Always the Good Girl…Until

In this well-crafted love story, we start off with two couples, Leah and Ryan, and Tom and Susie. 

Leah and Ryan are high school sweethearts from different social circles that get together although Ryan is more of a bad boy. Leah derives meaning from being the caregiver in the relationship, and they eventually get married. However, Ryan's abuse starts when he is challenged with the everyday issues that come with marriage and having a child. Leah leaves him to protect their son, Danny.

Tom and Susie are childhood lovers who get married in their teens and then after having kids, realize that Susie has terminal cancer. We get to experience Tom's grief as he loses the love of his life, leaving two children behind. 

It is then when Leah and Tom's love story begins to unfold, when Leah responds to an ad for a job to take care of Tom's children. However, Tom is resistant in the beginning and not the kindest because he is having trouble with the change. Unfortunately, Ryan tracks down Leah and starts threatening her peace once again. 

We root for Leah and Tom as we wonder, will Tom ever get over his grief and truly see Leah? Will Leah remain safe from Ryan? This book is sentimental, emotional, passionate, and invigorating to read. Time flies as you jump from page to page trying to reconcile what's going to happen.

Although it is a slow burn romance between Tom and Leah, it is electric and charged all the way through, leaving the reader completely satisfied.

At its core, this book is a moving testament to love's endurance, proving that no matter what trauma you have, love always finds its way back home. 

I give it five stars and highly recommend it.