Restore Me by: J.L. Seegars

Restore Me (New Haven #1)
Author: J.L. Seegars
Published: January 2026 (First published January 2022)
Publisher: Bloom Books
Pages: 576
Format: ARC eBook/Audiobook
Rating: 5/5
Summary: 
Sloane

Dominic Alexander is my late husband's best friend and the last man on Earth that I should want. He's arrogant, dismissive, and up until recently has only ever used those dark eyes of his to look right through me. For the last ten years, he's taken a sick pleasure in making me feel paper thin, like my entire existence is of no consequence to him at all.

But now, things are different.

After one drunken night, and a surprisingly sexy act of heroism, he's started to be...nice. Treating me like something other than the physical embodiment of his annoyance, which would be nice if it didn't make me feel all the things I swore to never feel for another man after my husband died.

Dominic

Sloane Kent is going to be my undoing.

What's worse: I think I'm going to enjoy being unravelled by the gold flecks in her hazel eyes and the adorable little way she scrunches her nose up when we're arguing, which we've done a lot of over the past decade. She thinks it's because I hate her, and I've always let her think that because the alternative is...untenable.

But something is changing between us, and I don't know how to stop myself from breaking every promise I've ever made to myself regarding my best friend's wife. Promises that include never telling her that there's a long list of things I feel about her, but hate isn't one of them.

Review:

First I'd like to thank Bloom Books for sending me an ARC copy to review! I have to say this is my first book from J.L. Seegars, but I don't think it'll be my last! This was such a heart-wrenching yet heartwarming story of two people destined to be together, even in the face of grief & drama.

I was HOOKED from the beginning with this story! There were so many interwoven layers to it that would slowly be brought out and it was so interesting to see how both Sloane and Dominic would navigate it together as well as on their own.

Sloane has been a grieving widow for four years. In that time, her mother has been the closest thing to the devil, telling her she needs to get over the death of her daughter's husband and move on to another man. Like WTF?! Not to mention many other moments that come out through the story, I was sitting there with the exact WTF expression during her scenes. While it may not have been exactly what Sloane or her father wanted to do, I will say that the outcome of her mother is exactly the day she deserved to have.

While Dominic has always tried his hardest to keep his feelings tampered down, especially when his best friend married the love of his life, there's only so much time that can pass until those feelings start to seep through the crack. In one way, Dom definitely helped Sloane heal from her past, while bringing up memories that were also foggy from then too. The lengths this man will go for her is undeniable, and it was so sweet to see him show her that she is all he wants.

Of course we have to have some sort of evil villain to try and stir the pot, this time there were two. Sloane's mother as well as an old fling from Dominic's past. But you know they'll power through the chaos together to get to their HEA.

Now I need to take a second, because the steam in this book? Off the charts! Sloane and Dominic were HOTTT. I'm talking get yourself a fan, a water hose... you name it! There was no stopping these two once they finally came together, and boy did they get together!

I also really enjoyed the secondary characters in the novel. They totally give off the found family vibe, and I hope to read more from them too! There were a handful of swoony, laugh out loud, and heartbreaking moments! My heart couldn't take it and yet I was eating it up from one chapter to the next!

Overall, this was a fantastic read! It gives all the feels, left me on the edge of my seat, DEVOURING the book! I couldn't put it down! An emotional roller coaster with extra laps of new things bring brought to light, and the ending was perfection!! *Chefs kiss*

That's all for my review, I hope you enjoyed it and be sure to grab your copy today!!

So until the next time, keep reading!

Your Graduated Bookworm!!