𝘾𝙤𝙨𝙮 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜.. on the 29th August 🍂

I think it's fair to assume that Autumn is the elite season for a lot of us readers; cosy blankets, jumpers, fluffy socks and hot drinks just to name a few reasons. 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 by Bonnie Woods is the perfect book to get you in the mood for the changing seasons!

Set in a small town in Scotland, we meet Harper, a city girl that's trying to escape her disaster of a life and write the novel she's always dreamed of. She falls - quite literally - into the presence of Fraser, local lumberjack and grumpy recluse.

I have to give a standing ovation to the wonderful cast of diverse characters we meet along the way. Harper herself is a plus-size, bisexual queen who acknowledges the occasional bias she faces when she's in a hetero-facing relationship.

Fraser is a sweetie, an ally and a family man almost to a fault and would do anything for anyone. His kindness is also his weakness, but Harper can't help but fall for his charm.

There were times I laughed out loud and parts where I couldn't get the grin off my face. It was emotional too, Harper definitely suffers with anxiety and low self-esteem and I loved how Fraser uplifted her and showed her full acceptance. I also had to smile at Frasers nephew who has autism because honestly, I saw my daughter reflected off the pages.

Get your blankets, your hot chocolate and settle down for a feel good, toe curling Scottish romance!

What in the hallmark movie is going on here? I absolutely loved this and couldn’t put it down. I would actually love to see it turned into a film but no Americans please. Fraser was full of heart with a good amount of grumpy in him. Harper is someone who is rethinking her life and makes a huge leap of faith to be a writer. She’s talented and funny and the perfect amount of clumsy. I lied, I had to put the book down and walk away laughing at the rose 🌹 scene with the dog. So cringe so funny so relatable!

I really loved harpers interaction with the village as well, and the relationships she made with his family so easily. I know it’s just a hallmark chick flick book but I love them and I loved this! Well done Bonnie Woods/ if that’s even your real name 😂

4/5 🌟

I loved this cosy autumn read and I can not wait to own a physical copy and be able to re read it.

It definitely put me in the mood for the season to come and loved the story that was well written. For sure an author I want to read more from.

Thank you, Harper north Publishing & NetGalley, for approving an ARC of this book.

4.5⭐️

Thank you, HarperNorth Publishing & NetGalley, for approving an ARC of this book. I absolutely loved it!

This is exactly what I love in my autumnal romance, Harper comes to a remote town in Scotland to get away from Machester following the loss of her job & the split from her girlfriend, who is now in a new relationship and seems to have the perfect life.

Harper wants to write a book, and what better way then, booking an air b&b on the water to take some me time out. Shame that the place has plumbing issues and is flooded, so she ends up walking into town and gets lost, ending up falling onto a remote cabin owned by the grumpy but very handsome Fraser.

This had all my favourite tropes, grumpy sunshine, forced proximity, friends with benefits, but they are falling for each other, small town vibes, autumnal, found family, and a dash of spice.

oh my god i adored this book. i adored harper and just wanted to grab her and hug her and tell her she’s more than enough. fraser was the sweetest grump EVER i loved him so much and loved how thoughtful he was, i love this book so much and adored the world and the characters.
4.75!!!

Thank you NetGalley for sending me an eARC of Kindling by Bonnie Woods 🍂🍁

I really enjoyed this book. The FMC is very relatable and super realistic, and the setting is so cute, it’s really giving cosy, autumnal small-town vibes.

It didn’t have the slowest burn ever and I definitely could have waited a little longer for the spice, but I found all the characters were very likeable and well written. It was easy to get to know each character and their personalities and back-stories, and it definitely had me feeling a little emotional at times.

It didn’t take me long at all to read (two sittings) and I would definitely read more by this author in the future. It’s the perfect palate-cleanser and brought me out of a little slump.

3.5 rounded to 4/5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers at harper north for this arc.
The story was well planned and executed there was no confusing plots or side characters that were hard to follow that can be super common with other books and such a lovely cosy autumnal read.

*Bisexual plus size & nothern mc
*Tattooed lumberjack with a cute collie 🐶
*Third person pov- most of my reads tend to be first person so it did take me a little longer to get into but once I was it was a lovely read.
*Scottish getaway
*Friends w/ benefits
*Cute autumnal feels
*Found family

Bonnie Woods' Kindling is an ideal cozy autumn romance, especially for those who enjoy a touch of heat alongside the sweetness. The story follows Harper, a city-dweller in desperate need of an escape after losing her job and being left by her girlfriend, who’s already moved on. Seeking solace in Scotland, Harper hopes to clear her head and finally start writing the book she’s always dreamed about. However, things don’t go as planned, and Harper ends up stranded in the woods without a place to stay. Enter Fraser, a seemingly grumpy woodcutter who grudgingly allows her to stay in his work cabin, on the condition that she doesn’t interfere with his work. Unsurprisingly, Fraser finds Harper both irritating and irresistible, a sentiment that seems to be mutual. They eventually strike up a casual "friends with benefits" deal, but the real challenge is whether they can truly keep things casual.

This book left me with such a warm, fuzzy feeling—I couldn’t stop smiling as I read. Harper is incredibly relatable, with her struggles around self-esteem and body image, which are more about how others have treated her than her own feelings. Many readers will see themselves in her. Fraser, too, has his own issues, carrying emotional scars from his childhood that make him hide parts of himself from even his closest friends and family. Watching these two characters help each other grow and bring out the best in one another was pure joy. The romance has just the right amount of spice—it enhances the story without overwhelming it, and the intimate scenes are tasteful and enjoyable. The chemistry between Harper and Fraser practically crackles, and it’s clear that Fraser is deeply attracted to Harper in all her curvy glory. Their playful banter is another highlight, often making me chuckle.

Though Harper and Fraser are the focus, the story is enriched by a vibrant cast of secondary characters, each adding depth and giving more insight into Fraser’s character. I especially appreciated the well-crafted character development and found myself wishing for spin-off stories about some of the other characters, like Fraser’s sister and her wife, or his best friend.

Kindling is a book I can easily see myself revisiting whenever I need something comforting and uplifting. Returning to this story would feel like catching up with old friends.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Kindling by Bonnie Woods is the perfect cosy Autumnal romance for readers who like a little spice to go with their sweetness. City girl Harper is in need of a getaway, she has just been made redundant and her girlfriend has broken up with her and already moved on with someone else. A break in Scotland to clear her mind and maybe even get started on the book she has dreamed of writing sounds like the perfect plan, but plans have been known to go awry and so of course Harper finds herself alone in the woods with nowhere to stay. Enter Fraser, a deceptively gruff woodcutter who reluctantly agrees to let her stay in his work cabin, as long as she promises to let him get on with his work in peace, and not distract him. Surprise surprise, Fraser finds Harper equal parts distracting and annoying and it seems like the feeling is mutual. Eventually the pair agree to a friends with benefits arrangement, but can either of them stick to their casual no strings attached arrangement?
This is such a feel good read, I found myself smiling so often while reading. Harper is a very relatable character, from her size to her lack of confidence and the insecurities she carries, which are less about her body than the way she has been made to feel by others, she will resonate with many readers. Fraser is also not without issues of his own, he is carrying baggage from his childhood that causes him to hide parts of himself away from his family and his closest friends. Seeing the pair gradually bring out the best in each other just brought me so much joy. The spice in this book is just enough, it adds to the story without overpowering it and is handled in a tasteful and enjoyable way. The chemistry between the couple sizzles and there is never any doubt that Fergus loves Harper's body in all its curvaceous glory. It is not just the chemistry that sizzles the banter between the pair is also top notch and definitely had me giggling at times. While the focus is obviously on Harper and Fraser, there is a whole village of secondary characters, each of whom add to the story and give us a greater understanding of Fraser as a character while also being interesting in their own right. I was really impressed by the efforts in character creation and development, in fact I would love to see more books about some of the other people we meet here like Fraser's sister and her wife, or his best friend , I can live in hope I guess. The book feels
This is a book I could see myself turning to again and again, whenever I need a pick me up or something cosy and delightful and when I do pick it up again I know it will feel like I am visiting friends.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Kindling is a Spicy Romance story set in the highlands of Scotland. When her Air B&B booking falls through last minute, Harper is left wandering the woods of the highlands. When she stumbles across woodcutter Frasers cabin in the woods, the pair embark on a casual friendship, but could this be more than they both set out for?

This has all the makings of a Hallmark movie, with a fair amount of added spice. Although Harpers character took some warming too, the pairing between the downtrodden city girl and the gruff Scottish family man was well established, growing as the story progressed. It was a refreshing change to have a FMC with curves and wobbly bits, as well as a lack of confidence in themself.

The book is an ideal comfort/cosy read as we begin to step into the Autumnal months.

I really loved this book! The setting, the characters and the plot were all so cozy and well developed. I want Fraser in my life!
I loved the inclusivity in this book, the queer characters, the plus size representation and it just felt like such a nice cosy story. It definitely pulled at my heart strings and I so felt connected to Harper and her story. It was refreshing to have a a FMC who is in such a turning point in her life and needs to make hard decisions, I felt that a lot and I didn’t want to let go of the characters at the end. Really enjoyed it, Thank you for the ARC, I’m very grateful.

LGBTQIA+, fun, flirty, cosy but with some great spice that isn’t overpowering. I really enjoyed reading this and would definitely recommend. Also, can we make some noise for the plus sized queeeeeeen?!

I initially noted this as “not giving feedback” but I would like to share my reasons for DNF. There were elements of this book I enjoyed, the LGBTQ+ rep was great, the host of characters were fun. However, as someone who lives in the Scottish Highlands, I did not enjoy the romanticising of the area especially when combined with inaccuracies. The FMC talks about being far north but also an hour from Glasgow, so the setting must be the furthest south you can get in the Highlands. Regardless of where in the Highlands, Uber does not exist. In remote villages you’d often struggle to get a taxi. It felt like the smallest research could have fixed this, the same is true for calling the MMC a lumberjack, he would be a Forester in Scotland. I know that some local villages are annoyed by AirBnb but I also found this storyline a little off putting. It made Highlander sound completely intolerant to change with no nuance added. The point that I DNF was when the FMC had her Scottish breakfast. Personally I found this really ignorant, again I know haggis is a running joke with tourists but to have it described as disgusting as it was, and so inaccurately, simply came across as rude. I don’t feel like we do this as much with other cultures, nor would it be acceptable, so I don’t think it should be accepted when talking about Scottish tradition either.

I don’t really want to give a star rating but I cannot submit this feedback without it.

I just wanted to say a Thankyou for Netgallery to experience this book with an ARC .
What can i say I throughly enjoyed this book! I loved the setting the world building and the chemistry between the main characters.

I couldn’t put this book down and managed to read it in one sitting! And couldn’t put it down until I finshed this read!
I would recommend this book if you’re in a mood for something flirty and fun with the characters chemistry hitting you off the pages!
A very enjoyable read! Can’t wait to do a re-read of this again!

First of all I would like to thank netgalley and the publishers at Harper North for providing me with an ARC.

What can I say about Kindling without giving too much away? I loved the diverse characters, whether they were neurodivergent, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, disabled; Bonnie Woods (also I love the pen name as it is just so fitting for this novel) did her best to be inclusive without being patronising.

There is a small amount of angst towards the end, at which point I was so attached to these characters that it honestly hurt my heart; luckily this is resolved before the end of the novel- As the internet says, I was "kicking my feet and giggling" .

The level of spice fluctuates throughout the novel, some scenes had me biting my lip- the cove and the chopping block ifykyk ;) but I wouldn't say any of it overpowered the plot.

As a plus sized woman who struggles with body dysmorphia it was refreshing to read about a plus sized woman who is desired, at no point could you read Kindling and say "oh well I see Harper as a size 10" we have many occasions where Fraser enjoys her curves, and honestly it is SO important for readers to be able to see themselves reflected in a character.

I honestly could say so much about this novel and how I adored it and the messages within but I think I will let readers experience it for themselves.

This has all the cosy autumnal and spicy vibes, so go grab your favourite seasonal beverage and curl up with Kindling.

Well it's fair to say that I absolutely adored this.

The chemistry between Harper and Fraser just sizzled off the page and I was rooting for them from their very first awkward encounter.

A glorious setting and wonderful community/family feel. I liked the practicality of Fraser and his creations too.

Definitely one to warm your heart as the nights start to draw in. Yes to a plus size MC and bisexual too- this needs to be more in books too.

An absolute delight to read.

I absolutely loved this book and it's gonna be a must-read for the upcoming autumn season!

Harper and Fraser are both extremely relatable, loveable main characters, and their connection was so effortless and believable. Their scenes together were funny and steamy, full of love and lust that I didn't want to put down. They have such a genuine romance and they bounce off one another perfectly. Her sunshine personality with his grumpiness, while he's actually such a caring, softie beneath all his hardness. Bonnie has a way of writing romance that is so utterly realistic, I feel the emotions so effortlessly, as well as their own inner dilemmas.

I really loved the setting of this, the small town in Scotland was perfect for this autumnal, cosy novel. I loved getting to explore it with Harper and how everyone was a little family. Speaking of family, Fraser's family really made this book so much fuller and gave us some great moments. I loved his sisters and their kids, and it was lovely to see how well they got on with Harper. One of my favourite aspects of this was how it reflected real life, showing queer characters, mentioning bad break ups and single moms, having our FMC be plus size and proudly so, while also mentioning those past feelings of not feeling good enough in a bigger body. As a queer fat person myself, it touched my heart, and I know it'll do the same for others in similar situations as the characters in this book!

I really liked the writing subplot with Harper, as a writer myself, I too would love to tuck myself away into a little Scottish cabin and write my fantasy stories forever. I think Bonnie dealt with Harper's career issues really well and I loved the message it sent to all those in creative industries. I also really loved seeing Fraser and his little growing business, and how it was Harper who really gave him the push needed to see how brilliant he is. The cross between the life plots and the romance was done really well, and I think the third act was a good representation of that.

I'm going to miss these characters and this town, and I cannot wait for everyone else to finally get their hands on this! Definitely going to be getting myself a physical copy, and I thank Netgalley for the advanced copy.

New favourite autumnal romance? You bet!

From the very beginning of this, I was loving the main character. The references to Manchester and the North were brilliant and something that I loved seeing in a romance book.

But more than anything, the ROMANCE. The sexual tension was pouring from the pages, and this woodcutter is definitely one of the grumpiest I’ve read. Grumpy x Sunshine and forced proximity = an absolute winner in the romance world.

Loved the dynamic and the development of the characters and the plot, it actually seemed realistic compared to others I have read.

A easy, cosy autumnal read with lots of spice to keep you warm.

How can I possibly put into words how much I utterly adored this book?

When Harper, a sunshine ray of a city girl literally falls at grumpy Scottish lumberjack, Fraser's, feet, we immediately know that her presence alone is going to melt the ice of anyone's heart, including Frasers.

After a smile-inducing meeting, Kindling plays out like the perfect Hallmark movie, with less cheese and more spice (waves blush away!) A gorgeous, autumnal romance that readers are going to be swept up in and cancelling plans to sit by the fire and enjoy.

I also loved the inclusion of a bisexuality female character in a straight appearing romance, I loved that and that our girl Harper is a curvy lass who isn't afraid to hold her ground, we LOVE THAT!

I smiled and swooned all through Kindling, thanks Bonnie for the taste of autumnal romance and for leaving me satisfied and needing ALL the autumnal romance!

If you're looking for an autumnal read with incredible scenery and charming side characters, this book is a perfect pick. Harper and Fraser's story is a sweet, heartwarming tale that captivates as these caring individuals fall in love. The humor throughout keeps the reader laughing, and the characters are so lovable. The casual representation of bisexual characters, adds refreshing diversity often missing in romance novels.

The story, set in a quaint village with a wooden cabin and fairy statues, begins with a disastrous start for Harper. Her misfortune leads to a kind offer from Fraser to stay in his cabin, setting the stage for a delightful romance. Harper becomes involved in village life, reading to preschoolers, making friends, and painting. Despite Harper's self-doubt and Fraser's overly kind nature, their slow-burning romance is endearing. This steamy, slow-burn romance with themes of close proximity and enemies to lovers is highly recommended for a cozy escape.