An ultimatum. A city of dreams. And a man who only plays by his own rules. Love is not for everyone.
Curvaceous Mela Kramer is at a breaking point. Her marriage is a hollow shell, and her husband, Henry, is on his very last chance. Her demand is simple: come with her to her hometown of Vienna for a long-overdue holiday, or it’s over. Everyone tells her Henry doesn’t deserve this last chance, but Mela hopes he will see sense before it’s too late. She also hopes to find the woman she used to be.
Then she meets ‘King’ Rojas.
The handsome Spaniard is everything her marriage isn't. Intense, present, and capable of lighting a fire in Mela, a fire she thought had died years ago. King is the perfect candidate to ‘educate’ her in the sensuality she’s been starved of – but he has one strict rule: one night only. King has his own ghosts. Haunted by his best friend’s death and an ex who nearly ruined him, he keeps his heart under lock and key. One-night stands are safe. They’re uncomplicated. They don't require him to face Mela’s panic attacks or the dark family secrets she’s hiding.
But as a Vienna heatwave scorches the city, the ‘no-strings’ arrangement begins to fray. In a story where beauty comes in every shape and size, two broken souls must decide whether it is safer to stay guarded or to take the courage to admit they need each other.
Perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey's spicy romantic comedies and the emotional depth of Paige Toon.
About the Author :
Helly Mayers writes sizzling love stories with emotional depth and sassy humour.She promotes body confidence and creates relatable characters who redefine what is considered normal. Curvy and strong, her female leads find love with confidence-boosting partners who cherish them not just the way they are but because of who they are! As someone who is curvaceous, she longed to read stories in which she could see herself represented and fall in love with a strong lead character. As for the male leads, they must be more than just dominant. Inspiring others is only one reason why she enjoys publishing her books. She strongly believes everyone should feel good about themselves and be proud of who they are. Helly lives in London, where she moved after getting her master's degree in media and working in the publishing and legal industries. She loves her hometown, Vienna, which made it an easy decision to launch the Danube River series. Her debut novel, Find Me, a sparkling story that illustrates that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, was released in 2025. Follow Helly Mayers on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and her website: hellymayers
Review :
'A spicy confidence boosting love story with a beautiful and refreshing message that beauty comes in all different shapes and sizes' ***** Goodreads review
'I have so much "Adoration, admiration and appreciation" for this book, and I really encourage everyone to read it' ***** Goodreads review
'This is such a beautiful representation of modern-day love. There is nothing simple about Mela and King's relationship, and that is exactly why I adore them and was rooting for them the whole time. There was such vulnerability shown in their characters; something so stunningly human' **** Instagram review
'There was a truth in the way thirty-something people get their acts together and deal with baggage from their childhoods and early twenties. The butterfly motif was used throughout the book which reminds us of the metamorphosis we go through as we become fully adult' **** Goodreads review
'This was a REAL and raw love story, it was about our flaws, our insecurities, our past, our ghosts and finding the courage to love firstly ourselves and then the person who made us realise our worth' ***** Goodreads review
'Uplifting, funny, and totally binge-worthy!' **** Goodreads review
'This book really was amazing, as a curvier girl I felt truly represented and never have I rooted for a character more than I have for Mela!!' **** Goodreads review
'Never have I related more to a main female character, as a curvier lady this story filled me with confidence and hope! Mela is everything I want to be!' **** Instagram review
'A real, honest and raw love story with emotional depth. You can just tell the Author has put her heart and soul into it' ***** Goodreads review
'Mayers incorporates trauma, doubt, miscommunication and arguments. Yet, something so pure flourishes out of this. It is such a raw exploration of love, and yet, so perfect' **** Instagram review
