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1st out of 19 books
—
7 voters
Fireside (Lakeshore Chronicles #5)
by
Susan Wiggs (Goodreads Author)
Baseball hopeful Bo Crutcher is about to get his shot at the majors. That is, until life throws him a curveball. When AJ, the son he's never met, lands on his doorstep, Bo's life becomes a whole new ball game. He needs help--fast.Enter Kimberly van Dorn. Hired to smooth Bo's rough exterior for the media, she expects the kind of shallow pro athlete she's used to handling. B...more
Paperback, 416 pages
Published
February 1st 2009
by Mira Books
(first published January 1st 2009)
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Mar 19, 2010
Rossy
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
cont. romance fans
Recommended to Rossy by:
series continuation
Who would have thought that after the portrayal of Kim as a man-stealing-slut her character would actually be so likeable? Not me that's for sure, but from the very beginning i could understand her better and sympathize with her past. I thought the way she handled her relationship with Bo and how she treated AJ was really great in my opinion.
Bo was not outdone either because he turned out to be such a bold and romantic guy after meeting AJ. I was glad he finally understood that the way he was l...more
Bo was not outdone either because he turned out to be such a bold and romantic guy after meeting AJ. I was glad he finally understood that the way he was l...more
I can't believe that this book is part of the Lakeshore Chronicles; a series that I have enjoyed reading uptil now. Fireside was such a disappointment! It's almost like I can't recognize this author anymore. Not even the recurrent characters of previous books could enthuse me.
The main characters in this one, Kim and Bo, are so flat and without any depth.
I should give it a "2" out of nostalgia, I suppose, because my heart goes back to the previous Lakeshore Chronicles. I'm not sure if I ever wan...more
The main characters in this one, Kim and Bo, are so flat and without any depth.
I should give it a "2" out of nostalgia, I suppose, because my heart goes back to the previous Lakeshore Chronicles. I'm not sure if I ever wan...more
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In Fireside he gets an opportunity that he never thought he would get, to play Major league baseball. But at the same time, he gets a frantic call from the mother of his son, and it may just be life changing. For the first time in twelve yea rs he'll have a chance to spend time with son. But he knows next to nothing on raising children.
Kimberly van Dorn, left LA after a rocky relationship with a pro athlete. Not only did the jerk breakup with her, he also fired her. She comes to Willow Lake for...more
Kimberly van Dorn, left LA after a rocky relationship with a pro athlete. Not only did the jerk breakup with her, he also fired her. She comes to Willow Lake for...more
Kimberly Vandorn comes home to Avalon with her tail between her legs after a nasty breakup with her celebrity athlete boyfriend and also PR client, jobless and a little broken Avalon seems like the perfect place to heel. Once she is home she discovers her mother has turned her family homestead into a boardinghouse, and the newest boarders are a newly paired father and son. (Did I mention that the father is the man she had a bad run in with at the airport after her all night flight from LA in her...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Contemporary sport (mostly the best sport: baseball!) themed romance story about finding your way as an adult and making families from loneliness and love.
Baseball and lady player, Bo Crutcher is at the crossroads of his life. He is almost too old to keep his dreams alive of going pro in the big leagues, when he has a small hope with the NYC Yankees, simultaneously suddenly he gets custody of his twelve year old son, AJ. He has never met this kid, but he has sent checks every week and presents f...more
Baseball and lady player, Bo Crutcher is at the crossroads of his life. He is almost too old to keep his dreams alive of going pro in the big leagues, when he has a small hope with the NYC Yankees, simultaneously suddenly he gets custody of his twelve year old son, AJ. He has never met this kid, but he has sent checks every week and presents f...more
You learn early in each book of this series who the couple is going to be, and get to watch the relationship develop from both points of view. I like that, even if the male point of view is written by a woman.
It bothered me that Yolanda did not share anything good about Bo with their son AJ. I'm sure she was hurt by their history, and understand trying to have her husband be her son's father figure. But her son deserved to know that his father did not abandon him, and Yolanda is portrayed as a g...more
It bothered me that Yolanda did not share anything good about Bo with their son AJ. I'm sure she was hurt by their history, and understand trying to have her husband be her son's father figure. But her son deserved to know that his father did not abandon him, and Yolanda is portrayed as a g...more
"Fireside" was my first experience with author Susan Wiggs, and I have to say, I'm not impressed. Despite a good premise for the plot and a decent effort at redeeming plot twists, this book as a whole doesn't merit even a mediocre rating.
The first problem I had with "Fireside" was its use of similes. Yes, illustrative language is important to set the scene, but it shouldn’t be so conspicuous and formulaic, not to mention overly abundant. Plus, they're almost all references to baseball! I underst...more
The first problem I had with "Fireside" was its use of similes. Yes, illustrative language is important to set the scene, but it shouldn’t be so conspicuous and formulaic, not to mention overly abundant. Plus, they're almost all references to baseball! I underst...more
Lovely, sweet romance. Always like a athlete hero, and Bo is a bit different because he's not the hot-shot, he's an older rookie getting his big break. Although the book is mostly leading up to his first season.
Kim is a sports PR director who gets dumped/fired by her superstar boyfriend and flies from LA to New York in a slinky evening gown with no underwear, stiletto heels and not much else. Quite enjoyed their first meeting, except I thought Kim was a bit of a jerk (he saves her from a moving...more
Kim is a sports PR director who gets dumped/fired by her superstar boyfriend and flies from LA to New York in a slinky evening gown with no underwear, stiletto heels and not much else. Quite enjoyed their first meeting, except I thought Kim was a bit of a jerk (he saves her from a moving...more
Bo Crutcher is a baseball hopeful about to get his chance at the majors and might get picked to play for the Yankees. When his long lost son A. J. lands on his doorstep, he needs help navigating parenthood. Bo shows up at Kimberly Van Dorn's mother's boarding house looking for a place to live. Kimberly is then hired to help Bo improve his rough image with the media. She expects him to be a shallow person but realizes he ia willing to sacrifice for his son. While KIm is training Bo to deal with t...more
... if the book was written the same way the last few chapters were (with legitimate character challenges, and situations that would allow someone to see another for who they really are)... this book would have been more enjoyable.
Things I liked:
the setting was new and different for me - I don't read too many books set in upstate New York.
the FMC was into sports - which would be cool if it were understated, but it wasn't.
The kids' voices were believable.
It was a sweet story, no bodice rippin...more
Things I liked:
the setting was new and different for me - I don't read too many books set in upstate New York.
the FMC was into sports - which would be cool if it were understated, but it wasn't.
The kids' voices were believable.
It was a sweet story, no bodice rippin...more
Jul 30, 2011
Sandy
added it
As Susan Wiggs is one of my all time favorite authors, it is always enjoyable to read one of her books. I have read the Lakeshore Chronicles from the beginning and enjoyed every one of them.
Susan does a great job of creating a new story line, for those who haven't read the series, yet bringing in characters from the previous books for those of us who are familiar.
Some may say that the writings of Susan Wiggs are somewhat predictable and they may be right to a point. For me, the storyline is very...more
Susan does a great job of creating a new story line, for those who haven't read the series, yet bringing in characters from the previous books for those of us who are familiar.
Some may say that the writings of Susan Wiggs are somewhat predictable and they may be right to a point. For me, the storyline is very...more
Loved the characters and Susan is an awesome author! Baseball hopeful Bo Crutcher is about to get his shot at the majors. That is, until life throws him a curveball. When AJ, the son he’s never met, lands on his doorstep, Bo’s life becomes a whole new ball game. He needs help—fast. Enter Kimberly van Dorn. Hired to smooth Bo’s rough exterior for the media, she expects the kind of shallow pro athlete she’s used to handling. But Bo is willing to sacrifice everything for his vulnerable son. Kim can...more
This was a cute story set back in Avalon. But even though it was in the community and there were past characters, it didn't have the same connection as the others as this is the first one without a Bellamy.
I did like Kim and Bo, but the story seemed a little contrived for me. Bo an almost baseball fan, Kim a sports PR person, and the third person who was just as important in their relationship, AJ, Bo's long lost son. The way that AJ and Bo's relationship started and grew was sweet, it mirrored...more
I did like Kim and Bo, but the story seemed a little contrived for me. Bo an almost baseball fan, Kim a sports PR person, and the third person who was just as important in their relationship, AJ, Bo's long lost son. The way that AJ and Bo's relationship started and grew was sweet, it mirrored...more
Reviewed by Maria Lokken
Kimberly Van Dorn is a mess. She’s flying coach, dressed in a sequin evening gown, wearing four inch strapless heels and accompanied by only one piece of ‘luggage’ a Judith Leiber handbag. Where is she going and what is she running from? We know this much, she’s just left the eternal sunshine of LA for the frigid winter of Willow Lake in upstate New York.
A media agent for superstar sports figures, Kimberly has traded in her job for what she believes will be the comfort h...more
Kimberly Van Dorn is a mess. She’s flying coach, dressed in a sequin evening gown, wearing four inch strapless heels and accompanied by only one piece of ‘luggage’ a Judith Leiber handbag. Where is she going and what is she running from? We know this much, she’s just left the eternal sunshine of LA for the frigid winter of Willow Lake in upstate New York.
A media agent for superstar sports figures, Kimberly has traded in her job for what she believes will be the comfort h...more
I have never read a Susan Wiggs book I didn't enjoy, and the Lakeshore Chronicles series is one of my favourites. This book, no.5 in the series didn't disappoint. Not only did we get a feisty young heroine, hunky, if flawed, hero, a troubled boy, a mother who's started a guesthouse and found happiness, but we also get to spend time with continuing characters and stories from earlier books. Also, womthing I really like, a bit of a chuckle here and there.
I feel this series has something in common...more
I feel this series has something in common...more
Most of my books reviews will have this disclaimer. Most of the books in my library are audiobooks. I prefer audiobooks especially on long trips. I feel that if the book is that bad at least my time was not a complete waste. With that said I liked this book. I bought this book in the middle of summer. I saw the cover and it gave me a sense of winter, Christmas, cold, you get the point,so I bought it. (yes, I judged this book by it's cover.) However, I liked the characters and the plot was easy t...more
I enjoyed this book, really, I did, BUT.... others in the series were better. I'd say it gets 3.75 stars. Bo's coming of age (as a parent) was well portrayed and I could feel his emotions for AJ growing with each page. I think if Bo loved Kim the way I felt like he did, his willingness to marry Yolanda would have been more complicated for him. AND...when things started going better in Mexico, he should have called Kim. Anyway, it all came together in the end and their love was redeemed. I hope...more
I loved the wintery cover on this novel and chose it as my holiday read. Perhaps, like me, your holidays are wonderful but rushed and reading goes to the backburner of priorities. This is my first Susan Wiggs novel and I'm pleased as Christmas punch to say it won't be my last. The very best scenario for reading a novel is a nice chunk of time - 3 hours, but with Fireside, I snatched 30 minutes here, 30 minutes there with a couple days in between my visits. And yet, despite the lack of a luxuriou...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I've read many of this author's books, but found this book very shallow and her agenda inaccurate. I happen to be from Texas City. As far as Houston doing immigration sweeps and ripping children out of mothers' arms is ludicrous. Houston and surrounding areas are sanctuary cities. Leave politics to that genre, I do not by books to read political opinions. If I wanted thst, I would turn on the news. She is so busy trying to beat you over the head with her opinions, the story doesn't flow.
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A lot of people seemed to have liked this book but I thought it was terrible. It was extremely repetitive and nothing really exciting happened either. Bo Crutcher is a soon-to-be NY Yankee .. how appropriate to read as their are in the World Series now (I'm a Met fan so that's sarcastic haha). But in all seriousness I wasn't fond of the book at all. If anything, it got better towards the last 100 pages but everything else didn't do it for me. I totally judged the book by it's cover (you should r...more
The fifth in the Lakeshore Chronicles, this one is a good follow-up to the fourth, which dealt in international law and terrorism and balancing one's life between career and family, something many of us have difficulty doing. This one deals with immigration and deportation, primarily of hispanics, with a minor theme of professional sports and public relations. It wrapped up too quickly, which is the only reason it lost a star. The rest was excellent.
I read this book out of order but it didn't matter. This story tells of Bo Crutcher, pitcher for the Can-Am baseball team, The Hornets, and Kimberly Van Dorn, sports publicist, who finds herself on a red-eye from LA dressed in evening gown and heels after a public and painful breakup with her boyfriend and client. Bo falls for her at first sight. She takes much longer. But Bo has bigger problems, mainly his son AJ. AJ's mom wanted Bo out of the picture, so Bo obliged except for child support. No...more
This is part of a series but doesn't appear that you need to have read the others to understand it. A total beach read about a female sports PR agent who was fired/dumped by her NBA player client/boyfriend who then returns home to a small town where her mother lives to start her life over. She meets baseball player Bo and the son he has just met and you can predict the rest. The book was a pleasant diversion but nothing unexpected here.
This is the first book I have read after losing my reading partner...my sister, my best friend. It isn't as much fun to read without having her to discuss the book with. Fireside is a Lakeside Chronicles book, the story of baseball player Bo Crutcher, his newfound 12-year old son and publicist Kimberly van Dorn. The usual characters from Avalon are present, indluding Noah, Sophie, Daisy and Max and the Bellamy family.
It was a quick, enjoyable read, even though very predictable.
It was a quick, enjoyable read, even though very predictable.
Took me long enough to finish this book, but had way too many things going on for the past couple weeks and won't be over until the middle of Aug. Anyway, very good story. Love the way Susan portrays baseball potential superstar and how he lovingly and with some major trepidation takes on a son he had never met and helps him resolve the problem of the imminent deportation of his Mom. It reminds one that issues such as illegals in this country are not black and white issues. There are some gray a...more
One of many examples of a good contemporary romance. The characters are all from a small picture postcard like town. This particular book focuses on a dad and his son who he has never seen, but who is suddenly brought into his life. My one issue with the book was about 150 pages in when at the end of a chapter it suddenly shifts to the story of another group of people living in the same town but with little to do with the original story.
I'm normally a gi-normous fan of Susan Wiggs. She writes stories about people in romance, not just the typical romance. I found this book very slow in the beginning, and half-way through it got better. I found the relationship lacking substance. This is one out of many that she has written, and it won't deter me from reading her. I still love her. This one was just not for me.
However, I REALLY appreciate the immigration aspect and father/son roles.
However, I REALLY appreciate the immigration aspect and father/son roles.
When life throws you a curve ball sit the inning out but don't count yourself out! This was a great story about the mistakes we make in our youth helping us shape who we become. Between the INS, the Yankees and a small little New England bed n breakfast these characters have a lot to work through to get where they want. Just remember life's lessons come from everywhere when you enjoy this book.
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Susan Wiggs's life is all about family, friends...and fiction. She lives at the water's edge on an island in Puget Sound, and she commutes to her writers' group in a 17-foot motorboat. She serves as author liaison for Field's End, a literary community on Bainbridge Island, Washington, bringing inspiration and instruction from the world's top authors to her seaside community. (See www.fieldsend.org...more
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