Being a nanny for a newly single dad wasn’t the job I applied for when I decided to lick my wounds in Blossom Peak.
But showing Henley Clark my bare backside wasn’t in my plans either.
When the pursuit of my dream career seemed unattainable, instead of going home and proving my parents right, I made a detour to the small mountain town I remember visiting as a kid.
I just wanted a waitressing job to make some extra money while I figured out my next steps. But then the lumberjack of an owner begged me to help him with his three month-old daughter that he just found out existed, and I couldn’t resist his plea. Or his massive physique—the one I saw every detail of when he appeared shirtless in front of me three times in the first week.
The problem with living together though is there’s little space, especially when my boss is so closed off that he’s like a nut I want to crack open.
And when I do, he steals the breath from my lungs—and reignites my creativity as well. But I gave myself a deadline to figure out what’s next. Nowhere in that plan though did I account for falling for Henley Clark. Turns out the heart doesn’t care, even when you’re on borrowed time.
(ARC Review)
On Borrowed Time gave me everything I love in a romance: meaningful character growth, emotional tension, found family, and a love story that unfolds slowly and naturally. It was impossible to put down, and I found myself completely invested in Henley and Elodie from the very first page.
Henley Clark is a man who has spent his entire life running from attachment. Abandoned as a child and convinced that love always leaves, he’s built walls so high that no one gets close—not friends, not family, not even the adoptive parents who tried to love him. So when a three-month-old baby girl is suddenly placed in his arms and he learns he’s now a single dad, his carefully controlled world is turned upside down. Watching Henley step into fatherhood, clumsy, overwhelmed, terrified, but trying so hard, was emotional, raw, and incredibly real.
Elodie Olsen walks into his life at exactly the moment he needs her most. She’s soft, kind, funny, and endlessly patient, especially with Henley. She doesn’t push or demand answers. She simply shows up—day after day—for both Henley and baby Remy. In her own quiet way, Elodie nurtures Henley just as much as Remy does, and watching him slowly soften under her steady presence was beautifully written. Their connection is instant and undeniable, but it also scares them both, which only adds to the tension. The more they try to keep things professional, the harder it becomes to ignore what’s growing between them, and the mutual pining was so so good.
The single dad x nanny dynamic is done perfectly here. The forced proximity, the stolen glances, the growing friendship—it all felt natural and earned. The scenes with Henley, Elodie, and Remy were some of my favorites. They felt like real-life moments new parents find themselves in: chaotic, awkward, tender, and sometimes unintentionally funny. Elodie’s bond with Remy is incredibly sweet, and watching Henley fall not only for Elodie, but for the family they’re slowly creating together, completely stole my heart.
“Everything with this girl is tilting my world on its axis, and even though I feel completely off balance, I feel like I’m learning a new way to stay upright too—the one that involves being able to lean on someone and trust them completely.”
Henley’s character growth is one of the strongest parts of this book. His fear of abandonment, his belief that he isn’t worthy of love, and his struggle to trust happiness are felt on every page. Elodie has her own wounds as well, and the way these two learn to open up to one another, without judgment, without pressure, was handled with so much care. Their love story isn’t rushed. It builds through consistency, safety, and showing up, and that made it hit even harder.
“It means that for the first time in my life, I’m letting myself feel something instead of running from it, and all I’m asking is that you let me while I figure out the rest.”
Beyond the romance, I loved being back in Blossom Peak. The found family vibes, the friendships, the banter, and the support system surrounding Henley and Elodie added so much warmth to the story. Harlow James does an incredible job of making these characters feel like real people you want to root for and protect.
At its core, On Borrowed Time is about two people who never thought love was meant for them, learning that sometimes it doesn’t leave—it stays. It’s about risk, growth, healing, and choosing to fight for the life you want, even when it scares you.
This was an easy 5-star read for me. Emotional, tender, funny, and perfectly balanced with spice and heart. Henley and Elodie were exactly what the other needed, and I loved every single page of their story.
Release Date: January 16th, 2026
Thank you to Harlow James and The Author Agency for the ARC read!