You wouldn't know from the cover, but this was a truly amazing second-chance romance. Jeff Zentner has a way with words. He vividly captured the intensity of first love, heartbreak, and the all-encompassing emotions that come with them.

The story opens with Colton, a country music star deeply grieving the loss of a friend who died onstage during a mass shooting. This traumatic experience ignites a fire in him, pushing him to openly speak out against gun violence—a moment that unfortunately causes his career to take a nosedive in the country music scene. 

I really loved the distinct tones of the past and present timelines. Beyond being a love story, this is a story of addiction, resilience, redemption, and embracing unexpected turns. A reminder that you are not defined by just one path or failure. 

Without giving too much away, part two kind of lost me with the excessive food descriptions, but overall I'd highly recommend this. It's not just a story about second chances, but third chances—and however many you need to find happiness!

(heat level: mostly closed door + one very brief open-door scene towards the end)