Virginia is a famous actress recovering from addiction and a partying lifestyle in an isolated cabin in the middle of a crude winter. When a puppy accidentally lands on her doorstep, a series of events trigger a meeting with reclusive but renowned author Sage Volland. Soon they develop a friendship promising much more if only their pasts wouldn’t get in their way.

This is a short novel (44,000 words) by debut author Juliette Renard. Both main characters Virginia and Sage are well rounded though their chemistry isn’t off the charts. For me, it feels a bit rushed. On the other hand, puppy dog Denzel steals the show as he’s a great facilitator of the mains’ relationship and feels very authentic.

My main issues with this novel are two. One is that the story pace doesn’t flow seamlessly, it drags at some points while at others feels rushed. My other problem is that some scenes feel a bit unrealistic. I give a small example to avoid spoilers, for instance, one character is beaten badly and a few hours later the face shows no marks. Some of the metaphors used felt a bit crude, but maybe that was the intention of the author, though I personally didn’t find the appeal when describing a romantic relationship. However, I think it’s an interesting story with a good mystery twist that will keep the reader turning pages.

Overall, a good debut romance with a bit of mystery on the side. 3.5 stars.

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.