Callum Derringer is the GM for the Pittsburgh Titans. He has his dream job and is successful in his career and has all the money he needs. But he is laser focused on work and does not do relationships since the choices he made years ago still haunt him. When he finds out that his mother is in the hospital, he ends up back in his hometown and walks right back into the periphery of the girl he left behind. And he realizes just how much his past choices ruined her life.

Juniper is strong and smart, but was stuck in a bad situation due to trying to take care of her own family. She never really got over the heartbreak of losing Callum, but made it worse by being charmed by his step-brother who made her life miserable all of this time. She endured so much and my heart broke for her.

But now he’s going to make it right in any way he can. She appreciates his help, but she also has trust issues and unresolved feelings and pain. And he feels responsible and guilty for all she endured. But as they spend time together again, they also realize the things they have missed about each other. And Callum is a man who makes swift decisions under pressure and he has now decided that he wants to win her back.

This is a second-chance romance with some difficult situations, drama, and suspense. It is about rediscovering trust, finding forgiveness, and healing. It is also inspiring as Juniper is given a chance at a different life and figure out what she ultimately wants for her future. She is resilient and a survivor who has endured so much.  I loved seeing Callum be so protective and supportive and allow her the room to make her own choices as well. 

Callum Derringer has made managing hockey his singular focus since leaving home. He doesn’t return home often, as he doesn’t have a great relationship with his step father and step brother. And to add to the pain, the love of his life is married to his stepbrother. But a phone call sends him running to be by his mom’s side and face to face with his lost love. He quickly realizes Juniper is not in a good place and set into motion a plan that both sets her free and creates additional chaos for the family.

Juniper had dreams to follow Callum long ago, but her dreams changed and now she is trapped in a situation she cannot see a way out of. She hopes to hide the truth from Callum while he’s in town, but quickly realizes he still sees the parts of her that no one else does.

When Callum and Juniper return to Pittsburgh and begin the process of settling Juniper up independently, they realize the feelings between them were not permanently damaged by the hurt of their young split. But Callum also knows that Juni needs time to get on her feet and he won’t be the one to tie her to a dream that is not her own.

Though she doesn’t arrive in Pittsburgh as Callum’s girlfriend, the Titans family quickly adopts Juniper and wraps her up in their web. I love the way this found family welcomes new people in with open arms, makes them feel welcomed, and gives them validation and purpose without any effort whatsoever.

This story had several layers that kept the pages turning from start to finish. The second chance aspects had me rooting for Callum and Juni’s history from the beginning. There were some pretty dramatic twists that really ramped up the tension towards the second half of the story and I loved the way the twists renewed the interest for me.