Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Only Ever Us by JH Croix {a review}

Only Ever Us is a smokin’ hot second chance holiday romance from USA Today Bestselling Author J.H. Croix! Rowan & Mae’s story is perfect for readers who love small town holiday romance, hotshot firefighters, sassy heroines, second chances, friends to lovers, slow burn, emotional romance with a dash of angst, plenty of steam and swoon, and a broody, protective hero who has to fight to win back the only girl he ever loved.

Only Ever Us is the third book in the Light My Fire series that is set in the small town of Willow Brook, Alaska. In this book we have Mae and Rowan. Mae has recently returned to her hometown of Willow Brook due to the death of her Grandma. While preparing to make the burial plans, a fire breaks out which traps Mae in the office. Rowan is on scene, and he is able to rescue Mae before anything major happens to her. This is the first time Mae has seen Rowan in about 7 years, and she is immediately transported back to their time together in North Carolina. Of course Rowan being close by also brings back memories* of that night she'd rather forget. After all it's why she pushed Rowan away, but she can't tell him that. Can these two overcome the pain of the past, and find their way back to each other? Rowan knows Mae is the one for him, now he just needs to convince her of it. *please check for content/trigger warnings warnings.

The Light My Fire series has grabbed ahold of my attention, and it isn't letting go. I am absolutely loving this small town and it's people who live there. The fact that Only Ever Us is a second chance romance had me enjoying it all the more. Second chance romances almost always make me happy. Mae pulled at my heartstrings. What she experienced in North Carolina was horrible, and the fact that it affected her friendship (and relationship) with Rowan just made it all the worse. I love that Rowan remembered the small town that Mae lived in, and that he took the job opportunity when it was presented. It was the perfect setup for a bit of forced proximity. Their relationship definitely took time, communication, and trust to get it back to a place where they could even look toward the future. Then the big dramatic moment happened, and you could feel the pain, frustration, and heartache just pouring off the pages. Our characters were in for a fight to get their happily ever after. I can understand why Mae was feeling the way she was regarding Rowan's interference in the situation. Yet at the same time I can understand why Rowan wanted to do what he wanted to do. He was trying to protect Mae, and make sure that he could take this issue/threat away. It all comes down to a lack of communication between our characters. Yet the reunion was that much sweeter because of that dramatic moment. They learned a bit more about each other because of that experience.

I gave Only Ever Us 4 stars. This book was pretty darn good, and there was so much I enjoyed about it. Definitely looking forward to returning to Willow Brook when Fall for Me releases in February.

If you like second chance romances, firefighters, small town settings, and friends who become lovers, then go read this book. Or at least add it to your TBR!

Thank you for reading my thoughts on Only Ever Us.

Laura


That guy. You know the one? He just walked back into my world. 

It all started when the curtains caught on fire at a funeral. Actually, it all started seven years ago in college. Rowan Cole was that guy—the one I couldn’t forget. We’d once been best friends. Maybe more. We almost had it all.

I’ve spent years trying to forget him and the tragic night that tore us apart. As bad luck would have it, he’s the firefighter who shows up to rescue me from the church I almost set on fire.

Speaking of flames and melting, Rowan still has the ability to set me on fire. Just by existing. He’s downright delectable, all rugged man wrapped in a body of pure muscle. I do not want to want him again.

This small town is making it awful hard to avoid him. Especially when he’s determined to prove he’s worth it.


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Meet J.H. Croix


USA Today Bestselling Author J. H. Croix lives in a small town in the historical farmlands of Maine with her husband and two spoiled dogs. 


Croix writes steamy contemporary romance with sassy women and rugged alpha men who aren't afraid to show some emotion. Her love for quirky small-towns and the characters that inhabit them shines through in her writing. 


Take a walk on the wild side of romance with her bestselling novels!


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Thank you to JH Croix, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced copy of Only Ever Us.