One Last Risk

Oak Grove #1

by Nancy Stopper

ASIN B01MYCTTLR moved to latest edition as per guidelines.

A guilt-driven firefighter, a widowed mother, neither is ready for love, but love has other plans.

Firefighter Lucas Bennett had the carefree life he’d always wanted until a deadly blaze took the life of his company mate and best friend. Blaming himself was easy but pulling himself from the tailspin of guilt proved to be much harder. The fog of sadness and guilt pushed him down a dangerous path until he nearly died fighting the beast. Forced to stop and reevaluate his life, he decided to make a change before it was too late.

A fire took almost everything from Sarah Robinson—her husband and her home—leaving her to raise their precious daughter alone. Everywhere she looked held memories of her husband, pouring salt on her ever-present wound. Unable to live any longer around the memories of her husband, she and her daughter moved to Oak Grove, far away from the grief of the past. All Sarah needed was the chance to start a new life for her and her daughter.

A car accident on a dark, rainy night put Lucas and Sarah on a collision course neither of them expected… with questions they’re not ready to answer. Can a single mother open her broken heart for a second chance at love? Will a broken firefighter risk his heart for what might be his only chance at forever? Are each of them willing to take one last risk to be together? His risk. Her reward. Together, they’ll mend each other's broken hearts.

If you like small-town romance where the heroes are sexy and the women are strong, unlock One Last Risk to start your visit to Oak Grove, Pennsylvania and fall in love with Lucas and Sarah!

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Amazon, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Firefighters

274 pages, ebook

First published April 18, 2017

About the author

Thanks for visiting my profile. I'm a new Contemporary Romance author and I'm so excited about the possibilities. I've been falling in love with characters in books for a long time, and even more so now that they are speaking through me for other readers.

I've been remiss in updating my shelves but I'll be doing that soon, so check out some of my favorite reads, including some that I've read over and over because, yeah, they're just that good.

I'd love it if you'd add my books to your TBR shelf. If you want to find out more about me, click over to my website: http://www.nancystopper.com

Reviews

[Natalie ~ The Biblioholic · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 "Firefighter for me" stars

If you're looking for something light and sweet, then ONE LAST RISK may be the book for you.

Lucas Bennett always knew he wanted to be a firefighter and he was amazing at his job. Life was good until the fire he loved to fight took the life of his best friend. Through his grief, he became lost and adrift until he met her... Sarah.

Sarah Robinson was looking for a new start. After losing both her husband and her home, she moved to Oak Grove with her daughter for a fresh start. She soon found that starting over wasn't easy, but letting Lucas in brought her her first taste of happiness from a man since she lost her husband. Will these two find a way to let go of the pain from their pasts in order to embrace a future together?

Although this story dealt with lost, it really was a light read. It was about dealing with loss, letting go of the guilt, leaning on family, and finding love.

Release Date: April 18, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Dual - 3rd person
Steam Level: 3 out of 5
Book Type: Standalone - Book 1 of the Oak Grove Series

[Vaishali • [V.L. Book Reviews] · Rating 3 out of 5]

R A T I N G: 3 stars to One Last Risk ★★★

'They swayed as one and everyone else melted away. It was just the two of them on the dance floor, wrapped up in each other, where no guilt and grief lived, where no troubles chased them.’

“None of it mattered if I didn’t have you. If you were willing to take a risk to love me, I was willing to risk losing everything for the chance to love you back.”

Softly emotive, ‘One Last Risk’ is a down-to-earth small-town romance. A warm relationship with a genuine, soft and keen connection.

Lucas Bennett is oppressed by fire. It also fuels him. Quick to level flame, he lives to best fire, tame it, hose it from sky to ground. He can bear to lift the load of catastrophe but it has also pigeonholed him to a point of no return. His inward ambivalence has led to self-sabotage, and his need to hold court and slay what drives him lands him demoted from the front line of firefighting service. Losing a close friend had forced him to lunge at risk, affecting his level-headed performance until forced out of the danger zone. Overcompensation has him suspended and thrust into the threshold of therapy while he’s buzzing to get back to doing what he does best: beat fire.

Sarah Robinson knows that tragedy doesn’t come prescribed with an expiry date. Newly relocated to the small, sweet town of Oak Grove and its native, well-disposed group of residents, she’s looking forward to fresh beginnings with her daughter. An opportunity to build dreams that once belonged to two before a perfect photograph was ripped down the middle. The pain still ticks and the memories dial with the longest hand. Fire cost her a lifetime with her husband but this feel-good neighbourhood of warm people and baked charm promises a chance to start again.

Separation anxiety dawned after a tragedy inspired by fire and Sarah is anxious at the thought of it touching their lives again. She just never thought she’d go it alone, a life partner short and followed by a crimson shadow that tells her a new life doesn't mean forgetting an old one. Change is a difficult transition because it requires a repositioning. It requires losing something to make space for something else, and for Sarah, that’s leaving behind the memory of Alex and living around the negative space that once harboured his life.

I’m gradually, very gradually, making my way through the sea of authored romance, and as of late, that includes reading from new romantics who love writing romance as much as I love reading it. Not a hard labour at all if you ask me. I quite honestly love a small-town romance and ‘One Last Risk’ by Nancy Stopper lays out what is a tragic, true-to-life premise depicted gently and sweetly enough that a reader easily feels the gravity of character history while watching a committed romance nurture life into two people loyal to living bachelor-single. It’s safe to say they deserve more than that though.

With new changes, reform and demons flitting through the story, I found that Sarah and Lucas were a greatly matched couple for this small-town love story. A story of character transition that kept me by their sides and willing to support their respective wounds. Lucas makes sacrifices for what hasn’t even happened, seeing his friend as a cautionary tale and working through some deep self blame. It’s also important to note that Luke’s part of the story is therapy-positive, representation that I hold a candle to because love alone is not the magical serum needed to stitch together serious wounds and fix pain like many novels in this genre would have you believe. It takes independent work to work through those demons. For Sarah, it’s reframing her life without Alex, accepting her place as a single parent and the single most fear of giving herself permission to move on for a second opportunity at love.

With positive points to credit, this story does have a few drawbacks worth mentioning too. This was one of those reads that talks more about what it doesn’t always show. All the more vital to highlight an atmosphere for a small-town read. A few examples of this are being told how supportive and warm the townspeople and fire crew are. This is a nimble quirk that I love with the small-town vibe, but one that I surprisingly didn’t identify as strongly with in ‘One Last Risk’.

Another example brings forward Lily and Lucas’s forming relationship. I prefer being completely privy to whatever connections are in the developing works because I then become a bigger, inclusive part of the story. If that happens, I can willingly surrender my emotions. I honestly felt that Lily wasn’t given a space to shine - which was shame - because she was one of my favourite people. We also don’t see - with any detail - the unfolding relationship between her and Lucas, only again reassured through Sarah’s POV that they are close. To add on, In terms of Sarah’s start up business, we know she’s an accountant but there’s no further elaboration about how well her business is doing. This is a big part of her adjustment in a new town so I think this deserved more attention.

The above paired with many repetitive sentences, misplaced descriptions, heavy passages which were sometimes too wordy and pitchy did unfortunately curb the read. It was conductive to this that I wasn’t a big fan of the writing style. The actual scenes themselves could use better description and careful attention. On this front, I think the story needs some reworking and better planning to really tighten it up. The side characters themselves help in creating the setting and the Bennett family are a great addition. They give this small-town story some warm and smaller-scaled colour. This story is lined with meaning and lays it out well enough, but I don’t think it’s as expressive as it could be.

At face value, I prepped myself for an emotional ride because this story comes off as a heavier read, but it was actually very readable and light enough to enjoy. There’s something about losing a partner in a devastating way that hits all the vulnerable places and made me really think about this particular grief personally, and because of that, I connected with Sarah through my own sympathy. The displacement was fresh and it frames the transition of moving forward. Alex is sewn into the lining of Sarah’s life. Moving on means leaving him behind and she doesn’t know how ready she is for that.

Lucas has been raised by a perfect family but can’t afford to make one of his own. He knows the occupational risk and staves off commitment in favour of making a family only to leave them behind. For Sarah, it’s facing what lies ahead without the person you planned everything with, not sure if she can lose everything a second time around. Especially for a man who plays ball with fire.

Fire had stolen something from them both but it casts a second chance to love someone new. A native to Oak Grove and a newcomer. Both half in and both half out as grief moves between them. Challenged by the incline, surrendered by passion and cycling complicated feelings, it’s a time to take a leaf form their hearts and not their heads. Bravery, vulnerability, meeting milestones, brewing love, friendly folks and the dynamic of a family breathes life into a story as much as it infuses a human tone within it, most effectively in this compact setting that attests to the worth of one last risk.

P O T E N T I A L_C O N T E N T _W A R N I N G: Some swearing, a sex scene and a few heated moments with content not suitable for younger readers. There’s also an intimation of a side character stuck in a controlling relationship. Overall this book deals with lightly represented grief after death.

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Visit my blog for more reviews: V.L. Book Reviews
T W I T T E R: @VicariousHearts
I N S T A G R A M: @Vicarious.Hearts

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[Kiki]

Heroine truly loved her husband and what I felt was hero didn’t give her much chance to adjust to the idea of moving on.

He also lied to her about his job.
Not cool.
Then instead of owning his mistakes he decided to blame heroine for treating him as second best, JUST after being caught for lying.
Not cool whatsoever.

So no.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (4/28/2019)! 🎁

[Leya · Rating 2 out of 5]

що може піти не так, коли починаєш читати безкоштовний любовний роман із такою багатообіцяючою обкладинкою? нічого! він повністю виправдовує усі сподівання.
чи має ця книжка глибину, логіку та художню цінність? ні.
чи отримала я задовлення від прочитання? ще й як! я дуже повеселилась, іноді просто волала вголос.
навіть хотіла поставити 3 зірочки за хороші емоції, які цей роман мені подарував, але книжка реально погана. але як весело це було. але погана ж книжка. але скільки веселощів

[E-Reader Addict · Rating 3 out of 5]

The great thing about NetGalley is FREE BOOKS! All I have to do is give my honest opinion, which hey, as a mother, I'm glad to be giving my opinion to someone who actually wants to hear it. I've read some really great books because of NetGalley.

But I've also read some not-so-great books, too. Because the downside to NetGalley is that you don't get a couple preview chapters before you request a book. All you have to go on is the book summary, and I thought the premise of One Last Risk sounded really good. Which is why I kept reading the book, despite the author succumbing to the annoying current writing trend of repeating the same thing over and over and over. (I give her credit, at least, for it not being repetitive about how hot the hero is!)

Lucas is a firefighter who lost a friend recently during a fire. He blames himself for his friend's death, and after watching how devastated his friend's wife was, he's decided to never get involved with anyone so as not to risk causing anyone else that kind of pain. (Kind of makes sense, right?!)

Sarah is a widowed, single mother to a four-year-old daughter. She lost her husband two years ago, and has moved to the town of Oak Grove to make a fresh start.

When Lucas and Sarah meet in the local coffee shop, they both feel sparks, but are both immediately conflicted.

And then we spend the next 60 percent of the book hearing how conflicted they both are. They are both interested in each other, but remind themselves constantly that they shouldn't be with the other person. One part of the paragraph they'd be all "I want to see where this relationship will go" and then the next part be all "but I know I really shouldn't." They vacillated back and forth so quickly it's amazing no one needed to be treated for whiplash...

But then the most amazing thing happened at about 70 percent. The book got really good! The writing became stronger and more concise, and I actually became interested in finding out what would come next, and how Lucas and Sarah's story would end. There was some realistic conflict which added much needed substance to the story, and I began to care for the hero and heroine. Furthermore, I'm now interested in reading the next two books in the series. The next book, One Last Dance, is out now, with the third book, One Last Chance, scheduled for release in July.

I almost quit on One Last Risk, but I'm glad I didn't! I think the writing had some issues (repetitive phrasing such as referring to fire as "the beast" multiple times, the characters having the same internal dialogue over and over, some awkward dialogue between the characters), but the last part of this book gives me hope the author can write a tighter story in the books to come. I am a big fan of the small town romance series genre, so I have hopes this series will provide me with many hours of reading pleasure. I'll keep you all posted!

*thank you to Anderby Lane Publishing and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review

This review is also published at Straight Shootin' Book Reviews.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

One Last Risk is the first book in the new Oak Grove series by Nancy Stopper. This is the first book I have read by Ms. Stopper, but it certainly won't be my last. I am a sucker for small town romance series and this one sucked me in from the very beginning. I hope to make many trips back to Oak Grove, PA!

One Last Risk focuses on Lucas and Sarah, but also introduces us to the town of Oak Grove. The community is as much a part of the story as the main couple. And they were a great couple. I LOVED Sarah. She was a great heroine with just the right amounts of strength and spirit to make her instantly relatable. I also liked the fact that since she is a newcomer to Oak Grove, we get to meet and experience the town through her eyes. She is instantly a favorite of her new community and of the readers. Plus her daughter Lily is a real cutie pie! When there is a heroine that is so well written, it takes a special kind of hero to be able to stand up to her. Lucas Bennett is that hero. He is a firefighter who is recovering from an on the job tragedy. He is hot and sweet and everything you'd want a guy to be without ever becoming a cliché of a romance novel hero, especially a firefighter.

Although there is an instant attraction between Lucas and Sarah, it's a pretty long road to romance. But I like the pacing. They really took time to get to know each other before falling in love. These two characters both have a lot of baggage, but it is not just baggage added in for dramatic effect. You can understand why Sarah and Lucas are both so hesitant about their feelings and about each other. They represent everything they've ever wanted in each other but also the culminations of their worst fears come to life. The story works because it is all presented in a very believable fashion...two broken people who are trying to heal together and separately. That's not to say that this is a heart wrenching story...there are also some light moments and some sexy moments that provide a wonderful balance.

Because this is the first book in a new series, Ms. Stopper also had to set up the town of Oak Grove and it's residents. Since we will most likely be reading the love stories of these characters, it is a lot to cram into one book. But she does a nice job of balancing the present story while setting up characters for future stories. I already have a few favorites.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to come back for Joe Bennett's story in the next installment. I definitely recommend this story to fans of small town romance series and to all romance fans in general.

[Dawn West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5


**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book.**

A man who is haunted by ghosts meets a woman trying to escape her own!



Lucas is living with the guilt of not being able to save his friend from death during a fire call. So when he finds himself in a burning building, again, he's careless with his life and it leads to a suspension. He's forced to face his demons whether he wants to or not. What he doesn't expect is to come across a woman who will make him second guess more than just his future as a firefighter.

Sara's life was forever changed when a fire took her husband and the father of her daughter. After making a move to make a fresh start, she thinks she might be ready to put herself out there, again. Lucas stirs feelings she's forgotten she even had but can she live with the risks that his job will bring?

This book took me a little time to get into, but I have to say that the second half of the story really picked up and it became an entertaining read. I was hungry but got to 80% and didn't want to put it down to eat. Once the plot thickened, I wanted to find out how it would end. I became invested enough in the characters by that point that I wanted to finish. That's a plus, in my book.

The characters are flawed and there is ample time for us to get to know each one before they become a couple. We're also introduced to several secondary characters throughout the story. Since this is the first book of the series, I expected to see a glimpse of the colorful cast that inhabit the town. Some characters are shrouded in mystery but I have a feeling their secrets will be spilled in the future.

While I enjoyed the book in the end, I did have a couple of issues with the story, mostly in the first half. It wasn't necessarily due to any one element in particular but a combination of things that all contribute to writing style. The story has a lot of internal dialogue and thoughts tend to repeat many times. I think there could have been more external dialogue between our couple to better showcase their chemistry rather than so much internal thought.

Another minor example, I think the pacing right around the middle of the book got a little slow. I found myself getting distracted by other things and having to refocus on the story to continue. This might not be a problem for other readers but was something I noticed.

My only big gripe is that I found some areas of the book to be a little wordy. When Sarah first sees Lucas, her reaction is what I would consider to be on the over-the-top side. She has a very strong reaction to him, which is fine. I am all for instant connections where there is a little jolt of awareness and momentary lapse in the ability to function. I've experienced this, myself. But Sarah's reaction is described in such detail and length that it loses its sparkle after a few paragraphs. If a feeling is so sudden and powerful, I find it's best described as quickly as it's felt. Sometimes less is more and I think this is one of those instances. Passion is fast and fleeting, they say.

Speaking of passion, I think the love scenes are really where this book shines. From the cover and first part of the book, it seems that our story is on the "sweet" side, meaning the bedroom scenes are likely to be tame. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it isn't so in this case. The sex was hot and plenty fulfilling. *wink*

In closing...
We've met the leading lad of the next installment, Lucas' brother. I'm curious to see what is in store for our Joey! For this book, it's a good read with some steamy romance. 3.5 suns!

Full review on blog: http://uptildawnbookblog.blogspot.com/2017/04/review-release-one-last-risk-by-nancy.html

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5.0

Ms. Stopper is a beautiful storyteller!

Read full review in the 2017 July/August issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story about a lovely young couple that is spoiled by continual wordiness, repetition and overstatement. The sentences are awkward and tend to be too long, and I suspect the author loves big words but doesn’t always use them properly.

[Stephanie (Between the Coverz) · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Last Risk is a sweet love story. This is a story that will have you believe in happily. There is a hero out there for everyone even when you least expect to find it – and when you really don’t think you want it.

The characters are entertaining and well developed. The story line is fresh and moves along at a good pace. This is a sweet and delightful story that will captivate you and keep your attention from the beginning to the end. I was amazingly surprised at the amount of depth that the author went into in the firefighting world. Being in the fire world for over two decades, I was really curious to how this book was going to play out. Unless you actually live through it, most people just can’t grasp the feelings that a family goes through or the thoughts and hardships that plague the firefighter. This author did a FANTASTIC job of portraying both. I was pleasantly surprised that the author did a really great job with this book. I would guess that either the author has lived through the firefighting world or did a lot of history and research into it. Either way, I was impressed with how accurate that the author was in her details.

This is the first book I have read by Nancy Stopper and will definitely not be my last. I recommend One Last Risk to anyone that wants to read a story so real to life that has a sweet love story and will draw you in from the beginning to the end.

[Marissa Chavez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first Nancy Stopper book and it won't be my last! This book brought all the feels. There were loss, friendship and love. I loved seeing how Sarah handle everything after she lost her husband and how she found love again with Lucas. They both had some issues they had to worked through and they made it worked. Sarah and Lucas were awesome! I loved they had the chance to be together after everything they went through. 💛

Can't wait to go back to the little town of Oak Grove soon. Looking forward to read about Joey next! ☺

[Lynn Mullan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book in the Oak Grove Series, and it's a great read.
I'm looking forward to meeting more of the characters in Oak Grove.
This series is based around the Bennett family, and there are lots of secrets and troubles hidden under the surface.

[Kimberley O'Malley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book full of huge emotions!!!

[Naianne Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve read worse.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I never read the word “channel” again it will still be too soon.

[Renee Booth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring AF

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Gosh this book was so emotional and made me that way. Reading about the love story between Lucas and Sarah was so uplifting and heart wrenching, I felt like I was on a roller coaster, But what an amazing ride. I am volunteering to leave a review for an ARC of this book.I look forward to the next book.

[Mary Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely beautiful, heartwarming love story of two people struggling with their lives and how they meet and fall in love. Lucas is a firefighter who believes he’s responsible for his best friend’s death in a fire even though he didn’t do anything wrong. He has let survivor’s guilt change him into someone who takes unnecessary risks and endangers himself and others. When he is put on 60 day suspension to get his head straight he feels lost because being a firefighter is his whole life. Then he meets Susan in the bakery in town. There is an immediate chemistry between the two but they are unable to do anything about it then. Susan moved to Oak Grove with her little girl, Lily, after she lost her husband two years previously and felt she needed to move to a new home to start over so she could raise her child without all the memories overwhelming her. She is stunned by her reaction to a handsome man she meets in the local bakery. When she is in a serious car accident a few days later, the same man is there to help rescue her and as they get to know each other, she struggles between her goal of starting over and not wanting to forget the man she had been married to and lost. Oak Grove is a small town where everyone knows everyone else and what is going on in their lives. It’s a great place to live. Neighbors help each other. I’m looking forward to more stories about this place from Nancy Stopper. I received a free copy of this book from the author and I am voluntarily writing a review because I enjoyed this book so much I want to let others know about it.

[Kahlan · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This was kind of a boring read. There was a lot of telling and internal monologuing rather than showing. This made some parts feel very repetitive. Also, I really don't believe the relationship between Sarah and Lucas. Other than the lust factor, I don't see their relationship developing and growing beyond having sex. Sarah seemed so hesitant at first and then it kind of just went really quick. I couldn't buy into their relationship. And the "secret" that Lucas was keeping from Sarah and how long he kept it from her was kind of stupid. Again, if they weren't talking about one of Lucas's biggest things in his life as a fire fighter then what did they talk about to grow their relationship and fall in love? So really it just wasn't believable. This was just a meh read for me.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I started reading One Last Risk I prepared myself for an emotional romance between two deeply wounded characters. While they both lost someone very close to them - Lucas lost his best friend and partner while Sarah lost her husband - their reactions couldn't be more different. Lucas allowed his guilt to override his sense of safety and he started to put himself into dangerous situations, always pushing every moment of a fire to the very brink of disaster. Until the day it caught up to him and was forced to step back. Sarah, on the other hand, guarded her heart carefully. The sharp loss of her husband forced her to not let people close. She doesn't want to go through the pain of getting her heart broken from the death of a loved one. I think the element of this book that I loved the most was that while they shared a similar event in their past, it was their different reactions to the pain that ultimately helped each other heal. Sarah and her daughter gave Lucas something to live for, something to want to come home to at night. She opened his eyes to what could be instead of what was. Lucas showed Sarah that it is okay to open herself to love, that it's okay to move on and let love in. I loved how they balanced each other during a rough period in their lives.

There was one element of the story that didn't sit well with me. No spoilers, but I wasn't happy with how things were left with a secondary character. It is obvious what this character is going through and I felt that more should have been said about it, not left wide open. I'm pretty sure that it is something that will play out in the next book, but I can't see her family leaving it the way it was. I felt that they would have stepped in the second they noticed something was wrong. I know that sounds cryptic, and I apologize, but I'm trying to not give anything away. In the end, it didn't have a big impact on how much I enjoyed the book. I just would have liked a bit more closure. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading One Last Risk and I'm looking forward to seeing what the author has in store for her readers next.

I received a copy from the author. All opinions are my own.

[Kym · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful, very touching story! This begins a series involving the Bennett family and their friends in small-town Oak Grove.

Sarah Robinson is a young widowed mother, whose husband was killed in an accidental fire. She's moved from Philadelphia to Oak Grove with her daughter in the hopes of starting a new life away from the grief of the past.

Firefighter Lucas Bennett is a firefighter also trained as an EMT. Sarah meets Lucas when her car is hit by a drunk driver and he responds to the scene as an EMT. Their story begins from here.

Watching Sarah struggle with her emotions - sorrow for what she and her daughter, Lily, had lost, guilt over her new feelings for Lucas, etc. - was heartbreaking. But, she is determined to start a new life for herself and Lily. She loves her new home and the small town feel of Oak Grove. She's trying very hard to move on with her life.

Lucas has struggles of his own (I don't want to give anything away here!) which complicates his relationship with Sarah. But he falls in love with Sarah and Lily and wants a future with them.

This is the story of how two people fall in love - and how they deal with the reality of each others' own life circumstances.

This is a great start to this series! I'm looking forward to reading the next Bennett's story!

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book, however, this is my honest opinion.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy Stopper is a new author to me, but I was inspired to read her book, basically because it was set in Pennsylvania, not in Philly or Pittsburgh, but in a fictional town called Oak Grove, which literally could be the town I live in, and it made such a refreshing change to read a small town romance, in a place I could actually relate to.

When it came to the plot, it was even more sweet than I expected. With the character Sarah, relocating to Oak Grove, with her daughter Lily, after losing her husband in a fire. And Lucas; a firefighter/EMT, who lost his partner and friend, during a call, and blames himself for his death. Sarah and Lucas become more to each other than either of them expected. But a lie by omission, can destroy everything they have together.

Out of all the characters in this book, I'm absolutely love Lucas Mom and brother Joey, they had me laughing SO hard, I was snot laughing (not my proudest moment). But I'm also intrigued by the hole of the Bennett family...what is going on with Joey and Carla. Is Rachel okay? And is Michael's life, really as wonderful as he makes out!?!

As you can tell, I'm now officially addicted to this series; and honestly, how could you not be! With its intriguing plot and beautiful writing, this whole series has now been added to my 1-click list! Which is why it deserves 5 stars!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Robinson has moved with her four-year-old daughter Lily to Oak Grove for a fresh start as a widow and single Mom. She isn’t looking for man or a relationship although she knows she has to move on and start living again.

Fate puts Lucas Bennett in her path at the local coffee shop and bakery. He makes her heart skip a beat and her skin tingle. Their meeting is short and neither one of them know quite what to say. Fate once again steps in when Sarah is involved in a horrific car accident and Lucas is the EMT that saves her and stays with her overnight while she is in the hospital.

Their relationship starts slow and is super sweet but both of them have an internal monologue that is riddled with guilt and uncertainty. I was disappointed in Lucas’s lack of honesty, letting Sarah believe he was an EMT instead of a firefighter, especially after he learned that she lost her first husband (who was a firefighter) in a fire.

At the end of the story, once each of them have come to terms with their own private struggles, they come together with love and understanding. The marriage proposal was perfect – and it was the perfect ending to the story!

[Bette Stanek · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 bumped to 4. One Last Risk is the first book in the Oak Grove series. It’s the second book that I’ve read by this author, the first being Chasing Dreams (book one in the Harper Family series). Ms. Stopper has a solid writing style, she is able to make the reader part of her story and engage them with her characters.

Lucas is haunted by the memory of his best friend and the part he thinks he played in Shane’s death. Sarah is stuck in the memory of her deceased husband and all of the “should’ve been if only.” They feel an instant attraction when they meet in the local coffee shop, but they don’t move things along right away. Their story moves at a good pace as each of them work through their issues and do what needs to be done. Are there relapses? You betcha, but they don’t become overly dramatic. Lucas and Sarah are good for one another, it just takes them a little while to realize how good.

If you’re in the mood for a fun, quick, and sweet romance then you’ll enjoy this one. The characters are engaging and well developed. The story is realistic without being overly dramatic. It’s emotional and will tug on some heartstrings, but it won’t drain you.

[Didi Ps · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick story told by both of the main characters’ points of views. There seemed to be some details missing, though. For example, we only find out a little info about Sarah’s job when the book was at about 50%, & even then, not much is mentioned. I realize the focus is more on Lucas & his job (because he’s having lots of feelings of guilt for the death of his good friend), but still, some info is missing here.

They seemed to be getting along fine, but at one point the chemistry just wasn’t believable... When Sarah was grieving for how her daughter seemed to have forgotten her father, there was lots of tears, & within minutes there was a bedroom scene... It just didn’t ring true.

As for Lucas, he had plenty of time (& warnings from others) to be honest about his job to Sarah, yet he just doesn’t do it. He is reinstated in his job & still, no discussion with Sarah. He takes away her choice & her ability to see their relationship in full honesty, really... At least he finally realizes was he’s done, though. It’s after the fact, but better late than never...

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, this book is worthy of 10 stars!! I was hooked from the being, fell in love with Lucas and cried my eyes out towards the end. The author did a number on my emotions with this book. I loved all the characters and can see many more books for the Oak Grove series,

The story is about a firefighter, Lucas Bennett, who recklessly puts himself and his crew in a dangerous position during a fire because he is still guilt ridden over the death of his best friend. His captain suspends him from firefighting but allows him to remain as a paramedic. Meanwhile, Sarah Robinson, is suffering from the death of her husband in a fire. She has lost the love of her life and moves to Oak Grove with her young daughter to start a new life.. Lucas and Sarah met and immediately both are smitten with each other. But can they get together and leave all the pains they each carry and make something of their lives. You just have to read it!

[Chasing Away Reality · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars - This was a pretty good book. I liked Sarah and Lucas as well as their story. I enjoyed getting to know the secondary characters and look forward to what's to come in this series, especially with Lucas' sister. And even though this appeared to be a heavy read about loss and coming to terms with moving on, it was surprisingly light.

What I struggled with was connecting with the characters and the loss to which they were clinging. I needed a little more depth and history from them both and had hoped for more in regard to their healing journeys. I felt like we saw some of that with the therapy sessions Lucas was required to attend but not so much with Sarah. In addition, their inner monologues and conversations all felt a little redundant. We hear multiple times throughout the book how conflicted they are about starting and continuing a relationship with one another.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Readers Copy of this book.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved returning to Oak Grove after reading the prequel novella, Last Call. The first novel in the series features firefighter/paramedic Lucas, who is grappling with guilt after the death of his best friend, a fellow firefighter. He meets Sarah, a single mom who has recently moved to town with her four year old daughter, Lily. She is grieving the loss of her husband who died tragically in a fire. Lucan and Sarah are both instantly attracted but hesitant to get involved. Then Lucas responds to the scene of a car accident, where Sarah's been hurt. He feels protective, and she is grateful for his calm and caring. What unfolds is a beautiful story of trust and forgiveness. I loved this couple. I loved the secondary characters is this little town. I'm so looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Amanda Bordner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucas and Sarah's story was a heartfelt, beautiful story by Nancy Stopper! The two of them definitely have their fair share of heartbreak and baggage, but the two are attracted to one another from the get-go. When Lucas helps Sarah while working as an EMT, he helps her out and does not want to add to her stress by revealing that he is really a Firefighter. He fights the one thing every day that took her home and husband away from her.

Will this huge secret tear these two apart? This story had everything I was looking for, and I didn't feel it was just your typical romance. It had me hooked from the very beginning, and I really could NOT put it down until the very end. Their story was tragic, beautiful, and one that left you rooting for them throughout. Cannot wait for the next book! <3