Buy: Amazon
Review
3 stars
A second-chance romance set five years after a summer fling, this slow-burning love story between co-parents is a sweet read.
Just a note – this book does have a prequel novella – Moments With Him – that shows Jesse and Hayden’s backstory. You don’t HAVE to read it, and most of what happens is repeated in pieces in this book, but it’s a super-quick read and definitely helps provide the context up front.
Jesse and Hayden were in their late teens when they met in the small lakeside town of Cole Creek, where Hayden lives and Jesse spends her summers. Over a number of years they became friends, and when Jesse finally visited after breaking up with her long-term boyfriend, they both dove into a short-term fling, knowing that their lives were heading in different directions and it would be a no-strings hook up. But they spent an incredible two weeks together. It’s months later when Hayden has returned home and reunited with her ex-boyfriend, Lane, when she learns that she’s pregnant (these are the events of the prequel novella).
Five years later, Jesse and Hayden are successfully co-parenting their delightful four year old son, Jett. Their worlds revolve around their little boy, who they both love fiercely, and they’re doing the best they can to create a good life for him. Hayden is now engaged to Lane, though they are having some issues, and she finds herself thinking more and more about her baby daddy. While Jesse never really moved on from Hayden. She’s the love of his life, though he’s never told her that.
It’s a good set-up, and I was excited to see how this story was going to play out, but I have to say, it was frustrating seeing these two obviously so in love with each other, but Hayden staying in a somewhat toxic relationship, and neither of them actually admitting their feelings to the other. I get that they were in a difficult situation, trying to keep things friendly and amicable for the sake of their son, but they can both see it, and it’s a really slow build before anything actually happens.
It’s sort of a love triangle, because Lane is definitely in the picture, but also not, because Lane is a douche, and it’s very clear where Hayden’s feelings lie. Which is a bit of an issue that I had with this story – Hayden is clearly having feelings for Jesse while she’s still with Lane, and they do get a bit flirty with each other, which felt wrong. While I understand that she never thought anything could ever happen with Jesse, that’s beside the point, she stays in her relationship WAY longer than she should. And Lane is just a dick. Why is she still with him? It’s more for nostalgia, for what she once dreamed their life would be, and again, it was frustrating.
But never fear! Hayden finally comes to the realisation that she’s not living a life that makes her happy, and she goes all out to fix it. And I was so impressed with how she handled it all. I won’t give spoilers, because it’s best to just dive in, but I loved watching her make active, positive changes to improve her life and get herself where she wants to be, and she keeps her son central to it all, which I really loved.
The romance is a slow burn, but when Jesse and Hayden finally get their long-awaited chance together, it’s sweet, easy, natural and functional, and super steamy. This little family belongs together, and they embrace the changes coming their way openly and honestly, and it’s so sweet watching them finally get their HEA.
It took me a really long time to get through this book – even on audio. I’m not sure if that’s what kept me from getting completely invested, or if it was my frustration with the beginning of their story and how long it took them to come together, but I didn’t love this book as much as I was hoping. It’s still a cute read though, and the first in a series, with Jesse’s two brothers (one a grumpy introvert, one a light-hearted joker) also getting books.
Still a good read – 3 stars.
Cole Creek
Moments With Him (#0.5) (Jesse & Hayden prequel novella)
Buy: Amazon
We’re Made of Moments (#1) (Jesse & Hayden)
Buy: Amazon
More Than a Memory (#2) (Aidan & Olivia)
Buy: Amazon
Measure of a Man (#3) (Jinx & Rachel)
Buy: Amazon