Burning Love | Ashley James
While this is a love story and two people do find their way back to one another, it is really about healing, grief, so much grief but also love. There is so much love in this book, too. Make sure you have your kleenex handy because this is an emotional book. Chensey Jennings fled his hometown after a family tragedy and honestly never wanted to come back. There were too many memories- very few of them good. But he needs to come back- his father is dying and he needs to help his brother but also …help run a ranch that isn’t his family ranch. My heart really hurt for Chesney. He experienced so much loss and grief in a short period of time, pushed those that he loved away from him and within that are so many unresolved feelings, things left unsaid and a lot of hurt.
Jasper Smith is reliable, hard working, and has been working his tail off to keep his family ranch running. Jasper is just steady. He sees people, what they need, and does it. This man loves so big and really isn’t afraid to show it and just show up.
One of my favorite parts of this book were the flashbacks to when Chesney and Jasper were young, best of friends, and then more. It was easy to see the growth not only in their friendship but their blossoming feelings for one another- a family feud kept their friendship and feelings secret. While I am usually a fast burn kind of girl, this was not that. This was about two people finding themselves back to one another after a lifetime of loss and hurt. Chesney really needed to heal, mend his relationship with his brother, and try to mend the relationship with his father before his death. Jasper was ready for love, and waited for Chensey all the while loving him in the way that he needed by showing up. In the end Jasper and Chensey did build something beautiful. If you are in need of an emotional book that will make you cry, feel, and enjoy a small town, cowboys, rival families, second chances, close proximity, amazing side characters with banter this book is for you. Please note; the author does provide trigger warnings- incase it isn’t clear there is a lot of grief in this book.
