Forrest for the Trees

A Slow Burn Small Town Romance (Green Valley Heroes, Book 1)

By: Smartypants Romance, Kilby Blades

Narrated by: Chris Brinkley, Eboni Flowers

Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Forrest Winters isn’t just a federal fire marshal; he’s a thorn in Ranger Sierra Betts’ side. The way he swings his big axe, fixes her with his chameleon gray eyes, and talks about his jurisdiction has a way of breaking her concentration. He has a way of showing up everywhere he doesn’t belong, including Greenbrier Ranger Station. And he really needs to quit stealing her bacon bites.

When a series of suspicious fires, an underhanded co-worker, and a cagey Parks Police Chief threaten her job and the park itself, Sierra grudgingly agrees to partner with Forrest. Their side investigation may be her best shot at preventing the framing of an innocent man. But can his firefighting expertise and her detective skills lead them to the real arsonist before Forrest breaks her with his charm?

Forrest for the Trees is a full-length contemporary romance, can be listened to as a stand-alone, and is Book 1 in the Green Valley Heroes series, Green Valley Chronicles, Penny Reid Book Universe.

©2021 Smartypants Romance (P)2021 Smartypants Romance

Disappointing

Love Smartypants romance, this book, not so much. Between the insinuations that women don't make as much money or don't get as far as men in the workplace, to making southerners sound like a bunch of hillbillies and racist... BIG fail.
I am mixed, I'm a southerner and I am married to a white man, there are other mixed couples in my family as well as LG couples. I know plenty of women who make more money than their husbands, its called profession choice. Some of my family members are doctors, lawyers, pharmacist, nurses, university professors, etc. When you have the drive to get ahead in life, you do what it takes. None of us came from money, its called ambition to be the best you. A few of us lived in the ghettos growing up, that didn't stop us from getting ahead in life.
This book sounds like the author is in the 1960's instead of 2021 (when book was written).
The actual story is very good, all the race batting and politics ruined it. I've read thousands of books (no joke) this is the second book I thought of not finishing, the only reason I did, I love Chris Brinkley, I really liked Ebony Flowers and I wanted to see how the actual story ended.
Most likely won't buy another one of her books again. She needs to read a few Thomas Sowell books.

I sweet story with a black female forest ranger

I mostly enjoyed this book, which featured a black female forest ranger that has to deal with workplace politics, "good ol' boys", a runaway who could be a pyro, and a fire marshal who cant help but to get in her craw, My issue is with the second section of the book where Forrest and Sierra's romance heats up and they start to date. While I adored Forrest's confessing to Sierra about the first time he saw her, and their hike through a floral field, this section of the book could have used some editing. I found myself tuning out some of their banter and inner thoughts in this section. Overall, I enjoyed the main characters, their bonding with the runaway, the national park setting, and most of the side characters.

I Fell In Love

Wow! This was an intelligent, sexy and smart story complete with courage, jealousy and villains.
The characters Sienna and Forrest made me fall in love with them.

Set in the beautiful Smokey Mountains it tackles the dangers of forest fires that affect vegetation, wildlife and humans.
It was so descriptive I felt as if I was in the forest, experiencing everything along with the characters.

Eboni Flowers and the incomparable Chris Brinkley did so much justice narrating. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to them. And I can’t wait to see what else Kilby Blades comes up with.

Very slow to start, but satisfying ending

I had great hope for this book, but it took me a long time to get into it. The first 3/4 were slow enough that I considered stopping the book several times. Eboni’s narration felt slow and a little stiff, as well, which perhaps compounded together to make it hard to get into. The first half of the book included some subject matter that felt a little hard/preachy and is usually what I read romance books to escape from. Overall, I’m glad I listened through to the end. The last quarter is more of what I was hoping the whole book would be like. I enjoyed the drama and the ending was satisfying. Not a book that has a lot of spice or very descriptive spice (mostly fade to black), which doesn’t detract from the book unless you like it steamy! A good book overall, but not one I’ll likely be rereading as I prefer a faster pace and more spice.

Excellent Smartypants Romance

I just loved the cleverness of this book. There was humor, a great story, romance, references to old characters and awesome narration. I had this book devoured in no time and felt like all the loose ends were tied up and I was heart warmed by the goodness.

Wonderful!

Truly enjoyed the romance and the descriptive writing of the national park. It made me want to go hiking 😃