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Cottonbloom #3.6
Light Up the Night
When a police chief who craves stability meets a free-thinking, colorful college professor, neither anticipate the fireworks that light up the night...
After a mugging in grad school left her with an irrational fear of the night not even her PhD in psychology has helped overcome, Sadie Wren is sure she’s found an idyllic, safe place in Cottonbloom. When a break-in at her house shatters her sense of safety, gruff, protective Thaddeus Preston storms into her life. On the surface, they have little in common, but a loneliness she’s only too familiar with hides behind his infrequent smiles. But based on her knowledge of the human psyche, Sadie is convinced her infatuation with Thad will burn out as quickly as it flared.
As the Chief of Police of Cottonbloom, Mississippi, Thaddeus Preston maintains a strict control on everything in the small town—himself included. With an older brother serving time for a crime Thad committed when he was just a kid, he lives a life of penance, not allowing anyone to get close. When a reported lurker turns into a real threat, Thad is determined to restore order as quickly as possible and get back to his virtual jail.
But Thad’s brother gets out on probation just as Sadie and the town turns to him for protection. His tidy, barren life spins into chaos, and the only thing that makes sense is the one woman who shouldn’t.
After a mugging in grad school left her with an irrational fear of the night not even her PhD in psychology has helped overcome, Sadie Wren is sure she’s found an idyllic, safe place in Cottonbloom. When a break-in at her house shatters her sense of safety, gruff, protective Thaddeus Preston storms into her life. On the surface, they have little in common, but a loneliness she’s only too familiar with hides behind his infrequent smiles. But based on her knowledge of the human psyche, Sadie is convinced her infatuation with Thad will burn out as quickly as it flared.
As the Chief of Police of Cottonbloom, Mississippi, Thaddeus Preston maintains a strict control on everything in the small town—himself included. With an older brother serving time for a crime Thad committed when he was just a kid, he lives a life of penance, not allowing anyone to get close. When a reported lurker turns into a real threat, Thad is determined to restore order as quickly as possible and get back to his virtual jail.
But Thad’s brother gets out on probation just as Sadie and the town turns to him for protection. His tidy, barren life spins into chaos, and the only thing that makes sense is the one woman who shouldn’t.
153 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 7, 2017
628 people are currently reading
601 people want to read
About the author
Laura Trentham
44 books912 followersAuthor of smart, sexy Southern contemporary romance, Regency historicals, & heartfelt Women's Fiction
Series include:
Sweet Home Alabama
Cottonbloom
Spies and Lovers
Heart of a Hero
Highland, Georgia
Series include:
Sweet Home Alabama
Cottonbloom
Spies and Lovers
Heart of a Hero
Highland, Georgia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
December 22, 2016
4.5 stars.
Laura Trentham has been one of my discoveries of 2016, so to end the year with another visit to Cottonbloom is a real treat and bridges the way for more in the future.
"...if you want to wear your uniform sometime for a little role-play or pull your cuffs out, I would happily take part."
Being novella length, I'm not going to say a great deal other than Cottonbloom's Chief of Police, Thaddeus and psychology professor, Sadie are wonderful characters, who quickly discover that there's something special between them. And Trentham does what she does best in creating a story filled with heart and happiness.
Light Up the Night is well worth subscribing to Laura's newsletter to grab yourself an early copy. And if not, March isn't far away and Thad and Sadie are worth waiting for. As is Thad's brother, Clayton; I have a feeling there's a story there and I am rather partial to a reformed bad-boy.
Laura Trentham has been one of my discoveries of 2016, so to end the year with another visit to Cottonbloom is a real treat and bridges the way for more in the future.
"...if you want to wear your uniform sometime for a little role-play or pull your cuffs out, I would happily take part."
Being novella length, I'm not going to say a great deal other than Cottonbloom's Chief of Police, Thaddeus and psychology professor, Sadie are wonderful characters, who quickly discover that there's something special between them. And Trentham does what she does best in creating a story filled with heart and happiness.
Light Up the Night is well worth subscribing to Laura's newsletter to grab yourself an early copy. And if not, March isn't far away and Thad and Sadie are worth waiting for. As is Thad's brother, Clayton; I have a feeling there's a story there and I am rather partial to a reformed bad-boy.
December 19, 2016
4.5 stars
So much love for the Cottonbloom series, another great read by Laura Trentham.
Review to come.
So much love for the Cottonbloom series, another great read by Laura Trentham.
Review to come.
January 30, 2017
4.5 - "Keep you safe." Stars!
July 27, 2017
The Cottonbloom series is fast becoming one of my favorite comfort reads. Light up the Night was another cute romance between two transplants to the quirky small town of Cottonbloom. It was different than the previous books (I’ve read) in the series, in the sense that there is no history between Thad and Sadie. They both moved to Cottonbloom to start over and found each other just at the right time. I wouldn’t say it was a slow burn because these two hit it off right from the start but their relationship was based on mutual trust and a powerful pull that was inevitable.
What I liked about it:
Thad and Sadie develop an instant bond through their instinctive trust and understanding of each others irrational fears. Sadie’s overcoming her fear of the dark after being brutally attacked and robbed while she walked alone at night a few months ago and Thad is dealing with guilt and shame over his role in his brother’s incarceration. They support and encourage each other and ultimately discover between them an unconditional acceptance.
I liked Sadie, she was sweet and funny and had a bit of a wild streak in her. She took a risk on Thad and it paid off for her.
Thad was a great hero, he was a bit rusty with the whole dating/relationship thing. But his rough edges were smoothed out where it counted.
Wish it was a tad bit longer though . . .
I loved revisiting this series because I really enjoy the characters and stories this author shares. I enjoy myself so much so that I was bummed when this when ended so soon. I thought it would be a full length novel like her first three but this one is actually a novella.
I didn’t mind the fast time line of the relationship for Thad and Sadie because I assumed we would have more page time with them. Sadly that was not the case here. I felt the ending was a bit rushed and although we get a nice epilogue of them six months later, now living together and in a solid relationship, I sorely missed the “I love you” from them. I fully believe these two belong together so it was kind of a let down that they didn’t cement their HEA and instead ended it on a HFN ending. I hope we get an update of them in other installments *fingers crossed*
I still love this series and I hope the next in line is a bit lengthier. The sneak peek at the end of this one was really good and I can’t wait to read it next!
SAFETY
What I liked about it:
Thad and Sadie develop an instant bond through their instinctive trust and understanding of each others irrational fears. Sadie’s overcoming her fear of the dark after being brutally attacked and robbed while she walked alone at night a few months ago and Thad is dealing with guilt and shame over his role in his brother’s incarceration. They support and encourage each other and ultimately discover between them an unconditional acceptance.
I liked Sadie, she was sweet and funny and had a bit of a wild streak in her. She took a risk on Thad and it paid off for her.
Thad was a great hero, he was a bit rusty with the whole dating/relationship thing. But his rough edges were smoothed out where it counted.
Wish it was a tad bit longer though . . .
I loved revisiting this series because I really enjoy the characters and stories this author shares. I enjoy myself so much so that I was bummed when this when ended so soon. I thought it would be a full length novel like her first three but this one is actually a novella.
I didn’t mind the fast time line of the relationship for Thad and Sadie because I assumed we would have more page time with them. Sadly that was not the case here. I felt the ending was a bit rushed and although we get a nice epilogue of them six months later, now living together and in a solid relationship, I sorely missed the “I love you” from them. I fully believe these two belong together so it was kind of a let down that they didn’t cement their HEA and instead ended it on a HFN ending. I hope we get an update of them in other installments *fingers crossed*
I still love this series and I hope the next in line is a bit lengthier. The sneak peek at the end of this one was really good and I can’t wait to read it next!
SAFETY
March 10, 2019
3.5 stars
This was a sweet, small-town novella that I enjoyed reading in a couple of sittings. The couple were an interesting pairing, I loved the brother (recently released from jail) and I hope there's a book about him. This story just about avoided insta-things.
I had a desire to try more from Laura Trentham and this novella just lets me know that I like her style and narrative voice so I will be plunging into this series from the beginning.
This was a sweet, small-town novella that I enjoyed reading in a couple of sittings. The couple were an interesting pairing, I loved the brother (recently released from jail) and I hope there's a book about him. This story just about avoided insta-things.
I had a desire to try more from Laura Trentham and this novella just lets me know that I like her style and narrative voice so I will be plunging into this series from the beginning.
October 4, 2017
Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog: http://romancingthereaders.blogspot.c...
I'm going to be honest here, I don't know how the hell I missed this one. Okay, miss is the wrong word because you see I had the book in my kindle, I just forgot I guess to read it.
No clue how that happened since I really love this author and this series!
But I'm only human so shit happens. I guess I won't knock myself to much it's not like I forgot to feed a loved one for days, I just forgot to read a novella that goes with one of my favorite series.
I'm a bad person!!!!
I finally did read it and I'm so glad that I did. The good part is that even though the story is from within the series of Cottonbloom it really didn't really interact a lot with the series.
So guess what? I don't often say this but I will this time, you can read this one out of order. Now saying that I have to tell you, I wouldn't because I have OCD about reading out of order. Believe me when I do it isn't pretty. When I found Light Up the Night on my kindle and realized I hadn't read it I about lost my mind.
Since I did finally read it I have to tell you how much I really enjoyed it. I loved Thad and Sadie together, so cute and funny. They worked even though you wouldn't at first think so.
Thad is so wrapped up in his past and what he feels he did wrong with his brother that he has trouble living. Now I get why he feels that way but I do believe he has the right to have his own life and enjoy it.
Speaking of his brother I sure hope we get his story. I really liked him and think you will too!
Poor Sadie has a few issues herself, I'm sure you can figure them out by the title and blurb. I like how she along with Thad's help worked on it. I told you they are good for each other.
This is the perfect story as a fill until the next book in the series comes out or if you'd love to try her writing out and see if it's for you. Come on, it's free how much more persuasion you need?
Follow me on:
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I'm going to be honest here, I don't know how the hell I missed this one. Okay, miss is the wrong word because you see I had the book in my kindle, I just forgot I guess to read it.
No clue how that happened since I really love this author and this series!
But I'm only human so shit happens. I guess I won't knock myself to much it's not like I forgot to feed a loved one for days, I just forgot to read a novella that goes with one of my favorite series.
I'm a bad person!!!!
I finally did read it and I'm so glad that I did. The good part is that even though the story is from within the series of Cottonbloom it really didn't really interact a lot with the series.
So guess what? I don't often say this but I will this time, you can read this one out of order. Now saying that I have to tell you, I wouldn't because I have OCD about reading out of order. Believe me when I do it isn't pretty. When I found Light Up the Night on my kindle and realized I hadn't read it I about lost my mind.
Since I did finally read it I have to tell you how much I really enjoyed it. I loved Thad and Sadie together, so cute and funny. They worked even though you wouldn't at first think so.
Thad is so wrapped up in his past and what he feels he did wrong with his brother that he has trouble living. Now I get why he feels that way but I do believe he has the right to have his own life and enjoy it.
Speaking of his brother I sure hope we get his story. I really liked him and think you will too!
Poor Sadie has a few issues herself, I'm sure you can figure them out by the title and blurb. I like how she along with Thad's help worked on it. I told you they are good for each other.
This is the perfect story as a fill until the next book in the series comes out or if you'd love to try her writing out and see if it's for you. Come on, it's free how much more persuasion you need?
Follow me on:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
March 26, 2017
3 75 *
Welcome back to Cottonbloom!
Where the hatchet is slowly but surely being buried between the Louisiana and Mississippi. Where the college is helping and more people are moving to the area. A town full of charm.
Sadie Wren professor of psychology has moved from New Orleans to have a new start. After a terrible mugging she wanted things to change. To live life without fear which works until a break in happens that brings up bad memories.
Chief Thaddeus Preston goes out to call and sees Sadie Wren. After his brother Clayton taking the fall for him but going to prison for drug dealing he has punished himself all that time as well. There was a lot of guilt between the two but they began to work it out. There is an instant connection between the two.
Sadie and Thaddeus are great together. Opposites attract.
What I love? Thaddeus was celibate for a very long time. Sadie is messy. Thaddeus is a neat freak.
I love Ms. Trentham's style when it comes to this genre. She rocks the small town romance for me. Even since the first book. I have loved the quirkiness of the town and the differences there are between both sides. A sweet and funny with a side dish of sexy and steamy thrown in.
Welcome back to Cottonbloom!
Where the hatchet is slowly but surely being buried between the Louisiana and Mississippi. Where the college is helping and more people are moving to the area. A town full of charm.
Sadie Wren professor of psychology has moved from New Orleans to have a new start. After a terrible mugging she wanted things to change. To live life without fear which works until a break in happens that brings up bad memories.
Chief Thaddeus Preston goes out to call and sees Sadie Wren. After his brother Clayton taking the fall for him but going to prison for drug dealing he has punished himself all that time as well. There was a lot of guilt between the two but they began to work it out. There is an instant connection between the two.
Sadie and Thaddeus are great together. Opposites attract.
What I love? Thaddeus was celibate for a very long time. Sadie is messy. Thaddeus is a neat freak.
I love Ms. Trentham's style when it comes to this genre. She rocks the small town romance for me. Even since the first book. I have loved the quirkiness of the town and the differences there are between both sides. A sweet and funny with a side dish of sexy and steamy thrown in.
August 1, 2017
Terrific
Sadie moved to Cottonbloom as an Associate Professor at the college, but she has a break in and meets the chief and the sparks fly! Thad seems to be be able to talk to her. A wonderful story. I would recommend this to anyone who want to read a wonderful story.
Sadie moved to Cottonbloom as an Associate Professor at the college, but she has a break in and meets the chief and the sparks fly! Thad seems to be be able to talk to her. A wonderful story. I would recommend this to anyone who want to read a wonderful story.
Read
September 6, 2017First page:
Chapter One
Thaddeus Preston read through the week-old e-mail one more time before laying his Clayton, wouldhead on the back of his swivel chair and staring up at the pockmarked tile of his office.
Can anyone tell me what a 'Clayton, wouldhead' is?? Please?
Then I read to the end of the page and found this:
The probation board was meeting, maybe had already met, and chances were good his brother, be a free man.
At this point I dnf'd.
Edit: After deleting this from my 'Kindle library' and re-'purchasing' it (three times) the flaw is still there. However, the 'preview' on Amazon has no errors so this is clearly a glitch somewhere.
Chapter One
Thaddeus Preston read through the week-old e-mail one more time before laying his Clayton, wouldhead on the back of his swivel chair and staring up at the pockmarked tile of his office.
Can anyone tell me what a 'Clayton, wouldhead' is?? Please?
Then I read to the end of the page and found this:
The probation board was meeting, maybe had already met, and chances were good his brother, be a free man.
At this point I dnf'd.
Edit: After deleting this from my 'Kindle library' and re-'purchasing' it (three times) the flaw is still there. However, the 'preview' on Amazon has no errors so this is clearly a glitch somewhere.
March 15, 2023
#3.6 in the Cottonbloom romance series
Sadie has kept to herself in Cottonbloom despite being a professor at the local college. But she meets Chief Thaddeus when she has a break-in at her house. Their relationship develops very quickly, and they were so cute together. I especially liked this quick and pleasant romance. Thad is a great main character--strong and handsome, but he's conflicted about his job as the chief of police and the fact that his older brother just got out of jail. He's also felt guilty for years about Clayton's crime and sentence. Great characters, a sweet (and sexy) romance, and a very quick and enjoyable novella.
Sadie has kept to herself in Cottonbloom despite being a professor at the local college. But she meets Chief Thaddeus when she has a break-in at her house. Their relationship develops very quickly, and they were so cute together. I especially liked this quick and pleasant romance. Thad is a great main character--strong and handsome, but he's conflicted about his job as the chief of police and the fact that his older brother just got out of jail. He's also felt guilty for years about Clayton's crime and sentence. Great characters, a sweet (and sexy) romance, and a very quick and enjoyable novella.
October 5, 2017
Sweet, short, funny
Makes me wish for a Cottonbloom town of my own. Sadie and Thad may have had a quick and eventful start to their relationship, but they fit. Would like to see where Clayton ends up, though the 2 excepts didn't follow him or the others in this book. The only connection seems to be the town. It's a page turner, funny, exciting, and sweet. Fell in love with Trentham's style in the first few pages of the first chapter!! Steamy, sweet, sexy and laughter, just what the doctor ordered! Look forward to the next Cottonbloom story!
Makes me wish for a Cottonbloom town of my own. Sadie and Thad may have had a quick and eventful start to their relationship, but they fit. Would like to see where Clayton ends up, though the 2 excepts didn't follow him or the others in this book. The only connection seems to be the town. It's a page turner, funny, exciting, and sweet. Fell in love with Trentham's style in the first few pages of the first chapter!! Steamy, sweet, sexy and laughter, just what the doctor ordered! Look forward to the next Cottonbloom story!
July 28, 2017
A sweet novella about a free-spirited college professor Sadie Wren, who's afraid of the night, and the uptight town Chief of Police Thaddeus Preston who comes to her rescue when her home is broken into. But of course there are insecurities and secrets on both sides - is it lust or could it just be love?
Laura Trentham packs a whole lot of story into a novella - loving Cottonbloom!
Laura Trentham packs a whole lot of story into a novella - loving Cottonbloom!
May 26, 2017
I really don’t think the blurb gives Sadie enough credit … or maybe it’s just me that sees “free-thinking, colorful” and automatically thinks hippie :) And she totally isn’t. Yes, she’s got dyed streaks in her hair and she’s a little (ok, a lot) more bubbly than the oh-so-serious police chief but she’s definitely not the wild child I thought she’d be. She’s smart, funny and a good foil for the taciturn man in uniform who comes to help her after a break-in.
Thad has put himself in his own kind of prison after his brother went to jail. They were both young and stupid and he hates that he’s free while his brother is in a cell. He’s turned himself into an all-business cop who doesn’t have a life outside of his job and no real friends to speak of. And women are definitely not in his orbit. Until he meets Sadie and she has him thinking about things he hasn’t in years.
I adored these two together. Thad is great at settling Sadie when her fears get too much. His steady, strong presence helps her calm down enough that her professional mind can help her work through her issues. On the other side, Sadie touches a part of Thad that he’s locked away and helps him find the man under the uniform. She brings out laughter and fun that he’s been missing for way too long.
My only complaint, and this is common for Threntham’s stories, is that I definitely didn’t get enough! Even her full-length books are over too soon so you know that her novellas, while complete and satisfying, will always need more pages. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing missing in the story – the characters are well-crafted and the plot is believable & thorough, I can’t help but want for more when something is this good! I’ll definitely be first in line when the next book comes out this summer knowing that Trentham just owns it at delivering the quirky small-town romance :)
(Pretty much new characters so this can easily stand on its own)
*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***
Thad has put himself in his own kind of prison after his brother went to jail. They were both young and stupid and he hates that he’s free while his brother is in a cell. He’s turned himself into an all-business cop who doesn’t have a life outside of his job and no real friends to speak of. And women are definitely not in his orbit. Until he meets Sadie and she has him thinking about things he hasn’t in years.
I adored these two together. Thad is great at settling Sadie when her fears get too much. His steady, strong presence helps her calm down enough that her professional mind can help her work through her issues. On the other side, Sadie touches a part of Thad that he’s locked away and helps him find the man under the uniform. She brings out laughter and fun that he’s been missing for way too long.
My only complaint, and this is common for Threntham’s stories, is that I definitely didn’t get enough! Even her full-length books are over too soon so you know that her novellas, while complete and satisfying, will always need more pages. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing missing in the story – the characters are well-crafted and the plot is believable & thorough, I can’t help but want for more when something is this good! I’ll definitely be first in line when the next book comes out this summer knowing that Trentham just owns it at delivering the quirky small-town romance :)
(Pretty much new characters so this can easily stand on its own)
*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***
March 25, 2022
I've read all the full-length books in the series, so I decided to go back and read the novellas for a little more Cottonbloom months later. This was a great and quick read that made a nice addition to the series.
Thad is the Chief of Police and gets called out to Sadie's home one evening after a break-in. Sadie is a new-to-town college professor and is on edge after the break-in because she was attacked at night while working late on campus back in New Orleans a year before. She doesn't even like going out at night because of a fear of being attacked again.
For whatever reason, Sadie trusts Thad and feels safe with him. And for whatever reason, Thad trusts Sadie, wants to protect her and feels a closeness to her the same night he meets her. They go from 0 to 60 pretty quickly, but even though it was insta-lust, I still felt that these two would end up together anyways. They became each other's safe space and looked past their circumstances and history to see the person they were underneath.
The book is pretty short, so it's lacking on things like dates and the "I love you's." But for this book, I felt like it was a good balance of character development, heat and plot and the finer details weren't needed. Would I have liked a longer book with these two? Yes, because they were enjoyable characters. But this was still a good, quick and sweet read.
Thad is the Chief of Police and gets called out to Sadie's home one evening after a break-in. Sadie is a new-to-town college professor and is on edge after the break-in because she was attacked at night while working late on campus back in New Orleans a year before. She doesn't even like going out at night because of a fear of being attacked again.
For whatever reason, Sadie trusts Thad and feels safe with him. And for whatever reason, Thad trusts Sadie, wants to protect her and feels a closeness to her the same night he meets her. They go from 0 to 60 pretty quickly, but even though it was insta-lust, I still felt that these two would end up together anyways. They became each other's safe space and looked past their circumstances and history to see the person they were underneath.
The book is pretty short, so it's lacking on things like dates and the "I love you's." But for this book, I felt like it was a good balance of character development, heat and plot and the finer details weren't needed. Would I have liked a longer book with these two? Yes, because they were enjoyable characters. But this was still a good, quick and sweet read.
February 5, 2018
Thaddeus Preston is the Chief of Police in Cottonbloom. He likes the quite pace of life. Things change when he's called to a break in at the house of Sadie Wren. He's attracted to this feisty lady and she's
intrigued by him, but they both have problems that may keep them apart. Thad is determined to help his brother who was just released from jail. I liked that he cared. I understood his sacrifice. Sadie came here to escape her family in New Orleans. She's afraid to go out alone at night. Since she kept this a secret, I was surprised that she trusted Thad with the truth. I felt that it was a bold move on her part. I liked seeing these two take a chance and explore their attraction. Their chemistry was powerful. This was a charming novella. Laura Trentham wrote amazing characters. I found that the dialogue was realistic and that the story had great emotional depth. I enjoyed visiting Cottonbloom.
intrigued by him, but they both have problems that may keep them apart. Thad is determined to help his brother who was just released from jail. I liked that he cared. I understood his sacrifice. Sadie came here to escape her family in New Orleans. She's afraid to go out alone at night. Since she kept this a secret, I was surprised that she trusted Thad with the truth. I felt that it was a bold move on her part. I liked seeing these two take a chance and explore their attraction. Their chemistry was powerful. This was a charming novella. Laura Trentham wrote amazing characters. I found that the dialogue was realistic and that the story had great emotional depth. I enjoyed visiting Cottonbloom.
March 20, 2017
Light Up The Night by Laura Trentham is a fairly short read, a perfect choice for those with limited time for reading. Ms Trentham has delivered a well-written book. Thad and Sadie's story is a fast-paced book, full of suspense, drama, humor and sexy bits. The characters in this book are terrific and my favorite part of the story. I enjoyed reading Light Up The Night and look forward to reading more from Laura Trentham in the future. Light Up The Night is book 3.75 in the Cottonbloom Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book that I received from BookFunnel.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book that I received from BookFunnel.
March 7, 2017
Loved the Novella by Laura Trentham. All the books in the Cottonbloom Series are a must read.
In the town of Cottonbloom where it's safe and quiet. Sadie knows she's safe here, but still has issues. Thad is the Chief of Police in Cottonbloom, Mississippi, and will do anything to protect Sadie.
Something happens between them and there not sure what to do about it.
He tries to hide a family secret from her.
What will happen between them?
In the town of Cottonbloom where it's safe and quiet. Sadie knows she's safe here, but still has issues. Thad is the Chief of Police in Cottonbloom, Mississippi, and will do anything to protect Sadie.
Something happens between them and there not sure what to do about it.
He tries to hide a family secret from her.
What will happen between them?
June 15, 2017
I was looking for something to read between full length novels and found this novella on my kindle. What a little game changer. I absolutely loved it! A small southern town, oodles of charm, a guy with insecurities (who's a police chief, no less) and a badass heroine with good reason to be world weary? This ticked all my boxes. I am so thrilled by the knowledge there are other Cottonbloom books and I already can't wait to visit the town and Laura's fantastic writing again!
February 11, 2021
Sheriff Thaddeus (Thad) Preston is a very buttoned up sheriff in a small town. He is called to a break-in. That is where he meets Professor Sadie Wren. Her back door has been pried open and it is evident that someone wanted very badly to get inside.
Sadie was mugged years ago and she has a fear which prevents her from going out at night. Her terror is very large in her personal makeup.
Thad and Sadie apparently have little in common. She is a professor of psychology. When she meets Thad’s brother and learns about their family history, she gives Thad some insights.
The two of them very quickly begin a relationship.
This is a well written story, and the characters are terrific. Sadie and Thad are interesting people who are quite well developed. The plot moves along quickly.
I am a huge fan of Ms Trentham’s writing, but this story seemed to go from zero to sixty very quickly.
I have a feeling that the two people would have taken a little longer to become so close. He is supposed to be someone who holds himself very tightly. She is supposed to be someone who is unsure of relationships and men. I just felt that the speed was not exactly in character.
But it is a terrific novella.
Sadie was mugged years ago and she has a fear which prevents her from going out at night. Her terror is very large in her personal makeup.
Thad and Sadie apparently have little in common. She is a professor of psychology. When she meets Thad’s brother and learns about their family history, she gives Thad some insights.
The two of them very quickly begin a relationship.
This is a well written story, and the characters are terrific. Sadie and Thad are interesting people who are quite well developed. The plot moves along quickly.
I am a huge fan of Ms Trentham’s writing, but this story seemed to go from zero to sixty very quickly.
I have a feeling that the two people would have taken a little longer to become so close. He is supposed to be someone who holds himself very tightly. She is supposed to be someone who is unsure of relationships and men. I just felt that the speed was not exactly in character.
But it is a terrific novella.
September 10, 2017
Whoever thought this book was ready for primetime needs to preview their work before hitting the publish button. There is little that is more annoying than a Kindle read that is double-spaced at the tightest and so poorly edited it reeks of rush job. The writing style also took some getting used to. It's only one step removed from what some might refer to as 'sophomoric', but I think of as the 'Dick and Jane' syndrome. The writing has no color, no passion or feeling. I could be reading a documentary about a woman with issues being rescued by a cop with issues and the two of them hooking up, literally, and it's all delivered in a very dispassionate tone. Take this one back to the drawing board-it has potential in spades.
April 28, 2019
I enjoyed this book very much. Sadie and Thad are both likeable characters that you want to see find happiness together. Being the Chief of Police of the small town of Cottonbloom puts a lot of weight on Thad's shoulders and he has a secret that puts an even heavier burden on him.
Sadie is a free thinking woman with a PhD in psychology and can see much deeper into Thad than he would like but he can't stop the growing feelings for her either. When she is threatened by a break-in he will make sure she is protected.
When Thad's older brother gets out of prison having taking the fall for a very young Thad, his very ordered life feels like it is crumbling around him and Sadie is all that is keeping him sane.
An easy read that I will revisit at a later date
Sadie is a free thinking woman with a PhD in psychology and can see much deeper into Thad than he would like but he can't stop the growing feelings for her either. When she is threatened by a break-in he will make sure she is protected.
When Thad's older brother gets out of prison having taking the fall for a very young Thad, his very ordered life feels like it is crumbling around him and Sadie is all that is keeping him sane.
An easy read that I will revisit at a later date
July 28, 2017
This was a great introduction to the town of Cottonbloom.
Light Up the Night is a lovely sweet story. Sadie is easily scared due to a mugging at grad school. She moves to Cottonbloom to feel safe. When she comes home to find her door broke in she calls for the police. Police Cheif Thaddeus is the perfect knight in shining armor. They like each other straight away and share an easy friendship with plenty of sparks. Thaddeus is struggling with his own demons over his brother going to prison for him when they were younger. They each help each other with dealing with their feelings. I hope to see more of them in the future.
Light Up the Night is a lovely sweet story. Sadie is easily scared due to a mugging at grad school. She moves to Cottonbloom to feel safe. When she comes home to find her door broke in she calls for the police. Police Cheif Thaddeus is the perfect knight in shining armor. They like each other straight away and share an easy friendship with plenty of sparks. Thaddeus is struggling with his own demons over his brother going to prison for him when they were younger. They each help each other with dealing with their feelings. I hope to see more of them in the future.
September 4, 2017
Short but sweet
Except for the very first paragraph which I had to read twice to try to figure out what exactly the chief put on the back of his chair (is their a typo?) the story was well written. The characters were interesting and well-developed, and I would have enjoyed their histories being included as flashbacks or something that would have made the book longer. The actual plot - the break in - turned out to be a little silly. On the whole, however, I enjoyed it.
Except for the very first paragraph which I had to read twice to try to figure out what exactly the chief put on the back of his chair (is their a typo?) the story was well written. The characters were interesting and well-developed, and I would have enjoyed their histories being included as flashbacks or something that would have made the book longer. The actual plot - the break in - turned out to be a little silly. On the whole, however, I enjoyed it.
September 12, 2017
Novella. Not great but not bad. Just a little story about a psychologist who after an attack was afraid to go out at night/of the dark. Enter the Chief of Police when her house is broken into......and his issues with guilt about his brother and a crime when they were boys.
July 19, 2017
Nice read, but not enough substance to the story. Profanity didn't help either. Would have been a sweet story if the ugly language had been omitted and the sex not so explicit.
September 4, 2017
Good Plot
Nice novella .. Sadie and Thad compliment one another as a couple. Setting: Southern. Cottonbloom sits right at the MS / LA border.
Nice novella .. Sadie and Thad compliment one another as a couple. Setting: Southern. Cottonbloom sits right at the MS / LA border.
September 4, 2017
5 stars
First book from this author and I really enjoyed it. It has enough backstory from each of the character and the relationship wasn't rushed as it is in other novellas.
First book from this author and I really enjoyed it. It has enough backstory from each of the character and the relationship wasn't rushed as it is in other novellas.
September 10, 2017
A quick page turner.
September 11, 2017
Light up my Life!
What a sweet love story, a couple made just for each other. A fast read and I could not put it down! The moon ,Stars, and all rolled into one good Book.
What a sweet love story, a couple made just for each other. A fast read and I could not put it down! The moon ,Stars, and all rolled into one good Book.
November 22, 2017
It is a great book to read
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