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4.42 AVERAGE
4.42 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
At its core, this is a story about care, in every sense of the word. Hendrix Barry a dazzlingly successful talent manager and venture capitalist in Atlanta, is called back to her childhood home in North Carolina for Christmas. But this isn't the kind of holiday homecoming that brings comfort or nostalgia—it's the kind that shakes the foundation of who you are. Her mother, once the rock of the family and their community, is now drifting into the fog of Alzheimer’s. The house is crumbling, the neighbor delivers news of death, and suddenly Hendrix finds herself in the terrifying position of "parenting her parent."
Enter Maverick Bell, a tech billionaire who could have been written as a trope—but isn’t. He’s not a savior or a fantasy; he’s a man marked by grief, trying to build something real in a world of performance. His first meeting with Hendrix at a glittering Miami party isn’t just chemistry—it’s recognition. Both have lived through the loss of watching someone forget them. Both carry the unspoken weight of being the “strong one.” Their connection is electric, yes—but it’s also earned. Built slowly, cautiously, and with immense emotional honesty.
“I want to stand with her in her convictions. I want to hold her when grief or sorrow knocks at her door.”
This man isn’t here to overshadow or tame her fire—he’s here to guard it, honor it, stand beside it.
“I want to dance with her when life serves up celebrations.”
He wants her light and her shadows. Her victories and her valleys. He’s not here for just the good times—he’s in it for the everything.
Side note: I just don't give this story a better rating bc of Mav bitchass ex. They are called EXES for a reason, so I don't get how she thought they owe her anything. And they treated her like she was their mother, giving her justifications and almost asking for permission to date; mind you these people are 40y old. So, she could date but Mav couldn't? I almost skipped all her scenes.
Enter Maverick Bell, a tech billionaire who could have been written as a trope—but isn’t. He’s not a savior or a fantasy; he’s a man marked by grief, trying to build something real in a world of performance. His first meeting with Hendrix at a glittering Miami party isn’t just chemistry—it’s recognition. Both have lived through the loss of watching someone forget them. Both carry the unspoken weight of being the “strong one.” Their connection is electric, yes—but it’s also earned. Built slowly, cautiously, and with immense emotional honesty.
“I want to stand with her in her convictions. I want to hold her when grief or sorrow knocks at her door.”
This man isn’t here to overshadow or tame her fire—he’s here to guard it, honor it, stand beside it.
“I want to dance with her when life serves up celebrations.”
He wants her light and her shadows. Her victories and her valleys. He’s not here for just the good times—he’s in it for the everything.
Side note: I just don't give this story a better rating bc of Mav bitchass ex. They are called EXES for a reason, so I don't get how she thought they owe her anything. And they treated her like she was their mother, giving her justifications and almost asking for permission to date; mind you these people are 40y old. So, she could date but Mav couldn't? I almost skipped all her scenes.
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's such a shame to give this an okay rating because I really love the premise and I love the set up but I just feel like the execution wasn't there yet. The writing felt soulless to me. It didn't have the usual heart that I got from Kennedy Ryan's books. It just felt very matter of fact. I love a good forbidden romance where the two MCs have to sneak around and they feel like it's them against the world. But I think I do not care when it's one sided. It felt like Hendricks was hesitant to start the relationship with Maverick and against it for far too long that I just felt like maybe she's right! Maybe she shouldn't risk her career!! Maybe they shouldn't be together. It was really hard to convince me they should be together and that she wants Maverick after her protests. By the time they did get together, I just did not care anymore. And I just didn't feel Hendrick and Maverick's chemistry. They were saying all the right things but like I said it was all said in a very matter of fact matter. It didn't feel authentic to me. It was still a fine read. I don't have any issue with it, I just wasn't feeling it.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Loved this book! Now back to the first two!
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
How I Rate Books
I rate based on resonance, re-readability, and whether the book randomly resurfaces in my thoughts.
⭐ 1 – Nothing stayed or DNF. Wouldn’t recommend.
⭐⭐ 2 – A flicker, but no fire. Finished out of curiosity or willpower.
⭐⭐⭐ 3 – Just good. Enjoyed it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 – It clung in soft ways. Worth a revisit.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 – Lives in me now
inspiring
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Magnifique. J'ai absolument tout aimé.
la sororité, l'amitié. l'histoire d'amour.
la sensibilisation sur la maladie d'Alzheimer !
Kennedy Ryan mérite ses roses et bien plus encore ! C'est LITTÉRALEMENT mon tome préféré des 3 🔥
la sororité, l'amitié. l'histoire d'amour.
la sensibilisation sur la maladie d'Alzheimer !
Kennedy Ryan mérite ses roses et bien plus encore ! C'est LITTÉRALEMENT mon tome préféré des 3 🔥
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Maverick the man that you are. Mr. Get it done. I love everything about this book from the front to the back. I was kinda skeptical about them having a third act break up, it was rocky for a second. I love how Hendricks didn’t want stop pressuring her dreams no matter what got in the way. Even though she was getting in the way of her own feelings for Maverick. Maverick chased my girl down. He knew what he wanted and went after it which i praise him for, bc not a lot of people do that. Zere is very weird, I didn’t get what her problem was. Y’all technically were not friends but coworkers and if you can’t set your differences a side at your big grown age, then maybe you should grow up. I loved the representation of health in this book, especially with her mother dealing with major health issue. I just loved this book and this series.
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
PLUS SIZE WOMEN WINNING!
Another amazing book in the Skyland series. I did a mixture of reading the ebook and also listened to it on Spotify. The narrators did a wonderful job. I couldn't wait to hear Hendrix story and it didn't disappoint. I'm so happy she finally stopped being hard headed and learned to trust and let Maverick in. Zaire was full of it! I couldn't stand her as soon as she made that dig at Hendrix about her weight, like Maverick would never love a bigger woman. She was crazy thinking Hendrix had "stolen" Mav when they had already been broken up for a while when they met. It was great to see the return of Soledad and Yasmen. I love how these women support one another and it's great that they are all now thriving and being loved on the right way.
The parts with Hendrix and her mother were rough. My daughters granny has dementia which I think is really similar to Alzheimer's and it has been hard watching her decline through the years. Kennedy did a great job of showing the ups and downs of caring for someone with the disease. My heart went out to Hendrix and her mother.
Ok Kennedy my good sis, I need a Skipper book now!