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Masterson, Texas #2
The Slow Burn
Around her, he found it hard to keep his cool…
Out of the friend zone
And into the fire!
When firefighter Caden Sterling unexpectedly delivers Tana McKenna’s baby by the side of the road, the unlikely threesome forms a special bond. So when Caden offers friendship and a helping hand, single mom Tana can’t say no. Their flirty friendship slowly becomes more, until Tana’s ex and the truth about her baby catches up with her. Can she win back the only man who can make this family complete?
USA TODAY bestselling author
Out of the friend zone
And into the fire!
When firefighter Caden Sterling unexpectedly delivers Tana McKenna’s baby by the side of the road, the unlikely threesome forms a special bond. So when Caden offers friendship and a helping hand, single mom Tana can’t say no. Their flirty friendship slowly becomes more, until Tana’s ex and the truth about her baby catches up with her. Can she win back the only man who can make this family complete?
USA TODAY bestselling author
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published August 25, 2020
19 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Caro Carson
112 books498 followersDespite a no-nonsense background as a West Point graduate and U.S. Army officer, Caro Carson has always treasured the happily-ever-after of a good romance novel. After her military service, she worked in the healthcare industry with a Fortune 100 company, talking science with doctors who were rarely handsome bachelor Texans like the doctors in her books. Now a RITA™-award-winning and USA Today bestselling author, Caro is delighted to be living her own happily-ever-after with her husband (who is a handsome Texan) and their two children. They live in Florida, a location which has saved the coaster-loving theme park fanatics a fortune on plane tickets.
https://linktr.ee/CaroCarson
https://linktr.ee/CaroCarson
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
December 17, 2020
Former almost-Olympic athlete now University swim team coach Tana McKenna had not planned to be pregnant when she started her new job. But it happened and she's keeping it and going to be a single mom, since her boyfriend is not going to change his own plans and doesn't want anything to do with the baby.
From the blurb's first sentense : "When firefighter Caden Sterling unexpectedly delivers Tana McKenna's baby by the side of the road, the unlikely threesome forms a special bond", I thought this is how they meet when in fact they met months before, when Caden, who's also a paramedic, teach a CPR class that she and her coworkers have to follow. This is how the book start, so we have the pleasure of witnessing all that. After that, they'll meet sporadically, forming a sort of friendship that will eventually grow stronger and mature into a beautiful love story once the baby is born. Did it bother me that it wasn't what I expected from the blurb? Nope, because the book was that good and I loved it! Caden was the sexiest and the sweetest pining hero and I loved how he respected Tana's boundaries. She was independent but not stubborn and even without experiencing what she lived, I could still feel the difficulty of the different dilemmas she had to deal with. It's only my second time reading a Caro Carson's book, but there's something special in the writing style that really speak to me and that makes the feels stands out.
My only complain? I wanted more Granny Dee, a special little old lady we only see two very short times in the book but who have a great presence!
From the blurb's first sentense : "When firefighter Caden Sterling unexpectedly delivers Tana McKenna's baby by the side of the road, the unlikely threesome forms a special bond", I thought this is how they meet when in fact they met months before, when Caden, who's also a paramedic, teach a CPR class that she and her coworkers have to follow. This is how the book start, so we have the pleasure of witnessing all that. After that, they'll meet sporadically, forming a sort of friendship that will eventually grow stronger and mature into a beautiful love story once the baby is born. Did it bother me that it wasn't what I expected from the blurb? Nope, because the book was that good and I loved it! Caden was the sexiest and the sweetest pining hero and I loved how he respected Tana's boundaries. She was independent but not stubborn and even without experiencing what she lived, I could still feel the difficulty of the different dilemmas she had to deal with. It's only my second time reading a Caro Carson's book, but there's something special in the writing style that really speak to me and that makes the feels stands out.
My only complain? I wanted more Granny Dee, a special little old lady we only see two very short times in the book but who have a great presence!
Read
September 27, 2021The Slow Burn's gumpy heroine (coach of a college swim team) and cinnamon-roll hero (firefighter who delivers her baby on the side of the road) seem to have captured some judges' hearts. This contemporary romance was a finalist for the Orange County RWA's Book Buyers Best award and for the Contemporary Romance Writers' Stiletto Award. If you haven't read it yet, I hope it melts your heart, too!
October 31, 2020
unsure what to rate this because i love it since the hero is so sweet but the safety issues kind of bug me rn
notice: edit has been made under spoiler section + rating bump
Safe/SWE
notice: edit has been made under spoiler section + rating bump
Safe/SWE
August 22, 2020
Caro Carson did it again I loved the story of Tana and Caden.Tana a single pregnant Mom and her boyfriend walks out on her but firefighter Caden is interested in Tana and helping her when her child is born and everything is going good but Tana has deep dark secrets it will test their love.
August 12, 2025
The man on the cover should take that pot and smack the person who approved the cover photo
June 21, 2022
4.25-4.5? This was freaking great. My first time reading Caro Carson and I picked it up because someone was like, "This Tumblr post is like this Caro Carson book!" about a guy who steps into help a heroine who's pregnant and duh, they end up falling in love.
I really dug the no-nonsense heroine and a hero who clearly has the usual alpha-y traits but who is so respectful and meets the heroine exactly where she is. Boundaries! Shoot it into my veins.
My only ding on the book is that I think the "we're just friends, nothing more" arc in the back half of the story lasted longer than it should've — you guys are clearly not just friends, dummies.
I really dug the no-nonsense heroine and a hero who clearly has the usual alpha-y traits but who is so respectful and meets the heroine exactly where she is. Boundaries! Shoot it into my veins.
My only ding on the book is that I think the "we're just friends, nothing more" arc in the back half of the story lasted longer than it should've — you guys are clearly not just friends, dummies.
August 22, 2020
What a wonderful story! I was so into these characters right off the bat. When I started reading it I couldn’t put it down. I read the first 150 pages before I had to go to work! I love reading Caro Carson books! She had never had a book that I haven’t throughly enjoyed!
August 31, 2020
Terrific book that hooked me from the first chapter and didn't let me go until I finished it (well after midnight). Tana is a young woman who recently became the aquatics director at the local college. A former Olympic hopeful, she gave up her place on the team for a doomed marriage. She has suffered immense guilt since that time, for letting down her team, her coach, and her parents. She is currently in a relationship with a man who is about to leave for a year in Peru. Tana's life is upended with one phone call when her physical reveals that she is pregnant. To make matters worse, Jerry has no interest in being a father or giving up his own plans to be with Tana.
I ached for Tana. She only has a one-year contract, so revealing her pregnancy at the start of the school year, before she has a chance to prove herself, is not an option. She is so down on herself for what she sees as yet another poor choice. To make matters worse, she gets the news right before needing to recertify her CPR qualifications, surrounded by people she can't tell.
Caden is the firefighter/paramedic assigned to teach the class. He notices Tana immediately and thinks about getting to know her. He overhears the women talking about getting together at the local pub and thinks that would be a great chance to spend some time with Tana. His plans get derailed when she faints during class, and he learns of her pregnancy. He naturally assumes that she has a significant other, making her off-limits. I felt bad for Caden because he was very interested and had no idea that she was just dumped.
I loved seeing the development of the relationship between Tana and Caden. It is a small town, so they encounter each other occasionally. Caden keeps a tight rein on himself because of his belief that she is taken. Tana has sworn off men because of her bad judgment. There is no denying that Caden and Tana are drawn to each other and soon forge a strong friendship. Caden is very protective, and Tana is very independent, creating some pretty amusing discussions. The closer her due date came, the more Caden inserted himself into her life. This was fortunate the night she went into labor since she kept denying that's what it was. The delivery scene was great. The descriptions were so vivid I almost felt like I was there.
It was so sweet to see how Caden couldn't help caring for both Tana and Sterling. I loved watching them grow closer, as Tana learned to trust her heart, and Caden fell more in love each day. But Tana had never corrected a misunderstanding, and that eventually came back to haunt her. I ached for both of them when Caden confronted her about it. He felt betrayed and said some terrible things to her. I felt like he earned his misery since he stormed off without letting her explain. I cheered for Tana when she worked up to confront him and loved it when she called him on his wrongs. The ending was perfectly done and very appropriate for a firefighter.
There was much to love in this book besides the romance itself. I enjoyed Tana's work as the aquatics director. I ached for her fears that she wasn't good enough and that revealing her pregnancy would be the end of her job. I loved the scenes with her and her swimmers, especially the meet in January. It was evident that she had a magic touch for bringing out the best in them. I also loved her determination to be there through the finals, no matter what she had to do. I cheered for her when she took her future into her own hands by standing up for her success against the more popular sports.
The secondary characters were also well done. I liked Tana's growing friendship with her coworkers, especially once she got past her fears of revealing her pregnancy. Ruby was especially fun with her bold personality and big heart. I liked Caden's fellow firefighters and the fun they had when they weren't working. Tana's former coach warmed my heart with the way he supported her and encouraged her. At the same time, I wanted to shake her parents for the way they constantly harped on her past mistakes and how disappointed they were. They may have redeemed themselves a little at the end, but not like they should have.
I ached for Tana. She only has a one-year contract, so revealing her pregnancy at the start of the school year, before she has a chance to prove herself, is not an option. She is so down on herself for what she sees as yet another poor choice. To make matters worse, she gets the news right before needing to recertify her CPR qualifications, surrounded by people she can't tell.
Caden is the firefighter/paramedic assigned to teach the class. He notices Tana immediately and thinks about getting to know her. He overhears the women talking about getting together at the local pub and thinks that would be a great chance to spend some time with Tana. His plans get derailed when she faints during class, and he learns of her pregnancy. He naturally assumes that she has a significant other, making her off-limits. I felt bad for Caden because he was very interested and had no idea that she was just dumped.
I loved seeing the development of the relationship between Tana and Caden. It is a small town, so they encounter each other occasionally. Caden keeps a tight rein on himself because of his belief that she is taken. Tana has sworn off men because of her bad judgment. There is no denying that Caden and Tana are drawn to each other and soon forge a strong friendship. Caden is very protective, and Tana is very independent, creating some pretty amusing discussions. The closer her due date came, the more Caden inserted himself into her life. This was fortunate the night she went into labor since she kept denying that's what it was. The delivery scene was great. The descriptions were so vivid I almost felt like I was there.
It was so sweet to see how Caden couldn't help caring for both Tana and Sterling. I loved watching them grow closer, as Tana learned to trust her heart, and Caden fell more in love each day. But Tana had never corrected a misunderstanding, and that eventually came back to haunt her. I ached for both of them when Caden confronted her about it. He felt betrayed and said some terrible things to her. I felt like he earned his misery since he stormed off without letting her explain. I cheered for Tana when she worked up to confront him and loved it when she called him on his wrongs. The ending was perfectly done and very appropriate for a firefighter.
There was much to love in this book besides the romance itself. I enjoyed Tana's work as the aquatics director. I ached for her fears that she wasn't good enough and that revealing her pregnancy would be the end of her job. I loved the scenes with her and her swimmers, especially the meet in January. It was evident that she had a magic touch for bringing out the best in them. I also loved her determination to be there through the finals, no matter what she had to do. I cheered for her when she took her future into her own hands by standing up for her success against the more popular sports.
The secondary characters were also well done. I liked Tana's growing friendship with her coworkers, especially once she got past her fears of revealing her pregnancy. Ruby was especially fun with her bold personality and big heart. I liked Caden's fellow firefighters and the fun they had when they weren't working. Tana's former coach warmed my heart with the way he supported her and encouraged her. At the same time, I wanted to shake her parents for the way they constantly harped on her past mistakes and how disappointed they were. They may have redeemed themselves a little at the end, but not like they should have.
November 21, 2025
3.75 STARS
good 👍
good 👍
August 10, 2020
I was completely sucked in by the second chapter. I was inspired to love the two main characters and really dislike others in the story. The book had a nice pace and I like that extended across the year.
I am hoping to catch back up with Caden and Tana in future Masterson stories.
I am hoping to catch back up with Caden and Tana in future Masterson stories.
September 20, 2020
The Slow Burn
Masterson Texas #2
Caro Carson
From page one of The Slow Burn #2 in her Masterson Texas installation, Caro Carson will have readers hooked with her likeable, empathic, perfect imperfect friends to lovers couple, wanting to know where Tana’s lack of confidence comes from and what makes Caden such a Teddy Bear. Then she’ll reel readers in as she unpeels the complex layers of Tana and shows that Caden is the, what you see is what you get, real deal and finally there’s the adorable bundle of joy that puts the icing on the story cake. Her plot is engaging, her situations are relatable, her costars are outstanding and in this time of uncertainty we can all use a little dose of Happy Ever After.
As the director of aquatics at Masterson college, Montana (Tana) McKenna is hoping for redemption for past mistakes by training new Olympic swimming hopefuls, but instead calamity strikes when she learns she’s pregnant and her boyfriend, like everyone else in her life seems to do, abandons her. So when a sexy firefighter/paramedic wants to be her friend she’s not sure she can trust him either but she could really use a friend so she’s willing to take the chance.
Lieutenant Caden Sterling thought he met the woman of his dreams until he discovered she’s pregnant, fortunately there’s no other man in the picture and even though he’s been warned that he’s in for trouble going down this path he’s happy to play the friend card until she’s ready to be his forever love.
Masterson Texas #2
Caro Carson
From page one of The Slow Burn #2 in her Masterson Texas installation, Caro Carson will have readers hooked with her likeable, empathic, perfect imperfect friends to lovers couple, wanting to know where Tana’s lack of confidence comes from and what makes Caden such a Teddy Bear. Then she’ll reel readers in as she unpeels the complex layers of Tana and shows that Caden is the, what you see is what you get, real deal and finally there’s the adorable bundle of joy that puts the icing on the story cake. Her plot is engaging, her situations are relatable, her costars are outstanding and in this time of uncertainty we can all use a little dose of Happy Ever After.
As the director of aquatics at Masterson college, Montana (Tana) McKenna is hoping for redemption for past mistakes by training new Olympic swimming hopefuls, but instead calamity strikes when she learns she’s pregnant and her boyfriend, like everyone else in her life seems to do, abandons her. So when a sexy firefighter/paramedic wants to be her friend she’s not sure she can trust him either but she could really use a friend so she’s willing to take the chance.
Lieutenant Caden Sterling thought he met the woman of his dreams until he discovered she’s pregnant, fortunately there’s no other man in the picture and even though he’s been warned that he’s in for trouble going down this path he’s happy to play the friend card until she’s ready to be his forever love.
December 11, 2020
This book is just utterly perfect. Caden Sterling meets Tana McKenna and falls, HARD. He knows it’s weird and borderline creepy, particularly when he realizes she’s pregnant. He makes efforts to go on with his life, but he keeps having feelings for her, and it gets harder once he realizes baby daddy’s not in the picture - and she keeps warming to him, despite having one of those cold and unsupportive families that Carson loves to give her heroines. He delivers the baby and, well, how can you not love a book with lines like
If I had to pick a flaw I’d say it’s the last-minute drama (the “black moment”). The book was so gentle and low-key and pleasant for the most part, and the drama felt manufactured. () The hero gets mad at the heroine for allowing him to misunderstand something and storms off. She does call him on it, but the whole section felt kind of unnecessary. I'm really curious to see what will happen if Carson ever leaves the category format.
If I had to pick a flaw I’d say it’s the last-minute drama (the “black moment”). The book was so gentle and low-key and pleasant for the most part, and the drama felt manufactured. () The hero gets mad at the heroine for allowing him to misunderstand something and storms off. She does call him on it, but the whole section felt kind of unnecessary. I'm really curious to see what will happen if Carson ever leaves the category format.
September 10, 2020
As always, Caro Carson’s latest book delights. Her fans will love this fresh, heart-warming love story about a wounded heroine’s heart being healed by a true hero. And what a hero! I fell in love With Caden Sterling too!
Years ago, when Tana dropped out of the Olympics to marry her trainer, she lost confidence in herself. For years she has seen herself as a loser because she feels she betrayed her parents, her country, her team, and herself.
Just as she gets a new chance to prove herself as a coach (she’s on a one-year contract), she learns she’s pregnant by Jerry, a boyfriend who clearly isn’t committed to her. He is another bad choice in her life who has further battered her fragile self-confidence.
So, now she’s pregnant, single, and has a one-year contract to prove herself worthy. Then along comes Caden Sterling who sees her for what she truly is, a courageous heroine worthy of a true hero’s love.
This was a wonderful non-formulaic, friends-to-lovers love story many Harlequin readers are sure to enjoy.
The author sent me an ARC for an impartial review.
Years ago, when Tana dropped out of the Olympics to marry her trainer, she lost confidence in herself. For years she has seen herself as a loser because she feels she betrayed her parents, her country, her team, and herself.
Just as she gets a new chance to prove herself as a coach (she’s on a one-year contract), she learns she’s pregnant by Jerry, a boyfriend who clearly isn’t committed to her. He is another bad choice in her life who has further battered her fragile self-confidence.
So, now she’s pregnant, single, and has a one-year contract to prove herself worthy. Then along comes Caden Sterling who sees her for what she truly is, a courageous heroine worthy of a true hero’s love.
This was a wonderful non-formulaic, friends-to-lovers love story many Harlequin readers are sure to enjoy.
The author sent me an ARC for an impartial review.
August 23, 2020
I finished this book in an afternoon. I couldn't put it down and had to know how it ended. Its well written by a talented author and will definitely go on my re-read list.
Tana is an independent and stubborn soon to be mommy. She craves support, love, and acceptance but if you're not willing to give it then she will keep going without it. She will find a way and make it work. Without the sperm donor or her opinionated parents. Along comes Caden sterling... always there when she needs him most even when she's sworn to do it alone. Hes The whole package. A sexy fireman with a heart of gold that only has eyes for Tana McKenna and her beautiful baby bump.
Tana is an independent and stubborn soon to be mommy. She craves support, love, and acceptance but if you're not willing to give it then she will keep going without it. She will find a way and make it work. Without the sperm donor or her opinionated parents. Along comes Caden sterling... always there when she needs him most even when she's sworn to do it alone. Hes The whole package. A sexy fireman with a heart of gold that only has eyes for Tana McKenna and her beautiful baby bump.
September 4, 2020
Oh my goodness, this was one heck of a story! I have not read a M & B in years because they became a bit formulaic and a bit old fashioned, but this story is modern and very relatable.
Caden and Tana - I love these two so much. Tana is a single mother and Caden is in the friend zone with her because she can't trust her heart. These two are so adorable as they fight their feelings for each other and I cried a couple of times, which is rare for me.
I can't say much more except this is a beautifully written story and I loved every word of it.
Thanks to Harlequin Australia for letting me read this, my opinion is entirely my own.
Caden and Tana - I love these two so much. Tana is a single mother and Caden is in the friend zone with her because she can't trust her heart. These two are so adorable as they fight their feelings for each other and I cried a couple of times, which is rare for me.
I can't say much more except this is a beautifully written story and I loved every word of it.
Thanks to Harlequin Australia for letting me read this, my opinion is entirely my own.
September 17, 2020
Tana McKenna has just found out she's pregnant, the father wants nothing to do with the baby, and she's starting a new job as head coach of the men's and women's swimming and diving teams at Masterson College. And she's at a CPR certification class led by eye candy Lt. Caden Sterling, who looks right back at her. And somewhere along the way, they become friends, with Caden wanting more, but thinking, from the way Tana phrased things, that she wasn't involved with the father. And Tana has more on her plate from worrying about keeping her job, what her parents will think, her old coach, the students.
September 24, 2020
A class by firefighter Caden meets Tana, the local aquatic coach, things heat up really fast. Tana faints. Caden hopes he can ask her for a date. When she comes to, she tells him she is pregnant.
For the next nine months, both of them want the other but is too afraid to make the first move.
The slow burn is on!!! You wait through the whole book before they get together and it's fabulous!!!!
Great read!!!!
For the next nine months, both of them want the other but is too afraid to make the first move.
The slow burn is on!!! You wait through the whole book before they get together and it's fabulous!!!!
Great read!!!!
September 10, 2020
I truly enjoyed this book. Tana and Caden meet at a difficult time in Tana's life. The chemestry was there for Caden but he felt it was the wrong time to pursue what he felt when he first met Tana. He tried to resist the pull he felt for her. They could be friends though. Life taught them that they could be so much more. There is so much to like about this book. Thanks Caro. Another great story.
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September 1, 2020Categories
Romance, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Masterson, Texas (Book #2)
Romance, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Masterson, Texas (Book #2)
October 30, 2020
I loved this romance. The story, the hero, the heroine... it was all so perfectly written.
January 19, 2025
“I know you can do it but let me help you” vibes
“She had confidence—I’ll be able to pass the CPR test—an interesting career, a warm handshake-And legs that went on for days.Yeah, if things went the way Caden hoped they would, tonight would only be the first of many evenings spent with a woman named Montana.”
“Since I’m the first person in Masterson who knows you’re expecting, I get to be the first person in Masterson to congratulate you on the big news.” His smile was not forced. “Congratulations, Montana McKenna”
“The baby took its first breath and cried its first cry, and Caden knew that if his own life ended at this second, he would feel he’d lived long enough.The baby sounded so indignant. Caden laughed in relief, laughed in gratitude that the birth had gone like it was supposed to—except they were in his truck. He relished his role as the announcer: “It’s a boy.”
“. “He was my Lamaze coach, my labor nurse. The doctor and the chauffeur. The baby catcher. The blanket provider. My personal recliner while I tried to come back down to earth and let everything sink in. He was my everything.”
“Sounds like they’re making up over you, little guy. Way to go. Not even twenty-four hours old, and you’re already making the world a better place. Pretty boss of you, Sterling. Pretty boss.”
“I’ll tell you a little secret, but you gotta keep it between me and you. I’ve got plans to make this more of a permanent thing between us. Me and your mom and you, right? It’s going to be pretty”
“She had confidence—I’ll be able to pass the CPR test—an interesting career, a warm handshake-And legs that went on for days.Yeah, if things went the way Caden hoped they would, tonight would only be the first of many evenings spent with a woman named Montana.”
“Since I’m the first person in Masterson who knows you’re expecting, I get to be the first person in Masterson to congratulate you on the big news.” His smile was not forced. “Congratulations, Montana McKenna”
“The baby took its first breath and cried its first cry, and Caden knew that if his own life ended at this second, he would feel he’d lived long enough.The baby sounded so indignant. Caden laughed in relief, laughed in gratitude that the birth had gone like it was supposed to—except they were in his truck. He relished his role as the announcer: “It’s a boy.”
“. “He was my Lamaze coach, my labor nurse. The doctor and the chauffeur. The baby catcher. The blanket provider. My personal recliner while I tried to come back down to earth and let everything sink in. He was my everything.”
“Sounds like they’re making up over you, little guy. Way to go. Not even twenty-four hours old, and you’re already making the world a better place. Pretty boss of you, Sterling. Pretty boss.”
“I’ll tell you a little secret, but you gotta keep it between me and you. I’ve got plans to make this more of a permanent thing between us. Me and your mom and you, right? It’s going to be pretty”
April 4, 2023
2.5 stars
This could’ve definitely been a five star read for me but there were so many things about this book that irritated me to no end. For one after I finished reading this it felt like I had been left on a cliffhanger, the ending was very bitter sweet for me. While they had finally got together there was no loose ends tied together such as:
Her relationship with her parents
An epilogue
Them actually in the relationship etc etc
Their relationship while it was a slow burn I was surprised that it only consisted of them being together for like two chapters. (this didn’t do it for me)
Her relationship with her parents seemed toxic and i feel the author should’ve written about this in an ending chapter about how this was resolved… you know since she left her daughter to deal with everything alone and pushed all of her friends away by telling them not to visit for two weeks after she had given birth.
I feel that his sister in law was spoken about a lot but the call between them she seemed like a bitch and while this may not be a key point of the story it still annoyed me!
There was also so many unnecessary misunderstandings between everyone that was more annoying and felt entirely unnecessary.
Overall the two stars is for a good plot and writing but not well executed.
This could’ve definitely been a five star read for me but there were so many things about this book that irritated me to no end. For one after I finished reading this it felt like I had been left on a cliffhanger, the ending was very bitter sweet for me. While they had finally got together there was no loose ends tied together such as:
Her relationship with her parents
An epilogue
Them actually in the relationship etc etc
Their relationship while it was a slow burn I was surprised that it only consisted of them being together for like two chapters. (this didn’t do it for me)
Her relationship with her parents seemed toxic and i feel the author should’ve written about this in an ending chapter about how this was resolved… you know since she left her daughter to deal with everything alone and pushed all of her friends away by telling them not to visit for two weeks after she had given birth.
I feel that his sister in law was spoken about a lot but the call between them she seemed like a bitch and while this may not be a key point of the story it still annoyed me!
There was also so many unnecessary misunderstandings between everyone that was more annoying and felt entirely unnecessary.
Overall the two stars is for a good plot and writing but not well executed.
November 27, 2024
4.5 stars bumped up. Tana the heroine frustrated me more often than not, but it’s a credit to the strong writing and characterization that I was entirely invested in her story. Caden the hero is the perfect book boyfriend, at risk of being too perfect, but the author’s skilful character work creates a believable, fully-fleshed man. Caro Carson has a gift for making these tropes feel fresh and her stories truly feel unique. Tana and Caren’s story is imbued with so much authentic humanity, the swoony romance hits so deeply. A deeply satisfying romance.
April 19, 2022
Well that was a thing that I read. Definitely nowhere near as good as the first book. It had some of my biggest pet peeves in it… allowing people to misunderstand you for so long that when they finally learn the truth they feel betrayed… and believing that you’re so broken that it never occurs to you that you deserve love. 😒 That said, I did like the characters and the writing was decent. I’ll probably continue in the series.
May 10, 2021
Harlequin books can be shallow and insipid, but this one isn't. A friends to lovers trope, our hero Caden is everything you would want in a friend. And Tana is as strong as they come. I really enjoyed getting to know them as they find each other. Tana's ex-boyfriend is a complete jerk and why she didn't figure this out long before is the one thing that didn't make sense.
June 26, 2021
Tana and Caden's story is the perfect blend of Slow, friendship then romance.I really enjoyed reading this story with two genuine characters , both strong willed and great for each other.I liked that it could be set in a realistic setting , draws me more into the story when everything isn't just fluff/fairytale. I really enjoy this Authors writing !
June 5, 2022
This was a cute quick read. I liked the development of their relationship. My big complaint is that it felt like Caden always saw Tana at her worst, like when she’s passing out. I wished there were more moments where he just got to see her be an independent person/coach. That would’ve rounded out the relationship a little nicer. Otherwise nice story.
September 3, 2023
She gets pregnant, her current bf is a jerk leaves her but the super hot firefighter CPR instructor falls for her. They friendzone each other until they reach a year of friendship and he can’t contain his feelings anymore. Then they do it once and he buys a ring, the end.
Cute story, a little drama, and like the title say it’s a slow burn….
Cute story, a little drama, and like the title say it’s a slow burn….
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2021
This was such a fun read. I love the college town in Texas with so many great characters.
The plot is different, the characters are very real and believable and the whole book is hard to put down. Time spent in Masterson, TX is never wasted.
Get the book. You won't regret a second.
The plot is different, the characters are very real and believable and the whole book is hard to put down. Time spent in Masterson, TX is never wasted.
Get the book. You won't regret a second.
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