Review: In a Heartbeat by Laura Pavlov (Rosewood River #5)

December 13, 2025

Note: An advance reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author.

What happens when the person who was closest to you cuts off all contact and leaves without a word unexpectedly returns? Well, that's how Axel Chadwick finds himself in the presence of Wren Waterstone in the beginning of In a Heartbeat, the fifth book in Laura Pavlov's Rosewood River series. They had been the best of friends for all their lives, up until Wren walked away and left their hometown, blocking Axel from any possible form of communication in the two years that followed. He knew she'd just been injured after an unfortunate fall during an equestrian competition, but he had no idea why she was now looking for work at Chadwick Trailers, his trailer customization business on his ranch. As long as she kept her distance, it was a win-win--she'd have a job, and he had an office manager, albeit a temporary one. However, time spent together could mend their broken friendship, and maybe even give them their shot at something more. But Axel has always known Wren was meant for bigger things--ones away from home. They say if you love someone, set them free, but is Axle willing to risk doing that with Wren once again?

It would be so easy to say that had the main characters done better at communicating, they wouldn't have missed out on two years together. The thing is, the reason behind Wren basically ending her friendship with Axel was rather complex. I don't want to fully get into it because that would be me spoiling the story, but what I will say is that I understood why Wren allowed herself to believe what was brought to her attention back then. I also feel that the two years apart had both Axel and Wren experience life away from one another and without that support that they had gotten used to having for so long, which then gave them a better appreciation for what they were rebuilding once they were back in each other's lives. These two didn't immediately patch things up either, which is something I was actually quite happy about because putting in the effort to make things okay after everything that happened made that happily-ever-after even more worthwhile. In a Heartbeat earns itself five stars out of five stars.

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Read my reviews for the Rosewood River series: