Rachelle grew up under her mom's controlling thumb. When her fiancé broke up with her a month before their wedding, she decided it was time to move out & rebuild her life.She's grown a lot since then.Then her ex, Landon, unexpectedly shows up. Several times. (The end of the paintball scene is one of my favorites, lol) And then they end up on the same cruise together. Fate - and their loved ones - are working hard to get them back together.Rachelle's growth from people-pleasing doormat to someone who can stand up for herself & push past her fears is fun to watch. Though I also liked that she respected her own limits - a little challenge is good, turning yourself into a melting down basketcase is not.Landon, ironically, has been focusing on succeeding in his worklife & trying not to think about his broken heart to the point that he hasn't grown much personally since their breakup. He's so used to being Rachelle's strength & support, he worries that even if she forgives him, she has no use for him anymore.The premise is a good one - I do enjoy 2nd chance romances - & the story is well written. It engaged me pretty much from the beginning and kept me immersed with a comfortable pace.It does have some weaknesses:-Savannah is a sexual harassment suit begging to happen. I can understand not wanting to complain to your boss/her dad to a point, but it was rather over the top. It was surprising that Landon mentioned at least one incident involving her tricking him to Roman & nothing was said or done from there. We also hear nothing more about her after that incident-I liked Roman & Isabella, but their parts felt too overly invested in Landon & Rachelle's relationship to believe-The Hillary reckoning felt unbelievably deus ex machina convenient, as well as stiff & rushed-I was disappointed that Rachelle accepted what had happened so easily. Forgiving? Excellent. Saying 'oh well, it was necessary & for the best'? No. I could buy why Landon thought it was necessary, I suppose, but I don't agree that it actually was.So needless to say, I enjoyed the first half more than the final part of the second half. Nevertheless, I loved how Rachelle's growth pushes Landon to grow, too, & gives their renewed relationship a new dynamic. It's the best aspect of the story for me. The ending is pretty much pure fantasy but it's fun anyway.*Romance level: sweet kisses, nothing graphic
