Book Review: In Firefly Valley by Amanda Cabot

She’s lost her dream job —

But has she found the man of her dreams?

If you read my reviews on a regular basis, you know I’m a big fan of Amanda Cabot’s books. While I prefer the historical romances, there are some authors I’ll follow to other genres.

In Firefly Valley is Book Two in Ms. Cabot’s Texas Crossroads series—contemporary romance. You’ll find my opinion of Book One, At Bluebonnet Lake here.

Marisa St. George is definitely a flawed heroine. Though she doesn’t throw temper tantrums, she suffers from deep-seated anger issues over her father’s alcoholism and abandonment, as well as past betrayals from other men. She goes so far as to dye her hair and wear colored contacts so she doesn’t resemble her father. In a nutshell, Marisa has a hard time trusting and forgiving.

Blake Kendall is an easygoing hero whose family dynamics turned him off of people who have anger issues they haven’t dealt with and that affect others. He’s also living a double life. While most know him as a successful financial manager, only a privileged few know him as Ken Blake, a best-selling novelist who comes to Rainbow’s End Resort suffering from writer’s block.

Though it tended to be love at first sight for each of them, Marisa’s and Blake’s problems provide the conflict between hero and heroine.

Marisa’s faith element is demonstrated by the following conversation with her mother.

God’s in the miracle business. Even if he doesn’t heal Gillian’s hand, he’ll bring her something good. He always does.”

It was the story Marisa had heard countless times over the years. When she’d been a child, she’d believed it, but like Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy, it had proven to be a myth. … “Sure thing, Mom. You’re living in a fantasy land. If God always brings good, tell me what good he brought us when Eric left.

Blake’s spiritual quest is more subtle and one I’ll let you discover before I give too much away. 😉

Readers of In Firefly Valley will lose themselves in a beautiful love story filled with reconciliation, reformation, and acceptance. 

Just a fun tidbit: As in the first book, I love how I can look at the cover and see a scene from the story—accurate down to the color of the characters’ clothing. And did I mention this is a romantic two-fer? 

Now that summer has unofficially kicked off and the pools are open, have you assembled your reading list? What’s the one book you are dying to read this summer?

Disclosure of Material Connection: This book came to me free from the author and the publisher, Revell, with the hope that I would mention it on this blog. There was no requirement for me to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.