Rewind it back by Liz Tomforde

My rating: 5/5 stars

Reading “Windy City” has been truly an adventure for me. It was a series I will always recommend, one that triggered something in me I cannot explain, and because of this, I am forever grateful to Liz Tomforde for creating it and making me dream and suffer at the same time.

Even though Kai is still my favorite character, Rio is a close second. I imagined Rio DeLuca as a different person; I had no idea he could love someone like this or feel so deeply for Hallie Hart. In all four books written before this one, Rio served as the gang’s moral support, but I never imagined he could be in love with Hallie to this extent or miss her so much. His life seemed to revolve around his love for her, and my surprise was both huge and sweet.

Hallie Hart is tasked with redecorating Rio’s house after being recommended by a mutual friend. The two haven’t seen each other in six years due to a painful end to their relationship. While the cause of their breakup isn’t revealed right away, the story gradually uncovers some intriguing and heartbreaking details as the plot unfolds. The plot is switching between past and present, showing us exactly what happened. Even if they were separated, Hallie kept track of Rio and was always happy about his career and where he ended up playing.

The story features a second-chance romance, highlighting the slow-burning rekindling between Rio and Hallie. Their relationship is complicated by bitterness and unresolved issues. Rio is the one who chooses to give their love a second chance, but Hallie struggles to move forward, as she remains mired in the pain of the past. I really love them together, and I was pleasantly surprised by Rio—he turned out to be much more than the womanizer I expected. He is sweet, romantic, and deeply invested in his feelings for Hallie. I also loved Hallie, her strength and resilience, her stubbornness, and even her insecurities were sweet.

This book is second in my top, simply because it was sweet, unexpected, and totally romantic. Rio, the man that you are. 😀