Thank you so much to Max Monroe & Hambright PR for the advance copy!

This book comes out on April 1st, 2025.

I have become a big fan of the duo Max Monroe's work in recent months and so when the opportunity came to read this, I knew I had to! This book is unlike the few that I have read by them. This book has a much more of a serious tone compared to the others. I had been warn that this was emotional and to have my tissues ready.

It is extremely hard to get me to cry while reading and I am sad to report that this did not crack my heart. But I can totally understand why this would make most readers emotional. Perhaps if my setting of reading the emotional moment was not on a treadmill while jogging, it could have hit me more. Please proceed with caution while reading and look up trigger warnings.

Now time for the happy talk, I wasn't sure how Bennett and Norah would end up together as their relationship was rocky from the start. Bennett did not paint himself in such a positive light and Norah was already having a rough go of things and his attitude did not help the situation. Another reviewer labeled this as “I don’t like this woman but I’ll kill anyone who hurts her” vibes and I totally agree and it's the perfect way to describe Bennett and Norah! And he showcased his alpha jealousy type several times.

I thought the authors did such a great job with his attitude and giving us supreme grumpiness. Though I didn't necessarily agree with Norah's in the heat of the moment slaps to Bennett. Especially after Norah's physical altercation with her ex. Bennett's randomly kissing her without explanation and then to push her away leaving her more confused and angry. It wasn't until Norah saw him with his daughter that her view towards him started to shift. I will say their tension and dislike of one another grew into this beautiful love. Norah working for Ben and being in his and his daughter lives changed everyone for the good.

It is no surprise to those who have been following my reviews but I love a karaoke moment! And we did get a karaoke moment at The Country Club (bar)! I just love that moment when a character sees the other character on stage and just fall even more in love. Well that was not the exact case but being at the bar on karaoke night did lead to a moment in the hall that was hotttttt. This book did not have the same kind of banter that I am used to with their writing but I felt the pacing of the book was still pretty good. I was very invested in this small town and the dynamic between Ben and Norah.

There were other subplots that I won't spoil for everyone but this couple was put through the ringer in such a short span of time. I am very curious for the next book because I'm foaming at the mouth to know about Clay (Ben's best friend) and Josie's (Norah's sister) story.

I recommend this if you are looking for an emotional but still a sweet & spicy romance read.