by 
This was a short and refreshing second-chance romance novel between childhood enemies.
The protagonists had always shared a peculiar love-hate relationship, but an unfortunate incident in the past cemented the wedge between them.
Also See: 31 Lovely Enemies To Lovers Books That Raise The Bar For Romance
In this book, they finally got the chance to air their secrets, forgive each other, and then grew a love that everybody but them knew of its existence.
I liked how brave the protagonists were and how they persevered in taking the first tentative steps toward each other despite still hurting from the past.
They were bruised and distrusting because of their pasts, but somehow found a pleasant rhythm and stuck to it. Spoiler: the rhythm worked!
I should also point out that this was a delightful medley of several tropes—second chance, single parent, fake relationship, and enemies-to-lovers—but somehow the author pulled it off without it resembling a trope vomit-fest.
Related: 12 Romantic Fake Relationship Books That Are Too Sweet To Pass Up
That said, this was an ARC (unpublished galley) from Netgalley, so I spotted some issues, which were documented, in my feedback to the publisher.
You might find a few jarring incidents of head-hopping and some characters that were not fleshed out properly.
Recommended if:
- You like single-parent romance novels.
- You like a cute, reclusive, and emotionally wounded cowboy.
- You want a fun and short palate cleanser.
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