Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Fire and Ice
SERIES: Secret Springs (Book 3)
AUTHOR: Minerva Howe
PUBLISHER: Turtlehat Creatives
LENGTH: 247 pages
RELEASE DATE: January 18, 2022
BLURB:
Chase Deveraux thinks food is love, and while he’d enjoy some fun games with a once in awhile friend with benefits, his business is the most important thing in his life. Between his pop-up restaurant, his catering gigs, and feeding all his friends, this Harley riding, trust fund bad boy has no time for love. And he certainly doesn’t have time for a jerk like Jack Harlan.
Jack Harlan is used to people doing things his way. His family helped found Secret Springs, and he’s incredibly happy to be back in town and to see the place bloom again, but there’s one new resident he could do without. Chase. Thing is, he knows he would turn Chase inside out given half a chance, and that secretly he’s jealous that Chase seems to want to feed and nurture everyone in their circle but him.
When they do come together, Chase and Jack create fireworks that light up Secret Springs like a bonfire. But Chase is not the settling down kind, and Jack wants his ranch to be the type of home he had when he was a kid living with his grandparents. Can the two of them come together and make a new kind of life, or will they fizzle out like a doused flame?
REVIEW:
Back for a visit to Secret Springs and those omegas that have worked their way into our hearts. I love how supportive they all are, whether they are originally from town or part of it’s new rejuvenation!
Chase helped his best friend Lukas find his forever home and family in Secret Springs. And Lukas helped convince Chase it was his home too! Now that Lukas is married to Tim and has two babies, Chase is stuck with their new friend Jack around all the time irritating him constantly. The guy is a rich, gorgeous, know-it-all and a pain in his behind. But maybe he’s the perfect match to tame the bad boy. Jack has come home to his grandparents ranch the The Musketeers, helped discover the White’s were illegally trying to steal. Life is good and it’s great to be back around his high school friends. Especially Mark, the town’s police chief and married to Saul. Their friend Chase confuses him though. Is he an omega or not? He presents as a big, strong alpha but Jack isn’t convinced. When a joking around about blistering his backside , during a showdown, turns hot and heavy and there’s no turning back.
I expected a bit more fighting between these two big, strong, battle-fueled men but that died off faster than a flash. Yes, they still sparred a bit, but I almost felt like Jack took the steam out of Chase. He didn’t have to be the tough boy who hid his designation from his father who “refused to believe the fruit of his loins could be an omega”. He could be the strong omega Jack loved and admired! Chase was to be admired too. From his culinary skills to his tender caring, that man was a keeper. And birthing an over 13 pound baby had my entire and total respect. I had 2 10 pound boys and that was a lot! I can’t image 13 pounds!
As I said before, these sudden time jumps are a bit annoying. It takes me out of the story for a bit to try to figure out how far we have just fast forwarded in the story. Also, in the blurb it states, “Between his pop-up restaurant, his catering gigs, and feeding all his friends, this Harley riding, trust fund bad boy has no time for love.” However, even before Chase gave birth, “Jack thought Chase was too hard on himself all the time. He was sure that had a lot to do with being self-made. Jack knew he had privilege. His grandpa had always believed in him and he’d had a backup if he fell.” Chase was self made and never hinted at having trust money. He was worried how to keep his pop up and catering businesses profitable so he could hire employees and help struggling and abused omegas like Saul and Ryan with a safe place to stay and work. So yes, I’m confused. I kept waiting for that shoe to drop but never materialized. These are both small things but still bothered me.
I loved getting to see all the alphas, omegas and babies we have met and learned to love, plus new ones moving to town, and I can’t wait for more of their stories!
RATING: 
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