REVIEW: Back Home at Firefly Lake by Jen Gilroy

Back Home at Firefly Lake by Jen Gilroy is the third book in the Firefly Lake series. Despite the fact that characters from the previous books show up in this one, the book can be read as a standalone.

Single mother Cat McGuire has returned home to Firefly Lake. She was always awkward as a child, and dealing with her father’s crime didn’t help. Coming back home now has her feeling the same way. When her daughter, Amy, wants to sign up for hockey, Cat feels that she has to let her do it despite her feelings about the sport. The last thing she expected was to find out her childhood crush, Luc Simard, was coaching the all-boys team.

A former NHL player, Luc has returned to Firefly Lake as well after he lost not only his career but his wife and unborn child as well. He’s still struggling with the guilt he feels over her death. When he meets Amy and sees her play, he recognizes that she’s a special player who can really go places. He agrees to not only let her on the team, but agrees to mentor her as well, as well as attempting to find her a scholarship to go to hockey camp.

Both Luc and Cat are dealing with issues from their past that they need to move on from before they can have a future together. I loved the two of them together, and I really enjoyed how Luc and Amy interacted with one another.

I felt for poor Amy. She was so conflicted. On one hand she wanted a father, and Luc checked off all the boxes on her list of what was required of one. But on the other hand, she was worried that her mother falling in love with Luc would mean she wouldn’t love her as much anymore. She also worried that if they had a child, that she would be loved even less.

“Love doesn’t work that way, honey. The human heart stretches like a big rubber band so there’s always enough love to go around. How I love you is different from the way I love your grandma or Uncle Nick and Aunt Georgia, but it doesn’t man I love you any less.”

Back Home at Firefly Lake is a charming small-town, second-chance story. With well-written and relatable characters, readers both new and old to the series will enjoy it.
 

Book Info:

Publication: December 5, 2017 | Forever | Firefly Lake #3

Cat McGuire’s return to Firefly Lake is turning into much more than she bargained for. Sure, she missed the crisp pine-scented air and the comfort of having her family around her. But being home makes her feel less like the successful single mom she is–and more like the awkward teen who never fit in. It doesn’t help that hockey-pro Luc Simard is back in town, too. Luc was her childhood crush, the hometown hero who never noticed her, and yet somehow he still makes her heart skip a beat.

Luc’s homecoming has been bittersweet. He’s lost his wife and his career, but there’s no better place to start over than Firefly Lake. Coaching the local kids’ hockey team makes him feel alive again, and he thinks his life is complete–until Cat arrives. The shy girl he always wanted to protect is now the gorgeous woman who’s stealing his heart and making him believe in second chances. But how can he convince Cat that Firefly Lake is where she truly belongs?