Sweet Beginnings

by Della Monroe

She ran to find freedom. She never expected to find him.

Olivia has always lived under her parents’ rules, where wealth, appearances, and family reputation come first. When they arrange her marriage to a controlling man for the sake of business, she’s expected to obey… until she sees the man he truly is.

Left without any other choice, Olivia runs—escaping to a quiet small town where freedom, kindness, and a life of her own finally feel possible. There, she meets a man with a smile that could melt steel and a heart that beats with gentle patience, deep tenderness and a devotion that honors choice in every moment.

Unable to fight the connection, Olivia begins to believe in love for the first time. But her past isn’t finished with her yet… and running away might not be enough to keep her safe.

419 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 10, 2026

Reviews

[Whitney Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Della Monroe absolutely outdid herself with this book!
It was absolutely everything I love in a book in more.
It begins with Olivia running from her family and the arranged marriage they set up for her. When we first meet Olivia she is terrified, meek, and very much just wanting to be invisible. She grew up not knowing what it feels like to be loved, not knowing freedom, and not getting to make any choices of her own. Running away was the first choice she ever made for herself, and what follows is a story of self-discovery, finding strength, healing, and learning the meaning of the word love.
She gets a job at Kade and his brother’s construction company as an admin, and Kade helps her to feel safe for the first time in her life. He lets her make her own choices. He calms her when the storm in her gets too much. He allows her to heal herself by making sure she knows she is in control of her like. And it was just such an amazing story to see come together.
When we meet Kade, he’s this flirtatious guy. He’s a bit of a playboy. He has never done more than one night. Until he meets Olivia, and he discovers this part of him that wants to take care of someone, the part of him that wants forever with someone.
They both grow in their own ways but seeing them grow as a couple is just the cutest and rawest thing ever!
Highly recommend this book!!

[Jess Bryson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Della Monroe didn’t just write a romance, she wrote a healing journey wrapped in a love story, and I felt every single ounce of it.

Olivia’s story broke my heart in the quietest, most powerful way. Watching her go from a girl who didn’t believe she deserved safety or love into a woman who knows and finds what she deserves was so beautifully done. Her fear felt real. Her small moments of bravery felt monumental. Every step forward felt earned, and I found myself fiercely protective of her.

And then there’s Kade.

Kade wasn't just charming and flirty, but what made him unforgettable was the way he chose gentleness. The way he gave Olivia space instead of pressure. The way he offered safety. The way he fell first not because she dazzled him, but because he saw her and wanted to be someone worthy of her trust. That kind of love is rare in fiction, and it was breathtaking to read.

This book is about finding your voice after being silenced. About learning that love doesn’t cage you, it frees you. About discovering yourself and that you are allowed to want more from life.

I didn’t just root for Olivia and Kade, I felt their story. And when I turned the last page, I had that rare, heart is achingly full feeling that only comes from a book that truly stays with you.

Della, this was stunning, heartfelt, and deeply moving. I cannot wait to read whatever you write next! Always your fan, girl.

[Susan (Purplegalaxyreads94) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I’d like to thank Della Monroe and Luna literary for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest and spoiler free review!

This story follows the life of Olivia, a girl who grows up in an environment where wealth, looks and reputation come first. When she ran away to find freedom, she never could have imagined that she would find….him.

I have never read anything by Della Monroe before but when I read Sweet Beginnings, I instantly knew it was good to be a beautiful journey of finding love and healing along the way. I feel like Della did an amazing job of making Olivia feel so real. Seeing Olivia’s journey unfold after she ran away from all she used to know, was so well done and I feel like so many readers could find themselves in Olivia. The power of taking over your own life and finding your own happiness and everything you truly deserve in life even when the people who were supposed to love and protect you made for such a beautiful read.

I also really liked Kade. Seeing as he was warned by all his family to be careful around Olivia and that she isn’t like other girls broke my heart a bit. Especially knowing that it really messed with him and having to be seen as only one type of person by your family can hurt. I loved seeing Kade and Olivia grow together and everything about their story was literally “sweet”, just like the title of the book.

[Lauren Defouw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet beginnings - ARC READ (check out my instagram for pictures)

Kade & Olivia

Truly loved this story so much, I ate it up. It was fast paced but not to quick that you don’t get details. The way that Kade and Liv just fit together like the perfect puzzle piece was everything. The small moments between them where he would say “ I’ve got you” to the big moments and adventures they went on

The plot twist towards the end had me at the edge of my feet reading insanely fast to know what happens next.

This was so full of love and overcoming with the perfect amount of spice and found family.

“If you’d told me growing up that there was a world waiting for me- one filled with choices and freedom, a family who loved me like I was their own and a man who made my heart ache in the best way- I wouldn’t have believed you”

4.5/5 ⭐️
2.5/5 🌶️

Tropes
-found family
-starting over
-family names
-boss/ worker
-friends brother

[Original Stepher · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book: small-town romance, grumpy-sunshine, FMC fighting for the life she wants… sounds promising. But the hopeful, feel-good resolution fell flat, and the writing path to get there was super bumpy. The plot was patchy and predictable and I wanted more depth for the characters, who I did find to be quite loveable. Unfortunately, the writing gets in the way: the phrasing was awkward, the word choices repetitive and distracting. The near constant references to “breaths gasping” is off-putting. The FMCs breath “hitches” or “catches” in nearly every other paragraph, and the MMCs “chest tightens” so often that he should get check for early signs of cardiac arrest. If the MMCs voice gets any “rougher” or “lower”, he may as well growl instead of speak… and then in Chapter 36, he actually does growl. This one was not for me.

Thank you to the author and to Luna Literary Management for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

[Lou_lovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book! Della has written a book with not only an amazing love story but about a healing journey. Reading Olivia and Kade’s story is absolutely heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time. Heartbreaking because Olivia truly deserved more at the beginning of the book, awful parents who practically sell off her to an even worse man. When she finally escapes to a small town and meets Aubrey and the rest of the Jenkins family she finally understands what family and love is.
Kade is so amazing with Liv, the way he gives her a safe place to just be herself is beautiful and the way he loves her is chefs kiss.
I absolutely loved their love story and cannot wait for the rest of the series

Thank you so much to Della and the team at Luna for this eARC in exchange for my honest review

[Florencia Candela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an INCREDIBLE debut!
Such a beautiful story with amazing characters. The plot was filled with angst and mystery and I loved how the MMCs got through it with great communication and holding onto each other.

Olivia and Kade were so cute and their chemistry felt natural. Every moment where they were together there was a beautiful energy between them. They truly made each other feel safe and cherished.

Thanks so much to the author and Luna Literary for this ARC

[Abigail Tarpley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this, and it was SO GOOD — Kade & Olivia are such well-rounded, likeable characters, it was so easy to root for them. A fantastic debut novel, and I can’t wait to see what else Della has in store for us!!

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

4🌟
2.5🌶
⚠️Check trigger warnings ⚠️

full ARC Review to come.