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Flames & Honey
After fleeing from my abusive ex-boyfriend to the small coastal town of Abalone Bay, I'm ready for a fresh start. With the help of my cousin Jack, I'm on my way to healing and creating the life that I deserve. My time in Abalone Bay is only supposed to be temporary, but the longer I stay in this quaint town with its kindhearted residents the harder it is to picture myself leaving.
Let's not forget the sinfully gorgeous firefighter captain who has captured my attention and made me feel like my old self again. I insist that we remain friends but my thoughts about him are anything but friendly. Everything from the warmth in his smile to the delicious heat in his eyes when he looks at me makes me question if keeping him at arm's length is what I truly want.
To make matters worse, my ex is trying to weasel his way back into my life, and his escalating behavior has me on edge. I've shouldered this terrible burden by myself for years but is it time to open up to those care about?
Can I learn to let this incredible man break down the walls I've carefully constructed around my heart or will everything go up in flames?
Let's not forget the sinfully gorgeous firefighter captain who has captured my attention and made me feel like my old self again. I insist that we remain friends but my thoughts about him are anything but friendly. Everything from the warmth in his smile to the delicious heat in his eyes when he looks at me makes me question if keeping him at arm's length is what I truly want.
To make matters worse, my ex is trying to weasel his way back into my life, and his escalating behavior has me on edge. I've shouldered this terrible burden by myself for years but is it time to open up to those care about?
Can I learn to let this incredible man break down the walls I've carefully constructed around my heart or will everything go up in flames?
139 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2025
32 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
About the author
Meg Rhodes
4 books50 followersMeg Rhodes is a witchy New England native that enjoys reading and writing monster smut, making dirty jokes, and finding any excuse to bring up the latest cute animal video she’s found.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
August 7, 2025
3.5⭐️
If you wanted a green flag man Nash is that man!!! He is everything you want. He’s a firefighter loves animals and is head over heels in love with Cora from the moment he met her which was when she Punched him lol. And it was all an accident. Cora has been through the wringer when she moves back home and is trying to find her footing again. And with he help of her cousin she’s slowly getting back to normal.
Her friendship with Nash was so good he was everything she needed. It was very insta bout still slow since Cora went though something with her ex. Once she let her walls down things started to pick up between the 2. And Nash had a dirty mouth on him hehe. Beside that I really wish maybe the drama was more on page we didn’t see about Cora ex until maybe the last % of the book we heard about the things he tried to do. But him showing up yeah near the end.
No ow/tiny om drama, no cheating, drama, sexy times, no virgins
Recommended-Maybe
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶️🌶️🌶️
Slowinsta
Escaping an abusive partner
PCOS
Loss of a parent
Injured animal
Mentions of emotional abuse
FMC gets attacked
Mentions of Fatphobia
Hea
Epilogue
If you wanted a green flag man Nash is that man!!! He is everything you want. He’s a firefighter loves animals and is head over heels in love with Cora from the moment he met her which was when she Punched him lol. And it was all an accident. Cora has been through the wringer when she moves back home and is trying to find her footing again. And with he help of her cousin she’s slowly getting back to normal.
Her friendship with Nash was so good he was everything she needed. It was very insta bout still slow since Cora went though something with her ex. Once she let her walls down things started to pick up between the 2. And Nash had a dirty mouth on him hehe. Beside that I really wish maybe the drama was more on page we didn’t see about Cora ex until maybe the last % of the book we heard about the things he tried to do. But him showing up yeah near the end.
No ow/tiny om drama, no cheating, drama, sexy times, no virgins
Recommended-Maybe
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶️🌶️🌶️
Slowinsta
Escaping an abusive partner
PCOS
Loss of a parent
Injured animal
Mentions of emotional abuse
FMC gets attacked
Mentions of Fatphobia
Hea
Epilogue
June 13, 2025
I won a PR box for this book and was so STOKED! Little did I know, it’s only 140ish pages (‘: I was ready for a deep and meaningful story about overcoming a toxic relationship and falling in love with yourself. Instead it was just an insta-love story with sex scenes that were way more descriptive than the actual conversations AND plenty of plot holes./:
If you want a quick and easy read, this may be for you! Unfortunately due to the pacing and shortness of it, I wasn’t attached to any part of the story and wouldn’t recommend unless you wanted a novella to up your reading goal for the year.
If you want a quick and easy read, this may be for you! Unfortunately due to the pacing and shortness of it, I wasn’t attached to any part of the story and wouldn’t recommend unless you wanted a novella to up your reading goal for the year.
August 8, 2025
4.5🌟
Sweet and short.
Nash (H 40) is such a perfect boyfriend, and with everything Cora (h 30) went through with her ex and his mental abuse, she deserved the world.
Wish this was longer, could have read about those two and their great relationship forever.
Safety
- Safe for me
- Both had relationships before
- h ex shows up and causes trouble but everything is handled good, he was abuse towards her and she ran away from him
- No manwhore H, but dated, but little info
Sweet and short.
Nash (H 40) is such a perfect boyfriend, and with everything Cora (h 30) went through with her ex and his mental abuse, she deserved the world.
Wish this was longer, could have read about those two and their great relationship forever.
Safety
- Safe for me
- Both had relationships before
- h ex shows up and causes trouble but everything is handled good, he was abuse towards her and she ran away from him
- No manwhore H, but dated, but little info
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2025
I had the best time reading this and could hardly put it down! Flames & Honey is a swoony, hilarious, and heartfelt contemporary romance about a badass aspiring vet assistant and a smoking hot, but incredibly sensitive firefighter. It was SO FREAKING REFRESHING to see characters over 30 (and one is nearing 40), and I loved the plus size rep in this book (FMC is plus size, and even the MMC is referenced as having a “soft stomach” 😮💨). Also, if you’re a fan of found family, you’re going to love this book and get invested in the side characters as much as I did.
This is a fast and fun read, but it also has a lot of heart and tackles some sensitive subjects, so please check the CW at the start of the book just in case. That being said, I just adored Flames & Honey! 4.75⭐️
Thank you to the author, Meg Rhodes, for trusting me to arc read her first “non-monster” romance! I’ve fallen in love with Abalone Bay, and I need Jack & Bethany’s story next!!
This is a fast and fun read, but it also has a lot of heart and tackles some sensitive subjects, so please check the CW at the start of the book just in case. That being said, I just adored Flames & Honey! 4.75⭐️
Thank you to the author, Meg Rhodes, for trusting me to arc read her first “non-monster” romance! I’ve fallen in love with Abalone Bay, and I need Jack & Bethany’s story next!!
May 2, 2025
Welcome to Abalone Bay!
This was overall a really fun read!! Yes, there are some serious topics (so check the content warnings first!) but I found myself smiling and laughing out loud as I read Cora and Nash’s story. I loved the small town vibes and sense of found family too!
I love a good meet-cute and Cora and Nash…well they have quite the introduction!
Cora was brave and strong and witty and I really liked her. She was in a toxic relationship and had lost a parent so she had some trauma and grief to work through. Her experience was handled very well by the author and it felt authentic to me.
Oh Nash, what a sweetheart. He was completely swoon worthy and patient and was the perfect match for Cora. He helped give her space to heal and grow.
I LOVED the PCOS rep - that is not something I see a lot of and it was good to see it represented authentically on the pages!
✨What To Expect:
💜 Contemporary Romance
🌊 Cozy Coastal Small Town
💋 Plus Size Rep
❤️🔥 Fiery Vet Assistant FMC
🔥Golden Retriever Firefighter MMC
🐝 Age Gap (9 Years)
🌈 Bi Rep
🐶 Furry Companion
❤️🩹 Abusive Ex & Healing
🚒 Found Family
🌶️Banter & Spice
🌻 PCOS Rep
🍯”Honey Bee”
This was overall a really fun read!! Yes, there are some serious topics (so check the content warnings first!) but I found myself smiling and laughing out loud as I read Cora and Nash’s story. I loved the small town vibes and sense of found family too!
I love a good meet-cute and Cora and Nash…well they have quite the introduction!
Cora was brave and strong and witty and I really liked her. She was in a toxic relationship and had lost a parent so she had some trauma and grief to work through. Her experience was handled very well by the author and it felt authentic to me.
Oh Nash, what a sweetheart. He was completely swoon worthy and patient and was the perfect match for Cora. He helped give her space to heal and grow.
I LOVED the PCOS rep - that is not something I see a lot of and it was good to see it represented authentically on the pages!
✨What To Expect:
💜 Contemporary Romance
🌊 Cozy Coastal Small Town
💋 Plus Size Rep
❤️🔥 Fiery Vet Assistant FMC
🔥Golden Retriever Firefighter MMC
🐝 Age Gap (9 Years)
🌈 Bi Rep
🐶 Furry Companion
❤️🩹 Abusive Ex & Healing
🚒 Found Family
🌶️Banter & Spice
🌻 PCOS Rep
🍯”Honey Bee”
May 2, 2025
Overall, I liked the vibe of the book.
I enjoyed the fast burn of Cora and Nash’s relationship. I’m a big fan of instalove romances, especially in novellas (like, let’s get to the point, right?), so it works great here.
The ending wrapped up way too quickly for me. We were heading toward this confrontation for the entirety of the book, and then it’s over in just a few pages. It felt very unsatisfying.
Then here’s the really petty thing from me (I PROMISE it didn’t affect the rating, it just bugged me): that’s not how a veterinary clinic would function. At all. I KNOW it’s petty and not the point of the book but it really threw me off, because I’m a vet assistant.
Anyway, it’s still a fine book, and I had a nice time reading it. It’s a nice little cozy romance with a hint of dark edges.
I enjoyed the fast burn of Cora and Nash’s relationship. I’m a big fan of instalove romances, especially in novellas (like, let’s get to the point, right?), so it works great here.
The ending wrapped up way too quickly for me. We were heading toward this confrontation for the entirety of the book, and then it’s over in just a few pages. It felt very unsatisfying.
Then here’s the really petty thing from me (I PROMISE it didn’t affect the rating, it just bugged me): that’s not how a veterinary clinic would function. At all. I KNOW it’s petty and not the point of the book but it really threw me off, because I’m a vet assistant.
Anyway, it’s still a fine book, and I had a nice time reading it. It’s a nice little cozy romance with a hint of dark edges.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2025
Flames & Honey is such a swoon worthy contemporary romance! It’s a super quick and fun read, and I can’t get over how quickly the characters captured my heart.
The book begins with Cora bravely starting over, and that alone makes her a total badass in my eyes. That being said, check the content warning at the start of the book to ensure some of the heavier topics throughout won’t be triggering for you. I felt like Meg Rhodes handled the heavier topics really well, and she provided Cora with a really strong support system to help her cope and heal. 💕
Nash was the absolute sweetest. He and Cora may have had a rocky first meeting, but they were rolling with the punches soon after! 😉 Nash was supportive of her boundaries, and he was more than willing to help take care of Cora when she was vulnerable enough to let her walls down. But as soon as Cora said go, the spice was delectable. 🌶️
If you’re looking for a quick read with all the feels of a cozy small town romance, look no further than Flames & Honey! Thank you so much to Meg Rhodes and Twisted Tales PR for the gifted ARC. I loved having the opportunity to read this one early! 🔥🐝
The book begins with Cora bravely starting over, and that alone makes her a total badass in my eyes. That being said, check the content warning at the start of the book to ensure some of the heavier topics throughout won’t be triggering for you. I felt like Meg Rhodes handled the heavier topics really well, and she provided Cora with a really strong support system to help her cope and heal. 💕
Nash was the absolute sweetest. He and Cora may have had a rocky first meeting, but they were rolling with the punches soon after! 😉 Nash was supportive of her boundaries, and he was more than willing to help take care of Cora when she was vulnerable enough to let her walls down. But as soon as Cora said go, the spice was delectable. 🌶️
If you’re looking for a quick read with all the feels of a cozy small town romance, look no further than Flames & Honey! Thank you so much to Meg Rhodes and Twisted Tales PR for the gifted ARC. I loved having the opportunity to read this one early! 🔥🐝
April 18, 2025
Cupid has a damn good right hook, and her name is Cora. She literally punched her way into Nash’s heart, and what an unforgettable introduction that was!
The chemistry between these two is off-the-charts hot; call the fire department! Oh wait… he is the fire department.
This fast-paced, sexy and wonderfully cozy romance checks all the boxes: swoony moments, laugh-out-loud scenes, and heartfelt emotions. It’s Coras’ brave journey of starting over, finding her people, and learning to trust love again. With a strong heroine, a swoon-worthy firefighter, and a well-earned happily-ever-after, this book delivers everything you want in a feel-good romance.
Thank you, Meg Rhodes, for once again giving me the opportunity to ARC read for you. all opinions are my own.
The chemistry between these two is off-the-charts hot; call the fire department! Oh wait… he is the fire department.
This fast-paced, sexy and wonderfully cozy romance checks all the boxes: swoony moments, laugh-out-loud scenes, and heartfelt emotions. It’s Coras’ brave journey of starting over, finding her people, and learning to trust love again. With a strong heroine, a swoon-worthy firefighter, and a well-earned happily-ever-after, this book delivers everything you want in a feel-good romance.
Thank you, Meg Rhodes, for once again giving me the opportunity to ARC read for you. all opinions are my own.
April 19, 2025
Thank you so much to Twisted Tales PR and Meg Rhodes for the arc, all opinions are my own.
- small town romance
- one night stand
- cousin’s best friend
- age gap
- curvy fmc
- trauma healing
Recently single Cora moves to her cousin’s house in her small hometown to escape her abusive ex boyfriend. Nash is her cousin’s friend, and coming back from the bar drunk and he accidentally ends up in the same bed as Cora. She smacks him with a baseball bat and he’s in love.
This has the backstory of Cora working through the trauma of her emotionally abusive relationship, death of a parent, and starting over in a new place with no self-esteem.
This is a cute, fairly low stakes book just in small town New England.
- small town romance
- one night stand
- cousin’s best friend
- age gap
- curvy fmc
- trauma healing
Recently single Cora moves to her cousin’s house in her small hometown to escape her abusive ex boyfriend. Nash is her cousin’s friend, and coming back from the bar drunk and he accidentally ends up in the same bed as Cora. She smacks him with a baseball bat and he’s in love.
This has the backstory of Cora working through the trauma of her emotionally abusive relationship, death of a parent, and starting over in a new place with no self-esteem.
This is a cute, fairly low stakes book just in small town New England.
do-not-read1
August 10, 2025Note :not a fan of the abusive ex trope ( not the mmc)
April 17, 2025
I do not always read human romance, but when I saw this book was by Meg Rhodes, I knew I had to read it!! I loved a lot about Flames & Honey. It features a great romance, and served as a great palette cleanser for me. I have been reading a lot of fantasy recently, and it was nice to just relax and read about these two silly kids falling in love. I loved their meet cute, and all their meets after. I love the focus on friendship, and the elements of found family. The spice was also immaculate.
As much as this was a read that tackled sensitive issues (such as DV), it felt like a nice warm hug. I am excited to read more from Meg.
Thank you Twisted Tales PR for the copy 🩷
As much as this was a read that tackled sensitive issues (such as DV), it felt like a nice warm hug. I am excited to read more from Meg.
Thank you Twisted Tales PR for the copy 🩷
April 16, 2025
"Cora's beauty takes my breath away, and I can't help but wonder what good deed I must've done in my past life to deserve her."
I really enjoyed reading this! Characters in their 30s, badass fmc with a powerful right hook, sweet and sensitive firefighter mmc, low stakes, adorable nickname, supportive family....so many things to love! And he cooks soup for her when she's having a PCOS flare up? MARRY THAT MAN!
We need more sexy firefighters!
I really enjoyed reading this! Characters in their 30s, badass fmc with a powerful right hook, sweet and sensitive firefighter mmc, low stakes, adorable nickname, supportive family....so many things to love! And he cooks soup for her when she's having a PCOS flare up? MARRY THAT MAN!
We need more sexy firefighters!
April 15, 2025
I don't read too many human romances but when I had the opportunity to BETA read this story I jumped! AND YOU GUYS- Meg DELIVERED!!! I loved everything about this. The spice, the tension, the absolutely swoon worth sweet moments! I die. Beautifully done with the signature silly sweet touch Meg brings to her stunning stories. Pack your bags babe, we're moving to Abalone Bay!
May 20, 2025
2.25⭐️ this may be harsh but this novella was just not for me, if you are trying to convince me of two people falling in love in 139pgs I need it to be believable. I need these two to be around each other a ton, talking a lot, going on dates. It took almost 60-70’pages for them to have more than like 2 interactions. Then when they did interact, it was a “tell not show” moment. There were odd things about this too, you’re telling me in the 2 months she’s been there, they’ve kissed 3x and hung out like twice and now they’re in love?? Nope don’t buy it, also her ex just so happens to magically get charged with all these things and goes away to prison “for a long time.” When he’s apparently filthy rich and he could just pay his way out at any time? But no, their problems are solved, they can now share their 2 date love and get married now. Sorry, rant over.
December 7, 2025
⭐️ARC REVIEW⭐️ (4.5⭐️)
Running away from an ex and falling into bed with a sweet fireman sounds like my kinda dream! While Cora is searching for an escape she starts to discover the little town her cousin lives in may be the perfect home she has been looking for. Full of furry friends, small town charm, and a steamy fireman who she can’t ignore. Meanwhile, Nash is knocked head over heels (literally) by the new girl in town and is instantly captured by her. Now all he has to do is prove she can trust him and that giving him a chance is worth a shot. A little suspense but a whole lot of sweet with a dash of spice made this novella a perfect dip into the small town of Abalone Bay!
Running away from an ex and falling into bed with a sweet fireman sounds like my kinda dream! While Cora is searching for an escape she starts to discover the little town her cousin lives in may be the perfect home she has been looking for. Full of furry friends, small town charm, and a steamy fireman who she can’t ignore. Meanwhile, Nash is knocked head over heels (literally) by the new girl in town and is instantly captured by her. Now all he has to do is prove she can trust him and that giving him a chance is worth a shot. A little suspense but a whole lot of sweet with a dash of spice made this novella a perfect dip into the small town of Abalone Bay!
April 30, 2025
Possible TW for abusive relationships:
A sweet and spicy contemporary romance with a very important and relatable story of an emotionally manipulated and abused woman who finally takes her life in her hands and gets away from the life she’s realized she doesn’t have to settle for anymore. Cora has just left a relationship that has left her feeling like a shell of the person she truly is and no longer sure of herself and what she truly deserves. Getting away to a coastal small town to stay with her cousin for a while, she’s not looking to settle down anywhere right away, but just get away from the toxic life she’s built up the courage to get away from. She also isn’t looking to meet someone to settle down with quite yet, either. Not after what she’s gone through. But sometimes you meet that person that changes everything you thought you had planned. Nash knows that Cora is going through it, and he’s happy to just be near her after meeting.
This book tackles leaving an abusive relationship and the strength in which it takes to finally do that and meeting the person that reminds you of what you truly do deserve. It’s never as easy as people on the outside think it is to leave a controlling, abusive and manipulative relationship. And even when you’re in it, you love someone so much that you don’t realize that the behavior is toxic for quite some time, or controlling etc… and then you think maybe one day they’ll change. Until one day becomes months and then years and you realize over time that this isn’t normal and you don’t deserve to be treated so poorly. You start seeing the red flags, but that’s not as easy on the inside. It takes time. Then there’s the aftermath of what that person has done to you emotionally and though you’ve become strong enough to leave, you no longer know who you are and what you actually deserve. Simple human decency feels like the most amazing gesture from people, or has ulterior motives and you continue to feel like a burden to others even though it’s not the case. In this story, it takes Cora some time, but with the reassurance of her family, new friends and our stud muffin Nash, she finds herself again and some new found family.
So many lines in this book hit me straight to the heart and gut because I was that woman once. Those feelings of thinking having human emotions and a past are a burden to others, that simple human decency or affection from a man is above and beyond because you were made to think you deserved very little… it’s all so real. But Cora’s story reminds us that it is never a small feat to leave an abusive partner, and that no, you never deserved the terrible things they put you through. To no longer blaming yourself for it but being proud that you left, however long that took, and remembering that there is life afterwards at any age. Thank you, Meg, for writing such an important character into such a sweet and fuzzy warm story.
A sweet and spicy contemporary romance with a very important and relatable story of an emotionally manipulated and abused woman who finally takes her life in her hands and gets away from the life she’s realized she doesn’t have to settle for anymore. Cora has just left a relationship that has left her feeling like a shell of the person she truly is and no longer sure of herself and what she truly deserves. Getting away to a coastal small town to stay with her cousin for a while, she’s not looking to settle down anywhere right away, but just get away from the toxic life she’s built up the courage to get away from. She also isn’t looking to meet someone to settle down with quite yet, either. Not after what she’s gone through. But sometimes you meet that person that changes everything you thought you had planned. Nash knows that Cora is going through it, and he’s happy to just be near her after meeting.
This book tackles leaving an abusive relationship and the strength in which it takes to finally do that and meeting the person that reminds you of what you truly do deserve. It’s never as easy as people on the outside think it is to leave a controlling, abusive and manipulative relationship. And even when you’re in it, you love someone so much that you don’t realize that the behavior is toxic for quite some time, or controlling etc… and then you think maybe one day they’ll change. Until one day becomes months and then years and you realize over time that this isn’t normal and you don’t deserve to be treated so poorly. You start seeing the red flags, but that’s not as easy on the inside. It takes time. Then there’s the aftermath of what that person has done to you emotionally and though you’ve become strong enough to leave, you no longer know who you are and what you actually deserve. Simple human decency feels like the most amazing gesture from people, or has ulterior motives and you continue to feel like a burden to others even though it’s not the case. In this story, it takes Cora some time, but with the reassurance of her family, new friends and our stud muffin Nash, she finds herself again and some new found family.
So many lines in this book hit me straight to the heart and gut because I was that woman once. Those feelings of thinking having human emotions and a past are a burden to others, that simple human decency or affection from a man is above and beyond because you were made to think you deserved very little… it’s all so real. But Cora’s story reminds us that it is never a small feat to leave an abusive partner, and that no, you never deserved the terrible things they put you through. To no longer blaming yourself for it but being proud that you left, however long that took, and remembering that there is life afterwards at any age. Thank you, Meg, for writing such an important character into such a sweet and fuzzy warm story.
May 1, 2025
This was such a lovely read! It was warm & fuzzy with a bit of drama. Love! I cannot say enough about the importance of shorter stories. Yes, it touches on tough topics but it isn't a million pages, so we don't have to get into the nitty gritty. And sometimes, that is what I need. I need low angst and easy reading. And this book delivered on both in a big way!
Cora has just escaped an abusive relationship and is going to stay with her cousin/bestie in a small town in Maine. Nash lives in said town and is friends & coworkers with her cousin. (You just know it is gonna be good when there are those types of connections!)
They have a meet terrifying that results in some bruises to Nash's jaw that were totally fair and do nothing to tamp down the sparks that fly between them. They might actually increase them. Things progress and Cora & Nash start spending time together and then things get deliciously grown up.
Cora is fierce, kind, gentle, and sweet with the biggest heart. She takes no sh*t and is learning how to step into her power and not allow anyone to control or manipulate her. She is a powerful force and deserves all the good things.
Nash is absolutely precious. He is kind and understanding and strong. He is there for Cora but doesn't bulldoze her or her feelings. He gives her space and time while also making it clear he is absolutely crazy for her as she is. Love him!
They are absolutely delightful main characters and I loved their story. I liked how they interacted with each other and the other characters. This story is so strong on loveable characters! And there is a puppy.
My brain liked the writing and format of the story. And didn't struggle with tracking what was happening or who everyone was which I always appreciate.
I received this as an ARC and am so, so grateful!! It was an absolute gem of a book and my review is based solely on the the story and not influenced by the free copy at all.
Cora has just escaped an abusive relationship and is going to stay with her cousin/bestie in a small town in Maine. Nash lives in said town and is friends & coworkers with her cousin. (You just know it is gonna be good when there are those types of connections!)
They have a meet terrifying that results in some bruises to Nash's jaw that were totally fair and do nothing to tamp down the sparks that fly between them. They might actually increase them. Things progress and Cora & Nash start spending time together and then things get deliciously grown up.
Cora is fierce, kind, gentle, and sweet with the biggest heart. She takes no sh*t and is learning how to step into her power and not allow anyone to control or manipulate her. She is a powerful force and deserves all the good things.
Nash is absolutely precious. He is kind and understanding and strong. He is there for Cora but doesn't bulldoze her or her feelings. He gives her space and time while also making it clear he is absolutely crazy for her as she is. Love him!
They are absolutely delightful main characters and I loved their story. I liked how they interacted with each other and the other characters. This story is so strong on loveable characters! And there is a puppy.
My brain liked the writing and format of the story. And didn't struggle with tracking what was happening or who everyone was which I always appreciate.
I received this as an ARC and am so, so grateful!! It was an absolute gem of a book and my review is based solely on the the story and not influenced by the free copy at all.
April 21, 2025
Flames and Honey is Meg Rhodes’ Contemporary romance debut! This book is precious and so cozy, just like Meg’s monster romance books!! I love reading her books and knowing it’s always going to be like a warm hug. I want to live in Meg’s brain because her books always bring a smile to my face! Flames and Honey follows Cora to small town Abalone Bay, Maine. Honestly I wanna live here too, it sounds so incredibly dreamy. Cora has driven through the night to escape a toxic relationship and move in with her cousin until she gets back on her feet. The first night she’s in town she meets sexy older firefighter, Nash..and he meets her first in a hilarious meet cute 😂😂😂 The two can’t get the other off their minds after the first meeting. Cora is hesitant to start any kind of relationship after all the trauma she’s gone through with her ex, but Nash shows her over and over again how good of a guy he is. Nash is all green flags!! I loved Cora, she was so strong and let herself be so vulnerable with her new found family which was beautiful. Loved this sweet book and can’t wait to see if it will be the start of a series!!
June 19, 2025
Sometimes books aren’t meant to be super lengthy and filled with a bazillion details, because the heart of the story lies in a few meaningful moments, usually between characters, and that perfectly sums up Meg’s latest book.
This is a novella packed with a punch. I haven’t identified with a character as much lately as I have with Cora. She loves animals, meeting new friends, and is learning to find her voice after a tumultuous relationship. Know I can’t 100% relate to Cora’s relationship, but her process of identifying and eliminating toxic people in her life, that’s a goal many of us can strive to achieve.
Cozy and feel good are two adjectives I would use to describe this book, HOWEVER, there are discussions of deeper topics that don’t just make this a fuzzy reading, and help make it feel accurate and relatable, in unfortunate ways.
What I loved about the story? The role of family - found and blood related - and the importance of being surrounded by the right people and how magical those circumstances can be when done well.
This is a novella packed with a punch. I haven’t identified with a character as much lately as I have with Cora. She loves animals, meeting new friends, and is learning to find her voice after a tumultuous relationship. Know I can’t 100% relate to Cora’s relationship, but her process of identifying and eliminating toxic people in her life, that’s a goal many of us can strive to achieve.
Cozy and feel good are two adjectives I would use to describe this book, HOWEVER, there are discussions of deeper topics that don’t just make this a fuzzy reading, and help make it feel accurate and relatable, in unfortunate ways.
What I loved about the story? The role of family - found and blood related - and the importance of being surrounded by the right people and how magical those circumstances can be when done well.
July 13, 2025
This book was super, duper cute! I would have given it five stars if it had been longer. When I started reading it, I had no idea it was so short. I was reading it on my Kindle and I was halfway through in no time, which I thought was really weird, but I kept reading.
When it ended, I was a little disappointed. I wanted more! There was way more that could've been fleshed out and it felt kind of rushed. I feel like this book should be marketed as a novella or make it very obvious in the description that it's a short book. The author made a comment online about how people should see how long a book is before they read it so they know what they're getting into. Since I read it as an ebook, I didn't think to check the page length beforehand. That's not something I think about when I start a book.
Anyways, it was cute and a little spicy and I liked Cora and Nash a lot. If you want something cute, spicy, and short, give it a read.
When it ended, I was a little disappointed. I wanted more! There was way more that could've been fleshed out and it felt kind of rushed. I feel like this book should be marketed as a novella or make it very obvious in the description that it's a short book. The author made a comment online about how people should see how long a book is before they read it so they know what they're getting into. Since I read it as an ebook, I didn't think to check the page length beforehand. That's not something I think about when I start a book.
Anyways, it was cute and a little spicy and I liked Cora and Nash a lot. If you want something cute, spicy, and short, give it a read.
June 24, 2025
“Don’t for one second think I don’t want you. I’m using all of my self control to not make you scream my name. Once you’re better, if you still want me, I’ll be more than happy to fill you. Over and over again.”
🐝 Flames & Honey by Meg Rhodes is an adorable cozy romance between a vet assistant and a firefighter, featuring the most hilarious meet cute I've ever read.
I'm a little obsessed with this book because the main character and I have so many things alike, it feels like the book was written just for me. I've been on an emotional rollercoaster reading this and am blown away that this is her debut. I can't wait to see what's to come from this lovely cozy romance author in the future. 💜
🐝 Flames & Honey by Meg Rhodes is an adorable cozy romance between a vet assistant and a firefighter, featuring the most hilarious meet cute I've ever read.
I'm a little obsessed with this book because the main character and I have so many things alike, it feels like the book was written just for me. I've been on an emotional rollercoaster reading this and am blown away that this is her debut. I can't wait to see what's to come from this lovely cozy romance author in the future. 💜
April 29, 2025
***ARC review***
Well I am officially obsessed with Nash and SB! Cora is such an emotionally deep character with a traumatic past that makes you just want to wrap her up in the biggest hug and never let go because she deserves to feel safe and loved. This was a quick read and the spicy scenes were delicious. I love the girls night scene; getting to see Cora relax around Bethany and Imogen allows the reader to really empathize with her early on. While small town, firefighter romances aren't my normal go-to for reads, I knew that if Meg wrote it, I had to read it! I can't wait to see what she produces next.
Well I am officially obsessed with Nash and SB! Cora is such an emotionally deep character with a traumatic past that makes you just want to wrap her up in the biggest hug and never let go because she deserves to feel safe and loved. This was a quick read and the spicy scenes were delicious. I love the girls night scene; getting to see Cora relax around Bethany and Imogen allows the reader to really empathize with her early on. While small town, firefighter romances aren't my normal go-to for reads, I knew that if Meg wrote it, I had to read it! I can't wait to see what she produces next.
May 3, 2025
I thought this was a solid contemporary romance with interesting characters and a great story. It was low angst with no surprising turn of events. It was aquick straightforward read that I was able to get lost in. The MCs were likable and so very sweet. I really liked that the MCs were in their 30s and 40s. The meet cute was hilarious! The FMC was resilient and had so much self-awareness! The MMC was so accepting and endearing. It was fun meeting all the characters and I can’t wait for the next book! I enjoyed theMCs journey to their HEA.
At a Glance:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Romance
Yearning
Strong Family
Relationships
MCs are 30&40 y/o
FMC Saves Herself
Thank you for the eARC!
At a Glance:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Romance
Yearning
Strong Family
Relationships
MCs are 30&40 y/o
FMC Saves Herself
Thank you for the eARC!
May 3, 2025
Thank you to Meg and her team for having me as part of their ARC team for this release. I really enjoyed this book! Its cozy, small town vibe and fast pace storyline made it a perfect palette cleanser. Cora’s troubled dating history and bad ass attitude made for a strong FMC, while Nash gives off the perfect golden retriever MMC vibes. Cora’s past did help to push the storyline along and Nash’s insta-love made his POV special. I enjoyed Meg’s character development and writing style. The additional characters really helped to give the right small town vibes and opened up the possibility for a second book for the other characters. Get your copy now!!
May 8, 2025
Flames & Honey is pure romance magic. Nash is a firefighter with a soft heart and a soft stomach, and I was falling for him right alongside Cora. He is the kind of guy who shows up, stays, and makes you believe in good men again.
Cora is fierce, curvy, and starting over, and I adored watching her let someone love her the way she deserves. Their first meeting had me laughing, but their slow-burn chemistry? Absolutely melted me. And once the walls came down, the spice was deliciously hot.
This book gave me laughs, swoons, and all the cozy small-town feels. It is the kind of story that hugs you while setting your heart on fire. Read it. You will fall in love.
Cora is fierce, curvy, and starting over, and I adored watching her let someone love her the way she deserves. Their first meeting had me laughing, but their slow-burn chemistry? Absolutely melted me. And once the walls came down, the spice was deliciously hot.
This book gave me laughs, swoons, and all the cozy small-town feels. It is the kind of story that hugs you while setting your heart on fire. Read it. You will fall in love.
May 11, 2025
If you’re looking for something that is Insta of super quick and fast and something to help you get either through a or you just need to try something different. I highly suggest this one. everything happened very quickly.
I am not always a fan of Insta love but since this is a novella form, it was OK. The vibes were there. I definitely love the overall vibes of this book for sure something I could have seen being a longer story. I love the overall support system that the character had in this and always makes you check your content warnings in this book.
Overall, I did have a really good time reading this book and wished it was a little bit longer.
I am not always a fan of Insta love but since this is a novella form, it was OK. The vibes were there. I definitely love the overall vibes of this book for sure something I could have seen being a longer story. I love the overall support system that the character had in this and always makes you check your content warnings in this book.
Overall, I did have a really good time reading this book and wished it was a little bit longer.
May 8, 2025
4/5 ⭐️ | 2/5 🌶️
Meg Rhodes has done it AGAIN with this intense/funny/cute short read. It had everything I needed: romance, drama, PLUS SIZE REP, PCOS REP, mental health, trauma, found family and so much more!
Our FMC Cora leaves a DV relationship and moves in with her cousin to have a fresh start and heal from her past relationship, until she meets her cousins best friend, Nash, a sinfully gorgeous firefighter who has Cora questioning their friendship and having impure thoughts. Cora struggles between her ex trying to weasel his way back into her life, opening up with her experience and navigating her feelings towards Nash.
Meg Rhodes has done it AGAIN with this intense/funny/cute short read. It had everything I needed: romance, drama, PLUS SIZE REP, PCOS REP, mental health, trauma, found family and so much more!
Our FMC Cora leaves a DV relationship and moves in with her cousin to have a fresh start and heal from her past relationship, until she meets her cousins best friend, Nash, a sinfully gorgeous firefighter who has Cora questioning their friendship and having impure thoughts. Cora struggles between her ex trying to weasel his way back into her life, opening up with her experience and navigating her feelings towards Nash.
April 22, 2025
This book is a cozy cozy cup of coffee with a nice dash of cinnamon spicing up the place. I really enjoyed taking a stroll through Abalone Bay with our girl, Cora. Domestic violence is not a light topic, but watching Cora’s new network of friends, coworkers, and found family support her in the start of her healing journey is something to bring a smile to your face, and a tear to your eye.
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author. My opinions are my own. Thank you!
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author. My opinions are my own. Thank you!
June 22, 2025
Cute summer read!
This is the perfect little story for reading on the beach or a road trip! The story is super cute and fairly predictable in all the good ways. The MMC is the perfect cinnamon roll/golden retriever plus we love an older man in a uniform. The FMC is relatable and resilient with a strong right hook! Finished this book in less than two hours and smiled and giggled the whole way through!
This is the perfect little story for reading on the beach or a road trip! The story is super cute and fairly predictable in all the good ways. The MMC is the perfect cinnamon roll/golden retriever plus we love an older man in a uniform. The FMC is relatable and resilient with a strong right hook! Finished this book in less than two hours and smiled and giggled the whole way through!
May 13, 2025
Flames and Honey is the first book I’ve read by Meg Rhodes. Even with it having some heavier themes (check the trigger warnings) it was overall a cute contemporary romance with a group of loveable characters. Meg really nailed the small town vibes and I loved that even the side characters felt fleshed out with their own distinct personalities.
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