Tempting Gabriel: A steamy small town opposites attract romance

The Stewarts of Fable Notch #1

by Elena Markem

She’s everything I swore I didn’t want. And she’s the craving I can’t seem to quit.

For three years I’ve been thinking about that one, hot night with my best friend’s little sister. One night, and then we went our separate ways with nothing but our memories.

Until now.

Zoe is back in Fable Notch, and the spark between us burns as bright and hot as ever. There’s just one little problem.

A little problem named Stella. Zoe’s daughter. They come as a package deal, and I’ve sworn off ever having kids. It doesn’t matter. I just need to get Zoe out of my system once and for all, then everything can go back to normal.

But the more time I spend with Zoe and her sweet baby girl, the more I find they’re both under my skin—and in my heart.
Which is the last place I want, or need, either of them to be.

If you like an opposites-attract romance with a brother’s best friend who's too hot to ignore and rules that are made to be broken for love, click BUY NOW to start reading Tempting Gabriel.

Genres: Amazon, Small Town Romance

367 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 30, 2024

Reviews

[Susan Hawes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author created a neat town in Fable Notch, and this is book one in the second series set there. Gabriel is a pediatrician in a rut who doesn't want kids. Zoe is a single mom. Their siblings are in a relationship. And they had a fling years ago. The chemistry jumps off the page and they are great together but.... he doesn't want kids and she has one.
No spoilers, but their love story is amazing. Little Easter eggs and re-visits with characters from the first series just make this one more delicious.
Brava, Elena Markem. I can't wait for Adam's story!!

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome opposites-attract romance.. Steamy, emotional, and heartfelt.. I liked it a lot.

[Patricia Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small town story about Zoe, Stella and Gabriel. He swore off having relationships with women who want kids but there is something about Zoe he can't get her out of his system. Five star opposite attracts highly recommended this sweet story.

[Hannah K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, small town romance!

Rating it a 3 because it was a slow pace but overall very cute and I love pediatrician romances.

*ARC Review*

[Sunny Lovestories · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does Fable Notch have room for one more? In all seriousness though this novel is a warm hug, giving hope to single moms everywhere. I love too that at no tie was anyone looked down upon for their decisions, whether or not they are conventional. *single mom romance *smalltown *family & friends *opposites attract *3.5 chili peppers out of 5

[Star-Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to like Dr. Gabriel Stewart. True, he was honest and upfront with what he wanted but his unbending personality made me cringe. True, I knew there had to be a backstory that supported his desire for no children but he chose to be a pediatrician and had to also see what joys come with a healthy child or one who has made a full recovery so I felt as though he was more stubborn and using the wrong reason to end his relationships. Then enters Zoe Davis into the story and the true Gabriel Stewart comes to light although he’s still not being completely honest…his mind has not convinced his heart yet. I think all readers will immediately know that what Gabriel and Zoe enter into will never work but what a delight it was to be with them through the arrangement, of course, until when Zoe decides she needs to do something drastic. Both characters grow and find a “cure” for what they have allowed to hold them back. Gabriel finds renewed joy and excitement when he learns he suffers from compassion fatigue burnout and Zoe finds rest and peace of mind when she realizes she can let others help and being good doesn’t mean mistakes won’t happen. The family members and friends add to the delight of this book and I liked how the author worked the stories of past events in the sibling’s lives to explain the impact they made on Gabriel and Zoe with her parents. As you can guess, by the read of the book Gabriel Stewart has redeemed himself, his heart has finally convinced his mind and one can’t help but love the man who can’t help but look after every one just as Zoe does too.
I received an Advance Review Copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Isabelle Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book about a month ago, and I still catch myself thinking about it—in all the best ways. The emotions in this story were so grounded and genuine, and the ending? It felt completely earned in a way that left me full of warmth and satisfaction.

Now here’s the kicker: I don’t usually gravitate toward “baby romances.” Books where a baby or child is part of the romantic setup often don’t work for me—they tend to feel forced or overly saccharine. But Tempting Gabriel proved me wrong. The way the child was integrated into the story felt real, tender, and never manipulative. It added stakes without stealing focus from the romance.

What worked so well for me:

Real emotional stakes: This wasn’t a fairytale—it was two people navigating love, and a complicated history, and all the baggage that comes with that.

Gabe: Oh, Gabe. So much quiet strength, so many layers. His evolution was so well-done.

Zoe: She held her own. Vulnerable but resilient, and totally someone I totally rooted for.

Slow burn tension-until it wasn't: You could feel the connection building long before anything physical happened. And when the physicality dropped-I was THERE for it. (And it was SO well done!)

Supporting characters: From family to friends, the secondary characters added so much dimension to the story without stealing the spotlight, but also gratifying because they're all characters we either know already, or will know with a book of their own.

This one is a standout for me. Beautifully written, deeply felt, and surprisingly perfect—even for a reader like me who doesn’t usually go for books with babies involved.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was perfect for me for February!

I'd give this 3 out of 5 for spicy - there's some action but it's not crazy nor is it too far out there. It was the perfect level for this story in my opinion.

The premise of this is that everyone has basically come home to the small town and is now stuck living near/around each other. There is of course some history that makes this difficult and the build up to the connection was beautifully done. It's rare for me to really enjoy spicy scenes but Markem did an excellent job of making it intense and not over the top.

I'm looking forward to the next Fable Notch story!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, this book was amazing! The love story between Zoe and Gabriel was great, but what really had me loving this book was the emotional journey Gabriel went through. Holding on to childhood trauma that kept him from enjoying anything in his life was really emotional for me. I can really relate to the struggle in being vulnerable and letting another person in. Wow! This is my favorite Fable Notch Book in the series!!

[Sue Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh... wow, what a fantastic start to the series of the Stewart Brothers!
It going to be awesome watching each one fall!!
I absolutely loved Gabriel and Zoe's heartwarming story.
Wonderful storyline with superb characters and a lovely HEA.
I'm looking forward to Adam's story next.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the author, and I'm willingly leaving an honest review.

[JoAnna VanDorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book can definitely be considered a pallet cleaners. It was a heartwarming cozy book with limited drama. There was parts where I felt the author was putting too much information into he book. And other times I felt there was enough information lol Definitely lots of rambling that I didn't think was important. But it was still a good book.

[Sharon]

Purchased in epub format from Barnes and Noble for my Nook.