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Firefly Lake #3
Back Home at Firefly Lake
A heartwarming small-town romance that will make you believe in love and second chances.
She has a million reasons to leave.
Can he give her the one she needs to stay?
Cat McGuire's return to Firefly Lake is turning into much more than she bargained for. Sure, she missed the crisp pine-scented air and the comfort of having her family around her. But being home makes her feel less like the successful single mom she is--and more like the awkward teen who never fit in. It doesn't help that hockey-pro Luc Simard is back in town, too. Luc was her childhood crush, the hometown hero who never noticed her, and yet somehow he still makes her heart skip a beat.
Luc's homecoming has been bittersweet. He's lost his wife and his career, but there's no better place to start over than Firefly Lake. Coaching the local kids' hockey team makes him feel alive again, and he thinks his life is complete--until Cat arrives. The shy girl he always wanted to protect is now the gorgeous woman who's stealing his heart and making him believe in second chances. But how can he convince Cat that Firefly Lake is where she truly belongs?
In the tradition of New York Times bestselling authors Susan Wiggs and RaeAnne Thayne comes an emotional story about finding love in the most unexpected of places from Jen Gilroy.
She has a million reasons to leave.
Can he give her the one she needs to stay?
Cat McGuire's return to Firefly Lake is turning into much more than she bargained for. Sure, she missed the crisp pine-scented air and the comfort of having her family around her. But being home makes her feel less like the successful single mom she is--and more like the awkward teen who never fit in. It doesn't help that hockey-pro Luc Simard is back in town, too. Luc was her childhood crush, the hometown hero who never noticed her, and yet somehow he still makes her heart skip a beat.
Luc's homecoming has been bittersweet. He's lost his wife and his career, but there's no better place to start over than Firefly Lake. Coaching the local kids' hockey team makes him feel alive again, and he thinks his life is complete--until Cat arrives. The shy girl he always wanted to protect is now the gorgeous woman who's stealing his heart and making him believe in second chances. But how can he convince Cat that Firefly Lake is where she truly belongs?
In the tradition of New York Times bestselling authors Susan Wiggs and RaeAnne Thayne comes an emotional story about finding love in the most unexpected of places from Jen Gilroy.
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 26, 2017
About the author
Jen Gilroy
31 books380 followersI write sweet romance and uplifting historical women’s fiction—warm, feel-good stories to bring readers’ hearts home.
A Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finalist and shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Joan Hessayon award, I live in small-town Ontario, Canada with my husband, daughter and floppy-eared rescue hound.
I love reading, ice cream, ballet and paddling my purple kayak.
Visit me online at www.jengilroy.com
A Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finalist and shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Joan Hessayon award, I live in small-town Ontario, Canada with my husband, daughter and floppy-eared rescue hound.
I love reading, ice cream, ballet and paddling my purple kayak.
Visit me online at www.jengilroy.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
December 7, 2017
Favorite Quotes:
Stephanie’s voice had the same smug tone as in first grade when she’d told Cat the whole class had seen her underwear.
“Cat’s the only person I know who can get hurt even watching sports. Remember when she went to get snacks at Nick’s high school basketball game and tripped over Mom’s purse? She fractured three toes.” She flashed her sister a teasing grin. “That kept her out of gym class for the next month, which, for Cat, was a good thing.”
You need to smile more. It’s not good to be so serious. Besides, smiling makes good wrinkles.
The truth reverberated in Luc’s head like the big Chinese gong in the party room at the Pink Pagoda.
My Review:
Firefly Lake appears to be populated with a bevy of unique and interesting inhabitants, as well as the usual petty and narrowed minded small-town residents, sadly, I remember the later all too well from my uncomfortably restrictive formative years. Unfortunately, no one of any note, talent, or intelligence ever sprang from the soil there as famous as the engaging and endearing characters Ms. Gilroy has featured in her entertaining tales. In this installment, a struggling single mother is returning to her small hometown to find her now famous childhood crush has also returned after a career-ending injury forced his retirement from the NHL, and wouldn’t you know, her learning disabled and trouble-prone daughter excels at hockey. While the anxious single mom had been gifted in school and even skipped a few grades, her daughter was impulsive, lippy, more than a bit bratty, and just not the sharpest tool in the shed. The storyline was realistic, relevant, and multi-faceted with a large cast of characters carrying over from the previous books. While the tone was considerably angsty and heart-squeezing, there were also amusing bits of humor and insightful observations periodically tossed in like life-rafts that helped fight the pensive undertow of the forlorn and despondent and kept me engaged.
Stephanie’s voice had the same smug tone as in first grade when she’d told Cat the whole class had seen her underwear.
“Cat’s the only person I know who can get hurt even watching sports. Remember when she went to get snacks at Nick’s high school basketball game and tripped over Mom’s purse? She fractured three toes.” She flashed her sister a teasing grin. “That kept her out of gym class for the next month, which, for Cat, was a good thing.”
You need to smile more. It’s not good to be so serious. Besides, smiling makes good wrinkles.
The truth reverberated in Luc’s head like the big Chinese gong in the party room at the Pink Pagoda.
My Review:
Firefly Lake appears to be populated with a bevy of unique and interesting inhabitants, as well as the usual petty and narrowed minded small-town residents, sadly, I remember the later all too well from my uncomfortably restrictive formative years. Unfortunately, no one of any note, talent, or intelligence ever sprang from the soil there as famous as the engaging and endearing characters Ms. Gilroy has featured in her entertaining tales. In this installment, a struggling single mother is returning to her small hometown to find her now famous childhood crush has also returned after a career-ending injury forced his retirement from the NHL, and wouldn’t you know, her learning disabled and trouble-prone daughter excels at hockey. While the anxious single mom had been gifted in school and even skipped a few grades, her daughter was impulsive, lippy, more than a bit bratty, and just not the sharpest tool in the shed. The storyline was realistic, relevant, and multi-faceted with a large cast of characters carrying over from the previous books. While the tone was considerably angsty and heart-squeezing, there were also amusing bits of humor and insightful observations periodically tossed in like life-rafts that helped fight the pensive undertow of the forlorn and despondent and kept me engaged.
November 30, 2017
Cat has returned home to Firefly Lake with her 12-year-old daughter, Amy. She’s a single mom with a PhD in humanities. She’s received a research grant to work on her book. She has made do in the past taking contract teaching jobs at different Universities but has so far been unsuccessful finding a permanent job. She is renting an apartment over the Craft Gallery in town and is helping the owner out for extra income.
Luc has been back in Firefly Lake for a couple years now. He is a former NHL player. He was injured and permanently sidelined. He also lost his wife, Maggie, and unborn child when her unknown aneurysm burst. Maggie was the love of his life and he has no desire to look for love again. He is learning the ropes at his family’s Creamery and teaching hockey to the local boys.
Luc and Cat have history. She harbored a secret crush on him in high school and tutored him in chemistry their senior year. Luc never looked at her that way but always felt protective of her. He was the popular jock and she was the book-loving wallflower.
When Cat takes Amy to sign up for hockey, she is reminded of her crush on Luc. For the first time, Luc sees Cat as more than a family friend. Luc is still mourning his wife and doesn’t want to develop feelings for Cat. Cat is trying to figure out her next steps in life and doesn’t need or want any complications. She’s managed on her own so far and will continue to do so.
Luc had a couple of majorly obtuse moments in the story that had me saying, “Seriously?” Out loud. And a “well, duh”, when he figured it out. Of course, Cat had her own issues. Amy came across as more of a petulant toddler than a hormonal preteen with her outbursts.
Nick and Mia get married as planned from the previous book. Georgia and Ward solidify their relationship, and we get to see a couple glimpses of Charlie, Sean and their baby. Looks like Georgia will get her story next. The 3 sisters, Charlie, Mia and Gloria have formed a tighter bond together and with their mom since they returned home. This story is very predictable, especially the twist at the end.
The first book in the series remains my favorite. Imho, the next two aren’t nearly as successful. While characters overlap, it can easily be read as a standalone
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
Luc has been back in Firefly Lake for a couple years now. He is a former NHL player. He was injured and permanently sidelined. He also lost his wife, Maggie, and unborn child when her unknown aneurysm burst. Maggie was the love of his life and he has no desire to look for love again. He is learning the ropes at his family’s Creamery and teaching hockey to the local boys.
Luc and Cat have history. She harbored a secret crush on him in high school and tutored him in chemistry their senior year. Luc never looked at her that way but always felt protective of her. He was the popular jock and she was the book-loving wallflower.
When Cat takes Amy to sign up for hockey, she is reminded of her crush on Luc. For the first time, Luc sees Cat as more than a family friend. Luc is still mourning his wife and doesn’t want to develop feelings for Cat. Cat is trying to figure out her next steps in life and doesn’t need or want any complications. She’s managed on her own so far and will continue to do so.
Luc had a couple of majorly obtuse moments in the story that had me saying, “Seriously?” Out loud. And a “well, duh”, when he figured it out. Of course, Cat had her own issues. Amy came across as more of a petulant toddler than a hormonal preteen with her outbursts.
Nick and Mia get married as planned from the previous book. Georgia and Ward solidify their relationship, and we get to see a couple glimpses of Charlie, Sean and their baby. Looks like Georgia will get her story next. The 3 sisters, Charlie, Mia and Gloria have formed a tighter bond together and with their mom since they returned home. This story is very predictable, especially the twist at the end.
The first book in the series remains my favorite. Imho, the next two aren’t nearly as successful. While characters overlap, it can easily be read as a standalone
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
December 4, 2017
***ARC received in exchange for an honest review***
If you are looking for a heartwarming, good feeling, healing story this is one for you. In the third installment of the Firefly Lake series, Back Home at Firefly Lake by Jen Gilroy, Ms. Gilroy delivers another chapter of small town living for Cat and Luc. I wasn't expecting the emotional aspect of this story, to feel words that touched my heart. The true aspect of living in a small town, the anxiety of returning to a place you thought you had left behind for good, a single mom, and the past coming back around makes for an amazing story.
There is more than just romance to this story. A family learning to lean on each other, realizing that its ok to ask for help. Learning to let go in order to move forward. Just because you thought you were headed in one direction doesn't mean that you cannot take another path. Sometimes life is messy and what comes out on the other side can be better than you ever imagined. Sometimes you have to return home to find what you have been missing and put yourself together.
Cat returns home with her daughter and finds somethings have stayed the same but at the same time changed/evolved. But when she has no choice but to work along side her high school crush Luc, things get a little out of control.
Luc is back home from the NHL and has closed himself off to the world. After losing his wife and having his career end before he was ready, life throws Cat at him. His friend from high school is now a woman and he "notices" her for the first time. Feelings arise and along with them and the grief and guilt he feels, it takes him on an emotional rollercoaster.
You will not be disappointed in this heartwarming, healing story of two people whose lifes have not turned out they wanted. Oh, and I can't forget a little someone that gives everyone a run for their money!!
4 heartwarming starts.
If you are looking for a heartwarming, good feeling, healing story this is one for you. In the third installment of the Firefly Lake series, Back Home at Firefly Lake by Jen Gilroy, Ms. Gilroy delivers another chapter of small town living for Cat and Luc. I wasn't expecting the emotional aspect of this story, to feel words that touched my heart. The true aspect of living in a small town, the anxiety of returning to a place you thought you had left behind for good, a single mom, and the past coming back around makes for an amazing story.
There is more than just romance to this story. A family learning to lean on each other, realizing that its ok to ask for help. Learning to let go in order to move forward. Just because you thought you were headed in one direction doesn't mean that you cannot take another path. Sometimes life is messy and what comes out on the other side can be better than you ever imagined. Sometimes you have to return home to find what you have been missing and put yourself together.
Cat returns home with her daughter and finds somethings have stayed the same but at the same time changed/evolved. But when she has no choice but to work along side her high school crush Luc, things get a little out of control.
Luc is back home from the NHL and has closed himself off to the world. After losing his wife and having his career end before he was ready, life throws Cat at him. His friend from high school is now a woman and he "notices" her for the first time. Feelings arise and along with them and the grief and guilt he feels, it takes him on an emotional rollercoaster.
You will not be disappointed in this heartwarming, healing story of two people whose lifes have not turned out they wanted. Oh, and I can't forget a little someone that gives everyone a run for their money!!
4 heartwarming starts.
November 21, 2017
Lindas Book Obsession Review of “Back Home at Firefly Lake” by Jen Gilroy, Forever(Grand Central Publishing) December 5, 2017
My Review of “Back Home at Firefly Lake” by Jen Gilroy
What a heartwarming and enjoyable novel Jen Gilroy has written in “Back Home at Firefly Lake”. The genres for this story are Fiction, Women’s Fiction and Romance. The timeline of this story is in the present, and only goes back to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. This book is the third in a series, but easily is a stand alone.
The author describes her characters as complex, complicated and confused due to circumstances of the story. I really like the characters of the story and feel like they could be my neighbors are friends. Most of the characters have been in other books in this series, and there are a few new ones.
Cat McGuire, a single mom, and her young daughter Amy return to Firefly Lake, after her mom’s health scare.They are also able to be closer to their family. Cat McGuire eventually hopes to get a permanent College teaching position. She lives in an apartment with Amy in the same Craft Gallery that she is working in. Amy is an excellent hockey player and the move to Firefly Lake, is a setback for her. Coach Luc Simard decides to help Amy and has her play on the boys hockey team, (since the town doesn’t have a girl’s team).
Luc is young widower and has guilty feelings about his wife’s death. Luc had been a Professional Hockey player, and has returned to Firefly Lake to work with his dad in his business. In his spare time he coaches the students.
Both Cat and Luc are attracted to each other. Is it possible for them to overcome their problems.?
I love the way Jen Gilroy describes family, friends, community, love and hope.
I also appreciate that the author believes in second chances. I would highly recommend this entertaining and emotional story for those readers that appreciate Women’s Fiction and Romance Novels. I would like to thank Jen Gilroy, NetGalley and Forever(Grand Central Publishing) for an Advanced Review Copy for my honest review. Happy Reading!!
My Review of “Back Home at Firefly Lake” by Jen Gilroy
What a heartwarming and enjoyable novel Jen Gilroy has written in “Back Home at Firefly Lake”. The genres for this story are Fiction, Women’s Fiction and Romance. The timeline of this story is in the present, and only goes back to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. This book is the third in a series, but easily is a stand alone.
The author describes her characters as complex, complicated and confused due to circumstances of the story. I really like the characters of the story and feel like they could be my neighbors are friends. Most of the characters have been in other books in this series, and there are a few new ones.
Cat McGuire, a single mom, and her young daughter Amy return to Firefly Lake, after her mom’s health scare.They are also able to be closer to their family. Cat McGuire eventually hopes to get a permanent College teaching position. She lives in an apartment with Amy in the same Craft Gallery that she is working in. Amy is an excellent hockey player and the move to Firefly Lake, is a setback for her. Coach Luc Simard decides to help Amy and has her play on the boys hockey team, (since the town doesn’t have a girl’s team).
Luc is young widower and has guilty feelings about his wife’s death. Luc had been a Professional Hockey player, and has returned to Firefly Lake to work with his dad in his business. In his spare time he coaches the students.
Both Cat and Luc are attracted to each other. Is it possible for them to overcome their problems.?
I love the way Jen Gilroy describes family, friends, community, love and hope.
I also appreciate that the author believes in second chances. I would highly recommend this entertaining and emotional story for those readers that appreciate Women’s Fiction and Romance Novels. I would like to thank Jen Gilroy, NetGalley and Forever(Grand Central Publishing) for an Advanced Review Copy for my honest review. Happy Reading!!
December 2, 2017
Jen Gilroy takes readers home again. Back to the painful moments, the heartbreaking disappointments and a chance at finding out where a person really belongs. Firefly Lake is the place in the review mirror, that continues to call your name. A place that allows healing, redemption and new beginnings. Cat was the girl who never fit in. Luc was the boy with the world at his feet. Until life got in the way and brought the big hockey star and the single mother, back to their roots. Back Home at Firefly Lake is about being strong enough to move forward, when the world tries to hold you back.
Read
January 6, 2018
Audiobook Review: 5+++ Stars
What did you love best about this story?
Everything!! Absolutely everything!! I’ve loved this series since the very beginning. What I love the most is the genuinity of the characters, the authenticity of their relationships with family, friends and significant others, and the different kind of situations that make every book of this series amazing.
Back Home at Firefly Lake is my most favorite book of the series. Cat and Luc’s story is heartwarming and romantic and beautiful.
This story has two kinds of new chances. Cat is a single mom who works really hard to give her daughter the best she can, and Luc is a widowed and a former hockey player who is trying so hard to get back his life on track. I love how their stories collided and find what they wasn’t looking for in each other. <3
And of course, I always love children in books, and Amy, Cat’s daughter, is amazing.
What about Karissa Vacker ’s performance did you like?
I loved that her voice and inflections matched the personalities of all the characters in this book, but what I loved the most about Karissa’s narration was that she pour her whole heart to make Cat’s emotions more real. There was a particular scene at the end of the book when I was on the edge of my sit, my heart was pounding and aching for Cat and Karissa made me feel more for Cat and everything that was happening.
Would you listen to Back Home at Firefly Lake again? Why?
I actually need to listen the audios of the first two books of the series and of course, repeat Back Home Firefly . I love this series and I’m happy to be able to repeat it on audio. <3
Any additional comments?
Sighhhhhh This book brings the HEA of the main characters from the first two books and I couldn’t be happier for them all. I wish there was more about this amazing group of people.
200% recommended.
Start the series from the beginning:
Book 1: The Cottage at Firefly Lake - Review here
Book 2: Summer on Firefly Lake - Review here
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One word...
Full review to come...
December 8, 2017
Originally published at Reading Reality
Second chance lake strikes again!
Firefly Lake really does deserve to be renamed “Second Chance Lake” because it seems like everyone who goes there, especially those who go back home there, discover a second chance at love, and sometimes even a second chance at life.
Cat McGuire needs a do-over. Or a restart. Or at least enough time to consider what her next step in life should be. As the sister of Nick McGuire (hero of Summer on Firefly Lake) she has some of the same baggage that Nick did. Their dad didn’t just leave their mother when they were kids, he ran out of town just ahead of everyone finding out that he’d cheated a whole lot of people out of their money. Think of him as a small time Bernie Madoff who faced fewer consequences.
But Cat, already considered the town oddball as an intellectual whiz kid, found herself the center of more attention than any child could reasonably cope with. Which she, of course, avoided by retreating even further into her books, making her stand out even more.
The one person who stood up for her against all the bullies was budding hockey star Luc Simard. So of course Luc became her hero, and her first crush, and her big brother’s best friend all rolled into one.
Cat comes back to town to look after her mother a bit, after the cancer scare, but also to use a research grant to work on a book about women’s sports in Vermont history. She hopes that getting the book published will finally put her on track for a tenure-track teaching position – something that is really hard to come by for history Ph. D.s, even when they get that Ph. D. from Harvard.
And Cat is hoping that Firefly Lake will give her daughter a chance for a do-over at school. At 12, all Amy wants to do is play hockey. But her dyslexia has held her back academically, and her Boston team was ready to kick her out for not meeting academic standards. The Firefly Lake team is a community team and not a school team, so her grades are not an issue. But Cat worries just as much, because there is no separate girls hockey team in tiny Firefly Lake. Amy will have to play with the boys. And while she’s plenty good enough, if not better, than the other players on the team, as puberty kicks in she just isn’t as big.
But Luc Simard has retired from the NHL and come home. As the new head coach of the team, he sees something in Amy that he doesn’t often see. She can feel the ice in a way that only great players can. It’s a talent he’s happy to nurture. not just for the joy of coaching but also as a way to “pay forward” to the sport that he loves and that has given him so much, even though it has also taken so much away.
Like it took his late wife, who was herself a women’s hockey star. But now Maggie is gone, two years dead after a brain aneurysm burst. He wasn’t there because he was on the road with his team. And he can’t manage to let go of his grief or his guilt.
So when he discovers that Cat, the little girl he used to protect, is all grown up, he discovers that she touches a part of his heart that he thought he had buried with Maggie. He feels even more guilty.
But the ice has melted, and he can’t stop feeling. Even if he doesn’t know what to do about it. And even as he mucks things up again. Second chances are rare. Third chances are almost – but not quite – impossible.
Escape Rating B+: This series, heartwarming from its beginning in The Cottage at Firefly Lake to its end with this book, with its small town centered around a lake and its second chance at love stories reads a lot like Mary McNear’s equally lovely Butternut Lake series. Although the two are several states apart, these little lake towns and the people who populate them have a very similar feel. If you like one, you’ll like the other – even if Firefly Lake in Vermont sounds BRRRRR cold this time of year!
Although both Luc and Cat need the second chances offered by a return to Firefly Lake, the second chances that they each need are different.
In some ways, Luc’s story is a bit more obvious. In his mid-30s, Luc has been a widower for two years. His wife died suddenly and tragically, while carrying their child. Her aneurysm may have been caused by her high-risk pregnancy. He feels guilty, both about persuading her to try again after a series of heartbreaking miscarriages, and because he wasn’t there when she died. He’s grieving the loss of his soulmate, their child and the future that they had planned together.
And he’s grieving the loss of his career in the NHL, after an illegal hit took out his shoulder. And even though the reality is that if he had not retired when he did, he hadn’t had many years left at the top of his sport, and if he weren’t retired by now, it would be coming soon. Which doesn’t make that loss any easier to deal with.
Cat’s circumstances are different. She isn’t eligible for a second chance at love because she’s never let herself be vulnerable enough for a first chance. Her beloved daughter Amy is the result of a leaky condom and what she thought might be the beginning of a relationship while the guy in question was trying to win a bet. That circumstance, on top of her dad’s betrayal, has left Cat understandably gunshy about men and relationships.
But she does need to step back and do a re-think of her choices and her options. She’s been so focused on achieving her academic goals that she hasn’t been able to look at the big picture. A picture that makes the future look a lot like the past and present, stringing together enough temporary teaching gigs to make barely enough to keep Amy and herself fed and clothed by working 16 hours a day for too little pay. Liberal arts Ph. D.s are unfortunately on the wrong end of a buyer’s market. There are too many candidates and not nearly enough tenure-track jobs.
Both Luc and Cat are back in Firefly Lake at the point of a kind of “time-out” in both of their lives. Even though neither of them is looking for it, both of them are in a position where they need to re-think both their pasts and their futures.
And what they discover is that the affection that they’ve always had for each other is still there, but that now they have the possibility of more – if they can get past the baggage that they are both tripping over on the way there. As their chemistry heats up but the roadblocks multiply, their HEA looks like it might derail before it even leaves the station. It’s only when they all (including Amy) finally decide to go for it anyway that they are able to reach for the future, together.
Second chance lake strikes again!
Firefly Lake really does deserve to be renamed “Second Chance Lake” because it seems like everyone who goes there, especially those who go back home there, discover a second chance at love, and sometimes even a second chance at life.
Cat McGuire needs a do-over. Or a restart. Or at least enough time to consider what her next step in life should be. As the sister of Nick McGuire (hero of Summer on Firefly Lake) she has some of the same baggage that Nick did. Their dad didn’t just leave their mother when they were kids, he ran out of town just ahead of everyone finding out that he’d cheated a whole lot of people out of their money. Think of him as a small time Bernie Madoff who faced fewer consequences.
But Cat, already considered the town oddball as an intellectual whiz kid, found herself the center of more attention than any child could reasonably cope with. Which she, of course, avoided by retreating even further into her books, making her stand out even more.
The one person who stood up for her against all the bullies was budding hockey star Luc Simard. So of course Luc became her hero, and her first crush, and her big brother’s best friend all rolled into one.
Cat comes back to town to look after her mother a bit, after the cancer scare, but also to use a research grant to work on a book about women’s sports in Vermont history. She hopes that getting the book published will finally put her on track for a tenure-track teaching position – something that is really hard to come by for history Ph. D.s, even when they get that Ph. D. from Harvard.
And Cat is hoping that Firefly Lake will give her daughter a chance for a do-over at school. At 12, all Amy wants to do is play hockey. But her dyslexia has held her back academically, and her Boston team was ready to kick her out for not meeting academic standards. The Firefly Lake team is a community team and not a school team, so her grades are not an issue. But Cat worries just as much, because there is no separate girls hockey team in tiny Firefly Lake. Amy will have to play with the boys. And while she’s plenty good enough, if not better, than the other players on the team, as puberty kicks in she just isn’t as big.
But Luc Simard has retired from the NHL and come home. As the new head coach of the team, he sees something in Amy that he doesn’t often see. She can feel the ice in a way that only great players can. It’s a talent he’s happy to nurture. not just for the joy of coaching but also as a way to “pay forward” to the sport that he loves and that has given him so much, even though it has also taken so much away.
Like it took his late wife, who was herself a women’s hockey star. But now Maggie is gone, two years dead after a brain aneurysm burst. He wasn’t there because he was on the road with his team. And he can’t manage to let go of his grief or his guilt.
So when he discovers that Cat, the little girl he used to protect, is all grown up, he discovers that she touches a part of his heart that he thought he had buried with Maggie. He feels even more guilty.
But the ice has melted, and he can’t stop feeling. Even if he doesn’t know what to do about it. And even as he mucks things up again. Second chances are rare. Third chances are almost – but not quite – impossible.
Escape Rating B+: This series, heartwarming from its beginning in The Cottage at Firefly Lake to its end with this book, with its small town centered around a lake and its second chance at love stories reads a lot like Mary McNear’s equally lovely Butternut Lake series. Although the two are several states apart, these little lake towns and the people who populate them have a very similar feel. If you like one, you’ll like the other – even if Firefly Lake in Vermont sounds BRRRRR cold this time of year!
Although both Luc and Cat need the second chances offered by a return to Firefly Lake, the second chances that they each need are different.
In some ways, Luc’s story is a bit more obvious. In his mid-30s, Luc has been a widower for two years. His wife died suddenly and tragically, while carrying their child. Her aneurysm may have been caused by her high-risk pregnancy. He feels guilty, both about persuading her to try again after a series of heartbreaking miscarriages, and because he wasn’t there when she died. He’s grieving the loss of his soulmate, their child and the future that they had planned together.
And he’s grieving the loss of his career in the NHL, after an illegal hit took out his shoulder. And even though the reality is that if he had not retired when he did, he hadn’t had many years left at the top of his sport, and if he weren’t retired by now, it would be coming soon. Which doesn’t make that loss any easier to deal with.
Cat’s circumstances are different. She isn’t eligible for a second chance at love because she’s never let herself be vulnerable enough for a first chance. Her beloved daughter Amy is the result of a leaky condom and what she thought might be the beginning of a relationship while the guy in question was trying to win a bet. That circumstance, on top of her dad’s betrayal, has left Cat understandably gunshy about men and relationships.
But she does need to step back and do a re-think of her choices and her options. She’s been so focused on achieving her academic goals that she hasn’t been able to look at the big picture. A picture that makes the future look a lot like the past and present, stringing together enough temporary teaching gigs to make barely enough to keep Amy and herself fed and clothed by working 16 hours a day for too little pay. Liberal arts Ph. D.s are unfortunately on the wrong end of a buyer’s market. There are too many candidates and not nearly enough tenure-track jobs.
Both Luc and Cat are back in Firefly Lake at the point of a kind of “time-out” in both of their lives. Even though neither of them is looking for it, both of them are in a position where they need to re-think both their pasts and their futures.
And what they discover is that the affection that they’ve always had for each other is still there, but that now they have the possibility of more – if they can get past the baggage that they are both tripping over on the way there. As their chemistry heats up but the roadblocks multiply, their HEA looks like it might derail before it even leaves the station. It’s only when they all (including Amy) finally decide to go for it anyway that they are able to reach for the future, together.
December 15, 2017
There’s just something about small town romances that I love. That feeling of community and family, with people that feel so real you just want to move there so you can be friends. It’s that thing that made Gilmore Girls so darn appealing – and Gilroy captures it beautifully. Her characters just come alive and you can’t help but feel for all of their ups and downs (and sometimes even more downs).
Luc is back after losing both his hockey career and his wife. He’s going through the motions of getting back on his feet but he’s not really opening himself up for anything that could hurt him that much again. Then he meets Cat … and she definitely brings all his feelings back alive. He’s a man, though, and has to have a few “really?” moments but he’s carrying around a lot and so it’s to be expected.
Cat has come home but she’s not here to stay. She’s got a temporary work assignment and thinks it best to get her daughter out of the city for a while. And being near family is just what they both need. But what she never thought she needed was Luc – having him nearby again puts all kinds of tempting thoughts into her head. She just needs to come to terms with her own past first.
While I really like Cat and Luc, there were moments when I really didn’t get her daughter. I can see what Gilroy was going for (and she is a hormonal preteen) but she’s all over the place and comes off as a petulant toddler more than once (… although that could be the teenager coming out too :) ). Usually the kid is a highlight in the book but here she just rubbed me wrong as often as I liked her.
But I definitely couldn’t have asked for more with the adults! There is a lot of drama between the two of them but they also bring the feels. Both of them are at a crossroads in their lives – they didn’t plan on being where they are and they need to figure out where they really want to go from here. They’ve both had things in the past that they need to work on but if they do it right then they might find themselves in a place much better than they imagined.
If you love feel-good sweetness in your romances, Gilroy definitely delivers – lots of emotion, realistic, and just plain enjoyable.
(Although it is part of a series, it 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. ***
Luc is back after losing both his hockey career and his wife. He’s going through the motions of getting back on his feet but he’s not really opening himself up for anything that could hurt him that much again. Then he meets Cat … and she definitely brings all his feelings back alive. He’s a man, though, and has to have a few “really?” moments but he’s carrying around a lot and so it’s to be expected.
Cat has come home but she’s not here to stay. She’s got a temporary work assignment and thinks it best to get her daughter out of the city for a while. And being near family is just what they both need. But what she never thought she needed was Luc – having him nearby again puts all kinds of tempting thoughts into her head. She just needs to come to terms with her own past first.
While I really like Cat and Luc, there were moments when I really didn’t get her daughter. I can see what Gilroy was going for (and she is a hormonal preteen) but she’s all over the place and comes off as a petulant toddler more than once (… although that could be the teenager coming out too :) ). Usually the kid is a highlight in the book but here she just rubbed me wrong as often as I liked her.
But I definitely couldn’t have asked for more with the adults! There is a lot of drama between the two of them but they also bring the feels. Both of them are at a crossroads in their lives – they didn’t plan on being where they are and they need to figure out where they really want to go from here. They’ve both had things in the past that they need to work on but if they do it right then they might find themselves in a place much better than they imagined.
If you love feel-good sweetness in your romances, Gilroy definitely delivers – lots of emotion, realistic, and just plain enjoyable.
(Although it is part of a series, it 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. ***
December 8, 2017
This is the kind of book that you curl up on the sofa with and totally allow yourself to get transformed in the story.
Cat returns home to the town she grew up in. Life didn’t necessarily turn out the way she expected but she is happy to be back with her family. The love and support will help her get through the rough time being a single mother. Her daughter, Amy, needs stability and wants to be a part of the boys Hockey team. Reluctantly, Cat agrees and runs into the new coach, Luc.
Luc is back home after suffering from the lost of his wife. He has a tremendous amount of guilt. Cat has always harbored a crush on Luc. He was the star athlete in their town. Cat and Amy bring a joy to his life that he thought he lost completely. However, the burden of not being there for his deceased wife holds him mentally hostage.
Luc’s story is so soul-crushing and you just want for him to find happiness again. Cat and Amy help heal Luc and give them a sense of stability that they need. The path to happiness is not an easy one. There are elements of the story that feels a bit of chick-lit but that is maybe because there is more to the story than just romance. Amy is not prepared for her mother to date but she loves Luc. There is the family interaction and Amy is constantly getting into something.
There are a ton of characters and I wanted to get to know all of them. This can be read as a standalone. However, I think it is best to read the other books in the series which I plan to do.
Overall, if you are looking for a small town romance and a second chance love story, this is the perfect book to bring you some cheer.
~ Samantha
Cat returns home to the town she grew up in. Life didn’t necessarily turn out the way she expected but she is happy to be back with her family. The love and support will help her get through the rough time being a single mother. Her daughter, Amy, needs stability and wants to be a part of the boys Hockey team. Reluctantly, Cat agrees and runs into the new coach, Luc.
Luc is back home after suffering from the lost of his wife. He has a tremendous amount of guilt. Cat has always harbored a crush on Luc. He was the star athlete in their town. Cat and Amy bring a joy to his life that he thought he lost completely. However, the burden of not being there for his deceased wife holds him mentally hostage.
Luc’s story is so soul-crushing and you just want for him to find happiness again. Cat and Amy help heal Luc and give them a sense of stability that they need. The path to happiness is not an easy one. There are elements of the story that feels a bit of chick-lit but that is maybe because there is more to the story than just romance. Amy is not prepared for her mother to date but she loves Luc. There is the family interaction and Amy is constantly getting into something.
There are a ton of characters and I wanted to get to know all of them. This can be read as a standalone. However, I think it is best to read the other books in the series which I plan to do.
Overall, if you are looking for a small town romance and a second chance love story, this is the perfect book to bring you some cheer.
~ Samantha
December 13, 2017
***ARC Provided by the Author/Publisher via NetGalley***
Luc and Cat were friends, sort of, in high school. And, now they are both back in Firefly lake for reasons that are not really of their own choosing. Luc is back home due to the loss of his wife and his career and Cat is back for the closeness of family after some setbacks and to hopefully help her daughter, Amy, who is struggling in school.
I liked Cat and Luc and I thought their friendship was solid. But I struggled a little with the relationship. I believed it, but Luc seemed not to have dealt with his past and the result of that made it harder for me to believe in their connection. In this case, I thought the pacing of the reveal, of the author letting Cat and the reader know exactly what happened to his wife, was too drawn out. I wanted them to have a little more time to deal with the relationship they were starting instead of the focus on the past he had not really let go of completely.
There was a twist at the end that I totally saw coming, and I think that also colored this title for me a little, as I was essentially waiting for this twist to happen for most of the book.
I did enjoy the book, and I do recommend it. There are some holiday themes in it as well that make it a fun read for this time of year.
Luc and Cat were friends, sort of, in high school. And, now they are both back in Firefly lake for reasons that are not really of their own choosing. Luc is back home due to the loss of his wife and his career and Cat is back for the closeness of family after some setbacks and to hopefully help her daughter, Amy, who is struggling in school.
I liked Cat and Luc and I thought their friendship was solid. But I struggled a little with the relationship. I believed it, but Luc seemed not to have dealt with his past and the result of that made it harder for me to believe in their connection. In this case, I thought the pacing of the reveal, of the author letting Cat and the reader know exactly what happened to his wife, was too drawn out. I wanted them to have a little more time to deal with the relationship they were starting instead of the focus on the past he had not really let go of completely.
There was a twist at the end that I totally saw coming, and I think that also colored this title for me a little, as I was essentially waiting for this twist to happen for most of the book.
I did enjoy the book, and I do recommend it. There are some holiday themes in it as well that make it a fun read for this time of year.
October 11, 2022
Der dritte und somit letzte Teil der Fireflake Reihe. Was habe ich mich darauf gefreut und wurde nicht enttäuscht. Wir auch bei den vorherigen Bänden ist das Cover super ansprechend. Ein richtiger Hingucker im Bücherregal. Der Schreibstil ist wie bisher locker und flüssig. Die Charaktere harmonieren wundervoll zusammen. Man kommt sehr gut durch die Geschichte. Eine sehr schöne Reihe.
December 19, 2017
Jen Gilroy's Firefly Lake series is by far my favorite small town romance reads of 2017. Back Home at Firefly Lake is the 3rd in the series and just as delightful as books one and two. We got to know a bit about opposites Luc Simard and Cat Mcguire in Summer at Firefly Lake and the frisson of tension between them held much promise that these two might be each others second chances.
Luc is a man grieving and unable to move past the loss of his life. Becoming reacquainted with Cat and finding his feelings for her are beyond that of friendship leaves him incredibly uncomfortable. As a retired hockey player who's moved back home to take over the family business, showing a level of loyalty that makes him a local legend. Cat brings her daughter Amy to home to Firefly Lake to regroup while she applies for teaching positions and figures out their next steps, and she quickly finds a connection with Luc that she'd never anticipated.
Gilroy create a wonderful environment where Luc and Cat's attraction for each other is allowed to grow, but both have reasons for holding back on each other. The story is perfectly paced to make this a slow burn love story, where friends take things to the next level. Luc has a few blunders that made me cringe. Cat is a smart women who knows she deserves an epic love story and I love that she does this as much for herself as for Amy.
At this point it looks like the Firefly Lake series may have come to a close but I will surely pick up Jen Gilroys future books. 4 Stars and recommendation.
*I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Luc is a man grieving and unable to move past the loss of his life. Becoming reacquainted with Cat and finding his feelings for her are beyond that of friendship leaves him incredibly uncomfortable. As a retired hockey player who's moved back home to take over the family business, showing a level of loyalty that makes him a local legend. Cat brings her daughter Amy to home to Firefly Lake to regroup while she applies for teaching positions and figures out their next steps, and she quickly finds a connection with Luc that she'd never anticipated.
Gilroy create a wonderful environment where Luc and Cat's attraction for each other is allowed to grow, but both have reasons for holding back on each other. The story is perfectly paced to make this a slow burn love story, where friends take things to the next level. Luc has a few blunders that made me cringe. Cat is a smart women who knows she deserves an epic love story and I love that she does this as much for herself as for Amy.
At this point it looks like the Firefly Lake series may have come to a close but I will surely pick up Jen Gilroys future books. 4 Stars and recommendation.
*I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
December 5, 2017
Loved it couldn't put it down love a good story.
Read
February 4, 2025I had no idea this was a series. You can easily pick this one up and it stands alone just fine. If you like hallmark Xmas movies then this book is for you. Vacation read.
December 15, 2017
After losing his wife and his career, Luc Simard has returned to Firefly Lake to pick up the pieces of his life and hopefully begin to heal. Determined to give back to the community, he's coaching the local kids' hockey team, which is something that brings him joy, but he never imagined he'd find love again. However, spending time with Cat McGuire and her daughter is bringing happiness back into his life. Will he be able to convince Cat to give him a chance, or will they lose their shot at happy ever after because they're both afraid?
The first two books of this series are extremely enjoyable reads, but this book is the most captivating of Ms. Gilroy's Firefly Lake series yet. Really, it had absolutely riveting main characters that find love when they least expect it; compelling dialogue that had me loving the growing relationship between the hero and heroine as well as the interactions between the main and secondary characters; and a fast-paced plot that kept me entertained from start to finish due to everything this couple go through to be together including needing to keep the heroine's daughter happy, so the young girl knows she's loved and not being pushed aside because her mom may be ready to get back into the dating game.
The way this story started had me liking the heroine immediately, as she's a great mom that would do anything for her daughter, because moving her to Firefly Lake was necessary and she wants her daughter to be as happy as possible, which means registering her to play the sport she loves the most. However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine come face-to-face for the first time that had me loving how this couple's relationship grows from friendship to love.
As for the heroine, she's a great single mom and I could understand why she fears getting involved with another man after what happened with her child's father that makes her wary to trust men, even though Luc is the most genuine person ever and wouldn't do anything to hurt her. I also liked how strong and brave she is by everything she's done to make a good life for her and daughter. Will she be able to make things even better for her daughter's future with all the effort she's going to with her job? Yet, what I liked most of all is the decisions the heroine makes for her daughter and herself when it comes to her job and doing what's right for her daughter, even if it means letting others handle her daughter when the young girl gets a little out of control.
While the hero, he's held a ton of guilt since the death of his wife, which is totally understandable because he wasn't there for her when she needed him. Yet, I liked that he's determined to do what's right for Cat and her daughter, even if it means facing the town's gossip and not allowing it to interfere too much that it tears them apart. Will Luc be able to convince Cat that he likes that the townspeople know they're a couple? Yet, what I liked most of all was the hero's determination to help the heroine's daughter, because she's talented at the sport that the hero lived and was so successful at for years.
Overall, Ms. Gilroy has delivered another fantastic and worthwhile read in this book where the chemistry between this couple was heady and convincing; the romance shows how good these two are together and that they shouldn't let anything stand in their way of their happy ever after because the heroine needs Luc just as much as he needs her to finally move on from the hurts of their pasts; and the ending had me worried for this couple's happy ever after, but in the end, left me completely satisfied by the hero's determination to win back the heroine, even if it means using any means necessary to get her to listen to what he has to say. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up nicely, because no one is more deserving of happiness than these two, especially after the surprise the heroine had for the hero that could have broken their relationship for good. I would recommend Back Home at Firefly Lake by Jen Gilroy, if you enjoy small town romances, the friends to lovers trope, or books by authors Sarah Morgan, Jill Shalvis, Lori Wilde and Rachel Gibson.
The first two books of this series are extremely enjoyable reads, but this book is the most captivating of Ms. Gilroy's Firefly Lake series yet. Really, it had absolutely riveting main characters that find love when they least expect it; compelling dialogue that had me loving the growing relationship between the hero and heroine as well as the interactions between the main and secondary characters; and a fast-paced plot that kept me entertained from start to finish due to everything this couple go through to be together including needing to keep the heroine's daughter happy, so the young girl knows she's loved and not being pushed aside because her mom may be ready to get back into the dating game.
The way this story started had me liking the heroine immediately, as she's a great mom that would do anything for her daughter, because moving her to Firefly Lake was necessary and she wants her daughter to be as happy as possible, which means registering her to play the sport she loves the most. However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine come face-to-face for the first time that had me loving how this couple's relationship grows from friendship to love.
As for the heroine, she's a great single mom and I could understand why she fears getting involved with another man after what happened with her child's father that makes her wary to trust men, even though Luc is the most genuine person ever and wouldn't do anything to hurt her. I also liked how strong and brave she is by everything she's done to make a good life for her and daughter. Will she be able to make things even better for her daughter's future with all the effort she's going to with her job? Yet, what I liked most of all is the decisions the heroine makes for her daughter and herself when it comes to her job and doing what's right for her daughter, even if it means letting others handle her daughter when the young girl gets a little out of control.
While the hero, he's held a ton of guilt since the death of his wife, which is totally understandable because he wasn't there for her when she needed him. Yet, I liked that he's determined to do what's right for Cat and her daughter, even if it means facing the town's gossip and not allowing it to interfere too much that it tears them apart. Will Luc be able to convince Cat that he likes that the townspeople know they're a couple? Yet, what I liked most of all was the hero's determination to help the heroine's daughter, because she's talented at the sport that the hero lived and was so successful at for years.
Overall, Ms. Gilroy has delivered another fantastic and worthwhile read in this book where the chemistry between this couple was heady and convincing; the romance shows how good these two are together and that they shouldn't let anything stand in their way of their happy ever after because the heroine needs Luc just as much as he needs her to finally move on from the hurts of their pasts; and the ending had me worried for this couple's happy ever after, but in the end, left me completely satisfied by the hero's determination to win back the heroine, even if it means using any means necessary to get her to listen to what he has to say. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up nicely, because no one is more deserving of happiness than these two, especially after the surprise the heroine had for the hero that could have broken their relationship for good. I would recommend Back Home at Firefly Lake by Jen Gilroy, if you enjoy small town romances, the friends to lovers trope, or books by authors Sarah Morgan, Jill Shalvis, Lori Wilde and Rachel Gibson.
December 11, 2017
Cat McGuire has mixed feelings about returning to her hometown of Firefly Lake, Vermont. She never quite fit in, preferring to spend time with her studies and her books to joining in with the other kids, and being back is enough to make her forget all of the successes she's had since leaving. Luc Simard, hometown hero, was good at everything, but never made Cat feel anything less than accepted. Now that both are back in town, the feelings of friendship that they'd always shared are growing into something that neither one expected, and they're not quite sure what to do about it.
Cat and Luc are both somewhat shut down in matters of the heart. While Cat has put her all into raising her daughter on her own, she hasn't found a place in her heart to trust men. Both her father and the father of her child haven't given her any good reason to open herself up, and it isn't until seeing how much love has changed her brother, and reconnecting with her friend Luc, that Cat's heart begins to make room for love.
Since the death of his wife, Luc has closed himself off emotionally. The guilt that he feels for choices that he made, and the way that things played out, has made him unable to even entertain the idea of another chance at love. Until Cat, that is. Because he's seeing her in a completely different light, and it isn't long before he can't but give in to the feelings that he has.
When I reviewed SUMMER AT FIREFLY LAKE, the previous book in this heartwarming and feel-good series by author Jen Gilroy, I commented that sometimes going back home, to a place, and a group of people, is not only possible, but necessary. Jen cements this sentiment beautifully in BACK HOME AT FIREFLY LAKE, the third book in this series, and her most recent release. Full of redemption, passion, and second chances, BACK HOME AT FIREFLY LAKE is an emotional read that makes is easy to believe in the power of love. This small town, peopled with strong families and friends, is a pleasure to spend time in, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Cat and Luc get their chance at love. It is an easy 4 stars for me, and perfect for readers that enjoy a small town setting, supportive, if interfering, family and friends, and a sense of rightness that comes with finding out that you've ended up exactly where you're supposed to be.
***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***
November 26, 2017
http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com
This small town, poignant story left me with a good feeling and put me in the Christmas spirit. Luc and Cat both return to Firefly Lake when their lives take a different direction than planned. They return for different reasons, but they each need the healing qualities the small town and their families can provide. Neither of their lives have turned out the way they anticipated and they are trying to do the best they can with what life has given them. They are not excited to return to their hometown, but feel they have no other choice. The people in Firefly Lake are good and hardworking but it is a small town and everybody is in your business. Everyone knows you and feels they have the right to comment or give advice.
Luc and Cat are brought together when Luc coaches Cat’s daughter in hockey. They are both attracted to each other but too broken to admit their feelings to themselves or each other. They are good together and need each other but keep fighting their feelings.
At thirty five, Luc is devastated that he has lost both his wife and his NHL hockey career. He is just existing day to day. Luc is attracted to Cat but feels guilty and worries he is being untrue to his wife.
Cat reluctantly returns to Firefly Lake with her twelve year old daughter Amy. Cat has her PhD from Harvard which she achieved while also taking care of Amy. Cat is caring and considerate and has always tried to make people happy.
I liked Luc and Cat. They each deserve happiness and I wanted everything to work out for them. Of course, there are a few bumps in the road. Firefly Lake is the perfect place for both of them. They need to heal and stop feeling guilty for decisions they made. Even though Luc and Cat are successful, they each feel they are failures in different areas of their lives. I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming story.
Thanks to the author for providing a copy of this book vIa Cocktails and Books and Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
This small town, poignant story left me with a good feeling and put me in the Christmas spirit. Luc and Cat both return to Firefly Lake when their lives take a different direction than planned. They return for different reasons, but they each need the healing qualities the small town and their families can provide. Neither of their lives have turned out the way they anticipated and they are trying to do the best they can with what life has given them. They are not excited to return to their hometown, but feel they have no other choice. The people in Firefly Lake are good and hardworking but it is a small town and everybody is in your business. Everyone knows you and feels they have the right to comment or give advice.
Luc and Cat are brought together when Luc coaches Cat’s daughter in hockey. They are both attracted to each other but too broken to admit their feelings to themselves or each other. They are good together and need each other but keep fighting their feelings.
At thirty five, Luc is devastated that he has lost both his wife and his NHL hockey career. He is just existing day to day. Luc is attracted to Cat but feels guilty and worries he is being untrue to his wife.
Cat reluctantly returns to Firefly Lake with her twelve year old daughter Amy. Cat has her PhD from Harvard which she achieved while also taking care of Amy. Cat is caring and considerate and has always tried to make people happy.
I liked Luc and Cat. They each deserve happiness and I wanted everything to work out for them. Of course, there are a few bumps in the road. Firefly Lake is the perfect place for both of them. They need to heal and stop feeling guilty for decisions they made. Even though Luc and Cat are successful, they each feel they are failures in different areas of their lives. I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming story.
Thanks to the author for providing a copy of this book vIa Cocktails and Books and Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
December 11, 2017
I like to think it was fate. Just as I settled down to read Jen Gilroy’s latest book, Back Home At Firefly Lake, snowflakes started to float past my window.
A light dusting of snow wasn't essential to my enjoyment but, as it was summer last time I visited the lake, it certainly helped get me in the right mood for this winter’s tale.
Whatever the weather, I think I would have loved this wonderfully told heart-warming story.
Once again Jen casts a spell on the reader, transporting us back to small-town Canada to a place that already feels like home.
Some familiar characters from the two previous books make a welcome return but it is Cat McGuire and Luc Simard who are the main focus of this final book in the trilogy (which can also be read as a standalone).
I don’t know much about hockey but I do know Luc made my heart beat a little faster – even when he wasn’t on the ice. Pitched just right between macho and sensitive, Luc (I did have to look up how to say his name, was it Luck or was it Luke?) is definitely a book boyfriend to remember.
Slightly awkward Cat was easy to relate to and she made me nostalgic as I remembered my own high school crush. I really wanted Cat and Luc to work and found the various ups and downs they go through an emotional read. The relationship between Cat and her daughter was also really well written.
The story kept me engrossed right to the end – long after the snow had stopped – and the feeling I was left with was one of warmth; like everything was right with the world.
This was actually my favourite of the three books – and I really enjoyed the other two so I don’t say it lightly.
Thank you to Jen, her publishers, Forever, and Barclay Publicity for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.
A light dusting of snow wasn't essential to my enjoyment but, as it was summer last time I visited the lake, it certainly helped get me in the right mood for this winter’s tale.
Whatever the weather, I think I would have loved this wonderfully told heart-warming story.
Once again Jen casts a spell on the reader, transporting us back to small-town Canada to a place that already feels like home.
Some familiar characters from the two previous books make a welcome return but it is Cat McGuire and Luc Simard who are the main focus of this final book in the trilogy (which can also be read as a standalone).
I don’t know much about hockey but I do know Luc made my heart beat a little faster – even when he wasn’t on the ice. Pitched just right between macho and sensitive, Luc (I did have to look up how to say his name, was it Luck or was it Luke?) is definitely a book boyfriend to remember.
Slightly awkward Cat was easy to relate to and she made me nostalgic as I remembered my own high school crush. I really wanted Cat and Luc to work and found the various ups and downs they go through an emotional read. The relationship between Cat and her daughter was also really well written.
The story kept me engrossed right to the end – long after the snow had stopped – and the feeling I was left with was one of warmth; like everything was right with the world.
This was actually my favourite of the three books – and I really enjoyed the other two so I don’t say it lightly.
Thank you to Jen, her publishers, Forever, and Barclay Publicity for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.
December 17, 2017
I reviewed the second book in the Firefly Lake series and knew I wanted to read this cozy-sounding third book. In the midst of a busy month — or months, if we’re being honest — sometimes I just want to curl up and escape into someone else’s world. Jen Gilroy’s Firefly Lake offers the charm of a small town, with all of the complications arising when lives twine together between childhood and adulthood.
Cat McGuire comes back to her childhood town with her daughter, Amy, in tow, a research grant in hand, and one foot already out the door. Luc Simard is back, too, with a loss weighing heavily on his heart. Cat and Luc collide almost immediately when Cat’s daughter finds her way onto the boys’ hockey team Luc coaches. Their attraction sizzles from the beginning, though they were only friends growing up.
Of course, things get complicated.
I appreciated the way Gilroy weaves this story around the families she’s already introduced in her world, and the way she makes Amy’s story as much a part of the narrative as Cat and Luc’s. Returning “home” after being gone for so long makes Cat feel like she doesn’t belong, and I think that’s something everyone can relate to as we navigate the holiday season. Even though contemporary romances, by virtue of their genre, offer readers a happily ever after, Gilroy’s focus on the journey of getting there feels warm and authentic. She reminds readers happy endings don’t always look the way you — or her characters — expect.
*Disclosure: I received a copy of Back Home at Firefly Lake for consideration for review. All opinions are my own.
Cat McGuire comes back to her childhood town with her daughter, Amy, in tow, a research grant in hand, and one foot already out the door. Luc Simard is back, too, with a loss weighing heavily on his heart. Cat and Luc collide almost immediately when Cat’s daughter finds her way onto the boys’ hockey team Luc coaches. Their attraction sizzles from the beginning, though they were only friends growing up.
Of course, things get complicated.
I appreciated the way Gilroy weaves this story around the families she’s already introduced in her world, and the way she makes Amy’s story as much a part of the narrative as Cat and Luc’s. Returning “home” after being gone for so long makes Cat feel like she doesn’t belong, and I think that’s something everyone can relate to as we navigate the holiday season. Even though contemporary romances, by virtue of their genre, offer readers a happily ever after, Gilroy’s focus on the journey of getting there feels warm and authentic. She reminds readers happy endings don’t always look the way you — or her characters — expect.
*Disclosure: I received a copy of Back Home at Firefly Lake for consideration for review. All opinions are my own.
January 5, 2018
I read The Cottage at Firefly Lake and enjoyed it, so I definitely wanted to read another book in this series.
This is Cat and Luc's story and its one of second chances. Both are back home to Firefly Lake for different reasons but both of them need some healing. She's a single mom and Luc is a widower returning home to coach hockey. So it isn't your typical 2nd chances story. They only share a common friendship.
The best part about Luc was how much he loved his first wife. To many books with widows and widowers have the marriage be a bad one, and that always spoils things for me. I like that his relationship was a good one.
Cat's however wasn't. She's a single mom with a daughter that is more than a bit of a handful. I really couldn't understand Amy sometimes. There were a lot of times when I felt Amy needed some counseling..and so did Cat. Cat had issues with her dad leaving and with the bad fling she had that resulted in her pregnancy. All of this impacted her chances of happiness. Amy did a few things that definitely needed a different kind of punishment or something. I wanted to like the little girl, but her mood swings were hard to handle, especially since she didn't talk to her mother about what bothered her.
Luc's reluctance to start over was more understandable. I liked how he truly cared for Amy as well as for her mother. He was a good guy. He seemed to be the more adjusted of the two considering he had lost his wife tragically.
The twist at the end was a little bit unbelievable for me, but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book.
This was a sweet romance, with a small amount of heat.
This is Cat and Luc's story and its one of second chances. Both are back home to Firefly Lake for different reasons but both of them need some healing. She's a single mom and Luc is a widower returning home to coach hockey. So it isn't your typical 2nd chances story. They only share a common friendship.
The best part about Luc was how much he loved his first wife. To many books with widows and widowers have the marriage be a bad one, and that always spoils things for me. I like that his relationship was a good one.
Cat's however wasn't. She's a single mom with a daughter that is more than a bit of a handful. I really couldn't understand Amy sometimes. There were a lot of times when I felt Amy needed some counseling..and so did Cat. Cat had issues with her dad leaving and with the bad fling she had that resulted in her pregnancy. All of this impacted her chances of happiness. Amy did a few things that definitely needed a different kind of punishment or something. I wanted to like the little girl, but her mood swings were hard to handle, especially since she didn't talk to her mother about what bothered her.
Luc's reluctance to start over was more understandable. I liked how he truly cared for Amy as well as for her mother. He was a good guy. He seemed to be the more adjusted of the two considering he had lost his wife tragically.
The twist at the end was a little bit unbelievable for me, but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book.
This was a sweet romance, with a small amount of heat.
December 12, 2017
Cat McGuire was always that awkward teen that never fit in while growing up in Firefly Lake, so when she left home, she never thought she would return. Yeah, she missed her family & home, but being away allowed her to feel like the successful single mom that she was, so when her work took her home, that all changed. Retired hockey-pro Luc Simard is back in Firefly Lake to start over after losing his wife & hockey career, coaching the kids hockey team, which makes him feel alive again. He thinks his life is complete again, until Cat comes back, and all of a sudden, he's feeling things that he never thought he would feel again. But can he convince her that Firefly Lake is where she belongs? This is the first book that I've read by Jen Gilroy, and I enjoyed it a lot. It caught my attention from the beginning, while keeping me engaged throughout. Jen was a smart independent woman that I fell in love with from the beginning, but as the story went on, her stubbornness started to wear on me. Luc was also a great hero, while his mind set grated on my nerves, but the great thing, is that he got past it quicker. (Please remember this is only MY OPINION & VIEWS) But the cast of secondaries were entertaining who kept me laughing quite a bit with their witty banter throughout, not to mention a dog who dressed up. Jen Gilroy's writing style shone with talent as I never once thought about putting it down to take a break, so I'm very interested in reading more of this series, and HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO ALL!
December 4, 2017
Oh, how I wish I lived at Firefly Lake. I want to be friends with Cat and Luc. I want to be part of that amazing McGuire family. The friendships, the families, and their relationships in this town are truly special. The way they stand up for each other, protect each other, and go to the ends of the earth to help each other is amazing.
Cat is an amazing mom. Being a single mom is hard and rewarding. Cat has decided to make Amy her whole world and has no time for a boyfriend. Until she is reunited with Luc, her high school friend that she has always had a crush on, then feelings start to come around. Yet, she has to figure out how to work a boyfriend into her life and not upset the careful balance she has.
Luc has history he has to deal with. He is a widow, losing his wife while he was on the road with the NHL. He doesn’t talk about it, he never forgets, and he doesn’t know how to move past it. He doesn’t know how to open his heart and learn how to love again.
Everything about this book is wonderful, from the friendships to the families and the relationships all the way around. I love the setting of Firefly Lake and the history of the town. The rest of this series is one that I cannot wait to get my hands on.
Thank you Barclay Publicity for including me in the book tour and providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Cat is an amazing mom. Being a single mom is hard and rewarding. Cat has decided to make Amy her whole world and has no time for a boyfriend. Until she is reunited with Luc, her high school friend that she has always had a crush on, then feelings start to come around. Yet, she has to figure out how to work a boyfriend into her life and not upset the careful balance she has.
Luc has history he has to deal with. He is a widow, losing his wife while he was on the road with the NHL. He doesn’t talk about it, he never forgets, and he doesn’t know how to move past it. He doesn’t know how to open his heart and learn how to love again.
Everything about this book is wonderful, from the friendships to the families and the relationships all the way around. I love the setting of Firefly Lake and the history of the town. The rest of this series is one that I cannot wait to get my hands on.
Thank you Barclay Publicity for including me in the book tour and providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 14, 2017
What a cute cute story. I have to admit when I read the description it made me want to read this story and find out what happens between Luc and Cat, but once I started reading I wanted to know about their town and families too. I also have to admit that I have not read either of the other books in this series, but they are now on my TBR list.
Cat is a single mother of a hockey loving daughter Amy. She is coming back to Firefly Lake to finish her book, write some articles and figure out her future, as well as attend her older brothers wedding. Cat is determined to ensure that Amy, who struggles in school, has a good future with options if Hockey doesn’t work out.
Luc is the NHL star who has come home to assist his parents, and is coaching the local hockey team, where Amy is going to be the only girl. He is a widower who is struggling to let his late wife go and move on, especially with Cat, who he never really saw as anything but the girl who helped him in Chemistry. The girl he helped protect, the shy bookish girl.
Reading as these two navigated through friendship to something more was a wonderful journey of ups and downs. Especially because there is Amy to think about and how their relationship affects her. Amy is also a great character, she seems much older than her 12 years old, and it was great to see how her relationship with Cat and with Luc changed throughout the book.
All in all a fantastic read with a sweet ending.
Cat is a single mother of a hockey loving daughter Amy. She is coming back to Firefly Lake to finish her book, write some articles and figure out her future, as well as attend her older brothers wedding. Cat is determined to ensure that Amy, who struggles in school, has a good future with options if Hockey doesn’t work out.
Luc is the NHL star who has come home to assist his parents, and is coaching the local hockey team, where Amy is going to be the only girl. He is a widower who is struggling to let his late wife go and move on, especially with Cat, who he never really saw as anything but the girl who helped him in Chemistry. The girl he helped protect, the shy bookish girl.
Reading as these two navigated through friendship to something more was a wonderful journey of ups and downs. Especially because there is Amy to think about and how their relationship affects her. Amy is also a great character, she seems much older than her 12 years old, and it was great to see how her relationship with Cat and with Luc changed throughout the book.
All in all a fantastic read with a sweet ending.
December 6, 2017
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Cat has returned home to Firefly lake she loves the little town and having her family around but it still brings back the old feelings of never fitting in. She is trying to settle in as a single mom and trying to help her daughter adjust to the new town. Her daughter loves hockey so she agrees to let her play on the local team. When Cat signs her daughter up for hockey she realizes her old highschool crush Luc is coaching the hockey team and it makes her heart skip and the feelings return.
Luc has returned to firefly lake to start over since loosing his wife and an injury that ended his career in the NHL. He agreed to coach the kids local hockey team and finally has something to look forward to again. He sees Cat the shy and timid girl he always protected in school and she is now a beautiful gorgeous women.
Will his heart give in to a second chance? Can Luc convince Cat that Firefly lake is home?
I have completely enjoyed the Firefly Lake series this far. I will keep watching for more to come from Ms Gilroy.
*** Advanced Copy Provided in exchange for an honest review
Cat has returned home to Firefly lake she loves the little town and having her family around but it still brings back the old feelings of never fitting in. She is trying to settle in as a single mom and trying to help her daughter adjust to the new town. Her daughter loves hockey so she agrees to let her play on the local team. When Cat signs her daughter up for hockey she realizes her old highschool crush Luc is coaching the hockey team and it makes her heart skip and the feelings return.
Luc has returned to firefly lake to start over since loosing his wife and an injury that ended his career in the NHL. He agreed to coach the kids local hockey team and finally has something to look forward to again. He sees Cat the shy and timid girl he always protected in school and she is now a beautiful gorgeous women.
Will his heart give in to a second chance? Can Luc convince Cat that Firefly lake is home?
I have completely enjoyed the Firefly Lake series this far. I will keep watching for more to come from Ms Gilroy.
*** Advanced Copy Provided in exchange for an honest review
December 11, 2017
3.5 stars:
Back Home at Firefly Lake is the third book in this series. I was excited to see that it was Cat and Luc's story. Cat has come back home to give her daughter a chance at a fresh start. She is also at a crossroads in her career. Luc has moved back home to take over the family business after retiring from the NHL. This is a sweet friends to lovers story,
I enjoyed Luc and Cat's story. Both of them have major baggage from their past. Luc lost the love of his life suddenly and doesn't think he has room in his heart for love again. Cat has always been let down by men and is reluctant to lose her heart. They balanced out each other well. I also loved the relationship between Cat and her daughter Amy. As a parent, we want our children to succeed and be happy in whatever makes them shine. Even if it makes us worry. Watching Cat learn to let her daughter do what she loves the most (playing hockey) really resonated with me.
Characters from the previous books make an appearance in the story. It was nice to see Gabrielle and Wade's story wrapped up. They were on of my favorite couples from the previous book. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Back Home at Firefly Lake is the third book in this series. I was excited to see that it was Cat and Luc's story. Cat has come back home to give her daughter a chance at a fresh start. She is also at a crossroads in her career. Luc has moved back home to take over the family business after retiring from the NHL. This is a sweet friends to lovers story,
I enjoyed Luc and Cat's story. Both of them have major baggage from their past. Luc lost the love of his life suddenly and doesn't think he has room in his heart for love again. Cat has always been let down by men and is reluctant to lose her heart. They balanced out each other well. I also loved the relationship between Cat and her daughter Amy. As a parent, we want our children to succeed and be happy in whatever makes them shine. Even if it makes us worry. Watching Cat learn to let her daughter do what she loves the most (playing hockey) really resonated with me.
Characters from the previous books make an appearance in the story. It was nice to see Gabrielle and Wade's story wrapped up. They were on of my favorite couples from the previous book. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
January 13, 2018
My apologies to the author and publishers. I dropped the ball on this one. I accepted an ARC, and then during the pressure of a deadline, I somehow just skipped over this book in fitting in the reviews to which I had committed. I read it late, but I did read it--and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I don't have a lot of confidence in the usual comparisons to name authors, but in this case, I thought the comparison to RaeAnne Thayne was apt. Back Home at Firfly Lake has the heartwarming appeal and family dynamics that make Thayne a favorite of mine.
Second chance stories and brother's best friend are both tropes I like and this novel offered both in one story. I'm not a hockey fan, but I do usually like hockey romances. I especially liked the focus on female athletes in this one. This was my first book by Jen Gilroy. The fact that the first thing I did after finishing it was download the earlier books in the series is stronger evidence than my words could be than I rank this book highly.
Second chance stories and brother's best friend are both tropes I like and this novel offered both in one story. I'm not a hockey fan, but I do usually like hockey romances. I especially liked the focus on female athletes in this one. This was my first book by Jen Gilroy. The fact that the first thing I did after finishing it was download the earlier books in the series is stronger evidence than my words could be than I rank this book highly.
December 8, 2017
This was my first book from Jen Gilroy. While this wasn't the first book in the series, I didn't feel lost. Obviously I'm missing the background on some of the characters but I thought this book gave me enough information on Cat's family that I knew what was going on. Cat has found herself back home with her daughter, Amy. She's trying to do right by Amy and give her what she needs. Both mom and daughter have lessons to learn and find their way in their new home. Amy has new cousins surrounding her and Cat has family and the guy that she's always liked. Luc is struggling with something from his past as well and together, they learn to make a new way. Their story is sad, sweet and heartwarming. I enjoyed this read!
March 13, 2018
Okay as we know this is normally out of my comfort zone for reading but I took a chance on this Series with book two Summer on Firefly Lake and found that I truly enjoyed it that I went back and grabbed book one The Cottage at Firefly Lake and thought to myself it is okay to step outside your comfort zone and divulge into genre’s you generally avoid. Jen Gilroy’s writing style and voice is unique and she just knows how to weave a tale will exceptional characters and vivid descriptions that are so picturesque it’s like you’re living amongst them. Though this is not my normal genre I absolutely loved this softer romance from time to time. I just hope there is more to this series because I can’t get enough of this quaint little town.
4.5 Stars
4.5 Stars
December 15, 2017
4.5 Stars
This was a beautiful story. It grabbed me by the heartstrings. Both Cat and Luc broke my heart, but also filled up my heart with their story. Couldn't have been rooting any harder fr these two. I so desperately wanted them to get their HEA. The way Luc is with Amy melted my heart. It shows you what great book boyfriend material he is. Cat and Luc will have their hurdles to jump over to be able to grab their future. Will love be enough? The epilogue of this book is the icing on the cake. It was such a beautiful way to end this book. I couldn't recommend this book enough.
This was a beautiful story. It grabbed me by the heartstrings. Both Cat and Luc broke my heart, but also filled up my heart with their story. Couldn't have been rooting any harder fr these two. I so desperately wanted them to get their HEA. The way Luc is with Amy melted my heart. It shows you what great book boyfriend material he is. Cat and Luc will have their hurdles to jump over to be able to grab their future. Will love be enough? The epilogue of this book is the icing on the cake. It was such a beautiful way to end this book. I couldn't recommend this book enough.
January 24, 2018
Sweet and comforting. A story full of love and care.
The characters in the Firefly Lake books are sweet and endearing, they become family as you read. I for one would love to live in the little town of Firefly Lake.
There is nothing riveting about this book, but that’s what makes it a nice read. I can relax and dream myself away to another place where you follow nice people, dealing with common problems and heartache, as well as hope and love.
The characters in the Firefly Lake books are sweet and endearing, they become family as you read. I for one would love to live in the little town of Firefly Lake.
There is nothing riveting about this book, but that’s what makes it a nice read. I can relax and dream myself away to another place where you follow nice people, dealing with common problems and heartache, as well as hope and love.
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