Thursday, April 21, 2022

Secrets Behind the Billionaire's Return - Rachael Stewart (HR #4805 - May 2022)


The man she never forgot…
The feelings she never lost…
 
Sixteen years ago, Felicity fell in love with the boy from Ferrington Manor. But their affair was short-lived when Sebastian vanished and she was left with the secret consequence of their love. Now he's back and his return sends shock waves through Felicity! Will the revelations about Sebastian's departure be enough for Felicity to succumb to the feelings that still draw her to him?

 
Good second chance romance with a bonus emotional punch. Sixteen years earlier, Felicity and Sebastian were teenage sweethearts. They meant the world to each other, or so she thought until he and his mother and brother vanished without a trace. Now he's back, and the revelations are about to shake up their worlds.
 
The story opens as Sebastian arrives at Ferrington Manor for the first time in sixteen years. Even though his grandfather is gone, Sebastian has difficulty facing the memories that await him. He retreats to the local B&B, owned by his first love's family. He wonders if she is still there, just as she appears around a corner. It is immediately apparent that there is still something there between them. However, Felicity's greatest concern is figuring out how to tell Sebastian that he has a sixteen-year-old daughter and vice-versa.
 
I liked that Felicity had no intention of keeping Angel's existence a secret from Sebastian. She may still be hurt and angry over his disappearance, but she won't use that to punish him. I was happy to see that, once he recovered from the shock, Sebastian wasn't angry or disbelieving about the news. They have the maturity to realize that they have a lot to talk about before any decisions are made. But before they can do more than make a few tentative plans, the media gets wind of who Sebastian is and his plans for Ferrington Manor. I liked his decisiveness in dealing with the paparazzi, but it opened a host of other problems.
 
Sebastian plans to whisk Felicity and Angel off to Ferrington Manor for safety and privacy, but that also changes the timeline for revealing the truth to Angel. I ached for both Sebastian and Felicity, who feared her reaction. I liked the realism of Angel's mixed feelings and the effects of those feelings on her parents. I liked seeing Felicity stand up to Sebastian when it came to doing the right things for Angel as he tried to adjust to being a father. She had a hard line to walk between being a responsible parent and coming across as the bad guy.
 
I enjoyed watching the rekindling of the relationship between Felicity and Sebastian. The sparks were still there, but they are different people than they were back then. Felicity can't contemplate moving forward with Sebastian until he explains what drove him away in the first place. Sebastian hesitates to tell her because he believes he's too broken to deserve her. Because of what happened, Sebastian has kept his emotions under tight control. He nearly drives her away when he can't be honest about his feelings. If not for his brother's advice, he might have lost it all. But a heartrending confession by Sebastian and Felicity's compassion and understanding made a most romantic ending. The epilogue was lovely, too.
 
Secondary characters Bree (Felicity's best friend) and Theo (Sebastian's brother) have some intriguing vibes happening in the background. I can't wait to read their story.


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