The Spark Between Us: An Ex-Military Dad's Best Friend Age Gap Romance

by Zoey Rose

I'm twenty-two, back in my hometown, and hopelessly in love with my father's best friend—a man who doesn't even see me as an adult.

After four years away at college, I've returned to Cedar Falls with my psychology degree and a plan to finally make Grant Walker—brooding, stoic, and unfairly handsome—notice me as more than just "the Chief's kid." He's twenty years older, haunted by his military past, and absolutely off-limits.

When I volunteer to help with the department's fire safety demonstrations, it gives me the perfect excuse to spend time with him. And when I feel the heat of his gaze following me across the room, I begin to realize... Maybe I'm not so crazy after all.

He insists we can't cross that line—that my father would never forgive him, that I deserve someone my own age. But I can't help but how long before this spark consumes us both?


The Spark Between Us is a short, sweet, and steamy small-town instalove romance with a happy-ever-after. It can be read as a standalone or together with the rest of the books in the Cedar Fire Department series.

Genres: Romance

91 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 28, 2025

Reviews

[lf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playing with fire

The Spark Between Us is the third book in the Cedar Falls: Fire Department series. This age-gap, forbidden temptation romance is about Ellie Sullivan and Grant Walker. Ellie has just moved back to Cedar Falls after graduating from college with her Psychology degree. She moved back in with her father, Fire Chief Brock Sullivan, while she figures out what she is going to do next. But she also moved back because of the major crush she has had on Grant since she was a teenager. Grant met Brock when they served together the military. When Brock's wife died from cancer her discharged to move home for Ellie. When Grant discharged and was not sure what to do Brock told him to come to Cedar Falls and that he would have a job as a firefighter. He defines himself by what he does and lives his life with routines....Routine is comfort. Routine is safe. Ellie makes him feel anything but safe as he has fought to extinguish the fires that roar when it comes to her. Now that she is home again will temptation become to great or will a wet blanket smother every ember between them.
I quite enjoyed this book and the romance between Ellie and Grant. I also loved Brock and can't wait for his romance, as we get introduced to the woman who will end up stealing his heart in this book.

[Krystal Christenberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying 5 stars are very, very, very rare for me and I’ve never given a novella a 5 star review! This was very well written, I loved the characters and the story of them knowing each other for years. I think in a novella they need to have had a past together to make the story flow better.

There were some laugh out loud moments for me, and that’s something else authors try to force humor that doesn’t work but this author nailed it. The humor was simple and could happen in everyday life. Hats off!

Lastly, over the recent years the troupe of dad’s best friend has become one of my least favorite troupes because the dad always looses his shit. Like why is this man your best friend if he isn’t good enough for your daughter? I get the initial shock of it, but then the dad obviously likes his best friend so who better for his girl? This story did what every other author of this troupe didn’t, the dad approved because he knew Grant was a great guy. I’m sad it was a novella and would have liked to see Grant’s possessiveness a little more but all in all great book!!!!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My heart went out to Grant in this story. As former military, rules and regime were important, as was his best friend and fellow former soldier Brock (also his boss). His hangup came when he thought about Ellie, Brock's daughter. Going there could cost him EVERYTHING. Ellie had crushed on him for years and was finally home from college for good. It was almost painful (in a good way) watching these two either fight their feelings or submit to them. The story moved quickly, so while Ellie's blatant flirting was irritating to me, it was also short lived. It strikes me as odd that a character can be described as being mature, yet be oblivious the obvious issues that would induce caution in the truly mature person. That's my only concern/issue with this story.

I voluntarily reviewed a gift copy of this book. Happy Reading Y'all 📚

[Curvy Girl Book Nerd (Jen S) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Spark Between Us is Book 3 of the Cedar Falls: Fire Department series. It’s a short and steamy, instalove, OTT, age-gap, opposites-attract, mutual pining, curvy virgin gets her Dad's firefighter best friend romance. Ellie is a 22-year-old college graduate. She has come home to practice psychology and is Fire Chief Brock's daughter. Grant is a 42-year-old hunky ex-military man turned firefighter and her dad's best friend. The two have been crushing on each other for some time, but Grant is worried about Brock. Ellie is all in too. Can they make love work? Their chemistry was pure fire and the ending was so happy. I loved her dad and how cute he was in matchmaking. I hope he gets his own HEA! I loved it.

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

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie has been in love with Grant for over twenty years. Now, grown up and back from college, she volunteers to help with a fire safety demonstration given by the fire department. This gives her a good reason to spend time with him and as such, the sparks ignite stronger and stronger. Grant’s problem is not wanting to lose the friendship and respect he has for her father if he finds out about them. Will Ellie and Grant cross the line and give in to temptation? The intensity between Grant and Ellie is electric. The story was engaging and well written from the opening line to the last sentence. Highly recommend!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ineta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love short and steamy reads by Zoey Rose and this series - Cedar Falls: Fire Department is not any exception - well written fast read, with wonderful characters.
Ellie didn't get over her teenage impossible crush on her father's best friend. And now since she is back in her hometown its time to check whether her hopeless crush really is so impossible. Or what happens when there are two hopelessly impossible crushes in the game?
Amazingly written, I love this writing style - funny, sweet and entertaining. Wonderful characters and firefighters crew in the background. Perfect short and steamy read to enjoy.

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

[Chandra Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie has come back home after graduating college. She has been in love with her father's best friend, Grant, for as long as she can remember. And Grant has been in love with her for years also but doesn't want to lose the respect of his best friend. As sparks fly and boundries are pushed, they have to decide if they grab hold of each other and claim their HEA.

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

[Amanda Marlowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grant is a firefighter, he came back from the forces and joined his old team mate, the Chief, Brock. Grant's been fighting his attraction to Ellie, Brock's daughter, for several years, apart from Brock being his boss, she's much younger than him. Now she's back for good, he's not sure he'll be able to ignore her, especially when she keeps using her father to invite him round!

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

A fun read from Zoe

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has given us a wonderful older man/younger woman story that pulls us into the lives of Grant, Ellie and his best friend/her father, Brock. The story keeps us turning the pages with secret crushes, connection, denial and steam.

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

[Lucy Chesna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 3 of Cedar Falls: Fire Department
Ellie has been in love with Grant, and he has been feeling the same, but he can't do anything because it's his friends and boss' daughter. They gave in and everything became possible in an impossible situation. A great story and series.

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

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Spark Between Us

I really enjoy this series ands this story was a lot of fun. Just one point in regard to Max talking about being a stepdad…his girlfriend/wife had a one year old girl when then got together…not a boy named Tyler who was old enough to play t-ball. I can’t wait to read Brock’s story.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cedar Falls: Fire Department book 3

Grant has been attracted to Ellie for many years, but its complicated. Ellie's father is Brock, the Fire Chief and not only Grants boss but his best friend and mentor. But, Grant doesnt know it yet, but Ellie is in Love with Grant too. She has even saved herself for him. Another fun romance in Cedar Falls.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy smokes. Grant might be THE BEST character I've ever read by Zoey.
This book hooked me from the first chapter and had me swooning throughout the entire book reading about Grant and Ellie. I LOVE a good romantic story, and this was perfection. Grant and Ellie are absolute FIRE together.

[Nancy Koske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grant joined the fire department after leaving the Army nearly 15 years ago;his best friend and fellow Army buddy was Brock. Brock was the station chief and Ellie's dad. He had a crush on Ellie for some time, but she was 20 years younger than him. What he doesn't know is that Ellie has a crush on him. Brock knows that there seems to be something on both sides. Ellie asks her dad about Grant and Grant is harder to read for Brock. Will Ellie break down Grant's walls? What happens and where does the final barriers come down?.

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

[laura.lovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intense, sweet and spicy age gap story full of forbidden attraction, pining, struggle, temptation, chemistry and love.

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

[Debra Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Setup

This was a great read. Grant and Ellie was a setup by her father and his best friend. It was sweet, short and steamy. One read that is to the point, not one that is strung out. So far the best one of the series

[Melinda Swaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I just loved this one!!!

Oh I just loved this one!!! My favourite so far!! It’s so, so good! Really loving these firefighters and looking forward to all of them getting their HEA!! Definitely here till the end of this fab series. Bring on the next couple. Happy reading

[robert tabora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hopeless Romantic 🥰

Grant and Ellie’s love ❤️ story is so adorable. They have loved one another for so long but to afraid of letting it show because of his friendship with her father. Couldn’t put the book down.

[Rebecca Pickett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again another good insta-love story. I gave it a 4⭐️ just because I honestly don’t love these age gap romances. Dad’s best friend type of stories. Still it was well written and not cheesy like most insta-love stories.

[Linnette Parris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romantically Awesomely

I love this series, real people, meaningful relationships and interesting situations. Well crafted, entertaining and of course the happy ever after.

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[Cherie Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super great book loved it.
📚❤️🔥❤️✨🔥✨🔥📚

[Rachel F. Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute

Very cute and loving story. Even though it was short it was romantic. But steamy build up for the two.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely HEA story. I loved it! 5☆

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

This was a good book. I can’t believe they waited so long to tell her dad but they were in love.

[Charmaine Chaplin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love wins

Great read..would be so hard to talk to her dad as his. Chief and friend of many years.. so good to resd

[Michelle Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

They both were fighting the attraction between them. He was trying to do what he thought was right. She does what she can to keep getting the two of them together. They are a good pair if they would just cross lines. Looking forward to seeing what the future holds this group.

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