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Tempting HIM : A Grumpy Sunshine Small Town Firefighter Romance (Book 2)
Grumpy x Sunshine Small-Town Firefighter Romance
HerI’ve been told I talk too much.
I smile too much.
I care too much.
Lieutenant Asher Reid doesn’t say any of that out loud… but he doesn’t have to.
One look at my box of pastries on the firehouse table and his jaw tightens like I’m personally ruining his morning.
He’s broody, scarred, impossible to read. And for some reason, I can’t stop trying.
But the day my bakery explodes, literally, everything changes.
Asher is the one who carries me out of the smoke.
Asher is the one who orders me not to stay alone.
And Asher is the one who offers his guest room… with enough walls around him to build another firehouse.
Now I’m living with a man who barely speaks, but his eyes tell a different story.
A man who claims he doesn’t want connection… yet stands between me and danger every time I turn around.
But what really caused the explosion?
And why was a half-burned matchbook from the condemned mill buried in the rubble?
I should be scared.
I should be sensible.
Instead, I’m wondering what he’s hiding.
And why he looks at me like I’m the first light he’s seen in years.
Him I’ve built my life on silence.
On control.
On never letting emotions get close enough to cost me again.
Then Lila Monroe happened.
Sunshine in bakery form. Sweet. Loud. Soft in all the places I forgot life could be soft. And the worst part? She sees me, more than anyone has in a long time.
When her bakery explodes and she’s nearly killed, something I’ve buried deep snaps wide open. I tell myself I’m staying close for safety. For the investigation. For logic.
But when she moves into my house, everything stops being logical.
Her laughter fills the rooms I’ve kept empty.
Her fear in the dark twists something in my chest.
Her almost-kiss nearly ruins my self-control.
Someone is watching her.
Someone left a message burned into her You don’t belong here.
Is she really a target… or just a piece of someone else’s plan?
And if she learns the truth about how broken I am… will she still want to stay?
if you like- Grumpy sunshine small town romance
- Forced Proximity book
- Slow burn → explosive chemistry
then, this book was made for you.
Two people who shouldn’t fit.
One spark that won’t go out.
And a threat that’s only just getting started…
Happy and Satisfying Emotional Ending 100% Guaranty.. .
HerI’ve been told I talk too much.
I smile too much.
I care too much.
Lieutenant Asher Reid doesn’t say any of that out loud… but he doesn’t have to.
One look at my box of pastries on the firehouse table and his jaw tightens like I’m personally ruining his morning.
He’s broody, scarred, impossible to read. And for some reason, I can’t stop trying.
But the day my bakery explodes, literally, everything changes.
Asher is the one who carries me out of the smoke.
Asher is the one who orders me not to stay alone.
And Asher is the one who offers his guest room… with enough walls around him to build another firehouse.
Now I’m living with a man who barely speaks, but his eyes tell a different story.
A man who claims he doesn’t want connection… yet stands between me and danger every time I turn around.
But what really caused the explosion?
And why was a half-burned matchbook from the condemned mill buried in the rubble?
I should be scared.
I should be sensible.
Instead, I’m wondering what he’s hiding.
And why he looks at me like I’m the first light he’s seen in years.
Him I’ve built my life on silence.
On control.
On never letting emotions get close enough to cost me again.
Then Lila Monroe happened.
Sunshine in bakery form. Sweet. Loud. Soft in all the places I forgot life could be soft. And the worst part? She sees me, more than anyone has in a long time.
When her bakery explodes and she’s nearly killed, something I’ve buried deep snaps wide open. I tell myself I’m staying close for safety. For the investigation. For logic.
But when she moves into my house, everything stops being logical.
Her laughter fills the rooms I’ve kept empty.
Her fear in the dark twists something in my chest.
Her almost-kiss nearly ruins my self-control.
Someone is watching her.
Someone left a message burned into her You don’t belong here.
Is she really a target… or just a piece of someone else’s plan?
And if she learns the truth about how broken I am… will she still want to stay?
if you like- Grumpy sunshine small town romance
- Forced Proximity book
- Slow burn → explosive chemistry
then, this book was made for you.
Two people who shouldn’t fit.
One spark that won’t go out.
And a threat that’s only just getting started…
Happy and Satisfying Emotional Ending 100% Guaranty.. .
91 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 11, 2026
1 person is currently reading
1 person want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 11, 2026
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I really enjoyed this book. It had a good story line, super short one day read. Bakery woman and Firefighter romance. Asher is an amazing, protective guy. A man with few words but strong protective values. Lila, wants to know everything (cant blame her with how things have been going for her), she likes to talk and get answers.
However, with my honest opinion, I felt the author repeated herself quite a lot with phrases, sentences, words. I also couldnt understand what happened between chapter 1 and chapter 2.. chapter 1 Lila was at the firehouse bringing baked goods to the guys, they got a call and it turned out to be about her bakery. Chapter 2...some how she ended up in the explosion?
it was a really great read though, with a few discrepancies.
I really enjoyed this book. It had a good story line, super short one day read. Bakery woman and Firefighter romance. Asher is an amazing, protective guy. A man with few words but strong protective values. Lila, wants to know everything (cant blame her with how things have been going for her), she likes to talk and get answers.
However, with my honest opinion, I felt the author repeated herself quite a lot with phrases, sentences, words. I also couldnt understand what happened between chapter 1 and chapter 2.. chapter 1 Lila was at the firehouse bringing baked goods to the guys, they got a call and it turned out to be about her bakery. Chapter 2...some how she ended up in the explosion?
it was a really great read though, with a few discrepancies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2026
I voluntarily reviewed "TEMPTING HIM"
I thoroughly enjoyed this interesting, intriguing, intense mysterious journey dealing with danger, unknown, suspense, steam keeping you reading.
Lila Monroe runs into danger when her Bakery explodes turning her life upside down.
Lt. Asher Reid firefighter saves her pulling her out he's been impossible to read, broody, silent, standoffish, hiding things she's sure to make him that way.
Asher tells Lila he has a guest room she can use & not be alone.
Lila wants to know what caused the explosion finding a match book in the rubble from the condemned mill kind of suspicious.
Lila sees how Asher looks at her like she's a breath of fresh air, theres a darkness in his eyes as well.
Asher's worried someone is watching her not wanting to develope feelings he's not wanting his emotions get close to cost him once again.
Will Asher & Lila get a HEA, can he let go of the darkness to feel again & figure out to burned her Bakery a page turner to the end you'll want to read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this interesting, intriguing, intense mysterious journey dealing with danger, unknown, suspense, steam keeping you reading.
Lila Monroe runs into danger when her Bakery explodes turning her life upside down.
Lt. Asher Reid firefighter saves her pulling her out he's been impossible to read, broody, silent, standoffish, hiding things she's sure to make him that way.
Asher tells Lila he has a guest room she can use & not be alone.
Lila wants to know what caused the explosion finding a match book in the rubble from the condemned mill kind of suspicious.
Lila sees how Asher looks at her like she's a breath of fresh air, theres a darkness in his eyes as well.
Asher's worried someone is watching her not wanting to develope feelings he's not wanting his emotions get close to cost him once again.
Will Asher & Lila get a HEA, can he let go of the darkness to feel again & figure out to burned her Bakery a page turner to the end you'll want to read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
You'll love Lila and Archer's story. Wow, what a wonderful romance thriller that will grab your attention right in the beginning. He's a man of few words and she is a motor mouth. All sunshine and cheer while he is silent and dark. He saves her when her bakery explodes and moves her into his guest room. The chemistry was explosive and you know what they say about opposites - they attract. This small town, slow burn romance will grab your heart. Some mystery surrounding her bakery explosion. Who started it? Some angst and drama but eventually an HEA. A great book with well developed characters and a page turning story line. I read an arc via the author and voluntarily chose to write a review.
January 16, 2026
Good story idea but I thought Lila and Asher were both too closed off. It’s really never explained what happened in Lila’s past except by allusion, and while, understandably, she spends a lot of time in shock, it doesn’t endear her character to me. Asher does talk about what happened to him which makes his reticence to engage somewhat understandable.
I received a free Advance Review Copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
I received a free Advance Review Copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
January 31, 2026
good story
So I got this book as an arc and I gotta say it was great the only thing I really wanted was more I wanted so much more but for what there was was awesome I enjoyed the 1-5 word conversations and this poor women bakery blowing up twice in a week I really feel for her and I love feeling for the characters
So I got this book as an arc and I gotta say it was great the only thing I really wanted was more I wanted so much more but for what there was was awesome I enjoyed the 1-5 word conversations and this poor women bakery blowing up twice in a week I really feel for her and I love feeling for the characters
January 13, 2026
I received this book from the author as an ARC. I really liked the characters and the plot. The pacing was a little choppy and the ending was left open so I will continue the series! Hot Firefighters - yes please!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews