Lingering Flames

by Anna August

The sparks between them weren’t the only fires started in Evers Hollow.

Rose Everson Finch thought her childhood friendship with Finn Murphy would last forever. But a disagreement shattered their bond.
She returns to New York City, only to learn that love is an illusion.
She’s since moved back to Evers Hollow, caring for her beloved grandmother and hiking the woods that inspire her middle-grade books.
A late-night phone call will change her past, her present, and threaten to turn her future to ash.

Finn Murphy never told his best friend Rose that he loved her.
Not as they grew up together, or the night she committed to marrying another man.
He’s avoided their small town since.
But family obligations bring him back.
Now he’s made a
To protect Rose.

Lingering Flames is a small-town, friends-to-lovers, he-falls-first, romantic suspense in The Everson Legacy series by author Anna August. Set in the scenic mountains of Western North Carolina, it’s a full length novel with a steam-filled happy-ever-after.

Genres: Romance

424 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2025

About the author

Anna August writes romantic suspense and contemporary romance. She enjoys writing imaginative characters with complicated backgrounds. She cherishes books with plot twists, humor, and happily ever after’s.

Born and raised in California, Anna has also lived in Illinois, Texas, North Carolina, Idaho, and England. She served as a military spouse alongside her active duty husband in the US Air Force for twenty-one years. She holds a bachelors degrees in English and also in Geology, after discovering her love of rocks during a camping trip to a gold mine as a child.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two adult children at their home in Boise, Idaho. She also enjoys gardening, gluten-free baking, and random home improvement projects.

Reviews

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚Lingering Flames
✍🏻Anna August
Blurb:
The sparks between them weren’t the only fires started in Evers Hollow.

Rose Everson Finch thought her childhood friendship with Finn Murphy would last forever. But a disagreement shattered their bond.
She returns to New York City, only to learn that love is an illusion.
She’s since moved back to Evers Hollow, caring for her beloved grandmother and hiking the woods that inspire her middle-grade books.
A late-night phone call will change her past, her present, and threaten to turn her future to ash.

Finn Murphy never told his best friend Rose that he loved her.
Not as they grew up together, or the night she committed to marrying another man.
He’s avoided their small town since.
But family obligations bring him back.
Now he’s made a
To protect Rose.

Lingering Flames is a small-town, friends-to-lovers, he-falls-first, romantic suspense in The Everson Legacy series by author Anna August. Set in the scenic mountains of Western North Carolina, it’s a full length novel with a steam-filled happy-ever-after.
My Thoughts:
Very sweet romance book that includes a family secret and a very dangerous man.

The secret that Rose’s grandma had hidden all their life was shocking. I can’t believe she hid that for a lifetime. I feared for Rose any time that obsessed man, George, came near her and his ideas of wanting to be with her.

The romance between Rose and Finn was sweet. I really liked how Rose had spent years writing stories inspired by her crush on Finn and their childhood. Finn’s love for Rose was so cute.

I loved the proposal! The way Finn proposed was very romantic especially with what Rose’s books represent.
Thanks NetGalley, Illilouette Ink, LLC and Anna August for the advanced copy of "Lingering Flames" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
# IllilouetteInk,LLC
#LingeringFlames
#AnnaAugust
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Mark Teaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though not my preferred genre to read, I decided to give this book a try based on a friend’s recommendation. I’m so glad I did. This is a terrific book with a great, well written story and characters that were so well developed that they became instantly familiar. My ultimate test for a book’s characters is if I can feel and hear their voices as distinct individuals instead of just being different versions of the author’s voice. This book passes that test in spades. I felt like I knew these characters: was rooting for Rose and Finn, was disgusted by the diabolical and disturbed Hindley. I’d like to know Willow and Broome more, perhaps in future volumes.

This book is a real page turner, and it just increases in pace in the latter half to the point where I just had to keep going in order to find out what happens. It appears this is the start of an exciting new series. Perhaps romantic suspense is a genre I should explore more. Well done, Ms. August. Highly recommend!

[Lupita_333 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet romance book that includes a family secret and a very dangerous man.

The secret that Rose’s grandma had hidden all their life was shocking. I can’t believe she hid that for a lifetime. I feared for Rose any time that obsessed man, George, came near her and his ideas of wanting to be with her.

The romance between Rose and Finn was sweet. I really liked how Rose had spent years writing stories inspired by her crush on Finn and their childhood. Finn’s love for Rose was so cute.

I loved the proposal! The way Finn proposed was very romantic especially with what Rose’s books represent.

I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Barbara Tobey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. An enchanting and intriguing tale of romance, loss, and family mysteries. I did skip over the intimate scenes. I look forward to seeing who will be the main characters in the next one in this new series. Lots of family story possibilities. Nice small-town feel. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

[Holly]

First book in this Family Saga kept me turning pages.
Very well written,great characters and storyline just flowing smoothly.
We are introduced to people, their characters and follow them in their journey.
Love it and definitely recommend.

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

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children's author Rose writes about her adventures with her childhood best friend Finn but she hasn't seen him in years until her grandmother passes and leaves her a house and a mystery to solve.

[Katherine Hayward Pérez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose and Finn had a great childhood friendship. I was sorry for them about the disagreement. I felt for Rose as she returned to New York City. I liked her backstory as a middle-grade author.

Finn has secrets he has never told Rose...

There are so many twists and surprises. The plot was fully immersive. Lingering Flames is romantic, nostalgic, powerful and shocking. I'm glad it's the first book in the series, and it's a great start to it. I'm looking forward to the other books in the series.

Thanks to Anna August.

4 stars

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