Fun free read. I'd read others in this series. The writing is good and the characters are believable. ( )

‘On a Night Like This’ is the first in The Callaways series by Barbara Freethy about the extended American-Irish Callaway clan in San Francisco. Freethy is a new author for me, a best-selling American author of romantic drama. I would class this as a feel-good holiday romance, so not my usual choice. Freethy is an expert at writing series, which lock the reader into the characters.
The basis of the story is the relationship between Aiden Callaway, smokejumper, and Sara Davidson, lawyer, who grew up next to each other in San Francisco. Aiden is an alpha-male, adventurous, a risk-taker, who has never taken a woman with him to his secret camping ground in the wilds north of Napa Valley. Sara is a workaholic New York lawyer who rarely lets anyone get emotionally close. This is a story of opposites attract. At times I found their connection unconvincing, as it seemed to be purely chemical and physical. Sara had a teenage crush on Aiden which re-emerges when she revisits her widowed father in her childhood home next door to the Callaways. When a fire damages the house and her father is in hospital, Sara and Aiden are thrown together. This is a light romance mixed with a little mystery: three weeks before the two meet, Aiden is involved in a tragic fire where his best friend and fellow smokejumper Kyle died. Aiden’s colleagues blame him for Kyle’s death but Aiden cannot remember what happened and so refuses to defend himself. His loyalty to Kyle is admirable, but misguided. Sara, as the clear-thinking lawyer, encourages him to question the facts of what happened.
The setting and storyline reminded me of Anita Shreve, but without the depth of story or emotional heft, and with too many sculptured abs. The longing of Sara for Aiden became repetitive and needy, they seem such an unlikely pairing. The storyline of Sara’s rift with her father, however, was worth more page space. So, this is a pleasant light romantic read. I enjoyed the interaction of the feisty Callaway family and wanted more of them; particularly fire investigator Emma and the story of the disappearing nun and burnt-down primary school [sadly, this storyline was left unresolved]. Freethy is a hugely popular author but this book felt rather as if she was writing by numbers.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-reviews-a-z/ ( )

Before I started reading On a Night Like this by Barbara Freethy I assumed that it would be a standard love story. I could not have been more wrong. Book 1 in the Callaways series tells the love story of Aiden and Sara. It also follows the two characters as they search for answers within their own personal lives. Aiden is searching for the answers surrounding circumstances of the death of a close friend and Sara is trying to figure out her relationship with her last living relative. Her father. Their quest for answers causes Aiden and Sara to confront their feelings for each other. But are their feelings for each other strong enough to conquer the answers they find? Or will it tear them apart? On a Night Like This is a contemporary love story with suspense thrown in. I found this book to be an entertaining and emotionally charged read. ( )

Predcitable but decent about aides who is a fire jumper ( )

On A Night Like This by Barbara Freethy
Have read some of the author's other works and have enjoyed the read.
This one is from the start of the Calloway family series. I have read others in this series and they are good.
This one starts out with Sarah-the next door neighbor when they were growing up as kids.
Right next door to the Calloway family where all the kids: men and Emma, had followed in their fathers footsteps-fire fighting.
She's visiting her father who she's not seen in many years and she hopes they can bridge the gap as he's the only family she has left.
She's a lawyer and she wants to mend their differences. While arguing the kitchen caught on fire....he went to the basement.....Aiden has broken down the door to get to them.
They all get out with help from Aiden-who's visiting with his family and staying there. Other family members and their troubles arise and it's easy to keep everybody straight.
Real everyday problems and firefighting issues. Nice when he turns to her for help-she's asked him for help also so it's lightening their loads.
Loved hearing how all the fire investigations are collecting the clues as to the answers they need.
There is a lot of action and problems from all the siblings which some are solved during this book, others continue onto other books in the series that are revelant to the sibling. Excerpt is included for next in the series.
Free from the author. ( )