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paddlefoot55's review
4.0
ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review
I feel that the people of Cottonbloom have become like extended family to me over the past couple of years, and it was like coming home diving into Set The Night On Fire.
I have been impatiently waiting for Mack and Ella's story since the previous book, and Ms Trentham has not disappointed.
I knew from the previous book that there was going to be sparks between our lovelies - just wasn't 100% sure if they would be sexual or hateful (note: we got a bit of both FYI!) They have more in common with each other than they think they do, and watching it all play out was a lot of fun.
I loved Ella's feistyness, Mack's broodiness and gruffness. I adored the rest of the Abbott boys and their ladies.
There is more to Set The Night on Fire than just Mack's love life. There is love, loss, family dramas, forgiveness.
I fell into this book, and read it in one afternoon, and I just want more!
I can't wait to see what Ms Trentham brings us next.
I feel that the people of Cottonbloom have become like extended family to me over the past couple of years, and it was like coming home diving into Set The Night On Fire.
I have been impatiently waiting for Mack and Ella's story since the previous book, and Ms Trentham has not disappointed.
I knew from the previous book that there was going to be sparks between our lovelies - just wasn't 100% sure if they would be sexual or hateful (note: we got a bit of both FYI!) They have more in common with each other than they think they do, and watching it all play out was a lot of fun.
I loved Ella's feistyness, Mack's broodiness and gruffness. I adored the rest of the Abbott boys and their ladies.
There is more to Set The Night on Fire than just Mack's love life. There is love, loss, family dramas, forgiveness.
I fell into this book, and read it in one afternoon, and I just want more!
I can't wait to see what Ms Trentham brings us next.
bananatricky's review
4.0
Three and a half stars.
At the end of the last book we found out that Ford Abbott (the second oldest Abbott son) has sold his quarter of the family business to fund his gambling debts. He sold the share to a wealthy divorcee called Ella Boudreaux. Mack, the oldest Abbott, is furious and has a stand-up row with Ella in the middle of a swanky party and vows to do everything in his power to bring the business back into Abbott hands.
Ella Boudreaux left an abusive marriage, she knows everyone thinks she's a gold-digger but the reality is somewhat different. She bought the share in the Abbott garage in memory of her older brother who loved cars and taught her to drive when she was just twelve years old. She's determined to carve out a new life, alone, in Cottonbloom starting with the Abbott garage.
I had really high hopes for this one, the start of it kind of reminded me a little of Sutton and Wyatt's story and I was hoping for a rich woman meets surly mechanic romance with a soupçon of Pride and Prejudice thrown in for good measure. Of course the reality was somewhat different.
Mack is floundering, he and his brother are at odds, his two younger brothers are happily loved up, his mother (who he hasn't seen since he was young) has resurfaced, and even the bolthole of the family business has been contaminated by Ella buying Ford's share. He's lonely and troubled that his relationship with Ford has broken down so badly, and maybe a bit guilty as well. He takes all of his frustration and guilt out on Ella, but this sophisticated little society woman has a steel core and won't stand any of his bluster. At the same time as he is fighting her with every fibre of his being he is also very slightly turned on by her feisty attitude and refusal to back down.
I liked this, I like the small town vibe, the family business, a woman building a new life for herself without having to put others down in the process. But it wasn't without fault. I felt that Ella's constant references to her saintly brother were repetitive and became tiresome. Similarly, she jumped to ridiculous conclusions about Mack and his motivations. I thought she was being ridiculously obtuse and determined to think the worst, no matter what Mack did or said. Luckily, Mack made it all better. He was a big gruff intimidating man who finds recipes on Pinterest and makes art from metal.
If you like second chance romances with couples who have faced adversity and come through it stronger, small towns and BBQ then this is the romance for you.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
At the end of the last book we found out that Ford Abbott (the second oldest Abbott son) has sold his quarter of the family business to fund his gambling debts. He sold the share to a wealthy divorcee called Ella Boudreaux. Mack, the oldest Abbott, is furious and has a stand-up row with Ella in the middle of a swanky party and vows to do everything in his power to bring the business back into Abbott hands.
Ella Boudreaux left an abusive marriage, she knows everyone thinks she's a gold-digger but the reality is somewhat different. She bought the share in the Abbott garage in memory of her older brother who loved cars and taught her to drive when she was just twelve years old. She's determined to carve out a new life, alone, in Cottonbloom starting with the Abbott garage.
I had really high hopes for this one, the start of it kind of reminded me a little of Sutton and Wyatt's story and I was hoping for a rich woman meets surly mechanic romance with a soupçon of Pride and Prejudice thrown in for good measure. Of course the reality was somewhat different.
Mack is floundering, he and his brother are at odds, his two younger brothers are happily loved up, his mother (who he hasn't seen since he was young) has resurfaced, and even the bolthole of the family business has been contaminated by Ella buying Ford's share. He's lonely and troubled that his relationship with Ford has broken down so badly, and maybe a bit guilty as well. He takes all of his frustration and guilt out on Ella, but this sophisticated little society woman has a steel core and won't stand any of his bluster. At the same time as he is fighting her with every fibre of his being he is also very slightly turned on by her feisty attitude and refusal to back down.
I liked this, I like the small town vibe, the family business, a woman building a new life for herself without having to put others down in the process. But it wasn't without fault. I felt that Ella's constant references to her saintly brother were repetitive and became tiresome. Similarly, she jumped to ridiculous conclusions about Mack and his motivations. I thought she was being ridiculously obtuse and determined to think the worst, no matter what Mack did or said. Luckily, Mack made it all better. He was a big gruff intimidating man who finds recipes on Pinterest and makes art from metal.
If you like second chance romances with couples who have faced adversity and come through it stronger, small towns and BBQ then this is the romance for you.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
jaimereadsromance's review
5.0
I think that this is my favorite book of this series so far. Mack is definitely my favorite Abbott brother. I have a thing for stubborn guys who take on the role of the protector and provider when the parents are absent or just don’t care. There is something about watching that man fall in love and learn to put his happiness first once in a while that just does it for me.
Ella was the perfect, imperfect match for Mack and that made for some really great sexual tension and wild chemistry. I love that the attraction between them was clear from the beginning, but that they both struggled to reconcile that attraction with the bumping of heads when it came to the garage.
Ella just wants to have a piece of something that reminds her of her brother and to prove to people that she can be successful after, and despite of, her divorce. Mack just wants to keep the garage owned by Abbotts because he’s trying to do what he thinks is best for family. Like he always does.
I also have a thing for slow-burning romances. You know, the ones where you can see what’s coming from a mile away but the author just keeps torturing you. You’re just waiting with bated breath for the tension to finally snap and for them to give into their feelings. Meanwhile the author is developing the characters and furthering the storyline in a way that is absolutely necessary for that tension to break and you just can’t stop reading!
Laura Trentham has mastered the art of character and world building. Sure I’m focused on the romance, but I’m also invested in the family dynamics, revisiting previous characters/couples and just falling in love with the town of Cottonbloom. This is a well-rounded, thoughtful series that just keeps getting better with every book. I never would’ve thought I’d actually be looking forward to Ford Abbott’s story but I’m seeking a good redemption story. He is next, right?
Ella was the perfect, imperfect match for Mack and that made for some really great sexual tension and wild chemistry. I love that the attraction between them was clear from the beginning, but that they both struggled to reconcile that attraction with the bumping of heads when it came to the garage.
Ella just wants to have a piece of something that reminds her of her brother and to prove to people that she can be successful after, and despite of, her divorce. Mack just wants to keep the garage owned by Abbotts because he’s trying to do what he thinks is best for family. Like he always does.
I also have a thing for slow-burning romances. You know, the ones where you can see what’s coming from a mile away but the author just keeps torturing you. You’re just waiting with bated breath for the tension to finally snap and for them to give into their feelings. Meanwhile the author is developing the characters and furthering the storyline in a way that is absolutely necessary for that tension to break and you just can’t stop reading!
Laura Trentham has mastered the art of character and world building. Sure I’m focused on the romance, but I’m also invested in the family dynamics, revisiting previous characters/couples and just falling in love with the town of Cottonbloom. This is a well-rounded, thoughtful series that just keeps getting better with every book. I never would’ve thought I’d actually be looking forward to Ford Abbott’s story but I’m seeking a good redemption story. He is next, right?
bookbae96's review
5.0
I came late to the Cottonbloom series by author Laura Trentam, but quickly fell in love with these books. The small-town feel, the Southern vibe, and characters that are easily relatable make for enjoyable reading every time.
I've been waiting for Mack Abbott's book, and Laura absolutely delivered with SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE. Although not the eldest Abbott brother, Mack has carried the weight of responsibility for his family, being the glue that kept them together after the loss of their father. All that Mack really wants is the happiness of his family and the success of their family business, and he's willing to do just about anything to make that happen.
Hoping to make a new start, Ella Boudreaux came to Cottonbloom to escape the pain of her past. Buying into the Abbott brothers' auto repair and restoration puts her at immediate odds with Mack. Not only does she need to prove herself as a savvy businesswoman, but sparks of a completely different nature are soon flying as well.
I really love seeing Mack and Ella work through the darker parts of their past, the mistrust and need for control, and open up to each other. Their chemistry is off-the-charts hot, but it's not just physical. Their banter, their sparring, all of it works together to create one heck of a satisfyingly steamy read that manages to pull at the heartstrings at the same time.
SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE is an easy 4.5 stars for me, and maybe my favorite book in the series so far. And, while each of these books are standalones, I highly recommend reading them all, because they're just that good. There's still plenty of love to be discovered in Cottonbloom, and I will continue to visit as long as Laura is writing her stories.
hollaback77's review
4.0
This book was entertaining all the way through. This is the fifth book I've read by this author and I've enjoyed them all. It would have been a five-star had it not had a slow beginning. The language wasn't too bad in this and the characters weren't overdramatic. That to me makes this a must-read.
melissadeemcdaniel's review
4.0
Ella has arrived in Cottonbloom with the keys to Abbotts Garage in hand. The oldest Abbott son has sold his share of the business, upsetting the carefully arranged balance of the three younger sons, headed up by Mack. At first, Mack resists Ella’s arrival, but as he comes to know her, and to appreciate her fighting spirit, he comes to value her more than he expected. On Ella’s part, she has never met a man she could trust, so learning to love Mack is not easy.
“Fire” is a sweet and sexy contemporary romance with plenty of feel good moments accented with some hot sex.
“Fire” is a sweet and sexy contemporary romance with plenty of feel good moments accented with some hot sex.
chymerra's review
4.0
I am not going to get into my complaints about reading books out of sequence if they are in a series. I keep accepting them, so my complaints are void at this point. But, it does show talent if the author can take book 6 and make it completely stand alone. That is one of the things I enjoyed about Set the Night on Fire. The other hight points of this book were how it tugged on my heartstrings and how the main characters were completely relatable. Of course, there were aspects that I didn’t like but they didn’t affect my review in a huge way. Mack’s 180 change on how he felt about Ella, Ella’s ex-best friend and husband, and the whole mystery behind Mack’s mother leaving I didn’t care for. But, I enjoyed reading Set the Night on Fire.
Set the Night on Fire is a cute, fast-moving romance set in the town of Cottonbloom, Louisiana. Ella moves to Cottonbloom to start over again. Recently divorced from an abusive excuse for a man, Ella has something to prove. Mack is the owner of a successful garage. He is furious that his brother sold his shares to a stranger. That anger grows when he realizes that the new part owner of the garage is a woman. An attractive women who match him step for step. He soon realizes that Ella is much more than she seems. Ella realizes that behind Mack’s gruff exterior is a kind, passionate man. Can Ella help Mack overcome traumas of his past? Can Mack help Ella realize that not all men are like her ex?
When I started reading Set the Night on Fire, I was expecting some parts of the book not to make sense to me. I mean, this is book 6 the Cottonbloom series. So, I was surprised when the author explained Ella and Mack’s shared back story up front. There were some vague references made to other books but it wasn’t enough to make go scratch my head and go “How does this relate to the book“. I loved it. I was able to enjoy reading Set the Night on Fire without wondering what happened in the other book. It also made me want to read the other books in the series.
I liked Ella. From the first scene, when she was parked outside the garage, I thought there was something about her that stood out to me. The more the author got into her back story, the more I liked her. She had a hellacious childhood that left her with a severe phobia of dogs. She also survived a marriage that was abusive. She wouldn’t allow herself to be backed into a corner. She also had one of the biggest hearts that I have seen in a book. She took in the woman who was her ex-husband’s mistress (now wife) when he started abusing her. She stood up to her ex when he showed up at her house, demanding where his wife was. She organized a charity drive for a couple that she barely knew but felt compelled to help. I 100% related to her.
Mack was a huge grump at the beginning of the book. I understood why he was so mad but his anger was misplaced. I thought him making Ella do an oil change on the car was low because he thought she couldn’t do it. But the more into the book I got, the more I realized that Mack had his issues. He was dealing with the death of his father the year before. He was also dealing with his brother, Ford, selling his share of the business to a stranger (and a woman). Plus, he was still dealing with his mother upping and leaving him and brothers when he was younger. When I found that out, I thought to myself “Well, no wonder he was grumpy. I would be too“. By the middle of the book, though, Mack was on his way to dealing with everything. I also loved how he dealt with Ella’s ex-husband. I cheered when that scene happened!!
This book definitely tugged on my heartstrings. There were times when I was crying along with Ella and Mack. Not going to say what scenes but if you read the book, then you know what I mean. One word: Cookies (read the book to find out).
The other thing that I liked was how relatable that the characters were in this book. The author made them as realistic as she could for fictional characters. Even the main characters had their issues. I liked was that she wasn’t afraid to tackle issues like postpartum depression, spousal abuse, cancer and parental alienation. It made the book much more real for me.
There were parts of the book that I didn’t like. I didn’t like how Mack’s feelings for Ella turning from dislike to love so fast. It didn’t ring true to me. Also, I didn’t like how Ella’s ex-husband felt like he could walk right into her house and continue with his abusive behavior. I know that it mimics real life but I didn’t like. I also didn’t like that her ex-bestie felt that she could call on Ella to save her. I wanted to shake her and say “Sister, she WARNED you about him.”. My last complaint was how long and drawn out it was to get the story behind Mack’s mother’s abandonment. I didn’t like it. I felt that it could have been dealt with sooner in the book.
Ella and Mack’s romance was hot and fast. I was surprised at how fast it was. They also had incredible chemistry together. The sex scenes were out of this world hot. My poor Kindle almost couldn’t take the heat.
I liked the end of the book. I do feel that there were enough storylines left unended for a 7th book. Which I would be very interested in reading.
What I liked about Set the Night on Fire:
A) Can be read as a standalone
B) Tugged on my heartstrings
C) Relatable characters
What I disliked about Set the Night on Fire:
A) Mack’s feelings changing for Ella so suddenly
B) Ella’s ex-best friend and husband.
C) The mystery behind exactly why Mack’s mother left
I would give Set the Night on Fire an Adult rating. There is explicit sex. There is mild violence. There is language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.
There are trigger warnings for Set the Night on Fire. They are postpartum depression, spousal abuse, cancer, addiction, and parental alienation. If you are triggered by any of those, I would recommend not to read the book.
I would reread Set the Night on Fire. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.
I would like to thank St. Martin’s Paperbacks, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Set the Night on Fire.
All opinions stated in this review of Set the Night on Fire are mine.
**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**
Set the Night on Fire is a cute, fast-moving romance set in the town of Cottonbloom, Louisiana. Ella moves to Cottonbloom to start over again. Recently divorced from an abusive excuse for a man, Ella has something to prove. Mack is the owner of a successful garage. He is furious that his brother sold his shares to a stranger. That anger grows when he realizes that the new part owner of the garage is a woman. An attractive women who match him step for step. He soon realizes that Ella is much more than she seems. Ella realizes that behind Mack’s gruff exterior is a kind, passionate man. Can Ella help Mack overcome traumas of his past? Can Mack help Ella realize that not all men are like her ex?
When I started reading Set the Night on Fire, I was expecting some parts of the book not to make sense to me. I mean, this is book 6 the Cottonbloom series. So, I was surprised when the author explained Ella and Mack’s shared back story up front. There were some vague references made to other books but it wasn’t enough to make go scratch my head and go “How does this relate to the book“. I loved it. I was able to enjoy reading Set the Night on Fire without wondering what happened in the other book. It also made me want to read the other books in the series.
I liked Ella. From the first scene, when she was parked outside the garage, I thought there was something about her that stood out to me. The more the author got into her back story, the more I liked her. She had a hellacious childhood that left her with a severe phobia of dogs. She also survived a marriage that was abusive. She wouldn’t allow herself to be backed into a corner. She also had one of the biggest hearts that I have seen in a book. She took in the woman who was her ex-husband’s mistress (now wife) when he started abusing her. She stood up to her ex when he showed up at her house, demanding where his wife was. She organized a charity drive for a couple that she barely knew but felt compelled to help. I 100% related to her.
Mack was a huge grump at the beginning of the book. I understood why he was so mad but his anger was misplaced. I thought him making Ella do an oil change on the car was low because he thought she couldn’t do it. But the more into the book I got, the more I realized that Mack had his issues. He was dealing with the death of his father the year before. He was also dealing with his brother, Ford, selling his share of the business to a stranger (and a woman). Plus, he was still dealing with his mother upping and leaving him and brothers when he was younger. When I found that out, I thought to myself “Well, no wonder he was grumpy. I would be too“. By the middle of the book, though, Mack was on his way to dealing with everything. I also loved how he dealt with Ella’s ex-husband. I cheered when that scene happened!!
This book definitely tugged on my heartstrings. There were times when I was crying along with Ella and Mack. Not going to say what scenes but if you read the book, then you know what I mean. One word: Cookies (read the book to find out).
The other thing that I liked was how relatable that the characters were in this book. The author made them as realistic as she could for fictional characters. Even the main characters had their issues. I liked was that she wasn’t afraid to tackle issues like postpartum depression, spousal abuse, cancer and parental alienation. It made the book much more real for me.
There were parts of the book that I didn’t like. I didn’t like how Mack’s feelings for Ella turning from dislike to love so fast. It didn’t ring true to me. Also, I didn’t like how Ella’s ex-husband felt like he could walk right into her house and continue with his abusive behavior. I know that it mimics real life but I didn’t like. I also didn’t like that her ex-bestie felt that she could call on Ella to save her. I wanted to shake her and say “Sister, she WARNED you about him.”. My last complaint was how long and drawn out it was to get the story behind Mack’s mother’s abandonment. I didn’t like it
Ella and Mack’s romance was hot and fast. I was surprised at how fast it was. They also had incredible chemistry together. The sex scenes were out of this world hot. My poor Kindle almost couldn’t take the heat.
I liked the end of the book. I do feel that there were enough storylines left unended for a 7th book. Which I would be very interested in reading.
What I liked about Set the Night on Fire:
A) Can be read as a standalone
B) Tugged on my heartstrings
C) Relatable characters
What I disliked about Set the Night on Fire:
A) Mack’s feelings changing for Ella so suddenly
B) Ella’s ex-best friend and husband.
C) The mystery behind exactly why Mack’s mother left
I would give Set the Night on Fire an Adult rating. There is explicit sex. There is mild violence. There is language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.
There are trigger warnings for Set the Night on Fire. They are postpartum depression, spousal abuse, cancer, addiction, and parental alienation. If you are triggered by any of those, I would recommend not to read the book.
I would reread Set the Night on Fire. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.
I would like to thank St. Martin’s Paperbacks, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Set the Night on Fire.
All opinions stated in this review of Set the Night on Fire are mine.
**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**
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