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Defending Charley: A Hallow Falls Series (Romance Bunnies Shared World) (Heroes of Maine Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Bella Lane (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 39 ratings
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SMALL TOWN - FRIENDS TO LOVERS – FIREFIGHTER/COP ROMANCE – SUSPENSE

Detective Derrick Monroe flies home to Hallow Falls, Colorado, to oversee his mother’s arrangements and estate. Fourteen years before, he lost his firefighter father to the job. Upon his return to his hometown, Derrick is plagued with memories. Stopping by the fire department, he sees the beauty from his past.

Charlene ‘Charley’ Fairview has always wanted to be a firefighter since the day she was saved by one, but she never thought it would be so hard gaining acceptance from her male counterparts. Five years, she has felt alone, then Derrick walks back into her life.

Fires are popping up more and more, could Hallow Falls have an arsonist in its small town?

Can Derrick convince Charley he’s all in or will he be too late?

When the flames die down, who will be left standing?
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  1. Print length
    113 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    July 14, 2023
  5. File size
    3850 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C19698LT
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amazon (July 14, 2023)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 14, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3850 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 113 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 39 ratings

About the author

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Bella Lane

Bella Lane

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

I'm an author of steamy suspenseful romance.

I have always loved the idea of happy endings, but with real life drama.

I'm a native of North Carolina and have always loved the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains. Hiking is one of my favorite hobbies as it helps to clear my mind and allow my imagination to roam freely.

I'm an avid reader of all genres.

I love traveling, especially to small communities, as the people are always so nice and welcoming, with hidden gems in their sweet little towns.

Want to know more, come check out my website www.bellalanebooks.com

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
39 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

sldca
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend this book
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2023
Verified Purchase
This book has sorrow, sassiness, determination, love, and mystery. Great characters but for a few who are just bad and others easily lead astray.
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Nicole Boutwell
4.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2023
Verified Purchase
This was so good I couldn't put it down. It was a perfect friends to lovers. It had everything. It was well written and characters were well developed
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LFH
5.0 out of 5 stars Pray that your local fire department is nothing Iike the one in Hallow Falls!
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2023
When Charlene Fairview was 8 years old, she was rescued from a house fire by Derrick Monroe's firefighter father. From that day she wanted to be a firefighter just like him. Even his death, 14 years ago, while at a fire didn't change her mind.

She's managed to pass the tests and be hired as a firefighter, but for the last 5 years she's never been accepted by the men from the hierarchy down. Her fellow team  members have tried their best to torture her to make her quit. But now someone is trying to kill her?

Derrick Monroe never wanted to follow his father's firefighting  career. He wanted to be a police detective, but he knew his hometown police force was too small for that to happen there. He moved to San Francisco, became a detective and then moved to Largo, Maine.

He's returned home to arrange services for his mother's funeral and settle her estate. When he learns how Charley has been treated at work, he's enraged. They've been best friends since she was 8 and he was 10. His parents considered her part of their family. However, there's definitely something wrong in Hallow Falls. In a week there's been multiple fires with multiple fatalities. Who's the arsonist? Is it a single sicko or?

I received an ARC of this book from the author via Booksprout. I am voluntarily leaving this review.
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PurpleDiane
5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet second chance for Charley and Derrick
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2023
I liked this book a lot. The experiences of Charley as a woman firefighter are all too common, though she had it pretty bad, due to a vendetta from another firefighter. And the dude firefighters from her team were jealous of her dedication and good work showing them up.

Derrick's father was a firefighter, and had saved Charley when she was a kid, and she became fascinated by the job. Derrick's father was killed on the job, and she decided to be a firefighter to help people like Derrick's father had, and to honor his memory for saving her as a child. Meanwhile, Derrick had left town to be a cop and detective. Now he's back because his mother passed away. When he sees Charley again, he realizes he wants a relationship with her.

There was a lot of drama due to the other lousy, cruel, and lazy firefighters on her "team". She worked very hard and never complained at the terrible treatment by the other guys. Shocking developments happen, but eventually Charley and Derrick have their HEA with plenty of steamy parts. Their relationship is sweet & I loved the way that Derrick supported her.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review, which is my own true and independent opinion.
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Michele Richardson
5.0 out of 5 stars Strong female lead, strong male lead
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2023
Charly is a strong woman trying to make her way in a small town man’s world. When Derrick comes back to town. They have great chemistry and watching them together was really good.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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Jennifer Leigh (@jenjenbookfan)
4.0 out of 5 stars steamy friends to lovers romantic suspense novella
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2023
Defending Charley is a steamy friends to lovers romantic suspense novella by Bella Lane releasing as part of the Romance Bunnies Hallow Falls Series. Derrick, a detective, returns to Hallow Falls after his mother’s death to settle her affairs. He runs into his old friend, Charley, who grew up to be a firefighter just like Derrick’s late father, the man who saved her from a fire as a little girl. Charley has fought for 5 years for acceptance in her firehouse only to be met with horrendous treatment. Derrick shows up as a breath of fresh air awakening all kinds of feelings in her. But now there’s an arsonist on the loose. Between the long distance and the danger lurking at every fire scene these days, do Derrick and Charley really stand a chance?

I enjoyed this story with the steamy chemistry between Derrick and Charley, as well as the intriguing suspense plot of the arson case. There was definitely a lot of drama surrounding Charley and the firehouse that was frustrating for me as a reader, and more specifically as a woman. Charley never should have put with that treatment for so long, and the actual resolution of it was not sufficient for me at all, but Charley is a much nicer person than me, I guess!🤷🏼‍♀️😂 I liked that there was so much action crammed into such a short format. Although I’ve never disliked so many characters in one book before, it was a fun change for me.🤪 Watching Charley finally stand up for herself, as well as Derrick be there for her balanced out the jerks I loved to hate on!😉.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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Judym1034
5.0 out of 5 stars Hold on
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2023
Charley is in a man's profession. She is a firefighter and is very good and better than some at her job. The things that she has gone thru made me go through a lot of emotions. But she has someone that cares and comes to her side. So very good and an outstanding book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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Melissa
3.0 out of 5 stars Happy reading
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2023
I am on the fence with this one the relationships between Charley and Derrick is a solid foundation to build on good action and heat level the drama factor is on point but the whole villain thing falls short for me needed more build up before the big reveal ( the arsonist was easy to hone in on just not the reason behind the actions) the bones of the story is there just needs more details not such a abrupt ending.

I received a advance readers copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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