Crashing Into Love (the Bradens at Trusty): Jake Braden

The Bradens at Trusty, Colorado #6

by Melissa Foster

Fiona Steele has a great career, strong friendships, and a loving family. To an outsider, her life appears happy and fulfilling. But the one thing that’s missing is true love, and the only man Fiona wants is the one she can’t have, sinfully handsome and seductively intense Jake Braden—the man whose heart she broke, which she has regretted ever since.

As an LA stuntman, Jake Braden’s at the top of his game. He’s hired for all the best movies, hooks up with the hottest women, and lives an unencumbered lifestyle where his needs come first—and where he doesn’t have to examine his life too closely. Except when he visits his family in his close-knit hometown of Trusty, Colorado, where he spends his time avoiding Fiona—the only woman who knows who he really is.

When Fiona’s best friend is hired to act in Jake’s movie, Fiona jumps at the chance to try to win him back. There’s no denying the white-hot attraction burning between them. With every encounter, Fiona hopes Jake can’t resist falling back into the love they once shared. But her well-orchestrated rendezvous doesn’t go over well with the brooding heartthrob. Living in the fast lane is perfect for a guy who’s buried his emotions so damn deep he’s not sure he can remember how to feel—and he’s not sure he ever wants to.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Second Chance, Family, Ebooks

404 pages, Paperback

First published March 14, 2015

About the author

NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, and USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

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Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than 100 novels. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic, always family oriented, and feature fiercely loyal heroes, smart, sassy heroines, and complex relatable issues.

Melissa also writes sweet romance under the pen name, Addison Cole here: https://addisoncole.com

Melissa loves to hear from readers! Feel free to send her an email or chat with her on social media.

Melissa welcomes the opportunity to chat with book clubs and other reading groups.

"What sets Melissa Foster apart are her compelling characters who you care about... desperately...I dare you to read the first chapter and not be hooked." International bestseller, M.J. Rose

"Melissa Foster is a wonderful connector of readers and books, a friend of authors, and a tireless advocate for women. She is the real deal"--Author Jennie Shortridge

Reviews

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Melissa Foster and her Love in Bloom series. All of these men are sexy and alpha and the woman can keep up with them. Jake and Fiona were high school sweethearts that had their life planned out together. They spent two blissful years learning and falling in love before one decision took that all away. Fiona and Jake were always meant to be and now Fiona just has to prove that to Jake all over again.



Fiona Steele has everything. She has a great job that she loves, friends that she hangs out with, and a house that is all hers. The only thing she doesn’t have is Jake Braden, right now he is the only thing that she needs. For years she has fought with herself about getting Jake back but always found a reason to wait. Now she is done waiting. She has set up a job on his next movie and with the week before she plans on cornering him when she can. I really liked Fiona Steele. She was strong when it came to Jake. When she was a teenager she had a weak moment, a moment of doubt, which made her real. Teenagers on the verge of changing their lives make those rash decisions. It was believable and real. While she had her doubts in LA she fought them and fought for him. She was funny and you could really feel her love for Jake, no matter how he treated her in the beginning.



Jake Braden met the love of his life in high school and just as fast she left him. And she didn’t just leave him, she broke him. Now he lives his life in the fast lane. He focuses on taking risks and taking a different women to bed every night. He also spends all of his time keeping memories of Fiona out of his head and avoiding her when he is home. When Fiona finally corners him he doesn’t know how to take it. She makes him feel again and he doesn’t know if he can handle it anymore. I wasn’t sure if I was going to actually like Jake in this book. I loved him in the other books but he really started out as an ass to Fiona. Which was understandable to a degree but I also think that he needed to be that way. He made a great character arc. He started off as a selfish bastard and completely did a 180. He was sweet and kind and completely loving to Fiona once he let himself feel again.



Jake and Fiona’s love story was all about having the guts to trust and take a second chance. Fiona needs to be able to trust that Jake isn’t the person he portrays and Jake needs to let their love have a second chance. Even though there have been years between the time they have been together they are all the other person can think about. No matter how many times Jake tries to force Fiona out of his mind he only managed to bury her. She has always been there even when he didn’t know it. I loved that Fiona and Jake have been holding on to each other for so long. Even when thought they had given up they never had.



Melissa Foster’s writing is always flawless and this story is no different. If you thought every story was the same with little variations you were wrong. Melissa Foster can bring out so many emotions in one story. While I might have hated Jake in the beginning I didn’t in the end. We got to see some of the other Bradens being Bradens . I can’t wait for more from Melissa.

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading a Melissa Foster story means catching up with old friends. Each story I have read by Ms. Foster has allowed me to jump seamlessly into the world of the characters and not want to set it down until the story is finished. Crashing into Love is no exception. Jake and Fiona fell in love at a young age, but allowed youth and life circumstances to tear them apart. Fiona now realizing she has let the love of her life slip through her fingers is doing everything in her power for a second chance. Jake on the other hand remembers the pain of losing his first love and is not sure he wants to risk being hurt again. With Crashing into Love, Ms. Foster manages to create a story that anybody who has loved and lost can relate to. She also manages to show the important role family plays in many of the life decisions we make. I love her stories and would recommend them to anyone. I received an ARC for an honest review.

Audio Review: Crashing into Love (The Bradens at Trusty #6; The Bradens #12; Love in Bloom #21)
by Melissa Foster (author), BJ Harrison (narrator)

A match made in heartache, could be a love worth fighting for. Foster and Harrison team up once again to perfectly play a melody of the heart. Crashing into Love brings an old love full circle. Jake and Fiona are learning how to begin again after years of bitterness and anger. What seems to be an uphill battle quickly becomes a whirlwind of romance. Secrets will be revealed. Hearts are almost broken. Yet somehow love finds a pathway to a new beginning. Foster manages to create a story that anybody who has loved and lost can relate to. Harrison parlays that emotion into a journey of sentimentally and second chances that will remain in our hearts for years to come.

[Pahini · Rating 3 out of 5]

JESUS CHRIST FOR ONCE IN THE HISTORY OF ROMANCE NOVELS CAN THE GUY LEAVE HIS THRIVING CAREER BEHIND AND RELOCATE FOR A GIRL?!?!?! Until the end, I really really really thought Jake would move two hours away for Fiona’s obviously thriving career but nooooooo. She gave up a promotion AND left her entire career behind AND relocated so he could keep doing stunts even though it was alluded in the book that he wasn’t entirely satisfied or fulfilled with his lifestyle??? He did not even OFFER omg! And there is ONE mention of Fiona never exploring art and then like ten pages about how passionate she is about her career and is successful and widely acclaimed and clearly going to bigger and better places but nope. She leaves all that behind for Jake and swaps her career that she has worked incredibly hard for for art classes??? It makes me sO MAD THAT FEMALE CHARACTERS ARE REQUIRED TO SACRIFICE EVERYTHING DEAR TO THEM FOR LOVE WHICH SUPPOSEDLY ECLIPSES EVERYTHING ELSE IN LIFE??? Like, unless she gives up everything for Jake, she doesn’t truly love him?
So, it is possible that her story arc goes this way because she was the one who left him all those years ago but still??? Giving up your entire life for redemption when redemption clearly isn’t necessary??? How the fuck is Jake made out to be worth everything??? I understand the romance of having the love of your life with you at all times but HAVE NEITHER OF THEM HEARD OF COMPROMISE???
The book was quite good otherwise but the end was SO OFFPUTTING OMG! THIS IS THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY!!! WOMEN BEFORE US HAVE WORKED HARD SO THAT WE COULD HAVE THE CAREERS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY NEVER COULD AND THIS IS HOW WE REPAY THEM??? BY TOSSING ASIDE FANTASTIC CAREER FOR GARBAGE MEN WHO CANNOT COMPROMISE? Jake is lovely and sweet and thinks the world revolves around Fiona but the most he offers her is long distance and ??? No??? Bitch you can afford to move? Get a different job? Like she is? Because of you?
BOTH of them could have moved!!!
Ugh this is making me so mad. Very disappointed with how the ending turned out. JEEZ.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake and Fiona were high school sweethearts on the path to a lifetime together until a rash decision, encouraged by Fiona’s mother, caused Fiona to end things with Jake. Although years have passed since they’d been together, Jake has never been far from Fiona’s mind … or heart. When Fiona hears that Jake, who is a professional stuntman, has been cast in the same movie her best friend is acting in, she figures, this may be her only chance at trying to get him back.

Since breaking up, Jake has made every effort to avoid Fiona. He’s reluctant to admit to anyone, sometimes even himself, that his love for Fiona is still strong. Now, living in LA, his life is much different than it was in Trusty. His house resembles a party any given night of the week and he usually has a different girl on his arm. Quite a different life than the one Fiona was in.

Fiona enlists the help of Jake’s family to get him to the bar that she’s going to be at, in hopes of a happy reunion. But when Jake spies Fiona, he’s anything but happy. Fiona fears that she may have lost him for good.

I’ve always been of the thought that everyone deserves a second chance. So, it’s no surprise that I was rooting for Fiona and Jake to get back together. If they do or not, well that’s left up to you to find out when you read the book. I loved this story, fell in love with the characters and devoured this book in no time! I have yet to meet a Melissa Foster character (and book) that I didn’t like. Grab this book, you’ll be glad you did.

[Charlotte Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am feeling sad now that I have finished Jake Braden’s story. He is the last of the Braden brothers, well from that side of the family. I feel like I am leaving my book crushes behind. Yet, I know that Melissa Foster will continue to entertain me and introduce me to more book crushes in the stories of the cousins yet to come in this series.

Jake is amazing. Of course he is, he’s a Braden. I love that he fought his broken heart and finally gave into what his heart and head told him he really wanted. I wanted him and Fiona to get back together, yet I really just wanted him to be true to himself. The ache he felt was so heartbreaking that it actually made him a person that he did not like. The first time he runs into Fiona and blows her off I could hear the wall around his heart start to break and was excited for what was to come.

Fiona, oh Fiona. She made an immature choice when she was younger and it haunted her forever. I believe that her choice made both her and Jake the people they are and if that choice had not had happen their relationship may have ended very differently. As she grew up and started to understand life and what she wanted from life, Fiona knew that she had to fix what was broken. She put herself out there, stepped out of the normal bounds, and put her feelings before everything to make her life right again.

Of course, I recommend Melissa Foster’s Love in Bloom Series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but are more enjoyable when read in order as a series.

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: Narrator - B.J. Harrison

Another great narration by the voice of the series! Mr. Harrison does an incredible job of bringing depth and emotion to all of the characters. He makes me feel all the feels not just by the words on the page, but by the way he presents them






I loved Fiona and her determination to get another chance with Jake, her high school sweetheart. She had a real battle before her because Jake didn’t want to see, speak or be in the same area as Fiona. The fact that he couldn’t stay strong against her made me love him. As the past is laid out along with the issues from relationships, I found myself loving him so much more.

These Bradens are amazing. With strong protective alpha tendencies as well as a bit of jealousy that runs through them all, I can’t help but want so much more from them.

This is a relatively low angst read with high steam.

Dual POV
Safe no om drama; H is a manwhore and there are several women that touch him, hang on him, flirt while the h is present - he does do what he can to turn them away; h not a virgin; they dated 2 yrs in high school and were each other’s first; both with others during the 16 years separating them
Triggers no apparent triggers

[reader_dreamer_4life · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melissa Foster once again delivers a whole lot of heart and heat in this second chance romance story.
Crashing into Love is Jake and Fiona's story and oh my heart what a story it was.
Jake and Fiona were once high school sweethearts until Fiona unexpectedly left Jake behind and heartbroken.
Sixteen years later and Fiona is determined to right the wrong that also left her heartbroken.
She wants Jake and this time she wants forever.
But Jake is no longer the same man she once knew.
And...
When all is said and done will Jake be willing to risk is heart again for the only woman he has ever loved? Or can some damage simply not be undone?

I loved Fiona and gosh my heart could truly feel the love she felt for Jake. She had me laughing at times and I adored her determination when it came to finally getting her man back. Even though some doubt and insecurities started to creep in she stayed strong and fought for Jake and there love. I mean not that I can blame her. Hello swoony Jake Braden.

Jake Braden oh my!!! what a sexy and oh so swoony man. Jake thought he had met the love of his life in high school until she not only left him but broke him.
He's managed to avoid her for years until now. Now she is everywhere and the feelings he thought he had desperately buried are starting to resurface.
Will Jake the playboy and professional stuntman take the biggest leap of his life for a second chance? Filled with hurt and anger Jake was broody and stand offish to begin, however he couldn't deny what he and his heart wanted. Once he was open to a second chance oh damn he was sweet, protective, loving and so swoony with Fiona.
This was such an emotional but truly beautiful second chance romance story that I can't recommend enough!

[Nate Brightman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crashing into Love is the final book in the Bradens of Trusty Co. series. First I have to say that whenever I read modern romance I need to continually remind myself that they are fantasy books and the fantasy goes beyond the idea that every hero and heroine is dazzlingly beautiful inside and out. For Crashing into Love the larger fantasy is that Jake Braden a Hollywood stuntman is an "A-List' celebrity on a par with say Dwayne Johnson (The Rock). Much of this book is about Jake's love Fiona who is a geologist by trade trying to adjust to Jake's celebrity lifestyle. The women (super models, A-List actresses) throwing themselves at him, the paparazzi constantly hounding him, the red carpets. I just had to keep fighting the knowledge in the back of my brain that in my long life I've never known a stuntman who was as big a celebrity as the stars they fill in for doing the action scenes in the movies. In fact stuntmen are pretty well anonymous outside of the industry. Their whole purpose is for the viewer not to realize it's them and not the star doing the dangerous stunts. I also was very surprised the majority of the book dealt with this subject and not Jake learning to forgive and trust Fiona Steele his high school sweetheart that dumped him just before she went off for college at Penn St. Bonus points if you can remember which book Fiona's oldest brother Reggie made a brief appearance in! At any rate Fiona now 16 long years later decides she's going to try and re-connect with Jake whom she knows has deliberately tried to avoid her whenever they were both back in their hometown of Trusty. Again remind yourself it's fantasy because that's the only way you can believe these two people who were obviously still so in love with each other could go 16 long years without reconnecting. It's also a little hard to believe that once the initial pain of her breaking up with him wore off and he matured Jake never put 2 and 2 together and realized that the fact that Fiona's dad had just broken up with her mom when she broke up with him played a big role in her decision and that they were only teenagers at the time. Just seems to me that by the time Jake hit 30 if not before he might have been able to put the whole thing in better perspective and not been so angry with Fiona for something she did at 17 or 18. Whatever, his anger didn't last very long as it wasn't too far into the book before he and Fiona were lovers again while he tried to redeem himself from his whore-mongering hedonistic lifestyle to be worthy of Fiona's love while she tried to deal with his celebrity. Being the final book in the Trusty series we did get to spend a little time with Jake's siblings and their significant others and even some of their cousins from Weston. Even though in the early books I didn't really care for the man-whore Jake character who seemed to behave more line an over-grown adolescent, he did redeem himself in my eyes as the book went on and I loved the Fiona character from the start who was willing to accept the blame for breaking Jake's heart, ask his forgiveness and wanted so desperately to try again that she put herself out there to take the chance. IMHO this was a good book, it just never rose to the level of a great book.

[Chu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, here it is – Fiona and Jake: their second chance. Would they grab it? Or would they just let it flow away?

Fiona has it all – success in career, great friends and wonderful family. She might appear happy, but there’s always something missing in her life. And it was Jake Braden. Now, if she can just break the walls that he had built around his heart ever since she left it broken.

He didn’t want to go home. Trusty reminds him of the one thing that he couldn’t have: Fiona. He has everything anyone could wish for: he’s in the best movies, and hooks up with the most beautiful women. With his looks and his career, not to mention his money: he can have everything he wants. Well, except her. Fiona had already broken him, and he wouldn’t let her do it again. But when his family intervenes, and he started to see the last woman he wanted to see in Trusty – life gets a little complicated.

She wanted him back, whatever it cost. Sure the boy she fell in love with is still there, but there is so much more to Jake now than in the past. Can she handle the NEW him? The chemistry is still there, it never faltered, it just grew dangerously strong as the years passed by. After all, true love never dies.

Melissa Foster saved the best for last. I have been dying to read all about Fiona and Jake ever since the series about this side of the Bradens. I knew how Jake had been hurt and so not over his old flame. I wonder what happened to them. Curiosity was indeed killing me.

She fed that curiosity, and fed it well. Crashing Into Love is a classic second chance romance that will make you believe that love is indeed sweeter the second time around. That, love can indeed forgive and forget, that love can grow despite the distance, and true love is never lost.

Review originally posted on my blog

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•Complimentary Copy was given in exchange for an honest review.•

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[Twin Sisters Rockin' Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 4.5 Rockin’ ★★★★☆

Have you ever wondered about the one that you let get away? In this book twenty of the Love in Bloom series by Melissa Foster you will get a look at that answer. In Crashing into Love, Ms. Foster addresses young love that although separated, cannot forget what they once had. This is Jake Braden and Fiona Steele’s story of reunited love and forgiveness.

Fiona has loved only one man, Jake Braden. He was her high school sweetheart and the man that she said goodbye to when she left for college. When she left Jake behind in Trusty, Colorado she left part of herself with him. Now after years of being apart, Fiona decides that she wants to get her man back. Is it too late? Will Jake forgive her for leaving him and give them a second chance?

Time has passed and Jake Braden has done everything in his power to forget Fiona. He does not go home, unless he knows there is no chance of running into the woman that broke his heart. Jake is now a successful stuntman with women throwing themselves at him. He lives the life of an unattached, wealthy bachelor with no restrictions. So, why does he feel like something is missing? When he runs into Fiona, he realizes that his feelings have only been hidden, not destroyed for her. Does he still love her? Is there a chance that she is what is missing in his life?

When they are thrown into a situation where they will be working together, their lives are forever changed. Will it be a good change? Or will it be a too late kind of change?

Hero: Jake Braden 4.5 stars
Heroine: Fiona Steele 4.5 stars
Steam: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4.5 stars
Cliffhanger: No

***Received an ARC of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review***

Crashing into Love
Melissa Foster

[Melody May (What I'm Reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posted on What I'm Reading

When I started Crashing Into Love, I wasn't sure I was going to like Jake. Granted I had love him in other stories, when he was a jerk to Fiona I was like "Oh no, he didn't moment". LOL. Anyway, I have to give a lot a credit to Fiona for going after Jake when he had this animosity towards her. I think I would have curled up into a ball and hid in a corner, but she had spunk. As you can guess, they had a past relationship that didn't end too well. In Fiona's defense, I think she was trying to figure things out, and follow her mother's council. Did she handle the situation well? No. Could there have been a better way to handle it? Of course, but she's human. Anyway, she was able to see past Jake's surliness, and try to make amends. Yay, they are getting a second chance.

Jake, what a lovable manwhore. When he finally decides to give Fiona a second chance he starts to realize that his life-style isn't conducive to for a relationship. So, he had to make some serious changes. I adore that he was willing to change his habits for Fiona, and I like that he realized it. We all know sometimes guys aren't so attentive to others feelings. Fiona was cute for going after what she wanted, and it could have ended up in disaster. It almost did, thank goodness Jake came to his senses.

Okay, I enjoyed Crashing Into Love, because we have two people who needed to grow-up a little more, and sow some wild oats before actually coming together. Even though they were able to get back together it wasn't all roses, they had their troubles. Especially, with Jake's manwhore past keeps creeping and Fiona trying to be understanding. Overall, a pretty good read. Nothing like have true love conquer all. So, if you are looking for a Hollywood hunk that is making a go for a second chance of love, you have met your match in Crashing Into Love. Who knows you might crash into new hunky book boyfriend.

Copy provided by author via Tasty Book Tours

[Rosie Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crashing Into Love is Book #20 of The Love In Bloom series and #12 of The Bradens. It's hot romance and ticks all the boxes for romance readers.

Jake Braden is an LA stuntman, he leads a fast life, women, parties, cars at a whirlwind pace. Anything to avoid the silence which will bring him crashing down in painful thoughts.

Fiona Steele is a geologist at the Bureau of Mines and Geology and for the last sixteen years she's been avoiding Jake as much as he's been hiding from her. As teenagers they dated but when Fiona's father abandoned her mother, it caused upheaval in all their lives, with Fiona due to leave home for college, her Mum's advice was to let Jake go and spread her wings.

It broke her heart to leave Jake and he never got over it either. Now Fiona wants him back, but can she break down the barriers and slay the demons which have taken over? When both are home in Trusty, Colorado, Jakes brothers set him up to meet Fiona in a bar. The meeting is tense and doesn't go well.

Fiona has been bold, she's taken unpaid time off work and for the next few weeks she's going to be her friend Trish's assistant on the set of a new film where Jake is the stuntman. He can't stay in denial long when he sees Fiona everyday and soon he starts to question the life he leads and what he really wants. But what about the future? Fiona has a huge job promotion offer and Jake will have more film work all over the world. Can they possible compromise to make a relationship work?

Another great book is this series.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will selfishness or selflessness prevail??

Jake Braden, the last holdout of the family in the marriage mart, is sick of seeing how happy his brothers and sister are in wedded bliss. It reminds him too much of Fiona Steele, the woman that broke his heart 16 years prior. Fiona regrets the decision she made of cutting their relationship off based on the advice of her mother to sow some wild oats.... In order to win him back, she takes an unorthodox job with no pay as a personal assistant to her best friend who is starring in a movie that Jake coincidently is the stunt double for the male lead.
These two realize that they are meant to be together, but they still live two separate lifestyles.. Her life, as a geologist, is filled with scientific studies, research papers, and a promotion on the horizon... He's a stunt double in the Hollywood industry that's full of parties, fans, and paparazzi. His life is wherever the movie set is... Is there a happy medium between the two?? To end in happiness they each realize they would either have to make a selfish or a selfless decision. Which one will prevail?

[Alison Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so In love with Melissa Foster, her books are never disappointing... She never fails to give 110% in anything that she writes...
Fiona made the biggest mistake of her life when she left her hometown and the love of her life behind... years later she's given the perfect chance to see him and she's prepared to fight with everything in her, to make him hers and never let him go!!
Jake was broken when she left, he has spent years building a steel cage around his heart...
Then she turns up out of the blue at the studio he's filming at and he can't help but see how beautiful she is, can't stop his heart from beating for the first time since he left him...
They are so different from when they last saw each other.. can they put their hearts on the line again??
From the very first page of was sucked in to the storyline, the characters I fell in love with from the start.. once I had read it, I felt the loss of them both. I want to go back and read the story again like it was my first time... I like that you see the characters from Melissa's other books pop in every now and then.. what more can I say, this book rocks!!

[Heather Greenwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Melissa Foster....you always make me fall in love with these sweet, tough, caring men. Every single time I end up walking away with a sign hoping that I'll find my own Braden! Jake is no exception here. Jake's entire family seems to have caught the love/marriage bug and all of these amazingly talented Braden's are finding the loves of their lives.....but Jake isn't totally sure that's his thing. A relationship from the past has left him looking for fun rather than love. He's a total Hollywood playboy, living the fast life as a stuntman. Fiona, his previous love from many years ago, realizes she needs to make him see that they should be together. She pulls out all the stops to find a way to spend more time with him in order to show him that she's the one. Will this Braden let his heart go and let the walls down in order to let love in? YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK. Well, quite honestly, you need to read the entire series. Read any and all Melissa Foster books, you won't be sorry. Well....you might be sorry a little when you lose track of everything around you because it's nearly impossible to put her books down. There are worse habits to have though, right?

[Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best, sexiest, steamiest story Melissa Foster has written to date! I adored the love story between Jake Braden and Fiona Steele, who after many years apart, are reunited to continue their romance. Well done, Melissa! Your characters, as always, are born within you to enter our hearts! Bravo!

As always, I encourage readers who are new to this series entitled Love in Bloom, to begin with the Snow sisters and progress in the order in which the books are released so that you can experience all the intertwined characters and families in their fullness. only today, Melissa released the Love in Bloom Series Guide on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U....

[Kayread · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad it work out for Jake and Fiona but it was not my favorite. She breaks up with him before college. I get that she received bad advice from her mom after her dad bails on their family. I think she could have explained that to Jake or something. Jake of course used that to turn into a manwhore. If I was Fiona I would have given up after the first attempt at the bar. Plus he took Sarah home I think to get her jealous. Nothing happened but Fiona didn't know that and she was still chasing after him. I disliked that part. He says he doesn't want to try then in LA it's another story. She took a job to hang on the set where he worked. That was a bit much for me. You ditch him to pursue your career only to quit for him. I can see quitting after you've been together for awhile or you get engaged but she quit a few weeks later. Too soon for me.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

True Love

Fiona has always loved Jake even though she broke his heart. When she pursues him he is very resistant but eventually wins him over. These two had a lot of bad luck in their lives that split them apart but now that they are older and wiser they're free to love each other again. Such a wonderful, beautiful story that made my heart happy.

[Samantha Kauchis · Rating 3 out of 5]

So not impressed with Jake and Fiona at all... I'll never wrap my head around the 2nd chance lovers trope. Especially when the guy turns into a major 10th level manwhore yet supposedly did so because he loved the Heroine sooooo soooo much and never ever forgot about her. That and Fiona was a major pushover... Did not like the way the book ended at all.

[Lady Joan M Deacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book, love all Melissa's books

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - 4 Stars

Crashing into Love (Love in Bloom Book #21) by Melissa Foster.
The Love in Bloom series proved to be a heartwarming journey through love, family, and personal growth. Spanning multiple interconnected series/stories, it offers a wonderful blend of romance, humor, and emotional depth that kept me reading the whole way through.
Ms. Foster crafted fully developed, relatable, and multidimensional characters who added an extra element of emotion and interest to my overall reading experience. The heroes are fiercely loyal and endearing, while the heroines are smart, empowered, and refreshingly ‘real’. Each character feels like someone you could know in real life, making their struggles and triumphs, high and lows, all the more impactful.
The stories have a perfect balance of steamy romance mixed with heartfelt moments. But that doesn’t mean that Ms. Foster shies away from exploring deeper themes like forgiveness, self-discovery, and the complexities of relationships – adding dynamic layers to the storyline/s. But, despite the emotional depth, the series still maintains more of a lighthearted charm, sprinkled with humor and tender family connections.
While each novel can be read as a standalone, there is an interconnectedness with the recurring characters and overlapping storylines - which help create a sense of community that feels warm and inviting. It’s like being welcomed into a big, loving family where everyone has a worthwhile story to tell.
‘Within the Love in Bloom big-family romance collection you'll find fiercely loyal heroes and smart, empowered women on their search for true love. They're flawed, funny, and easy to relate to. Characters from each series appear in future Love in Bloom books…’
If you are a fan of contemporary romance or simply looking for a feel-good series to escape into, this series is a worthwhile binge read…
Love in Bloom is made up of the following series:
- Snow Sisters
- The Bradens (Weston, CO)
- The Remingtons
- The Bradens (Trusty, CO)
- The Bradens Novellas Collection
- The Bradens (Peaceful Harbor, MD)
- Seaside Summers
- Bayside Summers
- The Ryders
- The Steeles at Silver Island
- The Silvers at Silver Island
- Wild Boys After Dark
- Bad Boys After Dark
- The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Peaceful Harbor
- The Bradens & Montgomerys, Pleasant Hill – Oak Falls
- The Bradens at Ridgeport
- The Wickeds: Dark Knights at Bayside
- The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch
- Romantic Comedy Series Collection
- Sugar Lake
- Harmony Pointe
- Harborside Nights
- Nice Girls After Dark
- The Steeles
- The Stones
- Blazing Summer
- The Brays

Happy Reading…

[Charlotte Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have fallen in love with listening to books. I read Crashing into Love before I started listening to it so I knew where the story was going. Yet, I could not turn my phone off and stop listening. BJ Harrison once again did a marvelous job narrating Crashing into Love. The tone and the pace of his voice is perfect. He is able to differentiate between the characters without missing a beat. He brought the main and secondary characters to life.

Since I am familiar with the rest of the Braden brothers and Jake was mentioned numerous times I knew of the history between him and Fiona. I was sure they belonged together and knew that I had to know their story.

I am feeling sad now that I have finished Jake Braden’s story. He is the last of the Braden brothers, well from that side of the family. I feel like I am leaving my book crushes behind. Yet, I know that Melissa Foster will continue to entertain me and introduce me to more book crushes in the stories of the cousins yet to come in this series.

Jake is amazing. Of course he is, he’s a Braden. I love that he fought his broken heart and finally gave into what his heart and head told him he really wanted. I wanted him and Fiona to get back together, yet I really just wanted him to be true to himself. The ache he felt was so heartbreaking that it actually made him a person that he did not like. The first time he runs into Fiona and blows her off I could hear the wall around his heart start to break and was excited for what was to come.

Fiona, oh Fiona. She made an immature choice when she was younger and it haunted her forever. I believe that her choice made both her and Jake the people they are and if that choice had not had happen their relationship may have ended very differently. As she grew up and started to understand life and what she wanted from life, Fiona knew that she had to fix what was broken. She put herself out there, stepped out of the normal bounds, and put her feelings before everything to make her life right again.

Of course, I recommend Melissa Foster’s Love in Bloom Series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but are more enjoyable when read in order as a series.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crashing Into Love: Jake Braden by Melissa Foster

I received an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jake Braden and Fiona Steele were HS sweethearts who planned a future together right up until a few weeks before leaving for college when Fiona broke up with Jake, breaking him in the process.

A decade later, Jake went on to become a successful stuntman and Fiona a recognized geologist. While both are successful in their careers neither has found true love.

Jake refuses to risk his heart ever again or face his emotions and is a player through and through partaking of the actresses and models who come with his lifestyle.

Fiona has never been able to forget Jake and no man will ever measure up. She has the opportunity to work as her best friend's assistant on the movie that Jake is stunting for. She takes a leave of absence from her job for one month to try and see if there's a second chance for her and Jake.

This book was full of angst that made your heart ache for both characters. You come to understand Jakes anger, pain and fear. Fiona had a lot to accept when she stepped into Jake's world and there were times I put myself in her place and thought she's a stronger woman than I am.

Jake opens up again and is a true romantic and completely lovable hero.

Plenty of heat, believable drama and real love. B.J. Harrison is a perfect narrator and one of the very few who is believable for all characters.

Beautifully written and expertly narrated.

[Laura Hannaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book bugged me!

It was well written and my anticipation was high as the fact that Jake had his heart broken and subsequently turned into a man-whore has been mentioned in every book in the Truly series. I didn’t have a problem with that. I didn’t really have a problem with Jake or Fiona, though I would have liked more of an apology from Fiona and a real acceptance of same by Jake (she does say sorry briefly several times and she acknowledges how badly she hurt him but a scene where they hashed the whole thing out would have been more satisfying to me). But the bit that really annoyed me was that EVERY SINGLE SUPPORTING CHARACTER (or very nearly) has a go at Jake and tells him not to hurt Fiona. Hello! Who dumped who? Who emotionally devastated who? Who went off to sow their wild oats? But does anyone (even his own family) bother warning Fiona not to hurt him again? No! Emily even threatened Elisabeth with untold horrors if she hurt Ross in their book and she hadn’t even done anything! But for Fiona we get ... nothing! If the shoe was on the other foot and it was Jake who had done the dumping you know every single character would have weighed in demanding that he be careful, that he be sure of his intentions and the double standard just really got to me!

I’d been looking forward to this book for a while and the result was massively disappointing.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crashing into Love: Jake Braden
Love in Bloom: Bradens at Trusty, Book 6
By: Melissa Foster
Narrated by: B.J. Harrison

I love a good second chance romance and Jake Braden gets his now! Visiting Trusty is always fun, it's like coming home to our best friends, and while the last book in the series, I do hope we stop by from time to time. Fiona and Jake were high school sweethearts. Destined to be together, Fiona made a decision that change it all. Now years later, she is successful, but is missing that one person that would make life perfect. Getting a second chance to be with Jake would be the ideal. Jake is a stunt man, a good looking, popular actor, but his heart has never opened to another since Fiona. The question is will he take the chance on Fiona again? Swoony as all the Bradens are, I loved Jake. He has a way about him that is easy to love. Loyal to a fault, he is willing to let Fiona go if it means she will be happy. Fiona has grown so much over the years, and she knows what she wants. But will it be her career or Jake? Fun, warm, good times with old friends, Foster gives us another amazing listen.

BJ Harrison finishes out this series with his amazing voices. I have come to think of him as the Bradens voices and he is part of the family! I love his narrations and his one is no exception.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Audio book by Melissa Foster
Crashing into Love written by the fabulous Melissa Foster and narrated by the sexy voice that belongs to BJ Harrison. Him reading Jake Braden and Fiona Steele's story was phenomenal to listen to. Jake who is now a stunt man for some of Hollywood's top celebrities and Fiona is on a break from being a geologist to be her best friends assistance on the film Jake is the stunt man. Of course Fiona knows this and Jake does not. She has figured out what she did as a teenager to Jake was wrong and she wants to make it right.
BJ Harrison takes us through the ups and downs as these 2 find their happily ever after. Of course this is another great book and was narrated by a top notch narrator. I've read all of the books that have been released and I'm working my way through having them read to me. I loved this one when I read it months ago and I love it even more after having a sexy voice read it to me. He does the voice changes fantastically. Thanks for picking him to read to us your phenomenal stories. I love forward to getting all of the rest of them read to me.
Thank you Melissa for writing them and BJ thanks for having a great voice to read them to us.

[Tinkerbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love second chance romance stories then this book is for you. It can be read as a stand alone but I’d suggest you read the whole series to get to know the Braden family. Let me tell you, it’s a huuuge but oh so loving family.

Fiona and Jake have been apart for 16 years. After high school , Fiona realised she had to leave Jake to live her own life and find herself.
Although it was painful for Jake, I do think Fiona did the right thing. She had a job she loved , friends and colleagues who she adored.
With a help of Jake’s brothers, they found their way back to each other.
Soon Jake realised, the anger he had towards Fiona has vanished and was replaced by love he always had for her.
The chemistry between them hasn’t changed one bit either.It just got stronger.
Their life is so different but they do everything to be together even if it means for one of them giving up their “dream”
I loved how Fiona expressed her love for Jake when they were talking about their future. I’m not going to spoil anything but it did make me go “aaaaw” ☺️
I hope you will love their story as much as I did

[Jennifer Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Clueless Heroine

I couldn’t read to the end. So sad, I love these books and I loved Jake but Fiona got on my nerves from page one and stayed there. Poor Jake gets treated like he’s the scoundrel when she’s the one who ripped his heart out because her mother told her to go sow her wild oats. Then 16 years later when it’s convenient, she decides she wants him again and bullies her way into his life and then gets all self righteous when she finds it’s not what she likes. She worries because he has too many condoms!! She’s confused about whether he wants to be monogamous after he sets up a press blitz to claim her as his girlfriend. She criticizes everything about him. I stopped reading at ch 13 and read the last chapter and Lo and behold right to the end she’s having to “put up” with his life while he’s trying to bend over backwards to make her life whatever she wants it to be. Maybe I missed some good stuff in between but I couldn’t even enjoy the sex scenes because I was so constantly annoyed with her. Jake deserves soooo much better. She was really a sanctimonious, self righteousness, entitled cow. Grrr.

[Melissa Guerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook of Crashing into Love. B.J. Harrison was the narrator and he does an awesome job with the voices and really gets you into the story. This story is of Jake Braden and Fiona Steel. Jake is a stuntman and Fiona is a geologist. They used to date back in school for 2 years before Fiona broke Jake's heart. They both made plans to go away to college together and live happily ever after. Fiona mom convinced her ro go away to college single and experience college life. So Fiona ended the relationship 2 weeks before they were set to go. Jake was completely blindsided. Fiona took off and left Jake hurt and alome. Fiona has regretted that decision for a long time. Now they are both back in their hometown of Trusty and Fiona has made it her mission to get Jake back no matter what. Only problem is Jake is still really hurt and wants nothing to do with Fiona. He cant even look at her. Fiona will stop at nothing to get her man back no matter the cost. Can she do it. Read to find out. I loved it.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great second chance at love story. I have enjoyed all of the books in this series and this one is not exception. I enjoyed the characters Jake and Fiona as they worked through there past to find their future together realizing through the journey that they were not the same people that they were as teenagers. I also enjoyed that they were older and life experienced characters that had a strong sense of family. The plot of the story moved along well and did not drag and the narration by Mr. Harrison was smooth. The narrator did well with the transitioning between character and kept the story interesting. I enjoyed this book from start to finish and would recommend it to others.