“Do you want me?”
“Like the fucking air I breathe.”
SQUEEEE! I really loved this book! It was heartfelt, romantic and full of feels!
I’ve loved Corinne Michaels’ books for years because they often have such a good balance of angsty romance and family connections and this book was no exception. In fact, it actually had a very family-centric storyline and that was a huge reason why I enjoyed it so much.
Fifteen years ago, I fell for Jack O’Donnell. I was just a girl, but I knew my brother’s best friend was the only man I’d ever love. On my eighteenth birthday, when I asked him to kiss me, I never imagined it would change my life so completely. I gave Jack everything that night. In order to move on, we had to go our separate ways and pretend like nothing happened… as though it wasn’t the greatest moment of my life. But even that wasn’t as heartbreaking as the secret we were forced to keep. I’ve tried not to think about how much I still love him. How I long to be back in his strong arms or the way his hazel eyes make my heart race. Until he kisses me again. And this time there’s no turning back. This time I know what it means. We belong together and there’s no use denying it any longer. But our feelings aren’t the only thing that won’t stay buried, our past resurfaces and threatens to destroy our second chance at happiness. When our love is tested once again, will we be strong enough to stand together?
The story centers around a couple who fell in love young and got pregnant, but their family forced them to give their baby up for adoption and circumstances kept them apart for many years. Around the time the book starts, an unexpected tragedy brings their child back into their lives while giving them the second chance at a love they were denied so many years ago.
My only complaint about this book was a character flaw (more so of the hero than the heroine) that he got past throughout the course of the book but of being sooo worried and caring so much about what other people thought of their choices. Like omg, be an adult already. But I did appreciate that this was something they grew past.
I loved seeing their atypical family form bonds and heal. I also really loved that at the end of the day, everyone really was trying to do the right thing and that all decisions, right or wrong, came from a place of love and good intentions.
You can absolutely read this as a standalone, but it is the second standalone in a series of standalones. I’ve read the first one Return to Us (Read my Review) and loved it so I would recommend starting there if you can just because they’re both great reads. And I’m already looking forward to the next in this series.
If you’re looking for an angsty, addictive romance with heart-warming feels, this is it!
Rating: 4.5 stars. Contemporary Adult Romance, can standalone.
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Series of interconnected standalones.
