Wonderful

No one writes second chance, small town romance like Lili Valente. The writing makes you feel like you’re living the story right along with the characters.
Jake and Naomi have come along way since their childhood romance, both of them have found love and suffered losses but maybe fate has decided it’s time to bring them back together. When Naomi decided to move back home she knew she would have to face Jake and the past that she left behind, but she wasn’t expecting the feelings she once had for him to come back so strong. Can these two set the past behind them and find love again? Of course they can, it wouldn’t be a Lili Valente romance without a HEA.

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Steamy second chance romance

Fired Up is a fantastic small town, second chance romance. Naomi and Jake were high school sweethearts until Naomi left Jake with a Dear John letter. Fifteen years later, she returns to Bliss River and she’s determined to win Jake back by winning an auction for four dates. Jake has never forgotten Naomi and it took him years to move on, but can he forgive her and open himself up to a future with the woman who destroyed his heart?

Both Jake and Naomi had encountered some tragedy in their lives without each other which made them aware of the fragileness of life and love. Naomi had made a mistake when she had left town without talking to Jake and it was one of her biggest regrets. I loved watching these two reconnect and grow from their past.

I love, love, love Lili Valente's narration in any book and she once again knocks it out of the park. Teddy Hamilton brings Jake to life and does a good job of bringing Jake's pain at being left behind to life.

This was a charming story full of heat, heart, forgiveness and learning from past mistakes. I was so happy to revisit Bliss River and all its delightful characters. I can’t wait for my next visit!

2 people found this helpful

A beautiful second chanct at love!

As high school sweethearts, Jake and Naomi were inseparable in their small town. But Naomi fears she could lose her chance at success if she limited herself by staying local. She makes the tough decision to head to the big city where she eventually makes a highly successful life for herself. Left in the wake of her decision was Jake—the recipient of Naomi’s Dear John letter. Jake was devastated, but he moved on without Naomi, and had his own professional success as the town’s youngest fire chief.

Having a popular cooking and lifestyle show, Naomi has all the success and money to last a few lifetimes, but at this stage, it isn’t enough. So, she quits her job and moves back home to her family and friends. She also wants a second chance with Jake, but he’s having none of it. Naomi plans to bid on Jake at a fundraising auction and wins 4 weekly dates with the handsome fire chief. She hopes that will be enough time to Jake to thaw to her, and see that they deserve another shot at love. What Naomi didn’t know was that Jake has his own baggage that keeps him from moving forward. As the dates proceed, Jake and Naomi get to know each other all over again, and slowly they come to see the other as not the same person they were as teenagers.

Jake and Naomi have a beautiful second chance story…eventually. I loved how they came to see each other as flawed, but still wonderful adults. It was almost like they needed the time apart to keep them from being stuck as the teenagers in love they used to be. They both experienced life, and came back with a bigger appreciation for one another, and the love they still had, but matured in the years they were apart.

I’m a city mouse, and don’t see that changing anytime soon, but I want to visit all the small towns that Lili Valente has created in her books.

The audiobook was wonderful with Lili and Teddy Hamilton narrating.

1 person found this helpful

Enjoyed the story

I liked the story about Naomi and Jake. It was a nice easy simple story. I enjoyed listening to the story while I was at work. I visualize like a movie so always wonderful when the story comes alive from the first page until the end. Bonus that Teddy and Lili co-narrated the story. I liked to see the inter connected characters from the other series.

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Small Town Second Chance Romance at its best.

I love Lili Valente's small town romances. They always make me feel as if I am a part of them; always make me feel as if I am just catching up with new and old friends.

All Fired Up, is the first book in the Hometown Heat Series, that brings us back to Bliss River. Naomi and Jake were high school sweetheart - each other's first love, so when Naomi leaves Bliss River to follow her dreams, she leaves Jake broken hearted. FIFTEEN YEARS later....Naomi has accomplished more she ever dreamed of, but when tragedy strikes, Naomi finds herself back home; back in the presence of the one man who can't seem to forgive her. Jake had reservations about Naomi. He still harbored feelings of resentment and hurt, but as he is forced to spend some time with her, those feelings being to disappear and old feelings resurface.

I enjoyed this book so much. In the time they were apart, Jake and Naomi both suffered traumatic loss which is something that changed them in a way that was relatable. I honestly feel they needed that time apart in order to grow as individuals. Naomi needed to explore her dreams and staying in a small town wasn't going to give her the same opportunities. Their time apart helped Naomi and are grow into the person they were supposed to be.

All Fired up was a sweet second chance romance with a lot of steam. The chemistry between Naomi and Jake was stronger than it had ever been. I love that we got to catch up with the March sisters while getting to know the Whitehouse siblings.

I both read the e-book and listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Lili Valente and Teddy Hamilton, who both did a fantastic job bringing Naomi and Jake to life. Lili does such an amazing job narrating her own characters. She does so in such a way that makes you feel like you are really listening to a character and not Lili. She gives each of her characters their own voice and their own personalities and I love it. Teddy Hamilton can narrate the dictionary and he will do so in a way that will give each word heir own individuality. The two of them couldn't have bene more perfect as Naomi and Jake.

I am so happy Lili brought us back to Bliss River. I cannot wait for Faith's story.

1 person found this helpful

Great series beginning

Firefighters. Lots of them in an auction for four dates! Is there a better way to start a book than this? Oh of course there is, when they walk the stage without shirt, in the best Magic Mike style. Sigh. They were so real in my mind! Lili knocked down the park with this book and I’m so excited to read the other two to come!

This slow burn and yet fast paced, small town story totally stole my heart! I swooned hard over the ending, Naomi and Jake were perfect for each other and took the second love romance to another level! I had the opportunity to also listen to the audiobook and Lili was also the perfect voice for Naomi, I had so much fun with this. The Whitehorse siblings, Naomi, Maddie and Mick have a great dynamics and I can’t wait to read their stories too!

1 person found this helpful

Great second-chance, small-town romance

All Fired Up is a thoroughly enjoyable and all-around wonderful small town, second chance romance.

Lili Valente always crafts stories with heart and heat, and she gives us characters that we really get to know and root for. Jake and Naomi were high school sweethearts, and Naomi broke Jake's heart when she left town a decade ago. Now that she's back in town, he does everything he can to deny the old feelings that resurfaced. Naomi left because she was looking for "more" way back when, but now that she's had some experience, she understands that the more she was looking for doesn't mean that much if she doesn't have the man she truly loves. Both characters are hurting, and I love that their rekindled relationship gives them what they need to move past their hurts and find some happiness.

The audio, narrated by Lili Valente and Teddy Hamilton, is an emotional listen with some humor and tons of heart. Teddy really expresses how Jake is torn between wanting to be happy and wanting to keep Naomi at arm's length. Lili, as the writer and the narrator, really expresses the emotional turmoil and growth that Naomi experiences. They bring such heart and passion to the words.

Plus we get some cameos by characters from Lili's Bliss River series. It's always great to reunite with characters that seem like old friends.

Note: this is a reboot of the Hometown Heroes series.

1 person found this helpful

Jake and Naomi

High school sweethearts Jake and Naomi met again 15 years later and they still kind of act like high schoolers. I didn't hate this story, but I didn't love it either. It was charming but these character are in their 30's, they have both been through some pretty tragic things in life but still act like teenagers. Teddy Hamilton is always fantastic, I enjoyed listening to him.

It was cute and ok.

I don’t get why the ending was so rushed; he also got so mad and this deep dark secret wasn’t even a big deal. He also is so mad and then just bam forgives her. Seemed rushed and could have been a better “problem” in my opinion. She is a great narrator though, I’ll give her that.

All Fired Up 🤎

Lili Valente never disappoints with a story that has all the feels and so much more 💖