If there was ever a title fitting for a book it is this one. And this cover is just wonderful as well.

Gray is a wildfire firefighter in California, after she experienced a traumatic loss she returns to her home town Sky Valley. She is basically trying to outrun whatever is troubling her, much like she’d tried to outrun the fire. Faith is also running, or actually “forced” to come to the small town by her best friend. Faith has just broken up with her cheating ex girlfriend (only mentioned, doesn’t happen in the story). When the leading ladies meet at the diner there is an instant attraction, but due to false information based on teenage misgivings Gray is made out to be a player. She’s anything but a player, she’s sweet and a little troubled by her latest fire season.

This is a slow burn romance and the current blurb makes it out to be something slightly different. Faith doesn’t see Gray as a troubled soul when they first meet, she sees her as the player her best friend made her out to be. Overall I did enjoy the story and the slowly blossoming romance. This book is set over the winter period in North Caroline, I’m talking snow, Christmas, NYE, so it could just as easily have been a winter release. Maybe it would have been better suited for the story. Vaun always does such a great job setting the scene, describing environment and certain things in such detail you are easily transported to such a place. It was a bit harder for me now because where I am it is pretty warm and the winter setting just didn’t work for me. Maybe a re-read should happen in winter. For now I say 3.5 stars

I tend to like small-town romances and this one was definitely right up my alley. Not only were the main characters’ interactions with each other interesting, but so were the ones with the supporting cast. Although I liked most of the characters, Gray definitely had my heart for a number of reasons. For instance, the sweet moments she had with a number of people for something as simple as having tea together. Additionally, was the dynamic between Gray and her second cousin, Hailey.

Full review was posted on The Lesbian Review website.

Gray and Faith both end up in Sky Valley as they run from problems at home. There is a quiet mutual attraction on both their parts from the moment they meet but each are a bit gun shy for very different reasons. I liked their story, it was a very low angst romance that quietly grew into more. I enjoyed the sub plot with Hailey but would have liked to see her a bit more. There is a bit of drama at the end, and while it is resolved, it all felt a bit abrupt. I also wish there were more scenes with the two MCs together, most of the book is about them each overcoming their own personal issues rather than them interacting with each other. Nancy Jo was hilarious and I loved all the scenes with her. Overall it was a good book but not quite as engaging as I would have hoped.

Slow Burn by Missouri Vaun is a very gentle, slow burn romance set in one of the loveliest places in North America. This book is like a breath of fresh air after a hard day. In fact, this is the kind of book I would grab to read after a bad day, or after reading something very intense. For me, this story is a great literary palate cleanser.

The novel tells the love story of two women who meet in the small town of Sky Valley, NC, located where the Great Smoky Mountains meet the Blue Ridge Mountains. Grayson (Gray) Reeves is returning to her hometown after surviving a devastating California wildfire where she lost her best friend and fellow firefighter. Faith Owens has come to town to help her best friend run the small cafe in town as she tries to recover from an unexpected breakup with her girlfriend. Both are going through the grieving process and are definitely not looking for romance. But sometimes love just sneaks up on you anyway.

This is a tender, easy to read, character driven love story. It does, however, have a thread of angst that runs through the tale. Gray is dealing with major grief and loss, and this affects how she interacts with everyone. Faith is recovering from a relationship gone bad and just wants to help her friend at the cafe and focus on her work as an artist. I connected with both characters, but I really fell for Gray in this tale. She is a beautiful person, inside and out. I also enjoyed how both women interacted with the rest of the community and the little side stories that came from this.

The setting of this book is one of its biggest strengths. The author is an expert at placing the reader into the scene with her descriptions, and she had a gorgeous place to use as a setting in this novel. I felt like I was right there with the characters.

This is a charming and tender romance with great characters, a wonderful setting, moments of excitement and lots of love. I really enjoyed this book, and I think you will too.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

Grayson (Gray) Reeves has been fighting wildfires in the southwest for the last few years. She is used to camping at the wildfire scenes and limited personal time. Gray escapes a wildfire that quickly escalates and claims the life of her friend, Shane, who was trying to save her in the heat of the moment. Afterward, Gray needs some space and decides to return to her hometown of Sky Valley, North Carolina.

Faith Owen was cheated on by her girlfriend, Sam, in Raleigh. Her friend, Kayla, convinces Faith to come to Sky Valley, to put some distance between her and Sam. Faith is an artist, but needs to stay busy, so she agrees to help Kayla out at the town diner. That’s where Faith and Gray initially meet on Gray’s first day back in town.

There is some immediate chemistry between the two women, but Gray is especially carrying a lot of emotional baggage. Gray and Faith slowly develop a friendship and then take a journey toward a romantic relationship.

This was a quick read with a small town setting, good writing, and two likable main characters. I also liked that although Gray was clearly suffering emotionally, that she served as a role model for twelve-year-old Hailey, who seemed to already know that she liked girls. 4 stars

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.25 stars. This is a very relaxed small-town romance. I thought it might be angsty with a firefighter (Grey) that nearly escaped death and returns to her hometown to heal, but it’s pretty low angst. I like Vaun’s writing and enjoyed this book, but I had hoped for a bit more. It was sweet and enjoyable, but not the most memorable read.

I want to mention that the blurb is somewhat misleading and raised the wrong expectations for me. Maybe the blurb will be adjusted later on, but now it states that Faith sees a suffering soul in need of saving, when she actually thinks for a long time that Grey is a player and tries to stay away from her. Only very late in the story does Faith realize that Grey is struggling with life.

What I like about Vaun’s writing is the attention to detail, in this case to the descriptions of fighting wildfires, but also what it entails to be a firefighter in a small-town. Vaun also is very knowledgeable about art, the way the illustrations, materials and different techniques are described is spot on. Clearly, this is a topic Vaun is passionate about, as the previous book “The Mandolin Lunch” also featured an artist and in that book too I enjoyed the colorful descriptions of the illustrations the MC made.

Both characters are likeable, but they were bit flat and I missed some growth and also some chemistry between them. Maybe this book suffered from my reading a five-star book previous to this one.

This was a gentle and sweet romance that is on the slow side, there are no major issues or bumps, but I couldn’t really connect with it making it an average read for me.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story about firefighter Grey and artist Faith. Grey is suffering from a traumatic event from her last wildfire job in California and come’s home to North Carolina to her childhood home to recover. Faith has had a bad break up from her ex and moves to the same small NC town to have a change of scene. She works as a contract artist but is helping her friend Kayla manage a motel and dinner.

This is slow burn romance with two likable MCs. Vaun did a nice job of setting the scene in the rural small town in NC. And in adding on several interesting side characters. This was my first Vaun book and I would like to read more in the future.

ARC received for an honest and voluntary review.

3.5!

The world needs more sapphic small town romances, so let this be my official request. Bonus points for those with a nice slow burn.

I really enjoyed Slow Burn. It was sweet and emotional and the slow burn was done at just the right pace.

Check this book out if you enjoy:

- Slow burn romances
- Small town romances
- Firefighter romances
- Sapphic romances

Or any combination of the above.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Gentle slow burn, small-town romance
I love Vaun‘s explorations of small-town, rural life (she has a true calling there) and this novel is a gentle slow burn romance. Life, love, everything moves on a slower pace on the mountains of North Carolina. And don‘t we all yearn for a simpler life where people relate to each other and are there for mutual support? Vaun catches this rural oasis with bold strokes and provides a perfect setting for Gray and Faith.
Gray is struggling with a life-changing experience and comes back to the green woods of her hometown Sky Valley. Faith has lost faith in love and life. Her best friend, Kayla, in typical small-town fashion intervenes and has her come visit the peaceful town.
I loved how Vaun leisurely explores the growing attraction and there journey towards each other. Haley, a reflection of young Gray, was a very welcome addition and shows how very valuable role models can be. This is a gentle, slow-paced book for a quiet time.

Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and netgalley for the ARC. The review is left voluntarily.

I enjoyed the story but I felt it left something to be desired. I liked the two main characters and the setting of the story. Both mains are essentially running from their pasts, one is from the area and one is visiting. One main character has a pretty harrowing survival experience and that seemed to be the biggest focus of the book, and I get that. But the romance seemed lost in that. I would have liked to have seen a deeper exploration into the main characters relationship.

Slow Burn is another incredible book by Missouri Vaun.
Grayson Reeves is a wildlife firefighter who has returned to her family home after a tragic loss during her last job. It's been awhile since she's been back but this small town is ready for her to come home.
Faith Owen has been hiding away from life after a break up with her girlfriend. She's been pulled into town by a friend to regroup and help out at her small cafe.
Gray and Faith have several chance meetings that keep bring them closer together.
This is a great slow burn (yes pun intended) story that I highly recommend.

Thank you @NetGalley @BoldStrokesBooks @Slowburn

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Grayson is returning to her hometown of Sky Valley, NC to regroup after losing her friend/Mentor Shane in a wildfire she feels guilty for his death as she deals with her guilt she meets Faith who always enjoy the small town she there to visit her friend Kayla while trying to get over a break up.

Faith and Grayson wasn’t looking for love but as they spends time together they starts to fall for each other. I enjoy this read because I like that it’s really wasn’t no angst it’s was two people who found something in earth other. I like Gray building a relationship with her little cousin Hailey who sees her.

This was a very cute book. Like the title says there was quite a build up to see their characters. I liked how they were able to help heal each other in their own respective struggles. Both very likeable as well. I would recommend this book.

Grayson Reeves returns home to the mountains of North Carolina after years as a Helitack firefighter battling mountain wild fires in California. Her best friend and mentor dies when a wild fire turns unexpectedly and she needs time to recover and greave. Returning to the mountain cabin home she inherited from her mother she joins the two person fire rescue station in the resort town. Faith Owen's is getting over a bad break up. Her best friend gives her a chance to regroup by inviting her to Sky Valley. Faith is an artist and illustrator and she can work anywhere. To fill in time she can work shifts at her friends diner. Her friend lets her stay in her grandmothers empty house just a mile up the road from Gray. This is small town and of course Gray and Faith’s paths cross. Neither is looking for anything new but the attraction is there. This is a sweet and loving story without drama. It is more about healing and be open to someone new. There is nice side story with a cousins child that reminds Gray of herself years ago. This is a perfect read for someone looking for a gentle and healing romance. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Would have liked more to do with the firefighting in it but otherwise a good read. Nice building the coming together of Gray and Faith and friends and family.