by Kate Clayborn
ASIN/ISBN: 9781496737311 
Published: March 26, 2024

**I received a copy of the book through NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed it. All opinions are my own.**

Jess’s little sister Teagan is set on finding the mother who abandoned them when they were younger. While Jess has worked hard to keep the identity of who their mother may have left with a secret, Teagan enlists the help of a podcaster by pretending to be Jess. To maintain control of the narrative as well as to protect Teagan from the disappointment she believes is inevitable, Jess reluctantly embarks on the trip with Teagan.

Kate Clayborn is a favorite and does not disappoint with this one. The smiles may be fewer this time, but the connection with the characters and the emotions are present.

Family is central to the story. Teagan and Jess have a tight bond that has been shadowed by their mother’s abandonment. The tension between them is stretched taut throughout, and I wanted them to make up. It is hard to be at odds with someone you love. I understood Teagan’s need for answers. While I wanted to wring Teagan for shaking up her sister’s life, it slowly becomes clear that Teagan is more aware than Jess in certain areas of their life. I couldn’t help feeling bad for Jess who has tried to protect her sister above all else. Moving forward means reconciling a past that Jess has tried hard to hide.

As Jess tries to return to a more stable place with her sister, an unexpected attraction builds between Jess and the podcaster’s assistant Adam. The more time they spend together, the less Jess can fade into the background. He sees every bit of her, even those parts she does not want anyone to know. It is an overwhelming attraction that transcends the short amount of time they have together. It also helps Jess grow, allowing her to try to overcome her aversion to letting people close to her. Just as she has tried to protect her sister, she finally finds someone who wants to protect her just as much. The slow burn nearly killed me, yet I loved every bit of it.

The book moves at a slower pace but I couldn’t put it down. I was engrossed in the mystery and curious if they would find their mother. I was also torn between Teagan’s right to know more about their mother and Jess just trying to protect Teagan. If you have enjoyed Clayborn’s other books, this one is a must-read.