Can one kiss in the past that changed everything, be forgotten?

Synopsis

A scorching forbidden billionaire romance. If you love forced proximity, forbidden romance, and chemistry that burns off the page, this is your next obsession. Perfect for fans of Ana Huang, TL Swan and Meghan Quinn 💋✨

✨ Forbidden romance

✨ Forced proximity

✨ Best friend’s little sister

✨ Off-limits billionaire

Theo

Making my first billion? Easy. Surviving Sadie — and her three-year-old — moving in? Pure torture. She’s my best friend’s little sister, the one girl I should never touch. Especially after that reckless kiss seven years ago…the kiss that ruined everything.

Now she’s here, under my roof, in every corner of my thoughts. Vulnerable. Off-limits. And so beautiful it hurts. I promised myself I’d protect her, keep my distance. But every laugh, every accidental touch, makes it harder to remember why I ever said no.

Sadie

I ran to Theo for safety, but the moment I walked through his door, I knew I wasn’t just in danger from my ex—I was in danger of falling again. He thinks he’s protecting me, keeping his distance. But every smouldering look says otherwise.

And every night, I wonder: what if I kissed him again? He thinks he’s just helping. But he doesn’t see how he’s rewiring my heart—how my daughter already adores him. I’m supposed to be surviving, not falling. But I know what I want…him. His hands. His mouth. His body. Even if it’s the one thing he swore I couldn’t have…

An irresistibly steamy billionaire romance filled with forbidden desire, angst and second chances!

Praise for Rachael Stewart:

“It has all the ingredients of a delicious billionaire romance but it’s full of tenderness, compassion and decadently sweet heat, too. I devoured it!” Author Laura Carter

‘WOW! Rachael Stewart keeps getting better and better! Heat and sizzle seduce you while emotion sneaks in and slaps you upside the head. This sexy, heartfelt book has it all!!’ USA Today Bestseller Amy Andrews

‘Stewart’s writing grabs you by the collar and drags you straight into a world of toe-curling heat and slow-burn healing. I fell for Theo as hard and fast as Sadie did—and loved every smouldering second of it.’ bestselling author Lily Parker

‘I can see BookTok going wild over this one.’ Reader Review

‘I was hooked really quickly into this and finished it in less than 24hours, I just didn’t want to put it down!’ Reader Review

‘It had some delightfully spicy moments in it and they were HOT!’ Reader Review

‘It’s a really enjoyable & entertaining read. I loved it & can’t wait for the next!’ Reader Review

My review

Sadie has been in love with Theo ever since she met him. But Theo being best friends with Sadie’s sister, complicated things. Yet seven years ago, Sadie kissed him, changing everything between them, and not for the better. Now Sadie is looking for shelter and protection after an abusive relationship. And staying at Theo’s place is the only option for her and her little girl. Even if Sadie is still haunted by what she has been through, and Theo keeping his distance, the fire he once used to ignite in her, is simpering back to life. But Sadie is not ready to open up for another man again, especially not the man that already broke her heart once… However, how long can they resist each other and how long until the walls fall down?

I have read several of this author’s book, and even if you would think the ending would be predictable, isn’t it journey that matters and not the result? And this book for sure was a heck of a great journey!

I have to admit, I kinda know what it felt like for Sadie, being in love with a friend of your sibling. While in my personal case, it was more of an innocent infatuation, I could relate with Sadie, seeing that person, knowing that perhaps nothing could ever come from it.

And it made sense to me, how a Sadie made a choice, a decision to move from him, and get away with a man that claims to love her. In retrospect it is obviously the wrong decision, but I could understand why Sadie went away.

However, it truly broke my heart to see in what state Sadie returned back home… From what we have seen from her past, it is obvious that she was a spirited young woman, enjoying her life. And yet the Sadie that returned is a courageous one, able to step away from the abuse, but just an empty shell compared to the past Sadie.

Of course Sadie is wary of everyone and every sound, wouldn’t you be if you were her? I cannot understand how people can treat others the way her ex did. How on earth is that not only anything but love, but why get a kick out of that power? Getting to know more about Sadie and what she has been through, made my blood boil!

The only silver lining that came out of the relationship, is sweet little Lottie. This little girl is in my opinion the ray of light in this book, for everyone. She gives Sadie the strength to get out of the relationship and built a new life again, but Lottie is also the one that melts Theo’s heart.

Theo is the perfect example of a workaholic. And sure, it paid off as he is a wealthy man now. But just like in his apartment, it is all blank. His life is work, and he has no room for anything else.

Now, don’t get me wrong, he isn’t a selfish man, or a bad man, he is just focused on his job. The fact that (perhaps even reluctantly at first), he opens his home for Sadie and Lottie, shows his compassion and care. And in a way, I also believe that he would do the same even if Sadie wasn’t his best friend’s little sister…

The fact that there is some ‘history’ between them, something that they never spoke about ever again, just adds an extra layer of discomfort between Sadie and Theo, but much more fun for the readers. I was eager to know if it would ever be addressed again, and how things would evolve between them.

It felt like the story of Sadie and Theo was some kind of quid pro quo. Sadie finds a safe place to stay, and with Theo’s help, gets over her fears and finds the strength and courage to step outside in the light again (literally and figuratively speaking). Meanwhile, Theo gets not only to understand that there is more to life than just work. He learns that chaos can be a beautiful thing, that allowing feelings, emotions and love in your life is life – altering.

Obviously there are several struggles in this book to overcome. There is the fact that Sadie and Theo are having or developing feelings that perhaps they shouldn’t have, as Theo is best friends with Sadie’s sister. There is the serious matter of abusive relationships and the fear it inflicts. There is the matter of a strained relationship between siblings. There is wariness about everything and everyone.

However, there are so many good things that are taking place in this book. There is of course a lot of strength and courage, there is a lot of care and love, there is protectiveness and care. And there is the matter of what we would do for love. Love for a child, love for a sibling, love for a friend, love for the person we truly love.

Rachael Stewart put so much in this story, showing us the ugliness of people, but most important, the resilience of people, the strength of people, the strength of love too. As usual with Rachael Stewart’s books, I just devoured so easily, that at the end I even regretted reaching the end so quickly!