Quintessentially the One: Small town, second chance, secret baby romance (Lighter Ones)

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The decision to read Quintessentially The One stemmed from the fact that Aleatha Romig wrote it. After all, once you have been Aleatha’d there is no turning back. However, imagine my surprise at learning that it featured the secret baby trope. This is a trope I usually stay far away from for obvious reasons. Hence, despite it being penned by Romig,  reservations regarding how much I would enjoy her newest release raided my mind. Well, it fared out better than I thought.  Quintessentially The One delivered a lovely second chance romance, despite the many times the heroine deserved a good dressing down. Quintessentially The One is book #17 in a series of standalones written by different authors. In this installment Romig delivered a sexy, sweet and surprisingly angst free secret baby, second chance romance. The story introduces Kandace and Dax and follows their relationship from teenagers to adulthood. Friends who became lovers, they share a special bond. They both loved each other, but Dax had plans that didn’t involve living in a small town. Kandace thought he would change his mind, especially after he declared his love for her on his last visit. However, with his eye on making it big in the city, he left, unknowingly leaving behind a broken Hearted and pregnant Kandace. Fast forward to the present day, Dax returned to Indiana to settle his grandmother’s estate. He believed it would be a simple task, which would not require more than a one-day visit. Meanwhile, Kandace couldn’t wait for him to complete what he came to do and leave. She didn’t want him finding out about his daughter. However, they would both learn that his Grandmother’s matchmaking skills extended beyond the grave. The story unfolded on a beautiful note. Dax was a sweet guy. His willingness to step up to his responsibilities the moment he learnt of his child demonstrated his maturity and selflessness. He did what any ambitious young man would do, but one will never know if he would make the same decision if the truth came to light. It is for this reason it upsets me that Kandace chose not to tell him about her pregnancy. Frankly, I found her actions selfish. She only thought of herself and failed to consider the effect her decision would have on Dax and ultimately, her child. Her fears didn’t justify her actions. Thankfully, when the truth came to light, she acknowledged her mistake and took steps in remedying same, thus redeeming herself in this reader's eyes. Their romance came with a blend of sweet and heat. I so love the innocence of a child, which was aptly portrayed here. Molly accepted Dax as her father with ease. Their interactions throughout the story will have you smiling. Quintessentially The One is a sweet and heartwarming story which satisfied the reader from beginning to end. Its a tale of secrets, second chances and forgiveness  and beautiful endurance that took my breath away! This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading