What do you think?
Rate this book
Highland County Heroes #5
Risking it All
A woman struggling.
A new job.
More than she ever thought she'd find.
Widowed with four young children, Nancy was left broken beyond words She's struggled to rebuild her life and herself so she and the kids can move on. But she never thought about meeting someone new. How could she love anyone without betraying the husband she lost fighting for their country?
Thorne has been teaching for years. He loves his job, but doesn't take time for much else. The first week of school a new teacher started in the classroom across the hall. She's not the usual fresh out of school twenty three year old teacher they usually get at Blackjack High. She's older and the sadness in her eyes, speaks to him, but he can tell she's not ready for anything but friendship.
Read Risking It All now to find out if Nancy and Thorne can make it through the tangle of emotions trying to keep them apart.
A new job.
More than she ever thought she'd find.
Widowed with four young children, Nancy was left broken beyond words She's struggled to rebuild her life and herself so she and the kids can move on. But she never thought about meeting someone new. How could she love anyone without betraying the husband she lost fighting for their country?
Thorne has been teaching for years. He loves his job, but doesn't take time for much else. The first week of school a new teacher started in the classroom across the hall. She's not the usual fresh out of school twenty three year old teacher they usually get at Blackjack High. She's older and the sadness in her eyes, speaks to him, but he can tell she's not ready for anything but friendship.
Read Risking It All now to find out if Nancy and Thorne can make it through the tangle of emotions trying to keep them apart.
164 pages, Paperback
Published October 24, 2019
About the author
Melissa Stevens
151 books513 followersMelissa Stevens has penned more than fifty novels and novellas to date. She was part of the Wicked After Dark anthology which hit #13 on the New York Times Bestsellers list and is working hard for a repeat performance.
With books coming out frequently, the best way to keep on top of what Melissa's doing is to sign up for her VIP Reader List on her website
Melissa lives in Arizona with her husband of more than twenty years and their children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 1, 2020
Sweet, Gentle Story
This is the kind of story that you open up when you want to slow down and unwind a bit. It's a sweet romance involving a widow with four (bless her heart!) young children and probably the most patient man on earth.
Nancy finds herself beginning her career as a teacher a little later than most. But then, most mothers of four young children don't suddenly decide they're going to become teachers. Thorne teaches across the hall, and is intrigued by the new teacher, who seems to have a few walls built up around her. He makes it his mission to become her friend, and in so doing develops a deep respect for her strength, as well as a passion for the amazing woman she is. But Thorne realizes that any relationship they may build will need to be on Nancy's timetable, not his. He proves to be a warm and compassionate man as he develops a meaningful relationship with both Nancy and her family, allowing them to accept him on their terms. He's a smart man--he wants more from her, but recognizes that patience is key.
This story is definitely a slow burn sort of read. But if you're looking to escape from the grind of the world for a bit, this is a good choice. Thorne is a beautiful soul. Nancy is also a wonderful character--sweet, warm, strong, rebuilding her family and herself. The reader will find almost no graphic language in the story (I recall only one curse word), and the steamy scenes are more of the sweet fade-to-black variety. It all renews the soul like chicken soup to a timid stomach.
This is the kind of story that you open up when you want to slow down and unwind a bit. It's a sweet romance involving a widow with four (bless her heart!) young children and probably the most patient man on earth.
Nancy finds herself beginning her career as a teacher a little later than most. But then, most mothers of four young children don't suddenly decide they're going to become teachers. Thorne teaches across the hall, and is intrigued by the new teacher, who seems to have a few walls built up around her. He makes it his mission to become her friend, and in so doing develops a deep respect for her strength, as well as a passion for the amazing woman she is. But Thorne realizes that any relationship they may build will need to be on Nancy's timetable, not his. He proves to be a warm and compassionate man as he develops a meaningful relationship with both Nancy and her family, allowing them to accept him on their terms. He's a smart man--he wants more from her, but recognizes that patience is key.
This story is definitely a slow burn sort of read. But if you're looking to escape from the grind of the world for a bit, this is a good choice. Thorne is a beautiful soul. Nancy is also a wonderful character--sweet, warm, strong, rebuilding her family and herself. The reader will find almost no graphic language in the story (I recall only one curse word), and the steamy scenes are more of the sweet fade-to-black variety. It all renews the soul like chicken soup to a timid stomach.
April 1, 2020
Melissa Stevens! She is not new to me, I had the pleasure of listening to her motorcycle series. When I saw the Highland County Heroes out on audio, I grabbed them, and it’s so good! Risking it All is book 5 of the series, but each one is a standalone and each hero is yummy! Thorne is the teacher across the hall from the new hire, Nancy. This is Nancy’s first job as a teacher, and can use all the support she can get. Widowed with 4 children, she has her hands full, and Thorne is at her side. But she isn’t ready to delve into a new relationship is she? Will Thorne love her and her children? Will this mean she no longer loves her husband? I loved this story for the family feeling it gave me. Not only does Stevens add in some humor with Thorne’s family names, but she lets us get to know Nancy’s kids, fall in love with them and take her journey to letting go, learning to love and trust and find that new normal. Nancy is easy to relate to. Her fears are realistic, she has a lot to take on and her loss is real. Thorne is amazing. He is the man we look for, loving Nancy’s kids and letting us enjoy that slow burn between them. It’s sweet and entertaining and the perfect hero in Highland County.
Bump Turgeson continues his narration of this series. I am enjoying his voices and find he relates to the characters in a way that flows through in his performance. He makes the story entertaining.
Bump Turgeson continues his narration of this series. I am enjoying his voices and find he relates to the characters in a way that flows through in his performance. He makes the story entertaining.
February 3, 2020
This is a sweet story. The two main characters are nice and her kids are the greatest. This is them just getting to become friends with the possibility of more. It is easy to listen to and there isnt any drama. I did listen to this on audio. Bump Turgeson does a good job reading this.
June 12, 2020
This is such a sweet story! Nancy is a military widow of two years with 4 young children starting a new teaching job, on her first day of school she meets Thorne another teacher. These two start as friends and end up being so much more! Love the chemistry between Thorne and Nancy!!
July 14, 2022
sweet romance
“I’d like to kiss you.” His voice was barely more than a whisper, as he pictured her refusing to let him come back, or even to speak to him again. “I think I’d like that.” “Think?”
“I’d like to kiss you.” His voice was barely more than a whisper, as he pictured her refusing to let him come back, or even to speak to him again. “I think I’d like that.” “Think?”
July 31, 2019
Nancy is a widow raising four small kids on her own. She finished school with the help of her brother and now is starting as a English teacher at a local school. Thorne is a Math teacher across the hall from Nancy. Thorne is drawn to Nancy but when he learns that she is still grieving her husband he wants to try and be her friend. Nancy is attracted to Thorne and knows that he wants more but she wants to move slowly because of her kids. When her brother encourages her to take her son to a football game she runs into Thorne and they end up spending some time with him. Not long after that he becomes more involved in her little family. But is Thorne ready to claim a ready made family as his own? Will Nancy want more kids if Thorne wants one of his own?
This is a great story that will draw you in from the first chapter. The chemistry between them is blazing hot. This is a well written and very entertaining story. I would recommend this book to any book lover.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a great story that will draw you in from the first chapter. The chemistry between them is blazing hot. This is a well written and very entertaining story. I would recommend this book to any book lover.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 24, 2019
This is a slow burn romance that draws you in the development of the relationship between Thorne and Nancy is the making of this story
Nancy is a war widow two years earlier she lost her husband leaving her to raise their four children alone So she went back to school and got her teaching degree and now she has her first job at Blackjack High School teaching English. On her first day at work she meets Thorne a fellow teacher he is instantly attracted but knows that he will have to go slow if he hopes to start a relationship with Nancy she is the first woman that he has ever felt this pull to teaching as been his all. As he slowly builds a relationship with Nancy and her children will she overcome her feelings of betrayal to the husband she lost. Will they get a HEA You will need to read to see
Nancy is a war widow two years earlier she lost her husband leaving her to raise their four children alone So she went back to school and got her teaching degree and now she has her first job at Blackjack High School teaching English. On her first day at work she meets Thorne a fellow teacher he is instantly attracted but knows that he will have to go slow if he hopes to start a relationship with Nancy she is the first woman that he has ever felt this pull to teaching as been his all. As he slowly builds a relationship with Nancy and her children will she overcome her feelings of betrayal to the husband she lost. Will they get a HEA You will need to read to see
July 23, 2019
Nancy is both mom and dad to her four kids. After losing her husband she is now also the breadwinner of the house. Thorne is a teacher, and his classroom is across the hall from her. He was attracted to her but he could see pain in her eyes, but know she isn't read for love. They bond over teaching and their friendship starts to grow. Will Nancy be able to open her hear again and have a second chance at love?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 24, 2019
First they were friends. Nancy is nervous about her first day of teaching. Thorne, the teacher across the way introduces himself and puts her a bit more at ease. Nancy is a widow with 4 kids. She’s “maybe” ready to start looking ahead but she has a lot of baggage. Nice couple with a slow growing relationship. Realistic story of overcoming sadness and looking to the future. I always enjoy this author’s stories. They are fast and easy reads with lots of feels and great character development. (I voluntarily reviewed an ARC).
July 24, 2019
Book five in the Highland County Heroes series a well written story that once I started reading I was not putting down until I finished it. Nancy lost her husband to war it has been two years now and she meets Thorne, a teacher at Blackjack High the school she gets a job at. This is a short story to read about two people who start out as friends and become so much more. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 24, 2019
Nancy is a widow of two years and has four children. She goes back to school and becomes a teacher. On her first day, she meets a teacher called Thorne. He is about her age and very handsome. They become good friends but can they become something more? Can he accept all of her kids? A beautiful romance. Loved it.
July 24, 2019
The fact that this book is such a slow burn makes it feel real. The characters are realistic and the base storyline is wonderfully realistic. Totally a must read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 28, 2019
Emotionally thrilling, action packed, sexy and fun adventure filled with witty banter, deep emotional struggle and undeniable, unexpected passion..... was a exciting read from beginning to end and I really enjoyed the slow burn of a journey that they took to their destination. Great reading.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews