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Rival Hearts
Have Your Heart Again
One week. One choice. One impossible man.
I have one week to marry a Hale or lose everything. My mother's ranch. Her legacy. The only piece of her I have left. All of it gone unless I swallow every ounce of pride and propose to the one man I've spent years trying to forget.
Trigger Hale. My childhood enemy. My high school... complicated. The man at the center of all my problems is now my only solution.
So, when I corner him at my best friend's wedding with a desperate proposal, I expect rejection. Instead, he says yes.
The
One year of fake marriage.
Separate bedrooms.
Nobody knows the truth.
Simple. Temporary. Nothing more.
Except nothing about Trigger Hale has ever been simple. Not the way his touch sets my skin on fire. Not the way he looks at me like this was never fake for him. Not the history we both refuse to talk about.
And definitely not his only "Marry me. Right here, right now."
They say you should keep your enemies close. What happens when you marry one?
I have one week to marry a Hale or lose everything. My mother's ranch. Her legacy. The only piece of her I have left. All of it gone unless I swallow every ounce of pride and propose to the one man I've spent years trying to forget.
Trigger Hale. My childhood enemy. My high school... complicated. The man at the center of all my problems is now my only solution.
So, when I corner him at my best friend's wedding with a desperate proposal, I expect rejection. Instead, he says yes.
The
One year of fake marriage.
Separate bedrooms.
Nobody knows the truth.
Simple. Temporary. Nothing more.
Except nothing about Trigger Hale has ever been simple. Not the way his touch sets my skin on fire. Not the way he looks at me like this was never fake for him. Not the history we both refuse to talk about.
And definitely not his only "Marry me. Right here, right now."
They say you should keep your enemies close. What happens when you marry one?
396 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2026
About the author
L.A. Ferro
14 books772 followersL.A. Ferro has had a love for storytelling her entire life. For as long as she can remember she put herself to sleep plotting stories in her head. That thirst for a good tale led her to books where she became an avid reader.
The unapologetically dramatic characters, steamy scenes, and happily ever afters found inside the pages of romance novels irrevocably transformed her. The world of romance ran away with her heart, and she knew her passion for love would be her craft.
When she’s not trailing after one of her three crazy kids, she loves to construct messy ‘happily ever afters’ that take her readers on a journey full of angst, lust, and obsession with page-turning enchantment.
Chasing her literary dreams, she hopes to captivate her readers with the stories that have lived rent-free in her mind for years. As an avid reader, dominant alpha males and feisty heroines have always stolen her heart and she is optimistic her books will bring the same amount of heart and heat that inspired her.
Keep In Touch
https://www.facebook.com/L.A.Ferro.au...
https://www.amazon.com/author/laferro
The unapologetically dramatic characters, steamy scenes, and happily ever afters found inside the pages of romance novels irrevocably transformed her. The world of romance ran away with her heart, and she knew her passion for love would be her craft.
When she’s not trailing after one of her three crazy kids, she loves to construct messy ‘happily ever afters’ that take her readers on a journey full of angst, lust, and obsession with page-turning enchantment.
Chasing her literary dreams, she hopes to captivate her readers with the stories that have lived rent-free in her mind for years. As an avid reader, dominant alpha males and feisty heroines have always stolen her heart and she is optimistic her books will bring the same amount of heart and heat that inspired her.
Keep In Touch
https://www.facebook.com/L.A.Ferro.au...
https://www.amazon.com/author/laferro
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
April 4, 2026
I’m going to be honest, Asha was not giving main character energy. She came across as a whiny brat who ran away every chance she got. It felt like she had no real reason to act the way she did throughout the entire book. Trigger deserved so much better, and honestly, one of my favorite moments was when he finally stood up for himself.
One of my biggest issues with this book is how many storylines were thrown in without being fully developed or making sense. The secret family had nothing to do with the plot. Her dad’s big secret that he guarded so intensely was not even that impactful. Then there is Trig saying he would not keep secrets from her, yet she never finds out about her best friend and her dad having an affair. I understand that may be set up for the next book, but it still felt incomplete here.
At times it honestly felt like entire chapters were missing. There are multiple references to events from the first book and important plot points that are never actually shown, which made it feel like I skipped parts of the story. Another issue is the timeline. She runs away during senior year, and then years later they reunite, but we never actually see that first reunion. It is mentioned that they had several run ins, but those seem to happen off page or possibly in the first book.
The reason behind their marriage also felt misleading and did not fully land for me.
Overall, this book was a struggle to finish. I stuck with it because I had already invested so much time and kept hoping it would get better, but unfortunately it never really did for me.
One of my biggest issues with this book is how many storylines were thrown in without being fully developed or making sense. The secret family had nothing to do with the plot. Her dad’s big secret that he guarded so intensely was not even that impactful. Then there is Trig saying he would not keep secrets from her, yet she never finds out about her best friend and her dad having an affair. I understand that may be set up for the next book, but it still felt incomplete here.
At times it honestly felt like entire chapters were missing. There are multiple references to events from the first book and important plot points that are never actually shown, which made it feel like I skipped parts of the story. Another issue is the timeline. She runs away during senior year, and then years later they reunite, but we never actually see that first reunion. It is mentioned that they had several run ins, but those seem to happen off page or possibly in the first book.
The reason behind their marriage also felt misleading and did not fully land for me.
Overall, this book was a struggle to finish. I stuck with it because I had already invested so much time and kept hoping it would get better, but unfortunately it never really did for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2026
ARC Review . Happy Release Day!! 🎉📚
This book didn’t gently pull me in… it threw me straight into emotional chaos—and I loved every second of it.
Enemies to lovers ✔️
Fake marriage ✔️
Years of tension, history, and feelings that never went away ✔️
Asha and Trigger Hale? COMPLEX. Messy. Addictive.
Asha is such a strong, determined character. She’s fiercely protective of her home and her mother’s legacy, and that makes her incredibly easy to root for—even when her stubbornness gets in her way.
And Trigger… wow. He’s complicated in the best way. Beneath all the tension and conflict, there’s something steady and patient about him. The way he shows up for Asha, even when she tries to push him away, adds so much emotional weight to their story.
Their dynamic is exactly what you want from an enemies-to-lovers romance—sharp banter, lingering tension, and moments where it’s painfully obvious they’re fighting feelings they don’t want to admit. But underneath all of that is a connection that never really disappeared.
“Marry me. Right here, right now.”
Yeah… I had to pause after that one.
This story isn’t just romance—it’s about old wounds, pride, loyalty, and a love that refuses to stay buried.
To @l.a.ferro : sending you a HUGE thank you for allowing me to be part of your team for Have Your Heart Again. You killed it with Don’t Take the Girl and then you just went and did it again. I knew I was gonna fall so hard for this one 💜
#bookstagram #romancereads #newrelease #bookreview #bookcommunity
This book didn’t gently pull me in… it threw me straight into emotional chaos—and I loved every second of it.
Enemies to lovers ✔️
Fake marriage ✔️
Years of tension, history, and feelings that never went away ✔️
Asha and Trigger Hale? COMPLEX. Messy. Addictive.
Asha is such a strong, determined character. She’s fiercely protective of her home and her mother’s legacy, and that makes her incredibly easy to root for—even when her stubbornness gets in her way.
And Trigger… wow. He’s complicated in the best way. Beneath all the tension and conflict, there’s something steady and patient about him. The way he shows up for Asha, even when she tries to push him away, adds so much emotional weight to their story.
Their dynamic is exactly what you want from an enemies-to-lovers romance—sharp banter, lingering tension, and moments where it’s painfully obvious they’re fighting feelings they don’t want to admit. But underneath all of that is a connection that never really disappeared.
“Marry me. Right here, right now.”
Yeah… I had to pause after that one.
This story isn’t just romance—it’s about old wounds, pride, loyalty, and a love that refuses to stay buried.
To @l.a.ferro : sending you a HUGE thank you for allowing me to be part of your team for Have Your Heart Again. You killed it with Don’t Take the Girl and then you just went and did it again. I knew I was gonna fall so hard for this one 💜
#bookstagram #romancereads #newrelease #bookreview #bookcommunity
March 29, 2026
Going to be honest
I struggled to finish this and I may have skipped the middle of the book - I just couldn’t connect or like Asha, she was frustrating and very much unlikable for me.
I actually think that Trigger deserved better 😆
I struggled to finish this and I may have skipped the middle of the book - I just couldn’t connect or like Asha, she was frustrating and very much unlikable for me.
I actually think that Trigger deserved better 😆
March 20, 2026
BOOK REVIEW: Have Your Heart Again by L.A. Ferro
Have Your Heart Again is the next book in the Rival Hearts series by L.A. Ferro and it’ll have you on an emotional roller coaster that you won’t want to get off of!
Asha and Trigger Hale are childhood enemies, high school nemeses and their families are in a decades old fued. They have been in each other’s orbit since childhood. But despite their complicated history and years of misunderstandings and missed opportunities, the universe somehow keeps pulling Asha and Trigger back together.
After an old family secret comes to light, Asha realizes she has one week to marry a Hale or her family land and the last pieces of her mother will be lost. So she and Trigger make a deal. They will get married for one year, she will get her land back and help him with a business deal and they will go their separate ways. But what Asha doesn’t know is that Trigger Hale has no intention of letting her go!
What to expect:
💜enemies to lovers
💜slow burn
💜marriage of convenience/fake relationship
💜sooooo much tension and angst!
💜secrets, lies and suspense
💜just the right amount of spice
💜dual POV
This story has so much more depth than your typical romance! It will keep you on the edge of your seat with the suspense of all of the secrets and lies. Have Your Heart Again is an emotional love story that you will not want to put down! I highly recommend it and can’t wait for the next book in the series! (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫)
Thank you to L.A. Ferro for the opportunity to read an eARC of Have Your Heart Again. All options in this review are my own.
Have Your Heart Again is the next book in the Rival Hearts series by L.A. Ferro and it’ll have you on an emotional roller coaster that you won’t want to get off of!
Asha and Trigger Hale are childhood enemies, high school nemeses and their families are in a decades old fued. They have been in each other’s orbit since childhood. But despite their complicated history and years of misunderstandings and missed opportunities, the universe somehow keeps pulling Asha and Trigger back together.
After an old family secret comes to light, Asha realizes she has one week to marry a Hale or her family land and the last pieces of her mother will be lost. So she and Trigger make a deal. They will get married for one year, she will get her land back and help him with a business deal and they will go their separate ways. But what Asha doesn’t know is that Trigger Hale has no intention of letting her go!
What to expect:
💜enemies to lovers
💜slow burn
💜marriage of convenience/fake relationship
💜sooooo much tension and angst!
💜secrets, lies and suspense
💜just the right amount of spice
💜dual POV
This story has so much more depth than your typical romance! It will keep you on the edge of your seat with the suspense of all of the secrets and lies. Have Your Heart Again is an emotional love story that you will not want to put down! I highly recommend it and can’t wait for the next book in the series! (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫)
Thank you to L.A. Ferro for the opportunity to read an eARC of Have Your Heart Again. All options in this review are my own.
March 9, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/5 stars!)
Have Your Heart Again by L.A. Ferro completely wrecked me in the best possible way and is hands down my absolute favorite book I have read to date.
From the first page, I was pulled into a storm of buried history, unresolved tension, and heart-aching emotion that only got deeper with every chapter. LA’s mastermind storytelling and beautiful wordsmith writing made every moment feel raw, intense, and impossible to look away from.
The enemies to lovers dynamic, the forced fake marriage, and the years of complicated history between the heroine and Trigger Hale created the kind of angst that hurts so good.
Every look, every touch, every unspoken truth between them carried so much weight that I felt it in my chest. This story gave me all the feelings—longing, heartbreak, hope, and a love that refuses to stay buried.
I absolutely loved this book with my whole heart. If you love emotional, angsty romance that grabs ahold of you and refuses to let go, Have Your Heart Again will completely consume you.
A million percent recommended✔️
P.S. - TRIGG is my forever cowboy love 💕 -
Have Your Heart Again by L.A. Ferro completely wrecked me in the best possible way and is hands down my absolute favorite book I have read to date.
From the first page, I was pulled into a storm of buried history, unresolved tension, and heart-aching emotion that only got deeper with every chapter. LA’s mastermind storytelling and beautiful wordsmith writing made every moment feel raw, intense, and impossible to look away from.
The enemies to lovers dynamic, the forced fake marriage, and the years of complicated history between the heroine and Trigger Hale created the kind of angst that hurts so good.
Every look, every touch, every unspoken truth between them carried so much weight that I felt it in my chest. This story gave me all the feelings—longing, heartbreak, hope, and a love that refuses to stay buried.
I absolutely loved this book with my whole heart. If you love emotional, angsty romance that grabs ahold of you and refuses to let go, Have Your Heart Again will completely consume you.
A million percent recommended✔️
P.S. - TRIGG is my forever cowboy love 💕 -
March 27, 2026
Asha and Trigger’s story is here and it’s oh so angsty. They have this special connection right from the moment they meet on the playground…but right away Asha understands right away they are from rival families. Later on fate intervenes again and that connection is there in high school and then later into adulthood. I love a good marriage of convenience and this one brought alll the tension!
What I loved most was how both Trigger and Asha had so many layers to them, and it’s quite the journey to peel them back. She’s strong and stubborn (with some trust issues!) and fighting for her legacy. Trigger had a complicated past - but one thins is clear - underneath he has deep feelings for her and isn’t going to let go without a fight!
"Sometime the bravest thing you can do is live anyway. Love anyway. Hope anyway!"
✨What To Expect:
🤠Cowboy Romance
❤️🔥Enemies To Lovers
🌾Small Town
⚔️Rival Ranches
💍Fake Marriage
💋Secret Pen Pals
🔥Angsty Slow Burn
🌦️Reverse Grumpy Sunshine
What I loved most was how both Trigger and Asha had so many layers to them, and it’s quite the journey to peel them back. She’s strong and stubborn (with some trust issues!) and fighting for her legacy. Trigger had a complicated past - but one thins is clear - underneath he has deep feelings for her and isn’t going to let go without a fight!
"Sometime the bravest thing you can do is live anyway. Love anyway. Hope anyway!"
✨What To Expect:
🤠Cowboy Romance
❤️🔥Enemies To Lovers
🌾Small Town
⚔️Rival Ranches
💍Fake Marriage
💋Secret Pen Pals
🔥Angsty Slow Burn
🌦️Reverse Grumpy Sunshine
April 3, 2026
Will this book hangover ever go away???
I don’t even know where to start. Yet another one of LA’s books has gripped me so hard, it just won’t let go. I’ve already read it twice! Even through the second read, I couldn’t put it down. IT’S. THAT. GREAT!
After meeting Trigger in bk1, I didn’t anticipate him to be so deep, so big, so emotional. Loved him to pieces. He is definitely one of my favourite book boyfriends of all time. And Asha, her story wrecked me. I even felt sorry for her father at the end.
I have such a book hangover. Not me over here, considering reading it for the third time. I’m loving these Rival Heart Standalones and can’t wait to see what comes next from this author!
I don’t even know where to start. Yet another one of LA’s books has gripped me so hard, it just won’t let go. I’ve already read it twice! Even through the second read, I couldn’t put it down. IT’S. THAT. GREAT!
After meeting Trigger in bk1, I didn’t anticipate him to be so deep, so big, so emotional. Loved him to pieces. He is definitely one of my favourite book boyfriends of all time. And Asha, her story wrecked me. I even felt sorry for her father at the end.
I have such a book hangover. Not me over here, considering reading it for the third time. I’m loving these Rival Heart Standalones and can’t wait to see what comes next from this author!
March 20, 2026
Have Your Heart Again
Enemies to Lovers
Rival Ranches
Secret Pen Pals
Cowboy Romance
Fake Marriage
Slow Burn
L.A. Ferro is in her YEARNING era and I cannot get enough!
READ. THIS. BOOK. NOW.
Trigger Hale needs a wife to close on a merger. Asha Fairfield needs a husband to keep her land.
“You’re delusional.”
“And you’re my wife.”
Trigg and Asha have history, buried history. The girl that doesn’t let anyone get close and the boy that’s loved her his whole life. Have Your Heart Again is a love story that hooks you from the first page and doesn’t let go. Infinite stars!
I could not put this book down. There is so much tension, pain, and heartbreak between these pages. THE YEARNING! Trigger Hale owns my heart. This slow burn hurts so good and the enemies to lovers tension had me hanging on by a thread.
This is not your typical cowboy romance. This is a hard-fought love story that feels earned. It checks every single box, L.A. Ferro absolutely nailed this one!
Huge thanks to L.A. Ferro and NetGalley for the gifted ARC of Have Your Heart Again.
Enemies to Lovers
Rival Ranches
Secret Pen Pals
Cowboy Romance
Fake Marriage
Slow Burn
L.A. Ferro is in her YEARNING era and I cannot get enough!
READ. THIS. BOOK. NOW.
Trigger Hale needs a wife to close on a merger. Asha Fairfield needs a husband to keep her land.
“You’re delusional.”
“And you’re my wife.”
Trigg and Asha have history, buried history. The girl that doesn’t let anyone get close and the boy that’s loved her his whole life. Have Your Heart Again is a love story that hooks you from the first page and doesn’t let go. Infinite stars!
I could not put this book down. There is so much tension, pain, and heartbreak between these pages. THE YEARNING! Trigger Hale owns my heart. This slow burn hurts so good and the enemies to lovers tension had me hanging on by a thread.
This is not your typical cowboy romance. This is a hard-fought love story that feels earned. It checks every single box, L.A. Ferro absolutely nailed this one!
Huge thanks to L.A. Ferro and NetGalley for the gifted ARC of Have Your Heart Again.
March 22, 2026
I was intrigued by Asha and Trigger when we got crumbs of them in Don’t Take The Girl so I was really looking forward to reading their story! I’m also a sucker for second chance romance, fake dating/marriage, and forbidden love.
I loved all the backstory we received of Asha and Trigger as small children and I ate up their high school lore. I loved their banter and how down bad Trigger was for her! Also for those who are looking for it, their spicy scenes were spicyyyy 🥵 However, I did feel like their romance was very lust forward during their present day storyline. Most of their “good” moments were their spicy scenes.
LA does a great job of going into great detail and making us feel all the things especially towards Asha’s father and feeling skeptical of him, just as they were. Which I felt like was really important to the plot of this book! Another thing she does so well is her plot twists, I never expect them and they’re definitely written in a way that makes them unique to the story.
That being said, I didn’t love the back & forth miscommunication between Asha and Trigger. Towards the end I started to find Asha kind of frustrating because of that, but that is a personal dislike of mine.
2.75⭐️
I loved all the backstory we received of Asha and Trigger as small children and I ate up their high school lore. I loved their banter and how down bad Trigger was for her! Also for those who are looking for it, their spicy scenes were spicyyyy 🥵 However, I did feel like their romance was very lust forward during their present day storyline. Most of their “good” moments were their spicy scenes.
LA does a great job of going into great detail and making us feel all the things especially towards Asha’s father and feeling skeptical of him, just as they were. Which I felt like was really important to the plot of this book! Another thing she does so well is her plot twists, I never expect them and they’re definitely written in a way that makes them unique to the story.
That being said, I didn’t love the back & forth miscommunication between Asha and Trigger. Towards the end I started to find Asha kind of frustrating because of that, but that is a personal dislike of mine.
2.75⭐️
April 8, 2026
Spice: 2
Tropes:
slow burn
enemies to lovers
fake marriage
rival ranches
black cat fmc
Dual POV
I love love love L.A. Ferro. Her Rival Hearts series has become one of my favorites. Is it because it's based in my home state? Is it because the characters destroy you and yet you love them? The tension? The slow burn? I don't know but I highly suggest you read them and find out for yourself lol.
In book 2, we get Trigger and Asha's story! I was dying for it while reading book 1. I knew something was there and I could not wait to see what it was. Definitely read these books in order, FYI. I feel like you'll miss out if you don't. What I loved about Have Your Heart Again was seeing a different side to both Trigger and Asha, but specifically Trigger. When we first met him, he seemed to be an instigator in his brother's relationship, but we learned he was trying to help him by the end. But now... we get inside his head. We see how much obsession and love he carries from childhood into adulthood for Asha - that he's a true golden retriever MMC. One that can see through the pain of Asha, the fear she has and still love her. God, I love Trigger.
Asha though surprised me. The inter-turmoil that she goes through with her relationship with her father, with her relationship with friends, with partners... it broke my heart for her. I wanted to hug her and tell her to just let Trigger in but I think only Trigger would be the one to break those barriers down. To show her she's worth it and she doesn't have to run anymore. Sometimes she made me mad but then I had to remind myself what she's been through, not what she's making Trigger feel in the moment haha.
There's a lot of secrets in this book. And I enjoyed watching them unravel, even when it was painful! But that's why I love LA Ferro. She makes me feel so much when reading her stories, her characters. I feel everything they feel and I think that shows how amazing her writing is for me! We didn't get all the answers yet, but I have a feeling book 3 will blow us wide open!
Tropes:
slow burn
enemies to lovers
fake marriage
rival ranches
black cat fmc
Dual POV
I love love love L.A. Ferro. Her Rival Hearts series has become one of my favorites. Is it because it's based in my home state? Is it because the characters destroy you and yet you love them? The tension? The slow burn? I don't know but I highly suggest you read them and find out for yourself lol.
In book 2, we get Trigger and Asha's story! I was dying for it while reading book 1. I knew something was there and I could not wait to see what it was. Definitely read these books in order, FYI. I feel like you'll miss out if you don't. What I loved about Have Your Heart Again was seeing a different side to both Trigger and Asha, but specifically Trigger. When we first met him, he seemed to be an instigator in his brother's relationship, but we learned he was trying to help him by the end. But now... we get inside his head. We see how much obsession and love he carries from childhood into adulthood for Asha - that he's a true golden retriever MMC. One that can see through the pain of Asha, the fear she has and still love her. God, I love Trigger.
Asha though surprised me. The inter-turmoil that she goes through with her relationship with her father, with her relationship with friends, with partners... it broke my heart for her. I wanted to hug her and tell her to just let Trigger in but I think only Trigger would be the one to break those barriers down. To show her she's worth it and she doesn't have to run anymore. Sometimes she made me mad but then I had to remind myself what she's been through, not what she's making Trigger feel in the moment haha.
There's a lot of secrets in this book. And I enjoyed watching them unravel, even when it was painful! But that's why I love LA Ferro. She makes me feel so much when reading her stories, her characters. I feel everything they feel and I think that shows how amazing her writing is for me! We didn't get all the answers yet, but I have a feeling book 3 will blow us wide open!
April 3, 2026
Have Your Heart Again by L.A. Ferro is a deeply emotional, slow-burn cowboy romance that thrives on angst and long-simmering tension between its leads. Asha Fairfield and Trigger Hale have been intertwined since childhood, their lives shaped by a long-standing rivalry between their families’ ranches. Raised to see each other as enemies and to distrust everything the other’s family represents, they grow up carrying expectations that constantly pull them apart—even as their connection keeps drawing them back together.
When Asha learns she has just one week to marry a Hale or risk losing her childhood home, she turns to the last person she ever expected—Trigger—and proposes a fake marriage.
What stood out most to me was Trigger Hale. He’s truly a top-tier book boyfriend: loyal, unwavering, and completely devoted to Asha, even when she struggles to meet him halfway. The story kept me hooked throughout, and I especially loved the way their history slowly unfolds, adding depth and tension to every interaction.
If you enjoy cowboy romance, this is definitely one to add to your list!
💬 What to Expect:
* Tropes: Rival families, slow burn, small town, cowboy, fake marriage
* Tone: Emotional, angsty, and full of yearning
* Pacing: Steady, with a focus on character development
* Perfect for fans of: Elsie Silver, Lyla Sage, and Bailey Hannah
📝 Final Thoughts:
This book left me feeling deeply invested and a little heart-ached in the best way. I’d recommend it to readers looking for an emotional, character-driven romance with high tension and a satisfying payoff.
When Asha learns she has just one week to marry a Hale or risk losing her childhood home, she turns to the last person she ever expected—Trigger—and proposes a fake marriage.
What stood out most to me was Trigger Hale. He’s truly a top-tier book boyfriend: loyal, unwavering, and completely devoted to Asha, even when she struggles to meet him halfway. The story kept me hooked throughout, and I especially loved the way their history slowly unfolds, adding depth and tension to every interaction.
If you enjoy cowboy romance, this is definitely one to add to your list!
💬 What to Expect:
* Tropes: Rival families, slow burn, small town, cowboy, fake marriage
* Tone: Emotional, angsty, and full of yearning
* Pacing: Steady, with a focus on character development
* Perfect for fans of: Elsie Silver, Lyla Sage, and Bailey Hannah
📝 Final Thoughts:
This book left me feeling deeply invested and a little heart-ached in the best way. I’d recommend it to readers looking for an emotional, character-driven romance with high tension and a satisfying payoff.
April 4, 2026
Persistent and unrelenting. When a man would taking being on your bad side just to be in your life period. We love that type over here. Trig is no exception. He wants Asha so much so that he willing to be the thing that pushes all her adorable, type A buttons. He rode bulls how hard could it be to get 1 year down with the Ice Queen.He only has to take it 8 seconds at a time. Asha how ever doesn't want to let him tame her so easy. She got the spirit of a Mustang and her blood is her families ranch. She always wanted him but he is the enemy. A Hale cant be the way, except she found her self stuck between a rock and a hard place, even if the hard thing is Trigger Hale and he lights her on fire from the inside out. SLOW BURN!!! I love the build up LA always gives us. It never fails to be full of tension just waiting patiently for the EFF it moment.
When Trigger came around that barn in Dont Take the Girl i knew he was gonna be a force for my heart. Asha was the best friend i loved and to see her grow in her own story was great. I enjoyed the moments of the past. I always love good flash back scenes. It makes me feel more intwined into their story when a author does that. Trigger is the cowboy of cowboys yet he cant sework, trust and the path to show her that he really isn't the enemy. There was so much in here and i love when we get a slow burn that starts off as teens and grows with them. if your a fan of enemies to lovers, spice and a great plot, this is a perfect read.em to wrangler Asha the way he wants. She is a strong mustang and to tame her takes a lot of
As usual LA wrote a fantastic slow burn that will live free in my head always.
When Trigger came around that barn in Dont Take the Girl i knew he was gonna be a force for my heart. Asha was the best friend i loved and to see her grow in her own story was great. I enjoyed the moments of the past. I always love good flash back scenes. It makes me feel more intwined into their story when a author does that. Trigger is the cowboy of cowboys yet he cant sework, trust and the path to show her that he really isn't the enemy. There was so much in here and i love when we get a slow burn that starts off as teens and grows with them. if your a fan of enemies to lovers, spice and a great plot, this is a perfect read.em to wrangler Asha the way he wants. She is a strong mustang and to tame her takes a lot of
As usual LA wrote a fantastic slow burn that will live free in my head always.
March 29, 2026
Wow, I devoured this book! I was sucked in from the start of Asha and Trigger’s story. These two have been pulled together since they were little, but fate has a way of getting in the way just like their family rivalry. As these two have to see each other all through high school, Asha starts to see the real Trigger, while Trigger is on a mission to win the girl’s heart that hasn’t left his mind since he first met her. Though life happens and things seem to never fall into place for them and now years later, they are finally back in the same place. Trigger is determined to marry Asha and prove it nots really a business deal and that he’s been all in since the beginning. Meanwhile Asha had a hard time trusting and believing anyone, she only sees their marriage as a deal to keep her mom’s land in the family and it definitely doesn’t go that way. Trigger and Asha take us on a wild ride that will have you feeling all the feels and on the edge of your seat with all the secrets and drama that’s going on around them. I loved their story and could not get enough of these two!
March 22, 2026
L.A. does it again. She never disappoints. She captivated me from the beginning and had me never wanting Asha and Trigger’s story to end. If I can count on one thing from L.A. its to give me a good story that pulls on my heart string and leaves me sitting here contempting if I can even start another book. This is a story of childhood friends who become enemies to lovers. And I’ll tell you those are always the best for me. Marriage of convenience. And of course we got that slow burn romance. LA is very good with slow burn one of the best. This book is laced with ANGST and the banter is top tier. If you like a man that is down bad read this. ALSO…if you haven’t read Don’t Take the Girl… just do it. This Rival Hearts series is so good you don’t want to miss a word!
March 27, 2026
Asha and Trigger’s story…spanning from childhood to love…is messy, complicated, and full of tension, pining, and all the “what could’ve been.” The way their history unfolds creates such an intense angsty slow burn. I could feel the pull between them, even as family secrets and past hurt keep them apart.
The marriage of convenience throws them together in the best way, giving Trigger the chance to finally show his true feelings while forcing Asha to open her heart… and I was completely invested. Add in the slow unraveling of family secrets, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages.
This is the second book in the series. While you can read it as a standalone, I do think you’ll get even more of their history from the first book.
The marriage of convenience throws them together in the best way, giving Trigger the chance to finally show his true feelings while forcing Asha to open her heart… and I was completely invested. Add in the slow unraveling of family secrets, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages.
This is the second book in the series. While you can read it as a standalone, I do think you’ll get even more of their history from the first book.
March 18, 2026
Holy tension! Trigger and Asha’s story tore my heart out, stitched it back up, made me gasp, cry, talk to myself, usually within the same chapter!
Years of wanting each other, loving each other but being too afraid or stubborn just made their ending that much more real. I enjoyed every minute of this book, beautifully done!
Years of wanting each other, loving each other but being too afraid or stubborn just made their ending that much more real. I enjoyed every minute of this book, beautifully done!
March 20, 2026
I loved this book! I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into it because I had only read one other L.A. Ferro book, but I think it was better that way. Asha and Trigger’s story had so many twists and turns and it seemed impossible that they would get their HEA, but I’m so happy they did. I think we can all agree that Trigger is one of the sweetest men, and women everywhere deserve to be loved like he loves Asha. I’m usually not a fan of miscommunication, but in this case I don’t feel it was really miscommunication but rather lack of communicating. Going through the story you get to understand the WHY because Asha herself has been kept in the dark for so long. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the characters, how hard topics were written with care, the found family and chosen family aspect, and the sentiment that we don’t love people DESPITE their flaws or struggles, we love them through it and choose to love them every day anyway. I can’t wait to get my physical copy of the book and add it to my library and I hope to get the next ARC because I know it will be just as amazing if not more so.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My review of Have Your Heart Again by L.A. Ferro begins with pure emotional chaos, the kind that grabs you by the collar and whispers, “Oh you thought this would be a calm little romance? That’s adorable.” Huge thanks to Pine Hollow Publishing and NetGalley for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Let me just say this upfront: this book did not gently pull me into the story. It shoved me straight into a storm of tension, unresolved history, stubborn pride, and one extremely frustrating (and extremely lovable) cowboy. And honestly? I loved every second of it.
At the center of this emotional hurricane are Asha and Trigger Hale. Their story isn’t built on simple dislike or playful rivalry. This is years of complicated history, misunderstandings, buried feelings, and wounds that never really healed. The kind of emotional baggage that makes every conversation feel loaded and every glance feel like it carries ten years of unsaid things.
And then the story opens with Asha doing something completely rational and not at all emotionally reckless… she proposes to her enemy at a wedding.
Because when you only have one week to marry a Hale or lose the ranch your mother built, apparently dignity becomes optional.
The setup alone had me hooked. But what really kept me glued to the pages was the emotional weight behind everything. This isn’t just a fake marriage romance where two people pretend for convenience. It’s two people who have been orbiting each other since childhood, tied together by history, resentment, guilt, and a connection neither of them seems able to escape.
Asha is fierce, stubborn, and deeply protective of the things she loves. Her ranch isn’t just land, it’s her mother’s legacy, her home, her identity. Watching how far she’s willing to go to protect that made her incredibly easy to root for, even when her pride got in her own way.
And Trigger… oh Trigger Hale.
This man is the definition of complicated devotion. Beneath the tension and years of conflict, there’s something steady about him, something patient that made my heart ache the deeper the story went. The way he shows up for Asha, even when she’s determined to keep him at arm’s length, created some of the most emotionally charged moments in the book.
Their dynamic is exactly what an enemies-to-lovers romance should feel like. Sharp banter. Lingering tension. Moments where they’re clearly fighting feelings they’d rather pretend don’t exist. And underneath all of it, a connection that never actually went away.
One line that completely stopped me in my tracks was:
“Marry me. Right here, right now.”
Excuse me, sir??? The audacity. The confidence. The emotional chaos of it all. I had to physically pause reading for a second because the tension in that moment was unreal.
What I appreciated most about this story is how layered it feels. It’s not just about the fake marriage or the rivalry between families. It’s about childhood wounds, loyalty, grief, and the way love can quietly survive years of anger and misunderstanding.
There are moments that hurt. Moments that made me frustrated with these characters because they were so clearly dancing around feelings that refused to stay buried. But those moments also made the emotional payoff feel so much stronger.
This book is absolutely for readers who crave romance with emotional depth. If you love stories where the characters have real history, real tension, and feelings that simmer beneath the surface for years before finally exploding into something undeniable, this one will absolutely grab you.
It’s perfect for readers who enjoy enemies-to-lovers, fake marriage tropes, small-town tension, and characters who are messy, stubborn, and painfully human. The kind of romance where the love story feels earned because both characters have to confront their past before they can move forward.
By the time I reached the final pages, I was completely invested in Asha and Trigger’s journey. Their story pulled me through frustration, heartbreak, longing, and hope, and by the end I felt like I had gone through the emotional wringer with them.
And honestly? I wouldn’t change a thing.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
So now I’m curious… do you love an enemies-to-lovers romance where the tension is fueled by years of history, or are you brave enough to say you’d never fake-marry your childhood enemy to save your family’s legacy?
#HaveYourHeartAgain #LAFerro #BookReview #RomanceReaders #EnemiesToLovers #FakeMarriageTrope #CowboyRomance #RomanceBookstagram #NetGalleyARC #BookstagramReads #RomanceAddict #BookReviewBlog #MustReadRomance
Let me just say this upfront: this book did not gently pull me into the story. It shoved me straight into a storm of tension, unresolved history, stubborn pride, and one extremely frustrating (and extremely lovable) cowboy. And honestly? I loved every second of it.
At the center of this emotional hurricane are Asha and Trigger Hale. Their story isn’t built on simple dislike or playful rivalry. This is years of complicated history, misunderstandings, buried feelings, and wounds that never really healed. The kind of emotional baggage that makes every conversation feel loaded and every glance feel like it carries ten years of unsaid things.
And then the story opens with Asha doing something completely rational and not at all emotionally reckless… she proposes to her enemy at a wedding.
Because when you only have one week to marry a Hale or lose the ranch your mother built, apparently dignity becomes optional.
The setup alone had me hooked. But what really kept me glued to the pages was the emotional weight behind everything. This isn’t just a fake marriage romance where two people pretend for convenience. It’s two people who have been orbiting each other since childhood, tied together by history, resentment, guilt, and a connection neither of them seems able to escape.
Asha is fierce, stubborn, and deeply protective of the things she loves. Her ranch isn’t just land, it’s her mother’s legacy, her home, her identity. Watching how far she’s willing to go to protect that made her incredibly easy to root for, even when her pride got in her own way.
And Trigger… oh Trigger Hale.
This man is the definition of complicated devotion. Beneath the tension and years of conflict, there’s something steady about him, something patient that made my heart ache the deeper the story went. The way he shows up for Asha, even when she’s determined to keep him at arm’s length, created some of the most emotionally charged moments in the book.
Their dynamic is exactly what an enemies-to-lovers romance should feel like. Sharp banter. Lingering tension. Moments where they’re clearly fighting feelings they’d rather pretend don’t exist. And underneath all of it, a connection that never actually went away.
One line that completely stopped me in my tracks was:
“Marry me. Right here, right now.”
Excuse me, sir??? The audacity. The confidence. The emotional chaos of it all. I had to physically pause reading for a second because the tension in that moment was unreal.
What I appreciated most about this story is how layered it feels. It’s not just about the fake marriage or the rivalry between families. It’s about childhood wounds, loyalty, grief, and the way love can quietly survive years of anger and misunderstanding.
There are moments that hurt. Moments that made me frustrated with these characters because they were so clearly dancing around feelings that refused to stay buried. But those moments also made the emotional payoff feel so much stronger.
This book is absolutely for readers who crave romance with emotional depth. If you love stories where the characters have real history, real tension, and feelings that simmer beneath the surface for years before finally exploding into something undeniable, this one will absolutely grab you.
It’s perfect for readers who enjoy enemies-to-lovers, fake marriage tropes, small-town tension, and characters who are messy, stubborn, and painfully human. The kind of romance where the love story feels earned because both characters have to confront their past before they can move forward.
By the time I reached the final pages, I was completely invested in Asha and Trigger’s journey. Their story pulled me through frustration, heartbreak, longing, and hope, and by the end I felt like I had gone through the emotional wringer with them.
And honestly? I wouldn’t change a thing.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
So now I’m curious… do you love an enemies-to-lovers romance where the tension is fueled by years of history, or are you brave enough to say you’d never fake-marry your childhood enemy to save your family’s legacy?
#HaveYourHeartAgain #LAFerro #BookReview #RomanceReaders #EnemiesToLovers #FakeMarriageTrope #CowboyRomance #RomanceBookstagram #NetGalleyARC #BookstagramReads #RomanceAddict #BookReviewBlog #MustReadRomance
April 4, 2026
4.25⭐️ 2🌶️ ARC REVIEW: 📖 HAVE YOUR HEART AGAIN 📖 by L.A. Ferro✨ This is book 2 in the Rival Hearts series. It’s a slow-burn, childhood friends-to-enemies-to-lovers. There’s angst, tension, banter, and family secrets. Asha is strong and stubborn but no matter how much she pushes Trigg away, no matter how many times she fights her feelings, he shows up for her. He’s a down bad, obsessed, ‘I’ll wait forever’ MMC (with a bit of a dirty mouth 😮💨). He may be a patient man but even though their marriage has a 1-year expiration date, he doesn’t have any intention of letting her go. 🤭He’s always known they were inevitable.🥹 It’s an emotional love story with depth that I didn’t want to put down. I highly recommend it, and can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
“Marry me. Right here, right now.”
Asha and Trigger Hale are childhood enemies and their families have been rivals for decades. Despite this history, something keeps pulling Asha and Trigger together. Once an old family secret is exposed, Asha learns she has just one week to get married (to a Hale, no less) or her family’s land will be taken. Since that is the last piece of her mother’s legacy, Asha makes a deal with Trigger. Marry for one year, help Trigger with a business deal, she will get her land back, then they will go their separate ways. The only problem? Trigger doesn’t plan on giving her up at the end. 🤫
Asha is determined and fiercely protective of her mother’s legacy. Her and Trigg have years of a complicated history - tension, conflict, feelings - but ultimately a connection that never went away. Both of them held onto pride, loyalty, family, love, but they also experienced misunderstandings and missed opportunities. Students called her ice queen in school because she constructed this perfectly cold exterior but deep down she built those walls to protect herself. She rarely lets down her guard but Trigg sees the real her beyond her. She thinks that showing you care is a weakness and people can take advantage of you. Letting Trigg in - showing him she cares - wasn’t part of the plan.
❤️ Mine/my wife
❤️ That’s my girl 😮💨
❤️ Look at me 👀
❤️ Tell me what you need
❤️ He talks her through it 😮💨
Favorite quotes:
"Come on, sweetheart. You enjoy driving me crazy. Do your worst."
"Why do you call me that? The least of things I am to you is sweet."
"I see who you really are.”
Everyone I trust leaves. Or uses me. Or proves that my faith in them is just another weakness to exploit.
This was always going to happen. It's always going to come back to her - back to us.
Because she's mine. She was always meant to be mine.
She chose this. Chose me. And now that she has, I'm never letting her go.
“Stop pushing me away. Stop fighting me and making me the enemy. Let me in."
"I've got you. I've got you, Asha."
That sometimes the bravest thing you can do is live anyway. Love anyway. Hope anyway.
"But what if I keep running? What if I can't stop?"
"Then I'll keep coming after you. Every single time, until I have your heart again."
Read this if you like:
*Small town romance
*Cowboy romance
*Marriage of convenience
*Enemies to lovers
*Childhood friends/nemesis
*Rival/feuding families
*Banter
*Slow burn
*Angst/tension
*Secrets/suspense
*Dual POV
Content warning: death of a parent
Thank you to LA Ferro for letting me read and review. All opinions are my own.
“Marry me. Right here, right now.”
Asha and Trigger Hale are childhood enemies and their families have been rivals for decades. Despite this history, something keeps pulling Asha and Trigger together. Once an old family secret is exposed, Asha learns she has just one week to get married (to a Hale, no less) or her family’s land will be taken. Since that is the last piece of her mother’s legacy, Asha makes a deal with Trigger. Marry for one year, help Trigger with a business deal, she will get her land back, then they will go their separate ways. The only problem? Trigger doesn’t plan on giving her up at the end. 🤫
Asha is determined and fiercely protective of her mother’s legacy. Her and Trigg have years of a complicated history - tension, conflict, feelings - but ultimately a connection that never went away. Both of them held onto pride, loyalty, family, love, but they also experienced misunderstandings and missed opportunities. Students called her ice queen in school because she constructed this perfectly cold exterior but deep down she built those walls to protect herself. She rarely lets down her guard but Trigg sees the real her beyond her. She thinks that showing you care is a weakness and people can take advantage of you. Letting Trigg in - showing him she cares - wasn’t part of the plan.
❤️ Mine/my wife
❤️ That’s my girl 😮💨
❤️ Look at me 👀
❤️ Tell me what you need
❤️ He talks her through it 😮💨
Favorite quotes:
"Come on, sweetheart. You enjoy driving me crazy. Do your worst."
"Why do you call me that? The least of things I am to you is sweet."
"I see who you really are.”
Everyone I trust leaves. Or uses me. Or proves that my faith in them is just another weakness to exploit.
This was always going to happen. It's always going to come back to her - back to us.
Because she's mine. She was always meant to be mine.
She chose this. Chose me. And now that she has, I'm never letting her go.
“Stop pushing me away. Stop fighting me and making me the enemy. Let me in."
"I've got you. I've got you, Asha."
That sometimes the bravest thing you can do is live anyway. Love anyway. Hope anyway.
"But what if I keep running? What if I can't stop?"
"Then I'll keep coming after you. Every single time, until I have your heart again."
Read this if you like:
*Small town romance
*Cowboy romance
*Marriage of convenience
*Enemies to lovers
*Childhood friends/nemesis
*Rival/feuding families
*Banter
*Slow burn
*Angst/tension
*Secrets/suspense
*Dual POV
Content warning: death of a parent
Thank you to LA Ferro for letting me read and review. All opinions are my own.
April 6, 2026
“Have Your Heart Again” is the second book in the “Rival Hearts Series” that had me hooked from the start. Once again, as per “Don’t Take The Girl” you are taken on an emotional roller coaster and tissues will be required. Asha Fairfield and Trigger Hale first met at the age of six in preschool. He was sitting atop the monkey bars, hunched over slightly, legs swinging, eyes on the dirt….not looking very healthy. Their ranches are right next to each other….”your ranch is the competition! Your family and mine both breed horses. You're the enemy." They become friends and pinky promise not to tell their dads. She falls off the monkey bars and breaks her arm….they have not seen each other since.
“I'll be standing between her and everything she's ever wanted, holding the deed to her dreams, and there won't be a damn thing she can do but deal with me. Face me. This time, I have something Asha Fairfield wants. Running is no longer an option, and I'm the only road home.”
Alisha has one week to marry a Hale to save her mother’s legacy….Trigger needs a wife for a business merger into breeding rodeo bulls. “It's practical. You need a husband to keep your land. I need a wife to secure my merger. We both get what we want." As Hale land cannot be sold and Trigger cannot give it to her….the options are that she has to stay or produce an heir as their child would be entitled to the land. "This needs to be real. No one can know I'm marrying you for anything other than love. It needs to be convincing. And when I say no one can know, I mean no one. Your brother, Laney, Sydney, and my dad - especially him - they all need to believe we are madly in love." What Asha does not know, Trigger has no intention of ever letting her go….”She chose this. Chose me. And now that she has, I'm never letting her go.”
This book had me hooked from the start. Being a small town cowboy romance, the book will charm “the pants off you” and leave you going back for more. Most of all, this story will make you smile. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful love story. This is a lovely book that will keep you hooked! It has fun, laughs, intrigue, twists that you do not expect, and physical attraction. You will fall in love with Trigger and Asha, hoping that everything with work out for them and a future together.
“My heart instantly starts hammering against my ribs as recognition sinks in, and I search her expression for any sign she remembers me. She's older now. Her baby cheeks are gone, and she's got this whole sophisticated thing going on. Her hair used to be short, but now it flows down her back. But those eyes... Damn, those eyes are exactly the same.”
The more time Trigger and Asha spend together, the more they start enjoying each other’s company and having fun together. A thoroughly enjoyable read from page to page, one chapter to the next - at times you are metaphorical “on the edge of your chair” wondering what will happen next. Cannot wait for the next book in the series! Overall, I would highly recommend this book and you will not be disappointed 😊
“I'll be standing between her and everything she's ever wanted, holding the deed to her dreams, and there won't be a damn thing she can do but deal with me. Face me. This time, I have something Asha Fairfield wants. Running is no longer an option, and I'm the only road home.”
Alisha has one week to marry a Hale to save her mother’s legacy….Trigger needs a wife for a business merger into breeding rodeo bulls. “It's practical. You need a husband to keep your land. I need a wife to secure my merger. We both get what we want." As Hale land cannot be sold and Trigger cannot give it to her….the options are that she has to stay or produce an heir as their child would be entitled to the land. "This needs to be real. No one can know I'm marrying you for anything other than love. It needs to be convincing. And when I say no one can know, I mean no one. Your brother, Laney, Sydney, and my dad - especially him - they all need to believe we are madly in love." What Asha does not know, Trigger has no intention of ever letting her go….”She chose this. Chose me. And now that she has, I'm never letting her go.”
This book had me hooked from the start. Being a small town cowboy romance, the book will charm “the pants off you” and leave you going back for more. Most of all, this story will make you smile. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful love story. This is a lovely book that will keep you hooked! It has fun, laughs, intrigue, twists that you do not expect, and physical attraction. You will fall in love with Trigger and Asha, hoping that everything with work out for them and a future together.
“My heart instantly starts hammering against my ribs as recognition sinks in, and I search her expression for any sign she remembers me. She's older now. Her baby cheeks are gone, and she's got this whole sophisticated thing going on. Her hair used to be short, but now it flows down her back. But those eyes... Damn, those eyes are exactly the same.”
The more time Trigger and Asha spend together, the more they start enjoying each other’s company and having fun together. A thoroughly enjoyable read from page to page, one chapter to the next - at times you are metaphorical “on the edge of your chair” wondering what will happen next. Cannot wait for the next book in the series! Overall, I would highly recommend this book and you will not be disappointed 😊
Review of advance copy received from Author
Asha and Trigger have spent years as enemies. Their lives have been shaped by family and academic rivalry, misunderstandings, and a long history of missed opportunities. And yet, no matter how far they try to push each other away, something always seems to pull them back together. So when Asha finds herself in a position where marrying Trigger is the only way to regain control over her land, Trigger jumps at the chance. After all these years, he finally gets the opportunity to call Asha his wife. But navigating a fake marriage was never going to be easy especially when very real feelings are involved.
“Let me show you what it means to be mine.”
The angst 👏🏼 The spice 👏🏼 The emotional tension 👏🏼 This book delivered all of it and then some. Honestly, it was so much more than I expected going in. LA Ferro truly has a way with words and the writing feels almost artistic at times, like every scene is crafted to make you feel something deeply. It just feels so fundamentally moving, ugh I love it.
Trigger Hale…I swear if you looked up the word patience in the dictionary, I’m convinced there would just be a picture of this man’s handsome and glorious face…truly the epitome! His conviction and loyalty to Asha were something else. Bless this man’s heart because he spent most of this book fighting against the current, constantly pushing through obstacles and emotional barriers. But that’s exactly what made his love for Asha so powerful, because he never gave up on her and never will.
Asha on the other hand, had walls built SKYYYY HIGH. Life had taught her that people don’t stay (and never for the right reasons), so she guarded her heart fiercely. She was afraid of her own feelings because Trigger challenged that belief constantly so she was quick to react and sometimes quick to jump to conclusions. I can see how some readers might find that frustrating, but to me that’s where her character growth really lived. She was learning to listen, to trust, and to let someone in throughout the book and at the end of the day, this is what made her human.
“…sometimes the bravest thing you can do is live anyway. Love anyway. Hope anyway.”
The push and pull between them was incredibly rewarding to watch unfold. Their love was fierce, the chemistry was fire, yet also stubborn, and deeply emotional, especially toward the end when everything was put to the test. It really felt like an “against all odds” kind of love story where every obstacle only proved how much they meant to each other.
I will say I am patientlydying waiting for the epilogue because it felt like there were still some things left unsaid and would LOVE to continue seeing more of Asha and Trigger. And not to mention, with Sydney’s story still unresolved, I’m really hoping the next book will bring some closure to this family and everything they’ve been through.
“Let me show you what it means to be mine.”
The angst 👏🏼 The spice 👏🏼 The emotional tension 👏🏼 This book delivered all of it and then some. Honestly, it was so much more than I expected going in. LA Ferro truly has a way with words and the writing feels almost artistic at times, like every scene is crafted to make you feel something deeply. It just feels so fundamentally moving, ugh I love it.
Trigger Hale…I swear if you looked up the word patience in the dictionary, I’m convinced there would just be a picture of this man’s handsome and glorious face…truly the epitome! His conviction and loyalty to Asha were something else. Bless this man’s heart because he spent most of this book fighting against the current, constantly pushing through obstacles and emotional barriers. But that’s exactly what made his love for Asha so powerful, because he never gave up on her and never will.
Asha on the other hand, had walls built SKYYYY HIGH. Life had taught her that people don’t stay (and never for the right reasons), so she guarded her heart fiercely. She was afraid of her own feelings because Trigger challenged that belief constantly so she was quick to react and sometimes quick to jump to conclusions. I can see how some readers might find that frustrating, but to me that’s where her character growth really lived. She was learning to listen, to trust, and to let someone in throughout the book and at the end of the day, this is what made her human.
“…sometimes the bravest thing you can do is live anyway. Love anyway. Hope anyway.”
The push and pull between them was incredibly rewarding to watch unfold. Their love was fierce, the chemistry was fire, yet also stubborn, and deeply emotional, especially toward the end when everything was put to the test. It really felt like an “against all odds” kind of love story where every obstacle only proved how much they meant to each other.
I will say I am patiently
Review of advance copy received from Author
Have Your Heart Again by L.A. Ferro
Rival Hearts Series, Book 2
394 pages
This book completely wrecked me in the best way. This story is packed with longing, heartbreak, and that kind of love that refuses to fade no matter how much time or distance that tries to tear it apart.
Trigger and Asha’s journey starts in childhood, and watching them grow up side by side, knowing they belong together while being told they’re enemies...This just adds the constant ache that lingers through every chapter. Their love is loud but it's not easy… it’s buried, and painfully restrained. The slow burn is intense, built on years of stolen moments, secret kisses, unspoken feelings, and the weight of family expectations that keep pulling them apart.
What hit me hardest was how deeply rooted Asha’s fear of trust and commitment is. Her past shapes every decision she makes, and you can feel her internal battle between protecting her heart and giving in to something she’s always wanted. And Trigger? He’s steady, patient, and so full of love for her—it honestly hurts to watch him wait for Asha and to realize their love is real.
The family feud and secrets layered throughout the story add so much tension and angst. Just when you think you understand everything, another piece falls into place, making their situation feel even more impossible. And that spontaneous marriage with a 1 year stipulation? That only intensifies everything—the longing, the hope, the fear...it’s all magnified in the most delicious and breathtaking way
This is the kind of book that makes your chest tight and your breathing labored while you’re reading. You will feel every moment. It’s about love that grows in the shadows, survives against the turmoil, and refuses to let go......even when it probably should.
If you love emotional, angsty, slow burns with deep history, complicated families, and a love story that spans years of “almosts,” this one will absolutely stay with you after you turn that last page.
Thank you LA for another book that kept me up past my bedtime and made me cry those terrible tears. I love how you write complicated relationships that have you rooting for the characters from the very beginning.
Rival Hearts Series, Book 2
394 pages
This book completely wrecked me in the best way. This story is packed with longing, heartbreak, and that kind of love that refuses to fade no matter how much time or distance that tries to tear it apart.
Trigger and Asha’s journey starts in childhood, and watching them grow up side by side, knowing they belong together while being told they’re enemies...This just adds the constant ache that lingers through every chapter. Their love is loud but it's not easy… it’s buried, and painfully restrained. The slow burn is intense, built on years of stolen moments, secret kisses, unspoken feelings, and the weight of family expectations that keep pulling them apart.
What hit me hardest was how deeply rooted Asha’s fear of trust and commitment is. Her past shapes every decision she makes, and you can feel her internal battle between protecting her heart and giving in to something she’s always wanted. And Trigger? He’s steady, patient, and so full of love for her—it honestly hurts to watch him wait for Asha and to realize their love is real.
The family feud and secrets layered throughout the story add so much tension and angst. Just when you think you understand everything, another piece falls into place, making their situation feel even more impossible. And that spontaneous marriage with a 1 year stipulation? That only intensifies everything—the longing, the hope, the fear...it’s all magnified in the most delicious and breathtaking way
This is the kind of book that makes your chest tight and your breathing labored while you’re reading. You will feel every moment. It’s about love that grows in the shadows, survives against the turmoil, and refuses to let go......even when it probably should.
If you love emotional, angsty, slow burns with deep history, complicated families, and a love story that spans years of “almosts,” this one will absolutely stay with you after you turn that last page.
Thank you LA for another book that kept me up past my bedtime and made me cry those terrible tears. I love how you write complicated relationships that have you rooting for the characters from the very beginning.
March 27, 2026
Have Your Heart Again is the second book in the Rival Hearts series and a solid 3.5 but I chose to round up because I did like the story. As with all of L.A's books, this was started and finished in the same day because her writing and characters are just so addictive.
I wanted to love this as much as the first one, but a couple of things kept me from doing that, thus the rating.
Asha and Trigger first met as kids on the playground and Trigger never forgot how she came to his defense despite the bad blood between their families. He kept a torch burning for her through the years that nothing could extinguish. He was sweet and thoughtful and went out of his way to try everything he could with Asha again and again. But her continuous self-sabotaging and purposeful dismissal of Trigger had me beyond frustrated. At some point I was almost rooting for him to find someone who would treat him the way he deserved to be treated. I know her behavior was coming from a place of insecurity and fear, but I kept hoping it would sink in that she was not just hurting Trigger, she was hurting herself. I really felt for her situation being sent away to school so young and the way her father was being aloof and secretive. Losing her mother so young without being there at the end played a major role in her personal trauma and her behavior, but some of it was just over the top. Wanting to save the ranch that meant so much to her mother left her with an impossible choice to propose to Trigger. I was honestly not sure if he should have accepted her proposal but he was so blindly in love with her that he accepted hoping he could change her mind about him.
My heart broke repeatedly for Trigger, and ultimately for Asha for missing out on so much time she could have spent being much happier and fulfilled.
Despite my frustrations with Asha, I did enjoy the book. It held my interest and the twists in family dynamics and secrets that kept coming out kept pulling me back into the story. I would still have read it again knowing what I know. I would recommend reading this.
Thank you to L.A. Ferro for the advanced copy to read and review.
I wanted to love this as much as the first one, but a couple of things kept me from doing that, thus the rating.
Asha and Trigger first met as kids on the playground and Trigger never forgot how she came to his defense despite the bad blood between their families. He kept a torch burning for her through the years that nothing could extinguish. He was sweet and thoughtful and went out of his way to try everything he could with Asha again and again. But her continuous self-sabotaging and purposeful dismissal of Trigger had me beyond frustrated. At some point I was almost rooting for him to find someone who would treat him the way he deserved to be treated. I know her behavior was coming from a place of insecurity and fear, but I kept hoping it would sink in that she was not just hurting Trigger, she was hurting herself. I really felt for her situation being sent away to school so young and the way her father was being aloof and secretive. Losing her mother so young without being there at the end played a major role in her personal trauma and her behavior, but some of it was just over the top. Wanting to save the ranch that meant so much to her mother left her with an impossible choice to propose to Trigger. I was honestly not sure if he should have accepted her proposal but he was so blindly in love with her that he accepted hoping he could change her mind about him.
My heart broke repeatedly for Trigger, and ultimately for Asha for missing out on so much time she could have spent being much happier and fulfilled.
Despite my frustrations with Asha, I did enjoy the book. It held my interest and the twists in family dynamics and secrets that kept coming out kept pulling me back into the story. I would still have read it again knowing what I know. I would recommend reading this.
Thank you to L.A. Ferro for the advanced copy to read and review.
April 3, 2026
Book two in a series that takes readers on a ride they will not want to get off of. The great thing about these books is that you don’t have to read the first book to understand what is going on in this book. Two separate interconnected stories that at some points run concurrently. I love when authors run books concurrently. It takes a special author that can keep up with the details already laid out and give readers a different perspective. This book’s format is similar to the first book in the series. It starts when Asha Fairfield and Trigger Hale are kids. Trigger is new. Asha already knows and understands the rivalry between their families. Before Asha and Trigger can get to know each other, Asha is shipped away to boarding school. These two don’t see each other again until they are reunited their freshman year of high school. The rivalry is even more intense. Trigger finds he enjoys pushing Asha. Her fire when he pushes her makes it even more worth it. It is here when their personalities come out. Asha is very goal-oriented. She sets goals and does everything in her power to accomplish them. She refuses to let anything or anyone get in the way of her goals.
After graduation, we get to the real nitty gritty. Asha finds out the truth of her family’s land. The only way she can keep the land - her mother’s land - is if she marries a Hale. Her best friend Laney just married one of the two Hale brothers. Trigger is her only option. Asha can’t drop her pride and ask. Trigger does what he does best and goads her into marrying him very spontaneously. He needed her just as much as she needed him, at least that is his story. The rest of the book is full of tension of all kinds. These two work better when they are fighting each other to reach a goal. The push and pull between them gives readers all the spice. Will they let go of their pride and just be together? This book had me from the beginning. Readers will not be able to put this one down. Ms. Ferro gives readers a show that we won’t soon forget.
After graduation, we get to the real nitty gritty. Asha finds out the truth of her family’s land. The only way she can keep the land - her mother’s land - is if she marries a Hale. Her best friend Laney just married one of the two Hale brothers. Trigger is her only option. Asha can’t drop her pride and ask. Trigger does what he does best and goads her into marrying him very spontaneously. He needed her just as much as she needed him, at least that is his story. The rest of the book is full of tension of all kinds. These two work better when they are fighting each other to reach a goal. The push and pull between them gives readers all the spice. Will they let go of their pride and just be together? This book had me from the beginning. Readers will not be able to put this one down. Ms. Ferro gives readers a show that we won’t soon forget.
March 25, 2026
Have Your Heart Again is a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romance featuring Asha Fairfield and Trigger Hale. The two met when they were just kids and Asha defended him from some of the other kids on the playground. While they were technically from rival families, Asha offered him something precious - her friendship.
Years later they meet again at Ridgewood boarding school. Asha has a reputation; she's known for being smart and motivated. She doesn't have time for nonsense and isn't big on making friends. When Trigger shows up, it takes her a moment to recognize him but he quickly gets under her skin, something he readily enjoys. Asha labels him as her enemy and their confrontational dynamic continues through high school. Much to her dismay though, Trigger evokes undesired feelings in her that she does not want to acknowledge or accept. Things come to a head on prom night. After graduation, Trigger, who lives next door to her, patiently awaits her return but never seems to return home.
Asha's mother passed away when she was only 6 years old. Her only remaining family is her father but a rift seems to be forming between them when he withholds information from her and refuses to be transparent. When Asha learns that Fairfield Ranch, a place she adores, is on property owned by the Hales, she becomes determined to find a way to hold onto the land - her last connection to her mother. That includes marrying her enemy, the boy next door.
This was a captivating and engaging story. Ferro quickly sucked me in and kept me hooked throughout. There was a lot going on in this book and I never felt bored or disconnected. Asha and Trigger are both interesting and complex characters with a lot going on. I loved the chemistry between them as well as their banter. The only element that left me somewhat wanting was the story behind Dallas and Laney which seemed to pop up out of nowhere however I later learned that this is not the first book in the Rival Hearts series. Now I need to get a copy of Don't Take the Girl and fill in some of those blanks.
Years later they meet again at Ridgewood boarding school. Asha has a reputation; she's known for being smart and motivated. She doesn't have time for nonsense and isn't big on making friends. When Trigger shows up, it takes her a moment to recognize him but he quickly gets under her skin, something he readily enjoys. Asha labels him as her enemy and their confrontational dynamic continues through high school. Much to her dismay though, Trigger evokes undesired feelings in her that she does not want to acknowledge or accept. Things come to a head on prom night. After graduation, Trigger, who lives next door to her, patiently awaits her return but never seems to return home.
Asha's mother passed away when she was only 6 years old. Her only remaining family is her father but a rift seems to be forming between them when he withholds information from her and refuses to be transparent. When Asha learns that Fairfield Ranch, a place she adores, is on property owned by the Hales, she becomes determined to find a way to hold onto the land - her last connection to her mother. That includes marrying her enemy, the boy next door.
This was a captivating and engaging story. Ferro quickly sucked me in and kept me hooked throughout. There was a lot going on in this book and I never felt bored or disconnected. Asha and Trigger are both interesting and complex characters with a lot going on. I loved the chemistry between them as well as their banter. The only element that left me somewhat wanting was the story behind Dallas and Laney which seemed to pop up out of nowhere however I later learned that this is not the first book in the Rival Hearts series. Now I need to get a copy of Don't Take the Girl and fill in some of those blanks.
March 27, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received this as an ARC read, and I am so grateful I got to experience this story early.
Have Your Heart Again by L.A. Ferro completely owned me.
I have been waiting for Asha’s story since the very first book. There was just something about her that stuck with me, and I needed to know more about her. Finally getting her story felt so worth it. She is so much more complex than I expected in the best way. You really get to see who she is at her core, and the growth she goes through in this book is done so well. It feels real, not rushed, and that made me love her even more.
This book seriously has everything I love. Enemies to lovers, ranch rivals, fake marriage, secrets, pen pals, cowboy romance, and a slow burn that actually burns. The kind where you feel every little moment building up.
And Trigger… I already knew I was going to like him, but I was not prepared for how much depth he had. We love a quiet man that knows exactly how to speak when it matters. Getting his full story added so much to his character. It is one of those situations where you think you know someone as a side character, but then their book comes out and it just hits differently. He waited, he wanted her, and he did not let that go. Eight years of that kind of feeling? I ate it up.
I also loved that this book kept me curious the entire time. I needed to know what the secret was, and it kept me turning pages because I felt like I was right there trying to figure it out with them.
L.A. Ferro does such a good job making characters feel real. Not perfect, not overly dramatic, just real people with real emotions, and that always pulls me in more than anything else.
I do not want to spoil anything, but if you love tension, longing, and characters that actually feel like they belong together, you need to read this.
Also I am really hoping Warrick gets a book because I am not done with this world yet.
I received this as an ARC read, and I am so grateful I got to experience this story early.
Have Your Heart Again by L.A. Ferro completely owned me.
I have been waiting for Asha’s story since the very first book. There was just something about her that stuck with me, and I needed to know more about her. Finally getting her story felt so worth it. She is so much more complex than I expected in the best way. You really get to see who she is at her core, and the growth she goes through in this book is done so well. It feels real, not rushed, and that made me love her even more.
This book seriously has everything I love. Enemies to lovers, ranch rivals, fake marriage, secrets, pen pals, cowboy romance, and a slow burn that actually burns. The kind where you feel every little moment building up.
And Trigger… I already knew I was going to like him, but I was not prepared for how much depth he had. We love a quiet man that knows exactly how to speak when it matters. Getting his full story added so much to his character. It is one of those situations where you think you know someone as a side character, but then their book comes out and it just hits differently. He waited, he wanted her, and he did not let that go. Eight years of that kind of feeling? I ate it up.
I also loved that this book kept me curious the entire time. I needed to know what the secret was, and it kept me turning pages because I felt like I was right there trying to figure it out with them.
L.A. Ferro does such a good job making characters feel real. Not perfect, not overly dramatic, just real people with real emotions, and that always pulls me in more than anything else.
I do not want to spoil anything, but if you love tension, longing, and characters that actually feel like they belong together, you need to read this.
Also I am really hoping Warrick gets a book because I am not done with this world yet.
April 1, 2026
This story settled into my chest and stayed there. From the beginning, the connection between the main characters feels unfinished in a way that is both tender and a little aching, like something important was paused instead of ended. Watching them find their way back to each other is not simple or easy, and that is exactly what makes it so compelling. Every interaction carries history, emotion, and the quiet question of whether love can truly be rebuilt after it has been shaken.
What stood out most to me is how much care is given to emotional growth. Both characters have to confront the parts of themselves that held them back before, and that journey feels honest and earned. There is vulnerability here that is not always pretty, but it is real, and it makes the moments of softness land so much harder. The tension is not just about attraction. It is about trust, timing, and the courage it takes to open your heart again when you know what it costs.
There is also a steadiness to the romance that I really appreciated. Beneath the angst and longing is a deep sense of understanding that builds over time, creating a connection that feels grounded instead of rushed. The emotional payoff comes from seeing two people choose each other with intention, not just fall into something familiar. That choice, made again and with more clarity, is what gives the story its weight and its warmth.
By the end, I felt that quiet, satisfied kind of emotional fullness that comes from a romance that truly earns its ending. It is heartfelt, a little bittersweet in places, and ultimately hopeful in a way that lingers.
Tropes
💜enemies to lovers
💜slow burn
💜marriage of convenience/fake relationship
💜sooooo much tension and angst!
💜secrets, lies and suspense
💜just the right amount of spice
💜dual POV
What stood out most to me is how much care is given to emotional growth. Both characters have to confront the parts of themselves that held them back before, and that journey feels honest and earned. There is vulnerability here that is not always pretty, but it is real, and it makes the moments of softness land so much harder. The tension is not just about attraction. It is about trust, timing, and the courage it takes to open your heart again when you know what it costs.
There is also a steadiness to the romance that I really appreciated. Beneath the angst and longing is a deep sense of understanding that builds over time, creating a connection that feels grounded instead of rushed. The emotional payoff comes from seeing two people choose each other with intention, not just fall into something familiar. That choice, made again and with more clarity, is what gives the story its weight and its warmth.
By the end, I felt that quiet, satisfied kind of emotional fullness that comes from a romance that truly earns its ending. It is heartfelt, a little bittersweet in places, and ultimately hopeful in a way that lingers.
Tropes
💜enemies to lovers
💜slow burn
💜marriage of convenience/fake relationship
💜sooooo much tension and angst!
💜secrets, lies and suspense
💜just the right amount of spice
💜dual POV
April 1, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ Read
First I want to thank the author L.A. Ferro for letting me be on her ARC Team and also giving me an eARC of her book.
Loved that we got parts of this story when Trigger and Asha were younger and in school together and also loved how they were pen pals together.
I didn't like how they were mean to each other at school because their families were rivals.
I felt sad for Asha and Trigger everything they both went through in this book.
And I liked the side characters through out this book too. I like how Trigger did everything he could to find Asha when she left.
Didn't love the way they got married because it was fake but they were doing it to save her family's land and also to help him as well, but I understand why they got married. I didn't like how they had to lie to people because of their fake marriage. Loved how he kidnapped her to go on their honeymoon and didn't tell her where they were going.
Love how stubborn they both were to each other throughout this book and they made me smile in this book too. Loved how he protected her in this book too. Loved how he got a tattoo ring just so that she would keep her ring on. So glad that Asha found out what her father was keeping secret from her.
Loved how they fell in love together in this book.
Loved their romance between Asha and Trigger in this book 📖 and their romance was spicy 🌶️.
Loved the twists and turns through this book.
I hated Asha's father and how he treated her and also Trigger throughout this book.
And I loved how Trigger stood up for Asha towards her father but also that Asha stood up towards her father too. I hated the way Asha found out how her mother died but I am glad she knows the truth now.
And I am glad they decided to stay together and that they had an happy ending together. And I recommend this book. And I can’t wait to read more of L.A. Ferro’s books. 📕
First I want to thank the author L.A. Ferro for letting me be on her ARC Team and also giving me an eARC of her book.
Loved that we got parts of this story when Trigger and Asha were younger and in school together and also loved how they were pen pals together.
I didn't like how they were mean to each other at school because their families were rivals.
I felt sad for Asha and Trigger everything they both went through in this book.
And I liked the side characters through out this book too. I like how Trigger did everything he could to find Asha when she left.
Didn't love the way they got married because it was fake but they were doing it to save her family's land and also to help him as well, but I understand why they got married. I didn't like how they had to lie to people because of their fake marriage. Loved how he kidnapped her to go on their honeymoon and didn't tell her where they were going.
Love how stubborn they both were to each other throughout this book and they made me smile in this book too. Loved how he protected her in this book too. Loved how he got a tattoo ring just so that she would keep her ring on. So glad that Asha found out what her father was keeping secret from her.
Loved how they fell in love together in this book.
Loved their romance between Asha and Trigger in this book 📖 and their romance was spicy 🌶️.
Loved the twists and turns through this book.
I hated Asha's father and how he treated her and also Trigger throughout this book.
And I loved how Trigger stood up for Asha towards her father but also that Asha stood up towards her father too. I hated the way Asha found out how her mother died but I am glad she knows the truth now.
And I am glad they decided to stay together and that they had an happy ending together. And I recommend this book. And I can’t wait to read more of L.A. Ferro’s books. 📕
Review of advance copy received from Author
Asha is your boarding school, perfectionist, good girl. Trigger is the bad cowboy who fell first.
God I loved this book. From their first meet to the second I loved them. I have been waiting for this book since Laney and London book so if you haven’t read that I would 10/10 recommend.
The tension was doing all the things. The way we get to watch them grow up and see why there is so much tension.
The way that Trig fell hard and fast.
The ups and downs
The family drama
The twist had me crying
Perfection all around
Love ✔️
Tensions✔️
Banter✔️
He falls first✔️
Daddy’s girl✔️
Bad boy✔️
Favorite quotes
Because any attention from Asha Fairfield is better than being invisible to her, even if it means she hates me.-Trig
But I can't focus on them because I'm watching her walk away, and it's like getting punched in the gut.-Trig
"This is…this is fine. Hug me. Hug me until I smell like you."- Trig 😩
I'd chase her to the grave and haunt her in the afterlife just for a chance to show her how good we can be, to prove to her what I know in the depths of my soul. She is meant to be mine.- Trig
What kind of person falls in love with someone in the middle of having a milkshake poured down their chest? What does that say about me?- Trig
"I agree, but I have a condition of my own." I quirk a brow. "Name it." "You marry me, right here, right now."- I mean how can you not swoon?
"I had to keep things bottled up, had to keep my heart under lock and key, because it was never really available to give away."- Trig
“It’s made me realize I don't want to spend another day pretending. Another day without my heart."- Trig
"But my plan never looked like yours; a cracked screen wasn't enough to change it.”- Asha
Does Sydney get a book? Asking for a friend 🤣
God I loved this book. From their first meet to the second I loved them. I have been waiting for this book since Laney and London book so if you haven’t read that I would 10/10 recommend.
The tension was doing all the things. The way we get to watch them grow up and see why there is so much tension.
The way that Trig fell hard and fast.
The ups and downs
The family drama
The twist had me crying
Perfection all around
Love ✔️
Tensions✔️
Banter✔️
He falls first✔️
Daddy’s girl✔️
Bad boy✔️
Favorite quotes
Because any attention from Asha Fairfield is better than being invisible to her, even if it means she hates me.-Trig
But I can't focus on them because I'm watching her walk away, and it's like getting punched in the gut.-Trig
"This is…this is fine. Hug me. Hug me until I smell like you."- Trig 😩
I'd chase her to the grave and haunt her in the afterlife just for a chance to show her how good we can be, to prove to her what I know in the depths of my soul. She is meant to be mine.- Trig
What kind of person falls in love with someone in the middle of having a milkshake poured down their chest? What does that say about me?- Trig
"I agree, but I have a condition of my own." I quirk a brow. "Name it." "You marry me, right here, right now."- I mean how can you not swoon?
"I had to keep things bottled up, had to keep my heart under lock and key, because it was never really available to give away."- Trig
“It’s made me realize I don't want to spend another day pretending. Another day without my heart."- Trig
"But my plan never looked like yours; a cracked screen wasn't enough to change it.”- Asha
Does Sydney get a book? Asking for a friend 🤣
March 26, 2026
I’m actually feral over this book. Like… genuinely unhinged, pacing-my-house, rereading-my-favourite-scenes kind of obsessed.
EVERYTHING I crave in a romance and then some. Fake marriage? ✔️ Childhood enemies with history thicker than emotional baggage at an airport? ✔️ One bed energy simmering under “separate bedrooms”? ✔️✔️✔️
Trigger Hale??? I need a moment. This man is not just the blueprint, he’s the whole damn architectural marvel. The way he says yes?? Immediately?? No hesitation?? Sir, you’ve been waiting and it SHOWS. The tension between him and Asha is so loaded it felt like every scene might combust. You can practically hear the crackle every time they’re in the same room.
And ASHA. My girl is fighting for her mother’s legacy, carrying grief and pride and stubbornness like armor, and then she walks straight into marrying the one man who can unravel her with a look??? The emotional chaos?? Delicious. Painful. Addictive.
The “it’s fake” vs “it has NEVER been fake for me” vibes absolutely wrecked me. I love when a book takes a trope and squeezes every last drop of angst, yearning, and tension out of it, and this one did not hold back. The history between them isn’t just hinted at, it lingers like a storm cloud, heavy and electric, and when it starts to break?? I was DONE.
Also… the touches. The looks. The way he sees her. I swear this man communicates entire paragraphs with a single glance. And when the walls start cracking?? When the lines blur?? I was kicking my feet and clutching my chest like a Victorian woman with a fainting problem.
It’s messy. It’s emotional. It’s hot in that slow-burn, simmering, “I shouldn’t want you but I absolutely do” kind of way. And the payoff?? Worth every second of the tension.
EVERYTHING I crave in a romance and then some. Fake marriage? ✔️ Childhood enemies with history thicker than emotional baggage at an airport? ✔️ One bed energy simmering under “separate bedrooms”? ✔️✔️✔️
Trigger Hale??? I need a moment. This man is not just the blueprint, he’s the whole damn architectural marvel. The way he says yes?? Immediately?? No hesitation?? Sir, you’ve been waiting and it SHOWS. The tension between him and Asha is so loaded it felt like every scene might combust. You can practically hear the crackle every time they’re in the same room.
And ASHA. My girl is fighting for her mother’s legacy, carrying grief and pride and stubbornness like armor, and then she walks straight into marrying the one man who can unravel her with a look??? The emotional chaos?? Delicious. Painful. Addictive.
The “it’s fake” vs “it has NEVER been fake for me” vibes absolutely wrecked me. I love when a book takes a trope and squeezes every last drop of angst, yearning, and tension out of it, and this one did not hold back. The history between them isn’t just hinted at, it lingers like a storm cloud, heavy and electric, and when it starts to break?? I was DONE.
Also… the touches. The looks. The way he sees her. I swear this man communicates entire paragraphs with a single glance. And when the walls start cracking?? When the lines blur?? I was kicking my feet and clutching my chest like a Victorian woman with a fainting problem.
It’s messy. It’s emotional. It’s hot in that slow-burn, simmering, “I shouldn’t want you but I absolutely do” kind of way. And the payoff?? Worth every second of the tension.
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