The Firefighter's Refrain

Those Marshall Boys #3

by Loree Lough

He's a man who wants it all…if only he could have it

Dreams of stardom took musician and firefighter Sam Marshall far from his Colorado roots. Starting fresh in Nashville hasn't been easy, especially after an injury on the job, but he's working his way to the Grand Ole Opry one open mike at a time, teaching at the fire station to make ends meet. Yet Sam's intentions are shaken when he meets the lovely owner of a local café. Suddenly, Sam's dreams are filled with her . Too bad that as the daughter of country-music wannabes, Finn Leary's been there, done that. She'll never choose a musician. So how can Sam possibly get the girl and keep the guitar?

Genres: Harlequin, Firefighters, Romance, Contemporary

384 pages, Paperback

Published April 19, 2016

About the author

With the upcoming release of the books in her new Kensington series, bestselling author Loree Lough will have 121 books on the shelves (8,000,000+ copies in circulation). Her writing style has been compared to Nicholas Sparks and Mary Jo Putney, and readers and reviewers often call her “a gifted writer whose stories touch hearts and change lives.”

With a long list of industry awards, it isn't likely this prolific author will ever retire...not even to her cozy li'l cabin in the Allegheny Mountains. She loves to hear from her readers and personally answers every letter sent to http://www.loreelough.com/.

Visit http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B000APRS7S to see some of Loree's available titles.

Reviews

[Tressia Avellar · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven't yet read a book by this author, you are totally missing out. She is an AWESOME author and I personally can't get enough of her books and she is also a very sweet person and I follow her on Facebook as well. This book is another of her "Marahall Boys" series and is good as a stand alone read but will make you want to go back and get the story on the other parts of the family as well. I loved the characters in this book and the situations she brought out in this book brought things out that hit very close to home for me and had me in tears a few times. Very touching and I loved the book, GREAT JOB LOREE!!

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read the other books in the series, but this one can definitely stand alone. Sam is such a stand up kind of guy. I love a guy who works hard, is kind, and doesn't expect things to fall into his lap and that's just how Sam is. Using his volunteer firefighting skills, he heads to Nashville to pursue his dream of music, but he's a realist. It's hard to make music a career and he's not one to look for handouts while chasing his dream--he's working hard as a teacher at the fire station. He's such an old-fashioned gentleman and the world can definitely use more of those.

Finn is also a hard worker. She runs a local cafe, while caring for a mentally disabled sister, and works really hard to make something of their lives. Her parents are always chasing their music dreams and aren't in the picture much--until her dad decides to make an effort. Finn and Sam cross paths many times, in many ways, until they can't get each other out of their minds, but fears and past disappointments can be hard to build a future on.

I really enjoyed the way the story flows. There's a sweet gentleness to it and the way the characters are developed and interact with each other just warms my soul. Lessons of love, forgiveness, patience, overcoming fears, and independent strength are predominate feelings woven throughout these words. I'm really curious about the other books, as those characters made brief appearances, and I'm looking forward to reading more about this salt-of-the-earth Marshall family.

Content: mild romance; mild violence. Clean!

*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book by Loree Lough and of course I really liked it!
Finn Leary has had her share of ups and downs with musicians, so when she trips over handsome Sam Marshal's leg she not prepared for her heart to thump thump in response when their eyes connect. She can't afford to fall in love especially with a no good musician who's only out for himself or so Finn thinks. Her parents were drunks and had been in and out of their lives since the horrible accident that left her sister with serious injuries and she and Ciara on their own.
Sam Marshal teaches new recruits to become life saving firefighters since he had hurt his leg on the job but his real dream is to get signed on for a record deal and make it big some day that is until he meets Finn Leary and all that changes.
Will Finn Leary let her fears ruin her dreams for a happily ever after or will she give Sam Marshal a chance?

[Anne Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've already said that I love Loree Lough's writing, but it bears repeating. I'm never disappointed by her books. Upbeat without being Pollyanna-ish, romantic without being gushy, and real without the gory details,

Sam Marshall has a bad leg, so he can't climb those ladders to rescue victims--but he can teach others how, so that's what he does. In Nashville, where every other person you see dreams of becoming an overnight country music sensation. He's no exception. At least, not until he meets beautiful brown-haired dark-eyed Finn Leary.

Finn has an aversion to men with visions of stardom in their eyes for good reasons. She's the sole caretaker for her younger sister, injured and mentally disabled by their singing father's drunk driving and their mother's shrewishly sharp tongue. Both of whom deserted them without a penny right after the accident. If it hadn't been for a kind and generous cafe owner, she shudders to think of what might have become of them. To top that off, the one guy she did get interested in chose the ladder of musical success over her.

Now this guy sticks a long leg out in front of her as she delivers his food and drinks to him and his buddy. And then offers to care for the cuts because he's a firefighter. And one of his buddies just happens to be a star-maker. If this fireman-cum-singer thinks she's going to fall for those soulful eyes and hunky build--well, let's just say his aim is wayyyyy off!

Yup, another Loree Lough success story. Get it at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet romance--third in the series, but worked just fine as a standalone.

I really liked Sam--an amazing guy! A former rancher, current firefighter (though on the teaching end due to an on job injury), part-time musician and business owner, it's amazing he had time for a relationship at all! Finn had had a tougher go of things overall and had baggage galore, which made her distrust musicians on the whole and very hesitant to start anything with Sam, even though the poor guy was pulling out all the stops for her. I felt like her prevaricating kept the story from moving forward more than a few times, and it did get frustrating.

I loved the secondary characters--Ciara, Mark, Rowdy, even Connor, by the end.

I'm still trying to process how I feel about the ending--the very end of the book itself was very sweet, but I don't know if we got enough evidence to really see that the choice Sam makes is the right one all around...and the second last paragraph really didn't do much to convince me that Finn believed it either, unfortunately. Sam's response is perfect, of course, so I finished the book with a smile...

Rating: 3 1/2 stars / C

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's another Harlequin Heartwarming book! This is a sweet romance, perfect for girls like me who like their books clean.

This is the third book in the Those Marshall Boys series. You don't have to read the previous books to enjoy this one, but sometimes it fun to read in sequencial order because you get to see characters from previous books as you go and they mean more to you.

I really liked both Sam and Finn but for very different reasons. Finn is focused and so completely devoted to her sister. Her life has been hard and Finn has shouldered the responsibility of so many things by herself. You have to admire that sort of character. But, because of her past and even her present life, Finn functions like an island. She doesn't let people in and she doesn't trust easily. That's why Sam is perfect for Finn. He is solid, steady and smart. He is willing to put in the time to earn Finn's trust. I liked that.

This book was good. I felt like the plot swirled in the same place at times without a lot of forward movement so for me, it was the characters that made this book shine.

Content: Clean

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lynn Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A couple of loners with huge hearts connect and enjoy getting to know each other!

Sam Marshall cared enough about his music to move to Nashville to chase the dream a few years ago, but he has never lost his connection to his family back in Colorado, nor his passion to help others through teaching at the fire academy.

Finn Leary has been taking care of life for longer than she can remember thanks to her dreamer parents. If she never came across another head-in-the-clouds musician in her life it wouldn't hurt her feelings a bit.

When Sam meets Finn at her cafe, he's instantly drawn to her. When he hears she's not up on musicians, he tries to keep his distance, but he can't help but like her and her adorable kid sis. Can he convince her that he's not a bad guy and worthy of her taking a chance on him?

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Firefighter's Refrain by Loree Lough. Finn owns a restaurant. She lives above the restaurant with her sister who had brain damage. Finn doesn't want to deal with a guy who sang and touring on the road like her parents did because they drank a lot. She figured all singers were drunks and not home people. So when she meets Sam Marshall she didn't want to have anything to do with him. He was part owner at a bar type restaurant that had live music. Sam wrote songs, played the guitar and sang. None of that mattered to Sam once he met Finn. A romance happens. A lot goes on in this book. Parents got divorced. Dad is drug free now. Mother is still a mess. She steals money from Finn when she visits with her new boyfriend.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Following Sam's and Finn's story made for a delightful read. This is another one from this author that is the perfection combination of romance and wonderful characters that kept me reading from the first pages. It is the third book in Those Marshall Boys series, but it certainly can be read as a standalone. Loree has certainly become one of my favorite authors, and this is another one from her that I definitely recommend..

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Those Marshall Boys

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book and Sam is such a sweet guy! I was all set to give it 5 stars and think of it among my most swoon-worthy romances but I'm not sure how I feel about the decision Sam makes at the end. It's nice and sweet and I'm glad he seems happy about it, but I didn't think it was necessary. I understand Finn's fears, but also think she needs to grow up a bit and just stop running from things all the time. So I was disappointed with how she acted in that final week before the big resolution, and wish she'd shown more growth.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book. Sweet romance with such real and lovable characters. Made me fall for Sam and wish for a happy ending for him.What a wonderful sweet romance, this book pulled me in from the beginning and did not let go.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Firefighter's Refrain book 3 Those Marshall Boys***** by Loree Lough

Can falling over Firefighter Sam Marshall's injured leg lead to love? Finn Leary finds out quickly when she falls for Sam—literally. But she does not want to fall in love with a musician—too much heartbreak in that, so she shores up the wall around her heart. Sam leaves his beloved Colorado and family heading to Nashville, TN to pursue his dream of becoming a country music star. He meets cafe owner, Finn, when she trips over his leg, now he can't get her out of his mind. Will he give up playing his guitar and fame in order for Finn to be a part of his life?

Finn and her younger sister, Ciara's childhood was filled with tough times and struggles. I felt Finn's pain as she struggled with the responsibilities of caring for her sister, the cafe and her anger and wounded heart towards their parents. I can understand her fearing falling in love and have him leave her like her parents did. She has learned to be strong when she feels weak and to take on whatever life throws her way. However, she doesn't know how to trust—even God at times or let others help her.

Sam has a heart for caring for others, which he does well as a firefighter. He injures his leg on the job leading him to teaching others to be firefighters. I liked the way Sam prayed over and sought advice on how to direct a student who didn't feel like they needed to apply themselves to studying, could pass on the merits of who their grandfather is in the field. I love his heart, strength, strong family ties—even from a distance, faith and the way he doesn't give up on Finn.

Sam, Finn and Ciara are my favorite characters in the book. I enjoyed the secondary characters. I did not like Misty or Connor at all but started liking Connor towards the end. We experience the heartaches, fears, losses, learning to trust and love, forgiveness, second chances and leaning on God in all things in the lives of the characters in this endearing book.

~I received a copy of this book from the author, this is my honest review~

[LAWonder10 · Rating 4 out of 5]

An injury , followed by an unexpected collision with a gorgeous brunette, is have a life-changing impact on Sam! This cannot be happening! The brunette hates musicians and "settling down " is not possible if Sam is to fulfill his dream.

Finn has nothing but bad memories of her musician parents. It is not a life she will ever consider again. Besides, now she has Clara to care for and consider, too. The tall, blond haired man seems different than the others, but musicians are addicts and will always put their music before everything.

Through turbulent events, Sam and Finn's destinies seem to frequently cross. Will they be able to get past all the obstacles and still accomplish their goals? It is an impossible situation which can only end in heartbreak and disaster.

There are meant twists the story takes which keeps the reader "on the edge of his/her seat". The reader will become emotionally involved with the various key individuals in the story. The background scenes are easily pictured in one's mind, through simple, yet, descriptive wording.

This story is "cleanly" written, but, felt slightly wordy at times. The story continued to build then abruptly ended without the reader receiving closures to the semi-final scene.

The Title is "fitting" but the picture of the key character on the Book Cover does not fit the character described in the story.

It is still a very interesting, captivating tale and deserves a strong Four Stars rating.

*This book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review, of which I have given.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I have to say that even though I've read and enjoyed both of the previous books in this series, Once a Marine and Sweet Mountain Rancher, it isn't necessary to read them in order. There was a little mentioning of the previous characters, because they're relatives of Sam, but each story is complete on its own.

I really liked both Sam and Finn. Finn had a difficult childhood, but isn't bitter about it...just more sensitive and guarded because of it. Sam had the complete opposite upbringing, but he had some difficulties on his own one of which is an injury he received while working as a firefighter. It was a lot of fun seeing these two interact with one another. I also loved how Sam was with Finn's sister - just perfect!

The ending was so cute! I definitely recommend this book, and series, to anyone who enjoys clean contemporary fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.

[Connie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Loree Lough's writing. I have read many of her books and will keep reading them. This one is the third in her Those Marshall Boys series. It is not necessary to read the others as this one easily stands alone. I love the Characters of Sam and Finn. The situations are sometimes humorous and others pithy. I started reading it late one night and finished it the next day. It was hard to put down. You get so engrossed in the characters and the situation that you forget about time. Loree Lough can make you laugh out loud and cry in the same book. She is a master story teller and if you haven't read any of her books start with this one and then go on to her others. I look forward to reading her books anytime I can get them.

[Vickie Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anytime you read a book in one evening it deserves 5*, which is what I did with The Firefighter’s Refrain. Once started I couldn’t put it down. I haven’t read the other books in this series, but will definitely be doing so. Finn and Sam’s story from the start is full of heartwarming moments. Finn has had a rough life, she is taking care of her sister who has a traumatic brain injury, cause by an accident from her drunken father. Can she let go of the sins of her parents and learn to love? Loree Lough has once again created a hero to fall in love with.

[Glenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book and the series needs to be on your must read shelf, Loree Lough's ability to captivate her readers will have you hunting for everything she has written and don't be surprised when you pick it up again to reread her fascinating adventures.