One Night & Heated Hearts
(2026)(A book in the Front Lines to Home Fronts series)
A novel by Aliyah Burke
One night lit the fuse—now neither of them can walk away from the fire.
Vance Ortega has spent years operating on grit, instinct, and the fierce determination of a single father. The former spec-ops soldier can face down any threat… except the one now looming over his small-town life. His deceased wife’s parents have suddenly decided they want custody of his daughter, and they have the lawyers—and money—to make it a fight he might not win.
Then she strides back into his world. His unforgettable one night stand, into the bakery where he was with his daughter and her babysitter. His one night stand was the babysitter’s older sister.
Elin Dotson, smokejumper and guardian to her almost high school graduate sister, has survived more flames than most. But nothing prepared her for seeing Vance again—the man she shared one searing, unforgettable night with months ago. A night neither of them expected, and both of them still feel under their skin.
Vance doesn’t believe in coincidences, but he does believe in second chances—and for the first time in years—aside for his one night stand, he feels something other than grief. Something fierce. Something alive.
With custody on the line, Elin's protective instincts ignite as fiercely as Vance's. Two guardians—one fighting for his daughter, one for her sister—collide in a blaze of loyalty, passion, and unexpected family.
But Vance’s in-laws won’t back down.
Elin's not a pushover like they'd mistakenly thought.
And together, they’ll have to decide if one extraordinary night can become forever…
before the people who want to break them apart strike again.
This short read is MF with a guaranteed HEA.
Tropes for One Night & Heated Hearts include — Ex-military, Small Town, He Falls First, One Night Stand, Single Dad, Smokejumper
Vance Ortega has spent years operating on grit, instinct, and the fierce determination of a single father. The former spec-ops soldier can face down any threat… except the one now looming over his small-town life. His deceased wife’s parents have suddenly decided they want custody of his daughter, and they have the lawyers—and money—to make it a fight he might not win.
Then she strides back into his world. His unforgettable one night stand, into the bakery where he was with his daughter and her babysitter. His one night stand was the babysitter’s older sister.
Elin Dotson, smokejumper and guardian to her almost high school graduate sister, has survived more flames than most. But nothing prepared her for seeing Vance again—the man she shared one searing, unforgettable night with months ago. A night neither of them expected, and both of them still feel under their skin.
Vance doesn’t believe in coincidences, but he does believe in second chances—and for the first time in years—aside for his one night stand, he feels something other than grief. Something fierce. Something alive.
With custody on the line, Elin's protective instincts ignite as fiercely as Vance's. Two guardians—one fighting for his daughter, one for her sister—collide in a blaze of loyalty, passion, and unexpected family.
But Vance’s in-laws won’t back down.
Elin's not a pushover like they'd mistakenly thought.
And together, they’ll have to decide if one extraordinary night can become forever…
before the people who want to break them apart strike again.
This short read is MF with a guaranteed HEA.
Tropes for One Night & Heated Hearts include — Ex-military, Small Town, He Falls First, One Night Stand, Single Dad, Smokejumper
Used availability for Aliyah Burke's One Night & Heated Hearts