Hot Response is a contemporary romance set in Boston with two first responder main characters. Our heroine Caitlyn is an EMT, while our hero Gavin is a firefighter. They know each other through work, as usually EMTs and firefighters show up at the same incidents.

Caitlyn has moved in with her recently widowed Mother, and Carter, her teenage half-brother, to help them recover. So she is pulling double duty, rescuing people both at work and at home. She is burning herself out with all that taking care of others. So when Gavin offers her the use of his apartment for some alone, self-care time, she takes him up on the offer.

Gavin is supposedly a playboy, which does not come across too strongly in this book. Although, because this is book four in a series, his personality may have been more defined in previous books. He is believably written as a 'guy': at times goofy and immature, and at other times respectful and considerate. He is having pants interest in Caitlyn, but, for plot reasons, avoids trying for his usual 'short, superficial and sexual' modus operandi with her.

The romance is set amid the intensity of their careers. There are several mildly descriptive scenes of accidents, fires and car crashes, which just made me uncomfortable, but are probably par for the course in this genre. The major conflicts seem to be a mutual fear of “the L-word”, and differing feelings about the dependency of Cait’s family, and her obligation to them.

Contemporary romances are not a favorite of mine, neither are romances with first responder main characters - all of that fictionalized trauma drama hits way too close to home. It is not a genre that I read for enjoyment. And there were some things in the book that I disliked:
-Referring to people who have accidents as idiots.
- The tickling thing. Ick. I did not like that during intimate moments, Gavin would happen on a ticklish spot and then force the Cait to endure tickling while she “had to settle for pounding her fist on his shoulder, trying to make him stop.” The overpowering and tickling showed up during several different sexy times. It was jarring, especially because of the author's wording: “torturing,” “couldn’t get away from him,” “tried to pull free,” and “holding her down,” and having the heroine feel it necessary to “scramble away” and then have an “ensuing wrestling match.” It did not come across as a playful, 'oops, touched your ticklish spot, tickle tickle giggle move on,' but more like a dominant power play, without any encouragement or sign that it would be welcome by Cait.

Spoiler

- The reaction, on both sides, to the ‘accidental’ heart emoji, which seems overblown in a book with the line “That right there is sketchy enough. How many women don’t have a Facebook account?” That seems like a dated sentiment for people in their late twenties / early thirties.

Also, the part about saying 'I love you' for the first time while sleeping I found a bit too cliche.

So aside from creeper tickling and emoji drama, the story is written well, usually with compassion and respect towards people. The way that author Stacey has portrayed the characters’ instant ability to go from relaxed and off duty to calm, focused high alert is accurately representative of first responders.

Recommended for readers who enjoy spicy, low-angst, contemporary romances with firefighter or cop heroes and/or heroines.

*eARC Netgalley*