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First Responders #1
Off the Clock
The only thing sexier than a man in uniform…is the same man out of it.
When Carly Douglas is run off the road, she’s terrified to discover she’s gone into early labor. Thank God for Gabe Brenner, an off-duty paramedic and guardian angel who rushes in to help. She hasn’t seen Gabe since before her marriage and subsequent divorce, but little has changed. He’s still strong, sexy, and oh-so capable.
Gabe can’t believe it’s Carly in the car. While his friendship with her brother ended years ago, he’s always had a soft spot for her, and seeing her in distress brings out his most protective instincts. In the days and weeks that follow, it’s clear there’s more than friendship between them as attraction sizzles.
But Gabe has a secret, and he knows it might just change Carly’s feelings for him forever. Can they move past the truth and into a future as a family?
When Carly Douglas is run off the road, she’s terrified to discover she’s gone into early labor. Thank God for Gabe Brenner, an off-duty paramedic and guardian angel who rushes in to help. She hasn’t seen Gabe since before her marriage and subsequent divorce, but little has changed. He’s still strong, sexy, and oh-so capable.
Gabe can’t believe it’s Carly in the car. While his friendship with her brother ended years ago, he’s always had a soft spot for her, and seeing her in distress brings out his most protective instincts. In the days and weeks that follow, it’s clear there’s more than friendship between them as attraction sizzles.
But Gabe has a secret, and he knows it might just change Carly’s feelings for him forever. Can they move past the truth and into a future as a family?
120 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2011
32 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
About the author
Donna Alward
285 books693 followersSince 2006, New York Times bestseller Donna Jones Alward has enchanted readers with stories of happy endings and homecomings that have won several awards and been translated into over a dozen languages. She’s worked as an administrative assistant, teaching assistant, in retail and as a stay-at-home-mom, but always knew her degree in English Literature would pay off, as she is now happy to be a full-time writer. Her new historical fiction tales blend her love of history with characters who step beyond their biggest fears to claim the lives they desire.
Donna currently lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, with her husband and cats. You can often find her near the water, either kayaking on the lake or walking the sandy beaches to refill her creative well.
Find out more at www.donnajonesalward.com
Donna currently lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, with her husband and cats. You can often find her near the water, either kayaking on the lake or walking the sandy beaches to refill her creative well.
Find out more at www.donnajonesalward.com
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 25, 2012
Bittersweet, and suprisingly great read. For a novella, this didn't leave me hanging like some. It had emotions and just enough depth that I felt quite satisfied. Loved it!
August 7, 2012
Slick's review posted on Guilty Pleasures
3.75 stars
An off duty paramedic witnessing an accident and discovering a very pregnant friend from his past begins the rollercoaster ride that is Off The Clock. This is a story of what ifs and it’s told beautifully by author, Donna Alward.
Gabe Brennan can’t begin to comprehend the feelings he has when he finds Carly Douglas at the scene of a hit and run accident. She is the sister of his former best friend who he had feeling for long ago. When Carly comes to, the first person she sees is Gabe, her girlhood crush. We soon find out some of their history but the rest of their story comes throughout the book as their feelings toward each other grow. Carly is now divorced and faces single parenthood, her ex wants nothing to do with the baby. Gabe has some demons in his closet from a long ago incident that he still feels guilt over.
They both have to overcome some big issues and neither one is very good about communicating what they are thinking or feeling. It was so obvious these two had amazing chemistry and feelings for each other but facing their fears nearly tears them apart. Their path to happily ever after is filled with land mines and I’ll be honest and say I wasn’t sure they were going to get there.
I enjoyed Off The Clock, while there were some scenes that had me scratching my head, overall I was hoping that Gabe and Carly would figure out they are good together. I like that their relationship wasn’t tied up in a neat package with a pretty little bow, that’s not real life and Donna did a fantastic job making their story realistic. This book is a great start to a series and I look forward to reading the next one.
3.75 stars
An off duty paramedic witnessing an accident and discovering a very pregnant friend from his past begins the rollercoaster ride that is Off The Clock. This is a story of what ifs and it’s told beautifully by author, Donna Alward.
Gabe Brennan can’t begin to comprehend the feelings he has when he finds Carly Douglas at the scene of a hit and run accident. She is the sister of his former best friend who he had feeling for long ago. When Carly comes to, the first person she sees is Gabe, her girlhood crush. We soon find out some of their history but the rest of their story comes throughout the book as their feelings toward each other grow. Carly is now divorced and faces single parenthood, her ex wants nothing to do with the baby. Gabe has some demons in his closet from a long ago incident that he still feels guilt over.
They both have to overcome some big issues and neither one is very good about communicating what they are thinking or feeling. It was so obvious these two had amazing chemistry and feelings for each other but facing their fears nearly tears them apart. Their path to happily ever after is filled with land mines and I’ll be honest and say I wasn’t sure they were going to get there.
I enjoyed Off The Clock, while there were some scenes that had me scratching my head, overall I was hoping that Gabe and Carly would figure out they are good together. I like that their relationship wasn’t tied up in a neat package with a pretty little bow, that’s not real life and Donna did a fantastic job making their story realistic. This book is a great start to a series and I look forward to reading the next one.
March 6, 2014
I was only able to read the first chapter before I just gave up. The book starts out with Gabe a paramedic off the clock and headed home. He sees a accident happen, and stops to render aid. The patient is Carly. His heart stops. He has known Carly forever. He remembers taking her to prom. Carly is very pregnant. Before the ambulance arrives, her water breaks. Once they got to the hospital, she asked him to stay with her, but he didn't. He did stay in the waiting room. After she delivered her beautiful son, he came into her room. The chemistry between the two simmered. They shared two deep kisses.
Ok, that's when I was like yeah, right. At that point I knew I wouldn't be able to read much more. I believe in fiction books, and I enjoy a good romance. But hormones overheating minutes after you gave birth, and was in a car wreck, was just too much for me. sex would be the last thing on anyone's minds who had just had a wreck, went into labor early, and delivered a baby. Mom's would be waiting for the nurse to bring back the baby, so she could count the fingers, and toes.
I read a little bit more after that, and gave up completely. After he left her hospital room, he didn't come back to visit for two days. Once Carly came home with the baby, Gabe showed up to mow her lawn. Their relationship seemed very hot and cold.
It may have turned out to be a good book, but I just couldn't get into it. Hey there is not a single book that everyone will like. You may love this book. i just enjoy books that could happen, not books that are so far out in left field that I just can't comprehend the story. This story started way out in left field to me.
Ok, that's when I was like yeah, right. At that point I knew I wouldn't be able to read much more. I believe in fiction books, and I enjoy a good romance. But hormones overheating minutes after you gave birth, and was in a car wreck, was just too much for me. sex would be the last thing on anyone's minds who had just had a wreck, went into labor early, and delivered a baby. Mom's would be waiting for the nurse to bring back the baby, so she could count the fingers, and toes.
I read a little bit more after that, and gave up completely. After he left her hospital room, he didn't come back to visit for two days. Once Carly came home with the baby, Gabe showed up to mow her lawn. Their relationship seemed very hot and cold.
It may have turned out to be a good book, but I just couldn't get into it. Hey there is not a single book that everyone will like. You may love this book. i just enjoy books that could happen, not books that are so far out in left field that I just can't comprehend the story. This story started way out in left field to me.
May 9, 2014
Off the Clock is about paramedic Gabe Brenner, he witnesses an car accident and of course naturally rushes in to help, what he finds is his best friend's sister in the car and she's pregnant!
There has always been a deep connection between them, but Carly is has just walked away from a crumbling marriage and is not ready to start anything up with anyone. Only she does not count on Gabe finally after all these years try anything and everything within his power to convince her that he has been waiting for her and this time he is not letting her go.
I love this read very much, being a novella the romance develops fast but not at a too fast pace. It had just that right balance of second chances mixed with everything happens for a reason. The characters were well written and the story it self hit all the second chances notes I as reader need to fully enjoy a good old fashioned second chances read.
At the end of the read I took away the message that most people think it is all over when they are alone, but there is always someone that will want to help you, all you need to do is give them the chance.
5/5 star review
" The clock of romance ticks at the just the right minute"
There has always been a deep connection between them, but Carly is has just walked away from a crumbling marriage and is not ready to start anything up with anyone. Only she does not count on Gabe finally after all these years try anything and everything within his power to convince her that he has been waiting for her and this time he is not letting her go.
I love this read very much, being a novella the romance develops fast but not at a too fast pace. It had just that right balance of second chances mixed with everything happens for a reason. The characters were well written and the story it self hit all the second chances notes I as reader need to fully enjoy a good old fashioned second chances read.
At the end of the read I took away the message that most people think it is all over when they are alone, but there is always someone that will want to help you, all you need to do is give them the chance.
5/5 star review
" The clock of romance ticks at the just the right minute"
September 10, 2012
Short and decent book. The h/H knew each other since he was best friend's with her brother but an accident changed that, the hero blamed himself(unjustly as it turns out) and distanced himself from the, she went to college, got married and now is divorced and expecting a baby. The hero, a paramedic off duty saves her and she has her baby. This brings them into each other's sphere, she has half loved him all her life and he too in a way. She doesn't want to be an obligation to him, her husband walked out on her since he didn't want kids and that left scars on her. The romance works very fast, they are hardly in when we get words of love and a proposal.
January 10, 2015
This was a sweet little book..I didn't know it was a novella though so I wondered about the quite fast pace but it made sense when it was over..I never checked how many pages it was before I startet reading..that might be a good idea to do...
December 16, 2019
Second Chances story
September 3, 2017
I love first responders (I'm married to one after all). This novella started off with a bang. It involved a car wreck, a pregnant woman who's water breaks and an off-duty paramedic on the scene that knows the woman. It's a second chance trope.
There was a great basis for a good story. There was an event in their past that really kept Carly and Gabe from having a relationship. That had to get cleared up before they could move forward, and Gabe's altered perceptions of the event were front and center.
I loved that both the heroine and the hero would blush and get self-conscious in certain situations (try breastfeeding in front of a guy that isn't the father of your baby). It was so cute. I was a little disappointed that the story wasn't longer so that the relationship could have been developed more. I did enjoy it a lot. Just go into it knowing that it is very short.
There was a great basis for a good story. There was an event in their past that really kept Carly and Gabe from having a relationship. That had to get cleared up before they could move forward, and Gabe's altered perceptions of the event were front and center.
I loved that both the heroine and the hero would blush and get self-conscious in certain situations (try breastfeeding in front of a guy that isn't the father of your baby). It was so cute. I was a little disappointed that the story wasn't longer so that the relationship could have been developed more. I did enjoy it a lot. Just go into it knowing that it is very short.
October 21, 2017
I found this book stalking my besties book list of the ones she has read. She is never done me wrong in recommending me things to read so I decided to read it before she had the chance to tell me about it.
This was short little novella that kept me from word one and half my attention the entire time I was reading. It left me wanting more. The little story showed me that love does it exist and it's probably stares people right in the face and they don't see it. It tells me that we can't just assume what others mean when they are saying things. Instead of assuming we need to just ask. This was so refreshing to learn even though it's fiction there people out that are prefect for us. Things happen when there are supposed to and we just have to have faith.
This was short little novella that kept me from word one and half my attention the entire time I was reading. It left me wanting more. The little story showed me that love does it exist and it's probably stares people right in the face and they don't see it. It tells me that we can't just assume what others mean when they are saying things. Instead of assuming we need to just ask. This was so refreshing to learn even though it's fiction there people out that are prefect for us. Things happen when there are supposed to and we just have to have faith.
May 29, 2022
Another good book by Alward. Her books are fun books to read and always have something going on through out the book. This one take place in a different area of the country and was an enjoyable read. You can never have enough reads by her.
February 21, 2021
Quick read. Easy story to follow.
September 7, 2023
Great series - all quick, emotional reads
December 24, 2024
Wasn't bad for what it was.
March 30, 2014
Well if you've been following the blog for awhile now you'll know I love romances that offer second chances and first responders, both of which were at the core of this little contemporary romance novella.
I've been curious about Donna Alward's books for a good couple years and when I saw that the first three books in her First Responders series were available to download via my library's Overdrive e-book selection I got them all...and proceeded to binge read them the other night.
Off the Clock was a good introduction to the author's writing style and not a bad start to a good little series that takes place in a small town and it certainly does start off with a bang. Poor Carly is 8 months pregnant with her first child and comes so close to not only losing her life but that of her unborn son after a stupid drunk kid cuts her off while driving, luckily for her Gabe, her brother's ex-best friend is there to rescue her for the second time in her life.
While I sometimes think that books that have characters meeting or in this case getting reacquainted in extreme situations can be cheesy I liked how it was done in Off the Clock. Gabe was sweet but he was battling his guilt over the falling out that led to him not being friends with Carly's brother anymore and Carly was busy dealing with being a single mom since her ass of a husband walked out when she found out she was pregnant so both had their issues that they needed to over come.
I liked how the romance built up between Carly and Gabe, even though the e-book was only 98 pages long there was no insta-love. Their love developed over the course of a couple of months and you could tell that they were committed to each other. They felt like a very real couple because they had awkwardness between them at times just like real couples do, and I liked how they were excepting of each others faults.
Overall, I thought Off the Clock was a quick cute read. I thought that since it was published by Samhain that it would be steamy when it got to the naughty bits but was pleasantly surprised that the author had it be more sensual and less graphic. The only faults I had with the book were that I think it could have benefited from an extra 10 pages because while the writing was excellent certain parts felt a little light. I can't wait to read more by this talented, Canadian romance author.
I would recommend this to all of Donna Alward's fans out there that aren't familiar with this series as well as readers who have yet to give her a try. If you enjoy contemporary romances and what reads like a genuine love story I highly recommend giving this a go. It'll make a perfect afternoon read.
I've been curious about Donna Alward's books for a good couple years and when I saw that the first three books in her First Responders series were available to download via my library's Overdrive e-book selection I got them all...and proceeded to binge read them the other night.
Off the Clock was a good introduction to the author's writing style and not a bad start to a good little series that takes place in a small town and it certainly does start off with a bang. Poor Carly is 8 months pregnant with her first child and comes so close to not only losing her life but that of her unborn son after a stupid drunk kid cuts her off while driving, luckily for her Gabe, her brother's ex-best friend is there to rescue her for the second time in her life.
While I sometimes think that books that have characters meeting or in this case getting reacquainted in extreme situations can be cheesy I liked how it was done in Off the Clock. Gabe was sweet but he was battling his guilt over the falling out that led to him not being friends with Carly's brother anymore and Carly was busy dealing with being a single mom since her ass of a husband walked out when she found out she was pregnant so both had their issues that they needed to over come.
I liked how the romance built up between Carly and Gabe, even though the e-book was only 98 pages long there was no insta-love. Their love developed over the course of a couple of months and you could tell that they were committed to each other. They felt like a very real couple because they had awkwardness between them at times just like real couples do, and I liked how they were excepting of each others faults.
Overall, I thought Off the Clock was a quick cute read. I thought that since it was published by Samhain that it would be steamy when it got to the naughty bits but was pleasantly surprised that the author had it be more sensual and less graphic. The only faults I had with the book were that I think it could have benefited from an extra 10 pages because while the writing was excellent certain parts felt a little light. I can't wait to read more by this talented, Canadian romance author.
I would recommend this to all of Donna Alward's fans out there that aren't familiar with this series as well as readers who have yet to give her a try. If you enjoy contemporary romances and what reads like a genuine love story I highly recommend giving this a go. It'll make a perfect afternoon read.
May 3, 2013
Off the Clock is the 1st book in the First Responders series by Donna Alward. For a short story it packed a ton of emotion and a great story.
Carly Douglas is having a not so great day! Heck, life if you want to be honest. She’s pregnant and alone. Her husband had never wanted kids, so when she got pregnant he blamed her for everything, cut ties and never looked back. She’s never once regretted giving up her marriage in exchange for the precious baby she carried. Yet, life just keeps knocking her down. She was just hit by an oncoming car and she’s trapped in her car. The baby is coming, it’s not time and she’s scared. She looks up and sees the one man that has always been there for her.
Gabe Brennan has just finished a very long shift as a paramedic and is on his way home. Yet, when he witnesses a hit and run he doesn’t hesitate to step in. Approaching the car, he sees what every paramedic fears most, someone he cares about is the one that was involved. Carly’s brother was Gabe’s best friend all through school and college. It was that reason only that Gabe had never acted on the attraction he felt for Carly. After the accident that broke up the friendship between the 2 best friends, Gabe distanced himself from Carly and her family. Now, Carly has been thrown back in his life and he can’t seem to fight all of the feelings for her that have come rushing back.
Now that he’d broken down the barrier standing between them, he realized that he didn’t want her for a friend. He wanted more. The prom was for kids. She was right. This was grownup land. And he wanted her like a man wanted a woman. Maybe he always had.
This was such a sweet, quick read. My heart broke for Gabe as he dealt with the demons that plagued him. His guilt over that long ago accident was palpable and the way he continued to punish himself was so sad. Carly was such a strong character that was doing her best to deal with all the changes that were happening in her life. I normally don’t like a relationship starting so quickly after a baby is born, but this story was different for me. Ms. Alward did an excellent job describing the overwhelming feelings of a new mom.
It was pretty clear that Carly wasn’t looking for a relationship and put the baby first. Her history with Gabe was what made things different.
You can find this review and others at http://riverinaromantics.blogspot.com and http://tinar1121.blogspot.com.
Carly Douglas is having a not so great day! Heck, life if you want to be honest. She’s pregnant and alone. Her husband had never wanted kids, so when she got pregnant he blamed her for everything, cut ties and never looked back. She’s never once regretted giving up her marriage in exchange for the precious baby she carried. Yet, life just keeps knocking her down. She was just hit by an oncoming car and she’s trapped in her car. The baby is coming, it’s not time and she’s scared. She looks up and sees the one man that has always been there for her.
Gabe Brennan has just finished a very long shift as a paramedic and is on his way home. Yet, when he witnesses a hit and run he doesn’t hesitate to step in. Approaching the car, he sees what every paramedic fears most, someone he cares about is the one that was involved. Carly’s brother was Gabe’s best friend all through school and college. It was that reason only that Gabe had never acted on the attraction he felt for Carly. After the accident that broke up the friendship between the 2 best friends, Gabe distanced himself from Carly and her family. Now, Carly has been thrown back in his life and he can’t seem to fight all of the feelings for her that have come rushing back.
Now that he’d broken down the barrier standing between them, he realized that he didn’t want her for a friend. He wanted more. The prom was for kids. She was right. This was grownup land. And he wanted her like a man wanted a woman. Maybe he always had.
This was such a sweet, quick read. My heart broke for Gabe as he dealt with the demons that plagued him. His guilt over that long ago accident was palpable and the way he continued to punish himself was so sad. Carly was such a strong character that was doing her best to deal with all the changes that were happening in her life. I normally don’t like a relationship starting so quickly after a baby is born, but this story was different for me. Ms. Alward did an excellent job describing the overwhelming feelings of a new mom.
It was pretty clear that Carly wasn’t looking for a relationship and put the baby first. Her history with Gabe was what made things different.
You can find this review and others at http://riverinaromantics.blogspot.com and http://tinar1121.blogspot.com.
September 16, 2013
Quick reading novella that is the first of a series. Set in Canada. Had already read book 4 and wanted to go back and read the others. Nice story and hope to get reunited with Gabe and Carly in the next books.
December 5, 2011
Very short but cute friends to lovers story.
August 17, 2012
I needed an easy read and this fit the bill.
August 2, 2015
Gabe and Carly in love with each other forever. Usually that makes me love them also, however there were no depths to these characters and the book was too short for me to fall in love with them.
October 17, 2017
Such a cute novella. Very charming.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews