Maddox is a single dad to a very special young girl, Mila. Mila is an empath, and as an empath, she’s intelligent and intuitive and relates to the world in a very special way. As an empath myself, I can practically feel how Mila makes her connections.
When McKenna returns to town, Maddox is on the defensive. When McK left town to pursue her dreams of becoming a doctor, she left Maddox behind. Something he never dreamed possible considering the extensive past they share. But he needs McK to keep her distance, and he definitely doesn’t want her around his daughter. But he is curious why she is in town now, after all these years.
Oh my! I had messaged LJ somewhere around the 15% with essentially a “you did what?!” message. I was still navigating the story’s groove but reading this had a few surprises. Even though this story focuses on Maddox and McKenna, I feel Mila stole the show. She’s such a special girl, and I would love to see this story 10 years in the future, with Mila attending college. wink, nudge
Readers are going to adore this storyline. This is a special read, with flawed characters who draw you in, melt your heart, and make you want to hug them tight—nicely done!
Book Links (releasing September 14th)
About the Book
Maddox
Between my badge, my daughter, and my hometown, I’ve got a busy life. It’s a mostly happy one. But late at night, when the house is quiet, I still see her face. McKenna may have left me and this town behind a decade ago, but a century wouldn’t be long enough to get over her.
There’s only one thing worse than never seeing her again. If she came back, the secret I’ve been keeping would destroy lives. Mine included. As long as she stays gone, everyone is safe.
McKenna
When my world catches fire, destroying the dreams I’ve sacrificed so much for, there’s only one place I can think to go. One man I can run to. But going back is no homecoming. Sheriff Maddox Hatley hasn’t forgotten me. And he sure hasn’t forgiven me either.
He’s hiding something beneath all that anger. I’m going to stick around until I find out what it is.
About the Author
Award-winning author LJ Evans writes achingly heartfelt slow-burns with deep, relatable characters, true friends, real “family”, and dreams remade on this wild ride called life.
She lives in the Central Valley of California with her husband, child, and the three terrors called cats. She’s been writing, almost as a compulsion, since she was a little girl and will often pull the car over to write when a song lyric strikes her. A former 1st-grade teacher, she now spends her free time reading and writing, as well as binge-watching original shows like The Crown, A Discovery of Witches, Veronica Mars and Stranger Things.
If you ask her the one thing she won’t do, it’s pretty much anything that involves dirt—sports, gardening, or otherwise. But she loves to write about all of those things, and her first published heroine was pretty much involved with dirt on a daily basis. Which is exactly why LJ loves fiction novels—the characters can be everything you’re not and still make their way into your heart.
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Rae's Reading Lounge 
Mila sounds so special. Terrific review, Rae!
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Thank you!
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