Hot Shot (North Ridge Book 3)

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS - My heart hurt for Delilah if I'm being honest. She has longed for Fox since they were little kids growing up together & her attempts at any real relationships fail every time. Fox has more mom issues than his brothers Maverick & Shane & until he faces his past he won't be able to face his feelings for Delilah? OK, that stinks. What bothered me the most is that Fox's girlfriend breaks up with him because she easily sees how he'll drop everything to be at Delilah's side. So he has to test her out, see if there is some chemistry there, and they have some amazing hot sex on her pool table & then later in the barn. Hot & heavy & passionate, but thank God doesn't ruin their friendship for Fox & he can just forget about it. Heartbreaking for Del. When Fox is with Del all of the pain fades. She brings him peace. But what about Delilah? Doesn't she deserve something more? Fox is really struggling & thankfully his brothers straighten him out. Then he'll admit he's falling for her, his love is spreading like wildfire. Hmmm, a little too late for me buddy. My heart broke for her as she hung to any thread of hope that his feelings would change.

I typically don't like to write negative reviews, but this one was hard to resist. Excuse me, but where was romance? Where was friends FALLING in love with each other? Most of all, where was a hero the reader will root for and admire? Fox was a jerk for most of the book and I really don't understand why our heroine loved him. I have read K. Halle's books in the past. Some of them were better than the others, but I'm really sorry I spent (dare I say waisted?) time on this one. Two stars only because I finished it.

After reading Wild Card and Maverick, I was beside myself waiting for this book to come out. And boy, was it worth the wait! Fox was an enigma in the first two books, but this story resolves all that. The hot, brooding, sexy firefighter needed to come to terms with the issues that were keeping him from loving, and he had a family that helped him do just that. Every book Karina Halle writes surpasses the last. This series should be at the top of your MUST READ list!!

ARC provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.

Karina Halle sure knows how to start the year greatly, everybody! Not only do I start the year with two 5-star ratings but also with a heartbreaking, at the same time beautifully heartfelt and super sexy love story. Karina has been teasing us about Fox and Del from the very beginning of this series and as you can imagine, I had crazy high expectations for this book. I am happy to say, those expectations where reached 100%!

Hot Shot is the third and final installment of the North Ridge series and finally we get the highly anticipated love story between Fox Nelson and Delilah Gordon. These two have been best friends since they were kids and Delilah has loved Fox since she first laid eyes on him. This has been her most guarded secret but it’s obvious that everybody knows except the one that should: Fox. Circumstances change when Fox starts to realize things he hasn’t seen before in Delilah (jealousy and Del suffering what she thinks is an unrequited love) and they finally act on it. However, not everything is out-of-this-world chemistry, friendship and awesome sex. Fox is a broken man, a man that has been suffering since the death of his mother and afterwards because of what he sees through his dangerous job as hot shot. Will his family and Delilah’s love fix everything?

There’s a restlessness in me that keeps growing, carving out a hollow space and I have no idea how to fill it.

Hot Shot is definitely my favorite of the three novels in this fantastic series. Of course, I loved the previous two books (and its characters!) but I felt the strongest connection with this outstanding couple and the feelings their love story gave me. This book is a tad darker than the other ones: it has more angst and it surely doubles the emotions! Fox and his broken soul will make you want to mend him and consequently love him to pieces and Delilah.. Delilah is such a strong heroine guys. She suffers so much for not being with Fox and for not being able to help him (because he does not want to see what is happening to him). God, my poor heart could not take it. I never cried this much while reading!

Even on my darkest days, she’s always been the sun.

Now, leaving aside for a moment the roller coaster of emotions, I have to mention how much I loved Fox and Del as a couple. Yes, their friendship is great, the moments with the Nelson family are too and I always love a good friends to lovers romance but when Fox finally sees Delilah in a new light, you will melt into a puddle! There are so many heartbreaking and emotional moments between them but there is also lots of love and oh-yes lots of chemistry too! Finally, they start to become what it was always meant to be and I died! These two together are explosive and when you mix that with a hot dirty talker and that strong of a connection it just makes your heart sing (and your panties melt! lol).

And it’s impossible for me not to go back to the emotional part of Hot Shot because everything gets even more sentimental when Del discovers she has to hide a new secret that will change their lives forever. Oh boy, things get extremely complicated then! You’ll see a new side to both main characters. A side that will not always make you happy. A side that will leave you at the edge of your sit with all the heartbreaking stuff that happens. But that is what makes this book such a great piece of writing. Because you have to see its characters go through everything (the good and the bad) to get to their happy ever after. And after so much suffering, Fox and Delilah definitely deserve it!

Loving Del started as a spark that needed just the right amount of time and heat for it to flame.

Therefore, I am rating Hot Shot with 5 STARS because Karina Halle delivered what her fans expected from this book: a great storyline, a couple that will not leave you indifferent, lots of chemistry and so many emotions. I loved how everything ended, I loved seeing all these characters so happy. The Nelsons and their loved ones surely deserve all the happiness in the world. Again, Karina created a fantastic list of characters and a series that I absolutely adored. I can’t wait to see what is next! Highly recommend this incredible love story and the whole North Ridge series!

Karina Halle closes out her North Ridge series with the story of Fox Nelson and Delilah Gordon in Hot Shot. Fox and Del have known one another since they were six years old, and twenty-seven years of friendship isn't something Del is prepared to risk should she ever gather up the courage to let Fox know that she's been in love with him for more than half her life. You would think that now that Fox has a girlfriend, Del would finally let her unrequited feelings for him go so that she can find love with someone else, but that's easier said than done. It's not like she hasn't tried to move on before. She's even gone as far as to become engaged to someone else. However, her heart only wants one man and it's the same one who's never wanted Delilah as anything more than as a best friend--Fox.

Goodness me, but this was one angsty yet sexy friends-to-lovers romance. Told over the span of four seasons, this isn't about how Fox and Del became the best of friends. We already that's the kind of relationship they have. This book is about how Del deals with the man she loves having another woman in his life and what happens between them once that woman is gone and Fox's own curiosity about his supposed less than innocent feelings for his best friend are brought to his attention. You would think that with the twenty-seven years of history that they share, becoming more than friends wouldn't be too complicated. But Fox has demons that stem back from when he was merely a child, and when tragedy strikes once again, it'll take much more than mere bravado to save the Hot Shot.

Throughout the entire series, the author has highlighted the importance of family to the Nelson men, but I think none more so than here in the third and final novel. The romance between Fox and Del was as much of highlight of this series ender as was the story of these three brothers and how they've made lives for themselves as individuals while learning to come to terms with the circumstances of their past as a family and moving forward. My heart broke for both Fox and Del--Fox for his past and Del for her present--but their journey was one that I was glad I was privy to as we read their story towards a future together. Halle has more than carved out a niche for herself in the contemporary romance market, and she certainly continues to impress. Hot Shot garners five stars out of five stars. ♥

Fox and Delilah’s story has been a longtime coming and one I’ve been highly anticipating. From the very first novel in the series it was obvious even as supporting characters that there was much more to their friendship then just, well, friendship.

Fox has never recovered from the death of his mother. The circumstances surrounding it had not only affected his childhood, but have carried on through to his adulthood also. He’s the most tormented of his brothers but finds much sought relief in his friendship with Del.

The death of the boys’ mother saw Del’s step in as a friend of the family to help in raising them. Delilah has always looked to Shane and Maverick as brothers, but with Fox there has been an undercurrent of affection that ran too deep to be considered familial. Gone unnoticed by everyone but him, it’s a struggle for Del to keep her emotions under control.

As well as the relationship between Fox and Del, I was enraptured by the one between Fox and Shane. It’s a secondary arc to the story but it’s no less important when it comes to understanding Fox and some of his actions. The resolution was one that warmed me and highlighted just how much I adore these men.

Hot Shot was everything my angst loving heart desired. It’s a glorious combination of unrequired love and passion too explosive to be contained. I reveled in the pain and torment of their conflicted relationship, and found myself wholly satisfied by the power of its reach.

Fox Nelson has a wound, a wound so emotionally deep and scarring in his soul that it would take more than reasonable effort to heal him. Delilah Gordon wants to be that healer and more, she's been in love with Fox for the longest time.

Fox is such a complex character; he is moody yet caring in his own way. He's messed up but I really felt for him. More than sympathy, I felt understanding and deep emotions. And Delilah? She's gutsy, patient and loyal to a fault. She loves with an abandonment that is heart-wrenching.

The Nelson brothers are a force to be reckoned with. Mav and Shane make repeated appearances here and it is so fitting, they are the epitome of "one for all, all for one". They are united and loyal.

Karina Halle's words pound you relentlessly with Fox's conflicts and demons, with Delilah's pain and soul-searching. The descriptions are vivid and so satisfying. I laughed, I cried and more importantly, I FELT.

Thank you, Karina Halle for giving me my first ugly cry of 2018 and Fox Nelson who is now my new book boyfriend. This is hands down my favourite North Ridge book.

I love an unrequited love/best friend romance, so I was so excited to dive into Hot Shot. Unfortunately, I just couldn't connect to Fox as the hero as much as I wanted to, once he and Delilah hook up. It starts out as a friends-with-benefits relationship, but Delilah is hoping for so much more, as she's been in love with Fox since they were young children.

I liked Delilah. And I liked Fox. I'm a sucker for a damaged hero, and Fox is so incredibly damaged. But he treated her so horribly at times, I just couldn't get behind rooting for them to be together. That said, what happens with Fox and his brothers, and how that ultimately changes his relationship with Del, somewhat redeemed him in my eyes,

Overall, Hot Shot is a decent story, but I just didn't fall in love with this couple.

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

I adore friends to lovers stories, and I’ve been waiting for Del and Fox’s story since I first read about the Nelson brothers. I wasn’t disappointed. This was by far my favorite book in the series and my first five star book of the year (YAY!)

Delilah Gordon has been in love with Fox Nelson, her best friend, since they were kids. Fox is completely oblivious, even though everyone else seems to know Del has feelings for Fox. Fox has an extremely dangerous job fighting wildfires. Delilah is the one person at home he can count on, the one who gives him peace. Fox is the kind of damaged hero I love and doesn’t have much peace in his life, so Del is very important to him.

I loved watching Del and Fox’s relationship change and grow. It wasn’t an easy change, it was rough and hard, heartbreaking and challenging. Fox isn’t an easy character to love, but he’s a great man. He is broken, but beautifully broken. I think Del is the perfect woman for a man like him and perhaps the only person who can heal him. These two had an incredible connection and chemistry that burned.

Karina’s writing is always incredible. Her characters are always developed perfectly, and the story is written in such a way that I don’t want to put it down. Hot Shot is the perfect mix of emotion, angst, steam, and heartache. The end will leave you with a happy heart and a smile on your face, you just have to battle a little to get there. Hot Shot gave me all the feels and is a book I would highly recommend!

After Wild Card and Maverick, Hot Shot is the third book in the North Ridge Series by the outstanding author Karina Halle.
While every book can be read as a standalone, I recommend to read the books in order.
Hot Shot is Fox and Delilah's story.
Delilah Gordon is in love with Fox Nelson for forever. And while everyone knows, only Fox is clueless. He has deeply friendzoned her.
Fox is the oldest of the Nelson brothers and he carries guild and darkness in his heart and battles his demons. He's a Wildland Firefighter, a - "hot shot". And sometime he realizes only Delilah can cure him. Fox is burned out, lost and suffers from PTSD. She brings him peace when his world spiurals out of control.
Delilah is owner of the lokal bar and cares for her ill mother. Her best friends are Rachel and Riley, Shane and Maverick's girlfriends.While they cheer for Del and Fox there's only so much they can do.
Del and Fox is not a match made in heaven. Their story is raw and gritty. The hero with the broken soul and the heroine who has to stay strong when the only thing she wants to do is wallow in selfpity.
Hot Shot made me laugh, it made me cry and it made me angry at the characters.
Hot Shot is my favorite read in the series and I highly recommend this 5 stars read !

Thank goodness Karina Halle writes - and publishes - quickly because I don't know how much longer I could have waited for Hot Shot! It's the third book in the North Ridge series and we finally (finally!) get to see Fox and Delilah get together. I couldn't wait to dive back in to the world of the Nelson brothers and, once I did, I didn't want to leave.

I mentioned that this book is part of a series but I always want to note that Halle's series don't require you to read all the stories in order. That being said, I'm a series purist and always need to start from the beginning. This way you're not being spoiled by any little details. The big details - who ends up with who - are pretty easy to figure out so skipping a book isn't really going to be the end of the world.

Wild Card was really dark and heavy. Maverick was more lighthearted (and a tad steamier!). Hot Shot was somewhere in between. No one way is better than the others and I think it highlights how well Halle can write both light and dark.

I don't know if it was just the mental headspace I'm in right now or what, but the emotional punch Halle almost always delivers in her books was particularly hard this time around. I always get so incredibly invested in her characters that my emotions are soaring and diving right alongside theirs. It's intense for an empathetic reader like myself. It's great because it shows how freaking amazing Halle is at writing these stories but it's also hard because some of the emotions are so hard to deal with.

Even though I knew Fox and Delilah were probably going to finally get together in the end, it was agonizing (in a weirdly good way) for me to read as they slowly realized that what they assumed the other was feeling might not actually be the case. They had buried their feelings for so long that it was hard to face them. Fox, in particular. His were so far buried that he almost seemed shocked when he realized he might want Delilah as more than just a friend. (Jeez, boys are dumb sometimes!)

But, Fox had a lot of issues to work out before he was ready to commit to Delilah. And I am so glad that she knew what she deserved even if it was breaking her heart. It made the ending so much sweeter.

One final note - I absolutely loved the squirrel in this story. He wasn't a major plot point but he provided lighthearted moments (I literally laughed out loud when a chapter opened with Delilah's mom telling her that her squirrel was trying to drink her coffee) as well as deeper moments when Delilah realized some parallels (can't get too spoilery here!). It sounds a bit weird, I know, but I just loved that little guy.

I think I might be in denial that the series is over but Karina Halle gave us readers the most delightful epilogue so we know what all the Nelsons are up to and where their lives are heading next. Hot Shot, just like the rest of the North Ridge novels, was an absolute delight to read (even when it was ripping my heart out) and I highly suggest everyone pick up this series!

"Love is wildfire."

Delilah Gordon has loved Fox Nelson for 27 years. Fox, of course is oblivious and only sees Del as his best friend. *Cue the stab to the heart*

Fox Nelson is a North Ridge Hot Shot, fighting wildfires is his life. He faces danger close and personal, always taking huge risks. Struggling with the death of his mother when he was a young boy, Fox is in this constant battle with his inner demons, but Delilah becomes the light and peace he needs to calm his soul.

Fox and Delilah's relationship was filled with angst and heartbreak. Together, these two could burn down the world with their intense chemistry. He's a beautiful, yet broken man and she's his counterpart. She heals him without him even knowing.

Karina Halle proves once again what a talented writer she is. Especially with that sweet ending! Filled with so much emotion, sexy moments, and surprises along the way; Hot Shot was one of those books that gives you so many feels!! I highly recommend this series!

I read an angsty romance and I sometimes question how I’m supposed to believe that these people are capable of an HEA. If the hero is capable of breaking your heart at the romantic, love comes into bloom part of a relationship, what about when it’s a committed one? If a heroine can run scared at the first sign of trouble, how will she cope when things get tougher? I scoff at squabbles about paying the bill, needing their independence/private time and choosing friends over loved ones. How will they cope when the fridge, washing machine and water heater break down at the same time...fight over THAT bill. Sure, have your independence/private time…but take the kids with you, please. OK, Freddy needs you…sure, but your family needs you more when they’re hurling chunks and you’re the last one standing. To me, I’ll believe in your HEA when I can see your mettle. I need to see how you cope when life throws you lemons. Even if you get it wrong, did you learn from your mistakes and get it right the next time.

I believed in Delilah and Fox’s HEA because I saw them crack, splinters and smash to smithereens. It was messy, heartbreaking and at times devastating. But, I saw them fight their demons, crawl out of their hell and learn to stand firm when the fire wanted to suck them back in. I believed that Delilah and Fox were destined for an HEA because they had been to hell, survived and came out stronger on the other side.

Seriously, I blubbered like a baby in Hot Shot. The beginning was brutal and I was scared to go on. How long would I have to read with the sadness hovering over me? Sure, I’m tough, I can take it. But, geez, talk about bad timing. I made the mistake of reading a little bit in the morning and then had to face a day of work feeling a little battered and bruised. I was desperate to get back into it because I needed to see the upside. Things can only get better, right? Well, it went up…then down…then up…then down, down, down. Where's that UP? Oh my lordy, I’m seeing a bright light, my heart has mended and I have a smile on my face…THE END.

Ok, not really the end.

I loved Hot Shot and enjoyed the whole North Ridge series. The characters were far from perfect but good, real people. The storyline was interesting and kept my attention from start to finish. The sexy scenes were beautifully written and I found myself squirming and sighing because they were passionate, intimate and realistic. It wasn’t like reading a porno where gymnastics, heavy lifting and a soundproof room are needed. The looks, touches and feelings come to life and I see them together. The love story was hot, messy and at times painful but in the end…I believed it was real.

If you're looking for a story that makes you feel, I would highly recommend the North Ridge series, especially Hot Shot.

Three brothers, a painful past and their journey of finding their happily ever after… Karina Halle wrote a series full of emotions but Hot Shot was the most heartbreaking one! It’s a book about two best friends that become lovers but it’s deep and emotional.

Delilah has always been in love with her best friend, Fox. It’s just more than a crush, a love that she cannot get over although Fox has never given her a chance. She cannot move on with her life even if he sees her just as a friend.

Fox knows how to fight with the flames as a firefighter but he never learned to get away from the ghosts of his past. He is drowning in alcohol and painkillers but he is finding peace through his best friend, Delilah. She is a ray of sunshine into his dark world.

When a fateful night brings them together suddenly everything becomes more complicated. Delilah hopes to win his heart and Fox depends on her to silence his nightmares. Their journey is anything but easy. It will break your heart but in the end you will feel better although your soul will be a little bruised.

Delilah is such a wonderful girl. She is so open to Fox and she offers him everything. She just needs to be loved back. Sometimes I felt sorry for her but overall I admired her. She never gives up even if their relationship is hard and she remains strong. I loved that she respects herself and although she lives sometimes in sadness she makes the best of the situation.

Fox is a good man but a troubled one. He is grouchy, gruff and although he says little the things he says are so heartwarming. He doesn’t understand the sorrow he brings to Delilah and his family and that makes you forgive him. He has to love himself first and then he can love the others and it’s hard to see but it works. He is hardworking, strong but also vulnerable. I think all his problems come from the fact that he is the most sensitive one between the brothers.

If you have followed my reviews, you know I am not fond of angst but this book touched me. I would have loved to see them happy sooner but they are a couple you like to see together. You don’t get angry with their mistakes and you just wait patiently for these two to overcome their problems.

I am sorry to see this series ending but the beautiful epilogue this author wrote will leave you content because these brothers found their soulmates and you know that they will have a happy life.

Reviewed on behalf of The Book Boyfriend Addict. A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars

'My name is Delilah Gordon, and all my life I have been head over heels in love with the boy next door, Fox Nelson.
And all my life I have been acutely aware that he is not in love with me.'

There isn’t much that’s worse than unrequited love, as Delilah Gordon well knows. Having been in love with Fox Nelson since they were just kids, she’s always hoped they could be more but for as close as they are, it’s clear that Fox has her firmly in the friend-zone. Or so she thought… When Fox confesses to her one night that he’s always been attracted to her, Delilah hopes that maybe this is the start of something more between them. There’s no denying their intense chemistry or how good it is between them when things finally become physical, but between demons from Fox’s past and his demanding job as a “hot shot” firefighter, Delilah learns that Fox may not be in a spot where he can return her feelings. And as much as Delilah enjoys Fox’s body, what she really wants is his heart. When they get life-changing news, will it be the thing that finally brings their hearts together or will it be the thing to ultimately tear them apart?

“I’m a mess, to be honest with you. And you’re the only thing that makes sense. That’s all I know.”

What an angsty delight this book was! I still haven’t read Wild Card, but when I met Fox in Maverick, I got the sense that he was the most tortured of the Nelson brothers and this book definitely proved that. Fox was a great guy but he was very troubled, mostly stemming (understandably) from one traumatizing event from his childhood. He was always looking out for and trying to save others, but that same sentiment never quite applied to his own life. Fox’s battle with these demons is the main source of angst in this story, it definitely tugged at my heartstrings and I thought his journey was very well done. There were ups and there were downs and poor Delilah was oftentimes collateral damage when the bad times hit. My heart went out to Delilah, she loved Fox so much, that was clear throughout. So not only was it painful for her to watch him self-destruct but when he would inadvertently hurt her because he wasn’t aware of the depth of her feelings for him, it was even worse. There was a twist that didn’t come as too much of a surprise, but it was a very important turning point and I enjoyed seeing everyone work through the fall out of the new scenario. The entire journey felt authentic and I, much like the rest of their family, was rooting for them to make it work.

'Even on my darkest days, she’s always been the sun.'

I loved seeing the rest of the Nelsons in this book as well. They were all here in important roles and it was great getting updates on everyone. Including a really great epilogue featuring an update on all of the Nelsons. If you enjoy a troubled hero, a devoted (yet strong) heroine, unrequited love, and/or friends-to-lovers stories then I think you’re going to enjoy Fox and Delilah! There was angst, there was heartache, but there was also a lot of heat and a lot of heart (and the most adorable baby squirrel that’ll just melt your heart)!

'It was messy. It was imperfect. Raw and real. And it was the way it worked for us.'

LOVE IS WILDFIRE

Karina Halle continues to blow me away and Hot Shot absolutely stole my entire heart...

“My name is Delilah Gordon, and all my life I have been head over heels in love with the boy next door, Fox Nelson. And all my life I have been acutely aware that he is not in love with me.”

Hot Shot is a friends to lovers romance! It’s angsty, emotional, and completely heartbreaking.

Fox Nelson and Delilah Gordon are best of friends.. they have grown up together! What Fox didn’t know was Del his best friend has been in love him since they were 6 years old. They both have lived their lives! He dated, she got engaged... he is a hot shot wildfire fighter, she’s a bar owner! But when Fox gets a girlfriend (Julie) those feelings Del has been hiding to herself rip through and burst out causing truth to finally be told...

What we find out is Fox has been inwardly fighting his own fire. He blames himself for his mother’s death and in doing so he places the blame fully on his little brother, Shane! He’s broken.. he mask his pain with alcohol and pills! He’s on the path of self destruction and nothing can stop him

Delilah is just looking for Fox to LOVE her, to be in love with her like she is in love with him.. Hot Shot takes us on the journey of Del and Fox finding each other and when fate intervenes it will either bring them closer together or farther apart...

“The world is too big, this life too short, to want anything less than magic with someone.”

This book is truly the definition of “friends to lovers” Karina Halle gives us so much emotion and heartache in this book. I felt the pain, the loss, and the tragedy! Its an extremely beautiful HEA! And in Karina Halle fashion the heat was turned up with this couple! The pool table scene at Bear Trap Bar! HOLY FOX! I have found myself a new religion — worshiping, Fox Nelson...

I love all the Nelson Brothers and the fact that we get more of Shane and Rachel and Maverick and Riley is icing on the CAKE! (Kudos if you get why I caps locked Cake lol) I highly recommend the ‘North Ridge Series’ but more importantly I recommend, “all things Karina Halle!”

Also, Karina makes me want to have a baby squirrel in my life..

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy from the author.

Hot Shot is the third and final book in the North Ridge series. In my opinion, the best was saved for last. Delilah and Fox's story was heart wrenching and emotional, but one that definitely fit their characters. From the first time you meet Delilah and Fox in Wild Card, get to know them more in Maverick, and finally from their book, it has been such a joy to see them at different stages of their lives and how they finally come together. Delilah has been in love with Fox since she was a kid, and he only thinks of her as a friend, a sister, but does he really?

Delilah was a woman anyone can relate to. She's dealing with unrequited love, while trying not to lose her friendship with Fox. She's also trying not to be jealous when she sees he has a new girlfriend, though it's slowly killing her inside. I loved how she is there for him, as well as he is for her. As the story progresses, we get to see the downfall of being a "hot shot," a wild land firefighter. When Fox loses one of his friends during a fire, he begins his downward spiral into self medicating, and losing himself.

I loved how close the Nelson family is. They are always there for each other and will do anything to help them. When Fox needed his brothers, although he didn't ask for their help, they dropped everything to help him put his life back together. Delilah's friendships with Rachel and Riley were great too. I loved how much they were there for each other and Delilah could tell them anything.

I think this was my favorite out of the entire series. It was worth the wait, even though I wanted this book before Maverick. I think waiting really brought out the tension, unrequited love, and the as a reader, I could feel all the emotions Delilah had throughout the book. I loved how we had to watch the characters fall apart to come back together stronger and better for each other. The only thing I wish was in the book, was too actually experience Fox coming to terms with all the pain he has endured. It was mentioned, but I was so invested in the character's lives, that I would have loved to see that too. Although this book is a standalone, I would recommend reading the others first. The Nelson family has endured a lot of heartbreak and it is worth reading how they found love.

The Northridge series of standalones have been my favorite Karina Halle novels ever! Everything from the Nelson Brothers, to the town, to the host of secondary characters always felt like coming home!

Fox is such a broken character and very different from his brothers. Karina Halle opens the story with a flashback that not only serves to explain what motivates Fox but also to create sympathy for him, and boy do we feel sympathy for him. Even when he is shutdown and cold to those who love him, we ache for scared and alone little boy inside. Our hearts only further break when we realize that this man doesn’t know love and doesn’t know himself. His downward spiral although foreshadowed is hard to watch, but it only makes his comeback that much more rewarding.

I have loved Delilah from the very beginning. My heart broke for her in the previous books when we saw her yearn to be truly seen by Fox. Our souls shatter with hers every single time Fox says the wrong thing. We cheer for her when she finally recognizes what she deserves and won’t settle for less. Underneath all this steel is a woman who wants to be loved and cherished and is vulnerable, making her a relatable heroine and a woman who deserves to have her happily ever after.

Hot Shot is a romance but it is also about learning to forgive yourself and recognizing that you are worthy of love. It exemplifies how someone else’s love can only take you so far, and that for true happiness to occur that is has to come from within. Because of this, Fox and Delilah’s journey is hard and filled with angst. It is also, though, filled with hope, a dream that you can get better and that life can be everything you want it to be.

Hot Shot by Karina Halle is the perfect conclusion to this series. We get emotion, angst, heat, and at the end we get an HEA Fox and Delilah deserve. Plus, she leaves us with a glimpse of the family we have grown to love, and one we don’t want to leave.
————
ARC received in exchange for an honest review

I was expecting something emotional and I got it. Reading Delilah and Fox’s journey was a turmoil of emotions, charged with such tension that I had to say drove me a bit mad at times.

Fox is the eldest, witness a tragedy that will affect his decisions for his whole life. Scars that ran deep, issues hidden to the world, tormenting him everyday.

As a hotshot and hero of this town for everything he’s done, his status doesn’t help to settle down. He is on and off, one day with his family and the either fighting fires. I had to say that his behavior for the first part of the book was a bit unsettling to me. Only looking through his lens instead of the big picture totally oblivious to the obvious.

What I wanted is to shake the guy a little… bit as the story unfold, I got attached to this wounded hero.

Delilah is Fox’s best friend, in love with him like forever, lusting and loving him from afar, being his rock and supportive friend no matter what. Her limits are gonna be tested when she realized that she couldn’t hide her feelings anymore.

Things are going be more confusing and messy than ever. The closer they got physically the more they build such an emotional gap, when unsaid things and secrets might tear them apart.

That time, even the peacefulness of that place couldn’t tame the fire they made, baring their souls and burning and crushing together. I like the Nelson family and I was glad to see some issues between the brothers solved. After a long time of extreme tension and overwhelming feelings I was glad to have my HEA. But what a journey!

4.25 Stars
Absolutely nothing not to adore about this story, I loved it!
Fox and Delilah are friends, practically family but there is a level of connection between the two of them that eludes to the possibility of them wanting to be closer than at first it appears they are willing to admit.
Their connection is one that is complicated because Delilah has been an integral part of Fox’s life since the death of his mother, she has cared for him in a way that for many would suggest that she was a family member but that is not the case, they are close and as much as Fox continues to struggle with the emotional aftermath of his mother’s passing, having Delilah gives him the support he needs and because of that I couldn’t help but wonder initially whether Delilah was just his shoulder to lean on, but it soon became clear that he wasn’t completely oblivious to the feelings that Delilah had towards him but was he willing to engage…I certainly hoped so!
I thought the story was fantastic, it had everything I wanted, with an absorbing mix of angst and aggravation, seamlessly blended with just the right mixture of passion and pain.
I liked the storyline that emerged between Fox and his brother Shane, because I thought that it gave a great insight into what made Fox tick and why he reacted the way he did…so don’t overlook the tiny details folks, they all play their part.

I feel like Karina put everything she had in this book. Fox and Delilah's story about broke me. It was nothing I was expecting. But in a good way. It was a story that needed telling.

Del has been in love with Fox for as long as she could remember. But he's her best friend, and he's oblivious to the feelings she has for him. Everyone else around them is aware, even if Delilah hasn't told anyone. But something is changing and Del isn't sure she can hide the way she feels anymore, or at least not hide her attraction.

Fox is a hero. He goes out and risks his life for those affected by the wildfires. But Fox has so many demons and these wildfires just keep adding to them. His demons are trying to surface and he finds solace in Delilah's company.

Things heat up between these two quickly, but nothing about this friends to lovers is what I expected. Fox's demons fight for control and these two have to overcome obstacles they never expected.

I stayed up all night reading this book, I couldn't put it down. Their story was like a wildfire, all consuming, hot, and at times devastating. I laughed. I cried. I swooned. I fell in love with Fox and Delilah and their love story. It was imperfect and flawed, but it was the perfect story for them and one I didn't want to end.

4.5 stars!!!

***ARC received in exchange for my HONEST review. Thank you!***

This is another great book by a wonderful author. HotShot definitely had my emotions going haywire.

My heart hurt for Fox. From just a young age he faced so many trials and he continued to take the blame as well as carried the weight. Blinded by the depression and anger he failed to see what was in front of him the whole time.

Delilah is a breath of fresh air. A good friend, daughter, and person. She thinks she's good at hiding her feelings but not as good as she thinks.

Friends to lovers is a beautiful thing to read. The connection already built makes it that much more explosive. It's not just smooth sailing though for Fox and Delilah. Although Delilah is irrevocably in love with him since childhood she won't settle. Fox has to face his demons for himself but also for the future he hopes to have with Delilah.

This was my first read of 2018 and It's a new favorite of mine. By far what of the easiest 5 stars I've given. I definitely recommend this book. Happy Reading.

5 Stars

Hot Shot by Karina Halle is the third book in the North Ridge series. It can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading the first two books first because they are awesome. Hot Shot was simply amazing. It completely blew me away. It is an emotional read that literally pulled at my heartstrings. I was unable to put it down and stayed up til 3am devouring it.

Delilah and Fox have known each other since they were six years old. They have been best friends and have been there for each other through thick and thin. But Delilah has been keeping a huge secret...she’s in love with Fox. Like head over heels in love. And Fox has no idea-until he does and boy does it get complicated. The lines blur and neither one have any idea where it’s heading. When fate throws a curveball will they be able to withstand it? Or will they lose the friendship that has meant the world to the both of them?

I know I am repeating myself but holy hell can Ms. Halle write! This series was one of my favorite series ever. Every time I say there is no way she can top this and she does. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Hot Shot is hands down going to be one of my favorite books of 2018. While I’m sad to see the characters of the North Ridge go I am so excited to see what’s next!

3.5 stars

Fox and Delilah have been dancing around each other since the beginning of the series. There was something there and we just needed more. It was nice to finally get their story. And it was a complicated one. The Nelsons have had their share of tragedy when they were younger but it seems that Fox took it the hardest. And we see the effects of that in Hot Shot. Delilah has always been there for the family as a sister figure. But she always felt more for Fox and kept it all inside. What will happen between these two and will it lead to a good ending?

Fox was a very complicated man. He had some good and bad parts to him. Delilah was a sweet soul and the effect she had on Fox was evident. Their relationship was a tricky one and seeing how it progressed made for an angsty read. It was heartbreaking but there was a chance for it to be hopeful. The characters and plot line were intriguing and I was anxious to see how the story would play out. It was great to see the previous two couples as well as other supporting characters that play integral parts in the story. Karina packs a punch with the intensity. Hot Shot was a pleasant read that keeps you interested.

I received an e-Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. Review and blog tour can be found on *Milky Way of Books*

Having read almost every book by Karina Halle, I could understand that this one was going to be different. The final instalment of the North Ridge series had love, sexy scenes and lots of heartbreak.

Delilah has always been in love with Fox the older and most easy-going of all the brothers. But Fox's life as a hot shot, who fights against the forest fires, is far darker than he lets to show. As Delilah and Fox come closer, emotions will be revealed and a secret will be born between them.

I really enjoyed this book. There was a surprise with Fox and his inner world, which rarely I see in a male character. I can only account Amy Harmon's male characters in a similar fashion. But the most important thing from this book was the power of family, of unity and of love. Love heals in time and grief can be fought as long as you can believe in yourself and to those who support you and love you.

Truly amazing and worth reading!

I was expecting something emotional and I got it. Reading Delilah and Fox’s journey was a turmoil of emotions, charged with such tension that I had to say drove me a bit mad at times.

Fox is the eldest, witness a tragedy that will affect his decisions for his whole life. Scars that ran deep, issues hidden to the world, tormenting him everyday.

As a hotshot and hero of this town for everything he’s done, his status doesn’t help to settle down. He is on and off, one day with his family and the either fighting fires. I had to say that his behavior for the first part of the book was a bit unsettling to me. Only looking through his lens instead of the big picture totally oblivious to the obvious.

What I wanted is to shake the guy a little… bit as the story unfold, I got attached to this wounded hero.

Delilah is Fox’s best friend, in love with him like forever, lusting and loving him from afar, being his rock and supportive friend no matter what. Her limits are gonna be tested when she realized that she couldn’t hide her feelings anymore.

Things are going be more confusing and messy than ever. The closer they got physically the more they build such an emotional gap, when unsaid things and secrets might tear them apart.

That time, even the peacefulness of that place couldn’t tame the fire they made, baring their souls and burning and crushing together. I like the Nelson family and I was glad to see some issues between the brothers solved. After a long time of extreme tension and overwhelming feelings I was glad to have my HEA. But what a journey!

4.25 Stars
Absolutely nothing not to adore about this story, I loved it!
Fox and Delilah are friends, practically family but there is a level of connection between the two of them that eludes to the possibility of them wanting to be closer than at first it appears they are willing to admit.
Their connection is one that is complicated because Delilah has been an integral part of Fox’s life since the death of his mother, she has cared for him in a way that for many would suggest that she was a family member but that is not the case, they are close and as much as Fox continues to struggle with the emotional aftermath of his mother’s passing, having Delilah gives him the support he needs and because of that I couldn’t help but wonder initially whether Delilah was just his shoulder to lean on, but it soon became clear that he wasn’t completely oblivious to the feelings that Delilah had towards him but was he willing to engage…I certainly hoped so!
I thought the story was fantastic, it had everything I wanted, with an absorbing mix of angst and aggravation, seamlessly blended with just the right mixture of passion and pain.
I liked the storyline that emerged between Fox and his brother Shane, because I thought that it gave a great insight into what made Fox tick and why he reacted the way he did…so don’t overlook the tiny details folks, they all play their part.

I feel like Karina put everything she had in this book. Fox and Delilah's story about broke me. It was nothing I was expecting. But in a good way. It was a story that needed telling.

Del has been in love with Fox for as long as she could remember. But he's her best friend, and he's oblivious to the feelings she has for him. Everyone else around them is aware, even if Delilah hasn't told anyone. But something is changing and Del isn't sure she can hide the way she feels anymore, or at least not hide her attraction.

Fox is a hero. He goes out and risks his life for those affected by the wildfires. But Fox has so many demons and these wildfires just keep adding to them. His demons are trying to surface and he finds solace in Delilah's company.

Things heat up between these two quickly, but nothing about this friends to lovers is what I expected. Fox's demons fight for control and these two have to overcome obstacles they never expected.

I stayed up all night reading this book, I couldn't put it down. Their story was like a wildfire, all consuming, hot, and at times devastating. I laughed. I cried. I swooned. I fell in love with Fox and Delilah and their love story. It was imperfect and flawed, but it was the perfect story for them and one I didn't want to end.

4.5 stars!!!

***ARC received in exchange for my HONEST review. Thank you!***

This is another great book by a wonderful author. HotShot definitely had my emotions going haywire.

My heart hurt for Fox. From just a young age he faced so many trials and he continued to take the blame as well as carried the weight. Blinded by the depression and anger he failed to see what was in front of him the whole time.

Delilah is a breath of fresh air. A good friend, daughter, and person. She thinks she's good at hiding her feelings but not as good as she thinks.

Friends to lovers is a beautiful thing to read. The connection already built makes it that much more explosive. It's not just smooth sailing though for Fox and Delilah. Although Delilah is irrevocably in love with him since childhood she won't settle. Fox has to face his demons for himself but also for the future he hopes to have with Delilah.

This was my first read of 2018 and It's a new favorite of mine. By far what of the easiest 5 stars I've given. I definitely recommend this book. Happy Reading.

5 Stars

Hot Shot by Karina Halle is the third book in the North Ridge series. It can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading the first two books first because they are awesome. Hot Shot was simply amazing. It completely blew me away. It is an emotional read that literally pulled at my heartstrings. I was unable to put it down and stayed up til 3am devouring it.

Delilah and Fox have known each other since they were six years old. They have been best friends and have been there for each other through thick and thin. But Delilah has been keeping a huge secret...she’s in love with Fox. Like head over heels in love. And Fox has no idea-until he does and boy does it get complicated. The lines blur and neither one have any idea where it’s heading. When fate throws a curveball will they be able to withstand it? Or will they lose the friendship that has meant the world to the both of them?

I know I am repeating myself but holy hell can Ms. Halle write! This series was one of my favorite series ever. Every time I say there is no way she can top this and she does. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Hot Shot is hands down going to be one of my favorite books of 2018. While I’m sad to see the characters of the North Ridge go I am so excited to see what’s next!

3.5 stars

Fox and Delilah have been dancing around each other since the beginning of the series. There was something there and we just needed more. It was nice to finally get their story. And it was a complicated one. The Nelsons have had their share of tragedy when they were younger but it seems that Fox took it the hardest. And we see the effects of that in Hot Shot. Delilah has always been there for the family as a sister figure. But she always felt more for Fox and kept it all inside. What will happen between these two and will it lead to a good ending?

Fox was a very complicated man. He had some good and bad parts to him. Delilah was a sweet soul and the effect she had on Fox was evident. Their relationship was a tricky one and seeing how it progressed made for an angsty read. It was heartbreaking but there was a chance for it to be hopeful. The characters and plot line were intriguing and I was anxious to see how the story would play out. It was great to see the previous two couples as well as other supporting characters that play integral parts in the story. Karina packs a punch with the intensity. Hot Shot was a pleasant read that keeps you interested.

I absolutely love a friends to lovers story! Hot Shot was an intense slow burn romance- The storyline was written so well…
It took me a while to fall for Fox, he was a difficult character to understand. Del on the other hand, I loved her! I felt her pain and her disappointment.
No one said a friends to lovers story was going to be an easy one but damn! There were times when I was reading this book where I felt like it was a train wreck that was bound to happen! And times where I went “Poor Poor Del! My God!”
The frustration level in this book is high!High people! not only because it’s angst, heartbreak galore but also because FOX NELSON is a stupid man! MEN!!! ugh!
Thank you baby Jesus! Who finally decided to intervene and add some common sense into this man! hahaha! I think once that happened, I actually really liked him. Hahaha!

A special shout out to Delilah Gordan for being the baddest hardcover girl ever! For being strong even when the “punches” came rolling one after the other! (FYI, I’d go all “You Go girl! *fingers snap*” BUT I don’t think I’m cool enough to pull that off. HAHAHAHA!!!)

I received an e-Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. Review and blog tour can be found on *Milky Way of Books*

Having read almost every book by Karina Halle, I could understand that this one was going to be different. The final instalment of the North Ridge series had love, sexy scenes and lots of heartbreak.

Delilah has always been in love with Fox the older and most easy-going of all the brothers. But Fox's life as a hot shot, who fights against the forest fires, is far darker than he lets to show. As Delilah and Fox come closer, emotions will be revealed and a secret will be born between them.

I really enjoyed this book. There was a surprise with Fox and his inner world, which rarely I see in a male character. I can only account Amy Harmon's male characters in a similar fashion. But the most important thing from this book was the power of family, of unity and of love. Love heals in time and grief can be fought as long as you can believe in yourself and to those who support you and love you.

Truly amazing and worth reading!