
the setup…
Winnie Smith was Wellfleet’s most sought out event planner…until she wasn’t. Canceled by the “Mommy Mafia,” her business tanks almost overnight when the man she’d been involved with turns out to be married to her client who outed her…at their child’s birthday party. Winnie is the fourth of five children, the quiet, steady, unremarkable child. As her family wraps their arms around her, sister Lark suggests she pursue becoming her brother-in-law’s personal assistant. Renowned surgeon Dr. Lorenzo Santini isn’t called Dr. Satan for nothing. He’s exacting, suffers no fools and takes no prisoners. Who could have known these two would work well for each other…and actually form an attraction? Definitely once in a blue moon.
the heart of the story…
I squealed with delight when I learned about this book. Dr. Satan was first introduced in Look on the Bright Side and I thought that would be the last of him (no worries…you get everything you need to know about him here). Who knew there’d be someone suitable for him, let alone the “unremarkable” Winnie who was anything but. I was immersed in this story from start to finish, in one sitting. Their journey from the impassive relationship between boss and subordinate to something more was skillfully crafted and true to these characters. I didn’t want it to end.
the narration…
Xe Sands nailed both Winnie and Lorenzo. Her storytelling chops were on display here, too. She delivered an outstanding performance.
the bottom line…
Do you have an author whose stories just resonate with you consistently? Higgins is that author for me. She’s not only an auto read but a read immediately. Winnie and Lorenzo are difficult characters to develop but were vividly drawn here and made special. This was the book I didn’t know I needed.
Book Info
- Release Date: April 6, 2026
- Narrator: Xe Sands
- Audio Length: 6 hours, 28 minutes
- Publisher: Recorded Books
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Fab review, Jo, glad it lived up to your expectations!
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Thank you, Nicki💜 You’d love this author.
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I finished this one recently as well Jonetta and Higgins is a favourite author for me as well. Wonderful review.
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Thank you, Jodie💜 I connected all the related books on Goodreads via the setting, Wellfleet, Massachusetts.
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My favorite thing in this review is that you squealed in delight. I always enjoy the Higgins / Sand combo too.
Anne – Books of My Heart
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🤣🤣🤣 Thank you, Anne💜 I literally squealed. Had no idea this was coming.
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Great review, Jo. I remember Dr. Satan from that earlier book and am happy to hear that this is his story as well as Winnie’s. Xe Sands had become one of my favourite narrators so this sounds wonderful. I need to get this in the rotation this week. My weekly TBR list has gone the way of the dodo this week.
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Thank you, Carla💜 This is our kind of story. My TBR is a mess.
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😂😂
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I haven’t read anything by this author yet, but I keep hearing good things! This sounds like a good one for me to check out.
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Honestly? You cannot go wrong with her.
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