What do you think?
Rate this book
A Year in Paradise #1
January Embers
Welcome to Paradise Valley, where the locals thrive on the rural landscape, the quirky Oregonian living, and the history of the lesbian commune that founded it. Mixing small town attitudes with lesbian dating? Sounds like another day in Paradise. City girl Mikaiya “Mik” Marcott returns to her hometown to help her ailing grandmother. But who does she see first when she’s barely reached the city limits? Ariana Mura, the girl whose heart she broke ten years ago. Only Ari isn’t a “girl” anymore. She’s a grown woman who doesn’t take crud from anyone. The lanky Ariana with a flower crown in her long hair is now the big and tough Ari, Paradise Valley’s strongest EMT and all-around “native gal” the other townsfolk are prepared to defend. Locking eyes with her serves a grim reminder to Mik that coming home isn’t always a small-town parade. It reminds them both of the worst night of their lives. In a small town like Paradise Valley, these two former lovebirds will never avoid one another. Do they make peace with their tumultuous past? Or do they acknowledge the embers of love that still simmer in their heartbroken shells? Who will stoke the fires first?
237 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 10, 2019
137 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Hildred Billings
149 books317 followersHildred Billings is a Japanese and Religious Studies graduate who has spent her entire life knowing she would write for a living someday. She has lived in Japan multiple times in multiple locations, from the heights of the Japanese alps to the hectic Tokyo suburbs, with a life in Shikoku somewhere in there too.
Currently, Hildred lives in Oregon with her partner and two cats. When she's not commandeering the corner of the neighborhood coffee shop on hours on end (it's okay, she's on a first-name basis with the baristas) she's probably parked on the couch watching Bob's Burgers or screaming at a Zelda game. (Seriously, Link, why don't you move right?)
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/3rgEzLz
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3c7Lcf4
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3vPLpvd
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/3lDutn5
Twitter: @hildred
Currently, Hildred lives in Oregon with her partner and two cats. When she's not commandeering the corner of the neighborhood coffee shop on hours on end (it's okay, she's on a first-name basis with the baristas) she's probably parked on the couch watching Bob's Burgers or screaming at a Zelda game. (Seriously, Link, why don't you move right?)
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/3rgEzLz
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3c7Lcf4
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3vPLpvd
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/3lDutn5
Twitter: @hildred
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
February 9, 2021
Los of emotional internal monologue stuff, as these two old flames rekindle their spark after a long absence and some heartache.
It ended too soon and I wanted much more of this newly rekindled couples present and future!
It ended too soon and I wanted much more of this newly rekindled couples present and future!
January 13, 2019
January Embers (A Year In Paradise Book 1) by Hildred Billings promises to be a lot of fun. Billings is going to publish a new book in this series every month and it will be like reading in real time. So in the novella January Embers it is in fact January 2019. 12 books in 12 months is quite a commitment and I think it’s a fun idea.
So, in book one we meet some of the population of small rural town Paradise Valley, Oregon, as long lost native Mikaiya "Mik" Marcott returns after a 10 year stay in Portland. She quit her stressful job in marketing to return home and take care of her grandmother who suffered a stroke. Coming back to Paradise Valley also means she has to face her first love Ariana “Ari” Mura who’s heart she crushed so cruelly when she left without even saying goodbye.
Both women have changed a lot in 10 years. Ari has gone from a shy, skinny femme to a big, burly butch EMT and Mik has done some maturing of her own as well. Ari has an enormous chip on her shoulder and most of the book we don’t know if she is going to bash Mik over the head or just try to avoid her as much as she can. Mik has to pull out all the stops to try and make amends and apologize to Ari.
I like the idea of this series and I certainly will read February which will focus on two other characters who live and work in Paradise Valley. The chapters alternate between Mik and Ari’s pov. I caught a few little mistakes where 10 years suddenly changes to 2. And I also thought that Ari’s utter contempt for Mik was milked a bit too long. There is no explicit sex in the book. A quick and entertaining read.
f/f
Themes: Oregon, small town gossip, coming home, heartbreaker, role reversal.
3.8 stars
So, in book one we meet some of the population of small rural town Paradise Valley, Oregon, as long lost native Mikaiya "Mik" Marcott returns after a 10 year stay in Portland. She quit her stressful job in marketing to return home and take care of her grandmother who suffered a stroke. Coming back to Paradise Valley also means she has to face her first love Ariana “Ari” Mura who’s heart she crushed so cruelly when she left without even saying goodbye.
Both women have changed a lot in 10 years. Ari has gone from a shy, skinny femme to a big, burly butch EMT and Mik has done some maturing of her own as well. Ari has an enormous chip on her shoulder and most of the book we don’t know if she is going to bash Mik over the head or just try to avoid her as much as she can. Mik has to pull out all the stops to try and make amends and apologize to Ari.
I like the idea of this series and I certainly will read February which will focus on two other characters who live and work in Paradise Valley. The chapters alternate between Mik and Ari’s pov. I caught a few little mistakes where 10 years suddenly changes to 2. And I also thought that Ari’s utter contempt for Mik was milked a bit too long. There is no explicit sex in the book. A quick and entertaining read.
f/f
Themes: Oregon, small town gossip, coming home, heartbreaker, role reversal.
3.8 stars
September 2, 2021
This was a nice cute second chance book. An excellent way to spend this rainy Thursday morning 🥰
February 12, 2023
On the cusp of being a novella, but moved though the gears with great efficiency. Nothing surprising or exciting. Move on to February…
February 21, 2024
3.75/5 Stars
A butch4butch childhood friends to lovers second chance romance where they hash out their problems on a hike?? That's gay! I really enjoyed this quick, first installment in the A Year in Paradise series and I'm already excited to start the second! I really am a sucker for series that follow different side characters so I can't wait to read Heaven's story next!
A butch4butch childhood friends to lovers second chance romance where they hash out their problems on a hike?? That's gay! I really enjoyed this quick, first installment in the A Year in Paradise series and I'm already excited to start the second! I really am a sucker for series that follow different side characters so I can't wait to read Heaven's story next!
Want to read
January 23, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/23/2020)! 🎁
January 17, 2025
It's an okay read. Not particularly thrilling or unforgettable but that's fine. My rating is more a 3.5 rounded off to a 4 because I can't give half star ratings.
October 16, 2019
Fire In Ice
When Mik left her small town ten years ago she had to leave the woman she wanted to marry behind and while she had a good reason, the pain she caused isn’t so easy to escape. Ari totally changed her life after Mik disappeared without a trace. She is still the subject of gossip and stories, leaving her unable to move on. When Mik comes home they both discover time doesn’t heal all wound… but maybe love does conquer all.
This sweet story is an easy and pleasant read. It was a feel good story that warmed my heart. I liked the characters and the chemistry between them. The settings were so realistic that I felt like I was home in my own small town. I loved that even though a lot of time passed their love for each other is still there and they are helpless to fight against it. This tale made me smile a big silly grin and made my heart light. This is the first book in a series of twelve and I can’t wait to see how this Year in Paradise plays out!
When Mik left her small town ten years ago she had to leave the woman she wanted to marry behind and while she had a good reason, the pain she caused isn’t so easy to escape. Ari totally changed her life after Mik disappeared without a trace. She is still the subject of gossip and stories, leaving her unable to move on. When Mik comes home they both discover time doesn’t heal all wound… but maybe love does conquer all.
This sweet story is an easy and pleasant read. It was a feel good story that warmed my heart. I liked the characters and the chemistry between them. The settings were so realistic that I felt like I was home in my own small town. I loved that even though a lot of time passed their love for each other is still there and they are helpless to fight against it. This tale made me smile a big silly grin and made my heart light. This is the first book in a series of twelve and I can’t wait to see how this Year in Paradise plays out!
October 7, 2020
Going home after skipping town without a word can be awkward. Mik wants to apologize and explain why she did it. Ari doesn’t want to bring up the bad memories. They have both changed and grown up. Fate seems to keep bringing them together. This is a great story about love and living in a small town.
January 9, 2021
This was a free kindle book so i wasn’t expecting much, but i read it in 24 hours, because i liked it so much. I like all of the characters, loved the story. It wasn’t super cheesy or mindless as a lot of lesbian books I’ve read have been. Definitely a book to put on your list!
January 16, 2022
“I knew you were gonna be in trouble as soon as I saw you were back in town.”
A truly cute, wintery romance perfect for the new year! I adored my first book by Hildred Billings and I cannot wait to continue the series next month! A book for each month of the year is an idea I'm sure many writers have thought of, but a 12-book series is a huge commitment. After taking the first bite with this book, I know I have to eat this whole 12-piece cake.
In order to keep things short and sweet, a bullet-point list:
-Cute Romance
-A Lesbian Town
-First Love/Second Chances
-Simple But Effective
-Funny!
-Promising Voice
“I don’t know what there is to talk about. You’re back in town. So what? Just stop falling off ladders. It’s not good for you.”
CUTE ROMANCE:
The romance is adorable. It's soft and sweet, not super angsty but with enough trouble to be entertaining and for it to feel like it matters. Ari and Mik have both hurt each other and been hurt by each other in the past, and neither of them wants to rush into anything, but the attraction is undeniably there.
A LESBIAN TOWN:
It's such an interesting premise to have a town partially founded by a lesbian commune, and the town is the gift that keeps on giving! See, the series is called 'A Year in Paradise' and each book is a single month in a year in the town of Paradise Valley. It's a fun, clever premise and the setting does feel as if it's a character. The town of Paradise Valley is charming, but not without its problems, and even in a town full of other lesbians, dating isn't always easy, and the gossip that spreads constantly doesn't help, but it does make for some good reading!
FIRST LOVE/SECOND CHANCES:
Ari and Mik genuinely loved each other once upon a time, and that first love is a strong pull that leads to a second chance, but make no mistake, there's still a sting of betrayal there. Ari, an EMT, is almost reluctant to help an injured Mik at one point, but she barely considers being petty for a second before training kicks in:
She chose to follow the path that had been set by her training so many years before. Someone is hurt or sick. I need to help them. That’s my job. It didn’t matter if that person was the sweetest of girls next door, or the high school bully who all but ran Ariana off a road one night. There had been times when she treated people who were so surly, so offensively rude that she hesitated to believe that these were the same people thanking her for saving their lives later. I’ll never forget the day I treated one of the candidates for district representative for heat stroke. The one who basically said he hated gay people and wouldn’t mind seeing us clear out of the area, although we make up a huge part of the economy here in Paradise Valley. Yet none of those people compared to Mikaiya Marcott, the one person in the world who would make Ari hesitate when treating them.
She was better than that, though. She had taken an oath to treat every patient with the same amount of respect, dignity, and thorough care. Little Miss Heartbreaker shouldn’t be any different.
Ariana doesn't make it easy for Mik to return, face her past wrongs, or start courting her again. I truly enjoyed the slow burn between them for the first 45% or so of the novel. Once they had their first kiss (which I felt was too early in the story) they kind of flew into a relationship, I wish it had been maybe fifty pages longer to allow that slow burn draw to each other to be developed longer, but I was happy for them either way, and on board for the ride.
My one complaint regarding the romance is that some scenes, such as the first kiss, the sex scene, etc, are too vague on physical description and written in such a passive voice. I believe a first kiss should pack a PUNCH in a romance book, we shouldn't be going, "Oh, did they kiss? I guess they're kissing..." and have to reread the paragraph to clarify. It felt like a little editing for clarity could so fully enhance those scenes.
What made up for that and sold the romance overall was absolutely the sense of true history between them and the town. Each of them has a past there and has a relationship to Paradise Falls and the people in it beyond each other, but their shared history from their past high school romance lingers in the air and between them in a rich, emotional way.
SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE:
From the characters, setting, and prose, this is a simple, trope-y romance the genuinely works, and feels charming and sharp. Billings manages to combine all of these separate elements into a competent package that manages to be a fun, fast, charming read. The town as a setting/character sucked me in and left me so excited to both read the rest of the series, and check out some of her works in other genres.
FUNNY!:
And it's funny! I caught myself laughing out loud so many times, from Mik's grandma Abbey and her musings and to-the-point talks with the younger characters, the awkwardness arising from Mik an Ari's romance, and the townsfolks reactions to it, as well as their combined teasing, was all fantastic stuff, and Mik's friend who tagged along on the move back to her hometown is a hilarious addition.
“...do you know how many times I’ve had to hear your sob story from everyone in town? Jesus, you have no idea. I’ve heard so many versions of the romance between you and this Ariana Grande or whatever that I…”
Mik was laughing too much for Skylar to continue.
PROMISING VOICE:
But the simplistic prose is occasionally cut by a poingant or beautiful standout line that shows the author does have a more innate understanding of these characters and their inner worlds that I really appreciated, either adding to the emotional themes or the atmosphere in general.
My favorite line in the book, so simple yet effective:
The rain hasn’t stopped since Ariana kissed me on top of Wolf’s Hill.
And another standout that hit close to home:
People came and went. They were born. They died, sometimes unexpectedly. It’s not fair. Why did most children have to experience this the hard way? Over and over?
It is a very promising sign for me, and it makes me more excited to check out Billing's other titles.
All in All
This was a fantastic way to get my reading year off with a grand start. I can't wait to read each book for each month this year. Let's see if I can actually keep up that twelve month streak though, because I'm kind of intimidated... O.O
I highly recommend this for any fans of second chance romance, lesbian romance, or small towns that feel like characters of their own. I promise I didn't spoil everything I liked and left some nice treats for new readers to discover: this is a fun book!
November 30, 2019
A second chance with the first love
“Embers was intentional. It had to be. Because embers were the remnant of that passionate fire burning in someone’s heart. Embers meant the fire had quelled, but could easily be stoked back to life with a hand that knew what it was doing.”
“Fires couldn’t simply be left to blaze on their own. They had to be tended. Someone had to watch out for it. Couldn’t let it get too crazy or destructive… but also couldn’t let it burn out because nobody was there to keep it alive.”
+ • + • + • +
An engaging & genuine story about getting a second chance at a successful relationship together for two women shaped & scarred by the shame & pain of broken hearts & lost love, seeking & hoping for producing, nurturing & sustaining love of/for/with each other.
It would totally make my day to be able to follow up with Mik & Ari throughout this series. Looking forward to more of & in Paradise!
“Embers was intentional. It had to be. Because embers were the remnant of that passionate fire burning in someone’s heart. Embers meant the fire had quelled, but could easily be stoked back to life with a hand that knew what it was doing.”
“Fires couldn’t simply be left to blaze on their own. They had to be tended. Someone had to watch out for it. Couldn’t let it get too crazy or destructive… but also couldn’t let it burn out because nobody was there to keep it alive.”
+ • + • + • +
An engaging & genuine story about getting a second chance at a successful relationship together for two women shaped & scarred by the shame & pain of broken hearts & lost love, seeking & hoping for producing, nurturing & sustaining love of/for/with each other.
It would totally make my day to be able to follow up with Mik & Ari throughout this series. Looking forward to more of & in Paradise!
March 2, 2020
I have only one complaint and that is it's too short. But then it is just the start of a whole series.
I like the charcter development of our two at first unlikely love birds from the moonstuck teenagers to adult women, who in actual fact are able to acknowledge the change in each other and forgive first themselves and then the other.
I hope you do not see this as a spoiler, as after all I read fictional romances in the expectation, that the heroine(s) get ehat they want and assume you do so too. Since the stories I write are a lot longer than this I would have liked a little more story, but hey, it is not my book, now, is it?
In all I really enjoyed the read and the writing is good, pretty good! A shame there are no half stars.
Now I am looking forward to the next step for Ari and Mik.
I like the charcter development of our two at first unlikely love birds from the moonstuck teenagers to adult women, who in actual fact are able to acknowledge the change in each other and forgive first themselves and then the other.
I hope you do not see this as a spoiler, as after all I read fictional romances in the expectation, that the heroine(s) get ehat they want and assume you do so too. Since the stories I write are a lot longer than this I would have liked a little more story, but hey, it is not my book, now, is it?
In all I really enjoyed the read and the writing is good, pretty good! A shame there are no half stars.
Now I am looking forward to the next step for Ari and Mik.
December 29, 2019
Thoroughly turned off by Ariana
I understand that Ariana was probably hurt more in the situation between them but I couldn't stand her from her first chapter the Author made her seem abusive and self righteous and completely annoying.
An apology wouldn't make things right, Mik knew she messed up big time but she still made an attempt at explaining and mending and was publicly humiliated, Ariana showed no growth for me the author completely spoiled the book for me
Also needs some editing but I doubt I'll continue with this Author work if other characters are like Ari it's not for me (no she never actually hit Mik or anyone but the underlying of it was enough of a turn off)
I understand that Ariana was probably hurt more in the situation between them but I couldn't stand her from her first chapter the Author made her seem abusive and self righteous and completely annoying.
An apology wouldn't make things right, Mik knew she messed up big time but she still made an attempt at explaining and mending and was publicly humiliated, Ariana showed no growth for me the author completely spoiled the book for me
Also needs some editing but I doubt I'll continue with this Author work if other characters are like Ari it's not for me (no she never actually hit Mik or anyone but the underlying of it was enough of a turn off)
August 11, 2023
It had no right to be this short, BRO WE WERE JUST GETTING TO THE GOOD PARTS. Ari is such a cutie and a softie and i really wanted to see more of that. Obviousky Mik is an ass for leaving her, i would say maybe after a few rounds with Ari, they would be definitely fine, But seriously, Ari is so adorable when she confessed, and Mik was really relishimg the fact that Ari can now throw her on the bed 😹😹 In all seriousness, its had so much potential and if it went on for longer, its wouldve been a definite 5* for me. But even if its this short, im pleasantly surprised how well all the characters are developed, even minor characters like Uncle Jake or Heaven (for this book)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2019
January Embers (A Year in Paradise Book 1) [Kindle Unlimited]— Hildred Billings (17 chapters) Nov. 5-6, 2019
Ari and Mik were high school sweethearts ready to run away and get married on graduation night ... until everything went south.
This is the story of two young girls who experienced true love and true heartbreak and then years later learn how to get past it all.
I liked the story a lot because it felt mostly real. The characters are well developed and the story progressed with well placed written events to further the story along. Quick read that satisfied.
Three stars.
Ari and Mik were high school sweethearts ready to run away and get married on graduation night ... until everything went south.
This is the story of two young girls who experienced true love and true heartbreak and then years later learn how to get past it all.
I liked the story a lot because it felt mostly real. The characters are well developed and the story progressed with well placed written events to further the story along. Quick read that satisfied.
Three stars.
June 2, 2019
Second chance romance leading to HEA. Decent story though the sudden, random, jumps into dialect with lots of "a'ints" scattered through a couple of paragraphs are jarring and disrupt the flow. There are also a few lost threads (e.g. does Abby recover from her stroke? what happens to Skylar?) that are disconcerting since the affected characters are themselves interesting. Overall an okay read.
January 14, 2019
What's meant to be will be
One decision on one fateful night ends up shaping the lives of Mik and Ari. When they're thrown back into one another's life they must deal with past to get to the future. This story is about forgiveness and self-growth. I fell in love with the characters of Paradise Valley. I am looking forward to this series.
One decision on one fateful night ends up shaping the lives of Mik and Ari. When they're thrown back into one another's life they must deal with past to get to the future. This story is about forgiveness and self-growth. I fell in love with the characters of Paradise Valley. I am looking forward to this series.
January 28, 2019
Mik and Ari spend 10 years apart in pain over how their high school love affair ended. Miss Billings' really caught the nuances of Oregon's weather patterns; especially how residents came out when the sun shined! Skylar's view of the small town was spot on; her 'city girl' perspective. Everyone in everyone's business was priceless.
A good enjoyable short read.
A good enjoyable short read.
March 18, 2019
Ten years have passed since two people in love and one left to protect the other.
A uncle who swore that he would maybe kill the one person that made her heart soar. Ten years later and the heartache, disappointment, embarrassment of finally learning the truth to the abandonment that separated them. A hard adjustment to learn that they still love each other. Enjoy!
A uncle who swore that he would maybe kill the one person that made her heart soar. Ten years later and the heartache, disappointment, embarrassment of finally learning the truth to the abandonment that separated them. A hard adjustment to learn that they still love each other. Enjoy!
July 22, 2019
A wonderful and touching story of a small town woman returning (to take care of an ailing family member) after some time in the big city and figuring out where things stand between she and her high school girlfriend.
An interesting town, and the pain of the separation in the years before the book felt real in both women. I definitely want to read more from this series!
An interesting town, and the pain of the separation in the years before the book felt real in both women. I definitely want to read more from this series!
November 4, 2019
Looking forward to reading the series
A sweet tail of two young women who’s love is snuffed yet the embers still smolder. I liked and felt for the main characters right away. I would like to have had more character development and back story with less repetitive angst. Still a good read and recommended.
A sweet tail of two young women who’s love is snuffed yet the embers still smolder. I liked and felt for the main characters right away. I would like to have had more character development and back story with less repetitive angst. Still a good read and recommended.
September 13, 2020
Promising!
This book was a very interesting start to a series I hope keeps my interest as well as this one did. Returning home ten years after leaving her girlfriend on graduation day and throwing their plans in the wind, the last person Mik wants to see is the first person she runs into, Ari. If you love lesfic, put this on your list read list.
This book was a very interesting start to a series I hope keeps my interest as well as this one did. Returning home ten years after leaving her girlfriend on graduation day and throwing their plans in the wind, the last person Mik wants to see is the first person she runs into, Ari. If you love lesfic, put this on your list read list.
March 20, 2019
Good start for a series.
Can’t wait to read the next installment. This is a good start to this series. The second chance romance for a high school relationship disrupted by a ten year absence. On to February.
Can’t wait to read the next installment. This is a good start to this series. The second chance romance for a high school relationship disrupted by a ten year absence. On to February.
July 3, 2019
Great story
Well Ari was a hoot mess when her ex showed up in paradise. Mike was not prepared to see Ari so soon. The story between these two was messy and confusing for both characters. Ending was thoroughly enjoyed.
Well Ari was a hoot mess when her ex showed up in paradise. Mike was not prepared to see Ari so soon. The story between these two was messy and confusing for both characters. Ending was thoroughly enjoyed.
January 27, 2020
Great read!
I loved this book. It was refreshing to read something without the soft porn usually linked between sketches of the characters. It mirrored real life and the characters were believable. A good book.
I loved this book. It was refreshing to read something without the soft porn usually linked between sketches of the characters. It mirrored real life and the characters were believable. A good book.
May 5, 2020
Budding romance
Ari and Mikaiya fell in love in high school and after graduation Mikaiya left town. This book picks up ten years later as Mik and Ari try to figure out how to live in the same small town again.
The reason for the three stars is that there are typos.
Ari and Mikaiya fell in love in high school and after graduation Mikaiya left town. This book picks up ten years later as Mik and Ari try to figure out how to live in the same small town again.
The reason for the three stars is that there are typos.
May 7, 2020
Excellent Read
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the characters were very intense from beginning to ending. I would definitely recommend this book to all my Lesbian friends...
.?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the characters were very intense from beginning to ending. I would definitely recommend this book to all my Lesbian friends...
.?
June 25, 2020
Full of Feelings and Angst!
I remembered my first relationship as a teenager. This book demonstrates how devastating a lack of communication can really be to young inexperienced hearts. But (here comes the spoiler), there's a happy ending!
I remembered my first relationship as a teenager. This book demonstrates how devastating a lack of communication can really be to young inexperienced hearts. But (here comes the spoiler), there's a happy ending!
September 21, 2020
Short n sweet. My first foray into FF.
I'll be honest, I've gotten so used to the deep, gruff, nether-stirring voices that I love from MM that I had trouble really getting into this audiobook... but it wasnt bad.
I'll be honest, I've gotten so used to the deep, gruff, nether-stirring voices that I love from MM that I had trouble really getting into this audiobook... but it wasnt bad.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews