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Betray Me Once #2
Cake & Consequences
Gage Langford gets a second chance with the woman he destroyed when he married Vanessa instead.
182 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 18, 2026
312 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
hard-pass
February 19, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this arc and this is my honest opinion.
This is a story of betrayal and grovel. A short one so you can read it in one sitting. I had already read the first one in the series and I was curious about this one too. They're interconnected stand-alones so you don't have to read the first one, just there's one or two cameos of the first couple in this story.
It was actually nice regarding its length. I believe that if it was a novel the author would have the space and opportunity to express more feelings. I would have liked more grovel but again I believe if it was lengthier there would be much more.
I'm not going to give spoilers as it's better to read it by yourself but I loved the redemption arc of both characters.
This is a story of betrayal and grovel. A short one so you can read it in one sitting. I had already read the first one in the series and I was curious about this one too. They're interconnected stand-alones so you don't have to read the first one, just there's one or two cameos of the first couple in this story.
It was actually nice regarding its length. I believe that if it was a novel the author would have the space and opportunity to express more feelings. I would have liked more grovel but again I believe if it was lengthier there would be much more.
I'm not going to give spoilers as it's better to read it by yourself but I loved the redemption arc of both characters.
February 19, 2026
The blurb was very misleading; there was no grovel in this book. The h forgave the H almost instantly. So disappointing. I'm giving it 2 stars but only because I finished it.
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February 19, 2026This is a quick read, it doesn't really feel there is time to establish any depth to the characters, betrayal or promised grovel.
There is more to the betrayal than mentioned in the blurb but still it doesn't really feel as though she had much of a backbone with him.
The Hero is intimate with his then wife after some time into the marriage and the heroine also has a sort of relationship with other man.
He has therapy and apologies but it didn't feel enough as although there is interference that causes the breakup he was to blame and she would have been hurt.
There is more to the betrayal than mentioned in the blurb but still it doesn't really feel as though she had much of a backbone with him.
The Hero is intimate with his then wife after some time into the marriage and the heroine also has a sort of relationship with other man.
He has therapy and apologies but it didn't feel enough as although there is interference that causes the breakup he was to blame and she would have been hurt.
February 22, 2026
It was kind of more buying than groveling
“None of this was about being seen or thanked. I’m not trying to buy forgiveness. Or push you into anything you’re not ready for. I was just trying to do right by you. Finally.”
Although Gage says he doesn’t need a thank you, and didn’t want her to find out he is the one who donated the money to the causes she believes in, or fixing her building, I call BS. I mean, in a week, everything that needed cash to get fixed in her life got fixed and her mom‘s name was even on some of it, which made is obvious who was behind it. Given that she didn’t have dozens of rich people in her life.
Apart from that, the book didn’t feel grovelly, Gage just blamed his ex instead of reflecting on his own merits in the 💩show and didn’t even have the hinsight to deal with the ex before he dragged Tessa into this mess again. Basically she was hurt because him twice in my book and second time even her business was on risk.
“None of this was about being seen or thanked. I’m not trying to buy forgiveness. Or push you into anything you’re not ready for. I was just trying to do right by you. Finally.”
Although Gage says he doesn’t need a thank you, and didn’t want her to find out he is the one who donated the money to the causes she believes in, or fixing her building, I call BS. I mean, in a week, everything that needed cash to get fixed in her life got fixed and her mom‘s name was even on some of it, which made is obvious who was behind it. Given that she didn’t have dozens of rich people in her life.
Apart from that, the book didn’t feel grovelly, Gage just blamed his ex instead of reflecting on his own merits in the 💩show and didn’t even have the hinsight to deal with the ex before he dragged Tessa into this mess again. Basically she was hurt because him twice in my book and second time even her business was on risk.
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February 23, 2026I think I’m too old for these kinds of books. I’m 40% in and it’s finally revealed what happened that broke up the main couple. The MMC agreed to the OW’s dad’s idea of a merger through marriage without consulting his then GF/FMC. It’s unclear if this was all in the same day but so far I can only assume it was based on his accounting of events. From that agreement the announcement was made publicly, he left a voicemail message saying sorry to the FMC, she tried calling and texting and her messages were blocked, he blocked her on all social media. He at the same time received a message from the FMC stating she was going to break up with him anyway and she would give him back his stuff, and during that day they both got boxes of their shit swapped out from each other’s places.
My problem with this was the first thing I mentioned above regarding the agreement to the point of announcing the engagement was what time frame? Like, I need to know how long was it between the two events happening, because then comes the obvious follow up question of, wouldn’t there have been time where he could have talked to the FMC and explained everything along with whatever stupid plan he was cooking up? But for arguments sake, if we go with what I am forced to assume above that it all happened at the same time and same day, then how did the MMC’s phone get into the hands of the person who sent the message to the FMC, blocked her on everything if he was trying to reach her (in the absolute laziest way possible I might add!), to explain to her this nonsense of a predicament he had gotten himself into?? Who got the FMC’s house key off of the MMC and went through BOTH of their apartments and cleaned them out without him knowing? Again all at the same time. And lastly, WTF didn’t he go to see her even ONCE in the six months between the announcement/break up and his actual wedding day, where he FINALLY fucks the OW/now his wife, to talk to the FMC??
Seriously, who breaks up so cleanly and easily without one single face to face confrontation between them, except for people who don’t actually want to be together? Which brings me to the simplest point I’m trying to make, where’s the love between the main couple? Who agrees to an engagement to someone else if they truly love their partner? Who doesn’t reach out repeatedly trying to get them to understand or forgive or fight for their relationship beyond a single text message and a single voicemail message that we get in this book? Only two people who don’t want each other at all.
This story has a weak foundation for the betrayal for me. The MMC is a pathetic simp who was happy to be puppetted for a CEO position. Honestly, if that was all it took for him to fold on a relationship then he would have fucked up his relationship with the FMC eventually anyway. His job was more important to him. That is proven by the fact that he returned to the FMC’s business to apologize to her staffer for his Karen behavior but he couldn’t reach out in person not one single time when he was engaged to the OW. His priorities are super skewed. Smdh
So this is why I feel I’m probably too old to read such a lame story. All I see are the wholes. All I’m reading is how the love the MMC supposedly feels wasn’t real or strong enough. That other things were obviously more important to him. So while I rarely like second chances if cheating is involved, this book doesn’t technically have cheating but to me it does. His affair was with his job. And the fact that he willingly slept with the OW he supposedly didn’t want tells me that he was probably already interested in her even if only sexually before the FMC was even in his life. He probably would have cheated on the FMC with her eventually as it seems like she was always around him. And around him intimately enough that she could get her hands on his phone and his and the FMC’s house keys so easily. Now because I feel this is a cheating story, I want the MMC to suffer and the FMC to end up with ANYBODY ELSE BUT HIM!
My problem with this was the first thing I mentioned above regarding the agreement to the point of announcing the engagement was what time frame? Like, I need to know how long was it between the two events happening, because then comes the obvious follow up question of, wouldn’t there have been time where he could have talked to the FMC and explained everything along with whatever stupid plan he was cooking up? But for arguments sake, if we go with what I am forced to assume above that it all happened at the same time and same day, then how did the MMC’s phone get into the hands of the person who sent the message to the FMC, blocked her on everything if he was trying to reach her (in the absolute laziest way possible I might add!), to explain to her this nonsense of a predicament he had gotten himself into?? Who got the FMC’s house key off of the MMC and went through BOTH of their apartments and cleaned them out without him knowing? Again all at the same time. And lastly, WTF didn’t he go to see her even ONCE in the six months between the announcement/break up and his actual wedding day, where he FINALLY fucks the OW/now his wife, to talk to the FMC??
Seriously, who breaks up so cleanly and easily without one single face to face confrontation between them, except for people who don’t actually want to be together? Which brings me to the simplest point I’m trying to make, where’s the love between the main couple? Who agrees to an engagement to someone else if they truly love their partner? Who doesn’t reach out repeatedly trying to get them to understand or forgive or fight for their relationship beyond a single text message and a single voicemail message that we get in this book? Only two people who don’t want each other at all.
This story has a weak foundation for the betrayal for me. The MMC is a pathetic simp who was happy to be puppetted for a CEO position. Honestly, if that was all it took for him to fold on a relationship then he would have fucked up his relationship with the FMC eventually anyway. His job was more important to him. That is proven by the fact that he returned to the FMC’s business to apologize to her staffer for his Karen behavior but he couldn’t reach out in person not one single time when he was engaged to the OW. His priorities are super skewed. Smdh
So this is why I feel I’m probably too old to read such a lame story. All I see are the wholes. All I’m reading is how the love the MMC supposedly feels wasn’t real or strong enough. That other things were obviously more important to him. So while I rarely like second chances if cheating is involved, this book doesn’t technically have cheating but to me it does. His affair was with his job. And the fact that he willingly slept with the OW he supposedly didn’t want tells me that he was probably already interested in her even if only sexually before the FMC was even in his life. He probably would have cheated on the FMC with her eventually as it seems like she was always around him. And around him intimately enough that she could get her hands on his phone and his and the FMC’s house keys so easily. Now because I feel this is a cheating story, I want the MMC to suffer and the FMC to end up with ANYBODY ELSE BUT HIM!
February 18, 2026
Not enough substance
I get this is a novella, but halfway thru, I was already done with this book. It literally took nothing before the h was back with the H. There wasn't even an entire conversation about what exactly happened. There was a quick revelation of the OWs scheming, but the H still dropped her, still got engaged while he was with the h and that seemed to just be forgotten. I was really looking forward to this story, but it was honestly a huge disappointment. The H spent a bunch of money but before he even did that (which is such an easy thing to do for an insanely rich man and has no real value), the h was already texting him. It felt like lazy writing and no real substance.
I get this is a novella, but halfway thru, I was already done with this book. It literally took nothing before the h was back with the H. There wasn't even an entire conversation about what exactly happened. There was a quick revelation of the OWs scheming, but the H still dropped her, still got engaged while he was with the h and that seemed to just be forgotten. I was really looking forward to this story, but it was honestly a huge disappointment. The H spent a bunch of money but before he even did that (which is such an easy thing to do for an insanely rich man and has no real value), the h was already texting him. It felt like lazy writing and no real substance.
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February 22, 2026DNF’d @ 63%… maybe it’s me, maybe I’ll come back to it.
February 18, 2026
Tessa is pathetic. there was no substance no depth. she forgave him almost instantly.
February 19, 2026
Cake & Consequences, Book 2 of the Betray Me Once series, was about 37-year-old Gage Langford, the heir and CEO of Langford Tech, and Tessa Hale, the owner of the Hale & Honey Bakery (the reader never learned Tessa's age).
The book opened three years earlier, with Tessa purchasing food and wine to prepare a special meal to "acknowledge how hard" Gage, her boyfriend with whom she had been in a relationship for the past year, had been working. As she approached the checkout, she learned from others twittering excitedly that her boyfriend was not only merging his company with another's, but had also announced his engagement to another woman named Vanessa Carrington, the heiress of the company his was merging with. Gage hadn't even bothered to let her down easy before the announcement was made, rather choosing to inform her in a voicemail he had left earlier in the evening, but she had missed it. "I'm sorry you had to hear this way, Tessa. It's not what you think. Don't hate me. Please." After trying to call him back and checking his social media that not only had he dumped her, but he'd blocked her as well, basically erasing her from his life. She returned home in tears, only to find a box containing the key she had given him to her apartment and all of her things that she'd left at his place. He'd waited until she wasn't home and returned her things...minus the scarf that had once belonged to her mother. Then she noticed he had removed all of his stuff from her place as well. After a week of hiding out in her apartment, she was once again ready to face the world...and she did so with gusto.
Three years later, Tessa was the proud owner of her own bakery, which was very popular with celebrities, on social media, and with the members of high society. She was in the middle of filming a new design when Gage entered her establishment and was berating her newest, shyest employee. It was apparent from his expression that he was just as surprised to see Tessa as she was to see him, but she covered it better. However, Tessa promptly put him in his place before kicking him out of her bakery. Gage wanted to argue, but the guy from the shop next to Tessa's entered after hearing the shouting, letting him know the cops were on the way. Gage promptly left, but wasn't happy about it. What Tessa didn't know was that the cake Gage had been arguing over...was for a Divorce party...his divorce party.
It took a full week before Gage returned to the bakery to apologize. Afterward, he told Tessa he missed her, his marriage had been hell, his divorce had been worse, and that he hadn't had a single happy day since his relationship with her (Tessa) had ended. If he'd been hoping that would sway her, it only made her freeze him out more. But then he said something that threw her for a loop. He said he'd only gotten with his (now) ex-wife because Tessa had walked away from him...not the other way around. But her response went further and knocked his legs out from under him when she told him he was the one who broke things off. As they both gave their own version of what happened three years earlier, they each began to realize they had been lied to...by an unknown person who interfered in their relationship. Once he made that realization, Gage set out to find out the truth about the breakup three years earlier and set things right between him and Tessa...if he could. However, it didn't take long for Gage's ex-wife to start destroying everything good that Tessa had accomplished in the past three years...and Gage wasn't going to take it lying down.
This story had more than its fair share of angst, drama, heartache, an emotional rollercoaster full of twists and turns, and controversy. The plot and storyline were simple yet easy to navigate, and the comeuppance and grovel were adequate to satisfy most critics, although some of the comeuppance didn't get page time, but that was okay in the end. However, the ending timeline was a bit too far out to be completely satisfying. But then again...the extended epilogue provided a touch more to the comeuppance view that helped smooth the disappointment somewhat. Unfortunately, the story wrapped up so fast it felt like being hit by a runaway locomotive. I wanted to see more of the relationship being rebuilt between Gage and Tessa, and I also wanted to see more of how Gage got his revenge on his ex-wife. Unfortunately, it felt like too many loose ends were left unfinished.
Both main characters were well-developed and mature, but the fact that neither of them managed to have a face-to-face confrontation in the beginning was disappointing. While I realize the lack of communication was the entire reason their relationship went to hell in a handbasket, one would think the author would have included something major that the reader wouldn't discover until the book nearly ended. Be that as it may, the book still deserved a four-star rating. Looking forward to Book 3.
The book opened three years earlier, with Tessa purchasing food and wine to prepare a special meal to "acknowledge how hard" Gage, her boyfriend with whom she had been in a relationship for the past year, had been working. As she approached the checkout, she learned from others twittering excitedly that her boyfriend was not only merging his company with another's, but had also announced his engagement to another woman named Vanessa Carrington, the heiress of the company his was merging with. Gage hadn't even bothered to let her down easy before the announcement was made, rather choosing to inform her in a voicemail he had left earlier in the evening, but she had missed it. "I'm sorry you had to hear this way, Tessa. It's not what you think. Don't hate me. Please." After trying to call him back and checking his social media that not only had he dumped her, but he'd blocked her as well, basically erasing her from his life. She returned home in tears, only to find a box containing the key she had given him to her apartment and all of her things that she'd left at his place. He'd waited until she wasn't home and returned her things...minus the scarf that had once belonged to her mother. Then she noticed he had removed all of his stuff from her place as well. After a week of hiding out in her apartment, she was once again ready to face the world...and she did so with gusto.
Three years later, Tessa was the proud owner of her own bakery, which was very popular with celebrities, on social media, and with the members of high society. She was in the middle of filming a new design when Gage entered her establishment and was berating her newest, shyest employee. It was apparent from his expression that he was just as surprised to see Tessa as she was to see him, but she covered it better. However, Tessa promptly put him in his place before kicking him out of her bakery. Gage wanted to argue, but the guy from the shop next to Tessa's entered after hearing the shouting, letting him know the cops were on the way. Gage promptly left, but wasn't happy about it. What Tessa didn't know was that the cake Gage had been arguing over...was for a Divorce party...his divorce party.
It took a full week before Gage returned to the bakery to apologize. Afterward, he told Tessa he missed her, his marriage had been hell, his divorce had been worse, and that he hadn't had a single happy day since his relationship with her (Tessa) had ended. If he'd been hoping that would sway her, it only made her freeze him out more. But then he said something that threw her for a loop. He said he'd only gotten with his (now) ex-wife because Tessa had walked away from him...not the other way around. But her response went further and knocked his legs out from under him when she told him he was the one who broke things off. As they both gave their own version of what happened three years earlier, they each began to realize they had been lied to...by an unknown person who interfered in their relationship. Once he made that realization, Gage set out to find out the truth about the breakup three years earlier and set things right between him and Tessa...if he could. However, it didn't take long for Gage's ex-wife to start destroying everything good that Tessa had accomplished in the past three years...and Gage wasn't going to take it lying down.
This story had more than its fair share of angst, drama, heartache, an emotional rollercoaster full of twists and turns, and controversy. The plot and storyline were simple yet easy to navigate, and the comeuppance and grovel were adequate to satisfy most critics, although some of the comeuppance didn't get page time, but that was okay in the end. However, the ending timeline was a bit too far out to be completely satisfying. But then again...the extended epilogue provided a touch more to the comeuppance view that helped smooth the disappointment somewhat. Unfortunately, the story wrapped up so fast it felt like being hit by a runaway locomotive. I wanted to see more of the relationship being rebuilt between Gage and Tessa, and I also wanted to see more of how Gage got his revenge on his ex-wife. Unfortunately, it felt like too many loose ends were left unfinished.
Both main characters were well-developed and mature, but the fact that neither of them managed to have a face-to-face confrontation in the beginning was disappointing. While I realize the lack of communication was the entire reason their relationship went to hell in a handbasket, one would think the author would have included something major that the reader wouldn't discover until the book nearly ended. Be that as it may, the book still deserved a four-star rating. Looking forward to Book 3.
February 21, 2026
Had some good moments
This book started out well. I liked how it jumped right into the story and not give this long detailed journey of how they met, how they lived etc. The story became rushed in areas. Glossed over outcomes with little depth. The writing was like here's the problem, here's the hurt, and boom very little depth on how it was resolved. I did what I hate and signed up for the extra epilogue. Don't need extra emails lol It wasn't worth the sign up. They went, met, and departed. Not much of a confrontation. What I really hated about this story was having the lead female character be weak and selfish, and sleeping with someone when she knew she wasn't interested. Just to prove something? That just shows women as weak and not the strength to embrace our feelings and know when we are not ready to start anything. And I was almost convinced that these two had a deeper love, the two main characters. That it was alright to be alone and only want to be with someone for the right reasons. I was just glad that the other guy wasn't in the story much. I just felt it wasn't needed. Women can figure out what's in their hearts other ways than sleeping with someone.
This book started out well. I liked how it jumped right into the story and not give this long detailed journey of how they met, how they lived etc. The story became rushed in areas. Glossed over outcomes with little depth. The writing was like here's the problem, here's the hurt, and boom very little depth on how it was resolved. I did what I hate and signed up for the extra epilogue. Don't need extra emails lol It wasn't worth the sign up. They went, met, and departed. Not much of a confrontation. What I really hated about this story was having the lead female character be weak and selfish, and sleeping with someone when she knew she wasn't interested. Just to prove something? That just shows women as weak and not the strength to embrace our feelings and know when we are not ready to start anything. And I was almost convinced that these two had a deeper love, the two main characters. That it was alright to be alone and only want to be with someone for the right reasons. I was just glad that the other guy wasn't in the story much. I just felt it wasn't needed. Women can figure out what's in their hearts other ways than sleeping with someone.
February 21, 2026
Download this around 1 am when I was having trouble sleeping. And it drew me in and kept me up until I hit one of the dumbest dates that I’ve ever read! Seriously, we are led be believe that they made cinnamon rolls from scratch outdoors? With a toaster oven plugged into a battery backup? And no sink to clean up. Then they sat on a blanket while the dough rose? What sort of suspended disbelief was I supposed to employ here? Ridiculous!
Here’s my star rating guide
0 stars- just no / couldn’t finish
⭐️ not good.; poorly written
⭐️⭐️ meh
⭐️⭐️⭐️ enjoyed; would recommend; fun
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ so good! would read again
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ memorable; loved it; unique; top of class in genre
Here’s my star rating guide
0 stars- just no / couldn’t finish
⭐️ not good.; poorly written
⭐️⭐️ meh
⭐️⭐️⭐️ enjoyed; would recommend; fun
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ so good! would read again
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ memorable; loved it; unique; top of class in genre
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC copy of this book and I'm leaving this reviewing of my own free will as a thank you to the author
this was such a fun read. loved the way he took responsibility immediately for everything he had done past and present once some truths slapped him in his face. the read flowed with laughs and some painful truths. finding forgiveness when there is another party involved can sometimes be hard but actions spoke loud and his were brutal but necessary. I can't wait for the next book
this was such a fun read. loved the way he took responsibility immediately for everything he had done past and present once some truths slapped him in his face. the read flowed with laughs and some painful truths. finding forgiveness when there is another party involved can sometimes be hard but actions spoke loud and his were brutal but necessary. I can't wait for the next book
February 18, 2026
Gage. 🤮.
February 23, 2026
Tessa is happily planning a date night for her boyfriend of a year, Gage—keys to each other’s apartments, shared routines, real future vibes—when she overhears gossip in a grocery store about a wealthy CEO getting engaged to another CEO’s daughter. A quick Google search confirms her worst fear: Gage Langford is publicly engaged to socialite Vanessa. To make it worse, he leaves her a vague “It’s not what you think” voicemail, returns her things, blocks her everywhere, and vanishes. He marries Vanessa. Tessa spends a week shattered.
Three years later, Tessa is thriving. She runs a wildly successful designer cake shop (Hale & Honey), has half a million followers, celebrity clients, and a loyal community. She has a FWB situation going on with the musician next door, Jace.
Then Gage walks into her bakery. He's tearing into her newest employee Jenny and basically acting like an entitled fool. Tessa absolutely unloads on him—and rightfully so.
From there, we get alternating perspectives and learn that Gage claims he never broke up with her. According to him, he received a breakup text “from Tessa,” found his key returned, and assumed she ended things over the engagement which he could "absolutely explain". The twist? Vanessa allegedly sabotaged their relationship—fake texts, cloned phones, break-ins, blocking them from each other—to clear the way for her engagement. It’s dramatic. It’s messy. It’s… a lot.
Even so, the big issue remains: Gage still agreed to get engaged. He SAYS he wasn't going to marry her and yet that's exactly what he did less than 6 months after the announcement and end of his and Tessa's relationship.
His explanation is corporate pressure. Vanessa’s father (co-founder and CEO) claimed failing health and insisted a marriage-merger would stabilize the company. Gage says he had a “plan.” Tessa doesn’t care—and honestly, neither did I. He made the decision without her. He didn’t fight for her. He didn’t show up at her door. He married someone else and consummated that marriage six months later. Miscommunication or not, those were choices. He even stayed married to Vanessa for a good 3 years despite it ending in a very nasty divorce.
The middle of the book focuses on exposing Vanessa’s manipulations (including her later attempt to smear Tessa publicly as a homewrecker), Gage stepping down from his company, starting therapy, and making grand gestures—anonymous donations to causes close to Tessa’s heart, fixing her building elevator, supporting her business. There’s not much traditional groveling—more “time apart + self-improvement + big gestures.” Gage says he never wanted Tessa to know who did all these donations but hello? Anyone else in her life a billionaire? Was transparent AF.
They reconcile fairly quickly once the truth comes out (yes, there’s unprotected sex less than a month after reconnecting 🙃), begin dating again, and slowly rebuild. Gage starts a nonprofit redistributing excess food to shelters, and the epilogue jumps three years ahead to their wedding. Tessa takes her time before accepting his proposal, which I appreciated. Trust had to be rebuilt but it seemed to happen in a whirlwind.
Overall thoughts:
This is a light, fast, mild drama second-chance romance. The opening betrayal packed the biggest emotional punch; after that, the story felt more like cleanup and damage control. I liked that Tessa wasn’t celibate during the separation (even if it was just a FWB situation), and I appreciated that Gage did change and grow.
But I struggled with how much of the blame was ultimately placed on the “evil other woman.” Vanessa absolutely manipulated things—but Gage still made pivotal decisions that hurt Tessa, and the narrative lets him skate past some of that a little too easily. He didn’t fight for her in the beginning, and that made the soulmate angle slightly harder to sell by the end.
That said, it’s not a bad read at all. It’s dramatic, easy to get through, and has a satisfying HEA if you can roll with the corporate marriage plot and suspension of disbelief around the sabotage. I just wanted a bit more substance—and maybe a bit more grovel—to fully buy the romance.
Three years later, Tessa is thriving. She runs a wildly successful designer cake shop (Hale & Honey), has half a million followers, celebrity clients, and a loyal community. She has a FWB situation going on with the musician next door, Jace.
Then Gage walks into her bakery. He's tearing into her newest employee Jenny and basically acting like an entitled fool. Tessa absolutely unloads on him—and rightfully so.
From there, we get alternating perspectives and learn that Gage claims he never broke up with her. According to him, he received a breakup text “from Tessa,” found his key returned, and assumed she ended things over the engagement which he could "absolutely explain". The twist? Vanessa allegedly sabotaged their relationship—fake texts, cloned phones, break-ins, blocking them from each other—to clear the way for her engagement. It’s dramatic. It’s messy. It’s… a lot.
Even so, the big issue remains: Gage still agreed to get engaged. He SAYS he wasn't going to marry her and yet that's exactly what he did less than 6 months after the announcement and end of his and Tessa's relationship.
His explanation is corporate pressure. Vanessa’s father (co-founder and CEO) claimed failing health and insisted a marriage-merger would stabilize the company. Gage says he had a “plan.” Tessa doesn’t care—and honestly, neither did I. He made the decision without her. He didn’t fight for her. He didn’t show up at her door. He married someone else and consummated that marriage six months later. Miscommunication or not, those were choices. He even stayed married to Vanessa for a good 3 years despite it ending in a very nasty divorce.
The middle of the book focuses on exposing Vanessa’s manipulations (including her later attempt to smear Tessa publicly as a homewrecker), Gage stepping down from his company, starting therapy, and making grand gestures—anonymous donations to causes close to Tessa’s heart, fixing her building elevator, supporting her business. There’s not much traditional groveling—more “time apart + self-improvement + big gestures.” Gage says he never wanted Tessa to know who did all these donations but hello? Anyone else in her life a billionaire? Was transparent AF.
They reconcile fairly quickly once the truth comes out (yes, there’s unprotected sex less than a month after reconnecting 🙃), begin dating again, and slowly rebuild. Gage starts a nonprofit redistributing excess food to shelters, and the epilogue jumps three years ahead to their wedding. Tessa takes her time before accepting his proposal, which I appreciated. Trust had to be rebuilt but it seemed to happen in a whirlwind.
Overall thoughts:
This is a light, fast, mild drama second-chance romance. The opening betrayal packed the biggest emotional punch; after that, the story felt more like cleanup and damage control. I liked that Tessa wasn’t celibate during the separation (even if it was just a FWB situation), and I appreciated that Gage did change and grow.
But I struggled with how much of the blame was ultimately placed on the “evil other woman.” Vanessa absolutely manipulated things—but Gage still made pivotal decisions that hurt Tessa, and the narrative lets him skate past some of that a little too easily. He didn’t fight for her in the beginning, and that made the soulmate angle slightly harder to sell by the end.
That said, it’s not a bad read at all. It’s dramatic, easy to get through, and has a satisfying HEA if you can roll with the corporate marriage plot and suspension of disbelief around the sabotage. I just wanted a bit more substance—and maybe a bit more grovel—to fully buy the romance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2026
Tessa and Gage have been dating for a year. Gage is a tech CEO. One day, she sees that his company has released a statement, Gage is engaged to an heiress in a personal and business merger. Tessa is like WTF?
She has a missed call from Gage, but his voicemail doesn't explain anything. He just says, "It's not what you think. Please don't hate me." That's it. By the time she listens to it, he has already blocked her on everything.
He marries the heiress, Vanessa. They divorce 3 years later. Gage's friends, including Ethan and Callie from Book 1, throw him a divorce party, and he orders a cake from a local bakery. He goes to the bakery to complain about the cake. Tessa comes out from the kitchen, because it's her bakery. No discussion about the cake; she just gives him his money back and tells him to leave.
The guy who owns the music shop next door comes in when he hears them yelling, and this provides some OM drama, because he's her FWB, Jace.
Gage goes back to the bakery later, to apologize to the employee he yelled at. He also asks Tessa, "Why didn't you fight for us?" She thinks this is an absurd question, but he doesn't seem to think it's absurd at all.
So, she lays it all out there, how he broke up with her over voicemail and she came home to find her stuff in a box on her kitchen counter, and she was blocked on everything. He says no, she cleared her stuff out of his apartment, and she blocked him on everything. He also received texts from her saying she didn't want an explanation.
We know she didn't send the texts. But does it really matter if someone sent fake texts? He really did marry Venessa, that’s not fake.
He tries to tell Tessa it was a fake engagement at first, out of business necessity. He had a plan to not go through with the wedding. But Tessa doesn't want to hear what the plan was, because he never asked her if she agreed with this plan.
The story mostly focuses on Vanessa tricking them into breaking up with each other. He talks to Ethan about how to get her fired, then plans to win Tessa back. He doesn’t take responsibility for the breakup.
Tessa is also easily convinced that he didn’t leave her on purpose, he was manipulated by Vanessa. There’s no accountability. It’s just weird.
He makes a list of things that count as “groveling.” She volunteers at a youth center, and he fixes the place up and gets new equipment, stuff like that.
So, Tessa’s success with the bakery is mainly driven by her social media cake decorating videos. That’s how she was found by celebrities and influencers. She agrees to go out to lunch with Gage one day, and while at the restaurant, her notifications blow up. Someone put out a gossip story that Gage and Vanessa divorced because he and Tessa had an affair. Now she’s getting canceled, basically.
Gage goes to his dad and Venessa’s dad, who are still involved with the tech company, and tells them everything. They fire Vanessa, and her dad pressures her to make a public apology video for the fake affair story.
Gage goes to the bakery to tell Tessa he’s handled things with the social media fallout. They have sex in the bakery kitchen (gross). They agree to date. (She already talked to Jace and made it clear there will be no more “benefits.”) Gage even spends some time helping her out at the bakery.
Small epilogue at their wedding.
The beginning gave a good set up for a lot of angst, but then it all just kind of fell apart, IMO. Tessa was too ready to put the blame on Vanessa, and Gage didn’t have to do much to win her back. The set up for the OM drama just never materialized.
She has a missed call from Gage, but his voicemail doesn't explain anything. He just says, "It's not what you think. Please don't hate me." That's it. By the time she listens to it, he has already blocked her on everything.
He marries the heiress, Vanessa. They divorce 3 years later. Gage's friends, including Ethan and Callie from Book 1, throw him a divorce party, and he orders a cake from a local bakery. He goes to the bakery to complain about the cake. Tessa comes out from the kitchen, because it's her bakery. No discussion about the cake; she just gives him his money back and tells him to leave.
The guy who owns the music shop next door comes in when he hears them yelling, and this provides some OM drama, because he's her FWB, Jace.
Gage goes back to the bakery later, to apologize to the employee he yelled at. He also asks Tessa, "Why didn't you fight for us?" She thinks this is an absurd question, but he doesn't seem to think it's absurd at all.
So, she lays it all out there, how he broke up with her over voicemail and she came home to find her stuff in a box on her kitchen counter, and she was blocked on everything. He says no, she cleared her stuff out of his apartment, and she blocked him on everything. He also received texts from her saying she didn't want an explanation.
We know she didn't send the texts. But does it really matter if someone sent fake texts? He really did marry Venessa, that’s not fake.
He tries to tell Tessa it was a fake engagement at first, out of business necessity. He had a plan to not go through with the wedding. But Tessa doesn't want to hear what the plan was, because he never asked her if she agreed with this plan.
The story mostly focuses on Vanessa tricking them into breaking up with each other. He talks to Ethan about how to get her fired, then plans to win Tessa back. He doesn’t take responsibility for the breakup.
Tessa is also easily convinced that he didn’t leave her on purpose, he was manipulated by Vanessa. There’s no accountability. It’s just weird.
He makes a list of things that count as “groveling.” She volunteers at a youth center, and he fixes the place up and gets new equipment, stuff like that.
So, Tessa’s success with the bakery is mainly driven by her social media cake decorating videos. That’s how she was found by celebrities and influencers. She agrees to go out to lunch with Gage one day, and while at the restaurant, her notifications blow up. Someone put out a gossip story that Gage and Vanessa divorced because he and Tessa had an affair. Now she’s getting canceled, basically.
Gage goes to his dad and Venessa’s dad, who are still involved with the tech company, and tells them everything. They fire Vanessa, and her dad pressures her to make a public apology video for the fake affair story.
Gage goes to the bakery to tell Tessa he’s handled things with the social media fallout. They have sex in the bakery kitchen (gross). They agree to date. (She already talked to Jace and made it clear there will be no more “benefits.”) Gage even spends some time helping her out at the bakery.
Small epilogue at their wedding.
The beginning gave a good set up for a lot of angst, but then it all just kind of fell apart, IMO. Tessa was too ready to put the blame on Vanessa, and Gage didn’t have to do much to win her back. The set up for the OM drama just never materialized.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2026
De mis primeras decepciones del año.
A continuación, un resumen de la historia:
El libro comienza con Tessa, preparándose para organizarle una cena a su novia Gage, él no contesta los mensajes y ve que se anuncia su compromiso con una Vanessa, una mujer rica. Se le rompe el corazón y más cuando llega a casa y están sus cosas en una caja, Gage solo mandó un mensaje diciendo que no lo odie. 3 años después, Tessa es una pastelera super famosa. Gage llega a su pastelería y le está gritando a la empleada cuando ve a Tessa. Tessa lo confronta por grosero y lo corre, hay tanto grito que Jace, su amigo con derechos, llega, le pone la mano en la cintura, le dice que llamará a la policía. Gage se va pero solo piensa en la mano de Jace en la cintura Tessa. Gage se casó con Vanessa y recientemente está divorciado. Nunca dejó de pensar en Tessa y aún así, se casó con Vanessa por su empresa. Habla con sus amigos sobre Tessa. Al día siguiente va a verla y le dice que ella no lucho por ellos, claramente no es así. Tessa le explica como la dejó con un mensaje. Hablan y se dan cuenta que a él le hicieron creer que ella lo terminó y con eso el aceptó casarse con Vanessa. Que estupidez. Gage está pendejo, ¿cómo no buscó a Tessa? Osea, ¿se hace la víctima cuando todo acabó con un mensaje? En todo caso quien no luchó fue él. Sabe que fue Vanessa. Le dice que nunca dejó de pensar en ella y Tessa pregunta si ha sido célibe, a lo que él dice que no, pues si se acostó con Vanessa. Gage habla con Susan, su asistente, planea como desenmascarar a Vanessa, contratan un investigador. Tessa hace voluntariado en un centro de oncología, Gage hace donaciones y pone una placa en nombre de la madre de Tessa. Tessa va a verlo a su oficina y hablan de eso. Van a comer, cuando Tessa ve que unos influencers están desprestigiando a su pastelería, y además la acusan de ser la tercera en discordia por lo que Gage se divorció de Vanessa. Gage va a la empresa, hace una reunión y ahí confronta todo lo que ha hecho Vanessa, quien por cierto se la pasa haciéndose la víctima y llorando. Su padre la corre, y la obligan a resarcir el daño. Empieza con los influencers y tiene que pedir disculpas públicas también. Ya con eso Tessa perdona básicamente a Gage y van directo al sexo, él dice que lleva casi 2 años sin estar con nadie y ella terminó a Jace. Ya todo queda en el pasado y Gage no sufrió nada, solo Tessa. No me gustó. Se dejó manipular, era un idiota ambicioso y no pude perdonarlo. Si si, los separaron con una trampa pero a las horas él ya se había comprometido con Vanessa, ¿Dónde está el amor que sentía por Tessa? Luego, dice que fue un matrimonio por conveniencia pero, ¿se acostó con Vanessa? Si no la quería, ¿por qué lo hizo? Es que no tiene sentido. Actúa como un niño cuando ya es un adulto. Mínimo me habría gustado que se arrastrara pero no pasó, el libro es tan corto que no hay desarrollo de nada. Lo siento, para mí, Tessa estaba mejor sin él. Y no pude perdonarlo, para un hombre muy idiota está la vida real. Lo único que me gustó, fue que mínimo no fue lo típico de que la protagonista está de luto por años y se mantiene célibe, Tessa si estuvo con otro. Aún así, no lo recomiendo ni lo volvería a leer. Puro coraje hice.🤬
A continuación, un resumen de la historia:
El libro comienza con Tessa, preparándose para organizarle una cena a su novia Gage, él no contesta los mensajes y ve que se anuncia su compromiso con una Vanessa, una mujer rica. Se le rompe el corazón y más cuando llega a casa y están sus cosas en una caja, Gage solo mandó un mensaje diciendo que no lo odie. 3 años después, Tessa es una pastelera super famosa. Gage llega a su pastelería y le está gritando a la empleada cuando ve a Tessa. Tessa lo confronta por grosero y lo corre, hay tanto grito que Jace, su amigo con derechos, llega, le pone la mano en la cintura, le dice que llamará a la policía. Gage se va pero solo piensa en la mano de Jace en la cintura Tessa. Gage se casó con Vanessa y recientemente está divorciado. Nunca dejó de pensar en Tessa y aún así, se casó con Vanessa por su empresa. Habla con sus amigos sobre Tessa. Al día siguiente va a verla y le dice que ella no lucho por ellos, claramente no es así. Tessa le explica como la dejó con un mensaje. Hablan y se dan cuenta que a él le hicieron creer que ella lo terminó y con eso el aceptó casarse con Vanessa. Que estupidez. Gage está pendejo, ¿cómo no buscó a Tessa? Osea, ¿se hace la víctima cuando todo acabó con un mensaje? En todo caso quien no luchó fue él. Sabe que fue Vanessa. Le dice que nunca dejó de pensar en ella y Tessa pregunta si ha sido célibe, a lo que él dice que no, pues si se acostó con Vanessa. Gage habla con Susan, su asistente, planea como desenmascarar a Vanessa, contratan un investigador. Tessa hace voluntariado en un centro de oncología, Gage hace donaciones y pone una placa en nombre de la madre de Tessa. Tessa va a verlo a su oficina y hablan de eso. Van a comer, cuando Tessa ve que unos influencers están desprestigiando a su pastelería, y además la acusan de ser la tercera en discordia por lo que Gage se divorció de Vanessa. Gage va a la empresa, hace una reunión y ahí confronta todo lo que ha hecho Vanessa, quien por cierto se la pasa haciéndose la víctima y llorando. Su padre la corre, y la obligan a resarcir el daño. Empieza con los influencers y tiene que pedir disculpas públicas también. Ya con eso Tessa perdona básicamente a Gage y van directo al sexo, él dice que lleva casi 2 años sin estar con nadie y ella terminó a Jace. Ya todo queda en el pasado y Gage no sufrió nada, solo Tessa. No me gustó. Se dejó manipular, era un idiota ambicioso y no pude perdonarlo. Si si, los separaron con una trampa pero a las horas él ya se había comprometido con Vanessa, ¿Dónde está el amor que sentía por Tessa? Luego, dice que fue un matrimonio por conveniencia pero, ¿se acostó con Vanessa? Si no la quería, ¿por qué lo hizo? Es que no tiene sentido. Actúa como un niño cuando ya es un adulto. Mínimo me habría gustado que se arrastrara pero no pasó, el libro es tan corto que no hay desarrollo de nada. Lo siento, para mí, Tessa estaba mejor sin él. Y no pude perdonarlo, para un hombre muy idiota está la vida real. Lo único que me gustó, fue que mínimo no fue lo típico de que la protagonista está de luto por años y se mantiene célibe, Tessa si estuvo con otro. Aún así, no lo recomiendo ni lo volvería a leer. Puro coraje hice.🤬
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Cake and consequences
Lots to like about this novella! When rating/reviewing a novella I like to remind other readers that it will move quickly. Things in a novella will not be as fleshed out as it would be in a longer story. I am ok with that as long as the most important things are addressed and the story keeps moving in the right direction. This story moved quickly and smoothly and can be read in the quiet morning with coffee before everything gets hectic.
This is the story of Gage and Tessa. Wren wastes no time getting to the gut punch and then chapter 2 takes place 3 years later.
Tessa is in love with Gage who is in a much higher tax bracket than she is, but it doesn’t seem to bother him. They are each other’s “one”….until she finds out publicly via tv that he just got engaged to another and she has basically been dismissed(I don’t want to spoil the details)
Three years later she is running a wildly successful bakery with clients that fly her confectionary creations on private jets. One day She hears loud voices in her store and finds her ex(Gage) reading the riot act to her employee. She is shocked to see him as he (newly divorced) is as shocked to see her. They exchange words and with the help of her friends with benefits Jace, he gets kicked out of her bakery. However, some things Tessa said about their break up confuses Gage and now that she is in his periphery he has no plans to let her ever go again!
Since this is a short story I don’t want to spill the beans, but this is what you can expect in general terms:
* the h and H never got over each other, but trust once broken is hard to fix
* The ex wife is shall we say “unpleasant, manipulative, and a right old B*&ch!
* Not everything is as it seems, including how they ended.
* Nor The h or H have been celibate while parted, but the H has been “out of active duty” much longer than the h
* The family for both of them are good people
* Comeuppance is delivered
* The H is dedicated to the h and has made lots of changes to become worthy
* The h is not a pushover, but she never really did get over him or have any closure
* From beginning to end there is a total of 6 years….there is the initial 3 year jump at chapter two, and then another 3 year jump from last chapter to epilogue…the h wasn’t playing around when she wanted to make sure that she could totally trust him!
This may be a short story, but it is not short on drama, laughter, heartfelt moments, and smexy times! You will get the angsty moments and you will then cheer at other moments. This was a story that when I was done, I let out a contented happy sigh. I am a fan of short stories and novellas in general because I do not always have the time to devote to longer stories. This checks off my need for romance and I can still get some of the more mundane things done …like work!
If you read Nuptials and Negligence, you will get to check in how the couple is doing!
Lots to like about this novella! When rating/reviewing a novella I like to remind other readers that it will move quickly. Things in a novella will not be as fleshed out as it would be in a longer story. I am ok with that as long as the most important things are addressed and the story keeps moving in the right direction. This story moved quickly and smoothly and can be read in the quiet morning with coffee before everything gets hectic.
This is the story of Gage and Tessa. Wren wastes no time getting to the gut punch and then chapter 2 takes place 3 years later.
Tessa is in love with Gage who is in a much higher tax bracket than she is, but it doesn’t seem to bother him. They are each other’s “one”….until she finds out publicly via tv that he just got engaged to another and she has basically been dismissed(I don’t want to spoil the details)
Three years later she is running a wildly successful bakery with clients that fly her confectionary creations on private jets. One day She hears loud voices in her store and finds her ex(Gage) reading the riot act to her employee. She is shocked to see him as he (newly divorced) is as shocked to see her. They exchange words and with the help of her friends with benefits Jace, he gets kicked out of her bakery. However, some things Tessa said about their break up confuses Gage and now that she is in his periphery he has no plans to let her ever go again!
Since this is a short story I don’t want to spill the beans, but this is what you can expect in general terms:
* the h and H never got over each other, but trust once broken is hard to fix
* The ex wife is shall we say “unpleasant, manipulative, and a right old B*&ch!
* Not everything is as it seems, including how they ended.
* Nor The h or H have been celibate while parted, but the H has been “out of active duty” much longer than the h
* The family for both of them are good people
* Comeuppance is delivered
* The H is dedicated to the h and has made lots of changes to become worthy
* The h is not a pushover, but she never really did get over him or have any closure
* From beginning to end there is a total of 6 years….there is the initial 3 year jump at chapter two, and then another 3 year jump from last chapter to epilogue…the h wasn’t playing around when she wanted to make sure that she could totally trust him!
This may be a short story, but it is not short on drama, laughter, heartfelt moments, and smexy times! You will get the angsty moments and you will then cheer at other moments. This was a story that when I was done, I let out a contented happy sigh. I am a fan of short stories and novellas in general because I do not always have the time to devote to longer stories. This checks off my need for romance and I can still get some of the more mundane things done …like work!
If you read Nuptials and Negligence, you will get to check in how the couple is doing!
February 19, 2026
The betrayal hit harder in this second book. I loved the angst and the storyline. I really really wanted to love it….however for me the book suffered slightly due to the length. I read another book recently where it jumped right into the betrayal and both left me feeling the same way.
I did like Gage’s redemption arc, but for me his reasonings for the betrayal and how it occurred just didn’t hold strong in the story.
Gage thought that Tess wanted to break up anyway….not once did it occur to him it was in response to what he’d done? That she felt blindsided. I never felt that Gage was hurt or upset that their relationship ended….guilt yes, but stomach churning hurt? No. The fact that he didn’t even think to talk to Tess face to face even though the ‘supposed’ text was AFTER the announcement. I know it was written that he knew his decisions were the catalyst for everything and that he knew he’d made the biggest mistake ever…but the wedding was six months after that. He didn’t think once to talk to Tess?? Clarify the meaning behind the text? I just wish the story delved more into those reasonings, rather than just saying he went to therapy.
There was a bit of a plot hole in that if Gage was that popular to be on social media ‘news’ once engaged, then surely relationship with Tess would’ve been public knowledge before that moment? Were there no photos, dates etc etc? The women gossiping in the store knew enough about him for his dating history to be public knowledge, but yet not the past year with Tess?
There were a few other moments that could’ve been explored and clarified….how long was Rupert’s illness and how long did it take him to recover? Why didn’t Gage ever try to get in contact with Tess again? Did Tess ever meet Vanessa? How long had they been working together? Who went to Tess’ apartment to get all of Gages things?
Having Rupert step back into the CEO role again felt contrived and made the betrayal reasonings in the first place seem even less important, especially as we didn’t really have any details.
I think I just struggled a bit overall.
I did like Gage’s redemption arc, but for me his reasonings for the betrayal and how it occurred just didn’t hold strong in the story.
Gage thought that Tess wanted to break up anyway….not once did it occur to him it was in response to what he’d done? That she felt blindsided. I never felt that Gage was hurt or upset that their relationship ended….guilt yes, but stomach churning hurt? No. The fact that he didn’t even think to talk to Tess face to face even though the ‘supposed’ text was AFTER the announcement. I know it was written that he knew his decisions were the catalyst for everything and that he knew he’d made the biggest mistake ever…but the wedding was six months after that. He didn’t think once to talk to Tess?? Clarify the meaning behind the text? I just wish the story delved more into those reasonings, rather than just saying he went to therapy.
There was a bit of a plot hole in that if Gage was that popular to be on social media ‘news’ once engaged, then surely relationship with Tess would’ve been public knowledge before that moment? Were there no photos, dates etc etc? The women gossiping in the store knew enough about him for his dating history to be public knowledge, but yet not the past year with Tess?
There were a few other moments that could’ve been explored and clarified….how long was Rupert’s illness and how long did it take him to recover? Why didn’t Gage ever try to get in contact with Tess again? Did Tess ever meet Vanessa? How long had they been working together? Who went to Tess’ apartment to get all of Gages things?
Having Rupert step back into the CEO role again felt contrived and made the betrayal reasonings in the first place seem even less important, especially as we didn’t really have any details.
I think I just struggled a bit overall.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
* OW drama
* HEA between the original couple
* Complete Standalone
* Betrayal and Grovel
* FMC Tessa x MMC Gage
This is Wren Shaws second book in the Betray me Once series, it can be read as a standalone however If you haven't read the first book I'd say definitely give it a read it loved every second of both of these.
This was a short read and can be read in one sitting, loved it and hated that it felt like it was over so quickly.
Wren does not beat around the bush, the first chapter starts off with the betrayal and the Ultimate breakdown of the h and H relationship. We then move on to 3 years into the future where the h has made a name for herself with her bakery skills and is forced to encounter her ex that she never got over. The book moves from there and focuses on the cause of the betrayal and how Gage goes about winning Tessa back.
Something I loved about this book is that the h did not stay celibate and was no doormat either. she brushed herself off understood she was dealing with heartbreak, did not hide from that fact but still made something of herself.
If you're looking for a quick read with a dramatic Betrayal straight from the get go then I would recommend this.
* HEA between the original couple
* Complete Standalone
* Betrayal and Grovel
* FMC Tessa x MMC Gage
This is Wren Shaws second book in the Betray me Once series, it can be read as a standalone however If you haven't read the first book I'd say definitely give it a read it loved every second of both of these.
This was a short read and can be read in one sitting, loved it and hated that it felt like it was over so quickly.
Wren does not beat around the bush, the first chapter starts off with the betrayal and the Ultimate breakdown of the h and H relationship. We then move on to 3 years into the future where the h has made a name for herself with her bakery skills and is forced to encounter her ex that she never got over. The book moves from there and focuses on the cause of the betrayal and how Gage goes about winning Tessa back.
Something I loved about this book is that the h did not stay celibate and was no doormat either. she brushed herself off understood she was dealing with heartbreak, did not hide from that fact but still made something of herself.
If you're looking for a quick read with a dramatic Betrayal straight from the get go then I would recommend this.
February 18, 2026
I was pulled into this story in the first chapter and didn't put it down until the end.
Betrayal, in your face, in the first chapter. Tessa is blindsided and devastated when she finds out about her boyfriend's, Gage, engagement to Vanessa. She takes time to sit in her sadness, then she dusts herself off, works towards her dream, and becomes a very successful businesswoman with the help of her friends Liz and Jace.
Gage, he isn't doing so well. I want to say that he is in a hell of his own making and to an extent that is true. However, when he walks into Tessa's bakery 3 years later, he is totally shocked. She gives him a verbal thrashing and he leaves. Luckily, he has the support of his friends, Ethan and Susan to help him navigate his redemption tour.
Secrets are revealed and comeuppance comes for the one that deserves it. It was brutal and I loved it. I liked that Gage put his effort into making himself a better person for Tessa and that is grovel was more actions than words. Watching them reconnect was heartwarming. I have enjoyed this series immensely and look forward to the next story.
Betrayal, in your face, in the first chapter. Tessa is blindsided and devastated when she finds out about her boyfriend's, Gage, engagement to Vanessa. She takes time to sit in her sadness, then she dusts herself off, works towards her dream, and becomes a very successful businesswoman with the help of her friends Liz and Jace.
Gage, he isn't doing so well. I want to say that he is in a hell of his own making and to an extent that is true. However, when he walks into Tessa's bakery 3 years later, he is totally shocked. She gives him a verbal thrashing and he leaves. Luckily, he has the support of his friends, Ethan and Susan to help him navigate his redemption tour.
Secrets are revealed and comeuppance comes for the one that deserves it. It was brutal and I loved it. I liked that Gage put his effort into making himself a better person for Tessa and that is grovel was more actions than words. Watching them reconnect was heartwarming. I have enjoyed this series immensely and look forward to the next story.
February 22, 2026
Although this is a relatively short book, the author does a credible job of developing some depth on character and plot. The story opens with the h planning a special dinner for the H when she hears an announcement of his engagement to the daughter of a family whose company can merge with his. The h frantically tries to get in touch with him only to have her texts and messages go unread. She finds her stuff from his apartment carelessly packed into a box and left in her apartment. His things have been cleared out. She feels that he has erased her from his life.
Three years later, the H inadvertently shows up at her successful bakery. He married and divorced the OW. Several interactions later, they realize the behind the scenes manipulation that ended their relationship. All that's left is his grovel. This is the second book in a series. While the main characters from the first book appear in this book it can be read as a stand alone.
Three years later, the H inadvertently shows up at her successful bakery. He married and divorced the OW. Several interactions later, they realize the behind the scenes manipulation that ended their relationship. All that's left is his grovel. This is the second book in a series. While the main characters from the first book appear in this book it can be read as a stand alone.
February 24, 2026
Angsty betrayal but quick forgiveness
I really liked the gut punch with the betrayal in this story. But, the explanation on his side was vague, never explicitly explained how things went down on his side because it was overshadowed by the little twist drama that occurred back then. Come to think of it, Tessa never really got into her side either. I really wanted a play by play tongue lashing. lol.
The resolution with OW was super quick and at 77% when he has the drama fixed for her, she just sleeps him with. Right then. They’d barely had any interactions up to this point. She chose to “not let him all the way in” though after the fact, which to me, just makes no sense. They did some dating and he helped her out with the bakery deliveries and that was that for grovel. Lol.
I really liked the gut punch with the betrayal in this story. But, the explanation on his side was vague, never explicitly explained how things went down on his side because it was overshadowed by the little twist drama that occurred back then. Come to think of it, Tessa never really got into her side either. I really wanted a play by play tongue lashing. lol.
The resolution with OW was super quick and at 77% when he has the drama fixed for her, she just sleeps him with. Right then. They’d barely had any interactions up to this point. She chose to “not let him all the way in” though after the fact, which to me, just makes no sense. They did some dating and he helped her out with the bakery deliveries and that was that for grovel. Lol.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Received an advanced copy.
This is an inter-connected story, following Nuptials and Neglect, but can be read as a stand alone. So, in the beginning, it was a rage read with Gage, who comes off as an arrogant jerk. After dating Tessa for a year, and both seeming in love, Tessa finds out he’s engaged, via the internet. And, Gage sends an apology text, that’s it… so, after three years have passed, Tessa has become a successful cake maker, and Gage is now divorced. He’s still the arrogant and now miserable jerk, which doesn’t bode well for their first meeting.
Don’t want to spoil the rest, just know that things come to light and OW drama will add to the drama. In the end you will be smiling.
Love this authors writing and can’t wait for more.
This is an inter-connected story, following Nuptials and Neglect, but can be read as a stand alone. So, in the beginning, it was a rage read with Gage, who comes off as an arrogant jerk. After dating Tessa for a year, and both seeming in love, Tessa finds out he’s engaged, via the internet. And, Gage sends an apology text, that’s it… so, after three years have passed, Tessa has become a successful cake maker, and Gage is now divorced. He’s still the arrogant and now miserable jerk, which doesn’t bode well for their first meeting.
Don’t want to spoil the rest, just know that things come to light and OW drama will add to the drama. In the end you will be smiling.
Love this authors writing and can’t wait for more.
February 20, 2026
So much better than the first book.
The gut punch at the beginning and subsequent 3 years apart were awful. But I think they needed it to grow to be the people they needed to become. Tessa grew a backbone and Gage learned not to leave his phone out around people he doesn't trust.
Gage grovels until the truth comes out. He's still sorry he went through with the marriage but he didn't have all the facts at the time and thought Tessa ended it with him first.
The ex wife orchestrated the entire breakup without either of them realizing it. She was the pathetic and desperate type of OW. Eventually her dad hits her where it hurts, right in the inheritance. The bonus epilogue was great. She ends up with husband number 5 or 6, can't remember, who is old and rich and doesn't seem to like her.
The gut punch at the beginning and subsequent 3 years apart were awful. But I think they needed it to grow to be the people they needed to become. Tessa grew a backbone and Gage learned not to leave his phone out around people he doesn't trust.
Gage grovels until the truth comes out. He's still sorry he went through with the marriage but he didn't have all the facts at the time and thought Tessa ended it with him first.
The ex wife orchestrated the entire breakup without either of them realizing it. She was the pathetic and desperate type of OW. Eventually her dad hits her where it hurts, right in the inheritance. The bonus epilogue was great. She ends up with husband number 5 or 6, can't remember, who is old and rich and doesn't seem to like her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2026
I took against the MMC as soon as he berated a teenage shop girl for no good reason when he thought he was unobserved.
I'm a big believer that our actions (not our words) show who we really are. After that, no amount of fixing broken elevators, or donations to charity was going to convince me he was a good guy. Maybe he was a good guy to the FMC because he wanted something from her, but once he got it, how long is that going to last? Nope. Thumbs down for me.
Ladies, when they show you who they are, believe them. Don't let love bombing fool you.
I'm a big believer that our actions (not our words) show who we really are. After that, no amount of fixing broken elevators, or donations to charity was going to convince me he was a good guy. Maybe he was a good guy to the FMC because he wanted something from her, but once he got it, how long is that going to last? Nope. Thumbs down for me.
Ladies, when they show you who they are, believe them. Don't let love bombing fool you.
February 19, 2026
Great read! Flow was awesome
This is what forgiveness looks like.
Let me start this by saying I've read the mixed reviews and gotta say I'm confused at what some readers had to say. No grovel?? How do u figure?? Gage may not have gotten down on his hands and knees and begged, but he did plenty to show her that he cared and was sorry for being a dumb@#&. I loved the flow of the book, the miscommunication aspect wasn't dragged out, I didn't spend half the book yelling at the cpl to use their words and have a convo, I didn't feel anything was rushed. I thought it was very organic, and this totally worked for me.
This is what forgiveness looks like.
Let me start this by saying I've read the mixed reviews and gotta say I'm confused at what some readers had to say. No grovel?? How do u figure?? Gage may not have gotten down on his hands and knees and begged, but he did plenty to show her that he cared and was sorry for being a dumb@#&. I loved the flow of the book, the miscommunication aspect wasn't dragged out, I didn't spend half the book yelling at the cpl to use their words and have a convo, I didn't feel anything was rushed. I thought it was very organic, and this totally worked for me.
February 23, 2026
3.75⭐️
The premise of this absolutely drew me in, as I love an angsty second chance with lots of ow frame. However, much like the first installment in this series, I think the brevity lessened its impact. The gut punch and the redemption weren’t given the time to be mired in the betrayal and suffering they both endured; and the comeuppance for the puppeteer was rather anticlimactic The bones are there, I just think this needed more pages for true emotional investment. Was a fun read but with the expectation that this will not pack the same scope that a longer novella or full length novel would allow.
The premise of this absolutely drew me in, as I love an angsty second chance with lots of ow frame. However, much like the first installment in this series, I think the brevity lessened its impact. The gut punch and the redemption weren’t given the time to be mired in the betrayal and suffering they both endured; and the comeuppance for the puppeteer was rather anticlimactic The bones are there, I just think this needed more pages for true emotional investment. Was a fun read but with the expectation that this will not pack the same scope that a longer novella or full length novel would allow.
February 23, 2026
Very Disappointing ….and So Boring…
I had been eagerly awaiting this novel to be released. What a disappointment. The plot does not work from the very beginning. She is in involved with her boyfriend for a year. She is in the store planning a special dinner for him and is notified via media that her boyfriend is engaged to someone else! The rest is manipulation and miscommunication. But somehow the fact he was not planning on going through with the marriage makes it ok? Maybe even worse is that there is no depth to the characters. They are cardboard and you never feel like you know them. A disappointing second book to the Betray Me Once series. Yawn .
I had been eagerly awaiting this novel to be released. What a disappointment. The plot does not work from the very beginning. She is in involved with her boyfriend for a year. She is in the store planning a special dinner for him and is notified via media that her boyfriend is engaged to someone else! The rest is manipulation and miscommunication. But somehow the fact he was not planning on going through with the marriage makes it ok? Maybe even worse is that there is no depth to the characters. They are cardboard and you never feel like you know them. A disappointing second book to the Betray Me Once series. Yawn .
February 18, 2026
Wonderful Book
Gage and Tessa were in love, or so Tessa thought, then he announced his engagement to Vanessa. Tessa received a text from Gage about it or was it from Gage? Three years later and Tessa owns a popular bakery (I would love to eat there!) Gage pops up in her life again and he wants her back. Tessa is hurt but yet that tug is still there. Will Gage succeed?
If you want a wonderful read this is it. I really enjoyed it and read it in one afternoon..
I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest review.
Honestly I really loved it!!! You will too!!
Gage and Tessa were in love, or so Tessa thought, then he announced his engagement to Vanessa. Tessa received a text from Gage about it or was it from Gage? Three years later and Tessa owns a popular bakery (I would love to eat there!) Gage pops up in her life again and he wants her back. Tessa is hurt but yet that tug is still there. Will Gage succeed?
If you want a wonderful read this is it. I really enjoyed it and read it in one afternoon..
I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest review.
Honestly I really loved it!!! You will too!!
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