I really enjoyed this story of first loves finding their way back to each other after years apart and a lot of personal growth. There was something so satisfying about seeing Nora and Fallon reconnect now that they’re more grounded and comfortable in who they are. The history between them added so much depth to their present day tension, and I appreciated how the story handled the weight of what they shared and what they lost. I also loved learning more about fire mitigation through the lens of the Women’s Plus crew. The forest setting felt vivid and real, and the high-stakes backdrop gave the emotional story even more urgency. It’s a thoughtful, slow-burning romance about second chances and the people who still live in the back of your mind long after the summer ends.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review of Firecamp. Unfortunately I was unable to read the book before the archive date but look forward to finding it in the wild.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a review.

Sapphic romance and wildfire mitigation? SIGN ME UP. I was very interested in this book based on the description, and was excited to dive into it. The premise was sweet, the action scenes were engaging, and I really enjoyed diving into a romance blossoming in the relatively unexplored setting of Fire Camp. I loved Nora's family back story, and Fallon's tragic past. And their romance felt soft and sweet, especially in the first part.

What I didn't enjoy was the pacing. The book simultaneously dragged on and glossed over things, which felt very off. The synopsis gave away the general storyline, and the first part lasted WAY longer than I expected. The author used painstaking detail to describe the events leading up to Fallon and Nora's split, and I was often wondering how much longer it was. To be honest, it felt like the story could have stopped at 75%, and would have been a solid romance.

All in all, it was a fun read and I enjoyed the story, but felt it could have gone through another round of "do we need this?" edits.

"Firecamp" by Jaycie Morrison is a second-chance sapphic romance that includes an emotionally-charged slow burn romance and a time-jump.

MCs Nora and Fallon come from very different circumstances, but are thrown together along with six other women at Firecamp where they all must work to help mitigate wildfires. Both emotionally immature and carrying their own baggage, Nora and Fallon's young romance ends with a bang. Ten years later, with their careers leading the way, they are forced back together. What follows is a slow burn, second-chance romance that is less naive but no less passionate.

This was my first book by Jaycie Morrison, but it definitely won't be my last. I really enjoyed the way she developed Nora & Fallon independently and together as well as the "side action" that we saw with Nora's family, especially her younger brother Tyler. I was initially drawn to the story because it was set in the Colorado wildfire scene & I loved how that was portrayed.

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the eARC.

Firecamp is a second chance romance about Nora and Fallon. Two young women who meet one summer at fire camp in the woods of Colorado. The time there is very challenging for both of them, not only physically but also emotionally. They begin to trust each other until insecurities and miscommunication suddenly separate them. 10 years later they meet again and the attraction is still strong... Can they put the past behind them?

It took me a few chapters to get into the book. The first part of the book was annoying at times, especially the other characters in the Firecamp group. The slow getting to know each other of Fallon and Nora on the other hand was beautiful and tender. Especially the building of trust was really nice. The 10 year time jump gave the story a bit more pace and added great depth to the main characters. Nora in particular really developed in my eyes, whereas Fallon was still stuck in her old character traits. However, the romantic developments happened a little too quickly for me. Nora and Fallon broke up with a big bang in the first part of the book, and the happy reunion happened after two or three chapters in the second part. This took some of the depth out of the relationship and made it unbelievable.

Overall, it was a solid book with lots of lovely parts. But my heart just wasn't in it.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for receiving an ARC.

One of the best sapphic romances I’ve read.

There was so much depth here — both main characters had complicated emotional lives and motivations — and the novel really did them justice. There was a moment where I wasn’t even sure we’d get the genre promised happy ending — and the journey for both Fallon and Nora felt authentic.

There was enough time for Morrison to thoroughly develop each of the protagonists, and the length of the novel felt worthwhile. The pace was leisurely, though dramatic scenes moved at the right tempo.

Well plotted, well written and characters I’d come back to again.

Fire Camp is one of those “mixed blessings” reading. It is centred around a summer course to learn the required skills and put them to use while they help fight and prevent forest fires. This is a fresh scenario to showcase the second chance romance between Fallon and Nora. Both characters are likeable yet personably I was drawn to Fallon due to her history and her timid nature.

The story is engaging which had me reading until the wee hours. There is a plethora of interesting information about forest management and proper equipment use that I found fascinating.

My only disappointment is the plot device of miscommunication used repeatedly to foster angst between Fallon and Nora. The characters deserved better treatment especially after ten years of separation and a promise made to improve their interpersonal communication skills.

I received an advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley.  I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really loved this book. I like both Nora and Fallon and the setting was different to other books. I enjoyed the different timelines and seeing how both girls had grown up over the years. I also loved that styler had gone with Nora and hadn’t been left behind I also enjoyed the’fixing’ of the family dynamics. All in all a really enjoyable read

Exciting Second Chance Romance!

Nora wants to become a photojournalist, but for her tuition fees, her father makes a deal with her that she must complete the summer program at Firecamp. For Fallon, Firecamp is her chance at a stable life, and upon meeting Nora there is instant tension, until they realise they have feelings but their future plans do not align. At the end of Firecamp, Nora goes off to achieve her dream, until her editor offers her the change to report of the Firecamp, and suddenly she is back and it becomes increasingly difficult for Fallon to keep from being distracted.

A great story about being true to yourself and following your dreams, but remembering you need help and support. The tension between Nora and Fallen was so intense, it was almost as hot as the fires they were preparing for at Firecamp. Because they were part of a team, there were a whole crew of women adding to the drama, especially those Nora seemed to be friends with, who were more mischievous than was welcome. When events forced Nora to accept that perhaps Fallon wasn’t so bad, they really started to grow closer but I knew one or both of them were going to end up broken hearted when the camp ended. Nora really grew whilst at the camp though, and I admired how far she had come, both standing up to the women trying to lead her astray and to her father.

Fallon had achieved so much in her own development and career when Nora returned. The second they met again, all that tension resurfaced but with more of an understanding and a protectiveness of each other. Fallon seemed more resistant to things than Nora, so I hoped Nora would be able to find a way to convince her that perhaps they could explore being together, if there was a way, and then fate stepped in and what was going to happen was completely in Nora’s control. At that point, I just willed her to make the right choice because the passion and connection she and Fallon shared, and after everything they had been through in past at Firecamp had to be for a bigger reason.

Enjoyed every minute of the story and loved how it introduced us to the characters, then reintroduced us to them after year’s had gone by and things had changed. Such an exciting romance!

Jaycie Morrison's romance between a firefighter and a photojournalist was fascinating as I got caught up in their worlds.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books, Inc. | BSB genre and NetGalley for providing an honest review.

Nora Palmer’s goal of becoming a photojournalist is almost within her grasp, but her father won’t pay for her tuition unless she completes Firecamp, a demanding summer work program doing fire mitigation in the rugged Colorado national forest. Fallon Monroe’s life has been one of wishing and waiting. Firecamp is her chance at stability and a meaningful life. Despite getting off to a bumpy start, Nora and Fallon’s relationship deepens, even as they are honest about their incompatible plans for the future. But when it’s Nora’s photography that creates a rift between them, their split is abrupt and painful.

Almost fifteen years later, Nora has achieved her dream. So why does that summer still intrude into her memories? When an alert goes out for a major forest fire, Nora’s editor orders her to cover the Women’s Plus doing fire mitigation in advance of the flames. Fallon is now the team leader and can’t be distracted by Nora’s appearance if she’s going to keep her crew safe and help save the forest.

I loved the premise of this, and the first half of the story was really well done. I felt like the second part of the story wasn't as well developed, and the ending was abrupt. That being said, I really did enjoy getting to know the characters. This was a different setup than I've ever read before, so in that way, it was a fresh take! 3.5⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

Nora and Fallon are very different people when they meet up at Firecamp. Nora is moving towards a future as a photojournalist and Fallon is getting away from an unpleasant childhood. Nora is using the Firecamp as a springboard, Fallon sees Firecamp as giving her a stable life.

The Firecamp itself sounds fascinating and terrifying and the scenes are well written and give the sense of danger yet fun and bonding.

The relationship between the two leads stumbles and fails for many reasons but their aims are so very different. Then we move to the current time when they have established themselves and although happy adults, neither of them have totally moved on. The meeting and moving forward is interesting but I did want to shake the pair of them and shut them in a room and tell them to just talk properly to each other. But then we wouldn’t have the angst and drama.

The book is interesting, well written and has some excellent scenes.

I was given a copy of the book by NetGalley

Jaycie Morrison’s writing for me is known to me to make good realistic fiction. This is my third book off the author’s repertoire and the theme of hyper realistic fiction did not disappoint.

I had zero idea of women sawyers let alone being a sawyer was an actual job! The story was immersive and detailed but balanced in a way that doesn’t inundate readers with info-dumping.

The cast, not just main characters, were realistic and thoughtfully constructed. The main characters had firm grounding in their character detail. And when the foundation is strong, the rest follows smoothly.

When it comes to sapphic realistic fiction, Jaycie Morrison is one of my go-to authors.

Oh my goodness, what a wonderful story. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I was not disappointed. Nora and Fallon were so sweet together, although it took them a while to realize they were meant for each other. There was a bit of angst, and there was some nice spice as well. The scenery descriptions made for a nice visual while reading, and the MC’s physical descriptions were nice. I enjoy seeing the characters in my mind’s eye. I will read more from this author. Well done.

Good second chance romance. This is one of my favorite genres to read. The main characters are well written and seem made for each other. The secondary characters are written to help move the story along. This book had quite a bit of drama and angst throughout. There's tension, drama, and romance. I would recommend this book to my friends and family and I look forward to what's next from this author.

I don't generally like to give negative reviews, but this story really got to me. The behavior of the leads is often immature, and their backgrounds don't excuse it. The group of girls of the forest ranger camp could be the most interesting thing, but several of the group members are literally delinquents, and I don't understand how they're allowed to act the way they do. It makes no sense to me. Since the story has two timelines, the period when they're teenagers and a later one when they're mature women, it should be possible to understand some things from the past in the present, but not everything becomes clear. It's been frustrating for me. It was a story with a lot of holes and a lack of coherence, not to mention some unpleasant situations.

great second chance romance. I enjoyed the story and thought both characters were well developed and the author did a great job bringing the story to life.

Thank you Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for this digital ARC.

Great start. Although in an unfamiliar setting to me, I can picture it without being overwhelmed with detail.
I was engrossed in part one. I knew from the blurb part 1 would not end well and as we got to half way in the book I was impatient for this to happen…… Not that I don’t enjoy things going well, but I knew it wasn’t going to last and wanted to get to the next bit. The end of part one, naturally and fortunately left me with lots of questions.
Part two is off to a fast engrossing start. If I felt any slip of pacing towards the end of part one, the actual ending of part one and beginning of part two made up for it. I barely paused to look up in the second section. Compelling. Great job!

Firecamp is a second chance, opposites attract romance told in two halves across a 10 year gap.

In the beginning we meet Fallon Monroe and Nora Palmer, as they both arrive at firecamp for the summer. Each of them have very different reasons for attending - Fallon hopes to find her inner confidence and forge a career path for herself. Whilst Nora has an agreement with her father - make it to the end of firecamp and he'll fund her last two years of college where Nora intends to study photojournalism.

I enjoyed the first half of the story, there is a decent amount of character development for both Fallon and Nora. During their time in the Colorado national forest, we get to understand their backgrounds and childhood in some detail, illuminating who they are now as twenty somethings. Plus there's an interesting cast of supporting characters also enrolled in firecamp. Some like Gwen and Tina lend themselves to loathing, others such as Kennedy add other personal journeys to the narrative. Although Kennedy's own path to coming out as non-binary would have benefitted from greater detail and progression.
By the end of firecamp there are more than just embers burning between Fallon and Nora but, with uncertain paths ahead, a firestorm soon threatens their Colorado paradise.

In the second part of the book, Fallon and Nora's stories jump forward 10 years; both now successfully embedded in their respective careers. A chance assignment to report on a forest fire sees Nora return to her old firecamp stomping ground where Fallon is now in charge.
Unfortunately, it's this stage of the story that I found unsatisfying. There's so much detail and growth in the first half of Fallon and Nora's story, yet when we meet back up with them 10 years later it's as if the issues of the past are no big deal; the romance felt like it progressed too quickly for the time that had elapsed. I was also fairly disappointed in the last two chapters and epilogue - there are some big transitions and decisions being made, but much of the story telling felt rushed with a lot of content left unexplored, a direct juxaposition to the first half of the book. We also don't see any of the supporting characters in the second half, which is a missed opportunity in my opinion given how much of a part they all play in the first half.

Ultimately, what saved this book for me, is the first half of Fallon and Nora's journey. The firecamp, fire fighting and fire mitigation aspects of the novel were also exceptionally depicted and interesting. The downside is that I found those aspects more entertaining than the plot and the romance at times.

Worth a read if you like the story theme and are aware of the pitfalls when it comes to the romance aspects.

Nora Palmer and Fallon Monroe both spend the summer at Firecamp for different reasons. Fallon is looking for a purpose, a place to belong and a career. Nora needs to do this for her father to pay for college where she wants to study photography and photojournalism. The first half of the book is the time spent at Firecamp. Nora and Fallon clash and eventually connect during that eventful summer. The second half of the book has the pair meeting again ten years later, not fifteen years as the blurb says.

Nora is very impulsive, head strong and has anger issues with her parents. Fallon is genuinely kind but life has dealt her rough blows. I enjoyed the time in camp learning the purpose of the work. Watching the women come together as a team. I’m not sure I bought into the romance side much as there was never a plan or discussion beyond the summer. Ten years brings some maturity and life experience. Nora has found success in her field and it is her job that brings her back back into Fallon’s path.

I enjoyed the story and some parts were riveting but other parts moved slowly. I think I was expected to feel a magical connection between the two when I really wanted some honest conversations as adults. It eventually gets there but it takes its time. (3.5 Stars)