About the Book
Genre: Contemporary romance
Release Date: Nov 1st
How can she forgive him for what he didn't do?
Photographer Izzy Cooper feels as frozen as her pictures. Trent Palmer might be the hottest firefighter in Templeton Cove, but she can never face him again. Not after he failed to save her brother. But when they're forced together by a calendar shoot, the sparks between them are undeniable.
Izzy knows it's not fair to blame Trent for the tragedy, but opening herself up to loss again isn't something she's prepared to do, no matter how determined Trent is to show her that pain is part of life and that love—their love—can make any suffering bearable.
EXTRACT
The security alarm chimed. Someone had stepped inside the studio. Exhaling a heavy breath, Izzy pulled back her shoulders, lifted her head and forced a smile.
“Hi, how can I…” Her heart stopped. Trent Palmer stood just inside the door. “Why are you here?”
His dark green gaze bored relentlessly into hers, his strong jaw set as he reached behind him and shut the door. “I came by to see how you’re doing.”
Traitorous attraction skittered over the surface of her skin before Izzy turned and strode toward the corner she used for staging portrait shots. The fluffy bunnies, huge furry dice and toys she’d used to relax a toddler earlier now felt macabre.
She spun around, clutching a teddy bear. “The same as I was doing yesterday and the day before. I told you I don’t want to see you. I don’t ever want to see you. Why do you keep coming back?”
He came closer, his gaze locked on hers. “You have to talk to me. I was Robbie’s friend. There was nothing—”
“You could do. Fine. I get it, but why do you feel the need to keep coming in here and checking up on me? What do you want me to do? Dance in the street? Kick up my heels at the fairground? God, just leave me alone.”
“There’s a beach party tonight. I want you to come with me.”
She stared. Why him? Why would a man she really liked—a damn firefighter—have to pursue her like she was someone worth pursuing? “No.”
He looked at the equipment covering the desk alongside him. He lifted and replaced a camera, the hunch of his wide shoulders indicating his discomfort. Izzy hated that she drew no satisfaction from that…only sadness.
BUY LINKS
AMAZON UK
AMAZON US
B & N
Release Date: Nov 1st
How can she forgive him for what he didn't do?
Photographer Izzy Cooper feels as frozen as her pictures. Trent Palmer might be the hottest firefighter in Templeton Cove, but she can never face him again. Not after he failed to save her brother. But when they're forced together by a calendar shoot, the sparks between them are undeniable.
Izzy knows it's not fair to blame Trent for the tragedy, but opening herself up to loss again isn't something she's prepared to do, no matter how determined Trent is to show her that pain is part of life and that love—their love—can make any suffering bearable.
EXTRACT
The security alarm chimed. Someone had stepped inside the studio. Exhaling a heavy breath, Izzy pulled back her shoulders, lifted her head and forced a smile.
“Hi, how can I…” Her heart stopped. Trent Palmer stood just inside the door. “Why are you here?”
His dark green gaze bored relentlessly into hers, his strong jaw set as he reached behind him and shut the door. “I came by to see how you’re doing.”
Traitorous attraction skittered over the surface of her skin before Izzy turned and strode toward the corner she used for staging portrait shots. The fluffy bunnies, huge furry dice and toys she’d used to relax a toddler earlier now felt macabre.
She spun around, clutching a teddy bear. “The same as I was doing yesterday and the day before. I told you I don’t want to see you. I don’t ever want to see you. Why do you keep coming back?”
He came closer, his gaze locked on hers. “You have to talk to me. I was Robbie’s friend. There was nothing—”
“You could do. Fine. I get it, but why do you feel the need to keep coming in here and checking up on me? What do you want me to do? Dance in the street? Kick up my heels at the fairground? God, just leave me alone.”
“There’s a beach party tonight. I want you to come with me.”
She stared. Why him? Why would a man she really liked—a damn firefighter—have to pursue her like she was someone worth pursuing? “No.”
He looked at the equipment covering the desk alongside him. He lifted and replaced a camera, the hunch of his wide shoulders indicating his discomfort. Izzy hated that she drew no satisfaction from that…only sadness.
BUY LINKS
AMAZON UK
AMAZON US
B & N
My Review
When I got the opportunity to review this romance novel, I jumped on it. Not only will I never say no to a fiery hot firefighter (pardon the pun), but I had also heard good things about the author. The cover also appealed to me. I’m glad I gave it a chance, because this story is going to stay with me for quite a while.
I felt for Izzy immediately, pulled into the story with a bang and a few tears. She remained believable and lovable throughout the book. I think if I were in a similar situation, facing such a tragic loss, I would react a lot like her. Closing myself off, masking grief with anger, lashing out at those trying to get through. It doesn’t make it any easier that Trent is a firefighter, although none of it is his fault. I will admit, though, that I sometimes fought the urge to slap some sense into her…
Just when I thought, yes, they’re giving each other the chance they deserve, another tragedy happened. It hit me out of the blue, and it turned the tables. Suddenly, it’s Trent who needs to get his head together and listen to his heart, who needs tender loving care from Izzy and a few kicks in the sexy butt from his buddies. And then again, just when I grew a little less tense and thought we were coasting towards the happy ending, the author nearly made me fall off my chair with yet another tragedy.
I like it that the author didn’t just focus on the romance and sizzling hot chemistry between the energetic and authentic leading pair, but also on their jobs and life. Emotions, thoughts, actions – all seemed so real to me, and I would have happily read another 100 pages or so. There’s quite some angst, some sweetness and lightness with humor strewn in, and some steamy scenes that are anything but gratuitous.
A line from the story stayed with me, summing up the main conflict and solution all at once:
“I want you to change me, Iz. You’ll make me better and I’ll do the same for you.”
Rating: 4/5
I felt for Izzy immediately, pulled into the story with a bang and a few tears. She remained believable and lovable throughout the book. I think if I were in a similar situation, facing such a tragic loss, I would react a lot like her. Closing myself off, masking grief with anger, lashing out at those trying to get through. It doesn’t make it any easier that Trent is a firefighter, although none of it is his fault. I will admit, though, that I sometimes fought the urge to slap some sense into her…
Just when I thought, yes, they’re giving each other the chance they deserve, another tragedy happened. It hit me out of the blue, and it turned the tables. Suddenly, it’s Trent who needs to get his head together and listen to his heart, who needs tender loving care from Izzy and a few kicks in the sexy butt from his buddies. And then again, just when I grew a little less tense and thought we were coasting towards the happy ending, the author nearly made me fall off my chair with yet another tragedy.
I like it that the author didn’t just focus on the romance and sizzling hot chemistry between the energetic and authentic leading pair, but also on their jobs and life. Emotions, thoughts, actions – all seemed so real to me, and I would have happily read another 100 pages or so. There’s quite some angst, some sweetness and lightness with humor strewn in, and some steamy scenes that are anything but gratuitous.
A line from the story stayed with me, summing up the main conflict and solution all at once:
“I want you to change me, Iz. You’ll make me better and I’ll do the same for you.”
Rating: 4/5
About the Author
Rachel lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. Since 2013, she has had six books published by Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and recently signed a contract for two more. She also has four Victorian romances with eKensington/Lyrical Press.
Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, and was selected to mentor the Superromance finalist of So You Think You Can Write 2014 contest. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.
She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!
Facebook:
Facebook
Facebook Street Team - Rachel's Readers
Twitter:
Twitter
Goodreads Author Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1806411.Rachel_Brimble
Blog:
Blog
Website:
Website
Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, and was selected to mentor the Superromance finalist of So You Think You Can Write 2014 contest. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.
She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!
Facebook:
Facebook Street Team - Rachel's Readers
Twitter:
Goodreads Author Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1806411.Rachel_Brimble
Blog:
Blog
Website:
Website
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