Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Ignite" by Melanie Harlow

Today, I'm very excited to participate in the blog tour celebrating "Ignite" by Melanie Harlow, book #6 of the Cloverleigh Farms series. Characters from previous books make appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone. Also, it's the first book to focus on second generation characters (children of the couples from earlier books in the series), so it's a great place for new readers to jump in.

Winnie MacAllister has always had a tendency to fall in love quickly, a problem because she's allowed her feelings to blind her to red flags in past relationships. She's taken a break from dating ever since her last relationship ended, and to hold herself accountable, she made a bet with her best friend Ellie that she can go six months without falling in love. Temptation comes in the form of her smoking hot new neighbor, divorced single dad and firefighter Dex Matthews. Neither of them is interested in a serious relationship, but the sparks fly between them immediately, and it's not long before they fall into a friends with benefits arrangement. Winnie tells herself that she can keep things with Dex casual, but her heart says otherwise, and she can't help falling in love with both him and his young daughters. Dex, however, is convinced that he's too old for Winnie, so when she's offered her dream job in another state, he encourages her to take it. Can Winnie persuade Dex to take a chance on love?

 

Winnie was very mature for her age; if it hadn't been mentioned so often that she was only 22, I would have guessed that she was at least five years older than that. She and Dex worked well together despite the 12-year age difference, and I empathized with both of them because of the hurts they were dealing with as a result of past relationships. I also loved the sweet relationship Winnie developed with Dex's daughters, Hallie and Luna, and the role the girls played in bringing them together. Hallie and Luna were so adorable and had such unique personalities. I couldn't help laughing at their tendency to overshare, which created a number of awkward moments for Dex. Even though parenting was sometimes frustrating for him (I'm sure all parents can sympathize!), I could tell how much Dex loved his daughters, and they adored him in return.

Overall, I loved this funny, sweet, and heartwarming story and highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to the next book in the series. (I'm not-so-secretly hoping that Winnie's best friend Ellie and her childhood nemesis Gianni Lupo will be the next couple. There were some fantastic enemies-to-lovers vibes between them!) 

 

*Review copy provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

About "Ignite"

Ignite, an all-new smoking hot, single dad romantic comedy from USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author Melanie Harlow, is available now!

My new neighbor is a firefighter—and a scorching hot single dad—but I swear I didn’t set off that smoke alarm on purpose.

(And I was beyond mortified when he rushed in and saw me naked.)

Nothing happened, of course—because I, Winnie MacAllister, romance junkie and owner of a constantly broken heart, have sworn off men for one solid year.

Even protective men with chiseled jaws, bulging biceps, and deep brown eyes that make my breath come faster. Even former SEALs with broad chests and strong hands that make my skin sizzle. Even gorgeous, grumpy guys who have their hands full raising two adorable little girls and claim they don’t believe in love.

Until Dex kisses me one night, and I drop all my defenses.

(Also my underwear.)

He says he’s not gentle, and he’s right. He says I should take the dream job I’m offered in another state, and he’s right. He says he’s too old for me and could never be the man I deserve.

He’s wrong.

Dex and I might be twelve years apart, but the fire between us is the kind that will never burn out.

How can I convince him to give happily-ever-after with me a chance? 

 

 

Read an Excerpt from "Ignite"

She looked a little nervous, not that I blamed her, as she held out a small pink box of Band-Aids. “I had these lying around and thought Luna might want them for her knee. Band-Aids sometimes come off in the shower, so...”

I reached out and took them from her, noticing she was careful not to let our fingers touch this time. “Thanks.”

“That’s it—I just wanted to—um, okay, have a good night.” She turned to leave, and I probably should have let her.

“Wait a second.”

She faced me again, her expression still wary.

“I’m sorry about that.” I gestured over my shoulder with the pink box. “My ex-wife—the girls’ mom—knows how to get a rise out of me.”

“Oh, that’s okay. It’s none of my business, and I didn’t really hear anything.” It was obvious she’d heard everything.

I nodded slowly. “Well, thanks for the Band-Aids. Luna will appreciate it.”

Her smile was back, along with that stutter in my chest. “Good. Enjoy your night.”

“You too.”

She turned around and went down the steps, cutting across the lawn to her place with that same youthful bounce in her step. Glancing down at the box, I shook my head—of course she had a whole thing of pink princess Band-Aids. I shut the door and trudged up the stairs to get the kids cleaned up.

Hallie went first, after a brief attempt to get me to let her wear socks in the shower. As usual, I refused, explaining again that the entire house had been thoroughly cleaned before we moved in, and I’d been here yesterday to make sure of it.

While she was getting dressed, I made sure Luna washed her hair and used soap, then helped her get dried off. After hanging up their towels, I double-checked that they’d chosen appropriate clothing and was just about to get in my own shower when I heard a series of high-pitched beeps.

“What’s that?” Hallie said, scrunching up her face.

Instantly on high alert, I put my hand up. “Shh.” I heard it again, and recognized it as a smoke detector going off, but not in our house—we were hearing it through the walls. “Stay here.”

I raced out of their room and took the stairs down three at a time, jumping to the bottom with five to go. Barreling out my front door, I ran over to Winnie’s and knocked. The alarm was clearly coming from inside her unit, and when she didn’t answer the door, I made a split-second decision to bust in.

Fortunately, the door wasn’t locked.

I shouldered it open, relieved when I didn’t see or smell smoke right away. Winnie’s townhouse was laid out exactly like mine, and I immediately realized the detector going off was upstairs. Racing up the steps three at a time, I reached the master bedroom doorway just in time to see Winnie climbing onto a suitcase, one hand reaching toward the ceiling to disconnect the unit.

My jaw dropped.

She was totally naked and dripping wet.

One hand was clutching a small towel to her chest that didn’t fucking hide anything. Behind her, steam from her shower billowed from her bathroom, which must have been what set off the alarm—some detectors are that sensitive. Behind me, I heard clamoring on the stairs, and a second later both Hallie and Luna rushed into the bedroom.

Startled, Winnie looked over and saw us. Her eyes went wide as she screamed, lost her footing, and toppled backward off the suitcase. She landed hard on her ass, arms and legs flailing like a rag doll.

Averting my eyes, I strode over and disconnected the unit while she scrambled toward the bathroom on her hands and knees, presumably in search of a bigger towel.

But then she slammed the door . . . and didn’t come out.

The eighty-five decibel alarm had ceased, but the sirens in my head continued.

I looked at the girls. Luna had her hands over her mouth. Hallie’s eyes were wide, and she pointed to the bathroom door. “Winnie was naked,” she whispered. “We saw her bum.”

“Quiet,” I scolded angrily. “You two were supposed to stay at our house. You didn’t follow my orders.”

“But Daddy, we were scared,” Luna said. Her hair was still wet and tangled. “We came to find you.”

“We’ll talk about it later, but when I tell you to stay put, you stay put-especially in an emergency. Understand?”

They nodded.

“Now go back to our house, both of you.”

“But what about Winnie? Is she okay?”

I went over to the bathroom door and knocked, trying not to picture her naked. The shower wasn’t running anymore. “Winnie? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine!”

“Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine!” she repeated in the same false, bright tone. 

 

A tiny smile inched onto my lips. “Are you sure?” 

***