This is a good book. The two main characters are Yara and Salvador. Yara is a medical doctor. Salvador is a radiologist. They have known each other all their lives. They were really close in their teenage lives. But Yara had to breakup with Salvador when you she went away to college. They have lots of issues but together they work them out and fall in love.

Good book. Yara and Salvador first knew each other as teenagers thirty years ago. They were good friends with the potential to become more waiting in the wings. But Yara's parents disapproved of her friendship with Sal and threatened her chance at medical school if she continued to see him. She reluctantly left him behind, becoming a renowned diagnostician and marrying someone else. Now she's divorced and back in Brasilia to consult on one of Salvador's cases.

Salvador was devastated by Yara's disappearance from his life. He hasn't seen or heard from her in thirty years and still harbors hurt and resentment over how she left. He also has never forgotten her. Though he tried to move on with his life, trusting anyone with his feelings has been a problem. Complicating his life, he is now the guardian of his twelve-year-old nephew, Felipe.

I enjoyed watching Sal and Yara rekindle their friendship. Their first meeting was awkward, as Sal had no idea she was the consulting doctor and he was shocked to see her after so many years. Yara wants to clear the air to ensure a successful working relationship, while Sal isn't interested in her apologies or excuses. Even so, he can't seem to stay away from her. Their conversations about the case spill over into more personal subjects, and it isn't long before they can't deny the strength of the attraction between them.

Even so, neither believe there can be anything permanent between them. Yara's work takes her worldwide, while Sal is anchored to Brasilia while caring for his nephew. In the aftermath of her divorce, Yara wants nothing to do with ever getting married again. Meanwhile, Sal's background makes him believe he isn't good enough for her. Just as Yara begins to think of staying in Brasilia, an issue with Felipe sends Sal spiraling into guilty feelings about his time with her, and he pulls away. It takes advice from an unexpected source to get through to both Yara and Sal and make them see that they belong together.

A piece of Sal's personal life was mentioned but didn't have much impact on the storyline. This relationship was over before Yara came back on the scene, and other than maybe for shock value and a brief misunderstanding, it didn't make a difference to how Yara looked at him.

I enjoyed following along on Yara and Sal's investigation into their puzzling medical mystery. This Harlequin line frequently provides intriguing medical issues that add a deeper feeling of realism to the story.

This is a new author to me and I enjoyed reading about Yara ad Salvador. Yara and Salvador have known each other for thirty years and were friends who eventually fell in love. With interference from Yara parents the relationship between Yara and Salvador went no further. Yari’s parents bribed her by paying for her to attend medical school. Yari was not to happy but she dumped Salvador and went to school and became a world-renowned diagnostician. Yari meet someone else and married and now she is divorced and finds herself back in her hometown. Salvador was hurt with Yari disappearance and he has never forgotten her. Salvador is a radiologist and is raising his nephew Felix. Yari and Salvador see each other again while the two of them are working at the same hospital.

Is there a chance for Yari and Salvador to rekindle their past relationship?

I received an ARC via NetGalley and HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada), Harlequin Medical Romance I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Quick Summary: A friends to lovers romance

My Review: Falling Again for the Brazilian Doc by Luana DaRosa was a fair read. In all honesty, it was an off and on story for this reader.

About the Book: The underlying theme of the book was solid. The characters had troubled backgrounds which gave them texture and depth. The conflict that existed between the main characters was min-mod. Their past problems were associated with manipulations by outside forces, and their present-day problems really all boiled down to a fear of commitment.

One of the things that was challenging for me to grasp about this romance was this 30-year grudge (for want of a better word) that seemed to exist on one side. Also, while I get that the saying goes that you never forget your first love, I was confused by this couples history. They were close friends, yes. They cared for each other, yes. Was there an "I love you forever" vibe when they were younger? My answer to that would be no. I didn't get that feeling based on what was communicated. Another aspect of the story that perplexed me was the inclusion of Salvador's bisexuality. It served no purpose in the story. I thought there might have been a critical triangle concept, but it didn't happen. I couldn't figure out why it was brought up or how it fit into what was happening to the partners.

Ultimately, this story was a friends to lovers story more so than a second chance romance or even a rekindling of a first love scenario. Although the title implies a "falling again," it was not so much that. Salvador and Yara never had the chance to fully explore what they could have had prior to their parting three decades before.

My Final Say: Readers who enjoy romances with a finding forever while seeking closure feel will like this story.

Rating: 2.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A

I voluntarily read this work via NetGalley. Thank you to the author and to the publisher for affording access in exchange for an honest critique.

I wanted to enjoy this but was overly unimpressed with the relationships, the dynamic, and the plot felt convoluted.