Your Assignment: Axel: A Valentine's Romance Novel

by Lucy McConnell

Hiding their feelings was easier before she started stealing kisses in the fire station pantry...

Axel O'Brien has three Never enter a burning building without backup, always trust your instincts, and absolutely never fall for your best friend's sister. But when Olivia Sanchez starts helping him babysit his niece, those walls he built start crumbling faster than a three-alarm fire.

Art teacher Olivia has always had a spark of trouble in her soul—and a soft spot for her brother's best friend. When stolen moments turn into secret meetings, she knows they're playing with fire. But some flames are worth the risk.

With the town's Valentine's bachelor auction approaching and her overprotective brother watching their every move, Axel and Olivia will have to keep hiding in the shadows, or finally let their love burn bright for everyone to see.

Sometimes the hottest fires start with just one spark—and the bravest hearts know when it's time to fan the flames.

A small-town romance about forbidden love, family loyalty, and the courage to follow your heart.

Kindle Edition

Published February 17, 2025

About the author

Please hit the follow button. I'd love to keep in touch!

Lucy McConnell loves romance, chocolate, Christmas, horses, music, crochet, and fun!

She believes that romance books should:

Keep you up past your bedtime.

Make you laugh out loud.

Have happy endings.

With that in mind, she's written over 200 novels full of fun and flirty characters who navigate the turbulent waters of romance with open hearts and creativity.

If you enjoy closed-door romance, follow her on Goodreads.♥️

Reviews

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

From chaos, through crisis, to pure Happily Ever After. I thought these two were just so stinking adorable together. Axel and Olivia have known each other almost forever and they’ve been resisting the pull between them for nearly as long. But the tiny terror, otherwise known as his beloved niece, might be the push that helps them acknowledge what they feel. That, and a Cupid-in-training whose final assignment is to get these two out of their own way. There’s just one thing left that could block their progress: her brother, who also happens to be his best friend. Sigh! So good. So cute! So perfect! I kind of wish the book weren’t over already because that sweet ending has gone and stolen my heart.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout.

[Leann Arave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really cute story. I loved the beginning where Axle is questioning his decision to watch his three-year-old niece for 10 days while his brother and sister-in-law take much needed vacation cruise. Emma is a sweet, smart little girl and has him wrapped around her finger. In a moment of extreme exhaustion Axel makes a phone call thinking he was calling the daycare instead he gets his best friends sister. Olivia is there in a heartbeat to help wrangle this little girl and let Axel get some sleep.
I have to admit the prologue almost made me throw in the towel. Louise and earning her Cupid wings was a little bizarre, but once I got into the main story, I could look past that part the characters were making this perfect picture family, but I thought that there fear of upsetting Olivia‘s brother Dylan was a little ridiculous. They were grown adult adults. I don’t know if it was just my copy, but there was a gap where the three adults got into an argument about Axel and Olivia‘s relationship that was completely missing.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. OpinionsI expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Lina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was fun, especially the niece and the experience of taking care of a small child. The POV of a Cupid added a unique take of the romance concept that I appreciated. This is a short story that was easily read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Axel was in over his head when he agrees to watch his three year old niece for a week while his brother and sister-in-law go on a cruise. Emma is a handful and it looks like Axel’s cupid amped her up so he would need to rely on Olivia for assistance. Art teacher Olivia is great with Emma and Axel and it’s not long before she finds her way into both of their hearts. But her overprotective brother Dillan wouldn’t approve so they keep it a secret. Once they realized their feelings for each were strong they should have been open with Dillan about it. Louise their angel is numbers driven to where she does some grey things to make their relationship work but she doesn’t take into account enough of the people factor. Emma was adorable with her stuffed cat family. Dillan needs his own angel to help him find love.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 13 in McConnell's Angel Institute Cupid Division series. A delightfully sweet, fun and clean romance series that each can be read as a standalone. This book is perfect for Valentine's Day and really any day you just want a little extra love in your life. Our main characters are Axel and Oliva. The sparks between these two cause the walls that Axel has built to come burning down in this small-town love story. Well written and smooth flowing, I adore these sweet, clean romance reads!

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tami Willard · Rating 4 out of 5]

An angel that didn't make it as a guardian angel is hoping being a Cupid is what she is supposed to do. He's a firefighter and her brother's best friend. She comes to his rescue when he finds himself in over his head with his niece. When feelings start to develop decisions need to be made. How are they going to tell her brother? Will he approve or cause problems?.

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Reads lotsa stuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story about an angel working her way up. After failing a previous attempt to advance our angel Louise has done her research and is confident the numbers won’t lie and her odds are good that she can get Axel the firefighter and Emma the teacher to fall in love. There are rules she must follow and after failing her first try she is determined to get it right this go around. There are other challenges that complicate this pair, both family connections. A fun read that is hard to put down.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Axel and Olivia are in love but being in love with your best friend's sister is not recommended. Hiding their feelings gets harder when their Cupid trainee, Louise, keeps pushing them together. This book was fun to read, I enjoyed little Emma's antics and how well Axel and Olivia worked together.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely pulled into the story and loved it. I didn't want this book to end. This was a very good and enjoyable book by Lucy who I have come to really enjoy reading any and all of her books. So, grab this heartwarming romance book and while you're at it start reading this entire standalone series.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute, sweet read that was a pleasure to read.
The characters were charming and Emma was a doll!.

I received a free copy of this book courtesy of Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Char ღ Denae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your Assignment: Axel, is an adorable romance between a firefighter and his best friend’s little sister.
When fireman, Axel, agrees to keep his young niece, while his brother and sister-in-law go on a 10 day cruise, he realizes that going into a burning building is easier than looking after a 3 year old. With the help of a “Cupid-in-Training”, he gets some much-needed help from his best friend’s sister. She’s a godsend but old feelings start to surface and Axel worries what his longtime friend will say.
The characters are lovable, the situation is fun, and the ending is satisfyingly happy. You can’t ask for more than reading the last page with a smile on your face.

[Brendee Vee]

A cute take on a love story with the inclusion of Cupid! Axle is our fireman hunk of a MMC and when he decides to babysit his niece so her parents could take a trip, he doesn’t know what Cupid has in store for him. Olivia is our sweet FMC and soon sparks are flying between them, no big deal right? Except that Olivia’s brother is also Axle’s best friend so hiding is a must, but can they really hide what’s going on between them. The heat created is definitely fire worthy and a warm fuzzy feeling curls up in your soul. I really enjoyed this love story!

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.