by 
This might sound a little unbelievable, but I hadn’t read anything by this author before.
So, this was very much a new-to-me author, and I was skeptical about getting into it at all.
The truth is, I generally stay away from any author who gets recommended over and over again on TikTok, because I’ve tried a few and was very disappointed.
That’s why it took me such a long time to get to this book. But I did read it, and I would say I enjoyed it.
It’s not groundbreaking in any way, but that doesn’t mean it falls into the category of poor boilerplate romance novels that get churned out every single day.
One thing I will say that elevated this book from a simple romance to one I’m still thinking about days after reading is the chemistry between the characters.
I love it when things that are supposed to be awkward are made fun and sweet – mainly because the characters are very similar at the most basic level.
For example, in this book, Carys tells the worst jokes – her mouth is like an overflowing tap full of dirty puns – and Gannon gives it right back to her. He matches her energy from start to finish, and that’s what made their chemistry shine so well. I absolutely want to read the next book in the series.
At the core of this book is really the relationship between all the characters. We have Carys’s friendship with Tate, and that dynamic was so interesting to me – along with the one between Tate and Gannon.
Tate is one of the cutest side characters ever, and I loved everything he did. I looked up his story (which, at the time I’m writing this, hasn’t been released), and I’m so excited because I really want to know how he finds his happily ever after.
Lately, lots of authors use tags and tropes carelessly, but this is one of those books that genuinely delivers a grumpy/sunshine romance.
Carys is the bubbliest person ever, and I honestly think Gannon could be the poster boy for sour lemons – he’s that grumpy. But the beauty of opposites-attract romances is the common ground where they meet, and it’s always so lovely to see them grow together.
Carys is one of my favorite characters I’ve ever read in a book because I love how straightforward she is. She gives Gannon exactly what he needs in a romantic relationship, and he’s floored by it. She’s very direct about what she likes and doesn’t like, but she’s still so kind and considerate of everyone around her.
I also really loved that both of them have the worst daddy issues – and while his was hinted at, we got about two scenes with hers that made me boil. You need to read it to get it.
What I appreciated was that, in the end, it wasn’t about fixing everything. It was more about recognizing that some things are just a part of who a person is, and when you realize you can’t change someone, you simply walk away.
This book is also incredibly slow burn. If that’s not your thing, you might get frustrated. They tiptoe around each other and build tension for more than 100 pages – it was out of this world.
I was literally begging them to couple up. But they kept refusing – he, because she was his employee and older, and she absolutely understand his hesitations. Like I said before, she’s very direct.
And while other books might have her trying to get approval from her best friend (who happens to be Gannon’s brother), she honestly didn’t care. In fact, it was hilarious how they just sprung it on him out of nowhere.
So yeah, I was not disappointed. This was one of my most anticipated February romance reads – even though I’m only just getting to it – and I loved every bit of it.
I’m definitely going to recommend it to anyone who wants a steamy contemporary romance with the most lovable characters.
