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Love and Kerosene
Two people find love in the embers of their painful pasts in this slow-burn romance from Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon bestselling author Winter Renshaw.
For me, family is a curse. My father and brother made my life hell. My mother’s untimely death still keeps me up at night. Now that my brother, Donovan, has been killed in an accident, I can forget the past.
The last remnant is the childhood home I’ve inherited—and which I intend to burn to the ground. The only obstacle? Anneliese Nielsen, Donovan’s fiancée.
Donovan left her destitute, and selling this run-down house is her only chance to recoup her losses. I shouldn’t care, but…maybe it’s her eyes when she sees me. I look strikingly like my brother, a man she loved despite everything.
So we strike a deal. We’ll renovate the house together, but she’ll have to convince me to sell—or up in flames it goes.
But the more time we spend in the house, the more its terrible history threatens to come out.
And even more dangerous, the harder I start to fall for Anneliese.
For me, family is a curse. My father and brother made my life hell. My mother’s untimely death still keeps me up at night. Now that my brother, Donovan, has been killed in an accident, I can forget the past.
The last remnant is the childhood home I’ve inherited—and which I intend to burn to the ground. The only obstacle? Anneliese Nielsen, Donovan’s fiancée.
Donovan left her destitute, and selling this run-down house is her only chance to recoup her losses. I shouldn’t care, but…maybe it’s her eyes when she sees me. I look strikingly like my brother, a man she loved despite everything.
So we strike a deal. We’ll renovate the house together, but she’ll have to convince me to sell—or up in flames it goes.
But the more time we spend in the house, the more its terrible history threatens to come out.
And even more dangerous, the harder I start to fall for Anneliese.
255 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 11, 2022
899 people are currently reading
3569 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 364 reviews
April 25, 2025
4⭐
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Setting ~ Vermont
Publication date ~ October 11, 2022
Publisher ~ Montlake
Est Page Count ~ 254 (33 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 21 minutes
Narratora ~ Nelson Hobbs, Lidia Dornet
POV ~ dual 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ forced proximity, slow burn, very minimal steamage
Anneliese (29) & Lachlan (30)
Anneliese has been heartbroken for months following her fiancé, Donovan's, death. When she learns he had a brother after he said he was an only child and he stole all her money she realizes it's time get this house fixed up and move on.
Lachlan moved away as soon as he could after HS graduation. Now, after learning his brother is dead, he's back in town trying to claim his assets, most notably the house he grew up in. Why?...he wants to watch it burn. We know there's a good reason, but we're not told what it is for quite a while, which really built up the suspense in a good, heartbreaking way. He wasn't expecting there to be a woman living in and restoring the house. Will Anneliese's presence put a damper on his plans once he gets to know who she is as a person, or is he still as determined as ever to rid himself of the painful memories the house holds?
I wasn't sure I was going to like this one based on her having been engaged to his brother, but since he's dead, and sounded awful, I determined I was okay with it and was rooting for them.
"...you're not just some story, Anneliese. You're the whole damn novel."
Overall, they were both sweet, separately and together. The friendships they both had with the older ladies was really nice. A definite slow burn, but I didn't really hate that for these two because it felt natural, however I could have went for a little more steamage since there was a good amount of tension being they were living and renovating the house together. One small niggle is that I didn't like how she was so forgiving towards to end, but all in all I enjoyed it.
✔️ed another old one off the list!
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the above info for reference.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Setting ~ Vermont
Publication date ~ October 11, 2022
Publisher ~ Montlake
Est Page Count ~ 254 (33 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 21 minutes
Narratora ~ Nelson Hobbs, Lidia Dornet
POV ~ dual 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ forced proximity, slow burn, very minimal steamage
Anneliese (29) & Lachlan (30)
Anneliese has been heartbroken for months following her fiancé, Donovan's, death. When she learns he had a brother after he said he was an only child and he stole all her money she realizes it's time get this house fixed up and move on.
Lachlan moved away as soon as he could after HS graduation. Now, after learning his brother is dead, he's back in town trying to claim his assets, most notably the house he grew up in. Why?...he wants to watch it burn. We know there's a good reason, but we're not told what it is for quite a while, which really built up the suspense in a good, heartbreaking way. He wasn't expecting there to be a woman living in and restoring the house. Will Anneliese's presence put a damper on his plans once he gets to know who she is as a person, or is he still as determined as ever to rid himself of the painful memories the house holds?
I wasn't sure I was going to like this one based on her having been engaged to his brother, but since he's dead, and sounded awful, I determined I was okay with it and was rooting for them.
"...you're not just some story, Anneliese. You're the whole damn novel."
Overall, they were both sweet, separately and together. The friendships they both had with the older ladies was really nice. A definite slow burn, but I didn't really hate that for these two because it felt natural, however I could have went for a little more steamage since there was a good amount of tension being they were living and renovating the house together. One small niggle is that I didn't like how she was so forgiving towards to end, but all in all I enjoyed it.
✔️ed another old one off the list!
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the above info for reference.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
August 8, 2023
This book is weird. In someways it's melodramatic but also the drama solves too easily.
I don't believe their love story for a second. It's been a few months since her fiancé died. She learned that he is a conman. His brother comes to claim the house. And within a few weeks they are in love.
Uh, make that make sense. How she can go from being in love with one brother, be betrayed by that brother, and then fall in love with the other brother… I really don't understand it.
Do not recommend
I don't believe their love story for a second. It's been a few months since her fiancé died. She learned that he is a conman. His brother comes to claim the house. And within a few weeks they are in love.
Uh, make that make sense. How she can go from being in love with one brother, be betrayed by that brother, and then fall in love with the other brother… I really don't understand it.
Do not recommend
October 12, 2022
4.5 stars ⭐️.
A brilliantly executed, superbly written romance with lovable protagonists who had layers to them.
Heroine Anneliese was such a positive person. Sweet but with a spicy edge and a very good friend. Even after the betrayal of her ex, she picked up herself and moved on. I liked her unique profession too.
Lachlan was a character shrouded in mystery that you can’t help but drawn to. Honest to fault, brash and a vagabond because of his past. I loved him.
Infact both of them had that mysterious aura around them.
The story had that somber undertone from the beginning itself and what a fantastic writing style!
There were many moments where I loved the insightful dialogues because they resonated with me so much.
The obscure words and meanings introduced in the beginning of each chapter was cherry on top. Infact I got many new such words from this book.
Overall a very enjoyable romance with depth, angst and emotion.
Closed door scenes (which was kinda disappointing tbh).
And I ADORED the epilogue…. Sigh.
Recommended.
P.s I loved that her ex was good in bed because in heroines cases, they never are.
A brilliantly executed, superbly written romance with lovable protagonists who had layers to them.
Heroine Anneliese was such a positive person. Sweet but with a spicy edge and a very good friend. Even after the betrayal of her ex, she picked up herself and moved on. I liked her unique profession too.
Lachlan was a character shrouded in mystery that you can’t help but drawn to. Honest to fault, brash and a vagabond because of his past. I loved him.
Infact both of them had that mysterious aura around them.
The story had that somber undertone from the beginning itself and what a fantastic writing style!
There were many moments where I loved the insightful dialogues because they resonated with me so much.
The obscure words and meanings introduced in the beginning of each chapter was cherry on top. Infact I got many new such words from this book.
Overall a very enjoyable romance with depth, angst and emotion.
Closed door scenes (which was kinda disappointing tbh).
And I ADORED the epilogue…. Sigh.
Recommended.
P.s I loved that her ex was good in bed because in heroines cases, they never are.
September 28, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be the type of romance that I could just sit back, relax and let the story unfold.
Anneliese had some serious recovering to do, not only because of the death of her fiancee but because of the lies that were revealed afterwards. I was expecting her to have felt cracks in her relationship with him prior to his death and the fact that she did not made it hard for me to accept her relationship with Lachlan. She was an interesting heroine with an unusual career and the type of personality I connected with.
Lachlan was pretty laid back, despite his background and his intentions towards the house. His reasons were kept secret through most of the book and I completely understood them once they were revealed. I loved his meeting and following visit with Anneliese’s father.
While Anneliese and Lachlan both had issues to deal with, the angst level never felt heavy until the end when they faced their greatest struggle. This was a slow burn and even when things ignited between them we had just a peek before the door was closed. The epilogue was great and I was very pleased with the way this couple’s story came to an end.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
Steam
Anneliese had some serious recovering to do, not only because of the death of her fiancee but because of the lies that were revealed afterwards. I was expecting her to have felt cracks in her relationship with him prior to his death and the fact that she did not made it hard for me to accept her relationship with Lachlan. She was an interesting heroine with an unusual career and the type of personality I connected with.
Lachlan was pretty laid back, despite his background and his intentions towards the house. His reasons were kept secret through most of the book and I completely understood them once they were revealed. I loved his meeting and following visit with Anneliese’s father.
While Anneliese and Lachlan both had issues to deal with, the angst level never felt heavy until the end when they faced their greatest struggle. This was a slow burn and even when things ignited between them we had just a peek before the door was closed. The epilogue was great and I was very pleased with the way this couple’s story came to an end.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
Steam
October 11, 2023
Lachlan is her dead fiance's younger brother. He’s lost, angry and just came back to town after being in London for 10+ years. Now he wants Anneliese’s home and he plans to burn it to the ground.
Sweet romance with a pinch of sexy vibes that keep you reading on, while he offers to help her renovate his childhood home in exchange for him having a place to sleep and her being rent free in the process.
#CUTE #SHORT READ.
Sweet romance with a pinch of sexy vibes that keep you reading on, while he offers to help her renovate his childhood home in exchange for him having a place to sleep and her being rent free in the process.
#CUTE #SHORT READ.
December 7, 2022
So this was a decent read. But with all the positive, insane reviews/hype, I was expecting it to be much better than it actually was... It came off as more Fluff than Intense Feels. Even though it started off extremely promising.
So it kept me reading and wanting to know what was gonna happen next. It kept me guessing, filled with the anticipation of what could happen next. Especially with the dynamic between Anneliese and Lachlan. And the mystery surrounding Lachlan regarding his hatred for his family home.. With an unexpected, shocking heartbreaking twist too.. All of these factors I've mentioned, is why it got 3 ✨...
And can I just say that Lachlan's brother, Donavan was a complete a&&🧢! 😤
BUT- this was still just a PG-13, luke warm read, at best.
Ms. Renshaw, what is with the fade to black love scenes? Huh? I mean we should have at least got to see something after that heartfelt confession by Lachlan, when they FINALLY closed the deal 80% into the book. What was all that anticipation and angst for? Even the very 1st time would have been appreciated. Though we later find out nothing happens there either. Other than a little lip service for both sets of 💋s.. but still... All I'm saying is don't start a fire 🔥 with me, unless you can hose me down!
Point is I was left wanting. BIG TIME and I so don't like that in stories like this.. I mean if I wanted to read a love story like that, I would have skipped on over to the pre-teen YA genre section...So that's why this one is a 3/5 for me.
Still it was a decent read. I would still recommend this one.
Just understand that the Hotness Factor here, is no bueno.
It's going to leave you out in the cold 🥶
Book is currently on KU
So it kept me reading and wanting to know what was gonna happen next. It kept me guessing, filled with the anticipation of what could happen next. Especially with the dynamic between Anneliese and Lachlan. And the mystery surrounding Lachlan regarding his hatred for his family home.. With an unexpected, shocking heartbreaking twist too.. All of these factors I've mentioned, is why it got 3 ✨...
And can I just say that Lachlan's brother, Donavan was a complete a&&🧢! 😤
BUT- this was still just a PG-13, luke warm read, at best.
Ms. Renshaw, what is with the fade to black love scenes? Huh? I mean we should have at least got to see something after that heartfelt confession by Lachlan, when they FINALLY closed the deal 80% into the book. What was all that anticipation and angst for? Even the very 1st time would have been appreciated. Though we later find out nothing happens there either. Other than a little lip service for both sets of 💋s.. but still... All I'm saying is don't start a fire 🔥 with me, unless you can hose me down!
Point is I was left wanting. BIG TIME and I so don't like that in stories like this.. I mean if I wanted to read a love story like that, I would have skipped on over to the pre-teen YA genre section...So that's why this one is a 3/5 for me.
Still it was a decent read. I would still recommend this one.
Just understand that the Hotness Factor here, is no bueno.
It's going to leave you out in the cold 🥶
Book is currently on KU
June 24, 2022
Gah! Winter Renshaw can not write a bad book. I love all her stories as she captivates me from the very first page. Anneliese and Lachlan are fantastic! I loved the slow burn deliciousness of this story and how compelling the storyline was!
Overall this storyline was angsty, sexy, emotional, captivating and so addicting. I loved how engrossed I was in the story and how strong Anneliese was. She was the perfect match to Lachlan and altogether they were fantastic together! 4 stars! ~Ratula
Overall this storyline was angsty, sexy, emotional, captivating and so addicting. I loved how engrossed I was in the story and how strong Anneliese was. She was the perfect match to Lachlan and altogether they were fantastic together! 4 stars! ~Ratula
August 27, 2022
“If my life was a story, you’d be the plot twist.”
Love and Kerosene simmers with a delicious slow burn between Lachlan and Anneliese as two broken souls with different views of the world start at odds with one another, find a way to work together, then discover love along the way as they heal from past hurts.
Lachlan was so mysterious, his thoughts an enigma, hiding pain beneath the surface of his carefree exterior. Anneliese suffered betrayals guided by misplaced trust, yet she tried to find the strength to move on from a life that was never meant to be. Lachlan and Anneliese truly saw one another into the depths of their souls and shared such a beautiful connection.
Winter Renshaw took a unique approach in this book, including a bit of suspense as the events played out. I loved how each chapter started with a big beautiful word and its definition as it alluded to the story to follow. A few surprising plot twists combined with a deeper and more somber look at grief created quite the emotional read. But everything came together beautifully in the end and showed how finding the courage to move beyond the grief and pain of the past while recognizing what the truly important things in life are can lead the way to a life even better than imagined.
** Special thanks to author Winter Renshaw, Montlake and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Available October 11, 2022. **
Love and Kerosene simmers with a delicious slow burn between Lachlan and Anneliese as two broken souls with different views of the world start at odds with one another, find a way to work together, then discover love along the way as they heal from past hurts.
Lachlan was so mysterious, his thoughts an enigma, hiding pain beneath the surface of his carefree exterior. Anneliese suffered betrayals guided by misplaced trust, yet she tried to find the strength to move on from a life that was never meant to be. Lachlan and Anneliese truly saw one another into the depths of their souls and shared such a beautiful connection.
Winter Renshaw took a unique approach in this book, including a bit of suspense as the events played out. I loved how each chapter started with a big beautiful word and its definition as it alluded to the story to follow. A few surprising plot twists combined with a deeper and more somber look at grief created quite the emotional read. But everything came together beautifully in the end and showed how finding the courage to move beyond the grief and pain of the past while recognizing what the truly important things in life are can lead the way to a life even better than imagined.
** Special thanks to author Winter Renshaw, Montlake and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Available October 11, 2022. **
March 19, 2024
I QUITE enjoyed this SLOW-BURN ROMANCE, but didn’t satisfied me in the end. Though I still give it 4 stars for its badass characters, lies and plot-twists, it lacked the realism of a new adult romance. It’s my first WINTER RENSHAW book, but will definitely give her another shot with her books! This one was brought and picked at the wrong time. LOVE AND KEROSENE follows Anneliese Nielsen renovating her deceased soon-to-be husband’s house. When she is stalked by Lachlan and tells her he is his brother, she is skeptical about the six foot tattooed man. Lachlan is hiding a dark secret within the house Anneliese is remodeling, and will do anything to convince her to sell the house or it will go on the ground in flames! A slow-burn romance with mystery involved makes LOVE AND KEROSENE a unique romance suspense novel!
May 13, 2022
A high 4 ⭐️
Let’s all just take a moment and gaze at this cover……. This guy is gorgeous! And It leaves me speechless because I’m sucker for a beautiful cover. **Sigh**
This was for me a feel-good book. A comfortable, light, HEA summer read. I totally identified with Annelieses and her story. It’s unfortunate that this same thing happens to many people.
I loved Lachlan and wish it hadn’t ended. The story telling was precious. And Lachlan is my new favorite book boyfriend. This romance wasn’t very steamy but it was still worth the read.
Things I loved:
• Oral storytelling
• Kitchen dances
• Honesty
• HEA
Thanks Montlake via NetGalley.
Let’s all just take a moment and gaze at this cover……. This guy is gorgeous! And It leaves me speechless because I’m sucker for a beautiful cover. **Sigh**
This was for me a feel-good book. A comfortable, light, HEA summer read. I totally identified with Annelieses and her story. It’s unfortunate that this same thing happens to many people.
I loved Lachlan and wish it hadn’t ended. The story telling was precious. And Lachlan is my new favorite book boyfriend. This romance wasn’t very steamy but it was still worth the read.
Things I loved:
• Oral storytelling
• Kitchen dances
• Honesty
• HEA
Thanks Montlake via NetGalley.
May 26, 2022
I finished the book in mere hours and I like both Lachlan and Anneliese. Lachlan was kind of a brute in the beginning but started to soften up when he got to know Anneliese. My heart truly broke for Anneliese because of all the lies and deception she learned about gradually. She was genuinely a warm, kind and nice person who didn't deserve to feel so much hurt. Luckily Lachlan came along and she finally realised that he's kind the kind of man that was the right fit for her because no matter Lachlan had other plans for the house, he never took advantage of his upper hand and instead was ready to give back all the money that Anneliese had put into it's renovation. Overall, it was a short, fast paced and simple small town romance with a dash of slowburn and a super cute couple who were perfectly paired together!
Thankyou Netgalley & Montlake for providing me the ARC.
Thankyou Netgalley & Montlake for providing me the ARC.
February 2, 2023
Anneliese and lachlin
As always I fell I love from the first page to the last. Winter knows how to write books. This is a really sad book but with a happy ending. Anneliese has met Donavan and suddenly he's proposing. Then she gives him all her $ to put in the bank so they can remodel his childhood home. She thinks its too good to be true. Next thing he's dies in a car accident. Next thing you know his brother Lachlan shows up wanting his Brothers house which is his now. What can Annelises do?
As always I fell I love from the first page to the last. Winter knows how to write books. This is a really sad book but with a happy ending. Anneliese has met Donavan and suddenly he's proposing. Then she gives him all her $ to put in the bank so they can remodel his childhood home. She thinks its too good to be true. Next thing he's dies in a car accident. Next thing you know his brother Lachlan shows up wanting his Brothers house which is his now. What can Annelises do?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2023
Entretenido pero poca cosa más. Esta autora me gusta y me resulta fácil de leer pero este libro, aun lleno de buenas intenciones, me parece que se queda a medio camino de todo.
Tal vez es cosa mía porque pensaba que iba a ser algo más intenso por el punto de partida, la enemistad entre una chica y el hermano de su fallecido prometido, pero se queda en agua de borrajas ya que la enemistad no dura mucho y hay muy poco conflicto. Además, apenas hay guarrerismo en la página y eso para mí es criminal, CRI-MI-NAL 😆.
Pero vamos, he echado el ratillo.
Tal vez es cosa mía porque pensaba que iba a ser algo más intenso por el punto de partida, la enemistad entre una chica y el hermano de su fallecido prometido, pero se queda en agua de borrajas ya que la enemistad no dura mucho y hay muy poco conflicto. Además, apenas hay guarrerismo en la página y eso para mí es criminal, CRI-MI-NAL 😆.
Pero vamos, he echado el ratillo.
October 11, 2022
**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
The main characters in Love and Kerosene are Anneliese, a part-time naming consultant, and Lachlan who has done odds jobs in construction overseas. Anneliese was engaged to Lachlan's brother Donovan, who kind of swindled Anneliese out of her life savings by investing all of her money in his old childhood home. Anneliese finds this out after he's killed in an accident. And when Lachlan shows up to take ownership of the house, Anneliese puts up a fight and they find themselves striking a deal. They decide to renovate the house together and she has to convince him to sell while he would love to see the house burn down.
Love and Kerosene is a light contemporary romance. This is my first book by Winter Renshaw and I enjoyed her writing style. It was very easy to read and engaging. The plot/story was interesting enough to keep me going until the end. There wasn't a lot of romance in the first half of the book, and I was kind of waiting for the characters to grow closer together. There just wasn't enough time for the relationship between them to grow. So the romance aspect in my opinion was lacking. I also was hoping for more steamy scenes. Furthermore, the author wanted to do too much in a short time, which resulted in the last part of the book being chaotic and very rushed. I did like the characters and found them to be a very good match. I look forward to reading more books by Winter Renshaw.
The main characters in Love and Kerosene are Anneliese, a part-time naming consultant, and Lachlan who has done odds jobs in construction overseas. Anneliese was engaged to Lachlan's brother Donovan, who kind of swindled Anneliese out of her life savings by investing all of her money in his old childhood home. Anneliese finds this out after he's killed in an accident. And when Lachlan shows up to take ownership of the house, Anneliese puts up a fight and they find themselves striking a deal. They decide to renovate the house together and she has to convince him to sell while he would love to see the house burn down.
Love and Kerosene is a light contemporary romance. This is my first book by Winter Renshaw and I enjoyed her writing style. It was very easy to read and engaging. The plot/story was interesting enough to keep me going until the end. There wasn't a lot of romance in the first half of the book, and I was kind of waiting for the characters to grow closer together. There just wasn't enough time for the relationship between them to grow. So the romance aspect in my opinion was lacking. I also was hoping for more steamy scenes. Furthermore, the author wanted to do too much in a short time, which resulted in the last part of the book being chaotic and very rushed. I did like the characters and found them to be a very good match. I look forward to reading more books by Winter Renshaw.
December 27, 2023
This book was good but I 100% will forget everything about it in like a week. It was fine but nothing overly memorable.
January 8, 2023
Unpredictable
What I love about Winter Renshaw is that I never know what I'm going to get; each book is wholly unique, and the journey is always unpredictable. That's definitely the case with this one as well, which certainly didn't progress in the way I expected. The premise was engaging, the story moved quickly, and the audio made it perfect for bingeing. So I ended up devouring this in no time at all, even if the romance was a little unfulfilling.
The story follows Anneliese, a woman whose fiancé recently passed away in an accident. While she should be mourning, it was only after Donovan's death that Anneliese discovered that he had stolen her life savings - and he'd been love bombing and gaslighting her throughout their entire relationship. So when a stranger shows up at Anneliese's door claiming to be the brother Donovan never mentioned, Anneliese isn't sure what to think. Lachlan is the spitting image of his brother, but their personalities couldn't be more different. Not only that, but Lachlan's appearance complicates things further - he's claiming ownership of the house Anneliese was hoping to renovate in order to recoup her lost money. As these two wary strangers clash over their conflicting motivations, Anneliese can't help but wonder... what if she had met Lachlan first?
This was super fast-paced and such an interesting, easy read. I loved the fact that I didn't know where it would go next, and I also liked peeling back the layers of both characters. Anneliese fell hard and fast for Donovan and she's unwilling to make the same mistake twice, which added some friction. I really appreciated that Anneliese didn't have any (positive) lingering feelings for Donovan, and that Lachlan was so different. There's also a little bit of mystery that makes things move quicker, which was both good and bad. I thought the premise was great, but the romance itself was pretty bland. Things moved quickly and were somewhat glossed over, which left me feeling emotionally unattached to the relationship. With another 50-100 pages, I think it would've been an easy 5-star rating for me. As it is, this ended up making for a solid binge, but probably one that won't stay with me.
Audio note: The audio was good! The runtime is ideal for bingeing, and it made the story fly by. It's dual narration, with two narrators that I am semi-familiar with. I thought Lydia Dornet did a great job, though Nelson Hobbs was a little stiff for my liking. It worked well in the format, and the slow burn/low heat level made this a good choice for a workday listen. It definitely livened up my day, and I'm happy that I listened to the story. So a definite win overall.
What I love about Winter Renshaw is that I never know what I'm going to get; each book is wholly unique, and the journey is always unpredictable. That's definitely the case with this one as well, which certainly didn't progress in the way I expected. The premise was engaging, the story moved quickly, and the audio made it perfect for bingeing. So I ended up devouring this in no time at all, even if the romance was a little unfulfilling.
The story follows Anneliese, a woman whose fiancé recently passed away in an accident. While she should be mourning, it was only after Donovan's death that Anneliese discovered that he had stolen her life savings - and he'd been love bombing and gaslighting her throughout their entire relationship. So when a stranger shows up at Anneliese's door claiming to be the brother Donovan never mentioned, Anneliese isn't sure what to think. Lachlan is the spitting image of his brother, but their personalities couldn't be more different. Not only that, but Lachlan's appearance complicates things further - he's claiming ownership of the house Anneliese was hoping to renovate in order to recoup her lost money. As these two wary strangers clash over their conflicting motivations, Anneliese can't help but wonder... what if she had met Lachlan first?
This was super fast-paced and such an interesting, easy read. I loved the fact that I didn't know where it would go next, and I also liked peeling back the layers of both characters. Anneliese fell hard and fast for Donovan and she's unwilling to make the same mistake twice, which added some friction. I really appreciated that Anneliese didn't have any (positive) lingering feelings for Donovan, and that Lachlan was so different. There's also a little bit of mystery that makes things move quicker, which was both good and bad. I thought the premise was great, but the romance itself was pretty bland. Things moved quickly and were somewhat glossed over, which left me feeling emotionally unattached to the relationship. With another 50-100 pages, I think it would've been an easy 5-star rating for me. As it is, this ended up making for a solid binge, but probably one that won't stay with me.
Audio note: The audio was good! The runtime is ideal for bingeing, and it made the story fly by. It's dual narration, with two narrators that I am semi-familiar with. I thought Lydia Dornet did a great job, though Nelson Hobbs was a little stiff for my liking. It worked well in the format, and the slow burn/low heat level made this a good choice for a workday listen. It definitely livened up my day, and I'm happy that I listened to the story. So a definite win overall.
January 11, 2023
•When the hero doesn't match the cover model. 🥴 It didn't influence my rating but it still bothers me when people do this.
I really expected more from this story but was just disappointed.
Annalise loses her fiance in an accident and slowly starts to discover she's been scammed by him and is left with nothing but to finish remodeling his parent's house. Cue comes in his never mentioned younger brother who's basically like his twin brother, and wants the house. To burn it down. And try to erase bad memories that happened in there.
They're forced to live together as roommates and they slowly become friends while they renovate the house. It was such a sloooow burn with no indication of any real flirting besides a few inner thoughts. Zero chemistry. They finally kiss after a few nights bunking together (which had this huge potential) and he goes down on her and it all fades to black. Yup. Even their first sex, and all the after that one. And even the days that followed after of their time spent together, bonding and dating was just casually mentioned.
Then add it to some 3rd act drama which was predictable and I had the overall impression of a big MEH vibes.
I really expected more from this story but was just disappointed.
Annalise loses her fiance in an accident and slowly starts to discover she's been scammed by him and is left with nothing but to finish remodeling his parent's house. Cue comes in his never mentioned younger brother who's basically like his twin brother, and wants the house. To burn it down. And try to erase bad memories that happened in there.
They're forced to live together as roommates and they slowly become friends while they renovate the house. It was such a sloooow burn with no indication of any real flirting besides a few inner thoughts. Zero chemistry. They finally kiss after a few nights bunking together (which had this huge potential) and he goes down on her and it all fades to black. Yup. Even their first sex, and all the after that one. And even the days that followed after of their time spent together, bonding and dating was just casually mentioned.
Then add it to some 3rd act drama which was predictable and I had the overall impression of a big MEH vibes.
December 16, 2023
How you rate a romance novel that there is barely a love scene in it? I’m so frustrated!!
October 24, 2022
Great angst read
Angry heroine
Great hero
Safe
Angry heroine
Great hero
Safe
August 14, 2022
My heart barely survived this emotional rollercoaster called Love and Kerosene by Winter Renshaw. It was moving, inspiring, poetic and heartaching to the extremes. Lachlan and Anneliese went on an intense trip of forgiveness, redemption and resurrection of souls. The author's words hit my heart hard and fast. A memorable romance in every sense.
What can be worse for Anneliese than being stuck in a small town and a crumbling house after death of a cheating fiance who stole all your money in name of renovating his childhood home? The never-mentioned-before lookalike brother knocking at the door letting her know that he is claiming this house and burning it down. Well, unless she can convince him to finish the renovation and sell the house to recover some of her money. Lachlan unsettles her but she has no other option than accept his help in the work in turn of allowing him to stay at the house. Will it be a new beginning for two broken souls?
Oh my heart! Lachlan is everything dreamy, swoony, brooding, raw and gorgeous you can want from your book boyfriend. He has been running away from an ugly past. Coming back to his home town was just a step to find closure and then leave for forever. He has so many layers and I cannot stop exploring them all. What's better than a broken man becoming whole and finding love? I cannot imagine. Anneliese threw all his plans out of the window. Now this woman just astonished me at every turn. She has a big soft crazy beautiful heart. She loves deep and unconditionally. She let in everyone so easily even after being duped and taken advantage of so many times. She is the exact opposite of Lachlan's closed off heart. They both suffered through heartbreak. Lachlan was just detached and angry and resentful when he reached the town. Anneliese showed him that he can stop his past controlling his future. They started as enemies who were fighting over the future of the house. But slowly they found an easy friendship that was like a balm on the wounds in their hearts. Those moments gave me all warm cozy feels and I smiled for them. And the friendship turned into something more intense, more explosive and more consuming. This was definitely a delicious slow burn with angst intensifying everything. The author managed to capture all messy, raw, devastating but beautiful emotions perfectly through her captivating writing. And I savoured every moment. That ending was brilliantly crafted and I could not think of a better happily ever after for them.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily through Netgalley and Montlake
What can be worse for Anneliese than being stuck in a small town and a crumbling house after death of a cheating fiance who stole all your money in name of renovating his childhood home? The never-mentioned-before lookalike brother knocking at the door letting her know that he is claiming this house and burning it down. Well, unless she can convince him to finish the renovation and sell the house to recover some of her money. Lachlan unsettles her but she has no other option than accept his help in the work in turn of allowing him to stay at the house. Will it be a new beginning for two broken souls?
Oh my heart! Lachlan is everything dreamy, swoony, brooding, raw and gorgeous you can want from your book boyfriend. He has been running away from an ugly past. Coming back to his home town was just a step to find closure and then leave for forever. He has so many layers and I cannot stop exploring them all. What's better than a broken man becoming whole and finding love? I cannot imagine. Anneliese threw all his plans out of the window. Now this woman just astonished me at every turn. She has a big soft crazy beautiful heart. She loves deep and unconditionally. She let in everyone so easily even after being duped and taken advantage of so many times. She is the exact opposite of Lachlan's closed off heart. They both suffered through heartbreak. Lachlan was just detached and angry and resentful when he reached the town. Anneliese showed him that he can stop his past controlling his future. They started as enemies who were fighting over the future of the house. But slowly they found an easy friendship that was like a balm on the wounds in their hearts. Those moments gave me all warm cozy feels and I smiled for them. And the friendship turned into something more intense, more explosive and more consuming. This was definitely a delicious slow burn with angst intensifying everything. The author managed to capture all messy, raw, devastating but beautiful emotions perfectly through her captivating writing. And I savoured every moment. That ending was brilliantly crafted and I could not think of a better happily ever after for them.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily through Netgalley and Montlake
October 9, 2022
I was unexpectedly charmed by this book.
I was a bit anxious when the first sexy scene ended with a fade to black. Since it isn’t my usual kind of read, I thought I wouldn’t like it. But there was plenty of steam between those pages, even though there was nothing explicit. Anneliese and Lachlan are explosive together, and you can always use your imagination to fill the holes–pun intended.
What you can’t use your imagination for is the characters, but the author creates a couple with three dimensions and a past. A common past, centered around the late Donovan, Anneliese’s fiancé and Lachlan’s brother. As they become friends, we learn more about the dead man at the same time they do, until it paints an ugly picture that will somehow help them connect. By talking about Donovan, they reveal themselves to each other.
By trying to fix what Donovan broke, they commit to each other until feelings develop and attraction is no longer denied. Anneliese shows strength and resilience when you’re expecting weakness. Lachlan looks like a bad boy but is a really good guy. Their common passion for words and the stories they tell was a nice touch.
One thing bothered me the most. It is said often that they’re in a small town where secrets don’t keep for long. Yet Lachlan and Anneliese’s story is full of secrets–some they kept, some that were kept from them. It’s partially explained by the facts that Anneliese has mostly kept to herself, that the people she knows are new in town like her, and that Lachlan has been away for a long time. Still it was unrealistic that the grapevine was so weak in this town, in my opinion.
I enjoyed the writing style. There were some threads that connected everything, patterns. Unusual words, names, themes, that served as meta-language, used inside the story and to qualify the story. I thought it was clever. Some elements were very convenient, with a bit of deus ex machina, but it was overall a good book.
Quickie
- Series: standalone
- Hashtags: #small town romance #enemies to lovers #forced cohabitation #grief #revenge
- Triggers: past deaths, past cheating, past emotional abuse
- Main couple: Anneliese Nielsen & Lachlan Byrne
- Hotness: 1/5 (sexy but fade to black)
- Romance: 4/5
- + I loved how their connection grew
- – with that much heat between them, I was expecting some steam
I was a bit anxious when the first sexy scene ended with a fade to black. Since it isn’t my usual kind of read, I thought I wouldn’t like it. But there was plenty of steam between those pages, even though there was nothing explicit. Anneliese and Lachlan are explosive together, and you can always use your imagination to fill the holes–pun intended.
What you can’t use your imagination for is the characters, but the author creates a couple with three dimensions and a past. A common past, centered around the late Donovan, Anneliese’s fiancé and Lachlan’s brother. As they become friends, we learn more about the dead man at the same time they do, until it paints an ugly picture that will somehow help them connect. By talking about Donovan, they reveal themselves to each other.
By trying to fix what Donovan broke, they commit to each other until feelings develop and attraction is no longer denied. Anneliese shows strength and resilience when you’re expecting weakness. Lachlan looks like a bad boy but is a really good guy. Their common passion for words and the stories they tell was a nice touch.
One thing bothered me the most. It is said often that they’re in a small town where secrets don’t keep for long. Yet Lachlan and Anneliese’s story is full of secrets–some they kept, some that were kept from them. It’s partially explained by the facts that Anneliese has mostly kept to herself, that the people she knows are new in town like her, and that Lachlan has been away for a long time. Still it was unrealistic that the grapevine was so weak in this town, in my opinion.
I enjoyed the writing style. There were some threads that connected everything, patterns. Unusual words, names, themes, that served as meta-language, used inside the story and to qualify the story. I thought it was clever. Some elements were very convenient, with a bit of deus ex machina, but it was overall a good book.
Quickie
- Series: standalone
- Hashtags: #small town romance #enemies to lovers #forced cohabitation #grief #revenge
- Triggers: past deaths, past cheating, past emotional abuse
- Main couple: Anneliese Nielsen & Lachlan Byrne
- Hotness: 1/5 (sexy but fade to black)
- Romance: 4/5
- + I loved how their connection grew
- – with that much heat between them, I was expecting some steam
May 29, 2022
5 stars
The HEA I crave.
I started reading this book with completely expecting it to have many dark themes. Oh how wonderfully I was wrong. It was sweet, wholesome, eloquent and so so perfect.
When I first read the book description, the thought of Anneliese and Lachlan meeting in the middle seemed impossible. They were just so different. Somehow, the author made it happen. And it was breathtaking to read it unfold. Like so many small-town romances, it was wholesome. I caught myself smiling so many times throughout the cute moments in the book.
Anneliese is one of the people that I would love to meet if I ever get a chance. She's so full of life, despite everything life threw at her. Lachlan is probably my idea of an ideal man. He's honest to the point of being brutal, a great storyteller (because everyone needs bedtime stories don't they?) and a generally good person. The best part about the characters? The chemistry and the COMMUNICATION. I can't stress enough how I loved the way they handled their issues. Kudos to the author!
Thank you Netgalley and Montlake for the ARC for an honest review.
The HEA I crave.
I started reading this book with completely expecting it to have many dark themes. Oh how wonderfully I was wrong. It was sweet, wholesome, eloquent and so so perfect.
When I first read the book description, the thought of Anneliese and Lachlan meeting in the middle seemed impossible. They were just so different. Somehow, the author made it happen. And it was breathtaking to read it unfold. Like so many small-town romances, it was wholesome. I caught myself smiling so many times throughout the cute moments in the book.
Anneliese is one of the people that I would love to meet if I ever get a chance. She's so full of life, despite everything life threw at her. Lachlan is probably my idea of an ideal man. He's honest to the point of being brutal, a great storyteller (because everyone needs bedtime stories don't they?) and a generally good person. The best part about the characters? The chemistry and the COMMUNICATION. I can't stress enough how I loved the way they handled their issues. Kudos to the author!
Thank you Netgalley and Montlake for the ARC for an honest review.
October 16, 2022
✨3.5 STARS✨
This came at just the right time for me because I was struggling to find something to read. It was enjoyable and simple to read.
Strong characters, and I liked how their connection progressed. Someone they formerly loved deeply wounded them! Lachlan's brother and Anneliese's fiancé, respectively, are the people who are supposed to love and care for them! They were brought together by a failed enterprise and fate since that individual only knew how to lie and deceive.
None of them wanted to admit they required the other for healing despite the fact that they both had wounds that needed to be attended to. They all shared the same desire of closing a chapter and moving on, which I found appealing despite their divergent perspectives and strong opinions.
The icing on the cake were the esoteric terminology and definitions that were introduced at the start of each chapter. In fact, this book taught me a lot of new words like that.
#LoveAndKerosene #NetgalleyArc #WinterRenshaw
This came at just the right time for me because I was struggling to find something to read. It was enjoyable and simple to read.
Strong characters, and I liked how their connection progressed. Someone they formerly loved deeply wounded them! Lachlan's brother and Anneliese's fiancé, respectively, are the people who are supposed to love and care for them! They were brought together by a failed enterprise and fate since that individual only knew how to lie and deceive.
None of them wanted to admit they required the other for healing despite the fact that they both had wounds that needed to be attended to. They all shared the same desire of closing a chapter and moving on, which I found appealing despite their divergent perspectives and strong opinions.
The icing on the cake were the esoteric terminology and definitions that were introduced at the start of each chapter. In fact, this book taught me a lot of new words like that.
#LoveAndKerosene #NetgalleyArc #WinterRenshaw
October 12, 2022
In Winter Renshaw's latest standalone romance- Love and Kerosene, I may have been sucked in by that gorgeous, sexy cover but the story and characters are
what kept me so glued to her pages that I read this one twice already! She is so talented and has such a way with words, creating unforgettable characters I fall in love with and want to know everything about. I find myself rooting for their HEA as soon as they meet, always end up thinking- this has to be my favorite couple and story yet, only to be wowed again the next time! Each one is unique and different- no cookie cutter stories here!
I was wrapped up in Anneliese Nielson's tale right away. She was grieving a future that was now lost to her and it sure seemed that she'd picked the wrong man to love. He had been handsome, loving and attentive but when he died unexpectedly, he proved himself to be too good to be true. He left her heartbroken and alone in a place far from home with an old house to finish renovating but no money to complete it with. Anneliese was an idealist who tended to see the good in people and looked on the brighter side of life, or did before Donovan burst into her life. Maybe she'd overcome the dark cloud he left her with.
Lachlan Byrne arrives back into town after 10 years away and his very presence is going to shake things up. He's a realist with a gypsy soul, a lover of obsure words and a gifted storyteller. A man on a mission with a particular goal in mind who sees things exactly as they are. He's truthful whether you want to hear his opinions or not and he did NOT want to clean up someone else's mess. It was a huge one featuring a sweet, kind and beautiful fiancee with debt up to her eyeballs, courtesy of his loser brother. She's staked her claim on the house he hates and could have cared less about, but it would be his to do whatever he wanted with. He had his ideas and she had hers, but they did not see eye to eye on it's future.
"We're on two very different trains leaving the station in opposite directions- but if things were different, I'd make her mine."
Watching Anneliese and Lachlan interact was a huge part of my enjoyment of Love and Kerosene. Each day revealed more and more about Lachlan, the truth about Donovan, Anneliese's hopes and dreams and the house that was the center of it all. Suspense? Yes! Truth bombs? Everywhere. Big feelings- yes, yes, yes! Twists and surprises that were sometimes ironic? Of course there were those too. It wouldn't be a Winter Renshaw book without them!
Lachlan morphed from his original grumpiness into such a swoonworthy hero by the end of this book and Anneliese was his perfect match that he didn't know he needed. You can't help but love this guy, this woman and this story. It was so well told and that sweet epilogue? Well, it's one to savor.
"....I just don't tend to like most people. But, there's something about Anneliese..."
I am completely 'Twitterpated (adj.) Lovestruck'! You'll know what I mean as soon as you dive in and binge your way through Love and Kerosene!! Winter Renshaw has done it again, that's for sure.
I received an early copy of this book to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
what kept me so glued to her pages that I read this one twice already! She is so talented and has such a way with words, creating unforgettable characters I fall in love with and want to know everything about. I find myself rooting for their HEA as soon as they meet, always end up thinking- this has to be my favorite couple and story yet, only to be wowed again the next time! Each one is unique and different- no cookie cutter stories here!
I was wrapped up in Anneliese Nielson's tale right away. She was grieving a future that was now lost to her and it sure seemed that she'd picked the wrong man to love. He had been handsome, loving and attentive but when he died unexpectedly, he proved himself to be too good to be true. He left her heartbroken and alone in a place far from home with an old house to finish renovating but no money to complete it with. Anneliese was an idealist who tended to see the good in people and looked on the brighter side of life, or did before Donovan burst into her life. Maybe she'd overcome the dark cloud he left her with.
Lachlan Byrne arrives back into town after 10 years away and his very presence is going to shake things up. He's a realist with a gypsy soul, a lover of obsure words and a gifted storyteller. A man on a mission with a particular goal in mind who sees things exactly as they are. He's truthful whether you want to hear his opinions or not and he did NOT want to clean up someone else's mess. It was a huge one featuring a sweet, kind and beautiful fiancee with debt up to her eyeballs, courtesy of his loser brother. She's staked her claim on the house he hates and could have cared less about, but it would be his to do whatever he wanted with. He had his ideas and she had hers, but they did not see eye to eye on it's future.
"We're on two very different trains leaving the station in opposite directions- but if things were different, I'd make her mine."
Watching Anneliese and Lachlan interact was a huge part of my enjoyment of Love and Kerosene. Each day revealed more and more about Lachlan, the truth about Donovan, Anneliese's hopes and dreams and the house that was the center of it all. Suspense? Yes! Truth bombs? Everywhere. Big feelings- yes, yes, yes! Twists and surprises that were sometimes ironic? Of course there were those too. It wouldn't be a Winter Renshaw book without them!
Lachlan morphed from his original grumpiness into such a swoonworthy hero by the end of this book and Anneliese was his perfect match that he didn't know he needed. You can't help but love this guy, this woman and this story. It was so well told and that sweet epilogue? Well, it's one to savor.
"....I just don't tend to like most people. But, there's something about Anneliese..."
I am completely 'Twitterpated (adj.) Lovestruck'! You'll know what I mean as soon as you dive in and binge your way through Love and Kerosene!! Winter Renshaw has done it again, that's for sure.
I received an early copy of this book to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 16, 2022
Another excellent read from Winter! Right from the start you have to have sympathy and admiration for Annaliese as she was able to pick herself up and carry on after the death of her fiance and how she continually had to deal with his lies and deceptions. It seemed like she was never going to get a break and the last thing that she need was her fiance's doppleganger brother turning up on her doorstep to tell her he was going to claim the estate and burn down the house that Annaliese had invested so much time and money into.
This was a slow burn romance with an unusual storyline. It was incredible that Annaliese's former fiance could do so much damage to everyone around him without being discovered. He truly was a despicable person who manipulated Annaliese and ruined Lachlan's life. Though both of them were truly at rock bottom their combined strengths drove them forward to complete the house renovating project together and by doing so hopefully find some closure so that they could move on with their lives.
What they hadn't bargained for was the intense attraction that simmered and boiled over between them that gave us some super steamy bedroom scenes. I was so happy that Lachlan was nothing like his brother and that he recognised the goodness and strength in Annaliese and that he fell in love with her. I was also happy that Annaliese could see beyond Lachlan's looks and see that he was a good person and that she could trust him enough to fall in love with him.
Another thoughtful and emotional love story from Winter that I thoroughly enjoyed right to the end.
This was a slow burn romance with an unusual storyline. It was incredible that Annaliese's former fiance could do so much damage to everyone around him without being discovered. He truly was a despicable person who manipulated Annaliese and ruined Lachlan's life. Though both of them were truly at rock bottom their combined strengths drove them forward to complete the house renovating project together and by doing so hopefully find some closure so that they could move on with their lives.
What they hadn't bargained for was the intense attraction that simmered and boiled over between them that gave us some super steamy bedroom scenes. I was so happy that Lachlan was nothing like his brother and that he recognised the goodness and strength in Annaliese and that he fell in love with her. I was also happy that Annaliese could see beyond Lachlan's looks and see that he was a good person and that she could trust him enough to fall in love with him.
Another thoughtful and emotional love story from Winter that I thoroughly enjoyed right to the end.
June 9, 2023
Dobře napsaný a nenáročný příběh, který přitom ale není ani nijak povrchní ani hloupý. Postavy jsou sympatické, uvěřitelné a nechybí jim ani vlastní osobnost. Příběh je plynulý, čtivý a nenudí. Originálně působí i méně známá, či běžně neznámá slova, včetně svých významů, uvádějící a popisující, každou z kapitol. I tak ale této knize, do plného hodnocení, něco chybí. Snad silnější chemie mezi postavami, nebo nějaký výraznější zvrat, kdo ví. Nic to však nemění na tom, že tato kniha je taková jednohubka, čte se dobře a rozhodně neurazí.
April 18, 2024
Very uneventful but well-written. However, I enjoyed it because it did not drag and these two actually talked their concerns and issues out without having to break up or have drama over it. Quick and painless.1
Want to read
September 13, 2022I honestly love every single thing Winter Renshaw writes! I cannot wait for this to be released.
Read
October 16, 2022I'm floored!
Love and Kerosene was so good, so tender, with an insane amount of chemistry and just the right amount of angst to make things a bit more interesting.
Throughout the story I couldn't help but to feel a little heartbroken for Anneliese and Lachlan. Their pain felt so real.
I loved this story so much! This couple was so addictive, I just couldn't put this book down!
Slow burn romance at it's finest!
Love and Kerosene was so good, so tender, with an insane amount of chemistry and just the right amount of angst to make things a bit more interesting.
Throughout the story I couldn't help but to feel a little heartbroken for Anneliese and Lachlan. Their pain felt so real.
I loved this story so much! This couple was so addictive, I just couldn't put this book down!
Slow burn romance at it's finest!
October 11, 2022
“If my life was a story, you’d be the plot twist.”
Love and Kerosene is one contemporary romance that I didn’t see coming. From damaged characters to an intriguing plot, this story will captivate and intrigue readers right until the end.
Anneliese was living the dream until the sudden passing of her fiance. Her eyes have been opened to disappointing secrets and hits that never seem to stop coming. The latest hit, discovering that her dead fiance not only has a brother she’s never heard about but learns that the home she’s been renovating belongs to him. For Anneliese and Donovan, what started off as hate at first sight, quickly turns into more…
Overall, I thought this book was a good read. I was really intrigued by the premise of this story and was excited to see this author’s take on the “falling for your dead exes brother” trope. The sparks between Anneliese and Donovan were instant. I enjoyed their love/hate relationship and the entertaining banter it brought along with it. I think this story offered some good mystery and I enjoyed the unraveling of secrets and the past.
However, despite the instant sparks between our two main characters, their story is a definite slow burn. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good build-up/anticipation as much as the next person, but this was a little much for me. And as much as I enjoyed these characters and their story, I found some parts of their story to be lacking; like it just needed to be fleshed out a little more and not rushed.
Despite my issues with this book, I did find it to be an enjoyable read. The story wasn’t over the top or overly dramatic. I think the author delivered when it came to the angst and romance, I was just left wanting more from the characters and their story.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*
Love and Kerosene is one contemporary romance that I didn’t see coming. From damaged characters to an intriguing plot, this story will captivate and intrigue readers right until the end.
Anneliese was living the dream until the sudden passing of her fiance. Her eyes have been opened to disappointing secrets and hits that never seem to stop coming. The latest hit, discovering that her dead fiance not only has a brother she’s never heard about but learns that the home she’s been renovating belongs to him. For Anneliese and Donovan, what started off as hate at first sight, quickly turns into more…
Overall, I thought this book was a good read. I was really intrigued by the premise of this story and was excited to see this author’s take on the “falling for your dead exes brother” trope. The sparks between Anneliese and Donovan were instant. I enjoyed their love/hate relationship and the entertaining banter it brought along with it. I think this story offered some good mystery and I enjoyed the unraveling of secrets and the past.
However, despite the instant sparks between our two main characters, their story is a definite slow burn. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good build-up/anticipation as much as the next person, but this was a little much for me. And as much as I enjoyed these characters and their story, I found some parts of their story to be lacking; like it just needed to be fleshed out a little more and not rushed.
Despite my issues with this book, I did find it to be an enjoyable read. The story wasn’t over the top or overly dramatic. I think the author delivered when it came to the angst and romance, I was just left wanting more from the characters and their story.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*
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