Moving Forward (Woodland Park Firefighters #2) by Shelley Shepard Gray
Publication Date: August 22nd 2023 by Berkley
Pages: 304
Source: Publisher
Rating: ★★★★
Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
My
Thoughts:
Greg, a former Army Captain and now firefighter, hasn’t felt
a serious attraction for someone until he encounters a feisty woman while
putting out the fire at her garden center. He can’t help but check in on her while
she’s at the hospital, and it seems their attraction is mutual.
Kristen knows she is better to be safe and get checked out after the fire but resists as she’s tired of doctors and hospital visits. When Greg shows up at her hospital room and declares an interest, Kristen is hesitant to take a risk even if he is gorgeous and sweet. Her last relationship ended after her fiancé found out the extent of her health issues and she’s not keen on another rejection. However, Greg isn’t easily discouraged.
Greg has his own struggles dealing with PTSD and doesn’t want
to reveal just how bad it can be for him. Both Kristen and Greg had reasons
they didn’t feel good enough, and Kristen was skittish on top of that because
of her failed engagement, but their attraction made it impossible to stay just
friends. Their romance was a gradual, sweet and touching!
There’s also a secondary romance between Jen, Kristen’s employee
at her garden center, a recent high school graduate, and Ryan one of the more
popular kids in high school. Jen had a crush on Ryan while in school but figured
he never noticed her since they moved in very different social circles. Jen had
also been dealing with the death of her father and her mother’s depression.
Despite some of the issues the characters face, this was an
easy-going, small-town romance that’ll warm your heart! I love how both couples
were supportive and accepting of each other! I loved the close-knit community of
Woodland Park! They were ready to offer a helping hand, a listening ear, or
some sage advice.
Moving Forward was the second in the Woodland Park
Firefighters series but can be read as a standalone.
4 Stars
Book Description:
Romance blossoms in the Colorado foothills in this sweet romance by New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray
Former Army captain Greg Tebo loves his new life in Woodland Park. In the two years since he joined the WPFD, he’s gained a reputation as a fearless firefighter, and after being stationed all around the country and overseas, he can’t wait to settle down with a wife and kids.
When a call comes in about a possible heart attack at the scene of a fire at the Garden Center, Greg assumes they’re going to be helping an elderly customer—not the beautiful, feisty proprietor in her late twenties. Kristen Werner has been determined to pretend everything is fine. She refuses to leave the company she’s carefully nurtured and move home to her loving but meddling family in Houston. Since her devastating diagnosis caused her fiancé to dump her, she’s given up on love and thrown herself into cultivating her blooming business instead—even if the hard work further weakens her heart.
Greg is drawn to Kristen’s vibrant, independent spirit and hopes romance will flower. But she’s had enough trouble with her heart to last a lifetime, and can’t trust Greg not to break it—especially if he finds out she can never give him the houseful of children he longs for....
This one sounds like a heartfelt and charming small-town romance, filled with relatable struggles and genuine connections. The characters' journeys and the close-knit community of Woodland Park seem to create a warm and uplifting story!
ReplyDeleteIt was! I've enjoyed this author's Amish romances as well!
DeleteSounds like there are some very real life problems being touched on in this one. I like that since it makes it more relatable.
ReplyDeleteYes, the problems the characters faced did feel true to life and very relatable.
DeleteI like that things are balanced between them when it comes to difficulties so they approach the romance on even ground. Sounds like a cute secondary romance.
ReplyDeleteYes! I really enjoyed both romances and the characters journeys!
DeleteThe cover alone makes me want to read this book! Thanks for mentioning it's fine as a standalone.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it a pretty cover? I love the cover of the first book too!
DeleteI think I'd enjoy this one.
ReplyDeleteI think you would too, Kimberly!
DeleteI love the sound of this one! I have to go put this one on hold. :D
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of these characters and their spirit in spite of difficulties.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart
A good book for the summer. A sweet romance!
ReplyDeleteSmall town romances are always great, and this one sounds very sweet though the couple has some obstacles to overcome
ReplyDeleteI enjoy a good small town romance and like that both characters go through some growth and changes. Nice review Rachel.
ReplyDeleteI have seen this author around but have never looked too closely at any of her books. This sounds like something that I would enjoy so I might have to check out more of her work.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it. This is waiting on my Kobo, I just haven't had a chance to read it yet. I'm falling woefully behind on my Netgalley list here. I loved Coming Home, the first book in the series.
ReplyDeleteAt first glance, I was thinking that this was probably too sweet for my taste, but reading your review is making me rethink that. I love the way you describe the main characters, each with their own issues and feeling less than. I just put the audio version on hold at my library. :)
ReplyDeleteI think I could enjoy this one
ReplyDelete