This was my first read by J.C. Cervantes, but definitely won't be my last. It is a well-written magical realism romance about Lily who comes to her childhood home in an attempt to come to terms with a mistake she believes she made at her work as ob-gyn. Once there, she's forced to face memories of her first love, and then the man himself.

The imagery is so immersive and beautiful, I felt like I was walking through the enchanted garden along with the characters. You can tell the author put a lot into world building, and as I've learned this is a companion novel to a previously published one in this same universe. And what a universe it is! I wanted to stick around there with the Estrada family on their hacienda, with Sam on his beautiful ranch.

But, and this is an it's-not-you-it's-me situation, I couldn't connect with the heroine or the love story as much as I loved the world it was set in. At times I found the inner monologues of the FMC overlong and repetitive. It took me a while to get interested in her life, and once I did, it never truly took off but kind of simmered till the end. There is also a part towards the end where I feel like the author should've been bolder and followed all the way through with a certain plot point. It would've complicated the ending but in the long run would make this a more memorable novel. The elements of a great romance were all there but for some reason they didn't mesh. And for that reason it's a 3.5 read for me, rounded up.

Thank you NetGalley and Headline for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

J:C. Always writes the most beautiful and unique stories. I love how she always entertwines love & magic throughout all of her books. I thought it was so cool how she worked the dr. Aspect in this book as well as her love for childhood sweetheart Sam. I love the dose of magic, family, and love. The perfect combo