The Fling: a romance in paradise follows two individuals home and a chance for a lifetime love

The Fling is the second book in the Lake Bittersweet series by Jennifer Bernard. Emmaline Curtis has never been far from home before but when she wins an all expenses paid trip to Hawaii, it is a dream come true. There she meets a gorgeous man and after a few moments of flirty banter, she is ready for anything. Conor Gault is in Hawaii on a business trip when his chance meeting with a beautiful woman turns into an unexpected romance in paradise. They agree to a fling. However, it is cut short when he receives news that his rock star father has passed away unexpectedly. He finds himself in Lake Bittersweet, Minnesota, a place he has purposely avoided for seventeen years. The last person he expected to run into is Emmaline, the woman who has haunted his thoughts since they parted in Hawaii. They find that their spark is still there but it will be tested when they discover that their pasts are linked in more ways than they ever knew. 

After reading the first book in this series, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue this series. However, when I had a chance to read the second book, I decided to give it a second chance. The Fling starts out great. Two people in paradise who throw caution to the wind, until reality brings them back. I enjoyed their interaction and flirty banter. After they meet up again in Lake Bittersweet, the story falters a bit. I loved Emmaline and Conor’s interactions. I loved Conor’s interactions with Emmaline’s brother, Henry. I think my issue with this story is the interactions with the supporting characters who were introduced in the story as if I should have already known them and their histories. Maybe it was the time between reading book 1 and book 2 that was the issue but I found myself losing attention. Overall, though, I did enjoy this story. I enjoyed Conor’s growth specifically. I may continue the series in the future. If you enjoy small town romance, I recommend The Fling. 

The Fling is available in paperback and eBook

Ice Falls: a romantic suspense in an Alaskan small town

Ice Falls is the first book in the Firelight Ridge series by Jennifer Bernard. Molly Evans credits her three best friends for their support as she grew from a misfit to a successful attorney. When one of them suddenly goes missing, Molly makes it her mission to find her friend, Lila. She tracks Lila to Firelight Ridge, a small town in Alaska, and she immediately stands out in a town who stays out of each other’s business. It doesn’t take long before she finds herself in the middle of a local mystery and a reclusive group and must deal with a surly but very attractive pilot. Sam Coburn is the ultimate lone wolf; keeping to himself. When Molly steps onto his plane, he is intrigued by the feisty and fierce woman. Little does he know that she will provide a way to access the wilderness family he had tried and failed. A whirlwind of events will change their lives forever. 

I have read Jennifer Bernard’s books before and loved them. When I found Ice Falls, I was looking forward to this romance suspense. I liked that Molly was willing to jump on a plane to find her friend. Even though Lila was always a bit flighty, Molly felt enough intuition to think something was off and find her and make sure she is okay. Her first interaction with Sam was funny with great banter. From there, the story seemed to be all over the place introducing Lila’s new life in town, the mysterious family who Sam is trying to get information about and the mystery that is supposed to tie it all together. The pace was slow and lost my attention. Overall, I was bored and really didn’t care for the characters or the mystery. I am not sure if I will continue this series; however, if if you enjoy romantic suspense, you may enjoy Ice Falls. 

Ice Falls is available in paperback and eBook

The First Love: can a second chance at love overcome the secrets of the past?

The First Love is the first book in the Lake Bittersweet series by Jennifer Bernard. Carly Gault returns to Lake Bittersweet after seventeen years. She is shocked by the sudden death of her father, Steven Gault, when she receives another shock when she discovers she has been named as the executor of his estate. Besides dealing with the mountain of bills and debts he left behind, she must deal with the pain of the past and the boy who broke her heart. To Thomas Cooper, Carly is the girl who got away, the one he gave away. Seeing her again takes him back to their summer together, their love and the choice he made when he broke her heart. Now that she’s back and more beautiful than ever, there is no denying their attraction is still there. But when secrets of the past come to light, can they have a second chance at love? 

I loved Jennifer Barnard’s Lost Harbor, Alaska series and I looked forward to starting the Lake Bittersweet series. First loves are often powerful and first heartbreaks are just as powerful. I love second chance romances. Unfortunately, The First Love did not have the same feel that the books from the Lost Harbor series. I did not care for Carly or Thomas, although I did like Thomas a little bit more. When Carly returns home, she learns that her father’s bar has been shut down by order of the fire marshal. She goes to confront the first marshal, only to learn that it is Thomas. Their conservation about the violations was eye rolling. He is in the right to shut it down and her only defense is that other buildings probably have the same violations. Like what? Overall, I did not enjoy The First Love and I am unsure if I will continue the series. 

The First Love is available in paperback and eBook

The Rebel: secrets, family trouble and enemies to lovers

The Rebel by Jennifer Bernard is the first book in The Rockwell Legacy series. Deep in the Cascade Mountains, the Rockwell family has been running the historic Rocky Peak Lodge for generations. The lodge and its legacy is a risk. Kai Rockwell is the oldest and always the rebel. He left home when he was 18 and would rather die than deal with his father, “Mad Max” Rockwell. Now fifteen years later, he’s being called home as his father has a health scare and the lodge needs a lot of help. All Nurse Nicole Davidson wanted security for her and her disabled sister. When the job as an in-home nurse for Max Rockwell comes up, she is recruited to do a little intel for her friend’s investment group. No problem until Kai comes home and everything is thrown into a chaos. Kai and Nicole are equally determined to protect their families, they aren’t sure if they are enemies or lovers. 

The opening chapter of The Rebel hooked me in and let me down from there. I’m not really sure why but the story fell flat. There were a lot of secrets that the characters hinted at but took forever to reveal them. By then, I didn’t care what the secrets were. I did enjoy Kai’s character and despite his vow to never to return, he couldn’t truly abandon his home. I didn’t care for Nicole’s friend who was so pushy that I wanted to yell. Nicole giving her information about the lodge was plausible but her friend’s demands were way out of line. The introductions of Kai’s siblings didn’t heighten my interest enough to read the rest of the series. It is not my favorite by Ms. Bernard and I have loved the books I’ve read by her so far. Overall, I just didn’t care for the romance between Kai and Nicole. 

The Rebel is available in paperback and eBook

Set the Night on Fire: a sweet enemies to lovers romance with emotions and a tad bit spicy

Set the Night on Fire by Jennifer Bernard is the first book of the Jupiter Point Firefighters series. Hotshot firefighter Sean Marcus left Jupiter Point in disgrace but after a near death experience in a flashover, he is coming home to clear his name. He is the man in charge of setting up the new Jupiter Point Hotshots wildfire crew. Sean is determined to prove he is no longer the troubled boy who left town thirteen years ago. Evie McGraw is the town sweetheart with a secret. She has never spoken about that night and Sean is the only one who knows what happened that night. Now that Sean is back in town and Brian White, the hometown golden boy, is seeking a political endorsement, that terrible night is constantly on her mind. Now Evie is at a crossroad. Keep silent and live life as she always had. Or stand up and speak out and find a future she always thought was just a dream. 

Set the Night on Fire is more than an enemy to lovers romance. It is sweet, emotional and a tad bit spicy. I loved the growth of Evie as she must confront a past she would rather forget. As someone who also avoids confrontation when possible, I felt her internal struggle deeply. However, I cheered her on as she found the strength and courage to stand up and speak out. Sean is also a character with deep emotional wounds from the past and finds himself fighting the ghost he left in Jupiter Point. Their romance was a slow burn as they healed together and by the end, I was smiling and cheering for them. I loved Evie and Sean together. I also enjoyed the side characters who will no doubt have their own romances in the series. Overall, I loved Set the Night on Fire and I will be continuing the series in the future. I highly recommend Set the Night on Fire. 

Set the Night on Fire is available in paperback and eBook

Seduced by Snowfall: a sweet, steamy opposites attract romance

Seduced by Snowfall is the third book in the Lost Harbor, Alaska series by Jennifer Bernard. Dr. Bethany Morrison is used to being the responsible one, the one everyone relies on. She certainly isn’t used to needing to be rescued. Every time she has needed help, sexy, lighthearted firefighter Nate Prudhoe has been there. When she needs a fake boyfriend to deter her father’s middling, It’s no wonder she turns to him. Nate knows he is seen as the fun loving guy but he hides a deeply wounded heart. But when he discovers a mysterious injured runaway hiding inside the firehouse, there is only one person he turns to. As winter closes in, the line in their fake relationship seems to be fading into forever. Will Nate realize that Bethany is exactly who he needs to help heal his wounded heart? Will Bethany recognize that the fun loving Nate is what she needs to balance out her life? 

Seduced by Snowfall is a sweet, steamy opposites attract romance. I love fun loving yet serious firefighter characters and Nate certainly fills that role. Bethany is the uptight doctor who is trying to be as far away from her middling father as she can. But she comes to love the little community that has welcomed her with open arms. Bethany and Nate are brought closer together as they help the mysterious teen, who Nate nicknames SG, and Bethany begins to see that she had Nate pegged all wrong. Their banter was fun and flirty. I enjoyed that SG’s story isn’t quite done yet. I look forward to reading more about her and her mysterious past. I loved Seduced by Snowfall and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I loved Ms. Bernard’s description of Alaska that I would love to visit one day. If you love fun, steamy romances, I recommend Seduced by Snowfall. 

Seduced by Snowfall is available in paperback and eBook

Yours Since Yesterday: a second chance at one's first love

Yours Since Yesterday is the second book in the Lost Harbor, Alaska series by Jennifer Bernard. After being introduced in the first book, Zoe Bellini shines in her own love story. Fifteen years ago, Zoe and her best friend, Padric Jeffers were hiking in the forest near Lost Harbor when they kissed and their lives changed forever and not in a good way. Events known as The Scandal result in Padric being whisked away from Lost Harbor and leaving Zoe behind with a broken heart and shattered dreams. Padric Jeffers is now a world famous singer-songwriter and he never expected to return to Lost Harbor. However, when he receives a letter concerning Zoe, he postpones his tour and heads north. Zoe had never been far from his mind in the last fifteen years and when he sees the gorgeous woman she has become, he is determined to never leave her again. 

Of course, their reunion would be easier said than done as someone in Lost Harbor is not happy with Padric’s return. Yours Since Yesterday is a story of a second chance at one’s first love. It is filled with drama, sexy romance and deep emotional healing with a smidge of mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Zoe and Padric’s story. Their romance, which began innocently as teens, grew into a steamy and sexy attraction that they could not deny. I enjoyed their cynicism, especially Zoe’s as she had one bad relationship after another. She didn’t want to believe in love for it would break her heart again. I also enjoyed the introduction of new characters that will appear in future stories, especially Nate. His interaction with Padric had me laughing! I highly recommend Yours Since Yesterday. Although I wouldn’t recommend reading this story while hungry. The descriptions of Zoe’s pizzas are mouthwatering! 

Yours Since Yesterday is available in paperback and eBook. 

 

 

Mine Until Moonrise: romance in small town Alaska

Mine Until Moonrise is the first book in the Lost Harbor, Alaska series by Jennifer Bernard. Megan Miller desperately needed an escape as she was running from a tragedy she can’t forget. From the moment Megan set foot in Lost Harbor, Alaska, she has been at odds with Lucas Holt, a local boat captain. They are opposites in every way: city girl versus hometown boy, nature tours versus fishing charters. Lucas is arrogant, annoying and wildly attractive as Megan reluctantly admits. However, Lost Harbor is the perfect place for her and nothing and no one, especially hottie Lucas, was going to chase her away. Lucas Holt is only back on Lost Harbor to put his father’s affairs in order. But is there something or someone that could keep him there? He admits he loves feuding with Megan as arguing with her is the best foreplay he’s had in years. When a dangerous storm throws them together and further ignites their smoldering attraction, a feud turns into a passionate affair that could turn into a fiery love or leave them in ashes. 

Mine Until Moonrise is a fun, sweet, steamy enemies to lovers romance. Alaska is the final frontier of the American wilderness with its harsh winters and months of endless sunlight. It is the perfect location for feuds and romance. The feuding banter between Megan and Lucas was humorous and a hint at what was to come between these two characters. Megan has a tough exterior hiding a terrified interior as she struggles to find her footing in Lost Harbor, first as a nature tour guide and as an outsider in the harsh Alaskan atmosphere. Lucas is struggling with his father’s death which has been ruled as an accident. He had a feeling there’s more to the events of his death. As these two butt heads, the sparks fly! I enjoyed reading as they progressed from enemies to passionate lovers and settled into more. I hope they make appearances in the rest of the series. I hope If you love romances, I highly recommend Mine Until Moonrise. I thoroughly enjoyed it and looking forward to reading the rest of the love stories of this series. 

Mine Until Moonrise is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook