Who wrote Here and Now, and what kind of book is it?
Here and Now is a contemporary romance novel by Corinne Michaels. It blends small-town life in Ember Falls with protective themes, family bonds, and a suspense thread tied to the heroine’s past.
What is Here and Now about (spoiler-free)?
A high school principal and former Marine, Miles Anderson, starts coaching a kids’ hockey clinic and meets Penelope, a single mom new to Ember Falls. Their connection builds as Miles becomes a steady presence for her and her son, while Penelope keeps her past tightly guarded.
Is Here and Now a small-town romance?
Yes. It is set in Ember Falls, a close-knit town where everyone knows each other, shows up in a crisis, and has opinions about everyone else’s business.
Does Here and Now have a suspense or thriller element?
Yes. Alongside the romance, there is a real sense of danger connected to Penelope’s past and the reason she is living under strict rules.
Is Here and Now part of a series, and do I need to read another book first?
Here and Now is part of Corinne Michaels’ Ember Falls series. It can be read on its own, but you will see familiar town characters and setups that continue into later Ember Falls books.
Is Here and Now told in dual POV?
Yes. The story is told from both Miles’s and Penelope’s points of view.
What is the romance dynamic in Here and Now?
It is a protective, steady-hero romance with a guarded single mom heroine. Miles is persistent and caretaker-coded, and Penelope is cautious because her priority is keeping her son safe.
Is there a single-parent romance in Here and Now?
Yes. Penelope is a single mom, and her son Kai is central to the story rather than a background detail.
Does the hero in Here and Now have a military background?
Yes. Miles served in the US Marines, and his background shapes his protective instincts and the way he handles pressure.
Does Here and Now include sports romance elements?
Yes, in a grounded way. Hockey is part of Miles’s past and present as he coaches a youth clinic, and it becomes one of the main ways he connects with Kai and Penelope.
What are the strongest themes in Here and Now?
Found family, safety and trust, starting over, and what it looks like to build a home when you have lived in survival mode. It also spends real time on community support and showing up for kids.
What is the tone of Here and Now?
It is warm and emotional with humor, but it also carries tension because of the heroine’s circumstances. The town banter and family scenes balance the heavier moments.
Does Here and Now have explicit sexual content?
Yes. This is an adult romance with explicit sexual content and on-page sex scenes.
Does Here and Now have content warnings I should know about?
Yes. The story includes darker backstory elements tied to abuse and threats, as well as violence and kidnapping-related danger. The book points readers to a content warning link for a full list specific to this title.
Is Here and Now more of a slow burn or a fast romance?
It is more of a slow-build relationship with strong chemistry that grows through repeated time together, family proximity, and trust-building. The emotional commitment deepens as the stakes around safety become clearer.
Is there a “he falls first” vibe in Here and Now?
Yes. Miles is openly interested early and keeps showing up, while Penelope is the one fighting her feelings because she is focused on protecting her son and staying hidden.
Does Here and Now have a close-knit friend group or found-family side characters?
Yes. Miles has a tight friend group, and Penelope is pulled into town friendships through the coffee shop, the hockey clinic parents, and the broader Ember Falls community.
Is there bonus material in Here and Now?
Yes. It includes a bonus scene at the end of the book.
If I like romance where the hero bonds with the heroine’s kid, will I like Here and Now?
Yes. One of the biggest emotional threads is Miles building trust with Kai through hockey, everyday routines, and showing up when it matters.
If I like small-town romance with protective hero energy and a heroine with secrets, will I like Here and Now?
Yes. The book leans hard into a steady, protective hero and a heroine who keeps her history locked down, with the town and family dynamics constantly pressing them closer together.
Who wrote Here and Now, and what kind of book is it?
Here and Now is a contemporary romance novel by Corinne Michaels. It blends small-town life in Ember Falls with protective themes, family bonds, and a suspense thread tied to the heroine’s past.
What is Here and Now about (spoiler-free)?
A high school principal and former Marine, Miles Anderson, starts coaching a kids’ hockey clinic and meets Penelope, a single mom new to Ember Falls. Their connection builds as Miles becomes a steady presence for her and her son, while Penelope keeps her past tightly guarded.
Is Here and Now a small-town romance?
Yes. It is set in Ember Falls, a close-knit town where everyone knows each other, shows up in a crisis, and has opinions about everyone else’s business.
Does Here and Now have a suspense or thriller element?
Yes. Alongside the romance, there is a real sense of danger connected to Penelope’s past and the reason she is living under strict rules.
Is Here and Now part of a series, and do I need to read another book first?
Here and Now is part of Corinne Michaels’ Ember Falls series. It can be read on its own, but you will see familiar town characters and setups that continue into later Ember Falls books.
Is Here and Now told in dual POV?
Yes. The story is told from both Miles’s and Penelope’s points of view.
What is the romance dynamic in Here and Now?
It is a protective, steady-hero romance with a guarded single mom heroine. Miles is persistent and caretaker-coded, and Penelope is cautious because her priority is keeping her son safe.
Is there a single-parent romance in Here and Now?
Yes. Penelope is a single mom, and her son Kai is central to the story rather than a background detail.
Does the hero in Here and Now have a military background?
Yes. Miles served in the US Marines, and his background shapes his protective instincts and the way he handles pressure.
Does Here and Now include sports romance elements?
Yes, in a grounded way. Hockey is part of Miles’s past and present as he coaches a youth clinic, and it becomes one of the main ways he connects with Kai and Penelope.
What are the strongest themes in Here and Now?
Found family, safety and trust, starting over, and what it looks like to build a home when you have lived in survival mode. It also spends real time on community support and showing up for kids.
What is the tone of Here and Now?
It is warm and emotional with humor, but it also carries tension because of the heroine’s circumstances. The town banter and family scenes balance the heavier moments.
Does Here and Now have explicit sexual content?
Yes. This is an adult romance with explicit sexual content and on-page sex scenes.
Does Here and Now have content warnings I should know about?
Yes. The story includes darker backstory elements tied to abuse and threats, as well as violence and kidnapping-related danger. The book points readers to a content warning link for a full list specific to this title.
Is Here and Now more of a slow burn or a fast romance?
It is more of a slow-build relationship with strong chemistry that grows through repeated time together, family proximity, and trust-building. The emotional commitment deepens as the stakes around safety become clearer.
Is there a “he falls first” vibe in Here and Now?
Yes. Miles is openly interested early and keeps showing up, while Penelope is the one fighting her feelings because she is focused on protecting her son and staying hidden.
Does Here and Now have a close-knit friend group or found-family side characters?
Yes. Miles has a tight friend group, and Penelope is pulled into town friendships through the coffee shop, the hockey clinic parents, and the broader Ember Falls community.
Is there bonus material in Here and Now?
Yes. It includes a bonus scene at the end of the book.
If I like romance where the hero bonds with the heroine’s kid, will I like Here and Now?
Yes. One of the biggest emotional threads is Miles building trust with Kai through hockey, everyday routines, and showing up when it matters.
If I like small-town romance with protective hero energy and a heroine with secrets, will I like Here and Now?
Yes. The book leans hard into a steady, protective hero and a heroine who keeps her history locked down, with the town and family dynamics constantly pressing them closer together.
What is Here and Now by Corinne Michaels about?
Here and Now is a small-town contemporary romance about Miles Anderson, a high school principal and former hockey player, and Penelope, a single mother who arrives in Ember Falls with her young son. Their connection grows through a kids' hockey clinic, family life, and Penelope's struggle to keep her past from catching up with her.
What genre is Here and Now?
Here and Now is an adult contemporary romance. It blends small-town romance, single-mom romance, family-centered storylines, and suspense tied to the heroine's past.
Is Here and Now part of a series?
Yes. Here and Now is part of the Ember Falls series by Corinne Michaels. It works as a complete romance for Miles and Penelope, while also connecting to the wider town and recurring characters.
Do I need to read the other Ember Falls books before Here and Now?
No. You can start with Here and Now. It introduces the central couple clearly, though readers who enjoy connected small-town romances may want to read the other Ember Falls books too.
Is Here and Now a standalone romance or does it end on a cliffhanger?
It is a complete romance and does not end on a cliffhanger. The book gives Miles and Penelope a full emotional arc and a satisfying ending.
Who would like Here and Now?
This book is a strong fit for readers who like small-town romances with a protective hero, a single mom heroine, and a child who matters to the story. It also suits readers who want romance with some suspense and family stakes, not just a light rom-com setup.
Is Here and Now told from more than one point of view?
Yes. It is told in dual POV. Readers get both Miles's and Penelope's perspectives.
What makes Here and Now different from other small-town romances?
The book pairs a warm small-town setup with a real undercurrent of danger from Penelope's past. It also gives a lot of page time to family dynamics, especially Penelope's bond with her son and Miles's growing role in their lives.
Is Here and Now a single mom romance?
Yes. Penelope is a single mother, and her son Kai is central to the story. Miles's relationship with Kai is a major part of the book's emotional pull.
Is the hero in Here and Now protective?
Yes. Miles is deeply protective, both by nature and because of his background as a former Marine and school principal. That protectiveness shows up in practical ways, not just possessive talk.
Does Here and Now have a small-town community feel?
Yes. Ember Falls has a close-knit, everyone-knows-everyone atmosphere, and the town plays a big role in the reading experience. Family friends, local businesses, town traditions, and recurring side characters all add to that sense of community.
Is there suspense in Here and Now?
Yes. The romance is grounded in a suspense thread tied to Penelope's past and the danger she is trying to escape. It stays a romance first, but the outside threat matters to the stakes.
What is the relationship dynamic in Here and Now?
The central dynamic is a steady, persistent hero and a guarded heroine who has every reason to hold back. It also has a strong found-family element as Miles becomes part of Penelope and Kai's world.
Is Here and Now spicy?
Yes. This is an adult romance with open-door sexual content. The intimacy is frequent, explicit, and tied closely to the emotional development of the relationship.
Does Here and Now include content warnings?
Yes. This book includes domestic abuse in the heroine's past, stalking and ongoing threat, kidnapping, violence, murder, and scenes involving fear for a child parent's safety. It also includes explicit sexual content and emotionally intense situations tied to trauma and survival.
If I like protective heroes and family-centered romance, will I like Here and Now?
Yes. If you like heroes who step up for both the heroine and her child, this is a strong match. Miles is caring, capable, and fully involved in the family side of the story.
If I like small-town romance with a suspense subplot, will I like Here and Now?
Yes. Here and Now combines the comfort of a close-knit town with real danger from the heroine's past. If you like romance that balances tenderness, family life, and outside stakes, it should work well for you.
Does Here and Now have bonus material?
Yes. It includes a bonus scene after the main story. There is also a preview chapter for Against All Odds, another Ember Falls book.
