What do you think?
Rate this book
Cape Hope #1
Christmas with the Single Dad
Christmas is a time for family…
A mystery brings Ally Monroe to the idyllic seaside town of Cape Hope, North Carolina. On the quest to find out more about the father who abandoned her, Ally has no intention of getting too involved in the community. Only Cape Hope has a way of drawing people in and, before Ally knows it, she’s falling hard and fast in love with the whole town and its old-fashioned, charming ways – and particularly local single-dad Luke Miller and his adorable daughter Stella.
Volunteer firefighter Luke has been single since his wife died in childbirth six years earlier, making Stella his sole priority. But there’s something compelling about the beautiful out-of-towner and, before long, both Luke and his daughter are welcoming Ally into their home.
She came to Cape Hope looking for family and instead Ally found her way to Luke and Stella– but will they still want her when they realize she’s been lying to them about who she really is and what she’s doing in town?
Previously titled Christmas with the Firefighter
A mystery brings Ally Monroe to the idyllic seaside town of Cape Hope, North Carolina. On the quest to find out more about the father who abandoned her, Ally has no intention of getting too involved in the community. Only Cape Hope has a way of drawing people in and, before Ally knows it, she’s falling hard and fast in love with the whole town and its old-fashioned, charming ways – and particularly local single-dad Luke Miller and his adorable daughter Stella.
Volunteer firefighter Luke has been single since his wife died in childbirth six years earlier, making Stella his sole priority. But there’s something compelling about the beautiful out-of-towner and, before long, both Luke and his daughter are welcoming Ally into their home.
She came to Cape Hope looking for family and instead Ally found her way to Luke and Stella– but will they still want her when they realize she’s been lying to them about who she really is and what she’s doing in town?
Previously titled Christmas with the Firefighter
213 pages, ebook
Published October 22, 2019
About the author
Clare Connelly
402 books371 followersFor all things Clare Connelly, please see www.clareconnelly.co.uk, the official home of Clare Connelly on the web.
Clare Connelly grew up in a small country town in Australia. Surrounded by rainforests, and rickety old timber houses, magic was thick in the air, and stories and storytelling were a huge part of her childhood.
From early on in life, Clare realised her favourite books were romance stories, and read voraciously. Anything from Jane Austen to Georgette Heyer, to Mills & Boon and (more recently) 50 Shades, Clare is a romance devotee. She first turned her hand to penning a novel at fifteen (if memory serves, it was something about a glamorous fashion model who fell foul of a high-end designer. Sparks flew, clothes flew faster, and love was born.)
Clare has a small family and a bungalow near the sea. When she isn't chasing after energetic little toddlers, or wiping fingerprints off furniture, she's writing, thinking about writing, or wishing she were writing.
Clare Connelly grew up in a small country town in Australia. Surrounded by rainforests, and rickety old timber houses, magic was thick in the air, and stories and storytelling were a huge part of her childhood.
From early on in life, Clare realised her favourite books were romance stories, and read voraciously. Anything from Jane Austen to Georgette Heyer, to Mills & Boon and (more recently) 50 Shades, Clare is a romance devotee. She first turned her hand to penning a novel at fifteen (if memory serves, it was something about a glamorous fashion model who fell foul of a high-end designer. Sparks flew, clothes flew faster, and love was born.)
Clare has a small family and a bungalow near the sea. When she isn't chasing after energetic little toddlers, or wiping fingerprints off furniture, she's writing, thinking about writing, or wishing she were writing.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
November 17, 2019
3.5 stars.
Bringing readers a widower, single dad and former-marine and a lady visiting town looking at laying some ghosts to rest, Clare Connelly kicks off what I’m hopeful will be an enjoyable series.
The title is reaching a bit as there’s zero firefighter vibe here aside of a couple of fleeting mentions, but with a lovely small town atmosphere, likeable characters and a cute little girl often wiser than her six years, Christmas with the Firefighter is a heart warming romance that hits the sweeter end of the scale.
Copy received courtesy of Tule Publishing for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Bringing readers a widower, single dad and former-marine and a lady visiting town looking at laying some ghosts to rest, Clare Connelly kicks off what I’m hopeful will be an enjoyable series.
“I know she’s just like me in all the ways that matter, that she makes whatever’s broken inside of me feel shiny and new again.”
The title is reaching a bit as there’s zero firefighter vibe here aside of a couple of fleeting mentions, but with a lovely small town atmosphere, likeable characters and a cute little girl often wiser than her six years, Christmas with the Firefighter is a heart warming romance that hits the sweeter end of the scale.
Copy received courtesy of Tule Publishing for an honest and unbiased opinion.
October 24, 2019
Christmas with the Firefighter is the first book in the Cape Hope Series which I believe will be a great series to binge. Christmas with the Firefighter is emotionally charged and while the story takes place over the Christmas holidays, there is much more to it. Both the hero and heroine are dealing with some emotional baggage.
Single father and widower, Luke Miller is an upstanding guy. He is ex military and currently a firefighter and handyman. He is doing his best to raise his young daughter. But as any single father of a young girl, Luke is still learning the ropes of fatherhood. It isn't until Ally comes into his life that he thinks, just maybe, he is ready to find love again. He truly wasn't looking for love again until he met Ally and their attraction couldn't be denied. Their connection was strong and believable.
Ally is in town temporally and for one reason only. She is looking for her father to confront him for walking out of her life when Ally was still a child. There is a heartbreaking story there which I will let you read about on your own. While in Cape Hope, Ally is trying to stay low key. She is not planning to stay long, or date while in town. But once she meets Luke and his little girl, Ally finds herself tormented with her feelings of attraction. Since she wasn't planning to stay, Ally didn't think it was necessary to tell anyone the real reason she was in town. But as we know, secrets aren't a good thing. Especially when they come to light and Ally is confronted before she has the chance to explain herself.
There were moments with Ally that had me tearing up. Even years later, as an adult, my heart still broke for the child who was abandoned by her father. Aside from Luke and Ally finding a happily-ever-after, I was really hoping that Ally and her dad would find each other again. This was truly a heartwarming book and I recommend it.
This is my first book by this author. It definitely won't be my last. I'll be looking out for more in the Cape Hope series.
This is my honest and unbiased review. Thank you for taking the time to read it. :)
Single father and widower, Luke Miller is an upstanding guy. He is ex military and currently a firefighter and handyman. He is doing his best to raise his young daughter. But as any single father of a young girl, Luke is still learning the ropes of fatherhood. It isn't until Ally comes into his life that he thinks, just maybe, he is ready to find love again. He truly wasn't looking for love again until he met Ally and their attraction couldn't be denied. Their connection was strong and believable.
Ally is in town temporally and for one reason only. She is looking for her father to confront him for walking out of her life when Ally was still a child. There is a heartbreaking story there which I will let you read about on your own. While in Cape Hope, Ally is trying to stay low key. She is not planning to stay long, or date while in town. But once she meets Luke and his little girl, Ally finds herself tormented with her feelings of attraction. Since she wasn't planning to stay, Ally didn't think it was necessary to tell anyone the real reason she was in town. But as we know, secrets aren't a good thing. Especially when they come to light and Ally is confronted before she has the chance to explain herself.
There were moments with Ally that had me tearing up. Even years later, as an adult, my heart still broke for the child who was abandoned by her father. Aside from Luke and Ally finding a happily-ever-after, I was really hoping that Ally and her dad would find each other again. This was truly a heartwarming book and I recommend it.
This is my first book by this author. It definitely won't be my last. I'll be looking out for more in the Cape Hope series.
This is my honest and unbiased review. Thank you for taking the time to read it. :)
October 22, 2019
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf
CHRISTMAS WITH THE FIREFIGHTER is an emotional opening story to the Cape Hope series, and I’ll definitely be following this series. Yet, in order to give a frank review without major spoilers, I do need to say that Ally triggered one of my annoyance reactions quite strongly and that shaded how I saw her throughout this story, It’s in the Cover Description so it’s not a spoiler but I will immediately react to someone who is lying throughout falling in love with not only Luke but with Stella as well. I “got” Ally’s reasons, in her mind at least, but it went on for far too long for me to overlook it as “necessary”. And, again, I understand why it was taking her so long to confess to Luke. For some people, like me, this fact will matter and have an impact on how Ally is seen. We all make choices, and this was a choice that could have cost Ally some very important people in her life, even if, at the time, she felt the lie was necessary. I may sound harsh, yet I despise being lied to, and yes, this is an emotional trigger for me.
Setting aside my reaction to Ally/Amy (yes, I can do that), CHRISTMAS WITH THE FIREFIGHTER brought me a story that is emotional, full of people I fell in love with (try not loving little Stella), a quirky small town that I can’t wait to explore in future stories, and a man who has loved hard and lost through no one’s fault who is beginning to fall for another woman after his wife’s death in childbirth. I enjoyed Luke and Stella so much – and even though Ally was not my favorite person her interactions with Stella won a smile or two from me along the way. This is a story that touched me, got reactions from me in far different ways, and that I enjoyed enough to want to go back for more stories in this series. And in the end – isn’t that what a good story is supposed to do? Get a reaction? You’ll have to make up your own mind about Ally but I enjoyed this story, even with my dislike of lies.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Tule Publishing. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
CHRISTMAS WITH THE FIREFIGHTER is an emotional opening story to the Cape Hope series, and I’ll definitely be following this series. Yet, in order to give a frank review without major spoilers, I do need to say that Ally triggered one of my annoyance reactions quite strongly and that shaded how I saw her throughout this story, It’s in the Cover Description so it’s not a spoiler but I will immediately react to someone who is lying throughout falling in love with not only Luke but with Stella as well. I “got” Ally’s reasons, in her mind at least, but it went on for far too long for me to overlook it as “necessary”. And, again, I understand why it was taking her so long to confess to Luke. For some people, like me, this fact will matter and have an impact on how Ally is seen. We all make choices, and this was a choice that could have cost Ally some very important people in her life, even if, at the time, she felt the lie was necessary. I may sound harsh, yet I despise being lied to, and yes, this is an emotional trigger for me.
Setting aside my reaction to Ally/Amy (yes, I can do that), CHRISTMAS WITH THE FIREFIGHTER brought me a story that is emotional, full of people I fell in love with (try not loving little Stella), a quirky small town that I can’t wait to explore in future stories, and a man who has loved hard and lost through no one’s fault who is beginning to fall for another woman after his wife’s death in childbirth. I enjoyed Luke and Stella so much – and even though Ally was not my favorite person her interactions with Stella won a smile or two from me along the way. This is a story that touched me, got reactions from me in far different ways, and that I enjoyed enough to want to go back for more stories in this series. And in the end – isn’t that what a good story is supposed to do? Get a reaction? You’ll have to make up your own mind about Ally but I enjoyed this story, even with my dislike of lies.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Tule Publishing. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
October 18, 2019
First, I just have to address the title of this book. Once, maybe twice, it is mentioned in passing that the hero of this story, Luke, is a volunteer firefighter. It does not, in any way, play into this story. I get that the title of many books isn’t going to straight out tell the reader what it’s about. But I can’t help but be annoyed when the title straight out tells me the story is about Christmas with a firefighter and it’s really not.
That being said, there are a lot of good things about this story. Luke and his daughter, Stella, are amazing. Kind, smart, helpful, and flawed like any human being. Ally is likable in a many ways; she’s wonderful with kids, is kind to everyone even when she’s hurting, and she has an inner strength that has gotten her pretty far in life. Unfortunately, those things didn’t override the problems I had with her character.
I realized I have quite a problem with the “innocent lie that goes on too long” trope. (I don’t know what else to call it, so there ya go.) The lie Ally tells, the reasons she has for telling the lie, make an odd sort of sense at the beginning. Yet I found myself getting very frustrated the longer she kept the truth to herself. The length of the lie is what didn’t make sense to me, not the lie itself. Even with her internal justifications, I still didn’t get it at all.
It may sound like I didn’t like this story. The thing is, I did. It took me a bit longer than it should have for me to get through this one because of my issues. But there is a nice chemistry between Ally and Luke, and Ally and Stella. So I feel I’ll give this author another chance. Like I said, there is a very specific plot point that made this a harder book for me to get into. I’m going to assume the author doesn’t use this point in all of her prose.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
That being said, there are a lot of good things about this story. Luke and his daughter, Stella, are amazing. Kind, smart, helpful, and flawed like any human being. Ally is likable in a many ways; she’s wonderful with kids, is kind to everyone even when she’s hurting, and she has an inner strength that has gotten her pretty far in life. Unfortunately, those things didn’t override the problems I had with her character.
I realized I have quite a problem with the “innocent lie that goes on too long” trope. (I don’t know what else to call it, so there ya go.) The lie Ally tells, the reasons she has for telling the lie, make an odd sort of sense at the beginning. Yet I found myself getting very frustrated the longer she kept the truth to herself. The length of the lie is what didn’t make sense to me, not the lie itself. Even with her internal justifications, I still didn’t get it at all.
It may sound like I didn’t like this story. The thing is, I did. It took me a bit longer than it should have for me to get through this one because of my issues. But there is a nice chemistry between Ally and Luke, and Ally and Stella. So I feel I’ll give this author another chance. Like I said, there is a very specific plot point that made this a harder book for me to get into. I’m going to assume the author doesn’t use this point in all of her prose.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
October 13, 2019
This is a beautifully written romance, a story of finding love when you least expect it, Luke Miller is a single dad to his six year old daughter Stella and Ally Munroe is trying to find her dad who left her years before, fate brings them together in the seaside town of Cape Hope but true love doesn’t always run smoothly.
It has been twenty years since Ally last saw her father and with the passing of her mother and with Christmas just around the corner, Ally feels it is time to see if she can find him and work out why he left, an envelope that she discovers gives her a town to start looking in, Cape Hope, but Ally never thinks that this search will open up a whole new world for her and give her the family that she has always longed for when she meets the handsome Luke and his adorable daughter Stella.
Luke lost his wife in childbirth six years ago and it has just been him and Stella since, he puts everything he has into loving and caring for her, but a chance meeting with a beautiful tourist has him re-thinking his life and when Stella makes friends with Ally as well, and the pull between heats up then maybe a future together could happen, that is until he discovers that Ally hasn’t been completely honest with him.
This is a moving and emotional story, Luke is such a wonderful hero and deserves to find love again and Ally had been hurt so badly with her father leaving that she didn’t ever think that she would be loved, that is until Luke and Stella, the fun they had cooking and talking was so heart-warming, Stella is such a beautiful child and such a big part of the story and of course Christmas and cold weather and little snow and this one is a winner, a must read, and the first in a series, thank you MS Connelly I loved this one.
It has been twenty years since Ally last saw her father and with the passing of her mother and with Christmas just around the corner, Ally feels it is time to see if she can find him and work out why he left, an envelope that she discovers gives her a town to start looking in, Cape Hope, but Ally never thinks that this search will open up a whole new world for her and give her the family that she has always longed for when she meets the handsome Luke and his adorable daughter Stella.
Luke lost his wife in childbirth six years ago and it has just been him and Stella since, he puts everything he has into loving and caring for her, but a chance meeting with a beautiful tourist has him re-thinking his life and when Stella makes friends with Ally as well, and the pull between heats up then maybe a future together could happen, that is until he discovers that Ally hasn’t been completely honest with him.
This is a moving and emotional story, Luke is such a wonderful hero and deserves to find love again and Ally had been hurt so badly with her father leaving that she didn’t ever think that she would be loved, that is until Luke and Stella, the fun they had cooking and talking was so heart-warming, Stella is such a beautiful child and such a big part of the story and of course Christmas and cold weather and little snow and this one is a winner, a must read, and the first in a series, thank you MS Connelly I loved this one.
October 21, 2019
Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review
Against the backdrop of a small town setting, “Christmas with the Firefighter”, by Clare Connelly (Tule Publishing), is an engaging story, with lovely characters, about second chances and forgiveness.
The couple’s instant attraction is balanced by fears and wariness both feel for different reasons and the romance is much more interesting because of these inner barriers each of them keep putting up. The relationship grows steadily under a little girl’s eyes and protective family members’ attention
Ally’s search for her father is a compelling dimension of the story, and I was as absorbed by it as by the romance.
Luke’s a widower who’s closed himself to love, but slowly he begins to open up and relearns how to love again. His ineptitude cooking is fun to watch and I enjoyed the cooking lessons and Stella’s justified aversion to her dad’s cooking.
Cape Hope’s small town loveliness seems enhanced as readers watch Ally, a big city woman, surrender to its charm and appeal.
Great secondary characters complement this well-written story.
Against the backdrop of a small town setting, “Christmas with the Firefighter”, by Clare Connelly (Tule Publishing), is an engaging story, with lovely characters, about second chances and forgiveness.
The couple’s instant attraction is balanced by fears and wariness both feel for different reasons and the romance is much more interesting because of these inner barriers each of them keep putting up. The relationship grows steadily under a little girl’s eyes and protective family members’ attention
Ally’s search for her father is a compelling dimension of the story, and I was as absorbed by it as by the romance.
Luke’s a widower who’s closed himself to love, but slowly he begins to open up and relearns how to love again. His ineptitude cooking is fun to watch and I enjoyed the cooking lessons and Stella’s justified aversion to her dad’s cooking.
Cape Hope’s small town loveliness seems enhanced as readers watch Ally, a big city woman, surrender to its charm and appeal.
Great secondary characters complement this well-written story.
October 20, 2019
A sweet heart warming romance. I found the story to be just an okay read and was let down with the storyline. It's an instant kind of connection/love that seemed more one sided when Ally doesn't come clean about her lies as soon as she starts the relationship with Luke and his daughter. Especially when he reveals his personal feelings and thoughts. I understand she has trust and abandonment issues. At times I felt she was wishy washy. The title also doesn't fit the story. It had nothing to do with his job as a firefighter. The story didn't really work for me but I'm sure others will love it. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from Tule Publishing.
October 13, 2020
I have read dozens of Clare’s books and absolutely loved them, so I feel really terrible that I didn’t like this story.
I also thought the title was misleading. The hero is a volunteer firefighter but that aspect plays no part in the plot. Also, the ‘Christmas with the firefighter, ’ happens on almost the last page!
Luke (the single Dad) and daughter Stella encounter Ally who is searching for her father who abandoned her 20 years earlier. She gives a false name and that of course becomes the thing that breaks her and Luke up as, once he finds out, he believes he cannot trust her.
Her lying about who she was made no sense to me. She was searching for her Dad. The reasons she gave for hiding her true identity just made no sense to me. The fact she continued to lie to Luke about it made even less sense. I didn’t blame him for kicking her to the kerb.
I thought his grovelling at the end about how he was at fault was totally overdone and undeserved. She lied. She continued to lie when there was no reason to do so - and after he had exposed himself to her.
As for her treatment of her father, I thought it was utterly over the top and unforgiving. She blamed him for everything, didn’t blame the mother for lying to her and she refused to try and understand what he had been trying to do.
Again it was the father who had to grovel before she decided she would try to build a relationship with him. I really disliked her intensely about the way she dealt with her Dad. He’d made a mistake but with the best of motives and he had tried to reconnect but been knocked back by the mother.
I have to say though that this does show what a brilliant writer Clare is In that she created such a believable character in Ally. One whom I could dislike! 😊
This was what I believe is called a ‘sweet’ romance since all action behind the bedroom door was left to the imagination. Clare can write incredibly steamy and romantic sex scenes and I missed that here. I think there will be an audience for this kind of cosy, small town America story, but I’m afraid I’m not one of them.
Nonetheless, this is a well written story which I am sure will please a particular market.
I also thought the title was misleading. The hero is a volunteer firefighter but that aspect plays no part in the plot. Also, the ‘Christmas with the firefighter, ’ happens on almost the last page!
Luke (the single Dad) and daughter Stella encounter Ally who is searching for her father who abandoned her 20 years earlier. She gives a false name and that of course becomes the thing that breaks her and Luke up as, once he finds out, he believes he cannot trust her.
Her lying about who she was made no sense to me. She was searching for her Dad. The reasons she gave for hiding her true identity just made no sense to me. The fact she continued to lie to Luke about it made even less sense. I didn’t blame him for kicking her to the kerb.
I thought his grovelling at the end about how he was at fault was totally overdone and undeserved. She lied. She continued to lie when there was no reason to do so - and after he had exposed himself to her.
As for her treatment of her father, I thought it was utterly over the top and unforgiving. She blamed him for everything, didn’t blame the mother for lying to her and she refused to try and understand what he had been trying to do.
Again it was the father who had to grovel before she decided she would try to build a relationship with him. I really disliked her intensely about the way she dealt with her Dad. He’d made a mistake but with the best of motives and he had tried to reconnect but been knocked back by the mother.
I have to say though that this does show what a brilliant writer Clare is In that she created such a believable character in Ally. One whom I could dislike! 😊
This was what I believe is called a ‘sweet’ romance since all action behind the bedroom door was left to the imagination. Clare can write incredibly steamy and romantic sex scenes and I missed that here. I think there will be an audience for this kind of cosy, small town America story, but I’m afraid I’m not one of them.
Nonetheless, this is a well written story which I am sure will please a particular market.
July 31, 2022
I've mentioned before that I was going to be doing something a little different with the rest of the year's reading challenge. I decided to each month read a new author. So this is the first one of my new reading challenges. Happily, it's also a Christmas story so that ties into Christmas in July.
As many of you know I'm a lover of both small towns and Christmas. Put the two together and I'm in heaven. Add a single dad and you've made my day. There is so much I really loved about this book. The sweet humor and the well-written story will draw you in and keep you there until you finish the story.
I really enjoyed Luke and his daughter Stella. She's a sweet kid and you'll enjoy the relationship between father and daughter. Some of the best parts of the story are between them. You totally understand how Luke feels about opening his heart again for love. It's just not him.
Most of the time I really liked Ally. She did do a few things that got on my nerves but I'm not going to really mention them here because they might not bother you so when let you go into a book thinking bad thoughts She's not a horrible person at all. She's just...
As a whole, I really enjoyed this story and I'm so glad I got a chance to read it. I loved the characters in the book and want more. I know there is another book in the series so you know what I'll be reading this Christmas season.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
November 18, 2022
Great story!
Luke lost his wife at child birth. Stella was now six. His life was only for his daughter. Ally lost her Mom and came across an envelope with her fathers address from two years prior. So now she was going to confront her father. Arriving in Cape Hope she met Stella and Luke and something just came alive in her. Her cabin needed a ceiling repair and the one who showed was Luke. They had a magnetism. She found her father in the town over. She needed to confront him, she needed to tell Luke who she really was and not Amy, her lie. Things twist a-little and things were said. Read and find out what happens.
Luke lost his wife at child birth. Stella was now six. His life was only for his daughter. Ally lost her Mom and came across an envelope with her fathers address from two years prior. So now she was going to confront her father. Arriving in Cape Hope she met Stella and Luke and something just came alive in her. Her cabin needed a ceiling repair and the one who showed was Luke. They had a magnetism. She found her father in the town over. She needed to confront him, she needed to tell Luke who she really was and not Amy, her lie. Things twist a-little and things were said. Read and find out what happens.
December 16, 2023
3.5 actual stars. What do you get when you combine a single dad who is a widower, a six-year-old adorable girl, and a broken woman looking for resolution? You get a sweet story with a HEA, of course. This isn’t your typical second chance story, although both Ally and Luke are getting a second chance. The setting is a quaint small town in NC and Ally is hoping she’ll find her own brand of hope in this town. Christmas with the Single Dad, formerly Christmas with the Firefighter, is a clean, sweet story with just enough drama to keep things interesting. Although I have to say Ally annoyed me a bit with her waffling back and forth. You’ll know what I mean when you read the story!
Read
November 12, 2022I enjoyed this story as a quick read, and found all but one of the main characters convincing - ex-marine Luke, his young daughter Stella, his in-laws, even Jack Monroe. The exception was the heroine, Ally Monroe/Amy James, whose interactions with the hero until near the end of the book were based on a lie.
As a random reason to like this book - I'm temporarily living in Sydney at present, and my grandsons are friendly with a rather sassy but kind and helpful American boy whose family originate in North Carolina, so books set in this part of the USA currently appeal to me.
As a random reason to like this book - I'm temporarily living in Sydney at present, and my grandsons are friendly with a rather sassy but kind and helpful American boy whose family originate in North Carolina, so books set in this part of the USA currently appeal to me.
December 15, 2022
Ally comes to Cape Hope looking for her dad that left her 20 years ago never expecting to be welcomed into the community and befrinding a widower and his daughter. I enjoyed this book a lot, I wasn't a fan of Ally basically lying to everyone about her identity nor did I understand why she kept it up after she realized her father wasn't even in that town, but then I guess a large part of the plot would have disappeared. That said, I did enjoy this book and the characters. It was a sweet and emotional holiday story.
November 2, 2020
No firefighter to be found.
While the story here deals somewhat well with abandonment it doesn't deliver on the title. If your expecting a story about a firefighter single dad dealing with balancing a challenging job and bringing up a six year old daughter then you'll be disappointed. There are but two references to the main character being a firefighter period. Fighting a fire would have been a nice addition to the story. Nice story otherwise.
While the story here deals somewhat well with abandonment it doesn't deliver on the title. If your expecting a story about a firefighter single dad dealing with balancing a challenging job and bringing up a six year old daughter then you'll be disappointed. There are but two references to the main character being a firefighter period. Fighting a fire would have been a nice addition to the story. Nice story otherwise.
November 9, 2022
Moving
Mostly I liked this book. I am partial to books with children, and Stella is a delightful one. But this is a highly emotional story, and I found some of Ally's emotions troubling.
There was parallelism between some of Ally's and Luke's reactions (to very different things) but I suspect it was unconscious because the author never used it. The very weak ending would have been far stronger if the author had used the similarities to help Ally grow.
Mostly I liked this book. I am partial to books with children, and Stella is a delightful one. But this is a highly emotional story, and I found some of Ally's emotions troubling.
There was parallelism between some of Ally's and Luke's reactions (to very different things) but I suspect it was unconscious because the author never used it. The very weak ending would have been far stronger if the author had used the similarities to help Ally grow.
November 9, 2022
Charming Romance about 2nd chances
Luke is a widower who has a daughter named Stella. They were in their own little world not letting love change either of them. Not until they met Ally. She has trust and love issue dued to her dad leaving her and her mother when she was 6 years old.
Their relationship was based on a lie. I love that can lead to a second chance for everyone. Highly recommended.
bookwormsuzy
Luke is a widower who has a daughter named Stella. They were in their own little world not letting love change either of them. Not until they met Ally. She has trust and love issue dued to her dad leaving her and her mother when she was 6 years old.
Their relationship was based on a lie. I love that can lead to a second chance for everyone. Highly recommended.
bookwormsuzy
November 9, 2022
Heartwarming.
Ally’s sadness and sense of abandonment really came through. So many sides to the story of her parents separation and as always the child suffers.
Luke and Stella have made themselves a life together since the tragedy that took her mother. The three meet and kismet plays a role in entangling them into each others lives.
Ally’s sadness and sense of abandonment really came through. So many sides to the story of her parents separation and as always the child suffers.
Luke and Stella have made themselves a life together since the tragedy that took her mother. The three meet and kismet plays a role in entangling them into each others lives.
November 15, 2022
Great
Luke and Ally aka Amy.
She didn't use her real name. She was looking for her dad. She wanted answers, then she would go back home.
In the meantime, she met Luke and his six year old daughter, Stella. They connected.
I loved the characters, plot and storyline.
She lied. Could things be fixed between them?
Read it
Luke and Ally aka Amy.
She didn't use her real name. She was looking for her dad. She wanted answers, then she would go back home.
In the meantime, she met Luke and his six year old daughter, Stella. They connected.
I loved the characters, plot and storyline.
She lied. Could things be fixed between them?
Read it
November 9, 2022
Communications!
Single Dads, it is hard to know how to deal with your life. Everyone is not against you, they just want you to know they care.🙂 Allowing your separated parent to know you care. Great story of both of these loves!
Single Dads, it is hard to know how to deal with your life. Everyone is not against you, they just want you to know they care.🙂 Allowing your separated parent to know you care. Great story of both of these loves!
November 15, 2022
TELLING LIES CAN BE LIKE AN AVALANCHE YOU CAN'T OUTRUN, IT CAN AND WILL BURY YOU. ALLY HAS GOTTEN HERSELF INTO A WHOLE LOT OF TROUBLE BECAUSE OF LIES. THIS REMINDED ME HOW AS A CHILD YOU THINK PARENTS DO NO WRONG, WE FORGET THEY'RE HUMAN AND THEY DO MAKE MISTAKES. ;D
December 17, 2022
A poignant short story
Heartwarming and poignant. Healing a twenty year heartbreak and rift between father and daughter is the initial story line, but the romance is so special that readers can’t help falling for this couple.
Heartwarming and poignant. Healing a twenty year heartbreak and rift between father and daughter is the initial story line, but the romance is so special that readers can’t help falling for this couple.
October 14, 2021
A story that will hold your attention all the way through
December 25, 2021
A sweet story of love, forgiveness and healing.
June 14, 2022
I didn't like the book right away. But about halfway through, the story pulled me in so much that I couldn't tear myself away from reading. So it's safe to say that I really liked the book.
November 7, 2022
A friendly and clean book.
November 27, 2022
A unique plot with serious undertones but well written. Nice HEA!
December 21, 2022
Hallmark Story
This story was sweet and the ending brought tears to my eyes.
However...it is slow moving and "clean". At least 1 steamy scene would have been welcomed.
This story was sweet and the ending brought tears to my eyes.
However...it is slow moving and "clean". At least 1 steamy scene would have been welcomed.
January 11, 2023
Hope at Cape Hope
The flow of this story was uneven. I never .got invested in their lives. In life I would have just kept walking. No interest how they continued on life’s journey.
The flow of this story was uneven. I never .got invested in their lives. In life I would have just kept walking. No interest how they continued on life’s journey.
February 15, 2023
holiday happiness
What a heartwarming story! Perfect holiday read. Loved the story and all the characters. Highly recommend. You won’t be disappointed.
What a heartwarming story! Perfect holiday read. Loved the story and all the characters. Highly recommend. You won’t be disappointed.
March 13, 2023
Sweet read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews