Heartless by Elsie Silver

Brilliantly romantic, witty, and spicy, Cade and Willa’s story is perfection. It begins with a very surly Cade needing a nanny for his 5-year-old son and Willa having the summer off from managing her brother’s bar in the nearby city. After running into each other in a funny but blush-inducing way in town, they actually meet on the ranch, but at the start Cade isn’t exactly sold on the idea of Willa caring for his young son all summer while he works. He’s a grump, but he’s not unaffected by her, and things escalate their relationship from boss/nanny to something entirely different eventually.

I am unequivocally, unreasonably in love with Cade Eaton. I swear, Elsie’s heroes somehow keep topping each other to become my new favorite. He’s perpetually annoyed and scowling but so charming in his own way, and I felt so much for his character and what he’s been through. And then there’s Willa, and she’s such a funny, irreverent, and cool heroine. She’s Cade’s opposite in many ways but they work so well together. Their chemistry is palpable, and the way their relationship developed was compelling. What I love about the romance genre is the ability as the reader to fall in love vicariously with the characters over and over again. Experiencing Cade and Willa find each other was beyond anything I could’ve hoped for, and now I’m left feeling a little lovesick and with a book hangover. The way their love built up was so completely swoonworthy, and I adored all the butting heads and banter to get there. This phenomenally written book is absolutely one of my must-read romance books for 2022. It’s got everything I love about romance and more, and you will not be disappointed.