One of my biggest weaknesses is second chance romance and this did not disappoint!

It was the kind of story that tears your heart out and then slowly mends it back together. The slow burn was beautifully paced in this story between Preston and Annalise after the trauma they both endured, but after rekindling 10years on and finding each other again, it really was such a perfect ending. So happy I was able to read this as it was exactly what I needed and Havana absolutely delivered!

I adore this book.


I'm not one that is usuly into small town second chance romances often, however I gave this one a shot and it was definitely worth it.
We follow Preston and Annalisse who were best friends for most of their lives. After a tragic accident the friendship pretty much stopped at a dead halt.
Story picks up 10 years later when Annalise moves back to Piper falls

Friendships are formed, grief, love, mystery this book has a lot of compelling aspects of it.

I wouldn't necessarily call it an enemies to lovers though.

“To say that I hate myself for causing you so many tears, is a gross understatement…I should have been the one catching them, not causing them”

Preston and Annalise come back together a decade after facing a trauma. Preston will do anything to have Annalise back at his side including tracking down the serial arsonist that seems to have it out for Annalise.

I appreciated the suspense element. I also liked that Annalise dealt with her anxiety throughout the book and she and Preston did their best to communicate through it (to mixed results). Also, always love a MMC who knows off the bat that he is in love and will do anything for the FMC.

Some of the phrasing throughout the book felt unnatural which was off putting. Example from Chapter 3 when Preston is talking to his partner, “She’s always been beautiful, but when she hit puberty, she was filling out nicely, and I hated the way all the guys started hitting on her.” Another from Chapter 12 with Annalise, “Even in these turbulent seas that surge in my mind, you slice through the waves like a blade.” The pacing also was a bit of a rollercoaster.

So I really liked the idea for the story - and is was good, but the romance-troupe was'nt my vibe.
I am not a fan of miscommunication bur the spice was great!

Reunions in storytelling often evoke powerful emotions, and this narrative is a prime example. The scenes where characters come together are filled with a compelling mix of joy, nostalgia, and poignancy. This blend captures the essence of human connection in a truly impactful way.

The emotional depth is both uplifting and heart-wrenching, reflecting the bittersweet nature of long-awaited encounters. The development of each character shines through these moments, making the reunions feel authentic and meaningful. The writers skillfully balance the happiness of the reunions with the sadness of past regrets and missed opportunities, enhancing the emotional resonance.

These well-executed reunions highlight the strength and vulnerability of the characters, serving as a powerful reminder of why we invest in these stories and the people within them.

I immediately fell in love with Preston. He is such a teddy bear.
LA was a sweet girl but i kept running into issues with her constantly repeating the same lines about her feelings. The story itself was really good but their love story felt so rushed. I wish there was more time spent rebuilding their future verse just repeating how sorry they are or why they feel so weak. Overall 7/10 !

"Fulfilling My Duty" is a captivating read that dives deeply into the lasting influences of grief.
The leading characters push through their personal demons to explore what could become of the blossoming relationship they'd dreamt about while seperated for over a decade.

Small town romance always have my heart. The story was good I wish it could've made a bigger impression of making it not felt so telling.

I really enjoyed this book.
It was a fast beautiful read. I thought the story run really nicely and there was enough plot twist to keep you reading. How this book talks and deals with grief is a new concept I haven’t read before and it put me in the place of the characters. I love Preston I think he is a well rounded male main character. It did take me a while to warm up to Annalise but once you started getting more of her story she is amazing.
I just don’t like the cover /)

I am so excited to be reading this book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

ARC 3.75/5 ⭐️ This was an enemies-to-lovers romantic suspense story. I am always a sucker for a second chance/both secretly pining storyline.

I do have to say I am not a fan of the book cover, but this held a good small-town romance story 😂

I enjoyed a lot of this book, and the characters were well-written. This follows Annalise and Preston, and it gets very deep and emotional. After a tragic accident, they get ripped apart, and now, ten years later, they come back together.

Overall, this was a really good read, and I would read more of Jennifer's books.

Thank you, NetGalley, Jennifer Sargent, and Havana Wilder, for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.

Smut and spice and everything - I love! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This was a perfect summer read to get swept away with..