And I Love Her Still

by Pamela Dean

It's 1988 and Kenny has landed a permanent position as a wildland firefighter, and she is ready for California's busy fire season. But what she is not prepared for is the handsome stranger who has moved to her small town. Losing her good friend Mitchell was a blow to not just her, but the whole community. Now in addition to the new guy in town she also has to deal with the chauvinist rookie on her engine crew. This fire season just got more complicated.
Best selling author Patrick Smith is struggling with his life- and writing. When he learns he's inherited property, he jumps at the opportunity to start a new life. But moving to a small rural town where his uncle was a legend is more complicated than he thought. The towns people seem to hate him and his publisher is expecting another hit series. Will he find the inspiration he needs among the sage brush and grump townsfolk or maybe even...love?

366 pages, Paperback

Published September 30, 2024

About the author

Pamela Dean lives in beautiful northern California with her husband and very spoiled golden retriever. A life long lover of books and writing, her first novel And I Love Her Still is a love letter to her past adventures as a wildland firefighter.
She is currently working on several more romantic comedies that contain bits and pieces of her very humorous life.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may be a little biased considering the Author is my Aunt BUT, this was seriously such a good read!! She does a great job of making you feel all the feels. At times I was giddy & kicking my feet, I was feeling anger, angst, & sadness. But the best part was literally laughing out loud a bunch of times. Long story short, I really enjoyed this book and hope to read future books from Ms. Pamela Dean!! Now I'm off to recommend this to my friends!

[AmyBeth T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great, easy romance from this first time author. I was excited to read this and it didn't disappoint - I was riveted the entire read and it was an absolute page turner for me. The characters were relatable and the humor and banter had me giggling many times. Definitely worth a reread and I'm looking forward to the next book!

[Tina Mickelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

And I Love Her Still is a journey through raw and complex emotions where one minute you’re flabbergasted at the gall of some egomaniacs behavior and the next moment you want to hug the grumpy scary bartender if you weren’t afraid he’d push you off your horse into a cow patty. The true gold is the main characters who navigate a through a society that doesn’t easily open doors and has preconceived assumptions about who they are, yet they not only see each others strengths but also appreciate and complement them. The multi generational connections are beautifully tied throughout a story about what it means to fit in, or stand out.

[Jill Center · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drew me in!

And I Love Her Still has the surprises of untold family stories and the comfort of likeable characters that make the time spent reading it a cozy blur. Do yourself a favor and grab a quilt, a cup of tea (or a milkshake), and read this book

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

And I Love Her Still tells the story of two main characters each working through their own struggles while their paths cross. He is looking for inspiration and a fresh start. She is looking to establish herself in a male-dominated industry while grieving the loss of a dear friend.

What I loved: I very much enjoyed the setting. The side characters were memorable and each had their own pieces of flare. I liked that the author pulled from personal experience in the forest fire world. I enjoyed the small details and found the MMC's claim to be a cowboy after riding a horse to be adorable, as well as his unhealthy obsession with milkshakes. I liked that as the slow burn in the romance took place, the author also slowly unfurled the mystery of what happened between the people who used to occupy the spaces the characters are living in now. It was creative and an excellent piece of storytelling.

So why not five stars? I found the MFC to be really hard to like for about 75% of the book. I get she's not feminine, but I found her to be unnecessarily crass at times. I also really disliked her decision making, especially when it came to her decision, or decision not to, take steps to protect a vulnerable minor and ultimately, it was upsetting. I'm also usually a cozy romance reader, so I would have appreciated some trigger warnings.

Altogether though, I think this is a really strong start for this author and I look forward to more of their work.

[Caitalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

And I Love Her Still by Pamela Deans is a tender, emotionally rich story that explores love, memory, and the quiet complexities of relationships. The writing is thoughtful and heartfelt, drawing the reader into the characters’ inner worlds with subtlety and care. While the pacing slows in places, the emotional payoff feels genuine and earned. It’s a moving, reflective read that lingers after the final page.