REVIEW: Ambushed by Love by Zoe York

Ambushed by Love by Zoe York is a fun summer novella that details the romance that develops between a recent widower and a divorcee. It’s part of the Camp Firefly Falls interconnected novella series written by multiple authors, where time spent at a summer camp for adults leads to romance. All the stories are standalone but may contain characters from previous books in the series.

Admiral Frank DeMarco lost his wife of 30 years, Bia, a year ago. While he’s not looking for a new partner, a group of Navy SEALs under his command have gifted him with a week at Camp Firefly Falls, prior to the wedding of one of their own at the same camp. Little did he know it would be a singles camp for the 50 plus crowd, but now he’s stuck trying to avoid the women who think he’s on the market. That all changes when he meets his new camp neighbor.

Grace Bennett has been divorced for years and enjoyed the occasional non-serious relationship since. But getting involved with a grieving widower is not in her plans, no matter how sexy her cabin neighbor is. She’s come to the camp early before her daughter’s wedding, and didn’t know either that it was a ‘silver fox’ singles week. Since she and Frank are on the same page in wanting to avoid entanglements, she suggests that they partner together for the camp activities to prevent others from thinking they are available. But as she and Frank spend time together they become real friends, and then something more. When the wedding they’re both attending is over, will it be the end of what they’ve been building too?

I am a fan of Zoe York’s contemporary romances so I jumped at the chance to read this knowing it would be full of the heart and emotion that she puts into all her stories. The wedding Frank and Grace are attending is for Frank’s team member Wyatt and Grace’s daughter Tegan who met in the author’s earlier Campfire Falls romance Skinny Dipping Dare. I loved seeing how their relationship has progressed and their wedding was a nice touch as the basis for bringing together the couple in this story.

As for Frank and Grace, the circumstances of how they meet (Grace accidentally ends up in Frank’s cabin at nighttime – oops!) seals the deal on them becoming friends. Frank finds he can open up to Grace about his late wife and his grief which is something he doesn’t share often. Grace is understanding and supportive and puts no pressure on Frank to be anything more than friends. But the attraction between them leads to some sexy scenes and the desire to learn more about each other.

Frank and Grace are opposites in character and temperament with Frank being a quiet and introverted sort and Grace being bubbly and full of good humour. But together they make a perfect pair. They get their happy ending, complete with a lovely epilogue. If you’ve been looking for a romance with an older couple who understand what life is all about, you definitely want to read this one. I also highly recommend the series – lots of novellas to choose from all with fun, sexy, summer camp themes!

Book Info:

Publication: July 13, 2018 | Self Published – Zoe York | Camp Firefly Falls #21

As a retirement gift, Admiral Frank DeMarco has been gifted a week at an all-inclusive rustic resort in the Berkshires by his favourite Navy SEAL team. The VIP treatment is the last thing he wants, though. He has every intention to spend the week avoiding the other so-called Silver Fox campers—until one of them crawls into his bed in the middle of the night and he mistakes her for his late wife.

Grace Bennett knows better than to get involved with a man still clearly grieving the loss of his life-long partner. But there’s something about Frank’s gruff rejection of her that tugs at her heartstrings and makes her want to be his friend. And even though he claims he’s not interested in her company, he keeps turning up everywhere she is, like a six-foot-three muscle-bound lost puppy.

And then there’s the small matter of Grace needing a date for her daughter’s wedding at the end of their week at camp… Ambushed by Love is a lighthearted and sexy opposites-attract rom com from the author of Skinny Dipping Dare and Take a Chance on Me.