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Huntington Family #1
Winter Fire
A bestselling author explores the bonds of family love in an intriguing tale of romance Fourth-grade schoolteacher Amanda Huntington said good-bye to her high school sweetheart when she realized he had fallen in love with someone else. Now, a year later, she wonders if she’ll spend the rest of her life alone. When she meets Blake Simmons, Amanda finds her life turned upside down. Blake doesn’t seem like the knight in shining armor she always imagined. With two adorable children in his care, he is locked in an ugly battle of wills with their troubled mother and worries that the children he has come to love will be lost to him forever. Will Amanda’s relationship with Blake and the children only cause her more heartache? Or does she need him, just as much as he needs her?
311 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2005
10 people are currently reading
342 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Ann Nunes
56 books361 followersRachel Ann Nunes (pronounced noon-esh) learned to read when she was four and by seventh grade knew she was going to be an author. Now as a stay-at-home mother of seven, it isn't easy to find time to write, but she will trade washing dishes or weeding the garden for an hour at the computer any day! Her only rule about writing is to never eat chocolate at the computer. "Since I love chocolate and writing," she jokes, "my family might never see me again."
Rachel has over sixty published books, including the popular Ariana series and the award-winning picture book Daughter of a King. She enjoys hiking, swimming, spending time with her family, reading, and visiting far off places.
For more information or to join her e-mailing list, visit http://www.RachelAnnNunes.com.
Rachel has over sixty published books, including the popular Ariana series and the award-winning picture book Daughter of a King. She enjoys hiking, swimming, spending time with her family, reading, and visiting far off places.
For more information or to join her e-mailing list, visit http://www.RachelAnnNunes.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
February 20, 2008
LDS romance is like cheap chocolate for a reader’s brain. It’s sweet, I guess, but not really that good — and yet you can’t stop partaking once you start.
I will say this about Nunes: she has gotten much better since when she began, and she’s helped open the genre of LDS fiction to other writers.
Nathan sometimes asks me about the books I’m reading, and he knows that if it’s a Nunes book, someone is going to end up at the hospital, because that’s where the drama is. This time it didn’t happen until page 264, so it almost caught me off-guard — I thought maybe Nunes had replaced the hospital drama with courtroom drama.
It’s dead-obvious in these books who’s going to end up with whom, so the twist in this story is that Blake (the male lead) is taking care of his cousin’s preschooler and baby. The ugly custody battle — and the obligatory question as to whether Amanda falls in love with Blake or his fatherly attention to the kids — encompasses the majority of the book.
Nunes uses the book to set up several upcoming romances, too (I think each of her books is a spin-off of a previous one; you can trace them all back to Ariana, I’m pretty sure), with all three of Amanda’s siblings in line to find love.
I will say this about Nunes: she has gotten much better since when she began, and she’s helped open the genre of LDS fiction to other writers.
Nathan sometimes asks me about the books I’m reading, and he knows that if it’s a Nunes book, someone is going to end up at the hospital, because that’s where the drama is. This time it didn’t happen until page 264, so it almost caught me off-guard — I thought maybe Nunes had replaced the hospital drama with courtroom drama.
It’s dead-obvious in these books who’s going to end up with whom, so the twist in this story is that Blake (the male lead) is taking care of his cousin’s preschooler and baby. The ugly custody battle — and the obligatory question as to whether Amanda falls in love with Blake or his fatherly attention to the kids — encompasses the majority of the book.
Nunes uses the book to set up several upcoming romances, too (I think each of her books is a spin-off of a previous one; you can trace them all back to Ariana, I’m pretty sure), with all three of Amanda’s siblings in line to find love.
May 27, 2008
This book actually wasn't bad. There were some passages that were self righteous enough to make me cringe, but that's to be expected. There were many chapters of this book I enjoyed, and a few cute scenes that made me smile.
Rachel Ann Nunes really is a good recommendation for LDS fiction readers. I believe she represents sexless romance at its best.
Rachel Ann Nunes really is a good recommendation for LDS fiction readers. I believe she represents sexless romance at its best.
March 8, 2014
One of those gem sort of books! Not a blow me away kind of writing style, not incredibly surprising, but a sort of heart warming pick me up that everyone needs to read once in a while.
May 10, 2019
This book completely filled its purpose. Easy escape, a few plot surprises and a happy ending. Looking forward to following the Huntington family in the next few books.
November 13, 2014
I was a little underwhelmed by this one. It kind of felt like a soap opera, more focus being on the drama than the relationship between Amanda and Blake. I guess I have a pet-peeve about relationships that move so quickly, especially under such dramatic circumstances. Having said that, I did enjoy the story (for the most part) and liked the characters. I guess I was expecting more of a romantic story, but it seemed more about Blake and his situation. I was also a little thrown when Paula (the kids’ parent) suddenly had a POV. There were a few story lines that were thrown in that I could have done without, but I guess added more drama to the story. Anyway, it was just okay for me.
Bookworm Rating: 2.5
Bookworm Rating: 2.5
July 31, 2010
I love stories about how two people meet and fall in love--as long as they're clean. :) I also love stories that take place around the holidays.
Amanda is a first year school teacher and when she accidentally starts an oven fire, which results in an oven that won't work, she calls in a repairman to fix it. Sparks seems to fly almost instantly, but....Blake has two kids. She later finds out that they're his cousin's kids.
Long story short--it's a tender story which led me to really think about how hard being a foster parent is and also how hard it probably is for some parents to give up custody. Kudos to those who can do it!
Amanda is a first year school teacher and when she accidentally starts an oven fire, which results in an oven that won't work, she calls in a repairman to fix it. Sparks seems to fly almost instantly, but....Blake has two kids. She later finds out that they're his cousin's kids.
Long story short--it's a tender story which led me to really think about how hard being a foster parent is and also how hard it probably is for some parents to give up custody. Kudos to those who can do it!
September 30, 2013
I liked this book more than I probably would have, and that was because it focused on foster care.
Nunes did a good job of describing what it's like dealing with an addicted primary family; the self centeredness, the lies, the excuses, the manipulation, the inability to care for their children, the family around the addict allowing them to make poor choices without consequence, and the judicial system erring on the side of mercy for the addict instead of justice for the protection of the children.
The book was a little quick and light for the issues she tried to tackle....but I did appreciate that Nunes tried to show the ugliness (in my opinion) of kinship fostering.
Nunes did a good job of describing what it's like dealing with an addicted primary family; the self centeredness, the lies, the excuses, the manipulation, the inability to care for their children, the family around the addict allowing them to make poor choices without consequence, and the judicial system erring on the side of mercy for the addict instead of justice for the protection of the children.
The book was a little quick and light for the issues she tried to tackle....but I did appreciate that Nunes tried to show the ugliness (in my opinion) of kinship fostering.
July 7, 2009
I was so surprised that I really enjoyed this book. It was full of kindness and hope and I couldn't help but like the main hero- he was always just giving his all. I loved the kid stuff too. Emotional and thought provoking in its dealing with substance abuse and the Family Services aspects of the book. I don't approve of a tragedy thrown into a book just for the purpose of a little heart tug however. It wasn't needed here and felt very out of place. Still, the book itself and story made me smile.
November 17, 2007
I like Beth's comments. This was the first Nunes book I've read & it was an advance reader copy I got from the bookstore at work. I hope they got a couple of things ironed out before the final publication.
I thought it was very predictable, the hospital scene surprised me, though. I wasn't too fond of the ending, things like that just don't happen. Being LDS doesn't make life perfect. But as Beth said, it certainly left it open for some spin-offs or a series.
I thought it was very predictable, the hospital scene surprised me, though. I wasn't too fond of the ending, things like that just don't happen. Being LDS doesn't make life perfect. But as Beth said, it certainly left it open for some spin-offs or a series.
September 17, 2011
I enjoyed this book. It shows how children suffer when a parent is using alcohol & is on drugs. Blake Simmons ends up with 2 children that belong to his cousin. She loves the children but not enough to stay away from drugs & alcohol. Blake does all he can to care for them while he works and goes back to school. Lots of action as the mother is in and out of their lives. Blake finally meets someone, but what kind of relationship can they have?
January 6, 2012
This book is so romantic. It has great details about the characters which is really nice because then you can have a better picture if them. This book is really good! It's also super thrilling! There's always 2 questions in your mind while reading this. 1: what's going to happen to Mara and Kevin? 2: what's going to golem to Blake and Amanda? I feel like anyone in junior high up should read this book!
January 25, 2014
If you like LDS romance novels, you'll like this one. I'd probably give it a 3.5 stars rating.
It's about a school teacher who meets an appliance repairman and is immediately attracted to him, although she has vowed to never get interested in an uneducated man. He has two children which she finds out later are actually his drunken, addicted cousin's children, and he is taking care of them. Together, they try to save the children from their mother.
It's about a school teacher who meets an appliance repairman and is immediately attracted to him, although she has vowed to never get interested in an uneducated man. He has two children which she finds out later are actually his drunken, addicted cousin's children, and he is taking care of them. Together, they try to save the children from their mother.
February 11, 2010
I loved this book. Don't prejudge a person before you know where they are coming from. I do it all the time but this girl finally gave the guy a chance to explain and what a good guy. Loved the romance cuz it's real life drama. We are all too busy to see a good romantic man when we have one in front of us.
February 4, 2009
I enjoyed this book so much. It was so packed with emotion and goodness. I loved Blake and Amanda, and the way thy loved his cousins' children. It was just such a good book, full of such purity and sweetness. I liked the way this book made me feel.
October 2, 2009
This was fun to read in part because it was about many of the same characters from the last book of I read by the author. Technically, it would have been better to read this one before Chasing Yesterday, but I actually liked that I knew (in part) how this one would end.
February 23, 2014
4th Grade teacher Amanda falls for repairman - but there's a hitch. He has children, does that mean he has a wife? Substance abuse, family relationships, and a little prejudice get in the way of a great relationship.
December 13, 2013
How she can write with so much passion so much intensity is amazing to me. Real life issues in an interesting engaging and good book always is amazing. I almost tears several time and happiness. It was really good.
July 15, 2013
This was my first Rachel Nunes' book and I loved it. LDS Fiction can be really cheesy, but this one was not. The characters were developed well, and the conflict/storyline was great. It even made me cry! Highly recommended for a good, clean romance!
May 23, 2014
The reason I rated this book so low was because there wasn't much of a story. Two people meet. They like each other but don't tell each other. On and on through the book, the same thing with different settings. I knew how it would end, nothing in the book was a surprise.
November 4, 2008
I love this book I have read many times
April 17, 2008
I love all her books. Easy reading and good message
April 29, 2008
i liked it. good for lds women
May 15, 2008
Fast read- an LDS love story...
May 30, 2008
Ok if you like romance this book is somewhat for you. It has action some drama and proves that true love conquers all. Full of twists and turns this book will keep you busy all day.
June 6, 2008
this is a really good book! its a cute romance!
June 8, 2008
THis bok was amazing! I love Rachael Ann Nunes, she writes amazing books. THis was one of those books you have to stay up all night for. IT's amazing!
June 11, 2008
A nice light read. She takes her clean romance VERY seriously and some parts that were supposed to be, um, romantic, actually made me laugh outloud. :)
July 14, 2008
Well if you've read one LDS Fiction book, you've read them all. This one was pretty good though.
August 7, 2008
Such a cute story!
November 15, 2008
I would have loved having Amanda teach me in the fourth grade. I especially love her magic purse. Kevin and Mara are adorable!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews