Smolder

Mixed feelings on this one. It's as expected a wonderfully crafted story with great characters. There's plenty of steamy sexy times and chemistry between Lane and Delilah that is off the charts. I've fallen in love with Wildwood and the Gallagher men and perhaps my expectations were too high for this one. Lane Gallagher is deliciously yummy but I found his reason for never acting on his attraction to Delilah a bit juvenile. The fact that she once dated his brother, way back in high school, may have been a valid reason not to date then but as the years passed a simple conversation with the brother could have cleared his way to her. Luckily Delilah has had enough of waiting for him! A very good read I just wish it had a bit more bite to it! Still it's a book I would recommend.

ARC Review: Smolder (Wildwood) by Karen Erickson I have been looking forward to Delilah and Lane's romance since introduced to them in Ignite. Was anxious to see where all that kinetic energy would lead. Smolder was on my to be read list the minute I found out about it. Finally the answers were within my reach. Would Lane and Delilah give in to temptation? What's standing in the way? All that frustration had to lead somewhere. I am disappointed to say that for me the obsession fizzled quickly. Lane still couldn't make up his mind and though he eventually confronted his feelings of wariness, as more of his backstory was revealed it came too little to late. Like a song stuck on repeat is how Smolder read to me. There were some heated moments but in the end it fell short.

3.5 stars---SMOLDER is the second installment in Karen Erickson’s adult, contemporary WILDWOOD romance series focusing on the men and women of Wildwood, California but especially the Gallagher family of brothers, and their sister Wren. This is sheriff’s deputy Lane Gallagher, and dance instructor Delilah Moore’s story line. Lane and Delilah were first introduced in book one-IGNITE. SMOLDER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty although there is a continuing plot line that runs through each consecutive installment. SMOLDER picks up immediately after the events of book one. Told from dual third person perspectives (Lane and Delilah) SMOLDER follows the friends to lovers, best friend’s brother relationship between Lane and Delilah, as well as the search for a suspected arsonist who has increased the frequency of suspicious fires. Delilah is a woman who has been in love with Lane Gallagher most of her life but Lane is a man who believes he is not worthy of Delilah’s love. His father’s history of infidelity and neglect has left Lane feeling less than capable of finding his happily ever after although Delilah is the woman that calls to his heart. When Delilah makes the first move Lane is ready to run in the other direction but a call about another suspicious fire finds our hero running –this time with an excuse. What ensues is the push and pull between two people who have loved one another from afar but have been unable to make the move in a permanent direction because Lane Gallagher does not want to be a failure. The $ex scenes are intimate, steamy and hot. All of the previous story line characters, including the Gallagher family, play secondary and supporting roles throughout the story. Family matriarch Angela Gallagher begins to show signs of slowing down; and their father continues to cause too much stress and conflict within the family. We are introduced to arson investigator Josh Bailey who has yet to show his true colors. The world building continues to focus on a series of arson fires in the small town of Wildwood, California. The Gallagher brothers are all members of law enforcement or firefighters and play a significant role in the town’s protection and safety. Lane is a man who hides his feelings for Delilah at all times. SMOLDER is an engaging and heartwarming read. The premise is entertaining; the characters are passionate; the romance is a slow build to a happily ever after. Karen Erickson adds another hopeful dimension to her Wildwood Series.