TL;DR: I can honestly say that I didn’t expect to love this as much as I did. I wasn’t a big fan of Cade in book one—as let’s just say his actions and words didn’t inspire much attraction—but this book flipped that script and boy howdy, did I love it! 😍 Their chemistry was great, the banter had me giggling, the romance was sexy and sweet, and a wonderful family dynamic shines through in this book. My favourite in the series thus far!

Well, well, well… Cade was… Something. 🥵 His chemistry with Willa? Explosive! Their sexual tension built so well and was so thick you could hardly wade through it and I lived for it! Then here’s the little family these two make with the most precious and precocious child, Luke, and I was done for. I’m not generally one to “aww” when a kid is featured in a romance book but Luke was a different story. I loved him so freaking much and his soft heart, genuine enthusiasm and adorable bond with Willa really had me clutching my chest with ALL. THE. FEELS!

It was great to finally learn more about Cade and why he’s generally the biggest stick in the mud and often a douche canoe to others, lol. I felt for him and can only imagine what it would be like to shoulder all of what he did from when he was pretty much still a baby himself. He never had the freedom his siblings did (which was all thanks to him as well) and he takes the responsibility of looking after the ranch very seriously. I admired that about him but I especially loved how he thawed the more he was around Willa and we finally get to see what’s lying beneath that very grumpy exterior. There’s this moment that really got to me in the story and it’s when he realizes how much freedom Willa gives him to choose for himself for once, when all his life he put everyone’s needs first. There was something so heartbreaking and precious about that moment and it’s seared into my brain, lol. The awe he felt at finding someone who put him first was so touching. 🥹

Willa was the perfect contrast and complement to Cade’s gruff seriousness. She’s been raised to believe she has all the freedom and no lack of options to choose what she wants to do with her life and yet she couldn’t be more lost. She’s wild, hilarious, and an amazing friend! She lacks a filter most of the time but in the next moment she’ll prove why she should be taken seriously and just how smart and ballsy she is. I loved how seamlessly she slots into their life and how much love and care she had to give to Luke and Cade because they so clearly needed it. I adored how much she loved Luke and I mean, I don’t blame her at all because he is just the best kid and they made the best mischief together! 😂

The only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars was the conflict and I know this is probably me being nitpicky. It’s just that the jump into the third act felt so forced and ngl, I got whiplash from Willa’s reaction. But I do think it was a good breathing point for both of them and it also didn’t last long which is always great. Overall, this was just so good and my favourite of the two in the series so far.

Have you read Heartless or is it on your TBR?

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