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New Haven #1
Restore Me
Sloane
Dominic Alexander is my late husband's best friend and the last man on Earth that I should want. He's arrogant, dismissive, and up until recently has only ever used those dark eyes of his to look right through me. For the last ten years, he's taken a sick pleasure in making me feel paper thin, like my entire existence is of no consequence to him at all.
But now, things are different.
After one drunken night, and a surprisingly sexy act of heroism, he's started to be...nice. Treating me like something other than the physical embodiment of his annoyance, which would be nice if it didn't make me feel all the things I swore to never feel for another man after my husband died.
Dominic
Sloane Kent is going to be my undoing.
What's worse: I think I'm going to enjoy being unravelled by the gold flecks in her hazel eyes and the adorable little way she scrunches her nose up when we're arguing, which we've done a lot of over the past decade. She thinks it's because I hate her, and I've always let her think that because the alternative is...untenable.
But something is changing between us, and I don't know how to stop myself from breaking every promise I've ever made to myself regarding my best friend's wife. Promises that include never telling her that there's a long list of things I feel about her, but hate isn't one of them.
___________________________________
Restore Me is an enemies to lovers romance about forbidden romance and love after loss. It is the first book in the New Haven Series—an interconnected, series of stand-alone novels.
Dominic Alexander is my late husband's best friend and the last man on Earth that I should want. He's arrogant, dismissive, and up until recently has only ever used those dark eyes of his to look right through me. For the last ten years, he's taken a sick pleasure in making me feel paper thin, like my entire existence is of no consequence to him at all.
But now, things are different.
After one drunken night, and a surprisingly sexy act of heroism, he's started to be...nice. Treating me like something other than the physical embodiment of his annoyance, which would be nice if it didn't make me feel all the things I swore to never feel for another man after my husband died.
Dominic
Sloane Kent is going to be my undoing.
What's worse: I think I'm going to enjoy being unravelled by the gold flecks in her hazel eyes and the adorable little way she scrunches her nose up when we're arguing, which we've done a lot of over the past decade. She thinks it's because I hate her, and I've always let her think that because the alternative is...untenable.
But something is changing between us, and I don't know how to stop myself from breaking every promise I've ever made to myself regarding my best friend's wife. Promises that include never telling her that there's a long list of things I feel about her, but hate isn't one of them.
___________________________________
Restore Me is an enemies to lovers romance about forbidden romance and love after loss. It is the first book in the New Haven Series—an interconnected, series of stand-alone novels.
Audible Audio
First published January 11, 2022
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About the author
J.L. Seegars
10 books2,184 followersJ.L. Seegars is a dedicated smut peddler and lifelong nerd who’s always had a love of words, storytelling and drama. When she isn’t writing messy and emotionally complex characters like the ones she grew up around, she’s watching reality TV, supporting her fellow authors by devouring their work or spending time with her husband and son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,574 reviews
December 10, 2023
"Because wanting you is the only thing that’s gotten me through living without you. It’s gotten me to this moment right here, where I can look you in the eyes and tell you that I love you and I can’t live without you."
he was so in love with her for literally no sane reason. he saw her wear white + she was bold by sitting on his lap and boom = the most boring insta love 🥱 i also felt like his love for her was not reciprocated. he openly loved her, even in his monologue, it was so evident in the way he spoke about her. but she would never say anything that hints at her loving him
I, personally, despise widowed wife x dead husband's bestfriend. would i have read this if i knew that was the trope? no. it's my fault really, i heard it brings depression and i flew to read it. did it deliver? no, only one chapter made me emotional 😒 if the wife still loves her dead husband, i immediately hate the book because in my book universe, only one man exists for the fmc.
this was way too long. 490 pages of what? absolutely nothing. nothing was accomplished. the lack of communication pissed me off, they're in their thirties. i mean, how is that normal, grow up.
i think the author just sat down and started writing without planning the story. and i also think there was no competent editor to point out the contradictions and repetitions. this book could have easily been 300 pages and i would have been satisfied. also the writing was not it 👎🏼 it wasn't horrible but it was def not the best.
'Red clouds my vision.'
'Rage, white-hot and consuming, fills me.'
'My vision blurs, red creeping in from the corners until it tints everything.'
↳ every five seconds, red clouds his vision. and if that's not enough, it clouds her vision too. are yall vampires?
the mmc overused his nickname for her. i'm talking about every millisecond angel angel angel. i am sick. enuff please. his dirty talk? disgusting. i kept rolling my eyes and at some early point, i decided to just skip over all the smut,
"Who knew you were such a greedy girl?"
↳ 🤢☠️ it was just not doing it for me. idk if its just because i've read so much smut to the point im sick of it or i've just read better. the way i skipped pages to avoid suffering.
she was such a contradictory bitch. she was so mad at him when she heard that he's going to cali after his current job is done, i mean is that not convenient for u since u literally made him promise to a deadline to this boring arrangement? she made it a point to mention it every time they were together and the second she hears he's leaving,
don't get me wrong, i love dom,, i mean the things he says 🫶🏼 scute.
∘°∘♡∘°∘∘°∘♡∘°∘∘°∘♡∘°∘∘°∘♡∘°∘
➻ 'His entire being awestruck, his soul stunned into silence while she imprinted herself on his skin with her very existence.'
➻ 'A millstone around my neck that’s never really gone away but gets a bit heavier every time I see her and my heart skips a beat just to remind me she’s the only person who’s ever truly owned it.'
➻ "I'll do whatever it takes to have you, including letting you use me to fulfill every need and desire you have,"
➻ "And it’s always been you, Sloane. For twelve fucking years, you’ve walked around with my soul clutched between the same fingers you wear Eric’s rings on. You’re the ghost I’ve been chasing."
➻ 'She feels like home. She feels like the only person who has ever looked at me and known me in a single second. She feels like every dream I’ve ever had, every wish I’ve ever made, every oath I’ve ever sworn to keep all rolled up into one perfect being.'
➻ "Of me claiming your body and soul. Of me etching myself into your lungs until you can’t fucking breathe without me."
➻ 'I call her my angel because that’s what she is to me. The promise of God’s love in human form, a treasure from heaven walking here on Earth.'
➻ "Wanting you. Loving you. Being yours when you were always his. It all hurt."
➻ 'I’m still so far gone for this woman, captivated by her smile, devastated by the sway of her hips, shattered by the thought of living without her and willing to do anything to stop it from happening.'
➻ 'Dom was the one holding the needle that stitched my heart back together.'
February 10, 2022
BEST BOOK IVE READ THIS MONTH HANDS DOWN JL SEEGARS I WANNA HUG AND FIGHT YOU
January 15, 2023
AHH THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD!!
I just reread this and it still took my breath away. The CHEMISTRY is everything between these two. They are my comfort couple🥹
Sloane and Dominic are my parents k bye
I just reread this and it still took my breath away. The CHEMISTRY is everything between these two. They are my comfort couple🥹
Sloane and Dominic are my parents k bye
He leans down and brushes his nose over mine three times. Like he’s always done. Like he’ll do for the rest of our lives.
May 31, 2023
3 stars
I had high hopes for this book as so many of my friends loved it, but for me, it was just too long. The writing was great, I liked the characters, but there was a lot of repetitive steamy scenes. There were parts of Sloane and Dominic’s story that were emotional and captivating, but other parts I found my mind wandering and once again I think it was just too long for me. I like long books, but only when they hold my attention all the way through and don’t ‘feel long’.
I had high hopes for this book as so many of my friends loved it, but for me, it was just too long. The writing was great, I liked the characters, but there was a lot of repetitive steamy scenes. There were parts of Sloane and Dominic’s story that were emotional and captivating, but other parts I found my mind wandering and once again I think it was just too long for me. I like long books, but only when they hold my attention all the way through and don’t ‘feel long’.
Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 3 stars
Narrators: Bianca Drew & Winston James
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 18h 2m
October 6, 2022
6/5 stars.
One of the best romances I've read this year.
This is a book that is going to stay with me forever.
Sloane is a widow of 4 years, and she doesn't know if she'll ever fall in love again, but the loneliness is affecting her more than she thought it would as the years pass. Dom is her husband's best friend who has always seemed to HATE Sloane.
When the two end up working on the same project, building and designing a new hotel, Sloane is forced to realize that maybe that supposed hate she felt from Dominic was masking something deeper.
This book had me RIVETED from first to last page. It's a soul mates, second chance, epic, scorching romance and I adored it more than I can say.
The way this author writes chemistry and longing and true romance is unparalleled.
I'm now a huge fan and can not wait to read every word she writes.
CW: death of a spouse, grief, abusive parents, death of a parent, miscarriage
Will be in my next vlog
One of the best romances I've read this year.
This is a book that is going to stay with me forever.
Sloane is a widow of 4 years, and she doesn't know if she'll ever fall in love again, but the loneliness is affecting her more than she thought it would as the years pass. Dom is her husband's best friend who has always seemed to HATE Sloane.
When the two end up working on the same project, building and designing a new hotel, Sloane is forced to realize that maybe that supposed hate she felt from Dominic was masking something deeper.
This book had me RIVETED from first to last page. It's a soul mates, second chance, epic, scorching romance and I adored it more than I can say.
The way this author writes chemistry and longing and true romance is unparalleled.
I'm now a huge fan and can not wait to read every word she writes.
CW: death of a spouse, grief, abusive parents, death of a parent, miscarriage
Will be in my next vlog
June 1, 2022
DNF at 53%. I’m tired of this stupid other woman drama.
1. This dude has been in love with the heroine for 12 years but has treated her like crap as a way to hide his feelings. Even after her husband died 4 YEARS AGO! It’s just dumb.
2. He’s been sleeping around with other women as he’s in love with the heroine. Yuck. Even as the book starts. There’s a reference 7% in to him having sex with his ex.
3. Supposedly he’s done with his ex girlfriend but “they’re still friends and he cares about her” so he allows her to call him and lean on him for support. Even during the first real date with the heroine. Instead of taking that call, dude, turn off your phone!!
I’m just done with this. He says he’s been in love with her and he has some respectful behavior towards her but a ton of stupid.
Plus, the author keeps describing her hands as tiny. Ugh. I don’t need a grown woman with tiny hands. Especially since he’s 6’7”. Why do authors do this!? It’s not good to constantly have giant men and tiny women. Most of your readers aren’t tiny.
At 53%, we get the ex girlfriend naked in his bed when he’s picking clothes up for a sleepover and he’s guilty that she needs him and he doesn’t want to yell at her. I would be saying “get out. We’re not friends. This is unacceptable”.
And then changing my locks. Of course your ex girlfriend thinks you’re not over. You’ve allowed her to call you at any time and been there for her, even going out to a bar together where she was touching you all over!!
And when the heroine asked you to give her up, you defended the situation by telling her your ex is your friend and she needs you. If I were her, I would be telling you to take a hike until you were really over your ex.
For some guy that claims you’ve been in love with the heroine your entire adult life, you’re sure not acting like it!
1. This dude has been in love with the heroine for 12 years but has treated her like crap as a way to hide his feelings. Even after her husband died 4 YEARS AGO! It’s just dumb.
2. He’s been sleeping around with other women as he’s in love with the heroine. Yuck. Even as the book starts. There’s a reference 7% in to him having sex with his ex.
3. Supposedly he’s done with his ex girlfriend but “they’re still friends and he cares about her” so he allows her to call him and lean on him for support. Even during the first real date with the heroine. Instead of taking that call, dude, turn off your phone!!
I’m just done with this. He says he’s been in love with her and he has some respectful behavior towards her but a ton of stupid.
Plus, the author keeps describing her hands as tiny. Ugh. I don’t need a grown woman with tiny hands. Especially since he’s 6’7”. Why do authors do this!? It’s not good to constantly have giant men and tiny women. Most of your readers aren’t tiny.
At 53%, we get the ex girlfriend naked in his bed when he’s picking clothes up for a sleepover and he’s guilty that she needs him and he doesn’t want to yell at her. I would be saying “get out. We’re not friends. This is unacceptable”.
And then changing my locks. Of course your ex girlfriend thinks you’re not over. You’ve allowed her to call you at any time and been there for her, even going out to a bar together where she was touching you all over!!
And when the heroine asked you to give her up, you defended the situation by telling her your ex is your friend and she needs you. If I were her, I would be telling you to take a hike until you were really over your ex.
For some guy that claims you’ve been in love with the heroine your entire adult life, you’re sure not acting like it!
February 22, 2023
this was so mf good wow 🤩✨🫶🏻🤭
it was heart breaking and yet so wholesome and smutty? the range!!!!
i wish the ending wasn’t as fast paced, i would’ve liked to see more. but other than that, chefs kiss!!!!!
it was heart breaking and yet so wholesome and smutty? the range!!!!
i wish the ending wasn’t as fast paced, i would’ve liked to see more. but other than that, chefs kiss!!!!!
November 11, 2023
2/5 ⭐️
- I might be the only person on the planet that wasn’t obsessed with this book, but it just wasn’t for me. The writing was great so I’ll definitely read more from this author in the future, but the spice head heaaavy with this one. It felt like every two pages we were getting some type of spice which made it hard for me to connect with the characters and their development outside the bedroom. This was such a character driven story so it made getting invested tough for me.
- I really loved the characters in this story and was really invested in see if they’d find love. It would be cool to see if her bestie has a story. Dominic and Sloane’s story was a miss for me, but because the writing was so good I could see myself coming back to read more of her books. This one felt longer than it needed to be so I would definitely have to make sure it’s a little shorter first.
- Wish that we had seen more dates with Sloane and Dominic together outside of the bedroom too. Maybe secret picnics or something. I just felt like if you took out the spice, the book would be 200 pages shorter. I really enjoyed seeing Sloane grow and the relationship with her Mom was tough, but a good read. Would have loved for some of the side plots to be pulled out a bit more too.
- I might be the only person on the planet that wasn’t obsessed with this book, but it just wasn’t for me. The writing was great so I’ll definitely read more from this author in the future, but the spice head heaaavy with this one. It felt like every two pages we were getting some type of spice which made it hard for me to connect with the characters and their development outside the bedroom. This was such a character driven story so it made getting invested tough for me.
- I really loved the characters in this story and was really invested in see if they’d find love. It would be cool to see if her bestie has a story. Dominic and Sloane’s story was a miss for me, but because the writing was so good I could see myself coming back to read more of her books. This one felt longer than it needed to be so I would definitely have to make sure it’s a little shorter first.
- Wish that we had seen more dates with Sloane and Dominic together outside of the bedroom too. Maybe secret picnics or something. I just felt like if you took out the spice, the book would be 200 pages shorter. I really enjoyed seeing Sloane grow and the relationship with her Mom was tough, but a good read. Would have loved for some of the side plots to be pulled out a bit more too.
July 1, 2023
“all he could see was her. The face of an angel with a body made for sin”
if he doesn’t call me angle or go to therapy to be a better person just for me and to make our relationship work. Then I don’t want him ✋🏻
Dom this man is perfect. I love him and his dirty/beautiful mouth so much <33 he was so thoughtful and understanding and sweet and hot. He is everything I want and need <3 everytime i read his pov was like a reward. The way he was thinking about her was so beautiful i want to cry.I will let this man do anything to me. He doesn’t even has to ask all he has to do is snap his fingers and I’ll be on my knees for him🧎🏻♀️I JUST LOVE HIM
sloane i love her but she pissed me off a lot especially in those last few chapters.But i loved her nonetheless. i loved how she finally was brave enough to talk back to her mother this women deserve to DIE. I loved how bold she was i loved her love for eric and for dom.
Her relationship with dom was everything. The way their relationship went from hate to love was perfect. It was so adorable and heartwarming <33 AND OMG THE GRAYS ANATOMY PROPOSAL R U KIDDING ME. THIS WAS THE BEST PROPOSAL EVER. MY STANDARDS R SKY HIGH RN BECAUSE OF HIM.
I just want to say that I hate her mother with everything in me. This women needs to be slapped across the face in front of everyone.she needs to be exposed to everyone so they can see how much of a shitty person she is.I can’t understand how could her father love someone like this??? He’s so sweet for the likes of her. He was sweet but I will not forgive him for letting his wife talk to her daughter like that no.
Overall this book was amazing. The plot and the writing was so good and emotional i loved it
beautiful QUOTES
“She feels like every dream I’ve ever had, every wish I’ve ever made, every oath I’ve ever sworn to keep all rolled up into one perfect being.”
“She giggles and even the sound is heavenly. I want to soak it up, pull every note out of the air, and absorb it into my being.”
“Every time I touch you is a gift, Sloane. One I don’t know if I’m going to get to keep, which means I want to rush this more than anything. I want to dive headfirst into your eyes and never come up for air. I want to use every part of my body to bring pleasure to yours,”
“I call her my angel because that’s what she is to me. The promise of God’s love in human form, a treasure from heaven walking here on Earth making the lives of every person she meets better. And that’s what she’s always been, even when her presence chafed against my skin and burned a hole in my heart.”
His warm breath tickles my skin. “You always smell so good. Like mango and tangerine with maybe a bit of coconut?” His hands go to my hips, “I’ve spent every day for the last few weeks trying to nail it down, fighting the urge to ask you what the exact combination is so I can bottle it up and put it everywhere until my entire world is nothing but you.”
“Because that’s exactly what this is. Love. Can’t eat, can’t sleep, can’t breathe without you, love. Your smile lights up my world, and your arms feel like home, love. I could stand here all day and watch you do the most mundane task without ever getting bored, love.
I am so fucking stupid and have set myself up for the heartbreak of a lifetime, love.”
“I’ll walk through Hell for you, angel.”
“Dom is the mirror image of my soul. The place where all my shadows and every burst of flame are known, understood, and loved.”
“You were in my dreams last night. I wish I could have stayed asleep.”
if he doesn’t call me angle or go to therapy to be a better person just for me and to make our relationship work. Then I don’t want him ✋🏻
Dom this man is perfect. I love him and his dirty/beautiful mouth so much <33 he was so thoughtful and understanding and sweet and hot. He is everything I want and need <3 everytime i read his pov was like a reward. The way he was thinking about her was so beautiful i want to cry.I will let this man do anything to me. He doesn’t even has to ask all he has to do is snap his fingers and I’ll be on my knees for him🧎🏻♀️I JUST LOVE HIM
sloane i love her but she pissed me off a lot especially in those last few chapters.But i loved her nonetheless. i loved how she finally was brave enough to talk back to her mother this women deserve to DIE. I loved how bold she was i loved her love for eric and for dom.
Her relationship with dom was everything. The way their relationship went from hate to love was perfect. It was so adorable and heartwarming <33 AND OMG THE GRAYS ANATOMY PROPOSAL R U KIDDING ME. THIS WAS THE BEST PROPOSAL EVER. MY STANDARDS R SKY HIGH RN BECAUSE OF HIM.
I just want to say that I hate her mother with everything in me. This women needs to be slapped across the face in front of everyone.she needs to be exposed to everyone so they can see how much of a shitty person she is.I can’t understand how could her father love someone like this??? He’s so sweet for the likes of her. He was sweet but I will not forgive him for letting his wife talk to her daughter like that no.
Overall this book was amazing. The plot and the writing was so good and emotional i loved it
beautiful QUOTES
“She feels like every dream I’ve ever had, every wish I’ve ever made, every oath I’ve ever sworn to keep all rolled up into one perfect being.”
“She giggles and even the sound is heavenly. I want to soak it up, pull every note out of the air, and absorb it into my being.”
“Every time I touch you is a gift, Sloane. One I don’t know if I’m going to get to keep, which means I want to rush this more than anything. I want to dive headfirst into your eyes and never come up for air. I want to use every part of my body to bring pleasure to yours,”
“I call her my angel because that’s what she is to me. The promise of God’s love in human form, a treasure from heaven walking here on Earth making the lives of every person she meets better. And that’s what she’s always been, even when her presence chafed against my skin and burned a hole in my heart.”
His warm breath tickles my skin. “You always smell so good. Like mango and tangerine with maybe a bit of coconut?” His hands go to my hips, “I’ve spent every day for the last few weeks trying to nail it down, fighting the urge to ask you what the exact combination is so I can bottle it up and put it everywhere until my entire world is nothing but you.”
“Because that’s exactly what this is. Love. Can’t eat, can’t sleep, can’t breathe without you, love. Your smile lights up my world, and your arms feel like home, love. I could stand here all day and watch you do the most mundane task without ever getting bored, love.
I am so fucking stupid and have set myself up for the heartbreak of a lifetime, love.”
“I’ll walk through Hell for you, angel.”
“Dom is the mirror image of my soul. The place where all my shadows and every burst of flame are known, understood, and loved.”
“You were in my dreams last night. I wish I could have stayed asleep.”
April 9, 2022
oh this was bad. this was really bad for me. dnf btw. love me an enemies to lovers but GROWN ADULTS enemies to lovers? yeah… yall too grown to not be talking shit out. also i probably would have liked it more if there was a legitimate reason for them to even BE enemies in the first place. but for dominic to show hatred towards her because he had feelings for her… is he a child? maybe he would feel guilty to like his bestfriend’s gf/wife/widow and maybe even just to admit it. but just to pick a fight just to be able to talk to her… mygod its getting TIRED. ALSO its been more than a decade babes… i think its time to resolve that and from what I have read he doesnt even know why hes hated sloane but is jealous of every interaction w a male she has ever had??? YOU ARE SO FUCKING ANNOYING. the repeated “why do i even care its not like im jealous””i dont know why my hearts beating so fast or why im annoyed with another man touching her” like come tf on ITS BEEN MORE THAN A DECADE AND YOU HAVENT FIGURED OUT WHY YOU HATE HER OUT OF NOWHERE??? it just doesnt make sense. at least just admit it to yourself.
i also could have liked it if it was a slow burn. because you are telling me sloane, who as far as i am concerned was celibate and havent been sexually inclined to anyone and she saw dominic after years and the day after they met again after eric’s death she wants to fuck him after finding him absolutely abhorrent, rude and disrespectful? just because you had ONE (1) sex dream w another person doesnt have to mean you have romantic feelings for them 😱😱😱. shocker shocker.
dominic’s main thing is apparently that he thinks he would turn out to be like his father from what i have read. that the “real” him is violent, angry, mean etc etc. like babes atp its like YOU are forcing yourself to be him. i hate this in books where for example they are nice to everyone, laidback and cool and all this shit all the time but the few times they are not like that, THATS the real them… like come on now. now you are just acting OUT of character. GET SOME THERAPY. its just if i were a mid 30’s grown ass dude hating on a woman bc hes afraid to “confront his feelings 🥺🥺🥺” i would kms
i also could have liked it if it was a slow burn. because you are telling me sloane, who as far as i am concerned was celibate and havent been sexually inclined to anyone and she saw dominic after years and the day after they met again after eric’s death she wants to fuck him after finding him absolutely abhorrent, rude and disrespectful? just because you had ONE (1) sex dream w another person doesnt have to mean you have romantic feelings for them 😱😱😱. shocker shocker.
dominic’s main thing is apparently that he thinks he would turn out to be like his father from what i have read. that the “real” him is violent, angry, mean etc etc. like babes atp its like YOU are forcing yourself to be him. i hate this in books where for example they are nice to everyone, laidback and cool and all this shit all the time but the few times they are not like that, THATS the real them… like come on now. now you are just acting OUT of character. GET SOME THERAPY. its just if i were a mid 30’s grown ass dude hating on a woman bc hes afraid to “confront his feelings 🥺🥺🥺” i would kms
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
March 9, 2023It's been a couple weeks since I put this down and I'm officially comfortable calling this a DNF at about 51% (pg. 235)
This book exists in this sort of dichotomous space between two stories. In one story, we have a book about grief and learning to love again after loss, allowing yourself to be happy and dealing with feelings of guilt and shame that can come with that experience. THAT book, I want to read. It's thoughtful and the male lead is emotionally intelligent, cognizant of the struggles the female lead is going through, and very supportive and understanding of what she's going through.
On the other hand you have an "enemies to lovers" romance with a man who has treated this woman worse than garbage for over a decade (side note: I tend to take issue with contemporaries being labeled "enemies to lovers" because what it almost always is is ~rivals~ or people who vaguely annoy each other, but no this is straight up ENEMIES. He treats her like shit for twelve years) and continually pushes past consensual boundaries she tries to set and whose POV makes it very clear he feels a disturbing sense of possesive ownership over her regardless of their relationship or her feelings on the matter. You cannot convince me that the man who exhibits these behaviors is the same man who's so emotionally intelligent when it comes to the one specific circumstance of the FMCs grief. That half of things is why I'm quitting.
I almost quit at the "your mouth hasn't said yes but your body has" line, because that's not how consent works and that's a man who won't stop when you say no, but I kept going hoping it was a one-off and just a bad line of dialogue in a sex scene.
What finally made me quit was reading from his POV while they're discussing a relationship they may or may not start. Reading the scene from his POV actively made my skin crawl. She has one single boundary she sets for the relationship - just one - and he verbally agrees to it while thinking about how he doesn't actually agree, he thinks it's ridiculous, and he's only telling her he agrees to get her into this relationship and has no intention of actually following her wishes because once he has her in his grasp he's not going to let her go and he's going to make her see that what he wants is what's best. It was so uncomfortable and reads to me as him clearly having no respect for this woman as a person, much less anything even close to love.
I don't know if his behavior is ever addressed or changed in the book past this point, but I kept hoping it would be and 235 pages in it showed no signs of that so I'm putting this down.
I'm basically at a point with romance novels where if I'm spending the whole book thinking "I would never let a man treat me like this" I'm not going to read it, and this man treats her like shit.
This book exists in this sort of dichotomous space between two stories. In one story, we have a book about grief and learning to love again after loss, allowing yourself to be happy and dealing with feelings of guilt and shame that can come with that experience. THAT book, I want to read. It's thoughtful and the male lead is emotionally intelligent, cognizant of the struggles the female lead is going through, and very supportive and understanding of what she's going through.
On the other hand you have an "enemies to lovers" romance with a man who has treated this woman worse than garbage for over a decade (side note: I tend to take issue with contemporaries being labeled "enemies to lovers" because what it almost always is is ~rivals~ or people who vaguely annoy each other, but no this is straight up ENEMIES. He treats her like shit for twelve years) and continually pushes past consensual boundaries she tries to set and whose POV makes it very clear he feels a disturbing sense of possesive ownership over her regardless of their relationship or her feelings on the matter. You cannot convince me that the man who exhibits these behaviors is the same man who's so emotionally intelligent when it comes to the one specific circumstance of the FMCs grief. That half of things is why I'm quitting.
I almost quit at the "your mouth hasn't said yes but your body has" line, because that's not how consent works and that's a man who won't stop when you say no, but I kept going hoping it was a one-off and just a bad line of dialogue in a sex scene.
What finally made me quit was reading from his POV while they're discussing a relationship they may or may not start. Reading the scene from his POV actively made my skin crawl. She has one single boundary she sets for the relationship - just one - and he verbally agrees to it while thinking about how he doesn't actually agree, he thinks it's ridiculous, and he's only telling her he agrees to get her into this relationship and has no intention of actually following her wishes because once he has her in his grasp he's not going to let her go and he's going to make her see that what he wants is what's best. It was so uncomfortable and reads to me as him clearly having no respect for this woman as a person, much less anything even close to love.
I don't know if his behavior is ever addressed or changed in the book past this point, but I kept hoping it would be and 235 pages in it showed no signs of that so I'm putting this down.
I'm basically at a point with romance novels where if I'm spending the whole book thinking "I would never let a man treat me like this" I'm not going to read it, and this man treats her like shit.
December 31, 2022
Did I just read my favorite book of the year on the last day of the year?!
December 24, 2023
I really like this book, the characters are well built. It’s seems like another story I read - like a deja vu 🤔
It’s worth the reading.
It’s worth the reading.
January 31, 2023
So many of my friends love this book and it had SO MUCH potential. The first half was probably a 4.5 star for me. We drop in when Sloane lost her husband four years ago and she is working a job with her husband's best friend. Sloane and Dominic have had a strained relationship since they met in college when Dominic has been nothing but rude to Sloane. Lately, though, Sloane has been feeing an attraction towards Dominic and the two begin a physical relationship. What went wrong for me with this book was the lack of flashbacks and the repetitive sex scenes. I know that Sloane and Dominic have this undeniable chemistry, but it got to the point that I was skimming the sex scenes and got annoyed when we got ANOTHER one. We definitely didn't need that many. I also would have loved so many more flashbacks to when Sloane and Dominic were in college and after when Dominic was pining and Sloane was oblivious and with Eric. So many pivotal scenes to their past were never mentioned and we got maybe two flashbacks around the beginning and didn't even address those past feelings until after 90% into the book. All of the components for an amazing book are there, the execution was just a bit off. I definitely see potential with this author's writing and storytelling, though, and I'm excited to try out some more books by her.
March 19, 2022
I just love when a story just makes me completely obsessed and Dominic definitely did this to me. I couldn’t put this book down. I was immersed from the get go. Enemies to lovers and secret pining for years and I was done for. Dominic and his pining for Sloane was chef’s kiss. He’s head over heels in love with her. She hasn’t dated since her husband and Dominic’s best friend suddenly died four years ago. An evening out changes everything between him and Sloane.
It was delicious torture and also so erotic how Sloane suddenly started to see Dominic in a different light. Sizzling hot when all he could do, think or say was how madly in love he was with Sloane and just wanted be near her so no one else could. Dominic was flawed but such a good man. Has had a rough childhood and he didn’t want that to define him so he did everything in his power to prove to be a better man than his father. Sloane had her struggles too. From a narcissistic mother to rediscovering her need to be touched and intimate with another man.
When she and Dominic collided it was sensual and pure magic. The steam and chemistry was amazing. Yes, the story dragged a little towards the end but I couldn’t care less cause I was captivated with this story and its characters.
For a debut J.L. Seegars knocked it out of the park. I’m so excited for Mal’s story and can’t wait to be back in New Haven. Restore Me was a wonderful and fantastic story and surprise.
5 Angel Stars
It was delicious torture and also so erotic how Sloane suddenly started to see Dominic in a different light. Sizzling hot when all he could do, think or say was how madly in love he was with Sloane and just wanted be near her so no one else could. Dominic was flawed but such a good man. Has had a rough childhood and he didn’t want that to define him so he did everything in his power to prove to be a better man than his father. Sloane had her struggles too. From a narcissistic mother to rediscovering her need to be touched and intimate with another man.
When she and Dominic collided it was sensual and pure magic. The steam and chemistry was amazing. Yes, the story dragged a little towards the end but I couldn’t care less cause I was captivated with this story and its characters.
For a debut J.L. Seegars knocked it out of the park. I’m so excited for Mal’s story and can’t wait to be back in New Haven. Restore Me was a wonderful and fantastic story and surprise.
5 Angel Stars
February 1, 2022
This book was about 200 pages too long. The romance between the two main characters while steamy at first became boring and repetitive as all the development was thrown aside for multiple sex scenes strung together. Their entire personalities became being obsessed with the other and punishing themselves for wanting each other and not in a good angsty kind of way. I also hated Don’s perspective and found his obsession with Sloane for more than a decade a little off putting. Especially bc he called most of the shots in the progression of their physical and emotional relationship. More proof to my “romance novels are better when they’re single POV” thesis.
The drama in the third act was so melodramatic I had to fight not to roll my eyes. I appreciated the POC cast but this was tough to get through !
The drama in the third act was so melodramatic I had to fight not to roll my eyes. I appreciated the POC cast but this was tough to get through !
February 19, 2023
This one just wasn’t for me, unfortunately. Mainly because I didn’t like either of the MCs so I wasn’t invested in their story at all. I’m a very character-driven reader so this really killed the book for me. I tried to get through this for like 4 days before finally deciding to DNF.
I can’t pinpoint exactly why I didn’t like Sloane - she just didn’t seem real or relatable I guess? Another reviewer said she rubbed them the wrong way so it seems like it’s not just me.
Sloane’s husband died 4 years ago but she didn’t really seem to miss him or think about him all that much. I know she's likely moved on by now but I was just expecting her to be more emotional about it, otherwise why include this as a main plot point?
But the main reason I disliked this is because Dominic was such a child. When it comes to the enemies-to-lovers trope, there needs to be a solid reason for the hatred between the MCs and this book did not deliver. The only reason Dominic hated Sloane is because he liked her first before she married his best friend. I can accept some animosity because of this for a few months, maybe. But 12 years?? Grow the hell up.
He never showed a single moment of kindness towards her, not even when her husband died which is just unacceptable to me. If you truly love a person, you can put aside your petty feelings for a few days when they’re going through something as painful as that. Even after 12 years, whenever he wanted her attention, he would resort to insults or pick a fight just to talk to her. This is kindergarten behaviour.
Also, it’s worth noting that after 12 years of Dominic treating Sloane like garbage, she never once stopped and asked “hey, what’s your problem with me?” We are adults, people. Ever heard of communication?
1.5 stars
I can’t pinpoint exactly why I didn’t like Sloane - she just didn’t seem real or relatable I guess? Another reviewer said she rubbed them the wrong way so it seems like it’s not just me.
Sloane’s husband died 4 years ago but she didn’t really seem to miss him or think about him all that much. I know she's likely moved on by now but I was just expecting her to be more emotional about it, otherwise why include this as a main plot point?
But the main reason I disliked this is because Dominic was such a child. When it comes to the enemies-to-lovers trope, there needs to be a solid reason for the hatred between the MCs and this book did not deliver. The only reason Dominic hated Sloane is because he liked her first before she married his best friend. I can accept some animosity because of this for a few months, maybe. But 12 years?? Grow the hell up.
He never showed a single moment of kindness towards her, not even when her husband died which is just unacceptable to me. If you truly love a person, you can put aside your petty feelings for a few days when they’re going through something as painful as that. Even after 12 years, whenever he wanted her attention, he would resort to insults or pick a fight just to talk to her. This is kindergarten behaviour.
Also, it’s worth noting that after 12 years of Dominic treating Sloane like garbage, she never once stopped and asked “hey, what’s your problem with me?” We are adults, people. Ever heard of communication?
1.5 stars
January 26, 2022
This love story chewed me up, spit me out, and gave me a hug right after.
The way Dominic loves Sloane makes my chest hurt and watching these two fall in love while working through grief was beautiful. His respect for Sloane's love for Eric all these years after his passing and his commitment to respecting her boundaries was everything to me. His possessive and jealous nature had me chomping at the air.
I ate it up. I ate all of it up.
"Use me."
"You. Always you, angel."
"So damn beautiful it makes my heart hurt."
UGH!!!
There was a lot of crying. They're simply soulmates and I'm obsessed with them.
CW: explicit sexual content, death, grief, toxic and abusive parents, terminally ill family member, references to alcoholism
The way Dominic loves Sloane makes my chest hurt and watching these two fall in love while working through grief was beautiful. His respect for Sloane's love for Eric all these years after his passing and his commitment to respecting her boundaries was everything to me. His possessive and jealous nature had me chomping at the air.
I ate it up. I ate all of it up.
"Use me."
"You. Always you, angel."
"So damn beautiful it makes my heart hurt."
UGH!!!
There was a lot of crying. They're simply soulmates and I'm obsessed with them.
CW: explicit sexual content, death, grief, toxic and abusive parents, terminally ill family member, references to alcoholism
tried-sample-but-no
March 20, 2022This h rubbed me the wrong way in the sample, so I knew I needed to call it quits before I got farther. Could just me a me thing 🤷🏻♀️
If anyone has any recommendations for a widow getting with her husband’s best friend story, let me know — I’m craving some messy angst 😏
If anyone has any recommendations for a widow getting with her husband’s best friend story, let me know — I’m craving some messy angst 😏
January 7, 2023
DNF
Grown ass man is mean to a woman bc he’s secretly in love with her.
Are you 10 years old ???
And then his constant inner monologue ‘why do you care?’ ‘My chest goes tight although I have no idea why’
I can’t stand a weak MMC. Grow a pair.
UGH I HATE THE WHOLE hE hAtEs mE AnD I dOnT kNoW wHy 😶🌫️😶🌫️😶🌫️ If you’re gunna do enemies to lovers I need a concrete reason for them to hate each other.
Not only that but he’s a dick to her and she just takes it ?? Adults talk about that shit. You would say, ‘mate, what’s your problem?’
But no, she just volleys back with childish dialogue 😴
I need more sorry.
Grown ass man is mean to a woman bc he’s secretly in love with her.
Are you 10 years old ???
And then his constant inner monologue ‘why do you care?’ ‘My chest goes tight although I have no idea why’
I can’t stand a weak MMC. Grow a pair.
UGH I HATE THE WHOLE hE hAtEs mE AnD I dOnT kNoW wHy 😶🌫️😶🌫️😶🌫️ If you’re gunna do enemies to lovers I need a concrete reason for them to hate each other.
Not only that but he’s a dick to her and she just takes it ?? Adults talk about that shit. You would say, ‘mate, what’s your problem?’
But no, she just volleys back with childish dialogue 😴
I need more sorry.
February 5, 2023
Am I nuts for growing tired of the love scenes and just wanting the story to get on with things? Possibly. Perhaps that kind of sex isn't my kind of sex.
Do I really believe that? No. And here's why:
What makes this book special is the angst and emotional journey of the characters. Those aspects were so strong that I felt that all the love scenes a) sidetracked things and b) began to feel repetitive.
It's still a very solid read and an excellent debut.
Do I really believe that? No. And here's why:
What makes this book special is the angst and emotional journey of the characters. Those aspects were so strong that I felt that all the love scenes a) sidetracked things and b) began to feel repetitive.
It's still a very solid read and an excellent debut.
January 7, 2023
Very beautiful story. Worshipful hero. Healing romance and very steamy.
Moving and powerful.
It got a little back and forth at the end for me. BUT I get all the love and Dom is a new BBF for life.
4.5 stars
4 on the spice scale
CW: miscarriage, loss of spouse, grief
Moving and powerful.
It got a little back and forth at the end for me. BUT I get all the love and Dom is a new BBF for life.
4.5 stars
4 on the spice scale
CW: miscarriage, loss of spouse, grief
January 13, 2022
Well wasn’t this just perfection. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a romance where I have been so utterly and completely convinced that two people were made for each other. I don’t usually consciously notice how well-written a book is, more I just think ‘huh this is really good’ but the LANGUAGE and IMAGERY? This has got me sounding like how my English lit teacher wishes I talked in class.
The most emotional rollercoaster, neither character was perfect but the growth and development were present and correct.
The tropes were also much appreciated, ‘touch her and I’ll unalive you’ being a personal stand-out 😂
All in all, this was a lovely time, and one of the best debut novels I have ever read. I can’t wait to see what else Janil writes ❤️🥺
The most emotional rollercoaster, neither character was perfect but the growth and development were present and correct.
The tropes were also much appreciated, ‘touch her and I’ll unalive you’ being a personal stand-out 😂
All in all, this was a lovely time, and one of the best debut novels I have ever read. I can’t wait to see what else Janil writes ❤️🥺
May 12, 2022
Dominic Alexander is definitely a beast of a man in and out of the bedroom! The spice in this was extra level hot! 🔥🔥
I did take a star away because for some reason it took me long to get thru this. Although the spice was super hot, I felt like there was too much of it after a while. As great as smut is, certain scenes felt repetitive. And how is it possible Sloane didn't remember Dom at all from the frat party!?? It's not like she was roofied or anything so that was a bit odd.
Although it was a bit rushed, I liked the ending and that they got their HEA, especially with the support of Eric's family.
I did take a star away because for some reason it took me long to get thru this. Although the spice was super hot, I felt like there was too much of it after a while. As great as smut is, certain scenes felt repetitive. And how is it possible Sloane didn't remember Dom at all from the frat party!?? It's not like she was roofied or anything so that was a bit odd.
Although it was a bit rushed, I liked the ending and that they got their HEA, especially with the support of Eric's family.
September 30, 2024
Sloane x Dominic
***May Contain Spoliers***
Sorry for this long review 😩😩
So, I'll start by saying this was good. Really, really good. It started off sooooo good. I couldn’t put it down and I didn’t want to. I was hurting for Dominic cause of the way he was feeling about Sloane. He put on a great front to hide his feelings for her. He was madly, passionately utterly, heads over heels in love with her. Example, Dominic’s POV: I call her my angel because that’s what she is to me. The promise of God’s love in human form, a treasure from heaven walking here on Earth making the lives of every person she meets better. And that’s what she’s always been…”(Ch18, Pg196)
Another example in Dom’s POV: “Let’s be clear, whatever the price is for being with you, I’ll happily pay it. I’ll give up my soul for a moment of your time. I’ll sell everything I own for a night in your bed. There’s no sacrifice I wouldn’t make to hear you laugh, make you smile, or shield you from pain.” (Ch23, Pg248)
If you know me, you know I’m a sucker for stuff like that. My heart fluttered, cheeks hot and blushing, cheesing so hard. It happened a lot because the book was filled with them. The chemistry between Sloane and Dom was so thick and palpable. Their jabs at each other only made the sexual tension between them even stronger.
Then slowly, as the enemies wall started coming down, so was everything else in the book. The transition into lovers was not smooth at all to me. It was rather confusing IMO. Dom, reserved, observant, quiet Dom, out of nowhere came on so strong at Sloane. Literally talking about her knees around his head, with her sitting on his face…and whatnot. Don't get me wrong, I'm always 100% down for a good facesitting 👀👀 but
Dom literally pulled that out of his åśs cause, at that point they were still very much at odds with each other. Cause I was like wait, where did that come from?
There was a bit of inconsistency in the story. Like the whole issue with Sloane and her mother was never resolved. Her father loved her and was so good to her yet, he never checked his wife for the way she treated Sloane or stood up for her. I ain't like that.
Her mother was terrible and a master manipulator. She says the most out-of-pocket, disrespectful, uncalled-for things to Sloane about everything she does. Even got on her about how she grieved her husband's death 🙄
Sloane was this 🤏🏾 close to getting on my nerves. She lived in her head and overanalyzed everything and I hated that. She and Dom got into this-for lack of a better word
-entanglement and wanted to keep it on the low. They behaved as if them getting together was so taboo…I mean, I guess I understand since her best friend was her dead husband's twin sister, Dominic, who's always loved her was her husband's best friend and she maintained a close relationship with her mother-in-law.
The story was extremely long. (44 chapters) The middle portion of the book was unnecessary and pretty repetitive. Especially the sex scenes. They were intense, which is all right in my book. But, I will say this; there were times the author would tell us of a scene or a scenario that happened instead of taking us there with her, but she never missed the opportunity to go in details with the sex scenes. So, the first 40 to 50% and the last 20% of the book was what made the book for me. Definitely checked out for the part of the middle chunk of it.
But despite all of that, I absolutely enjoyed and loved this story. This was on some Nicholas Sparks type of love. Loved it. Can't wait for Mal and Chris' stories. First read by this author and I'll definitely be back.
***May Contain Spoliers***
Sorry for this long review 😩😩
So, I'll start by saying this was good. Really, really good. It started off sooooo good. I couldn’t put it down and I didn’t want to. I was hurting for Dominic cause of the way he was feeling about Sloane. He put on a great front to hide his feelings for her. He was madly, passionately utterly, heads over heels in love with her. Example, Dominic’s POV: I call her my angel because that’s what she is to me. The promise of God’s love in human form, a treasure from heaven walking here on Earth making the lives of every person she meets better. And that’s what she’s always been…”(Ch18, Pg196)
Another example in Dom’s POV: “Let’s be clear, whatever the price is for being with you, I’ll happily pay it. I’ll give up my soul for a moment of your time. I’ll sell everything I own for a night in your bed. There’s no sacrifice I wouldn’t make to hear you laugh, make you smile, or shield you from pain.” (Ch23, Pg248)
If you know me, you know I’m a sucker for stuff like that. My heart fluttered, cheeks hot and blushing, cheesing so hard. It happened a lot because the book was filled with them. The chemistry between Sloane and Dom was so thick and palpable. Their jabs at each other only made the sexual tension between them even stronger.
Then slowly, as the enemies wall started coming down, so was everything else in the book. The transition into lovers was not smooth at all to me. It was rather confusing IMO. Dom, reserved, observant, quiet Dom, out of nowhere came on so strong at Sloane. Literally talking about her knees around his head, with her sitting on his face…and whatnot. Don't get me wrong, I'm always 100% down for a good facesitting 👀👀 but
Dom literally pulled that out of his åśs cause, at that point they were still very much at odds with each other. Cause I was like wait, where did that come from?
There was a bit of inconsistency in the story. Like the whole issue with Sloane and her mother was never resolved. Her father loved her and was so good to her yet, he never checked his wife for the way she treated Sloane or stood up for her. I ain't like that.
Her mother was terrible and a master manipulator. She says the most out-of-pocket, disrespectful, uncalled-for things to Sloane about everything she does. Even got on her about how she grieved her husband's death 🙄
Sloane was this 🤏🏾 close to getting on my nerves. She lived in her head and overanalyzed everything and I hated that. She and Dom got into this-for lack of a better word
-entanglement and wanted to keep it on the low. They behaved as if them getting together was so taboo…I mean, I guess I understand since her best friend was her dead husband's twin sister, Dominic, who's always loved her was her husband's best friend and she maintained a close relationship with her mother-in-law.
The story was extremely long. (44 chapters) The middle portion of the book was unnecessary and pretty repetitive. Especially the sex scenes. They were intense, which is all right in my book. But, I will say this; there were times the author would tell us of a scene or a scenario that happened instead of taking us there with her, but she never missed the opportunity to go in details with the sex scenes. So, the first 40 to 50% and the last 20% of the book was what made the book for me. Definitely checked out for the part of the middle chunk of it.
But despite all of that, I absolutely enjoyed and loved this story. This was on some Nicholas Sparks type of love. Loved it. Can't wait for Mal and Chris' stories. First read by this author and I'll definitely be back.
December 31, 2024
3.75⭐️
I have put this book off for sooo long because of the mixed reviews on this one but I finally decided to finally get it off of the cart as my last book of the year. More just to say “I read it” than anything else.
Going into it I was sooo happy because it instantly got me out of the slump I’ve been in for the last few weeks but at about the 30-40% mark I was like “ok, this is WAY too much spice”.
I was really wondering where the plot went because the spice in my opinion overpowered and just erased the story. I’m not one to shy away from spice in a book at all but DAAAAANG!! Literally about 15 chapters straight? I was asking myself “Do you all even like each other for real or is this just a physical thing?”
No judgement… just let me know what this is so I can read accordingly you know? LOL
But hear me out, once they got all that out of the way, the plot suddenly appeared again, I felt and believed in the relationship and I was LOCKED IN!!
It ended up being super cute and I loved it. The Grey’s Anatomy reference did it for me as that is hands down my favorite episode because it was the sweetest idea😍
I’ll definitely proceed with the New Haven series because I need to see what’s up with Mallory and Chris😜
I have put this book off for sooo long because of the mixed reviews on this one but I finally decided to finally get it off of the cart as my last book of the year. More just to say “I read it” than anything else.
Going into it I was sooo happy because it instantly got me out of the slump I’ve been in for the last few weeks but at about the 30-40% mark I was like “ok, this is WAY too much spice”.
I was really wondering where the plot went because the spice in my opinion overpowered and just erased the story. I’m not one to shy away from spice in a book at all but DAAAAANG!! Literally about 15 chapters straight? I was asking myself “Do you all even like each other for real or is this just a physical thing?”
No judgement… just let me know what this is so I can read accordingly you know? LOL
But hear me out, once they got all that out of the way, the plot suddenly appeared again, I felt and believed in the relationship and I was LOCKED IN!!
It ended up being super cute and I loved it. The Grey’s Anatomy reference did it for me as that is hands down my favorite episode because it was the sweetest idea😍
I’ll definitely proceed with the New Haven series because I need to see what’s up with Mallory and Chris😜
November 23, 2022
Restore Me is a new favorite of the year. I had a feeling this book was going to be amazing after some friends raved about it, and of course it was! If you love Kennedy Ryan’s writing, this author will really work for you. I cannot wait to read more from this author.
“I’ve lived a lifetime without her in my arms, hating myself for wanting her, and now that I have her, letting her go is not an option.”
This is a beautiful, emotional journey for Sloane who has been a widow for 4 years. She’s kind of just going through life, after her college sweetheart husband’s death she swore off love again, but she has an amazing best friend/sister-in-law, a toxic mother in her life, and is really just focusing on her career as an interior designer. She’s currently working on a big project for a client and when he tells her the new construction team hired on is her enemy, Dominic, who also happens to have been her late husband’s best friend, Sloane walks off the job-site. Now Sloane and Dominic are within one another’s orbit and when he comes to her rescue at a club, Sloane starts seeing Dominic in a new light. That moment also awakens in Sloane this need and want for physical touch again after 4 years. Sloane gets the shock of her life when Dominic starts flirting with her and then when he overhears that she is going to start dating again, he steps in and offers himself for her pleasure. They setup an arrangement for 8 weeks while working on their work project together and the story goes from there.
Of course there is so much more to this story and I just loved seeing it all unfold. We get dual POV in this with some flashbacks as well. The history between all the characters was just so good and added so much to their story. I loved seeing Sloane’s friendship with Mal, and the setup for her book…I can’t wait to dive into that! Dominic is amazing, loved seeing the mutual possessiveness he and Sloane have over one another. The sexual tension between them was everything and his gestures…omg so swoony! Renting out an entire rooftop restaurant for dinner!
CW: loss of a spouse, grief, heroine’s mother is toxic, miscarriage, hero’s father was abusive and an alcoholic
“I’ve lived a lifetime without her in my arms, hating myself for wanting her, and now that I have her, letting her go is not an option.”
This is a beautiful, emotional journey for Sloane who has been a widow for 4 years. She’s kind of just going through life, after her college sweetheart husband’s death she swore off love again, but she has an amazing best friend/sister-in-law, a toxic mother in her life, and is really just focusing on her career as an interior designer. She’s currently working on a big project for a client and when he tells her the new construction team hired on is her enemy, Dominic, who also happens to have been her late husband’s best friend, Sloane walks off the job-site. Now Sloane and Dominic are within one another’s orbit and when he comes to her rescue at a club, Sloane starts seeing Dominic in a new light. That moment also awakens in Sloane this need and want for physical touch again after 4 years. Sloane gets the shock of her life when Dominic starts flirting with her and then when he overhears that she is going to start dating again, he steps in and offers himself for her pleasure. They setup an arrangement for 8 weeks while working on their work project together and the story goes from there.
Of course there is so much more to this story and I just loved seeing it all unfold. We get dual POV in this with some flashbacks as well. The history between all the characters was just so good and added so much to their story. I loved seeing Sloane’s friendship with Mal, and the setup for her book…I can’t wait to dive into that! Dominic is amazing, loved seeing the mutual possessiveness he and Sloane have over one another. The sexual tension between them was everything and his gestures…omg so swoony! Renting out an entire rooftop restaurant for dinner!
CW: loss of a spouse, grief, heroine’s mother is toxic, miscarriage, hero’s father was abusive and an alcoholic
February 10, 2024
4.5 ⭐️ beautiful love story! I really didn’t know how I was going to feel about this trope but boy did Dom win my heart over. This second chance at love was so beautiful!
November 26, 2024
2.5 stars
this should have been shorter. i wanted more from the story than the sex that was given to us. started out strong but got boring later.
this should have been shorter. i wanted more from the story than the sex that was given to us. started out strong but got boring later.
March 21, 2023
I enjoyed this book soo muuuch, it was as i hoped it to be.
The plot is that the heroin's husband has died in an accident and his best friend has been in love with her since the moment he met her, but acted like he hated her in order to hide his true feelings and not ruin her relationship with his best friend.
I am usually hesitant with the dead husband/wife trope. I don't want to feel like the person would choose their "ex" over their current love interest in a second if they had the chance, but at the same time, i don't want their relationship with their "ex" to be diminished into nothing just because time has passed. I want a balance and this book gave it to me. I was in the mood to read about grief and the "forbiden" aspect of it, the hidden feelings, the pining, the longing and this book deliverd.
I loved the relationship that got developed in this book. I loved how they were talking about the grief, because both of them felt the loss. The hero, was rarely jealous of his best friend, he was understanding of the heroin's love for him and i felt like he admired her for it. He helped her deal with her grief and her guilt in a mature way. At the same time he was jealous and possessive with other men flirting with her which was something that satisfied my toxic heart so much. I loved their banter, their tension and their chemistry.
Now there were some times of miscommunication that could be avoided, but i guess it was in line with their character and the things they went through and it added to the tension so i guess i didn't mind it that much. Overall i loved it and i will definetely read the rest of this series and more from this author.
PS: The heroin kept mentioning about her feminine pride and i am so confused, never heard that phrase before and i cringed a little bit not gonna lie hahaha
The plot is that the heroin's husband has died in an accident and his best friend has been in love with her since the moment he met her, but acted like he hated her in order to hide his true feelings and not ruin her relationship with his best friend.
I am usually hesitant with the dead husband/wife trope. I don't want to feel like the person would choose their "ex" over their current love interest in a second if they had the chance, but at the same time, i don't want their relationship with their "ex" to be diminished into nothing just because time has passed. I want a balance and this book gave it to me. I was in the mood to read about grief and the "forbiden" aspect of it, the hidden feelings, the pining, the longing and this book deliverd.
I loved the relationship that got developed in this book. I loved how they were talking about the grief, because both of them felt the loss. The hero, was rarely jealous of his best friend, he was understanding of the heroin's love for him and i felt like he admired her for it. He helped her deal with her grief and her guilt in a mature way. At the same time he was jealous and possessive with other men flirting with her which was something that satisfied my toxic heart so much. I loved their banter, their tension and their chemistry.
Now there were some times of miscommunication that could be avoided, but i guess it was in line with their character and the things they went through and it added to the tension so i guess i didn't mind it that much. Overall i loved it and i will definetely read the rest of this series and more from this author.
PS: The heroin kept mentioning about her feminine pride and i am so confused, never heard that phrase before and i cringed a little bit not gonna lie hahaha
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