KEEP ME CLOSEby J. H. CroixIt was supposed to be simple. One night with no strings. I had just gotten the worst news of my life and wanted to forget everything.
A tall, dark and broody firefighter was perfect. Our night together was so hot, I forgot everything but the rules.
I never expected to get pregnant. It was supposed to be impossible.
All I knew was his name and the small town where I found him.
Chase & Hallie’s story is perfect for readers who love small town romance, sassy heroines, surprise/accidental pregnancy, slow burn, emotional romance with a dash of angst, oozing with swoon, and protective heroes who’ll do anything for the woman they love.
Hallie received some devastating news and, in an effort to step away from her real life and forget everything, she headed out of town and indulged in a one night stand. There was no denying the attraction and connection between she and Chase, but she was firm about the rules: no last names, no phone numbers, and the next morning they said goodbye. But that one night had some long-lasting consequences, namely an unplanned pregnancy. That meant returning to the small town of Willow Brook and finding Chase - and breaking the news that he was going to be a father.
Keep Me Close is the fifth entry in Croix's Light My Fire series, but it was easy to step into this world and appreciate Hallie and Chase's story as a stand-alone. There was an ease to their relationship, despite the circumstances they were dealing with, and although neither planned to be where they were at, they both acted like mature adults and talked things through. Chase stepped up immediately and made sure Hallie knew he wanted to be involved in every aspect. I loved the level of support he offered Hallie. He was dealing with his own issues, having recently learned of the half-siblings he'd never knew he had, but he was still present and supportive and wanted a future with Hallie.
While the story felt a bit repetitive at times - Hallie and Chase would have the same conversations over and over, as well as certain words/phrases being overused - Keep Me Close was a sweet and sexy romance that wasn't marred by an abundance of drama. I appreciated the lack of angst and melodrama and instead sat back and enjoyed this story of two people who came together with no expectations, but instead found their forever.
Note: I received a complimentary advance copy of this book for review. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
MEET J.H. CROIX
Croix writes steamy contemporary romance with sassy women and rugged alpha men who aren't afraid to show some emotion. Her love for quirky small-towns and the characters that inhabit them shines through in her writing.
