The perfect blend of heartfelt emotion and suspenseful swoons. Ember is Emma Renshaw’s best book to date. She grips the reader from the powerful prologue to the very last words. You don’t want to miss this book.

A different book to what I normally read and a new author for me.
What a great book, exciting and interesting characters that had me hooked in.
Definitely well worth the read.
THANKYOU for my free ARC

Oh Emma Renshaw is becoming one my favorite go to authors! I get swept away by her characters and their world! I can’t wait for more!!!

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

3.5🌟
This had me hooked at the beginning. It started off with such a bang. 10 years after a fire that cost him so much Gunner has returned home at his mums request. For 10 years he's been dealing with the pain and grief from the events that unfolded all those years ago. He's made a good life for himself and is now a big shot baseball player. His aim was to come home for a few months, see what was up with his mum and then head towards a new life with a new team. Life works in mysterious ways and his plans change.
Delilah is raising a son that's not hers. She's been raising Tucker since his birth mum (her cousin) left him after having him. Now she's trying to make contact again and wants back in Tuckers life.
I loved how this started. So full of drama and it was heartbreaking watching it unfold. The middle lost me a bit but I'm glad I stuck it out as it soon picked back up and drew me in all over again. I enjoyed the mystery element that unfolded near the end (even if I did work it out) Overall an enjoyable read

4 stars
I liked this book. Mostly because family toes were so strong among the characters and they took care of each other. The fore tragedy was ok for me, I didn't really get why it was part of the book until the end.

Overall it was a good read. I will continue with this series for sure!

Complementary copy given for honest review and opinion.

Emma Renshaw is now one of my favorite authors. I loved the romance and the suspense in this book. I want more. I need to have more of this family. Perfect 10!

ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book by a new-to-me author. I enjoyed how the storyline carried the book and there wasn't alot of unnecessary drama and angst. Looking forward to the rest of the series!

Gunner left Hawk Valley ten years ago after one night changed the entire town. He never planned to return until his mom called and he found himself in the one place he swore he'd never set foot in again. He meets Delilah, which puts a wrench in his plans to leave. He falls for her adorable son and even more for her. But even with the sparks flying, someone is waiting it the shadows to burn it all down.

Who wouldn't love Gunner?! He's a good guy who will do anything for his mother. Delilah is a sweet girl who dropped everything when her son came along. This story was the perfect blend of emotion and suspense. It has a great small town vibe. I couldn't put it down and by the end I had a smile on my face.

Thanks so NetGalley and Just Read Books, LLC for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC to read and give my honest opinion. This was a scorching read and aptly named. Best friends going to baseball draft or college together end up separated during a freak accident involving a bonfire....one dead and one badly burned. Gunner lives on to join major league and finally after ten years goes home again to assist his ailing mother. While there he experiences love, and other things that in a sequence of events.

What did I like? This is a beautiful story that could be anyone’s story given the luck or happenstance. Delilah and Gunner make a beautiful couple together as the events unfold and rip them apart. Family is like a glue and this one has a great story.

Would I buy or recommend? Yes, I highly recommend this. It’s a tragedy upon tragedy but it only makes everything stronger. A beautiful story of doing what life gives you whether it be lemons or lemonade.

Thoughts for the author? Congratulations on your new release! Fantastic story, and poignant! (less)

ARC received for review

4.5 stars

Gunner left his hometown after an accident and now is back to help his mom. He meets Delilah and her son. A very sweet romance with a crazy family member thrown in. A little angst and drama is had in the process, but true love wins. Loved all the side peeps and hope they all get their own HEAs.

I really liked this book, it was totally different than what I'm used to, that's why I had to read it in one sitting!

4 1/2 "fiery" stars!
Ember had a little bit of everything. It was a little sports romance, single parent, struggling after loss and more. Emma Renshaw blended it all perfectly. It never felt jumbled or messy. Everything just flowed and I was definitely there for it.

Delilah is a chef and single mom raising cute and adorable Tucker (aka Tuck). She's a strong woman who prioritizes her son above everything else and makes no bones about it. I really liked her. Gunner is the professional baseball player who recently came back to town because his mother is sick. He hasn't been back for years and has a lot of "baggage" and haunting memories tied to Hawk Valley. He's focused on being there for his mom and is holding out little hope for anything more until he meets Delilah. Even though it isn't love at first sight, they definitely have "attraction at first sight." They start with friendship and it gradually evolves into more. Delilah isn't really looking for a relationship and assumes that Gunner is only "passing through" town so she doesn't want to set herself or Tucker up for that type of heartbreak. Also, she has other issues to deal with that have her extremely stressed out. It makes starting a romantic relationship more than a little challenging....

I enjoyed the storyline and really connected with both of the main characters. They were "real" and their emotions felt sincere, not manufactured. I would say this book was running as a strong 4 stars for me until towards the end when it popped up to a 4 1/2 star read. Yep...I liked the conclusion. It was clever, in my opinion. Also, I'm a fan of a good epilogue and Ms. Renshaw delivered a great one. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next book in this series. I also can't wait to read some of Ms. Renshaw's backlist as well.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When becoming a baseball player is all you want. What do you do when your life gets flipped upside down and you end up having to fight for your life. Gunner was just starting when fire took from him. It’s been years and he’s coming home finally. Not only to face demons but to help his mother.

Delilah is new to town but has made a name for herself. She has everything she wants. Until her past just might take away her son. Danger, fire, the past, and unholy attraction to each other makes for quite a wild ride. It was interesting and I enjoyed it.

Ember was the first book I read by Emma Renshaw. I really enjoyed this book, and can't wait to read the next book in the series. This book is told from duel point of view. I like this books like this so you can understand what each character is thinking.

This book starts with Gunner hanging out with his friends and then a fire happens. He plays baseball and leaves his hometown behind. He has a hard time dealing with all that happened with the fire. 10 years later his mom asks him to come back. When he gets home he realizes he needs to be there for her.

Gunner meets Delilah. Delilah is going through her own battles. I like the connection between both characters and the room for growth between them. I had a hard time putting this book down, because I wanted to know what happened next.

#Ember #NetGalley
** I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Gunner can't forget the horrible night his friend, Declan, lost his life while saving his. They both had such promising futures ahead of them, but death cut short so many young lives on that night of the beach side bonfire. Ten years later, Gunner is forced to return when his mother is faced with her own life and death battle.

Delilah is the only mother that eight year old Tucker has ever known. Delilah, Tucker and Gunner share some time at her parents' Inn, where Delilah is the head chef. But the past rears its ugly head in the shape of Shayla, Tucker's drug addict mother, and a long-held vendetta from that tragic bonfire accident.

There were quite a few suspenseful moments in this story. Poor Delilah suffers concussion not once, but twice! Gunner even proves his love for Delilah by running into a burning building, facing one of his worst fears - a burning fire.

This was a very well-written, engrossing story. I'm rating this one a 3.7 out of 5.

This story was amazing!
I loved every single moment of this love story! What’s not to love when you have a hot baseball player, a single mom and sweet little boy??? Now add in some great supporting characters and a new dog for that sweet little boy. :) You getting the picture???

This is a new to me author and I’m so glad I decided to give her story a try. Now I want to go back and read all her previous stories. Like right now.

If you can’t already tell, I highly recommend you read this one. You will not be disappointed!

I enjoyed this book so much, Emma Renshaw did a great job! Gunner has been solely focused on his baseball career for the last decade, his discipline as an athlete is fuelled by guilt and an attempt to honor his best friend. He has managed to run away from his past, until his mom calls him back to his hometown to receive some troubling news. His priorities suddenly shift and Delilah might just be the the best thing he didn't know he needed. She is a single mom, who has struggles and secrets of her own. Their love story touches on some difficult subjects like addiction, grief and serious illness.

I loved how the author did not shy away from the heavy subjects and we got to feel everything with the characters – I might even have teared up a few times. Delilah was sweet, generous and strong. Although she had Gunner and her family's support, she was also independent and always prioritised her kid. Gunner was clear on what he wanted and had the patience and respect to make it happen. His devotion to his mom was beautiful to witness.

The side characters were great and really added to the story. I especially loved Tucker, Gunner's mom and Colt. I would definitely recommend this book, I think it has something for everyone. There is the single parent trope, sports elements, some suspense, strong family relationship and even some found family sprinkled in there! I can't wait to read more about these characters!

This is a deeply emotional story that will have you reaching for the tissues a well crafted story that keeps you engaged until you turn that last page

Two people damaged by their past Gunner Gentry who fled Hawk Valley ten years earlier when he lost his best friend Declan in a tragic accident Baseball has given him a future and money but he isn't really living The only person he cares about is his mother and for her he has returned. Delilah Moreland is single mum who works at the inn and is the chef where Gunner is staying She has a busy life with her son and working When she sees her son Tucker playing with his favourite baseball star she has to rethink her life and in the process she will drag Gunner back to living Can they have a future together You will, have to read to see

Gunner is a professional baseball players that returns home after ten years during the off-season at the request of his mother. The night of his high school graduation, tragedy struck at a bonfire where Gunner's best friend was killed when the bonfire collapsed. Gunner has demons returning home over survivor's guilt of living the life that his best friend wanted as well. When he gets home, Gunner finds out that his mom has cancer and finds strength in the chef of the inn that he is staying in. The more time that Gunner spends with Delilah and her son, Tuck, the more he falls in love with both of them. Gunner and Delilah both have obstacles to overcome in order to be able to accept the love that each has for one another. It's a heartwarming story with the ending that you are rooting for!

Emma Renshaw’s ‘Ember’ is a sweet romantic story that could have benefitted from additional exposition and detail.

When MLB star Gunner returns to his hometown for the first time in ten years to help his mom, the last thing he expects is to meet the woman of his dreams and her adorable son. Delilah is new to Hawk Valley, and doesn’t carry the scars of the town’s past. Through her, Gunner realizes that he doesn’t have to punish himself for the things that happened ten years ago; however, as Gunner and Delilah become closer, it becomes evident that someone doesn’t want them to find happiness. Will they be able to overcome the pressure from unseen forces, or will it all go up into flames?

While I liked Renshaw’s overall story idea, I found myself wishing for more character development, more detail, and for more flashbacks. Gunner feels a bond with his best friend that I wish would have been written about in more depth. The conflicts in the book also felt forced and kind of out of left field (pun intended). I think that more exposition would have allowed for the reader to feel more connection to (and to be more invested in) the story. I also never felt the romantic connection between Gunner and Delilah. I think the story had a lot of potential… but I was left wanting more.

Thank you, NetGalley and Social Butterfly PR for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.