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Unexpected Love: A Small Town, Firefighter, Single Dad, Reverse Age Gap Romance
Cal Johnson
Moving to James County Fire Rescue was challenging enough, especially after the nightmare of my last big fire call. New crews, new zones, new fears. And a new nosy neighbor with loud music, ridiculous pranks, and a sweet voice I can't get out of my head.
When my sister leaves her toddler behind and fun Uncle Cal suddenly becomes substitute Dad, I'm completely in over my head.
If I can handle running into a burning building, I can handle taking care of a kid. Right?
Jules Lancaster
Starting over means a clean slate. New town, new apartment, new business. Even at my age, it’s exactly what I need. Then my contractor disappears, leaving my coffee shop buildout in the air. As the deadline on my business loan nears, I’ll do anything to keep my dream alive.
Enter my annoying neighbor, sexy firefighter Cal Johnson. He needs a nanny. I need a handyman. It’s a simple trade. Who cares if he’s attractive and a hero head to toe. Cal’s ten years younger than me, and he comes with a kid.
If I can juggle entrepreneurship, I can keep things between us professional for a few weeks. Can’t I?
Moving to James County Fire Rescue was challenging enough, especially after the nightmare of my last big fire call. New crews, new zones, new fears. And a new nosy neighbor with loud music, ridiculous pranks, and a sweet voice I can't get out of my head.
When my sister leaves her toddler behind and fun Uncle Cal suddenly becomes substitute Dad, I'm completely in over my head.
If I can handle running into a burning building, I can handle taking care of a kid. Right?
Jules Lancaster
Starting over means a clean slate. New town, new apartment, new business. Even at my age, it’s exactly what I need. Then my contractor disappears, leaving my coffee shop buildout in the air. As the deadline on my business loan nears, I’ll do anything to keep my dream alive.
Enter my annoying neighbor, sexy firefighter Cal Johnson. He needs a nanny. I need a handyman. It’s a simple trade. Who cares if he’s attractive and a hero head to toe. Cal’s ten years younger than me, and he comes with a kid.
If I can juggle entrepreneurship, I can keep things between us professional for a few weeks. Can’t I?
- GenresContemporary
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 14, 2025
66 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 21, 2025
"Take care of Charlie for me."
Cal Johnson moved from the Newman Fire Department after being shot while responding to a fire. He went to the James County Fire Rescue. Now he must learn not only new codes but also his new co-workers and the methods used here. It's difficult because instead of being assigned to one station, they're continually being rotated. He's teased about being the old man. He has almost ten years of firefighting service but has only been here for six months. The barely twenty-one-year-old Engine 3 driver never lets Cal forget that he's the new guy.
Their last call ended badly; the fire was already out of control when they arrived, and they were unable to get to the woman trapped inside in time.
Working for NFD and sending money to his sister often left him strapped for money. It was to the point that he stopped going out with his friends after their shift ended because he couldn't afford to buy a round of drinks. Working for the county, with its mandatory overtime, pays him more and allows him to continue to send money to his younger sister, Dani.
His family life was horrible. His parents were involved with drugs and crime to pay for the drugs. There was also neglect, along with physical and psychological abuse. He left as soon as he could; Dani, a decade younger than him, wasn't even ten when he left. He's been trying for years to have her leave home and come to live with him. She's finally agreed; she and her daughter, Charlie, will be at his place tonight.
Dani had called to ask how long until he'd be home. He told her he'd be there in a few minutes. It took him a few minutes longer than he thought it would. When he arrived, Dani was gone. He's shocked to discover that Dani is gone! She's not answering his calls, and then suddenly he hears a wail from the extra bedroom he'd prepared for them. Charlie is in the portable crib screaming her head off. It's a few minutes later when he enters the spare bedroom, turns on the light, and discovers a car seat, a duffle bag overfilled with clothing for Charlie, and a pile of toys. Finally he spies a sticky note from Dani with the message, Take care of Charlie for me.
There's no indication of how long he's to care for her. He knows nothing of toddlers, and he's a fireman who works twenty-four hours of duty, then forty-eight hours off. Who will watch her overnight? He has no idea of how he can care for her, but he doesn’t want to give her up either. When Dani finally does contact him, she tells him that she's tired and needs some time for herself away from Charlie. She's certain he can cope...
Jules Lancaster is starting her life over in the small town of Senoma. She works at the Daily Brew coffee shop for her best friend, Lissette, in Newman. In fact, Lissette is allowing her to open a sister coffee shop, Daily Brew Two, in Senoma. That if she ever hears back from the contractor and the building inspection department.
Besides trying to open a new business, she's still recovering from a marriage that had become loveless and terrible and losing a job due to COVID or some reason not due to her actions. She's lost everything and is having to start completely over. Her family tends to overlook what she's capable of doing by herself and thinks of her as the baby of the family, unable to function without their help.
She noticed Cal at the Daily Brew, but when she overheard the firemen he was with mention him as being a player, and she also heard him called dad, she quickly lost interest. However, he does seem to look familiar.
He has the larger apartment next to hers over the Daily Brew Two in Senoma. And they haven't been getting along. Because of his crazy hours, he doesn't appreciate her loud music, especially after 10 p.m. They've also been pranking each other. But they've never met face-to-face until her loud music wakes Charlie after he had a difficult time getting her to sleep.
She feels sorry for him, so she does agree to help care for Charlie if he'll do the work in her coffee shop. Her contractor took off with her money and without finishing his job. Things start going wrong with the shop. It’s as if the town doesn't want her. That is until they learn about her connection to Cal. It's starting all over again; she's only advancing because of Cal this time.
Dani had been MIA for weeks before contacting Cal. She needs bail money. She's mixed up with her mother and Charlie's sperm donor again.
So many loose ends to be tied up... What will happen next?
I received an ARC of this book from the author via Booksprout. I am voluntarily leaving this this review.
Cal Johnson moved from the Newman Fire Department after being shot while responding to a fire. He went to the James County Fire Rescue. Now he must learn not only new codes but also his new co-workers and the methods used here. It's difficult because instead of being assigned to one station, they're continually being rotated. He's teased about being the old man. He has almost ten years of firefighting service but has only been here for six months. The barely twenty-one-year-old Engine 3 driver never lets Cal forget that he's the new guy.
Their last call ended badly; the fire was already out of control when they arrived, and they were unable to get to the woman trapped inside in time.
Working for NFD and sending money to his sister often left him strapped for money. It was to the point that he stopped going out with his friends after their shift ended because he couldn't afford to buy a round of drinks. Working for the county, with its mandatory overtime, pays him more and allows him to continue to send money to his younger sister, Dani.
His family life was horrible. His parents were involved with drugs and crime to pay for the drugs. There was also neglect, along with physical and psychological abuse. He left as soon as he could; Dani, a decade younger than him, wasn't even ten when he left. He's been trying for years to have her leave home and come to live with him. She's finally agreed; she and her daughter, Charlie, will be at his place tonight.
Dani had called to ask how long until he'd be home. He told her he'd be there in a few minutes. It took him a few minutes longer than he thought it would. When he arrived, Dani was gone. He's shocked to discover that Dani is gone! She's not answering his calls, and then suddenly he hears a wail from the extra bedroom he'd prepared for them. Charlie is in the portable crib screaming her head off. It's a few minutes later when he enters the spare bedroom, turns on the light, and discovers a car seat, a duffle bag overfilled with clothing for Charlie, and a pile of toys. Finally he spies a sticky note from Dani with the message, Take care of Charlie for me.
There's no indication of how long he's to care for her. He knows nothing of toddlers, and he's a fireman who works twenty-four hours of duty, then forty-eight hours off. Who will watch her overnight? He has no idea of how he can care for her, but he doesn’t want to give her up either. When Dani finally does contact him, she tells him that she's tired and needs some time for herself away from Charlie. She's certain he can cope...
Jules Lancaster is starting her life over in the small town of Senoma. She works at the Daily Brew coffee shop for her best friend, Lissette, in Newman. In fact, Lissette is allowing her to open a sister coffee shop, Daily Brew Two, in Senoma. That if she ever hears back from the contractor and the building inspection department.
Besides trying to open a new business, she's still recovering from a marriage that had become loveless and terrible and losing a job due to COVID or some reason not due to her actions. She's lost everything and is having to start completely over. Her family tends to overlook what she's capable of doing by herself and thinks of her as the baby of the family, unable to function without their help.
She noticed Cal at the Daily Brew, but when she overheard the firemen he was with mention him as being a player, and she also heard him called dad, she quickly lost interest. However, he does seem to look familiar.
He has the larger apartment next to hers over the Daily Brew Two in Senoma. And they haven't been getting along. Because of his crazy hours, he doesn't appreciate her loud music, especially after 10 p.m. They've also been pranking each other. But they've never met face-to-face until her loud music wakes Charlie after he had a difficult time getting her to sleep.
She feels sorry for him, so she does agree to help care for Charlie if he'll do the work in her coffee shop. Her contractor took off with her money and without finishing his job. Things start going wrong with the shop. It’s as if the town doesn't want her. That is until they learn about her connection to Cal. It's starting all over again; she's only advancing because of Cal this time.
Dani had been MIA for weeks before contacting Cal. She needs bail money. She's mixed up with her mother and Charlie's sperm donor again.
So many loose ends to be tied up... What will happen next?
I received an ARC of this book from the author via Booksprout. I am voluntarily leaving this this review.
April 8, 2025
OMG I got so wrapped up in this!
Cal is a firefighter with the James County Fire Rescue. He moved from Newman a few months ago and he hasn't really found his groove yet. It's kinda hard to when he's not working with the same crew all the time. They rotate, and it's hard to really get to know or trust anybody. And his new neighbor is driving him nuts! Playing loud music too late, prompting him to bang on the wall.
After a particularly bad fire scene, Cal gets home, expecting his sister and niece to greet him. He hasn't seen them in almost a year, and he can't wait. But when he gets there, it's quiet, until the baby screams. His sister is nowhere to be found.
Jules is 38 and starting over. She got a divorce a couple of years ago, and now she's finally moved out of her brother's house and is looking forward to opening a coffee shop. If her contractor would ever call her back. But hey, at least she's having some fun annoying her jerk neighbor.
They start out at each other's throats, but when Cal needs help with his niece, Jules can't turn away, even if she's had enough of her brother's kids to last a lifetime. Cal is totally out of his depth and has no one else to turn to. But they make a deal to help each other.
Cal didn't have any kind of healthy role models growing up, so he wants to give his niece as much love as he can. Between them, they fall into a rhythm, and Cal feels a sense of family that he's never known. He's surprised to realize that it includes Jules.
But what will happen when Cal's sister comes back and wants her daughter? Will everything come crashing down?
This was a good story. You could feel Cal's anxiety as he realizes that his sister skipped out on her daughter. And who could resist a hot firefighter with an adorable little kid?
If you've read the Newman Fire series, this will feel familiar. We see some characters we know, and it feels like meeting up with old friends. It really pulled me in. I can't wait for more!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Cal is a firefighter with the James County Fire Rescue. He moved from Newman a few months ago and he hasn't really found his groove yet. It's kinda hard to when he's not working with the same crew all the time. They rotate, and it's hard to really get to know or trust anybody. And his new neighbor is driving him nuts! Playing loud music too late, prompting him to bang on the wall.
After a particularly bad fire scene, Cal gets home, expecting his sister and niece to greet him. He hasn't seen them in almost a year, and he can't wait. But when he gets there, it's quiet, until the baby screams. His sister is nowhere to be found.
Jules is 38 and starting over. She got a divorce a couple of years ago, and now she's finally moved out of her brother's house and is looking forward to opening a coffee shop. If her contractor would ever call her back. But hey, at least she's having some fun annoying her jerk neighbor.
They start out at each other's throats, but when Cal needs help with his niece, Jules can't turn away, even if she's had enough of her brother's kids to last a lifetime. Cal is totally out of his depth and has no one else to turn to. But they make a deal to help each other.
Cal didn't have any kind of healthy role models growing up, so he wants to give his niece as much love as he can. Between them, they fall into a rhythm, and Cal feels a sense of family that he's never known. He's surprised to realize that it includes Jules.
But what will happen when Cal's sister comes back and wants her daughter? Will everything come crashing down?
This was a good story. You could feel Cal's anxiety as he realizes that his sister skipped out on her daughter. And who could resist a hot firefighter with an adorable little kid?
If you've read the Newman Fire series, this will feel familiar. We see some characters we know, and it feels like meeting up with old friends. It really pulled me in. I can't wait for more!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 14, 2025
This is a wonderful romance that has you pulled in from the beginning. Jules and Cal are well written characters that are real and have you rooting for them.
It has its share of steam and sizzling romantic tension but it also has so many great tender moments between the main characters and the child Cal finds himself taking care of for his sister. They are so well written and emotionally charged. I just loved that about this story.
Both characters have their past to overcome and they have plenty of hurdles along the way in their lives but they make each other better when they come together. It doesn't get much better than that.
I have read a few books by this author and they just keep getting better. Another expertly written story that tugs at the heartstrings while delivering romance and excitement.
It has its share of steam and sizzling romantic tension but it also has so many great tender moments between the main characters and the child Cal finds himself taking care of for his sister. They are so well written and emotionally charged. I just loved that about this story.
Both characters have their past to overcome and they have plenty of hurdles along the way in their lives but they make each other better when they come together. It doesn't get much better than that.
I have read a few books by this author and they just keep getting better. Another expertly written story that tugs at the heartstrings while delivering romance and excitement.
March 1, 2025
Rae has scripted a romance where all hell breaks loose before it settles. We get Cal, the fireman who is hot but in over his head. Jules who is sassy, combative yet melts when it counts. Charlie absolutely steals your heart. You get banter, snark, love, family & a while lot of trouble. A love you will enjoy reading!
October 11, 2025
slow
I could not get into this book at all. I love an older woman younger man trope but this woman acted much younger. Who constantly plays their music loudly when they share walls with a neighbor? Thats rude and entitled. Couldn’t finish because I just didn’t care about either of them.
I could not get into this book at all. I love an older woman younger man trope but this woman acted much younger. Who constantly plays their music loudly when they share walls with a neighbor? Thats rude and entitled. Couldn’t finish because I just didn’t care about either of them.
April 15, 2025
steamy AND sweet
Plenty of steam to satisfy! This was my favorite Rae Fields book yet! A lot more depth in the characters and the storyline. And some definite sit up and take notice twists! Read this in two days which is a record for me! Can’t wait for the next one❤️
Plenty of steam to satisfy! This was my favorite Rae Fields book yet! A lot more depth in the characters and the storyline. And some definite sit up and take notice twists! Read this in two days which is a record for me! Can’t wait for the next one❤️
November 28, 2025
Unexpected Love by Rae Fields
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is such a cute book! I love a good small town romance, add in a sexy, thoughtful, and competent fireman and a found family trope? I’m so in. I’m excited to read the next book in this world, as well as check out other stuff from this author!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is such a cute book! I love a good small town romance, add in a sexy, thoughtful, and competent fireman and a found family trope? I’m so in. I’m excited to read the next book in this world, as well as check out other stuff from this author!
March 29, 2025
This was a good read. You're going to love the characters, the chemistry is amazing, and the suspense is great. Loved it.
March 31, 2025
Loved this book! A little bit of fire and a bit of drama… it all comes together as Jules gets her shop open and meets Cal. An ending that was action packed!
April 14, 2025
I didn’t feel the chemistry with them.
May 14, 2025
This series just gets better and better. Jules and Cals relationship with Charlie is the sweetest. I love the way Rae Fields portrays these stories.
April 15, 2025
A firefighter favorite!
This book had me laughing AND swooning! Cal and Jules brought the heat in this hilariously relatable small-town romance, and I seriously can’t wait for more in this series. As someone who is in her thirties and not super comfortable with kids, watching Cal fumble his way through sudden parenthood was pure perfection that had me laughing out loud.
But make no mistake. Fields brought the sweet and emotional moments too. This book was real and raw along with the spicy and playful sides. A definitely new favorite by this author!
This book had me laughing AND swooning! Cal and Jules brought the heat in this hilariously relatable small-town romance, and I seriously can’t wait for more in this series. As someone who is in her thirties and not super comfortable with kids, watching Cal fumble his way through sudden parenthood was pure perfection that had me laughing out loud.
But make no mistake. Fields brought the sweet and emotional moments too. This book was real and raw along with the spicy and playful sides. A definitely new favorite by this author!
August 12, 2025
I love a good firefighter romance but I think what makes this romance really good was that Cal is twice amazing as a hero. Yes, he saves lives for a living but he also had the courage (and volunteering to be a parent takes courage) to adopt and champion his niece as well. At the same time I liked that HEA didn't try to make Jules into something she wasn't. She had goals and I loved how she grew. The couple grew together. It was a good romantic ending and I hope to see more from this cute small town romance series!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews