It all started with a bee sting, and ended with a firefighter who changed everything.

When a bee sting sends me into a near-anaphylactic shock, I crash into a boulder. Enter Kincaid Greene — rugged, swoon-worthy hotshot firefighter, all calm strength, quiet confidence, and my unexpected hero. Even in my dazed, half-conscious state, my hormones take notice. Extra points: my dog instantly adores him.

Kincaid is the kind of small-town hero who falls hard and doesn’t hesitate. Protective, loyal, and determined to win my heart one slow, sizzling kiss at a time. He’s not afraid of the trust issues I’ve built brick by brick. But trusting a man like him—one who burns this hot—feels like playing with fire.

Too bad my heart doesn’t get the memo.

What starts as a slow burn turns into chemistry that smolders. Every touch feels like striking a match with an emotional pull we can’t ignore.

Titles in the Wild Fire series include:  All the Afters^ ~ When We Dare ^ ~ Fake It True^ ~ Only Ever You^ ~ Just For Us(arc) ~ Make It Last^ ~

This series is part of the interconnecting world of Willow Brook.  The series within this world includes:  Into the Fire ~ Light My Fire ~ Wild Fire ~ Heartfire Falls ~

This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.

Title:  Just for Us
Series:  Wild Fire #5
Author:  J. H. Croix
Published:  March 20, 2026
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Just for Us is the fifth title in the Wild Fire series, which is part of the interconnecting world of Willow Brook.  Up front, I don’t know how I missed this series, since I’ve enjoyed the others within this world.  I can only blame my hectic and, at times, chaotic real life for that oversight.  The fun part of this discovery is that I now get to go back to the beginning of Wild Fire and indulge myself in some new, exciting adventures.

Tori never expected that a bee sting and her life-threatening reaction to it would lead her to her future.  When Kincaid stopped to help Tori, it was the first step in finding his future with a woman who had been badly hurt, often closed in on herself, and who had very little trust in humanity to give.  What some might see as a complete stop to a relationship, Kincaid sees as a challenge, a good kind of challenge where letting go of the past and embracing a future that could include each other is the ultimate goal.

Tori had moved away from Willow Brook after her father’s affair with her mother’s (former) best friend came to light.  She simply could not face knowing that everywhere she went, everyone she saw knew of the family shame.  Eventually, missing her mother and her own friends, Tori came home… only to have a bee sting her and send her crashing into her future, if she’s brave enough to take a few risks and allow herself to trust someone again.

I enjoyed Just for Us so much.  Both Tori and Kincaid have issues that need to be dealt with.  Neither was looking for love, never expecting that they’d literally crash into it.  But, since Tori’s aging, beloved dog, Bella, absolutely adores Kincaid… shouldn’t she give him a chance, too?  Their story is well-written, emotional, and full of difficult personal growth.  Watching both Kincaid and Tori step away from the past and embrace a future together was an emotional journey that I completely enjoyed.  If that sounds like your kind of romance, then you’d love Just for Us.  I’d not hesitate to recommend not only this story, but any story/series set in Willow Brook, with happy endings guaranteed.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This title is available at Amazon