Putting Out Old Flames is the first book in the adult contemporary romance Pineville series by Allyson Charles. This book was a super quick read for me. I enjoyed it but I found myself wishing it was a bit longer. I wanted to do a deeper dive into the characters and their stories/backstories. Putting Out Old Flames is a second chance love story that clocks in at just over 200 pages. I enjoyed the romance between our main characters, I just wanted to see some more from them.

In Putting Out Old Flames we meet our main characters, Jane and Chance. Jane and Chance are both super easy to root for, because they are so darn likeable. I think it is impossible to not like either of them in fact. There wasn't a super scandalous reason that they broke up all those years ago. They were young and going away to school and they broke up. So seeing them come back together was kind of nice. Second Chance Love is one of my lesser read romance tropes, but it does tend to put a smile on my face when characters can reconnect, which is what happened here. Putting Out Old Flames was a nice short story. I do wish it was a bit longer, but I liked the book overall.

Putting Out Old Flames is a fun second chance at love story. Jane has moved on with her life years after Chance broke up with her with a card. Then he waltzes back and expects her to go on like he never left. The story was fun and you can see that they were meant to be together. You also see why Chance did as he did, being a young overwhelmed male and what he did to Jane was a jerk move. But he changed and grew into the likeable guy that Jane falls for again. A good start to a new series!
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Kitty's review:
Well, Allyson Charles has a new fan. I adored Putting Out Old Flames. It was interesting, definitely fun, had strong and quirky characters and had me giggling throughout.
I started off not being a huge fan of Jane. Talk about holding a grudge! Nine years is a long time to be holding on to a greeting card to remind herself that Chance was an ass. Dating Leon was even more pathetic. Thank God she had a good friend to finally point out what an ass she has been keeping herself closed off from men. Maybe, just maybe, she has been holding on to the past for a little too long. It’s time to face the past, look to the future and trust that Chance won’t break her heart again. And, while she is at it, have an orgasm or three every night.
No, Chance had no idea that he moved across the country with his son and straight into the town where the “girl he left behind” is now living. Yes, he was a jerk at 18 but he learned a lot during those 9 years and realized that he never really did stop loving his Janey-girl. But, coming off a divorce, being a dad to his Josh, trying to take care of his sister and being the new man in the Fire Department could leave him with little time to get Jane to finally forgive him and see him for what he has become. Co-chairing the Fireman’s Ball may be his only way of showing her how he really feels. Well, that and a little time in his bed showing her what she’s missed could be just what he needs to convince her.
I actually laughed out loud during parts of this book. The scene in the bowling alley, the scene in the yard with the sprinklers, Edith and the girls were just hilarious. Josh was just adorable and made this story so much more believable. I really couldn’t stop reading this book because I wanted to see what would have me laughing next. There were also some serious parts that made the story complete since love can’t all be fun and games.
I seriously enjoyed Putting Out Old Flames. Granted, there wasn’t much firefighting going on but, what was happening was just so satisfying. The characters were very well written and the story just flowed. Everyone and everything fit together. I was really impressed with this new-to-me author and really look forward to reading more from her.