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Dr. Dempsey
He left with a goodbye.
I learned how to live without him.
Now we’re in the same town—and the past is wide awake.
Alaric
Liz Ward is the woman I loved.
She’s also the woman I walked away from.
I told myself leaving was the right choice. That going back to Paradise meant being there for my family.
I convinced myself she’d move on.
She didn’t.
Neither did I.
Now Liz is here in Paradise—she’s brilliant, capable, and here for the job she’s earned.
And someone in Paradise is making sure she doesn’t get to keep either.
The sabotage starts quietly. Easy to dismiss.
I don’t dismiss it.
Because I know her. I know when something’s wrong. And I know this is my fault as much as anyone’s.
I lost her once by choosing absence.
This time, I choose her.
Liz
Alaric Dempsey broke my heart with a goodbye and no explanation.
I thought Vancouver was forever.
Then my brother moved. My best friend followed. My parents chased the sun to Mexico. When the perfect job opened up in Paradise, I took it.
A clean start.
Or so I thought.
The job turns hostile fast. Files disappear. Mistakes pile up. Someone wants me gone—and the last person I want watching it happen is Alaric.
He’s still calm. Still controlled. Still looking at me like I never stopped mattering.
A business trip to Hawaii and one hotel room makes it impossible to pretend I’m over him.
His family drama makes it impossible to keep things simple. And the man who once left is suddenly the one standing between me and the fallout.
I survived being abandoned once.
If I let him back in, I need to know he’s not leaving again.
What you can expect from Dr. Dempseysecond-chance romanceforced proximity“he’s always loved her”dream job / career womanworkplace sabotagesmall-town pressureheavy family dramaprotective hero with regretslow burn with high heat
I learned how to live without him.
Now we’re in the same town—and the past is wide awake.
Alaric
Liz Ward is the woman I loved.
She’s also the woman I walked away from.
I told myself leaving was the right choice. That going back to Paradise meant being there for my family.
I convinced myself she’d move on.
She didn’t.
Neither did I.
Now Liz is here in Paradise—she’s brilliant, capable, and here for the job she’s earned.
And someone in Paradise is making sure she doesn’t get to keep either.
The sabotage starts quietly. Easy to dismiss.
I don’t dismiss it.
Because I know her. I know when something’s wrong. And I know this is my fault as much as anyone’s.
I lost her once by choosing absence.
This time, I choose her.
Liz
Alaric Dempsey broke my heart with a goodbye and no explanation.
I thought Vancouver was forever.
Then my brother moved. My best friend followed. My parents chased the sun to Mexico. When the perfect job opened up in Paradise, I took it.
A clean start.
Or so I thought.
The job turns hostile fast. Files disappear. Mistakes pile up. Someone wants me gone—and the last person I want watching it happen is Alaric.
He’s still calm. Still controlled. Still looking at me like I never stopped mattering.
A business trip to Hawaii and one hotel room makes it impossible to pretend I’m over him.
His family drama makes it impossible to keep things simple. And the man who once left is suddenly the one standing between me and the fallout.
I survived being abandoned once.
If I let him back in, I need to know he’s not leaving again.
What you can expect from Dr. Dempseysecond-chance romanceforced proximity“he’s always loved her”dream job / career womanworkplace sabotagesmall-town pressureheavy family dramaprotective hero with regretslow burn with high heat
411 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 6, 2026
About the author
Grace Maxwell
12 books38 followersLibrarian Note: There are multiple authors by this name in the Goodreads database. This profile may contain works from multiple authors.
See also: Romance author Grace Maxwell
See also: Romance author Grace Maxwell
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
April 15, 2026
Grace Maxwell, the author of Dr. Dempsey, pretty much looked me in the eye and said, “Dr. Dempsey is going to ruin your life, disappear, and then come back and you’re gonna want him.”me.”
MAMMMMM. Rude.
This book is packed with second-chance angst, unresolved feelings, and a whole lot of “we should not be doing this”… immediately followed by doing exactly just that. Messy. Yes? The grovel? Honestly… could’ve been a little stronger, but I’ll allow it because the chemistry was hot.
Dr. Dempsey is equal parts frustrating and swoon-worthy, and watching him try to earn his way back into her life had me side-eyeing and rooting for him at the same time.
If you love:
✔️ small-town drama
✔️ broody doctor energy
✔️ “he broke my heart but still owns it” vibes
✔️ SPICY 🌶️
This is for you.
Would I forgive him that easily? Absolutely not.
Did I still fall for him? Unfortunately, yes.
MAMMMMM. Rude.
This book is packed with second-chance angst, unresolved feelings, and a whole lot of “we should not be doing this”… immediately followed by doing exactly just that. Messy. Yes? The grovel? Honestly… could’ve been a little stronger, but I’ll allow it because the chemistry was hot.
Dr. Dempsey is equal parts frustrating and swoon-worthy, and watching him try to earn his way back into her life had me side-eyeing and rooting for him at the same time.
If you love:
✔️ small-town drama
✔️ broody doctor energy
✔️ “he broke my heart but still owns it” vibes
✔️ SPICY 🌶️
This is for you.
Would I forgive him that easily? Absolutely not.
Did I still fall for him? Unfortunately, yes.
April 13, 2026
Valerie Herda
Received an ARC
I was so invested in this book. It’s a second chances for Alaric and Liz to come together and deal with their choices and unfinished business, due to the way that it ended with no closure for Liz.
It’s a strong story of choosing yourself and still being there to support your family without losing your one person who makes you feel whole.
The story made my heart happy as Alaric and Liz found a way forward to find happiness.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Received an ARC
I was so invested in this book. It’s a second chances for Alaric and Liz to come together and deal with their choices and unfinished business, due to the way that it ended with no closure for Liz.
It’s a strong story of choosing yourself and still being there to support your family without losing your one person who makes you feel whole.
The story made my heart happy as Alaric and Liz found a way forward to find happiness.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 8, 2026
The Sacrifices and Joys of Familial and Romantic Love
When Alaric Dempsey left his family’s home in Paradise to attend medical school, he thought he had finally escaped from Paradise—which really wasn’t a paradise. It was the home of his Dempsey family and the control of his grandmother—Paradise which was not a paradise for him.
But escaping Paradise and the world of the two feuding families—the Dempseys and the Paradises—wasn’t guaranteed to be an everlasting reprieve. But, for a while, he experienced normal. He went to medical school to study psychiatry, hoping to better understand his family’s abnormal obsessions and to provide help for others suffering from a mind in conflict. And, he gained insight in diagnosing and providing methods of coping, helping individuals suffering from the obsessions the human mind.
Away from his home and family, he even found friendships and romantic love. But eventually, he is called back home—home to work at the local Paradise hospital, but also home to the dark controlling world of his grandmother. But most personally painful is that he returns home alone, leaving behind Liz Ward, the woman whose love and acceptance had helped heal his troubled heart over the last few years.
Once home, Alaric Demsey, the sometimes-favored grandson, and now, mental health professional, sets a goal of assisting his sisters in carrying forward family enterprise. But, returning home alone is not his chosen path of return. He had left Paradise for medical school, pursuing his passion to gain skills in mental health services. So now, he is coming home to practice psychiatry with the purpose of saving individual and family’s health and happiness with the knowledge of methods to encourage mental health.
So now, being back in Paradise does not fulfill all his fondest dreams. The daily tensions of being a member of one of the community’s rival families and the dysfunctionality of his own family had led Alaric Dempsey to leave Paradise, turning his back on home and family heritage to pursue a career in medicine, focusing on the dysfunctionalities of a mind that can destroy the individual but also spread its poison into the wider community. But, while Paradise is still plagued with the tensions of the rival wine families, Alaric returns with a skill set and a passion to help individuals of the community, and hopefully his own family.
But his return home comes with a price—the price of his on mental peace as well as his loss of emotional balance when he leaves behind the woman he loves, hoping to protect and guard her from his family’s brokenness with distance and silence. But now, as he himself begins to display the effects of his family’s dysfunctionality, he knows what he needs to do to help himself, but is incapable of helping himself. He feels overwhelmed and alone—especially without Liz, the woman he loved, but left behind in Vancouver to protect her while he attempts to help heal his family.
But fate does sometimes intervene. Alric is blown away to discover that his life is not without hope. Paradise Hospital has just hired a new hospital administrator, Elizabeth Ward, the woman he left behind and whose reputation of skill, organization and grace have already spread though the hospital, are gaining her admiration and jealousy. And, ironically her first major assignment is to oversee the reaccreditation of any hospital medical employee whose certification is out of compliance—including Alaric Dempsey, her former lover—the man who broke her heart when, without warning, leaving her behind in Vancouver to return to his family’s home in Paradise.
So now, when Liz arranges for reaccreditation classes to keep the hospital’s primary psychiatric physician licensed and able to serve the community of Paradise with superior mental health. She must shelve her personal hurt from Ric’s abandonment to preserve the accreditation of Dr. Dempsey. And so, she books the courses Ric will attend. But she knows Ric—he needs someone to ensure that he doesn’t disregard his personal needs—staying accredited—to attend his professional duties, his patients. She knows that Ric would see his primary task as serving the needs of his patients by being present, not travelling to Hawaii to retain his legal requirements needed to remain legally able to care for those patients.
So, to assure that Ric does catch the flight to the Hawaii conference and does attend the classes, she plans to “chaperone” the hospital’s primary psychiatrist to the conference and to his sessions. And to help her conserve her limited time to arrange the hospitals’ physicians’ re-certifications as well as her other management tasks , she requests her office’s assistant to book rooms for Dr. Dempsey and for her in the hotel hosting the medical reaccreditation convention as well as flights to and from the conference for both the hospital’s primary psychiatrist and assistant administrator. Now, nothing could go wrong with Liz’s first major assignment from her new boss at Paradise Hospital.
Grace Maxwell continues to share the life, challenges and loves of the citizens of Paradise. Having introduced the Paradises, the readers are now allowed to explore the lives and challenges of the Dempsey clan, the rival wine family of the community in Dempsey Follies Book. And, with creativity, Maxwell enlarges the readers opportunities to meet the members of the rival family and to move the Dempsey family from a family of villains to a family of loving individuals who are trapped in a family of controlling and domineering individuals. Following the lives of Alric and his sisters as they struggle to honor their grandmother and her vision for the family promises to encourage readers to explore how love can become a gift and a punishment to the younger generations. I look forward to Maxwell’s revealing of the softer, kinder members of the Dempsey clan.
I received a reviewing copy of the novel, but have purchased a copy of the novel to add to my Paradise/Dempsey collection.
When Alaric Dempsey left his family’s home in Paradise to attend medical school, he thought he had finally escaped from Paradise—which really wasn’t a paradise. It was the home of his Dempsey family and the control of his grandmother—Paradise which was not a paradise for him.
But escaping Paradise and the world of the two feuding families—the Dempseys and the Paradises—wasn’t guaranteed to be an everlasting reprieve. But, for a while, he experienced normal. He went to medical school to study psychiatry, hoping to better understand his family’s abnormal obsessions and to provide help for others suffering from a mind in conflict. And, he gained insight in diagnosing and providing methods of coping, helping individuals suffering from the obsessions the human mind.
Away from his home and family, he even found friendships and romantic love. But eventually, he is called back home—home to work at the local Paradise hospital, but also home to the dark controlling world of his grandmother. But most personally painful is that he returns home alone, leaving behind Liz Ward, the woman whose love and acceptance had helped heal his troubled heart over the last few years.
Once home, Alaric Demsey, the sometimes-favored grandson, and now, mental health professional, sets a goal of assisting his sisters in carrying forward family enterprise. But, returning home alone is not his chosen path of return. He had left Paradise for medical school, pursuing his passion to gain skills in mental health services. So now, he is coming home to practice psychiatry with the purpose of saving individual and family’s health and happiness with the knowledge of methods to encourage mental health.
So now, being back in Paradise does not fulfill all his fondest dreams. The daily tensions of being a member of one of the community’s rival families and the dysfunctionality of his own family had led Alaric Dempsey to leave Paradise, turning his back on home and family heritage to pursue a career in medicine, focusing on the dysfunctionalities of a mind that can destroy the individual but also spread its poison into the wider community. But, while Paradise is still plagued with the tensions of the rival wine families, Alaric returns with a skill set and a passion to help individuals of the community, and hopefully his own family.
But his return home comes with a price—the price of his on mental peace as well as his loss of emotional balance when he leaves behind the woman he loves, hoping to protect and guard her from his family’s brokenness with distance and silence. But now, as he himself begins to display the effects of his family’s dysfunctionality, he knows what he needs to do to help himself, but is incapable of helping himself. He feels overwhelmed and alone—especially without Liz, the woman he loved, but left behind in Vancouver to protect her while he attempts to help heal his family.
But fate does sometimes intervene. Alric is blown away to discover that his life is not without hope. Paradise Hospital has just hired a new hospital administrator, Elizabeth Ward, the woman he left behind and whose reputation of skill, organization and grace have already spread though the hospital, are gaining her admiration and jealousy. And, ironically her first major assignment is to oversee the reaccreditation of any hospital medical employee whose certification is out of compliance—including Alaric Dempsey, her former lover—the man who broke her heart when, without warning, leaving her behind in Vancouver to return to his family’s home in Paradise.
So now, when Liz arranges for reaccreditation classes to keep the hospital’s primary psychiatric physician licensed and able to serve the community of Paradise with superior mental health. She must shelve her personal hurt from Ric’s abandonment to preserve the accreditation of Dr. Dempsey. And so, she books the courses Ric will attend. But she knows Ric—he needs someone to ensure that he doesn’t disregard his personal needs—staying accredited—to attend his professional duties, his patients. She knows that Ric would see his primary task as serving the needs of his patients by being present, not travelling to Hawaii to retain his legal requirements needed to remain legally able to care for those patients.
So, to assure that Ric does catch the flight to the Hawaii conference and does attend the classes, she plans to “chaperone” the hospital’s primary psychiatrist to the conference and to his sessions. And to help her conserve her limited time to arrange the hospitals’ physicians’ re-certifications as well as her other management tasks , she requests her office’s assistant to book rooms for Dr. Dempsey and for her in the hotel hosting the medical reaccreditation convention as well as flights to and from the conference for both the hospital’s primary psychiatrist and assistant administrator. Now, nothing could go wrong with Liz’s first major assignment from her new boss at Paradise Hospital.
Grace Maxwell continues to share the life, challenges and loves of the citizens of Paradise. Having introduced the Paradises, the readers are now allowed to explore the lives and challenges of the Dempsey clan, the rival wine family of the community in Dempsey Follies Book. And, with creativity, Maxwell enlarges the readers opportunities to meet the members of the rival family and to move the Dempsey family from a family of villains to a family of loving individuals who are trapped in a family of controlling and domineering individuals. Following the lives of Alric and his sisters as they struggle to honor their grandmother and her vision for the family promises to encourage readers to explore how love can become a gift and a punishment to the younger generations. I look forward to Maxwell’s revealing of the softer, kinder members of the Dempsey clan.
I received a reviewing copy of the novel, but have purchased a copy of the novel to add to my Paradise/Dempsey collection.
Review of advance copy
Amazon
Liz may be in Alaric's town, but she's not the same woman she was when he left her in Vancouver without an explanation. No longer his, at least that's the front she'll put on when she has to see him at the hospital where they both work. She's determined to do her job, but his steady presence is making it hard to remember how much he broke her heart before. She might be up for giving him that heart, if he can show her he won't leave her again.
Alaric never told Liz back then what the reality of his family was like. And now that reality is coming around again. The difference this time, is that he wants to be with Liz more than he wants to hide everyone from the truth. But can he really hope that Liz will want him when she finds out what's the truth of his family is? Should he even drag her into this mess when this mess is the reason why he left her before?
Whew, Liz and Alaric's story is an emotional rollercoaster! Alaric has not been OK since he left Liz. He was so used to being the eldest of his siblings, with the weight of the world and of their family secrets on his shoulders, that he couldn't possibly imagine showing it all to Liz, so he left. But he never got over her, drowned in the guilt of hurting her, even as he knew leaving had been his only choice unless he wanted to hurt her even more by showing her his reality. Thankfully Liz was stronger than he had imagined, and she became his rock, his strong, beautiful, rock. I love their second chance story even though it hurt my heart more than once. What a beautiful, heartfelt, emotional second chance!
ARC provided by The Author Agency for an honest review.
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Review of advance copy
I am actually sitting here staring at the wall after finishing Dr. Dempsey because WHAT do you mean Grace Maxwell just casually dropped one of the most emotionally destructive, heart-clenching second chance romances into my life like that???
Alaric and Liz??? I’m not okay. I won’t be okay.
This isn’t just “we broke up and now we’re back in the same town.” No. This is he left her with nothing but a goodbye and they both just… carried that wound for YEARS. You can feel it in every single interaction. The history isn’t backstory, it’s alive. It’s breathing. It’s in the silence, the looks, the things they don’t say.
Liz absolutely owned me. She rebuilt her life from scratch after being blindsided, chased her career, walked into Paradise ready for her fresh start… only for everything to start crumbling around her. The sabotage?? The tension at work?? I was STRESSED. And the worst part? The one person who sees it, who knows her well enough to recognize something’s wrong… is the man who broke her.
Alaric Dempsey… sir. The regret on this man??? PALPABLE. This is not a carefree hero. This is a man who knows he made the wrong choice and has to live with it every single day. And when he decides “not this time, I’m not losing her again”??? I folded. Immediately. No resistance.
The way he shows up for her now, quietly, steadily, no grand speeches at first, just action??? That hit so hard. Protective without being overbearing. Careful with her, because he knows exactly what he broke. UGH.
And then you trap them together??? One hotel room??? In HAWAII??? While all that unresolved tension is just simmering under the surface??? I was LOSING MY MIND. The slow burn in this book is lethal because it’s layered with history, pain, longing, and unfinished love. Every moment feels loaded.
But what really got me was the question hanging over everything: can you trust someone who already left you once? That tension never lets up. Even when things get soft, even when they start falling again, that doubt is right there, sharp and real.
Add in the family drama, the small-town pressure, the career stakes, and the sabotage plotline?? This book just keeps tightening the grip until you’re completely hooked.
I felt everything. The hurt, the hope, the anger, the longing… all of it.
If you love:
• second chance romance that actually HURTS
• protective heroes drowning in regret
• heroines who rebuild and refuse to be weak again
• forced proximity with unbearable tension
• emotional slow burn with serious payoff
Alaric and Liz??? I’m not okay. I won’t be okay.
This isn’t just “we broke up and now we’re back in the same town.” No. This is he left her with nothing but a goodbye and they both just… carried that wound for YEARS. You can feel it in every single interaction. The history isn’t backstory, it’s alive. It’s breathing. It’s in the silence, the looks, the things they don’t say.
Liz absolutely owned me. She rebuilt her life from scratch after being blindsided, chased her career, walked into Paradise ready for her fresh start… only for everything to start crumbling around her. The sabotage?? The tension at work?? I was STRESSED. And the worst part? The one person who sees it, who knows her well enough to recognize something’s wrong… is the man who broke her.
Alaric Dempsey… sir. The regret on this man??? PALPABLE. This is not a carefree hero. This is a man who knows he made the wrong choice and has to live with it every single day. And when he decides “not this time, I’m not losing her again”??? I folded. Immediately. No resistance.
The way he shows up for her now, quietly, steadily, no grand speeches at first, just action??? That hit so hard. Protective without being overbearing. Careful with her, because he knows exactly what he broke. UGH.
And then you trap them together??? One hotel room??? In HAWAII??? While all that unresolved tension is just simmering under the surface??? I was LOSING MY MIND. The slow burn in this book is lethal because it’s layered with history, pain, longing, and unfinished love. Every moment feels loaded.
But what really got me was the question hanging over everything: can you trust someone who already left you once? That tension never lets up. Even when things get soft, even when they start falling again, that doubt is right there, sharp and real.
Add in the family drama, the small-town pressure, the career stakes, and the sabotage plotline?? This book just keeps tightening the grip until you’re completely hooked.
I felt everything. The hurt, the hope, the anger, the longing… all of it.
If you love:
• second chance romance that actually HURTS
• protective heroes drowning in regret
• heroines who rebuild and refuse to be weak again
• forced proximity with unbearable tension
• emotional slow burn with serious payoff
Review of advance copy received from Author
5 ⭐️ Review – Dr. Dempsey by Grace Maxwell
This book completely wrecked me in the best possible way.
Dr. Dempsey is one of those stories that sneaks up on your heart and then owns it. From the very first chapter, I felt the weight of Liz and Alaric’s past. That kind of love that never really fades, even when life pulls you apart, is written so beautifully here that it feels real and raw.
Liz is everything I love in a female main character. She is strong, driven, and determined to build the life she deserves, even after having her heart shattered. Watching her step into this new opportunity while everything around her starts falling apart had me so invested. I was rooting for her the entire time.
And Alaric… this man. The regret, the restraint, the way he never really stopped loving her. You can feel it in every interaction. He is calm and controlled on the surface, but underneath there is so much emotion and longing. When he decides he is not walking away again, it hits hard.
The second chance romance in this book is done perfectly. It is not rushed. It is messy, complicated, and full of tension. The forced proximity only adds to that slow burn and when it finally builds into something more, it is so worth it.
I also loved the added layers of workplace sabotage and small town pressure. It gave the story an edge and kept me hooked because there was always something happening beneath the surface. The suspense blended so well with the romance.
And the family dynamics… wow. Heavy, emotional, and so realistic. It made everything feel even more intense and meaningful.
This is a story about love that never really left, about choosing someone even after everything fell apart, and about proving that some people are worth the risk of opening your heart again.
If you love second chance romance, protective heroes with regrets, and a slow burn that turns into something unforgettable, you need this book on your TBR.
This book completely wrecked me in the best possible way.
Dr. Dempsey is one of those stories that sneaks up on your heart and then owns it. From the very first chapter, I felt the weight of Liz and Alaric’s past. That kind of love that never really fades, even when life pulls you apart, is written so beautifully here that it feels real and raw.
Liz is everything I love in a female main character. She is strong, driven, and determined to build the life she deserves, even after having her heart shattered. Watching her step into this new opportunity while everything around her starts falling apart had me so invested. I was rooting for her the entire time.
And Alaric… this man. The regret, the restraint, the way he never really stopped loving her. You can feel it in every interaction. He is calm and controlled on the surface, but underneath there is so much emotion and longing. When he decides he is not walking away again, it hits hard.
The second chance romance in this book is done perfectly. It is not rushed. It is messy, complicated, and full of tension. The forced proximity only adds to that slow burn and when it finally builds into something more, it is so worth it.
I also loved the added layers of workplace sabotage and small town pressure. It gave the story an edge and kept me hooked because there was always something happening beneath the surface. The suspense blended so well with the romance.
And the family dynamics… wow. Heavy, emotional, and so realistic. It made everything feel even more intense and meaningful.
This is a story about love that never really left, about choosing someone even after everything fell apart, and about proving that some people are worth the risk of opening your heart again.
If you love second chance romance, protective heroes with regrets, and a slow burn that turns into something unforgettable, you need this book on your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love second chance romance, and Dr Dempsey delivers in a sweet and dramatic way.
To begin their story, Alaric and Liz were an adorable loving couple three years ago. Despite their happiness, Alaric grows distant eventually ending the relationship.
In the present, Liz is offered her dream job and accepting the job and moving closer to her family and best friend is just what she needs. But with this move also comes a familiar heartache. Liz’s new city is the same one Alaric lives in and, even worse, her new job is in the same hospital that Alaric works in.
Liz starts her job and hits the ground running. She loves the work and is excited to be there. Unlike Liz, her coworker Misty is not excited to have Liz around. Misty jealousy leads her to take measures to ensure Liz’s failure, putting Liz’s job on the line.
Alaric is continually dealing with tons of paperwork, patients, and his controlling vindictive grandmother. His move those years ago was to appease his grandmother and to be a protector for his sisters.
Alaric and Liz, through a stroke of luck, eventually spend time together and agree to rekindle their connection, but keep it quiet and to themselves for a while. Nevertheless, the reason Alaric broke things off is still a prominent factor in his life and the situation is getting worse, ensuring that he cannot be with Liz without dragging her into it. It would make her a target for his manipulative grandmother. So again, he breaks things off.
Still, love is a powerful emotion and should never be ignored.
There is a lot going on in this book and I can’t touch on all of it without spoiling it for you. I will say that Alaric and Liz’s connection is hot and very demanding!!! There are also family, deep friendship, pain, sabotage, and manipulation.
This is my first book form this author, and it is a great start to this series.
To begin their story, Alaric and Liz were an adorable loving couple three years ago. Despite their happiness, Alaric grows distant eventually ending the relationship.
In the present, Liz is offered her dream job and accepting the job and moving closer to her family and best friend is just what she needs. But with this move also comes a familiar heartache. Liz’s new city is the same one Alaric lives in and, even worse, her new job is in the same hospital that Alaric works in.
Liz starts her job and hits the ground running. She loves the work and is excited to be there. Unlike Liz, her coworker Misty is not excited to have Liz around. Misty jealousy leads her to take measures to ensure Liz’s failure, putting Liz’s job on the line.
Alaric is continually dealing with tons of paperwork, patients, and his controlling vindictive grandmother. His move those years ago was to appease his grandmother and to be a protector for his sisters.
Alaric and Liz, through a stroke of luck, eventually spend time together and agree to rekindle their connection, but keep it quiet and to themselves for a while. Nevertheless, the reason Alaric broke things off is still a prominent factor in his life and the situation is getting worse, ensuring that he cannot be with Liz without dragging her into it. It would make her a target for his manipulative grandmother. So again, he breaks things off.
Still, love is a powerful emotion and should never be ignored.
There is a lot going on in this book and I can’t touch on all of it without spoiling it for you. I will say that Alaric and Liz’s connection is hot and very demanding!!! There are also family, deep friendship, pain, sabotage, and manipulation.
This is my first book form this author, and it is a great start to this series.
April 6, 2026
*Dr. Dempsey* by Grace Maxwell is such an engaging, feel-good romance it really pulls you in with its mix of emotional depth, character growth, and that irresistible spark between the leads. The medical setting adds a subtle intensity to the story, but it’s the characters and their connection that truly make it hard to put down.
Alaric is such a compelling lead. He comes across as confident, highly capable, and a bit emotionally guarded at first the kind of doctor who’s used to being in control and keeping his personal life separate from his work. But as the story unfolds, you start to see the pressure he’s carrying and the walls he’s built around himself. There’s a vulnerability underneath all that composure, especially in the way he begins to open up around Liz. Watching him slowly let his guard down and allow himself to feel something deeper adds so much to his character.
Liz is such a strong and refreshing counterpart to him. She’s warm, grounded, and not at all intimidated by Alaric’s intensity, which makes their dynamic so engaging right from the start. I loved how she brings out a different side of him; she challenges him, supports him, and doesn’t let him hide behind his usual defenses. At the same time, she has her own emotional journey, and her moments of vulnerability make her feel incredibly real and easy to connect with.
Together, Alaric and Liz have amazing chemistry. Their interactions are filled with tension, quiet understanding, and those little moments that build into something meaningful. There’s a natural progression to their relationship that makes everything feel believable, and when they finally start to open up to each other, it feels completely earned. Their story adds so much heart to the book and really makes it stand out as a memorable, satisfying romance.
Alaric is such a compelling lead. He comes across as confident, highly capable, and a bit emotionally guarded at first the kind of doctor who’s used to being in control and keeping his personal life separate from his work. But as the story unfolds, you start to see the pressure he’s carrying and the walls he’s built around himself. There’s a vulnerability underneath all that composure, especially in the way he begins to open up around Liz. Watching him slowly let his guard down and allow himself to feel something deeper adds so much to his character.
Liz is such a strong and refreshing counterpart to him. She’s warm, grounded, and not at all intimidated by Alaric’s intensity, which makes their dynamic so engaging right from the start. I loved how she brings out a different side of him; she challenges him, supports him, and doesn’t let him hide behind his usual defenses. At the same time, she has her own emotional journey, and her moments of vulnerability make her feel incredibly real and easy to connect with.
Together, Alaric and Liz have amazing chemistry. Their interactions are filled with tension, quiet understanding, and those little moments that build into something meaningful. There’s a natural progression to their relationship that makes everything feel believable, and when they finally start to open up to each other, it feels completely earned. Their story adds so much heart to the book and really makes it stand out as a memorable, satisfying romance.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dr. Dempsey by Grace Maxwell was my first introduction to this author, and I was completely captivated from the very first page until the end. This story delivered everything I look for in a great read, blending the charm of a small-town setting with the high stakes of a workplace romance and the emotional depth of a second chance at love.
The tension begins with Alaric and Liz, two people who once shared a life in Vancouver until Alaric walked away with a goodbye and no explanation, choosing his family obligations in Paradise over their future. Years later, Liz finds herself in that very same small town for a career-defining job, only to realize that neither of them has truly moved on.
The narrative beautifully handles the "he always loved her" trope as Alaric, now a protective hero filled with regret, watches Liz navigate a workplace that has turned unexpectedly hostile. As files disappear and mistakes are mysteriously pinned on her, the sabotage becomes impossible to ignore.
The slow burn between them reaches a breaking point during a business trip to Hawaii, where forced proximity in a single hotel room makes their chemistry undeniable. Amidst heavy family drama and the pressure of a small town, Alaric must prove he is willing to choose Liz this time around, standing between her and the fallout of her career.
It is a seamless, heart-wrenching, and eventually healing standalone romance that serves as a perfect start to the Dempsey Follies series, offering a high-heat journey toward a well-earned happily ever after.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The tension begins with Alaric and Liz, two people who once shared a life in Vancouver until Alaric walked away with a goodbye and no explanation, choosing his family obligations in Paradise over their future. Years later, Liz finds herself in that very same small town for a career-defining job, only to realize that neither of them has truly moved on.
The narrative beautifully handles the "he always loved her" trope as Alaric, now a protective hero filled with regret, watches Liz navigate a workplace that has turned unexpectedly hostile. As files disappear and mistakes are mysteriously pinned on her, the sabotage becomes impossible to ignore.
The slow burn between them reaches a breaking point during a business trip to Hawaii, where forced proximity in a single hotel room makes their chemistry undeniable. Amidst heavy family drama and the pressure of a small town, Alaric must prove he is willing to choose Liz this time around, standing between her and the fallout of her career.
It is a seamless, heart-wrenching, and eventually healing standalone romance that serves as a perfect start to the Dempsey Follies series, offering a high-heat journey toward a well-earned happily ever after.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 6, 2026
This was my first read by this author, but I was ready for something new and I loved that I was coming into this new series right from the start with this, book 1 of The Dempsey Follies series.
So, I thought that we were coming into this series fresh, but it seems that this series could be linked to others written by this author - however, this really didn't matter at all here, as although the setting could be the same, were following a whole new set of characters - and I loved this!
I love a second chance romance as much as the next person, but honestly, this had such a tense slow burn full of pain right from the start.
When Liz finds herself back in Dempsey's orbit after thinking she was about to restart afresh, you could instantly feel her shock when she realised that she'd ended up back with the one man who broke her.
Not only this, but her new job throws up its own strains and as she starts to fall apart, Ric is there as her steadying presence.
I loved that Ric never came across as the powerful, demanding saviour for Liz.
After breaking her once, he sees that he needs to show up in actions and not grand gestures and so he keeps giving that support - but after seeing him leave once before, can she ever trust him again?
I really felt for both characters as I could totally see why Liz was reluctant to let Ric back in, but it was also so obvious that he knew that he'd made the worst decision of his life, when he chose the family over her.
This was a tense but wonderful read and it's definitely opened me up to this author's writing and tempted me to take a look at the other Paradise reads.
So, I thought that we were coming into this series fresh, but it seems that this series could be linked to others written by this author - however, this really didn't matter at all here, as although the setting could be the same, were following a whole new set of characters - and I loved this!
I love a second chance romance as much as the next person, but honestly, this had such a tense slow burn full of pain right from the start.
When Liz finds herself back in Dempsey's orbit after thinking she was about to restart afresh, you could instantly feel her shock when she realised that she'd ended up back with the one man who broke her.
Not only this, but her new job throws up its own strains and as she starts to fall apart, Ric is there as her steadying presence.
I loved that Ric never came across as the powerful, demanding saviour for Liz.
After breaking her once, he sees that he needs to show up in actions and not grand gestures and so he keeps giving that support - but after seeing him leave once before, can she ever trust him again?
I really felt for both characters as I could totally see why Liz was reluctant to let Ric back in, but it was also so obvious that he knew that he'd made the worst decision of his life, when he chose the family over her.
This was a tense but wonderful read and it's definitely opened me up to this author's writing and tempted me to take a look at the other Paradise reads.
Read
April 13, 2026Dr. Dempsey was such a good first read from Grace Maxwell — I’m officially hooked! This story had that quiet, aching kind of second-chance romance that slowly sneaks up on you and then completely owns your heart.
Alaric and Liz’s story is filled with so much history, heartbreak, and unresolved love. Liz being left behind with nothing but a goodbye broke me — the way she rebuilt herself, chased her career, and still carried that pain felt so real. She’s strong, independent, and determined, but you can feel that Alaric never truly left her heart.
And Alaric… this man KNOWS he messed up. Watching him come to terms with the fact that walking away from Liz was the biggest mistake of his life — and then choosing to fight for her this time — was everything. He’s calm, protective, and quietly intense in the way he shows up for her when it matters most.
The tension between them was so good. Every interaction felt loaded, every glance meant something, and when they were forced into close proximity? I was hooked. 🔥
I also loved the added layer of the workplace sabotage — it brought so much tension and gave Liz the chance to really shine. Watching her stand her ground while Alaric supported her (instead of taking over) made me love them even more.
This book is full of slow-burn angst, emotional healing, family drama, and a love that never really went away. It’s about second chances, showing up, and proving that some people are worth fighting for — no matter how much time has passed.
Such a beautiful, heartfelt story. I’ll definitely be reading more from Grace Maxwell! ❤️✨
Alaric and Liz’s story is filled with so much history, heartbreak, and unresolved love. Liz being left behind with nothing but a goodbye broke me — the way she rebuilt herself, chased her career, and still carried that pain felt so real. She’s strong, independent, and determined, but you can feel that Alaric never truly left her heart.
And Alaric… this man KNOWS he messed up. Watching him come to terms with the fact that walking away from Liz was the biggest mistake of his life — and then choosing to fight for her this time — was everything. He’s calm, protective, and quietly intense in the way he shows up for her when it matters most.
The tension between them was so good. Every interaction felt loaded, every glance meant something, and when they were forced into close proximity? I was hooked. 🔥
I also loved the added layer of the workplace sabotage — it brought so much tension and gave Liz the chance to really shine. Watching her stand her ground while Alaric supported her (instead of taking over) made me love them even more.
This book is full of slow-burn angst, emotional healing, family drama, and a love that never really went away. It’s about second chances, showing up, and proving that some people are worth fighting for — no matter how much time has passed.
Such a beautiful, heartfelt story. I’ll definitely be reading more from Grace Maxwell! ❤️✨
April 17, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
This is 2nd series off the Paradise series. I however haven't read that series and found it easy to follow all the back stories. Grace is a new author and I'm glad I started at the beginning of this new series. I see all her books are Dr related.
The only thing we need to know is the Paradise family have. Long rivalry with the Dempsey's and they are big on their winery. This is a second chance and I love that it was only 4 yrs apart..
Alaric Dempsey left his heart 4 years ago because of a messy family, he thought he was protecting her but he broke her.
Now 4 years later Liz Ward is coming to Paradise for her dream job. This is where her best friend lives and her brother and his family have moved to, so it's perfect for her. She wasn't expecting to see the man that broke her heart in the same place.
This was high angst, lots of emotions, back and forth, close proximity, one bed and it was always you.
They do rekindle in 1st half and spice was perfect. But I felt 2nd half of story it was more of individual issues. Like he is struggling with all his family drama and she is fighting doubts and someone is trying to sabotage her job. They both pined for each other but was very minimal interaction between them 2. It was a long while before he finally decides to choose for himself and HEA for himself. But I did like all the drama and it was interesting. I'm definitely looking forward to what the rest of his siblings story be like. I mean with an evil grandmother on their back, it will be full of surprises.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
This is 2nd series off the Paradise series. I however haven't read that series and found it easy to follow all the back stories. Grace is a new author and I'm glad I started at the beginning of this new series. I see all her books are Dr related.
The only thing we need to know is the Paradise family have. Long rivalry with the Dempsey's and they are big on their winery. This is a second chance and I love that it was only 4 yrs apart..
Alaric Dempsey left his heart 4 years ago because of a messy family, he thought he was protecting her but he broke her.
Now 4 years later Liz Ward is coming to Paradise for her dream job. This is where her best friend lives and her brother and his family have moved to, so it's perfect for her. She wasn't expecting to see the man that broke her heart in the same place.
This was high angst, lots of emotions, back and forth, close proximity, one bed and it was always you.
They do rekindle in 1st half and spice was perfect. But I felt 2nd half of story it was more of individual issues. Like he is struggling with all his family drama and she is fighting doubts and someone is trying to sabotage her job. They both pined for each other but was very minimal interaction between them 2. It was a long while before he finally decides to choose for himself and HEA for himself. But I did like all the drama and it was interesting. I'm definitely looking forward to what the rest of his siblings story be like. I mean with an evil grandmother on their back, it will be full of surprises.
April 19, 2026
Thank you to The Author Agency and Grace Maxwell for an advanced copy for honest review.
At its core, this is a story about second chances and finding the strength to stop being afraid of who you are in order to take them.
Alaric and Liz fell hard for each other in medical school, building something real until he left without a word, leaving Liz to pick up the pieces on her own. Years later, fate brings her to his small hometown in Canda, where she ends up working in the same hospital. Now she’s forced to confront the past, while Alaric comes face to face with the woman who never really let go of his heart.
The author did a great job capturing the angst between them. It felt emotional and grounded without being overdone. Their internal dialogue added depth, and the mix of family drama, small-town dynamics, and coworker rivalry layered nicely into the slow-burn, second-chance romance. The banter between Liz and Alaric was a highlight and made their connection feel real and engaging.
That said, the use of a miscommunication trope (which I’m personally not a fan of) did impact my overall enjoyment, which is why this sits at about a 3.75 for me, rounded up to 4 stars. Even so, the characters were easy to root for, and I appreciated the emotional journey they went on.
And yes…there’s a brief one bed moment during a medical conference in Hawaii that I absolutely ate up. If you enjoy hospital settings, witty couples, second-chance romance, and slow-burn tension, this is definitely one to check out.
At its core, this is a story about second chances and finding the strength to stop being afraid of who you are in order to take them.
Alaric and Liz fell hard for each other in medical school, building something real until he left without a word, leaving Liz to pick up the pieces on her own. Years later, fate brings her to his small hometown in Canda, where she ends up working in the same hospital. Now she’s forced to confront the past, while Alaric comes face to face with the woman who never really let go of his heart.
The author did a great job capturing the angst between them. It felt emotional and grounded without being overdone. Their internal dialogue added depth, and the mix of family drama, small-town dynamics, and coworker rivalry layered nicely into the slow-burn, second-chance romance. The banter between Liz and Alaric was a highlight and made their connection feel real and engaging.
That said, the use of a miscommunication trope (which I’m personally not a fan of) did impact my overall enjoyment, which is why this sits at about a 3.75 for me, rounded up to 4 stars. Even so, the characters were easy to root for, and I appreciated the emotional journey they went on.
And yes…there’s a brief one bed moment during a medical conference in Hawaii that I absolutely ate up. If you enjoy hospital settings, witty couples, second-chance romance, and slow-burn tension, this is definitely one to check out.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Liz Ward is starting her life over by becoming the new Assistant Hospital Administrator for for Paradise General Hospital, thanks to her besty Trinity Paradise, and the first person she sees upon her return is her ex, Dr. Alaric Dempsey, who left their relationship to take care of his family and to make sure that Liz is protected from them. When Liz calls him in to review his delinquent continuing medical medicl requirement (CME) and informs him that she scheduled a conference in Hawaii for Ric to complete the needed coursework, she is stunned to hear that her boss directs her to oversee him at the conference. When they arrive at the hotel, there is only one room available for them, so they are stuck sharing, and not surprisingly, they share more than just a room - they also find peace and sizzling passion in their bubble. But the bliss is short-lived when a she-villain tries to disgrace Liz because she wants to take over her position at the hospital, and Ric’s family is spiraling out of control. So much for their second-chance miracle coming to fruition.
Oh my, what a barn burner Grace Maxwell has created, featuring an honest to goodness generational feud that has families and townfolk torn asunder. Will Ric and Liz be able to ride out the storm, or will they become collateral damage? Don’t miss the thrilling finale of this beautiful love story that will warm your hearts and souls!
I received this book as an ARC reviewer and voluntarily leave my honest opinion.
Oh my, what a barn burner Grace Maxwell has created, featuring an honest to goodness generational feud that has families and townfolk torn asunder. Will Ric and Liz be able to ride out the storm, or will they become collateral damage? Don’t miss the thrilling finale of this beautiful love story that will warm your hearts and souls!
I received this book as an ARC reviewer and voluntarily leave my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy
Let's go through these tropes, shall we?
Second Chance: They were together for three years when Alaric broke it off and left town without much of an explanation.
Forced Proximity: Working in the same hospital for one. Ending up at the same conference with only one room reserved.
He Always loved her: He did, does.
Dream Job: Liz's new job is her dream job. But....
Sabatoge: Numbers on a spreadsheet are off, way off. Her reservation at the hotel mysteriously doesn't exist any more. More numbers off...so far off that if Liz hadn't caught it she'd have lost her job. Not to mention the whispers and rumors of sabotage coming from Alaric's family's business.
Small town: Everyone is in everyone else's business. Family feud where the town pics sides. Can't go to work without whispers and assumptions. Gossip is as good as fact....Ugh.
Family Drama: Poor Alaric. He really needs to utilize the "Do Not Disturb" function on his phone. I swear if my hateful grandmother called me at 2:30 in the morning to fuss...she'd have to get used to the sound of my voicemail ..... just sayin'.
Slow burn: Yeah these two made me want to shake some sense into them. I guess if we didn't have assumptions and what-if's we wouldn't have a book, would we? Still I wanted to shake them!
High Heat: You don't need me to tell y0u about this....You'll see.
Second Chance: They were together for three years when Alaric broke it off and left town without much of an explanation.
Forced Proximity: Working in the same hospital for one. Ending up at the same conference with only one room reserved.
He Always loved her: He did, does.
Dream Job: Liz's new job is her dream job. But....
Sabatoge: Numbers on a spreadsheet are off, way off. Her reservation at the hotel mysteriously doesn't exist any more. More numbers off...so far off that if Liz hadn't caught it she'd have lost her job. Not to mention the whispers and rumors of sabotage coming from Alaric's family's business.
Small town: Everyone is in everyone else's business. Family feud where the town pics sides. Can't go to work without whispers and assumptions. Gossip is as good as fact....Ugh.
Family Drama: Poor Alaric. He really needs to utilize the "Do Not Disturb" function on his phone. I swear if my hateful grandmother called me at 2:30 in the morning to fuss...she'd have to get used to the sound of my voicemail ..... just sayin'.
Slow burn: Yeah these two made me want to shake some sense into them. I guess if we didn't have assumptions and what-if's we wouldn't have a book, would we? Still I wanted to shake them!
High Heat: You don't need me to tell y0u about this....You'll see.
Review of advance copy
This is the first book in the Dempsey Follies series. Alaric and Liz were involved in a relationship and talking about marriage. Alaric decided he needed to go back home and that he couldn’t bring liz into the fold of his crazy family. Liz decides to change job, follow her family and best friend right where Alaric is, what a surprise. Alaric is obviously still in love with Liz, he regrets leaving her but he thought it was for the best. He has to go to Hawaii to make up some of the instructional hours he’s is missing for his yearly credentials. Liz needs to attend a conference there and make sure Alaric does the work needed. Two rooms were reserved but only one is available. There are also lots of things happening with Alaric’s family. Lots of things cut or missing, rumors of family feuds. Alaric’s grandmother and sisters are really a lot to take. Small town romance means everyone is in your business and has an opinion. There was too much external stuff for me but because it’s the first book in the series, I guess they are laying the foundation. I wanted more romance and less town stuff. Sometimes I felt myself skimming the sabotage stuff wanting more with the characters. I will probably read book two but I hope the focus is on the characters.
Review of advance copy
Alaric Dempsey is a complex flawed romantic hero who is fiercely protective of his siblings. Liz Ward is the woman he left behind to handle what he thought was his most important responsibility.
He is a man who cares deeply but doesn't know how to take care of himself. He is dedicated to his sisters and his work, but family drama always takes precedence.
Liz Ward ends up inside the bubble he has placed himself in and it reminds him of what he walked away from.
She is struggling to fit into the new life she has chosen. It helps that she has her best friend, Trinity Paradise Trinity is wife to the Dr. Greyson Paradise whose story started the series of Brothers Paradise books.
There are some truly swoon-worthy moments and some emotional reckonings. We get to check in with some of the characters from the Brothers Paradise series and meet the other members of Alaric's family.
Alaric and Liz's path to happiness is rocky at best and not guaranteed. The continuing drama of the Paradise Dempsey feud adds unrelenting stress.
I truly enjoyed every moment of spice, angst and discovery. This is a fabulous start to the new Dempsey Follies series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
He is a man who cares deeply but doesn't know how to take care of himself. He is dedicated to his sisters and his work, but family drama always takes precedence.
Liz Ward ends up inside the bubble he has placed himself in and it reminds him of what he walked away from.
She is struggling to fit into the new life she has chosen. It helps that she has her best friend, Trinity Paradise Trinity is wife to the Dr. Greyson Paradise whose story started the series of Brothers Paradise books.
There are some truly swoon-worthy moments and some emotional reckonings. We get to check in with some of the characters from the Brothers Paradise series and meet the other members of Alaric's family.
Alaric and Liz's path to happiness is rocky at best and not guaranteed. The continuing drama of the Paradise Dempsey feud adds unrelenting stress.
I truly enjoyed every moment of spice, angst and discovery. This is a fabulous start to the new Dempsey Follies series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 18, 2026
Book Trope: Family drama. Long lost love. Re-united second chance love.
Alaric is a physiological and loves what he does. He is stretched way too thin. He is always working, always on call. His family owns and operates a winery in town. His grandmother - Evie, is a bit of a headache for everyone in the family. Evie often calls on Alaric to vent to him. Alaric just wants to work. When Liz comes back into his life he wants to be with her but dealing with his family the hospital is often to draining on him.
Evie thinks everyone in town is out to get her. She thinks people are poisoning the water to the vines and she is always blaming and judging her family.
Liz, has been in Vancouver but recently moved to Paradise to be closer to her brother and his family. She works in hospital administration. She deals with the CEO / and board members weekly if not daily. She’s always looking to see what could be improved at the hospital.
This book had a good story. But one too many stories got in the way. Internal Family feud, external family feud. Town people against each other. Co-workers against each other. Long lost love. Re-united second chance love.
I did receive a free ARC copy of this book. I am freely leaving a honest book review.
Alaric is a physiological and loves what he does. He is stretched way too thin. He is always working, always on call. His family owns and operates a winery in town. His grandmother - Evie, is a bit of a headache for everyone in the family. Evie often calls on Alaric to vent to him. Alaric just wants to work. When Liz comes back into his life he wants to be with her but dealing with his family the hospital is often to draining on him.
Evie thinks everyone in town is out to get her. She thinks people are poisoning the water to the vines and she is always blaming and judging her family.
Liz, has been in Vancouver but recently moved to Paradise to be closer to her brother and his family. She works in hospital administration. She deals with the CEO / and board members weekly if not daily. She’s always looking to see what could be improved at the hospital.
This book had a good story. But one too many stories got in the way. Internal Family feud, external family feud. Town people against each other. Co-workers against each other. Long lost love. Re-united second chance love.
I did receive a free ARC copy of this book. I am freely leaving a honest book review.
Review of advance copy
I was kindly given this ARC by The Author Agency to read. I was not disappointed! I’ve always enjoyed easy small town romance novels. This was exactly that. Second chances, feelings of betrayal and not having closure, ongoing family issues behind the scene and a touch on mental health issues. I resonated with Alaric massively in terms of his anxiety, and actually found myself doing the breathing techniques that were frequently mentioned within the book! Without giving too much away, I found this book tragic & heartwarming all at once. The bond between the FMC & MMC that was clearly unbreakable, no matter how much time had passed. But also the references to the MMC’s family and how they effectively pushed him into a job surrounding mental health because of how he was impacted - and still was in the present moment - by some of the behaviours. I found things with his own mental health issues relatable, which may be why I resonated with this book so much. All in all, I devoured this in 2 days & really enjoyed the storyline. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this gorgeous book!
March 31, 2026
4⭐️
Review of advanced copy ✨
This was my first book by the author and I was really surprised by Alaric and Liz’s story!
I mean, I was a little lost either all the characters in this book but that was a me problem because now I need to read all the previous books and hear me out, I’m not complaining🙂↔️
I completely understood Alaric and his relationships with his grandmother and that sense of having to fix and take care of everything and everyone and also living under his grandmother’s expectations for him, I did thought that his sisters needed to stand by themselves a little, but again, I can understand why they all had such a strong respect and yeah also fear for their grandmother and I mean, that lady? Oh my god she’s so overwhelming and tough 😩
Now back with Alaric, my man, he thought he did the right thing by leaving Liz because he though he was protecting her and Liz was so strong about leaving the life he knew and moving to paradise and to start a new life very close to Alaric even when she still had feelings for him, I loved that they managed to found each other again and finally having their happily ever after even when they thought it would be impossible 💖
Review of advanced copy ✨
This was my first book by the author and I was really surprised by Alaric and Liz’s story!
I mean, I was a little lost either all the characters in this book but that was a me problem because now I need to read all the previous books and hear me out, I’m not complaining🙂↔️
I completely understood Alaric and his relationships with his grandmother and that sense of having to fix and take care of everything and everyone and also living under his grandmother’s expectations for him, I did thought that his sisters needed to stand by themselves a little, but again, I can understand why they all had such a strong respect and yeah also fear for their grandmother and I mean, that lady? Oh my god she’s so overwhelming and tough 😩
Now back with Alaric, my man, he thought he did the right thing by leaving Liz because he though he was protecting her and Liz was so strong about leaving the life he knew and moving to paradise and to start a new life very close to Alaric even when she still had feelings for him, I loved that they managed to found each other again and finally having their happily ever after even when they thought it would be impossible 💖
April 6, 2026
The Surgeon will see you now (and yes, you should be nervous). 🩺🔥
If you’re looking for a medical romance that actually feels like it’s set in a hospital and not just a costume party, Dr. Dempsey is it. Grace Maxwell has mastered the art of the slow-burn-that-actually-smolders.
• The Pacing: It hooks you from the first "pager" incident and doesn't let up. The transition from professional rivalry to "I’ll-let-you-eat-my-lunch" is chef’s kiss.
• The Prose: It’s sharp and modern. No flowery filler here—just punchy dialogue and internal monologues that made me laugh out loud in public.
• The Banter: 10/10. The back-and-forth between our leads is elite. It’s intelligent, sarcastic, and serves as the perfect foreplay before the tension finally snaps.
• The Setting: The hospital atmosphere felt lived-in and high-stakes, providing the perfect "us against the world" backdrop for the romance to bloom.
Final Verdict: I came for the cover (I mean, look at him), but I stayed for the heart. If you love a grumpy hero with a secret soft spot and a heroine who doesn't take his nonsense, add this to your TBR immediately.
If you’re looking for a medical romance that actually feels like it’s set in a hospital and not just a costume party, Dr. Dempsey is it. Grace Maxwell has mastered the art of the slow-burn-that-actually-smolders.
• The Pacing: It hooks you from the first "pager" incident and doesn't let up. The transition from professional rivalry to "I’ll-let-you-eat-my-lunch" is chef’s kiss.
• The Prose: It’s sharp and modern. No flowery filler here—just punchy dialogue and internal monologues that made me laugh out loud in public.
• The Banter: 10/10. The back-and-forth between our leads is elite. It’s intelligent, sarcastic, and serves as the perfect foreplay before the tension finally snaps.
• The Setting: The hospital atmosphere felt lived-in and high-stakes, providing the perfect "us against the world" backdrop for the romance to bloom.
Final Verdict: I came for the cover (I mean, look at him), but I stayed for the heart. If you love a grumpy hero with a secret soft spot and a heroine who doesn't take his nonsense, add this to your TBR immediately.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Grace Maxwell is a new to me author and I will definitely follow her and read more of her books. This was not a book like every other contemporary romance. It set its own pace and our main characters found their path back to each other. I was cheering for them to solve their differences and to come through their challenges into each others arms. One of my favorite quotes from close to the end of the book was: "There's no rush. No urgency. Just two people finding the space between what was broken and what might come next." And this one. "I set the phone face down on my desk and breathe. I can feel the difference between emotional noise and emotional clarity. And clarity feels good. It feels earned. It lets me hear my own thoughts again. Something is shifting. Not fast. Not sweeping. Just small and true." I loved these characters. Their maturity and individual growth through the book was inspiring as an example for any of us on how to face both personal and professional challenges.
April 7, 2026
Liz + Alaric
Have you ever wanted a second chance at love? Well, Alaric might get that chance because Liz came to HIS hometown. Apparently, he left her to come home. And let me tell you his grandmother is TOXIC and manipulative. It honestly reminded me so much of someone in my family. & I can tell you trying to break away from that person or showing them that they're in the wrong is hard to do.
I feel like Liz and Alaric were a right person, wrong time type of love. This second chance reminds them of old routines but with more mature thoughts and communication (even though they do slip into old habits). & this book reminds me of this song called "Rethink Some Things" because the love between these two didn't disappear. It just was on a different burner for a little bit. They did end up coming back to one another and leaning on each other. I really enjoyed this story a lot and it was just the first in the series.
Thank you to the author and The Author Agency for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Have you ever wanted a second chance at love? Well, Alaric might get that chance because Liz came to HIS hometown. Apparently, he left her to come home. And let me tell you his grandmother is TOXIC and manipulative. It honestly reminded me so much of someone in my family. & I can tell you trying to break away from that person or showing them that they're in the wrong is hard to do.
I feel like Liz and Alaric were a right person, wrong time type of love. This second chance reminds them of old routines but with more mature thoughts and communication (even though they do slip into old habits). & this book reminds me of this song called "Rethink Some Things" because the love between these two didn't disappear. It just was on a different burner for a little bit. They did end up coming back to one another and leaning on each other. I really enjoyed this story a lot and it was just the first in the series.
Thank you to the author and The Author Agency for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 7, 2026
The Paradise-Dempsey feud continues and yet most of the younger generation are connected in a different way and were trying to exist together in a new way. I felt for Alaric and his sisters, for all they had been through, were still going through, and for the way they had been treated by someone who should have loved them, encouraged them, supported them and protected them.
Alaric and Liz had such connection and chemistry, their history was a little sad, as was the way their second chance turned out, they each had so much going on, work pressure, gossip, scrutiny, sabotage, family drama and expectations, it all just became to much for them both. I liked the support they had from those that mattered, the way they learnt what was important to them and that they were brave enough to go after it.
The fallout from the events in this book are going to be felt by the Dempsey's for some time and I am interested in seeing what happens next for the family.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Alaric and Liz had such connection and chemistry, their history was a little sad, as was the way their second chance turned out, they each had so much going on, work pressure, gossip, scrutiny, sabotage, family drama and expectations, it all just became to much for them both. I liked the support they had from those that mattered, the way they learnt what was important to them and that they were brave enough to go after it.
The fallout from the events in this book are going to be felt by the Dempsey's for some time and I am interested in seeing what happens next for the family.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 8, 2026
⭐️ 5/5
🔥 5/5
🌶️ 4/5
💧 5/5
Dr. Dempsey is a strong second chance romance that focuses on emotional growth, unresolved history, and rebuilding a relationship under pressure.
Liz and Alaric’s connection is rooted in their past, which adds immediate tension, especially since Liz never knew why he ended their relationship. That lack of closure makes their reconnection feel layered and emotionally driven.
The Hawaii setting serves more as a catalyst for their physical reconnection rather than the main focus of the story. The real depth comes after they return, where the story shifts into navigating their relationship while dealing with external pressures.
Alaric’s family dynamic, particularly with his controlling grandmother, adds another layer of conflict. His struggle to balance family expectations, protect his sisters, and manage his own personal unraveling creates meaningful tension throughout the story.
Overall, this is a grounded and character-driven romance that handles second chance dynamics in a way that feels earned and emotionally satisfying.
🔥 5/5
🌶️ 4/5
💧 5/5
Dr. Dempsey is a strong second chance romance that focuses on emotional growth, unresolved history, and rebuilding a relationship under pressure.
Liz and Alaric’s connection is rooted in their past, which adds immediate tension, especially since Liz never knew why he ended their relationship. That lack of closure makes their reconnection feel layered and emotionally driven.
The Hawaii setting serves more as a catalyst for their physical reconnection rather than the main focus of the story. The real depth comes after they return, where the story shifts into navigating their relationship while dealing with external pressures.
Alaric’s family dynamic, particularly with his controlling grandmother, adds another layer of conflict. His struggle to balance family expectations, protect his sisters, and manage his own personal unraveling creates meaningful tension throughout the story.
Overall, this is a grounded and character-driven romance that handles second chance dynamics in a way that feels earned and emotionally satisfying.
April 10, 2026
This one just didn’t really work for me. I kept wanting to get pulled in, but I found myself a bit confused along the way—especially with the family drama—which made it hard to stay fully invested in what was happening.
I also struggled a bit with the character development. It felt like there was meant to be more there, but I never fully connected with them or felt like I really knew them.
The romance had its moments, but the back-and-forth threw me off. It felt a bit chaotic at times, and I never fully settled into their relationship or felt super connected to them. I also just wanted more from the MMC overall—more personality, more of his life, more of him outside of work and family.
I think I would’ve connected more if the family drama had been clearer, the relationship felt more consistent, and the MMC had a stronger presence in his own story.
Overall, this one didn’t fully click for me. I can see what it was trying to do, but it just wasn’t the right fit for me personally—though I do think other readers might enjoy it more than I did.
I also struggled a bit with the character development. It felt like there was meant to be more there, but I never fully connected with them or felt like I really knew them.
The romance had its moments, but the back-and-forth threw me off. It felt a bit chaotic at times, and I never fully settled into their relationship or felt super connected to them. I also just wanted more from the MMC overall—more personality, more of his life, more of him outside of work and family.
I think I would’ve connected more if the family drama had been clearer, the relationship felt more consistent, and the MMC had a stronger presence in his own story.
Overall, this one didn’t fully click for me. I can see what it was trying to do, but it just wasn’t the right fit for me personally—though I do think other readers might enjoy it more than I did.
April 14, 2026
Alaric Dempsey left Liz several years ago, to protect her from his crazy family, mainly his grandmother. But did he tell her this? Nope, he just left and moved back to Paradise. Liz is now advancing her career in hospital administration, and has accepted a position at the same hospital as Alaric is at. Not awkward at all! What follows is an emotionally charged story filled with family drama, town drama,workplace drama, sabotage both in the workplace and out. Will Alaric and Liz find their way back to each other for good? Can she trust him not to make decisions for her can he really let her into his drama filled family life? A week long work trip to Hawaii helps things along:) This is not a lets get back together and everything will be fine type of book, they have to put the work into this relationship, as any real relationship is work. This is the first book in the Dempsey Follies series, and I can't wait to read the other stories in the series! I received and ARC for my honest review and am so grateful I did!
Review of advance copy
I was thrilled to get a copy of this book and read it. It is an excellent story. I really liked the storyline and the dynamics of everything. One of the things that I found rather interesting was the twist involving the feud between the families and the turn of events that followed. That was a bit of a surprise for me. I definitely wasn't expecting that. So, so good. I'm such a sucker for a second chance romance with forced proximity and slow burn which this book does very well. And the narrative beautifully presents the "he always loved her" trope. This is another one of my favorites to read in a book so I was super excited to see that was done the way it was in this. This is a must read. I loved the characters and how things turned out for them. I highly suggest grabbing a copy of this you don't want to miss out on this book. Thanks so much to the author and the author agency for a copy of this. All opinions are my own and freely expressed.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
This was a solid 3.5-star read for me—there’s a lot to enjoy here, especially if you love second-chance romance with emotional tension and a protective, regretful hero.The dynamic between Liz and Alaric is compelling right from the start. Their history feels real, and the emotional weight of their past breakup adds depth to their interactions. That said, the pacing held this book back for me. The story tends to slow down quite a bit, especially in the middle, and the timeline can feel confusing at times, with certain moments or emotional beats seeming to repeat within the same chapter. It made the flow feel a bit uneven and occasionally pulled me out of the story. The ending also felt rushed, especially compared to the slower buildup earlier in the book. After all the tension and unresolved feelings, the resolution came together a little too quickly to feel fully satisfying. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
It was such an honor to be selected as an ARC reader for this book! Especially since I haven’t read any other titles by the author. It was different than what I’m used to reading, but I still really enjoyed it!
The suspense between the two families was enough to keep me on the edge of my toes and I didn’t want to put the book down because I NEEDED to see if Evie really was the one behind the crimes. She was so cold, so calculated, and so manipulative that you really weren’t sure what was going on.
And of course, there was the love story between Liz and Alaric. Second chance romances is one of my favorite tropes to read because I LOVE to watch people reconnect and find that love again. And this story line was no different. Their attraction, their pull towards one another, and their chemistry was on fire. But I wasn’t a huge fan of how long it took for them to get their crap together which is why I only gave it 3 stars. Other than that, it was a great read!
The suspense between the two families was enough to keep me on the edge of my toes and I didn’t want to put the book down because I NEEDED to see if Evie really was the one behind the crimes. She was so cold, so calculated, and so manipulative that you really weren’t sure what was going on.
And of course, there was the love story between Liz and Alaric. Second chance romances is one of my favorite tropes to read because I LOVE to watch people reconnect and find that love again. And this story line was no different. Their attraction, their pull towards one another, and their chemistry was on fire. But I wasn’t a huge fan of how long it took for them to get their crap together which is why I only gave it 3 stars. Other than that, it was a great read!
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