Member Reviews

When I requested an ARC of Set the Night on Fire by Laura Trentham, I didn't realize this was part of a series. It did not matter. There is enough back story written that it does not distract the reader from this story at all.

Set the night on Fire is exactly what Mack Abbott and Ella Bordreaux do just that. The characters are well developed, they are strong and soft. This a well written story. It exams romance and relationships.

I enjoyed reading this book. I enjoyed the romance, the heat and the banter between Mack and Ella. I recommend this book. You will not be disappointed.

Thank you St Martin's Press for approving my request in Netgalley.

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Mack is really upset with his brother for selling his share of the family garage, so when Ella shows up to learn the business he is a jerk. He gives her menial tasks and then treks her to do an oil change in an attempt to get her to leave. Ella doesn't let his attitude get her down and does what she can to prove to everyone that she can work at the garage. As they get to know each other, they can't deny the v attraction, but he still wants her home and she doesn't want to let him in.
Things start looking up between the two and some of her ideas , although he doesn't want to admit it, are good and beneficial. Just when Ella thinks she can be happy with Mack and Mack starts rethinking what he wants, an overheard partial conversation threatens to detail everything. Can Mack get Ella to listen to his explanation? Will Ella realize that she overreacted and let Mack in all the way?
Overall, I liked this book, but felt that some parts of the story took to long to develop while others went to fast. I especially liked the chapters that dealt with his brother and his mom.

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A journey to Cottombloom will leave you filled with happiness!

I have read several other books in this series and didn't realize that this was #6. I thought it was 4 books about the 4 Abbott brothers but obviously, this is not the case and I need to go check out the books that I have missed to see who stars outside of the Abbott brothers.

We had a glimpse of Ella in the last book. She bought out Ford's ownership in the garage and that is not going over well especially for Mack. His loyalty to his father has him at a crossroads especially once he realizes how attracted he is to Ella and it might be mutual. Mack is very protective of his brothers and the shop but is able to recognize that perhaps there is more to life than work. We also get to see some of his creative side and the art he creates out of metal. I was imagining the pieces in my mind and know that each piece turned out beautifully...well except maybe that first giraffe.

Ella has her own baggage from her past marriage and is terrified of dogs. Sadly, River just wants to play with her and be her friend. That is hard with Ella's fear but perhaps she will overcome. Ella does stand up to her ex Trevor and it was rewarding to see him come around and realize she was the force behind his success. She even has to deal with Trevor's current wife, Megan. But knowing the situation Megan is in how can she not help?

I love this town and the community spirit it fosters. We have seen the troubles Marigold and Dave have had financially and to see the whole town chip in to help is very touching and rewarding.

All of these books can be read on their own, but it is best to start at the beginning if you can as all the characters move from book to book and you will understand their relationships much easier.

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Set the Night on Fire by Laura Trentham is the 6th book in the Cottonbloom romance series, and my first book by this author. I really enjoyed this book, and did not feel lost because I have not read the prior books. The Abbott brother's garage is owned by four Abbott brothers, with brother Mack handling the biggest load since their father died. Ford the oldest brother sold his quarter share to Ella Boudreaux, to pay off his debts. Mack is very angry, and wants Ella out of their lives. Ella has her own reasons to want to be part of the garage, which brings back fond memories of her brother. Can these two finally work together? Read and find out. This book has well thought out characters and plot. I recommend this book for a sweet romantic read.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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This is a fantastic series set in Cottonbloom - a rough group of mechanics who have met their match in their female counterparts.

In this novel, Mack is the tough one - the one who feels like he has to carry the weight of his Father's business, carry the greatest burden and has to hold the family together. He has given this burden to himself, no matter how much his brothers try to help him carry this load. His greatest fault? Holding a grudge and not being able to let it go despite knowing he is wrong. He is carrying a grudge against his Mother and it has prevented him from reuniting with her despite his brothers building bridges with her. It has prevented him from forgiving his brother Ford who sold his share of the business and no longer making the shop family owned.

It was this sale that brings Ella into his life. She has gone through a lot in her life (and to get the details you have to read the story!) but she has grown from her ordeals. She is tough as nails, stubborn but full of understanding, forgiveness and understanding (more so when it comes to others!).

These two are so much a like on the inside but complete opposites on the outside. They clash at first but as the story continues, you can see how well they complement each other. But they have a lot of their own personal history to overcome in order to move into the future, IF that is even what they want to do. They struggle with the idea of a relationship building between them especially with their turbulent histories and lack of trust.

This is a beautiful story of forgiveness, healing and moving forward. Both Ella and Mack need to heal their past in order to have any hope of a future. We watch patiently as they struggle to come to terms with their past, forgive those that they need to and build important relationships with key family members. We struggle along and pray with them that they will be able to move forward because deep down inside you can see how perfect they will be for each other. I loved every moment of this story!

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to return to Cottonbloom for another visit with the Abbott brothers. Set the Night on Fire is the sixth book in the series, but it can be read as a stand alone. But, you will miss out on some great books if you don’t read the rest of the series too.

The Abbott brothers, Jackson, Wyatt and Mack own and operate the garage that was started by their deceased father. There are four brothers. Ford, the oldest brother, sold his share of the garage to Ella Boudreaux and left town with no explanation, leaving the other three brothers confused and angry.

Ella is an intelligent, independent business woman. She divorced her worthless husband and built a successful career in investment. After investing in the Abbott garage, she is determined to help the business grow. She has good ideas, but Mack is not inclined to listen to anything she has to say. The sparks fly when Ella and Mack are together. In the beginning, they are sparks of anger, but as they spend more time together at the garage things begin to change and the sparks are an entirely different kind.

Laura Trentham has once again written a book that is rich with small town charm. She makes her characters come alive. I highly recommend Set the Night on Fire and the whole Cottonbloom series. Laura Trentham never disappoints.

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Laura Trentham returns to Cottonbloom with a tale of two completely opposite people, Mack and Ella, finding love and a new outlook on life. This small town contemporary romance is part of a series, but can be read as a stand alone novel. As the oldest Abbott brother, Mack feels it is duty to keep the family business completely in the family. So when Ella ends up purchasing a share of the business, all Mack can think about is how to get rid of her. Ella had her own reasons for buying into the business and she is not interested in selling. Instead we have two stubborn people, both determined to get their way which definitely gets the tension building. Especially once the attraction also starts building!
This was a very enjoyable read that immediately drew me into the characters' lives. I am interested to see whether we will end up getting a story for Ford, the Abbott who left Cottonbloom. Hopefully he will get a book because all of the characters in this story are so centered around family that you just want to see him back in the family fold.

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Back in Cottonbloom and this brings Mack and Ella together, he has issues when he finds out that Ford has sold the garage but when he meets Ella things change. Wonderfully entertaining, a great story

I received a copy from Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving my own honest opinion

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This Fictional Town Will Suck You In!
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Cottonbloom and all of its characters is so real to me that opening one of Trentham’s books feels like going home—a home that you know isn’t perfect and has plenty of issues. More specifically, the issues involve my tears. Because this story got very real for me very fast at one point, and I didn’t even see it coming.
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This is the pull of Cottonbloom—a sunny Southern town with all the allure such a quaint place has the right to claim. Once you’ve settled in and gotten comfortable looking around and enjoying the view, you’re suckered punched by emotions. The real emotions of flawed people who make hurtful errors and only know how to play the game in hindsight.
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Trentham’s characters are interesting and varied, making Cottonbloom a fun place to visit, have some coffee, and listen to the locals chat. Don’t say that I didn’t warn you, though. Cottonbloom bring the tears, too.

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This series is just awesome! Trentham has a way of putting her characters at odds with each other that makes their falling for each other that much sweeter when it happens. Ella and Mack really, really don't like each other.
Ella has bought a share of the garage that Mack's family owns from one of his brothers. She's determined to be a part of the everyday operation by doing the promoting and the books. Mack is determined to get her out of his garage as soon as possible. Ella tries hard to be a hard nose and stand up to him, but things keep happening to highlight the vulnerability she's trying hard not to show. That vulnerability may be the key to changes to come. As some aspects of their relationship start to thaw, others are hot enough to set the night on fire!

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You might want to keep a fire extinguisher handy when you read Set the Night on Fire by Laura Trentham, my fellow romance book loving friends. The chemistry and steamy scenes between this enemies to lovers main couple just might cause your pages/ereader to self combust. But not to worry, folks, steam in no way replaces substance in this romantic tale. There is plenty of back and forth bickering to flirtatious banter and a genuine connection between Ella and Mack as they truly get to know each other. A great cast of subcharacters brings this small town themed storyline to life, as well.

What surprised me the most was this sassy, feisty heroine was extremely compassionate, too. She took under her wing and gave protection to the last person on the planet you would expect. I couldn’t help but admire her even more for that.

This author’s writing style is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. The writing flows and keeps me fully engaged. Though I’ve only read a couple of her books, you can bet I’ll be backtracking and keeping an eye out for more of her new releases.

Title: Set the Night on Fire, Series: Cottonbloom (Book 6), Author: Laura Trentham, Pages: 336, stand-alone but part of a series, adversaries to lovers, beautiful, sassy, successful, compassionate heroine, knucklehead at first/good guy hero, very steamy scenes, small town setting, romance safe, no cheating, no love triangle, no OW/OM romantic drama.

Book 1 - Kiss Me That Way
Book 2 - Then He Kissed Me
Book 3 - Till I Kissed You
Book 3.5 - Candy Cane Christmas (novella)
Book 3.75 - Light Up the Night (novella)
Book 4 - Leave the Night On
Book 5 - When the Stars Come Out
Book 6 - Set the Night on Fire

(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review, nor is there any affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley.)

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I've read every single book in this feel good series and Set the Night on Fire keeps the trend going strong. I really liked Mack and Ella together. Mack was still struggling with his complicated relationship with Ford and Ella's trying to find a place for herself after getting out of a toxic relationship.

Mack is angry and disillusioned that his brother sold out his share of the family auto shop. After seeing Ella for the first time, he is hoping she'll be a silent partner and give him desperately needed time to scrimp and save to buy her out. He definitely doesn't count of Ella being a more hands on type of partner and he is blinded sided by the deep attraction that he feels for her. The more he gets to know about her, the more intrigued he is. But Ella has walls around her heart that Mack is determined to break down.

I loved that Ella was such a strong character. The death of her brother really shaped her young life and her attempt to distance herself from her home life, lead her to grab on to the first person to show her some attention, that someone turned out to be more a nightmare than a dream come true though. I liked that she didn't mope or whine about the past, Ella picked herself up and focused on making herself happy and pursuing a life dependent from others. Her explosive chemistry with Mack was unexpected but again, she isn't afraid to explore their connection rather, she's wary of how deep that connection runs and whether or not it's one sided.

Mack and Ella's love story has steamy heat, real passion, great banter and a connection that you can feel, up front and center from page one.

I've probably said this before but I love visiting Cottonbloom. The author has painted such a scenic town and it's still full of past and present supporting characters that always add some fun and humor to the story. This whole series has become my go to re-read series. I can't wait to see what's next for the Cottonbloom family.

Would I recommend?
I highly recommend this and the rest of the series. All can be read as stand alones but it's worth reading the others in the series to get to know the recurring characters in their own stories.

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Cottonbloom #6, We continue with the Abbott brothers. Jackson and Willa eloped got married by way the Justice of the Peace and Sutton and Wyatt are planning a huge wedding, well Sutton's mom is at least. Ford followed through on his threat to sell his share and Mrs. Ella Boudreaux bought it. The announcement that she was now part owner of Abbott Brother's Garage and Restoration didn't go quite as smoothly as she had hoped the fact that it was used to hurt the Abbott brothers didn't sit right with her, Ford told her it was what was best for the garage and yet the other brother's treated her like the plague. Ella wants to be part of the garage she wants to help to finally be part of something; Wyatt and Jackson are more open to her than Mack but then again Mack is not only fighting the fact that she now own part of the shop he's fighting his own attraction to her.

There is more to Ella than meets the eye and the more time Ella spends at the shop the more Mack realizes she can help and the more he realizes she's far more than she seems. The chemistry between Ella and Mack is great, you can see it bubbling just beneath the surface and by the time they give in the sexual tension is just overflowing. I loved all the little complications that came up and how they were handled. Mack really did grow, he had quite a bit of character development and it was all for the better he was able to let go of the anger. Ella really didn't change but she was finally able to become who she wanted to be and in doing so she was able to stand up to her ex and let go the hurt and help his current wife leave him. There are so many other characters I want to see get their own books and I'm over here speculating who could be paired with who, very excited for the upcoming books. Overall it was another great read.

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ALL THE FEELS!

I’m head over heels in love with Mack and Ella’s story!! I have absolutely loved and adored this series right from the very beginning. I am so attached to the Abbott Brothers! I have been anxiously awaiting Mack’s story. I was definitely NOT disappointed.

Laura Trentham delivers another heart warming story with all the feels. In fact, this one seems to have an extra dose. Once I started, I could NOT put this book down. Such a beautiful, emotionally charged romance that hits you right in the heart.

This is a must read series! I can NOT wait for the next in series!

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~~~Reviewed by Evelyn~~~

SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE is the sixth novel in Laura Trentham’s successful series set in Cottonbloom, the quirky little town that is divided by a river and a state line. This installment continues with the story of the Abbott brothers who own a car repair and restoration business in blue-collar Cottonbloom, Louisiana.

Oldest Abbott brother Ford, who never really wanted to be a part of the family business, has sold his share to a socialite from ritzy Cottonbloom, Mississippi. This is not setting well with his brother Mack and twins Wyatt and Jackson. Grouchy Mack, especially, is unnerved when it appears that wealthy divorcee Ella Bondreaux plans to get involved in the everyday operation of the business instead of just being a silent partner. Ella, who has been very successful in her previous business dealings, feels she can help the brothers expand their business. She also grew up watching her late brother restore cars and she enjoys the atmosphere of the garage. In spite of their mutual love of cars and similar dysfunctional family baggage, Mack plans to have her around only until he can buy her out. That is until he finds himself incredibly attracted to her.

Both Mack and Ella are well-written and easy to like characters. In spite of Mack’s gruff exterior, he cares deeply about people. He is adamant about preserving what is left of his family and the family business. Ella is a very strong woman and she, too, cares about other people, including people that she, perhaps, shouldn’t care about at all. She and Mack actually have a lot of things in common and their mutual attraction should be no surprise.

The strong secondary characters, most notably the Abbott twins and their significant others, add depth to the story. It helps to have read the previous books in the series in order to have the background of all of the characters, but it certainly is not necessary. The book is well written as a standalone, also.

In my opinion, the story seemed a little slow at the beginning but it didn’t take long to find a better pace. It then remained steady to the end. I was, however, a bit mystified by the “bonus” epilogue that followed the regular epilogue. The regular epilogue did what it was intended to do: tie up loose ends to the current story. The “bonus” epilogue seemed to tie up loose ends from a previous story, or perhaps to the series? I’m not sure, but I’m hoping that our visits to dear little Cottonbloom have not come to an end!

I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

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Set the Night on Fire was one of those feel good romances you that just hits that book-vacation spot.

Ella was a woman with spunk, the kind of spunk that fired an instant character connection between the character and reader.

Mack, well he ran hot and cold. You could see the chemistry between Ella and Mack but overall, he was rude with an occasionally showing a sweet side that peeked through.

In the end, I found Set the Night on Fire to be an easy and entertaining contemporary romance.

I received this ARC copy of Set the Night on Fire from St. Martin's Press. This is my honest and voluntary review. Set the Night on Fire is set for publication July 31, 2018.

My Rating: 4 stars
Written by: Laura Trentham
Series: Cottonbloom
Sequence in Series: Book 6
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Publication Date: July 31, 2018
ISBN-10: 1250131308
ISBN-13: 978-1250131300
Genre: Contemporary Romance

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It's always enjoyable to read a Laura Trentham book because you have the romance part of it, sure, but you also have the humor and the sense of community with her small town romances. I am so glad I was able to read this story as I immensely enjoyed it.

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Ella and Mack do not see eye to eye on her involvement in the Abbott brothers’ garage. Mack is furious that his older brother Ford sold his share of the garage and is not ready to cozy up to the new divorcee, Ella, who is the new, part owner of the garage, courtesy of the shares Ford sold her. Still, her feisty nature is a lot like Mack’s own gruffy nature, and, as time goes on, Mack begins to understand that Ella with her pride, stubbornness and big heart, is a lot like him. As the story progresses, both realize there is more to this business relationship than either originally figured. While all this is going on, each has to deal with his/her own past demons, and their impact on their current lives.

This is part of a series. I have read only one of the other books in the series but read through this one without any difficulty or questions about the story line or characters. I enjoyed the interactions between these two strong-headed but big-hearted main characters, Ella and Mack, and the way they gradually moved toward accepting each other and all they brought to the garage’s business. The story flowed well. The other secondary characters were also well done and helped flesh out the story. I did wonder why Ella held her brother on so high a pedestal without fail, never wavering. I guess it all goes back to her relationship with him before he died. This is a good addition to the series, as it provides further detail about the Abbotts and their garage. If you have read any of the other books in the series or enjoy a good, relaxing read, this will be a good choice. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

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Set the Night on Fire is the sixth book in the Cottonbloom series. I was caught up in Ella and Mack's story from the start. I loved it, and I definitely recommend it.

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I love Laura Trentham and her Cottonbloom series so as soon as I got this book I jumped straight in and as always, it did not disappoint.

Mack Abbott is furious when his brother sells his share of the business that they all worked so hard to establish. He cannot understand why a wealthy divorcee would even want to be a part owner of a garage but he is determined not to make things easy for her. But as he gets to know Ella Boudreaux, he soon realises that there is so much more to this woman than meets the eye ...
Ella is determined to make this new venture a success. After all that has happened, she needs to prove that this can work for herself more than anybody else. But she didn't bet on Mack Abbott and the sparks that fly between them and it's nothing to do with their work in the garage!

With love, understanding, and plenty of butting heads SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE by Laura Trentham is everything you want in a contemporary romance. The characters are feisty, strong, and very likeable, and the backdrop of Cottonbloom adds a magic all of its own which will take you there and make you feel like one of the gang. This is a wonderful story and perfect for fans of small-town romances with that extra special something.

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