USA Today Bestselling author Claudia Burgoa brings you an emotional and inspirational story that will tug on your heartstrings. The first time I met Oliver Tanner he was five years old. I was four. That day he was entrusted to my keep.He was as large and loud as a church mouse. That day I taught him how fireflies were magic with the persistence of a person. That’s what I loved about them. No … person.
That’s what I loved about them.
No matter how far they strayed,
they remembered where they came from and who their family was.
After high school, he joined the army and left Knox Ridge.
Years later, the town had changed.
My dreams were shattered.
We had nothing left.
I had forgotten all about the magic of the fireflies.
Until he came back to town.
Everything about him was comforting.
He brought some light to my darkness,
But I knew the light could only last for so long.
Fireflies only stay for the summer.
He had outgrown our small town.
It was time for me to stop chasing fireflies.
Don’t miss out on this stunning, second-chance friends to lovers romance.
This full-length novel was originally published in the Cards of Love collection as a novella. It has been revised with additional scenes.
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Five proud-hearted stars! Two beautiful souls longing for each other…
Deux belles âmes qui se désirent …
Oh là là! I don’t even know how to start this review because I’m still highly emotional! I’m speechless. Claudia Burgoa has done it again! She delivered a stunning friends-to-lovers romance with a lot of sweet touches that hit the right feelings. It is not a surprise that she is one of my top favourite authors because her books always left me craving more. She is the queen of the angst romances. Her writing is incredibly addictive and elegantly emotional. There is something about it that touches your soul and heart in a beautiful way. Reading a Claudia’s book is like a warm feeling running through your veins.
Chasing Fireflies est un livre doux, romantique et même un peu fantaisiste. Je ne pouvais pas m’empêcher de lire l’histoire d’un soldat qui revient chez sa meilleure amie, la fille à laquelle il tient le plus, et qui se comporte comme un chevalier en armure étincelante. Les étincelles volent et la reconnexion se transforme en une véritable passion, suscitant des sentiments latents qu’ils n’avaient jamais pu satisfaire pendant son absence avec l’armée.
The story behind the pages of this masterpiece sucked me in and the characters stole a piece of my heart. The pace is fast and the plot is captivating. The storytelling is flawless and I love it. The main characters are complex and easy to love. The cherry on the cake is the interchange of written letters between Kaitlynn and Oliver. I enjoyed they shared so much in those letters which witnessed the relationship that was growing stronger between two friends who shared their life through each of the words they wrote on paper.
Oliver is swoon worthy ladies! He is literally a knight in shining armour! He cares deeply for his loved ones and of course he cares strongly for his best friend Kaitlynn. He will do anything to see her in her own feet as beautiful and strong as she should always be. Being in the army made him more protective and his loyalty defined his character.
On the other hand Kaitlynn is fierce, loving and beautiful. She was struggling after taking over her parents’ business. She is stubborn and proud-hearted when it comes to accept help but she reluctantly accepts it from her sister’s ex and best friend. She built up a wall and guarded herself from loving.
Il y a une route cahoteuse de sentiments blessés, de malentendus et de peur de confiance pour ce couple. Si vous aimez la romance entre amants en colère, passez du temps avec Ollie et Kaitlynn. L’amour est dans les cartes … ou dans les lettres.
There is a rule I always follow in order to read any of Claudia’s books and it is that I have a box of tissues by my side because surely as hell I will be shedding some tears! Chasing Fireflies est bien écrit, engageant la combinaison parfaite d’angoisse, de romance et de grésillement. Je recommande fortement de le lire ce livre.
Best friends to lovers and so sweet it will make your teeth rot. I loved this small town romance so much! Highly recommend!
This was an amazing story of friends to lovers and second chances. Kaitlynn and Oliver have known each other since they were little when Oliver moves to town and become fast friends. Growing up they fight their feelings for each other when Oliver enlists and leaves. This story took us on a journey through their friendship with letters between the two of them until the day Oliver returns back to town twelve years later and confesses his feelings. Such a great story.
4* Fireflies Stars
This is a magical second chance at love. Oliver and Kaitlynn met when they were 4 and 5 years old. Their friendship was instant, and they were inseparable until they weren’t when Ollie enlisted into the army. In the beginning they kept in touch briefly writing to each other and it was heart-warming to read their innermost thoughts. After 12 years they reconnect when Oliver returns to their hometown but it there is work to be done to repair their friendship and love for each other.
Their story was quite emotional in parts and one could feel the pain that Kaitlynn was experiencing. I really connected with her, and the strength and kindness she bestowed on everyone expect herself.
The cover of the book is gorgeous and the title just perfect for the story of Ollie and Kit Kat.
Chasing Fireflies by Claudia Burgoa is a beautifully written romance. This is Kaitlynn and Oliver’s story. Kaitlynn and Oliver have been friends since they were just kids and Kaitlynn had this huge crush on him right up until he started dating her sister, Kelsey. For 3 years they date until Kelsey drops him like he has some contaminated disease. It’s then Ollie decides to join the military and then Kaitlynn goes on to school. They write to each other while he’s deployed but the letters slowly taper off. They are best friends but they also secretly want more from one each other. Fast forward several years later, Ollie comes back home after leaving the military, but can they finally act on their strong feelings for one another ?
I enjoyed the feels, the chemistry, the pace and the plot in this story. I liked the feelings this story produced and the 2nd chance romance this book brings forth. I would liked seeing this as a full length book since this originally started out first as a novella and the full length book lived up to it’s promise as a full length read. Ollie and Kaitlynn have this intense connection that jumps off the pages. I enjoyed reading their love story all over again.
My Rating: 4.6 stars *****
Kaitlynn and Oliver have been friends since childhood, actually more than friends as Kaitlyn’s family brought the young boy into their home and treated him like family. Since Ollie’s father had died and his mother was working two jobs to support them, having the Blythe family take him in was everything. When Kaitlynn starts to realize how important Ollie is, he breaks her heart by starting to date her sister, who later dumped him after he joined the army when he was eighteen.
While Oliver was away in the army, stationed in the middle east, he and Kaitlynn wrote letters to each other Oliver suddenly stopped writing back to her. Now, twelve years later, with a degree in business, he has returned to their small Georgia town uncertain of his future but wanting to reconnect with Kaitlynn.
Kaitlynn had her dreams, which ended after her parents died and she had to take over the family’s restaurant. When Oliver returns he wants to help her, but she rebuffs him, and then reluctantly accepts some help.
Oliver was a dream come true; Kaitlynn was a mess. I felt so sorry for her. I really fell for Oliver and was rooting for him all the way. I liked the way he patiently worked his way back into her life without pushing her too hard. Oliver really made the story special for me.
I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest review.
Chasing Fireflies is jam-packed with emotion. As in tears, big ol’ tears. Some of those were happy, and some were sad, but the point is Claudia Burgoa’s ability to pull those out of me. This one is a romance, but more than that, it’s a saga of sorts. The story starts when Kaitlynn and Oliver first meet as children and follows them through growing up, taking separate paths, and finally making their way back home to find each other again. Of course, completely different things bring them back to their small town, and neither of them is sure about staying at first. We do get a sweet, friends to lovers romance, but this pair certainly takes a really long journey to get there. I did feel like I got to know Kaitlynn better than Oliver, and I would’ve liked a little more insight into him and some of his choices. We are told why he does certain things, but I just didn’t get the level of emotion from him as I did with Kaitlynn. Needless to say, a couple of his choices rubbed me the wrong way, so I wasn’t sure about him for a while. That said, Oliver does eventually redeem himself for me, and I ended up really rooting for this couple. Kaitlynn’s story is where some of those tears came in. She has more than her fair share of loss and turmoil, and I seriously wanted her to put one certain person in their place. I’ll let that hang there so I don’t spoil anything, but it won’t take long to figure out exactly what I mean once you start reading. And read it, you should. Because Chasing Fireflies is well worth the read. It’s a beautiful story about friendship, first love, loss, romantic love, and hope, and it kept me turning pages well past bedtime.
Claudia Burgoa knows how to pull on my heartstrings. Chasing Fireflies was heartwarming and beautiful.
The friends to lovers, second chance romance was sweet and heartfelt. Oliver and Kaitlynn shared a deep connection, a love that was indestructible even through time and distance. Though, when Oliver finally returned to their small town he found that Kaitlynn build her walls so high that it would take time and patience to penetrate it.
Claudia knocked it our if the park with Chasing Fireflies. You get so lost in their story. The love and emotions that bleed off the pages will have you captivated. This is a must read!
Life gets crazy for all of us, and my reading commitments have gotten a little out of hand, so I almost passed on this book. But it kept niggling at me, nudging me in the back of my mind until I finally listened and downloaded it. Sleep is overrated anyway, right? Oh my heavens, y’all, this book is beyond amazing, and I almost missed it!
It’s one of those Sparks-like sagas spanning decades, with enchanting, authentic characters that infiltrate every cell of your being. Where the heart and emotion of the story soak into you and then carry you along the dips and swells of its tide. I won’t begin to be able to do it justice, but trust me, you’re definitely going to want to read this one! Not only does it have winning characters you’ll effortlessly fall for and a captivating storyline that will hold you in its clutches from the first word to the last, but the narrative and sentiment are stunningly beautiful, poetic prose.
It’s heartbreaking, how two people who have such a sweet, precious, beautiful friendship in childhood can get things so epically, spectacularly wrong as teens. Oliver Tanner fell in love as a five-year-old when he and his mom moved in next door to the Blythe family after his dad died. The Blythes welcomed Ollie and his mom into their family and he and four-year-old Kaitlynn quickly became inseparable. “Kit Kat” taught Ollie about chasing fireflies, and they wove stories about the fireflies and their firefly families, never realizing how significant those memories would become. They remained best friends until Ollie dated the worst mean girl around his senior year of high school. Fortunately that ill-fated relationship ended when Ollie enlisted in the military, but not without damage to his friendship with Kaitlynn. Twelve years later Ollie returns to Knox Ridge, GA, and everything that matters the most to him has drastically changed.
Grab the tissues and hold on tight to your heart. Ollie and Kaitlynn’s story will take you from devastation to euphoria and everything in between before it’s all said and done. You’ll want to wrap your arms around sweet, sad little Ollie and then cheer for generous, giving Kaitlynn as she fiercely protects those she loves. If ever two characters belonged together, it’s Kaitlynn and Ollie, and seeing them get their second chance will fill your heart to bursting and leave you with a happy sigh. Don’t miss this amazingly beautiful, poignant, heartfelt story, like I almost did. Life is too short for regrets, so start reading this phenomenal book today!
*I read an early edition of this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide feedback and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source.
3.5*
There were elements of this book that I adored. The relationship between the childhood Ollie and Kit Kat, the closeness that is more than neighbours but better than siblings. The slow progression of their story as they move from children to teenagers. The sharing of themselves to each other that is the deep basis of true friendship. The weaving of fireflies into the story. There were also elements that didn’t work for me. The adult relationship between Oliver and Kaitlynn, when they finally reconnect after years apart. For me, the adult characters just seemed to keep working at cross purposes, like they each had their own agenda but didn’t bother to talk to the other. Consequently, there were problems that could have easily been sorted, but weren’t. I kept thinking that something more was going to happen with the sister, but apart from a few explanatory sentences, she just kind of faded out. Overall, I liked this story which provided a complete standalone story in a relatively short space of time, but it’s not the best book from this author.
This was a fun book. Family by choice, best friends, history (the book starts when our main characters are very young), and changes with time. Warm and fuzzy, life lessons, romance with possibilities. Well done!
I received a free copy of this book via BookFunnel and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Another couldn’t put it down Burgoa book! Such a fascinating story about the full circle Oliver and Kaitlynn made from childhood through adversity to their happily every after!
Sometimes you read a book that is so familiar that you almost can guess what would happen next. This is what I felt with this book, and then I remembered that this book already was published as a novella before (silly me) but it was enjoyable non the less, Oliver and Katy were amazing together, I have to say that I loved him more than her, so so much. He was a good man, he stayed when she expected him to leave. I know that some of the things they endured during their time away was hard, but they were amazing together during their chilhood and adolescence.
I love a good Claudia Burgoa book and this book was just that and more. The characters and the love was present and felt through every page. Could have strangled Kelsey for her behavior. How do you grow up the way she did and turn out so awful. However, Kaitlyn and Oliver eventually fond a way back to each other and are able to finally share their truths.
5 STARS
Claudia Burgoa has became one of the my favorite authors this year. I have read several of her books but Chasing Fireflies really touched me. And it might just be my favorite from her so far! This is one of those story that feels so real because it has real world issues.
Chasing Fireflies is a story of grief and hope and love, what makes this story unique is how it’s told from letters between two best friends. Through their letters you can get a good sense of just how much these two love and care about one another. But space and time also play a part in this book.
Can the heart grow fonder when you’re apart from someone you love? Or does space and time push you more apart than the oceans between you? Kaitlyn and Oliver are a couple that will stay with you.
It’s set in the town of Knox Ridge. And you see our couple grow up from little kids to adults. But just like life, nothing is predictable and certain events take place to push these two apart. But after years of being away, Oliver returns to his hometown after being in the military. He thinks everything as it was when he was a kid.
Except it’s not.
The one person he thought that would remain the same is but a shell of her former self. Kaitlyn is a destroyed, broken soul who seems to have lost her lust for life as well as her dream. Can he help her return to the person he once knew? Or is it just too late?
You can feel the emotionally charged connection between these two. FYI: this is a roller coaster ride. You can feel Kaitlyn’s pain and distress, she’s such a negative person but her growth is beautiful!
But Oliver isn’t as innocent as I make him out to be. He definitely has his faults and had a huge chip on his shoulder. But through Kaitlyn and her family he changed and his capacity for love. So when it comes for him to return the favor, he takes full charge of return Kaitlyn to the girl he remembered.
Absolutely recommend Chasing Fireflies! It’s a touching beautifully written story!
ARC generously provided by the author.
This small town romance is heartwarming, passionate, and tragic all at once. Fantastic second chance romance.
If you looking for pick me up,believe in love story definitely read this book. It will bring happiness and sadness and you will get fuzzy feelings. Keep tissues handy,you may need it.
I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
What a beautiful love story! Ollie and Kit Kat are childhood best friends who reunite after 12 long years. The trials and tribulations they go through made me laugh, cry and want to pull my hair out at times. It’s a beautifully written, emotionally charged and intensely rich story. There’s small town drama in their hometown of Knox Ridge and Oliver who has always had major insecurities is anxious to leave and make something of his life. Kaitlyn , on the other hand, loves her hometown and is heartbroken when Ollie leaves her behind to enlist in the military. After 12 years, he comes back home to find his Kit Kat needs help.
I truly enjoyed Chasing Fireflies. Ollie and Kaitlyn are such awesome characters. They find they have feelings for each other but afraid to act on them and possibly risk their friendship. Problems arise and they have to fight for each other and their love. Great story.
I liked this story as the Knight of Wands novella. I absolutely loved it as a full length novel! Having that extra bit of Katy and Ollie’s story really bumped this to the next level and made me fall in love with them all over again.
Absolutely loved this story!! I fell in complete love Oliver and Kaitlyn from the start and it only grew as the story progressed. It was sweet and heartbreaking and beautiful.
I’m a huge fan of Claudia Burgoa! But this book blew me away!! She has such a talent for writing g flawlessly and intriguing you the whole way. I get all the feels when it comes to this author!! She is a must read for me every time!!
Her emotion, characters, and situations always leave me begging for more!! ALWAYS!! You definitely need this author and this book in your life!!
This is a best friends to lovers book. Along with second chances, it will be one you love!! Second chances are such amazing romances, and this one ranks up in one of my top reads!! Kaitlynn and Oliver will make you swoon and capture heart with this romance tale!!