Susan Wiggs is one of those authors you can trust to write an enjoyable read, whatever its subject. In Fireside, the main character, Bo Crutcher, is a baseball player. As an Englishwoman, I know next to nothing about baseball and wondered if this would put me off the book; it didn't, partly because the baseball isn't that central a part of the plot, but more because the author knows how to create a story and write characters about whom we care.

As the story begins, we meet Kim van Dorn, who has fled her collapsed relationship and returned to her mum in the small town of Avalon. Kim's life has changed hugely, but her skills as a publicist for baseball players might actually come in handy when she meets Bo Crutcher, who has just got the big break of his career.

Bo's career isn't the only thing going on in his life. He has suddenly had to take responsibility for his twelve-year-old son, a boy he has never before seen. As Bo tries to begin to be a father as well as learning to perform for the media, he may have an opportunity to form a relationship with Kim. But with Bo's career and his care for his son at odds, what future is there for them?

Fireside is an enjoyable story with appealing characters, particularly as the relationship between Bo and his son, AJ, unfolds. The romance feels subordinate to much of the action, but it was well told nonetheless. This is a very worthwhile read for those who like gentle love stories.