My first book form the author and I’m excited to continue the series! It was spicier than I expected it to be but I didn’t mind that at all. I haven’t read a lot of books with the ex-boyfriend’s dad trope but every time I have a lot of fun with it and this was no different. Mixing in him being a grumpy cowboy and them being snowed in together, it was such a fun read.

Something small but something I appreciate seeing in a romance is both of the main characters not wanting kids. Give me an epilogue where they’re deciding on becoming dog parents versus having a baby any day.

🤍 age gap (17 , he’s older) 🤭 ex-boyfriend’s dad ⛰️ small town ❄️ snowed in 🤠 cowboy

dual POV 4.5/5 stars ⭐️ 3.5/5 spice level 🌶️

Lots of pining in this one from both the main characters. The book is chronological but goes back over 10 years ago to establish how the characters became friends through medical school but never could get the timing right to be together. Eventually the lose touch until the mmc shows up at the school the fmc teaches at.

While I enjoy some mutual pining I had a bit of trouble keeping up with the timeline and pacing in this. There were moments that felt glossed over or completely skipped. I think a bit less of the set up from the past and more of them in the present would have helped.

🩺 they’re both doctors ❤️‍🔥 slow burn 🎓 academia 🤍 friends to lovers ⏰ right person, wrong time 👏🏻 no third act breakup

dual POV 3.5/5 stars ⭐️ 2/5 spice level 🌶️

Well this was pure spicy goodness. I love all of Chelsea’s books and have been saving this one for December after missing my chance to read it last year (I know I could have read it any month but I wanted to do it in December for the vibes). At less than 200 pages there’s plenty of spice while still displaying the romantic connection between the main characters. Sure we only get to spend two and a half weeks with the characters but it’s not insta love and there’s a lovely epilogue that satisfied me they stay together. The conversations that needed to happen were there to balance out all the spice. If you’re wanting something short and spicy, pick this up!

🤭 ex boyfriend’s dad 🤍 age gap (16 years, he’s older) 🛏️ one night stand turned more 🌲 holiday 👏🏻 no third act breakup

dual POV 4.5/5 stars ⭐️ 3/5 spice level 🌶️

I’m not usually someone who sticks with a series, especially one that has an overlapping story, but I really enjoyed getting back into this world. The dark academia setting along with some darker story elements made both Endless Anger and Jealous Rage nearly impossible to put down. I had expected to like this one more than the first book but think they rank pretty equal for me. I didn’t connect with the romance as much as I expected to but the broader storyline kept me hooked. I would have liked a little more conversations between them to be really convinced of their love given they had to keep everything a secret when in public and things tended to be mostly physical when they were alone.

There were a few moments where I felt a bit uncomfy but that’s in part of me not really being a reader of darker romances rather than the content of the book I think.

🤭 student and professor 🩶 dark academia 🫶🏻 strangers to lovers 🚫 secret / forbidden

dual POV 4/5 stars ⭐️ 3/5 spice level 🌶️

To be blunt, everyone in this book pissed me off. I don’t read a lot of marriage in crisis books but I love a second chance romance so I’m sad this didn’t work for me. The whole reason this marriage was in crisis was because neither of them could actually have a conversation with the other and communicate what they expected from the other person. I understand that grief can have a big impact on someone’s life and that was displayed here, however I felt like both characters were being unfair with each other and it became the main factor of the fmc wanting to end their marriage.

The book takes place over a week with a few flashbacks sprinkled in. I don’t feel like the flashbacks really added anything. They could have been a paragraph within a relevant chapter rather than full paragraphs. What I enjoy in a dual timeline is seeing a past moment and how it may be parallel or impacting to something in the present. I didn’t get that feeling here.

With communication being the main issue for this couple, the book only taking place over a week without the characters having enough conversations of why their relationship was struggling left me unsatisfied. I didn’t see enough from them to be confident that they wouldn’t have something similar happen in the future and that they’d be able to work through it together.

💍 marriage in crisis 🛳️ close proximity 🥹 “it’s always been you” ⏰ dual timeline

single POV 3/5 stars ⭐️ 1/5 spice level 🌶️