“Complete with hot sex scenes, snarky double-entendres, slapstick humor, and quirky girlfriends, this comedic romp through modern-day dating checks all the romance boxes.” -Kirkus Reviews Willa Frank has one simple rule: never go on a date with anyone more than twice. Now that her business is providing the stability she’s always needed, she can’t afford distractions. Her two-date rule will … two-date rule will protect her just fine…until she meets smokejumper Grady Billman.
After one date–one amazing, unforgettable date–Grady isn’t ready to call it quits, despite his own no-attachments policy, and he’s found a sneaky way around both their rules.
Throwing gutter balls with pitchers of beer? Not a real date. Everyone knows bowling doesn’t count.
Watching a band play at a local show? They just happen to have the same great taste in music. Definitely not a date.
Hiking? Nope. How can exercise be considered a date?
With every “non-date” Grady suggests, his reasoning gets more ridiculous, and Willa must admit she’s having fun playing along. But when their time together costs Willa two critical clients, it’s clear she needs to focus on the only thing that matters–her future. And really, he should do the same.
But what is she supposed to do with a future that looks gray without Grady in it?
Each book in the Where There’s Smoke series is STANDALONE:
* The Two-Date Rule
* Just a Little Bet
* The Best Kept Secret
more
A determined courtship…
The humour started early and had me smiling from the get go. Even though there were funny bits throughout, the emotional elements soon took over as the rule soon got in the way of what could be…
There was a reason why Willa had her dating rule and it was steeped in pain. Willa hid it behind an avid work ethic and rules that kept her life steady and safe. Grady saw Willa and that was it for him, meaning he had to constantly morph his approach, to match wits with his smart and romance-phobic woman. He was going to marry her; if he could just get her on board…
If I wore a hat, it would be tipped off to Grady. His unwillingness to let Willa retreat meant she had to face what her decisions were doing – to both herself and the man she could love… The back and forth was full of friends, frivolity and a serious undertone that tempered the heat with stark emotion…
Another great story from a must-read author.
*I happily reviewed this story
This was much different than I thought it would be! The concept seemed so fun, and it was, but this story dealt with much more serious issues than I could’ve imagined.
Willa Frank had a difficult life growing up. Her mom abandoned her, and her dad was an alcoholic, and a gambling addict. At times they were homeless, and she never had all she needed, even in the best of times. Her dad still struggles with many issues, and though she wishes she could hate him, she doesn’t, and she helps him out, even when she probably shouldn’t. So, she lives her life VERY carefully, and she has a lot of rules for herself. She started her own web design business, and it’s been pretty successful, but she fears that could change at any time. So, rule number 1, WORK COMES FIRST, ALWAYS. At the expense of anything and everything else. Rule number 2, never go out on more than 2 dates with anyone. That way no one gets attached, or gets their feelings hurt, and there won’t be anything distracting Willa from her goals. And it’s all been fine. Until Grady.
Grady Billman is a smokejumper, like his father was, and some of his brothers are as well. He loves his job, but it’s a relationship killer. Most women don’t appreciate being left alone so often, with not much communication, and no idea when he might return. Or IF he’ll return. That IF is always with him, and keeps him from making any real plans for his future, even though he knows he can’t do the job forever. So, he doesn’t make romantic attachments that he doesn’t have the time or energy for, and then no one gets hurt. But, when he and Willa meet, and she announces her rules on their first date, he’s worried 2 dates won’t be enough for him. He proceeds to come up with hangout activities for them that are DEFINITELY NOT DATES, so he can continue to spend time with her. But is there really a future for the two of them?
Grady and Willa had a super hot, instant attraction, and their meet cute was pretty hilarious and unforgettable. I loved their banter and the ways that they connected well. They both held so much of themselves back though, and it was real work for them to figure out if, and how, they wanted to move forward. They both really needed professional help, in a couple of different areas, and I appreciated that by the end this fact wasn’t ignored.
Willa’s family life was a total mess, where Grady had a HUGE, amazing family. Though he remembers that it was often difficult for his mom when he was a kid, and she was parenting alone most of the time. His parents had struggles, some of which he never even knew about, and he had to realize the work they put in to make their marriage strong. Willa’s parents were both a hot mess, and she had SO MANY ISSUES, which were all a product of her inconsistent and problematic upbringing. But, at some point, as an adult, you have to recognize what your issues are, and learn ways, besides total avoidance, of dealing with them properly. You have to take control of your own life, and she wasn’t interested, or willing, to really do that until she fell for Grady.
Willa’s 2 best friends were pretty great, and I enjoyed some of Grady’s smokejumping teammates, and his brothers too. Hopefully some or all of them will show up in future stories in this world. They both had an awesome friend group surrounding and supporting them, and I love to see great friendships in books, especially between women.
Overall, this story was much more fraught and emotional than I thought it would be, but I enjoyed it very much. It had depth, and substance, and wasn’t just your typical rom com. I really enjoyed The List series from this author a ton, and I’m looking forward to more in this series too!
“You think I’m a stripper.” He should probably be annoyed but could only muster flattered. “Hey, I’m not judging.” she said. “I mean, obviously I’m here. And it looks like hard work.”
What a great way to meet! Willa and Grady meet under unusual circumstances, and their dating pattern is designed to stay unusual. Thanks to Willa’s fear of commitment and inability to let go of her work responsibilities.
This relationship is a great example of opposites attract. Grady lives in the moment. He loves his job, they have that in common. But everything else in is life is unplanned.
I love the chemistry between these two characters. Willa’s backstory has dimension and totally reflects why she lives the life she lives. This is a little different than the past series I have read by Tawna Fenske. I’ve loved all of her books, but definitely love this new venture!!
I liked this book, slow moving in the beginning, but the story picked up. A believable story.
It tells so much that is true in life. How our past affects our present in so many ways, personality, work ethics, struggles and relationships.
This book is a real profile of how you should always reevaluate the plan you started your life with. Times change people change … change is a good thing.
Really enjoyed the story and the creative view of the 2 date rule. Also an insightful look at smokejumpers and the toll their job takes on their families.
Entertaining read. I enjoyed this book and characters.
Like most of this author’s books, but this was just weird premise.
Typical small town white couple romance with spicy scenes.
Tawna Fenske is my go to for witty repartee and humorous situations that generally result in my belly laughs. This new series does not disappoint!
I enjoyed it very much
Favorite Quotes:
“Yes, please.” Kayla’s attention was fixed on Tony, and Grady couldn’t tell if her response was for the beer or for the tall smokejumper with rumpled black hair and dark eyes that seemed to make women crazy.
Sometimes I feel like I’m wearing a gorilla suit and trying to tread water in a pool filled with molasses.
My Review:
I adore Tawna Fenske and am greedy to amass every clever word she has and will ever scribble. Her wit is sharp, fathomless, and cleverly irreverent; who else would come up with a male stripper group named “The Bone Yard Gang,” or would give the main character a trio of special needs pets and name the three-legged cat Wheelbarrow and her deaf cat Earmuff? I eagerly ripped through this engagingly amusing missive and am licking my lips in readiness for the next in the series. I was quickly enamored with the featured couple and deeply infatuated with the secondary cast of characters and can’t wait to see what the wily minx has in store for the rest of them.
I liked the complexities of the characters and their back stories, especially when it came to the heroine. I never would have expected her challenging background. Fenske did a great job of building tension.
This is written in third person with dual POV.
I loved Willa and Grady. I love how they both recognize how they make each others’ lives better and are willing to compromise to make it happen. Grady is super persistent and creative to get past Willa’s two date rule. Both are so determined to avoid a real relationship, they fail to realize they are in one until they are both head over heels. This book has a hilarious meet cute, one of the best first dates EVER, and pets that are unexpected but completely grab your heart. There is plenty of heat, some fire, and a few waterworks along the way to this couple’s heart-melting HEA.
This is a great story with some serious worries and a lot of fun moments. I was laughing out loud at Willa and Grady’s first text message exchange. The way the characters interact is why I couldn’t put it down. loved the way Grady was able to get around the two date rule and Willa let him. I didn’t want this story to end. Tawna Fenske has written another fantastic book.
Loved the characters. Loved the story line. Great read. Thank you.
I loved this story by Tawna Fenske. The story is original. The Characters engaging. I found myself cheering on Willa and Grady from beginning to end.
Another sweet read to lose a day inside of. I really enjoy Tawna’s characters and this was SUCH a fun plot to read.
I am DOWN for a hot firefighter read and this one was a fantastic one. Willa and Grady? They are a couple you want on the shelves.
Throw these together coupled with Willa’s two date rule and you KNOW they both were gonna want more. I loved it. I loved finding out the reasons she had her rule and she was the reason she was, and watching Grady slowly break down her barriers.
I really liked this book and the romance between Willa and Grady.
This book has such a funny and sweet meet cute, you can just imagine their faces when she addresses him in a way he never expected. They meet at a stripper night at the club where his band often preforms.
Well he gets a date out of her but when she tells him that she only dates a guy twice, he gets very intrigued by her. Since their date went really well he figures out how to be with her without it being a date, like mini golf, a picnic on his family day at the smokejumpers base, a drink with friends after one of their concerts and so on. The closer they get and the more relaxed she gets with him the two-date rule seems to become history. But what happens when her past catches up to her and his relaxed relationship towards money and life creates a void between them? Can they ever get back what they had before all these problems overtake their lives?
Grady is such a great guy, he is a smokejumper, very easygoing, he wants to take care of Willa and help her when she needs it, he is also there for his family and friends when they need it. He lives this life because he doesn’t know if there will come a day when he will not come back from a fire.
Willa has grown up poor and with a father who is a drunk and no mother. She is fighting with anxieties of loosing her home and job as an adult so she lives a very closed of life and has her own company at home. She works a lot and doesn’t have life outside of her two best friends and her father.
Grady helps her let go and become more relaxed and she learns to live with her anxiety.
They are so great and sweet together and their chemistry is just amazing and hot. The side characters are very sweet and strong and they help Willa and Grady through their problems when they are apart.
It was great learning about smokejumpers life and all that comes with it. The anxiety rep is amazing in this book too. I could really identify myself in Willa’s anxieties about making mistakes, losing your job and your identity and become homeless. All these thoughts running through your mind with no outlet.
I can definitely recommend this book,
I got this book from Entangled Publishing and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much.