When Isabelle meets her boss’s brother, Gage Heart, all bets are off. She can’t stop thinking about the hot, tattooed, broody grump, and she’s torn between professionalism and a magnetic pull to a man she should not want.
Great job, loving family, strong female friendships—Isabelle has a full, happy life. She’s perfectly content to let the same kind of love her parents have find her, but the last person she expected to feel an intense attraction to is her boss’s brother and her new client. As Isabelle and Gage continue to be thrust together, her curiosity about the mysterious giant gets the better of her. Once she steps into his world, though, she knows there’s no turning back.
Struggling with the grief of losing his best friend and the guilt that comes along with it, Gage has closed himself off to the world. He avoids relationships and holds himself back with his friends and family. Meeting Isabelle is like a shock to his system. He’s entranced, caught up in her light, and he can’t help but step into it fully. But when an accident threatens her life, Gage regresses into his grief and pushes her away. He’s torn between his belief that he isn’t good enough for her and knowing that she was made for him.
Undeniable attraction, match-making siblings, and an exciting surprise they never expected have Gage and Isabelle fighting for each other, learning to let go of the past, and embracing their future.
This was my first book by this author, and I am completely blown away.
The very first thing that struck me was Emme Goode’s character work. Watching Gage “Grim” Heart slowly transform felt organic, earned, and deeply emotional. His healing doesn’t come from Isabelle alone, but from a combination of her light, his family, and his own willingness, however reluctant, to confront the darkness he’s been living in. That balance made his journey feel honest and powerful.
“An untouched heart deserves to be held.”
Gage is anchored in grief. Losing his best friend August shattered his sense of worth, leaving him convinced that love and happiness are things meant for other people. He moves through life guarded, closed off, and quietly punishing himself. Then Isabelle walks in, and everything begins to shift. His gruff edges soften. The weight he carries starts to lift. The belief that happiness would never find him slowly unravels as love, love he doesn’t think he deserves, finds its way into his heart anyway.
“Meeting you is the first time I’ve felt excited about life in a long time.”
Isabelle Asher is sunshine in human form. She’s warm, intuitive, joyful, and endlessly kind, but never naïve. She sees the best in people while still standing firmly in her own strength. She’s patient without being passive, supportive without losing herself, and she creates a space where Gage can be honest without feeling shame. Truly, we would all be lucky to have an Isabelle in our lives. She is everything Gage isn’t, and she’s exactly what he needs.
“It’s said that eyes are the windows to the soul. From what I’ve seen, Gage has a soul that’s full of care and thoughtfulness. Protection. Longing. He has a big heart, but it’s been broken. It calls for me to hold him.”
Their dynamic could not be more fulfilling: boss’s brother, workplace-adjacent tension, undeniable attraction, and a pull that feels bone-deep. She’s blonde softness and light. He’s piercings, tattoos, hard edges, and shadow. And together? They’re perfection. Watching them gravitate toward each other, sometimes by design, sometimes by chance, sometimes through stealthy recon (some of my favorite scenes), was incredibly satisfying. Their connection leaps off the page.
And the spice? Poignant. Intentional. So hot it hurts. Gage’s piercings aren’t just aesthetic; they’re an extension of who he is. He’s possessive, feral, and completely undone by Isabelle. One particular scene, where he crawls to her of his own accord, no prompting, simply to show devotion and gratitude, was unforgettable. This man worships his woman, and it shows. A boy down bad for his queen.
“With Isabelle, I want to fuse myself to her. I can’t get enough. I want her every way I can get her. I want the fast passion, but I want the slow burn too.”
Beyond the romance, this book shines in its emotional depth. Emme gives us supportive families, strong female friendships, and thoughtful mental-health representation. Healing isn’t rushed or romanticized. It’s shown as ongoing, layered work. Therapy, community, patience, love, and self-acceptance all play a role. Healing comes in many forms, and sometimes the greatest gift you can give someone is non-judgment and time.
“She didn’t break down my walls. She chipped away, brick by brick, replacing them with love. Her love. That’s what keeps me strong. That’s what keeps me brave. Not fighting against loss, but letting love guide me through the trials.”
Gage and Isabelle are one of those couples that stay with you. The kind that make you read with a soft, silly smile. The kind that cause those little squeaky noises of excitement when he does exactly what your heart wants him to do. Their love is steady, gentle, and unwavering. It doesn’t rush, but it never hesitates.
This story soothes the heart in ways you don’t realize you need until you’re feeling it. Romantic, emotional, deeply sexy, and achingly tender, Untouched Heart quickly became one of my favorite recent reads. I’m officially diving headfirst into Emme Goode’s catalog, because the Heart family has fully claimed my heart, and I cannot wait to see what comes next.