This is the 1st book in the “Aspen Creek Bachelor Series”. This is an entertaining read, fast-paced, easy quick read, tad bit of drama, childhood sweethearts, great characters with a great plot. Jillian and Miles were once inseparable and high school sweethearts. Miles decided that the two should part ways. Each went on with their lives marrying having a child and divorcing. Jillian returns to her hometown of Aspen Colorado not wanting to have anything to do with Miles. Miles being persistent is not having any of it. Miles realizing, he made a mistake by wanting to pursue others he wants Jillian back in his life. Jillian’s daughter Liliana who is 2-years old and Miles’ son Benji who is 3-years old are just like their parents' inseparable. Jillian really makes Miles work hard at winning her back.

Can Miles win Jillian’s heart and will Jillian be willing to put heart on the line with Miles once again, will Liliana and Benji be a winning factor in getting their together, will Jillian and Miles get the HEA that they both desire and deserve?

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

Good second chance love story. Jillian and Miles had been best friends as children, then high school and college sweethearts. But instead of the proposal that Jillian expected, Miles wanted them to see other people. Heartbroken, Jillian moved away, eventually married another man, and had a little girl. As the book opens, Jillian's divorce is final, and she and Liliana are headed back to Aspen Creek to start over.

Miles is now the single father of a three-year-old boy. His one-night stand had consequences, but though he did what he thought was right, his wife was a city girl. Benji is the center of his world.

Aspen Creek is a small town, and it was only a matter of time until Jillian and Miles ran into each other. Miles missed Jillian and regrets the way he handled their past relationship. Though he has no interest in remarrying, he would love to restart their friendship. Though Jillian thought she was over him, when Miles showed up to welcome her back, all of her hurt and anger came rushing back and she tore into him. But underneath that antagonism were the rekindling sparks of attraction, sparks that reinforced her fear of risking her heart again. Jillian has every intention of avoiding Miles whenever possible.

Unfortunately for her, fate has other plans. When she takes Liliana to a playgroup at the library, Miles is there with Benji. To her dismay, Liliana and Benji become immediate best friends, much like she and Miles had when they were kids. Thanks to their kids, Miles and Jillian are frequently thrown together and must find a way to overcome their past mistakes.

Miles has had plenty of time to regret his past actions. He wants his best friend back and works hard to make that happen. It doesn't take long for him to realize that his feelings for her have never gone away. He wants Jillian and Liliana in his life, but he also knows he will have to earn her trust. I loved seeing Miles's slow and steady approach to winning her back. There were some sweet scenes of them together, but I ached for Miles when Jillian would panic and pull back.

Jillian fights her feelings for Miles. She's afraid of giving him her heart and having it broken all over again. It seems like every time they get together, she feels the pull grow stronger. It takes effort to let go of her fears, and she's unsure if she can do it. Then on Valentine's Day, just as she's ready to take another step forward, outside interference leads Miles to make a boneheaded decision. I ached for Jillian, who felt like history was repeating itself, and for Miles, who thought he was making things easier on her. Miles gets some good advice from an unexpected source and puts it into action. I loved his big moment at the end. The setting was unexpected, but his method was sweet and well done.

I loved the two children, Benji and Liliana. They may have been a little too good to be true, but they were adorable. It was fun to see how everyone saw the similarities to Miles and Jillian when they were that age.

After her marriage falls apart, Jillian returns to her hometown with her baby daughter. She discovers that Miles, her high school sweetheart, is also a single parent. When their children become inseparable, Jillian is forced to confront her old hurts. Can Miles convince her they belong together?

I loved the characters in this book. Jillian and Miles are a charming couple, and their kids are adorable. It's a heartwarming, emotional read.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The Good:
- Small town setting
- Adorable little children
- Second chance romance trope

The Not as Good:
- I didn't connect with either of the main characters, or their bond, There was more focus on describing their outfits than fleshing out their personalities.
- It was a slower burn, "clean" romance without any payoff. I personally prefer my romances with a little more heat.

Jillian Adams and Miles Montgomery both grew up in Aspen Creek Colorado and were inseparable childhood friends until early adulthood. Jillian always knew that her and Miles would get married, have a family together and live happily ever after. That is until Miles tells Jillian that they should breakup so he can explore other options in life.
Jillian was so heartbroken that she left Aspen Creek and moved to Kansas where she met and married Evan, they had a daughter named Lilliana. Jillian thought she had a happy marriage until Evan serves her with divorce papers and leaves them. So Jillian decides to move back home to her hometown Aspen Creek to live and help run her family owned resort.
Miles while out sowing his oats has a one night stand with Rachel who was visiting Aspen Creek on vacation from Florida. After Rachel gets back home she finds out that she is pregnant and contacts Miles. Miles decides to do the right thing by marrying Rachel. After their son Benji was born, Rachel is a city girl and realized that small town life and living on a ranch was not for her. So she left and let Miles have primary custody of Benji.
Rachel takes Lilliana into town to the library for children’s story hour and runs into Miles and his son Benji. Lilliana and Benji gravitated to each other and became inseparable, just like how Jillian and Miles were as children.
Jillian really doesn’t want to have anything to do with Miles because of how he broke her heart years ago. Miles is hoping to rekindle his romance and relationship with Jillian because he realizes he made a big mistake in letting Jillian go.
Will Jillian let Miles back in her life and heart again? Will Miles persuade Jillian to give him another chance or is it to late? You will have to read this book and find out.
I enjoy reading this author’s books. She did an excellent job in developing the characters in this storyline. You can feel the emotions of the heartbreak, disappointment, regret, love, desire., trust issues between Jillian and Miles.
I highly recommend this book and any other books by this author.
Cassandra H.

I voluntarily received an ARC from NetGalley and this review is of my own honest opinion and thoughts.