What a wonderful novel! Moving Forward is the second installment in The Woodland Park Firefighters Romance series, and I enjoyed every page. I have to say Shelley Shepard Gray truly wrote a heartwarming novel that will stay with me! I found the storyline really engaging from from the beginning! I loved the entire cast of characters and found Shelley Shepard Gray did a great job with the character development — every character was unique and endearing. I also liked that there were two storylines going on throughout the novel. I felt both couples added a lot to novel and I couldn’t wait to read how their situations would turn out, but I also liked how they weren’t rushed and organically fell into place. Moving Forward is a 5 star clean romance that I recommend to everyone! I have not read the first novel in this series (Coming Home), but I enjoyed Moving Forward so much that I most definitely will be reading it ASAP!

This book has a story within a story with a set of teen side characters. The main characters are a Firefighter with PTSD from war who just wants to settle down with a wife and kids. Unfortunately he falls for a woman who not only has a heart condition - and can't have children - but has been burned in the romance dept when others find out about her condition. So she's fairly gun shy. Meanwhile, story two has a teen at her garden shop crushing hard on another teen and that makes for a cute side story.

I would say this is a slow burn on all levels with a lot of angst before the HEA. It's a book to be patient with while reading.

Moving Forward is exactly what firefighter, Greg, and business owner, Kristen, need to do. When they meet they are both drawn to each other but he suffers from PTSD and she had a broken heart from a previous relationship. They are both holding those things close to themselves and need to learn to trust one another with their secrets. This is a great follow-up to Coming Home in the Woodland Park Firefighters series. I'm definitely looking forward to the next one!

If you're in the mood for a good clean contemporary romance, this just might be what you're looking for! I read Shelley Shepard Gray's books every chance I get!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 22 August 2023

Moving Forward is the second book in the Woodland Park Firefighters series. It can stand alone but I recommend reading the first book Coming Home. I really enjoyed it and couldn't wait to read more in the series. 

The lead characters in Moving Forward are Kristen and Greg. She owns a local garden center and he's a firefighter - they meet when there's a fire at the garden center. The author fully developed these characters making them relatable and easy to cheer on. Both have very personal issues that will become apparent as the novel moves forward adding drama and emotional upset. There's also another plot line involving recent high school graduates getting to know each other before heading off for college and new job opportunities. I liked how Gray handled their story.

Moving Forward is a nice combination of romance and women's fiction. It includes themes of health issues, PTSD, and learning to trust. A very good story that has me anticipating the next book in the series.
4.5 stars

Moving Forward
By Shelley Shepard Gray
Pub Date: August 22, 2023
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Romance blossoms in the Colorado foothills in this sweet romance by well known author, Gray.
If you are drawn to clean romances I believe you will like this book as I did.
4 stars

I thought this was a fabulous tale of two couples trying to get thru things and making a life. Very heart warming and shows the good of perserverance.