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Balsam Ridge #3
Rain After Fire
If you play with fire, expect to get burned.
I learned at a young age to trust no one, protect myself, and guard my heart. All lessons my mother burned into me. She may not have had a lot to offer in way of help but she poured all she had into me and made me the independent woman I am today. So after laying her to rest, I packed my belongings and moved to the place that she talked about often. A place where she enjoyed the carefree pleasures of childhood.
Balsam Ridge, Tennessee is a little slice of paradise and nothing like the busy city that I’m accustomed to. With its idyllic setting, friendly strangers, and slower pace, a girl could easily be charmed into letting her walls down.
It was only going to be a stop on my journey. A respite while I figured out my next move, and catching feelings for the confident and sexy local Fire Chief, Corbin Tuttle, was not part of the plan.
It was supposed to be a game. A hoax. A brief fling to help him break a toxic cycle. But my mother always told me, that sometimes you need a little rain to calm the fire.
*Small town, Family Saga, Fake Relationship.
I learned at a young age to trust no one, protect myself, and guard my heart. All lessons my mother burned into me. She may not have had a lot to offer in way of help but she poured all she had into me and made me the independent woman I am today. So after laying her to rest, I packed my belongings and moved to the place that she talked about often. A place where she enjoyed the carefree pleasures of childhood.
Balsam Ridge, Tennessee is a little slice of paradise and nothing like the busy city that I’m accustomed to. With its idyllic setting, friendly strangers, and slower pace, a girl could easily be charmed into letting her walls down.
It was only going to be a stop on my journey. A respite while I figured out my next move, and catching feelings for the confident and sexy local Fire Chief, Corbin Tuttle, was not part of the plan.
It was supposed to be a game. A hoax. A brief fling to help him break a toxic cycle. But my mother always told me, that sometimes you need a little rain to calm the fire.
*Small town, Family Saga, Fake Relationship.
Paperback
Published September 1, 2022
About the author
Amber Kelly
38 books739 followersAmber Kelly is a romance author that calls North Carolina home. She has been an avid reader from a young age and you could always find her with her nose in a book completely enthralled in an adventure. With the support of her husband and family, in 2018, she decided to finally give a voice to the stories in her head and her debut novel, Both of Me was born. You can connect with Amber on Facebook at facebook.com/AuthorAmberKelly, on IG @authoramberkelly or on twitter @AuthorAmberKel1.
http://authoramberkelly.com/
http://authoramberkelly.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
October 6, 2022
4.25 stars
Out of all three of the Balsam Ridge books so far, Rain After Fire is my absolute favorite. I was a bit nervous reading this as Corbin has had a crazy on again off again girlfriend through the other books, but this fake dating romance was magic!
Maxi is in Balsam Ridge for a short time dealing with a property left to her by her late mother. She’s working a staying at one of the Tuttle cabins in the meantime and is enjoying the small town more than she thought she would. Corbin Tuttle is chief of the fire department and is in a toxic relationship with his on again off again girlfriend. He’s ready to be off and for good.
Maxi comes up with a great idea. In order to show Susanna that he’s moved on, he fake dates her. In exchange for that Corbin will help her with the property she inherited. Sounds perfect, right? it actually is. Maxi and Corbin get along well and have a lot of fun together on their dates. And then, as we all know, feelings come along. I loved it!
This was such a fun read! It was sweet and steamy had some emotion as well. I’m loving this series (and author) so much!
Out of all three of the Balsam Ridge books so far, Rain After Fire is my absolute favorite. I was a bit nervous reading this as Corbin has had a crazy on again off again girlfriend through the other books, but this fake dating romance was magic!
Maxi is in Balsam Ridge for a short time dealing with a property left to her by her late mother. She’s working a staying at one of the Tuttle cabins in the meantime and is enjoying the small town more than she thought she would. Corbin Tuttle is chief of the fire department and is in a toxic relationship with his on again off again girlfriend. He’s ready to be off and for good.
Maxi comes up with a great idea. In order to show Susanna that he’s moved on, he fake dates her. In exchange for that Corbin will help her with the property she inherited. Sounds perfect, right? it actually is. Maxi and Corbin get along well and have a lot of fun together on their dates. And then, as we all know, feelings come along. I loved it!
This was such a fun read! It was sweet and steamy had some emotion as well. I’m loving this series (and author) so much!
September 2, 2022
Yeah no! Since blurb mentions hero was in a long standing relationship with his GF before they break up, this is not a spoiler to say that the first couple of chapters shows us him living & loving the OW. The way it's written of him being affectionate with the OW and having all this history & experience, not to mention feelings for her, does not have me interested or invested in reading his & heroine's story because it is clearly heroine is his 2nd choice doormat.
Why do Authors continue to give us this crap? I don't understand all this OW backstory both present & past. A romance should be about the 2 people one is writing about - not OP. Would y'all writers stuff this nonsense already? 🤬
Why do Authors continue to give us this crap? I don't understand all this OW backstory both present & past. A romance should be about the 2 people one is writing about - not OP. Would y'all writers stuff this nonsense already? 🤬
September 3, 2022
Ok I feel guilty because the book wasn’t bad at all but I couldn’t get involved emotionally-at.all.
It’s me and not the book?
Maybe. And maybe not.
My truth is that I was bored and I skipped many pages because I simply wasn’t interested.
The plot is quite simple and it could have been angsty and more forceful, but it wasn’t.
The hero is a fireman, he’s 36 and lives with his gf of 10 years, he plans to marry her but she’s a bit restless.
Actually she’s quite a bitch, a spoiled selfish woman who is always complaining about his job and his friends and his lack of free time. When she decides she’s going to a holiday without him he dumps her.
Of course she doesn’t believe him because they always end making up, but this time he’s over.
The new bartender, a sexy biker who’s also very nice and fun, decides to help him and proposes him to go out on dates to prevent his ex gf coming back to him again.
Of course the thing changes and they become lovers.
She’s got a past, with an abusive father and a passive mother so she decided long ago she won’t marry and won’t have a family.
The hero is a bit disappointed and she decides she will leave him when things get serious.
A final accident will bring them together and hea.
Nope.
The hero is weak, lame. He’s been living with this girl that we don’t know what has in common with him and has been abusing him for ages, and he never did anything about it. He was only too lazy to do something. It is obvious that he doesn’t love her or at least isn’t in love with her because beside having sex with her he doesn’t share any interest with her.
It’s like he’s fucking his sister, for the way he’s with her.
He never once regrets dumping her, he’s so over her it’s clear he’s been over her for a while. And that’s even more disappointing because he couldn’t even make the effort to break up with her until she left for a holiday. And let me say that she was manipulative and sometimes abusive to him but he always justified her actions.
Coward and weak.
The heroine is quite nice, she’s strong and lives her life happily, she’s the opposite of his gf and she and the hero are good together since their first date but it seems to me that despite the author’s effort to make long sex scenes and long descriptions of their dates, they don’t have such strong feelings for each other. The hero seems to be looking for a person who’s right for his lifestyle more than the great love of his life, and the heroine fits this description.
There’s no love at first sight here nor great chemistry because the hero already knew the heroine when he was with his gf, but was never attracted to her, even if he thought her stunning, and he would have never approached her on his volition, it was her to make the first move and it was all a game at first. No alpha man no possessive hero, no jealousy on either parts, maybe a lil when ow came back but it ended before it started… sigh…
Maybe for this reason I wasn’t very much involved in their affair.
Then there’s the fireman part, with detailed descriptions of how it’s the work of firemen and the biker part, with all that involves HD bikes, old cars and similar and I was so bored that the only thing I wanted was to finish the damned book and go to bed. A chore.
No angst even with the final awful accident, no ow drama and that was a lost chance to make a good angst part, because the hero was never tempted to go back to his sister, er… girlfriend and eventually the woman went away without so much fuss, what can I say, this book wasn’t for me.
It’s me and not the book?
Maybe. And maybe not.
My truth is that I was bored and I skipped many pages because I simply wasn’t interested.
The plot is quite simple and it could have been angsty and more forceful, but it wasn’t.
The hero is a fireman, he’s 36 and lives with his gf of 10 years, he plans to marry her but she’s a bit restless.
Actually she’s quite a bitch, a spoiled selfish woman who is always complaining about his job and his friends and his lack of free time. When she decides she’s going to a holiday without him he dumps her.
Of course she doesn’t believe him because they always end making up, but this time he’s over.
The new bartender, a sexy biker who’s also very nice and fun, decides to help him and proposes him to go out on dates to prevent his ex gf coming back to him again.
Of course the thing changes and they become lovers.
She’s got a past, with an abusive father and a passive mother so she decided long ago she won’t marry and won’t have a family.
The hero is a bit disappointed and she decides she will leave him when things get serious.
A final accident will bring them together and hea.
Nope.
The hero is weak, lame. He’s been living with this girl that we don’t know what has in common with him and has been abusing him for ages, and he never did anything about it. He was only too lazy to do something. It is obvious that he doesn’t love her or at least isn’t in love with her because beside having sex with her he doesn’t share any interest with her.
It’s like he’s fucking his sister, for the way he’s with her.
He never once regrets dumping her, he’s so over her it’s clear he’s been over her for a while. And that’s even more disappointing because he couldn’t even make the effort to break up with her until she left for a holiday. And let me say that she was manipulative and sometimes abusive to him but he always justified her actions.
Coward and weak.
The heroine is quite nice, she’s strong and lives her life happily, she’s the opposite of his gf and she and the hero are good together since their first date but it seems to me that despite the author’s effort to make long sex scenes and long descriptions of their dates, they don’t have such strong feelings for each other. The hero seems to be looking for a person who’s right for his lifestyle more than the great love of his life, and the heroine fits this description.
There’s no love at first sight here nor great chemistry because the hero already knew the heroine when he was with his gf, but was never attracted to her, even if he thought her stunning, and he would have never approached her on his volition, it was her to make the first move and it was all a game at first. No alpha man no possessive hero, no jealousy on either parts, maybe a lil when ow came back but it ended before it started… sigh…
Maybe for this reason I wasn’t very much involved in their affair.
Then there’s the fireman part, with detailed descriptions of how it’s the work of firemen and the biker part, with all that involves HD bikes, old cars and similar and I was so bored that the only thing I wanted was to finish the damned book and go to bed. A chore.
No angst even with the final awful accident, no ow drama and that was a lost chance to make a good angst part, because the hero was never tempted to go back to his sister, er… girlfriend and eventually the woman went away without so much fuss, what can I say, this book wasn’t for me.
September 3, 2022
SPOILERS AHEAD!!
When a book focuses so much on OW & Hero's romance & drama, the love story we are supposed to be reading about takes a back seat. If you are expecting a sweet romance with fireworks , this is not it. Hero had just broken up with his long time GF when heroine makes him go on this fake dating thingy, so not only is he on the rebound but there were no fireworks or attraction for a good portion of the story unless heroine made all the moves and he just went with it as a "what the heck" type thing.
He was more loving & attracted to OW then heroine so I have no idea why Author spent so much of the story incorporating thoughts & scenes with OW when she could have spent that time building a strong bond with the MCs and even giving them a true HEA with marriage & kids. LOL.
“Susanna is my girlfriend, soon-to-be fiancée. We have been together since we were teenagers. She moved into the chalet I had built on Buck Mountain six years ago”.
-----
“You going to buy something sexy?” I ask.
She shifts in her seat and pulls her sunglasses from the top of her head and places them on her nose. “If you’re lucky,” she teases.
I lean in to whisper in her ear. “I love you in lace.”
She grins.
-----
“I bet I have something that will cheer you up,” she continues.
I turn to face her, and she stands before me in a pink silk robe. She slowly undoes the tie at her waist and lets the sides of the robe fall apart. Underneath, she is wearing a tiny pink lace nightie.
She grins. “You like?”
I reach out and run a hand down her side.
“You wanted me to buy something sexy and lacy,” she purrs.
I don’t say anything. I just look at her. She’s beautiful. Her long soft-brown hair is loose around her shoulders, and her lips are a matte pink. On her feet are a pair of stiletto marabou slippers with white feathers.
It’s obvious she put time into getting ready for me.
Any other night, and I would have had her hiked up on the sink before she could get the robe undone, but not tonight.
Her face falls, and I feel like shit.
“I haven’t seen you in three days. I forced myself to stay up all night, so I could sleep in with you this morning, and I’ve been wearing this for hours, waiting for you to get home,” she complains.
“I know.”
“Do you? Because you didn’t bother to pick up a phone and call me to tell me you were going to be two hours late,” she snaps.
“Sus, I was busy with an emergency and lost track of time. Calling home wasn’t a high priority.”
She grabs the sides of the robe and pulls them together in a huff. “You mean, I’m not a priority,” she states.
“No, that’s not what I said. I honestly thought you’d be sleeping,” I counter.
“I know your job is tough, Corbin, but it’s not easy, sitting around here, waiting for you all the time either. And excuse me if I think that I deserve the consideration of a phone call or at least a text if you are going to be held up. I understand that emergencies are important, but so am I. I worry,” she cries.
I hang my head.
“Of course you’re important,” I mutter as I wrap her in my arms and pull her to me. “You’re the most important.”
“It’d be nice if you acted like it.” She sniffles into my chest.
I place a kiss on the top of her head. “I’ll do better,” I promise.
Wordlessly, she turns and marches to the bedroom, and I follow.
I wait until she is tucked under the covers before I click off the light and join her. The room is dark even though the sun rose hours ago, thanks to the blackout curtains covering the windows.
Once I’m settled in the sheets, I reach for her. Her body is stiff, but I pull her against me and bury my nose into her neck.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
I feel the tension dissolve as she sinks back into me.
“I know,” she says.
“Thank you for buying the lace. I liked it a lot.”
“I thought you might,” she murmurs.
“Will you wear it for me tonight?”
“Maybe,” she says.
“I’ll see what I can do about getting some time off before Thanksgiving this year. Late November is the earliest I could sneak away, but we can go anywhere you want to go. Anywhere on the planet,” I vow.
“Anywhere?”
I nod into her neck and place a kiss below her ear. “Anywhere,” I assure her.
“Okay,” she agrees.
We lie there in the dark, me holding her, until her breathing grows deep and I know that she has fallen asleep.
-----
“You’re right; maybe we do need a breather. One that lasts longer than two weeks,” I say.
She doesn’t stop, and she doesn’t look at me.
“Fine, I’ll pack for four. Who doesn’t want four weeks at the beach?” she chirps.
“While you’re there, you need to think long and hard about what you want. Because I am who I am, Sus. I’ll never be the man who can fit into your schedule. I have responsibilities, and I can’t take off on a whim.”
That gets her attention. She stops and turns to face me.
“You’re the one who needs to do some thinking, Corbin Tuttle. I’m tired of having the same old fights. We can afford for you to find another job. One that allows us to have a normal fucking life. If I’m the woman for you, you need to find a way to fit into my schedule.”
“I can’t do that,” I say.
“Then, what are we doing?” she asks.
“You’re going to the beach, and I’m moving on.”
“You’re breaking up with me?” she asks.
“No, you just broke up with me.”
------
Graham’s company has begun excavating behind the house in order to install the new swimming pool Susanna wanted. I’m not a fan of home pools. They’re a lot of work to keep clean, and their upkeep is expensive. I’d rather spend my free time doing other things when I’m off work. Besides, there’s a huge pool at my parents’ campground that is maintained exceptionally well and that we can use anytime we please. However, Susanna didn’t want to have to go into town to tan by the pool with strangers, so as usual, I gave in.
-----
The shower is full of Susanna’s fruity-smelling products, and I feel a tinge of guilt as I wash away the day’s work.
My belongings are down the hall in the spare bedroom’s closet even though the master has a huge walk-in. Susanna commandeered the entire space the moment she moved in. I never minded. A huge closet makes her happy, and I couldn’t care less where my things are housed.
----
(Heroine helping Hero pack OW’s belongings from his house)
“I guess a decade of living takes a while to pack away.”
She stops what she’s doing and looks up at me. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
“Not a hundred percent. We had some great years.”
“I’m sure you did. There has to be some good in her, or you wouldn’t have fallen in love in the first place.”
“Yeah, but lately, I’ve had to search deep for the good. She only shows it to me when she feels like it or when she thinks I’ve had enough.”
------
“Do you have a condom?” I ask as he climbs back on top of me.
He goes still.
“Please tell me you do,” I plead.
“I haven’t carried a condom since I was in college,” he says.
-----
See, that’s the difference between us, Susanna. You were so busy, worrying about all my faults that caused you to be unhappy, while I was over here, overlooking all of yours because I loved you and none of that stupid shit mattered to me. Then, instead of staying and working through it like an adult, you ran off to live it up by the ocean,” I yell.
“I made a mistake,” she whimpers.
“A mistake? Susanna, you get pissed and run off over and over again. A mistake made more than once is a decision. You decided to leave, and I decided to move on.”
“Move on? You can’t be serious about that bartender.”
“This isn’t about Maxi. This is about me and you. It doesn’t work anymore. It hasn’t worked in a long time. It’s time we both admit that and cut our losses.”
“No, I refuse to accept that.”
“You don’t have a choice, Susanna.”
I go into the bathroom and turn the shower on. She stomps in after me.
“Did you fuck her?” she asks.
“That’s none of your business,” I say.
“Oh my God, you did,” she screams. “Did you screw her in my bed?”
“I’m not doing this. I have to get to work.”
“Work. Work. Work. Work. That’s always your convenient excuse to ignore me and my feelings.”
“No, it’s my job. I can’t stand here and coddle you. And I didn’t sleep with anyone else in that bed. So, take it. Take it and your things and just go”.
------
“I’ll always have love for you, Corbin Tuttle.”
“And I’ll always have love for you,” I tell her.
When a book focuses so much on OW & Hero's romance & drama, the love story we are supposed to be reading about takes a back seat. If you are expecting a sweet romance with fireworks , this is not it. Hero had just broken up with his long time GF when heroine makes him go on this fake dating thingy, so not only is he on the rebound but there were no fireworks or attraction for a good portion of the story unless heroine made all the moves and he just went with it as a "what the heck" type thing.
He was more loving & attracted to OW then heroine so I have no idea why Author spent so much of the story incorporating thoughts & scenes with OW when she could have spent that time building a strong bond with the MCs and even giving them a true HEA with marriage & kids. LOL.
“Susanna is my girlfriend, soon-to-be fiancée. We have been together since we were teenagers. She moved into the chalet I had built on Buck Mountain six years ago”.
-----
“You going to buy something sexy?” I ask.
She shifts in her seat and pulls her sunglasses from the top of her head and places them on her nose. “If you’re lucky,” she teases.
I lean in to whisper in her ear. “I love you in lace.”
She grins.
-----
“I bet I have something that will cheer you up,” she continues.
I turn to face her, and she stands before me in a pink silk robe. She slowly undoes the tie at her waist and lets the sides of the robe fall apart. Underneath, she is wearing a tiny pink lace nightie.
She grins. “You like?”
I reach out and run a hand down her side.
“You wanted me to buy something sexy and lacy,” she purrs.
I don’t say anything. I just look at her. She’s beautiful. Her long soft-brown hair is loose around her shoulders, and her lips are a matte pink. On her feet are a pair of stiletto marabou slippers with white feathers.
It’s obvious she put time into getting ready for me.
Any other night, and I would have had her hiked up on the sink before she could get the robe undone, but not tonight.
Her face falls, and I feel like shit.
“I haven’t seen you in three days. I forced myself to stay up all night, so I could sleep in with you this morning, and I’ve been wearing this for hours, waiting for you to get home,” she complains.
“I know.”
“Do you? Because you didn’t bother to pick up a phone and call me to tell me you were going to be two hours late,” she snaps.
“Sus, I was busy with an emergency and lost track of time. Calling home wasn’t a high priority.”
She grabs the sides of the robe and pulls them together in a huff. “You mean, I’m not a priority,” she states.
“No, that’s not what I said. I honestly thought you’d be sleeping,” I counter.
“I know your job is tough, Corbin, but it’s not easy, sitting around here, waiting for you all the time either. And excuse me if I think that I deserve the consideration of a phone call or at least a text if you are going to be held up. I understand that emergencies are important, but so am I. I worry,” she cries.
I hang my head.
“Of course you’re important,” I mutter as I wrap her in my arms and pull her to me. “You’re the most important.”
“It’d be nice if you acted like it.” She sniffles into my chest.
I place a kiss on the top of her head. “I’ll do better,” I promise.
Wordlessly, she turns and marches to the bedroom, and I follow.
I wait until she is tucked under the covers before I click off the light and join her. The room is dark even though the sun rose hours ago, thanks to the blackout curtains covering the windows.
Once I’m settled in the sheets, I reach for her. Her body is stiff, but I pull her against me and bury my nose into her neck.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
I feel the tension dissolve as she sinks back into me.
“I know,” she says.
“Thank you for buying the lace. I liked it a lot.”
“I thought you might,” she murmurs.
“Will you wear it for me tonight?”
“Maybe,” she says.
“I’ll see what I can do about getting some time off before Thanksgiving this year. Late November is the earliest I could sneak away, but we can go anywhere you want to go. Anywhere on the planet,” I vow.
“Anywhere?”
I nod into her neck and place a kiss below her ear. “Anywhere,” I assure her.
“Okay,” she agrees.
We lie there in the dark, me holding her, until her breathing grows deep and I know that she has fallen asleep.
-----
“You’re right; maybe we do need a breather. One that lasts longer than two weeks,” I say.
She doesn’t stop, and she doesn’t look at me.
“Fine, I’ll pack for four. Who doesn’t want four weeks at the beach?” she chirps.
“While you’re there, you need to think long and hard about what you want. Because I am who I am, Sus. I’ll never be the man who can fit into your schedule. I have responsibilities, and I can’t take off on a whim.”
That gets her attention. She stops and turns to face me.
“You’re the one who needs to do some thinking, Corbin Tuttle. I’m tired of having the same old fights. We can afford for you to find another job. One that allows us to have a normal fucking life. If I’m the woman for you, you need to find a way to fit into my schedule.”
“I can’t do that,” I say.
“Then, what are we doing?” she asks.
“You’re going to the beach, and I’m moving on.”
“You’re breaking up with me?” she asks.
“No, you just broke up with me.”
------
Graham’s company has begun excavating behind the house in order to install the new swimming pool Susanna wanted. I’m not a fan of home pools. They’re a lot of work to keep clean, and their upkeep is expensive. I’d rather spend my free time doing other things when I’m off work. Besides, there’s a huge pool at my parents’ campground that is maintained exceptionally well and that we can use anytime we please. However, Susanna didn’t want to have to go into town to tan by the pool with strangers, so as usual, I gave in.
-----
The shower is full of Susanna’s fruity-smelling products, and I feel a tinge of guilt as I wash away the day’s work.
My belongings are down the hall in the spare bedroom’s closet even though the master has a huge walk-in. Susanna commandeered the entire space the moment she moved in. I never minded. A huge closet makes her happy, and I couldn’t care less where my things are housed.
----
(Heroine helping Hero pack OW’s belongings from his house)
“I guess a decade of living takes a while to pack away.”
She stops what she’s doing and looks up at me. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
“Not a hundred percent. We had some great years.”
“I’m sure you did. There has to be some good in her, or you wouldn’t have fallen in love in the first place.”
“Yeah, but lately, I’ve had to search deep for the good. She only shows it to me when she feels like it or when she thinks I’ve had enough.”
------
“Do you have a condom?” I ask as he climbs back on top of me.
He goes still.
“Please tell me you do,” I plead.
“I haven’t carried a condom since I was in college,” he says.
-----
See, that’s the difference between us, Susanna. You were so busy, worrying about all my faults that caused you to be unhappy, while I was over here, overlooking all of yours because I loved you and none of that stupid shit mattered to me. Then, instead of staying and working through it like an adult, you ran off to live it up by the ocean,” I yell.
“I made a mistake,” she whimpers.
“A mistake? Susanna, you get pissed and run off over and over again. A mistake made more than once is a decision. You decided to leave, and I decided to move on.”
“Move on? You can’t be serious about that bartender.”
“This isn’t about Maxi. This is about me and you. It doesn’t work anymore. It hasn’t worked in a long time. It’s time we both admit that and cut our losses.”
“No, I refuse to accept that.”
“You don’t have a choice, Susanna.”
I go into the bathroom and turn the shower on. She stomps in after me.
“Did you fuck her?” she asks.
“That’s none of your business,” I say.
“Oh my God, you did,” she screams. “Did you screw her in my bed?”
“I’m not doing this. I have to get to work.”
“Work. Work. Work. Work. That’s always your convenient excuse to ignore me and my feelings.”
“No, it’s my job. I can’t stand here and coddle you. And I didn’t sleep with anyone else in that bed. So, take it. Take it and your things and just go”.
------
“I’ll always have love for you, Corbin Tuttle.”
“And I’ll always have love for you,” I tell her.
September 3, 2022
Corbin 👨🚒🔥🧯- He saves life for a living and he is such a hot fire chief
Maxi🌧🏍 - she is a loss wounded soul that is brave enough to find herself, she is outspoken, fearless, love her style and love Suga
The small town vibe of Balsam Ridge! I would like to visit the Mountains and be a friend of Jena and Erin
The detailed description of the firehouse and the sacrifice that firefighters and their wives are doing #Heroes 👏👏👏 the stars on this review are for the Emergency response team of Balsam Ridge #ThankYouForSavingLives
#Stars4Paul
BUT what did not work for me!😔
I love the MC's but it is difficult to convince me that they fall hard for each other after 3 weeks of pretend fake relationship vs. a decade of long serious relationship 🤔 sorry not gonna happen dude
The detailed life of Corbin and his ex Susanna the first 5% of the book described their domestic life (in details including her in a lace lingerie!!!) they live together for more than 6 years and been together more than a decade! Corbin is ready to proposed to her!!! To the other woman! - that is totally not romantic 🤮 the book feels more like Corbin and Susanna TBH - they even got their proper closure! #IWillAlwaysHaveLoveForYou
#NotRomance4me
Like I said the stars are for the brave firefighters 👨🚒👨🚒👨🚒👨🚒 as I am not really sold on the love story or the story of how Corbin move on from one crazy to the next in span of hours🙄 #HopeLangfordWillBeBetter
#MistyMountainFires
#Family
#Love
#SmallTown
#FireChief
#FireFamily
#Tragedy
#LifeIsShort
#LiveTheMoment
#RainAfterFire
#ModernHeroesFirefighters
#NextMayorLangforOrIsley
Maxi🌧🏍 - she is a loss wounded soul that is brave enough to find herself, she is outspoken, fearless, love her style and love Suga
The small town vibe of Balsam Ridge! I would like to visit the Mountains and be a friend of Jena and Erin
The detailed description of the firehouse and the sacrifice that firefighters and their wives are doing #Heroes 👏👏👏 the stars on this review are for the Emergency response team of Balsam Ridge #ThankYouForSavingLives
#Stars4Paul
BUT what did not work for me!😔
I love the MC's but it is difficult to convince me that they fall hard for each other after 3 weeks of pretend fake relationship vs. a decade of long serious relationship 🤔 sorry not gonna happen dude
The detailed life of Corbin and his ex Susanna the first 5% of the book described their domestic life (in details including her in a lace lingerie!!!) they live together for more than 6 years and been together more than a decade! Corbin is ready to proposed to her!!! To the other woman! - that is totally not romantic 🤮 the book feels more like Corbin and Susanna TBH - they even got their proper closure! #IWillAlwaysHaveLoveForYou
#NotRomance4me
Like I said the stars are for the brave firefighters 👨🚒👨🚒👨🚒👨🚒 as I am not really sold on the love story or the story of how Corbin move on from one crazy to the next in span of hours🙄 #HopeLangfordWillBeBetter
#MistyMountainFires
#Family
#Love
#SmallTown
#FireChief
#FireFamily
#Tragedy
#LifeIsShort
#LiveTheMoment
#RainAfterFire
#ModernHeroesFirefighters
#NextMayorLangforOrIsley
August 31, 2022
This is the 3rd book in this series, and this is Corbin and Maxine’s journey. Maxi leaves her old life behind after her mom passes away and relocates to the paradise her mom told her all about. Corbin is the sexy fire chief, and he has a diva of a girlfriend from whom he puts up with a lot, until he is finally reached his limit, but she is refusing to get the message. Maxi is the new bartender in town, and she offers to help Corbin finally get rid of his ex, by pretending to have a fake relationship. The sparks fly between these two, but will fake become a reality? This is a well written small-town romance, with family, friendships, fun, humor, loyalty, and love, which leads to an entertaining and compelling page turner.
I received a free copy of this book via Wordsmith Publicity and the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Wordsmith Publicity and the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 2, 2022
Corbin and Maxi have completely won my heart! “Rain after Fire” is a captivating story. If you are looking for an enjoyable read, with sweet romance and that stirs some feelings, then this is your book. Corbin Tuttle is the chief of Valley Fire and Rescue; a hard-working, protective man, a gentleman in every sense of the word, handsome, sexy and charismatic. He loves his job and his family. At first glance, he seems to have the perfect life, but on the love ground, he has settled for a several-year relationship with a superficial and selfish girlfriend who now demands that he changes his life's work. When she reaches his limit, he decides to "break up with her", however he needs something more for her to understand that their relationship no longer has any future. That's where Maxi Bufton comes in, the new girl in town and the complete opposite of Susanna, Corbin's ex. Maxi is an independent woman with character and doesn't care what people think of her. He has a purpose in his stay in the town and seeks to fulfill it in a short time to resume his course to another place. But she doesn't expect to fall in love with the people of Balsam Ridge, much less fall in love with the sexy fire chief. What started as a proposal to help him push his ex away soon turns into a game of seduction, complicity and finally an even stronger emotional connection.
I fell in love with Corbin 🥺. It is because this man is so thoughtful, chivalrous but at the same time exudes a sensuality that makes him irresistible. Although he initially tried to resist Maxi's charms, he eventually fell for her. And the feeling is reciprocal because both achieve a level of understanding like very few others, and they complement each other perfectly: Maxi, who is used to being alone, has now found a family and Corbin teaches her to open up, to let herself be loved and belong to a circle. He helps her get over the past and let go of what kept her from being completely happy. "Rain after Fire" is a book that I totally recommend. I must confess that there is a chapter in which one or another tear escaped me but it made me feel too much!
***𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰***
I fell in love with Corbin 🥺. It is because this man is so thoughtful, chivalrous but at the same time exudes a sensuality that makes him irresistible. Although he initially tried to resist Maxi's charms, he eventually fell for her. And the feeling is reciprocal because both achieve a level of understanding like very few others, and they complement each other perfectly: Maxi, who is used to being alone, has now found a family and Corbin teaches her to open up, to let herself be loved and belong to a circle. He helps her get over the past and let go of what kept her from being completely happy. "Rain after Fire" is a book that I totally recommend. I must confess that there is a chapter in which one or another tear escaped me but it made me feel too much!
***𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰***
September 1, 2022
Ever since I fell down that rabbit whole and read the whole Poplar Falls series in a week Amber Kelly has been my go to author. And just like I fell in love with Poplar Fall I’ve fallen love with Balsam Ridge. This book may just be my favorite in the series so far. Each book gets better than the last.
Since we met Susanna I’ve wanted her to hit the road and get a good shake down. Who better to do it than Maxi. She is a spitfire and just what Corbin needs. Once they come together they are fire and rain. Corbin is swoon worthy and so damn sexy with is safety precautions.
Amber weaves a story that will bring all the emotion but give you tons of sexiness and romance. This is a fun and flirty story with a little angst, a little heartbreak and loads of family. I loved everything about this book from beginning to end and look forward to so much more in this series.
Since we met Susanna I’ve wanted her to hit the road and get a good shake down. Who better to do it than Maxi. She is a spitfire and just what Corbin needs. Once they come together they are fire and rain. Corbin is swoon worthy and so damn sexy with is safety precautions.
Amber weaves a story that will bring all the emotion but give you tons of sexiness and romance. This is a fun and flirty story with a little angst, a little heartbreak and loads of family. I loved everything about this book from beginning to end and look forward to so much more in this series.
August 30, 2022
I have always been fond of small town romances and Amber Kelly really has a fantastic way of bringing you a real small town feel while reading her books.
Rain after Fire is the 3rd book in Balsam Ridge series and brings us a story of the third Tuttle brother, Corbin. He finally breaks up with his girlfriend Susanna, a girlfriend that none of his friends and family liked that much. In order to prove to her that this is their final break up (since they had several separations), Maxi, the new girl in town and a bartender at their favorite local, suggests that he starts a fake relationship with her.
Maxi has had a pretty sad life and vowed to herself that she will never fall in love and especially that she will never get married. She didn't believe in the institution of marriage because all the problems she witnessed to in the marriage of her parents. Based on her life and history she was the perfect match for Corbin and his fake relationship.
I really love this trope and this book is no exception. I loved Maxi and Corbin's story and how we got to see the positive change in them when they were spending time together.
If you love small town romance with a fake relationship trope and a bonus of sexy firefighter then pick up this book, because it marks all those points.
Loved it!
Rain after Fire is the 3rd book in Balsam Ridge series and brings us a story of the third Tuttle brother, Corbin. He finally breaks up with his girlfriend Susanna, a girlfriend that none of his friends and family liked that much. In order to prove to her that this is their final break up (since they had several separations), Maxi, the new girl in town and a bartender at their favorite local, suggests that he starts a fake relationship with her.
Maxi has had a pretty sad life and vowed to herself that she will never fall in love and especially that she will never get married. She didn't believe in the institution of marriage because all the problems she witnessed to in the marriage of her parents. Based on her life and history she was the perfect match for Corbin and his fake relationship.
I really love this trope and this book is no exception. I loved Maxi and Corbin's story and how we got to see the positive change in them when they were spending time together.
If you love small town romance with a fake relationship trope and a bonus of sexy firefighter then pick up this book, because it marks all those points.
Loved it!
September 1, 2022
OH MY GOSH!!
I have not read a book that fast in so long! I was not able to put it down!!
This book had everything you can ask for in a small town romance!
I instantly fell in love with the FMC Maxie and I loved how she never beat around the bush! I loved her character development and seeing how she was able to love again after her past!
And let’s talk about Corbin🥵 a hot fire fighter what more can you ask for?! I loved his character and his family! I was glad Maxie was there for him with everything he went through!
The chemistry between the main characters was TOP NOTCH!🥵
I loved this book and will now binge read everything by Amber!
Tropes:
-Small town
-Fake Dating
5/5⭐️’s
5/5🥵🌶
I have not read a book that fast in so long! I was not able to put it down!!
This book had everything you can ask for in a small town romance!
I instantly fell in love with the FMC Maxie and I loved how she never beat around the bush! I loved her character development and seeing how she was able to love again after her past!
And let’s talk about Corbin🥵 a hot fire fighter what more can you ask for?! I loved his character and his family! I was glad Maxie was there for him with everything he went through!
The chemistry between the main characters was TOP NOTCH!🥵
I loved this book and will now binge read everything by Amber!
Tropes:
-Small town
-Fake Dating
5/5⭐️’s
5/5🥵🌶
August 29, 2022
Rain After Fire is the 3rd book in the Balsam Ridge Series. The book can be read as a standalone but intertwines with the other books in the series. We catch up with Corbin the fire chief, as he tries to navigate what he really wants in life and love. He’s sweet, compassionate and sexy. After a recent breakup he runs into Maxi, a sassy but broken heroine. We learn that she has ties to Balsam Ridge, her past, her pain, and insecurities take us on a roller coaster of emotions as she tries to figure her life out, as she is always running from life and love. A fling turns both of their lives upside down in more ways than one. This story is sexy, full of banter, fake relationship, small town family saga, with a jealous ex girlfriend to throw in some drama. I loved the Tuttle family, and how welcoming they were to Maxi. I can’t wait to read the continuation of their story and the rest of the gang in the books to come. This book was hard to put down, A TBR must!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
September 9, 2022
It's adorable that you think you have an option when it comes to love, my sweet, naive boy."
Corbin is a firefighter and dating a girl named sussana since 7 years , they both are really popular for there intense love and long lasting relationship…but thats what the world see
They kinda break up and maxi enters in his life
Maxi a bartender. Hot pretty straightforward a tough girl .she had a traumatic past
Dad died due to overdose and mom died due to cancer.
This book is fast paced and short chapters (my favourite) the story line the plot it was all so good . My mind just blew up 🤯🤯 ✨🥹
My respect for all the firefighters just grew after reading this book .honestly this book is worth reading 🤍🫠
They both are just soooo adorable( i love corbin )
✨fake dating
✨small town romance (first time read small town)
Corbin is a firefighter and dating a girl named sussana since 7 years , they both are really popular for there intense love and long lasting relationship…but thats what the world see
They kinda break up and maxi enters in his life
Maxi a bartender. Hot pretty straightforward a tough girl .she had a traumatic past
Dad died due to overdose and mom died due to cancer.
This book is fast paced and short chapters (my favourite) the story line the plot it was all so good . My mind just blew up 🤯🤯 ✨🥹
My respect for all the firefighters just grew after reading this book .honestly this book is worth reading 🤍🫠
They both are just soooo adorable( i love corbin )
✨fake dating
✨small town romance (first time read small town)
September 1, 2022
A sweet, small-town romance with a firefighter??? Sign me up! Thie most recent book in the Basalm Ridge series by Amber Kelly is filled with tropes we all know and love- fake-dating, small town romance with a firefighter! This 3.5-star book was such an quick and comforting read and I know this won’t be my last Amber Kelly read.
Rain After Fire follows Maxi, a bartender new to town, and Corbin, a firefighter who recently broke up with his long-term girlfriend. When Maxi proposes fake-dating as a way to help him move forward, neither can anticipate the real feelings that develop instead. If you love small-town romances, this book is definitely for you!
Rain After Fire follows Maxi, a bartender new to town, and Corbin, a firefighter who recently broke up with his long-term girlfriend. When Maxi proposes fake-dating as a way to help him move forward, neither can anticipate the real feelings that develop instead. If you love small-town romances, this book is definitely for you!
August 22, 2022
Amber Kelly’s latest installment in the Balsam Ridge series, Rain After Fire, is everything you’d hope it would be. If you’ve read the previous two books you might be a little familiar with what our main guy, Corbin Tuttle has been dealing with for years…. A spoiled girlfriend who basically throws temper tantrums when she doesn’t get her way and takes a “time out” when it suits her needs. She hates that he is a firefighter and just can’t drop everything on a whim and go on vacation during fire season, hates his long hours and hates that he isn’t famous like his country singer brother. Corbin has finally had enough. In comes our sassy, independent bartender who is new to the town, Maxi. This girl takes no crap and on sight can’t stand women like Corbin’s ex-girlfriend Susanna. She decides to help Corbin get over Susanna and while it was all fun and games at first, the real sparks begin to fly. Hold onto your hearts and hats folks because whew, what a ride. I couldn’t put this book down once I started! You will find your heart hurting at moments for all the things Maxi has went through in the past and cheering her on for the love she is scared to let bloom for Corbin, her new friends and the possibility of a happy future.
September 6, 2022
Wow. This book was pulling at my heart strings. I read it in one day. I just couldn’t put it down. I had tears in my eyes towards the end. Corbin and Maxi were everything! Maxi is someone who grew up with a tough childhood. Never had anyone especially men.. choose her. Then there is sweet Corbin who was in a toxic relationship. But when that toxic relationship comes to an end again Maxi tells him he should move on and she will help him.
So they enter a fake relationship together and from there they both heal wounds caused past relationships all while falling in love.
I love how supportive Maxi is of Corbin. Especially with his job. Corbin is so good at showing Maxi that she is worth it. Along with his mom and his brothers significant others. I thought those relationships with Maxi were so fun to read about.
I can’t wait for more on this family! I love these men and their future ladies!
This story was incredible. The last few chapters had my heart racing! This is by far my favorite in the series and possibly 1 or 2 place for my all time favs of Amber’s. This story was incredible and beautifully written.
So they enter a fake relationship together and from there they both heal wounds caused past relationships all while falling in love.
I love how supportive Maxi is of Corbin. Especially with his job. Corbin is so good at showing Maxi that she is worth it. Along with his mom and his brothers significant others. I thought those relationships with Maxi were so fun to read about.
I can’t wait for more on this family! I love these men and their future ladies!
This story was incredible. The last few chapters had my heart racing! This is by far my favorite in the series and possibly 1 or 2 place for my all time favs of Amber’s. This story was incredible and beautifully written.
September 2, 2022
Rain After Fire by Amber Kelly
This author truly knows how to write heartbreakingly beautiful stories. This is book number three in the amazing Balsam Ridge series. Which brings us Maxi and Corbin's story. I’m sure it wouldn’t be a problem for you to start the series with this book but I would definitely recommend that you so read in order and from book one to be completely familiar with Corbin's character and his backstory. It is very helpful to read them to get the little bits of information in previous books. Maxi is in town to sell her family’s property. Corbin is once again broken up with Susanna and is trying to move on but doesn’t know how to do it without going back to Susanna. They come up with a plan to be in a fake relationship so it gets back to Susanna. How can it go wrong right? Well only after a few weeks of a fake relationship, both Corbin & Maxi start falling and hard. Will these two give in to these feelings or will Maxi's fear of love send it all up in flames? Well you have to read it to find out. Trust me you will love it. Highly recommend you read this book and the others in the series you will just love these Tuttle men.
This author truly knows how to write heartbreakingly beautiful stories. This is book number three in the amazing Balsam Ridge series. Which brings us Maxi and Corbin's story. I’m sure it wouldn’t be a problem for you to start the series with this book but I would definitely recommend that you so read in order and from book one to be completely familiar with Corbin's character and his backstory. It is very helpful to read them to get the little bits of information in previous books. Maxi is in town to sell her family’s property. Corbin is once again broken up with Susanna and is trying to move on but doesn’t know how to do it without going back to Susanna. They come up with a plan to be in a fake relationship so it gets back to Susanna. How can it go wrong right? Well only after a few weeks of a fake relationship, both Corbin & Maxi start falling and hard. Will these two give in to these feelings or will Maxi's fear of love send it all up in flames? Well you have to read it to find out. Trust me you will love it. Highly recommend you read this book and the others in the series you will just love these Tuttle men.
September 2, 2022
This is book 3 in the series but easily stands alone. It is a romance between Maxi, the town bartender who is a drifter and Corbin Tuttle, the fire chief.
At the start of the book Corbin is still dating his awful girlfriend, Susannah. But is also fed up with her so they break up. This is a pattern with them, but he really means it so the town bartender, Maxi suggests they fake date so she will realize it is really over and the town will realize not to put them together again.
And so starts Corbin and Maxi's friendship as they get to know each other while fake dating. But what neither expected was that it led to some pesky feelings.
Can Corbin fall for Maxi? Will Maxi stay in town? And what will Susannah do to hold onto her man? You will have to read this story to find out.
I loved hanging out with the Tuttle family. I cannot wait to see which one gets his story told in the next book.
I loved getting to know Maxi and Corbin and their friends, town and family.
I received a complimentary early release copy of this e-book from the author prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.
At the start of the book Corbin is still dating his awful girlfriend, Susannah. But is also fed up with her so they break up. This is a pattern with them, but he really means it so the town bartender, Maxi suggests they fake date so she will realize it is really over and the town will realize not to put them together again.
And so starts Corbin and Maxi's friendship as they get to know each other while fake dating. But what neither expected was that it led to some pesky feelings.
Can Corbin fall for Maxi? Will Maxi stay in town? And what will Susannah do to hold onto her man? You will have to read this story to find out.
I loved hanging out with the Tuttle family. I cannot wait to see which one gets his story told in the next book.
I loved getting to know Maxi and Corbin and their friends, town and family.
I received a complimentary early release copy of this e-book from the author prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 3, 2022
Corbin and Maxi! AGGGGH (I say that in the best way). I get a lot of people hate this trope, but I feel like Amber Kelly wrote this in such a great way. Fake dating at it’s finest - and if you read the first two books, you saw the hints of Corbin being unhappy with things. He was absolutely too forgiving of Susanna always running away from things then coming back as if nothing ever happened.
Maxi is tough as nails thanks to her upbringing, and the loss she’s faced over the years. She isn’t an easy person to get to open up, but it also makes things a lot more interesting when she agrees to fake date Corbin.
Corbin is the Fire Chief, and that comes with a lot of responsibility. He’s happy being in Balsam Ridge, having a sense of security, and having all his family nearby.
I couldn’t love how Amber writes books more, and I have loved this series so far. Now I can’t wait for the next one!
Maxi is tough as nails thanks to her upbringing, and the loss she’s faced over the years. She isn’t an easy person to get to open up, but it also makes things a lot more interesting when she agrees to fake date Corbin.
Corbin is the Fire Chief, and that comes with a lot of responsibility. He’s happy being in Balsam Ridge, having a sense of security, and having all his family nearby.
I couldn’t love how Amber writes books more, and I have loved this series so far. Now I can’t wait for the next one!
September 2, 2022
This book has everything. Exciting adventure, ex drama with the ex getting put in her place, tearful tragedy, and all the sticky feels.
This is my favorite of the series for sure. I loved this.
My only complaint is that it wasn't long enough. Not enough to be incomplete. I just wanted things to be drawn out more or expanded on. More of the firefighting, more of the ex drama, more of the emotional help for the end. Just more.
It was still done well so hard to complain when you just want to read another 200 pages of the same book because you enjoyed it so much.
Langford should be next, so I'm excited for more on his ski resort, mayoral drama and possibly ex issues.
September 3, 2022
I absolutely adored this book! Small town romances are a little bit of a guilty pleasure for me and this had everything from a bitchy and toxic ex to the hunky fireman to focusing on what family really means.
Maxi, who grew up not knowing what a normal family looks like, returns to her mother’s safe haven of Balsam Ridge. She’s the new girl in town that everyone seems to know and adore, but her past is causing her to second guess her stay in the small town.
Corbin is the quintessential fire chief hunk who is stuck in a toxic relationship with a selfish princess who is not appreciative of the fact that Corbin is a legit FIREFIGHTER! He saves lives!
Anyways, when they finally call it quits, Corbin needs someone to hold him back from taking her back, which Maxi offers to do.
Watching them interact was just so wholesome. I love how accepting everyone is and just how these two characters who have both been exposed to toxic relationships, find peace with each other.
Maxi, who grew up not knowing what a normal family looks like, returns to her mother’s safe haven of Balsam Ridge. She’s the new girl in town that everyone seems to know and adore, but her past is causing her to second guess her stay in the small town.
Corbin is the quintessential fire chief hunk who is stuck in a toxic relationship with a selfish princess who is not appreciative of the fact that Corbin is a legit FIREFIGHTER! He saves lives!
Anyways, when they finally call it quits, Corbin needs someone to hold him back from taking her back, which Maxi offers to do.
Watching them interact was just so wholesome. I love how accepting everyone is and just how these two characters who have both been exposed to toxic relationships, find peace with each other.
September 7, 2022
Amber always brings the best of small town romances. Romances with all the toppings - decadent delicious, delightful sweet and sexy.
In order for Corbin to get over his ex girlfriend he and Maxi fake a relationship. Of course things don't always go as planned and become complicated when real feelings are involved and they get a little hot and heavy. I love these two together and oh I really wanted to smack Susanna upside the head a few times, but Maxi certainly knocks her diwn a notch or two.
Love this fun, fabulous addition to this awesome series by Amber Kelly.
In order for Corbin to get over his ex girlfriend he and Maxi fake a relationship. Of course things don't always go as planned and become complicated when real feelings are involved and they get a little hot and heavy. I love these two together and oh I really wanted to smack Susanna upside the head a few times, but Maxi certainly knocks her diwn a notch or two.
Love this fun, fabulous addition to this awesome series by Amber Kelly.
September 3, 2022
This is the first book in the series that I have read and what a brilliant read.
Corbin is the fire chief and has just broken up with his long term girlfriend who likes to party and won't accept that his job comes first.
Maxi is new in town and is working at the local bar. When she hears Corbin's brothers telling him that he will be back with his girlfriend when she returns from her last minute holiday se offers to be his fake girlfriend so that she gets the message that it's over.
As they spend time together they start to get closer but could their relationship change from fake to real when she doesn't believe in love and isn't planning on staying in town for long.
I loved how they were together but can they get their HEA especially when his ex is back in town.
Loved the ending.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
Corbin is the fire chief and has just broken up with his long term girlfriend who likes to party and won't accept that his job comes first.
Maxi is new in town and is working at the local bar. When she hears Corbin's brothers telling him that he will be back with his girlfriend when she returns from her last minute holiday se offers to be his fake girlfriend so that she gets the message that it's over.
As they spend time together they start to get closer but could their relationship change from fake to real when she doesn't believe in love and isn't planning on staying in town for long.
I loved how they were together but can they get their HEA especially when his ex is back in town.
Loved the ending.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
September 8, 2022
I loved every thing about this book. Firefighter who has been in a relationship way longer than he should have been meets town newcomer who is nothing like the girl from his past. A quick friendship with is formed that quickly heats up to more and a lost girl finally finds her home.
September 3, 2022
Rain after Fire
Dual POV. Fake relationship. Found family.
Corbin is a firefighter that meets the new bartender, Maxi. Corbin just broke up with his long term girlfriend the night that he met Maxi. Maxi tells him she’ll be his fake gf so he can get over/show his ex that he’s done. Close to the ending had me on the edge of my seat. Once the fire started to move towards the cliff and he went to help his friends/family…I could not handle the emotions after some of the firefights came to the hall. Then ending is super sweet and had me smiling at my kindle with all the happy feels! Loved this book and wish there would be a second story of them!
Dual POV. Fake relationship. Found family.
Corbin is a firefighter that meets the new bartender, Maxi. Corbin just broke up with his long term girlfriend the night that he met Maxi. Maxi tells him she’ll be his fake gf so he can get over/show his ex that he’s done. Close to the ending had me on the edge of my seat. Once the fire started to move towards the cliff and he went to help his friends/family…I could not handle the emotions after some of the firefights came to the hall. Then ending is super sweet and had me smiling at my kindle with all the happy feels! Loved this book and wish there would be a second story of them!
September 6, 2022
This book was amazing and its book number 3 in this series. Corbin Tuttle is the fire chief who just got out of long term relationship and Maxi is just trying to move on after a death in the family brings her back to Balsam Ridge. Maxi offers to help Corbin in exchange Corbin helps Maxi with some odd jobs around her place. What starts as a fake relationship turns into so much more for these two. I can't wait for the next book in this series to come out.
August 25, 2022
✅ Small-town Romance
✅Fake Dating
✅Firefighter
✅HEA
⭐️: 5/5
🔥: 3/5
Maxine Bufton is a tough girl from Baltimore who now lives in small town Balsam Ridge, Tennessee and works at Appalachian Ridge Brewery and wants nothing to do with a relationship. Corbin Tuttle is the chief of Valley Fire and Rescue and has been in a 6 year relationship with Susanna (who by the way is a total nightmare). After throwing a fit, Susanna leaves for the Caribbean and Corbin goes to the bar to hang out with his brothers. It’s then that he meets Maxi.
Corbin wants to get over Susanna but he just isn’t sure how to bring himself to do so. Maxi offers to be Corbin’s fake girlfriend in exchange for his help in getting the land fixed up she inherited from her mom. As Maxi and Corbin are seen around town together word finally gets around to Susanna (naturally she pitches a fit). Things get hot and heavy between Maxi and Corbin, and Maxi is getting scared. Will she be able to overcome her fear of being loved?
This is my first time reading anything by Amber Kelly and I loved this book to pieces. I was hooked from the prologue (had literal chills just from reading that alone so I knew it would be great)! Rain After Fire had a great story and some amazing laugh out loud moments. Anything by Amber Kelly will be an automatic read for me❤️🔥.
✅Fake Dating
✅Firefighter
✅HEA
⭐️: 5/5
🔥: 3/5
Maxine Bufton is a tough girl from Baltimore who now lives in small town Balsam Ridge, Tennessee and works at Appalachian Ridge Brewery and wants nothing to do with a relationship. Corbin Tuttle is the chief of Valley Fire and Rescue and has been in a 6 year relationship with Susanna (who by the way is a total nightmare). After throwing a fit, Susanna leaves for the Caribbean and Corbin goes to the bar to hang out with his brothers. It’s then that he meets Maxi.
Corbin wants to get over Susanna but he just isn’t sure how to bring himself to do so. Maxi offers to be Corbin’s fake girlfriend in exchange for his help in getting the land fixed up she inherited from her mom. As Maxi and Corbin are seen around town together word finally gets around to Susanna (naturally she pitches a fit). Things get hot and heavy between Maxi and Corbin, and Maxi is getting scared. Will she be able to overcome her fear of being loved?
This is my first time reading anything by Amber Kelly and I loved this book to pieces. I was hooked from the prologue (had literal chills just from reading that alone so I knew it would be great)! Rain After Fire had a great story and some amazing laugh out loud moments. Anything by Amber Kelly will be an automatic read for me❤️🔥.
September 4, 2022
This is the first book I've ever read by Amber Kelly, and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! I love her writing style (first person, dual POV, and present tense, which I LOVE!).
Maxi and Corbin were complete opposites. Maxi was loud and said what was on her mind, and Corbin was a complete gentleman, but as a couple, they were perfect for each other. I honestly loved everything about this story, and can't wait to read the other books in this series. Highly recommended with more than five stars!
Maxi and Corbin were complete opposites. Maxi was loud and said what was on her mind, and Corbin was a complete gentleman, but as a couple, they were perfect for each other. I honestly loved everything about this story, and can't wait to read the other books in this series. Highly recommended with more than five stars!
August 29, 2022
Rain After Fire is a heartwarming story of love, family, and finding home.
Corbin Tuttle is absolute book boyfriend perfection! He's sweet and strong, protective and loving. Maxi is an amazing woman with some healing to do. After losing her mother, she finds a home in Balsam Ridge. She's a gorgeous, straight shooting woman and perfect to help Corbin break the cycle with his toxic ex.
What starts out as a fake relationship turns all too real pretty quickly. This is one of my favorite tropes and Amber Kelly nailed it! Corbin and his family help Maxi heal and it's truly beautiful. Her and Corbin both deserve to be loved wholly and watching them realize it had me smiling the entire book!
This book has it all! An all consuming love, found family, small town goodness, and some tragedy. Basically, you will feel all the emotions! Can't wait for more!
I received an ARC for an honest review.
Corbin Tuttle is absolute book boyfriend perfection! He's sweet and strong, protective and loving. Maxi is an amazing woman with some healing to do. After losing her mother, she finds a home in Balsam Ridge. She's a gorgeous, straight shooting woman and perfect to help Corbin break the cycle with his toxic ex.
What starts out as a fake relationship turns all too real pretty quickly. This is one of my favorite tropes and Amber Kelly nailed it! Corbin and his family help Maxi heal and it's truly beautiful. Her and Corbin both deserve to be loved wholly and watching them realize it had me smiling the entire book!
This book has it all! An all consuming love, found family, small town goodness, and some tragedy. Basically, you will feel all the emotions! Can't wait for more!
I received an ARC for an honest review.
September 2, 2022
I have been hoping to see Corbin get his HEA and this one does not disappoint. After being strung along like he has been, he meets a spitfire named Maxi and she gives as good as she gets. She is fierce, independent and so much more. But like a moth to a flame, these two have a magnetic pull to each other. What started as a fake relationship slowly built up to more and I was living for it. There is so much raw emotions that pour within these pages that I devoured it from start to finish. It was stunning and heartfelt. Hands down my favorite of the series so far!
August 25, 2022
(ARC REVIEW)
Ms. Kelly, you did it again you are putting out another fantastic book. I loved your Popular Falls but this series is quickly becoming my favorite.
Corbin stole my heart in his brother's books and this sealed my love for him. This man gave his all in everything from his family to his job. My issue was his relationship with Susanna and if we want to be technical I view it as a battered type of syndrome. A few times I wanted to slap her which couldn't happen because well she is a fictional character. Then we have Maxi and to say I had a girl crush is truly an understatement. I mean this chick rides a Harley. Maxi is one of those girls you just click with. Once Corbin and Maxi found their footing together it made my heart smile. These two deserved to be loved and cherished. Their happy ending made this book perfection. This can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading the first two.
Ms. Kelly, you did it again you are putting out another fantastic book. I loved your Popular Falls but this series is quickly becoming my favorite.
Corbin stole my heart in his brother's books and this sealed my love for him. This man gave his all in everything from his family to his job. My issue was his relationship with Susanna and if we want to be technical I view it as a battered type of syndrome. A few times I wanted to slap her which couldn't happen because well she is a fictional character. Then we have Maxi and to say I had a girl crush is truly an understatement. I mean this chick rides a Harley. Maxi is one of those girls you just click with. Once Corbin and Maxi found their footing together it made my heart smile. These two deserved to be loved and cherished. Their happy ending made this book perfection. This can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading the first two.
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