Wildfire by Garrett Leigh [Review]

Wildfire (In Vino Veritas) by Garrett Leigh
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: June 29, 2023

In Vino Veritas
Wildfire - Paperback | Kindle
Counterpoint
Unmanageable
Underdog
Wonderland
Dauntless

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
The Busy Bean
1. Sweetheart

Moo U
1. Boyfriend

Speakeasy
1. Touchstone

True North
1. Bittersweet

Vino and Veritas
1. Roommate

Garrett Leigh
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Life doesn’t always pan out as you expect. When it explodes in my face, literally, an old friend offers me a place to heal and a job renovating the kitchen of Burlington’s coolest wine bar.

V&V is a chill fest. Living above it should be a blast. But I’m not built to be a social butterfly. Not anymore. I’m a damaged man.

And I’m not its target clientele.

At least, I think I’m not until I come face to face with the most beautiful human I’ve ever seen. Joss is the new chef and my roommate. He has hair like spun gold and it’s as pretty as the rest of him. Crystal blue eyes. Megawatt smile.

I can’t stop staring. Or thinking about him. He chases my nightmares away. And when he spots my crush a mile off, his solution to our chemical attraction blows my mind.

An experiment of sorts. Science. Is this sexual exploration or sex education?

Either way, Joss is only here for the summer. He’s leaving.

I can’t fall in love with him.

I can’t.

Shame my foolish heart never got the memo.

Thoughts on Wildfire: Oh.My.Goodness. Kai and Joss were smokin' hot together. Joss is a bit of a glorious hot mess who embraces his messiness (for the most part) and Kai is struggling to pull himself back from the edge. While their issues are very different on paper, Joss is able to help Kai navigate some of his triggers because they're things he understands (and has experienced) on a personal level.

No lie, I really REALLY liked these two together. Kai thinks he's straight, so he's a little confused by the reaction (both physical and mental) he's having to Joss. Joss knows he's bi and he gives Kai the space and framework to discover what it is he wants. It's just...I don't know how to put it. I liked that Joss is messy and complex and those very traits are the things that gave Kai structure. Joss tested Kai's boundaries without ever pushing him too far, too fast.

MAN, I liked that. And them!

We got to see a lot of familiar faces (and BOY did I feel for Molly and her train wreck of a dating life) and see Tanner in grumpy Papa Bear mode. Kai and Tanner might not have been friends-friends before Kai started to fall apart, but the big guy isn't about to let someone else shatter when he can do something about it. Kai needed him and Tanner stepped up.

A powerhouse of a chef, a man who's struggling to find himself again, a group who pull together when one of them needs them, and two people who generate a whole lot of steam before they even get together. GOOD STUFF!