Ignite: A Grumpy Single Dad Romance

4.5 “I am the boss of my feelings.” “rules” “Frosty” “I don’t love you” “Hallie and Luna” “happily ever after” KissesOh em geeeeeeeee...THIS is why I love Melanie Harlow books! Ignite was absolutely everything I was looking for and needed and in true Melanie form she gave me a fantastic romance with amazing characters and all of the feels. I loved every second of reading Ignite and I truly never wanted it to end. Dex and Winnie were sexy and fun and totally addictive. So Ignite is part of the Cloverleigh Farms Series and can technically be read as a standalone buuuuuut I totally recommend reading the series. Not only are the books amazing, but Winnie is actually the daughter of Mac and step-daughter of Frannie from Irresistible . I absolutely LOVE that Melanie is doing the next generation of Cloverleigh Farms, it’s awesome!! Nothing is spoiled if you read Ignite first, each story is based on a different couple, but the events obviously build and you really get to know and fall in love with the characters, which is one of the many reasons why I love series. Plus, there is a connection between Mac’s story and Winnie’s story (like father like daughter) - it’s adorable and I loved it so much!Winifred MacAllister...I challenge anyone to not love this girl, she is a million different kinds of amazing. Well, except for her singing voice – but she had to have some kind of flaw, or else it’s just not fair. She is beautiful from the inside out, sweet, funny, just an absolute doll...and I would expect nothing less given who her parents are. She is such a kind, giving person and literally all Winnie wants is someone to love. She has such a huge heart and she loves with every piece of it and it’s such an endearing quality...but she has the worst luck in finding someone worthy of that love. I really liked the whole thought behind the bet she had with Ellie and that it was forcing her to take a step back and prioritize herself and her feelings...but when life hands you a sexy new neighbor on a silver platter, what’s a girl to do?“I guess even selfish a__holes have better manners than me.”She smiled. “I guess so. But it’s okay, because I’m not looking for a boyfriend this time, remember?”“That’s right.” I recalled what she’d said last night. “You’re in rehab for your love addiction.”“Exactly. So you can go right ahead and rip my clothes and pin me down and say all kinds of filthy things to me.”I growled again, gripping her sides. “Don’t tempt me, little girl.”“I’m serious.” She slid her palms to the back of my neck. “You can do all that and more, but don’t call me baby, don’t start believing in happily ever after, and definitely don’t bring me any more Frostys.”“Never? Not even on your birthday?”She shook her head. “Especially not on my birthday. Because then I would have to grow old with you, and neither of us wants that.”Dexter Matthews...oh but I love the grumpy ones. And it’s not that Dex is ‘grumpy’ per-se, he just has a very rough exterior. He’s not mean...or rude...but he’s definitely not winning any personality awards. That doesn’t take away from his amazingness at all though...I loved that he wasn’t Mr. Sunshine because when you did get to see the rough exterior crack and fade away you knew it was genuine and you knew you had earned it. He’s a simple guy with very few needs...he has his daughters and his job at the fire station, two very important things that he takes very seriously and is fantastic at both of them. But it was definitely time...time for Dex to break out of his shell and allow someone else in...I really think he needed that more than he wanted to admit.Before I got there, she called out. “Hey, Dex?”“Yeah?” I turned around, terrified she was going to ask me if I wanted to come in and knowing I’d say yes.She was leaning out her doorway, a playful grin on her face. “I had fun tonight.”“Me too.” And then I relaxed, because I knew what was coming.“But I don’t love you.”I grinned back. “I don’t love you either.”Dex and Winnie are opposites attract in the best way possible...sunshine + grumpy to the max - they’re total opposites in personality (which was so amazing) and yet they had so much in common and connected effortlessly. Of course, I loved the age gap – I'm a huge taboo lover so of course I did...and honestly, it was easy for that to completely disappear once you got these two together. I could have read their conversations for days...they were so relaxed and opened up to each other so easily, it was impossible not to get sucked in and just absorb the chemistry that was happening. Which, speaking of chemistry – they were SUPER h-o-t and I loooooved it, couldn’t get enough. She blended in so well with his girls – which Luna and Hallie stole the show regularly and it’s the cutest thing ever!“Thanks.” He watched as Whitney lifted Luna down and helped Hallie into the saddle. “I don’t usually spill my guts about that stuff.”“I know. You just grunt and go about your business.”He elbowed me and stayed close enough that our arms remained touching. “I was trying to say something nice to you.”“You were?” I feigned surprise. “I must have missed it.”“I was working up to it.”“Keep working.”He nudged me again. “It’s easy to talk to you. You make it easy. Somehow.”I smiled, my heart swelling at the compliment. “Thanks.”Melanie Harlow never lets me down. I truly adore reading her books...the just make me endlessly happy. She continues to deliver books that hit me just right – they're not overly complicated, have all the emotions I’m looking for – give me just enough angst and allllll the sexy times I could want, fantastic characters that I fall head over heels for – what more could I want!?!? I also love how relatable the characters and storylines feel. It’s so easy to get completely absorbed into the Cloverleigh world and just want to surround yourself with the characters, it feels like home. That’s one of the many reasons why I will always get excited about reading Melanie’s books, they just give me heart such peace because I know that’s how I feel when I read them.“Don’t go yet.”“Why?” He threw a pillow at me.“Because I’m not done messing with you.”Laughing, I scooped up the pillow and brought it back to the bed. “I thought maybe it was against our rules to stay over.”“Listen,” he said, taking my arm and pulling me under the covers. “Ogres don’t follow any effing rules. When they want a princess in their bed, they just grab one.”“Any one?”“Their favorite one,” he clarified, flipping me beneath him. “And my favorite happens to be Princess Minnie.”While I truly hate when Melanie’s books finally do come to an end...I adore her endings and the way she writes them. They are always so well paced...nothing is rushed and I just love basking in the awesomeness with a goofy grin on my face. I don’t wanna get my hopes up and think that Melanie is going to write a book for all the Cloverleigh kids – cause that’s A LOT of kids! - but I will gladly read and love any and all of them that she chooses to write. I know Ellie’s book, Taste is up next and I cannot wait! Ellie is Winnie’s bestie, so she was in Ignite a bit and I loved her – especially the punishment she concocted for Winnie – but there were a few scenes with her and Gianni and ooooooh my gosh, I’m so excited! There is so much tension there, I’m dying to see what Melanie does with these two.

Ignite is the 6th book in the Cloverleigh Series, but can totally be read as a stand alone.What’s not to love about Dex. He’s a former navy seal, firefighter, grumpy single sad, and a gorgeous hunk of a man. Um, yes please. Sign me up. Winnie is the new next door neighbor and is going to give Dex a run for his money. She’s a hopeless romantic who swore off men for one year. The hurdle is their instant attraction, the funny sexy banter, Dex not believing in love, and Winnie’s trust issues. Dex did make me want to throw my book at him. He struggles with sharing his feelings. In his defense he was scared due to trust issues. But, he made up for it at the end. They slowly showed each other the part of themselves they kept hidden. They could feel vulnerable with each other, allowing them to feel safe. I loved the friendships in the story, the set up for the next story. I loved his two girls. And, what’s not to love about Piglet and Freddy Purrcury. Great read! Can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series.

What a sweet story. And hot. Give me the single dad trope all day, every day. I just loved how Winnie brought out the emotional side in Dex. How she broke down those walls and made him see just how good life can be when you find your person. And don’t get me started on the girls. What a hoot. They had me cracking up often. This was my first Melanie Harlow book and it certainly won’t be the last. A very enjoyable read.“It’s dangerous to play with fire. And with firefighters.”“What I can do and what I should do are sometimes two different things.”“Say it,” “Or I won’t give you what you want.”“I’m just playing the game you started.” “So go on. Tell me what you want.”“You can’t be so scared of the unknown you let it keep you from taking a chance on something that could change your life.”“That’s how I want to be loved—big and crazy. Because that’s how I love.”“Can I have one more chance to make you mine?” “Or maybe ours?”“Don’t make me give you a lecture on how a man’s clothes are not to blame for a woman’s behavior,”⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥🔥🔥Description:My new neighbor is a firefighter--and a scorching hot single dad--but I swear I didn’t set off that smoke alarm on purpose.(And I was beyond mortified when he rushed in and saw me naked.)Nothing happened, of course--because I, Winnie MacAllister, romance junkie and owner of a constantly broken heart, have sworn off men for one solid year.Even protective men with chiseled jaws, bulging biceps, and deep brown eyes that make my breath come faster. Even former SEALs with broad chests and strong hands that make my skin sizzle. Even gorgeous, grumpy guys who have their hands full raising two adorable little girls and claim they don’t believe in love.Until Dex kisses me one night, and I drop all my defenses.(Also my underwear.)He says he’s not gentle, and he’s right. He says I should take the dream job I’m offered in another state, and he’s right. He says he’s too old for me and could never be the man I deserve.He’s wrong.Dex and I might be twelve years apart, but the fire between us is the kind that will never burn out.How can I convince him to give happily-ever-after with me a chance?

This book was really sweet!Their chemistry was absolutely amazing! It was a really good book! See the next generation in action, sure gave me a little nostalgic feelings! ♥️

5🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭Spanish & English Opinion🇺🇸 Sunshine heroine/ grumpy single dad hero + great writing style = epic win!I love the connection between the past stories and this one!The hero loves to curse and I’m a big fan! She’s fierceless and lovely! The girls are amazing. They seem real, expressing themselves in what definitely could be their ages, and they are adorable.This book is a MUST read!🇲🇽 Heroína feliz/ galán gruñón y papá soltero + excelente estilo de escritura = aplausos. 👏🏼Me encanta que haya conexión con las series pasadas y que el galán diga muchas malas palabras jaja. Me hizo más fan aún.Ella es súper valiente, congruente y se complementan perfecto como pareja.Las niñas también son otro elemento ganador. Son súper lindas, sus diálogos son esperados para la edad, todo está hermoso.Es un libro MUST

The story of Winnie the daughter of Mack and Frannie is really amazing !Dex is a single dad and his daughters are absolutely hilarious and sweet. Winnie is very young and fresh but she is really strong and mature in the same time. Great book !!!!

I was just browsing through Amazon when I stumbled upon this book. The premise was interesting so I decided to give it a try and boy, am I glad I did it!I loved it start to finish (and the exclusive bonus scene on the author’s website).The romance is fast paced, but very well developed. The kids are the MVPs and the story is endearing. This was my first in the series and I’m already hopping on to the other books. Throughly recommend it.

4 stars because it was too much alike Frannie and Declan's story. Even the girls were alike. But I still loved the couple.