Chasing Love: The Owens

Plain Daisy Ranch #5

by Piper Rayne

It was over between Bennett Owens and me—until I had no place to go but back to Willowbrook.

Seven years ago, he walked away, and I built a new life for myself, swearing never to look back. But when my husband is arrested, that life collapses, leaving my daughter and me with nothing but a three-month plan to return to the small ranch town before disappearing again.

Bennett’s a single dad now. Our girls become inseparable on sight, making it impossible to keep him at arm’s length. Especially when I end up working alongside him, where every glance chips away at the walls I’ve built.

The years apart haven’t dulled the pull between us. Bennett remains protective and patient, determined to prove that we deserve a second chance. But he has no idea about the secret I’ve kept since the day he left.

Because once he learns the truth, he may never forgive me. And like it or not, we’ll be bound together forever—by the daughter he never knew was his.

Genres: Second Chance, Romance, Audiobook, Small Town Romance, Second Chance Romance, Contemporary, Workplace Romance

372 pages, Paperback

First published October 21, 2025

About the author

Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling author duo. Our goal is to bring you romance stories that have "Heartwarming Humor With a Side of Sizzle" (okay...you caught us, that's our tagline). A little about us... We both have kindle’s full of one-clickable books. We're both married to husbands who drive us to drink. We're both chauffeurs to our kids. Most of all, we love hot heroes and quirky heroines that make us laugh, and we hope you do, too.

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Reviews

[Capt.]

(note to self) update:
okaaay so this was not safe at all. joke's on me for expecting something different 😭😭😭
the disgusting mf really got two women pregnant at the same time is what i am getting from the reviews. oh and also apparently he was only separated with his wife and not divorced when they began their "affair" and yes I am saying affair because legally he was still married!! ughh YUCK

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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the cover is amazing and I am curious but I need safety details first.

just from the blurb it looks like the fmc's daughter is also secretly the mmc's daughter but couple that with him having a daughter with his ex-wife ick eww yuck major ick!

[sabrina (on vacation🏝️) · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ Rating: 5⭐️
🫧 Vibes: gushy second chance romance
🎶 Song: invisible string by taylor swift
📖 Favourite Quote: "I’ll follow him whenever he leads me because i meant what i said. he owns my heart. he always has."
📚 Would I recommend? YES GOSH
💬 tldr thoughts: i’m emotionally destroyed—in the sweetest way possible.

In the package:
📦 secret child
📦 second chance romance
📦 high school sweethearts
📦 it's always been you

Plot: Delaney and Bennett were once high school sweethearts until they fell apart. Years later, Delaney and her daughter return to Plain Daisy Ranch after her husband gets arrested. Bennett's a single dad now and Delaney has to fight against her feelings for him because she's harbouring the biggest secret.

Thoughts: I fear I will never get over this book and I'm actually mad at myself for reading it so quickly because now I don't know what to do with myself. It was so good and I'm embarrassed to say how many times I was grinning like an idiot reading it. It was heart-wrenchingly beautiful in every way 🥹 I loved Chasing Forever (I gave it 5 stars), but I would give this one a million if I could. There's just something about second chance romances and the fact that this one because there's kids involved (which I don't usually particularly care for but trust me when I say THIS WAS SO DARN CUTE) 😩 I never wanted this book to end, I want more of Delaney and Bennett!!!

Thank you Hambright PR and Piper Rayne for the ARC!

✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩

[Olga 🌺]

NOTE TO SELF

He cheats on his wife with the MFC 7 years ago, manages to get both of them pregnant and then dumps the MFC!

Where in the ever-loving-life do authors get these tropes from?!!!

This is so baaaddddd people!!! Stop romanticising cheating and manwhores and why choose!! This is absolutely demoralising and disgusting!!!

I can't with those who actually give it a high rating like WHYYYY!!!!!

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this one was always gonna be tough for me, based on tropes. HOWEVER, I was warned going in, and I still chose to trust Piper and Rayne to take me on a journey. For the most part, it played out well for me.

There was a lot to love in this family I already care so much for. I love the cousins and siblings and seeing them come together to love Delainey and her daughter... that was really beautiful.

This was a really angsty one, and whenever you involve cheating, that's going to happen. Add in a secret child and a lost love and it's ripe for misunderstanding and pain. But I think we pushed through it relatively quickly and watching Bennett get to know his long lost child, and Delainey getting to know Bennett's daughter too was so sweet.

The oddness in this one came if the form of the letters for me. I do not understand this stylist choice... Especially because of 2 main reasons. No responses from the recipient.. like, why weren't these just diary entries? That's what this ended up being. And also.... the one letter I REALLY wanted to hear, we were left blowing in the wind. That was just... odd. As I mentioned.

So, I appreciate the risks that the authors took, and since it was also set in the small town I love so much, I still enjoyed myself. This series makes my heart happy. It was great to revisit.

Narrated in Duet Style by JF Harding and Erin Mallon. They did a wonderful job and I enjoyed their performances so much!

4 Stars
2.5 on the spice scale

TW: dead spouse, death during childbirth, cheating (on and by the MCs)

*Thank you to Valentine PR and the authors for an ALC of this title.*

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 3 out of 5]

so i am a bit conflicted with this one… because while i think it was cute, i felt it was missing a lot. 🥲

i think this ones going to land with a 2.75 rounded up to 3…

i am a big fan of the secret child trope, i love the tension and drama it tends to add to the book. however, the only tension i felt this book had was bennett and delaney’s first meeting again after all those years, after that it felt like it was straight lust to love. any drama in this book was unfortunately not fun whatsoever, every one felt very immature and there was no depth to any of the arguments caused. over all everything just felt very surface level, especially emotionally. once the two of them crossed the line of intimacy again it felt like that was all they did and what little of plot we had going felt like it ceased to exist until the rushed revelations and trying to figure everything out towards the end. which is where the lower rating comes in.

i really like all of the characters in this series, i love silly nosy families and getting to see all of them fall in love and find their way in the world. i think the narrators did a great job & the duet style audio book is always *chefs kiss*. unfortunately for me it just wasnt enough for me to get over everything else i had an issue with.

[Piper Rayne]

Available now!

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
https://books2read.com/C-L

Audiobook Narrated by: J.F. Harding & Erin Mallon

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4kqGBFo

[Natalie Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably more of a 3.5-star read...Spoilers aheadI came away from Chasing Love with slightly mixed feelings. There are definitely a lot of secrets and drama packed into this story, which kept the pages turning. I liked Delaney a lot, but the romance itself hit some tense moments that were hard to reconcile.

What I liked:

Delaney was a great FMC. Her reasons for keeping Leia from Bennett felt valid, and I thought she was an incredible mom—always doing her best and supporting her daughter in the way she needed. Did she make a mistake with her decision? Yes, likely but I do think Protective Mom instincts kicked in and she just never looked back.

Leia and Wren were such a sweet contrast. I loved how opposite they were—Wren being more outgoing while Leia was quieter and more cautious. Delaney never tried to change Leia, just guided her gently, which made me love her character even more.

Darla Owens was an absolute queen. The way she called Bennett out was perfection. Honestly, the entire Owens family seemed to recognize that Bennett had been stubborn and shortsighted, which made me firmly Team Delaney.

What didn’t work for me:

Bennett was a struggle. On one hand, he came across as a strong father figure, but he often felt judgy and unforgiving toward Delaney. When the truth came out, his stubbornness didn’t feel aligned with the more controlled, organized side of his personality we’d seen before. And then, after his mom’s speech, he did a complete 180—jumping straight into a huge love confession and grand gestures, followed immediately by sex. I personally would’ve preferred a quieter, more meaningful reconciliation.

I also wish there had been more genuine conversation between Bennett and Delaney about the past that wasn’t just wrapped in a sweeping love profession. Both characters made mistakes, but it never felt like Bennett truly understood why Delaney made her decision. Instead, it was more like: he was mad, but forgave her anyway—which made their resolution feel rushed.

Lastly, I wasn’t a fan of the letters Delaney writes to her imprisoned husband. They read less like heartfelt letters and more like clunky recaps of the past. It came across awkward and even a little cringe—I think straightforward flashbacks would have worked much better.

Overall, I really enjoyed the family dynamics and Delaney’s role as a mother, and the drama definitely kept me engaged. But the romance, especially Bennett’s arc, didn’t always feel convincing or satisfying for me.

[°❀⋆.monica ೃ࿔*:･ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really conflicted with my rating for this book. I was so excited to read bennett’s book but I don’t think there was enough substance to his story and everything felt very surface level.

I like a second chance romance when it’s done right and I felt like the mark was missed in this book. with a second chance romance, we’re supposed to believe they’re soulmates and made for each other based on a past connection, but without any new developments in the present it’s really difficult to feel a true reason for why these characters belong together.

this book was very heavy on the smut, which made the story more focused on sexual intimacy rather than emotional intimacy. with this shift in focus, it made a lot of their other conversations very surface level and any time there was a chance of delving deeper into their emotional connection, it went right into sex.

with that being said, I love the extended family and seeing all of their dynamics saved this book for me! there’s times of goofiness followed by tender moments and I truly love how close-knitted everyone is. and the dual narration was so well done, I’m a massive fan of these narrators!

thank you to the authors and hambright PR for an e-ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[Liz | Bookslizreads90 · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALC REVIEW
RELEASES 10/21
Tropes-
Third chance
Single dad
Single mom
Workplace romance
Small town
Slow burn

✨️Thank you so much to Piper Rayne and Hambright PR for this ARC and ALC for my honest review! Another amazing read by Piper Rayne with this book. I absolutely adored Chasing Forever, and I was anxious to see how this stacked up against it. Honestly, I don't know if I could choose a favorite between the two! They were both such amazing reads. The narration was impeccable. I always have the best time listening to their books! They are quick, easy, heart felt stories to read and/or listen to! This book definitely tugged on my heart strings a bit and brought on some tears but I was happy with the outcome of how Delaney and Bennett's love story concludes! 🫶 If you're a fan of second chances, you won't want to miss this one!

[Romancing the Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time actually finishing this one.

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Chasing Love by Piper Rayne

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Plain Daisy Ranch character series. Book 5.

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book ARC on Kindle. 🆓 on KU.

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Small town romance

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Second chance, single dad, single mom, widower.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Delaney returns home to Willowbrook after her husband is arrested, only to be thrust back into her old life with Bennett - her high school flame and the love of her life.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: I kind of want to be super specific about why I didn’t like this book. I requested the ARC originally because of the new covers - before the AI controversy. But I figured I’d liked Piper Rayne’s books enough I’d read it regardless.

I think I’m so frustrated because this really did have the chance to be a good book. It was that type of messy romance I love. It just was executed extremely poorly. It had actual structural issues, plot holes, and pacing issues.

Here’s an example: Delaney and Bennett’s origin story was told through a series of letters that Delaney was writing to her husband in prison? What kind of lunatic writes about f*cking her new boyfriend to her husband in prison? Worst of all? The last letter says Bennett wrote him something AND IT’S NEVER REVEALED WHAT THAT LETTER SAID.

And the last 20% was so boring I wanted to speed read. It took me almost 2 hours to finish.

I have looked back on the 7 Piper Rayne books I’ve read, and none have been five stars for me. I think I’ve got to give up on this duo. I’ve got too many other awesome books to read to keep settling.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3/5 🌶🌶🌶

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.

[Kayda Noelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Chasing Forever a few months ago, I JUMPED on this one (especially seeing it is a second chance romance 😍). I just love the depth of these stories. This one did not disappoint!

Bennett and Delaney were first loves, but the timing was never right. Now, 7 years later, Delaney and her daughter move back to town. Bennett is a single dad himself, and now that all the complications of the past are behind them, they finally have a second chance. But Delaney has some secrets that may just keep her from wanting to ignite that spark again 👀

Honestly, I loved this. I felt the pacing to be a little rushed in the second half of the book, but given the history between these two, it came together well. It was spicy, and tension filled, and the added bonus of the little ones and their wit really made it enjoyable!

Thank you to Valentine PR , Hambright PR, and the author for sending me this ALC 💞 it was amazing to listen to! The narrators were perfect.

[rickies.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve entered the Piper Rayne chat a little late.. but since I’m here I’m planning to stay forever.

CHASING LOVE. CHAS-ING-LOVE WAS SO GOOD. I need everyone to HEAR ME WHEN I SAY THAT.. because I was TERRIFIED to read it by these tropes.. (I’m not a cheating trope lover & I was nervous it would feel like this…) but, IT DIDNT. It was done perfectly for this type of story!

When the LOBL (Love of Bennetts Life) shows back up after - 7 years of seeing her he is stunned. He doesn’t know what to do, or how to be around her.. because even though all those years ago he ruined them, he isn’t willing to make the same mistake twice… the fact she’s working for him and their kids are best friends doesn’t make avoiding the chemistry easy…. it just takes him a minute to find his footing. He makes it his mission to prove they are still made for each other until Delaney throws him the curve ball secret of a life time. His daughter’s bestfriend, is also HIS. SHE KEPT THIS FROM HIM FOR 7 YEARS.

Does she deserve his forgiveness?! Go read it for your selves queens.


This book is written in DUAL TIMELINE which in my opinion is the ONLY WAY to write a second chance romance. I love getting their past stories on page… it just adds so much depth for me as a reader. We get to witness how Bennett and Delaney began and I love what it brought to the story!!

















THANK YOU HAMBRIGHT FOR THE E-ARC & ALC

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg, what an amazing second chance romance 😭♥️

The characters are easily likable and the emotion depth is pure perfection. This was so sweet and the storyline was comfortingly familiar but unique from other in this genre.

I love how the author didn’t just glaze over issues, especially in the big reveal, but made the MC’s realistic in navigating their new family dynamic.

Thank you so much to Hambright PR for the e-ARC and ALC. immersive reading this was such a treat and the narrators did amazing!

[Lauren 🍓 · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love this small town!! love this family!!

second chance will always hit for me, especially set in a small town!!!

[Laurel Ullman-bockert · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down. I thought it all wrapped up too quick and neat but otherwise it was good. I’m not sure I understand other peoples ick with it. Yea he got them both pregnant but he didn’t know that they were both pregnant. He was separated from the wife when they got back together so he was not in the wrong. Secret baby is not my favorite trope but there isn’t anything ick about this one.

[Lidia's Romance]

DNF @ 57%

Boring. I feel zero connection to these characters.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small town, dual POV, second chance perfection in this latest Plain Daisy Ranch novel that sees childhood sweethearts Delaney and Bennett reuniting after seven years apart.

When her husband gets sent to jail, Delaney returns home to run the local flower shop. What she never expected was to have to confront her ex - the man who fathered her daughter but has no idea.

For his part Bentley has always regretted what happened with Delaney but he’s been living for his daughter ever since her mother died in childbirth. Will he be able to forgive Delaney when she finally tells him the truth??

This might be my new favourite of the series!! I love a good second chance romance and watching the two single parents navigate their love for each other and their daughters was so heartwarming.

It was also EXCELLENT on audio with dual narration by JF Harding and Erin Mallon and I loved the way it was set in the present but included flashbacks to the past. While this is part of a series and past characters make cameos it could also be read as a standalone.

Many thanks to the author and Hambright PR for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. I can’t wait to see what happens next in this series!!

[Tiffany ✨️ Bergamot Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delaney has returned to Willowbrook after her soon-to-be-ex husband was sent to jail unexpectedly. Running from her life, she returns back to the town she was raised in to live with her parents and get back on her feet. The only problem? The small town happens to have the man she once loved more than anyone else, and he has no idea her seven year old daughter is his.

*****

This one was messy and I loved it! Delaney and Bennett were childhood sweethearts that were pulled apart but distance, but kept a torch burning for each other and you could see it through every interaction. I loved that this book didn't make either lead a hero. They both made choices that lead them to where they were, and the fault was shared between them.

Bennett struggling to fully commit to his marriage, and being a lazy husband that pushed his wife into the arms of another man was such a juxtaposition to the man that grew up and instead wanted to give Delaney the world. Flashbacks to his immaturity and rush to move on with Delaney, and then the about-face after the fact, made it easy to relate to the decision that Delaney made to protect her heart and her child from someone that would emotionally devastate her.

I couldn't fault either of them for trying to do what was best for their kids, even if that kept them apart for seven years of turmoil, regret and secrets. The story felt more realistic than I expected in seeing them blend their families, admit their mistakes, and move forward in a way they were always meant to be.

Overall this one was sweet, messy and full of the best little family moments.

*****

Thank you to Valentine PR for the advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Erin McN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my! This story pulled on my heartstrings & I loved every minute of it! The strong connection between Bennett & Delaney could move mountains. Their love was tender, fierce, constant no matter what happened between them in life. They always found a way. I enjoyed every second of this book!

Delaney and Bennett were high school sweethearts, who parted ways years ago. When Delaney’s life falls apart & she must move back home, she runs into Bennett, now a single dad. Their daughters quickly become best friends which could rekindle the flame, however, Delaney has a secret that could blow up everyone’s world.

[Lammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I totally loved this third chance secret baby story. This is my first book by this author and I will definitely be looking to dive into the rest of this series ☺️

[Nataliia · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's too surface level, too over the top, too convenient. And than it became too sexual for no reason. After MCs got together nothing happened. At all.

Didn't like the female narrator: her intonations were wrong all the time.

[Amity Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC/ALC Review
Narration by JF Harding & Erin Mallon. Absolutely loved them as Delaney & Bennett!

This has been such an amazing series & this book was no different! Book 5 in the Plain Daisy ranch series did not let me down!

Delaney is back in town after 7 years, she’s a single mom, and she has a secret. Bennett is her high school sweetheart & now he’s a single dad. Their relationship in the past has been a complicated one, but the tension, angst, and chemistry between these two were so good.

A Second chance, high school sweethearts, workplace romance with the banter & spice that was so worth the wait. I love the friend/family group in this one also! Leila & Wren were the cutest little girls and truly brought this story full circle! I fell in love with this whole family.

I didn’t want to put this one down. Literally ate it up in less than 12 hours! Piper & Rayne can write a small town romance!

Thank you Piper Rayne & Valentine PR for this early ARC/ALC opportunity.

[Drogon08 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I despise this book.

[houseofn · Rating 2 out of 5]

bennett and wren deserve a better story omg when i read about them in chasing forever they were so precious and this book ruined it all!

delaney was so selfish and evil to both bennett and leia and you know what even to wren too! Bennett is a saint bc i would have crashed out the whole book 💀

and I didn’t like how his family was like ‘omg you need to forgive her bc you two are soulmates’ literally not giving af that he didnt get to know about his daughter for 7 years and was raised by another man without him knowing it

and as i said delaney was so evil went to play a happy family with a man and let her daughter believe he is her father for what ???? you dont even feel bad for her with what she went thru with sean bc it was literally karma for what she did to bennett and leia 💀

im gonna pretend I didn’t read this book and bennett is just a single dad and raising a very happy wren!

[Megan | Megan.Reads.Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars - rounded down

Thank you so much to Hambright PR and Piper Rayne for the ALC/ARC. These are my honest thoughts!

After absolutely devouring Chasing Forever and then going back to read books 1-3 in the Plain Daisy Ranch series, I was stoked to return to this universe in Chasing Love.

Bennett's character intrigued me from previous books, with Wren stealing many of the scenes she was a part of! I love a spunky little girl and her daddy, and I was excited to find out what happened when his high school sweetheart returned to town (the easter egg at the end of Chasing Forever was *chef's kiss* amazing).

Delaney returns "home," after her husband does something truly terrible and gets arrested, with her baby girl, Leia. Her parents have returned to the area where she was a high schooler during their retirement years, and Delaney honestly hopes to hide out at her parent's place to avoid Bennett and family. Delaney's best friend ends up dragging her out to help her with flowers, as she's a floral designer, and that leads to a run-in with Bennett. These two have SECRETS + HISTORY, and oooh boy, I loved finding out each detail as it was revealed!

In the end, I was nervous to see if Delaney and Bennett could reconcile their past to let the doors open for their future. When Wren and Leia become fast friends, it makes staying away from each other hard... and complicated.

This audiobook was duet narration with Erin Mallon and J.F. Harding, and I gobbled it right up. It runs just under 8 hours, so it was an easy audiobook to consume in half a day.

Read if you love:
- High school sweethearts
- Second chance
- Workplace
- Forced proximity
- Secret baby
- Meddling family
- Dual timeline/flashbacks

This one is out October 21st!

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this one! I’m such a sucker for small-town romances, and Chasing Love hit all the right notes. It’s heartfelt, emotional, and has that perfect mix of second chances and family moments that make you feel all the things.

Delaney and Bennett’s story was full of chemistry, tension, and that “meant to be” pull I adore in a romance. There’s a secret, some hurt feelings, and plenty of swoon worthy moments along the way, everything you want in a second-chance love story.

I listened to the ALC and it was so good. The narrators absolutely nailed it they brought so much emotion and warmth to the story that I ended up finishing it in one day. I just couldn’t stop listening.

Piper Rayne always delivers stories that wrap you up in the setting and make you fall for the characters. This one was no different sweet, a little messy, and completely addictive. I’m already ready for the next one in this series! Thanks to Hambright PR for the ALC and ARC.

[Kayla Cyré · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a gem of a story 🩷 Piper does it again. She makes me fall in love with these characters and cry all over again. I adored Chasing Forever, so I just had to arc read this one 🥺 single dad romance is one of my favorite tropes, but put a single mom in there who has been through a lot and is striving for a better life for her and her daughter just has my heart. Delaney and Bennett were meant to be with each other, but life had other plans and took them in opposite directions until it was time for them to get back together. Seven years of them being apart from each other was heartbreaking for them, but once they got back together and secrets came to the light, they were able to talk about it and move forward. That's when everything fell right back into place for them and their love never faltered. They had a lovely ending and I can't wait to read Romys story next 🤭

Tropes:
🌸secret child
🌸invisible string
🌸"it's always been you"
🌸second chance romance
🌸high school sweethearts
🌸single dad/single mom romance

[Meaghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

ALC Review - Huge thanks to Piper Rayne and Valentine PR for the opportunity to receive a review copy of Chasing Love!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ - I had a hard time deciding how to rate this one. If this had been the eARC alone, there’s a strong chance that it may have been a DNF for me. It wasn’t a bad book… It just wasn’t the one for me. I didn’t enjoy the format in which part of the story was told — we discover the complicated history between the MCs through letters written by FMC Delaney to her soon-to-be ex-husband. At other points, I was just bored and depressed.

Is this a love story with an HEA? Yes… But I feel like that ends up becoming secondary to the focus on the greater family drama and the fallout that results from Delaney’s decision to keep her daughter Leia’s paternity a secret.

I didn’t feel like either of the MCs were very mature in how they were handling the situation — especially MMC Bennett who was wrapped up in being the victim in the scenario (classic man, honestly - but I like my fictional men to be above typical MAN-nerisms - see what I did there? 😅).

The burn in this book is incredibly slow and by the time the MCs finally get together at the 80% mark, I was honestly kind of over their bullshit and too depressed from the secret child plot to care.

I also want to comment on a scene that I was disappointed to come across. While I assume this was planted as a hint of what’s to come in Romy’s book, I really didn’t like that a handful of female family members were judging Romy’s eating habits and her body. This type of flippant toxicity felt out of place for a family that is supposed to be so close and supportive of one another. It’s 2025 - can we stop commenting on women’s bodies, what they choose to eat, and how they stay “thin?”

The audiobook was done well (hard to be mad at a duet narration!), but wasn’t a standout for me. It was nice to listen to JF Harding who was one of my first favourites when I initially got into audiobooks, and a narrator I haven’t had the chance to listen to for a while! I didn’t love Erin Mallon for Delaney (although I can’t put my finger on why) and wasn’t the biggest fan of her performances of Wren and Leia’s young voices.

🌶️🌶️
Narration: 4/5⭐️
Story: 3/5⭐️

[LaceyBanana Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25. Returning home after seven years brings back a ton of memories and unfinished business for Delaney. She’s got a child now and so does Bennett-her “unfinished business”. She’s just left a relationship that has left her reeling and needs the peace and stability of home.

This was definitely a cute story! I loved that there was an underlying mystery element and I’ve enjoyed this series so far. Overall, the story didn’t stick with me a few weeks later and I had to refresh my memory already. It was fun at the time of reading though!

Thank you so much to Hambright PR and Piper Rayne for providing this free E-ARC, this published on October 21st. This is my honest review!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rounding up from 4.5
This is my favorite in the series so far!
I have always loved Bennett and Wren and the introduction of Delaney and Leia was perfect for them!
This was a good switch up from your typical single dad trope with second (actually third) chance and some secrets mixed in!
The letters were a nice touch, they were a great plot device without having a bunch of flashback scenes.
I didn't find myself having to suspend too much of my belief and want frustrated with the characters decisions 🤣