All Too Well weaves a touching romance that explores the intricate dynamics of single parenthood and the healing nature of love. Corinne Michaels’ newest novel, the first in the series, beautifully captures themes of redemption, the charm of small-town life, and the classic ‘best friend’s sister’ trope.
For as long as I can remember, Lachlan West has been my brother’s best friend and the love of my life. Trouble is, he kissed me four years ago and then never spoke to me again. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
Title: All Too Well
Author(s): Corinne Michaels
Series: Ember Falls #1
Published by BAAE Publishing on September 18, 2024
Pages: 370
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Source: Publicist
Format: eArc 
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
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I was doing great pretending he doesn’t exist until I was assigned to write an article about former college athletes, and I learn that the sexy single dad is my first interview.
Determined to wow my editor with an amazing sportsball piece—(have I mentioned I know nothing about sports?)—I head to Ember Falls, ready to face my fears—and the man I love.
The grumpy quarterback turned fireman wants nothing to do with me or my article. Yet, somehow I persuade him to let me follow him around for a few weeks, and even if he said yes just to get rid of me, I’ll take it.
But the longer I stay in his small town, the more complicated our story gets. The boundaries we set fall to the ground—along with our clothes.
He holds me like I matter, touches me like I’m cherished and kisses me like he loves me.
We both know I have to leave Ember Falls, and he’ll never follow—I only wish I could write a different ending to our story.
“All Too Well” introduces readers to Lachlan West and Ainsley Mackinley, who have known each other since childhood. Lachlan is best friends with Ainsley’s brother. Ainsley has harbored love for Lachlan, unaware that he reciprocates her feelings. Four years before the events of “All Too Well,” in a moment of vulnerability, Lachlan and Ainsley shared a kiss, which he later deemed a mistake. Feeling spurned, Ainsley departed Ember Falls, and they have not spoken to each other since.
Ainsley, a New York-based journalist, finds herself returning to Ember Falls for her latest assignment. Her task? To secure an interview with Lachlan West, a man who once had a promising football career ahead of him but chose instead to raise his daughter and eventually became the youngest fire chief in town. He’s also the man Ainsley has never stopped loving. The challenge, however, lies in convincing Lachlan to step into the spotlight for the interview.
Lachlan has always steered clear of relationships, mainly due to his daughter and his own doubts about being a good partner. However, reuniting with Ainsley reawakened emotions he’d attempted to bury. Gradually, the barriers he had erected began to crumble, and unexpectedly, Ainsley found herself moving into his home, planning to stay for the length of her work assignment. However, in life, things rarely go as planned.
This story and the characters provided a pleasurable experience. Ainsley and Lachlan together made a great couple. However, they both needed to let go of past hurts to fully enjoy their relationship. Lachlan perceived his parent’s marriage in a certain light. This perception led to him thinking that a relationship with Ainsley would not work.
Ainsley’s growth is clear when reflecting on the past four years since the infamous kissing incident. Her determination to pursue a relationship with Lachlan, despite his hesitations, speaks volumes of her deep affection. The sacrifices she was prepared to make are a testament to her profound love. It’s heartwarming to witness everything come together for them in the end.
The Ember Fall series kicks off with a captivating introduction that truly draws the reader in. The richness of the supporting characters adds layers to the story, while the quaint small-town setting is so vividly portrayed, it leaves you yearning for a chance to explore Ember Falls if only it were a real place.
Overall, a solid read, and I look forward to the next book in the series.
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About Corinne Michaels
Corinne Michaels is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of romance novels. Her stories are chock full of emotion, humor, and unrelenting love, and she enjoys putting her characters through intense heartbreak before finding a way to heal them through their struggles. Corinne is a former Navy wife and happily married to the man of her dreams. She began her writing career after spending months away from her husband while he was deployed–reading and writing were her escapes from the loneliness. Corinne now lives in Virginia with her husband and is the emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun-loving mom of two beautiful children.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2024 COYER Summer Challenge
Best friend’s sister, small town, single parent…all things I love in a romance. This sounds good. 😀
I like this author but haven’t kept up with some of her recent releases.
These two sounds great for each other. I love small towns and second chance romances.