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Search For Love #5
Heartfire
Tessa Kahill, renowned journalist who travels the world, is falling in love with her best friend's husband all over again. A rocky road, a man and woman who are searching for love and a little boy who holds his own secret. They could become a real family if they all become vulnerable and honest with each other. A heartfire has been burning for years. Will it lead to everlasting love?
Nook
First published October 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
December 31, 2015
The story was definitely not a "heartfire" for me. I kept expecting it to get better, as it had all the ingredients I normally like but the execution... From a very predictable plot to somewhat simplistic writing and superficial characterization, the story left much to be desired. Well, at least it was free.
February 21, 2012
3 1/2 ***
A Kindle freebie that held my attention, warmed my heart, and I finished in one evening. The çharacters were likeable, although I am sure there is more to Max than we read. Tessa's relationship with Ryan was touching and inspiring - you knew it had more to do with the two of them than merely as a result of Tessa's friendship with his mom. It was nice to read of a man who was so willing and able to take on as much of the mother's role as he was able to, yet admit that he could not do it all. Perhaps a bit predictable, but most romances are if it ends with the couplee you were rooting for getting together. If they don't many readers would be disappointed, so predictable is good!
A Kindle freebie that held my attention, warmed my heart, and I finished in one evening. The çharacters were likeable, although I am sure there is more to Max than we read. Tessa's relationship with Ryan was touching and inspiring - you knew it had more to do with the two of them than merely as a result of Tessa's friendship with his mom. It was nice to read of a man who was so willing and able to take on as much of the mother's role as he was able to, yet admit that he could not do it all. Perhaps a bit predictable, but most romances are if it ends with the couplee you were rooting for getting together. If they don't many readers would be disappointed, so predictable is good!
November 26, 2015
Glad it was a free ebook because it was a dnf. My attention wavered, I found it... boring. Also, it looks like the guy isn't interested in a relationship with a woman whose job is important to her (I didn't finish the book, so he might change his tune).
August 21, 2012
Nice interaction between Tessa and Ryan the young son otherwise a pretty formulaic romance.
March 15, 2020
Two Stubborn People Set In Their Ways Find Love
This is a well written book about two people with two very different life styles who have one common factor that brings them together and BAM!
This is a well written book about two people with two very different life styles who have one common factor that brings them together and BAM!
February 3, 2018
Extremely cheesy. And the 8/9 year old acts more like a 5/6 year old. Weird.
August 19, 2018
A very good book made me tink I need to look for other book from that author.
August 31, 2019
Sweet and charming
It was very sweet and delightfully charming. The main were were well developed. Just brief moments where main characters make out.
It was very sweet and delightfully charming. The main were were well developed. Just brief moments where main characters make out.
September 29, 2021
Nice
Good love story, very nice plot and usually modern stories are not my flrte. But enjoyed this story of peace and love!
Good love story, very nice plot and usually modern stories are not my flrte. But enjoyed this story of peace and love!
January 4, 2012
I read this on my Nook. The novel has approx. 341 pages on the Nook. This is a good romance with
the story flowing well and the characters being believable.
Tessa Kahill, renowned journalist who traveled the world, is falling in love with her best friend's husband all over again. Tessa and Max Winthrop dated before he met Leslie. But then Tessa left with secrets and dreams to follow her career. Afterward Max found Leslie to be the kind of woman he needed, one who wanted to be a mother, live in a small town and have roots. Tessa had somewhat kept her distance after Leslie and Max became involved, then married. But she visited a few times a year because she was their son's godmother and she still felt close to Leslie in so many ways. Keeping her distance from Max became a habit and a necessity. When Leslie was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Tessa became her confidant. If she couldn't be there physically, she was on the phone with her friend, talking about her concerns and her fears. After Leslie died, Tessa visited Jenkins, Connecticut, for Ryan's sake, always staying with Leslie's parents.
Now, three years after Leslie's death, Tessa comes for a visit and learns Ryan is having problems in school and making friends. After a serious conference with Ryan's teacher, Tessa offers to stay a few weeks for Ryan's sake. Accepting her help this time, Max insists she stay with them since Leslie's parents have moved away from the small town.
But something is different during this visit. Tessa and Max feel electricity that hasn't been there over the past nine years. They're both confused and unsettled by it.
the story flowing well and the characters being believable.
Tessa Kahill, renowned journalist who traveled the world, is falling in love with her best friend's husband all over again. Tessa and Max Winthrop dated before he met Leslie. But then Tessa left with secrets and dreams to follow her career. Afterward Max found Leslie to be the kind of woman he needed, one who wanted to be a mother, live in a small town and have roots. Tessa had somewhat kept her distance after Leslie and Max became involved, then married. But she visited a few times a year because she was their son's godmother and she still felt close to Leslie in so many ways. Keeping her distance from Max became a habit and a necessity. When Leslie was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Tessa became her confidant. If she couldn't be there physically, she was on the phone with her friend, talking about her concerns and her fears. After Leslie died, Tessa visited Jenkins, Connecticut, for Ryan's sake, always staying with Leslie's parents.
Now, three years after Leslie's death, Tessa comes for a visit and learns Ryan is having problems in school and making friends. After a serious conference with Ryan's teacher, Tessa offers to stay a few weeks for Ryan's sake. Accepting her help this time, Max insists she stay with them since Leslie's parents have moved away from the small town.
But something is different during this visit. Tessa and Max feel electricity that hasn't been there over the past nine years. They're both confused and unsettled by it.
January 25, 2015
Contemporary romance about second chances and making a new family after a tragedy.
Tessa Kahill, renowned journalist and world traveler who was abandoned as a child so she is out to find freedom, but never know how it feels to have a family to anchor her emotionally.
Max, the widow and ex-boyfriend from before his marriage to Leslie, Tessa's best friend that died three years ago from cancer. There is a little seven year old son who is portrayed like a five year old most of the time, but he has his own problems that is cleared up with Tessa (third party) who understands being abandoned by a mother.
Three people that have been family for years, but keep each other at arm's length because they are scared to share their feelings with each other, but they all have a problem listening to each other instead of just jumping to conclusions. Tessa is strangely without close friends or family even thought she knows and has worked with lots of people as an international journalist.
190 pages and kindle freebie
2 stars
Tessa Kahill, renowned journalist and world traveler who was abandoned as a child so she is out to find freedom, but never know how it feels to have a family to anchor her emotionally.
Max, the widow and ex-boyfriend from before his marriage to Leslie, Tessa's best friend that died three years ago from cancer. There is a little seven year old son who is portrayed like a five year old most of the time, but he has his own problems that is cleared up with Tessa (third party) who understands being abandoned by a mother.
Three people that have been family for years, but keep each other at arm's length because they are scared to share their feelings with each other, but they all have a problem listening to each other instead of just jumping to conclusions. Tessa is strangely without close friends or family even thought she knows and has worked with lots of people as an international journalist.
190 pages and kindle freebie
2 stars
July 14, 2015
Widowed Max Winthrop and his four-year-old son Ryan tried to pick up their life after Max’s wife Leslie passed away.
Tessa stayed in touch with Max and little Ryan for the next few years. She chose a fascinating career in New York over relationship with Max long before he married her best friend.
Now, Tessa came for Ryan’s birthday each year and on special occasions. While visiting, Tessa and Mike each stir the smoldering embers of the long-gone relationship when Mike let’s her know that young Ryan is struggling and he can’t seem to discover what to do to help him through this.
Staying with Max and Ryan seemed the right thing to do as she called on her womanly skills to try to figure out why Ryan didn’t make friends and seemed to want to be alone.
Smith writes from two points of view showing the inner feelings of Max and Tessa. There are mainly three characters in the book. A good story line, but I would have liked to see more day-to-day interests/activities. I didn’t see any high tension or drama detail. An easy read.
I received this book for my honest review.
Tessa stayed in touch with Max and little Ryan for the next few years. She chose a fascinating career in New York over relationship with Max long before he married her best friend.
Now, Tessa came for Ryan’s birthday each year and on special occasions. While visiting, Tessa and Mike each stir the smoldering embers of the long-gone relationship when Mike let’s her know that young Ryan is struggling and he can’t seem to discover what to do to help him through this.
Staying with Max and Ryan seemed the right thing to do as she called on her womanly skills to try to figure out why Ryan didn’t make friends and seemed to want to be alone.
Smith writes from two points of view showing the inner feelings of Max and Tessa. There are mainly three characters in the book. A good story line, but I would have liked to see more day-to-day interests/activities. I didn’t see any high tension or drama detail. An easy read.
I received this book for my honest review.
September 21, 2012
Max's wife Leslie passes from cancer & her best friend Tessa stays in contact with her son Ryan. Ryan is Tessa's Godson. Now it has been three years since Leslie has passed & since her parents have moved out of town & Tessa can no longer stay with them. Ryan ask Max if she can stay there to visit this time with them this visit.of course Max says yes. The sticky wickette is that Max & Tessa use to date nine years ago so feelings start to surface leaving both of them on very shaky ground. Once she is in the house life becomes intense. Their turmoil is always the making of an interesting romance novel. You should really like this book.
December 16, 2013
I enjoyed this story alot. You really felt for both Tessa and Max as they had feelings for each other but were both scared in their own rights to admit their true feelings to each other. I honestly wasn't sure what was wrong with Ryan through the story, why he didn't want to be with friends and only wanted to be with Tessa, Max or Flo. It was a sweet way that Tessa realized what was going on and was able to both help him and reassure him that there was nothing wrong with him. I loved the ending of the story and how it all had a happy ending.
August 24, 2014
2.5 Stars
When I read Heartfire and Karen Rose Smith's other books, Love in Bloom, they were both free. While enjoyable, I made the disastrous mistake of reading this right after Love in Bloom. As a reader, both plots were too alike that the story melded together and I can't really remember each of them as a separate book. If you're looking for a fun, easy read then go ahead! This is exactly that. But if you're looking for a memorable one, don't look here.
When I read Heartfire and Karen Rose Smith's other books, Love in Bloom, they were both free. While enjoyable, I made the disastrous mistake of reading this right after Love in Bloom. As a reader, both plots were too alike that the story melded together and I can't really remember each of them as a separate book. If you're looking for a fun, easy read then go ahead! This is exactly that. But if you're looking for a memorable one, don't look here.
November 4, 2016
Each time you are hurt – real or perceived, you build a barrier around yourself to protect yourself from getting hurt again. Soon that barrier becomes so tall and so thick that no one can get through – unless you open the door. When both people are busy building their barriers, neither has the time to open their door - unless they share the love of another person that is. I enjoyed this story and rooted for all sides!
October 29, 2012
This is a sweet, fairly predictable read. The characters and story line were just interesting enough to make it good, but it wasn't deep enough to be really good. I wouldn't recommend it but I wouldn't tell someone not to read it either. It was a nice, summer or weekend read for someone who likes sweet romances.
May 23, 2013
It was a nice, unassuming book. Heroine comes to celebrate Hero's son birthday. And it turns out that Hero's wife was best Heroine's friend but before that the two of them dated for a short while. Their feelings resurface, but she loves her job as international journalist and he wants his wife to stay at home. So they are figuring aut what to do and what will be best for a child.
September 13, 2013
Heartfire was free when I downloaded it to my Nook.
I enjoyed this romance between Tessa and Max. There are some descriptive scenes of their passion but it is still PG-13, or even PG.
Heartfire is an entertaining romance for readers who prefer this genre.
I enjoyed this romance between Tessa and Max. There are some descriptive scenes of their passion but it is still PG-13, or even PG.
Heartfire is an entertaining romance for readers who prefer this genre.
January 26, 2012
"Heartfire" was an alright book, the storyline with the child was very good, but there wasnt enough of the over all relationship, and frankly it was kind of confusing. It was was I expected for the price, free on my kindle.
September 23, 2012
This is the first book I read by Karen Rose Smith. Even though I finished the book I found it a little boring & I just couldn't connect with the main characters. If you like short, cute romances than this is a nice book to read just once. I would probably read more books by this author.
October 16, 2012
A cute romance story.I managed to finish reading it in one night.It warmed my heart to see how much Max and Tessa love each other and afraid to tell each other.Ryan is a cute boy.I like those family romance stories.But the ending was short.Hoping to read more of this author's books.
July 3, 2013
trust was an issue for both and letting go of grief, missing out basic nurturing you fear you are unlovable ... all so real n understandable... taking a risk is very challenging as you don't know if you have the resilience to take whatever comes...
October 22, 2014
Heartfire is as special as all Karen Rose Smith's other books. Although it is one of the Search series, it is not about finding someone who has been lost; For Tessa it is about finding what has always been missing in her life, and for Max it is about finding what is missing now.
January 10, 2015
Great heartwarming book
I loved the main characters' passion for each other and their protective nature of the child. I guess it just goes to show you that finding a balance between work and social life isn't easy. Great ending!
I loved the main characters' passion for each other and their protective nature of the child. I guess it just goes to show you that finding a balance between work and social life isn't easy. Great ending!
December 22, 2015
Love it
What a great story. Its all about family and friendship. A great reading and I must say I fell in love with Tessa, max and ryan. I feel like I want to read more about there future as a family.
What a great story. Its all about family and friendship. A great reading and I must say I fell in love with Tessa, max and ryan. I feel like I want to read more about there future as a family.
December 1, 2011
Free ebook to read while I was sick
December 2, 2011
Another Kindle freebie that was surprisingly good. A quick read romanace that is even worth re-reading later on.
December 2, 2011
Free kindle read to pass the time, pleasently heart warming.
January 18, 2012
I'd actually give this 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the characters and the sweet romance...and the hero is a sexy change from the usual alpha hero.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews