Stella Parkerson has loved Jack O'Donnell for over a decade. But she thinks it is unrequited and the two of them share a secret that very few know about. Her past and her inability to let go has kept her living in limbo despite a successful career with one of their family inns.

Jack cannot seem to let go of his own guilt that he harbors for the past and keeps his emotions locked down tight. Stella is his best friend's little sister and has to be off-limits. And he also takes responsibility for hurting her and ruining her life. He still pushes her away and tries to ignore his own feelings. His sense of self-preservation and his protective instincts are so strong that they make him a martyr. Sometimes I just wanted to shake sense into him.

But the whole situation is so emotional for both of them and there are so many secrets and so many relationships involved that it is a delicate balance. The closeness of family has the potential to be a great support, but it also can be intimidating when you’ve been lying so long

Due to unexpected events, they now find themselves having to face their past, come to terms with everything in the present, and figure out how they can make it work for the future. It is finally time to share their true feelings and fight for what they want and need to find happiness and get out of the limbo they have been living in. But it is a complicated situation with many people who could get hurt, including themselves again. And they have to tackle the issues one step at a time. 

This is an intense, emotional, best friend's-little-sister, second-chance, redemption love story. The plot was unique and had the potential to cause more emotional damage. I thought the situation was handled well and with respect by the author.

I loved Stella and Jack together. Once they started to open up, they were really good together. This is such a journey for them and something that they have needed for a long time but were too afraid to take the risk or disappoint others. But now they know even more what was missing from their lives and have to figure out how to make it all work. The care and compassion they have for each other and those they hold dear just shined through. I enjoyed their relationships with her brothers and their friends. This is a tight-knit group, but with some interesting dynamics. And they are all in a place where they are starting to take more control of their lives.  I am looking forward to more in this series.