REVIEW: The First Time at Firelight Falls by Julie Anne Long

In The First Time at Firelight Falls by Julie Anne Long, former Navy SEAL and now Hellcat Elementary principal Gabe Caldera is used to all the mothers flirting with him. All the mothers except the one he wants to flirt with back, single mother Eden Harwood. Eden is hesitant to get involved with Gabe, but as he proves he’s going to stand up for her and her daughter, the more she finds herself falling for him. But when Annelise’s father rides back into town, will Gabe be willing to stick around?

I felt for Annelise. She never knew who her father was, and neither did anyone else in town, including Eden’s family. Eden has kept it secret, which led Jan, the PTA president, to say things to her own daughter, who then used it to pick on Annelise. She a sweet girl who keeps getting called into the principal’s office because Jan blows up everything she does. For example, Jan has an issue with Annelise teaching her daughter a song from a musical.

Jan lowered her voice and stage-whispered, “A song that contains the words, ‘I’ll do you and your brother.’ And it includes…” She paused at such length that even he began to feel a little caught up in the suspense. “…the word ‘breast'”.
Oh, for crying out loud.
Days like these made being a Navy SEAL seem definitely easier than being an elementary school principal.

I understood why Eden may not have wanted Annelise’s father to know about her, but I found it hard to believe she wouldn’t tell her family who the father was. They were close-knit, which made it hard to buy. Even if she had initially been worried. anytime during the ten years of Annelise’s life she could have come clean.

I liked Gabe. Even though he was with Eden, he never played favorites with Annelise over the other students. He was open-minded and willing to hear everyone’s side of the story. He was also very patient with Eden, who initially has difficulty letting him in. I understood his jealousy and worry once Annelise’s father comes to town and is revealed, but I felt he could have handled it better. He could have been more supportive and understanding instead of pushing her away. His friend Mac, who happens to also be Eden’s brother-in-law, seemed to agree.

“Maybe you can cut her some slack. Maybe she was afraid of losing you, and she chickened out when she had those chances to tell you about him. Not everyone is Joe Courage like you are.”
“Joe Courage?” Gave snorted, incredulous.
But a second later, something Mac had just said settled on him and in sank a sort of uncomfortable truth: afraid of losing you.
He went quiet.
“Maybe she knows you better than you think. And she anticipated all of…” Mac gestured to Miserable Gabe and the beer. “…all of this. You acting like this. All broody and self-righteous.”

The First Time at Firelight Falls is a sweet story with some humor and drama. It can be read as a standalone; I haven’t read any of the other books in the series but had no issues following along with the characters in this one. I would recommend it to those who enjoy small town romances.

Book Info:

Publication: May 29, 2018 | Avon | Hellcat Canyon #4

Single mom Eden Harwood has a lively daughter, a blooming business—and a juicy secret she’s hung on to for ten years. She doesn’t mind a bit that there’s no room for romance in her whirlwind life . . . until six-foot-infinity, smoldery-eyed, bass-voiced Gabe Caldera reminds her of what she might be missing.

The principal of Hellcat Elementary is usually knee-deep in fawning PTA moms, but Gabe only has eyes for the fiery, funny, skittish redhead who barely knows he’s alive. But this ex-Navy SEAL never fails to get what he wants. And what he wants is to fan those sparks between him and Eden into the kind of bonfire you can see two counties away.

The passion is explosive . . . and the tenderness has them thinking about forever. But when Eden’s past waltzes into town for a reckoning, her secret blows them apart. Still, Gabe will never back down from a fight . . . especially if the ultimate prize is Eden’s heart.