Books & Spoons Review for ONE LAST RISK by Nancy Stopper

A guilt-driven firefighter, a widowed mother, neither is ready for love, but love has other plans. 

Firefighter Lucas Bennett had the carefree life he’d always wanted until a deadly blaze took the life of his company mate and best friend. Blaming himself was easy but pulling himself from the tailspin of guilt proved to be much harder. The fog of sadness and guilt pushed him down a dangerous path until he nearly died fighting the beast. Forced to stop and reevaluate his life, he decided to make a change before it was too late. 

A fire took almost everything from Sarah Robinson—her husband and her home—leaving her to raise their precious daughter alone. Everywhere she looked held memories of her husband, pouring salt on her ever-present wound. Unable to live any longer around the memories of her husband, she and her daughter moved to Oak Grove, far away from the grief of the past. All Sarah needed was the chance to start a new life for her and her daughter. 

A car accident on a dark, rainy night put Lucas and Sarah on a collision course neither of them expected… with questions they’re not ready to answer. Can a single mother open her broken heart for a second chance at love? Will a broken firefighter risk his heart for what might be his only chance at forever? Are each of them willing to take one last risk to be together? His risk. Her reward. Together, they’ll mend each other's broken hearts.

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I have read a lot of firefighter romance novels and there are the ones that are light and fluffy and mainly about the sex appeal of a man in uniform. Then there are those that are filled with angst and darkness of PSTD and the dangers of the job. I was happy to find out, that One Last Risk is neither one of those but takes the best of each of the sides and finds its own way. While it has light, fun, and flirty moments that made me smile and laugh, it also deals with serious issues of loss and learning to live again when a loved one has passed away. The character development was well done and part of the force moving the plot forward. 
The townfolks of Oak Grove are charming and enjoyable. With the mix of sweet and sassy, caring and bantering the Bennett family allured me in, and I believe this will be a lovely and lively series for all the small town romance fans. 
Lucas Bennett was a complex hero easy to fall for. He is a protective daredevil, he loves his job, loves to help people. He is great with kids, he is kind to strangers, he is considerate and even sweet when the right woman comes along. I loved Lucas and Sarah together. The sparks are flying, the chemistry is hot. Yet there are many moments where they get to know each other, where they take long walks in the park and talk about life, loss, and love. 
Sarah Robinson is a tough lady. She is a survivor, with spunk, and determination. She has a big, loving heart, her kindness winning the town folks over immediately. Her daughter is a sweetheart with cuteness overflowing. 
With the past of loss that Lucas and Sarah have, a relationship doesn't come as easily to them as it seems on the surface. They have to work over the obstacles and find the courage to face the truth, make compromises and learn to accept, forgive, and move on. 
One Last Risk is a captivating and absorbing story that was easy to get lost in. The alluring characters with interesting history, the family with a tight bond, the sensuous yet tender romance, and a little girl in a tutu won my heart with the rich feelings and emotions they brought to the tale. There were smiles, sighs, laughs, and even tears. This is a swoon worthy, engaging, emotion-filled story that left me hankering for more about the Oak Grove and the Bennetts
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

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KOBO

B&N

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Nancy Stopper is an award winning debut author. She writes contemporary romance with strong women and sexy heroes that tug at your emotional heartstrings and leave you with a warm feeling that lingers long after the last page. Her favorite escape is small-town romance and even when set in a larger location, her books have that small town feel.

Nancy's first novel won first place in the Short Contemporary Romance category of the Fool for Love Contest and was a Maggie Finalist in the unpublished Single-Title Contemporary Category.

Dreams Come True in Laguna, Nancy's first novella, was published in the Laguna Beach Kindle World in 2016. Her first full-length contemporary romance novel will be published in 2017.

Nancy lives in Virginia with her husband, two of her three kids that are still at home, and one cat who regards her with disdain daily. When she's not behind her laptop, you can find her at a ballfield, cheering on her favorite team (Washington Nationals) or her favorite player (her son, who pitches for his local high school). 

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