Ella Hayes

Good second chance romance. Years earlier, Maddie and Kaden were high school sweethearts planning their future together. Then Maddie's father became the center of a political scandal. Maddie's mother sent her away to protect her and refused to allow her to contact Kaden to explain or say goodbye. Afraid of what would happen if she were recognized, Maddie changed her name and looks. She became a famous travel blogger, never allowing herself to spend long in any place. When the book opens, she has received an invitation to review a luxury safari venue in Africa.

Kaden was devastated by Maddie's disappearance. After learning she went to Paris, but not where he followed and wandered the streets hoping to spot her. Eventually, his father convinced him to give up, but he never forgot her. Kaden refused to join the family business and went to vet school instead. There he made friends with Fran, and after graduation, they took their vet degrees to Africa, where they became vets at a safari animal park. Eventually, they bought the park and turned it into a luxury destination. But Fran wanted more than Kaden could give her and left before the travel writers arrived for their tours.

I enjoyed seeing the rekindling of the relationship between Maddie and Kaden. Maddie was shocked to discover that the venue she would review was Kaden's, while he was stunned to see her. Maddie still feels guilty over the way she left, but fear of rejection kept her from trying to find him later. Kaden never got over the hurt he felt at her disappearance. Though they initially agree that leaving the past in the past is their best option, it quickly becomes evident that their connection is still there. I liked that they were mature enough to talk about what happened and realize that the years have changed them.

I liked seeing them get to know each other again. Maddie's travel blog gives Kaden the excuse he needs to spend time with her. I loved the vivid descriptions of everything from the wild dogs to the giraffes to those nosy impalas. I laughed out loud at Kaden's description of treating the bull elephant and Maddie's reaction to it. Maddie's joy in each experience was contagious and brought her and Kaden closer. When the sparks they feel burst into flame, it's almost as though they've never been apart. But they each have insecurities, and when Maddie's past catches up with her, flight is her first thought. I loved seeing Kaden show her how far he'll go to prove they belong together. The ending was terrific, and the epilogue had an unexpected twist.

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