Chasing Fireflies: A Summer Romance Anthology

by C.L. Cannon

New beginnings, second chances, and forbidden romance await you inside this multi-genre collection. From Janae It was supposed to be an escape, falling in love was never part of the plan. From Rebekah A respectable woman left behind in war finds fulfillment in a forbidden man. From Sarah Magic, mystery, and deceit surround a medieval woman's search for her lost love. From Diane A deep cover Elven soldier discovers that when you learn to think like your enemy, you might also learn to love them. From Deliaria In real life, love is complicated and messy, but sometimes you just know it's meant to be, and this Alaskan teenager intends to prove it, despite the odds. From A.C Two strangers discover that a one-night summer affair isn't all they have in common. From Jay Michael Wright Can a cursed doctor find love with a gorgeous Demon before those hunting her find them out? From Kayla Home before he deploys, David runs into an old friend from high school. David quickly learns that Riley is harboring a dark secret and, in order to attempt to help her, he presents to her a challenge. From C.L. It's the eleventh hour, and he has to decide. Remain her friend, or take the chance at something more?

382 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2017

About the author

✨ C.L. Cannon is a USA Today Bestselling Author ✒️ publisher 📚 marketer 📢 editor🩸designer 🖥️ & lots of other occupations with the -er sounds at the end!

She's a woman of many talents who never gives up, even when she probably should. She enjoys writing about love and friendship. She loves it even more when she can add Fantasy and Sci-Fi aspects to those themes!

She's an awkward AF, neurospicy spoonie who lives in fandom and band t-shirts, collects too many books and merch, and has a deep obsession with David Tennant, Tolkien, and Kaz Brekker. (I mean, can you blame her?)

She spends her days trying to #bookstagram/#Booktok (and probably failing), helping other authors grow and succeed (I love my job), and loving on her two human children/velociraptors, Seth and Petey, and a hoard of black cats.

Visit her website for more content, including book reviews, new release announcements, and weekly giveaways! https://clcannon.net ✨

✨Her publishing company Fiction-Atlas Press, releases two ⚔️ Fantasy & 🛸 Scifi multi-author anthologies every year. One is always for charity.✨

✨Fiction-Atlas also offers a variety of services & opportunities for ✒️ Authors & 📚 Readers! Visit here: https://fiction-atlas.com ✨

Reviews

[Sable · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just to be transparent, I am one of the authors of this work. I wrote the last story that appears, Eye of the Storm, and my review does not apply to my story, because that would be ridiculous.

But I will start by saying that I'm really honoured to be part of such an amazing team of writers.

This is a collection of summer romance stories that vary from sweet to steamy, from happy endings to ambiguous endings to outright sad ones, from contemporary to historical, paranormal, and science fiction. "Summer Romance" was the theme, and since we come from a variety of disciplines, we approached that with some broad interpretations. I'll discuss each story individually in order of appearance:

The 11th Hour by C.L. Cannon - A light-hearted contemporary romance about a man who has loved a woman his whole life, but he has never pursued it because he thought there was lots of time. But now she's getting married. This story is a sweet romance that does not end how you expect it to. I enjoyed C.L.'s fun, character driven tale with a tongue-in-cheek approach.

The Doctor and the Demon by Jay Michael Wright II - This Civil War era gothic paranormal romance is my cup of tea. Jay explores and subverts the tropes of the genre with a loving hand. Despite demons and necromancers, the tale is a sweet romance. I want to know more about these characters, and since it says its "A Tale from the World of Talon," I think I'll be checking out his Talon books.

Scarborough Fair by Sarah Buhrman- This is a historical fantasy with a light touch of magical realism. Sarah knows her time period and location well and makes it come to life with vivid description that is a full-sensory experience. I love her intelligent protagonist, who thinks her way around corners rather than blasts through things, and since I'm reading her Runespells series, I think this is a hallmark of her writing. Loved it!

Summer of '89 by Rebekah Dodson - This is a "contemporary" romance about an affair that I, as a woman in my 40s, found very relatable. I felt her character's pain. Growing up is a process that lasts your whole life. We speak dismissively of a "mid-life crisis" as if it weren't a *crisis*. But at some point, we are faced with a decision: are we where we wanted to be in life, and what is it that we really do want? Rebekah allows her protagonist to ask these questions, and so you will find yourself asking them too. I've been reading her Curse of Lanval series and this is a different approach that shows some of the broad scope of her talent.

A Summer Affair by Janae Keyes - Janae is probably the biggest name in the genre that we have in this collection, and you can see why in this story. This is an extremely well-written contemporary interracial romance about a summer affair, with a roller coaster of ups and downs. This is also the steamiest story that's appeared in the collection so far. The ending is a bit of a shocker; you have been warned.

Dear Diary by Deliaria Davis - This is a raw contemporary romance about an Alaskan teenager from a rough background who falls in love with an older man, presented as diary entries. It's very real, and the reason why becomes clear when you read Del's biography. This is autobiographical. It's her story. I love it because it shows that while real life is messy, we can all find our own moments of light and beauty. It's inspiring. It made me tear up.

Along Came David by Kayla Kirby - This is a lovely sweet contemporary romance about a woman finding the courage to take control of her own life, aided by a man who believes in her. I found the protagonist quite relatable, remembering my own similar struggles to find my path as a teenager and young woman. I liked that this story was told from the point of view of David, not of the female protagonist. It's a second person personal approach, different!

One Night Chance by A.C. Jade - So A.C. is this shy little Asian chick. Looks harmless. Assuming that is a mistake. This is by far the hottest, steamiest piece in the collection! Trigger warning: there's a lot of stuff at the beginning that seems questionable in terms of consent, but it quickly becomes a wish-fulfillment fantasy of raw sexuality, so don't worry, she's into it. A military romance with a delightful twist ending.

Eye of the Storm by Diane Morrison (Sable Aradia) - My story is a planetary romance in the pulp sci-fi tradition. I guess you could call it an interracial romance too. I didn't turn away from the sexy bits. When I was invited to the anthology, I wasn't sure what to write at first, because I don't normally write romance. Then I thought: well, if Lois McMaster Bujold can write both military space opera and romance, then why can't I? This story has been cooking in my head for a while, because it's part of my Toy Soldier Saga fantasy space opera series, and I wouldn't have included this in the book itself, at least not in this way, so it was a great place to have the opportunity to tell it. You'll have to tell me what you think.

I genuinely enjoyed this book! I was delighted by the broad variations in genre, approach, writing style, and levels of sexiness. I would have loved it even if I'd had nothing to do with it. These talented writers really deserve more attention, and I'm just honoured to be included.

[Vanessa Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Chasing Fireflies" is a truly heartwarming and captivating summer romance anthology from a group of inspiring authors. With nine stories each with their own version on love, this anthology is sure to heat up your summer. Whether looking for a short read, or wanting to get to know the writing style of new authors, or just because you love anthologies, "Chasing Fireflies" is a MUST read. It will resonate with readers far past the end story.

"Chasing Fireflies" stands out in the genre of sort stories/anthologies for many reasons including:
* It encompasses nine very different stories from nine very different authors. With variety being the spice of life, this anthology ticks all the boxes for a diverse collection. A create and eclectic composition. The hardest thing will be choosing your top three favourites!
* Summer romance is captured in all its shapes and sizes, from new love, second chance love, to love between aliens and much more. These reads will never get dull.
* The nine authors that have banded together to bring this summer romance anthology are all very different and write under many varied genres. This is one reason this book remains entertaining through out. Making it nine great new authors to add to my reading list.

I hope to read more stories from the very inspirational authors who wrote a story in the romance anthology "Chasing Fireflies". I recommend this anthology to all lovers of romance looking to heat up their summer and embrace some talented authors.

I reviewed this voluntarily from a free copy.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this. each story was great and well written. highly recommen

[Rebecca Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

1) The 11th Hour by C.L. Cannon

Kyle Anders has been in love with Emily Clearwater for years but the chance has never been there for the two of them. When Emily is about to get married Kyle puts his heart on the line but is it too late?

I loved the friendship of Kyle and Emily and it was clear how close they were yet the opportunity to be more than just friends was always just a tad out of reach. The ending was well deserved although they definitely took the long road getting there.

2) The Doctor and the Demon - Jay Michael Wright II

Marcus Von Zarovion is a doctor during the American Civil War who saves people but also dissects the bodies of dead people. When he receives the body of a woman who is barely alive he has no idea what is about to come.

I really enjoyed this story of Marcus and Cecilia. I knew that there was something different with Cecilia and I also knew that Father Estabon Rico Cortez was not going to be a good guy. I loved the character of Rhapsody and I really wish I could have learned more about her friendship with Cecilia.

3) Scarborough Fair - Sarah Buhrman

Brenan is a Witta and has been in love with Garrett for many years but lately she has no idea where he is. Then she hears word that he may be a prisoner with The Lord Burgess of Scarborough, Bartram. Can Brenan rescue Garrett before it's too late?

This was a great story on trying to rescue the one you love while evading some pretty evil men who want to harm you and force themselves on you. I love that Brenan was tough and never gave up but knew she had to find out what was wrong with Garrett and how to cure him. I can't believe what Bartram did to them!!

4) Summer of '89 by Rebekah Dodson

Allison Whitcomb had a job with the U.S. Army recruiting office when she meets soldier Eli and marries him 3 weeks later. Yet as Allison becomes a professor at a college and Eli continue his life in the army the two begin to drift apart and Ethan McDonald joins one of Allison's classes and makes her feel a way she hasn't felt in a long time.

This was an interesting book that will definitely question the morals of some. Allison loved her husband but at the same time really missed being with him and Ethan filled a hole in her life where Eli was supposed to be. To a certain degree I felt as though Ethan knew she was a little weak and knew what she needed and took advantage of it.

I did like the way everything turned out but I would have loved an epilogue to know what Eli said!

5) A Summer Affair by Janae Keyes

So this book, like the previous one deals with an affair but I must say that I enjoyed this one more than the previous one.

Ashlee has goals of becoming a writer while she raises her daughter, Trisha, with her husband, Joseph. While Joseph said he would support her writing it is soon clear that he doesn't and while at a local coffee shop Ashlee meets Kyle Hamilton, a fellow writer. Soon Ashlee turns to Kyle for the support that Joseph has refused her.

I liked this story and how Kyle really supported Ashlee and didn't put her dreams down. The affair started by chance and it was obvious how much Ashlee and Kyle cared about each other.

I was totally shocked by the end and I liked how things turned out for Ashlee although it was totally not what I expected.

6) Dear Diary by Deliaria Davis

This book is written in first person and we never learn the author's name but we know that she was in a relationship with Jack but wants a man she nicknames Cowboy. But for the author she is at a disadvantage only being 17 and not seen for who she really is. Will she get the man of her dreams?

I liked this story although at the beginning I really had no idea how young the writer was. I thought she had actually been married to Jack. I thought the back and forth with Cowboy was interesting and I wasn't surprised at all with what happened to the author! Loved the ending!

7) Along Came David by Kayla Kirby

Riley is dating Grant but when her long time friend David needs a place to stay she lets him stay with her and her brother, Kodi. But for Kodi and David they don't approve of how Grant treats Riley and want her to do something about it.

I really liked Riley and hated how she was treated by Grant and continued to put up with it. I liked that David told her how he felt and how David and Kodi managed to take care of the problem!!

8) One Night Chance by A.C. Jade

When Josh Moore takes the wrong road and it leads him to get his tires blown out by a woman he has no idea the trouble that Jewel Reese is about to bring into his life.

I thought this was a great story and I really liked both Josh and Jewel! They definitely had hot chemistry!! I would have loved an epilogue with this story to tell me how it ends as I wanted these two to get a HEA!!

9) Eye of the Storm - Diane Morrison

Shaundar Sunfall is in a foreign place pretending to be someone he is not. Yet as he gets closer to his "pretend" wife he realizes he has feelings for a woman he is not supposed to care for.

This was an interesting story and I wasn't sure exactly what was going on at the beginning and I almost felt as though it belonged within a greater story. I liked the chemistry between the two and I am curious to see what happens with Shaundar's mission.

[evieo17 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice compilation of stories.

[Chanah Dow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a complimentary reader's copy from Facebook's "Quill and Ink review team" in exchange for my honest review.

In general, this summer romance anthology wasn't terrible, nor excellent; for the price, if you're looking for something to pass the time, you could do far worse. Some of them left a great deal to be desired, some were wonderfully written and I lost myself in delight, and some, I had distinctly conflicted feelings about.

Amongst my favorites were the story by Diane Morrison (man oh man, I wished that were a full-length novel -- I'd buy it without hesitation!) and C.L. Cannon (high school crush through life, standing by his dream-girl in hopes that she'll finally un-friendzone-him), and (with a caveat) Janae Keyes. I'll get into that below.

I'd like to talk about the stories that left me conflicted.

The story by Rebekah Dodson is about a married professor teacher (whose husband is away at war) falling in love with her student, and their summertime affair. The story in and off itself not bad, but it's very clear that the affair is an "awakening" more relevant to the professor than of true love. The ending was "the right one," in light of that fact, but I will nit-pick here that the story is written in the 1st-person past-tense so that the readers don't "feel" the agony of indecision - it is a fate already decided. Therefore, all the foot-notes ("If I had only known," and so forth) seemed a bit unnecessary. I also couldn't help but feel like the main character made the right choice for the wrong reasons: her ultimate choice wasn't one of personal independence, but out of resignation because she prized others above herself. This is "wrong" to the storyline and character persona that led her to begin the affair in the first place. Ergo, it left me feeling unfulfilled.

(SPOILER - skip to next paragraph if wanted). Janae Keyes' story, however, made me passionately hopeful and angry. It is the opposite: first-person, present-day, very relevant, cute. Clear writing style, great dialogue, descriptions, character growth. I had happily let myself be swept away in the thrill of reading about a woman who was going to get divorced for the right reasons, seize a life of self-worth and happiness for herself and her daughter, and be brave. Inspired to do so by her lover, on the eve of her Departure, her "happy ending" vanishes in a stroke of miserably bad luck. After she processes this, what does she do? She returns to the *exact* same scenario that she began in, clutching desperately to the hope that her husband truly meant that he would change. This is textbook "the wrong decision for the right reasons," and it grated upon me like no other. The right decision might have been for her to leave anyway, buoyed by self-confidence and courage, or to perhaps give her husband a chance to date her as from the start. Her decision to sink back into the status quo without so much as a protest or conditional warning was repulsive to me from the core. So, I have mixed feelings.

The story by Deliaria Davis is, in some ways, the complete opposite of the above two. I don't think the writing style, character development, and setting were the best. In fact, I almost dismissed it as one of the aforementioned "not great," if not for one thing: the concept. The concept is that real life can be messy, painted in shades of gray, full of mistakes and imperfect people - and yet, sometimes two people can make something beautiful out of what is broken, and the strongest families can develop from dubious beginnings. I REALLY liked that message. I suppose my biggest complaint is that the reader is told the story through snapshots of the main character's diary. I understand that a diary is a place to write down secret feelings and desires that may not be the most noble of things, but I feel like it did the main character a disservice. The black sheep of the family, she never seemed to mature, discard her selfishness and petulance, or develop a sense of moderation. Then, all of a sudden, poof! The last entry is dedicated intentionally to another character, and it is revealed to the reader that her family is strong, happy, healthy, etc. I really wish Davis had been able to take a step back from the real-life story, and taken an editing eye to select "true sections" a little more strategically to demonstrate that her character has become the woman who fought for that happy ending. The best stories are ones based on the truth; but more than that, the truth must be conveyed well.

Hope that helps with your purchase! Cheers to all.

[T.L. Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

With so many differing authors this is really hard to review comprehensively.

There's a good mix of male and female authors across a few romance genres.
But therein lies the problem too. Some stories were better edited than others.
And I didn't feel a common thread bringing them all together.
I appreciate the theme is supposed to be 'summer love', but I didn't feel that in all the stories. It was more a lot of summer flings.

There are several stories about affairs, and some of the stories touch on abuse. It's quite a heady mix.

Don't get me wrong. I really enjoyed some of these stories, and was left wanting more.
I don't want this review to sound negative. It just lacked...something.

Eye of the Storm by Diane Morrison stood out for me. I liked the elf/orc dynamic.

And The Doctor and the Demon by Jay Michael Wright II drew me into a wonderfully mystical world. I definitely felt this story wanted a whole book.

The 11th Hour by CL Cannon was beautifully told.

There were things I liked about them all in their own right, actually.
I'm just not convinced they all belong together in the same book as short stories.

The title 'Chasing Fireflies' itself really only applies to one of the tales.

This is of course, just my own humble opinion.


In summary; an eclectic mix.
There's some good stories, and some which could do with more editing.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this anthology for review

This is a collection of 9 short romance stories. I enjoyed it because it runs the gamut for romance genres and you can get a taste of what kinds of stories all of the authors write. The 11th Hour and Along Came David were the two I liked the most because they were contemporary romances. The Doctor and the Demon was sci-fi, horror, paranormal. I enjoyed it and wanted more. Scarborough Fair was a fun story about a woman who is told her love is dead but she does not believe it and sets out to find him. It has fantasy elements to it, which I enjoy. Summer of '89 and A Summer Affair are not my kind of stories. I do not read stories where a married person has an affair. Luckily they were short so that was fine. Dear Diary is about a woman finding her soulmate and it is written as diary entries. I enjoyed One Night Chance, although the beginning was strange. Two people have a one night stand but what happens when they both want more? I am not really sure what to say about the last story, Eye of the Storm. It is fantasy and the man has taken the shape of someone else so he can infiltrate the enemy and of course falls in love. I needed more background of what was going on though. Overall I enjoyed the stories. I like how much authors can pack into short stories.

[Shelby Burk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing Fireflies. Oh you wonderful book, you. Okay, I must start off with, normally I am NOT a fan of anthologies, but this is an amazing anthology to have when you need a quick breezy read.
There were 9 stories within this anthology. Each story was completely unique and provided a wonderful variety of romance sub-genres. If you're looking to find new authors or try something a little different, this book is for you. If you want quick breezy reads for those moments in your life when you don't have time to devour a novel, this book is for you!

[Bree Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, light read. There was more heavy language (lots of f-bombs) and sexual content than I usually appreciate in my books. I don't usually enjoy straight-up romance, so some of the stories were difficult for me to get through, sappy and stereotypical. I LOVE the Scarborough Fair one, though! It was worth getting through the other stuff to read that one. And several others were great too. All in all, creative work.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Anthology!

This is my first Anthology I have read and it was a great read! So many awesome authors coming together to create awesomeness. I'm so glad I was able to read this because I discovered new Authors!

[Deirdre Stokes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book of many different stories that all had me falling in love with them because they were all good. It's amazing to read a book with so many different authors to experience all at once. I'm so glad to have gotten a chance to read this book.

[Nicole Studioso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful anthology of short stories, different genres, styles, and voices. I enjoyed this very much.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this compilation, it was perfect for a quick light read.

[Rebekah Jonesy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you could ask for.

[Izzybear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chasing Fireflies is a collection of 9 short stories by different authors. It was a good introduction to each of the authors and their writing styles. I've included some individual reviews for some of the stories I enjoyed most.

The Eleventh Hour by C.L. Cannon (4⭐️)

The Eleventh Hour by C.L. Cannon was a short but sweet story. After a terribly embarrassing first introduction Kyle and Emily decide to start over. They quickly become the best of friends. The problem is Kyle wants to be more than BFF's and the timing never seems right to tell Emily just how he feels. Now it's the eleventh hour. He has to choose to take the leap and tell her or remain as just friends.

The Doctor and the Demon (A Tale from the World of Talon) by Jay Michael Wright II (5⭐️)

This was my first introduction to Jay Michael Wright's work. I really enjoyed reading The Doctor and the Demon. Doctor Marcus is a man on a mission to save lives. His work keeps him up until the wee morning hours. It was a night like this that fate brought him Cecilia. Falling in love with a woman who is more than what she seems just might be the death of him.

Scarborough Fair by Sarah Buhrman (4.5⭐️)

I enjoyed Scarborough Fair. I liked the setting and the lead character Brenan. Brenan is a strong, independent and loyal woman. She is a woman of power. A woman who is feared by some and respected by almost everyone. This is the story of the loss of her true love and determination to find him. The story sucked me in and had me wanting to find out what was going to happen next. I only wished the ending hadn't felt so rushed to me. I plan on checking out some more of Sarah Buhrman's work.

Along Came David by Kayla Kirby (4⭐️)

This was a very sweet short story. Riley and David were friends in high school but lost touch over time. David is home for a bit before he gets deployed again. David and Riley run into each other and decide to catch up. Feelings that were pushed to the side once before now resurface and David is determined to be Riley's knight in shining armor. To rescue her from the terrible situation she is in and make her his.

[Brittany Hively · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love anthologies because I am always introduced to new authors! And who doesn't want to grow their TBR list a few more hundred books? ;) Chasing Fireflies is anthology made up with nine different stories. The thing that is special about this anthology is that is a mix of both male and female authors and different genres.

I read a few stories from this collection. Honestly I rarely read an anthology front to back at once because I like to squeeze those shorts in in between series and such. The stories are tales of all kinds and the ones that I read so far hooked me instantly. They were ones that I didn't know if I really liked them or if it was really my type of story, but I had to read more and know what was going to happen...

The biggest problem with anthologies is that they are short stories and short stories are hard because there is a lot to get in and not enough words to get it all in, sometimes. I think that was my biggest issue with these stories was there was a lot and I did get hooked, but sometimes the endings felt a tad rushed. Which is not always a bad thing and wasn't really a bad thing here. I just wanted more.

The authors I discovered in this collection were all new to me and after reading these shorts I am sure I will be seeing there names all over in the coming years!

Grab the story and discover some new authors and let me know what you think! http://amzn.to/2wegl8G

[Loralie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of these stories were a little different read for me. 3.5 stars

The 11th Hour: Cute, sad, heartbreaking, HEA

The Doctor and the Demon: Medieval love story with a creepy twist

Scarborough Fair: Doing what you have to do to save your one true love

Summer of '89: Meeting her first love, and years later having a love affair with another

A Summer Affair: A misunderstood married writer meets another writer and falls in love

Dear Diary: The heroine's diary entries. ***I had a hard time understanding what was going on in this section as there were too many characters involved. It needs more backstory. The last entry was sweet.***

Along Came David: Second-chance romance with the typical jerk-soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend

One Night Chance: Two naval pilots have a one-night, never to see each other again, stand, and have a second meeting

Eye of the Storm: A paranormal pair of two species-one being a spy
disguised as the other species, get married and are on their honeymoon when a major storm hits

[Tammy Deighan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say this was not my cup of tea. Meaning Im not into short stories. I just feel like there was a lot missing from the stories to make them great. Im not saying I didn't enjoy the writing of the stories, it just left me wanting more out of each story then I got. I think for people who like the short stories they will enjoy what the authors did with them.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading anthology's because I get to find new authors! all the stories we're well written and I would recommend this book for readers looking to venture into genres they don't usually read, like sci-fi. I have new authors I like now to add to my very long list of authors I love.

[Bookish · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting collection of short stories with a little bit of everything from magic to scifi. A great way to discover new authors. I found a few new ones to follow, worth the read.