Theo
Making my first billion? Easy. Surviving Sadie — and her three-year-old — moving in? Pure torture. She’s my best friend’s little sister, the one girl I should never touch. Especially after that reckless kiss seven years ago…the kiss that ruined everything.
Now she’s here, under my roof, in every corner of my thoughts. Vulnerable. Off-limits. And so beautiful it hurts. I promised myself I’d protect her, keep my distance. But every laugh, every accidental touch, makes it harder to remember why I ever said no.
Sadie
I ran to Theo for safety, but the moment I walked through his door, I knew I wasn’t just in danger from my ex—I was in danger of falling again. He thinks he’s protecting me, keeping his distance. But every smouldering look says otherwise.
And every night, I wonder: what if I kissed him again? He thinks he’s just helping. But he doesn’t see how he’s rewiring my heart—how my daughter already adores him. I’m supposed to be surviving, not falling. But I know what I want…him. His hands. His mouth. His body. Even if it’s the one thing he swore I couldn’t have…
About The Author
My Review
This is a captivating, emotionally layered romance that balances tenderness, passion, and resilience with remarkable ease. The novel follows Sadie, a young mother fleeing an abusive relationship, who reluctantly accepts refuge with her sister’s best friend, Theo. What her sister doesn’t know is that Sadie and Theo once shared a fleeting but unforgettable kiss, creating an undercurrent of unresolved attraction.
Stewart handles the sensitive subject of abuse with care, ensuring it shapes Sadie’s journey without overwhelming the story. Instead, the focus remains on her strength, her determination to rebuild her life, and the unconditional love she shares with her daughter, Lottie. Theo emerges as the perfect counterpart—protective, patient, and quietly devoted—his growing bond with Lottie is particularly touching.
The romance itself is both hotly charged and refreshingly authentic. Rather than leaning on tired tropes or contrived misunderstandings, the conflicts feel organic, arising from the characters’ emotional wounds and vulnerabilities. This makes their eventual connection all the more rewarding.
Heartfelt, compelling, and surprisingly hopeful, this book is a testament to Rachael Stewart’s ability to write romance that resonates on both an emotional and deeply human level.
My Rating
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