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A grumpy billionaire chef. A woman who broke his heart. A secret to destroy their second chance.

I’ve never thought I’d see him again. I’ve never considered a second chance with Massimo Cassinetti is a possibility.

Until I saw him.

My body and heart reacted immediately. He is powerful, rich and years matured him like the best wine.
Hired as a consultant to improve his chances of the highest recognition for his restaurant, I face him with my head up. I can be professional, after all.

But when he sees me, he turns away. Growls. Avoids me.

I might still love my ex-husband, but he hates me.
And yet, my poor heart hopes.

Our love is filled with regret. How much more can we accept? Fate clearly is reckless.

Click to read this second chance billionaire romance standalone, a part of the Reckless Billionaires series.

394 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 19, 2023

614 people are currently reading
1207 people want to read

About the author

Maxine Henri

17 books137 followers
Maxine Henri is a contemporary romance author who infuses her stories with steamy passion and complex characters. When she's not crafting stories that will have you swooning, she can usually be found sipping on a cup of black tea while reading a good book or traveling to new destinations.

Maxine believes that stories matter. They facilitate emotional journeys, inspire and entertain. And when it comes to books and fiction, stories are a great escape and probably the most beneficial addiction on this planet.

Her billionaire romances are the perfect escape, offering a taste of luxury and adventure. Maxine introduces heroes who may have a dark past, but are always balanced by a lighter side. And her leading ladies? They're strong, independent women who may be a little broken, but always find their way to love.

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5 stars
221 (43%)
4 stars
137 (27%)
3 stars
93 (18%)
2 stars
38 (7%)
1 star
16 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
Profile Image for Dora Koutsoukou .
2,282 reviews734 followers
April 24, 2023
2 😔😔⭐️s

It simply didn’t work for me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Massi and Gina’s story was messy, as well as the characters.
I found myself skipping a lot of pages halfway through.
Also, the flashbacks to the past came out of nowhere and were a distraction.

Profile Image for Caitlyn Vlaski.
12 reviews
July 12, 2023
DNF'd @ 60% - didn't connect with the characters, the flashbacks were too much and feel like this book had so much potential but just wasn't for me I guess.
Profile Image for Brenna.
654 reviews2 followers
December 26, 2024
Ok. So this series isn’t for me. The couples are toxic. And not a fun dark romance toxic, but like, just mean spirited toxic.

Both characters were ass holes. Mila was an ass hole. Seb wasn’t Tristin or believable at all.

But I do love chef romances. 🫠
104 reviews
September 24, 2024
*review has spoilers
Despised this book. Massi is the most bipolar H I've ever read. He is so in love with Gina, convinces her to marry him, and then immediately starts regretting it. He talked a big game before the marriage of being together and having a family, and everything will be so great. But when she gets pregnant, he panics. She winds up having a miscarriage. He shows up late to the hospital and is HAPPY when he hears about the baby, but then gets all butt hurt when she later gets pregnant again and hides that baby from him?? What she should have done was leave his manipulative butt but still tell him about the baby. There were so many more reasons that this book frustrated me but I'll leave all those alone. Either way it's a 1 star or less from me.
Profile Image for Chaos.
3,705 reviews119 followers
March 31, 2024
The characters lacked everything, but especially maturity. They didn't talk at all. All they did in the past and in the present was have sex. While sex is an important part of a relationship, it's not everything. Gina was a child. A freaking child about everything. How did she expect Massi to react to the fact that she lied to him about Sébastien?!?! And Massi needs some serious anger management classes. I felt like I was reading a script from the maury show 🙄 Mila was the only decent character, and she needs her own book.
Profile Image for A.H. Monroe.
Author 3 books52 followers
July 14, 2024
Maxine Henri has done it again—she truly is a mastermind! Reckless Fate follows the emotional journey of Gina and Massi, and I couldn’t love them more.

The story starts with Gina and Massi as 19-year-olds just stepping into adulthood, and it is packed with emotions from the get-go. Massi is head over heels for Gina, and she feels the same, but life takes them in different directions.

Massi is a master chef, and Gina has a keen eye for talent and knows how to market like a pro. Although Massi can come across as unlikable, he has the skills to back it up and a big heart hidden behind his anxieties. Even after all these years, he still wants Gina, even if he doesn’t admit it at first.

Both Gina and Massi are strong-willed and try to control everything. Gina is kind, quick-witted, and motivated to do the right thing. This book is emotional because it shows what it means to compromise and let go. Gina carries a huge burden, which makes her hesitant to be honest at times.

Despite their challenges, Gina and Massi know how to communicate through their touch. I disagreed with some of Massi’s actions when he was younger—sometimes, they just weren’t on the same page and needed to talk things through. The way a panic attack was handled in this book was amazing and showed how well they meshed together.

Gina’s ability to acknowledge her mistakes and take steps to make things right is admirable. Her life and decisions since she was a teenager were real and relatable. She trusted the wrong person, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t strong. Once both Gina and Massi started being honest with each other, everything began to fall into place.

This book is beautiful and shows how two broken souls found each other again.

* I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Connie.
385 reviews23 followers
July 16, 2024
After reading 3 of the 7 books in this series, I wanted to start at the beginning and read the entire series. Not being new to Maxine’s work, I had some pretty high expectations, and this book did not disappoint. This was a good read. 2nd chance romance isn't my favorite thing to read, but I did enjoy reading this story. Massi and Gina go through so much both in their past and their present. This book is full of suspense, twists, laughter, secrets, and betrayal. They have so much chemistry together, and that made these 2 perfect for each other. Why they didn't work it out the first time is still mind-blowing to me. I guess communication really is the key, and they didn't communicate very well at all, IMO. What I enjoyed the most was the mystery of Gina’s past and why decisions were made. This made the story a lot more interesting, and it pulled you into the book so much that you won't want to put it down once you start. This book definitely has some moments that will pull on your heart strings and make you tear up. The only thing I didn't really like was that Gina was more of a doormat for almost all of the book and I hate that in a FMC, but I guess for this book it kind of worked out because they get their HEA and overall this was a pretty great book. Totally recommend this book.
175 reviews1 follower
January 1, 2024
The importance of maturity in relationships

The plot is different from most of the romances that I have read recently, although, once again a young woman is disowned by her father and her new husband shows her both by actions and words how little he values her or anything but the career he is trying to build. They divorce and yet his internal dialogue constantly blames her for the collapse rather than taking responsibility for his choices and actions. She, of course, acts like a doormat and learns nothing from her negative experiences. Years later, after her second divorce, Massi and Blue meet again and drama predictably ensues. Both are single, but she has a secret that she has hidden since shortly after their divorce.

Once again the lack of transparency, honest communication, and willingness to risk vulnerability robs another couple of years of happiness and growth, but all ends well once the truth emerges.

This book is better written than most in this genre but I deducted one star for the unbelievable degree of preposterous behavior on the behalf of two "adults."

Profile Image for Kari Tidwell (karisbookstodevour).
1,139 reviews8 followers
July 14, 2024
Devestating, passionate, and brilliant! There is not a single second in this book that you doubt Gina and Massimo’s love, making their tangled past that much more heartbreaking, the secrets they’ve kept that much more destructive, and giving this second chance romance so much depth and meaning. It’s a hang on every word and hope it works out emotional ride that totally delivers!

Miscommunication is generally not my favorite trope, but this is done so well I completely devoured it and loved it. It’s definitely a read where fear and youth play huge roles, making it relatable, giving it a bigger emotional punch, and making it easy to recognize the growth in the characters and empathize with decisions made with what they thought they knew or believed. And it truly is written brilliantly, easily sucking you right in to the fire and passion, the anger, the regret, and that desperation that hits when you want to be forgiven as much as you need to forgive yourself. An absolutely fantastic read that I can’t recommend enough.
Profile Image for Floraljoy.
1,150 reviews
April 11, 2023
Wonderful:
This was a touching and moving romance with plenty of drama and intrigue to keep things interesting. I really liked how the story unfurled with small revelations along the way which kept me wondering what was going to happen next.
I enjoyed the flashbacks from 17 years prior as it gradually revealed what had happened to Massi and Gina in the past and how it was influencing their present. They both had regrets and had to deal with the consequences from their behaviour and the decisions that they made in the past. I enjoyed seeing Massi's personal growth and the fact that both characters were flawed and had to learn to be honest with one another. I am really happy that everything worked out for them in the end and now I look forward to discovering more about the rest of the siblings stories in upcoming books.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Profile Image for Bookish Lady Night.
538 reviews17 followers
July 21, 2024
Book Review: Reckless Fate
By: Maxine Henri

I started my journey on book two so after finishing the last book I wanted to fully complete the series and read the first one too!

I absolutely loved this one just like the others! I love Maxine’s books she’s such a wonderful writer and creates meaningful stories that wreak you and build you back better and totally in love with her characters.

I love the second chance romance trope. And after getting to know Gina and Massi in the later books it was so nice to hear their story.

This book is full of betrayal, secrets, laughter and giggles, twists, and chest pounding suspense.

I loved their story and their background that shows why they are the way they are. I couldn’t put this one down it was so good. Definitely so glad to have read the whole series and how much I loved this series!!
Profile Image for Lisa.
171 reviews10 followers
July 15, 2024
Massimo & Gina are *chef’s kiss*

Maxine Henri is rereleasing the book that started the Reckless Billionaires series and after being introduced to the series in Reckless Vow, I knew I had to go back to the beginning.

Meeting Massimo and Gina in this story was great. We get to see a second chance as told through a reconnection and with flashbacks. It is really realistic to see the stress points in their relationship and how both of them failed in some aspects their first time.

Maxine does a fantastic job of showcasing the rollercoaster that is the emotions of their journey. After 17 years apart and recognizing how lonely they are, despite being successful in their careers, will this be their chance or will it fail again?
1,388 reviews11 followers
June 6, 2025
This is one of those books you can't put down but don't know why. Gina and Massi are teenage lovers and they get married, after a miscarriage they argue because Massi is a chef and wants to open his own restaurant but Gina is not very bright during this time and listens to his ex employer, and who she is admin to, who she can't see is a bad guy. They divorce and she doesn't tell him she was pregnant when she left and then marries her ex employer in LA then divorces him. This is a convoluted story where Gina doesn't have a brain to spare because she is so busy making up possible outcomes while trying to do her job and look after her mother. Massi has always called her Blue, he also has a bad temper which only she can calm down. Even after all this I still couldn't put it down. You really have to read this one.
Profile Image for Happyscribe.
941 reviews9 followers
April 19, 2023
This is a heart-rending second-chance romance that captured my emotions within a few pages.
Massi and Gina - they shared such an amazing love at 19 and in typical youthful fashion, prioritised ambition over love, and lost each other for 17 years!
The story is told through multiple time jumps - using flashbacks to fill in the painful realities of their lonely present, and while flashbacks can be poorly done - Maxine Henry uses them effectively to pull the reader even deeper into the story.
Beautifully done - top read!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Linda V..
576 reviews8 followers
April 20, 2023
Reckless Fate is the first installment in the Reckless Billionaires series, Massi and Gina/Blue's story. This story is more than a second chance romance. The author dealt with the loss of loved ones, the importance of family and a support system, and overcoming domestic abuse. She also made both main characters equally responsible for a failed relationship. So realistic. All the characters are relatable, like your own friends and family. This gem was funny, heartbreaking, heartwarming, and deliciously spicy! I can't wait for Sydney's story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
769 reviews9 followers
April 30, 2023
Wow... this is the first book I've read by the author and I was completely immersed from start to finish! Massi and Gina 'Blue' go through so much during their time together both in the past and present. There's plenty of suspense, twists, laughter, secrets, betrayal, tear-jerking moments, undeniable chemistry and so much more throughout their story. The question is will they make it through this second chance together to have the future they've always wanted? You won't be disappointed!
There are also some difficult topics addressed throughout the story, but done so with compassion.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Angie Holden.
117 reviews3 followers
June 11, 2023
I absolutely love this book. It follows the lives of Massi and Gina, from when they were teenagers into adulthood. The story is told from both points of view, both in past and present, keeping you pulled in the entire time. The romance between Massi and Gina is addicting, but also heartbreaking at times. I love how the author provides layers to the plot by adding a mysterious element regarding Gina’s past and why certain decisions were made. This is a beautifully written story that shows the effects that narcissism can have on others lives. You can’t help but hope that Gina and Massi are able to find forgiveness and acceptance so that they may finally achieve their happy ever after.
Profile Image for Emily.
142 reviews4 followers
July 25, 2023
Tumultuous in the Best Way

Massimo and Gina’s story is tear filled, funny, angst filled and sexy.

I started this book last night and had to finish it today.

I’ve been on such a rollercoaster of emotions but came out with a smile and a huge sigh of relief.

The past is never truly the past until you make peace with it. This is something both Massimo and Gina can’t seem to do.

When dark forces come to play, secrets are revealed.

This is the first book of Maxine Henri’s I’ve read but it won’t be the last. I am a fan.

I’ve already purchased the next book and can’t wait to see what’s in store.
Profile Image for Lanz.
154 reviews8 followers
May 31, 2025
second chance hidden pregnancy romance

SPOILERSSS AHEAD Gina & Massi the two lovebirds who for married quickly at 19 and then lost a baby and then lost their marriage . Gina ran away after her first miscarriage with Massi but little did she know she would be pregnant once more . But instead of going back to Massi and tell him she marries the next person in life and decides it’s good to rely on him which isn’t and 17 years later does Massi only meet Sebastian but not under the circumstances you expect. I will say Gina is very much a doormat but I enjoyed Mila her bestie giving her a wake up call and Massi had every right to not forgive her !
Profile Image for Merry Jelks-Emmanuel.
13.7k reviews156 followers
April 14, 2023
Reckless fate is an intriguing story about Massi and Gina and what happened in their lives seven-teen years ago and how it impacts their lives today. Gina is back in his life to help him win the Michelin Star that Chefs strive for their restaurants. Reconnecting allows both Massi and Gina to reflect on the past. They both have regrets about how everything turned out. Can their reconnecting bring about a second chance that leads them to a rekindling of their love and happily ever after. I am volunteering to leave a review for an Arc of this book.
Profile Image for Sandra.
36 reviews3 followers
September 30, 2023
5 stars........

.....for the story. 1 star for Gina. I have never disliked any character in any book the way I disliked her! She's whiny and selfish, and her level of martyrdom is epic! The way she kept screwing over Massi was maddening, and he still kept forgiving her! I really wished that the HEA only involved Massi and his son and that she ended up with nothing and no one. She screwed up everything and everyone, and still continued playing the victim. Massi and Sébastien both deserved so much better than her. End of rant. Great story.
Profile Image for Grace Farnsworth PA.
273 reviews22 followers
July 29, 2024
Such a good book

This book has me feeling all the feels.

It really was a great tale of second chances, forgiveness and love…

My favorite scene, the one I laughed at the hardest is when Gina said she broke her vibe ra tor!

Great character development, great world building, and entertaining.

I love the way Maxine writes and I especially love all the banter and steam she gives us.
Profile Image for Tmstprc.
1,314 reviews170 followers
September 14, 2024
First time reading this author, I like her writing style and the flashbacks worked for me, which is rarely the case.

The story starts strong, he’s a hot head chef/restaurant owner and she’s a cool headed restaurant consultant. They have history, they were young made poor choices and ended up in different places. But they’re not young now and she’s keeping secrets. And that’s where the story breaks down for me.

3 I’ll definitely read more by this author stars.
Profile Image for Dewey.
2,149 reviews
January 30, 2024
He's a billionaire, as the title/series suggests? Could have fooled me. I dislike stories told with flashbacks to the past. Massi is an angry jerk. He and Gina have issues from the past but darned if I care enough to wade through endless chapters to get little clues. This is an angst-ridden, toxic, story. The kidnapping sent this to 1* and a DNF.
549 reviews5 followers
July 27, 2023
Second chance

A story that unfolds with flashbacks from the present to their passionate relationship 17 years before.
Very good read, lots of angst and misunderstanding which I normally wouldn't enjoy but this is beautifully written. Great characters.
107 reviews3 followers
January 5, 2025
Terribly boring but the bit that made me DNF was when she's having a miscarriage, he's 10 mins walk away and he doesn't go because his boss tells him work is more important. Yeah, there is no way he's worth it after that
217 reviews
January 6, 2025
Woe is me!

The story could have been good. The characters seemed to be interesting. But the angst, and the blaming, and the misunderstandings. Too much of it, i believe. I skipped quite a bit just to get to the end.
1 review
January 11, 2025
Love the story line, great characters

Love this book and reading the character development. Great story line will
Definitely be reading All the other books in the series. Love the authors writing!
Profile Image for Jamie  Leigh.
6,567 reviews29 followers
April 28, 2023
Great read

I've been on a second chance kick recently, and I think this is one of the best that I've read! I loved the main characters! They have been through a lot!
Profile Image for Megs.
327 reviews3 followers
July 7, 2023
it's was meh, I liked it but didn't love it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews

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