Can three months, two planning projects, and a meddling grandmother finally make two high school hate crushes see just how right they are for each other? 

Ambitious real estate agent Sinclair Buchanan is ecstatic to be her best friend’s maid-of-honor—until she discovers the best man is Garrett Davenport.

Sin and Rett’s mutual hate crush ignited when they were teens and hasn’t let up since . . . except for that one extremely hot (and extremely regrettable) night they shared five years ago. 

Nothing gets Rett fired up like going toe-to-toe with Sinclair. She’s as infuriatingly stubborn, and as absolutely gorgeous, as when he fell for her back in high school.

Working together to plan their best friend’s last-minute wedding is one thing, but when his matchmaking grandmother gets involved, Rett knows he’s in deep.

An attraction has always simmered between them, but this time, they’re both in danger of losing their hearts.

Titles in the Holly Grove Island series include – Second Chance on Cypress Lane —♥— Return to Hummingbird Way —♥—

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

NetGalley ARC

Title:  Return to Hummingbird Way
Series:  Holly Grove Island #2
Author:  Reese Ryan
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  April 25, 2023
Publisher:  Forever
My Rating:  4.5

Return to Hummingbird Way is the second book in the Holly Grove Island series, and what a fun, delightful journey it is for two frenemies (with secret crushes on each other) who find themselves as the Maid-of-Honor and the Best Man for their friends’ wedding.  Toss in a lovely matchmaking grandmother who had me in stitches throughout this one, and you have the makings for an outrageously funny romance.

Sin and Rett definitely have a history, one that goes all the way back to high school where they loved to hate each other by way of those secret crushes.  And a few years ago, they might have given in to the sizzling chemistry that has always simmered beneath the surface of their relationship.  But now, thanks to the sudden wedding plans of Dex and Dakota (the main characters from the previous title – Second Chance on Cypress Lane) they’ve been thrown together to make this wedding happen, and as smooth sailing as possible… which considering their reactions to each other might mean rough weather ahead!

What I liked most about their romance, and the secondary characters in this novel was the feeling of reality, the growth they experienced throughout as they got to really know each other better, go through those issues and misunderstandings, and perhaps simply experience those emotions when two people fall in love yet know that there are things that need to be addressed in their relationship.  They might be hot and heavy on the passion side (which includes that hate crush), but the everyday stuff that any relationship is made up of might need some attention.  I saw growth in both themselves and their relationship, I also saw them acknowledge those flaws that no one wants to admit exist but need to be faced.  There are levels to Return to Hummingbird Way, and I enjoyed each step of the journey to a happy ever-after ending that Sin and Rett deserved.

I had such fun with Sin and Rett’s romance, with Rett’s grandmother, and seeing Dex and Dakota once again.  If you enjoy a romance that while having all the passion and emotions possible will still face the realistic aspects of building a life together… then you’re going to love this one!

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own – good, bad, or indifferent.*

Release date: April 25, 2023

Available in print or for your favorite e-reader