Theo
Since I was a kid, I’ve only wanted two things: to be a professional football player and to have a family of my own. Being drafted by the Rock City Renegades was the first step, but now I’m ready for the rest. I have the house and the rescue dog, who’s proven to be a bit of a menace for everyone other than my crush, Finley Bolton. So when I find myself needing someone to watch him while I’m away, moving her in is the most logical option. She may be pregnant by another man, but it doesn’t take long for her and the baby to etch their names into my heart. I want a life with them, but will I be able to break down Finley’s walls and prove that I can be the man she needs, or will she pack up and obliterate every dream I’ve ever had?
Finley
Getting pregnant by my casual hookup wasn’t on my bingo card for the year, but that’s exactly what happened. He’s made it crystal clear that he doesn’t want anything to do with us, which leaves me scrambling to pay for everything on my own. So, when Theo Calloway asks me to dog sit after I’m unexpectedly fired from my job, I have no choice but to take him up on the offer. Right away, he begins caring for me, blurring the lines between friendship and something more. I said I wouldn’t catch feelings—sure that I’d be better on my own. But when he steps up, showing me what my baby and I deserve, will I be able to move on and protect myself from the heartbreak I’m so used to?
(ARC Review)
This was the kind of book that leaves you smiling long after you turn the last page, and maybe a little flushed, too. It hit all my favorite tropes, gave me an absolutely incredible MMC in Theo, and a heroine in Finley who was strong, capable, and impossible not to root for. Their chemistry was undeniable, their connection felt natural and intimate, and the payoff was so worth the wait. An amazing, heartfelt, spicy read from beginning to end.
“Hey there, Mama.”
Theo Calloway radiates golden retriever energy from the moment you meet him. He finds the good in every situation, doesn’t rattle easily, and genuinely appreciates the quiet, everyday moments of life. From the moment Finley enters his world, he’s all in. He wants her, yes, but more than that, he wants to take care of her in a way that feels steady, intentional, and deeply respectful. Theo is patient, reassuring, and completely feral for Finley, proving over and over that there is no part of her he doesn’t find beautiful or worthy of love.
“She’s not my girl, and that’s not my baby, but goddamn if I don’t feel an overwhelming sense of possession when I see her like this.”
Finley, on the other hand, has been dealt an incredibly unfair hand in life, yet she remains tough, determined, and fiercely independent. She’s used to surviving on her own, to not being chosen, and to carrying shame that never belonged to her. Watching her slowly learn that she is deserving of love, support, and happiness was one of the most rewarding parts of this story. Her growth throughout her pregnancy, and into motherhood, was powerful and emotional in the best way.
“But the way you stepped up and empowered me when I felt like I had nothing good to offer makes me want to be better. Not only for myself and the baby, but for you, as well.”
Theo is hands-down one of the biggest green-flag MMCs I’ve ever read. I thought I’d seen a man be down bad before, but Theo Calloway rewrote the definition. The way he loves Finley is tender and steadfast, but the way he loves her baby, before she’s even born, completely undid me. Any fictional man I read after this is going to have an impossible standard to live up to.
And the chemistry between these two? Filthy in the best way. Completely shameless, always consensual, and grounded in genuine desire and care. Theo worships Finley—every inch of her body, every version of her, especially during pregnancy when her insecurities run deepest. He’s patient, reassuring, and downright feral for her, proving over and over that there is nothing about her he doesn’t want. With him, things are easy. There’s no pressure to perform, no expectation to be anything other than exactly who she is. He offers her safety and unwavering devotion without hesitation. He doesn’t care that the baby isn’t biologically his; he just knows he wants them.
“You’re so fucking special to me, Finley,” he whispers. “I feel like I’ve waited a lifetime for you. I’m not going anywhere, okay?”
And the found family in this book? It fits perfectly within the story, making Finely feel supported at a time when she needs it the most. Theo’s teammates and their partners rally around Finley and her baby from the very beginning, creating a support system that helps her heal parts of herself she didn’t even realize were broken. The Renegades family felt warm, chaotic, and deeply loving, and yes, I’m still sad I can’t actually be part of this friend group. Permission for a petition for Candace to include me in the next book?
“I was taught growing up that blood doesn’t make you family—it’s the way you care for one another that does. It’s the way you protect those who mean the most to you, and how you forgive them when they make a mistake.”
Watching Finley grow through her pregnancy, reclaim her worth, and finally believe she’s deserving of love was incredibly rewarding. Thanks to Theo, his teammates, and a beautifully timed reconnection from her past, she’s finally able to accept the good things happening to her, and that had me emotional in the best way.
Candace is one of those authors for me, the kind who could write a phone book (do they still print those anymore?), and I’d still buy it without hesitation. I’ve loved every single book she’s written, but this one? This is my favorite. The perfect balance of spice and emotion. A not-his-baby trope done so beautifully it hurts. No notes. Six stars if I could give them.
Release Date: January 22nd, 2026
Thank you to C.L. Rose and her team for the ARC read!