Read by Erin Mallon & Sean Masters
The Blackwells of Montana, Book 1
From the publisher:
From New York Times Bestselling author Kristen Proby comes When We Burn, a single-dad, friends-to-lovers, small-town romance, and the first in the Blackwells of Montana series, set in Bitterroot Valley!
Bridger: I’m her safe place. I always have been. The torment that Dani Lexington went through at the hands of her father was something no child should have had to endure. But I was the lucky one she turned to. Our age difference and the fact that her brother was my best friend kept her off-limits, even though something was always there, lingering under the surface. But when she was old enough, she left Bitterroot Valley, and I was forced to move on with my life. I got married and had my little girl. Now, I’m a single dad, focused on my job as fire chief and making sure my daughter stays healthy after a mysterious illness has plagued her for the past year. But after Dani’s father dies, she returns to Bitterroot Valley and is now living across the street from my daughter and me. Dani’s no longer a child. No longer off limits. This time, I won’t let anything or anyone stop me from being her safe place again.
Dani: I’ve been in love with Bridger Blackwell for as long as I can remember. He’s a smoke show, kind, and gives the best hugs in the world. But best of all? He’s everything my sorry excuse for a father wasn’t. Now, I’m back in Bitterroot Valley, living across the street from Bridger and his adorable daughter. It doesn’t take long for all those old feelings to come rushing back, and every cell in my body knows that I belong with them. That they’re mine. Bridger’s arms are where I feel safest. They feel like home. I’m growing to depend on him, to truly love him and his daughter. But I have deep-rooted baggage, and Bridger’s past has decided to rear its ugly head. Will we survive this, or is our relationship doomed from the start?
This book touches on child abuse and animal abuse; those parts were very difficult to read and may be triggering to some.
Bridger and his family were always Dani’s safe haven when her childhood became too chaotic, thanks to her deeply troubled father. As her brother’s best friend, Bridger stepped in to protect Dani during those moments when his friend was dealing with their volatile home life. After high school, Dani left town for college, and life took them in different directions.
Bridger had a one-night stand that left his partner pregnant, and he did what he thought was best and married her. Turned out she was not fit to be a mother, and took off before their premature baby even left the hospital, relinquishing her parental rights, and leaving Bridger to raise his baby girl, Birdie, on his own. Years later, Dani returns to town and moves in across the street from Bridger—rekindling a connection that never truly faded. Their lives become even further entangled when Birdie starts kindergarten and Dani is her teacher.
Bridger Blackwell is a fiercely protective, dirty-talking firefighter, and Dani is a resilient, emotionally complex woman still navigating the scars of her past. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and their banter helps lighten the story a bit. Birdie is a standout character, and her bond with Dani is heartwarming. The warmth of their extended families adds richness and support to the story, making the emotional moments hit even harder. Add in a touch of the “you weren’t old enough for me then” trope, and you’ve got a powerful, emotionally charged romance that’s impossible to put down.
I enjoyed listening to the audiobook. Sean Masters was perfect in voicing Bridger, and Erin Mallon truly captured Dani. Together, they did an excellent job bringing this book to life. I borrowed this audiobook through my public library’s app, Hoopla.
4/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
WHEN WE BURN by Kristen Proby. Narrators: Erin Mallon & Sean Masters. Dreamscape Media. February 20, 2025. Listening Length: 8 hours and 45 minutes.
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