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Hearts in Hendricks #2
Love Like Fire
One Spark Can Ignite a Fire
Despite her ace matchmaking skills—four weddings to date!—Bethany Marconi and relationships don’t mix. With trust issues and a long list of ex-boyfriends, she’s an expert at dousing the spark of love before it catches fire. There’s little risk of rejection teaching yoga and looking after her grandmother who lives right next door.
When freelance writer Nate Ransom returns to his hometown to settle his grandmother’s estate, his rekindled feelings for Bethany take him by surprise. Nate remembers all too well how the charismatic spitfire of a girl ignored him in middle school before his family moved away. But Nate’s far from that boy now and more determined than ever to win Bethany’s heart if she’ll give him the chance.
After a family crisis pulls Bethany away from Nate, their relationship seems to be headed for the back burner. Will Nate turn into Bethany’s newest ex-boyfriend, or will her self-imposed dating rules finally go up in flames?
Despite her ace matchmaking skills—four weddings to date!—Bethany Marconi and relationships don’t mix. With trust issues and a long list of ex-boyfriends, she’s an expert at dousing the spark of love before it catches fire. There’s little risk of rejection teaching yoga and looking after her grandmother who lives right next door.
When freelance writer Nate Ransom returns to his hometown to settle his grandmother’s estate, his rekindled feelings for Bethany take him by surprise. Nate remembers all too well how the charismatic spitfire of a girl ignored him in middle school before his family moved away. But Nate’s far from that boy now and more determined than ever to win Bethany’s heart if she’ll give him the chance.
After a family crisis pulls Bethany away from Nate, their relationship seems to be headed for the back burner. Will Nate turn into Bethany’s newest ex-boyfriend, or will her self-imposed dating rules finally go up in flames?
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2018
238 people are currently reading
470 people want to read
About the author
D.E. Malone
23 books485 followersD.E. Malone writes sweet contemporary romance and is the author of the Hearts in Hendricks and Blueberry Point romance series. She also writes for the middle grades as Dawn Malone, and her work has appeared in Highlights for Children, Pockets, the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, and other magazines and newspapers. She loves traveling to places off the beaten path which inspire the small-town settings in her stories. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, hiking, volunteering with shelter dogs, and continuing her never-ending quest for the holy grail of bakeries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 8, 2018
Another great story! I'm loving this series.
December 21, 2023
This was an alright read, pretty light and passed the time well enough. I loved the fact that these two had a bit of a history and were pretty open about liking one another in the beginning. My problems came afterwards with Bethany’s never ending commitment issues that never felt explored enough for me to care - it just drove me crazy that she was pulling away for no good reason. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this well enough.
May 12, 2021
I enjoyed Love Like Water and was happy to see Bethany get her own story. You don't have to read Love Like Water before Love Like Fire, but I would suggest it, as there are some characters that it would help to know their story from the first book to really appreciate them in this one. Bethany and Nate are a sweet couple, even though Bethany isn't sure she wants to be in a couple. Nate is so wonderful and patient with her. I enjoyed their story, but felt the ending was rushed and certain things didn't feel resolved to me. I wish there had been a little more talking in the end and seeing more of a change in Bethany.
August 13, 2020
It was so cool to read a story about Bethany! I loved her character in the first book and it was super fun getting to know her and Nate. Excited to keep going with the series and read Debi's story!!!
November 17, 2018
"Love Like Fire" is the second book in the charming Hearts in Hendricks Romance Series. In this sweet romance, readers watch yoga instructor Bethany Marconi and journalist Nate Ransom's attraction rekindle. The two were schoolmates years before, and now they meet again when Nate returns to Hendricks to take care of family business. Beautiful but heart-shy, Bethany takes her time deciding whether to let her love for Nate grow. Will Bethany's heart defrost and catch on fire after a few quirky dates, including a romantic ice fishing expedition? Darcy and Sean from "Hearts Like Water" reappear in this book, adding to the fun! Set on the North Shore of Lake Superior during the winter, this book is treat to read snuggled by the fireplace.
November 21, 2018
I'm a fan of sweet, clean romances. I enjoyed reading Love Like Water, the first in the Hearts in Hendricks series, and I was looking forward to reading more. Bethany Marconi, our heroine, was such an interesting secondary character in Love Like Water, so I was very excited to learn that she has her own love story to tell. Love Like Fire is set in a small tourist town full of interesting characters and cute places. Bethany's internal struggles, stemming from her relationship with her parents felt realistic and raw. Nate's attraction to Bethany and his memories of her from their school days showed a lot about both their characters and made the story believable and deep. Not just another cutesy romance novel.
November 27, 2019
A bit ordinary to be honest. The main character was fairly relatable but not the most inspiring. In fact she seemed a bit obsessed with herself which didn't really work for me. I didn't like the aspect of her being so humg up on a less than perfect past. The story didn't seem to move at quite the right pace for me unfortunately. I did like the love interest who seemed a bit more realistic. It was not badly written but it lacked a buildup/plot twist type aspect to keep you interested.
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November 14, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (11/14/2019)! 🎁
May 8, 2020
Yikes! This was so ridiculous and cringey!! 😖🤣
November 24, 2019
I enjoyed this book, heart warming, well written! 😀
December 2, 2019
A fun, feel-good read!
This was a fun, feel-good read! There was a fun interaction between the two characters and I loved the connection with the birds!
This was a fun, feel-good read! There was a fun interaction between the two characters and I loved the connection with the birds!
May 11, 2020
Fun!
A great romance story, paired with a little coming of age wisdom and closure on a lifelong drama. A great story, looking forward to reading the rest of this series!!
A great romance story, paired with a little coming of age wisdom and closure on a lifelong drama. A great story, looking forward to reading the rest of this series!!
November 14, 2019
I liked this much better than the first one. Characters were good, the pacing felt more right with their love story, and their reason for briefly being apart was more plausible. I especially appreciated an epilogue at the end of this one.
November 14, 2019
The cover is adorable & I loved that it was set along Minnesota’s north shore. Unfortunately, the main character was so annoying.
August 4, 2020
Absolutely so cute. Nate was incredible, and goofy. I loved hearing his struggles with being a tall guy to him almost hitting a wind chime to knocking his knees on the underside of the table. Then with Bethany, getting stuck in the car. So cute! Bethany was great and I loved the banter between the two of them. I appreciated that she could admit her faults and to apologize. Just so cute. Already bought the next book, and I'll be buying the next one after that. I want to stay in Hendricks as long as I possibly can.
January 17, 2020
Delightful
A light and easy read, and so enjoyable. The characters are so believable and endearing, and the imagery provided an incredible visual like a Hallmark Christmas movie. (Although not set at Christmastime.) It also provided me relief to read in the evenings after stressful days followed by stressful bedtime routines.
A light and easy read, and so enjoyable. The characters are so believable and endearing, and the imagery provided an incredible visual like a Hallmark Christmas movie. (Although not set at Christmastime.) It also provided me relief to read in the evenings after stressful days followed by stressful bedtime routines.
May 10, 2019
The storyline reminds me of the song lyric "love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for."
Bethany really pushes him away, but he won't give up on them.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Bethany really pushes him away, but he won't give up on them.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
April 26, 2020
Another winner from D.E. Malone! I was hooked on this book, just like the first one.
This book is part of a series, but you don't need to read the first in order to read this one, though it may help with some of the characters.
I loved getting to know Bethany's story! Bethany owns a yoga studio, lives in a cute "shed turned apartment" in her grandmothers back yard, and is weird, to say the least, about relationships. She keeps the guys around for a little, but it seems that whenever they start getting in to the "deep stuff" she sets him free.
Nate lived in Hendricks and then moved, currency lived in Duluth but was back in town to pack up his grandmothers house and auction off things. He's a writer, and did I mention he really has a thing for Bethany?
Their story was fun to read, they have some history (minus the plastic ring debacle) but Nate moving out of the area, they didn't keep in touch. When Nate was back in town, he asked Bethany out on a date to which she said yes. She seemed to keep him at an arms length, she was afraid to get too close to him and open up, which he was like "hey, I like you... let me just keep trying!" I liked this because it shows a girl who was so iffy about relationships (due to personal reasons you'll find out) and she fought an inner demon the entire time. I was cheering for these two the entire book!
The setting, plot, and characters are perfection. Such and say and fun read, I didn't want this book to end!
This book is part of a series, but you don't need to read the first in order to read this one, though it may help with some of the characters.
I loved getting to know Bethany's story! Bethany owns a yoga studio, lives in a cute "shed turned apartment" in her grandmothers back yard, and is weird, to say the least, about relationships. She keeps the guys around for a little, but it seems that whenever they start getting in to the "deep stuff" she sets him free.
Nate lived in Hendricks and then moved, currency lived in Duluth but was back in town to pack up his grandmothers house and auction off things. He's a writer, and did I mention he really has a thing for Bethany?
Their story was fun to read, they have some history (minus the plastic ring debacle) but Nate moving out of the area, they didn't keep in touch. When Nate was back in town, he asked Bethany out on a date to which she said yes. She seemed to keep him at an arms length, she was afraid to get too close to him and open up, which he was like "hey, I like you... let me just keep trying!" I liked this because it shows a girl who was so iffy about relationships (due to personal reasons you'll find out) and she fought an inner demon the entire time. I was cheering for these two the entire book!
The setting, plot, and characters are perfection. Such and say and fun read, I didn't want this book to end!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2018
Love Like Fire is a well-written romance set in the winter in a small town on Lake Superior. I liked and understood the main characters, even when I wanted to set Darcy down and talk some sense into her. Nate was an extremely understanding and patient guy who did some marvelously romantic gestures to show Darcy how he felt about her. Their conversations seemed natural. The plot had some twists and moved along at a good pace. There are some swoon worthy kisses and a lovely HEA. I would recommend this to sweet romance readers, but not to clean and/or Christian romance readers.
August 11, 2019
Love warning up
From the title I had expected a sizzling romance between two characters from Book 1. It didn't quite happen like that. The love interest between Bethany and Nate was off and on -- almost to the point of annoyance. I won't spoil the plot but I do send you some encouragement to keep reading.
From the title I had expected a sizzling romance between two characters from Book 1. It didn't quite happen like that. The love interest between Bethany and Nate was off and on -- almost to the point of annoyance. I won't spoil the plot but I do send you some encouragement to keep reading.
September 11, 2020
Just absolutely beautiful
Just absolutely beautiful!!! The relationship with these two were felt so real. I laughed, I cried a lot more with this then the first one. But I felt like I was right there with them. I just happen to pick this up out of the blue yesterday and I'm finished today. Can't wait to see where the rest of the series goes.
Just absolutely beautiful!!! The relationship with these two were felt so real. I laughed, I cried a lot more with this then the first one. But I felt like I was right there with them. I just happen to pick this up out of the blue yesterday and I'm finished today. Can't wait to see where the rest of the series goes.
Read
May 22, 2022Combustible
Two people meet again after 15 years apart. Bethany is still mad at Nate for not giving her a plastic ring in third grade like he did in all the other girls. She is a drop the guy before it gets serious and Nate just wants a chance for her to see that they are meant to be together.
Two people meet again after 15 years apart. Bethany is still mad at Nate for not giving her a plastic ring in third grade like he did in all the other girls. She is a drop the guy before it gets serious and Nate just wants a chance for her to see that they are meant to be together.
August 4, 2022
Adorable and firey
Love Like Fire was definitely fiery! Such a great story that is fueled by the fire in the attitude and spirit of the characters. There is so much depth to their life, history, and motives. It's hard to not fall in love with this town and all of it's community members. It feels so real and wonderful, you won't be able to put it down.
Love Like Fire was definitely fiery! Such a great story that is fueled by the fire in the attitude and spirit of the characters. There is so much depth to their life, history, and motives. It's hard to not fall in love with this town and all of it's community members. It feels so real and wonderful, you won't be able to put it down.
June 15, 2019
Good story
Well written with just the right amount of unpredictability. The main characters were well developed but the character of Paige was a bit flat. I finished the book thinking if anyone had played me like Bethany did Nate, they would have been kicked to the curb pronto.
Well written with just the right amount of unpredictability. The main characters were well developed but the character of Paige was a bit flat. I finished the book thinking if anyone had played me like Bethany did Nate, they would have been kicked to the curb pronto.
Read
November 14, 2023DNF at 20%
I wanted to get into it, which is why I kept reading after chapter one even though I couldn't get into it. So I got to 20% and it was all so awkward and stilted and just not hooking me that I just gave up. Time to move on.
I wanted to get into it, which is why I kept reading after chapter one even though I couldn't get into it. So I got to 20% and it was all so awkward and stilted and just not hooking me that I just gave up. Time to move on.
November 19, 2019
Didn't find it the best book
I didn't like this book that much because it was it was more never ending than creating a new thin.
I didn't like this book that much because it was it was more never ending than creating a new thin.
January 5, 2020
Both the writing and story it self were not bad but just below average overall.
June 15, 2020
I wanted to like this book, but it fell a bit short for me. I didn't find the heroine likeable, and the hero was wishy-washy. Loved the cover though.
June 28, 2023
What a fun clean romance. Bethany has a lot of emotional baggage. Will she learn how to deal with it or will she let it ruin her chance at true love?
April 6, 2024
Bethany does not deserve you, Nate Ransom. I do.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews