A charming and lighthearted second-chances romance that features a charismatic chef and a taciturn accountant, the palpable chemistry and years of history between them, two adorable dogs and their delightful friendship, and lots and lots of warm, intimate moments. It has themes of family, chasing dreams, finding home, and new beginnings. Definitely recommended.

The Premise:

Due to diverging paths in life, DeShaw and Malik filed for divorce and went their separate ways. But seven years later, they find out that the divorce didn’t go through. Now, with DeShawn’s grandma dying of cancer and a lawsuit filed against Malik, the two will have to present a united front and play-pretend that they’re finally back together. Will they take this chance to rekindle their love or will they end it once and for all?

My Review:

What hooked me in was the undeniable chemistry between DeShawn and Malik and their obvious love for each other, despite having been separated for over seven years. What kept me coming back and made me stay were the many delicate, sweet moments between these men, which never failed to warm my heart. A most welcome bonus were their two adorable dogs, Corey and Bruno, and their endearing friendship that made me smile every single time. My only issue with the book was that I could’ve done less of the publicity and reality TV stuff, which felt superficial to me and unimportant to both the characters and the story.

All in all, Jayce Ellis has written a beautiful story and brought to life two memorable characters (and dogs!).



The ARC was provided by HARLEQUIN - Carina Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.