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Only You
Lost in the woods in the middle of a storm, Vanessa seeks refuge in a fire lookout’s tower, but finds much more than shelter. Simon is gruff, burly, and distractingly handsome—if the Smokey Bear aesthetic is your thing (and it totally is). Only You (Can Prevent Forest Fires) was originally published as part of the Only One Bed Volume Two anthology by Violet Gaze Press. This short story is revised and includes a bonus epilogue. Simon and Vanessa also make an appearance in Amped, book 3 of Vixens Rock, a plus sized rockstar romance series by Marie Lipscomb. Marie Lipscomb is a writer with a penchant for unlikely heroes, fantastical creatures, and finding romance in the midst of chaos. She has a particular fondness for big, squishy, cinnamon-roll heroes, especially if they’re beardy.
Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2021
9 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Marie Lipscomb
16 books98 followersMarie is a romance and fantasy author with a penchant for unlikely heroes, fantastical creatures, and finding romance in the midst of chaos. She has a particular fondness for big, squishy, cinnamon-roll heroes, especially if they're beardy.
She was born in Bolton, in the North West of England. After getting a bit taller, she attended The University of Cumbria, confusingly located in Lancaster, UK.
She studied Drama as her major, but needed to take a minor. In a spectacularly on-brand move, she left it to the last minute to look into things, and creative writing seemed the easiest choice (hahaha!)
Eventually, she realized drama was not for her, but loved creative writing. She went on to study creative writing at a postgraduate level and just never stopped setting herself homework.
Marie now lives in Virginia, USA, with her husband, Jacob, her dog, Alfie, Jacob's dog, Belle, and Merlin the bearded dragon. When she's not writing, she can usually be found playing the same three video games on a loop (*cough* Dragon Age)
She was born in Bolton, in the North West of England. After getting a bit taller, she attended The University of Cumbria, confusingly located in Lancaster, UK.
She studied Drama as her major, but needed to take a minor. In a spectacularly on-brand move, she left it to the last minute to look into things, and creative writing seemed the easiest choice (hahaha!)
Eventually, she realized drama was not for her, but loved creative writing. She went on to study creative writing at a postgraduate level and just never stopped setting herself homework.
Marie now lives in Virginia, USA, with her husband, Jacob, her dog, Alfie, Jacob's dog, Belle, and Merlin the bearded dragon. When she's not writing, she can usually be found playing the same three video games on a loop (*cough* Dragon Age)
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 4, 2022
2.5 stars rounded down.
Any longer and I would have DNFed. I liked the setup, but I wasn’t wild about the writing style. There were two steamy scenes, but both were extremely brief. I didn’t even quite realize they had started by the time they finished.
Contains: both plus sized, shelter from storm, fire lookout cabin, instalove, no condoms so let’s just do hand stuff, one night only (wink), only one bed, instalove/lust, very short (50 pages)
Any longer and I would have DNFed. I liked the setup, but I wasn’t wild about the writing style. There were two steamy scenes, but both were extremely brief. I didn’t even quite realize they had started by the time they finished.
Contains: both plus sized, shelter from storm, fire lookout cabin, instalove, no condoms so let’s just do hand stuff, one night only (wink), only one bed, instalove/lust, very short (50 pages)
July 21, 2021
Fun novella
Super sweet, unique setting, and nice amount of steam for the length. I really liked that both characters are portrayed as overweight and it comes across as body positive.
Super sweet, unique setting, and nice amount of steam for the length. I really liked that both characters are portrayed as overweight and it comes across as body positive.
August 2, 2021
super cute, fun, and steamy 🥰 i flew through it
March 11, 2024
So cute. Only if it were really that easy to find a love like that.
June 2, 2022
I usually don't go for the "Instalove" trope but I enjoyed this novella because of the circumstances of their first meeting and the unique setting.
April 28, 2025
ONLY YOU (CAN PREVENT FOREST FIRES)
HERO /HEROINE:
Vanessa is out in nature to get away from her life for a bit.
Simon is a volunteer fire lookout, he is spending his summer months alone in an overlook cabin, on the lookout for fires.
REPRESENTATION: plus size characters
OVERALL THOUGHTS:
The details are all very vague, but that's okay. It was still an okay read.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
The writing was different. Not my favorite story by this author.
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Of all the people to come stumbling into his cabin when he’s feeling
—and probably looking—
his worst,
it had to be a literal fucking angel."
SAFETY
AGE:
Idk
SEXUAL HISTORY:
Both haven't had sex in awhile.
CONDOMS:
First time, no, but they were responsible and just had oral and masturbated.
TUMMY BUTTERFLIES:
🦋 2/ 5 there was smut but very tame.
PUSH/PULL:
No
SEPARATION:
6 weeks apart, until Simon finishes his time in the woods.
CHEATING:
No
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama:
No
SEX SCENE WITH OW/OM:
No
POSSIBLE PET PEEVES/TRIGGERS:
None
HEA/HFN:
HEA
HERO /HEROINE:
Vanessa is out in nature to get away from her life for a bit.
Simon is a volunteer fire lookout, he is spending his summer months alone in an overlook cabin, on the lookout for fires.
REPRESENTATION: plus size characters
OVERALL THOUGHTS:
The details are all very vague, but that's okay. It was still an okay read.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
The writing was different. Not my favorite story by this author.
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Of all the people to come stumbling into his cabin when he’s feeling
—and probably looking—
his worst,
it had to be a literal fucking angel."
SAFETY
AGE:
Idk
SEXUAL HISTORY:
Both haven't had sex in awhile.
CONDOMS:
First time, no, but they were responsible and just had oral and masturbated.
TUMMY BUTTERFLIES:
🦋 2/ 5 there was smut but very tame.
PUSH/PULL:
No
SEPARATION:
6 weeks apart, until Simon finishes his time in the woods.
CHEATING:
No
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama:
No
SEX SCENE WITH OW/OM:
No
POSSIBLE PET PEEVES/TRIGGERS:
None
HEA/HFN:
HEA
June 18, 2022
I loved that both of the main characters were plus sized. This is the first book I've read where that's been the case. (Not for a lack of searching tho)
The story was just a cute romance with light and fluffy smut. My only complaint was that I wish it was a little longer. Yes, I know it's a novella, but I feel like the characters fell hard very fast with very little build up.
The story was just a cute romance with light and fluffy smut. My only complaint was that I wish it was a little longer. Yes, I know it's a novella, but I feel like the characters fell hard very fast with very little build up.
September 17, 2021
She's lost in the woods. He provides shelter. Oops, there's just one bed!
This was a fun read. Perfect short story length.
This was a fun read. Perfect short story length.
November 9, 2021
This was so effin cute. Only complaint is I wish this had been a full length novel!
November 13, 2021
This was so sweet!
September 22, 2023
I liked Simon. He's adorably awkward. But the story just... was kind of meh. They had really mediocre sex.. I thought awkward Simon would be really hot in bed. I was disappointed.
January 25, 2026
MF, contemporary romance, spicy, snowed in, only one bed.
November 26, 2022
2.5 stars
February 2, 2026
I actually struggled to get through this book and it was only 60 pages. I couldn’t get into it.
November 14, 2022
Short, Sweet, and made me Smile
Seriously, this is such an adorable story. I loved Vanessa and Simon as soon as they showed up on page. It took me less than an hour to read, but I was making heart eyes the whole time!
Seriously, this is such an adorable story. I loved Vanessa and Simon as soon as they showed up on page. It took me less than an hour to read, but I was making heart eyes the whole time!
November 7, 2022
3.5
Super cute
Loved the plus size MMC rep!
Super cute
Loved the plus size MMC rep!
May 31, 2022
short & steamy
Oops I got lost in the woods and there’s only one bed in your mountain cabin.
Bonkersly great. Two plus size heros. Insta love in the best way. Go read it!
Oops I got lost in the woods and there’s only one bed in your mountain cabin.
Bonkersly great. Two plus size heros. Insta love in the best way. Go read it!
October 26, 2022
This was a very quick very cute novella. Both MCs are plus size which is to be expected from Marie Lipscomb. Overall a very fun, quick read!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews