Evenings by the Fire: Bride on the Loose / My Hero

by Debbie Macomber

Curl up and get cozy with two classic romance stories about finding love and making it work.

Bride on the Loose

Jason Manning is content with his life as a carefree bachelor, until a precocious girl decides to play matchmaker and introduces him to her mother. To Jason's relief, Charlotte Weston is as uninterested in a relationship as he is. Charlotte likes Jason, but there's no way she's putting her broken heart on the line again. As their feelings start to deepen, can Jason convince the stubborn Charlotte that they're better together?

My Hero

Would-be romance writer Bailey York has already failed twice at love. She thinks men are wonderful to read and write about, but that's it. Which is probably why she has such difficulty creating a hero for her novel. What she needs is a real-life example, and she finds one in Parker Davidson. He's everything a hero should be: attractive, determined, capable of tenderness and a man of substance. Parker is perfect as Bailey's inspiration—but he wants to be the hero in her life, not just in her book!

Genres: Romance, Collections

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 28, 2021

About the author

Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.

In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.

She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.

Reviews

[Sally Lindsay-briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evenings by the Fire contains two stories: both interesting romances. Bride on the Loose portrays Charlotte who never wants to get married or date.! Her daughter attempts to get their landlord to date her mom. She keeps at it until Jason and Charlotte meet and find out they like each other! In My Hero Bailey is trying to write her first book. Her friend tells her the hero in her writing isn’t believable. Bailey sees a man on the subway and follows him to his office. He is the perfect hero. She tries to get to know him and although he’s a bit reluctant, he helps with her “research”. They begin a tempestuous relationship. Parker is pretty tricky because Bailey is gun shy about getting engaged. A special ending makes the novel worth reading.

[Gretchen Wettstein]

DNF. A gift that just wasn't my type of book.

[Lis Sigona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two novels in one book by Debbie Macomber

First: Bride on the Loose - I think we’ve all had the desire to find the right person in our lives to complete us.

Second: My Hero - I think we’ve all dreamed about finding that someone special - that person that has the qualities of a hero that is our knight in shining armor that makes our lives just all the more exquisite in the dream!

[Barbara Gingras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent fun stories

[Bonny Rambarran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two really good romantic stories.

[Linnea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both stories were great romances. I really like the first one best of the two. Bride on the looose was just cute

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two different stories in one book. Bride on the Loose and My Hero. Author Debbie Macomber never disappoints.

[Aimee Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with 2 books in it. I really loved the first one Bride on the loose. The second book My Hero was good but took a little bit to get into it.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Debs book. Light easy reading for the summer.

[Shelly Itkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book called Evenings by the Fire consists of two short stories.

The first being Bride on the Loose and My Hero.

Bride on the Loose

Cassie lives in a small apartment building with her mother Charlotte Weston. She sees at fifteen that her mother leads a boring life with know love interest in sight and wants to see her mother date and maybe even fall in love. Her mother never really talks about her father and she has not had contact with him for almost all of her life.

Her mom is in her thirties and feels she has to do something so she takes it upon herself to see if Jason Manning, a veterinarian might be interested in dating her mom, even for money? When that does not work she has another trick up her sleeve since he is also her landlord.

At first both seem so opposite and uninterested in each other that you wonder if they can even just be civil friends or neighbors. Seems like things slowly start to take a change and each of them is feeling a deeper and more meaningful connection with one another.

With Jason being a kind of confirmed bachelor who enjoys being a slob and watching tv and sports when he wants to with no interruptions can he possibly change? Charlotte is holding back her feelings as her husband not only took advantage of her, used her, belittled her and left her with scars she does not know if they will ever heal as he made her feel like she was not a woman and no man would want her.

This book is a short story but one of love, patience and working on making a relationship not only work but become a permanent one for each of them.

[Samantha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reading a book set in 1992 while in 2024 shouldn't feel like such a stark contrast. After all, I can read works by the Brontë sisters and appreciate them without being hit over the head by outdated views. But with Bride on the Loose, I struggled to push past the misogynistic themes that seemed to define the characters' idea of a "perfect match." But when Jason forced Charolette to marry him - as if a force marriage to someone whom he believed at the time only liked him for his family could only end well - I lost all interest in the book and all respect for the author. Debbie easily glossed over some highly abusive behavior and tried to make it seem romantic. After finishing Bride on the Loose I didn't even dive into the next book, I just walked to the nearest trash can and threw this piece of trash away, where it belongs.

[Sarah A · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are curl up cozy beach read romance stories and may be 5* if that’s what you want and need or 2* if you want the female characters to be stronger roles. I’ve gone with 3.5*.
They are good stories - two gentle romances, both about women not looking for love and falling head over heels. To be fair the men fall head over heels too. However the men get to also do their jobs properly, get all the attention from their family and be right about everything. The female characters get to gut through and get things wrong and be alone or even become isolated from friends and family because of their bad decisions and be wrong about everything.

Summer beach reads where you don’t need to think much - yes.
Positive female empowerment books - no.

[Mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

First story I found super lame. Complaining nonstop about what ex husband said and how sexually she doesn't feel she can satisfy a man. Over and over. Teenage daughter cute and how she originally got them together I liked. Super predictable and married in months with happily ever after and new baby. Just blah in my opinion. Second story slightly better but also not very interesting. Bailey winds up living the romance story she was writing. I liked Parker he was what carried this story. Again super predictable happily ever after with baby. Good for quick reads if you want cheesy, easy romance read. I've read a lot of Debbie's books and this by far my least favorite.

[Deane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two good stories in one book:

Bride on The Loose - Charlotte has been jilted by Tom and Paul just before the weddings so she feels very insecure about getting involved with Jason who likes his bachelor life but is very attracted to Charlotte.

My Hero: Bailey York has a full time job but really wants to write romance novels but she is just at the beginning of doing so, and she gets back a rejection from the publisher because her man in the story is somewhat of a wimp....she sees a man, Parker on the bus and is determined to follow him and learn what makes him seem a 'real' man. He becomes very intrigued with her but she just wants time to write her novel.

[Sarah Main · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bride on the Loose
This is why I love seeing both perspectives in a romance. It was good to see her hesitations and to see him notice them and act so kindly because of it. Some of the things in the latter half were a bit outlandish, but it was a sweet story.

My Hero
In general, I liked Bailey and Parker a bit more than Charlotte and Jason. I liked how he pursued her from the beginning. The thing I didn’t like so much was how many times a date or conversation went off the rails. If it had been a full-length novel with all those little arguments, I probably would have lost patience.

[Pearl Jam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do enjoy reading books by Debbie, but this one just didn't amaze me as some of her others have. I felt like this lacked a lot of creativity, and the two stories felt very similar.. I mean, both lead females had the same ex named Tom... boring. They just needed to be scenting in these stories that made them come alive a bit more. It just all felt a little too forced.

[Courtney Pederson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was gifted this book from my mother in law. So I took it camping with me and I just struggled really hard to read this book. No storyline and was very super cheesy. It is a super quick read with two stories in one book. Just not a book for me.

[Dr. Patti Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever get the feeling you read something but the cover is different? I thought I read all Debbie's books, but never saw this cover. As I jumped it, with a 2021 copyright, I quickly realized I did read it. Still cute, but same material with a new cover.

[Krista Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-packaged older stories. Typical of Macomber.
I'd read Bride on the Loose before. I appreciate that they are not rich. No beach houses or lake views, just an apartment in town.

My Hero was a bit of Macomber shtick. One of those books that writes itself. Still, a fun read.

[Robin C · Rating 1 out of 5]

Made it to page 40, then donated it. So predictable & same story line as every “romance novel”. Single mom that hates men but falls for landlord in first chapter. Not wasting my time; so many good books waiting to be read.

[HTP Books]

Categories
Romance Collections & Anthologies, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of my favorites by Debbie Macomber. Reprint of two older titles.

[Jackalyn]

Re-release of a couple of older books. Typical Macomber - very good.

[Christina Abdul Samad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved book

[Charlotte Steckly · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit of a modern day Harlequin but an easy summer beach read none the less

[Nancy Mulvany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like a Hallmark movie

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read only one of the two stories in this book. The first one was okay but not enough Christmas I thought and the second didn’t catch my attention enough to finish

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and will be looking for more to read by Debbie Macomber!

[Tiffany McKenney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love Debbie Macomber and her books. Two great stories in one book. Easy to read and sweet stories.

[mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked both short stories. I’m not normally into romance novels. I did have a hard time liking the female leads at times