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Firelight Days
When wildfires force an evacuation in her small town, baker and loner Penny Ridgeman seeks refuge at the only place she feels safe – Jack Olsen’s family ranch in Eastern Oregon. For years, Penny has seen Jack as just a friend – even if he is, inconveniently, the most attractive man she knows. But just like you shouldn’t mix-up salt and sugar in a cake, she believes that mixing love and friendship is a recipe for disaster.
Jack has always admired and respected Penny’s need for solitude. And, as the town handyman, builder, and cat-in-a-tree-rescuer, he prides himself on being able to fix and figure out anything. But he can’t understand why Penny holds herself back in her work. He can’t see what’s behind those stubborn, thick walls she keeps up. And he can’t work out, for the life of him, why suddenly he can’t stop thinking about her.
As the days stretch into quiet nights on the ranch, Penny and Jack start to see each other in a new light – one Penny is certain can only lead to getting seriously burned. With the world around them on fire and only each other for company, they find themselves in a whirlwind of emotions neither expected.
As the fire threatens to consume everything, Penny and Jack must decide whether to risk their friendship for something deeper… or will that go up in flames, too?
© 2025 Savannah Pryce
Jack has always admired and respected Penny’s need for solitude. And, as the town handyman, builder, and cat-in-a-tree-rescuer, he prides himself on being able to fix and figure out anything. But he can’t understand why Penny holds herself back in her work. He can’t see what’s behind those stubborn, thick walls she keeps up. And he can’t work out, for the life of him, why suddenly he can’t stop thinking about her.
As the days stretch into quiet nights on the ranch, Penny and Jack start to see each other in a new light – one Penny is certain can only lead to getting seriously burned. With the world around them on fire and only each other for company, they find themselves in a whirlwind of emotions neither expected.
As the fire threatens to consume everything, Penny and Jack must decide whether to risk their friendship for something deeper… or will that go up in flames, too?
© 2025 Savannah Pryce
- GenresFriends To Lovers
327 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 4, 2025
About the author
Savannah Pryce
3 books7 followersSavannah Pryce grew up between the U.S. and Spain and always loved two things: stories and travel. She writes books packed with love, hilarity, and big emotions. Life is often full of drama but also full of silliness, and her love stories include both.
Savannah’s stories feature strong heroines, complex heroes, and a cast of eclectic side characters. Setting always plays an important role in her books because she believes that the landscapes we surround ourselves in heavily influence who we are and become.
Her debut romance novel FIRELIGHT DAYS was inspired by her decade of living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, her love of the Columbia River Gorge, and the wildfires that have struck over the years. Also, once upon a time she worked for many, many years in bakeries. So that plays strongly into this story as well!
When she’s not writing books she’s often hiking, drawing, and traveling as often as she can with her husband.
Savannah’s stories feature strong heroines, complex heroes, and a cast of eclectic side characters. Setting always plays an important role in her books because she believes that the landscapes we surround ourselves in heavily influence who we are and become.
Her debut romance novel FIRELIGHT DAYS was inspired by her decade of living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, her love of the Columbia River Gorge, and the wildfires that have struck over the years. Also, once upon a time she worked for many, many years in bakeries. So that plays strongly into this story as well!
When she’s not writing books she’s often hiking, drawing, and traveling as often as she can with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 23, 2026
Absolutely wonderful, I laughed at Gerald, I got mad at Gerald, I adored Penny, Jack & June, when you work in customer service the managers always think the customer is right (reader, they are not!)
August 27, 2025
➸ 5 stars
WOW! From page one, I was completely sucked into Penny and Jack’s world. Their romance? Friends-to-lovers done so perfectly. It’s not the type of slow burn that makes you wait forever, but the connection between them grows so naturally and beautifully that you can feel every spark, every flutter, every tiny moment of tenderness. Even though it’s fully closed-door (no spicy scenes), the emotional chemistry is off the charts. 💖
And, Penny and Jack are in their thirties, navigating love, life, and all the messy stuff that comes with it. It felt refreshing and so relatable, especially for readers who appreciate romances with characters at a more grounded, realistic stage of life.
➸ Jack
Jack… oh, Jack. 😍 He’s the kind of man who can literally build anything with his hands, fix whatever’s broken, and make your heart feel safe while doing it. The way he and Penny navigate their friendship turning into something more is just chef’s kiss.
➸ Penny
Penny is one of those characters that sneaks into your heart without even trying. Her love of lists, her comfort in being independent, her habit of keeping walls up around herself, and the way she hesitates to ask for help even when she needs it. She’s smart, relatable, and so human, and I adored her for it.
The banter between Penny and her best friend June had me laughing out loud multiple times. Their friendship adds so much warmth and balance to the story, especially as Penny works through grief, past relationships, and all the walls she’s built up. It feels real, messy, and incredibly comforting to read about.
The pacing of this story is perfect. I could not put it down. It’s funny, heartfelt, tender, and the kind of romance that leaves you smiling long after the last page. If you love friends-to-lovers stories, swoony heroes, and cozy emotional journeys that are full of heart, grab this book immediately. You won’t regret it. ❤️
I received it as an Arc from NetGalley
WOW! From page one, I was completely sucked into Penny and Jack’s world. Their romance? Friends-to-lovers done so perfectly. It’s not the type of slow burn that makes you wait forever, but the connection between them grows so naturally and beautifully that you can feel every spark, every flutter, every tiny moment of tenderness. Even though it’s fully closed-door (no spicy scenes), the emotional chemistry is off the charts. 💖
And, Penny and Jack are in their thirties, navigating love, life, and all the messy stuff that comes with it. It felt refreshing and so relatable, especially for readers who appreciate romances with characters at a more grounded, realistic stage of life.
➸ Jack
Jack… oh, Jack. 😍 He’s the kind of man who can literally build anything with his hands, fix whatever’s broken, and make your heart feel safe while doing it. The way he and Penny navigate their friendship turning into something more is just chef’s kiss.
➸ Penny
Penny is one of those characters that sneaks into your heart without even trying. Her love of lists, her comfort in being independent, her habit of keeping walls up around herself, and the way she hesitates to ask for help even when she needs it. She’s smart, relatable, and so human, and I adored her for it.
The banter between Penny and her best friend June had me laughing out loud multiple times. Their friendship adds so much warmth and balance to the story, especially as Penny works through grief, past relationships, and all the walls she’s built up. It feels real, messy, and incredibly comforting to read about.
The pacing of this story is perfect. I could not put it down. It’s funny, heartfelt, tender, and the kind of romance that leaves you smiling long after the last page. If you love friends-to-lovers stories, swoony heroes, and cozy emotional journeys that are full of heart, grab this book immediately. You won’t regret it. ❤️
I received it as an Arc from NetGalley
August 27, 2025
I’ve been lucky enough to be provided with so many wonderful ARCs recently, and this one was yet another gem to add to the list. This book was beautifully written. The romance itself is a friends-to-lovers story that develops with a gradual, steady build. (I am not using slow burn here due to the overarching theme of this book!). It’s very much a closed-door romance, with no on-page intimacy, but the sparks, tenderness, and emotion between Penny and Jack still shine through.
I also found myself relating to Penny in unexpected ways. While I’m not exactly like her, there were parts of her character that really resonated with me. Her tendency to be a little closed off, her reliance on lists to keep things in order, and her comfort in being on her own. She’s also very independent and often reluctant to ask for help, which made her feel even more real and relatable.
There were also some genuinely funny moments between Penny and her best friend, June, that had me laughing out loud. Their banter and friendship brought so much warmth to the story and created a lovely balance against some of the heavier themes explored, such as grief, past relationships, and the emotional walls Penny struggles with.
I really appreciated the representation of characters in their middle-late 30s, it felt refreshing and relatable, especially since so many romances I’ve read lately focus on younger characters at a very different stage of life.
This book was so easy to read, I read it over a day. Pick this one up if you have a soft spot for a man who’s not only easy on the eyes but also the kind who can build anything with his hands and fix just about everything—including your heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for a copy of this ARC!
I also found myself relating to Penny in unexpected ways. While I’m not exactly like her, there were parts of her character that really resonated with me. Her tendency to be a little closed off, her reliance on lists to keep things in order, and her comfort in being on her own. She’s also very independent and often reluctant to ask for help, which made her feel even more real and relatable.
There were also some genuinely funny moments between Penny and her best friend, June, that had me laughing out loud. Their banter and friendship brought so much warmth to the story and created a lovely balance against some of the heavier themes explored, such as grief, past relationships, and the emotional walls Penny struggles with.
I really appreciated the representation of characters in their middle-late 30s, it felt refreshing and relatable, especially since so many romances I’ve read lately focus on younger characters at a very different stage of life.
This book was so easy to read, I read it over a day. Pick this one up if you have a soft spot for a man who’s not only easy on the eyes but also the kind who can build anything with his hands and fix just about everything—including your heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for a copy of this ARC!
August 29, 2025
New writer didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed this love story that blossomed over the years to final discovery of feelings and healing. Penny is a baker in Eastern Oregon trying to escape a bad relationship and looking for a new beginning. She doesn’t always want to work for someone else but be her own boss. She struggles with fear and anxiety. Penny’s best friend June tries to convince her to go out and get out of her comfort zone. When she finally says yes to a new guy in town her friend Jack starts to realize he just might have real feelings for Penny. The wildfire is threatening town when Penny is forced to leave town and Jack offers her a place to stay out of the danger zone with his dad. More than wildfire sparks fly once they are away and around each other 24/7. Yet again Penny’s fear and anxiety stops her from taking a leap of faith. When they are able to go back to town something horrible happens and Penny yet again retreats into herself. Will Jack be able to convince her to be strong or will Penny be able to finally convince herself. It is such a great story, slow burn full of love and some extremely funny moments.
I got this ARC from Xpresso Book Tours through NetGalley.
I got this ARC from Xpresso Book Tours through NetGalley.
September 18, 2025
From the first pages, I could tell it would be a good read and I'd have to decide if I should shotgun it or try to extend the cozy experience. I read it in two days. 😄
It is a refreshing and realistic portrayal of the nuances of how your past influences your relationships, especially ones evolving from a long friendship to unexpected feelings. The characters had great dialogue and witty banter between each other. I enjoyed the slow build and internal tension. It was easy to visualize the story in my mind's eye and see myself in the main characters' internal dialogues. The more minor characters added humor and background to the protagonists' lives.
I'm not great at summarizing my thoughts nor do I want to give spoilers, but I thoroughly enjoyed the thoughtful characters, story line, and setting!
In college, the author gifted me Prodigal Summer, so I knew I had to buy Savannah Pryce's book to experience her writing--given her wonderful taste in books!
4.5 🌟
It is a refreshing and realistic portrayal of the nuances of how your past influences your relationships, especially ones evolving from a long friendship to unexpected feelings. The characters had great dialogue and witty banter between each other. I enjoyed the slow build and internal tension. It was easy to visualize the story in my mind's eye and see myself in the main characters' internal dialogues. The more minor characters added humor and background to the protagonists' lives.
I'm not great at summarizing my thoughts nor do I want to give spoilers, but I thoroughly enjoyed the thoughtful characters, story line, and setting!
In college, the author gifted me Prodigal Summer, so I knew I had to buy Savannah Pryce's book to experience her writing--given her wonderful taste in books!
4.5 🌟
August 28, 2025
❤️Friends To Lovers
🌇Small Town
💕Sweet Romance
🫂Strong Friendships
💓 Complicated Family Dynamics
This was a really sweet and cozy read, I was easily pulled into this story and ended up binging it cover to cover in one reading session.
I really enjoyed watching Penny (FMC) and Jack's (MMC) relationship develop gradually and grow. It was refreshing to see that both of the main characters were at a later stage in life rather than just entering adulthood.
I think what really stood out to me is that their story felt like a true and genuine friends to lovers storyline. I loved their conversations, chemistry and connection, it felt like such a strong foundation for a good love story to form.
Both of the leading characters have complicated family dynamics, so another highlight for me was the strong friendships that felt more like a found family.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend checking it out!
Thank you Savannah Pryce, Net Galley and Xpresso Book Tours for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
🌇Small Town
💕Sweet Romance
🫂Strong Friendships
💓 Complicated Family Dynamics
This was a really sweet and cozy read, I was easily pulled into this story and ended up binging it cover to cover in one reading session.
I really enjoyed watching Penny (FMC) and Jack's (MMC) relationship develop gradually and grow. It was refreshing to see that both of the main characters were at a later stage in life rather than just entering adulthood.
I think what really stood out to me is that their story felt like a true and genuine friends to lovers storyline. I loved their conversations, chemistry and connection, it felt like such a strong foundation for a good love story to form.
Both of the leading characters have complicated family dynamics, so another highlight for me was the strong friendships that felt more like a found family.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend checking it out!
Thank you Savannah Pryce, Net Galley and Xpresso Book Tours for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
October 18, 2025
If you are a fan of small-town vibes and yearning romances, you're going to love Savannah Pryce's new release, Firelight Days.
Penny is a baker in town who works herself to the bone for a boss who takes her for granted. When a dangerous fire starts ripping through the forest nearby, one of her regular customers and friends, Jack, offers to put her up at his family's property to wait out the evacuation orders. Things have been changing between them lately, but Penny isn't sure she wants to cross any lines with him and ruin the good thing they have going.
Firelight Days is well written and captures that small-town vibe so well. It's cute and full of tension and the characters have to reckon with themselves before they can open themselves up to another. I was very impressed with this one! It's got everything you want when picking up a new romance novel - this one isn't risky...you'll love it!
Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
For more reviews like this one, visit my blog thelitertarian.com.
Penny is a baker in town who works herself to the bone for a boss who takes her for granted. When a dangerous fire starts ripping through the forest nearby, one of her regular customers and friends, Jack, offers to put her up at his family's property to wait out the evacuation orders. Things have been changing between them lately, but Penny isn't sure she wants to cross any lines with him and ruin the good thing they have going.
Firelight Days is well written and captures that small-town vibe so well. It's cute and full of tension and the characters have to reckon with themselves before they can open themselves up to another. I was very impressed with this one! It's got everything you want when picking up a new romance novel - this one isn't risky...you'll love it!
Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
For more reviews like this one, visit my blog thelitertarian.com.
August 28, 2025
Penny Ridgeman lleva seis años convencida de que la soledad es su refugio. Después de una relación tóxica y un corazón roto, ha construido una vida tranquila en Ellis: su trabajo en la cafetería, su diminuta casa en el bosque y la compañía de su mejor amiga son todo lo que necesita… o al menos eso quiere creer.
Jack Olsen, el manitas del pueblo, siempre ha estado allí. Amigo, vecino y apoyo constante, el hombre que arregla desde techos hasta corazones ajenos. Pero cuando un forastero encantador aparece en la vida de Penny y la invita a salir, todo lo que ella pensaba tener bajo control empieza a tambalearse.
Entre tardes de café, reparaciones en el porche y la amenaza de incendios forestales que acechan a la comunidad, Penny tendrá que enfrentarse a una verdad incómoda: quizás el amor que tanto ha evitado siempre ha estado frente a ella.
___
La calificación es por él ya que ella me desesperó en la segunda mitad del libro.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Jack Olsen, el manitas del pueblo, siempre ha estado allí. Amigo, vecino y apoyo constante, el hombre que arregla desde techos hasta corazones ajenos. Pero cuando un forastero encantador aparece en la vida de Penny y la invita a salir, todo lo que ella pensaba tener bajo control empieza a tambalearse.
Entre tardes de café, reparaciones en el porche y la amenaza de incendios forestales que acechan a la comunidad, Penny tendrá que enfrentarse a una verdad incómoda: quizás el amor que tanto ha evitado siempre ha estado frente a ella.
___
La calificación es por él ya que ella me desesperó en la segunda mitad del libro.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
September 9, 2025
Firelight Days is the first book I’ve read by Savannah Pryce, and it absolutely won’t be the last 📚✨. This book was beautifully written and emotionally captivating from start to finish 💖.
The chemistry between Penny and Jack truly shines 💫. Watching their relationship unfold in such a natural, slow-burn progression was a true delight. Their conversations and undeniable connection made this a standout friends-to-lovers romance 💕🔥.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the banter between Penny and her best friend, June 💬🤣. Their dynamic had me laughing out loud more than once, and their friendship added so much warmth and balance to the story 🌼
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to fans of emotional, character-driven romance with authentic friendships and slow-burning love at its core 🥰📖.
Thank you to Savannah Pryce, NetGalley, and Xpresso Book Tours for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review! 🙏✨
The chemistry between Penny and Jack truly shines 💫. Watching their relationship unfold in such a natural, slow-burn progression was a true delight. Their conversations and undeniable connection made this a standout friends-to-lovers romance 💕🔥.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the banter between Penny and her best friend, June 💬🤣. Their dynamic had me laughing out loud more than once, and their friendship added so much warmth and balance to the story 🌼
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to fans of emotional, character-driven romance with authentic friendships and slow-burning love at its core 🥰📖.
Thank you to Savannah Pryce, NetGalley, and Xpresso Book Tours for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review! 🙏✨
September 16, 2025
This is a sweet read from start to finish and I enjoyed the journey that Jack and Penny take. They've been friends for a long time, and that gives them a relationship to build from. When you have danger from wildfires, a forced proximity, and that close time together you get them out of their comfort zone to just spend that time together. The story flows well, has great world building, and was easily able to pull me right into their world. This is the debut book for this author and I will be checking out what she does going forward.
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
September 1, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC.
This was a sweet and cozy read with vivid small-town scenes and a heartfelt friends-to-lovers storyline. I could picture everything so clearly, and the friendships and found family dynamics were strong. But through this, I found out that I don’t enjoy small-town stories anymore, and I felt a bit bored at times. That’s more about my personal taste than the writing itself.
Readers who enjoy slow-burn love, community-centered plots, and comforting emotional journeys will likely love this one. For me, it just wasn’t the right fit.
This was a sweet and cozy read with vivid small-town scenes and a heartfelt friends-to-lovers storyline. I could picture everything so clearly, and the friendships and found family dynamics were strong. But through this, I found out that I don’t enjoy small-town stories anymore, and I felt a bit bored at times. That’s more about my personal taste than the writing itself.
Readers who enjoy slow-burn love, community-centered plots, and comforting emotional journeys will likely love this one. For me, it just wasn’t the right fit.
January 4, 2026
Really cute debut novel with a lot of PNW vibes but with more of a small town focus. Penny and Jack’s love story feels authentic in its development from friends to lovers with some forced proximity pushing their feelings forward simultaneously. I thought it was a good addition how Jack understood Penny’s need for solitude since his mother could be that way as well and the caboose was so sweet. Overall I would recommend for a nice spring/summer read.
Thank you Xpresso Book Tours for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Thank you Xpresso Book Tours for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
September 18, 2025
One of the best romance books I’ve read in a while! Savannah Pryce is officially one of my new favorites. One of my favorite quotes later in the book that I think sums this up perfectly is “If you don’t learn how to navigate hard, uncomfortable circumstances, you’ll stay in the same place forever.” This is a perfect expression of the growth of the characters in this book. A fun romantic read that will make you laugh, cry, smile, and warm your heart!
September 18, 2025
Perfect for fans of:
- Friends-to-Lovers
- Small Town Romance
- Lots of Banter
- Slow Burn
- Warm Spice
- Forced Proximity
I truly adored it and it was the perfect, lighthearted romance!
(I received a gifted copy from the author and Storygram Tours in exchange for my honest review)
- Friends-to-Lovers
- Small Town Romance
- Lots of Banter
- Slow Burn
- Warm Spice
- Forced Proximity
I truly adored it and it was the perfect, lighthearted romance!
(I received a gifted copy from the author and Storygram Tours in exchange for my honest review)
October 9, 2025
Friends and much more
This was a wonderful contemporary northern woods romance. She was the baker for a small town cafe. He wad the towns handyman. They'd been friends forever until the big fire. It's A very emotional story of learning you been loved all along. A great read!
This was a wonderful contemporary northern woods romance. She was the baker for a small town cafe. He wad the towns handyman. They'd been friends forever until the big fire. It's A very emotional story of learning you been loved all along. A great read!
December 1, 2025
If you’re looking for a love story/light hearted read this is your book! I’ve never been to the Pacific Northwest but her descriptions helped me visualize how beautiful it must be. The story flowed seamlessly and I especially love how she added a touch of humor here and there.
October 26, 2025
A cosy slow-burn romance. I loved Penny and Jack’s story and seeing how their relationship developed over the course of the book. Perfect for anyone who likes a small-town romance
July 15, 2026
The synopsis of this book had many of the things I like in a romance story, but unfortunately, the story fell flat for me.
I found Penny’s inability to move forward in life frustrating, and the friends-to-lovers romance between her and Jack felt a bit forced.
I know this is a debut novel, and it must be difficult to put your first book out into the world, so I’m hopeful that book two will have a bit more depth.
I found Penny’s inability to move forward in life frustrating, and the friends-to-lovers romance between her and Jack felt a bit forced.
I know this is a debut novel, and it must be difficult to put your first book out into the world, so I’m hopeful that book two will have a bit more depth.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews