This is the first in Jaci Burton's Hope series. The two main characters are commitment phobic due to very bumpy past relationships, but they find common ground especially in the love for their dogs. Both Luke and Emma are very likeable main characters. A nice romance and a little suspense make this a good winter afternoon read. ( )

This romance was just ok. It was an easy read. There was a little bit of suspense thrown into the mix, but was not overly stressful. Both main characters were trying to overcome insecurities related to previous failed relationships. My first book by this author. 3 stars. ( )

Hope Flames
2 Stars

Settling into her new life as a small town vet and recovering from an abusive relationship, Emma Burnett isn’t interested in romance until Officer Luke McCormick walks into the clinic. Luke isn’t looking for anything more than a casual fling, but Emma soon begins to mean more to him. Will Luke and Emma be able to overcome their personal demons to be together…

Despite likable characters and a plot with definite potential, the story and writing just do not live up to the sexiness of the cover.

Emma and Luke are a cute couple and their romance is relatively free of angst. Unfortunately, the pacing is too slow and the dialogue is rather stilted. The townsfolk and pets are quite charming but something is missing to make them truly exceptional.

The small suspense plot is completely superfluous and adds nothing to either the characters or the story.

There is nothing special about this book and I doubt that I will continue with the series. ( )

This is the first in Jaci Burton's Hope series. The two main characters are commitment phobic due to very bumpy past relationships, but they find common ground especially in the love for their dogs. Both Luke and Emma are very likeable main characters. A nice romance and a little suspense make this a good winter afternoon read. ( )

Good, moderately steamy romance between two people who really weren't looking for any kind of relationship. Emma has come back to her hometown, setting up her vet practice. She had a relationship in college and after that derailed her plans, then turned abusive before she escaped it. She's determined that she will run her own life the way that she wants it and no man is going to distract her. Then Luke brings his dog Boomer into her clinic and she and Luke hit it off.

Luke, like Emma, isn't in the market for a relationship. He was married once and it didn't work out, so he's dealing with it by avoiding any kind of commitment. As a hot cop he has plenty of female company when he's in the mood for it. The only steady in his life is his police dog Boomer, and that's just the way he likes it. But Emma is something entirely different than the women he's used to and he can't stay away from her.

The chemistry between them is hot from the very beginning, but both of them are very wary of getting involved. They begin by trying the "just friends" approach, hanging out together with each other and their dogs. But the attraction is too much to resist, and the flames between them burn pretty hot. It's not just physical between them, though. Their friendship allows them to open up to each other about their pasts and what makes them reluctant to risk their hearts again. That same friendship moves ever closer to love, though neither s willing to say it out loud.

I loved seeing the relationship between them grow and change. Luke is constantly surprised by how different Emma is from his ex-wife. She thinks his family ranch is great, where the ex hated it. Emma is very understanding about Luke's erratic hours, having the same kind of hours herself. He sees that her determined independence is the reaction to what happened to her before and is fully supportive of it. Emma spends a lot of time watching Luke carefully, worried that he'll turn out to be just like her ex. She slowly begins to trust him, seeing that he isn't trying to control her. I liked seeing her support of his career, and the way she was there for him to talk to and just unwind with. When her past rears its ugly head, she pushes Luke away, fearing that she's made the same mistake she made before. I loved seeing Luke give her the space she wanted, while still watching out for her the way he feels he must. The ending was sweet and sexy and I can't wait to read the others.

I also loved the secondary characters. The most important were the three dogs. I loved seeing Boomer do his police dog thing, and then be the playful pooch when he was off duty. Emma's dog Daisy was as big a part of her vet practice as anyone else, and the little rescue pup Annie was just adorable. I also liked seeing Emma and Luke with their friends. Emma's two girlfriends were terrific with the way they teased each other and yet were there in a crisis. The support they gave Emma when she opened up to them about her ex was just what she needed to help rebuild her confidence. Luke's relationship with his brother was fun to see. They had their whole unspoken language thing going on during Luke and Emma's visit to the ranch, which gave Logan a wide open field to really give Luke a hard time. I also loved seeing Luke with his friend Carter and watching them work on Luke's truck. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Carter in his book.

The mystery of the drug thefts was good without taking over the story. It gave a good look at what being a small town cop was like, and the frustration they had over how long it was taking to solve. I liked the part it played in moving Luke and Emma closer together. The resolution was good, just the right amount of intensity for the type of book this was. There was quite an interesting twist to the danger that Emma was in, that really brought out the changes that she had gone through. ( )