After the sudden death of her fiancé, Maggie Walker finds herself floundering in the middle of a bustling city. On a whim, she takes a temporary position as a caretaker to an elderly woman in a small town. What she doesn’t expect to find is a rugged farmer who threatens to steal her heart . . . if she can let herself love again.

Maggie’s friend, Erica, gets fed up with Maggie’s absence and follows Maggie to the middle of nowhere to try to win her back to the city. But before long, the countryside – and a thoughtful, single father of two – are winning over Erica.

3.5 stars

This was such a sweet, heartwarming dual romance that explores finding love after the devastating loss of a loved one. I loved the themes of second chances, learning to trust yourself and love again, and realizing that it’s okay for your dreams and expectations of life to change. Sometimes a new dream can be just as beautiful as the one you thought you’d lost. I also appreciated that this is a completely clean romance with no language and no spice.

Maggie and Erica are both trying to move forward after unimaginable heartbreak. Maggie has lost her fiancé, while Erica is grieving the loss of her brother. Best friends through it all, they lean on each other as they try to navigate life after such devastating losses. Maggie’s grief has become so overwhelming that she can barely get out of bed, until an unexpected opportunity presents itself. She applies for a caretaker position with an elderly woman living on a farm, packs up her life, and heads to the country. What she doesn’t expect is to find exactly the peace, comfort, and healing her heart has been longing for.

One of my favorite parts of the story was watching Maggie go from city girl to country life. She was completely out of her element, and I loved seeing her stumble through this brand-new lifestyle. Watching her slowly adapt to farm life was both satisfying and endearing. I honestly wish there had been even more humorous fish-out-of-water moments because they added so much charm. Since grief is such a major focus throughout the novel, a few more lighthearted scenes would have balanced the emotional weight a little better. Maggie spends a lot of time processing her loss and thinking about her late fiancé, which makes the story feel especially heavy at times. Even so, I really appreciated her emotional healing journey and watching her gradually begin to hope again.

Alongside Maggie’s story, we also follow Erica’s romance, and I really enjoyed seeing both women take risks with their hearts as they discovered that life still held unexpected possibilities. Erica works in healthcare and pours most of her energy into her career. Her dating history has been one disappointment after another because she’s quick to decide whether someone has long-term potential. If she can’t picture a future with them, she moves on. Then she meets the one man who completely challenges her assumptions. Before she knows it, she actually wants to spend time with him and get to know him, something she hasn’t experienced with anyone else.

The romances themselves were incredibly sweet. Mark slowly steals Maggie’s heart while helping care for the farm and assisting the elderly woman Maggie works for. I really liked Mark and enjoyed watching their friendship naturally grow into something more. That said, I did wish there had been a bit more chemistry between them, along with a few more swoony, romantic moments. At times, the grief overshadowed their developing relationship, and I found myself wanting a little more focus on the romance itself.

Cody, on the other hand, absolutely won me over. As a single father of two boys and Mark’s best friend, he was thoughtful, patient, and incredibly easy to love. Watching him gently help Erica lower her guard was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their long-distance relationship added just the right amount of longing and anticipation since Erica lives and works in the city while Cody is rooted in the small country town. They both have to make a real effort to be together, which makes their relationship feel even more meaningful. They initially keep their romance a secret from Maggie because Erica worries it might interfere with Maggie’s healing process. While I understood Erica’s reasons, I do think they kept the secret a little longer than necessary.

I also enjoyed the four different points of view from Maggie, Erica, Mark, and Cody. It allowed me to connect with all of the main characters and made both romances feel equally important. There were so many cozy moments throughout the story, and the found family elements completely warmed my heart.

My biggest criticism is that the writing occasionally felt a little rough around the edges. There were a few moments where transitions seemed abrupt or scenes felt like they skipped ahead, leaving me briefly confused about what had happened. I think those areas simply needed a bit more development and polish. That said, I definitely see a lot of promise in this author’s storytelling, and I’m excited to see how her writing continues to grow.

Overall, this was a charming, emotional, and hopeful story about finding love after grief. While I wished for a little more romance, chemistry, and lightheartedness to balance the heavier themes, I was still completely invested in these characters and their journeys. I loved the cozy atmosphere, the found family, and the city girl turned country girl storyline. It was a quick, enjoyable read that left me smiling, and I’m genuinely excited to see what this author writes next. I’d happily pick up another one of her books. Definitely recommend!