has to give. As they each deal with their own issues they are pulled together as sparks fly, passion gets ignited and flames start a fire they can’t put out. Things will come to a head leaving them with a sense of peace as well as uncertainty as to the outcome. I really liked the Aiden’s family how real they are, how caring, loving and supportive they are but at the same time they have doubts, fight, but always come together and circle as one when need be. The ending is really good but leaves a few unanswered questions that I feel will be told throughout the rest of the series. The next one is on Emma I can’t wait to see how this turns out. Hopefully we will learn more about the fires and the nun as well as what granny was talking about. I have a feel this series is going to hold a lot of secrets that will keep us hook, on our toes and spell bound. I enjoyed how the author builds up their romance giving us the past history the why and just how painful it was. One doing what they thought was best leaving the other with painful memories that will last a lifetime. I like the mystery of both the stories from Aiden finding out the truth about his friends death to Sarah finding out the secret in her family. It really has your mind hoping to work it all out. I enjoyed the plot that really holds your attention and the way the author plays it out. There are some wonderful fun scenes as well as some very heartbreaking ones. I read this at one setting and could not put it down. It was thrilling and at times exciting to learn more about jumpers and how they deal with issues. I thought the author wrote a believable story putting a lot in to a little space with vivid details that make this a page turner

I really loved this story. I too was a little girl whose father ignored me so Sara's story resonated with me. It was so difficult to put my computer down to even eat! I just had to keep reading. I so appreciate Barbara Freethy allowing me to read this story for free on my computer otherwise I wouldn't have discovered her wonderful writing. Can't wait to read about the other Calloways!