Meh. I’m obviously in the minority, but I didn’t love this one. I didn’t feel like there was any build up to the relationship. I didn’t feel a connection between them. That may be in part because I didn’t love either of them. Also it was completely predictable. It wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t for me.

WOW…from the ugly cry prologue, to the suspenseful, romantic and intense middle, to the HEA epilogue...I loved every minute of Ember, written by author Emma Renshaw!

I loved the characters, the storyline, and the smooth flow of this book! There were several characters in this story, but they all had their perfect place in it. The main characters, Gunner (an MLB player), Delilah (a single mom and chef/cook for her parents’ restaurant/bed & breakfast), and Tucker (Delilah’s 8 year old boy), were so well-written! This was a kind of a slow “burn” storyline, with several outlying factors, characters, and events. There was some sexual “heat” in this. I really, really liked this book of love and loss! 4.5 burning embers from me! I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

This cover deceived me. I was fairly certain I was going to go into this and get a nice fluffy, steamy read. At times this was steamy, at times even a bit fluffy, but nothing at all what I prepared for.

We find ourselves from the very start with one of our main characters Gunner, and his best friend ten years before. A tragedy unfolds in the first few pages and the remainder of the book is watching Gunner pick up the pieces of that trauma, and perhaps a few new ones along the way.

We also are introduced to Delilah, through alternating POV, who is a single mother to a sweet eight year old named Tucker. She is the local chef at her parents Inn. It would appear that she has a fairly stable life, and yet we would be wrong... as we typically are.

Throughout the story we watch quite a few dramatic events happen to both Gunner and Delilah. It was a captivating read. I was invested in finding out how this ended. I appreciated the author's ability to not give overwhelming amount of detail while still getting the point across.

As someone who reads quite a bit of romance I was a bit let down in the relationship between Gunner and Delilah. It was obviously inevitable that they would be placed together. However, they really were just not together and then together. I felt that we didnt ever see a solid start to their companionship.

Overall, this was a good read. I enjoyed the familial aspect. The small town love was greatly appreciated. The author has a unique writing style that I enjoyed. I would recommend this to others who are looking for a bit of drama.

Thank you Netgallehy and Scarlett Lantern Publishing for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

4.5 Home run Stars! My first read by this author and I’m hooked! I loved it! Gunner and Delilah’s chemistry and banter is hot and sweet. Their storyline will grab you from the prologue and you won’t be able to put it down. Can’t wait to read more from this new to me author.

I had not read anything from Emma Renshaw, but the cover was beautiful and the blurb was intriguing. So I requested the arc and I was definitely not disappointed. It is a burning love story for Gunner and Delilah. Gunner left his town Hawk Valley ten years ago, after a horrible accident which cost his best friend Declan his life. Not wanting to relive the memories, he kept away for over a decade. But now, his mom is sick and he needs to be near her.
He stays in the inn and meets Delilah, who has been running the inn for several years now. Delilah has taken Tucker, her nephew, under her wing as her own, since his mother ran out of him in hospital after his birth. But now, Tucker's mom is back and she wants to take her boy with her. Delilah can not have her son taken away.
Both burdened with a dark past and scars for live, Delilah and Gunner gravitate towards each other. But not everyone wants to see them become a happy couple. When accidents start to happen, Gunner and Delilah must try to find out, who wants to kindle the flames.
Gripping story, with suspense and unsuspected turns. Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

Gunner is an MLB player, rising to the top of his career. His mother asks him to spend his four months of off season with her in their hometown, a place he has avoided for ten years. High school graduation was supposed to be a night of celebration and anticipation of what is to come, but instead it was the most tragic event in the town's history, and changed Gunner forever.
Delilah has been mother to her cousin's baby since she walked out on him the day after he was born. She worked hard to put herself through culinary school, and enjoys cooking food for the town at her parents restaurant. But now, eight yers later, her cousin is back and wants the baby boy she left behind.
Both Gunner and Delilih have much to work through and overcome in their personal lives. But is there any room for them to find a happily ever after together, or will the ghosts of their pasts stand in the way?
Great read, found myself really rooting for Gunner and Delilah!
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Good book!!! Definitely enjoyed reading this book! There was a lot of suspense , action , and a crazy druggie sister! It has some steam to it and it was all around a good read! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!

4 1/2 Burning Stars!

After being away for 10 years, Gunner's mother insists he come home for the baseball off season. He's too big to stay in her "tiny" house, so he stays at a bed and breakfast. But once Gunner is back home, the nightmares come back from that awful night when his best friend lost his life while saving Gunners. Delilah's the chef at her parent's bed and breakfast and she lives there with her 8-year old son, Tucker. Tucker can't believe his eyes when he sees Gunner, his all-time favorite baseball player ... where he lives! And Gunner is not only smitten with Delilah, he also has a soft spot for her son. But they are both hiding secrets that could destroy their budding relationship.

This book checks all the boxes for me. It has all the emotions ... it made me laugh, cry, and swoon with some suspense added in. Delilah is a strong woman who is very protective of her son. Gunner is a hunk who carries lots of scars ... inside and out and he has a heart of gold despite them. I loved the banter between the characters ... it was very realistic. This is the first book that I've read by this author ... and it won't be my last! A great start to this series.

I received an early copy courtesy of Social Butterfly PR through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

I liked it, but I can't really explain to you why I did, I just did. It was an easy read, with the exception of that suspenseful scene at the end which I could've used more umph of, but I commend the author for throwing me in a loop bc I totally didn't think that person was evil lol. The characters were wonderful, storyline was intriguing, and I'm antsy to hear what her next book is! (Hi, can we please make this a series, I'm into the broody cop!) -JH