Fireproof is the eighth book in the Busy Bean series, set in Sarina Bowen’s World of True North. It is a complete standalone and can be read all by itself. It is a wonderful addition to the series. I loved everything about it.

I loved this book. It is a grumpy vs. sunshine with best friend’s little sister love story. There’s also the city vs. country theme. And there are goats and an adorable dog. And an ex-military guy. It all adds up to a wonderful combination.

Mason is an ex-military goat farmer who likes his solitary lifestyle. He is determined to save his family’s farm, so he takes a second job as a barista at the Busy Bean for extra cash. When his best friend and fellow marine asks him to look after his sister, he feels obligated to help despite the fact that he would rather be alone. He really didn’t see Heather coming.

Heather’s life in DC came to a sudden halt when she had to testify against a popular senator. She was being stalked by the senator’s followers, so her brother Kevin forced her to go to Vermont and stay with his best friend until things quiet down. She wasn’t expecting to fall in love with Vermont and a grumpy marine turned goat farmer.

I loved the Vermontynesss of the story. The Busy Bean background worked wonderfully in this story. It was funny to see this quiet and grumpy guy try to be social at the coffee shop with little success. It was great seeing him interact with Zara, Audrey and Rodderick. And his attempts to contribute motivational quotes for the Busy Bean were hilarious.

I really loved Mason and Heather together. The chemistry between them was scorching hot and the tension and longing was extremely well developed. Their relationship evolved in a very wonderful and emotional way. It was great. It was sweet and funny and really steamy.

I loved the supporting characters lot too. Kevin and Amelia were wonderful. And Uncle Billy was the best. Rascal, Mason’s dog was adorable. I think this story was really wonderful to read. There’s so much to love about this story. It was really well written and it had a bit of suspense. It’s really a great story and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Delancey Stewart, Sarina Bowen, Jenn Gaffney and the rest of the World of True North team for the advance reader copy of Unforgettable, the sixteenth story in the Vino and Veritas series.

Read all my World of True North reviews here.

Check out the entire review here.

 

ARC received for an honest review

You had me at goats!

Grumpy guts Mason doesn't know what hit him when his best friend's sister comes to stay, when her life in DC comes to a screeching halt.

But man, there is nothing but sparks beneath the gruff exterior, and even his heart can't deny her.

Heather, Heather, Heather. Now, I love what you are doing in Vermont, but for the love of God, the flip flopping about having to go home when you have all that in front of you - girl, you blind or stupid or something lol. I would stay in a heartbeat I tell ya!

I did love the people around the farm and town - I don't even like coffee, but I would be in the Busy Bean every day for Roderick's baked goodies (and would put on so much weight they would have to roll me out of there)

One thing that irked me though - everything was so bad in DC, then poof, one thing and all of it was done and dusted. Just didn't ring right that these things wouldn't have carried on - but this is just a me thing.

These books need to go on forever and ever.

Also, did I mention there were baby goats??


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3.5

After testifying against a popular senator accused of misconduct, education lobbyist Heather Briggs was forced to flee Washington, DC for her own safety. Her older brother Kevin arranged for her to stay with his best friend, ex-Marine Mason Rye, now a goat farmer and part-time barista in Colebury, Vermont. Grumpy Mason wasn't happy about the disruption to his routine caused by an unexpected houseguest, but he owed Kevin a favor for having his back when they'd served together. He tried to focus on work and avoid Heather as much as possible, but even with limited contact, he couldn't help feeling a pull of attraction towards his best friend's sunshiny little sister. Mason knew nothing could ever come of it, however; aside from Heather being off-limits because of his friendship with her brother, Mason was determined not to get close to anyone because he knew firsthand the pain of losing the ones he loved.

Heather and Mason were incredibly likeable, sympathetic protagonists dealing with more than their fair share of emotional baggage. I found it easy to root for them both individually and as a couple. They had phenomenal chemistry from the outset, and I couldn't wait for them to finally act on their feelings. Spending the summer together was kind of a respite from their normal lives, especially for Heather, who was understandably shaken following a campaign of harassment by the senator's supporters. It amazed me that her light still shined so brightly even though she was scared. Like Mason, she wasn't initially interested in a romantic relationship, though her fears were quite different from his. Mason was a very special person, however, and his caring, protective nature eventually won her over.

In addition to Mason and Heather, I enjoyed getting to know Mason's sweet, funny sister Amelia, who became a good friend to Heather exactly when she needed one. Amelia seemed to have an intense connection with Heather's brother Kevin, who was apparently going through some difficulties near the end of the book. I would love to read a future story about the two of them!

Overall, I loved "Fireproof" and highly recommend it for all contemporary romance fans. I look forward to picking up whatever Stewart writes next as well as checking out more books in this series soon.

*Review copy provided by HeartEyes Press. All opinions expressed are my own.

https://celebrityreaders.com/2021/09/12/fireproof-by-delancey-stewart/

I received a free copy through Heart Eyes Press in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

3.5 stars — This book had a super strong start, I was so intrigued by both characters, I connected with them, and I was excited to see them break through each other’s walls. And for the most part, I got great stuff…but for me, it dragged a bit and I got impatient with our MCs.

Heather was wonderfully bright and sunny, positive, and just the perfect amount of sassy. I loved the way she would tease Mason, and how she wasn’t afraid to dig in and help wherever she could see an opportunity. You could truly feel how easily she came to care for her new Vermont peeps, and I loved that for her. The problem, unfortunately, is that she hung on to the whole :my home is in Washington” thing WAY TOO LONG. Like, I totally understand a bit of confusion, reluctance, etc… But it just kept coming back, and she just didn’t learn. She sort of made a step in the right direction, but at the first sign of trouble she was back tracking. I was bummed about that.

Mason may have had a standoffish personality to many, but it hid the most wonderfully soft heart. I ached for what he went through in his childhood, and how fundamentally it had affected his entire life. But when he loves, he loves fiercely. He was delightfully smart and passionate about the farm, and the changes he was bringing. I loved learning about walipinis, and seeing him strive to make things work. But, just like Heather, he was ridiculously stubborn holding on to his old beliefs and protecting himself. I think I got it a bit more with him than Heather, but it still got to the point where I was just frustrated.

As for the two of them together? I really loved their chemistry — from friendship to more. You could genuinely feel them connecting and coming together, and it was very satisfying. But, again, 2 stubborn souls made for a really frustrated Lenore.

The secondary characters were pretty great too — from Mason’s sister Amelia, and uncle Billy; to Heather’s brother Kevin; to the glimpses of Audrey, Zara, and Roderick we got. And of course there was the star of the show: Rascal. That puppy was everything.

So yeah. Solid book, I would definitely have rated it higher if it hadn’t started to drag with their equal stubbornness.

Delancey Stewart takes grumpy/sunshine to another level. Mason is the grumpiest MC I've ever read I think. Just to get a few more words out of him is a task. He likes his space and being alone. So when his best friend asks for help to let his sister stay with him, he needed to be more hospitable and that's hard work for him. The more Heather is in his space, the more intrigued and attracted he is to her. Even knowing her stay is only temporary.

I really enjoyed this one. Heather and Mason gave me all the feels especially Mason's hesitance towards voicing out his feelings for her. I loved that Heather was the one who takes that first step.

All the feels for Mason and Heather! They both lived with fear. Heather’s was more immediate. The fear of being hurt, hated, and maybe even reviled for doing the right thing. Mason’s fear was more deeply ingrained, less palpable. His was more of being afraid to love and lose someone else in his life. It was easier to put on his “resting murder face” and keep everyone from finding a sliver of space to make their way into his heart. Together Heather and Mason healed their fear and learned to let go of the tethers that bound them to the places where they were deeply rooted but not all together happy. This is my first experience reading a book by this author and I look forward to reading more in the future.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.