Fierce at Heart by Zoe York

A well written story Isla and Adam are both embarking on new careers . He’s a new firefighter and she’s a baker . Very different from their past in the army she’s older his commanding officer . They are friends who are now in a marriage of convenience.

A slow burn romance starting as firm friends but both have issues he’s broken from the army she’s get away from an ex husband.

Well rounded characters set in a community where alas everyone wants to know your business or knows it anyway.

Only odd parts related to Isla’s ex it was just a bit unfinished as if just has no substance for being there very unexplained or resolved. A tad pointless. On the whole a good warm hearted read.

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

Give me a hot fire fighter any day haha.
But I loved this one. It was cute. It was a steady read. And it had characters that I loved.

So wanted to love this book! Adam was a sweetheart, and Isla felt like someone I'd want to know IRL. But the pacing completely threw me off. It was like so much was happening...but also nothing at all? It just failed to recapture me once I had to put it down - felt no pull to pick it back up, because there really wasn't any/much conflict to overcome (and then the one conflict with her ex felt thrown in and not really organic?)
It just felt...off to me, sadly

Fierce at Heart is the second title in The Kincaids of Pine Harbor series, featuring the youngest Kincaid sibling Adam and his former commanding officer Isla Peterson. This title is a small town, friends to lovers, marriage of convenience, featuring an older woman with a younger man.
After ending his time in the Army, Adam is following in his deceased father’s footsteps and training to be a firefighter. He’s the youngest brother of five who were raised by his eldest brothers and very respectful, caring and incredibly supportive of those he loves.
Isla much like Adam is starting over after ending her time in the Army and is training to become a baker. She’s been betrayed and hurt and struggles to trust, particularly those of the opposite sex.
Adam and Isla share fun and witty banter, and their story is a sweet, feel good romance, that’s sure to make you smile.
This pair share a deep friendship and a foundation of respect that shows in their actions in how they support and validate each other throughout their relationship.
Although slow to spark the chemistry and heat between this pair is undeniable.
It’s been quite a while since I dived into a title featuring Pine Harbor, but I thoroughly enjoyed this title and look forward to reading future additions to the series.

I'm a huge suckered for a fake marriage story. This was cute. Well- developed. Strong characters. I'd read more by this author.

This was a beautiful slow burn romance! What I really enjoyed was the development of Adam and Isla’s friendship. While they did have a fiery one night stand early on, they decided that sex was off the table for their marriage of convenience since they both felt that would involve more emotion that what they were feeling capable of. Bonus points for Isla being the older of the two. I did feel that the situation with the ex was not fully resolved but that was a minor blip compared to the rest of the story. Looking forward to Will’s story!

I LOVE this book. Adam and Isla are a wonderful couple, interesting and well-developed. I can’t wait to read more of this series. The time I spent reading FLEW by...it is that good!

Fierce at Heart (Kincaids of Pine Harbour, Book 2) by Zoe York
Publisher: Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, ZoYo Press
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Romance | Women's Fiction
Publication Date: January 26, 2021

Fierce at Heart is the second book in the Kincaids of Pine Harbour series by Zoe York. I had not read the previous book, but was easily able to read this as a standalone romance.

This was a wonderful book and gave me all the feels! I loved the story with the small town setting and the marriage of convenience. I found the story to be captivating and moving! I loved the friends to lovers transition which was so fun to watch develop.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the previous book!

I'm so grateful to Zoe York, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, ZoYo Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

This is such a, heartwarming read and it feels so tender and romantic, because the romance is so warm and comforting, such a gorgeous contemporary small town series , low on drama and full of warmth this is a must read for happiness from me

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Zoe York's style is so easy to read, heartwarming and tender escape. I love going to Pine Harbour for an afternoon, the characters are relatable and likable, the romance is warm and comforting, this is honestly one of the quietest, loveliest contemporary small town series out there, The angst is low, the romance is in full force, the writing is easy and flowing, I love it all!

This book was a.m.a.z.i.n.g. I can’t begin to tell you how much Adam and Isla’s story spoke to me. Normally I don’t gravitate towards friends to lovers/fake relationship romances but this is Zoe York, so you know it’s going to be incredible.

Adam is the youngest Kincaid sibling, he’s an ex military man, turned firefighter. He’s incredibly sexy but also kind. Orphaned as a teen and raised by his brothers, he’s emotionally broken. Isla is a strong woman going through a hard time. After a disastrous marriage she reinvents herself. Adam and Isla have a shared past. She was his commanding officer and years later when they accidentally meet up, they rekindle their friendship.

The dynamic between them changes when they enter into a partnership. She gets her bakery and he gets companionship. What starts off as an arrangement turns into so much more. I loved watching their relationship morph and change. I lost myself in the pages of this beautiful love story and may or may not have shed a tear or two. This book is a must read romance, TBR and Enjoy!

This was a fun romance between Adam and Isla that wasn’t’ a romance, in their eye at least! Loved all the food references and smouldering looks, a great way to spend a few hours

Isla and Adam may have entered into their marriage for convenience, but right from the start their chemistry and affection stand out. I love Pine Harbour - family and friends and the small town atmosphere make me feel like I'm coming home. As a Canadian from Toronto, I love all the local references that we Canadians get so rarely!

**I received and ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
This book was a m easy read. I loved the initial dynamic between the couple.
My biggest issue with the book was the big conflict with the ex. The entire incident was unecessaty.

Received an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, this book was just meh to me.

I usually love a good marriage of convenience but there was just something about this book that wasn't clicking for me.

I appreciate Adam & Ilsa's journey but I was honestly unable to suspend belief and accept that these two truly should have had an HEA with each other.

There was too much external stuff with Ilsa's ex to make me comfortable.

Okay book but would not read again

I love a good marriage of convenience story so I was excited to run across this one.

My favorite part of this book was the partnership between Adam and Isla. I loved how he supported her business and I love how she was always there for him too.

I did feel like there were some unresolved issues with Isla's ex that left the story unfinished. I wish there had been some real closure on that.

The steam was good but the romance outside the physical was even better.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

ARC provided by NetGalley.


Sometimes when I read that a book has more than one trope that I like I instantly feel a sort of fear, because they cannot be thaaaat good, but this was, this book is a mix of friends to lover, fake dating, one night stand thing, which I love so much.

Isla and Adam are friends, they served together and get together, they get married to help each other and get together for real, is a not so slow but neither fast romance that stole and warm my heart at the same rate.


I recommend it to people who loves hot and warm and friends to lovers romance.

I need more stories by her.

A one-sitting read, for sure.

Never disappointing with the Kincaids, Zoe delivers on this arranged marriage, friends-to-lovers. I want more of Adam and Isla. a single book wasn't enough.

Highly enjoyable romance between two people who believe they suck at love. Both ex military but both with something to prove and lost in love.

What did I like? This was a fun romance....watching these two come together. Adam came through with a ton for Isla and I was helpless to watch their romance bloom! Five stars for entertainment!

Would I recommend or buy? I love to five star this author because she plucks my heartstrings. Highly enjoyable and will definitely read more by this author! I recommend to anyone loving romance!

I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review!