Restore Me

by J.L. Seegars

*The limited deluxe edition will include sprayed edges*

A steamy, forbidden enemies to lovers romance about love after loss. It is the first book in the New Haven series, interconnected standalones featuring second chances, fiery passion, and Black heroines who get their happily ever afters.

Sloane

Dominic Alexander is my late husband's best friend and the last man on Earth that I should want. He's arrogant, dismissive, and up until recently has only ever used those dark eyes of his to look right through me. For the last twelve years, he's taken a sick pleasure in making me feel paper thin, like my entire existence is of no consequence to him at all.

But now, things are different.

After one drunken night and a surprisingly sexy act of heroism, he's started to be...nice. Treating me like something other than the physical embodiment of his annoyance, which would be nice if it didn't make me feel all the things I swore to never feel for another man after my husband died.

Dominic

Sloane Kent is going to be my undoing.

What's I think I'm going to enjoy being unraveled by the gold flecks in her hazel eyes and the adorable little way she scrunches her nose up when we're arguing, which we've done a lot of over the past decade. She thinks it's because I hate her, and I've always let her think that because the alternative is...untenable.

But something is changing between us, and I don't know how to stop myself from breaking every promise I've ever made to myself regarding my best friend's wife. Promises that include never telling her that there's a long list of things I feel about her, but hate isn't one of them.

576 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 6, 2026

About the author

J.L. Seegars is a dedicated smut peddler and lifelong nerd who’s always had a love of words, storytelling and drama. When she isn’t writing messy and emotionally complex characters like the ones she grew up around, she’s watching reality TV, supporting her fellow authors by devouring their work or spending time with her husband and son.

Reviews

[Shannai · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

Thank you to Sourcebooks Bloom Books and NetGalley for the review copy of Restore Me in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are entirely my own. My god this was just as good when I read this back in 2022; it's so angsty, gritty and an emotional journey that Sloane goes through after the loss of her husband, and finding love again.

The tension between Sloane and Dom was INSANE, omg I loved it! I have never been more antsy about two people hooking up; the tension was that good! It's very classic, protective mmc, who will do anything for you, and strong and independent fmc, who is scared about falling in love after being widowed. Both Sloane and Dom both go on their own journey; I really liked Dom's character development in this. He tried so hard to not be like the man his father was, and had such great emotional depth to him.

I'm kicking myself that I didn't continue picking up this series when I first read Restore Me, but I will be now with its trad re-release, I'm so curious about Mal and Chris's story.

[Aniysa · Rating 5 out of 5]

**ARC REVIEW**

I first want to thank J. L. Seegars and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the opportunity to review “Restore Me”.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

“Restore Me” is a second-chance romance with a dash of enemies-to-lovers banter mixed in. Sloane and Dominic can’t stand each other, but what happens when an incident in a crowded club occurs and Dominic has to save Sloane? New feelings are awaken and hate is now quickly turning into lust.

I absolutely enjoyed the love journey between Sloane and Dominic. There was so much sexual tension between the two characters but also a lot of fear for the unknown. Two heartbroken souls were able to find each other for a second chance at happiness.

This book is an emotional rollercoaster that will leave you wanting the main characters to just figure it out. They must navigate through loss, jealousy, and family trauma. And the spice? Absolutely delicious! You can feel the chemistry between Sloane and Dominic and the spicy scenes will make you turn on a fan or get a glass of cold water.

[Eliane Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book that I’ve read by J. L. Seegars, and to say I’m impressed is an understatement.

Dominic's courage to go after what he wanted for so long was something to be admired. Knowing that he sacrificed what he wanted so that everyone else could be happy made me grieve for him, but it also made me love him.

Sloane's struggle with believing that she deserves happiness after a deep loss was heartbreaking. Seeing her come to life and start living for herself again brought me so much joy.

Seegars painted a real and raw story of forbidden love. Whether it was grief or joy, I felt each emotion of the characters. This book is a beautiful display of what can happen when we let go and allow love to lead. The bonus chapters at the end were a great surprise, and I love being able to learn more about Sloane and Dominic. This was a phenomenal read!

Thank you, J. L. Seegar, Net Galley, and Bloom Press for the advanced copy of this book.

[Kristie Kieffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Restore Me is an emotional, magnetic, slow-burn romance that absolutely took over my heart. J.L. Seegars writes with so much depth and honesty that it’s impossible not to feel every ounce of tension, history, and longing between these characters.

The second-chance element is done so well—messy, grown, and full of complicated feelings that make the payoff incredibly satisfying. I loved how the story balances vulnerability with strength, showing two people trying to heal both separately and together.

The writing is beautiful, the chemistry is electric, and the emotional buildup is everything I want in a romance that isn’t afraid to dig deep. By the end, I was fully invested, emotionally wrecked in the best way, and already thinking about a reread.

A heartfelt, intimate, unforgettable story about love, loss, and finding your way back—not just to someone else, but to yourself.

[k · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really, really good!

The whole time I was reading it, I just kept thinking about Tessa Baileys’s Love Her or Lose Her. It hit some really similar notes.

I adored both Sloane and Dom and characters. I love the banter to how they fell in love and the spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️(!!) was so good!

I do have to critique the third act breakup. For some reason in this story it just felt out of character and out of place. I truly think that how the story developed it could have been mitigated or addressed with a little less drama.

[Mandy & Lo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am good emotional story. It is great second chance story with forbidden love. Check it out!