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The Meet Cute #2
The Heat of the Moment
When a slow-burn attraction finally catches fire...
Four years after losing her husband in the line of duty, ER nurse Lily Finnigan has one goal: raise her daughter and keep her heart safely locked away. Romance—even a simple fling—isn’t on the agenda. Until Josh Collins walks into her emergency room.
Gorgeous, charming, and infuriatingly kind, he is everything Lily doesn’t want—but can’t seem to stay away from. When her apartment floods, her new helpful neighbor turns out to be the sexy firefighter she’s been dreaming of. Now he’s everywhere—offering help, stealing smiles, and slowly breaking down her walls.
Lily insists they can only be friends. She swore she would never fall for another firefighter. But the more time she spends with Josh, the more impossible that promise becomes. And when Josh risks his life fighting a wildfire, Lily’s heart shatters with the truth she’s been avoiding: she’s already fallen. The moment he walks back through her door battered and bruised but safe, Lily’s instinct is to run from her past and her future… But Josh won’t let her go that easily.
Four years after losing her husband in the line of duty, ER nurse Lily Finnigan has one goal: raise her daughter and keep her heart safely locked away. Romance—even a simple fling—isn’t on the agenda. Until Josh Collins walks into her emergency room.
Gorgeous, charming, and infuriatingly kind, he is everything Lily doesn’t want—but can’t seem to stay away from. When her apartment floods, her new helpful neighbor turns out to be the sexy firefighter she’s been dreaming of. Now he’s everywhere—offering help, stealing smiles, and slowly breaking down her walls.
Lily insists they can only be friends. She swore she would never fall for another firefighter. But the more time she spends with Josh, the more impossible that promise becomes. And when Josh risks his life fighting a wildfire, Lily’s heart shatters with the truth she’s been avoiding: she’s already fallen. The moment he walks back through her door battered and bruised but safe, Lily’s instinct is to run from her past and her future… But Josh won’t let her go that easily.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 16, 2026
91 people are currently reading
909 people want to read
About the author
Camilla Isley
58 books2,980 followers
Camilla is an engineer who left science behind to enter the whimsical realm of romantic fiction.
She writes contemporary rom-coms. Her characters have big hearts, might be a little stubborn at times, and love to banter with each other. Every story she pens has a guaranteed HEA that will make your heart beat faster. Unless you're a vampire, of course.
Camilla is a cat lover, coffee addict, and shoe hoarder. Besides writing, she loves reading—duh!—cooking, watching bad TV, and going to the movies—popcorn, please. She's a bit of a foodie, nothing too serious. A keen traveler, Camilla knows mosquitoes play a role in the ecosystem, and she doesn't want to starve all those frog princes out there, but she could really live without them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 262 reviews
March 1, 2026
3.7 Stars
One Liner: Pretty good but with a few niggles
ER nurse Lily Finnigan is determined never to expect romance or a fling. She just wants to keep her daughter safe and happy. It has been four years since the demise of her husband in the line of duty, and she cannot take another hit to the heart.
However, Josh Collins, a firefighter, walks into the ER room and her life, bringing hope and warmth again. He is everywhere, offering help and support as life gets hard. But when Josh’s life is in danger, Lily is not sure she can handle it again.
The story comes in Lily and Josh’s first-person POVs.
My Thoughts
I had a few issues with the previous book, but I had hopes for this one. To an extent, the book delivers well. However, it is a few pages too short to create the full impact.
The book is also a little more emotional than the others I’ve read by the author. At the same time, it doesn’t become too intense or overwhelming. There are a few intense moments of grief, but not to the extent of drowning the reader in it.
The dual POV is helpful to see both sides. However, the MMC’s POV should have also given us his backstory and his life instead of limiting his existence to what he can do for the FMC. We get some details, but not enough. That’s sad because he is really a ‘perfect’ MMC—kind, loving, compassionate, stable, steady, and capable. Because we don’t know enough about his parents, family, etc., it feels as if he was created only to help the FMC overcome her grief and live again, rather than a person she was supposed to love. Moreover, we already met the FMC and her daughter in the previous book, so we know something about her.
While I enjoyed the scenes with their respective careers, I wanted the MMC to interact with others, too. Not a single scene where he directly converses with others in the complex where he lives! In short, the focus is a bit too much on Lily, which makes it borderline women’s fiction.
The romance is instant attraction with a slow-burn, as in, they don’t get physical until a long time afterward. But given the book’s length (256 pages), it doesn’t feel much like a slow burn. I got no complaints, though.
The kid is a delight and easily the best part of the book. Sometimes mature, sometimes cranky, and always ready for some action. I love that she loves the toolkit.
While the previous side characters have some roles, they are relatively minor. Again, the focus is more on the FMC’s grief of losing her husband. While it portrays her pain realistically, it also shadows other elements, including the romance at times. It’s like all her growth had to happen in these pages, and that doesn’t leave much space for anything else.
To summarize, The Heat of the Moment writes emotions well and has an adorable little girl, but the book needed to be another 20 pages longer to flesh out the MMC more. I did get a short tour of California, though!
And oh, why does the official blurb reveal the entire plot? This is so unfair to the book! That final paragraph should not have been there.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheHeatOfTheMoment
One Liner: Pretty good but with a few niggles
ER nurse Lily Finnigan is determined never to expect romance or a fling. She just wants to keep her daughter safe and happy. It has been four years since the demise of her husband in the line of duty, and she cannot take another hit to the heart.
However, Josh Collins, a firefighter, walks into the ER room and her life, bringing hope and warmth again. He is everywhere, offering help and support as life gets hard. But when Josh’s life is in danger, Lily is not sure she can handle it again.
The story comes in Lily and Josh’s first-person POVs.
My Thoughts
I had a few issues with the previous book, but I had hopes for this one. To an extent, the book delivers well. However, it is a few pages too short to create the full impact.
The book is also a little more emotional than the others I’ve read by the author. At the same time, it doesn’t become too intense or overwhelming. There are a few intense moments of grief, but not to the extent of drowning the reader in it.
The dual POV is helpful to see both sides. However, the MMC’s POV should have also given us his backstory and his life instead of limiting his existence to what he can do for the FMC. We get some details, but not enough. That’s sad because he is really a ‘perfect’ MMC—kind, loving, compassionate, stable, steady, and capable. Because we don’t know enough about his parents, family, etc., it feels as if he was created only to help the FMC overcome her grief and live again, rather than a person she was supposed to love. Moreover, we already met the FMC and her daughter in the previous book, so we know something about her.
While I enjoyed the scenes with their respective careers, I wanted the MMC to interact with others, too. Not a single scene where he directly converses with others in the complex where he lives! In short, the focus is a bit too much on Lily, which makes it borderline women’s fiction.
The romance is instant attraction with a slow-burn, as in, they don’t get physical until a long time afterward. But given the book’s length (256 pages), it doesn’t feel much like a slow burn. I got no complaints, though.
The kid is a delight and easily the best part of the book. Sometimes mature, sometimes cranky, and always ready for some action. I love that she loves the toolkit.
While the previous side characters have some roles, they are relatively minor. Again, the focus is more on the FMC’s grief of losing her husband. While it portrays her pain realistically, it also shadows other elements, including the romance at times. It’s like all her growth had to happen in these pages, and that doesn’t leave much space for anything else.
To summarize, The Heat of the Moment writes emotions well and has an adorable little girl, but the book needed to be another 20 pages longer to flesh out the MMC more. I did get a short tour of California, though!
And oh, why does the official blurb reveal the entire plot? This is so unfair to the book! That final paragraph should not have been there.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheHeatOfTheMoment
February 8, 2026
Thank you to the publisher Boldwood Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I loved this book Lily was a little broken at the start of the book and the last thing she wanted was to fall in love with another firefighter, after her husband died on duty four years ago. I really liked Josh, he was patient, kind and really good with Lily’s daughter Penny. I liked how he gave Lily space but gently worked his way into the cracks of her broken heart, I liked him for her. Josh was completely selfless and put those he cared about first, his actions after the wildfire show this. I loved the underlying message of this book, that falling in love again doesn’t mean you are betraying the memory of the one you lost, as I think they’d want you to heal, to move on and be happy. This was a story of healing and a second chance at love, there’s something very special about those stories as they give me all the warm fuzzes watching two people find each other after life has taken them on a ride. Overall I really enjoyed this book, we all need a Josh.
I loved this book Lily was a little broken at the start of the book and the last thing she wanted was to fall in love with another firefighter, after her husband died on duty four years ago. I really liked Josh, he was patient, kind and really good with Lily’s daughter Penny. I liked how he gave Lily space but gently worked his way into the cracks of her broken heart, I liked him for her. Josh was completely selfless and put those he cared about first, his actions after the wildfire show this. I loved the underlying message of this book, that falling in love again doesn’t mean you are betraying the memory of the one you lost, as I think they’d want you to heal, to move on and be happy. This was a story of healing and a second chance at love, there’s something very special about those stories as they give me all the warm fuzzes watching two people find each other after life has taken them on a ride. Overall I really enjoyed this book, we all need a Josh.
Currently reading
March 8, 2026My first firefighter romance and most emotional story that I wrote is out now at all bookshops, libraries, and audiobook retailers.
I’ve written a lot of love stories. But this one broke me open in ways I didn’t expect.
I cried while writing The Heat of the Moment. Sometimes I had to step away from my laptop because I couldn’t see the screen anymore. And then, somehow, I’d find myself laughing out loud at Josh being a total golden retriever stuck in the friend zone, at the banter, at the moments of lightness that Lily desperately needed.
Do you remember the mustache scene from You Rock My World? The one where Josie shows up to a meeting with a curly mustache drawn on her face in permanent marker because she stepped in to play Penny’s “dad” for Bring Your Dad to School Day. Her niece needed someone to fill an impossible void, and Josie showed up, ridiculous fake facial hair and all.
When I wrote that scene, something cracked open in my chest. Behind that absurd, laugh-out-loud moment was heartbreak—a little girl missing her father, and a woman carrying not just her grief, but her child’s too.
That woman was Lily.
Lily haunted me after I finished writing Josie’s book. I couldn’t stop thinking about what it takes to wake up every day after losing the person you built your life with. To raise a daughter alone. To be strong enough to hold space for a child’s sadness while your own threatens to swallow you whole.
I knew I had to give her a story. A second chance. A happily ever after.
Early reviews have been coming in, and I’m also receiving more private messages about how this story has touched people than I ever have before. And I’ve been crying all over again. Some of you have shared pieces of your own stories with me. One reader reached out to say she’d lost someone close to her a few years back, and the way I wrote those hard moments of single parenthood and grief felt deeply personal to her experience.
Another message came from someone in a fallen firefighter’s family. All she could say was that she wasn’t ready to process her emotions yet, but the book was brilliant.
I’ve never had a book where readers sent me voice notes because they couldn’t type through their tears. Where someone messaged me at 2am saying “I wasn’t supposed to stay up but I couldn’t put it down.” These messages gutted me in the best possible way. This is why I write: not just for the happily ever after, but for the messy, devastating, beautiful journey of getting there.
Here’s what I’ve learned from Lily: sometimes the bravest thing you can do is let yourself want something again.
Josh doesn’t show up with grand declarations or promises to fix everything. He doesn’t rescue Lily. He shows up with dinner when Lily’s had a brutal shift. He makes her daughter laugh. He’s patient when Lily pushes him away, and he doesn’t flinch when she finally lets him in. He just refuses to let her keep pretending she doesn’t deserve good things. He’s the kind of love that doesn’t ask you to forget your past—it asks if there’s room for a future too.
And watching her fight him on it, then slowly—painfully—let herself hope again? That’s the love story I needed to write.
Maybe it’s because Lily’s journey—from survival mode to actually living again—is one so many of us understand, whether we’ve lost a partner or not.
We all know what it’s like to protect ourselves. To say “I’m fine with how things are” when we’re actually just terrified of wanting more and losing it.
But this book is not all tears and banter; there’s action, too. Wildfires. Emergency rooms at full tilt. Pulse-pounding moments that have early reviewers saying things like: “Since I started watching 9-1-1 a month ago my brain has been all on firefighters so this book came at such a good time for me.” and “It felt like I was reading an episode of Chicago Fire in the best way possible!” and “If you love Grey’s Anatomy or Station 19 or Chicago Med—this is for you.”
If you love the tension, the heroism, the romance woven between emergency room chaos and fireground danger—if you’ve been on the fence about reading it, here’s what I’ll say: this book will make you feel everything. The wildfire scenes will have your heart racing. The banter will make you smile. And yes, you’ll probably cry. But you’ll also close the last page believing that broken hearts can heal without erasing what came before. Lily and Josh’s story will feel like coming home.
The Heat of the Moment is available everywhere today.
And if you haven’t read book one yet, you’ve got the perfect excuse to dive into Josie’s story. You Rock My World is free in Kindle Unlimited and Kobo Plus (also in Kobo Plus in Audiobook).
Thank you for being here. For trusting me with your time, your hearts, and your stories. For showing up for Lily’s story. For Josh. For me.
Thank you for reading.
All my love,
Camilla x
I’ve written a lot of love stories. But this one broke me open in ways I didn’t expect.
I cried while writing The Heat of the Moment. Sometimes I had to step away from my laptop because I couldn’t see the screen anymore. And then, somehow, I’d find myself laughing out loud at Josh being a total golden retriever stuck in the friend zone, at the banter, at the moments of lightness that Lily desperately needed.
Do you remember the mustache scene from You Rock My World? The one where Josie shows up to a meeting with a curly mustache drawn on her face in permanent marker because she stepped in to play Penny’s “dad” for Bring Your Dad to School Day. Her niece needed someone to fill an impossible void, and Josie showed up, ridiculous fake facial hair and all.
When I wrote that scene, something cracked open in my chest. Behind that absurd, laugh-out-loud moment was heartbreak—a little girl missing her father, and a woman carrying not just her grief, but her child’s too.
That woman was Lily.
Lily haunted me after I finished writing Josie’s book. I couldn’t stop thinking about what it takes to wake up every day after losing the person you built your life with. To raise a daughter alone. To be strong enough to hold space for a child’s sadness while your own threatens to swallow you whole.
I knew I had to give her a story. A second chance. A happily ever after.
Early reviews have been coming in, and I’m also receiving more private messages about how this story has touched people than I ever have before. And I’ve been crying all over again. Some of you have shared pieces of your own stories with me. One reader reached out to say she’d lost someone close to her a few years back, and the way I wrote those hard moments of single parenthood and grief felt deeply personal to her experience.
Another message came from someone in a fallen firefighter’s family. All she could say was that she wasn’t ready to process her emotions yet, but the book was brilliant.
I’ve never had a book where readers sent me voice notes because they couldn’t type through their tears. Where someone messaged me at 2am saying “I wasn’t supposed to stay up but I couldn’t put it down.” These messages gutted me in the best possible way. This is why I write: not just for the happily ever after, but for the messy, devastating, beautiful journey of getting there.
Here’s what I’ve learned from Lily: sometimes the bravest thing you can do is let yourself want something again.
Josh doesn’t show up with grand declarations or promises to fix everything. He doesn’t rescue Lily. He shows up with dinner when Lily’s had a brutal shift. He makes her daughter laugh. He’s patient when Lily pushes him away, and he doesn’t flinch when she finally lets him in. He just refuses to let her keep pretending she doesn’t deserve good things. He’s the kind of love that doesn’t ask you to forget your past—it asks if there’s room for a future too.
And watching her fight him on it, then slowly—painfully—let herself hope again? That’s the love story I needed to write.
Maybe it’s because Lily’s journey—from survival mode to actually living again—is one so many of us understand, whether we’ve lost a partner or not.
We all know what it’s like to protect ourselves. To say “I’m fine with how things are” when we’re actually just terrified of wanting more and losing it.
But this book is not all tears and banter; there’s action, too. Wildfires. Emergency rooms at full tilt. Pulse-pounding moments that have early reviewers saying things like: “Since I started watching 9-1-1 a month ago my brain has been all on firefighters so this book came at such a good time for me.” and “It felt like I was reading an episode of Chicago Fire in the best way possible!” and “If you love Grey’s Anatomy or Station 19 or Chicago Med—this is for you.”
If you love the tension, the heroism, the romance woven between emergency room chaos and fireground danger—if you’ve been on the fence about reading it, here’s what I’ll say: this book will make you feel everything. The wildfire scenes will have your heart racing. The banter will make you smile. And yes, you’ll probably cry. But you’ll also close the last page believing that broken hearts can heal without erasing what came before. Lily and Josh’s story will feel like coming home.
The Heat of the Moment is available everywhere today.
And if you haven’t read book one yet, you’ve got the perfect excuse to dive into Josie’s story. You Rock My World is free in Kindle Unlimited and Kobo Plus (also in Kobo Plus in Audiobook).
Thank you for being here. For trusting me with your time, your hearts, and your stories. For showing up for Lily’s story. For Josh. For me.
Thank you for reading.
All my love,
Camilla x
January 21, 2026
Whaaaat a tearjerker!
Lily lost her husband four years ago and has been grieving ever since. She’s been through hell. The last thing she needs in her life is to fall in love with another firefighter. But Josh is kind and helpful, and amazing with her daughter…
I cried so much reading this book that my waterproof mascara is now a distant memory. Lily’s grief is a big part of the story and, even though I didn’t expect that turn, I appreciated the way it was portrayed. There was no diminishing her love for her late husband, no I’ve-never-felt-like-this-before. Instead, it was acknowledged that grief will always be part of her life, which added depth to both the character and the story.
I frankly expected a big, fat third-act breakup, which probably wouldn’t even have made me mad (much), but it didn’t happen. There was some angst and even a fight towards the end, but it made sense. I liked that Lily communicated her feelings, even when they weren’t easy, and that Josh respected her boundaries. They were cute together and very much deserved their HEA.
This is the heaviest, most emotional book I’ve read from this author, so if grief is a trigger, be good to yourself and read something else. If you’re not scared, go for it!
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the arc, all opinions are my own.
Pub Date Feb 16 2026
Lily lost her husband four years ago and has been grieving ever since. She’s been through hell. The last thing she needs in her life is to fall in love with another firefighter. But Josh is kind and helpful, and amazing with her daughter…
I cried so much reading this book that my waterproof mascara is now a distant memory. Lily’s grief is a big part of the story and, even though I didn’t expect that turn, I appreciated the way it was portrayed. There was no diminishing her love for her late husband, no I’ve-never-felt-like-this-before. Instead, it was acknowledged that grief will always be part of her life, which added depth to both the character and the story.
I frankly expected a big, fat third-act breakup, which probably wouldn’t even have made me mad (much), but it didn’t happen. There was some angst and even a fight towards the end, but it made sense. I liked that Lily communicated her feelings, even when they weren’t easy, and that Josh respected her boundaries. They were cute together and very much deserved their HEA.
This is the heaviest, most emotional book I’ve read from this author, so if grief is a trigger, be good to yourself and read something else. If you’re not scared, go for it!
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the arc, all opinions are my own.
Pub Date Feb 16 2026
February 22, 2026
Tearjerker contemporary romance set in Los Angeles
This is a dual-POV, first-person, present-tense romance with the central trope of second chance at love. If you are in the mood for a light romantic comedy, which is more typical for this author, this isn't it.
Lily is an ER nurse in Los Angeles. She has an eight-year-old daughter named Penny. She is the widow of a handsome, adoring, Cinnamon Roll who was a fabulous husband and father. He tragically died in the line of duty as a firefighter. Lily never wants to love again or even date anyone, especially not another firefighter. She refuses to subject herself to the potential of that type of horrendous loss ever again. The source of the romantic conflict in this novel is that she cannot resist falling for Josh, another handsome, adoring, Cinnamon Roll firefighter, who has the potential to be just as wonderful a husband and father as her lost love--and who could potentially die the same way.
This is a no-sex tearjerker romance with an FMC who is just as overcome with grief for her dead husband as if he died yesterday instead of four years ago. If you like feeling sorry for the FMC, and you really like a Cinnamon Roll MMC, you might enjoy this book. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the CR trope when it creates a big emotional imbalance in the relationship, as it does here. I'm also not a fan of the trope of a wounded MC when they are miraculously healed by True Love instead of competent therapy. Also, the medical scenes in this novel are sometimes inaccurate, which is a personal irritant for me, because it throws me out of the story.
I obtained the audiobook version of this novel through Hoopla. It has dual narrators, with the female voice talent performing the chapters from Lily's POV and the male narrator performing the chapters from Josh's POV. As a result, the MCs' voices and personalities feel disorientingly different every other chapter.
This is a dual-POV, first-person, present-tense romance with the central trope of second chance at love. If you are in the mood for a light romantic comedy, which is more typical for this author, this isn't it.
Lily is an ER nurse in Los Angeles. She has an eight-year-old daughter named Penny. She is the widow of a handsome, adoring, Cinnamon Roll who was a fabulous husband and father. He tragically died in the line of duty as a firefighter. Lily never wants to love again or even date anyone, especially not another firefighter. She refuses to subject herself to the potential of that type of horrendous loss ever again. The source of the romantic conflict in this novel is that she cannot resist falling for Josh, another handsome, adoring, Cinnamon Roll firefighter, who has the potential to be just as wonderful a husband and father as her lost love--and who could potentially die the same way.
This is a no-sex tearjerker romance with an FMC who is just as overcome with grief for her dead husband as if he died yesterday instead of four years ago. If you like feeling sorry for the FMC, and you really like a Cinnamon Roll MMC, you might enjoy this book. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the CR trope when it creates a big emotional imbalance in the relationship, as it does here. I'm also not a fan of the trope of a wounded MC when they are miraculously healed by True Love instead of competent therapy. Also, the medical scenes in this novel are sometimes inaccurate, which is a personal irritant for me, because it throws me out of the story.
I obtained the audiobook version of this novel through Hoopla. It has dual narrators, with the female voice talent performing the chapters from Lily's POV and the male narrator performing the chapters from Josh's POV. As a result, the MCs' voices and personalities feel disorientingly different every other chapter.
January 29, 2026
This was a read-it-in-a-day kind of book (and I did!)
🚒 Cinnamon roll firefighter MMC 🔥
🩺 Single mom/widow nurse FMC 💔
🙄 Closed-door Spice (which felt a little criminal with the firefighter trope, but alas)
💬 Genuinely great chemistry and banter... and a fast meet-cute!
The MMC is patient, emotionally available, and falls first. My only real gripe is that the FMC didn’t have much of a character arc—I wanted more growth from her by the end to feel the relationship was truly balanced. Still, this was a bingeable, heartfelt, and charming romance 💛.
I recommend this if you enjoy closed-door stories with strong connection, communication, and emotional depth. This was my first book by Camilla Isley, but it definitely won’t be my last!
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
📅 Publishes February 16
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars
🚒 Cinnamon roll firefighter MMC 🔥
🩺 Single mom/widow nurse FMC 💔
🙄 Closed-door Spice (which felt a little criminal with the firefighter trope, but alas)
💬 Genuinely great chemistry and banter... and a fast meet-cute!
The MMC is patient, emotionally available, and falls first. My only real gripe is that the FMC didn’t have much of a character arc—I wanted more growth from her by the end to feel the relationship was truly balanced. Still, this was a bingeable, heartfelt, and charming romance 💛.
I recommend this if you enjoy closed-door stories with strong connection, communication, and emotional depth. This was my first book by Camilla Isley, but it definitely won’t be my last!
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
📅 Publishes February 16
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars
February 19, 2026
This is a Friends to Lovers Romance, and this is the second book in the Meet Cute series. I have not read the first book in this series before picking up this book. I really enjoyed this book, and I loved all the characters. I did not want to put this book down, and I loved that there were so many cute and sweet moments in this book. I felt this book covered some hard things very well. Great read. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
January 24, 2026
This book was a super cute and fast read. My heart broke for Lily at parts. She had so much healing to do. Josh is such a fun male main character. He’s the perfect and chill guy for Lilly. He doesn’t mind her needing the time and space to heal.
Definitely with the read! Camilla Isley doesn’t disappoint.
Definitely with the read! Camilla Isley doesn’t disappoint.
January 30, 2026
I laughed, I sobbed, and I swooned. Josh is the perfect romantic hero--literally since he's a firefighter.
This story was beautiful, gripping, emotional. These two really were the perfect couple. I love how the slow burn was built on a real friendship. And real, sometimes ugly feelings, they were ready to accept. How Josh embraced her light but also her darkness. And how free to be herself she felt with him.
I also loved the combined Chicago Fire and Grey's Anatomy vibes.
I loves seeing glimpses from Dorian and Josie, too. And Penny was the cutest child.
This story was beautiful, gripping, emotional. These two really were the perfect couple. I love how the slow burn was built on a real friendship. And real, sometimes ugly feelings, they were ready to accept. How Josh embraced her light but also her darkness. And how free to be herself she felt with him.
I also loved the combined Chicago Fire and Grey's Anatomy vibes.
I loves seeing glimpses from Dorian and Josie, too. And Penny was the cutest child.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Well, hope you got tissues at the ready cause this one pulls on every heart string. Right from the get go, you feel the weight that Lily has resting on her shoulders.
Grief and love after loss are hard hitting topics that can sometimes be a struggle to do well in romance books. Camilla did it so well and had me weeping the whole way through!
Josh was so perfect for Lily. If there was ever the perfect golden retriever mmc, Josh would be it. He was everything Lily needed and everything that her daughter, Penny, could ever need to. Filling up the space after Lily's late husband, Daniel, left in their lives.
Camilla's books are no spice romances that go down so smoothly and so easy to get wrapped up in. So thrilled that Lily got her happy ever after.
.
P.S. Don' think I didn't miss the Chicago Fire reference that was thrown in!
Grief and love after loss are hard hitting topics that can sometimes be a struggle to do well in romance books. Camilla did it so well and had me weeping the whole way through!
Josh was so perfect for Lily. If there was ever the perfect golden retriever mmc, Josh would be it. He was everything Lily needed and everything that her daughter, Penny, could ever need to. Filling up the space after Lily's late husband, Daniel, left in their lives.
Camilla's books are no spice romances that go down so smoothly and so easy to get wrapped up in. So thrilled that Lily got her happy ever after.
.
P.S. Don' think I didn't miss the Chicago Fire reference that was thrown in!
February 25, 2026
her: he’s so kind and perfect but I can’t be with him bc I’m still grieving my late husband and I can’t date another firefighter who might die in a fire one day
him: I accept her boundaries but I think she wants me too so I’ll push her boundaries until she says she doesn’t want me then I’ll step away except no I’ll keep pushing bc I don’t take no for an answer bc I think even if she says no she still secretly is saying yes bc even if she isn’t ready for a relationship now she will definitely change her mind bc I fell in love with her at first sight and we have to be together
him: I accept her boundaries but I think she wants me too so I’ll push her boundaries until she says she doesn’t want me then I’ll step away except no I’ll keep pushing bc I don’t take no for an answer bc I think even if she says no she still secretly is saying yes bc even if she isn’t ready for a relationship now she will definitely change her mind bc I fell in love with her at first sight and we have to be together
January 28, 2026
Thank you to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and author Camilla Isley for this eARC.
Unfortunately The Heat of the Moment did not work for me.
I liked Lily and really felt for her. Losing your husband so suddenly is bad enough, but then having to raise a daughter as a single, grieving mother makes it even harder.
I loved Josh. He is the kind of man every girl wishes for - kind, funny, respectful with a well developed emotional intelligence.
So why did this book about these two wonderful people finding each other not work for me? Chemistry. Or better put the lack there of. I felt absolutely zero chemistry between Lily & Josh. They would’ve made wonderful friends for life, but there was not a single spark between them.
Added to that was Lily’s healing journey. It could’ve been so gut wrenching and deep, but it was kept very surface level and seemed quite sudden due to the time jump in the middle of the book.
Really wish this worked better for me.
Unfortunately The Heat of the Moment did not work for me.
I liked Lily and really felt for her. Losing your husband so suddenly is bad enough, but then having to raise a daughter as a single, grieving mother makes it even harder.
I loved Josh. He is the kind of man every girl wishes for - kind, funny, respectful with a well developed emotional intelligence.
So why did this book about these two wonderful people finding each other not work for me? Chemistry. Or better put the lack there of. I felt absolutely zero chemistry between Lily & Josh. They would’ve made wonderful friends for life, but there was not a single spark between them.
Added to that was Lily’s healing journey. It could’ve been so gut wrenching and deep, but it was kept very surface level and seemed quite sudden due to the time jump in the middle of the book.
Really wish this worked better for me.
January 13, 2026
Wow- I thought this was going to be the typical firefighter trope, but it surprised me in all the best ways! I loved the honesty of Lily’s grief, fear, and trauma, and Josh’s ability to respect boundaries, grief, and friendship. His ability to be Mr. Fix- it in all the subtle and handyman ways are a fun dimension to the plot, and Lily’s inability to fight off feelings is so fun to watch. I loved the symbolic details woven in, such as Penny’s name, and the nosy neighbors. It alludes to parts of the first book in the series and follows it so well, but isn’t necessary to read as a stand-alone. This is a very emotional and heart-warming read, perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah, & Emily Henry.
January 15, 2026
Wow, this book has quite literally blown me away. Now, firstly, I’m already a huge fan of Camilla, so I had high hopes for this. Secondly, book one in the series was such a fantastic take on a rockstar romance, but this book… this book had me hooked from page one until the end.
It takes a lot to make me cry when reading, but this did. The writing was just incredible. I felt literally every emotion of Lily’s and Josh’s, but more than that, add into that Penny’s description of her dad and what she felt about Josh coming into their life, well, I was a puddle on the floor 🥹. It felt raw, complicated, heartbreaking, and yet healing all in one book 💝. Everyone needs a Josh in their life. If he can only be in books, then this will forever be at the top of my pile.
Camilla, I can honestly say this is among one of my favourite books I’ve read in the last couple of years, and I read a lot! 👏💕
Now, for the story itself, it follows ER nurse Lily, whose husband died in the line of duty in a warehouse fire four years ago. Her sole focus has been raising their daughter and protecting her heart, that’s until Josh walks into her ER room.
It’s hard not to be attracted to his gorgeous, charming ways, but he’s a firefighter, and that’s a hard limit for her. When her apartment floods, in steps her new helpful neighbour. Yep, it just so happens to be Josh. Even though she makes it clear they can only be friends, they can’t seem to stay away from each other, and to make matters worse, her daughter loves being around him too. I especially loved their hiking trips, but the first one where he snapped a Polaroid of them and said:
“It’s not the kind of photo you post, but the kind you keep” ❤️
When Josh risks his life fighting a wildfire, Lily’s heart shatters with the truth she’s been avoiding: she’s already fallen. Her first instinct is to push him away, to protect her heart, but Josh does exactly what he has since he met her that fateful day. He proves he won’t let go of her easily… “Nothing prepared me for surviving when the person I love can’t stand loving me back”🥹
Thank you NetGalley, Camilla Isley and Boldwood Books for the ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.
It takes a lot to make me cry when reading, but this did. The writing was just incredible. I felt literally every emotion of Lily’s and Josh’s, but more than that, add into that Penny’s description of her dad and what she felt about Josh coming into their life, well, I was a puddle on the floor 🥹. It felt raw, complicated, heartbreaking, and yet healing all in one book 💝. Everyone needs a Josh in their life. If he can only be in books, then this will forever be at the top of my pile.
Camilla, I can honestly say this is among one of my favourite books I’ve read in the last couple of years, and I read a lot! 👏💕
Now, for the story itself, it follows ER nurse Lily, whose husband died in the line of duty in a warehouse fire four years ago. Her sole focus has been raising their daughter and protecting her heart, that’s until Josh walks into her ER room.
It’s hard not to be attracted to his gorgeous, charming ways, but he’s a firefighter, and that’s a hard limit for her. When her apartment floods, in steps her new helpful neighbour. Yep, it just so happens to be Josh. Even though she makes it clear they can only be friends, they can’t seem to stay away from each other, and to make matters worse, her daughter loves being around him too. I especially loved their hiking trips, but the first one where he snapped a Polaroid of them and said:
“It’s not the kind of photo you post, but the kind you keep” ❤️
When Josh risks his life fighting a wildfire, Lily’s heart shatters with the truth she’s been avoiding: she’s already fallen. Her first instinct is to push him away, to protect her heart, but Josh does exactly what he has since he met her that fateful day. He proves he won’t let go of her easily… “Nothing prepared me for surviving when the person I love can’t stand loving me back”🥹
Thank you NetGalley, Camilla Isley and Boldwood Books for the ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.
February 17, 2026
This was such an emotional, heartfelt read — and one that handled grief and second love beautifully.
I absolutely loved the dual POV between Lily and Josh. I’m always a sucker for seeing both sides of the story, and here it really added depth. Being inside Josh’s head made his patience, care and steady devotion even more swoon-worthy, while Lily’s chapters gave us full access to the emotional weight she’s carrying.
Lily is a widow, having lost her firefighter husband Daniel four years before the story begins. She’s raising their eight-year-old daughter Penny alone, and her grief still lingers in very real, complicated ways. What I thought this book did exceptionally well was not rushing that process. This isn’t a case of “new man appears, grief disappears.”
We see Lily wrestle with guilt, feeling like she’s betraying Daniel’s memory just by being attracted to Josh. She worries about how Penny might feel, and whether she could survive losing another firefighter in the line of duty. Every emotion felt authentic and completely understandable. Nothing about her journey was simplified for the sake of romance, and I really respected that.
Josh is an absolutely wonderful MMC. Patient, kind, emotionally intelligent and never pushy. He makes space for Lily’s memories of Daniel, listens when she wants to share, and never tries to replace or compete with her past. He understands that loving Lily means respecting her history, and that quiet strength made him incredibly attractive as a character.
It’s definitely an emotional rollercoaster, but one filled with warmth, tenderness and hope. A romance that balances heartache with healing and delivers all the feels along the way.
I’ll definitely be going back to read You Rock My World — Lily’s sister Josie has me intrigued, and I need to know more about her and Dorian.
I absolutely loved the dual POV between Lily and Josh. I’m always a sucker for seeing both sides of the story, and here it really added depth. Being inside Josh’s head made his patience, care and steady devotion even more swoon-worthy, while Lily’s chapters gave us full access to the emotional weight she’s carrying.
Lily is a widow, having lost her firefighter husband Daniel four years before the story begins. She’s raising their eight-year-old daughter Penny alone, and her grief still lingers in very real, complicated ways. What I thought this book did exceptionally well was not rushing that process. This isn’t a case of “new man appears, grief disappears.”
We see Lily wrestle with guilt, feeling like she’s betraying Daniel’s memory just by being attracted to Josh. She worries about how Penny might feel, and whether she could survive losing another firefighter in the line of duty. Every emotion felt authentic and completely understandable. Nothing about her journey was simplified for the sake of romance, and I really respected that.
Josh is an absolutely wonderful MMC. Patient, kind, emotionally intelligent and never pushy. He makes space for Lily’s memories of Daniel, listens when she wants to share, and never tries to replace or compete with her past. He understands that loving Lily means respecting her history, and that quiet strength made him incredibly attractive as a character.
It’s definitely an emotional rollercoaster, but one filled with warmth, tenderness and hope. A romance that balances heartache with healing and delivers all the feels along the way.
I’ll definitely be going back to read You Rock My World — Lily’s sister Josie has me intrigued, and I need to know more about her and Dorian.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.
I absolutely devoured this, and I am so sad to see it finished. It pulled me in and had me feeling all the emotions and normally that is hard to do. This is a closed-door, low-spice romance, and honestly, that didn’t bother me at all, and for me that is huge haha but the emotional depth and connections more than made up for it.
One of my favorite aspects of this story was that Josh is a firefighter. It wasn’t just a title or a background detail, you truly get to see Josh in action, which added so much realism and tension to the story. It gave me a whole new appreciation for what firefighters do and the risks they take every single day.
The push and pull between Lily and Josh was beautifully done. Their relationship felt natural and done so well. And Penny? omg she is absolutely adorable. She brought such warmth and heart to the story and quickly became a favorite.
This book also shines in how it portrays the emotional toll of loving and losing someone in such a dangerous profession. I could never fully imagine what the girlfriends and wives of firefighters go through on a daily basis, but this story captures that fear, strength, and resilience so perfectly.
This book is a heartfelt, emotional romance that balances love, sacrifice, and real-life challenges beautifully. A truly enjoyable read that I am so glad to have read. ❤️🔥
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.
I absolutely devoured this, and I am so sad to see it finished. It pulled me in and had me feeling all the emotions and normally that is hard to do. This is a closed-door, low-spice romance, and honestly, that didn’t bother me at all, and for me that is huge haha but the emotional depth and connections more than made up for it.
One of my favorite aspects of this story was that Josh is a firefighter. It wasn’t just a title or a background detail, you truly get to see Josh in action, which added so much realism and tension to the story. It gave me a whole new appreciation for what firefighters do and the risks they take every single day.
The push and pull between Lily and Josh was beautifully done. Their relationship felt natural and done so well. And Penny? omg she is absolutely adorable. She brought such warmth and heart to the story and quickly became a favorite.
This book also shines in how it portrays the emotional toll of loving and losing someone in such a dangerous profession. I could never fully imagine what the girlfriends and wives of firefighters go through on a daily basis, but this story captures that fear, strength, and resilience so perfectly.
This book is a heartfelt, emotional romance that balances love, sacrifice, and real-life challenges beautifully. A truly enjoyable read that I am so glad to have read. ❤️🔥
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Just when I think I've read the best of Camilla Isley she goes and writes this book that managed to wedge an enormous rock in my throat.
Angsty but in a sweet way, I couldn't put it down.
Nurse Lily has been grieving the loss of her firefighter husband Daniel for the last four years so when she meets Josh (also a firefighter) in the emergency room and tends to his wounds she's reminded of everything she's lost.
Josh is immediately smitten by her and when he finds out who she is and that they are neighbors, a spark of understanding and hope is lit in his being.
Josh was really such a sweet, kind and extremely patient guy and as he gets closer to Lily and her daughter he obviously can't help falling for her even more.
Lily of course is not ready to move on and certainly NOT with another firefighter but Josh doesn't push.
Gah, this was such a sweet, sweet slow burn and a beautiful story in Camilla Isley's lovely way of writing. I caught myself smiling and also holding my breath while reading.
I really enjoyed seeing past characters Dorian and Josie the songs at the end were 💖
The fire described in this book may be a "trigger" for some people so I would advise to consider that before reading.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and author for the ARC. I am truly grateful to have read this in advance ❤️
Angsty but in a sweet way, I couldn't put it down.
Nurse Lily has been grieving the loss of her firefighter husband Daniel for the last four years so when she meets Josh (also a firefighter) in the emergency room and tends to his wounds she's reminded of everything she's lost.
Josh is immediately smitten by her and when he finds out who she is and that they are neighbors, a spark of understanding and hope is lit in his being.
Josh was really such a sweet, kind and extremely patient guy and as he gets closer to Lily and her daughter he obviously can't help falling for her even more.
Lily of course is not ready to move on and certainly NOT with another firefighter but Josh doesn't push.
Gah, this was such a sweet, sweet slow burn and a beautiful story in Camilla Isley's lovely way of writing. I caught myself smiling and also holding my breath while reading.
I really enjoyed seeing past characters Dorian and Josie the songs at the end were 💖
The fire described in this book may be a "trigger" for some people so I would advise to consider that before reading.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and author for the ARC. I am truly grateful to have read this in advance ❤️
February 19, 2026
POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT _ I have read many of Camilla's books and I have absolutely enjoyed them all. This is probably her sweetest book ever. First you need to read You Rock My World, story of Lily's our girl in this book) sister Josie and then you can move on to this one. Lily's husband died and this will become a spoiler alert if you haven't read the first book. But in this one Lily meets Josh when he comes into the ER needing stitches. OK, he too is a firefighter like her husband was and holds the same job as he did. So right off the bat Lily radar goes into over drive. If a man like Josh really existed, women would be lined up around the block. Josh is funny, sweet, handy to have around and the one woman he'd like to know better - really wants nothing to do with him other then grudgingly say OK to being just "friends". Of course along the way things start to change. Camilla said she cried writing this book and quite honestly she was right. As a firefighter, Josh gets into some serious situations, which because of her husband's death really makes it hard for Lily to truly embrace what Josh has to offer. HEA, yes, but it takes a while to get there. Worth the read, absolutely!!! But read first book then this one.
January 21, 2026
The Heat of the Moment - Camilla Isley
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Book and Camilla Isley for providing me with an ARC of this book ✨
Shocked that this is the first time I’ve come across one of Camilla’s books as this is exactly the type of book I LOVE to read to break up my fantasy reads!
The story covers Lily Finnegan, nurse, mother and widow of 4 years after her firefighter husband Daniel passed. Grief has left her emotionally stuck and her main focus lays on getting through each day for her daughter Penny.
A sudden turn in events finds Lily treating Josh in the emergency room and sparks begin to fly, that is until she realises Josh’s has taken the role of Lieutenant at the same fire station her husband worked at…oh and he’s also her new neighbour 😆
This is actually my first firefighter romance and I now have a new found obsession for firefighters!!
This was a super easy and heartwarming read, the chemistry Lily and Josh was instant and the connection was effortless to follow. Believe me when I said I had this book devoured within 2 days!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
After the loss of her husband four years ago, Lily is still grieving and determined never to get involved with another firefighter. When Josh comes into her ER reeking of smoke, injured in his turnout gear, she gives him the cold shoulder while stitching his wound. When she's in need of help though, she's shocked that her new helpful neighbor is the fireman she can't stop thinking about. He's just so full of happy charisma that she can't help but be drawn in. She puts him firmly in the friend zone, but as long as he can be near her, he'll take it. And with his calm patience and loving understanding he slowly heals her broken heart.
This book was very emotional. Lily has suppressed her emotions for so long that the smallest reminders of Daniel set her off. Josh has the patience of a saint with her, even knowing they may never be more than friends. This is a very slow burn emotional ride with closed door romance, but the sweet HEA was worth all the emotion.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
This book was very emotional. Lily has suppressed her emotions for so long that the smallest reminders of Daniel set her off. Josh has the patience of a saint with her, even knowing they may never be more than friends. This is a very slow burn emotional ride with closed door romance, but the sweet HEA was worth all the emotion.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.25 stars!
I have read so many stories by Camilla Isley and this is easily in the top three! It was so good! Absolutely emotional and I loved every second of it. Josh is the lieutenant at the fire house and Lily is a widowed nurse, whose husband used to work on the same firehouse Josh is currently at. She has some pretty strict rules when it comes to dating and she has no intention of being involved with another fireman, especially considering she's a single mother and doesn't want her daughter to lose another father figure. But Josh is just too perfect for words and she has a hard time resisting! Absolutely loved Josh and Lilly's relationship and can't wait to read what Isley writes next! Thank you so much to NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital ARC!!
I have read so many stories by Camilla Isley and this is easily in the top three! It was so good! Absolutely emotional and I loved every second of it. Josh is the lieutenant at the fire house and Lily is a widowed nurse, whose husband used to work on the same firehouse Josh is currently at. She has some pretty strict rules when it comes to dating and she has no intention of being involved with another fireman, especially considering she's a single mother and doesn't want her daughter to lose another father figure. But Josh is just too perfect for words and she has a hard time resisting! Absolutely loved Josh and Lilly's relationship and can't wait to read what Isley writes next! Thank you so much to NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital ARC!!
February 9, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Bolwood books for this Arc.
Heat of the moment follows Lily and Josh in a slow burn romance filled with chemistry and heartwarming depth.
Lily is navigating her way through the grief of loosing her husband whilst also becoming a single parent to her 8 year old daughter. When she meets Josh, who is the perfect mix of caring, fun and understanding- very golden retriever, but the problems come when Lily discovers Josh’s occupation as a firefighter… just like her husband.
The story has the main things you look for in a cute romance story but also deals with and applies good focus to more realistic depictions of real life events, such as grief and the affects they have. I think Josh in this book done a really good job of understanding Lily and their basis of friendship first had a really big impact on this story.
I would definitely read more books by this author.
Heat of the moment follows Lily and Josh in a slow burn romance filled with chemistry and heartwarming depth.
Lily is navigating her way through the grief of loosing her husband whilst also becoming a single parent to her 8 year old daughter. When she meets Josh, who is the perfect mix of caring, fun and understanding- very golden retriever, but the problems come when Lily discovers Josh’s occupation as a firefighter… just like her husband.
The story has the main things you look for in a cute romance story but also deals with and applies good focus to more realistic depictions of real life events, such as grief and the affects they have. I think Josh in this book done a really good job of understanding Lily and their basis of friendship first had a really big impact on this story.
I would definitely read more books by this author.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Heat of the Moment is an absolute must read for anyone who likes a rom com with emotional depth. Main character Lily is a widow, having lost her fire fighter husband four years previously.
Still dealing with her grief, Lily's not looking for romance and definitely not interested in getting involved with another fire fighter! Fate has other ideas though and when her helpful new neighbour Josh turns out to be a firefighter with eyes only for her, life slowly starts to get a little less predictable for Lily and her daughter.
This book had me in tears in places and as an avid fan of Station 19 and 911 I was totally immersed in the story. Shout out to Camilla Isley for creating the character of Josh - the ultimate cinnamon roll and my new favourite leading man! Enjoy this wonderful story, out on February 16th 2026!
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy.
#TheHeatOfTheMoment
#NetGalley
Still dealing with her grief, Lily's not looking for romance and definitely not interested in getting involved with another fire fighter! Fate has other ideas though and when her helpful new neighbour Josh turns out to be a firefighter with eyes only for her, life slowly starts to get a little less predictable for Lily and her daughter.
This book had me in tears in places and as an avid fan of Station 19 and 911 I was totally immersed in the story. Shout out to Camilla Isley for creating the character of Josh - the ultimate cinnamon roll and my new favourite leading man! Enjoy this wonderful story, out on February 16th 2026!
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy.
#TheHeatOfTheMoment
#NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the sequel to You Rock my World. They are standalones and can be read in any order. I read the previous and I loved it, but I think I actually love this one even more! Absolutely full of grief and trauma but also so full of hope and love. The death of Lily's husband is touched on in the previous book but this one you experience the full magnitude of the loss and her grief. She also is just so relatable as a single parent just trying to make it work. The MMC is all romance girls dream golden retriever type man. Addicted to her but with boundaries. He's also considerate, caring, understanding, and helpful with her daughter. Going through her hesitation and guilt but also his desire and love for her you will feel all of the emotions. The ending scenes really just had me almost sobbing and everyone who has experienced a loss but isn't sure about the future ahead should read this and just feel inspired to find their rainbow after the storm.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was especially excited to receive this ARC after meeting Penny and Lily in her sister's book. I came into this book already invested in the characters and eager to see Lily get her happy ending.
I appreciated that Lily's feelings for her first husband were clearly defined, balancing out her growing romance with Josh in a way that felt appropriate and realistic for a new love after loss. From their first meeting, the banter between them was well-written and their chemistry believable, especially thanks to the dual point of view format. I truly enjoyed watching their chemistry grow and felt like the pacing of the love story was perfect! I loved rooting for Lily, Josh, and Penny's family, and felt that the way the author resolved the conflict that prevented Lily and Josh from being together was perfect.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.
I appreciated that Lily's feelings for her first husband were clearly defined, balancing out her growing romance with Josh in a way that felt appropriate and realistic for a new love after loss. From their first meeting, the banter between them was well-written and their chemistry believable, especially thanks to the dual point of view format. I truly enjoyed watching their chemistry grow and felt like the pacing of the love story was perfect! I loved rooting for Lily, Josh, and Penny's family, and felt that the way the author resolved the conflict that prevented Lily and Josh from being together was perfect.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.
February 16, 2026
I enjoyed this book it’s part of cutie series and it’s a slow burner and it do build up it’s a rom-com. Not much spice but enjoyable. It’s like a second chance at romance
This series is good for those that like Elisa Silver and Abby J.
This series is good for those that like Elisa Silver and Abby J.
February 28, 2026
I walked into this knowing I would cry watching Lily, a widow who lost her firefighter husband, overcome her biggest fear: falling in love with a firefighter.
Josh is the most patient book boyfriend I have ever met: wooing Lily and her daughter, without any pretenses, and helping Lily live again, all while being ok with being just friends.
The very real risks firefighters face gave me anxiety, and I’m so grateful this had a HEA or I would’ve thrown the kindle across the room.
Josh is the most patient book boyfriend I have ever met: wooing Lily and her daughter, without any pretenses, and helping Lily live again, all while being ok with being just friends.
The very real risks firefighters face gave me anxiety, and I’m so grateful this had a HEA or I would’ve thrown the kindle across the room.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I liked this, wanted to keep reading until it was done and felt the emotions I was supposed to when I was supposed to. It was hard to read about someone going through something tough, but the characters fell a little flat for me. There was conflict but never anything that required either of them to make any meaningful emotional changes. They were simply perfect for each other, start to finish, with a compromise on one side that didn't really feel like a big deal. Overall, I liked it and it made me feel some of the feels but didn't devastate or elate me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for granting my request to read this e-ARC and provide my honest thoughts.
Some loves are so big that they don't end even when the other person is gone 🥹. Wow! Wow!! This book is amazing; so well done – I felt every single emotion, and I even teared up 🥹.
Lily is an ER nurse who lost her husband in the line of duty, and she promised herself she would never be involved with a firefighter until Josh came into the picture 🔥🥹. Two big loves, love after loss... Josh was everything Lily needed, even if she didn't know it yet; he was patient, never pushing, always there. I'm really glad he was her friend first before the labels shifted.
I'm also glad the author didn't use the miscommunication and third-breakup act trope! I love that this book made me feel as though I was in a medical drama, right there in the scene... and what Josh did for Lily is so heartwarming 🥹❤️. Love everything about this book!!! Thank you for the e-ARC.
Some loves are so big that they don't end even when the other person is gone 🥹. Wow! Wow!! This book is amazing; so well done – I felt every single emotion, and I even teared up 🥹.
Lily is an ER nurse who lost her husband in the line of duty, and she promised herself she would never be involved with a firefighter until Josh came into the picture 🔥🥹. Two big loves, love after loss... Josh was everything Lily needed, even if she didn't know it yet; he was patient, never pushing, always there. I'm really glad he was her friend first before the labels shifted.
I'm also glad the author didn't use the miscommunication and third-breakup act trope! I love that this book made me feel as though I was in a medical drama, right there in the scene... and what Josh did for Lily is so heartwarming 🥹❤️. Love everything about this book!!! Thank you for the e-ARC.
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