Kelsey Browning

I don't think I've read any other books by this author. It was an engaging read but not quite what I expected. I did feel a bit lost at first--knowing that Lillian was planning for something but not quite sure what. I did think it was funny that they sort of tricked the officer into doing work for them, and I didn't guess what the "special" tea was until it was revealed later in the book. At first I just thought it was tea but when it kept being referred to as "special tea" I knew there had to be more than just tea to the equation.

I didn't quite figure out how they knew about the copper allergy. I did wonder how Lillian thought she'd get away with defrauding social security, but I also figured that what she did wasn't the whole story.… (mehr)

Tasting Fire by Kelsey Browning
Steele Ridge: The Kingstons #2

When given a second chance at forever-love with a man you turned down thirteen years ago and you really want that opportunity it just might be worth leaving the big city for your small hometown Steele Ridge in North Carolina. That is just what Dr. Emmy McKay decided to do one day after events pushed her a bit in that direction. When she arrives in town as the new head of the Tactical Medical Team working with the regional SWAT team it is a bit of a shock to the team and to Cash Kingston…the man she never really got over.

Cash has never really had more than fleeting relationships with women and is a charmer with a ready smile on his face but he is a lot deeper than many, especially Emmy, might think. As the two become reacquainted they learn that the supposed ashes of their youthful love may hide embers that only need to be fanned a bit to burst to life again.

As Emmy settles into her job at the ER and as team leader of the TMT bad things begin to happen. One thing followed by another has Emmy and Cash thinking about who might be behind the sudden happenings and both want to get to the bottom of the situation. In addition to the mystery threatening more than one the two take time to be together.

This is a story that is deep and thought provoking. It is a second chance romance but it also deals with current situations heard about in the news and they are handled with skill and heart without losing the essence of the underlying love story.

It took me a bit of time to warm to Emmy…I mean…how COULD she leave Cash behind to pursue her professional goals…and yet…how could she give up those goals? And, why was Cash so eager to fall back into Emmy’s arms after so much heartbreak on his part? Well, perhaps their young love was true love and always meant to be.

I loved Cash’s family and found them, the Steeles, Emmy’s cousin and mother all to be wonderful people. I would love to know more about the rest of the Kinsgston siblings and look forward to finding out what will happen next in Steele Ridge.

Did I like this book? Definitely!
Will I read more in this series? Without a doubt
Do you need to read previous books in the series? Not really

Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars… (mehr)

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley and KickSass Creations in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way.

My first ARC August read and we're on a really good start. While the hidden baby trope is not one of my favorites in romance books, I have to say that Browning did a great job at writing it.

Now, while I don't think Carlie Beth made the right choice, I do understand where her nineteen-year-old-self was coming from. I don't agree, but I get it. All of that aside, I liked Carlie. She was funny, she was a good mother, and a good friend.

Grif was an interesting hero, full of contradictions. I'm curious to see if in the next books in the series this aspect about him is explored, but he seemed like a chameleon to me. When the book starts, we meet him talking on the phone with one of his clients, and by that small interaction, I was expecting a cold, stand-offish guy. Except the more time he spent with his family, back in his hometown, the more laid-back he turned out to be, so I'd love to see him in a big city environment, just to see if somehow he becomes a different person in any way.

Throughout the book there are such hilarious moments that I found it hard not to start laughing like a loon in the middle of the night, which I liked because it's been a while since my last laugh-out-loud read. The story is pretty fast paced, which is also a good thing, but I felt like the ending was a little bit abrupt. I would have wanted a "several weeks/months/whatever later" scene, but I guess that maybe we get that in the next books. I didn't expect the stalker to turn out to be who it turned out to be, which is a plus (I was completely pointing the finger at some innocent person).

I would have wanted to see more bonding moments between Aubrey and Grif, but all in all I enjoyed this book and I'll definitely read the rest of the books in the series, because I need more Reid in my life, Reid being one of Grif's brothers.… (mehr)