The First Time at Firelight Falls

A Hellcat Canyon Novel

By: Julie Anne Long

Narrated by: Charlotte North

Single mom Eden Harwood has a lively daughter, a blooming business—and a juicy secret she’s hung on to for ten years. She doesn’t mind a bit that there’s no room for romance in her whirlwind life . . . until six-foot-infinity, smoldery-eyed, bass-voiced Gabe Caldera reminds her of what she might be missing.

The principal of Hellcat Elementary is usually knee-deep in fawning PTA moms, but Gabe only has eyes for the fiery, funny, skittish redhead who barely knows he’s alive. But this ex-Navy SEAL never fails to get what he wants. And what he wants is to fan those sparks between him and Eden into the kind of bonfire you can see two counties away.

The passion is explosive . . . and the tenderness has them thinking about forever. But when Eden’s past waltzes into town for a reckoning, her secret blows them apart. Still, Gabe will never back down from a fight . . . especially if the ultimate prize is Eden’s heart.

“Julie Anne Long’s writing glows with emotional intensity.” —New York Times Bestselling Author Jayne Anne Krentz

FINALLY! Julie Anne Long on Audible.

How long I have waited for this. Thank God someone finally figured out these stories and this author is worth listening to as well as reading.

I'm praying for the Pennyroyal Green series next. But was so excited to hear these great characters with heart pounding chemistry in a contemporary setting. If you love romance, you will love Julie Anne Long.

LOVED IT

Original, quite funny, and fun to read.
Charlotte North’s narration is perfection.
Enjoy this charming story!

Not a great variation in voices & unbelievable scenario

The narrator was just okay. It was very hard to determine which character was speaking or thinking.

The story was unique but too cutesy and unrealistic. It wasn't "nerdy" as they said, it was just contrived & odd. It started out being so interesting. But, their stories became just stilted & awkward.

Part of learning how to adult means that you make time for the important relationships in your life. Did Eden need to be her daughter's "Hummingbird" leader too? I'm sorry but volunteering to work on every PTA event is just egotistical if you are already overwhelmed. How many parents had kids in the school? And, grandparents volunteer too. Are you really that self important that you can't find time for someone that you supposedly love & need in your life? They found time for the lust part but not the time to deepen their connection in other ways?

How much did they love one another if "every" town meeting was crucial ? Every PTA function? And Gabe really? He, himself, admitted to just filling his schedule because he felt alone. And, I'm not sure how an ex Navy Seal ends up as an elementary school principal. I have no idea how that's even necessary to the character backgrounds. And of course, the unknown person in their lives is basically royalty. Ugh, it's all so overly contrived. It all just seems juvenile, sorry.

I've never read this author's books before. Some books do come across better when self read versus listening to by way of an audiobook.

I'm sorry but, I honestly have no interest in anything by this author.