Straight from the Library: Straight Browsing from the Library: Toasted by Isobel Reed

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Isobel Reed will award a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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Welcome to Woodvalley Pines…where hunky firefighters save the day! It’s time to turn up the heat and hope this smokin’ hot fireman can control the blaze.

Libby hadn’t even been in Woodvalley Pines a day and she was already freaking out. Her kitchen had just set on fire. From toast of all things! That’s right, she was the victim of the elusive toaster fire. Yes, a toaster. Who knew they could just spontaneously burst into flames? She certainly didn’t. If that wasn’t enough to ruin her day, a swarm of hot firefighters seeing her in her pink pajamas would do it.

Zach tried his hardest not to laugh as the woman in the Disney pajamas accused him of keeping toaster fire safety a secret. He didn’t know where in the world this angry green-eyed princess had come from, but he had to admit that he was intrigued. After all, if she had this much passion when it came to talking toasters, what other kind of flames could he stoke in her?

Libby and Zach’s spark was instant, but will the fire burn out or can they keep the flames blazing?

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“You okay, ma’am? Neighbor reported he heard screaming.”

Oh sh**.

“Oh, yeah. There was screaming. I mean, yes, I did scream. But it was more like a release, y’know? Like, when you’re having a really sh**ty day and you scream into a pillow. It was kinda like that.” For the love of God, stop talking. “Anyway, yeah, I’m fine. All good. Hunky-dory.”

Hunky-dory? Really? And screaming into pillows? Way to embarrass yourself in front of the handsome firefighters. Are your Disney pajamas not enough humiliation for you? Do you want to detail your hair removal regime next?

Luckily, the other man decided not to comment. He simply nodded, for which Libby was grateful. Once he’d given Zach a quick update on the cause of the fire – that blasted toaster – he disappeared and left the two of them alone again.

Turns out, just the mention of the toaster was enough to bring back her rage.

“Did you know toasters just sometimes set on fire? When exactly did that become a thing? And why aren’t there more people talking about it?”

Zach incorrectly thought that clearing his throat would be enough to mask his snigger. “Uh, well, any old appliances can be a potential fire hazard. With toasters, a build-up of breadcrumbs can also act as fuel to the fire.”

“What the hell? I didn’t know that, Zach. Why didn’t I know that? Is this some big firefighter secret or something? ‘Cause I’m telling you right now, people need to know this! I’m thirty-one, Zach. Thirty-one! And never in my life would I have thought I could be making toast one day and then … boom! Fire! People need to be told. They need to know, damnit!”

Okay, it was safe to say this was not her finest moment. She was well aware ranting about toaster fires while sitting on the curb – in just her miniscule, bright pink shorts and vest top – was giving off batsh** crazy vibes. But she clearly just couldn’t help herself. Once she got a look at his expression, the crazy continued.

“Are you laughing at me?”

“No, ma’am.”

“You are … you’re laughing at me!”

“Smiling. I’m smiling at you. There’s a big difference.”

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