( ✩ three stars ✩ )

okay, that was actually an unputdownable (if that is even a word) read! i was invested from start to finish and for a first max monroe book i pick up, i think that was pretty solid!

book quote: "Shut up!" She shoves, a hand into my chest. "Just...shut up, okay? Shut up."
When I don't say anything, she closes her eyes and leans her head back against the wall. "And why do you even care?" she eventually asks, her voice quiet.
"Excuse me?"
Her eyes open again and lock with mine. "Why do you even care that I was talking to Tad Hanson? Why do you care what I do or who I do it with?"
"I don't." Liar. Norah stares at me. I stare right back at her. "I don't," I repeat but find myself stepping closer to her. "I don't care," I say, leaning down to meet her gaze at eye level. "Not one fucking bit." But the instant those words leave my throat, my mouth follows their path, and before I know it, before I can even make sense of it, we're kissing."

the story centers around our heroine, norah. through an envelope given to her on her wedding day, she finds out the truth about her fiancé which leads to her fleeing the ceremony and seeking shelter in her hometown “the red bridge” where her older sister lives. there, she meets our hero, bennett, and may i just say that they didn’t go off the right foot. from there, they both meet on several life happenstances until norah manages to land a job as an assistant to an artist in need of help. i’ll leave the rest to your imagination. (i loved the idea of her interview, it was so cool)

the book was emotional and well thought out. the author managed to craft both characters and give them personality and depth which is exactly was the story needed. i’m giving this three stars because at times, i felt like bennett and norah had better chemistry when they were fighting… and the plot with norah’s mother was bit messy.

₊˚⊹♡ what to expect in what i should’ve said:
· enemies to lovers
· grumpy/sunshine
· boss/employee
· different town, new start
· single dad

*thank you netgalley and max monroe for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review. <3*

Wow! I literally couldn't put this book down. I didn't want to stop reading and felt like the story flowed so easily and coupled with great character development formed a well-written book!

Norah flees her wedding after finding out some information about her fiance, deciding to head to Red Bridge where her sister lives. When she gets dropped off in the middle of nowhere and is forced to walk to her sister's house a grumpy guy, Bennett, decides to drive her but when she gets feisty makes her walk the rest of the way. This sets off various ways their paths cross, including him stepping in during a fight with her ex fiance. Norah soon realizes that Bennett has a daughter, Summer, who is sick. Norah starts working for him and after spending so much time with him and Summer she develops a love for them both, which is mutual. However, when tragedy strikes they aren't sure if the can weather the storm.

This book had all the feels in it from happiness to sadness to hope and love. I absolutely enjoyed reading about how Norah and Bennett went from avoiding each other to becoming lovers and how his daughter helped him discover his love for Norah when he felt lost. I laughed, I cried and I haven't read a really emotional, heartfelt romance in a long time! Would definitely recommend to those who love a good romance, with a little drama, some sad parts but with a lot of love! I can't wait for the next book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Max Monroe for allowing me to review this ARC!!