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Love On Madison Island #2
Heat Of Love
A fire claims her bakery, but the young special investigator sent to determine the cause just might scorch through the barriers around her heart…
Regina Parker has four loves: her family, friends, business, and her community. A serious relationship hasn’t been on her radar since she became a widow. Life is exactly how she wants until it all goes up in smoke. Literally. The attractive outsider called in to help is a distraction she doesn’t need.
Firefighter Alec Hodge is eager to spread his wings and the assignment in Madison Island, GA gives him the chance. A suspicious blaze may have brought him to the small town, but enigmatic Regina keeps him coming back.
Sparks fly. Passions ignite. But when revelations hit like a backdraft, the newly kindled relationship could be snuffed out before it really has a chance to burn.
Regina Parker has four loves: her family, friends, business, and her community. A serious relationship hasn’t been on her radar since she became a widow. Life is exactly how she wants until it all goes up in smoke. Literally. The attractive outsider called in to help is a distraction she doesn’t need.
Firefighter Alec Hodge is eager to spread his wings and the assignment in Madison Island, GA gives him the chance. A suspicious blaze may have brought him to the small town, but enigmatic Regina keeps him coming back.
Sparks fly. Passions ignite. But when revelations hit like a backdraft, the newly kindled relationship could be snuffed out before it really has a chance to burn.
212 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 21, 2021
17 people are currently reading
267 people want to read
About the author
Meka James
20 books287 followersI'm a stay at home mom of 4 kids and have been happily married to my husband for 11 years and counting. I lead a pretty basic and straightforward life and use writing and reading as my escape.
Best places to find me:
Blog:
http://mekasmusings.blogspot.com/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/AuthorMekaJames
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/author_meka...
Best places to find me:
Blog:
http://mekasmusings.blogspot.com/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/AuthorMekaJames
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/author_meka...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 27, 2021
The author has crafted a book that is an entertaining, feel good escape. Madison Island is a picturesque town with an array of interesting characters. Regina is a loyal, hardworking, creative, loving woman dedicated to her family and girlfriends (who are the sisters of her heart). She has had some work stresses, but thing were looking up until disaster strikes. Alec is ambitious and newly arrived to Madison. From the moment he and Regina meet, their interactions are energized by snappy, witty exchanges, attraction, and chemistry. Neither Alec or Regina are looking for love, but there is no denying the heat, or the something special that exists between them. I look forward to the next book in this series.
May 25, 2022
This was my first completed book from this author and it was an easy read. I liked the small town girl falling for the city boy. I respected the characters, they were mature and in tuned with themselves. Regina was a little hard on herself because she was a widower but I loved that she allowed herself to accept, “Mr. Special Investigator’s” love.. good read.
May 20, 2022
3.25-3.5/5
May 29, 2022
I loved this story! The audio was well done. A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!
August 18, 2023
3.75
Such a enjoyable audiobook and I loves the reverse age gap meets reformed player trope.
Steamy and romantic with no real angst and I loved the FMC
Such a enjoyable audiobook and I loves the reverse age gap meets reformed player trope.
Steamy and romantic with no real angst and I loved the FMC
October 11, 2023
3.5 stars
An enjoyable read for me.
An enjoyable read for me.
September 17, 2022
I am just having fun with this series. It's low on the drama, has interesting characters that skew towards the older side and romances that are easy to get invested in.
The narrators were also fitting for Regina and Alec.
The premise, her burnt-down bakery, offers the perfect backdrop for our two main characters to interact and get to know each other. It's easy for them to fall into bed but it doesn't take long until the romantic feelings catch up.
I like how their personalities are similar while their expectations of life are the major point of conflict. It takes them a minute to work all that through and decide what exactly they want: is Regina ready to have another serious relationship, is Alec up to making same major life changes?
The narrators were also fitting for Regina and Alec.
The premise, her burnt-down bakery, offers the perfect backdrop for our two main characters to interact and get to know each other. It's easy for them to fall into bed but it doesn't take long until the romantic feelings catch up.
I like how their personalities are similar while their expectations of life are the major point of conflict. It takes them a minute to work all that through and decide what exactly they want: is Regina ready to have another serious relationship, is Alec up to making same major life changes?
July 11, 2021
Heat of Love is the second book in the “Love on Madison Island” series and like the first book, this is also a 5- star read. This is a story of unexpected love as neither Regina nor Alec were looking for anything serious and they were both completely uninterested in pursuing a relationship prior to meeting and falling in love. However, Heat of Love proved that when you find your “person”, there is no escaping him/her.
I loved this story and especially liked that it is real and relatable. I also loved that Regina stayed true to her authentic self and Alec didn’t expect or require her to change who she was in order to be with him. Alec fell in love Regina…every part of Regina. I can’t wait for the next story in this series! Very well done.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own**
I loved this story and especially liked that it is real and relatable. I also loved that Regina stayed true to her authentic self and Alec didn’t expect or require her to change who she was in order to be with him. Alec fell in love Regina…every part of Regina. I can’t wait for the next story in this series! Very well done.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own**
June 24, 2021
I was thrilled to get back to Madison Island to read the love story of Regina, the sassy bakery owner from the first installment in this series, and I was not disappointed. This story has lots of sass and sizzle between Regina and a fire investigator named Alec. Alec comes to Madison Island to investigate the fire that destroyed Regina's bakery. He's a sworn bachelor, and Regina is happy in the no-strings-attached arrangements she's had with men since she was widowed 16 years before. But sometimes the heat is too hot to ignore.
This book was a good read that kept me turning pages. It's intended for mature readers only as it includes graphic sexual content and language. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
This book was a good read that kept me turning pages. It's intended for mature readers only as it includes graphic sexual content and language. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
June 17, 2021
Content notes:
I very much enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was excited to see what was in store for Cynthia’s friend Regina – especially with the events surrounding her family bakery in the last book. And I was not disappointed. This is a delightful age gap romance between a baker and firefighter and I loved every bit!
Regina has lived her entire life on Madison Island, and her pride and joy is running the family’s bakery. But some days are worse than others, especially after an employee she trusted embezzled money – and then the bakery burned down. The only thing she can do is keep going, and hopefully the arrival of the Special Investigator from the Savannah fire department will hurry along the insurance company so she can start rebuilding. Alec recently transferred from Atlanta and even the smaller city of Savannah seems too quaint for him. From the moment he meets Regina, however, the tiny town of Madison Island starts to work its charms on him – or maybe that’s just Regina. There’s something there between them that he can’t help but want to explore, and Regina’s insistence on a no-strings-attached one-night-stand (once his favorite thing) suddenly seems like not enough. But with Regina firmly ensconced on Madison Island and him biding time until he can get enough experience to go back to Atlanta, there’s not much chance of a serious relationship between them – or is there?
Regina is delightfully straight-forward, and she doesn’t hesitate to tell it straight to anyone, even a guy she just met. Her job at the bakery is a lot of work, but she loves it, and she loves carrying on the family tradition. Even the bakery burning down is just another setback, and she’s dealt with those before. What she doesn’t have time for is a relationship. She’s got her friends, her son in college, and her job – she doesn’t need anything else. Alec’s family is happy that he’s finally going out on less calls now that he’s got more of a desk job, but now they’re on to nagging him to settle down. Unlike his twin brother, though, he’s happy playing the field – at least until he meets Regina. She’s easy to talk to, and her similarly easy brush of any idea of a relationship suddenly hits him the wrong way. Alec’s the first to acknowledge that he wants more, and while Regina eventually gets there as well, she’s more willing to blame it on a reaction to the stressful circumstances rather than anything special about him. But his concern for her (and her business) go a long way to breaking down her walls.
I loved the friendship between Regina, Cynthia and Irene. It was one of my favorite parts of the last book, and it’s just as important in this one. Cynthia doesn’t hesitate to push Regina on her dating history – or lack of it – but it’s out of love. The whole town of Madison Island is frankly lovely, though Regina does admit it has its downsides, like how everyone is all up in her business. But it also means they’re all there to support her to try to keep the bakery afloat in any way they can.
Overall, look, this is two Black folks who are good at what they do falling in love, surrounded by family and friends who love them. If that’s not the perfect formula for a summer read, I don’t know what is. I can’t wait to read Irene’s book – and now I’m kinda hoping Remi, the mechanic, gets a book as well!
I received an advance review copy of this book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I very much enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was excited to see what was in store for Cynthia’s friend Regina – especially with the events surrounding her family bakery in the last book. And I was not disappointed. This is a delightful age gap romance between a baker and firefighter and I loved every bit!
Regina has lived her entire life on Madison Island, and her pride and joy is running the family’s bakery. But some days are worse than others, especially after an employee she trusted embezzled money – and then the bakery burned down. The only thing she can do is keep going, and hopefully the arrival of the Special Investigator from the Savannah fire department will hurry along the insurance company so she can start rebuilding. Alec recently transferred from Atlanta and even the smaller city of Savannah seems too quaint for him. From the moment he meets Regina, however, the tiny town of Madison Island starts to work its charms on him – or maybe that’s just Regina. There’s something there between them that he can’t help but want to explore, and Regina’s insistence on a no-strings-attached one-night-stand (once his favorite thing) suddenly seems like not enough. But with Regina firmly ensconced on Madison Island and him biding time until he can get enough experience to go back to Atlanta, there’s not much chance of a serious relationship between them – or is there?
“Well, either you want to jump my bones right here and now in the middle of this mess, or you’re looking at me like I’m suspect number one. Which one is it?”
“Are you always this forward?”
“Yes. Life is too short, and I am too damn old to be beating around the fucking bush. If I want to know something I ask.”
Regina is delightfully straight-forward, and she doesn’t hesitate to tell it straight to anyone, even a guy she just met. Her job at the bakery is a lot of work, but she loves it, and she loves carrying on the family tradition. Even the bakery burning down is just another setback, and she’s dealt with those before. What she doesn’t have time for is a relationship. She’s got her friends, her son in college, and her job – she doesn’t need anything else. Alec’s family is happy that he’s finally going out on less calls now that he’s got more of a desk job, but now they’re on to nagging him to settle down. Unlike his twin brother, though, he’s happy playing the field – at least until he meets Regina. She’s easy to talk to, and her similarly easy brush of any idea of a relationship suddenly hits him the wrong way. Alec’s the first to acknowledge that he wants more, and while Regina eventually gets there as well, she’s more willing to blame it on a reaction to the stressful circumstances rather than anything special about him. But his concern for her (and her business) go a long way to breaking down her walls.
“I’d never pictured our thirty-plus-year-long friendship as anything out of the norm. We simply were. Through thick and thin, we persisted. And it wasn’t to say we never had disagreements and that everything was always sunshine and rainbows. That would be unrealistic. Respect came in many forms, as did love. And I loved those women and always would. Over the years, we’d proved multiple times that the feeling was mutual.”
I loved the friendship between Regina, Cynthia and Irene. It was one of my favorite parts of the last book, and it’s just as important in this one. Cynthia doesn’t hesitate to push Regina on her dating history – or lack of it – but it’s out of love. The whole town of Madison Island is frankly lovely, though Regina does admit it has its downsides, like how everyone is all up in her business. But it also means they’re all there to support her to try to keep the bakery afloat in any way they can.
“I don’t need anyone to take care of me.” She said the words, but her eyes closed as I kneaded the ball of her foot.
“What if I want to? What if I want to rub your feet at the end of a long day? What if I want to listen to you complain about any and everything? Maybe you think you don’t need anyone to take care of you, but you have me here applying for the job anyway.”
Overall, look, this is two Black folks who are good at what they do falling in love, surrounded by family and friends who love them. If that’s not the perfect formula for a summer read, I don’t know what is. I can’t wait to read Irene’s book – and now I’m kinda hoping Remi, the mechanic, gets a book as well!
I received an advance review copy of this book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Read
April 12, 2022(copy and pasting this note for all three books) So I actually read all three of the books in the series within like a day and a half because I found them on scribd and I had a stretch of time to just listen and these books were exactly what I needed. To be honest I was decorating cookies for like 7 and 1/2 hours and I had a migraine and I needed a book that would not require a lot of emotional investment for me but also still be an enjoyable read. These books are perfect for that.
I mean that in the best way. These books are easy to listen to and easy to enjoy. They center around this small town and this group of three friends who are all kind of figuring out their stuff after life has thrown them some big hiccups. They are all over 40 and we live for that here.
Fat baker fat baker fat baker!!! I live for books with fat bakers. Maybe it's because I am a fat baker but it's one of my favorite things.
Anyway, Regina is a widower and she has an adult son and she wants her family business of a bakery. When her bakery is burnt down she has to figure out what her next steps are moving forward. When the fire inspector from a bigger town comes into investigate she is not expecting to have such a big chemistry with him.
I kind of wish this book had some more conversation in it because these two kind of jump into sex and then walk away which is obviously totally fine, but when they do end up in a relationship they still don't ever really have a lot of on page conversation.
I loved the descriptions of family in this book. Both Regina and Alec have big boisterous families and I loved it.
So I am claiming Alec as arospec. He has spent his life in casual sexual encounters and his family is always harping on him to be in a serious relationship but he doesn't want to. He was always the one walking away and interested in multiple partners etc. I kind of wish this was a little bit more celebrated rather than the kind of apathetic tone used for it. Not all sex needs to be romantic and not all romance needs sex and I wish that was a little bit more discussed.
When Alec and Regina hook up the first time, Regina is the one who walks away from him and leaves him hanging and he is so thrown off. He doesn't understand why all of a sudden he has this connection to this strange woman but he kind of sets out on a mission to get to know her more. He really read as probably gray romantic to me but I am claiming him and that's all there is to it.
I think something that this little series does super well is bringing some realistic elements into romance. Alec lives in a big city and he doesn't want to live in a small town and Regina is not going to leave her small town and the two of them have to figure out how to move forward if they want to be together. There isn't a quick easy fix of one of them just leaves their job and moves. No they try a few different things until they realize what works. I really appreciated this element and this was another very easy book to get attached to.
Fat Black single parent MC over 40, Black MC
CW: explicit sex, discussion of grief and loss of spouse
I mean that in the best way. These books are easy to listen to and easy to enjoy. They center around this small town and this group of three friends who are all kind of figuring out their stuff after life has thrown them some big hiccups. They are all over 40 and we live for that here.
Fat baker fat baker fat baker!!! I live for books with fat bakers. Maybe it's because I am a fat baker but it's one of my favorite things.
Anyway, Regina is a widower and she has an adult son and she wants her family business of a bakery. When her bakery is burnt down she has to figure out what her next steps are moving forward. When the fire inspector from a bigger town comes into investigate she is not expecting to have such a big chemistry with him.
I kind of wish this book had some more conversation in it because these two kind of jump into sex and then walk away which is obviously totally fine, but when they do end up in a relationship they still don't ever really have a lot of on page conversation.
I loved the descriptions of family in this book. Both Regina and Alec have big boisterous families and I loved it.
So I am claiming Alec as arospec. He has spent his life in casual sexual encounters and his family is always harping on him to be in a serious relationship but he doesn't want to. He was always the one walking away and interested in multiple partners etc. I kind of wish this was a little bit more celebrated rather than the kind of apathetic tone used for it. Not all sex needs to be romantic and not all romance needs sex and I wish that was a little bit more discussed.
When Alec and Regina hook up the first time, Regina is the one who walks away from him and leaves him hanging and he is so thrown off. He doesn't understand why all of a sudden he has this connection to this strange woman but he kind of sets out on a mission to get to know her more. He really read as probably gray romantic to me but I am claiming him and that's all there is to it.
I think something that this little series does super well is bringing some realistic elements into romance. Alec lives in a big city and he doesn't want to live in a small town and Regina is not going to leave her small town and the two of them have to figure out how to move forward if they want to be together. There isn't a quick easy fix of one of them just leaves their job and moves. No they try a few different things until they realize what works. I really appreciated this element and this was another very easy book to get attached to.
Fat Black single parent MC over 40, Black MC
CW: explicit sex, discussion of grief and loss of spouse
March 31, 2023
CW: loss of loved ones (pre-book), grief, arson, graphic sexual content
⭐️ Black Romance
⭐️ OW-YM
⭐️ Single parent small town romance
🌈 Black MCs
🌈 Fat heroine
This was a fun, fluffy, yet emotional small town romance. We have two MCs who are very commitment phobic. Admittedly, for two very different reasons, but yeah. Through the course of the story, we see little bits of Regina's walls just crumble away bit by bit. I loved her whole personality and characterisation. I feel like she really fit the "bordering on prickly" heroine bill. Meka James manage to write her attitude and feelings towards relationships and pushing people away in such a fashion in that instead of causing the reader any dislike toward the FMC, it makes her more endearing and likeable.
I also have such a soft spot for reluctance on the FMCs part in general, and I don't even know why 😍
The small town vibe was encapsulated so well into the setting, the friendships, relationships and plot were just right.
I recommend this to anyone who is looking for a small town romance that's a little spicier, and that also veers away from the stereotypical small town romance.
⭐️ Black Romance
⭐️ OW-YM
⭐️ Single parent small town romance
🌈 Black MCs
🌈 Fat heroine
This was a fun, fluffy, yet emotional small town romance. We have two MCs who are very commitment phobic. Admittedly, for two very different reasons, but yeah. Through the course of the story, we see little bits of Regina's walls just crumble away bit by bit. I loved her whole personality and characterisation. I feel like she really fit the "bordering on prickly" heroine bill. Meka James manage to write her attitude and feelings towards relationships and pushing people away in such a fashion in that instead of causing the reader any dislike toward the FMC, it makes her more endearing and likeable.
I also have such a soft spot for reluctance on the FMCs part in general, and I don't even know why 😍
The small town vibe was encapsulated so well into the setting, the friendships, relationships and plot were just right.
I recommend this to anyone who is looking for a small town romance that's a little spicier, and that also veers away from the stereotypical small town romance.
June 16, 2021
Regina is fourth generation running the family bakery. When all of a sudden it is burning to the ground. Alec is the fire investigator in charge of the investigation. One look at each other and these two have a few sparks of their own. Regina is a headstrong sassy independent kinda women that has her mind set on not having a relationship. Alec is on a mission to change her mind. I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the authors writing style and the detailed descriptions were amazing! I will definitely be looking for more books written by this author.
June 25, 2025
I LOVE an age gap romance with an older heroine.
Regina Parker has just lost her bakery and the fire investigator suspects arson. Who's the fire inspector? The irresistible Alec Hodge who is immediately gone for Regina.
Regina's independence and confidence were so inspiring and her grief over losing her husband was heartbreaking.
The sexy times between these two were 🥵! Like, I was listening to the audio at work and checked multiple times to be sure that my noise cancelling headphones were functioning properly.
Regina Parker has just lost her bakery and the fire investigator suspects arson. Who's the fire inspector? The irresistible Alec Hodge who is immediately gone for Regina.
Regina's independence and confidence were so inspiring and her grief over losing her husband was heartbreaking.
The sexy times between these two were 🥵! Like, I was listening to the audio at work and checked multiple times to be sure that my noise cancelling headphones were functioning properly.
August 24, 2021
4.5*
This was so sweet (pun intended) - I had a smile on my face pretty much the entire time. I loved Regina and Alec - the banter was delicious and the chemistry was on fire. There was a lot of steam in this book so don't let the cute cover fool ya. The only thing keeping this from a true 5 stars was the ending as it felt a bit abrupt to me. But overall this was a treat and I'll definitely go back to catch book 1 at some point as well as continue to book 3.
This was so sweet (pun intended) - I had a smile on my face pretty much the entire time. I loved Regina and Alec - the banter was delicious and the chemistry was on fire. There was a lot of steam in this book so don't let the cute cover fool ya. The only thing keeping this from a true 5 stars was the ending as it felt a bit abrupt to me. But overall this was a treat and I'll definitely go back to catch book 1 at some point as well as continue to book 3.
April 8, 2023
I dug this story. Regina was feisty and stubborn (incredibly) and resilient and a little maddening at times, and Alec was persistent and driven and understanding and patient. At times I forgot about the age difference between the two because it wasn't a factor. I loved the supportive community in Madison Island. And the fact that there was no third act breakup mashed in there. I sooo appreciated that.
September 30, 2021
Heat of Love is the best title for this book. Regina and Alec brings all the southern heat, that kept me turning page after page. I love their chemistry, they brought lots of laughter throughout the story.
August 20, 2022
I enjoyed this book. Meka James has done it again, for me.
Regina being thique, voluptuous, locs flowing, and confident did it for me. Alec being younger and meeting his match, in a sense, also pushed the plot for me. The emotional maturity that everyone eventually arrives at is a destination that was well worth traveling.
🌶🌶🌶/5
I listened to this on Scribd.
Tropes:
May/December Romance (older woman/younger man)
No longer wants to play the field
Healing from loss
Big city man falls for small town woman
HEA
Trigger warning ⚠️:
Mention of car accident
Arson
Regina being thique, voluptuous, locs flowing, and confident did it for me. Alec being younger and meeting his match, in a sense, also pushed the plot for me. The emotional maturity that everyone eventually arrives at is a destination that was well worth traveling.
🌶🌶🌶/5
I listened to this on Scribd.
Tropes:
May/December Romance (older woman/younger man)
No longer wants to play the field
Healing from loss
Big city man falls for small town woman
HEA
Trigger warning ⚠️:
Mention of car accident
Arson
September 21, 2023
This was really cute. I wish they could have stay on the mystery of who burnt down the bakery. Just dragged it out a little bit more. Things just seem to just go very quickly with the relationship.
Read
July 2, 2021
Trigger & Content Warnings
Grief & loss depiction
Death of a husband
Death of a mother-in-law
Arson
Grief & loss depiction
Death of a husband
Death of a mother-in-law
Arson
July 7, 2021
Great story!!!
Loved Regina and Alec’s story! Regina had a lot she had to overcome, glad she was able to with the help of her friends, family and Alec.
Loved Regina and Alec’s story! Regina had a lot she had to overcome, glad she was able to with the help of her friends, family and Alec.
July 15, 2021
I enjoyed it.
March 14, 2022
Such a lovely book. I enjoyed it
June 10, 2022
It was a fun, quick romance read !!
July 19, 2022
At first, I didn’t like Regina’s dialogue, but it toned down over the course of the book. I liked this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2024
3.5
Cute
Cute
March 23, 2024
Small town romance. This is the second book in the series and while I enjoyed it, it wasn't quite as good as the first book. Still good enough that I will read the 3rd book at some point.
June 6, 2022
3.5 stars… review pending
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews