this is a cute little romcom. I seriously like all the unique words this book brought out! highlighted a ton of them! Love this cute little unexpected romance. Super enjoyable!


"when you've been to hell and back , everything else feels like disneyland"
my favorite new word is Pistanthrophobia which is a phobia of getting hurt by someone in a romantic relationship

Love and kerosene

🌟🌟🌟🌟



I loved this book! I was having a hard time finding something to read and this was like God’s send!
I got it as an ARC and it arrived when I needed it the most!
It was so easy and fun to read… I loved it very single spicy moments and also the ones that pulled my heart strings and touched my whole soul…

The characters were strong and I liked the way their relationship developed… They were deeply hurt by someone they loved once! Someone who supposed to love and care for them, a brother for Lachlan and a fiancé for Anneliese! that person only knew how to lie and deceived …so a broken project and fate put them together… Both of them have wounds that need to be healed and none of them wanted to admit they needed it each other for it… I liked that they had different ways of seeing things and strong beliefs but the same goal, close a chapter and move on!!

In general I loved it… this is the type of romance I want to read when I take a break from my fantasy world…

Winter has been an unknown author for me so far, this is the first book I have read and I believe it will not be the last. The story is essentially a cliché but it is written in a very nice way, you feel like you know them personally. Lachlan is a rude man with a tender heart, I adore his stories and that is why this book is so special.
Anneliese is a modest and withdrawn girl who has never been spoiled by life, she tries to find answers to the current life circumstances and instead of that, she finds Lachlan. I like their chemistry and their interpersonal relationship.,What I don’t like is something I couldn’t stand in real life either and that’s why I give it a rating of less than five stars..

Thank you Montlake and NetGalley for this opportunity.

Anneliese, the scorned fiancé of a dead man, who stole all her savings and left her with a dilapidated Victorian, and Lachlan, his lookalike brother who is only in town to disposed of the childhood home with so many bad memories.
They both realize they need each other to accomplish their goal and Lachlan strikes a deal to move in and help fix up the house, while waiting for probate to close.

It was…cute. I don’t know if this book was just a “it’s not you, it’s me” situation, but it wasn’t my favorite Winter Renshaw book. I felt there was too much buildup for very little resolution in a rushed ending.
It is very much an easy beach read.

Bonne romance et bons personnages
4,5
J’ai trouvé que cette histoire était un peu plus mélancolique que d’autres récits de Winter Renshaw, mais elle reste passionnante, grâce à son style et à ses personnages.
Anneliese s’est faite arnaquer par Donovan, son ex-futur fiancé qui vient de décéder, et elle doit maintenant faire face au frère de ce dernier, Lachlan, dont elle n’avait pas connaissance, qui veut récupérer la maison familiale qu’elle a réparé avec ses fonds à elle.
L’histoire se développe entre bons et mauvais souvenirs, et leur nouvelle vie après le décès de Donovan, le tout dans une relation qui se tisse lentement. Il n’y a pas de scènes chaudes, mais elles sont sous-entendues, laissant la place à une belle romance et une reconstruction personnelle de chacun des survvants. C’est une histoire très bien écrite.
Good romance and good characters
4.5
I found this story to be a bit more melancholy than other Winter Renshaw stories, but it's still gripping, thanks to its style and characters.
Anneliese has been scammed by Donovan, her ex-fiancé who has just passed away, and she now has to deal with the latter's brother, Lachlan, of whom she had no knowledge, who wants to recover the family home that she repaired with her own funds.
The story develops between good and bad memories, and their new life after Donovan's death, all in a slowly weaving relationship. There are no hot scenes, but they are implied, giving way to a beautiful romance and a personal reconstruction of each of the survivors. It's a very well written story.

I read some of the other reviews calling this a sweet read with no drama and found Love and Kerosene to be the complete opposite! Although I feel the heroine, Anneliese Nielsen, was very smart, sweet and trusting, I found this book to be suspenseful with just the right amount of angst and emotion, twists and turns. It had a hero and heroine with explosive chemistry so the title of this book was very apropos, and I was glued to the pages of this opposites–attract romance.

The book begins rather somberly as Anneliese just buried her finance, Donovan, and is working on renovating his family home in Vermont. It is after his death that many secrets are revealed and she realizes her life was filled with lies and deceit. I don’t want to give too much away, but this girl has been through the ringer and while many would throw in the towel, she remained positive, focused on her goals, and perservers as the hits keep coming.

Unbeknownst to her, she meets her dead finances’ younger brother, Lachlan, and honestly doesn’t know whom she can trust. And he doesn’t trust her either. Nail biter! As the chapters unfold, secrets are revealed and the extent of Donovan’s scandalous behavior comes to light. If you like books with a no good dirty ba$tard–a villain through and through, and a hero who is so deserving of the title, then read this! Even her friend is not all that she seems! Another twist to the heart!

But do not fear, Winter does an amazing job interspersing many tender and vulnerable moments in the chaos between Anneliese and Lachlan as truths are revealed and they let down their guard. Lachlan is the type of man that is my catnip. He’s quiet and aloof, strong and sexy, works with his hands, is not materialistic or pretentious, honorable to the core, loves to read, loves to write, loves to travel, is honest and protective, and most importantly, loves Anneliese unconditionally.

Love how they got to know one another and effortlessly enjoyed each other’s company, how they communicated with each other even when it was hard, how they gave each other the benefit of the doubt, and how well they worked together and compromised, even when they were upset with one another. I just loved the slow burn of their forbidden romance and the constant nagging in my gut asking will they or won’t they. Trust the process. It couldn’t be any other way.

They understood each other and I really found it inspiring how these two lonely people found each other, put each other first, and could put the past behind them. Not the steamiest of books, but their actions spoke louder than words and I was behind this couple the entire time. I love a couple that beats all odds and they did just that.

Other reasons I loved this book: 1) Every chapter starts off with a new word and definition that fits perfectly in with the story. 2) I loved her parents and how wise they were and accepting of Lachlan, despite what his brother did. 3) I loved Anneliese’s job of helping people come up with baby names and how she transformed it into finding names for businesses and books. What a gift and so very clever! I was totally engaged reading this process and thought it was awesome. 4) I really loved the epilogue tying everything together and thought it was perfect. I can go to sleep in peace!

Willow Renshaw always surprises me with her vast range of storytelling and I highly recommend this author if you haven’t tried her yet.

This was another delightful story by Winter Renshaw! First and foremost, this logophile greatly enjoyed learning the interesting words at the beginning of each chapter. I was also really jealous of Anneliese’s side job—I’ve always had a fascination with names and spent a lot of time sifting through possibilities for my children!
The romance in this book was lovely. Lachlan and Anneliese happened to be hurt by the same person years apart but those wounds brought them together in a beautiful way. I loved the epilogue!
I read this book in a few hours and it left me feeling satisfied and content. Highly recommend!

She got a little surprise when her fiancé died in a car accident. Left with little else, she decides to stay put in his small hometown to finish the renovations that the two had started together on the he had inherited. Enter that fiancé's estranged brother who has plans of his own for the house. The two, obviously, don't get off on the right foot, but she's a fighter and is not about to give up so easily. Both characters are generally good people. He's got a chip on his shoulder, and rightly so. He wants nothing to do with the town, and once he sets his plans in motion, he'll be ready to flee. He comes off a bit gruff. She is kind yet a little bit too trusting. While they may find each other attractive, that attraction doesn't come into play right away. They are both fighting for the same thing, for very different reasons. Secrets are revealed. Lies told. Lives fractured. There's a little bit of mystery in regards to his past. Things come to light in the end, making us understand his reasoning for his actions. While the story is not dark, there is a slight heaviness to it. It is more dramatic than comedic. There is some sexual content, but it is more fade to black than in your face. My only complaint is the fact that after he hurt her (however unintentional it was) it was her who came back to apologize for reacting the way she did (which was reasonable given the circumstances.) He didn't even attempt to apologize, if even to soothe the hurt. He simply tried to explain his actions. Granted, what he did, he did to protect her, it still would have been a nice gesture to say, 'I'm sorry.' especially when he knew what she had gone through and that she was in pain.

*I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

There’s so much to this book that I enjoyed. I love the difference in the writing between Lachlan and Anneliese. A lot of the time, I feel like with different POVs that the author might miss hitting the different personalities, but that was not the case in Love and Kerosene by Winter Renshaw! No, she delivered beautifully crafted and unique chapters based on both characters’ personality and likes and inner thoughts. Lachlan is a word guy, so his chapters are beautiful, and you can really see his personality just through some of the thoughts and how it almost sounds like he wrote them himself. Then you have Anneliese who is trying to overcome learning about her dead fiancé’s shortcomings and web of lies. Her chapters hold her inner thoughts and for a while there, I could see myself just listening to her like a best friend sitting on the edge of her bed while she spilled her heart out.

The dynamic between Lachlan and Anneliese was interesting to watch unfold. They both want completely different things with the house that Donovan left behind. Anneliese wants to renovate it and sell it and Lachlan wants to donate it to the fire department and watch it burn to the ground. After agreeing to allow Lachlan to stay the weekend for a trail run (because he needs a place to stay and Anneliese is need of someone with construction skills), they really begin hitting it off. I loved every interaction they had.

The epilogue was the perfect ending to this and I was so happy for the ending couple. It made my heart happy for each of them and the way things turned out.

Book Rating 4.5/5 ⭐️

I LIVE for these kind of books. I was hooked from the start. The pages flew by and I finished this book in just a few hours. Could not put it down! This is one of those books that will stick with you for a little while❤️ Highly recommend and will reread again in the future.

Renshaw's newest is delightful! There are definitely some dark, heavy parts of the story, but overall it is a sweet, romantic story of a woman healing from a tragedy and a man forced to confront the ghosts of his past. I loved it!

Love and Kerosene, by Winter Renshaw

Anneliese Nielsen is engaged to Donovan Bryne and living in Arcadia Grove in his family home and renovating it. Donovan dies in a car accident and Anneliese continues the renovation so she can sell the house. Well, while in the local bookshop she sees a man walk past that could be the twin of Donovan. He shows up at her door later and it is Lachlan Bryne, Donovan’s younger brother. He has come to claim the house and burn it to the ground. Needless to say Lachlan had a very horrible childhood after his mother died.

Lachlan moves into the house with Anneliese and he helps finish the renovations.

This is a heart stopping book and a very good read.

“They say everyone has a doppelgänger”
“Tacenda. Some things are better left unsaid”
“Only boring people get bored”
“The world needs more kalon - and I need more Anneliese”
What would you do if the doppelgänger of your dead fiancée knocked on your door?
Well I know what Anneliese would do !!!
This book was so good !!!
I couldn’t put it down !! I read it in one sitting and I honestly couldn’t be more happy !!
A book with some very serious trust issues to be explored. A book with the grumpy-sunshine trope we all love. A book with the rivals to lovers trope you can even come to love, as well as a constant banter and an undeniable attraction between two people that wanted many things but falling for each other !!!
And don’t make me start on the forced proximity !!!!!
This romance book was really a beautiful read and, as I remember reading The dirty truth, the spicy scenes though short were really good!!
At the end of the journey all the lies, the deception and the betrayals lead to the best ending ever where two souls connected right when and where they both needed it most !!!
Read this book as soon as it is out. You won’t want to miss it !!!
“We’re on two very different train leaving the station in opposite directions - but if things were different, I’d make her mine”
“Either you give this busy little mouth a rest, or I rest it for you”
“I’m not capable of loving someone … but if I were, I’d want to love someone like her”
“You’re all I think about every minute of every day”
“You’re not just some story, Anneliese. You’re a whole damn novel”

Absolutely fantastic!! I just loved this, exactly as written. You need to release this now! Seriously, I feel so blessed to have been given an ARC of this one... Winter, you blew it out of the park! This is so ready for release NOW and everyone is gonna love it!!

***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley***

3.5 Stars

I am not sure what I would do were I to be faced with the long-lost (and previously unknown) brother of my dead fiancé. I am sure I would react, at least initially, exactly as Anneliese does when she meets Lachlan...by slamming both the literal and figurative door in his face, shutting off all possibilities of any future relationship.

The way their relationship builds, along with the house, was unique and it worked. I felt for both of the characters, and I related (as much as possible) to the way they each felt about the relationship they had and how it was evolving.

it's definitely a slow burn, but this story wouldn't have worked in any other way, as there is no way you would have believed there was a long term HEA for this couple if the romance had come quickly between them. It was enough emotional work to get through and over the things in the past for them to even be able to be together in the present.

I also loved the epilogue, the little glimpse into where they end up was nice. In some stories', an epilogue isn't necessary, but for this one, I really thought it was an gave the perfect ending to their story.

I enjoyed and recommend this title.

This was a great read!
I absolutely loved both Anneliese and Lachlan. I loved them as individuals and together. I loved how they built their friendship. It was so so sweet. I also liked hearing about the different aspects of Anneliese and Donovan’s relationship throughout the story. It was almost like we were healing with her.

Anneliese and Donovan both want the home Anneliese is staying in. Anneliese has plans for the home and hopes to recoup some of the money she lost. Donovan has completely different plans for the home. Anneliese has to learn of the lies and betrayal from someone she thought she loved while Donovan knows just who the man truly was. Can they help each other and move on from a past that is nothing but pain?

I love both characters and I love the way they help heal each other, and how they find in each other a second chance for love, it's my first book by this author but it definitely won't be the last, overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A BONFIRE OF LOVE IN THE BEST WAY

“The bast****d stole my heart and then he stole my life savings.”

Love & Kerosene is a perfect example of the saying: Life is what happens when we’re busy making other plans.

Anneliese is a trusting young woman who's alone and desperate after being swept off her feet in a whirlwind romance only to be saddled with a fixer-upper in a town she barely knows following her fiancé’s untimely death. Turns out their life was a lie, and now she 's faced with the sudden appearance of his surprise brother Lachlan claiming his inheritance of the rundown house with plans to sell it out from under her, after all her savings were squandered on it as an unfinished, bed & breakfast renovation. Not Lachlan’s problem. He just wants the work completed, sell it, and blow town again. Period. But, what did I just say about life and making plans…

This bickering pair finds common ground as roomies while completing the reno, and Lachlan has a change of heart about her and his long-forgotten life plans of the past. The couple was combative, sweet, caring, and sexy. But, life isn’t that easy, even if love enters the equation. There are more surprises and heartbreak in store for sweet Anneliese and wanderlust Lachlan, as more secrets about his dead brother pile up, and then the unthinkable happens and changes everything …

“Hurt people hurt people. Healed people help people.”

Ain’t that the truth? This romance is definitely in Ms. Winter’s wheelhouse and just as engaging as her others. I got so wrapped up in the romance, house renovations, budding love, memories that won’t stay buried, and adorable small-town life that Ms. Renshaw writes so well, that I never saw that impending soul crusher of a plot twist coming. I literally screamed NOOOOOOO at my Kindle, but it was all for the best, fictionally speaking. Just not as expected, but that has nothing to do with the heartwarming romance itself. If you like Ms. Renshaw’s stories, this one will give you her trademark angst, a heap of love, and lots of warm fuzzies. I really enjoyed and would gladly re-read it. Sometimes, life does make lemonade out of lemons and has better plans for us than the ones we only think we can control. Enjoy the clever and insightful word definitions that begin each chapter!

“If my life was a story, you’d be the plot twist.”

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

An enjoyable, well-paced slow-burn romance. I loved both the main characters with their grumpy/sunshine personalities. Annaliese and Lachlan are both slightly damaged but slowly build a friendship that helps them move passed past hurts.