One night changed an entire town.Ten years ago, I left Hawk Valley. I never planned to return. Not to the regrets. The bitter memories. The guilt.My baseball career gave me both the excuse and the money I needed to start over. Then my mom called, and I found myself headed back to the one place I swore I wouldn’t step foot again.Meeting Delilah wasn’t part of the plan. Falling in love with her … plan. Falling in love with her adorable son was even less so. And yet, what’s brewing between us is too intense to be denied. The unexpected passion is almost enough to distract us from the crumbling of both our worlds.
But even as the sparks fly, someone is waiting in the shadows to burn it all down.
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Renshaw knocks this one out of the park. Ember is a sweet romance that completely swept me off my feet. Gunner and Delilah were so endearing. I absolutely loved them both. I loved their connection and the build up between them. Neither is a stranger to heartache and loss and I was eager to see if they would be able to find peace within one another.
Renshaw adds a sense of suspense to the story, and with it, amps up the excitement. There were so many moments where I was on the edge of my seat. The anticipation of what would happen had me devouring this story. I’m thrilled that this is the start to a new series and I can’t wait for Ignite!
Gunner and Delilah really stole pieces of my heart. The storyline is fantastic. It’s not even a real sports romance like I thought it would be. There are twists and turns and tragedies and suspense. It has everything to pull you in from the beginning. And the way it all ends…I never saw it coming.
Another amazing book by Emma Renshaw. Hold on tight because this book will take you on a roller coaster of emotions.
This is a new series and a small town romance. I’m in love with it and I can’t wait for more.
Delilah is beautiful not just on the outside but inside as well. She takes on one of the biggest roles any woman can take on. She does it without hesitation and with grace.
Gunner has been living with guilt for the past 10 years. He decides to stay away from his hometown and focus on his baseball career. His mom tells him that he needs to come back and after ten years he returns.
Gunner and Delilah are absolutely amazing, sweet and with a big heart. They both have their fears and are scared but can they work through them?
This book is full of emotions and it will have you turning each page until you finish it.
Not my first read by the author, she was a new to me a little ago but I read one book and then I had to read all of her books. This one, not so different. Have you ever started a book and it’s so damn good that you had to stop yourself from reading because you didn’t want it to end? Well, this is that type for me!
The book stars off with you needing tissues, because not only do things happen fast but also in doubles. But you will instantly fall in love with Gunner, right off the bat! Both hero and heroine are put in difficult situations, very different form one another meaning they carry the same amount of guilt and worry on their shoulders but worlds apart. Typing this reminds me of how I could have used another 5 or 6 books of continued stories from just this one book.
Gunner is the perfect hero, caring, strong, sweet, sexy and a baseball player…that’s all I need to say. He lost something a very long time ago but it hung on him for years, now that he is back in town for his mother…he can’t seem to get away from the memories.
Delilah is a woman that let’s just say had to grow up pretty fast. Going through life cooking one meal after another, by the way she is a fantastic chef…and her son is the main thing in her life at all times. I absolutely, if you don’t fall in love with Gunner by himself at the beginning you will once you meet him and Tucker *swoon swoon swoon* after all this book gave me all the feels, emotional, beautiful, haunting, captivating and all the romance and sexiness you need! I can’t wait to read more…p.s. secretly looking and hoping Colt Delilah’s brother gets a story!
TOP 2020 MUST READ!
Rating:
Romance:
Steamy:
Type: Standalone
Recommended: HIGHLY
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦
I absolutely loved this story from start to finish.
Ember is the first in a new series and boy it didn’t disappoint at all.
Hands down loved the characters, the chemistry between Gunner and Deliah, the heartbreak and suspense in this story. It basically had a bit of eveything I love and want from a story.
Emma really knocked the ball out of the park with this story and I honestly can’t wait for more of this Series.
Delilah and Gunner and really Tuck, stole my heart.
I wasn’t sure what to expect diving into Ember, I thought it would be a typical sports romance. Ember ended up being so much more than the typical jock meets girl and so forth. Gunner is so more than his sport and his routine. He has not been home in ten years due to a tragic event right before he entered the baseball draft. A fire not only scared his arm, killed his best friend but it also seemed to scare his heart. Gunner hasn’t had any real connections to anything but baseball and his mom. He returns home at the request of his mother. As he returns, he faces the demons of the fire that still seem to dance around him, he also learns that his mother is ill with cancer. Gunner is in Free Agency waiting for the deal that will tell him the next baseball team he will play for. It just so happens one of the first people he encounters as he makes his way back in town are Delilah and her son Tucker.
Delilah is a young single mom. She works as a chef for her family’s resorts. She is a great character. She could easily be the girl next door. She is real and likable. But she does have one secret she is keeping, and this secret could ruin her little family. I really liked her. She is dynamic in a gentle way. She has a great heart and cares deeply about her family and friends.
It isn’t long before Delilah and Gunner are dancing around each other trying to figure out what they are to each other. Both are careful with their hearts, but you know once they finally get together sparks will fly. The extra stress of Gunner not sure what team he will sign with, his mother’s cancer, Delilah’s secret and Gunner’s pass this story is engaging. The sub plots and characters add so much to the story with out overwhelming it. I do hope that we get some of the supporting characters stories.
This was my first time reading Emma Renshaw. I do plan to go back and read some of her other offerings. This was a great read and a 4/5 star for me. I really enjoyed the story and it has enough conflict to make it more than a typical romance.
Ember is everything and more you’ve come to expect from an Emma Renshaw novel. From the prologue to the last page I couldn’t put it down.
Gunner and Delilah’s story is a slow burn that turns into a fiery inferno. Each of them have demons from their past that put not only them but their relationship to the test.
You can’t help but root for their happily ever after. Throw in an adorable little boy, who steals your heart from the beginning and this is why Emma always manages to write something I can’t seem to put down! Ember has ALL THE FEELS, and I cannot wait for the rest of this series!
The title of the book is fitting because Emma Renshaw has once again brought the heat. The chemistry between Gunner and Delilah started off as a slow burn, but the first kiss transformed the story into a full inferno. The book is full of things readers of Emma’s books have come to know and love: suspense, scorching love scenes and a strong sense of family ties and loyalty. While the book is centred around baseball, it is not overshadowed by the game. Emma has once again hit this one out of the park.
Contemporary Romance | Suspenseful Elements
Ember by Emma Renshaw is a heartwarming, small town romance with suspenseful elements. This is the first book I’ve read from the author and I’m impressed with her storytelling ability. I loved how dynamic her characters were (both the hero AND the heroine) and felt the sizzling connection between them. The only downfall for me was that I was expecting so much more in terms of both of their backstories and felt some frustrations that this wasn’t delivered.
Gunner for example lived through something horrific right before he left the small town he lived in to play baseball. The prologue sets the tone for his past and makes readers believe that this is going to be an emotional book where the hero struggles with his emotions of what happens. While we do get a glimpse of what happened it’s never thoroughly explained to the reader. I really wanted to know so much more about what happened and the answers never came. This was frustrating for me as a reader because when you incorporate something that affects the characters, readers need to see it and understand it. Otherwise, it just becomes a filler for the story. Other than this, I really loved Gunner’s character. Emma writes him as a wholesome, good man with a heart of gold. I felt his passion, I felt his love, and I felt his protectiveness.
Delilah is also a strong character and I felt a strong connection with her. She has a huge heart, a fierce and loving nature, and a heart full of gold just like our hero. Her backstory was much “brighter”, and readers could see everything she’s been dealt. I think many readers will relate to her on some level.
The overall plot of this book was a good one. I liked the added suspense because it kept the story interesting and strong. However, I didn’t care for the major twist at the end. If I’m being honest, it was too “out there” for me. I can see WHY the author added this twist, but I think it was a little too much. For me, it would have made more sense for the “threat” that was discussed throughout the story to be the reason everything was happening. Obviously, that’s my personal opinion and there will be many readers who don’t agree with me so take it for what it’s worth and read the book yourself to determine how you feel.
Wrapping it up : For the most part I thought this was a good book and I enjoyed reading it. Emma Renshaw is a new to me author and I look forward to seeing where she takes the next book. If you’re in the mood for something heartwarming with suspenseful elements then you will definitely want to check out this book.
This story was amazing!
I loved every single moment of this love story! What’s not to love when you have a hot baseball player, a single mom and sweet little boy??? Now add in some great supporting characters and a new dog for that sweet little boy. 🙂 You getting the picture???
This is a new to me author and I’m so glad I decided to give her story a try. Now I want to go back and read all her previous stories. Like right now.
If you can’t already tell, I highly recommend you read this one. You will not be disappointed!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. I like these story. I couldn’t put the book down. Gunner and Delilah will pull you into their story and it will pull at your heartstrings. Both characters have things from their past that make them the people they became. This story has panty melting heat, and it is emotional. The story flowed effortlessly with a few twists and turns that weren’t predictable. The twists and turns will keep you glued from start to finish.
I love a great small-town Texas romance and Ember hit it out of the park for me.
It’s always tough when your favorite author starts a new series, especially when you were so in love with the characters from the last series but Delilah and Gunner and especially Tucker grabbed me from the first page. I can not wait for the next book in this series.
This book is full of heartbreak, but Emma has a way of mending your heartache and taking you on an adventure with all kinds of twists and turns, healing you in the last stretch.
If you haven’t read Emma before, Ember is a great jumping-off point!
This is a deeply emotional story that will have you reaching for the tissues a well crafted story that keeps you engaged until you turn that last page
Two people damaged by their past Gunner Gentry who fled Hawk Valley ten years earlier when he lost his best friend Declan in a tragic accident Baseball has given him a future and money but he isn’t really living The only person he cares about is his mother and for her he has returned. Delilah Moreland is single mum who works at the inn and is the chef where Gunner is staying She has a busy life with her son and working When she sees her son Tucker playing with his favourite baseball star she has to rethink her life and in the process she will drag Gunner back to living Can they have a future together You will, have to read to see
Ember by Emma Renshaw was a sweet and charming read about love, hope, grief, loss and second chances. Gunner Gentry had dreams and he went all out to achieve them, but tragedy kept him away from home. Now he is back and the last thing he expected was Delilah and her son, Tucker.
Delilah loves her son more than anything, but she has secrets that weigh on her. She is sweet and caring. Gunner carries guilt for all he has accomplish. He is strong, determined and protective. When they meet and become friends, there is something there neither ever expected. Their journey, though with a bit of angst and intrigue, was a light and charming read.
Read and reviewed for Reviews From the Heart.
Happy reading!
5 Swoony Stars for Emma Renshaw’s Ember! Gunner and Delilah story is beautiful, emotional and full of love. Delilah’s little boy, Tucker, is an absolute cutie. Gunner’s has lived with the guilt over his friend, Declan’s death for 10 years. He has avoided his home town because of the memories. Now he is forced to go home. Delilah is the chef at her parent’s inn. They meet when he books his stay there for the off season while he is home.
Emma Renshaw set the tone for this emotional book with the Prologue. I knew right then I was in for a ride. The characters are amazing and I was so in love with them from the beginning. Ember will make you laugh and bring you to tears. I can’t wait for book 2 in this series.
Gunner Gentry. That is a great name for a baseball player and the name now conjures an image of a muscled cutie in tight baseball pants! This story has all the best features: baseball hero; major tragedy; son of a single mom; small town; single mom with a young son who has a favorite baseball player; mystery and danger… There is more but I don’t want to spoil this wonderfully woven story. Do yourself a favor and read this book (and her Vow series too)!
Emma has written some of my favorite books and this one is right up there with the best of them!
Ember was my first book by Emma Renshaw and it sucked me right in. The opening was absolutely heart wrenching and I just had to know how things would pan out after the fact…
Delilah was ahhhhmazing! I adored her and her darling son, Tuck. It was impossible not to. Just ask Gunner. That poor broody guy. He had suffered and lost so much. But he took is pain and funneled it into his passion, baseball. He was successful. The best at what he did. Life was good…until he got the call that changed everything….
Forced back to his hometown for the first time since he left, Gunner is slammed with emotions. Regret. Guilt. Fear. And desire for Delilah. I loved how even with everything that was happening in her life, she brought a lightness to him. Grounded him. Helped him focus on what mattered most.
And right in the middle of their budding romance, someone was lurking in the shadows. That little bit of mystery and danger kept me on edge waiting for the bottom to fall out of all they had built. Holy unexpected twist! Emma Renshaw had my heart racing and I was holding my breath during those tense moments when everything hung in the balance. And while I would’ve liked a little bit more danger sprinkled in throughout to tie it all together (what can I say I’m a suspense fan), the ending left me with a big happy, satisfied smile.
Emma Renshaw’s Ember is a sweet romantic story that could have benefitted from additional exposition and detail.
When MLB star Gunner returns to his hometown for the first time in ten years to help his mom, the last thing he expects is to meet the woman of his dreams and her adorable son. Delilah is new to Hawk Valley, and doesn’t carry the scars of the town’s past. Through her, Gunner realizes that he doesn’t have to punish himself for the things that happened ten years ago; however, as Gunner and Delilah become closer, it becomes evident that someone doesn’t want them to find happiness. Will they be able to overcome the pressure from unseen forces, or will it all go up into flames?
While I liked Renshaw’s overall story idea, I found myself wishing for more character development, more detail, and for more flashbacks. Gunner feels a bond with his best friend that I wish would have been written about in more depth. The conflicts in the book also felt forced and kind of out of left field (pun intended). I think that more exposition would have allowed for the reader to feel more connection to (and to be more invested in) the story. I also never felt the romantic connection between Gunner and Delilah. I think the story had a lot of potential… but I was left wanting more.
Thank you, NetGalley and Social Butterfly PR for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Oh wow I loved this book!! I had a chance to read an arc from Emma and I’m so grateful! This is such an amazing story Emma writes the best stories. The characters have such passion for each other and she is so wonderful at showcasing their real emotions. These characters are like anyone you would meet in real life and are going through traumas in a very relatable way. Delilah and Gunner’s story is so beautiful and I love the dramatic way their story unfolds.
I have been waiting for Emma Renshaw’s words and she did not disappoint. My heart and soul were so invested into this story of such tragic moments that break you, but also seeing how finding that someone can mend you in so many ways. Gunner trying to focus on not remembering. Delilah protecting what is hers. My heart shattered for both of them as things were revealed to each other and how they move forward.
The one thing I absolutely adored about this story is the effortless way that these two just blend together. How much they need each other without really knowing that was what was missing out of their lives the whole entire time. You feel their emotions right to the core. Especially when the twists and unexpected moments that honestly have you with your jaw on the floor. Did NOT see that coming!
As a whole, this is a stellar story by a stunning author. Her raw emotions that she conveys across the pages as well as the quirky ones has you wrapped up completely in the world she has created and leaves you begging for more. Renshaw is an amazing author and I have been following her work since the first book she ever wrote. Seeing her grow as an author is an amazing journey and her words are pure magic that will wrap you up! Seriously, snag this one up! It is a homerun!