A standalone, second chance romance between a former Air Force firefighter and the love he left behind.My best laid plans had backfired. I’d thought by putting miles between myself and my first love that she’d be free to live whatever life she’d wanted, but when I came back from serving my country and Faith was raising her little girl alone, it was time to make new plans.In eight years, not a … new plans.
In eight years, not a single day had passed when she wasn’t on my mind, and not a night went by when I didn’t miss her. She was fierce and stunning and didn’t need a man in her life, but when the time came–and she wanted one–the line would start behind me.
Like smoke, I’d let her slip through my fingers once, but I’d never forgive the man in the mirror if I let it happen again. She was the fire inside me that would never burn out.
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I loved this book.
I’m telling you, when you want a break from the over-the-top angst and you need something sweet and romantic, the City Limits series is what you need! I have absolutely loved everything M. Mabie has put out, but City Limits tends to give you a break from all the overwhelming books!
And who can say no to a book about a single mother, a little-more-than-slightly alpha firefighter, and a second chance romance?
Not this girl!
Favorite Quotes:
Mrs. Downing, now isn’t a good time to flirt with me. They’re going to think you have a head injury.
He licked his fork clean and then stuck the plastic handle in the front pocket of his denim overalls. He patted the disposable silverware and said to me, “I’ll need this for dessert.”
I’ve got baggage. Luggage, really. Tons of it.
I sent them a pic of you cleaning out Darrell’s gutters… Oh, come on. You took your shirt off twenty feet away from my window. Girl code mandates sending a picture to my best friends.
Son, the inside of this house is like its heart, and it’s beautiful. But the front porch is the face and it looks like a divorcee who needs night cream.
“I think she’s poopin’. She’s been in the bathroom for a long time.” There was some rustling around on the other end, and then she bellowed. “Mom, are you still poopin’? Aaron’s on the phone… I’ll talk to you until she’s done. Sometimes it takes a while.” Again she shouted at her mother. “Do you need some toilet paper?”
It’s funny how a moment can be so big that you worry it won’t fit in your heart, but then you feel your insides swell and it finds a place.
My Review:
Smoke and Mirrors was a comfortable, pleasant, and easy read populated with adorable, endearing, quirky, and lovable characters. The premise was realistic, easy to follow, and relevant while the characters were common, small-town, everyday working-class people, who were uncommonly good and exceptionally appealing. I relished this sweet couple and Ms. Mabie’s engaging dual POV narrative from start to finish. Add in a precocious, feisty, and precious four-year-old then blend it all together with wit, cunning insights, smirk-inducing levity, a sweet and steamy love story, and clever writing, and you have a delightful and entertaining book to cherish and enjoy. I didn’t notice how ingenious the title was until I made the connection of Aaron, the male protagonist, being a fireman. A kind, thoughtful, sweet, and sexy fireman. I fell in love with him right away and he just kept getting better and better. I hope Ms. Mabie continues this charming and breezy series in perpetuity; after all, she has an entire town to pick and choose from.
Second chance romances speak to my soul. There will always be the inevitable question of “What If?” Aaron and Faith had a great start to their relationship being best friends, only to be separated by age and timing.
Aaron is just a couple years older than Fay so when he leaves he begins his life a bit sooner. What he did not expect, was for Faith to begin her own in his absence. When Aaron comes back, they purposefully avoid each other so they don’t have to face how their lives have changed. Now they are both trying to answer that question.
Faith is a strong independent woman working multiple jobs to pay the bills. She doesn’t have time for such things as relationships much less trying to rekindle a romance she thinks is long forgotten.
Aaron is the hot firefighter loving her from a distance. He does anything he can to help her, in secret of course, because he knows she would never accept it. Especially from him.
When it finally becomes their time, they both want to take things slowly, giving them a chance to relearn and adjust to each other. They have a few things to work through so you wonder if it really will work out or if it just smoke & mirrors.
An excellent addition to the City Limits series you won’t want to miss.
I grew up in a small town, so I’m always excited to read about other small towns (fictional or real!). This series has been one that never failed to get me. In this installment, it was a second chance romance. What I love most about second chance romances are they hold everything that real about life — mistakes, missed chances, stubbornness & pride — and they still offer that glimmer of hope that everything will work together for a greater end.
This story was all of that. Faith and Aaron missed their chance. They were friends that each felt something for the other, but never dared speak it out loud. When Aaron joined the Air Force, Faith moved on, assuming she would never get the chance with him and hoping it would push him from her mind. Even in their time apart, neither of them forgot what they had felt.
When thrown back together years later back in their hometown, they each make a bit of an effort to avoid each other, but really they just want to find their way to each other. Once they finally get enough of living life just wanting and waiting for the other to make a move, their relationship developed so wonderfully. I loved that Aaron really wanted to include Faith’s daughter in all of the aspects of growing together as a family.
The only thing I really wanted was more! Once the story was nearing its end, it seemed to move a little too quickly. Everything was wrapped up and then the story was done.
This was a sweet romance, filled with hope and all the beauty that comes from living in a small town. Absolutely heartwarming.
~4.5 STARS~
Smoke and Mirrors by M. Mabie is a sweet, sexy smalltown romance! I loved it!
Faith and Aaron were best friends when they were younger, but Faith always wanted him to see her as more. She definitely saw him as more, but their timing was never right. Aaron was leaving for the military, and he never wanted Faith waiting for him. When she told him how she felt, he lets her go to live her own life. He didn’t want her missing living life while he was gone.
Years later, Aaron is back. Their lives are completely different. He is a firefighter and does construction jobs on the side. She works at her mother’s diner and at a local bar. Her most important job is being a mother to her daughter, Delaney. The feelings are still there, yet neither one will really talk to one another. It’s not like he is new in town. He’s been there for 4 years. Which one of them will break down first and make the first move?
I loved both of these characters. Despite what life has thrown at Faith, her spirit nor her sass has ever been extinguished. She always put her daughter’s needs first just like any good mother would. Although, I felt sorry for her at times because of her loneliness. She doesn’t have time to fantasize about anyone, even though she occasionally fantasizes about Aaron. Her dream is having someone take her trash out and being able to afford things she needs, like new tires. So, when Aaron makes his intentions known, I loved seeing her nervousness come out.
Oh Aaron, what a man! Not only is he incredibly sexy, but he has a heart to match. He gives back to those he loves, and my heart just melted more when I discovered he was doing small things for Faith, like cleaning her gutters, replanting her rosebush several times, and finally getting it to survive. He was her sexy guardian angel. Sometimes, he might have gone a little too far, but his intentions were always good! His relationship with Faith’s daughter, Delaney, was just precious. She never had a father figure, and she hit the jackpot with Aaron.
Several things stood out to me in the book, Faith’s best friends. They were all online friends she met in a chatroom. That was a unique thing, but it reflects our society today. Even though they had never met in person, they were so supportive of one another and shared all their secrets.
Little Miss Delaney was a spitfire. I loved that little precocious thing. I would love to see how much trouble she is going to cause Aaron and Faith in the future!
I certainly didn’t see the twist coming that Mabie gave us. It made the book even better! I haven’t read the other books in the series, but I am looking forward to downloading and reading them.
***Read and Reviewed for Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews***