I'm afraid I couldn't quite get on with the main characters Sophie and Andreas in this story. Andreas just seemed to be a hard and quite a horrible man and Sophie seemed a pushover. I would like to read more by this author in future because I liked her style of writing and the overall storyline was interesting but I just couldn't get on with the characters.

3.5 stars

The cover is definitely what drew me in to reading this book, the image shouts holiday romance and the bold colours are so eye catching.

I was not disappointed when I dove in to this gripping, easy read romance. The story follows female main character Sophie and male main character Andreas as they are thrown back together again eight years after they split up!

I loved both main characters, the authors does a really good job of making them relatable and realistic. I also enjoyed the different locations this was set in especially the Italian mountains - I bet those views are amazing.

If you love a romance then this is a book for you.

What an excellent concept and start to what is promising to be an entertaining new series.

I absolutely love the idea of adventure weddings and this book combines my love of drama, romance, thrills, travel and a gorgeous guy into one irresistible story.

I really enjoyed getting to know Sophie and Andreas and seeing how they interact now they have come across each other again after many years.

We get to see how they have changed and why they are the people they have become , and it is clear there is still a spark.

I also loved the scouting of locations for this climbing wedding as well as the day itself.

I am already looking forward to the next book in this series, and really enjoyed this first book a great deal.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun, cute, wonderful book. I enjoyed it a lot!

Actual 3.25 Stars

An older second chance romance in Italy? So exiting!
Sophie-Leigh is a wedding planner who gets the chance to plan an adventurous wedding in Italy. Unfortunately to plan this she must work with her ex, Andreas, who she had spontaneously proposed to 8 years ago and was rejected. How can they pull this wedding off!
This book was a bit hard to get into. There was a lot of information given in the beginning that wasn't needed/could've been spread out. The point of view also felt off to me, I think this book could've benefited from being in first person instead. I enjoyed the main characters and how they did have a history but also how they've grown in the years apart.
This was a cute, short read once I got into it. Perfect for anyone needing a sweet romance and likes a little adventure!

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

a fun will they won’t they read!
8 years ago sophie had her heart broken little did she know her world would collide with andreas again but in a professional capacity.
an easy read

Cute second-chance romance with two adventure-loving characters. I loved the various settings and the descriptions of climbs around the world. Both characters were likeable and the chemistry between them was palpable. The ending seemed to drag on a little but I liked being able to see how the wedding they were planning worked out and how the business continued after the merger. A nice, light read to while away the afternoon.

A beautiful romcom about second chance loves, adventure and compromise. The chemistry was vibrant and the feelings were bubbling!
We also got a light touch on loss/grieving which makes it even more real. True love can really conquer anything and everything.🥹

Really enjoyed this second chance romance. It’s an exciting adventure with emotion and romance thrown in too. Fabulous.

Romance | Spice | Travel

- Ours is the best love story I've ever read -

Grab your passport and follow Freya and Jake to NYC! This was fun! I absolutely loved the setting of this book, New York is one of my favourite places so this really made the book for me.

Freya travels to New York with the instruction to save Jake Richard's career as an author and they have an absolute ball doing so! I love Freya's character she's honest, loving and unapologetically herself.

This would be the perfect holiday read!

It was a great read as a second chance romance. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline, but it took me quite a while to get into the story. I would still recommend it though.

Wanderlust and Second Chances

Leonie Mack's latest romance is a breezy summer read set against the scenic beauty of Italy—ideal for anyone craving a little armchair travel. With its vivid descriptions and atmospheric weather details, it’s especially appealing to hiking enthusiasts and fans of European getaways.

The second-chance romance angle felt unique, and I enjoyed watching the characters navigate their way back to one another. The pacing was generally steady, though it did lag in parts. A large supporting cast added some depth, but at times it was hard to keep track of everyone. It almost felt like some characters were being introduced for future books, which made their presence here feel a bit overwhelming.

The story could’ve been more immersive with a clearer narrative format. Switching perspectives without labels made it confusing at times—I often found myself pausing to figure out who was narrating. A dual first-person POV with clear chapter headings would have helped. Some plot points also felt a bit too convenient, and with limited backstory on the main couple’s previous relationship, I was left with more questions than answers.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my eARC

Sophie is a wedding planner who goes above and beyond for her clients, so if they want to have a wedding that includes climbing mountains in Italy, then she can make that happen. Given that more couples are wanting adventure/destination weddings she flippantly suggests to her boss that maybe they should join forces with an adventure company. She is still a bit shocked when her boss announces that they are merging with one. Of course it happens to be the company where her ex, Andreas, works.

Eight years previously Sophie and Andreas had a brief but very deep relationship. On February 29th she proposed to him, but he said no, leaving a heartbroken Sophie behind to pick up the pieces. She moved on, married and then divorced, but Andreas has always had a bit of her heart.

Having to spend time in Italy scouting for the ideal wedding location, Sophie and Andreas are forced to spend time together, and they are both still very attracted to each other. Andreas avoids any kind of emotional attachment, mainly because he knows how dangerous it is when he goes climbing on some of the biggest mountains in the world, and he also knows how traumatic it is for those that are left behind when something goes wrong. He has seen it in his own world when his best friend died during a climb.

There are times when Andreas is a bit frustrating. He is so closed off to the idea of allowing himself to even be open to have a relationship, despite the pressure he is getting from his family.

Part of the charm of this book lies in it's setting in Northern Italy, close to the German border. Historically the border has moved many times over the centuries, with the area sometimes being German and other times Italian, and this is reflected in the language, food and characters. Coincidentally, I was watching the new Tucci in Italy series, and Stanley Tucci visited this area in one of the episodes. I love that Leonie Mack takes us to Italy, but not just Tuscany or the Amalfi coast. She takes us to the lesser visited parts of Italy and makes me wish that we were going back to visit some of these fantastic locations.

Bearing in mind that the most climbing I do is off the couch or occasionally out of the bath, the adventure stuff is not really my jam, but the idea of seeing all that gorgeous scenery overlooking the lake - that I would love. There were times that the technical terms got a bit draggy for me, but I do think it was great that they were there, and it is clear that the author has done a lot of the things that she is talking about.

We did, however, have a location wedding. Ours was just the two of us on a beach in Vanuatu, so a little less strenous!

This is the first in a series, and we have already met some of the people who are going to feature in the future books! The next one is due to be released in September and I am already looking forward to reading it

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy.

Rating 4.5/5

Leonie certainly takes us on an adorable adventure!
I really enjoy a duel view story, it’s interesting to hear both sides of the story as the characters interact with each other, especially as they had a history for us to discover.
Sophie is a fantastic character, I loved how her past was suddenly catapulted back into her life, and how she adapts and accepts Andreas into her career. You could really feel the tension between them.
The setting was glorious, I so love the beautiful locations and fascinating activities we are treated to in a Leonie Mack story.
The story was fast paced with lots of interesting emotions being shared. The enforced proximity trope gave their relationship extra sparkle. And at times it really did sizzle!

Second chance romance. Sophie has her heart broken when she proposed to her boyfriend and he turned her down. She walked away, cut off any and all contact and locked down her heart as well. Cut to 8 years later and they’re forced back together for work. Will they, won't they? Can she ever trust him, herself, open her heart, let him in and what will happen if she does? Sarah was very likable, easy to get, understand and I only wanted the best for her under really uncomfortable circumstances. Andreas took a while. It took quite a while for him to show any emotion, but be patient, he eventually gets there. It’s a nice read that gets to the ending we read these stories for. Upped to 4 stars from what would have been a3.5 rating if half stars were available.

Oh man, this book is a RIDE! I loved this one a lot and thought it was so well paced and put together. Definitely a must read!

DNF 20%

I really tried to give this book a chance, but I've been reading it for almost 2 months and have only made it 20% of the way through. My main gripe with this book is that it's obvious Sophie has been thinking about this man for the past 8 years (even though they were only together for 5 months and she had a whole ass marriage and divorce in the interim) but Andreas clearly hasn't been thinking about her. In my romance I prefer mutual pining not the FMC being down bad, for a man who doesn't deserve it.

There dynamic was giving, the beginning of a romance novel when the FMC is still hung up on their kinda shitty ex, but they move on with a better guy. But unfortunately the shitty ex is the love interest. Maybe it could have gotten better, but I was already struggling just to get through that 20%. I think the premise still sounds fun, and if it interests you and you don't care about the FMC being more into the MMC than he's into her then this might work for you. I however am giving up.

While it did take me a while to get into this read once I did, it was a very enjoyable read, a perfect summer, pool/beachside read. I absolutely loved the setting, mainly around Lake Garda in Italy, the perfect idyllic mixture of stunning Italian settings, the authors descriptive, atmospheric writing was spot on.

Second Chance romance is not a trope I'm generally drawn but I enjoyed it here, I think the adventure, travel, activities elements really added to it. This was an adventure filled, sweet yet spicy, fun filled read.

This was my first read from the author but I will definitely be adding her to my summer TBR list.

A great book full of wonderful imagery of Italy........a really good will they, won't they read.

Sophie is working on expanding into adventure weddings when she comes across an old flame, Andreas.
A lot has happened since they split, Sophie has been married......and divorced. Andreas has continued to climb high mountains and avoid any form of commitment.
When they meet again, emotions are stirred up for both of them. Will they be able to work together planning adventure weddings and keep feelings under control??!!!!

A great summer read.

A sweet and emotional second-chance romance set against a gorgeous outdoor backdrop. When wedding planner Sophie takes a couple to scout venues at Great Heart Adventures, she’s not expecting to run into Andreas—the man who broke her heart eight years ago. As they hike through old memories and new possibilities, sparks reignite and past wounds resurface.

Can Andreas finally choose love over adventure, or will history repeat itself?

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the free advanced copy. I’m leaving this review voluntarily.