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Fireflies #2
Love to Believe
A woman in a man’s world…
CPA Rebecca Walker wields a hammer and saw with skill, but it’s like fighting tooth and nail to prove to her chauvinistic father that she’s capable of managing the family construction business. Romance is a luxury Rebecca can’t afford.
A man with secrets…
Thanks to his past, romance isn’t in Sean Kinkaid’s future, so when Rebecca proposes ‘friends with benefits,’ Sean agrees. It’s the perfect scenario until love sneaks in—and Sean’s secrets tear them apart.
Believe…
But Rebecca has a secret too, one she fears Sean will never accept. It will take intervention from an unlikely source to convince these two lovers they have the one thing neither of them ever expected to find…a love to believe.
CPA Rebecca Walker wields a hammer and saw with skill, but it’s like fighting tooth and nail to prove to her chauvinistic father that she’s capable of managing the family construction business. Romance is a luxury Rebecca can’t afford.
A man with secrets…
Thanks to his past, romance isn’t in Sean Kinkaid’s future, so when Rebecca proposes ‘friends with benefits,’ Sean agrees. It’s the perfect scenario until love sneaks in—and Sean’s secrets tear them apart.
Believe…
But Rebecca has a secret too, one she fears Sean will never accept. It will take intervention from an unlikely source to convince these two lovers they have the one thing neither of them ever expected to find…a love to believe.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 30, 2016
3 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Ricard Claro
24 books30 followersLisa Ricard Claro is an award-winning author and Pushcart Prize nominee whose work is published across multiple media to include articles, essays, short stories, children’s educational books, and her hands-down favorite: melt-your-heart Romance novels featuring unforgettable characters who tangle their lives and their hearts on the road to a life-changing love.
After years of spinning her stories from a landlocked Southern town, Lisa heeded the call of her inner mermaid and moved to the beach with her husband, cat, and two dogs, because nothing soothes her spirit and sparks her creativity like saltwater and sand. Margaritas are also a plus, because mermaids love that salty stuff!
Lisa also has a heart for rescues, and you’ll find a rescued pet companion in every one of her books. After all, even if messy and covered in fur, love is what life is all about.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 21, 2016
Rebecca doesn't want commitment, she just wants a "friends with benefits" kind of relationship. She doesn't have any painful past when it comes to relationships, she's just not ready and haven't found the one who can keep up with her and acknowledge her crazy schedule. Something her present boyfriend Nate doesn't understand nor accept.
Sean Kinkaid vows to stay single forever, he doesn't see himself having a wife and kids in the foreseeable future. But when he occasionally meets up with his family, Rebecca is always there to lighten up the mood. His brother Jack died a few years ago and left Maddie, whom he treats like a sister. Then Maddie fell in love with Caleb, Rebecca's brother, so their paths always meet. Sean can't help but get closed to her, until they come up with an agreement - an agreement that will benefit the both of them.
Is love possibly in the cards for them in the future? Or will they stay commitment-phobic until ine of them surrenders?
Love to Believe reminds me of Sarah Addison Allen's books. Love stories with a touch of magical realism. Although this one by Lisa Ricard Claro is pure contemporary, her novel was quite magical and captivating.
I liked how the dead brother Jack sent signs and answers to Rebecca and Sean. I liked how Rebecca proved her worth to her father who never wanted her to work in a man's world. I liked how Sean can be sweet and funny and smart in controlled situations. I liked that they have a strong circle of friends who never lets them down. I liked that this isn't insta-love, either.
And lastly, I liked how the author gives an insight of other beautiful things to come. Can't wait to read Brenna's story next!
Sean Kinkaid vows to stay single forever, he doesn't see himself having a wife and kids in the foreseeable future. But when he occasionally meets up with his family, Rebecca is always there to lighten up the mood. His brother Jack died a few years ago and left Maddie, whom he treats like a sister. Then Maddie fell in love with Caleb, Rebecca's brother, so their paths always meet. Sean can't help but get closed to her, until they come up with an agreement - an agreement that will benefit the both of them.
Is love possibly in the cards for them in the future? Or will they stay commitment-phobic until ine of them surrenders?
Love to Believe reminds me of Sarah Addison Allen's books. Love stories with a touch of magical realism. Although this one by Lisa Ricard Claro is pure contemporary, her novel was quite magical and captivating.
I liked how the dead brother Jack sent signs and answers to Rebecca and Sean. I liked how Rebecca proved her worth to her father who never wanted her to work in a man's world. I liked how Sean can be sweet and funny and smart in controlled situations. I liked that they have a strong circle of friends who never lets them down. I liked that this isn't insta-love, either.
And lastly, I liked how the author gives an insight of other beautiful things to come. Can't wait to read Brenna's story next!
October 8, 2019
Kindly received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Actual Ratings : 3.85 stars
This was an absolute treat. A cute love story that had my toes curling in cuteness from the beginning to the end. This was one of those cleaner stories (if you get what I mean) but still it didn’t stop the book from being smoking hot. The romance sizzled from the beginning to the end. Although the ending was slightly cliched it managed to make me smile. A fast moving plot along with amazing characters sure did manage to make the book a good hit.
As with most books in series, I’m dying to read Brenna’s and Dante’s story. Theirs seem as it would be a good roller coaster ride with their constant bickering.
Actual Ratings : 3.85 stars
This was an absolute treat. A cute love story that had my toes curling in cuteness from the beginning to the end. This was one of those cleaner stories (if you get what I mean) but still it didn’t stop the book from being smoking hot. The romance sizzled from the beginning to the end. Although the ending was slightly cliched it managed to make me smile. A fast moving plot along with amazing characters sure did manage to make the book a good hit.
As with most books in series, I’m dying to read Brenna’s and Dante’s story. Theirs seem as it would be a good roller coaster ride with their constant bickering.
April 28, 2016
Rebecca works hard at her family's business. She's currently managing it, and managing it well, even if her father would never admit it. Work comes first right now, above all else, even her personal life. Sean is a lawyer who blames himself for past occurrences. His sense of guilt is almost overwhelming at times and he is still punishing himself. Convinced he'll never have another long term relationship, that a committed relationship is not for him, he'd rather have a friend with benefits. Rebecca is sure that's what she wants too. Her current boyfriend wants so much more than she is willing to or can give - hence their break up. Connected through family, Rebecca and Sean have a friendly, fun, light friendship filled with teasing, great banter, and a lot of sexual innuendo.
When Rebecca and Sean decide to have a no strings attached, very physical relationship, what can go wrong? When they both enter into their agreement, the stirrings and feelings are already there even if they're pushed deep down. Is this really what they want? When the unexpected happens, will it work or hurt?
I thoroughly enjoyed Love to Believe! Filled with heat, all kinds of relationships from family, to friend to foe, Love to Believe enchanted me and Lisa kept me intrigued through out. I really liked Sean and Rebecca. Their relationship and feelings were all over the place, and they felt so real. They were fun, emotional, and a great hero and heroine to get to know. I had to keep reading to see how, or even if, they'd get a happy ending. The interactions between them, misunderstandings and all were realistic and brought these characters vividly to life. I had a great time being part of their journey!
The characters from the first Fireflies book (Love Built to Last) are very prominent in Love to Believe, and I liked the way they flowed into this story. I would highly recommend reading Love Built to Last before reading Love to Believe to get the whole picture and experience!
Lisa filled Love to Believe with hope, a little bit of magic, animals, the expected and the unexpected. Family and family relationships play a big role in Love to Believe, both alive and dead, and Lisa did this in a believable, inspiring way.
Love to Believe is an exhilarating, emotional, entertaining read that flows fast and smooth. I can't wait to read the next book in this series! I'd highly recommend Love to Believe to any romance reader!!
When Rebecca and Sean decide to have a no strings attached, very physical relationship, what can go wrong? When they both enter into their agreement, the stirrings and feelings are already there even if they're pushed deep down. Is this really what they want? When the unexpected happens, will it work or hurt?
I thoroughly enjoyed Love to Believe! Filled with heat, all kinds of relationships from family, to friend to foe, Love to Believe enchanted me and Lisa kept me intrigued through out. I really liked Sean and Rebecca. Their relationship and feelings were all over the place, and they felt so real. They were fun, emotional, and a great hero and heroine to get to know. I had to keep reading to see how, or even if, they'd get a happy ending. The interactions between them, misunderstandings and all were realistic and brought these characters vividly to life. I had a great time being part of their journey!
The characters from the first Fireflies book (Love Built to Last) are very prominent in Love to Believe, and I liked the way they flowed into this story. I would highly recommend reading Love Built to Last before reading Love to Believe to get the whole picture and experience!
Lisa filled Love to Believe with hope, a little bit of magic, animals, the expected and the unexpected. Family and family relationships play a big role in Love to Believe, both alive and dead, and Lisa did this in a believable, inspiring way.
Love to Believe is an exhilarating, emotional, entertaining read that flows fast and smooth. I can't wait to read the next book in this series! I'd highly recommend Love to Believe to any romance reader!!
February 6, 2016
The only reason why Love Built to Last received 4.5 of 5 stars was because I fell in love with this title, Love to Believe, just a little bit more. I enjoyed every moment of Rebecca and Sean's love story -- from their comical moments (they truly have a solid friendship, regardless of how long they've known one another), to their scared and disbelief moments. Rebecca and Sean's was a bit of a rocky journey at times...
One of our characters' first conversations actually is about Maddie, from Love Built to Last. With that conversation, the reader gets even more clarity of how much Maddie means to the Kinkaid clan. Sean and Rebecca know one another because of their families -- Sean is Maddie's brother-in-law, and Rebecca is Caleb's sister. When Rebecca runs late for the engagement party of Maddie and Caleb, it's Sean who picks her up -- and right away, as a reader you get a sense of what a fun coupling they are going to be.
They're joking with one another (such as Caleb 'confusing' Rebecca's boyfriend's name as Tate even when just seconds before she corrected him and said 'Nate') and have a 'point' system (such as, ooh, burn, point goes to...). I absolutely loved these two -- especially because they think they can have a 'friends with benefits' relationship and not have it fail on them...
Both have heard the 'Jack' stories from Maddie and Caleb, and while they don't necessarily believe it fully, they know that Maddie and Caleb believe it's true, so Rebecca and Sean find solace in that. However, when little 'coincidences' start happening in their own lives (with emotional ups and downs and relationship backs and forths), perhaps Jack is playing a hand in their story, too.
Definitely adorable and fun, with just enough emotional grief to keep the story feeling real. Rebecca and Sean's story has many ups and downs, and the way this one ends... Well, it makes my heart extremely happy.
Next up is Brenna Kinkaid, another sibling Jack left behind... along with her so-called nemesis, Dante, and let me tell you, their interactions have been so fun thus far! I can't wait to watch these two butt heads and decide that maybe there's a little something more...
*received a copy of the title in exchange for an honest review.
One of our characters' first conversations actually is about Maddie, from Love Built to Last. With that conversation, the reader gets even more clarity of how much Maddie means to the Kinkaid clan. Sean and Rebecca know one another because of their families -- Sean is Maddie's brother-in-law, and Rebecca is Caleb's sister. When Rebecca runs late for the engagement party of Maddie and Caleb, it's Sean who picks her up -- and right away, as a reader you get a sense of what a fun coupling they are going to be.
They're joking with one another (such as Caleb 'confusing' Rebecca's boyfriend's name as Tate even when just seconds before she corrected him and said 'Nate') and have a 'point' system (such as, ooh, burn, point goes to...). I absolutely loved these two -- especially because they think they can have a 'friends with benefits' relationship and not have it fail on them...
Both have heard the 'Jack' stories from Maddie and Caleb, and while they don't necessarily believe it fully, they know that Maddie and Caleb believe it's true, so Rebecca and Sean find solace in that. However, when little 'coincidences' start happening in their own lives (with emotional ups and downs and relationship backs and forths), perhaps Jack is playing a hand in their story, too.
Definitely adorable and fun, with just enough emotional grief to keep the story feeling real. Rebecca and Sean's story has many ups and downs, and the way this one ends... Well, it makes my heart extremely happy.
Next up is Brenna Kinkaid, another sibling Jack left behind... along with her so-called nemesis, Dante, and let me tell you, their interactions have been so fun thus far! I can't wait to watch these two butt heads and decide that maybe there's a little something more...
*received a copy of the title in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2017
Rebecca Walker has chosen a tough path. She is a woman in what is accepted as a man’s world. Being a woman in the construction business is certainly not easy. To top that she has a very conservative father who refuses to look past his daughter’s gender and entertain the idea that Rebecca could successfully takeover and handle his business one day. She knows she will have to fight tooth and nail to make her father see her as the talented and deserving individual that she is. Sean Kinkaid has a past that has him swear off relationships for good. He has no interest in looking for ‘the one’ nor does he believe in happily ever-after. These two people come to a friends with benefits sort of agreement as neither has the time or inclination for love. Over time, they cannot deny their chemistry or the fact that they might actually be falling in love with each other.
Rebecca reminded me of ‘Paige Hemmis’ from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Paige was in the show for carpentry and the only woman on the construction crew. She always carried a pink tool belt and I absolutely adored her for being one of the ‘guys’ yet maintaining her individuality on the show. For this reason I felt an instant connection to Rebecca. Besides, being a woman myself, I know how much harder women have to work just to ‘prove themselves’. Sean is a charmer for sure. He is sweet, witty and has a caring nature. It was easy to understand why Rebecca would eventually fall for him. The secondary characters in the book are equally well fleshed out and each adds to the elements of the story. It is really an endearing group of people. The story is emotionally packed from all ends and as such it is a heartwarming story. And the authors’ story telling compliments the plot – simple and cheery for most parts.
Overall, this is a complete entertainer and romance lovers are bound to enjoy it quite a bit. I hope to pick up the other books in the series.
Rebecca reminded me of ‘Paige Hemmis’ from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Paige was in the show for carpentry and the only woman on the construction crew. She always carried a pink tool belt and I absolutely adored her for being one of the ‘guys’ yet maintaining her individuality on the show. For this reason I felt an instant connection to Rebecca. Besides, being a woman myself, I know how much harder women have to work just to ‘prove themselves’. Sean is a charmer for sure. He is sweet, witty and has a caring nature. It was easy to understand why Rebecca would eventually fall for him. The secondary characters in the book are equally well fleshed out and each adds to the elements of the story. It is really an endearing group of people. The story is emotionally packed from all ends and as such it is a heartwarming story. And the authors’ story telling compliments the plot – simple and cheery for most parts.
Overall, this is a complete entertainer and romance lovers are bound to enjoy it quite a bit. I hope to pick up the other books in the series.
February 24, 2016
When Lisa Richard Claro wrote Love Built to Last, she wrote a good book. With the second title in the Fireflies series, she wrote even a better one. Love to Believe has all the elements readers look for in a good romance novel. A handsome, sexy man and a strong, intelligent woman meet and are drawn into the same social circles due to family connections. Sexual tension is electrical, and the heroine has a fast and clever mouth full of delightful innuendo. What starts as lustful relationship with heat and vigor turns to love for both.
The story has animals, children, and family in the background as two people find the meaning of love. The relationships are believable and soothing for readers who like to bury themselves in a small town community stocked with people who feel like one’s neighbors by the end of the book. The novel is full of the ups and downs of life in general. Add a dash of miracles that are sprinkled throughout the story, and readers learn to believe right along with Sean and Rebecca.
Readers will be disappointed only if they miss reading the romance and love story in Love to Believe.
The story has animals, children, and family in the background as two people find the meaning of love. The relationships are believable and soothing for readers who like to bury themselves in a small town community stocked with people who feel like one’s neighbors by the end of the book. The novel is full of the ups and downs of life in general. Add a dash of miracles that are sprinkled throughout the story, and readers learn to believe right along with Sean and Rebecca.
Readers will be disappointed only if they miss reading the romance and love story in Love to Believe.
April 25, 2020
I am so enjoying this series! Sean Kincaid and Rebecca Walker are made for each other even if they want to keep things simple with no strings attached...yeah right...Rebecca just wants to run the family business but her father only sees her as a "girl" even though her brother Caleb is pushing for her to run the business and she has been for months successfully. With Caleb and Maddie getting married and Sean and Rebecca are in the same place often and finally decide to act on all those feelings. Oh, until those feelings turn into more and produce consequences...will they figure it out before everything explodes? This one was so good!
November 12, 2019
A great story. Rebecca and Sean were pure chemistry together. Their romance was spectacular. I enjoyed their character development and catching up with the other characters from book one.
September 26, 2023
Awesome ❤️❤️
March 18, 2017
So, the first book was so fabulous that I couldn’t wait to start on the second book, Love to Believe. Again, I was so enthralled with the story, I could hardly put the book down. The story focuses on Rebecca, one of the characters in the first book and how she finds love in her life. I really enjoy how the characters all connect with one another and the more I read, the more I feel as if I know these people in real life. I did have to force myself to stop reading in order to cook dinner one night!
February 24, 2017
I read book one in this series (Love Built To Last) and I loved it. I was full of anticipation when Love To Believe came to the top of my Kindle TBR list and the book did not disappoint me.
I love a series that carries family members and friends from book to book, yet you can read each one as stand alone, and while they weren’t the main characters it was wonderful to connect with Caleb and Maddie and the rest of the family from Book One
CPA Rebecca Walker is talented and capable. She has temporarily taken over her father’s construction business and is doing a terrific job, but her dad is old-fashioned and very conservative, and he only sees her as a woman instead of the strong capable person she is. In his mind, it is too dangerous for his daughter to be working on site in a “mans world”. He’d be happy if she worked in the office, but no matter how hard she works to prove she can handle the job, he refuses to recognize her outstanding accomplishments in the field.
Sean Kinkaid is a lawyer. He is also charming, handsome, reliable and hot. But he has a secret that prevents him from getting serious about relationships. He knows he will never get married and have a family.
Rebecca has secrets too. She doesn’t have time or the inclination to get involved in a relationship, but she thinks Sean and she could have a perfect “friends with benefits” relationship. No emotional ties, just companionship and great sex. But the best laid plans have flaws!
I love , Lisa Ricard Claro’s writing style. Witty dialogue, flawed, believable characters who are so real you feel you know them and a plot that keeps you glued to the pages.
I will be reading Book 3 and am confident that I will be very entertained! I highly recommend this author's work.
I love a series that carries family members and friends from book to book, yet you can read each one as stand alone, and while they weren’t the main characters it was wonderful to connect with Caleb and Maddie and the rest of the family from Book One
CPA Rebecca Walker is talented and capable. She has temporarily taken over her father’s construction business and is doing a terrific job, but her dad is old-fashioned and very conservative, and he only sees her as a woman instead of the strong capable person she is. In his mind, it is too dangerous for his daughter to be working on site in a “mans world”. He’d be happy if she worked in the office, but no matter how hard she works to prove she can handle the job, he refuses to recognize her outstanding accomplishments in the field.
Sean Kinkaid is a lawyer. He is also charming, handsome, reliable and hot. But he has a secret that prevents him from getting serious about relationships. He knows he will never get married and have a family.
Rebecca has secrets too. She doesn’t have time or the inclination to get involved in a relationship, but she thinks Sean and she could have a perfect “friends with benefits” relationship. No emotional ties, just companionship and great sex. But the best laid plans have flaws!
I love , Lisa Ricard Claro’s writing style. Witty dialogue, flawed, believable characters who are so real you feel you know them and a plot that keeps you glued to the pages.
I will be reading Book 3 and am confident that I will be very entertained! I highly recommend this author's work.
December 24, 2018
Love to Believe is the second small-town romance in Lisa Ricard Claro’s Fireflies series. While an enjoyable standalone, the main characters met in the first book, when we got to know both the Walker and Kincaid families. Sean and Rebecca became friends, the kind that joke and toss around innuendos. But when things go south in Rebecca’s dating life, they propose a no-strings-attached arrangement to satisfy their itches. Of course, the more time they spend together, the more they realize how perfect they are together and fall in love. Unfortunately, secrets and misunderstandings get in the way of happiness.
I simply adore the Fireflies series. The small-town setting is quaint and comforting. The author describes the locale, with its businesses and denizens, in enough detail and care to make it feel real. And while I love the setting, the characters are the heart of the story. In Love to Believe, the author layers in additional attributes and backstories to further build upon the foundation created in her first story.
Rebecca is doing the job of two people at her dad’s construction business yet he continues to push to keep her behind a desk. She’s frustrated and learns to confide in Sean, bringing the pair closer. Sean opens up and shares things about his past he hasn’t told anyone else. The pair become best friends over time and don’t realize they’ve fallen in love until it’s too late. I love that we are privy to their feelings and witness the organic progression of their relationship. However, when misunderstandings tear the couple apart, it’s the lack of communication that does the most damage. Normally I get frustrated by that, but the story is written with so much detail and emotion that the extra length it takes for them to clear the air works for me. And as in the first book, Sean’s deceased brother Jack steps in with some guidance to help bring the couple together. I am so glad the author included that aspect of the storyline again.
Narration: as with the first book in the series, Love to Believe is wonderfully narrated by Pam Dougherty. The story is shared in the third person narrative of Rebecca and Sean. Ms. Dougherty uses the same feminine voice for narrator throughout the book, changing the tone and cadence for dialogue. Her southern accent fits the Georgian characters. The male voices are fairly light and feminine, however deeper than the female and narrator. Even though there isn’t a huge difference in each character’s sound, I can tell who is who. It’s more the way the narrator talks than her actual tone. Each character has its own cadence and rhythm, making it unique.
Love to Believe is an all-around feel good book. I adore the characters, and the narration is perfect. I love the big family atmosphere and how much everyone cares about the other. The author provides lots of little details that make the setting and characters so real. In the end, the romance made my heart happy and that’s saying a lot.
My Ratings:
Book: A
Narration: A
Review copy provided by the author
I simply adore the Fireflies series. The small-town setting is quaint and comforting. The author describes the locale, with its businesses and denizens, in enough detail and care to make it feel real. And while I love the setting, the characters are the heart of the story. In Love to Believe, the author layers in additional attributes and backstories to further build upon the foundation created in her first story.
Rebecca is doing the job of two people at her dad’s construction business yet he continues to push to keep her behind a desk. She’s frustrated and learns to confide in Sean, bringing the pair closer. Sean opens up and shares things about his past he hasn’t told anyone else. The pair become best friends over time and don’t realize they’ve fallen in love until it’s too late. I love that we are privy to their feelings and witness the organic progression of their relationship. However, when misunderstandings tear the couple apart, it’s the lack of communication that does the most damage. Normally I get frustrated by that, but the story is written with so much detail and emotion that the extra length it takes for them to clear the air works for me. And as in the first book, Sean’s deceased brother Jack steps in with some guidance to help bring the couple together. I am so glad the author included that aspect of the storyline again.
Narration: as with the first book in the series, Love to Believe is wonderfully narrated by Pam Dougherty. The story is shared in the third person narrative of Rebecca and Sean. Ms. Dougherty uses the same feminine voice for narrator throughout the book, changing the tone and cadence for dialogue. Her southern accent fits the Georgian characters. The male voices are fairly light and feminine, however deeper than the female and narrator. Even though there isn’t a huge difference in each character’s sound, I can tell who is who. It’s more the way the narrator talks than her actual tone. Each character has its own cadence and rhythm, making it unique.
Love to Believe is an all-around feel good book. I adore the characters, and the narration is perfect. I love the big family atmosphere and how much everyone cares about the other. The author provides lots of little details that make the setting and characters so real. In the end, the romance made my heart happy and that’s saying a lot.
My Ratings:
Book: A
Narration: A
Review copy provided by the author
March 24, 2016
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
After reading Love Built To Last, the first book in the Fireflies series, I was curious to read more about these fascinating and funny characters. Lisa may not bring the steam in her books but she does create engrossing story lines and characters who pull on your heart strings and make you laugh. In Love To Believe we revisit characters of two different families that are brought together by Maddie, her deceased husband Jack, and her new love Caleb. In this series the ghost of Jack is playing match maker and finding the happy ever after for all of his loved ones. This time he is pairing his brother Sean Kincaid with Caleb's sister Rebecca. Rebecca and Sean are full of passion, angst, and humor. They keep a reader engaged and interested and unable to stop reading.
Rebecca has been helping run her father's construction business since he had a heart attack. She is beautiful, intelligent, and capable. What she is looking for is a man who understands that she doesn't have time to dote on a relationship and is just looking for sexual gratification. When the sexy Sean, a family friend, is looking for the same type of “arrangement”, she agrees to sex and nothing more. What could go wrong? Only everything once hearts get involved and secrets are kept hidden. Rebecca is feisty heroine, with witty comebacks who can hold her own in a “man's world” and can bring them to their knees when need be.
Sean Kincaid is a hot shot city lawyer who has changed his life completely after moving home to be with his family after Jack's death. Sean carries around guilt and a secret that doesn't allow him to give of his heart freely. That is until a gorgeous curly haired red headed temptress with green eyes agrees to his no strings attached relationship. Now he must come to terms with his past or risk losing Rebecca. Sean is a hot, stubborn hero who has a big heart filled with so much guilt that you can't help but fill sympathy for him.
Lisa delivers a clean romance that is big on heart. You can't help but fall in love with the characters and look forward to visiting them again in future books. I cannot wait to read more of Jack's match making stories, he is the glue that holds these families together and helps them find true love. I highly recommend for a romance with a family you can't resist and that aims straight for the heart.
After reading Love Built To Last, the first book in the Fireflies series, I was curious to read more about these fascinating and funny characters. Lisa may not bring the steam in her books but she does create engrossing story lines and characters who pull on your heart strings and make you laugh. In Love To Believe we revisit characters of two different families that are brought together by Maddie, her deceased husband Jack, and her new love Caleb. In this series the ghost of Jack is playing match maker and finding the happy ever after for all of his loved ones. This time he is pairing his brother Sean Kincaid with Caleb's sister Rebecca. Rebecca and Sean are full of passion, angst, and humor. They keep a reader engaged and interested and unable to stop reading.
Rebecca has been helping run her father's construction business since he had a heart attack. She is beautiful, intelligent, and capable. What she is looking for is a man who understands that she doesn't have time to dote on a relationship and is just looking for sexual gratification. When the sexy Sean, a family friend, is looking for the same type of “arrangement”, she agrees to sex and nothing more. What could go wrong? Only everything once hearts get involved and secrets are kept hidden. Rebecca is feisty heroine, with witty comebacks who can hold her own in a “man's world” and can bring them to their knees when need be.
Sean Kincaid is a hot shot city lawyer who has changed his life completely after moving home to be with his family after Jack's death. Sean carries around guilt and a secret that doesn't allow him to give of his heart freely. That is until a gorgeous curly haired red headed temptress with green eyes agrees to his no strings attached relationship. Now he must come to terms with his past or risk losing Rebecca. Sean is a hot, stubborn hero who has a big heart filled with so much guilt that you can't help but fill sympathy for him.
Lisa delivers a clean romance that is big on heart. You can't help but fall in love with the characters and look forward to visiting them again in future books. I cannot wait to read more of Jack's match making stories, he is the glue that holds these families together and helps them find true love. I highly recommend for a romance with a family you can't resist and that aims straight for the heart.
April 24, 2016
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf
Love To Believe is one of those magical love stories that doesn’t actually contain “magic” as we’d define it – more like a gentle push from the beyond. It’s full of family, friends and that little extra that takes a story from good to amazing simply by delivery and the way these characters come alive and real to the reader.
Rebecca wasn’t looking for love – she honestly didn’t have time for love. She’s a strong woman with a solid career, but the one thing she hasn’t achieved yet is proving to her old fashioned, it’s a man’s world thinking father who simply cannot believe that a woman can run his construction business as well as (if not better than) he can… that she is more than capable, she shines at it. So she really cannot allow romantic entanglements to get in the way of what she desperately needs to prove to her father and herself. But… she certainly wouldn’t pass up a friends with benefits relationship with the handsome, sexy Sean. No, she could definitely make time to indulge in that pass time.
Sean has sworn off of relationships. Love is not for him and he’s okay with that (for the most part). But Rebecca draws him, makes his think that maybe she’s the one worth taking a risk on.. before he reminds himself why he wants no part of a happily every after affair. Yet that classic friends with benefits possibility grabs his attention and he is most definitely on board to spend some sexy times with this strong, lovely lady.
Neither one expected love to enter into their relationship – or for that magical, gentle push from a source that neither one was sure they really believed was possible.
I completely enjoyed my time in Rebecca and Sean’s love story. Love To Believe is a slice of life, where nothing is truly perfect but that’s what makes their story so realistic and believable. The secondary characters help to make this a true gem with their interactions with our couple, and a look back to the first story in the Fireflies series. It’s a story that will pull you in and keep you captured until the final page. Indulge yourself with a really good, solid love story – I believe you’ll enjoy it immensely and look forward to the next story in this series, I know I am.
*I received an e-ARC of Love To Believe from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*
Love To Believe is one of those magical love stories that doesn’t actually contain “magic” as we’d define it – more like a gentle push from the beyond. It’s full of family, friends and that little extra that takes a story from good to amazing simply by delivery and the way these characters come alive and real to the reader.
Rebecca wasn’t looking for love – she honestly didn’t have time for love. She’s a strong woman with a solid career, but the one thing she hasn’t achieved yet is proving to her old fashioned, it’s a man’s world thinking father who simply cannot believe that a woman can run his construction business as well as (if not better than) he can… that she is more than capable, she shines at it. So she really cannot allow romantic entanglements to get in the way of what she desperately needs to prove to her father and herself. But… she certainly wouldn’t pass up a friends with benefits relationship with the handsome, sexy Sean. No, she could definitely make time to indulge in that pass time.
Sean has sworn off of relationships. Love is not for him and he’s okay with that (for the most part). But Rebecca draws him, makes his think that maybe she’s the one worth taking a risk on.. before he reminds himself why he wants no part of a happily every after affair. Yet that classic friends with benefits possibility grabs his attention and he is most definitely on board to spend some sexy times with this strong, lovely lady.
Neither one expected love to enter into their relationship – or for that magical, gentle push from a source that neither one was sure they really believed was possible.
I completely enjoyed my time in Rebecca and Sean’s love story. Love To Believe is a slice of life, where nothing is truly perfect but that’s what makes their story so realistic and believable. The secondary characters help to make this a true gem with their interactions with our couple, and a look back to the first story in the Fireflies series. It’s a story that will pull you in and keep you captured until the final page. Indulge yourself with a really good, solid love story – I believe you’ll enjoy it immensely and look forward to the next story in this series, I know I am.
*I received an e-ARC of Love To Believe from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*
January 27, 2016
This book has lots of feels – I loved it!
Love to Believe connects to book one with the same rich cast of secondary characters that were found in Love Built to Last but features the story of Rebecca and Sean and can be read as a standalone.
Once again, Lisa Ricard Claro has crafted a story that I couldn’t put down once I started it; I did absolutely nothing but read this book from beginning to end on the same day I started it. I laughed and I cried while reading this and that’s the best kind of book to me.
Rebecca is a strong woman and she has a busy life running, albeit temporarily, her father’s construction business. She has no desire to have a serious relationship and when the man she’s seeing tries to move things to the next level she breaks it off. Enter Sean, someone she met through her brother.
Sean has demons from his past plaguing him and he also wants no part of a serious relationship; he only dates women he knows he could never fall in love with – until Rebecca. Against his better judgment he agrees to have a “friends with benefits” (FWB) relationship and things are wonderful… for a while.
With their two families about to be joined by marriage – Rebecca’s brother, Caleb, is marrying Maddie, the wife of Sean’s dead brother, Jack – they keep their relationship a secret believing that it will be less awkward for everyone when it ends.
Sean and Rebecca both break their FWB agreement; they fall in love but neither will admit it to the other. After they break up Rebecca calls Sean for help when she gets into trouble even though she never wanted to see him again.
This is such a great love story. Lisa has used a tried and true romance trope but in such a way that I didn’t really see it coming. I wish my review could do the writing justice. Unfortunately I just don’t know how to write the words to describe how good I think this book is.
If you are looking for a great love story, with lots of heat but no explicit sexy time, then I recommend you get a copy of this book. Unlike a lot of popular books these days this story has very few curse words but Sean does have a bit of a potty mouth and feeds a swear jar from time to time. :-)
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review but I also purchased a copy because I loved it so much.
Love to Believe connects to book one with the same rich cast of secondary characters that were found in Love Built to Last but features the story of Rebecca and Sean and can be read as a standalone.
Once again, Lisa Ricard Claro has crafted a story that I couldn’t put down once I started it; I did absolutely nothing but read this book from beginning to end on the same day I started it. I laughed and I cried while reading this and that’s the best kind of book to me.
Rebecca is a strong woman and she has a busy life running, albeit temporarily, her father’s construction business. She has no desire to have a serious relationship and when the man she’s seeing tries to move things to the next level she breaks it off. Enter Sean, someone she met through her brother.
Sean has demons from his past plaguing him and he also wants no part of a serious relationship; he only dates women he knows he could never fall in love with – until Rebecca. Against his better judgment he agrees to have a “friends with benefits” (FWB) relationship and things are wonderful… for a while.
With their two families about to be joined by marriage – Rebecca’s brother, Caleb, is marrying Maddie, the wife of Sean’s dead brother, Jack – they keep their relationship a secret believing that it will be less awkward for everyone when it ends.
Sean and Rebecca both break their FWB agreement; they fall in love but neither will admit it to the other. After they break up Rebecca calls Sean for help when she gets into trouble even though she never wanted to see him again.
This is such a great love story. Lisa has used a tried and true romance trope but in such a way that I didn’t really see it coming. I wish my review could do the writing justice. Unfortunately I just don’t know how to write the words to describe how good I think this book is.
If you are looking for a great love story, with lots of heat but no explicit sexy time, then I recommend you get a copy of this book. Unlike a lot of popular books these days this story has very few curse words but Sean does have a bit of a potty mouth and feeds a swear jar from time to time. :-)
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review but I also purchased a copy because I loved it so much.
June 9, 2016
4 1/2 stars!
This is a wonderful love story that's emotionally captivating. The characters are the type of friends and family that everyone would love to have in their lives, and I couldn't stop laughing at the banter and crazy antics between them. It had a terrific storyline that brought out a wide range of emotions, lots of humor throughout, and intriguing twists that will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next. The only issue that I had was the lack of a response from the heroine regarding her stalker. She feels like she's being watched and followed almost from the beginning of the story, but each time she claims she's just being paranoid and never discusses it with anyone. After she reveals that she was the victim/survivor of an attack in college and learned self defense afterwards, her response to her current situation just doesn't seem logical or real. After her attack, there are several details that were left out, and after a couple of brief mentions, it was not brought up again. This honestly has a very small part throughout the entire book, but what is there needed work.
This is the first time I have read anything from this author, and I was pleasantly surprised. The story is well written, has a smooth flow, and I love the way she focuses on family and rescue animals. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
Although I hadn't read book #1 in this series, I didn't feel as though I was missing information that made it difficult to read this story. There was the right amount of details to understand what the outcome was without giving away spoilers to the first book. That made reading this book easy and enjoyable. I do plan to go back and read book #1, and I'm looking forward to reading the next one in this series. I definitely recommend this book and series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
This is a wonderful love story that's emotionally captivating. The characters are the type of friends and family that everyone would love to have in their lives, and I couldn't stop laughing at the banter and crazy antics between them. It had a terrific storyline that brought out a wide range of emotions, lots of humor throughout, and intriguing twists that will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next. The only issue that I had was the lack of a response from the heroine regarding her stalker. She feels like she's being watched and followed almost from the beginning of the story, but each time she claims she's just being paranoid and never discusses it with anyone. After she reveals that she was the victim/survivor of an attack in college and learned self defense afterwards, her response to her current situation just doesn't seem logical or real. After her attack, there are several details that were left out, and after a couple of brief mentions, it was not brought up again. This honestly has a very small part throughout the entire book, but what is there needed work.
This is the first time I have read anything from this author, and I was pleasantly surprised. The story is well written, has a smooth flow, and I love the way she focuses on family and rescue animals. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
Although I hadn't read book #1 in this series, I didn't feel as though I was missing information that made it difficult to read this story. There was the right amount of details to understand what the outcome was without giving away spoilers to the first book. That made reading this book easy and enjoyable. I do plan to go back and read book #1, and I'm looking forward to reading the next one in this series. I definitely recommend this book and series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
January 2, 2017
http://bookishdevices.com/2016/05/16/...
4.5 stars
Love to Believe is the follow up to Claro’s Love Built to Last. I reviewed book 1 last week. If you missed it, you can see that review here. You can read this book without reading the first, but don’t. Always read a series in order, that is my advice. Plus, this series is off to a great start. You’re not going to want to miss a minute.
This is Rebecca’s story. Rebecca Walker is a woman in a man’s world. She wields a hammer and saw with skill working for her family’s construction company. Her father is recovering from a heart attack and Rebecca would like to remain with the family business and take over someday. However, she’s having a hard time proving her skill to her chauvinistic father. This leaves little room for romance. Enter Sean Kinkaid. But because of his past he’s not interested in romance either. When Rebecca proposes a ‘friends with benefits’ relationship, Sean agrees. It’s the perfect solution until love sneaks in … on both of them.
This series got better with the second book. There’s a bit of mystery here, which I loved. Claro mentions something here or there. You’re not sure if something will happen or not. It was a great addition to the love story. There were also a couple of scenes that had me sobbing. Claro does an excellent job of capturing emotion. She definitely grabbed a hold of me. I can’t wait to see what the next book holds. I look forward to seeing what else is happening with Rebecca, Sean and the rest of characters when book 3, Love to Win releases this summer.
What are you waiting for? If you’re romance fan, go grab your copies of Love Built to Last and Love to Believe.
I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.
4.5 stars
Love to Believe is the follow up to Claro’s Love Built to Last. I reviewed book 1 last week. If you missed it, you can see that review here. You can read this book without reading the first, but don’t. Always read a series in order, that is my advice. Plus, this series is off to a great start. You’re not going to want to miss a minute.
This is Rebecca’s story. Rebecca Walker is a woman in a man’s world. She wields a hammer and saw with skill working for her family’s construction company. Her father is recovering from a heart attack and Rebecca would like to remain with the family business and take over someday. However, she’s having a hard time proving her skill to her chauvinistic father. This leaves little room for romance. Enter Sean Kinkaid. But because of his past he’s not interested in romance either. When Rebecca proposes a ‘friends with benefits’ relationship, Sean agrees. It’s the perfect solution until love sneaks in … on both of them.
This series got better with the second book. There’s a bit of mystery here, which I loved. Claro mentions something here or there. You’re not sure if something will happen or not. It was a great addition to the love story. There were also a couple of scenes that had me sobbing. Claro does an excellent job of capturing emotion. She definitely grabbed a hold of me. I can’t wait to see what the next book holds. I look forward to seeing what else is happening with Rebecca, Sean and the rest of characters when book 3, Love to Win releases this summer.
What are you waiting for? If you’re romance fan, go grab your copies of Love Built to Last and Love to Believe.
I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.
March 3, 2016
Love to Believe is book two in the Fireflies series. This is my first book by Lisa Ricard Claro, but it definitely will not be my last! I was concerned because I did not read the first book in the series, Love Built to Last, but I easily was able to read this as a stand-alone book. However, I loved this book so much that I did purchase the first book of the series, and that book was just as good as this one.
Rebecca Walker is temporarily running her father's construction business. Although she is more than qualified, she has set out to prove to her father just how capable she is. She is dedicated to running the family business, and has little time for herself, let alone romance. Sean Kinkaid is a family friend, one that has secrets in his past. Rebecca is definitely attracted to Sean, but not having time for a relationship, they decide to be friends with benefits. This sounds like the ideal situation, but once feelings come into play, it becomes so much more!
I loved the romance between Rebecca and Sean...one that starts out as a friendship, but quickly turns into more. The relationships are definitely believable due to the writing style of the author. The book is filled with characters that you fall in love with, and feel like you know by the end of the book. There is quite a bit of humor in the book as well, thanks to the witty dialogue of some of the characters. I would highly recommend this book, as well as the other book in the series...you will not be disappointed!
I received a digital copy of this book from Black Opal Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Love to Believe ~ Fireflies ~ Book 2
Rebecca Walker is temporarily running her father's construction business. Although she is more than qualified, she has set out to prove to her father just how capable she is. She is dedicated to running the family business, and has little time for herself, let alone romance. Sean Kinkaid is a family friend, one that has secrets in his past. Rebecca is definitely attracted to Sean, but not having time for a relationship, they decide to be friends with benefits. This sounds like the ideal situation, but once feelings come into play, it becomes so much more!
I loved the romance between Rebecca and Sean...one that starts out as a friendship, but quickly turns into more. The relationships are definitely believable due to the writing style of the author. The book is filled with characters that you fall in love with, and feel like you know by the end of the book. There is quite a bit of humor in the book as well, thanks to the witty dialogue of some of the characters. I would highly recommend this book, as well as the other book in the series...you will not be disappointed!
I received a digital copy of this book from Black Opal Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Love to Believe ~ Fireflies ~ Book 2
November 22, 2016
After a humiliating break up with her boyfriend, Rebecca agrees to a no-strings-attached sexual relationship with Sean. This arrangement soon develops into a love neither of them is prepared for.
Normally, I am not into sex turned to love romances, because many authors focus too much on the sex and not enough on the story. This book, however, gets the formula right! With closed door sex scenes, this book focuses on the development of the relationship and friendship between the hero and heroine, which I found very refreshing.
Rebecca (literally) kicks ass as a woman who does not let fear hold her back, but rather does something about it. I liked the heroine a lot for her confidence and strength. Sean was a perfect match for her - super hot, confident, caring and reliable.
What I didn't like? There was that one part toward the end, which I thought was a little overdone and made that bit predictable. However, the great characters, good dialogue, humour and the author's fluid writing more than make up for it.
Definitely a recommended read for those who want a well-written, passionate story with good character development. I'd say read book one first, though each reads as a standalone.
Normally, I am not into sex turned to love romances, because many authors focus too much on the sex and not enough on the story. This book, however, gets the formula right! With closed door sex scenes, this book focuses on the development of the relationship and friendship between the hero and heroine, which I found very refreshing.
Rebecca (literally) kicks ass as a woman who does not let fear hold her back, but rather does something about it. I liked the heroine a lot for her confidence and strength. Sean was a perfect match for her - super hot, confident, caring and reliable.
What I didn't like? There was that one part toward the end, which I thought was a little overdone and made that bit predictable. However, the great characters, good dialogue, humour and the author's fluid writing more than make up for it.
Definitely a recommended read for those who want a well-written, passionate story with good character development. I'd say read book one first, though each reads as a standalone.
February 22, 2016
What a fun couple you meet in Love to Believe by Lisa Ricard Claro. This is a new author’s book for me to read. However, by the end of the first chapter I knew I wanted to read the book about the first couple to whom Sean and Rebecca are related.
This story is rich and fully developed with just a hint of the magical involved. I like how Sean Rebecca have a friendship in addition to a love interest. You feel as if they will have a solid relationship once the initial at time bumpy journey has been traveled. There is also a delightful supporting cast of family and friends that round out this story. Seeing how each react and relate gives this story such a feeling of completeness in the characterization.
There are so many new wonderful authors to discover, with Lisa Ricard Claro being at the top of the list. I am so glad to have discovered her books.
4.5 Stars
Copy provided by the publisher through Net Galley for an honest review.
This story is rich and fully developed with just a hint of the magical involved. I like how Sean Rebecca have a friendship in addition to a love interest. You feel as if they will have a solid relationship once the initial at time bumpy journey has been traveled. There is also a delightful supporting cast of family and friends that round out this story. Seeing how each react and relate gives this story such a feeling of completeness in the characterization.
There are so many new wonderful authors to discover, with Lisa Ricard Claro being at the top of the list. I am so glad to have discovered her books.
4.5 Stars
Copy provided by the publisher through Net Galley for an honest review.
April 25, 2016
LOVE TO BELIEVE by Lisa Ricard Claro takes readers back to the small town and cast of characters who tugged on hearts in LOVE BUILT TO LAST. Except this time, it’s all about Rebecca Walker, a woman with something to prove in the man’s world of construction, and Sean Kincaid, the handsome and wealthy big city lawyer who’s moved back to his hometown because…well, that’s his secret. And Rebecca has secrets, too, secrets that will surely rock the boat of their friends-with-benefits arrangement. Will Sean and Rebecca find a way to make things work? Will Rebecca find her way in a business of her own? Will Sean find a way to believe? I wish I could tell you, but yep, it’s a secret! (Psst! All is revealed in the suspenseful and charming page-turner, LOVE TO BELIEVE, Book 2 in the Fireflies trilogy by Lisa Ricard Claro.)
March 20, 2016
Great story. First I read from the author Rebecca is the heroine and Sean the hero Rebecca has called Sean in desperate need of his help . She is frantic . Rebecca was arrested for resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer . Sean has always felt for her and she for Sean but they lost tract of that . After a while they get together and let the bodies do things natural . But the insecurities happen . Later Rebecca finds out that she is going to have a child but she remembers what Sean told her . Or thought what he said . Sean said that a wife and kinds were not in the cards for him . Rebecca is torn she needs advise . So she goes to the cemetery to get answers . What answers does she get . Does Sean realize what is happening
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2016
I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
Simply put I loved the way this was written and really enjoyed it. The characters are crisp and very real. The relationship between Sean and Rebecca is heart warming and romantic, with obvious highs and lows along the way.
Will definitely read other books from this author 4.5****
Simply put I loved the way this was written and really enjoyed it. The characters are crisp and very real. The relationship between Sean and Rebecca is heart warming and romantic, with obvious highs and lows along the way.
Will definitely read other books from this author 4.5****
May 18, 2016
This book was good but sometimes I found that it dragged in various places. Although Sean and Rebecca have great chemistry, sometimes I feel the book loses focus. Overall good story but it's not for me.
June 12, 2016
A sweet love ve story with descriptions and back ground so real it feels like I lived there. This is the second book I've read by Lisa Ricard Claro, and I can't wait for the third!
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