Member Reviews
I loved it. This was a winner for me. Sorry this review is so late. Problem with my account and kindle. I apologize for any inconvenience.
I enjoyed this book, but not as much as some of the previous books in the series. Abby was, frankly, a bit annoying at times. I felt terrible for her after losing her husband, but her grief didn't excuse the sometimes awful way she treated Justin.
Enjoyable read. I work with younger children who have special needs and that is the only reason I would not recommend it in MY class. It is a great read for those who love to read romance.
I really enjoyed this title, It was warm, funny and made me cry.
Abby is a widow that sets her stove on fire (well kinds) and Justin is the firefighter who came to put it out. He is also the guy she used to babysit, does the age difference stop them. Read it and find out. You will be glad you did.
Thank you to netgalley and Montlake romance for allowing me to read this book for an honest review.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a book that I couldn't put down, I finished it in 2 hours..Great read.
Abby Williams is a widow. Her late husband was killed when he was overseas. So burning down her kitchen while trying to make a cake, isn't going to shake up her life that much. She's a nurse at the hospital, not really caring about her job anymore. It's been 2 years since her husband died and she's still mourning, but she doesn't know how to let go.
When a fireman who comes over to her and starts chatting her up about how she's doing, he looks familiar. He turns out to be the kid she used to baby sit when he was a kid, but he's not a kid now; there is a 5 age gap between them. Abby is 33. But he makes her feel things she hasn't felt in years.
Justin Donovan had the biggest crush on Abby when he was 17 . He got a job delivering flowers and got the hospital route because Abby was a nurse at the hospital. When he finally got the courage to tell her his feelings, he had red roses and came to see her at work. Only to see Abby showing her friends her new engagement and wedding rings, she had gotten married over the weekend to a soldier. Justin was heartbroken. He went to college at Northwestern and stayed in Chicago for almost 10 years. After being betrayed by his closest friend at work, then his fiancee, Justin leaves Chicago and returns home to Ardent Springs.
When he hears on the fire radio that the address called is Abby's, he immediately grabs his gear and drives over; even though he's not on shift. When he sees Abby after all these years, he feels like he has finally gotten his chance, that is until she throws in the age difference between them. He's determined to break down her walls and get back the fun loving Abby he once knew.
But when Justin's past rolls into town, things get out of hand. Especially when Abby's family might lose their business.
A MUST read!!
I really like the Ardent Springs books and wonder how much longer the author can find people in this small town to get together. Sweet book, brings back familiar characters and enhances the community that Osburn has created.
Abby is having a little bit of a life crisis. She’s feeling a little lost after the death of her husband and while she’s happy for her friends it is hard to see them happy with their lives when she’s … well, not. Accidentally setting fire to her kitchen introduces her to a very sexy fireman - unfortunately he was someone she babysat for as a teen. While she may be attracted to him, it’s hard for her to see past their age different. But that definitely isn’t going to slow him down!
Justin’s pursuit of Abby is a ton of fun and, while I really liked the two of them together, but the man really needs to learn that keeping secrets is going to bite you in the butt every time :) Osburn makes sure that you understand why he feels like he needs to do the things he does, but as an observer you know that he is going to crash and burn. It’s a fun journey, though, and they manage to figure things out quickly enough.
With a deft hand at delivering realistic situations involving characters you are drawn to, Osburn is one of the best at small-town contemporary romances.
(Part of a series but easily stands on its own.)
This book was very enjoyable. The story of unrequited love & a second chance to have that love even though pain and sadness have come from the lost years. Justin always loved Abby but she never knew until a kitchen fire brought them together. The pain of losing her husband to the war and Justin's pain of infidelity by his best friend and fiancée and the loss of his career are the building blocks for a new relationship. Even though she tried to deny her feelings and had everyone telling her she was crazy Abby went for happiness. They had it until it was wrenched away by secrets and half truths. What Justin and Abby learn is that a second chance to love should never be taken lightly. Definitely recommend.
I'm late to the game on this one, because apparently this is book five in the Ardent Springs series. This book, though, can be read as a stand alone. It's the sweet story of a window named Abby Williams who recently lost her soldier husband in a bombing.Abby is working in her kitchen one day and a fire starts. A hot, young fireman named Justin Donovan shows up. It's only then that sparks really fly!
Justin, it seems has always had a crush on Abby but when she married he moved to Chicago to start a job in a different field. He's back now and holding some secrets. Abby, however, feels things could never work because she's five years older. She just can't get past this. Justin couldn't care less about the age difference, he just wants Abby.
There were times things got a little redundant with Abby flipflopping on her life choices including her feelings for Justin but overall, it's a sweet story.
I'm definitely going back and reading this series as well as other books by this author!
Abby Williams lost her husband in a roadside bomb in Afghanistan and has been surviving alone since. Yes she has family and friends but no dates and none in the future. That is until the night her kitchen is on fire and after it is put out she recognizes one of them that she has been starring at for a while, his name is Justin Donovan five years younger but still looks good. She did not know that he had moved back home from Chicago. Now talking to him she can’t believe he looks the way he does. What she does not know is that he has been in love with her since he was in high school and when she was a nurse in the local hospital he even got a job delivering flowers his senior year just to see her. When he turned eighteen he was going to tell her his feelings only to overhear that she got engaged, he left town for college and stayed in Chicago. Now back he does not tell anyone what happened at the firm he worked at or what happened in his personal life to bring him back home. What he wants is to date Abby, and he slowly gets her to see that maybe they could be good together when his past from Chicago comes back in a big way to ruin everything. Now he is not worried about the girl he is trying to save the town he grew up in and the people he has known his whole life, if the girl comes back it was met to be. Can he save the town, and better yet can he save himself. Read this good book about small town life. The characters are all good, a very good story.
Abby is a widow with a little black rain cloud over her head. She just set her kitchen on fire baking a cake! To make matters worse, one of the firemen on the scene is none other than Justin Donovan, whom she used to babysit. Justin is all grown up and back in town. And he is so much more than Abby remembered. Only 5 years younger, Justin has always had a crush on Abby. Can Abby get over the age difference? Can they both adjust to major career changes? Humiliation? Trust issues?
Terri Osburn has written a story that has depth. The characters are very realistic and the situations are easy to picture. From the professional to the silly, this story will grab your feels and reel you in. Enjoy the ride!
I picked this book up after reading the fourth book in the series, and also having read and loved the author's previous series, Anchor Island. Although I liked this book, it wasn't my favorite of hers. The heroine, Abby, is a nurse who is just kind of stuck in life. She lost her Army husband to a roadside bomb two years ago and has not been able to move on. Her family has been pretty concerned about her, but she has been refusing everyone's offers of help. As the story opens, the hero, Justin comes to help fight a fire at her house that was set off by faulty wiring. Abby is 5 yrs. older than Justin and used to babysit him, so initially she resists his attention, but he's been in love with her forever and finally sees a chance to date her. Justin was really sweet and supportive in spite of Abby's hang-ups over the age difference. Abby was also stuck in her career as a nurse and Justin tried to get her to break out of that rut. She didn't really like her job, but when she was had a chance to change it, she was very resistant to actually making a change that might make her happier. Justin also made some errors in hiding the reason behind his coming home after working as a developer in Chicago, but overall, I thought he was a nice guy who deserved some happiness.
Abby's resistance to Justin was a bit tiresome for me. She's very attracted to him, he's a nice guy, and there's no real reason not to give him a chance. Abby was also very concerned with the reactions of other people in town to their relationship. I think that's the other reason I didn't click with this story. I used to like small-town romances, but these days, they just aren't appealing to me, especially when they are set in small-minded, conservative communities. This isn't the author's fault, it's a change in my own reading preferences and I think I need to be more careful in the future when choosing these stories. Overall, I didn't love this story, but I liked it, and I think it would appeal to other readers who enjoy small-town romance.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I love visiting Ardent Springs and this was no exception. Abby has been basically living in a fog the last two years after her husband died in the military. While trying to bake a cake she catches her kitchen on fire, Justin a firefighter comes to her rescue in more than one way. Justin brings the sparkle back into Abby life. The only problem is that Justin is five years younger than her, and she use to babysit him. Soon they can't deny the chemistry between them.
I really enjoyed this cute couple, perfect for each other. It was great to catch up with the other Ardent Springs residents. It's sad to say good bye.
I read this book through my kindle unlimited program. Part of a series but can be read as a stand alone.
Pleasant second chance romance set in a nice small town. There's nothing really unexpected here- you know Abby and Justin are going to get together- but Osborn has done a good job of throwing in a few twists such as Justin's secret. This is a quick read = just the thing for a nice mental getaway. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
This was a great story. I loved that the H never gave up on the love of his life. The h had to go through quite alot of hills to get to her happy ever after.
Abby has been widowed for a few years and will never be ready to move on however when her oven catches on fire and Justin Donovan sows up her world is going to turn upside down. Justin isn't taking no for an answer he knows what he wants and is going for it.
This is the book that will make you laugh , cry and have all kinds of emotions. It is really a great read.
** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
I really enjoyed this book. I'm normally not a fan of a younger man/older woman romance but I loved this one - maybe because the age difference was only 5 years but also the writing was so good I just got sucked right into the story and fell in love with these characters. Abby and Justin were a fantastic couple!! Sweet, sexy and emotional - I loved this book!
This is the fifth book in this series by this author. This book can be read as a stand alone read. This is a sweet love story. This is a interesting story with great characters. You are always guaranteed a fab read with this author. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.
Highly recommended
I voluntarily reviewed and advance reader copy of this book
I really enjoyed reading Terri Osburn's The Last in Love --my first book in this series (Ardent Springs) and from this author, but definitely not my last on either count!
Abby and Justin were an adorable couple--I liked the older woman/younger man twist (only 5 years, though--definitely not insurmountable when the couple in question is late 20s/early 30s) and the fact that he had a major crush on her while in his late teens--too sweet! The fact that he's a volunteer firefighter now definitely doesn't hurt, either (and OMG, the description of the firefighter bachelor auction at the beginning? Fabulous!) I really loved that Abby was able to (eventually, of course, after the appropriate amount of relationship angst and a suitable black moment) move on to a second relationship after losing her solider husband without diminishing her first marriage. (If you follow my reviews at all, you'll know that having to demonize the first--dead--spouse or make their relationship somehow less-than in order for a hero/heroine to commit to a new one is a huuuuuge pet peeve. Okay, yes, sometimes that will be the case. But all too often in romance it's a crutch, a convenient way to get the surviving spouse to more easily put their first marriage in the rear view mirror and get on with the second, clearly superior, one. C'mon, people. We can do better.)
Though there were times that things happened abruptly--Abby changing her mind about the age difference after being so resistant was pretty sudden, as was when she decided that Justin had been less than honest about breaking up with his fiancee--overall there was a lot more to like here than to criticize. And even though Abby's "the last in love" of her friends in Ardent Springs, her story worked just fine as a standalone.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go add books #1-4 to my TBR...
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Abigail (Abby) Williams is still grieving the loss of her husband two years later. She has a group of friends she has been keeping at arms length and just going through the motions at her job.
Justin Donovan has returned home to Ardent Springs from Chicago after losing his job and discovering his fiancé in bed with his friend. He’s at loose ends trying to figure out what’s next for him. One thing he doesn’t question is his intent to make Abby his. He is intelligent, considerate, easy going and attentive. He refuses to let their age difference, he’s 5 years younger, be a factor for her.
Abby and Justin meet again when her house catches on fire. She can’t believe the hot fireman she’s drooling over is the 10 year old boy she used to babysit. When he asks her out, she refuses based on their age difference. Justin wears her down and she takes a chance. Things are going well until the past he refuses to talk about comes to bite him in the behind.
I really loved Justin until he kept his past hidden and then refused to tell Abby.
His grand gesture was definitely needed to make up for everything. I think he needed to do more groveling. Abby ran back to him way too fast.
Overall just an okay read. This can easily be read as a standalone.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley.