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Healing in Cincy #4
Somewhere Only We Know
Jax
I was finally free from my toxic ex. I made a vow online to bring in new patterns to my everyday life. And it was going well. Until one baseball game put him back in the center of my life.
I hadn’t seen him since I was twenty-one. With one text over winter break, he told me he wasn’t coming back to school and that was that.
Almost eight years later we find ourselves in the same city.
And he’s determined to fight for our second chance.
Nate
I left her with a text that has played on a loop for almost eight years.
When a baseball game puts her back in my life, I take this as a sign that we’re meant to be.
But when our friends find out about our past, they meddle to get us back together on a joint trip to Vegas. Only, we all get more than we bargained for.
Now I’m determined to get her to fall back in love with me.
Til death do us part.
*this is the final book in the Healing in Cincy series and can be read as a stand alone. However, this series may be best enjoyed chronologically
I was finally free from my toxic ex. I made a vow online to bring in new patterns to my everyday life. And it was going well. Until one baseball game put him back in the center of my life.
I hadn’t seen him since I was twenty-one. With one text over winter break, he told me he wasn’t coming back to school and that was that.
Almost eight years later we find ourselves in the same city.
And he’s determined to fight for our second chance.
Nate
I left her with a text that has played on a loop for almost eight years.
When a baseball game puts her back in my life, I take this as a sign that we’re meant to be.
But when our friends find out about our past, they meddle to get us back together on a joint trip to Vegas. Only, we all get more than we bargained for.
Now I’m determined to get her to fall back in love with me.
Til death do us part.
*this is the final book in the Healing in Cincy series and can be read as a stand alone. However, this series may be best enjoyed chronologically
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 29, 2025
23 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
October 2, 2025
4.5⭐️
Thank you my friend Elleese for the ARC and letting me finish this journey with you. It’s been incredible seeing you find your way on this author journey and I can’t believe you already have four books out🥹💜
What to Expect:
-Second Chance
-Friends to Lovers
-It’s Always Been You
-Accidental Marriage
-Hate to Love
I absolutely loved this conclusion to the series! Throughout all of the other books, you wonder what Jax’s story will be and it didn’t disappoint at all!
Jax has been through so much and she’s such a strong woman after everything too, she thought after her last relationship that she wouldn’t find her happily ever after like her friends and sister did, but in walks Nate back into her life like he never left🥹
Nate has also been through so much since the last time he saw Jax, and just when he thought he’d never see the love of his life again, in walks Jax🤭
Their relationship was everything and it was such a joy to see them sort of pick up where they left off, and come out on the other side stronger than ever🥲
This series has just been the best journey and I’m so happy I could be there since day one for you my friend and I can’t wait to see what you do next💙💜🧡💜
Thank you my friend Elleese for the ARC and letting me finish this journey with you. It’s been incredible seeing you find your way on this author journey and I can’t believe you already have four books out🥹💜
What to Expect:
-Second Chance
-Friends to Lovers
-It’s Always Been You
-Accidental Marriage
-Hate to Love
I absolutely loved this conclusion to the series! Throughout all of the other books, you wonder what Jax’s story will be and it didn’t disappoint at all!
Jax has been through so much and she’s such a strong woman after everything too, she thought after her last relationship that she wouldn’t find her happily ever after like her friends and sister did, but in walks Nate back into her life like he never left🥹
Nate has also been through so much since the last time he saw Jax, and just when he thought he’d never see the love of his life again, in walks Jax🤭
Their relationship was everything and it was such a joy to see them sort of pick up where they left off, and come out on the other side stronger than ever🥲
This series has just been the best journey and I’m so happy I could be there since day one for you my friend and I can’t wait to see what you do next💙💜🧡💜
September 9, 2025
I wanted so badly to love this book and for me it absolutely could have been a 5* read. The premise of the story is right up my street but I really struggled with it. Overall the plot and the story were so good but there were just too many inconsistencies and plot holes that it really took away from the overall enjoyment, I was too distracted by all the questions I had.
Jax and Nate meet at 18 when they both start college and they become close friends very quickly spending all of their time together. Despite harbouring feelings for each other it's only when they are 21 and about to head into their senior year that they eventually become a couple and are all the way in with each other and planning their future together - you get the picture! Nate then goes home at Christmas and doesn't come back and never explains to Jax (the girl he was planning forever with) why, he just sends her a text message and that's that!
We then time jump into the future where Nate is a professional baseball player and Jax has just gotten out of a horrible relationship. They meet up by sheer chance and this is when the second chance happens. Nate is all in (it's always been you etc etc) but Jax is a little more hesitant for obvious reasons. It really should have worked but for me sadly it didn't and here's why:
- They meet again by sheer chance - if Nate loved Jax the way he claimed to he wouldn't have left it up to chance, he would have sought her out;
- I bought into the fact that he felt he wanted to stay home with his Dad and that meant giving up his dream of baseball and college but Nate was so in love with Jax that it just wasn't believable that he would leave her the way he did and never ever contact her, even after he got his life back on track. His reason for doing so was also weak. Sadly there was no real explanation for him not reaching out after his dad passed away.
- The separation was too long.
- They both lived in the vicinity and had mutual friends but yet never heard one thing about the other.
- Jax is apparently a big baseball fan but had zero clue who Nate played for.
- The way Nate talks about Jax in the present just doesn't align with someone who would walk away so easily and never make contact in 8 years! Why wait 8 years for a chance encounter when you are so deeply in love with someone?
- They have the same phone numbers but he never thought to call or text?
I think if there had been a little more depth especially around Nate and what happened after his Dad died, his struggles etc and some better explanation it would have landed better with me. Overall it's a great idea for a story but the execution just didn’t work for me.
Jax and Nate meet at 18 when they both start college and they become close friends very quickly spending all of their time together. Despite harbouring feelings for each other it's only when they are 21 and about to head into their senior year that they eventually become a couple and are all the way in with each other and planning their future together - you get the picture! Nate then goes home at Christmas and doesn't come back and never explains to Jax (the girl he was planning forever with) why, he just sends her a text message and that's that!
We then time jump into the future where Nate is a professional baseball player and Jax has just gotten out of a horrible relationship. They meet up by sheer chance and this is when the second chance happens. Nate is all in (it's always been you etc etc) but Jax is a little more hesitant for obvious reasons. It really should have worked but for me sadly it didn't and here's why:
- They meet again by sheer chance - if Nate loved Jax the way he claimed to he wouldn't have left it up to chance, he would have sought her out;
- I bought into the fact that he felt he wanted to stay home with his Dad and that meant giving up his dream of baseball and college but Nate was so in love with Jax that it just wasn't believable that he would leave her the way he did and never ever contact her, even after he got his life back on track. His reason for doing so was also weak. Sadly there was no real explanation for him not reaching out after his dad passed away.
- The separation was too long.
- They both lived in the vicinity and had mutual friends but yet never heard one thing about the other.
- Jax is apparently a big baseball fan but had zero clue who Nate played for.
- The way Nate talks about Jax in the present just doesn't align with someone who would walk away so easily and never make contact in 8 years! Why wait 8 years for a chance encounter when you are so deeply in love with someone?
- They have the same phone numbers but he never thought to call or text?
I think if there had been a little more depth especially around Nate and what happened after his Dad died, his struggles etc and some better explanation it would have landed better with me. Overall it's a great idea for a story but the execution just didn’t work for me.
August 30, 2025
I cannot believe this is the last book to the Healing in Cincy series 🥺
Happy release day guys!! I want to start off with saying that I love Elleese Black’s writing and the whole series, so I ran for this book and was hooked! Somewhere Only We Know is the 4th and final book to the Healing in Cincy series, it can be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend to read the previous books. I love Jax and Nate’s story! This book is a slow burn, has banter, hurt, healing, family, and raw emotion. While reading the previous books, I always wanted more of Jax’s story and how Jax and Kamryns (her sister) relationship would eventually grow. I was so glad to see more of their relationship and how they grew to care for one another. Now, reading Jax and Nate’s story.. I think their story is perfect to finish off the series. I love how well Jax and Nate fit together. Even if time separated them for a while, once they found each other again, there was no separating them. I also loved how they communicated and heard each other out. And that we got a dual timeline of their time in college. They are the perfect balance for each other and the series.
Thank you Elleese Black for providing this ARC, I absolutely loved the series ❤️
Happy release day guys!! I want to start off with saying that I love Elleese Black’s writing and the whole series, so I ran for this book and was hooked! Somewhere Only We Know is the 4th and final book to the Healing in Cincy series, it can be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend to read the previous books. I love Jax and Nate’s story! This book is a slow burn, has banter, hurt, healing, family, and raw emotion. While reading the previous books, I always wanted more of Jax’s story and how Jax and Kamryns (her sister) relationship would eventually grow. I was so glad to see more of their relationship and how they grew to care for one another. Now, reading Jax and Nate’s story.. I think their story is perfect to finish off the series. I love how well Jax and Nate fit together. Even if time separated them for a while, once they found each other again, there was no separating them. I also loved how they communicated and heard each other out. And that we got a dual timeline of their time in college. They are the perfect balance for each other and the series.
Thank you Elleese Black for providing this ARC, I absolutely loved the series ❤️
August 18, 2025
✨✨✨ ARC review ✨✨✨
This book was fantastic 🤩 I’m so happy for Jax 😍 She deserves a happy ending ❤️
This book is well written ✍🏻 and easy to read 📖 I read it in one sitting 🫣 I couldn’t get enough and I just wanted to know what would happen ❤️ This book got me to giggle 🤭 and cry 😭 It is slow burn 🔥 but so good 😊 It has some heavy subjects and Elleese handles them with care ❤️
So if you like
❤️ friends to lovers
❤️🩹 first love x second chance
🟠 forced proximity
⚾️ sports
💙 he falls first
💜 always been you
🩶 hate to love
💍 accidental ”drunken” marriage
🙋🏼♂️ boy obsessed
This book is for you and I highly recommend it 🥰
I give it 4,5 ⭐️
This book was fantastic 🤩 I’m so happy for Jax 😍 She deserves a happy ending ❤️
This book is well written ✍🏻 and easy to read 📖 I read it in one sitting 🫣 I couldn’t get enough and I just wanted to know what would happen ❤️ This book got me to giggle 🤭 and cry 😭 It is slow burn 🔥 but so good 😊 It has some heavy subjects and Elleese handles them with care ❤️
So if you like
❤️ friends to lovers
❤️🩹 first love x second chance
🟠 forced proximity
⚾️ sports
💙 he falls first
💜 always been you
🩶 hate to love
💍 accidental ”drunken” marriage
🙋🏼♂️ boy obsessed
This book is for you and I highly recommend it 🥰
I give it 4,5 ⭐️
August 17, 2025
Great read with lots of tension, spice, banter, hurt and family. I enjoyed seeing all the past memories and seeing these two repair their relationship after so many years. I loved how he never gave up on her and seeing them love each other fiercely was so good. The ending was very good
August 23, 2025
ARC review - Somewhere only We Know (Healing in Cincy 4) - Elleese Black ✨️
🗓 Release: 29.08.25
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My thoughts:
This book was such an easy read for me, I flew through it! I loved having flashback chapters to comprehend where the MMC or FMC came from and what led them to the decisions they made. You could tell that Jax and Nate were always meant for each other, even if life threw them a curveball (you see what i did there?). They found back to one another, got to understand what went wrong the first time, and had a healthy communication setup.
Also a fan of the Podcast chapters, i thought it was really well made, to take them out of the flow of the story and give them their own spotlight instead of just merge them into the chapters.
I really enjoyed diving into Jax and Nates' story, and it was a cute, funny, and loving sports romance, which was yet full of depth and emotions.
While it can be read as a stand alone (which is what i did) i would definitely read it in order next time, just to get more of a feel for the side characters and their individual stories.
Synopsis:
Jax
I was finally free from my toxic ex. I made a vow online to bring in new patterns to my everyday
life. And it was going well. Until one baseball game put him back in the center of my life.
I hadn’t seen him since I was twenty-one. With one text over winter break, he told me he wasn’t
coming back to school and that was that.
Almost eight years later we find ourselves in the same city.
And he’s determined to fight for our second chance.
Nate
I left her with a text that has played on a loop for almost eight years.
When a baseball game puts her back in my life, I take this as a sign that we’re meant to be.
But when our friends find out about our past, they meddle to get us back together on a joint trip
to Vegas. Only, we all get more than we bargained for.
Now I’m determined to get her to fall back in love with me.
Til death do us part.
Note: This CAN be read as a standalone, but if you'd like to see small snippets of Jax throughout
the series, start with The Night We Met.
Tropes:
⚾️ Friends to Lovers
🎙First Love x Second Chance
⚾️ Forced Proximity
🎙️Sports
⚾️ He Falls First
🎙️Always Been You
⚾️Hate to Love
🎙️Accidental „Drunken“ Marriage
⚾️Boy Obsessed
Thank you, Luna Literary and Elleese Black, for this ARC! ❤️
🗓 Release: 29.08.25
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My thoughts:
This book was such an easy read for me, I flew through it! I loved having flashback chapters to comprehend where the MMC or FMC came from and what led them to the decisions they made. You could tell that Jax and Nate were always meant for each other, even if life threw them a curveball (you see what i did there?). They found back to one another, got to understand what went wrong the first time, and had a healthy communication setup.
Also a fan of the Podcast chapters, i thought it was really well made, to take them out of the flow of the story and give them their own spotlight instead of just merge them into the chapters.
I really enjoyed diving into Jax and Nates' story, and it was a cute, funny, and loving sports romance, which was yet full of depth and emotions.
While it can be read as a stand alone (which is what i did) i would definitely read it in order next time, just to get more of a feel for the side characters and their individual stories.
Synopsis:
Jax
I was finally free from my toxic ex. I made a vow online to bring in new patterns to my everyday
life. And it was going well. Until one baseball game put him back in the center of my life.
I hadn’t seen him since I was twenty-one. With one text over winter break, he told me he wasn’t
coming back to school and that was that.
Almost eight years later we find ourselves in the same city.
And he’s determined to fight for our second chance.
Nate
I left her with a text that has played on a loop for almost eight years.
When a baseball game puts her back in my life, I take this as a sign that we’re meant to be.
But when our friends find out about our past, they meddle to get us back together on a joint trip
to Vegas. Only, we all get more than we bargained for.
Now I’m determined to get her to fall back in love with me.
Til death do us part.
Note: This CAN be read as a standalone, but if you'd like to see small snippets of Jax throughout
the series, start with The Night We Met.
Tropes:
⚾️ Friends to Lovers
🎙First Love x Second Chance
⚾️ Forced Proximity
🎙️Sports
⚾️ He Falls First
🎙️Always Been You
⚾️Hate to Love
🎙️Accidental „Drunken“ Marriage
⚾️Boy Obsessed
Thank you, Luna Literary and Elleese Black, for this ARC! ❤️
August 27, 2025
A Second Chance with Extra Innings
Dedication: To those of you who needed to heal and found that between the pages of romance books. This one’s for you. And for me.
Jaclyn aka Jax (FMC): 28 • Podcast Host / YouTube Influencer • Dog Mom • Loves the Botanical Garden • Ambivert • Tender Heart •
Nathan aka Nate (MMC): 28 • MLB Outfielder • Loves Photography • Hates Vegetables • Introvert • Never Got Over the One who Got Away •
Tropes:
🎙️ MLB Player x Podcaster
⚾️ (Light) Accidental Marriage
🎙️ Baseball Romance
⚾️ Forced Proximity
🎙️ Friends x Lovers x Strangers x Lovers
⚾️ Second Chance
🎙️ Animal Sidekick 🐕
⚾️ “It’s Always Been You”
🎙️ Man Obsessed
⚾️ He Falls First and Harder
🎙️ Trauma Healing
⚾️ Found Family
🎙️ Nicknames
⚾️ Text Conversations
🎙️ Flashbacks
Rating: 🌷🌷🌷.🪷(3.5⭐️)
Spice: 🌶️🫑🫑(dirty talk, praise, 👅, 🐫, restraints)
T/W: toxic relationship (referenced), car accident (referenced), death of a boyfriend (referenced), body shaming (referenced), parental loss (referenced), domestic ãbüșe (referenced), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (referenced), hospitalization (on page), depression (referenced), grief (referenced)
Jax and Nate’s story had all the makings of a home run—college best friends turned first loves, reunited years later on the baseball field, with a wild Vegas night that ends in an accidental marriage. Nate never stopped loving the one who got away, and seeing him determined not to let his second chance slip by was both sweet and swoony. I enjoyed their open communication, the podcast chapters, and the way Elleese wove in healing, family, and found love themes.
But for me, this slow burn dragged in spots. If a book promises “accidental marriage,” I expect that plot twist to show up well before the 60% (ish) mark. Instead, it felt like sitting through extra innings on a sweltering day just waiting (and waiting) for someone to score. The writing itself is easy to read, with great banter, heartfelt flashbacks, and a strong sense of history between Jax and Nate, but the pacing kept me from fully connecting.
That said, I liked these characters and I’m glad they got their happy second chance. Fans of friends-to-lovers, sports romance, and “always been you” vibes will likely love this one more than I did. For me, though, the premise overpromised and underdelivered. A solid read but not quite the grand slam I was hoping for.
I received an ARC copy and wanted to leave an honest review.
Dedication: To those of you who needed to heal and found that between the pages of romance books. This one’s for you. And for me.
Jaclyn aka Jax (FMC): 28 • Podcast Host / YouTube Influencer • Dog Mom • Loves the Botanical Garden • Ambivert • Tender Heart •
Nathan aka Nate (MMC): 28 • MLB Outfielder • Loves Photography • Hates Vegetables • Introvert • Never Got Over the One who Got Away •
Tropes:
🎙️ MLB Player x Podcaster
⚾️ (Light) Accidental Marriage
🎙️ Baseball Romance
⚾️ Forced Proximity
🎙️ Friends x Lovers x Strangers x Lovers
⚾️ Second Chance
🎙️ Animal Sidekick 🐕
⚾️ “It’s Always Been You”
🎙️ Man Obsessed
⚾️ He Falls First and Harder
🎙️ Trauma Healing
⚾️ Found Family
🎙️ Nicknames
⚾️ Text Conversations
🎙️ Flashbacks
Rating: 🌷🌷🌷.🪷(3.5⭐️)
Spice: 🌶️🫑🫑(dirty talk, praise, 👅, 🐫, restraints)
T/W: toxic relationship (referenced), car accident (referenced), death of a boyfriend (referenced), body shaming (referenced), parental loss (referenced), domestic ãbüșe (referenced), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (referenced), hospitalization (on page), depression (referenced), grief (referenced)
Jax and Nate’s story had all the makings of a home run—college best friends turned first loves, reunited years later on the baseball field, with a wild Vegas night that ends in an accidental marriage. Nate never stopped loving the one who got away, and seeing him determined not to let his second chance slip by was both sweet and swoony. I enjoyed their open communication, the podcast chapters, and the way Elleese wove in healing, family, and found love themes.
But for me, this slow burn dragged in spots. If a book promises “accidental marriage,” I expect that plot twist to show up well before the 60% (ish) mark. Instead, it felt like sitting through extra innings on a sweltering day just waiting (and waiting) for someone to score. The writing itself is easy to read, with great banter, heartfelt flashbacks, and a strong sense of history between Jax and Nate, but the pacing kept me from fully connecting.
That said, I liked these characters and I’m glad they got their happy second chance. Fans of friends-to-lovers, sports romance, and “always been you” vibes will likely love this one more than I did. For me, though, the premise overpromised and underdelivered. A solid read but not quite the grand slam I was hoping for.
I received an ARC copy and wanted to leave an honest review.
September 28, 2025
I have completed reading the book, but I am perplexed. Like, I like this book, but I also don’t like this book. I am in between. Because there were so many instances where I felt that something was lacking, whereas there were some instances where I was like, thank God this book is drama-free and it’s good. I just felt that this book didn’t have that spark—you know, the spark that instantly gravitates you towards it.
The plot was nice, the characters were nice, everything was nice. I just felt that… I have no words. I don’t know how to explain. Because this book was good. And by good, I mean really good. The second-chance romance, the first love romance, the reverse grumpy x sunshine—everything was nice. The found family characters, those little things—it was cute, it was adorable. But I just felt like this book was the type of story I’m used to reading in an epilogue. Everything was going good, everything was smooth.
I don’t know, earlier I used to think that I am more into books that are drama-free, but now, after reading this book, I’m realizing that fiction and reality are both different things. There is definitely a line between both fiction and reality. We already live in reality, and we don’t want to read something that reminds us of reality. That’s why we sweep into the world of fiction. But this book felt realistic because of how things happen in real life—when you reconnect with your ex, when you reconnect with your first love, and about the second chances.
But in fiction, I’m used to books that have, you know, a bit of tension, a bit of drama. I can’t believe I’m saying drama, but yeah, something more. From a reader’s perspective, I was missing that. But if we see it from the perspective of a person who reads as a realist, then that person would definitely like this book.
For me, I am confused, I am perplexed. Because I don’t know how to rate the book. It was both good and bad for me. There were instances where I was like, “Oh my God, they are so sweet. Oh my God, they are so adorable.” But on the other hand, I was like, “No.” So I am just confused.
But for the sake of giving ratings and reviews, and to calm my perplexed mind, I would say that this book was good. It was basically a 4-star. It could be 5-star if certain things were written differently or turned out another way.That’s my own perspective, and everyone is open to have their own perspective.
Thank you, Luna Literary Management for providing me with this ARC. It was an adorable book.
The plot was nice, the characters were nice, everything was nice. I just felt that… I have no words. I don’t know how to explain. Because this book was good. And by good, I mean really good. The second-chance romance, the first love romance, the reverse grumpy x sunshine—everything was nice. The found family characters, those little things—it was cute, it was adorable. But I just felt like this book was the type of story I’m used to reading in an epilogue. Everything was going good, everything was smooth.
I don’t know, earlier I used to think that I am more into books that are drama-free, but now, after reading this book, I’m realizing that fiction and reality are both different things. There is definitely a line between both fiction and reality. We already live in reality, and we don’t want to read something that reminds us of reality. That’s why we sweep into the world of fiction. But this book felt realistic because of how things happen in real life—when you reconnect with your ex, when you reconnect with your first love, and about the second chances.
But in fiction, I’m used to books that have, you know, a bit of tension, a bit of drama. I can’t believe I’m saying drama, but yeah, something more. From a reader’s perspective, I was missing that. But if we see it from the perspective of a person who reads as a realist, then that person would definitely like this book.
For me, I am confused, I am perplexed. Because I don’t know how to rate the book. It was both good and bad for me. There were instances where I was like, “Oh my God, they are so sweet. Oh my God, they are so adorable.” But on the other hand, I was like, “No.” So I am just confused.
But for the sake of giving ratings and reviews, and to calm my perplexed mind, I would say that this book was good. It was basically a 4-star. It could be 5-star if certain things were written differently or turned out another way.That’s my own perspective, and everyone is open to have their own perspective.
Thank you, Luna Literary Management for providing me with this ARC. It was an adorable book.
August 21, 2025
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪
𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀:
Friends to Lovers
Accidental Marriage
Forced Proximity
Sports Romance
Hate to Love
Second Chance
...
I’ll be honest Second Chance romance has never been my favorite trope. Right after cheating, it’s probably the one I avoid most because I just don’t believe in it. If someone hurt you once, what’s stopping them from doing it again? But the way Elleese wrote this story completely changed how I felt, at least for these characters. She handled it beautifully, and it honestly surprised me how much I enjoyed it.
Jax was such a standout for me. Even after going through difficult experiences with love, she never lost faith that her person was out there. I admired how she stayed optimistic and refused to fall back into old, unhealthy patterns and I loved that about her.
And then there’s Nate. I can’t defend his past mistakes, but his love for Jax was undeniable. He was so devoted even after their breakup, he never once moved on to anyone else, because in his heart it was always Jax. That kind of loyalty is rare, and it made their reunion feel so much more powerful.
What really stood out, though, was how they handled their relationship once they came back together. They communicated, they listened to each other, and they truly tried to understand where the other was coming from. Their chemistry was obvious to everyone around them, but it was their emotional connection that made me root for them. And Nate building her dream house the one she told him about back in college was the perfect touch.
Also, I gotta say, seeing the side characters again felt like reuniting with old friends. I missed them so much and it was so fun catching up with their little moments.
Overall, I honestly didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did, but it completely won me over. If you haven’t started this series yet, you definitely need to trust me, you’ll thank me later.
𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀:
Friends to Lovers
Accidental Marriage
Forced Proximity
Sports Romance
Hate to Love
Second Chance
...
I’ll be honest Second Chance romance has never been my favorite trope. Right after cheating, it’s probably the one I avoid most because I just don’t believe in it. If someone hurt you once, what’s stopping them from doing it again? But the way Elleese wrote this story completely changed how I felt, at least for these characters. She handled it beautifully, and it honestly surprised me how much I enjoyed it.
Jax was such a standout for me. Even after going through difficult experiences with love, she never lost faith that her person was out there. I admired how she stayed optimistic and refused to fall back into old, unhealthy patterns and I loved that about her.
And then there’s Nate. I can’t defend his past mistakes, but his love for Jax was undeniable. He was so devoted even after their breakup, he never once moved on to anyone else, because in his heart it was always Jax. That kind of loyalty is rare, and it made their reunion feel so much more powerful.
What really stood out, though, was how they handled their relationship once they came back together. They communicated, they listened to each other, and they truly tried to understand where the other was coming from. Their chemistry was obvious to everyone around them, but it was their emotional connection that made me root for them. And Nate building her dream house the one she told him about back in college was the perfect touch.
Also, I gotta say, seeing the side characters again felt like reuniting with old friends. I missed them so much and it was so fun catching up with their little moments.
Overall, I honestly didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did, but it completely won me over. If you haven’t started this series yet, you definitely need to trust me, you’ll thank me later.
September 18, 2025
A friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-second-chance-lovers-accidental-marriage-sports-romance
What it is about:
A second chance romance where Jax and Nate reunite after eight years apart, when a baseball game brings them together. Their friends scheme to reconnect them in Vegas. 🫣
Jax and Nate met when they were 18, when she "adopted" him as her BFF as he was from out-of-state. 🤗 After 3 years of friendship (and him pining for more), they made the jump lovers.
In their last semester, he left with a text, never returning to college. Never returning to her. 💔
After her heartbreak, Jax fell into a toxic relationship with first class A-hole Trent. 😤 Can she break her poor track record with men? She was co-dependent with both (differently, but still), can she now keep her independency and still have a second chance?
What I loved:
⌛️The book goes back-and-forth between the present and the past. With each flashback to their college years, my anxiety rose. I was dreading what it would uncover next, I was afraid of the heartbreak I knew was coming. 😱
🌶️The spice. IYKYK 😏
What I hated:
Their s*xual build-up was soooo slow (his choice) that they never "went there" when they were in college. 🫠 They kissed, they fooled around,... but ultimately, he left before they went all the way. So in the end, she lost her virginity to the A-hole. I know it’s part of the story, but I still hated it! 😭
What I struggled with:
The whiplash moments: They went from “oops, we are married” to “let’s date” in a heartbeat. 👀 Also, it was a bit of a weird flex how they jumped from “we should tell the publicist” to “how many people have you been with” in the same conversation. 😬
My favorite quotes:
What you need to know:
🫂dual POV, 1st person
❤️🩹friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-second-chance-lovers
💒accidental marriage
⚾️ sports romance (baseball)
🐌 slow slow burn (but then again, I typically read high-heat dark romance 🤷♀️)
🎭he has a tattoo with "for better or worse"
🐝 he calls her "Bee"
☺️she calls him "Bub"
♍️she was a virgin when they met
😇he has been celibate since he left
What it is about:
A second chance romance where Jax and Nate reunite after eight years apart, when a baseball game brings them together. Their friends scheme to reconnect them in Vegas. 🫣
Jax and Nate met when they were 18, when she "adopted" him as her BFF as he was from out-of-state. 🤗 After 3 years of friendship (and him pining for more), they made the jump lovers.
In their last semester, he left with a text, never returning to college. Never returning to her. 💔
After her heartbreak, Jax fell into a toxic relationship with first class A-hole Trent. 😤 Can she break her poor track record with men? She was co-dependent with both (differently, but still), can she now keep her independency and still have a second chance?
What I loved:
⌛️The book goes back-and-forth between the present and the past. With each flashback to their college years, my anxiety rose. I was dreading what it would uncover next, I was afraid of the heartbreak I knew was coming. 😱
🌶️The spice. IYKYK 😏
What I hated:
Their s*xual build-up was soooo slow (his choice) that they never "went there" when they were in college. 🫠 They kissed, they fooled around,... but ultimately, he left before they went all the way. So in the end, she lost her virginity to the A-hole. I know it’s part of the story, but I still hated it! 😭
What I struggled with:
The whiplash moments: They went from “oops, we are married” to “let’s date” in a heartbeat. 👀 Also, it was a bit of a weird flex how they jumped from “we should tell the publicist” to “how many people have you been with” in the same conversation. 😬
My favorite quotes:
"Dad, Jax is my wife. As I'm sure you already know. You have a daughter-in-law who is kind, funny, stubborn, sometimes frustrating, and so full of love that I still wonder how I got so lucky." I wipe my tears on the sleeve of my sweatshirt. "I'm not frustrating." Nate wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me to him. "See, Dad?" I told you she was funny."
I won't tell you again. Get. Your. Fucking. Hands. Off. My. Wife.
What you need to know:
🫂dual POV, 1st person
❤️🩹friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-second-chance-lovers
💒accidental marriage
⚾️ sports romance (baseball)
🐌 slow slow burn (but then again, I typically read high-heat dark romance 🤷♀️)
🎭he has a tattoo with "for better or worse"
🐝 he calls her "Bee"
☺️she calls him "Bub"
♍️she was a virgin when they met
😇he has been celibate since he left
August 29, 2025
The final book in the Healing in Cincy series is finally here! Thank you to Elleese and Luna Literary for this ARC. We have enjoyed reading Elleese’s first series and we can’t wait for what she has next!
Somewhere Only We Know is Jax and Nate’s story. Jax is Kam’s (from the 1st book The Night We Met) sister, so although these books are all standalones we highly recommend reading all of them in order. You will not regret it. Nate broke Jax’s heart when they were 21 and they have found their way back to each other. A second chance with flashbacks makes us nervous, but Elleese did it right with this one… and did we mention that they were best friends who fell in love?! We loved to see the blend of the present and the past. The love is strong throughout the 10 years of the book. After a joint bachelor/bachelorette in Vegas they wake up married. We get to go through the journey of finding each other and themselves. Jax was in a toxic relationship after Nate left her and she had to find herself. She uses her podcast as her therapy and shared her journey. Nate struggled with the loss of his father and what he had to give up for his family, the love of his life. He was able to work through that with his wife by his side….and yes you get plenty of “My wife” moments. Now although there wasn’t a grand gesture, Nate’s grovel was the little things. He understood the assignment and knew he had to show Jax that he was staying.
We are so sad that this series has come to an end but we are so ready for the Hayes brothers and are hoping we get to see all of our favorite characters again…and hopefully some of them get books of their own.
Somewhere Only We Know is Jax and Nate’s story. Jax is Kam’s (from the 1st book The Night We Met) sister, so although these books are all standalones we highly recommend reading all of them in order. You will not regret it. Nate broke Jax’s heart when they were 21 and they have found their way back to each other. A second chance with flashbacks makes us nervous, but Elleese did it right with this one… and did we mention that they were best friends who fell in love?! We loved to see the blend of the present and the past. The love is strong throughout the 10 years of the book. After a joint bachelor/bachelorette in Vegas they wake up married. We get to go through the journey of finding each other and themselves. Jax was in a toxic relationship after Nate left her and she had to find herself. She uses her podcast as her therapy and shared her journey. Nate struggled with the loss of his father and what he had to give up for his family, the love of his life. He was able to work through that with his wife by his side….and yes you get plenty of “My wife” moments. Now although there wasn’t a grand gesture, Nate’s grovel was the little things. He understood the assignment and knew he had to show Jax that he was staying.
We are so sad that this series has come to an end but we are so ready for the Hayes brothers and are hoping we get to see all of our favorite characters again…and hopefully some of them get books of their own.
August 25, 2025
I have been waiting for the last book in the Healing in Cincy series because I NEEDED Jax's story. She's our FMC, sister to Kym from the first book and we've watched her through all the three previous books deal with an abusive ex. While you don't necessarily have to read all three previous books - I'd def recommend at least book #3 - Let it Be Me - as the end of that sets up this book. Jax is starting her life over after leaving him and by chance - runs in to her first love, Nate. They were meant to be each others HEA and as life does, it got in the way and Nate made some decisions for both of them unilaterally that has kept them apart for 8 years. It's a great second chance, "accidental" wedding story. Elleese does an amazing job telling us their story through the lens of today and through flash backs from their college days, leading up to their break up.
I loved almost everything about this book, its well written, there's depth in the story telling, the previous MC's are part of the story, Jax's recovery from the trauma of her past relationship, Nate dealing with the death of his dad, so many great little parts that add up to an amazing whole story (like Jax has a podcast and man that advice is good!) - but there was one part of the story I couldn't stop thinking about that pulled me out of the story on multiple occasions and that's why I only rated 4 stars and I struggled with this alot. Their second chance "meet cute" happens at one of Nate's baseball games and Jax is surprised to see him. As a life long baseball fan - even tho she was a Philly girl - who's found family friend circle includes Cincy's former starting QB and other sports adjacent professionals - how did she not know he wasn't there playing in Cincy? Anyway - it might be small but it popped up in my thoughts on more than one occasion. Again, everything else was spot on and I'm really sad to see this group of characters go! Thanks so much for a chance to ARC read this great end to a series.
I loved almost everything about this book, its well written, there's depth in the story telling, the previous MC's are part of the story, Jax's recovery from the trauma of her past relationship, Nate dealing with the death of his dad, so many great little parts that add up to an amazing whole story (like Jax has a podcast and man that advice is good!) - but there was one part of the story I couldn't stop thinking about that pulled me out of the story on multiple occasions and that's why I only rated 4 stars and I struggled with this alot. Their second chance "meet cute" happens at one of Nate's baseball games and Jax is surprised to see him. As a life long baseball fan - even tho she was a Philly girl - who's found family friend circle includes Cincy's former starting QB and other sports adjacent professionals - how did she not know he wasn't there playing in Cincy? Anyway - it might be small but it popped up in my thoughts on more than one occasion. Again, everything else was spot on and I'm really sad to see this group of characters go! Thanks so much for a chance to ARC read this great end to a series.
August 24, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ rounded down to 4
Elleese NEVER fails to write a book I literally am incapable of putting down. 😆 I always know going into it that it will captivate me so much i won’t be able to put it down and this last installment did JUST THAT.
i really LOVED Jax and Nate. Their story is unconventional and definitely a bit wild and hard to believe, but in my opinion it’s the best way to give us the romance!
I absolutely LOVED the podcast chapters! I loved the dual timeline and the way Elleese fed us their story! We didn’t just hear about it, we got to watch it pan out as we watched them heal and grow back to each other now.
I loved how we didn’t freak out at all after what happened in Vegas. Is that a bit far fetched? sure. But i loved it. The way Nate just waited for her and just knew she was it for him is what we ALL want. I don’t care who disagrees. We all want someone to love us that fiercely.
The epilogue was absolute perfection. I am going to miss these characters and this world so i loved getting that extra sprinkle of dust from all of them at the end.
If you love a sports romance, i absolutely recommend this entire series. It will give you ever single emotion and most of them hurt you before they give you all the swoon worthy glue that puts you back together!
The Vibes:
-Baseball Romance
-Second Chance Romance
-Podcaster x Baseball Player
-Death of a Parent (off page but a lot of references)
-Dealing with Grief
-Friends to Lovers
-First Love Reunited
-He falls first & like THE HARDEST
-It’s Always Been You
-Accidental Vegas Wedding
Elleese NEVER fails to write a book I literally am incapable of putting down. 😆 I always know going into it that it will captivate me so much i won’t be able to put it down and this last installment did JUST THAT.
i really LOVED Jax and Nate. Their story is unconventional and definitely a bit wild and hard to believe, but in my opinion it’s the best way to give us the romance!
I absolutely LOVED the podcast chapters! I loved the dual timeline and the way Elleese fed us their story! We didn’t just hear about it, we got to watch it pan out as we watched them heal and grow back to each other now.
I loved how we didn’t freak out at all after what happened in Vegas. Is that a bit far fetched? sure. But i loved it. The way Nate just waited for her and just knew she was it for him is what we ALL want. I don’t care who disagrees. We all want someone to love us that fiercely.
The epilogue was absolute perfection. I am going to miss these characters and this world so i loved getting that extra sprinkle of dust from all of them at the end.
If you love a sports romance, i absolutely recommend this entire series. It will give you ever single emotion and most of them hurt you before they give you all the swoon worthy glue that puts you back together!
The Vibes:
-Baseball Romance
-Second Chance Romance
-Podcaster x Baseball Player
-Death of a Parent (off page but a lot of references)
-Dealing with Grief
-Friends to Lovers
-First Love Reunited
-He falls first & like THE HARDEST
-It’s Always Been You
-Accidental Vegas Wedding
September 15, 2025
Book Review: 4⭐️’s!!!
I was lucky enough to get to read and review the ARC of ‘Somewhere Only We Know;’ the final installment in the wonderful ‘Healing in Cincy’ series by @elleeseblack.author and it did not disappoint!
This story is centered around Jax and Nate. The story of their relationship- past and present - pulls you in, and Elleese does a wonderful job of giving us a glimpse of their history throughout the story. Memories and connections are explained through well-placed flashbacks that help the reader to make sense of how the two main characters got to where they are. As she does within all of her books, Elleese does a great job of touching on deeper topics and struggles that the characters have worked through or are continuing to process, which I believe helps to truly humanize each of her characters. (I recommend that you always check for any trigger warnings that may be of concern for you, just to be safe as well.) As always, this sports romance includes many other tropes such as: first love, second chance, and ‘always been you,’ just to name a few! I highly recommend that you check this book out if any of these or the below tropes appeal to you, and while this book can be read as a standalone, this is an interconnected series that I feel reads best from the very beginning with, ‘The Night We Met.’ All of Elleese’s books in the ‘Healing in Cincy’ series/universe are available to read on Kindle Unlimited!!!
Tropes:
⚾️Baseball/Sports Romance
⚾️Friends to Lovers
⚾️First Love
⚾️Second Chance
⚾️Always Been You
⚾️Hate to Love
⚾️He Falls First
⚾️Accidental/Surprise Marriage
⚾️ Forced Proximity
Author: Elleese Black | @elleeseblack.author
Available on Amazon/Kindle Unlimited
~A.R.
I was lucky enough to get to read and review the ARC of ‘Somewhere Only We Know;’ the final installment in the wonderful ‘Healing in Cincy’ series by @elleeseblack.author and it did not disappoint!
This story is centered around Jax and Nate. The story of their relationship- past and present - pulls you in, and Elleese does a wonderful job of giving us a glimpse of their history throughout the story. Memories and connections are explained through well-placed flashbacks that help the reader to make sense of how the two main characters got to where they are. As she does within all of her books, Elleese does a great job of touching on deeper topics and struggles that the characters have worked through or are continuing to process, which I believe helps to truly humanize each of her characters. (I recommend that you always check for any trigger warnings that may be of concern for you, just to be safe as well.) As always, this sports romance includes many other tropes such as: first love, second chance, and ‘always been you,’ just to name a few! I highly recommend that you check this book out if any of these or the below tropes appeal to you, and while this book can be read as a standalone, this is an interconnected series that I feel reads best from the very beginning with, ‘The Night We Met.’ All of Elleese’s books in the ‘Healing in Cincy’ series/universe are available to read on Kindle Unlimited!!!
Tropes:
⚾️Baseball/Sports Romance
⚾️Friends to Lovers
⚾️First Love
⚾️Second Chance
⚾️Always Been You
⚾️Hate to Love
⚾️He Falls First
⚾️Accidental/Surprise Marriage
⚾️ Forced Proximity
Author: Elleese Black | @elleeseblack.author
Available on Amazon/Kindle Unlimited
~A.R.
August 30, 2025
Review:
⚾Somewhere Only We Knew⚾
Healing in Cincy #4
By Elleese Black
⚾ Second Chance Romance
⚾ Baseball Romance
⚾ Sports Romance
⭐ 4/5
Jaclyn and Nathan
This story set in the sports world follows Jax and Nate and how they get their second chance.
They met freshman year in college, became best friends and finally after three years more than that. Only for Nate to suddenly break up with her and that per text message.
Years have gone by and the feeling of heartbreak still lingers in Jax when she comes out of her recent toxic relationship and discovers that Nate has been in her city playing Baseball for years now.
And Nate? He wants to explain and a second chance. But Jax takes her time. Because trusting again? It is not easy. Both have matured and can finally have that kind of relationship that is perfect for them. They can talk and they can listen.
And we get to see how the relationship between Jax and her sister Kamryn becomes a good one. The back and forth between chapters of the past and the now helped to understand both and their feelings.
This romance was an incredible way to finish a series, and with the epilogue it was everything all needed.
⚾Somewhere Only We Knew⚾
Healing in Cincy #4
By Elleese Black
⚾ Second Chance Romance
⚾ Baseball Romance
⚾ Sports Romance
⭐ 4/5
Jaclyn and Nathan
This story set in the sports world follows Jax and Nate and how they get their second chance.
They met freshman year in college, became best friends and finally after three years more than that. Only for Nate to suddenly break up with her and that per text message.
Years have gone by and the feeling of heartbreak still lingers in Jax when she comes out of her recent toxic relationship and discovers that Nate has been in her city playing Baseball for years now.
And Nate? He wants to explain and a second chance. But Jax takes her time. Because trusting again? It is not easy. Both have matured and can finally have that kind of relationship that is perfect for them. They can talk and they can listen.
And we get to see how the relationship between Jax and her sister Kamryn becomes a good one. The back and forth between chapters of the past and the now helped to understand both and their feelings.
This romance was an incredible way to finish a series, and with the epilogue it was everything all needed.
September 12, 2025
Somewhere Only We Know is the fourth book of the Healing in Cincy series by Elleese Black. Thank you to Luna Literary for the opportunity to read this ARC.
As soon as I read the author’s bio I knew I was going to like this series. I can relate so much to her. It made reading the story so much more enjoyable. This series is standalone interconnected books. I would recommend reading the series from the beginning to enjoy the whole storyline.
Nate and Jax are the quintessential second chance love story. The element of the found family really added to the story as well. The character growth and healing is relatable. The grief depicted in this story is also well written. There were times while reading this book that I felt the love, happiness, and grief that made me emotional.
There were a few lessons in life to take away from this book. One - our parents get older and we can only sit and watch it happen and two - Don’t wait to tell the people you love how you feel about them. If you are looking for a completed series that will give you the whole spectrum of feels, then jump in! I hope this will not be the last that we see the couples in the Healing in Cincy series.
As soon as I read the author’s bio I knew I was going to like this series. I can relate so much to her. It made reading the story so much more enjoyable. This series is standalone interconnected books. I would recommend reading the series from the beginning to enjoy the whole storyline.
Nate and Jax are the quintessential second chance love story. The element of the found family really added to the story as well. The character growth and healing is relatable. The grief depicted in this story is also well written. There were times while reading this book that I felt the love, happiness, and grief that made me emotional.
There were a few lessons in life to take away from this book. One - our parents get older and we can only sit and watch it happen and two - Don’t wait to tell the people you love how you feel about them. If you are looking for a completed series that will give you the whole spectrum of feels, then jump in! I hope this will not be the last that we see the couples in the Healing in Cincy series.
August 19, 2025
I absolutely loved this one! Everything about the story was dreamy and perfect. The flashback chapters were incredibly well done — I usually struggle with them, but they were easy to follow and added so much depth.
Jax and Nate (Bee and Natey 🥹) stole my heart. Their story begins in college and grows beautifully from there. Even when life pulls them apart, they find their way back to each other in the best way. The love between them practically pours off the page.
One of my favorite parts of any romance is little glimpses into the future — and this book gave me that! I loved every second of it. This was my first time reading a book by Ellesse Black and the first book I’ve read in this series. I definitely recommend starting from book one, since there are snippets and references to previous characters that I had to piece together. That’s totally on me though — and now I’m excited to go back and read the others.
Don’t hesitate with this one — it’s beautifully written and the story flows so well!
Jax and Nate (Bee and Natey 🥹) stole my heart. Their story begins in college and grows beautifully from there. Even when life pulls them apart, they find their way back to each other in the best way. The love between them practically pours off the page.
One of my favorite parts of any romance is little glimpses into the future — and this book gave me that! I loved every second of it. This was my first time reading a book by Ellesse Black and the first book I’ve read in this series. I definitely recommend starting from book one, since there are snippets and references to previous characters that I had to piece together. That’s totally on me though — and now I’m excited to go back and read the others.
Don’t hesitate with this one — it’s beautifully written and the story flows so well!
August 23, 2025
"How long are you going to deny me this?"
Jax & Nate. Second chance romance pulls my heart out and stomps on it and Jax and Nate did not disappoint. These two lost 8 years after Nate left for winter break in college and never returned. He had his reasons, but the way he left was terrible. It changed Jax for the worse and she took it out on herself. They meet again, both surprised, one running away from him and the other running straight towards her. The all out devotion that Nate had for Jax before the split and after the split just doesn't match with the way he left her and that leads to some revelations which are laid out with perfection. Mental health is important! I loved this book, #4 in the series. I haven't read the rest (but already added them to my TBR). The secondary characters are funny and supportive.
I received this eARC for free and my review is voluntary. Thank you to the author and Luna Literary Management.
"I haven't seen the light in my eyes in a long while and after one interaction with Jax it's like seeing someone else starting back at me."
Jax & Nate. Second chance romance pulls my heart out and stomps on it and Jax and Nate did not disappoint. These two lost 8 years after Nate left for winter break in college and never returned. He had his reasons, but the way he left was terrible. It changed Jax for the worse and she took it out on herself. They meet again, both surprised, one running away from him and the other running straight towards her. The all out devotion that Nate had for Jax before the split and after the split just doesn't match with the way he left her and that leads to some revelations which are laid out with perfection. Mental health is important! I loved this book, #4 in the series. I haven't read the rest (but already added them to my TBR). The secondary characters are funny and supportive.
I received this eARC for free and my review is voluntary. Thank you to the author and Luna Literary Management.
"I haven't seen the light in my eyes in a long while and after one interaction with Jax it's like seeing someone else starting back at me."
August 25, 2025
I know I’ve said this before with this series, but I’ll keep saying it — read the books in order. Even though each one follows different characters, there are moments and connections from the earlier books that give so much more depth to what’s happening now and the relationships we see unfold.
That being said … Somewhere Only We Know gives us Jax’s story, and of course it’s everything. It’s love, heartbreak, healing and then more healing. ❤️🩹 Jax and Nate’s story was already good the first time around, but getting to see them have a second chance? The way they reconnected was just beautiful and had me all kinds of giddy. After all those years, he never stopped loving her, never stopped holding on. It’s like deep down he always knew he’d find his way back to her and who would’ve thought a simple baseball game would be the spark? Elleese just knows how to write in a way that gets me right in my feelings. Honestly, it was the perfect way to wrap up the series, and having all the characters come together made it that much sweeter.
That being said … Somewhere Only We Know gives us Jax’s story, and of course it’s everything. It’s love, heartbreak, healing and then more healing. ❤️🩹 Jax and Nate’s story was already good the first time around, but getting to see them have a second chance? The way they reconnected was just beautiful and had me all kinds of giddy. After all those years, he never stopped loving her, never stopped holding on. It’s like deep down he always knew he’d find his way back to her and who would’ve thought a simple baseball game would be the spark? Elleese just knows how to write in a way that gets me right in my feelings. Honestly, it was the perfect way to wrap up the series, and having all the characters come together made it that much sweeter.
September 13, 2025
Oh, I was so excited for this book. I had read book no. 3 in this series to start, really enjoyed it, and then went back and started from the beginning, so I was ready for this series finale.
This is the second chance for Jax and Nate; by all accounts, the set up was perfect, Jax and Nate are made for each other. My main issue that dropped the rating is the slow burn nature of the book. It was a slow burn that just wasn't being stoked enough to give it that successful slow yearning and burning. I love a slow burn, I've read slow burns where it the first action doesn't kick in till book no. 2 in a series sometimes, but the burn needs to give you little sparks along the way. This gave me a little too much thumb twiddling and no sparks at points. Because of that, it could have been a really strong series finale but ended up tilting more towards the mediocre end of things.
🌚broody baseball player
🎀girl dog mom
🥂stoic FMC
🌤️past & present
⚾️meddling friends
❤️🔥slow burn spice
💍HEA
Thank you to the author and Luna Literary Management for the gifted copy!
This is the second chance for Jax and Nate; by all accounts, the set up was perfect, Jax and Nate are made for each other. My main issue that dropped the rating is the slow burn nature of the book. It was a slow burn that just wasn't being stoked enough to give it that successful slow yearning and burning. I love a slow burn, I've read slow burns where it the first action doesn't kick in till book no. 2 in a series sometimes, but the burn needs to give you little sparks along the way. This gave me a little too much thumb twiddling and no sparks at points. Because of that, it could have been a really strong series finale but ended up tilting more towards the mediocre end of things.
🌚broody baseball player
🎀girl dog mom
🥂stoic FMC
🌤️past & present
⚾️meddling friends
❤️🔥slow burn spice
💍HEA
Thank you to the author and Luna Literary Management for the gifted copy!
August 27, 2025
I finished this book in one sitting and honestly couldn’t stop smiling and crying at the same time. Jax and Nate completely stole my heart, watching them reconnect after so many years was just perfect. I loved how author handled the second chance romance, making it believable and emotional instead of cliché. Jax stayed strong and optimistic even after past hurt, and Nate’s loyalty was incredible, he never moved on and showed his love in ways that truly mattered. The chemistry was off the charts, but what made me root for them most was their emotional connection and the way they really listened to each other. The slow burn made every moment more satisfying, and the flashbacks added depth without being confusing. The story ended in such a dreamy, heartwarming way. Five stars, no doubt. Thank you so much to the author and Luna Literary PR for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving an honest review.
August 28, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ ARC
“Don’t you get it, Bee? It’s always been you for me. Since I was eighteen years old, it’s always been you.”
Read if you love:
🐝 second chance
🐝 accidental marriage
🐝 boy obsessed
🐝 “always been you”
JACLYN MARIE 😭 Talk about growth baby. She deserved every bit of redemption she got. Even if there was no Nate in this equation her character growth was enough for me. Don’t get it twisted though, I love Natey! That sweet broken man. The bee’s!!! Don’t even get me started. Oh my gosh and my favorite spicy trope?!
I’m very character driven when it comes to books I love, but their story is so cute. When second chance is done right it can be so sweet! Especially with a past and present timeline, it added even more to the angst.
What a way to end the series. I love found family stories so much.
Please check trigger warnings!
“Don’t you get it, Bee? It’s always been you for me. Since I was eighteen years old, it’s always been you.”
Read if you love:
🐝 second chance
🐝 accidental marriage
🐝 boy obsessed
🐝 “always been you”
JACLYN MARIE 😭 Talk about growth baby. She deserved every bit of redemption she got. Even if there was no Nate in this equation her character growth was enough for me. Don’t get it twisted though, I love Natey! That sweet broken man. The bee’s!!! Don’t even get me started. Oh my gosh and my favorite spicy trope?!
I’m very character driven when it comes to books I love, but their story is so cute. When second chance is done right it can be so sweet! Especially with a past and present timeline, it added even more to the angst.
What a way to end the series. I love found family stories so much.
Please check trigger warnings!
August 28, 2025
“For better or worse, it’s you and me Jax”
“We’ll fight because the past is our painful reminder. But we’ll stay because this time I’m not letting you go.”
😭oh my heart the emotional hold this book has on me!! Heartbreaking, and heart warming and everything in between!
Jax and Nate are besties in college after she forces her way into his life. They’re inseparable for years until Nate drops the feelings bomb on her. It takes her a minute to catch up but she does they fall madly in love and dream of forever. Until Nate leaves and breaks her heart.
8 years later they meet again but there’s so much animosity and a lot of trauma. But Nate is determined to be the guys Jax deserves and he does not disappoint! I freaking loved this book so so much! The road they take to get their HEA is so amazing. They heal together and I’m obsessed with that 🥰
“We’ll fight because the past is our painful reminder. But we’ll stay because this time I’m not letting you go.”
😭oh my heart the emotional hold this book has on me!! Heartbreaking, and heart warming and everything in between!
Jax and Nate are besties in college after she forces her way into his life. They’re inseparable for years until Nate drops the feelings bomb on her. It takes her a minute to catch up but she does they fall madly in love and dream of forever. Until Nate leaves and breaks her heart.
8 years later they meet again but there’s so much animosity and a lot of trauma. But Nate is determined to be the guys Jax deserves and he does not disappoint! I freaking loved this book so so much! The road they take to get their HEA is so amazing. They heal together and I’m obsessed with that 🥰
September 6, 2025
This is my first book that I have read by Elleese Black and I really enjoyed this book.
Jax & Nate they were young and in love and very much wanting to spend the rest of their lives together as they where college sweethearts but something happens and that relationship just ends.
Jax moves on with her life and gets into a really bad relationship and she then moves away from that relationship and has a successful career and has everything going for her when she runs into Nate again.
Nate is a baseball player who has everything going for him with his baseball career and doesn’t see his family too much because it’s to painful to return back to his hometown. One day he runs into Jax again at a baseball game and that man would do anything to get Jax back.
I loved how we got to see how there love for each other and how it played out.
Jax & Nate they were young and in love and very much wanting to spend the rest of their lives together as they where college sweethearts but something happens and that relationship just ends.
Jax moves on with her life and gets into a really bad relationship and she then moves away from that relationship and has a successful career and has everything going for her when she runs into Nate again.
Nate is a baseball player who has everything going for him with his baseball career and doesn’t see his family too much because it’s to painful to return back to his hometown. One day he runs into Jax again at a baseball game and that man would do anything to get Jax back.
I loved how we got to see how there love for each other and how it played out.
August 27, 2025
This is my first Elleese Black read, and I quite enjoyed this book.
Jax and Nate’s romance is full of history, heartbreak, and second chance sweetness. Their chemistry was clear from the start, and I enjoyed how determined Nate was not to let the past repeat itself. The supporting cast and family dynamics added warmth, while the podcast chapters gave the story a modern, empowering touch.
On the flip side, I did find parts of the middle to drag, with certain plot points introduced later than expected. That aside, the emotional payoff was worth the wait, and the ending wrapped things up in a way that felt fitting for both the couple and the series as a whole.
Thank you to Elleese Black and Luna Literary for the copy of this book 😀
Jax and Nate’s romance is full of history, heartbreak, and second chance sweetness. Their chemistry was clear from the start, and I enjoyed how determined Nate was not to let the past repeat itself. The supporting cast and family dynamics added warmth, while the podcast chapters gave the story a modern, empowering touch.
On the flip side, I did find parts of the middle to drag, with certain plot points introduced later than expected. That aside, the emotional payoff was worth the wait, and the ending wrapped things up in a way that felt fitting for both the couple and the series as a whole.
Thank you to Elleese Black and Luna Literary for the copy of this book 😀
August 28, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶🌶
~~~~~~~~~~
Gosh Elleese Black really knows how to shatter your heart and then put the pieces back together.
Jax and Nate are literally what “if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be” is at the core.
This is really a story of grief and finding your way out of the darkness.
Jax and Nate go through struggles, wading through their past pain in their younger years, while trying to find the path to their future.
Thank you to Elleese for allowing me to read Somewhere Only We Know in advance to its release date.
The Healing in Cincy series is truly a remarkable series with so much depth, heartache, but most importantly happiness.
A giant thanks to Elleese Black for providing me with an advance copy of Somewhere Only We Know.
🌶🌶
~~~~~~~~~~
Gosh Elleese Black really knows how to shatter your heart and then put the pieces back together.
Jax and Nate are literally what “if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be” is at the core.
This is really a story of grief and finding your way out of the darkness.
Jax and Nate go through struggles, wading through their past pain in their younger years, while trying to find the path to their future.
Thank you to Elleese for allowing me to read Somewhere Only We Know in advance to its release date.
The Healing in Cincy series is truly a remarkable series with so much depth, heartache, but most importantly happiness.
A giant thanks to Elleese Black for providing me with an advance copy of Somewhere Only We Know.
August 26, 2025
4.5/5⭐️
Jax and Nate were so good together back in college, but it all ends when life takes a different turn for him. The years apart have changed them but to Nate, she was always the one.
While Nate had to grovel a lot to get back to where they were before, their reconciliation was so sweet and so worth it. I also loved those flashbacks which clearly showed how deeply in love they were back in those days.
On a separate note, I loved the empowering podcasts from Jax and it reenforces the girl power in this book—reminding us that yes, we can achieve our dreams the way we want to. No holding back, no bowing down to others.
Jax and Nate were so good together back in college, but it all ends when life takes a different turn for him. The years apart have changed them but to Nate, she was always the one.
While Nate had to grovel a lot to get back to where they were before, their reconciliation was so sweet and so worth it. I also loved those flashbacks which clearly showed how deeply in love they were back in those days.
On a separate note, I loved the empowering podcasts from Jax and it reenforces the girl power in this book—reminding us that yes, we can achieve our dreams the way we want to. No holding back, no bowing down to others.
August 29, 2025
Can’t believe this is the last book
I’m not ready for this series to end
Jax and Nate’s story was the perfect second chance romance story with tension and the chemistry was clear from the start. I loved the depth into these characters and the look backs.
Determined not to let things stay as they were left
Nate goes all out to make things different
Determined to make her love him again
This is a perfect friends to lovers, second chance romance story.
If you do pick up these books I highly recommend you start at the beginning though this is or can be read as a standalone you do see past characters in the books
This is an incredible series and I’ve loved every l minute of it.
I’m not ready for this series to end
Jax and Nate’s story was the perfect second chance romance story with tension and the chemistry was clear from the start. I loved the depth into these characters and the look backs.
Determined not to let things stay as they were left
Nate goes all out to make things different
Determined to make her love him again
This is a perfect friends to lovers, second chance romance story.
If you do pick up these books I highly recommend you start at the beginning though this is or can be read as a standalone you do see past characters in the books
This is an incredible series and I’ve loved every l minute of it.
August 29, 2025
Finally! Jax’s story and her time to shine after everything she goes through in the prior books. Elleese weaved a gorgeous narrative to end the Healing In Cincy series: big slow burn energy, excellent banter, past memories/flashbacks, angst, and perfect amount of spice. I do recommend reading the books in order, even though it can be read as a standalone. The podcast chapters were my fave!
Tropes:
⚾️Second Chance Romance
💗College Romance
⚾️ Trauma Healing
💗First Loves
⚾️Accidental Marriage
💗He Falls First
⚾️ Podcaster x MLB player
💗 HEA
I received this as an ARC and am providing my honest review.
Tropes:
⚾️Second Chance Romance
💗College Romance
⚾️ Trauma Healing
💗First Loves
⚾️Accidental Marriage
💗He Falls First
⚾️ Podcaster x MLB player
💗 HEA
I received this as an ARC and am providing my honest review.
August 30, 2025
This book wasn't bad by any means, but I had trouble getting into it. The beginning was slow for me but it needed to be to set up their past so they could have their future HEA.
Jax, once she got over her insecurities, and Nate were admittedly pretty perfect for each other but the miscommunication that ended them in the first place was one I would expect from high schoolers, not junior/seniors in college.
This was just okay. I enjoyed it well enough. I recommend if you're in the mood for cute. 3⭐
Thank you to the author and @lunaliterary.management for providing a copy of this book for purposes of review. My opinions are, as always, my own.
Jax, once she got over her insecurities, and Nate were admittedly pretty perfect for each other but the miscommunication that ended them in the first place was one I would expect from high schoolers, not junior/seniors in college.
This was just okay. I enjoyed it well enough. I recommend if you're in the mood for cute. 3⭐
Thank you to the author and @lunaliterary.management for providing a copy of this book for purposes of review. My opinions are, as always, my own.
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