Buy:  Amazon  |  Paperback

---

---

Review

“People say that when a person meets the love of their life, they just know.
Well, what if that happens when you’re sixteen years old and ill-equipped to handle it?”

4.5 stars!

This is a gorgeous second-chance-romance! Emotional, sweet, funny, sexy, and full of chemistry, this book gave me all the feels, and I absolutely loved it!

This is the first book in the Berkeley Falls series, the beginning of a series of interconnected standalones that I can’t wait to explore. The heroine’s brother, Finn, already has a book – In Trouble with Him (Summer Heat, #3) – and he and his girl appear in this one, but there are no spoilers for their story, and I’m really keen to go back and read their book now too.

In high school, Rebecca Finley was happy, cheerful, and full of life, until the death of her father in her sophomore year tore her world apart. Grieving, sad, and angry at the world, she is lashing out, until quiet nerd, Blake Fulton, took her by the hand. After finding her crying in the hallway, Blake suggested they ditch school, and they spent an incredible day and night together. She laughed and cried, they shared so much – including incredible kisses that rocked their worlds. It was a life-changing day that meant everything to the two of them. And then Blake ghosted her, ignoring her for the rest of high school and damaging her heart, and the way she views relationships, from that point on.

His sudden presence was bigger and more significant than anything I’d felt before, and he swept my heart to a place it wanted to stay forever … I gave him my trust. In less than twenty-four hours, he’d won over my heart, and just as suddenly, he’d left it there, stranded without an explanation.

Now, it’s 15 years later and Blake and Becca run into each other unexpectedly (hilarious encounter, by the way, I loved it!). Blake wants to make amends for hurting Becca all those years ago, whereas all she wants from him is closure so that she can finally put that chapter of her life to rest. But it won’t be that simple.

“I remember everything about that night … The time we spent together was perfect, and I’ve never forgotten a moment of it.”

Becca’s whole view of love and relationships was shaped by her experience with Blake. She refuses to form attachments, or even date, opting for coffee ‘outings’ and quick hook-ups that have no chance developing into anything. All so she can avoid getting hurt again. For Blake, Becca was the one that got away. He still cares for her deeply, and he wants his second chance. He knows he has a lot to make up for, but he is determined to win her heart again.

I’d been ruined at sixteen because I’d had a shot at love then destroyed it.

It’s a great set-up, and the feels are intense from the very beginning. The story alternates between past and present, so we slowly get the details of the night they shared as Blake fights for his chance with Becca in the present, and oh, my heart!!!

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry … I don’t think I’ll get used to the way you look at me, like you don’t trust me. I know I did that. I wish I could undo it.”

It’s such a heartbreaking situation, and when it came to the big reveal of why, I could absolutely understand how it all happened, where both of them were coming from, and why they were impacted as deeply as they were. And it makes the present that much more meaningful as they talk so openly about their feelings, about how the past affected them and what they want going forward, and it’s a blissfully romantic reconnection.

“If you’ve thought about me even a fraction of the times I’ve dreamed about being with you exactly like this, then you know…I want you completely.”
I nodded. Of course I knew.

We lost ourselves and found each other.

Their chemistry is still undeniable, and the love story progresses beautifully, and I was in a world of romantic swoon as Blake goes all out to make up for the past and prove to Becca that she can trust him again.

“You’re my one,” he whispered. “I love you.”

God, I love him!!!

It’s not all straightforward, though. They have issues to work through, and as much as I adored the romance, this book is just as much about Becca dealing with her past and rediscovering herself. Her journey is gorgeous, and the growth that she goes through as a character is so satisfying to watch.

There’s a great cast of side characters, and I loved both Becca and Blake’s siblings, and all that they brought to the story. I hope we get a book for each of them as the series moves forward.

This is a gorgeous read, and book ends in a great place. I finished this one with a big grin on my face.

Loved it! 4.5 stars.

 

Berkeley Hills series