Here and Now (Ember Falls, Bk. 2)
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Overview
From New York Times bestselling author Corinne Michaels comes a swoony, suspense-laced small-town romance about a woman who built her life around leaving — and the man who makes her want to stay.
Penny came to Ember Falls with a plan: keep things light, keep her distance, and never stop watching the door. She has two rules she lives by — no real connections and always be ready to run. For a single mom carrying a dangerous past, those rules have kept her and her son safe.
Then Miles Anderson walks in.
He's her son's hockey coach — warm, steady, and far too charming for her peace of mind. He has the kind of smile that makes you forget why you built walls in the first place. He's nothing like the men she's known before, and that should make things easier. It doesn't.
What starts as one accidental date turns into something neither of them planned. Miles is patient, funny, and completely disarming. Worse, he treats her son like he matters — like they both do.
When she's with Miles, the weight of everything she's running from lifts for a little while. She lets herself imagine a life that feels real and safe and full. But the past she's hiding isn't done with her. It never is.
She knows how this ends. She'll have to leave, and she'll take his heart with her when she goes. The only question is how much damage she's willing to let herself absorb before she does.
"A captivating blend of romance and suspense... Their chemistry was electric, and the witty banter between them was both heartwarming and hilarious. This was Corinne Michaels at her best." — Danielle Palumbo, Red Cheeks Reads
Series Information
Series Name: Ember Falls
Series Reading Order
This series is best read in publication order.
Book 1 - All Too Well
Book 2 - Here and Now
Book 3 - Against All Odds
Book 4 - Come What May
Reviews and Author Praise
"The second book in the Ember Falls series, this is a gorgeous small town, single parent romance with the swooniest hero and an absolutely beautiful love story. This is a beautiful read. I devoured it in a day, unable to put it down, and I absolutely loved it. 4.5 stars."
— Aestas Book Blog
"This is the second book in the Ember Falls series but could be read as a standlone. This book follows Miles who has feelings for the new single mother, however she has a complicated past. I loved the first book and the second book was just as good. The storyline was well written and it was so hard to put down this book. I loved the suspense, the cute romance, and the found family theme. The romance is amazing and I just loved the chemistry between the MCs."
— Thindbooks Blog
"Nature is healing when I read a military hero and single mom written by Corinne Michaels. Here and Now is a small-town romance, featuring a suspense storyline, and a single mom heroine on the run. Her love interest falls first and falls hard, a golden retriever boyfriend with a heart of gold and I loved every second of it. The real gem of the story is Miles Anderson the small-town principal with a heart of gold, he's a stellar uncle and such a damn catch both in life and on the ultimate frisbee field. All the readers obsessing over him, I get it he's not just a stellar love interest, but a male lead readers will fall hard and fast for."
— ClaryNathanWill
"A captivating blend of romance and suspense, Corinne Michaels kept me on the edge of my seat with her second book in the Ember Falls series, Here and Now. This small-town, found-family story follows Penny, a single mom on the run from a dark past, and Miles, her son's swoon-worthy, sweet and sexy hockey coach who becomes her safe haven. Their chemistry was electric, and the witty banter between them was both heartwarming and hilarious. This was Corinne Michaels at her best, showcasing her exceptional storytelling abilities by weaving together heart-stopping moments and heartfelt connections into a sweeping, seductive and deeply satisfying romance. Five smooches from me for Here and Now by Corinne Michaels!"
— Danielle Palumbo, Red Cheeks Reads
Topics and Key Themes
Narrative Tropes
Slow Burn
He Falls First
Small Town Romance
Single Mom Heroine
Sunshine Hero
Key Themes
Running from a dangerous past — Penny's survival instincts keep threatening to override her chance at real happiness.
The man who makes you want to stay — Miles' steadiness quietly dismantles walls built for protection.
A child who changes everything — Miles' bond with her son deepens the emotional stakes beyond the romance.
Safety as a love language — being truly seen and protected rewires what love can feel like.
Choosing roots over escape — a woman wired to run confronts what it costs to finally stop.
Who is this book for?
Primary Genre: Contemporary Small-Town Romance
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5: Spicy
Open-door romance with balance. You’ll find some on-page intimacy with moderate detail, woven into the story. A sweet spot for readers who enjoy both emotional depth and a bit of steam.
Fans of Devney Perry and small-town second-chance romance will enjoy the emotional slow burn, single-mom heart, and brooding hockey hero at the center of this tender, tension-filled love story.
About the Author
CORINNE MICHAELS is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of romance novels. Her stories are chock full of emotion, humor, and unrelenting love, and she enjoys putting her characters through intense heartbreak before finding a way to heal them through their struggles. Corinne is a former Navy wife and happily married to the man of her dreams. She began her writing career after spending months away from her husband while he was deployed—reading and writing were her escapes from the loneliness. Corinne now lives in Virginia with her husband and is the emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun-loving mom of two beautiful children.
Similar Authors
Colleen Hoover, Devney Perry, Melanie Harlow
Reader FAQs
One editorial reviewer notes it can work as a standalone, though the series is recommended in publication order. Readers who start here will follow Penny and Miles' complete story without relying on events from All Too Well.
The romance is the dominant thread, but a genuine suspense storyline runs alongside it. Penny's dangerous past creates real tension throughout the book rather than serving as a brief plot device, giving the story a dual romantic-suspense weight.
Both feature emotionally grounded small-town settings, steady heroes, and heroines carrying significant baggage. Here and Now adds a more active suspense element than Perry's typical work, with a heroine actively hiding from a threatening past.
The book is written for adult readers, broadly suited to ages 18 and up. It carries a moderate spice level, comparable to mainstream adult contemporary romance, alongside mature themes including a dangerous past and the responsibilities of single parenthood.
The book involves a heroine fleeing a dangerous past, which implies prior threat or trauma. Readers sensitive to themes of domestic danger, life on the run, or a parent in jeopardy should be aware those elements are present alongside the central romance.
Info
ISBN: 9781464250156
Published Date: June 24, 2025
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Language: English
Page Count: 356
Size: 8.50" l x 5.50" w x 1.00" h
Category
Fiction