Hometown Hero’s Redemption

A Temporary Father 

When he becomes guardian to his friend’s troubled ten-year-old boy, firefighter Drew Gannon knows he needs help. But before he can get former social worker Lauren Pierce to agree, he’s got to prove he’s changed from the sports jock who gave her a hard time back in high school. Returning home, Lauren wants no part of her old profession. She only wants to forget the unspeakable tragedy she left behind. She can’t take responsibility for another child. Or a reunion with Drew–no matter how generous he’s become. But a desperate boy and his handsome guardian may be more than Lauren can resist…

My Review:

published in 2017

Though this book was published seven years ago, the audio edition just released this month and I was happy to dive into ‘Hometown Hero’s Redemption’ since I missed it first time round.

I do love the way Jill Kemerer weaves emotion into her stories. Complex layers of accumulated angst that our hero and heroine have to fight their way through. Both their backstories are challenging, but the one they share together is what stands in the way of them working through everything else.

Nothing like revisiting high school angst to set already raw emotions on edge and Drew and Lauren’s meet-cute is a pretty much a disaster. She has reasons for being wary of him and he has reasons for needing her to believe he’s changed.

Loved the way they come together to help a traumatized child. The author realistically portrays the complications and turmoil involved. No sugar-coating the way to their happily ever after, but creating a hope-filled one just the same. I might have gotten teary at the end. 🙂