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When Love Comes Around
Maya Sanchez never planned on starting over—not like this. After losing her wife in a tragic accident, she moves back to her Arizona hometown with her four-year-old daughter, determined to rebuild their lives. But their fixer-upper needs more than she can handle alone. Enter Nolan Wright—skilled contractor, ex-Army machinist, and exactly the kind of reliable help Maya needs. What she doesn’t need? The way Nolan makes her feel something she thought was long buried.
Nolan is trying to move forward, too—one renovation, one day at a time. Helping Maya should be just another job, but from the moment they meet, the connection is undeniable. As attraction kindles, so do the secrets neither of them are ready to share.
Falling wasn’t part of the plan, but love doesn’t wait for perfect timing. Can they trust each other enough to build something real, or will the past tear them apart?
Nolan is trying to move forward, too—one renovation, one day at a time. Helping Maya should be just another job, but from the moment they meet, the connection is undeniable. As attraction kindles, so do the secrets neither of them are ready to share.
Falling wasn’t part of the plan, but love doesn’t wait for perfect timing. Can they trust each other enough to build something real, or will the past tear them apart?
221 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2025
24 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Radclyffe
142 books1,667 followersRadclyffe has written over forty-five romance and romantic intrigue novels, dozens of short stories, and, writing as L.L. Raand, has authored a paranormal romance series, The Midnight Hunters. She has also edited Best Lesbian Romance 2009 through 2015 as well as multiple other anthologies. She is an eight-time Lambda Literary Award finalist in romance, mystery, and erotica—winning in both romance and erotica. A member of the Saints and Sinners Literary Hall of Fame, she is also an RWA Prism, Lories, Beanpot, Aspen Gold, and Laurel Wreath winner in multiple mainstream romance categories. In 2014, she received the Dr. James Duggins Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist award from the Lambda Literary Foundation. In 2004, she founded Bold Strokes Books, an independent LGBTQ publishing company, and in 2013, she founded the Flax Mill Creek Writers Retreat offering writing workshops to authors in all stages of their careers.
She states, “I began reading lesbian fiction at the age of twelve when I found a copy of Ann Bannon’s Beebo Brinker. That book and others like it convinced me that I was not alone, that there were other women who felt like I did. Our literature provides support and validation and very often, a lifeline, for members of our community throughout the world. I am proud and honored to be able to publish the many fine authors at Bold Strokes Books and to contribute in some small way to the words that celebrate the LGBTQ experience.”
Radclyffe lives with her partner, Lee, in New York state.
She states, “I began reading lesbian fiction at the age of twelve when I found a copy of Ann Bannon’s Beebo Brinker. That book and others like it convinced me that I was not alone, that there were other women who felt like I did. Our literature provides support and validation and very often, a lifeline, for members of our community throughout the world. I am proud and honored to be able to publish the many fine authors at Bold Strokes Books and to contribute in some small way to the words that celebrate the LGBTQ experience.”
Radclyffe lives with her partner, Lee, in New York state.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
November 4, 2025
3.75⭐️
I love books about grief. Life is cruel and unfair, and seeing characters living through the hardest things on Earth yet getting another chance at love is always so sweet to read. Maya being a mom added another layer, with a mourning Emmie that broke my heart a few times. I read chapter after chapter really quickly, truly rooting for these two and swooning when Emmie interacted with Riley. The attraction and questioning came a bit fast, and I was a bit disappointed that the focus was more on Nolan's addiction rather than Maya's grief. There were some questions asked, but it felt like the authors did not delve into this topic enough. The book is rather short, and there was space for so much more. For instance, I thought them being an official couple would result in a talk with Emmie, but no. Once Maya was fine with Nolan's past, everything was fine. I still had a good time reading the book.
I love books about grief. Life is cruel and unfair, and seeing characters living through the hardest things on Earth yet getting another chance at love is always so sweet to read. Maya being a mom added another layer, with a mourning Emmie that broke my heart a few times. I read chapter after chapter really quickly, truly rooting for these two and swooning when Emmie interacted with Riley. The attraction and questioning came a bit fast, and I was a bit disappointed that the focus was more on Nolan's addiction rather than Maya's grief. There were some questions asked, but it felt like the authors did not delve into this topic enough. The book is rather short, and there was space for so much more. For instance, I thought them being an official couple would result in a talk with Emmie, but no. Once Maya was fine with Nolan's past, everything was fine. I still had a good time reading the book.
October 5, 2025
3.75 ⭐️ rounded up
Anytime Radclyffe is involved I gotta get my hands on it. I really enjoyed the background information for both Maya and Nolan because it felt like I got to know the characters better to understand their decisions.
Nolan is a recovering alcoholic who takes everything one day at a time, and Maya is a grieving widow who moves back to home to where her family is for a fresh start.
There was a lot of hurt and healing from both sides and it was really beautiful to see the acceptance on both sides to allow the other to heal and hurt on their own timeline.
Where it fell flat a little bit was the relationship side between the two MCs. I felt a lack of connection a bit with the two of them and the flirting came off as cheesy and kind of mediocre. They just didn’t fit like puzzle pieces for me.
It was bothersome to see the side characters pushing both MCs from taking the chance with one another, but then would turn around and support them with their decisions. I didn’t care much for the side characters because they were confusing on what they thought was best for both Nolan and Maya.
Overall it was a pretty moving and solid storyline and definitely put me through some sad emotions, it really hit hard at times. Maya was such a strong character to be able to do the things she got through, I couldn’t even imagine trying to move on from such a different part in life.
Thank you Netgalley and Bold Strokes for the ARC!
Anytime Radclyffe is involved I gotta get my hands on it. I really enjoyed the background information for both Maya and Nolan because it felt like I got to know the characters better to understand their decisions.
Nolan is a recovering alcoholic who takes everything one day at a time, and Maya is a grieving widow who moves back to home to where her family is for a fresh start.
There was a lot of hurt and healing from both sides and it was really beautiful to see the acceptance on both sides to allow the other to heal and hurt on their own timeline.
Where it fell flat a little bit was the relationship side between the two MCs. I felt a lack of connection a bit with the two of them and the flirting came off as cheesy and kind of mediocre. They just didn’t fit like puzzle pieces for me.
It was bothersome to see the side characters pushing both MCs from taking the chance with one another, but then would turn around and support them with their decisions. I didn’t care much for the side characters because they were confusing on what they thought was best for both Nolan and Maya.
Overall it was a pretty moving and solid storyline and definitely put me through some sad emotions, it really hit hard at times. Maya was such a strong character to be able to do the things she got through, I couldn’t even imagine trying to move on from such a different part in life.
Thank you Netgalley and Bold Strokes for the ARC!
October 19, 2025
Widow with child falls for her builder… sounds cliched and is, but so well written I sail though it and love it. Excellent, though short.
November 13, 2025
3.5 stars
It’s been a long time since I read a book by either Radcliffe or Black. I used to read any book they published, but the last few years found those books to be a bit too much like the ones I’d enjoyed before. So now that they cooperated on a book together I’d thought maybe this book will have a new spark for me. And I enjoyed reading it. Well written, as was to be expected, really nice MC’s, good storyline. But I found some parts a bit too repetitious and long. I also would have liked a bit more depth. There were a lot of words used to describe feelings and they were repeated at several points in the book, but still they didn’t really connect me to those feelings. It stayed a bit too superficial for me. That said: I will read another book by these writers if and when they write one together again. I am also still following their publications so that I can pick one up to read when they appeal to me. And I still read some of their older books again because I liked those so much. It’s impressive how many good books they each have written.
It’s been a long time since I read a book by either Radcliffe or Black. I used to read any book they published, but the last few years found those books to be a bit too much like the ones I’d enjoyed before. So now that they cooperated on a book together I’d thought maybe this book will have a new spark for me. And I enjoyed reading it. Well written, as was to be expected, really nice MC’s, good storyline. But I found some parts a bit too repetitious and long. I also would have liked a bit more depth. There were a lot of words used to describe feelings and they were repeated at several points in the book, but still they didn’t really connect me to those feelings. It stayed a bit too superficial for me. That said: I will read another book by these writers if and when they write one together again. I am also still following their publications so that I can pick one up to read when they appeal to me. And I still read some of their older books again because I liked those so much. It’s impressive how many good books they each have written.
October 11, 2025
I really liked the writing in this book. Maya moves from Chicago to her home town in Arizona with her four year old daughter. Her wife has died 18 month ago in an accident and she feels that coming home to her older sister will help her daughter and herself. She buys a hundred year old fixer upper that needs a ton of work. Nolan Wright is a contractor and is a receiving alcoholic and meets Maya at the job site and they work out a plan to repair the old house. Maya's daughter Emmie, was a delight and made the book more enjoyable for me. Her interactions with Nolan were very sweet and helped Nolan come out of her shell and Emmie to regain trust again.
The side characters were ok, Maya's sister seemed a bit over the top. She was divorced and I felt like she might be looking for a female relationship. Perhaps they will write a sequel and make that happen.
Nolan's recovery process was very real and I kept hoping that she could find the inner strength to succeed. I think Maya was good for her and went the extra mile to help her with her recovery.
Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
The side characters were ok, Maya's sister seemed a bit over the top. She was divorced and I felt like she might be looking for a female relationship. Perhaps they will write a sequel and make that happen.
Nolan's recovery process was very real and I kept hoping that she could find the inner strength to succeed. I think Maya was good for her and went the extra mile to help her with her recovery.
Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
October 3, 2025
I know for a lot of people, Radclyffe is a no-brainer but for me, I'm hit and miss with her books. But I'm a sucker for a kid in a sapphic romance. And Rad does do angst very well. And chemistry. Ronica Black was a fave of mine back in the day, so I figured I've got to take the chance. This one is definitely a hit for me.
Maya, the widow trying to make a better life for her 4-year-old daughter, has to work through the grief of losing her wife and the guilt of realizing she's developed feelings for another woman. Nolan, the recovering alcoholic, has no idea what a healthy relationship really looks like. But both women want to try and I loved their journey. I absolutely loved that practicing honest communication was such a big part of the later chapters. One of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to romance novels is non-communication, so this was a great discovery.
My only real gripe was some of the strange descriptions. There were a lot of instances of something passing over someone's face or their eyes. How can you pick up vulnerability in someone's eyes who you just met? What does that look like? I've always struggled with authors who use this type of device to show the emotion of the non-POV character. I suppose if you know someone well enough, you can pick up on micro-expressions or a subtle shift in the eyes, but it didn't feel believable to me. That and the bathroom that smelled of grief. What?
Oh! Another smallish issue - who are those people on the cover? They look like the whitest mom and kid ever. Maya and her daughter both have dark, curly hair.
Anyway, the story, itself, was beautiful and the characters lovely. I definitely recommend it for anyone looking for some medium-level angst and heat.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for giving me an ARC and helping me to get my angst hit for the week.
Maya, the widow trying to make a better life for her 4-year-old daughter, has to work through the grief of losing her wife and the guilt of realizing she's developed feelings for another woman. Nolan, the recovering alcoholic, has no idea what a healthy relationship really looks like. But both women want to try and I loved their journey. I absolutely loved that practicing honest communication was such a big part of the later chapters. One of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to romance novels is non-communication, so this was a great discovery.
My only real gripe was some of the strange descriptions. There were a lot of instances of something passing over someone's face or their eyes. How can you pick up vulnerability in someone's eyes who you just met? What does that look like? I've always struggled with authors who use this type of device to show the emotion of the non-POV character. I suppose if you know someone well enough, you can pick up on micro-expressions or a subtle shift in the eyes, but it didn't feel believable to me. That and the bathroom that smelled of grief. What?
Oh! Another smallish issue - who are those people on the cover? They look like the whitest mom and kid ever. Maya and her daughter both have dark, curly hair.
Anyway, the story, itself, was beautiful and the characters lovely. I definitely recommend it for anyone looking for some medium-level angst and heat.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for giving me an ARC and helping me to get my angst hit for the week.
September 28, 2025
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
mayas life came crashing down the night she got the phone call about her wife.... she and their daughter had to begin a new life one she hadnt planned on doing and one of those decisions was to move back to her home town to be nearer her family her daughter emmie needed them in her life maya was barely coping
the house she had bought was a fixer upper and the plan was to do some of the work with the contractor she took....
nolan wright is existing day by day... she is also the boss of her own company so when her name is put forward to maya she goes to get her estimates in and plan accordingly
neither of them was looking for something but they each recognised something in the other but they both had secrets... secrets that could tear them apart...
ohhhh this storyline was carefully managed and hit all the right spots both struggling and recognising each other need and emmie is a delight to get to know...
cant go wrong with a toolbelt storyline... oh man i loved it
mayas life came crashing down the night she got the phone call about her wife.... she and their daughter had to begin a new life one she hadnt planned on doing and one of those decisions was to move back to her home town to be nearer her family her daughter emmie needed them in her life maya was barely coping
the house she had bought was a fixer upper and the plan was to do some of the work with the contractor she took....
nolan wright is existing day by day... she is also the boss of her own company so when her name is put forward to maya she goes to get her estimates in and plan accordingly
neither of them was looking for something but they each recognised something in the other but they both had secrets... secrets that could tear them apart...
ohhhh this storyline was carefully managed and hit all the right spots both struggling and recognising each other need and emmie is a delight to get to know...
cant go wrong with a toolbelt storyline... oh man i loved it
November 27, 2025
I love a story where they face challenges and overcome. Throw in a cute kid and its even better
October 11, 2025
A very special thank you to NetGalley, Bold Strokes Books and authors Radclyffe & Ronica Black for this ARC! Happily leaving my honest review.
When Love Comes Around was an incredibly special book with hard hitting real life topics that truly tug on your heartstrings. I was craving a tender love story with an emotional stronghold and got exactly what I was hoping for. This book is a wonderful and heartening story that grapples with grief, loss, emotional pain, addiction, resilience and rebuilding. It was beautifully compelling and a story I won’t soon forget. I was immediately drawn to this story as a fan of Ronica Black and Radclyffe. I always enjoy collaborations between talented authors because the story often takes on a new and wonderful third blended voice. I felt that such was the case with When Love Comes Around and found myself intrigued, invested and satisfied by a truly moving story of overcoming the most daunting of life's obstacles and finding a healing way forward toward love.
Maya is reeling from the sudden and tragic death of her wife and is doing her best to care for herself and her young daughter. Overwhelmed and unprepared for such an awful turn of events, she decides to move back home to Arizona. She wants to be closer to family and hopes to find a sense of peace and stability as she attempts to mend together the shattered pieces of her life. She buys an old fixer upper and quickly realizes that she is in need of assistance to truly repair her new house so that it is a proper home for her and her little girl, Emmie. She hires Nolan, an army veteran turned contractor, to take on the challenge of rebuilding her fixer upper. Nolan has been through her fair share of struggles and continues to battle internal demons.
Maya is grief stricken over losing her wife and Nolan carries the weight of past pain and difficult secrets. Neither of them is looking for love but the attraction they feel for one another is undeniable. The struggle is with whether or not to go for it and to potentially risk it all for love, so to speak. It is not lost on me that Maya is rebuilding her house for her and her daughter and Nolan is the woman she's chosen to help her do that…it is a perfect metaphor for life. Maya is struggling emotionally but is bound and determined to be a good mother and rebuild a life for her and Emmie. Nolan, not without her flaws and issues, may be just the person Maya needs to help her rebuild not just her house but her home and her life.
The connection between Maya and Nolan is real and their chemistry is so special. They are really great together and help each other to have hope for real happiness again. Nolan develops a sincere and genuine connection with Emmie, Maya’s daughter, and I found that to be really sweet. Our leading ladies are both written with such care. Nolan is strong, brave and wonderful in a million ways but at the same time is battling with real internal struggles and demons. Maya is truly special. Her sincerity of heart and genuine kindness despite being kicked in the teeth made me like her so much.These ladies nestled their way into my heart and stayed there throughout the book. Maya is trying to learn how to move forward and trust someone with her heart again all while attempting to reconcile the guilt of feeling strong romantic feelings for someone so soon after losing her wife. Not to mention, she is a great mom and is desperate to create a happy life for her daughter while making some happiness for herself. Nolan is also hurting and trying to survive past trauma and find a way to have real and true emotional intimacy. They are both so respectful and act as balms to one another’s wounds. It is clear that they each add so much depth, security and sheer joy to each other's lives…if they can only find a way to make it all work.
The pacing of the book is realistic and though we do sort of have an instant attraction of sorts, the love between Maya and Nolan develops in a believable timeline. What grows between them does so organically and I was enthralled and entranced by their journey towards healing and happiness together. The writing was just plain good. These authors offer up a unique and original writing style that can only be achieved together. The writing is deep, mature and poignant. I really internalized so much of this book and was rooting for our leading ladies all the way through. I love a happy ending as much as the next gal, and despite a path that may have been littered with life's obstacles and land mines, Nolan, Maya and Emmie find a way to create a little family. They fight for each other and choose love….major heart smiles.
I highly recommend this book for all lovers of slow burn and emotionally rich stories of sapphic love. Definitely be prepared for a more mature and emotional story that deals with real life tragedies, heartache, grief and trauma. But it is also a tale of strength, resiliency and overcoming things we think we never could. Time may not be able to fully heal all wounds but sometimes it affords us the opportunity to find a way to a new through…a new way to happiness. This book was really great and I truly can’t recommend it enough.
When Love Comes Around was an incredibly special book with hard hitting real life topics that truly tug on your heartstrings. I was craving a tender love story with an emotional stronghold and got exactly what I was hoping for. This book is a wonderful and heartening story that grapples with grief, loss, emotional pain, addiction, resilience and rebuilding. It was beautifully compelling and a story I won’t soon forget. I was immediately drawn to this story as a fan of Ronica Black and Radclyffe. I always enjoy collaborations between talented authors because the story often takes on a new and wonderful third blended voice. I felt that such was the case with When Love Comes Around and found myself intrigued, invested and satisfied by a truly moving story of overcoming the most daunting of life's obstacles and finding a healing way forward toward love.
Maya is reeling from the sudden and tragic death of her wife and is doing her best to care for herself and her young daughter. Overwhelmed and unprepared for such an awful turn of events, she decides to move back home to Arizona. She wants to be closer to family and hopes to find a sense of peace and stability as she attempts to mend together the shattered pieces of her life. She buys an old fixer upper and quickly realizes that she is in need of assistance to truly repair her new house so that it is a proper home for her and her little girl, Emmie. She hires Nolan, an army veteran turned contractor, to take on the challenge of rebuilding her fixer upper. Nolan has been through her fair share of struggles and continues to battle internal demons.
Maya is grief stricken over losing her wife and Nolan carries the weight of past pain and difficult secrets. Neither of them is looking for love but the attraction they feel for one another is undeniable. The struggle is with whether or not to go for it and to potentially risk it all for love, so to speak. It is not lost on me that Maya is rebuilding her house for her and her daughter and Nolan is the woman she's chosen to help her do that…it is a perfect metaphor for life. Maya is struggling emotionally but is bound and determined to be a good mother and rebuild a life for her and Emmie. Nolan, not without her flaws and issues, may be just the person Maya needs to help her rebuild not just her house but her home and her life.
The connection between Maya and Nolan is real and their chemistry is so special. They are really great together and help each other to have hope for real happiness again. Nolan develops a sincere and genuine connection with Emmie, Maya’s daughter, and I found that to be really sweet. Our leading ladies are both written with such care. Nolan is strong, brave and wonderful in a million ways but at the same time is battling with real internal struggles and demons. Maya is truly special. Her sincerity of heart and genuine kindness despite being kicked in the teeth made me like her so much.These ladies nestled their way into my heart and stayed there throughout the book. Maya is trying to learn how to move forward and trust someone with her heart again all while attempting to reconcile the guilt of feeling strong romantic feelings for someone so soon after losing her wife. Not to mention, she is a great mom and is desperate to create a happy life for her daughter while making some happiness for herself. Nolan is also hurting and trying to survive past trauma and find a way to have real and true emotional intimacy. They are both so respectful and act as balms to one another’s wounds. It is clear that they each add so much depth, security and sheer joy to each other's lives…if they can only find a way to make it all work.
The pacing of the book is realistic and though we do sort of have an instant attraction of sorts, the love between Maya and Nolan develops in a believable timeline. What grows between them does so organically and I was enthralled and entranced by their journey towards healing and happiness together. The writing was just plain good. These authors offer up a unique and original writing style that can only be achieved together. The writing is deep, mature and poignant. I really internalized so much of this book and was rooting for our leading ladies all the way through. I love a happy ending as much as the next gal, and despite a path that may have been littered with life's obstacles and land mines, Nolan, Maya and Emmie find a way to create a little family. They fight for each other and choose love….major heart smiles.
I highly recommend this book for all lovers of slow burn and emotionally rich stories of sapphic love. Definitely be prepared for a more mature and emotional story that deals with real life tragedies, heartache, grief and trauma. But it is also a tale of strength, resiliency and overcoming things we think we never could. Time may not be able to fully heal all wounds but sometimes it affords us the opportunity to find a way to a new through…a new way to happiness. This book was really great and I truly can’t recommend it enough.
October 14, 2025
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Maya is looking for fresh start with her daughter Emmie by moving back to her to her hometown in Arizona. She lost her wife and been having trouble moving forward so she thought by moving closer to family it can help her. She buys a fixer upper to focus on that’s needs a lot a work. Maya meets Nolan a contractor who has her own share of struggles and continues to battle internal conflicts they make a deal on what needs done with the house. Maya starts to trust herself again even thinks she might be ready to love again as Nolan starts to come out of her shell while interacting with Emmie and Maya. I enjoy this read it’s deal with grief heartache but also shows your strength and resilience when life hits hard.
Maya is looking for fresh start with her daughter Emmie by moving back to her to her hometown in Arizona. She lost her wife and been having trouble moving forward so she thought by moving closer to family it can help her. She buys a fixer upper to focus on that’s needs a lot a work. Maya meets Nolan a contractor who has her own share of struggles and continues to battle internal conflicts they make a deal on what needs done with the house. Maya starts to trust herself again even thinks she might be ready to love again as Nolan starts to come out of her shell while interacting with Emmie and Maya. I enjoy this read it’s deal with grief heartache but also shows your strength and resilience when life hits hard.
December 22, 2025
The opening of this book was chock-full of emotion, and the well-drawn characters had realistic struggles learning to come to terms with their traumatic pasts. Could have slipped into emotion overload but didn’t as it had a good balance of sadness and joy because of the ability of the writers to even out past losses with the realistic promise for the future.
September 26, 2025
When Love Comes Around is a beautiful story of grief, resilience, secrets and the power of connection. A joint work from Radclyffe and Ronica Black it delivers a heartwarming read that drew me in and had me keeping my fingers crossed that the two MC’s would find their way to each other despite the pain and fears arising from their respective pasts.
Grieving the sudden loss of her wife in a tragic accident and left with the responsibility of raising her 5 year old daughter, Emmie, Maya Sanchez decides to draw on the support of her family and move back to her hometown to be closer to her sister and cousin in the hope that a fresh start will help both her and Emmie re-find their footing and move forward. They purchase a fixer-upper home that needs a lot of work and secure the services of contractor, Nolan Wright to help with the daunting task of renovating the old property. The connection between Nolan and both Maya and her daughter is immediate. However, Nolan comes with past hurts and a secret which has the very real potential to break their developing trust and sever their developing connection.
I very much enjoyed this story, particularly little Emmie who is nothing short of a little ray of sunshine, albeit one still struggling with the loss of her Mummy D. The authors did a wonderful job of showing the increasing connection between these Maya, Emmie and Nolan, the way in which Nolan’s secret was finally revealed and the way that both MC’s drew on the support of their friends and family as they worked out whether there was any chance of a future together.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a touching story of family connection, fresh starts and 5-year-old adorableness.
I am grateful to the authors, Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Grieving the sudden loss of her wife in a tragic accident and left with the responsibility of raising her 5 year old daughter, Emmie, Maya Sanchez decides to draw on the support of her family and move back to her hometown to be closer to her sister and cousin in the hope that a fresh start will help both her and Emmie re-find their footing and move forward. They purchase a fixer-upper home that needs a lot of work and secure the services of contractor, Nolan Wright to help with the daunting task of renovating the old property. The connection between Nolan and both Maya and her daughter is immediate. However, Nolan comes with past hurts and a secret which has the very real potential to break their developing trust and sever their developing connection.
I very much enjoyed this story, particularly little Emmie who is nothing short of a little ray of sunshine, albeit one still struggling with the loss of her Mummy D. The authors did a wonderful job of showing the increasing connection between these Maya, Emmie and Nolan, the way in which Nolan’s secret was finally revealed and the way that both MC’s drew on the support of their friends and family as they worked out whether there was any chance of a future together.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a touching story of family connection, fresh starts and 5-year-old adorableness.
I am grateful to the authors, Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 5, 2025
I saw Radclffye and Ronica Black listed as co-authors, and requested before my brain registered the movement...despite my resolution to stay off ARCs and focus on tackling that bulging TBR. 😒
Thankfully, I did, and I was hooked right from the prologue.
I had read the description, but didn't expect to be smacked by the tsunami of grief and loss. Not right from the start. Not this way.
Maya was barely holding it together after losing her wife, Dantas. The only thing keeping her afloat was Emmie. The loneliness of dealing with the loss of a partner, while struggling to ensure your child is safe - it's the whole put on your mask first before helping your child with theirs. (if we’re lucky) Most parents won’t follow that advice; they fight to ensure kids are well before looking after themselves.
While this was dual POV, we got to see Maya's grief and her struggle to be a ‘sufficient’ single parent laid out for us. But we join Maya in unravelling Nolan's secret past and the very thing that would keep them apart.
Nolan is the hot contractor recommended to revamp Maya’s new house. The attraction was right there from the start. And she is so, so good with kids.
It was heartwarming to watch them bond through little interactions that meant the world to each other, recognising their attraction, and finally stepping up to make things work.
When Love Comes Around was a gentle reminder that we all need time and space to heal, to mend, then to move on - "one step at a time". Though having the right company helps too. And kids. And throw in some puppies for the full works.
After all, there isn't a fixed timeframe to grieve for a partner gone too soon. Who's to say it's too early to move on? Who's to say it's "not right" to move on?
Thank you Bold Strokes Books for the ARC!
Thankfully, I did, and I was hooked right from the prologue.
I had read the description, but didn't expect to be smacked by the tsunami of grief and loss. Not right from the start. Not this way.
Maya was barely holding it together after losing her wife, Dantas. The only thing keeping her afloat was Emmie. The loneliness of dealing with the loss of a partner, while struggling to ensure your child is safe - it's the whole put on your mask first before helping your child with theirs. (if we’re lucky) Most parents won’t follow that advice; they fight to ensure kids are well before looking after themselves.
While this was dual POV, we got to see Maya's grief and her struggle to be a ‘sufficient’ single parent laid out for us. But we join Maya in unravelling Nolan's secret past and the very thing that would keep them apart.
Nolan is the hot contractor recommended to revamp Maya’s new house. The attraction was right there from the start. And she is so, so good with kids.
It was heartwarming to watch them bond through little interactions that meant the world to each other, recognising their attraction, and finally stepping up to make things work.
When Love Comes Around was a gentle reminder that we all need time and space to heal, to mend, then to move on - "one step at a time". Though having the right company helps too. And kids. And throw in some puppies for the full works.
After all, there isn't a fixed timeframe to grieve for a partner gone too soon. Who's to say it's too early to move on? Who's to say it's "not right" to move on?
Thank you Bold Strokes Books for the ARC!
October 20, 2025
I really enjoyed Radclyffe’s foray into co-writing novels when her partner was Julie Cannon. I was a little bit more apprehensive with Ronica Black as the co-author, her books can be hit or miss for me. But I should not have been concerned. I have no idea how they split up their writing but the story flows well.
Maya Sanchez is starting over by moving to her home town in Arizona to be near her sister. She’s been a widow of 18 months and is still trying to figure out how to be a single parent to her four year old daughter Emmie. She hires Nolan Wright as the contractor for the repairs to her fixer-upper house she purchases. Maya struggles with grief and gives security to Emmie. Nolan has her own struggles as she is still recovering from a rough childhood and is currently sober and attending AA meetings.
I think the story hits many of the poignant moments just right. Nolan’s loneliness and daily struggle with sobriety. Maya has to deal with attraction to a new person and what it means to move on. These things felt very real. Emmie has her moments too as she adjusts to her new home. I like that the story covers months, not weeks, so there is time for the organic feelings to grow. I would have liked a little more from the friends and sister. Friends and family can often bring humor and extra zip to the book. Sadly I didn’t like that Nolan’s friend doesn’t listen to what she needs or wants, pushing her to come be social in bars and setting her up. Maya’s sister also gives mixed signals, while never wavering in her support of Maya.
This is a well written, realistic feeling, slow burn romance. Hard topics are handled carefully. I would have liked a few lighter moments but that isn’t this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the eARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.
Maya Sanchez is starting over by moving to her home town in Arizona to be near her sister. She’s been a widow of 18 months and is still trying to figure out how to be a single parent to her four year old daughter Emmie. She hires Nolan Wright as the contractor for the repairs to her fixer-upper house she purchases. Maya struggles with grief and gives security to Emmie. Nolan has her own struggles as she is still recovering from a rough childhood and is currently sober and attending AA meetings.
I think the story hits many of the poignant moments just right. Nolan’s loneliness and daily struggle with sobriety. Maya has to deal with attraction to a new person and what it means to move on. These things felt very real. Emmie has her moments too as she adjusts to her new home. I like that the story covers months, not weeks, so there is time for the organic feelings to grow. I would have liked a little more from the friends and sister. Friends and family can often bring humor and extra zip to the book. Sadly I didn’t like that Nolan’s friend doesn’t listen to what she needs or wants, pushing her to come be social in bars and setting her up. Maya’s sister also gives mixed signals, while never wavering in her support of Maya.
This is a well written, realistic feeling, slow burn romance. Hard topics are handled carefully. I would have liked a few lighter moments but that isn’t this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the eARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.
October 8, 2025
Maya Sanchez is trying her best to recover from a family tragedy for both her and her four-year old daughter, Emmie. Maya's wife, Dantas, was killed by a drunk driver while Dantas was on her way to Emmie's dance recital in Chicago. Now eighteen months later, Maya and Emmie pack up all of their belongings and move closer to family in a small town just outside Prescott, Arizona. Maya hopes to make a fresh start for her and her daughter and has purchased an old home with the help of her sister, Izzy. The home is about a hundred years old, so a major renovation is in order. After recommendations from Izzy and friend Johnnie, Maya hires skilled contractor Nolan Wright to help her with the house re-design and renovation.
Like Maya, Nolan is trying to move forward with her life following a number of years in the Army as well as other past issues that she works on daily to overcome. Although neither woman is looking for romance there is a strong connection that forms between them through their day-to-day renovation work and interactions. In addition, Nolan is really great with young Emmie and forms a bond with her as well.
When Love Comes Around was a raw, gritty book about real people forced to manage tragic circumstances and try to piece their lives back together. The authors did a wonderful job conveying the emotions, fears, and hopes of both of the main characters along with the input of the secondary characters such as Izzy and Emmie. This was a moving story that tugged at the reader's heartstrings and demonstrated that hope for a brighter future is possible. 4.25 stars
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Like Maya, Nolan is trying to move forward with her life following a number of years in the Army as well as other past issues that she works on daily to overcome. Although neither woman is looking for romance there is a strong connection that forms between them through their day-to-day renovation work and interactions. In addition, Nolan is really great with young Emmie and forms a bond with her as well.
When Love Comes Around was a raw, gritty book about real people forced to manage tragic circumstances and try to piece their lives back together. The authors did a wonderful job conveying the emotions, fears, and hopes of both of the main characters along with the input of the secondary characters such as Izzy and Emmie. This was a moving story that tugged at the reader's heartstrings and demonstrated that hope for a brighter future is possible. 4.25 stars
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2025
A beautiful romance about starting over and finding love
This beautiful romance tugged on my heartstrings from start to finish. Two main characters, both struggling, both reeling, both starting over: this is a character-driven romance at its best. Add a great child (okay, I am a sucker for kids and Emmie is great), a hot butch/femme dynamic (toolbelt alarm!) and real emotional tragedy and said heartstrings are happily humming along.
Maya (and her young daughter) starts her new life moving back to her home-town in Northern Arizona after the accidental death of her wife. Nolan starts her new life recovering from drinking and now taking control of her life.
Both struggle: there is grief, regret - both don‘t expect love coming around for them. Then their paths collide: Maya needs a contractor to refurbish her fixer-upper, Nolan offers the services of her construction company. Sparks fly. But secrets are lurking.
I loved the mature, beautiful writing, the perfect pacing and the core values shining through: love coming in unexpected places, family sticking together, resilience despite tragedy, redemption as a possibility.
A warm-hearted romance for those times when you want to know that even in desperate times love and better times can come around.
I received an ARC. The review is left voluntarily.
This beautiful romance tugged on my heartstrings from start to finish. Two main characters, both struggling, both reeling, both starting over: this is a character-driven romance at its best. Add a great child (okay, I am a sucker for kids and Emmie is great), a hot butch/femme dynamic (toolbelt alarm!) and real emotional tragedy and said heartstrings are happily humming along.
Maya (and her young daughter) starts her new life moving back to her home-town in Northern Arizona after the accidental death of her wife. Nolan starts her new life recovering from drinking and now taking control of her life.
Both struggle: there is grief, regret - both don‘t expect love coming around for them. Then their paths collide: Maya needs a contractor to refurbish her fixer-upper, Nolan offers the services of her construction company. Sparks fly. But secrets are lurking.
I loved the mature, beautiful writing, the perfect pacing and the core values shining through: love coming in unexpected places, family sticking together, resilience despite tragedy, redemption as a possibility.
A warm-hearted romance for those times when you want to know that even in desperate times love and better times can come around.
I received an ARC. The review is left voluntarily.
October 3, 2025
I simply loved the atmosphere that Radclyffe and Ronica Black created in this book.
It seems quite familiar to me, as I have read almost all of their books, and that is why I liked it so much.
A thoroughly successful collaboration.
The story is difficult, sad and vulnerable, but at the same time both MCs are trying to start anew.
They slowly get closer to each other, but there is an attraction from the very first moment.
Nolan is fascinated by Maya, from the very first second. However, Maya is sad, hurt, grieving and worried about her little daughter, but also so beautiful.
Both inside and out.
This beautiful woman is firmly anchored in Nolan's thoughts. Maya feels comfortable in her presence.
She is warm and radiates security.
She has incredible blue eyes and a shyness, kindness and good-heartedness that she finds heartwarming.
She is also so good with Emmie, her little daughter.
But there is also something mysterious surrounding her.
It's about accepting life as complicated as it is and working together on past mistakes and pain, and on healing.
You need time in life to process difficult things, so why not take a second chance together?
Thanks so much to Bold Strokes Books and the Authors for the ARC. I really enjoyed this gentle romance!
This is my honest review.
It seems quite familiar to me, as I have read almost all of their books, and that is why I liked it so much.
A thoroughly successful collaboration.
The story is difficult, sad and vulnerable, but at the same time both MCs are trying to start anew.
They slowly get closer to each other, but there is an attraction from the very first moment.
Nolan is fascinated by Maya, from the very first second. However, Maya is sad, hurt, grieving and worried about her little daughter, but also so beautiful.
Both inside and out.
This beautiful woman is firmly anchored in Nolan's thoughts. Maya feels comfortable in her presence.
She is warm and radiates security.
She has incredible blue eyes and a shyness, kindness and good-heartedness that she finds heartwarming.
She is also so good with Emmie, her little daughter.
But there is also something mysterious surrounding her.
It's about accepting life as complicated as it is and working together on past mistakes and pain, and on healing.
You need time in life to process difficult things, so why not take a second chance together?
Thanks so much to Bold Strokes Books and the Authors for the ARC. I really enjoyed this gentle romance!
This is my honest review.
October 5, 2025
It was delightful to read about how two broken souls find joy and love in life again. Maya is finally strong enough to move on with a new life with her daughter Emmie getting a new house close to her family. It is a great step to find solace for them both after Dantas died. The house is for sure a fixer upper just like she is and when Nolan is sent to her by her cousin Johnny, we know that perhaps not only their house will be fixed but also their hearts. Nolan is amazing from the start with the house and seeing Maya and her daughter and treating them in such a wonderful way. Of course, a lot of things to overcome to get to that happy place, they both have such a baggage. To read how they fall in love and heal each other is so sweet.
I would have loved the book even more if more details on the before was in, that would have enhanced the story in my mind. More details on how happy Maya was with Dantas, how utterly devastated she was for fifteen months after she had passed and Nolan’s partying days, struggle with alcoholism and how she managed to break off from that. Now we get to know them when they already are somewhat healed and that is nice but gives a bit too little angst to the story.
I received a free ARC via NetGalley and leave a review voluntarily.
I would have loved the book even more if more details on the before was in, that would have enhanced the story in my mind. More details on how happy Maya was with Dantas, how utterly devastated she was for fifteen months after she had passed and Nolan’s partying days, struggle with alcoholism and how she managed to break off from that. Now we get to know them when they already are somewhat healed and that is nice but gives a bit too little angst to the story.
I received a free ARC via NetGalley and leave a review voluntarily.
October 14, 2025
When Love Comes Around starts off with the death of a main character’s wife (off-page). In many ways, this is a very heavy book that deals with grief and alcoholism and survival. Maya moves back to her hometown with her young daughter, looking to start anew after the loss of her wife, after about 18 months. They’ve moved into a fixer-upper, and contractor Nolan is the one who is going to be doing a lot of the fixing up with her crew. Nolan is an alcoholic who has been sober for roughly the same period of time Maya has been a widow. Neither is necessarily ready for a relationship, but the attraction is definitely there.
It’s not much of a spoiler that Maya’s wife was killed by a drunk driver, so it is looming for the reader about when she will find out Nolan is an alcoholic The novel takes its time to slowly inch the characters closer together, but it never feels burdensome.
I don’t feel like I can quite nail down what is going on in the head of Maya’s sister, and the appearance of an old fling of Nolan’s seems almost superfluous, but overall this is an excellent book.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It’s not much of a spoiler that Maya’s wife was killed by a drunk driver, so it is looming for the reader about when she will find out Nolan is an alcoholic The novel takes its time to slowly inch the characters closer together, but it never feels burdensome.
I don’t feel like I can quite nail down what is going on in the head of Maya’s sister, and the appearance of an old fling of Nolan’s seems almost superfluous, but overall this is an excellent book.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2025
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and the authors for the ARC of this book! I binged it in a single day! Maya & Nolan’s story together is complicated and their stories individually are full of heartbreak, complications and the unknown of wha the future holds for them.
Maya has just lost the love of her life and the mother of her daughter. Nolan is struggling to even think about the future let alone let it happen. When Maya buys a house as a way to start over she meets Nolan who will be doing the renovation of Maya’s new home.
These characters were both so complicated and had so much going on in their individual lives. Both are riddled with heartbreak and struggle to just get through the day. I loved how the authors didn’t shy away from the tough themes in this book, how they made it seem like real life and not a fairy tale. Life is hard and complicated and we got a good glimpse it in this book.
Maya has just lost the love of her life and the mother of her daughter. Nolan is struggling to even think about the future let alone let it happen. When Maya buys a house as a way to start over she meets Nolan who will be doing the renovation of Maya’s new home.
These characters were both so complicated and had so much going on in their individual lives. Both are riddled with heartbreak and struggle to just get through the day. I loved how the authors didn’t shy away from the tough themes in this book, how they made it seem like real life and not a fairy tale. Life is hard and complicated and we got a good glimpse it in this book.
September 27, 2025
Co-authors Radclyffe and Black have written an excellent book that takes on the topic of alcoholism and recovery as well as grief and recovery. The two main adult characters, Maya and Nolan, are well developed as is Maya’s five-year-old daughter Emmie. The story stays far away from being maudlin even though there is plenty of angst, but it never drags the story down and makes sense considering the main topics of the book.The love scenes are well written, sweet, and graphic. Even though there are two authors, the book is written seamlessly and readers will be hard pressed to determine who wrote what.
If you’re a fan of Radclyffe, you’ll love this book because it will remind you why you became a fan in the first place. If you’re a fan of Ronica Black, you’ll enjoy this book, too, and it will garner Black additional fans.
My thanks to Bold Strokes Books for an eArc.
If you’re a fan of Radclyffe, you’ll love this book because it will remind you why you became a fan in the first place. If you’re a fan of Ronica Black, you’ll enjoy this book, too, and it will garner Black additional fans.
My thanks to Bold Strokes Books for an eArc.
October 20, 2025
Loss of a love one, so very sad and you ask yourself again and again, how do I go on. In this story, you go home. Maya Sanchez and her four year old daughter, Emmie find themselves in a house that is in need of repair/renovation. Nolan Wright, Army veteran, skilled contractor and living one day at a time takes the job. As the story unfolds, Nolan and Maya find themselves drawn to each other. I must say, Emmie is adorable. This read presents some tough issues that had me thinking about the challenges each of them faces and how they will deal with them. I loved the internal strength of each woman and was cheering for a "right" outcome for each of them and Emmie. Really liked Maya's sister, Izzy. We all need someone in our corner pushing/pulling/supporting/annoying.
ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley
ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley
October 23, 2025
I'm a huge fan of Radclyffe and I'm enjoying her co-written novels. Especially if it means we get more books ;-) This is typical lesfic fare with Maya and her small daughter Emmie starting again in Maya's home town after the accidental death of Maya's wife. She hires Nolan to help her rebuild the rundown house she's bought and the two become firm friends. Nolan becomes firm friends with Emmie as well.
The issue that for me lifts this from a 3* to a 4* is the way the authors tackle Nolan's alcoholism. It isn't romanticised, it isn't a convenient here and gone plot point, it's a life changing day at a time existence which impacts the people around her. Maya's sister Izzy is well developed and her attitude to Nolan felt 'real'.
A well written entertaining book with a delightful child character and a tight plot.
I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley
The issue that for me lifts this from a 3* to a 4* is the way the authors tackle Nolan's alcoholism. It isn't romanticised, it isn't a convenient here and gone plot point, it's a life changing day at a time existence which impacts the people around her. Maya's sister Izzy is well developed and her attitude to Nolan felt 'real'.
A well written entertaining book with a delightful child character and a tight plot.
I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley
October 23, 2025
4.5 stars
Three years and 500+ Sapphic books, and I have never read a Radclyffe or Ronica Black book until now. That apparently needs to change because this is such a moving story about finding love after loss and taking recovery one day at a time. I love Maya as a mom and Nolan immediately endeared herself to me based on how she treated Emmie. I also appreciated the portrayal of alcohol addiction and how much it affects Nolan's life. I would have liked some more insight into Nolan's Army career and maybe how the drinking mentality in the military impacted her. I also wanted Nolan to develop some boundaries about her friend continuing to push her to show up at the bar. The romance was sweet and considerate, and I had a good time reading this.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
Three years and 500+ Sapphic books, and I have never read a Radclyffe or Ronica Black book until now. That apparently needs to change because this is such a moving story about finding love after loss and taking recovery one day at a time. I love Maya as a mom and Nolan immediately endeared herself to me based on how she treated Emmie. I also appreciated the portrayal of alcohol addiction and how much it affects Nolan's life. I would have liked some more insight into Nolan's Army career and maybe how the drinking mentality in the military impacted her. I also wanted Nolan to develop some boundaries about her friend continuing to push her to show up at the bar. The romance was sweet and considerate, and I had a good time reading this.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
October 15, 2025
What a treat to read a book co-written by two of my favorite authors. I read their Xena fan fiction stories back in the day, and they were very well done.
I was grabbed from the first few pages, and didn’t want to stop reading. I was touched by Maya’s and Emmie’s profound grief after losing Dantas. Sweet Nolan provided strength and love to them both. Maya provided strength and love to Nolan to help with her recovery, after a bit of angst.
There were well written love scenes, which is no surprise from these two ladies. The characters were well described, which I always appreciate. I truly hope the authors can collaborate on a sequel. After all, Maya did say she wanted another, right? Hint, hint.🙏😁
I want to thank Net Galley for the ARC, and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
I was grabbed from the first few pages, and didn’t want to stop reading. I was touched by Maya’s and Emmie’s profound grief after losing Dantas. Sweet Nolan provided strength and love to them both. Maya provided strength and love to Nolan to help with her recovery, after a bit of angst.
There were well written love scenes, which is no surprise from these two ladies. The characters were well described, which I always appreciate. I truly hope the authors can collaborate on a sequel. After all, Maya did say she wanted another, right? Hint, hint.🙏😁
I want to thank Net Galley for the ARC, and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
October 24, 2025
This was a sweet story in which both main characters had to do the emotional work of healing from their pasts in order to make their relationship work. Both of their backgrounds/histories felt realistic and relatable and I enjoyed the way they connected and respected each other throughout the novel. This novel definitely tackles tough topics that make for an emotionally intense read, but the situations all felt handled with care and compassion. Would definitely recommend this book to someone looking for a not-so-light read with a satisfying ending.
I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley.
I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley.
November 2, 2025
I must say I really enjoyed this book. The reason why I enjoyed it so much was I went in expecting a lot of angst because of the theme & it being written by Radclyffe & Ronica Black but I was pleasantly surprised that the angst was the perfect amount. I can’t even think of one thing that I would change about the book. How can you go wrong with mature, strong leads, adorable kids & puppies! One thing I’d like to see in the future is a romance between Izzy & Aisley. I think they would make a perfect couple too.
(I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review)
(I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review)
October 2, 2025
This was a great collaboration between Black and Radclyffe. It was a great read and I enjoyed it a lot.
It was a beautifully heartbreaking story between Nolan and Maya. Maya and Nolan meet when Maya hires Nolan to renovate a house she bought for her and her daughter. It was full of spice, emotions and family dynamics.
My only gripe would be it ended too soon, there seems to be more story to be told and not all the loose ends were tied up. It was a still a good story though.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It was a beautifully heartbreaking story between Nolan and Maya. Maya and Nolan meet when Maya hires Nolan to renovate a house she bought for her and her daughter. It was full of spice, emotions and family dynamics.
My only gripe would be it ended too soon, there seems to be more story to be told and not all the loose ends were tied up. It was a still a good story though.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2025
Two mains in life transitions build opportunities to explore a new chapter together with the cutest little human and pup for an HEA. Is the story believable? Not really, but I have never read fiction for it to mimic everyday life. That being said- it’s a tough read. Lots of sorrow and grief weaved into heavy words and another soul battling the bottle but over a year into sobriety. Tough topics but handled with care. There are wonderful moments mixed in with heartbreaking flashbacks. In the end, you route for these women to find happiness together because they deserve the world.
November 30, 2025
A very tender love story about life and death and learning to heal and love again. The story is very believable and the character could be modeled after members of your family and close friends. Radclyffe's writing is fantastic as always. I've read all her books several times and my high opinion of her writing is always the same. I have also read several of Ronica Black's books. Radclyffe's and Black's writing styles blends beautifully. Be sure to pick up a copy of this book and enjoy a nice day of reading.
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