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A Family for the Firefighter
He’s a courageous man…But can he rescue himself?Firefighter Leon Rothchild had endured his share of grief. Still, honor compelled him to look after his late friend’s ex-wife and daughter. Though it was obvious the lovely Misty Brightwater could take care of herself, she welcomed Leon into her three-year-old’s life. Their family was a marvelous glimpse into the warmth of the one he’d lost and desperately missed. And perhaps it was the push he needed to risk everything again…From Harlequin Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.Polk IslandBook 1: A Family for the Firefighter
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 25, 2021
28 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Jacquelin Thomas
122 books405 followersJacquelin Thomas is an award-winning, best selling author with 94 titles published. Her books have garnered several awards, including two EMMA awards, the Romance In Color Reviewers Award, Readers Choice Award and the Atlanta Choice Award in the Religious & Spiritual category. Jacquelin was a 2005 honoree at the Houston Black Film Festival for the movie adaptation of her novel, Hidden Blessings. She was the first recipient to receive the Writers Achievement Award at the North Carolina Book Festival in Winston-Salem. She also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Romantic Times Magazine.
Jacquelin has published in the romance, women's fiction, inspirational and young adult genres. Her second book in the YA series, Divine Confidential was nominated for a 2008 NAACP Image Award.
Jacquelin is happily married to her best friend and is the proud mother of three children. Jacquelin and her family live in North Carolina.
Jacquelin has published in the romance, women's fiction, inspirational and young adult genres. Her second book in the YA series, Divine Confidential was nominated for a 2008 NAACP Image Award.
Jacquelin is happily married to her best friend and is the proud mother of three children. Jacquelin and her family live in North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 6, 2021
This a very sweet small-town second chance romance. It's fairly low drama, the leads act mostly like actual adults (although the heroine made life way too difficult for herself for incredibly stupid reasons), and the worldbuilding is okay, with a nice, large cast of characters around the main couple.
For me it was all just a little too dull. It felt very surface-level, lots of telling without showing. It was like watching these characters go through the motions of the story, but not really feeling it alongside them. I have no issue with "clean" romance (other than the label), but none of these pairings had even the slightest bit of heat. I felt none of the longing or happiness. The secondary story arc with Aunt Eleanor felt shoehorned in; I think it could've worked well on its own, especially as the third part of a trilogy, maybe. It felt like the author was doing an imitation of Beverly Jenkins and coming up as a pale comparison.
It was all just "meh" for me, and I think I'm going to pass my copy along to someone who would enjoy it more than me.
For me it was all just a little too dull. It felt very surface-level, lots of telling without showing. It was like watching these characters go through the motions of the story, but not really feeling it alongside them. I have no issue with "clean" romance (other than the label), but none of these pairings had even the slightest bit of heat. I felt none of the longing or happiness. The secondary story arc with Aunt Eleanor felt shoehorned in; I think it could've worked well on its own, especially as the third part of a trilogy, maybe. It felt like the author was doing an imitation of Beverly Jenkins and coming up as a pale comparison.
It was all just "meh" for me, and I think I'm going to pass my copy along to someone who would enjoy it more than me.
August 10, 2025
This book was boring, too long, and too much extended grace for horrible behavior!
June 28, 2021
Welcome to Polk Island in the Carolinas. This is a picturesque place with a rich history and many
of the descendants of the original founder still live, work, and reside there. In fact, our hero, Leon
Rothchild is a descendant and a firefighter of Polk Island. He is no stranger to grief as he loss his parents at a young age and raised by his Aunt Eleanor. He also lost his wife and child. So, when one of his best friends dies in a car accident, Leon is feeling weary of going through the grieving process. He vows to be there for his friend’s three-year-old daughter, Talei. However, he never expected to fall in love with her mother, Misty Brightwater, his friend’s ex-wife.
Misty Brightwater moved to Polk Island because she loved the atmosphere and community and
knew it would be a perfect place to raise her daughter. Eleanor hired Misty to be the baker at her café and Misty loved it and she loved Ms. Eleanor too. After going through divorce and leaving an abusive relationship, Misty was looking forward to a simple & comfortable lifestyle, no drama. Unfortunately, tragedy struck again with the loss of her ex-husband. She did love him and hoped he would be able to deal with his personal issues that were led by his father, but now she had to comfort her young daughter. She wasn’t expecting to fall in love either but the more she got to know Leon Rothchild the more difficult it was for her not to fall in love.
This was truly a beautiful and heartwarming story. There were many heavy topics like losing
loved ones, divorce, domestic violence, family discord, forgiveness, and major illness but the author
didn’t delve too deeply into the full scope of each experience. From my perspective, the main point was in moving forward and figuring out how to enjoy life and love again. It is important that you surround yourself with people who will encourage and assist you during life’s challenges and nudge you towards things that are good for you which is why I appreciate the Polk Island community and families that the author created.
of the descendants of the original founder still live, work, and reside there. In fact, our hero, Leon
Rothchild is a descendant and a firefighter of Polk Island. He is no stranger to grief as he loss his parents at a young age and raised by his Aunt Eleanor. He also lost his wife and child. So, when one of his best friends dies in a car accident, Leon is feeling weary of going through the grieving process. He vows to be there for his friend’s three-year-old daughter, Talei. However, he never expected to fall in love with her mother, Misty Brightwater, his friend’s ex-wife.
Misty Brightwater moved to Polk Island because she loved the atmosphere and community and
knew it would be a perfect place to raise her daughter. Eleanor hired Misty to be the baker at her café and Misty loved it and she loved Ms. Eleanor too. After going through divorce and leaving an abusive relationship, Misty was looking forward to a simple & comfortable lifestyle, no drama. Unfortunately, tragedy struck again with the loss of her ex-husband. She did love him and hoped he would be able to deal with his personal issues that were led by his father, but now she had to comfort her young daughter. She wasn’t expecting to fall in love either but the more she got to know Leon Rothchild the more difficult it was for her not to fall in love.
This was truly a beautiful and heartwarming story. There were many heavy topics like losing
loved ones, divorce, domestic violence, family discord, forgiveness, and major illness but the author
didn’t delve too deeply into the full scope of each experience. From my perspective, the main point was in moving forward and figuring out how to enjoy life and love again. It is important that you surround yourself with people who will encourage and assist you during life’s challenges and nudge you towards things that are good for you which is why I appreciate the Polk Island community and families that the author created.
May 4, 2021
Firefighter Leon Rothchild thinks he's not prepared to become a husband and father after the death of his wife and child--that is, until he meets Misty Brightwater's little girl when he arrives at the scene of the accident that kills her father and his best friend from college. But Leon doesn't really know John and when he learns what he'd done that put his daughter in his car, he isn't sure what to think.
That and the bakery owned by his aunt, who begins to show signs of Alzheimer's is just another complication he has to deal with.
Misty, too, has issues, including learning again to trust that a man won't hurt her or her child. And to move forward with her career as a baker in the little island community she has deemed is a perfect place to raise her daughter.
How all those complications--some from the past and some representing both the present and the future--makes this a story that reflects reality.
That and the bakery owned by his aunt, who begins to show signs of Alzheimer's is just another complication he has to deal with.
Misty, too, has issues, including learning again to trust that a man won't hurt her or her child. And to move forward with her career as a baker in the little island community she has deemed is a perfect place to raise her daughter.
How all those complications--some from the past and some representing both the present and the future--makes this a story that reflects reality.
February 26, 2022
The first in a new series about an area that has not been gentrified, Polk Island. Misty is a baker and has a run in with a local fire fighter, Leon Rothchild (who happens to be friends to her ex husband). They eventually put aside their differences for and begin to work together, considering Leon's aunt (who is also Misty's boss) starts showing signs of dementia). While working together, sparks start to develop and both of them although broken have to decide if this is what they want to pursue.
This was such a beautiful and heartwarming clean romance. I couldn't get enough of the story and I also appreciated how the author wove in the side story of being diagnosed with dementia. This has turned into one of my favorite series that I will remember for a while
This was such a beautiful and heartwarming clean romance. I couldn't get enough of the story and I also appreciated how the author wove in the side story of being diagnosed with dementia. This has turned into one of my favorite series that I will remember for a while
September 2, 2022
Such a heartwarming read. I loved Aunt Eleanor. She was my favorite.
July 29, 2021
I Want To Go To Polk Island For Real!! 💃🏽💃🏽
I absolutely loved this book. It was full of emotions, heartbreak, difficult circumstances, illness, forgiveness and love! Whew!! I was pulled in from the beginning and stayed through the ending!! My, my, my!! What a story! This is a very enjoyable book and I highly recommend it!! I’m looking forward to the next one!! Kudos, Jacquelin!! 💜
I absolutely loved this book. It was full of emotions, heartbreak, difficult circumstances, illness, forgiveness and love! Whew!! I was pulled in from the beginning and stayed through the ending!! My, my, my!! What a story! This is a very enjoyable book and I highly recommend it!! I’m looking forward to the next one!! Kudos, Jacquelin!! 💜
March 11, 2025
The firefighter, Leon, has lost his parents when he was very young. He is raised by his Aunt Eleanor. He married and then tragically loses his wife and child. His aunt owns a cafe and bakery and has just hired an assistant, Misty. Leon thinks she is talented and very good looking, but he is not interested in a relationship, his heart is still broken, and he cannot face another life without his wife and daughter.
June 3, 2021
Second Chances
A heartwarming story,firefighter Leon and baker Misty are both broken. Extreme circumstances place then in each others path, interference, and secrets. Loveable characters,good food, all on Polk Island. Visit you will enjoy the quaint Island.
#Cillasbookmaniacs #Mamatoni #Firefighter #Eon
A heartwarming story,firefighter Leon and baker Misty are both broken. Extreme circumstances place then in each others path, interference, and secrets. Loveable characters,good food, all on Polk Island. Visit you will enjoy the quaint Island.
#Cillasbookmaniacs #Mamatoni #Firefighter #Eon
December 30, 2022
Talei just sweetens this story so much! Misty is a divorce with difficult in-laws. She moves away and start new on Polk Island. Due to familiar relations she also meets Elenor’s nephew, Leon. Unknown to Leon, Misty is his friend’s ex. Leon has suffered thru losing his beloved wife Vera and their daughter Selena. Certain his losses are almost to heavy to try again. But his attraction and care for Misty and her sweet daughter Talei causes him to rethink and wonder and miss even the more what he once had. Can he rescue Misty’s heart and save his own? Can he keep his promise to his friend, John Hayes, Misty’s ex? Another great novel about the delightful folks on Polk Island.
June 5, 2021
I really enjoyed this book and the characters. This is a book that I didn't want to end. I wanted to slap Elroy with his mean self. This book had several lessons on forgiveness, Alzheimer's awareness, and friendships. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
June 13, 2021
A Family for the firefighter
Best Jacqulin Thomas for me in a while. Leon and Misty s story was so sweet.I could have done without Elroy.Aunt Eleanor and Rusty s made the book for me.
Best Jacqulin Thomas for me in a while. Leon and Misty s story was so sweet.I could have done without Elroy.Aunt Eleanor and Rusty s made the book for me.
July 22, 2021
A Second Chance At Love
Jacqueline Thomas, I love this story! A wonderful story of love, forgiveness and family. I saw myself and part of my story in one of the characters in this book and it warmed my heart. I highly recommend this book!
Jacqueline Thomas, I love this story! A wonderful story of love, forgiveness and family. I saw myself and part of my story in one of the characters in this book and it warmed my heart. I highly recommend this book!
June 18, 2023
Inspirational writing!
The themes and characters are well developed. The care system for the family is paramount in this storyline and makes all the hardships conquerable. Enjoyed Polk Island!
The themes and characters are well developed. The care system for the family is paramount in this storyline and makes all the hardships conquerable. Enjoyed Polk Island!
April 3, 2024
Great read
Great read, I enjoyed the characters and storyline. Misty a divorced single and Leon a widower both had a traumatic past. This is their journey to healing and a second chance at love.
Great read, I enjoyed the characters and storyline. Misty a divorced single and Leon a widower both had a traumatic past. This is their journey to healing and a second chance at love.
December 5, 2024
I enjoyed reading the book
I really enjoyed reading this book. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series. However, I need to read the Dugrandpres of Charleston because there are family.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series. However, I need to read the Dugrandpres of Charleston because there are family.
August 18, 2021
Good
I enjoyed this romance between the main characters Misty and Leon. The secondary characters were well developed as well. Little Talie was adorable!
I enjoyed this romance between the main characters Misty and Leon. The secondary characters were well developed as well. Little Talie was adorable!
February 14, 2024
I enjoy reading Misty and Leon's love story. I will keep reading the series to update on their story.
May 25, 2021
A Family for the Firefighter (Polk Island Book1)
A Family For The FireFighter is a heartwarming second chance romance about letting go of past hurts and allowing the heart to heal. I love the chemistry between Leon and Misty. I also felt the unconditional love between a godfather and a godchild.
The author did an amazing job introducing the secondary characters of Polk Island. I was able to visualize the characters as they interacted with each other. The author had my emotions all over the place. I cried a little, laughed a lot,l got a little angry, and even felt disappointment, but by the end of the story I felt pure joy.
A Family For The FireFighter is a heartwarming second chance romance about letting go of past hurts and allowing the heart to heal. I love the chemistry between Leon and Misty. I also felt the unconditional love between a godfather and a godchild.
The author did an amazing job introducing the secondary characters of Polk Island. I was able to visualize the characters as they interacted with each other. The author had my emotions all over the place. I cried a little, laughed a lot,l got a little angry, and even felt disappointment, but by the end of the story I felt pure joy.
February 24, 2022
I enjoyed reading this new series by Jacquelin Thomas. The storyline was excellent especially with the historical background of the Rothchild’s family and it being passed down from generation to generation of how Polk Island was founded.
The two main characters Leon a Firefighter and Misty a baker and cook both had tragic loss with love and marriage with others. Leon lost his wife and daughter to death. Misty was divorced and going through a ruff custody battle for their daughter Talia, when her husband John kidnapps Talia and gets into a car accident. Can they both let go of the past and start a romantic relationship together? Will past love, family, hurts and pain get in the way? Leon’s Aunt Eleanor is the Aunt that everyone loves in the family and her story of Alzheimer’s and past loves was beautiful.
My attention was held from the beginning until the end. This is a real page-turner storyline.
I highly recommend this book, especially if you enjoy reading clean romance. I look forward to reading more books about Polk Island and the Rothschilds.
I voluntarily received an ARC Book and this review is of my own honest opinion and thoughts.
Cassandra H.
The two main characters Leon a Firefighter and Misty a baker and cook both had tragic loss with love and marriage with others. Leon lost his wife and daughter to death. Misty was divorced and going through a ruff custody battle for their daughter Talia, when her husband John kidnapps Talia and gets into a car accident. Can they both let go of the past and start a romantic relationship together? Will past love, family, hurts and pain get in the way? Leon’s Aunt Eleanor is the Aunt that everyone loves in the family and her story of Alzheimer’s and past loves was beautiful.
My attention was held from the beginning until the end. This is a real page-turner storyline.
I highly recommend this book, especially if you enjoy reading clean romance. I look forward to reading more books about Polk Island and the Rothschilds.
I voluntarily received an ARC Book and this review is of my own honest opinion and thoughts.
Cassandra H.
June 13, 2022
This a book about second chances and redemption. Firefighter Leon Rothschild was grieving the death of his wife and child. Misty Bridgewater had moved to Polk Island to start a new drama free life with your daughter Talei. There are a lot of things happened to people around them. This book covered death, abusive relationships, early onset dementia and starting over just to name a few. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
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April 2, 2021Categories
Small Town & Rural Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Wholesome Romance
Miniseries
Polk Island (Book #1)
Small Town & Rural Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Wholesome Romance
Miniseries
Polk Island (Book #1)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews