Falling for the Fireman: A Small-Town Southern Romance

Hopeless Romantics of Willow Ridge #2

by Monique McDonell

Can their book boyfriends lead a book club of hopeless romantics to a real happily ever after?

Bronte Fishburn loves her hometown of Willow Ridge and her job as an elementary school teacher, but she wishes she could find someone to spend her life with. Someone who loves this town and wants to settle here as much as she does. She used to dream that someone would be her neighbor Ben, but he left her behind years ago and it’s time she created a new dream. Except now Ben is back, sleeping in her spare room and a constant reminder of what she can’t have.

Firefighter Benjamin Wakefield vowed never to return to Willow Ridge. But his grandfather needs his help to clean out his house and move to a retirement community, so after ten years away he’s back in a town that seems unchanged. Another thing that hasn’t changed are his feelings for Bronte, who is brighter and more beautiful than the day he left. But she’s still too good for him and he’s still not planning to stay. He needs to resist the urge to ignite that growing spark between them to be the good guy she thinks he is.

Is the pull between Ben and Bronte enough to build a future on? Find out in this friends to lovers, boy next door small town romance.

The Hopeless Romantics of Willow Ridge series are sweet, small-town contemporary romances. Each book is a standalone and can be read individually or as part of the series.

Hopeless Romantics of Willow Ridge series

Book 1: Falling for the Boss

Book 2: Falling for the Fireman

Book 3: Falling for the Doctor

Book 4: Falling for the Deputy

Book 5: Falling for the Hockey Player

Book 6: Falling for the Single Dad

Book 7: Falling for the Farmer

Book 8: Falling for the Scotsman

198 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2022

About the author

I am an author of fun, flirty fiction that always has a happy ending. I write contemporary women's fiction including chick lit and romantic comedies. I
have released over fifteen novels including the Upper Crust and the Jewel Sisters series.

I am also an avid reader, coffee drinker and wine lover.

Reviews

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and clean, this cute romance draws best friends back together, but not without the whole town getting involved. Ben Wakefield thought he was doing the town a favor when he left unannounced all those years back, but it turns out that he was the one that missed out most. The girl he left behind may have cried buckets over him, and despite her hopelessly romantic heart, she nevertheless has her head screwed on right and knows that until Ben can come to love himself and Willow Ridge the way she does, there is no hope of a future for them. Ben is shocked at the state in which he finds his grandfather, and as he sets out to clear up the mess, he discovers that Willow Ridge has a “phone tree” and when activated, the impossible becomes possible. Whilst Ben intends to keep to his resolutions, to get his grandfather settled and hie back to the city, he experiences daily doses of community involvement and care, making him rethink his earlier decisions. However, Bronte does not make it easy for him, and when he realizes that she is determined to keep her distance from him, he has to rope in the help of her friends to once again activate the phone tree to help him win the girl he has never forgotten. This delightful novel comes to a romantic conclusion, with a promise that dreams do come true. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Becky Claxon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brontë was a warm and romantic person. She had been there for Ben at ten years old when his mother had dumped him at his grandparents house next door. It was so sad how messed up Ben was because of his awful parents. His grandparents gave him a lot of love and did a wonderful job of raising him. Unfortunately he had no idea Brontë had feelings for him and left the night of the prom. He not only hurt Brontë by leaving without telling her, but he hadn’t talked to her in ten years. I was glad that she had helped Ben’s grandpa through the years. Ben finally found out that his grandfather was having problems and put his job as a fireman on hold in Chicago and working in Willow Springs for a year. Men can be so dense at times as the whole town knew that Brontë and he were made for each other. Ben just needed to get out of his head that he wasn’t good enough for her. I enjoyed watching the two get to know each other again. The town was wonderful too in helping out. I encourage you to read the book. I was given a copy and voluntarily wrote a review.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It Takes a Village!

This is a beautiful, sweet story of unconditional love from a young girl, now woman, and the young boy, now man who never felt he deserved it. He had been abandoned by his mother and left with his grandparents when he was very young. His saving grace was the little girl next door who brought friendship, love and laughter to his life. Now as a firefighter, Ben was willing to put his life on the line for others, but had such a difficult time accepting help from his community and his best friend Bronte when he returned many years later to help his grandfather.

Bronte was such a giving person with a gigantic heart. Such a wonderful teacher, best friend and neighbor. I enjoyed the "book within a book" method the author used to create romance because Ben was a hard nut to crack!!! It takes so so much to restore a person's self worth. And I loved that Ben finally asked his community for help to plan a spectacular ending. Falling for the Fireman is a very enjoyable warm, clean and wholesome book suitable for all readers!

[Elaine Coghlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Falling for the Fireman is part of a series by various authors. Can also be read as a standalone. have read books from Monique before and love her writing, so I was interested in reading this book. It is beautifully written and the chemistry between the main characters is extremely good.
Perfectly written, unique, wonderfulness. I will be rereading this over and over again.
Truly a must-read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Easy-to-read, Entertaining, Happily Ever After, Page-turner, Romantic, Realistic & Wonderful characters

[Tracy Sylvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bronte Fishburn has been in love with Ben Wakefield since he moved next door to live with his Grandparents. Growing up as friends they were just always together. Ben Wakefield felt like he never belonged anywhere so when he left the night of his prom Bronte was heartbroken. As his Grandfather is aging and needing help Ben finds himself back in town trying to help his Grandfather clean out his home so he can move into the retirement community. I found this small town romance one that I couldn't put down.

[Anne Blyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly delightful sweet story with fun, interesting characters. Ben & Bronte's relationship started the day Ben came to live with his Grandparents, they were best friends. His Mother managed to convince him he was worthless so he left town rather than pine for Bronte. Ten years later he's back to help his Grandfather and still doesn't feel he's good enough for Bronte. Can this small community convince him he's wrong?

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a start to a new series. Monique McDonell gives us a wonderful version of the “bad” boy determined to see the world and the hometown “stay at home’ good girl. Things are not quite as black and white as Ben and Bronte believed. I really enjoyed this story as best friends find out things might not be what they thought.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet

Bronte is a teacher and a hopeless romantic. She takes care of her friends and espically her neighbor. When his grandson arrives she invites him to stay at her place for a while. See they were friends growing up and she wanted more but he left, can she won him over make him want to stay?

[Jennifer Wertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Falling for the Fireman is a wonderful sweet romance. I love the small town and the friendly, helpful community. The characters are great. This is a great sweet friends to lovers romance. This book is well written and engaging. I really enjoyed this book.

[Brenda May · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great read.

Monique delivered another great romance. I like the way her characters come alive through the pages and leave you happy at the end. Looking forward to the next book.

[D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the story of Ben and Bronte. They were very unexpected and reading how they go through their own struggles was very interesting. I liked the characters very much. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Wioletta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this story.
Bronte is wonderful.
Ben has his struggles

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good clean romance: I really enjoyed reading and would recommend it.