Scorched Hearts (Kidds Beach Fire Department 3) by Jade Marshall -review
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 26, 2026
He pulled her from the flames. Now he has to convince her she deserves to burn for him.
Olivia Reed rebuilt her life from ashes, new town and a new job, for the woman who refused to die. But when her past returns with smoke on his breath and violence in his eyes, the only man standing between her and the fire is the young firefighter who already saved her once.
Darren Cole lives for split-second choices, run in, carry them out, don’t look back. Until Olivia. Twelve years older, soft where the world told her not to be, fierce where it tried to break her, she’s the only risk he’s never been willing to walk away from.
He fell first and he fell hard.
Training turns into touch. Protection turns into obsession. And when Olivia’s abusive ex comes back to finish what he started, Darren will burn the world down before he lets her be hurt again.
She thinks she’s too broken.
He thinks she’s everything.
And some hearts aren’t ruined by fire, they’re forged in it.
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REVIEW: SCORCHED HEARTS is the third instalment in Jade Marshall’s contemporary, adult KIDD BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT erotic, romance series. This is twenty-three year old, firefighter Darren Cole, and thirty-five year old librarian Olivia Reed’s story line. SCORCHED HEARTS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Darren and Olivia) SCORCHED HEARTS follows in the wake of the rescue of our story line heroine. Someone set fire to Olivia Reed’s house, and her rescuer is the man with whom Olivia will fall in love. Olivia’s abusive ex-husband is determined to make her pay for leaving but Darren Cole has declared himself guardian and protector of our story line heroine.
The world building focuses on the building romance between Olivia and Darren, and the protection of Olivia Reed. Olivia struggles with issues of low self esteem, but Darren is hoping to prove she is worthy of love. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
The secondary and supporting characters are limited but include Darren’s aunt Denise aka Dee, Olivia’s ex, and firefighter Matt.
SCORCHED HEARTS is a fast paced, quick read; a story of abuse and obsession, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is entertaining-the conflict resolution is quick and behind the scenes; the romance is seductive; the characters are determined and charismatic.
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
