Quick Synopsis – Cielo “Lo” Valdez doesn’t believe in second chances. Surviving cancer taught her life is too short to spend time on someone who wronged you. But Aidan O’Toole is determined to show her life is best spent together.

When the tough-as-nails Texan moved to Galway for medical school, she wasn’t looking for love. Aidan, a gorgeous, tattooed, mandolin-playing lawyer, slipped past her defenses. They each fell hard and fast. But when Aidan was given the opportunity of a lifetime—to move to London and record an album—he took it, breaking Lo’s heart. Yet more than two years and a successful album later, every song he writes is still about her, the one he let get away. And every time Lo hears his voice on the radio singing about love, it’s an arrow straight to her soul.

Now they’re on a collision course as maid of honor and best man at a weekend-long Irish castle wedding. Are some mistakes worth forgiving? Can Aidan convince Lo their song wasn’t meant to end?

Song This Reminds Me Of – Lucky by Dermont Kennedy

Publication Date – August 12, 2025

Bookshop Link – Heart Strings by Ivy Fairbanks(I do receive a small commission if you order using this link)

Content Notes – This is an open-door romance with explicit sexual content and some light bondage. The main character is also a doctor so there is discussion about loss of patients, blood, injuries, and other doctor related topics.

Steamy Rating – 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Overall Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐out of 5

Review – This is a cute dual POV romance novel set primarily in Ireland. Technically this is the second in a series, but you don’t have to have read the first book to understand the second. Lo and Aidan had a 6-month long relationship 2 years ago and they are both still pining for each other. Lo is medical resident in Galway Ireland and Aidan has become a fairly popular indie singer/songwriter. They’re drawn back together as the Maid of Honor and Best Man for Lo’s cousin and Aidan’s best friend. Of course, what follows is an ex to lovers’ story with a few bumps in the road.

There are two big reasons this wasn’t a 5-star read for me, and one involves a sex scene. At one point Lo and Aidan go swimming in a creek, but they get interrupted because Aidan has a leech on him. They had back to the caste they’re staying at, Lo gets the leech off, and then they have sex. WITHOUT SHOWERING after being in the creek. The creek with the leeches. Barf. This was just really gross to me. Like they could have had sex in the shower. I would have been fine with that.

The other issue is that Lo’s mother felt way to one dimensional, her only personality trait was being overbearing. I would have liked to see some sweetness or positive interaction between them especially because Lo’s mom comes to the wedding and it’s implied that they have a standing weekly phone call. It felt like if the relationship was really that negative, then why are they still close?

Other than that, I thought this was a fun, quick romance. The sex is steamy, and the light bondage is respectfully done. I really liked the communication and aftercare that Lo and Aidan share. Even when they aren’t on good terms, they’re still respectful of each other’s boundaries.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Publishing – G. P. Putnam for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.