LOVE AND KEROSENE by Winter Renshaw
Anneliese is mourning the loss of her fiance. She is determined to honor his memory and continue their project of remodeling his childhood home. When she has a run in with a man who looks like her fiance she is thrown for a loop. Lachlan is the brother she didn't know he had. He is also determined to give the house to the fire dept to burn the house down as a training exercise, and she has no idea why. She is finding out more and more that the man she was engaged to had plenty of secrets. She is also finding out that Lachan is much more than she could have ever dreamed. I very much enjoyed this well written story that has plenty of angst, drama, and chemistry. This is 5 stars.

There's nothing I love more than a broody, sexy alpha with a heart of gold! The cover immediately drew me to this book, the synopsis made me want to read it, and after reading it I can officially say that it delivered on all fronts. This is one of those books that makes you root for the main characters and want to step on any one who gets in the way of their happiness. I would happily read a series about these main characters if the author wrote them. I can't wait to see what comes next! Thank you to the publisher for giving me the chance to read an early copy of this book.

I loved everything about this. Both Lachlan and Anneliese were trying their best which brought them together. I loved watching them get to know each other and open up, when they didn’t really have a reason to trust each other.
And of course, I loved the classic twists and turn that Renshaw includes in her books!
I would highly recommend!

✨3.5 STARS✨

This came at just the right time for me because I was struggling to find something to read. It was enjoyable and simple to read.

Strong characters, and I liked how their connection progressed. Someone they formerly loved deeply wounded them! Lachlan's brother and Anneliese's fiancé, respectively, are the people who are supposed to love and care for them! They were brought together by a failed enterprise and fate since that individual only knew how to lie and deceive.

None of them wanted to admit they required the other for healing despite the fact that they both had wounds that needed to be attended to. They all shared the same desire of closing a chapter and moving on, which I found appealing despite their divergent perspectives and strong opinions.

The icing on the cake were the esoteric terminology and definitions that were introduced at the start of each chapter. In fact, this book taught me a lot of new words like that.

#LoveAndKerosene #NetgalleyArc #WinterRenshaw

I love a good slow burn romance, especially when it is between two people who are love-broken and this one hit the mark for me!

This book had the right balance between character growth and romance. I loved that we saw both characters learn from their past and face their "demons" so to speak. Annaliese is hurt by the betrayal of her fiancé and is left in the mess he created. Lachlan is also trying to come to grips with the relationship he had with his estranged brother. Donovan is dead and so these two will never get that big, all will be revealed moment for him and so it brings an interesting dynamic to their individual character stories but also to their budding relationship as they navigate how to reconcile the past but build a new future without getting those answers from Donovan himself.

I thought these two had a lot of chemistry once they started to get to know each other. The romance is sweeter than it is outright passionate but I think that makes the connection seem stronger. IT isn't something that burns hot right away but slowly catches heat as it builds.

Overall, while the premise seems like an outright soap opera, Winter Renshaw finds a way to ground the story with strong, likeable characters as she shows the power of reconciling the past to create a great future.

What a truly well written story! I loved this story of Lachlan and Anneliese. While not looking for a relationship, they certainly had fate to thank for throwing them together. Anneliese was a strong character, not looking to get taken for granted again. I loved that she pushed Lachlan to face his past, open up and move on. Renshaws books never fail to disappoint, and this one was a page turner!

What a great story! Loved these two and their journey. So real and emotional. Two characters trying to heal from two very different types of trauma.

Lachlan hates his family. Thankfully for him, they are all dead. Now, he owns his family home and plans to burn it down. Unfortunately, someone is living there: Anneliese. She was affianced to his brother Donovan. And although Anneliese was in love with him while he lived, after he died, she finds out he was a con man. She was his biggest mark. Now, all she has left is the remains of the house they attempted to rebuild together.

When she and Lachlan meet, it’s both awkward and combative. She’s defensive, and he’s taken aback. Because Lachlan and his brother were estranged, he had no idea that his brother was involved with anyone. He expected the house to be empty. After meeting a few times, they come to the perfect romantic trope agreement. They decide to live and work together renovating his childhood home.

While a bit somber for Renshaw, the novel contains the same deep connection for which her romantic leads are known. Narrated from dual points of view, we get inside Lachlan and Ada’s heads while they try to dismantle each other’s mistrust of love. It’s endearing and angsty. Plus, the forced proximity trope uncovers all the best things.

Thanks to the author for sending me an eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I'm floored!

Love and Kerosene was so good, so tender, with an insane amount of chemistry and just the right amount of angst to make things a bit more interesting.
Throughout the story I couldn't help but to feel a little heartbroken for Anneliese and Lachlan. Their pain felt so real.

I loved this story so much! This couple was so addictive, I just couldn't put this book down!

Slow burn romance at it's finest!

Love the closed door romance between Anneliese and Lachlan. Love all the up and downs they go through and how they work out the problems they have. Love their ending.

I devoured this book from the moment I started reading it. Ms. Renshaw wrote a heart-breaking and heart-warming story of two broken souls -- Anneliese and Lachlan -- and their journey to find forgiveness from the betrayals they've both been subjected to. I love a slow-burn romance and this was definitely an evolving friendship into attraction into something so much more for both of them. Anneliese is such a sweet character and so lovable that I found myself hoping against hope that she would find the happiness that she so deserved. Love & Kerosene perfectly exhibits Ms. Renshaw's ability to write deeply moving stories that grab you and never let you go. I highly recommend this 5-star read! I'm grateful to have been given the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this book for NetGalley.

Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Tropes: Dead Fiance’s Brother; Forbidden; Forced Proximity; Small-town Romance; family trauma

Stylistically, Winter Renshaw’s Love & Kerosene is interesting. At the start of each chapter, a word is defined. It is probably a new word to most people, but that word sets the tone of the chapter. This action mimics the love for words found in this story. Love & Kerosene is touted as forbidden when really it’s more forced proximity than anything. As her FMC, Anneliese, and her MMC, Lachlan, live together as a means to renovate Lachlan’s childhood home, their attraction becomes undeniable. What begins as an agreement to preserve history evolves into finding each other’s soulmate when it is least expected. The angst you expect from Renshaw is here; the difficulty of Anneliese and Lachlan’s situation is another common characteristic of Renshaw’s romance too. I loved Lachlan’s journey from wanting to burn down his family home due to its representation of his familial trauma to falling madly in love with Anneliese. Even more, Anneliese's acceptance of the reality of her relationship with her dead fiance, to her evolving attraction and interest in Lachlan draws you into her story. Lastly, Love & Kerosene has secrets throughout it, and Renshaw is careful to draw them out. One area I’d love to see Renshaw work on is her pacing. In her last few romances, I’ve noted a quick resolution to a careful plodding of story arc points. Lachlan and Anneliese’s ready acceptance of their love for each other feels rushed even though it comes late in the story. I think there were other steps that could have been taken before they decide to spend forever together. That aside, from the start of the story to its end, I was captivated by Winter Renshaw’s Love & Kerosene.

This emotional, absorbing story captured me from page one and I could not put it down until I read every last compelling page. The book blurb accurately describes the story. The writing is great, of course, I mean this is Winter Renshaw after all, and she is an amazing storyteller. The characters are three dimensional and I really cared about them. Anneliese is still a sweet, warm-hearted, caring person despite having her heart and her faith in love crushed when she discovered her deceased fiancée Donovan was not the man she thought he was; and although I was afraid that Lachlan, Donovan's estranged brother, was going to bring more trouble to her door when he showed up, it turned out that despite the painful memories the house held for him, he basically had a good heart and did not want to cause Anneliese any more distress. This wonderful slow burn romance has a lovely epilogue to wrap it all up. I really loved this story.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

“You’re not just some story, Anneliese. You’re a whole d@mn novel.”

Winter Renshaw never ceases to amaze me with the incredible way she weaves together words to make for an unputdownable read. Love and Kerosene is no different.

Anneliese had the sweetest soul and she had this aura about her that instantly attracted you even when you didn’t want it to. Even though she’d be through the ringer, she didn’t let that keep her down. I loved her fighting spirit and positivity.
The last thing Lachlan wanted or expected was to fall for any one, especially her but found it was impossible. Gawd, Lachlan was broody and closed off but the heart he had hidden beneath was a thing of beauty. He was undeniable dreamy.

Their story has a forbidden-ness to it with Lachlan being her ex-fiancé’s brother but Winter makes their story so much more than that. What starts out as a simple arrangement turns into something beyond what Lachlan and Anneliese ever imagined.

Going in, you just know there’s a truth bomb waiting to flip their worlds upside down. The angsty anxiousness was thick and heavy and made me ache more to the whole truth. The secrets that unfolded had me clutching my chest in shock and heartbreak. I devoured this book in one sitting because Lachlan and Anneliese‘ story had me completely spellbound. I can’t think of a single thing I didn’t love about this story except for the fact that it had to end.

I enjoyed every bit of this book. The character's past heartache evolves to a budding friendship and attaction, and I gladly went along for the journey.
Laclan and Annaliese are perfectly written, and a credit to Winter Renshaw's skill as an author. I felt their pain. I believed their stories of past betrayal. When certain lies came to light, neither character seemed like a doormat or anything more than too trusting.
I was even a little surprised by the ending, and that doesn’t often happen. So kudos to Ms. Renshaw for a job well done!

When Lachlan returns to his hometown, all he wants to do is burn down his childhood home, that he inherited when he brother Donovan was killed. His brother and father made is life miserable especially after the death of his mother. Yet he is confronted by Anneliese Nielsen, the fiancée of his brother, who no-one knew about until Donovan’s funeral. Donovan left her destitute and the only chance of recouping her losses, will be to sell the house that she poured all her money into. Together they make a deal to renovate the house together, but Anneliese will have to convince Lachlan to see, or it will go up in flames. As they spend more time together and their feelings for each grow, the past begins to threaten any future they might have.
Lachlan is a complex character who hides his pain whilst Anneliese, is trusting despite the pain she has experienced. This grief experienced by this couple, is what connects them yet their support for each other was well explored. I also enjoyed learning about the different names constructed by Anneliese as well as Lachlan’s story telling.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a beautiful story, sweet, sexy, and heartwarming. I loved the characters. Anneliese and Lachlan's story is original and captivating, filled with drama, betrayal, and twists and turns. They are perfect together. My heart broke for both of them. This is an excellent slow burn romance. The supporting characters are interesting. I enjoyed it.

When Anneliese's fiance dies she's suddenly stuck dealing with his (until now) secret brother who begins to reveal another side to him that hides a few ugly secrets. Lachlan is a broken man whose childhood ruined him and he's been running from it ever since. When both come to a temporary arrangement that has them working and living under the same roof to finish renovating his family home, revealed secrets and chemistry join forces to create a very confusing living arrangement. Both characters bring a sweet humanity when they start to get to know each other past what they initially believed about the other. A heart warming and breaking story that makes you care for these two when they think no one else does.
Thanks Netgalley for the chance to read this book and give my honest opinion.

3.5 stars

This was a sweet read.
Both main characters were betrayed by someone they loved and now found themselves in the middle of a mess that person made.
I was actually expecting something darker and different than this because although it touches some difficult subjects like grief and how to deal with it, overall this was a light read.
I liked both MCs and I did enjoy the built-up of their relationship but I wish their romance was shown better and not only snippets.
The mystery of Lachlan was heartbreaking and I wished we had more time watching him "dealing" with that.
Our heroine was too forgiving and not that I wanted her to hold grudges but she deserved more than an I'm sorry at times.
Overall this was sweet and enjoyable and now I'm curious about this author's other work.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Anneliese Is strong, determined and a little wary. Still she is upbeat and positive. She has been disappointed and burned before. Fiancée left her in a tight position.
Along comes Lachlan , mysterious, looking like her dead fiancée. They didn’t have the best beginning.
Coming back to his small town home was not part of the plan.
They come to an understanding. And in between the pages, Enemies to friends to lovers brings us the emotions.