I loved this book so much. As some who also has autism spectrum disorder, I could relate so much to Axel. I complete understood the that feeling of being emotionally unable to be around family members and showing them the special ways we show love isn't as typical as most people.
Also loved the rep that Rooney showed by having ulcerative colitis. A close family member has this and Crohn's so I complete understand what it's like to see some you love going through this horrible chronic illness. It's depilating, painful, and embarrassing and it's hard to completely understand if you don't have it or don't know about it.
Moving on to slow burn build up that was a freaking firework stand that caught on fire finally at the end. Holy Guacamole! These two have chemistry like no other. It's molten and blistering and just want from them.
So excited for Oliver next!

You know what? From now on I’ll give any Chloe Liese book five stars without even reading them especially that book belongs to freaking amazing Bergman series!

Are they cozy, heart warming, hilariously entertaining? Oh, hell yes! They’re also heartfelt, genuine, engaging books with such fantastic, loveliest and sweetest characters you may ever read about!

And this book… well… this one is so cuuuteeee! The romance, the intimacy, the conversation blended in sweet, sexy, smart banters we’re adorable!

There are two of my favorites troupes in this story:
Sunshine meets the grump
Marriage of convenience

And there are sensitive subjects which are handled with care and approached sensitively: a shy, introvert, talented hero on the autism spectrum and sweet-kind hearted- genuine-selfless heroine with chronic IBD!

Rooney Sullivan is on the road, a promising law student taking a break from school because of her health condition she’s keeping as secret including her best friend Willa. She is introduced to Bergman family by her friend and she fell hard for this unique, hugger, feeder family she wished to be part of it.

She also has long time crush for Axel Bergman who is the eldest brother of the family. But he acts like he doesn’t want to do anything with her. And when a competitive charade game ends with their kiss, Rooney freezes and runs away. Now she is hiding from entire family, needing a place to think clearly and heal because her chronic IBD condition is getting worse and she doesn’t want to be noticed by the people who are close to her.

So Bergman family’s A frame gives her the best chance to lick her wounds and have alone time but two things she doesn’t know about the place’s last condition.

Willa didn’t tell her one of the reason she runs away from the city is just right there: that’s Axel’s time to stay there ( each family members arranged time share program for their own! ) And the place also needs reconstruction: there’s no electricity, water!

This means the chivalry Axel offers her his own cabin as he insists to stay at his tent! And she also eavesdrops Axel’s conversation with his close friends. The A frame’s construction fees cost a lot and for financing his project without informing his family, Axel should do something he hates! He needs to get marry ASAP so he can inherit the money his uncle left for him with the condition of eloping.

Rooney offers her help: because she loves Bergmans and she selflessly wants to solve the family’s property problem. This also means she will be married with the man she’s been ogling for two years.

They are two adults! They can act professional! They can forget the kisses they shared and move on ( yes, at the wedding ceremony they kissed again and it was mind blowing) but should they only pretend? When both of them want to tear each other’s clothes, it will be never so easy not to cross those blurry lines!
Overall: I loved it! I loved it! I loved it!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
And thanks to Chloe Liese for healing my soul with her heartwarming feel good stories and adorable characters! She’s brilliant!

I have been anxiously awaiting Axel's story since he was introduced in book 1. I don't know what it was about him that drew me to his character... maybe because he's an artist and so am I or maybe because he was tall, dark and seemingly broody. A therapist could probably fill me in but for the sake of this review, let's just say I was excited and every single expectation was not only met but surpassed!

Chloe writes not only likeable characters but characters with depth. Each one has their thing, their own personal obstacle that they need to overcome, which usually means accepting and learning to live with it/them in a meaningful way. And like I have said in past reviews for her books, nothing ever feels like it's checking a box. The characters are authentic and it always feels like you could step into a real room for a chat with them.

Rooney is dealing with something that many people struggle with but feel embarrassed about. She accepts what she's dealing with but feels like OTHER people are embarrassed about it so she doesn't talk about what she goes through. Anyone who knows someone like Rooney knows how hard every day life can be for them. I cannot fully explain how much I love how Chloe handles these awkward/uncomfortable conversations between characters. I mean, to say I swooned during one of them feels so strange and yet totally natural. Rooney is of course more than her medical condition. She's driven but a little lost. She's infatuated but disillusioned by love. She's sunshine but with a cloud of doubt over her shoulder.

Axel comes across as a grump but really he just likes to be alone and he likes quiet and nature and the solitude his remote cabin offers him. He's also struggling hard because he cannot get a certain ray of sunshine out of his head. His struggles are artistic and personal. He is experiencing something new with Rooney and despite not understanding it he's definitely open to it, even if it takes a while to grasp. He is also the most dedicated family man to ever grace the page, he's just a bit unconventional.

I loved how these characters came together and how the rest of the Bergman's make appearances throughout without it feeling overwhelming. The majority of this book is Rooney and Axel dancing around and eventually with each other. The remote setting was great and despite finally breaking free of well over a year of being in some kind of lockdown, I was ready to back my bags to go be alone at a cabin in the woods!

I didn't think this series could get any better and yet here we are! Chloe Liese writes brilliant, funny, heartwarming and heartbreaking stories. They shine a light on realities for people and don't shy away from the ugliness of some of those realities. I am so grateful to have found her books and can only hope more and more people follow suit!

Thank you to Chloe Liese and her team for an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I was lucky enough to Beta read this book

CW: chronic illness, ableism, family tensions, anxiety

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f friends to lovers
-marriage of convenience
-only one bed/tent
-close-proximity
-grump/sunshine
-best friend's brother in law
-major piiiining
-slooooow burn
-some very very cute pets

As a huge fan of the Bergman series, I've been getting so hyped for Axel and Rooney's story. And in true Chloe fashion, she surprised me from what I was expecting yet gave Axel and Rooney exactly the story they deserved. This book was so soft and tender. Two people who are going through something, and learn something about themselves, and find something in the other. The way their relationship slowly develops takes a few steps back, and then moves forward, it was so realistic, frustrating because you want to bang these two idiots together and make them bang, but was so beautiful in the way they did get together.

Axel, sweet, sweet grumpy Axel. Who denies he actually has a dog who he takes care of and adores. Rebuilds his family's vacation home as his way of showing them how much he cares. Axel is just such, I can't even put into words how much my heart squeezed for Axel as he figured out how he felt about Rooney, how to express himself, and ask for what he wanted. The point he and Chloe made that neurodiversity looks different for everyone, this gruff gruff sweet man I just want to hug even though he doesn't eat any sweets. Honestly, my love language continues to be feeding people with food sensitivities their food and he does that so much in this book. Axel is swoony.

And Rooney. As someone with IBS, the representation in this book of food difficulties, talking about chronic health issues, dealing with stress, life decisions. I related too much. Chloe deals with these sensitive topics in such an honest and beautiful way. The intimacy, the conversations between Axel and Rooney. Another beautiful love story.

I am dying for the next installment and also never want this series to end.

Steam: 3