When Hell Freezes Over: Book 2 in the When The Lights Go Down Series

by Hailey Klier Decker, Rachel Guzan (Editor)

Johanna

I don’t believe in love.

Not the kind that lasts. Not the kind that stays.

Six years ago I walked away from Brandon Jackson—the heavily tattooed, golden retriever bassist of Catastrophically Charismatic—and when I did, I thought I’d lost my one chance of having it all.

He was my brother's best friend. No matter how good it felt, what we had was too complicated. Too messy. Too much.

I told myself leaving was the only way to save him—let him chase his dream without the fallout… without the chaos that comes with loving someone like me.

But now my brother’s wedding has pulled us back into each other, and Brandon is done letting the past stay buried.

He wants answers. Closure. Maybe even more.

And me?
I’m just trying to survive it without needing him—especially now that I’m the one who might need saving.

Brandon

She left without a word.

No goodbye. No explanation. Just silence and a trail of questions I was never supposed to ask.

Six years ago, Johanna Harris—my best friend’s little sister, the one person I was never supposed to fall for—walked away from me like what we'd had that summer meant nothing.

I told myself it didn’t matter. It was just bad timing… something we were never meant to hold onto.

But even though I should have, I never fully let her go.

The truth is—I would’ve taken the complication. The chaos. All of it.

As long as it meant I got to keep her.

Now my best friend’s wedding has put her back in front of me, and this time, I’m not letting her disappear without answers.

She thinks she can shut me out again. Pretend none of it mattered after a year of almosts and near misses.

She’s wrong.

Because whatever this is between us?

It’s far from over.

When Hell Freezes Over is a dual timeline, dual POV contemporary romance about unfinished love, second chances, and the kind of connection that refuses to stay buried. As the past and present collide in the lead-up to Mia Alexander and Grayson Harris’s wedding, this second installment in the When The Lights Go Down series of interconnected standalone novels proves that some love stories don’t end, they just linger like a song you can’t forget… even after the last note fades.

408 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2026

Reviews

[cat (catching up slowly) · Rating 2 out of 5]

i really wanted to like this one more than I did, but I struggled with it almost from the beginning.

The biggest issue for me was that I never really believed the relationship. Everything happened so fast, and both characters were immediately having intense feelings (and a lot of intense sexual thoughts) before I ever felt like they actually knew each other. Brandon was clearly supposed to be completely gone for Johanna from the start, but I never felt like I understood why, so it made it hard to get invested in their romance.

I do think the dual timeline helped a bit. Going back and forth between the past and present helped explain what happened between them, and I liked seeing how their relationship unfolded over time. As the story continued, it definitely got better, but because I never connected with the foundation of their relationship, it was hard for me to fully buy into everything that came after.

I also had a difficult time connecting with Johanna. I understood what the story was trying to do with her character, but a lot of her decisions felt frustrating, and the reason behind the breakup felt much more dramatic than it needed to be. After six years apart, I still wasn’t convinced by their romance or why they were supposedly still so deeply in love.

The spice also just wasn’t for me. The random daddy kink felt like it came out of nowhere, and some of the dynamics between them felt so established even though they barely knew each other. Things like her making him crawl for her and him acting like he’d only ever do that for her just felt completely unearned to me because their relationship hadn’t been built up enough yet.

Overall I think this just came down to personal preference. If the romance had felt more naturally developed, I probably would’ve enjoyed it a lot more, but I never fully connected with the characters or their love story.

things to know about the book ↓

🎶 age gap (20/26)
🎶 best friend’s sisters
🎶 golden retriever x black cat
🎶 forced proximity
🎶 second chance
🎶 he falls first
🎶 opposites attract
🎶 dual POV

swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 3, 18, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35, 40, 45

Thank you Luna Literary, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75🌟, 3🌶️

This was an emotionally engaging read.

Second chance romances are always a gamble, but the dual timeline kept me invested, slowly unraveling Brandon and Johanna’s history while building the lingering tension and unresolved feelings between them. It had plenty of emotional moments, even if it didn’t completely win me over.

Brandon was, without question, the heart of this story. His patience, loyalty, and unwavering love made him impossible not to root for, and he carried so much of the emotional weight. Johanna took me much longer to connect with. I understood why she made the choices she did, but they were frustrating at times, making it difficult to fully get behind her until later in the book.

I would have loved a little more of Brandon’s perspective during the years they were apart and a deeper look at their relationship in the past, as I think it would have made their reunion even more satisfying.

I enjoyed the journey, and I’m really glad I gave this story a chance.

~~~~

Special thanks to Hailey Klier Decker and The Smuthood for providing this Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. ✨

[Julie Booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been on a run of emotional roller coasters of late, and this book we can add to the list. Johanna and Brandon do not exactly fall into the same category as the others; at the same time, it does.

Johanna and Brandon are going to get a second chance at the love they should have had six years ago; it was not the right time.

Joanna is the sister of Brandon’s bandmate and best friend. They were together for a while in secret. Johanna walked away, thinking it was the correct move, in the end she lost half her heart.

Brandon never stopped loving Johanna.

At the wedding of her brother, they reunite.

The intensity of conversations, the feelings are close to the surface. The writing hits hard, bringing this reader into the story. There is a lot of tension, emotional, regret and longing, you want everything to work. Told in dual timelines, giving a roadmap to where we have been, and where we want to go.

Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ When Hell Freezes Over – Hailey Klier Decker ✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

💔🎸🔥🖤✨

If you love:
• brother’s best friend
• second chance romance
• rockstar vibes
• angsty slow burn
• “we never really got over each other”
• emotional reunion stories
• dual timeline + dual POV

THIS BOOK COMPLETELY BROKE ME AND PUT ME BACK TOGETHER 😭💔

Johanna and Brandon’s story is the definition of unfinished love.

Johanna walked away six years ago believing she was doing the right thing—protecting them both from chaos and consequences. But in doing so, she lost the one person she never truly stopped loving. Watching her carry that guilt and emotional weight throughout the story made her journey so raw and real.

And Brandon…

This man had my entire heart 😮‍💨🖤

He never stopped loving her. Never stopped wondering why she left. Never stopped holding onto the memory of what they had. His emotional depth and vulnerability made every moment of his POV hit even harder.

The reunion between them is EVERYTHING. Every conversation feels loaded with history, every glance pulls them back into a past neither of them has fully escaped.

What made this book even more powerful is that it’s told in a dual timeline and dual POV, which adds so much depth to their story. Seeing the past and present collide as the wedding of Mia Alexander and Grayson Harris approaches makes everything feel even more intense and emotional.

This is a second installment in The When The Lights Go Down series of interconnected standalones, but it absolutely works as a deeply emotional continuation of this world. I loved this one just as much as the first book in the series.

The emotional tension, the regret, the longing—it all feels so real. Nothing about their love story feels easy, but that’s what makes it so compelling.

This is the kind of romance that lingers with you like a song you can’t forget, even after the last page.

If you love second chance romance, dual timelines, brother’s best friend tropes, and deeply emotional love stories, When Hell Freezes Over is an absolute must-read 😭🎸🔥✨

I got an ARC of this book from The Smuthood and the author. Thank you both

[Gabriela ♡]

the emotional buildup to the reason for the second chance trope wasn’t there…

they barely met and they were in love with each other so easily like they actually had like a couple of interactions and then out of nowhere apparently they have been together for 3 weeks

maybe it’s me but they never mentioned how bad he got after she left🤔

the book was 400 pages and it felt like 200 to be honest, it felt like it moved too fast…

thanks to Luna Literary for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Jasmine O. · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Hell Freezes over was different from what I normally read but also really good! This book took my emotions on a wild ride. I enjoyed the dual timeline and feel it was executed perfectly giving you a full view of the past and what lead up to the relationship with Brandon and Johanna. The amount of love and support Brandon provides Johanna is out of this world. I received an ARC from the Author and Luna Literary and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Simply Stina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Received Advanced Reader Copy. The following is my honest opinion.

2/5 Stars

3/5 Spice

I honestly loved the fact that this wasn't riddled with spelling and grammatical errors. I was able to read and actually enjoy the book without having to mentally correct things along the way. That is a 10/10.

Characters: I think Jo and her brother were probably the worst characters in the book for me. As the FMC, she had very few if any traits that I enjoyed. She was shallow at the start (which is to be expected as she was young and still figuring things out), but after her years away she came back supposedly softer, but she was 100% more selfish. Her brother was a douche and honestly I didn't like him from the start.
Brandon was sweet, but definitely gave golden retriever vibes and then all of a sudden he flipped to wanting to be called Daddy. For me the switch was so random. I mean, I guess....but it just felt forced.
Mia was pretty great, but when they introduced her I was like who tf is this? She was just tossed in like we were supposed to know their background. (Maybe this was explained in the first book?) I was so confused.
Brandon's sister was also too heavily invested in her brother's relationships. It was weird honestly especially since we had only heard of her being referenced one time earlier on. Then all of a sudden she's an active character. 🤷🏽‍♀️ Again, I probably should have read the first book. It may have filled in some of these holes.

Story: The story was pretty good. I enjoyed how it was written and how the events flowed, but I think a few things were made to seem mor catastrophic than they actually were. Like the way her brother reacted to finding out they were messing around (the first time). His reaction was so volatile and unnecessary. I still don't understand why he had such a strong reaction especially if he viewed Brandon as one of the best men he's ever known. It was weird.

The second event that I think was blown way outta proportion was the wedding toasts. I reread those pages like 5 times trying to find where they said anything that could have been taken as something negative. Then they harped on the speeches for so long. You would have though Jo went up there a described every sexual act she'd ever done with Brandon and vice versa. That was just so random.

Then, I hated how she just expected Brandon to drop everything he had been working toward for YEARS to run behind her because she was incapable of doing anything on her own. Like, how selfish can you be? She guilt tripped that man into rushing across the globe just to stand in the back so she can feel better. I was like, "Girl, you are 26....stop with the madness". He couldn't even enjoy his own success because all of a sudden she can't do anything on her own anymore. It seemed like she was more independent when she was 20. That part REALLY irked my nerves.

All in all, I have to say... this book just wasn't my cup of tea. Not a bad book, but I probably won't be completing the series. However, I may check out some other work by this author.

[Breanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐!

When Hell Freezes Over is book 2 in the When The Lights Go Down series, but can be read as a standalone if you don't mind inferring the background/history of some of the characters. WHFO follows Johanna, Graysons sister, and Brandon, his bandmate. It's told in Dual Timelines and Dual POV, which reveal little parts of the past and present as you go.

6yrs previously, Johanna (then 20) flies to LA to spend the summer with her brother and his bandmates. Except he sends his friend Brandon (then 26) to pick her up because he decides to go out of town. Brandon is essentially smitten by his bandmates sister, seeing through her tough exterior immediately to the lonely girl underneath. Johanna starts to fall for him as he's the only person who really "sees" her. They begin a secret relationship of sorts until one slip up leads to her brother finding out, and all hell breaks loose. Johanna, seeing how much Brandon could lose after a fallout with her brother, decides the best option is to lie to her brother that they were just messing around, and leaves one morning without telling anyone. My heart absolutely broke for Brandon, waking up to realize the girl he loved had just... left him without a word, like he was nothing. Like *they* were nothing.

"I'll do anything for Brandon to have his dream... even if it means he can't have the one that includes me."

The present timeline brings us to Grayson and Mia's wedding weekend, where Johanna and Brandon have been in close proximity as they are both part of the wedding party. Tensions run high as the two dance around their resurfaced feelings and grief over what could have been. Their pull toward each other proves to be too much, and finally... finally, they decide to give this a real shot. Will they get back to where they were all those years ago, or will all that time between cause them to fall apart as they discover neither are the same as they were back then?

Overall, I loved this one. Johanna truly thought she was doing the right thing when she left, and to be honest it worked exactly as she had planned. Brandon and Grayson *eventually* made up, the band kept going and eventually signed with a label. But what she didn't know was that Brandon had completely fallen apart while his friends tried to pick up the pieces to put him back together. She was it for him, and that never changed ❤️ the only thing I wished for more of was of a development of their feelings in the past timeline. We're told how special their connection is repeatedly, but we really only get a few scenes with them.

I want to thank Hailey and Luna Literary for allowing me to read and review! Excited for the next one already!

[yue · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first saw this book, I was immediately drawn in because of the tropes that were listed. A band? Second chance romance? Age gap? Those are usually the kinds of books I gravitate toward, so I was really excited to pick this one up. I also haven't read the first book, so I'm not sure if I missed some context from the events that were referenced here.

The story follows Johanna Harris, who left behind the only man she ever loved six years ago, believing walking away was the only way to protect him and his dreams. But when her brother's wedding reunites her with Brandon Jackson, the tattooed bassist and her brother's best friend, the feelings they buried refuse to stay in the past. As old wounds resurface and long hidden truths come to light, they have to decide if the love they never truly let go of deserves a second chance.

One of the things I really liked was the dual timeline and dual POV. I always enjoy stories that switch between the past and present because it lets you slowly piece together why the characters act the way they do. It kept me engaged the whole time, and I liked getting those little glimpses into their thought process before everything eventually came together.

That said, I found it much easier to connect with Brandon than Johanna. Maybe it's because Brandon was older and generally made decisions that made more sense to me. Johanna wasn't exactly a kid either since she was already 20 at the beginning of the story, but some of the choices she made just didn't sit well with me. Their relationship as a couple also didn't completely land for me, so I never got as emotionally invested as I wanted to.

I also couldn't really connect with their siblings. I felt like they were a little too invested in Johanna and Brandon's relationship. There were also a few things I expected to be explained that never really were. More than anything, I wish we had seen more of Brandon's life during the six years they were apart because I was curious about what he went through during that time.

Don't get me wrong, I still think this is a good story. It just didn't leave a lasting impact on me personally. Even so, I'd still recommend it to readers who love band romances, second chance romances, and all the angst that comes with those kinds of stories. My final rating for this book would be 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Many thanks to Hailey Klier Decker and Luna Literary for the opportunity to read this book in advance. This review is my honest thoughts and opinions about the story

[Claudiaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ Right Person, Wrong Time Done Perfectly

ARC Review
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Hell Freezes Over is one of those romances that quietly sneaks up on you. Going in, I knew it was a second-chance romance, but I wasn’t expecting to become so invested in Brandon and Johanna’s journey.🎸♥️🥹

The story is told through dual POV and dual timelines, which worked so well because we get to experience both the excitement of how they first met and the heartbreak of where they are six years later. Watching their relationship unfold in the past while slowly uncovering everything that pulled them apart made their reunion even more emotional.

From the very beginning, Johanna is fiery, impulsive, and impossible to ignore, while Brandon is her complete opposite. He’s calm, patient, dependable, and very much the person everyone leans on. Their personalities balance each other beautifully, and their chemistry is obvious from their very first meeting.

Brandon! He isn’t your typical over-the-top alpha hero. He’s protective without being controlling, emotionally mature, incredibly patient, and despite everything that happened between them, he never truly stopped loving Johanna. His unwavering feelings made him so easy to root for.

Johanna also had wonderful character growth. Life has changed her dramatically, and seeing the confident, wild young woman become someone weighed down by grief and responsibility made her journey feel incredibly real. Watching her slowly find pieces of herself again alongside Brandon was one of the most rewarding aspects of the story.

The emotional tension between them is what really carried this book. It’s the classic “right person, wrong time” romance, but it never felt frustrating. Instead, it felt believable. You could understand why they made the choices they did, even when those choices hurt.

The writing itself flowed beautifully, making it easy to become immersed in both timelines. There were several heartfelt moments that genuinely tugged at my emotions, along with a few twists that I didn’t see coming but fit the story perfectly.

Overall, this was an emotional, character-driven second-chance romance filled with longing, healing, family, and hope. If you enjoy brother’s best friend romances, dual timelines, plenty of pining, and couples who never truly stopped loving each other, I would definitely recommend picking this one up.

[Twisted Psycho Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was definitely a little different from what I usually pick up, but I’m so glad I gave it a chance. It was emotional, heartfelt, and such a beautifully written second chance romance.

Jo was quite literally a hurricane. She stormed into Brandon’s life, gave him everything, and then destroyed it all in an instant. 😮‍💨 I’ll admit she frustrated me at times, but that’s what made watching her six years later so rewarding. Seeing her growth and how much she’d changed was exactly what I needed from her character. And that letter… I wasn’t prepared. It absolutely broke me.

Brandon… where do I even begin? 🥹

This man was everything. Charming, protective, loyal, and just the right amount of possessive. The ultimate golden retriever MMC. He fell first, he fell hard, and he never stopped loving Jo. After everything they’d been through, he still held onto hope, and honestly, that made my heart ache for him. I genuinely couldn’t fault this man. Brandon was beautifully written, and he easily became my favourite part of the story.

I loved the dual timeline and seeing their relationship unfold through both the past and present. It made every reunion, every conversation, and every emotion hit that much harder. The only thing I found myself wanting was a little more of their past. I wasn’t quite ready to leave those moments behind.

The spice is definitely lighter than what I usually read, but it suited the story well. The emotional connection between Jo and Brandon was always the focus, and it worked. I also loved the grumpy and hilarious side characters—they added the perfect amount of humour and warmth throughout the heavier moments.

If you’re looking for a romance that’s more about healing, forgiveness, and finding your way back to your person than high spice, I’d definitely recommend adding this one to your TBR.

Tropes
💜 Second Chance Romance
💜 Rockstar × Model
💜 Golden Retriever MMC
💜 Black Cat FMC

Overall, this was a beautiful story about first love, heartbreak, growth, and proving that sometimes the right person is worth waiting for. 🖤

⭐️ 4/5
🌶️ 2.5/5

[InkedSirenXO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Advanced Copy received from Author

Some love stories end. Others simply wait for their chance to begin again.

This book completely stole my heart. This second-chance romance is packed with longing, heartbreak, healing, and enough emotional tension to keep me turning pages long past bedtime.

Brandon is everything I love in a book boyfriend. Tattooed bassist? Check. Golden retriever energy? Check. Absolutely obsessed with one woman for six years? Double check. The way he never truly let Johanna go had my heart squeezing chapter after chapter.

Johanna’s journey felt incredibly real. Her fears, self-doubt, and belief that walking away was the only way to protect the people she loved made her such a relatable and emotional heroine. Watching these two navigate years of unresolved feelings, painful misunderstandings, and undeniable chemistry was both beautiful and heartbreaking.

The dual timeline was executed perfectly, revealing pieces of their past at just the right moments and making every present-day interaction hit even harder. Every shared glance, every conversation, every crack in their walls carried the weight of six years of unfinished business.

The brother’s best friend trope, second-chance romance, forced proximity through wedding festivities, and emotional slow burn all blended together flawlessly. Brandon and Johanna’s connection never felt manufactured. It felt lived in, messy, and achingly authentic.

This story is a reminder that some people leave fingerprints on your soul that time simply can’t erase.

If you love:
🎸 Brother’s Best Friend
🎸 Second Chance Romance
🎸 Dual Timelines
🎸 Slow Burn Longing
🎸 Golden Retriever Hero Energy
🎸 Emotional Healing & Growth
🎸 Wedding Romance Drama

…then you need this book on your TBR immediately.

This book isn’t just a romance. It’s a love story about timing, forgiveness, and finding your way back to the person who always felt like home. By the final page, I was smiling, emotional, and wishing I could spend just a little more time with Brandon and Johanna.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Hell Freezes Over was one of those books where I really wanted to love it because the tropes were everything I usually enjoy… but unfortunately, it didn’t fully hit for me.
I was so excited for Johanna and Brandon’s story. A second chance romance with a brother’s best friend dynamic? Sign me up. And there were definitely moments I enjoyed, especially seeing their history and the connection they still had after everything they’d been through.
The dual timeline was a great addition because it gave more insight into their past, but I personally wished we got even more of Brandon’s perspective. I really liked him as a character, but at times it felt like Johanna’s story took center stage and Brandon’s emotions and experiences were left a little unexplored.
One thing I really wanted was more understanding of what Brandon went through after Johanna left. There was so much build-up around it, and I was waiting for that emotional payoff, but I felt like I was left wanting more.
The conflict surrounding their relationship also brought up a lot of feelings for me. I understood the protectiveness from the people around them, but some reactions felt more hurtful than helpful, and I found myself frustrated with the way Johanna and Brandon were put in that position.
That being said, I did enjoy the emotional aspects, the history between the characters, and seeing them navigate their complicated feelings. I think this book will absolutely work for readers who connect more strongly with Johanna’s journey and the drama surrounding their relationship.
Sometimes a book just doesn’t hit the way we hope it will, and that’s okay. 🤍
✨ what to expect:
🎸 second chance romance
🤍 brother’s best friend
🎸 dual timeline
🤍 emotional angst
🎸 band romance
🤍 forbidden relationship
🎸 complicated history
A heartfelt story with a lot of potential, but one that left me wishing for a little more depth from Brandon’s side of the story.

[Maddy Matos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Johanna is gorgeous—in fact, she’s a successful model—but for reasons that aren’t fully explained, she has a habit of running away from her problems. Even 60% into the book, I was still waiting to understand her motivations, and that left me feeling disconnected from her character.
Brandon is her complete opposite. He’s the band’s guitarist: handsome, sexy, and with that laid-back California surfer vibe. He’s also loyal, hardworking, and knows exactly what he wants. He appears to be the wealthiest member of the band, with everyone living in his mansion. He cooks for the group, takes care of everyone, and is genuinely a good guy.
By the time I was over 70% through the story, Brandon and Johanna were still dancing around whatever happened between them six years earlier. What frustrated me most was how much of that history was left unexplored. I wanted to know what those years were like for Brandon, how he coped with losing Johanna, how her actions affected his relationship with his sister, and why Johanna made the choices she did. Instead, that entire period was largely skipped over, which made it hard to feel the emotional weight of their reunion or fully connect with either character.
The ending was satisfying and wrapped things up nicely, but it wasn’t enough to make up for everything I felt was missing throughout the story. By the final page, I still didn’t feel like I truly knew Brandon or Johanna, even though the author had several opportunities to develop both characters and their relationship more deeply.
I did enjoy the ending, and it was the strongest part of the book, but because of the unanswered questions and missing emotional depth, I’m giving this one 3 stars.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six years ago, 20 year old Johanna walked away from a man she thought could be her everything, and never told him why. Now they’re living in the same house, preparing for her brother, his bandmate’s wedding, and every moment forced together is bringing it all back. While she thought everything was lost, he made it clear he was still waiting, and suddenly she needs to decide whether she can afford to let herself fall, without being sure whether he’ll be able to catch her.

Brandon has loved Johanna for 6 years, and as much as he tried to move on, he couldn’t look at another woman without thinking of her. The walls she’s built are so high he never thought he’d get another chance, but in a moment of weakness, she lets him see the cracks in her armour, and he knows he can’t let her walk away again. While he knows being with his best friend’s little sister is complicated, especially since the last time almost broke up the band, he is prepared to sacrifice anything for a chance at forever.

I received an early copy of this book @lunaliterary.management and really enjoyed it. While I got a glimpse of Brandon and Johanna in the previous book, I loved how the author didn’t gloss over their past, instead giving us a dual timeline narration, which allowed us to watch the entirety of their story unfold. Although they fell hard and fast in the past, they both had to learn and grow in order for a future to become a possibility. While I would have loved to see more discussion about the reasons why Johanna believed she had no choice but to leave before, I appreciated their focus on overcoming any obstacles that could prevent them from moving forward.

[Kristina A · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨WHEN THE LIGHTS GO DOWN, BOOK 2✨

Guys. I fell for Brandon the moment he came on page in book one and man oh man did he steal my heart. I laughed, I cried, I swooned and then I probably cried again. Brandon and Johanna are so emotional and raw and ughhh i love them!

Brandon. My sweet boy turned daddy vibes. Brandon is literally everything you want in a book boyfriend. He’s swoony, emotional and man does he have a mouth of him. Brandon falls for his best friend’s little sister but when her brother finds out..hell breaks loose. LITERALLY. So Brandon is left to pick up his broken heart alone and ugh I’m going to sob just thinking about it.

Johanna. My little black cat. This girl has been through it. And just when she gets back on her feet she runs into the only person who loved her at..get this..her brother’s wedding. Jo tries to keep up her walls but when she sees Brandon again she has to pick up the broken pieces.

These two will make you swoon and cry all at the same dang time. The dual timeline for these two will pull at your heartstrings and make you want to finish the book in one sitting.

I really did love their love story, I wasn’t able to put this one down I just wanted to know what happened between the past and present.

Oh and the spice. ❤️‍🔥 Let’s just say..the elevator and studio scenes will live rent free IYKYK 🫠

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🌶️🌶️

🖤 Rockstar Romance
🎸 Brother’s Best Friend
🖤 Second Chance
🎸 Dual Timeline
🖤 Golden Retriever MMC
🎸 Black Cat FMC
🖤 Forbidden
🎸 Pierced FMC
🖤 He Crawls

Thank you oh so much to Hailey for allowing me to receive an ARC for this release! 🫶🏼

[Kayla Sargent · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I really wanted to love this book. I mean honestly its a brothers best friend/ second chance romance, but it just didn’t hit the mark for me.

The dual timeline did help some, but I feel like we didn’t get enough. It came off more like Johanna was the main character & Brandon was just there. Don’t get me wrong I really liked Brandon. I just wanted more.

I am very frustrated that we did NOT get the information on “what Brandon went through” when Johanna left him high & dry without even a goodbye. Like how bad was he? I mean even Rylee says “that’s something he needs to tell you.” & then we don’t get it.

I feel like Grayson gave off more jealous vibes than big brother vibes when he found out about Brandon & Johanna. I get that Brandon is his band mate/best friend, but as a brother you should want your sister to be happy. I just feel like he wasn’t happy in his own relationship so he wanted to make them miserable & it worked. I mean what person is going to stand there & hear their “significant other” get threatened to lose everything they worked for if they continue with the relationship. Johanna was stuck between a rock & a hard place.

While I get Rylee was being protective over Brandon, I mean what sister wouldn’t be… she still frustrated me.. Like who are you to judge what they do when your own relationship has been so back & forth nobody can really tell when you’re together & when you’re not.

Just like with any book, it’s hit or miss. Some will love this book. It just wasn’t for me.

[Nicole Chasing Chapters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even know where to begin because When Hell Freezes Over completely stole my heart.

If you love second-chance romance, forbidden love, dual timelines, and emotional stories that stay with you long after you finish, this book absolutely delivers.

Watching the past and present unfold side by side made every chapter impossible to put down. Mia and Grayson's story is woven throughout the novel, while Brandon and Johanna's journey completely captured my heart. Six years may have passed, but it was obvious that neither of them had truly let go. Their connection never faded—it only waited for the right moment.

Brandon is the definition of "golden retriever energy," endlessly patient and determined to fight for the woman he's never stopped loving. Johanna's guarded heart and emotional walls made every breakthrough feel earned, creating a beautiful story filled with healing, forgiveness, growth, and learning to trust again.

The chemistry between these two? Absolutely undeniable. Every interaction was packed with tension, longing, and enough sparks to keep the pages turning late into the night.

More than anything, this story reminded me why I love romance. It wasn't just about falling in love it was about finding your way back to the person who has always felt like home. The emotional highs, heartbreaking moments, found family, and satisfying happily-ever-after made this an unforgettable read.

Hailey absolutely outdid herself with this one. It was emotional, addictive, incredibly romantic

[H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is exactly what you want and expect from a sweet, second chance, bestfriend/bandmate’s little sister rockstar romance. She is prickly and mad at the world. He is sweet and falls first and hard but knows he can't have her without risking his best friend and place in the band. And the HEA is swoony and movie worthy.

The flashbacks/ duel timelines are well executed. It shaped and gave context to their relationship - past and present - the tension, heat, crash, resistance, and rekindling. It was a genuinely realistic look at a young couple learning about themselves and each other, the good and bad consequences of their communication, and the levels of maturity.

As for my rating, it may have just been too sweet for my taste (definitely a me issue). I was expecting more… more crash with the fall and overall grit. Is Johanna a hot mess? Yes, but I actually liked that because who wasn't at 20. But even with that said, she wasn't super likeable, even in the present. Brandon was so likeable and the heart of this.

I will say if you are going to build Brandon up to be a daddy, it needs to be good. It was a bit disappointing. I would have preferred leaning into him being a simp and making Jo full femme Dom… she made him crawl 🥵 or even the opposite. Jo’s hard exterior completely crumbling and give into his control.

Even without my critiques, it is entirely enjoyable and a good fun read. What I expect in a second chance contemporary romance

[Anna Otten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received Advanced Reader Copy. The following is my honest opinion.

3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.⭐️
3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I usually struggle with dual-timeline books because I find it easy to lose track of plot points, but that fortunately wasn’t the case here. Decker did a great job making each timeline distinct and easy to follow. The chemistry between Johanna and Brandon was palpable from start to finish, and one of my favorite aspects of the book was seeing how both good and bad communication shaped their relationship over time. I appreciated watching them navigate the consequences of their choices.

There were two areas that fell a little flat for me. First, the event that originally tore Johanna and Brandon apart didn’t feel as impactful as I expected. I was anticipating something more dramatic and drawn out given the buildup. Second, I went into this expecting stronger found-family vibes among the cast. While that element wasn’t as prominent as I’d hoped, there were some great sibling relationships that helped make up for it between Johanna & Grayson, Johanna & Mia, and Brandon & Rylee.

The second epilogue was the perfect way to end the book. It provided the HEA that I look for in contemporary romance while also delivering an excellent cliffhanger that has me excited for the next couple’s story in the series.

[Gel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was NOT ready for this book. I am soooo reluctant when it comes to second chance romances but something about this just called to me...

MMC: Brandon
FMC: Johanna

All of these stars go to Brandon. He is THE perfect MMC. That man is a SAINT for what Johanna put him through. Johanna is a HOT MESS. She's only 20 when the story starts out and Brandon is 6 years older. She is very immature and treats Brandon like garbage. Her personality is rough and she is very guarded (she does have her reasons). She sleeps with him and then leaves the next day---like LEAVES town. No word. (she does it because her brother threatened to kick Brandon out of the band and she didn't want to get in the way of his dreams). Brandon is so in love and patient with her. I actually hated her for the first like 70% of the book but Brandon really carried it for me! Once I hit the 70% mark she stopped making me mad....but Brandon---THAT. MAN. He is kind, patient, caring AND.....Celibate! 6 years that man LITERALLY waits for her.

Would I consider this safe: Yes and no. There is no cheating and Brandon is celibate during the separation (because he is literally perfect). Johanna sleeps with his bandmate during their separation and no one seems to really care aside from Brandon's sister! I thought it was strange how everyone went on like nothing happened.

Your heart will break for Brandon quite a bit, but there is a HEA! I'm a sucker for a super down bad MMC.

Would I recommend: Yes

[Jes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Johanna Harris has a hard exterior and the last person she wants to let in is her brother's best friend and member of his band- Brandon Jackson. Brandon is patient, kind, and willing to do just about anything for Jo. Well guess who is picking her up from the airport when she makes a sudden life change and needs her brother? You guessed it!! Brandon, the bassist of her brother's band. There's tension from the start and as things begin to progress with the two, we get a front row seat of the crash and burn. We also get to see the potential repair between them.

Tropes:
- rockstar romance
- second chance
- brother's best friend
- secret relationship
- forced proximity
- black cat fmc
- golden retriever mmc
- dual timeline (past and present)
- dual POV

I'll do my best to put how much I love this book into words- it really rendered me speechless in the best way. Jo and Brandon's story was emotional and there was a lot of miscommunication, but when they finally got their happy ending, it was beyond worth it. I love a good "it's always been you" book and this falls perfectly into that category. Don't be fooled by their swooning because Brandon and Jo bring the spice and it is filthyyyy!

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review this book before release day! Hailey, you have a way with words my friend! I am so proud of you <3

[Jennifer Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect Blend of Sweet, Spicy, and Emotions

If you’re looking for a sweet, emotional, and seriously steamy romance, this one absolutely delivers! From the very first page, Brandon completely stole my heart. He’s the ultimate golden retriever hero—loyal, patient, completely devoted, and the definition of “he falls first.” Watching him love Johanna through every timeline was both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

I am a sucker for a second-chance romance, and this one had everything I love: brother’s best friend, secret relationship, found family, dual POV, and a dual timeline that perfectly unraveled their past while building toward an emotional reunion. The chemistry between Brandon and Johanna is off the charts, with plenty of swoony moments balanced by just the right amount of spice.

Brandon never truly let her go, and seeing him fight for the woman he always believed was worth the wait made this story impossible to put down. Their journey was full of longing, healing, forgiveness, and proving that sometimes the right love deserves a second chance.

If you love romances where the hero falls first, never stops loving her, and is willing to fight for forever, this book is an absolute must-read. Sweet, emotional, steamy, and completely addictive—I highly recommend it!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an emotional rollercoaster. I was tearing up times than I’d like to admit.

Johanna thought she was doing the right thing when she left. She thought it would fix everything even if it broke them in the process. Six years later she’s at her brother’s wedding and face to face with the man she left. She isn’t that 20 year old that ran when stuff got messy anymore.

Brandon never gave up on her even when she left. He might not have understood why she left and it might have broke him but his feelings couldn’t be changed. He still loved her after everything she did to him. These six years were really hard on him and luckily he had his sister to lean on.

I will say I get where they were coming from but I really hated their siblings and how they reacted to everything. Her brother is the reason everything blew up to begin with and his sister wasn’t helping when she realized they might get back together. I get they are protective but they were 20 and 26 when they first met and now are 26 and 32.

Will they rekindle and was it right person wrong time or are they just two people who were young and thought they knew love?

Overall I absolutely loved this book. It had me hooked from the start. I loved the dual pov/dual timeline that we get. It really helped the story flow so you knew the history and the current. I read this book as an arc.

[Ashley Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC- When Hell Freezes Over

Ok Hailey what did you put in this book?! I was hooked from the first chapter. This book was the perfect dual timeline I’ve read and add in the second chance I’m obsessed! The chemistry and tension between Brandon and Johanna was coming off the pages. Everything about their story was filled with emotions from the undeniable pull to each other, the heartbreak, and healing. Six years after things got messy and Johanna left they are pushed back together both knowing it isn’t over.

This man has loved her for 6 years and could never get over her. Johanna is guarded and has walls up so high and he will do anything to break them down and get her back. This whole story had so much growth, communication and forgiveness.

Now their chemistry was HOT. Brandon 100% was DADDY 🔥🫠🥵 and the mouth on him. The two of them together were hot AF.

This book is why I love romance especially ones that take you through the emotions, all the messy parts to get to their HEA.

Hailey you outdid yourself on this one and a top read for me.

🩵Second Chance
🎸Brother's Best Friend
🩵Dual timeline/dual POV
🎸Rockstar (bassist) x Model
🩵Forbidden
🎸Found Family
🩵Secret Relationship
🎸Golden Retriever MMC x Black Cat FMC

[Ura Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

To me, this has an element of instalust turned 'love' after a day of just meeting and knowing each other which wasn't aforementioned. The characters Brandon and Johanna were difficult to enjoy because firstly just after 20 minutes of meeting Johanna, Brandon is ordering for her without consulting her which may have been if not considering the fact that they JUST MET! He didn't even know how she looked like and vice versa. Secondly why is he making love declarations and being growly the next morning after she arrived?? Thirdly the second day after she came to the house, he's telling her that he wants her yet less than 30 minutes later when his friend(Johanna's brother) told him that he wasn't aware he could write lyrics, Brandon says he didn't know either and in his head says that that's the most truthful thing he has said all day. He was literally promising forever to Johanna less than 30 minutes ago while shoving his tongue down her throat 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️. Thirdly, why on earth does a multi billion dollar house not have sound proof or at least thick walls?? And what is with people who masturbate without locking the damn door?!!! How hard can that possibly be?!😭.

*Thank you to the author for this ARC*

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review:
As I was reading the book it had me all over the place, i personally love the whole love at first sight kind of story plot. I was rooting for the FMC and MMC until it got to about half way through the book, the FMC did a number on the MMC (would have liked to get more context on his life after the incident). And I felt like there wasn’t much backstory on the FMC as to state why she was a “Hurricane”. I also feel like once the MC’s got together there was a lot of codependency that in a way made me frustrated. I believe the FMC was a bit manipulative (correct me if wrong) but the whole acting dry and cold towards the MMC just because he couldn’t attend something due to work was wrong. If anything the trauma she caused him should have had him spiraling due to there history

Although I did live for the found family, age gap, brothers best friend (band mate), second chance, golden retriever x black cat, and forced proximity.


If you enjoy any of those tropes then I recommend you read this book (I do believe for better context on the secondary characters you should read the first book of the series) —I personally didn’t read the first one and thought it was a good interconnected standalone

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows Johanna and Brandon in a dual timeline that switches between the past and present. After Johanna's mother passes away, she goes to stay with her brother, where she meets Brandon his best friend. Their relationship is forbidden due to their age difference and the fact that he's her brother's best friend. As their relationship continues Johanna struggles with accepting love and care from someone when she's so used to relying only on herself and running from her feelings. Fast forward 6 years later she has to confront those feeling for Brandon all over again.
I really enjoyed the story between these two, and Brandon is absolutely adorable I loved the dual timeline and getting to see their relationship unfold through both the past and present. Brandon's determination to show Johanna that she is loved and worthy of being cared for made me love him even more. Even when she wanted to handle everything on her own, he was always there for her.
I also loved the music references throughout the book they added so much to the story! And yes there was tension and spice there was also some comic relief that made me laugh. And the ending, I was definitely not expecting that cliffhanger! Thanks for the arc :)

[Emmie Belcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the story of Johanna and Brandon. Johanna is a model who goes to stay the summer in L.A. with her brother, Grayson, and his friends/band mates, not expecting to fall for the bassist, Brandon. He also happens to be her brother's best friend. When things got very messy, she leaves and we then get to see how things play out six years later once they are reunited at Grayson and Mia's wedding.

This book has a dual timeline, six years ago and now. The past where they met for the first time, and the present where they are reuniting.

I was very pleasantly surprised with this book. It was so cute that I couldn't put it down once I started. I devoured the story in one sitting. There was angst, there were spicy moments, there were cute moments. It had the perfect amount of spice. I loved how each chapter also had a song to go with it that perfectly set the tone for what was going to happen.

This was the second in the series, but could be read as a standalone. I read it first, but am definitely going to go back to read Mia and Graysons story so I can stay in this world longer. After that cliffhanger, im gonna need the third book too. 😂

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a sucker for the brother's best friend, rockstar, and second-chance romance tropes, then When Hell Freezes Over needs to be at the very top of your TBR! This book brings all the elite tropes together in a way that completely hooks you from the start.

What I Loved:
- Brandon is the Ultimate Book Boyfriend: The yearning is real! He is absolutely devoted, patient, and everything you want in a romantic lead. Watching him wait and fight for Johanna was everything.
- The Tropes: The crossover of a rockstar romance with the high stakes of a brother's best friend dynamic worked so beautifully here.

A Few Thoughts:
- Johanna's Journey: Johanna deals with some trauma, and her behavior reflects that. While her healing journey was realistic, she did get a little frustrating and annoying toward the end of the book.
- Pacing: The story was a bit on the longer side and could have been paced just a tiny bit tighter in the middle act.

Overall, despite a few pacing lulls, this was a thoroughly good, emotional, and highly enjoyable read. If you love a hero who falls first and falls hard, you will love Brandon!