If I Told You, I’d Have to Kiss You by Mae Marvel

Mae Marvel crafts a gripping, emotional second chance romance in If I Told You, I’d Have to Kiss You. It’s a character-driven, slow-burn love story that blends heartache, vulnerability, and espionage-level suspense.

From the opening chapter, this novel defies expectations. What begins as a romance reunion quickly transforms into a high-stakes, Mrs. & Mrs. Smith-style rollercoaster. This story is packed with secrets, sharp tension, and undeniable chemistry. Yardley and KC share a complicated past brimming with unspoken feelings and buried truths. They never stopped loving each other, but they also never stopped lying.

Their relationship was built on half-truths. Now their carefully constructed world starts to unravel, both women must confront not only each other, but the parts of themselves they’ve hidden for years. Throughout the story, one haunting question lingers. Were we ever really living, or just surviving under the weight of everything we never said? That emotional reckoning anchors the book in something raw and unforgettable.

When a job unexpectedly throws them back into close proximity, past and present collide with explosive force. Every moment pulses with unresolved tension. Each revelation cuts deep. What follows is a stunning unraveling of old wounds, painful truths, and the emotional armor they’ve worn for too long.

Marvel doesn’t offer quick fixes or tidy resolutions.

Instead, they make the characters earn their second chance, forcing them to face the uncomfortable, the unresolved, and the deeply personal. The result? A messy, tender, soul-deep journey of rediscovery and healing.

Standout Romance Tropes:

✅ Second chance romance
✅ Forced proximity / working together
✅ Espionage & undercover energy
✅ Secrets and emotional walls
✅ Slow-burn tension
✅ Redemption arcs
✅ Deep emotional growth

If you love second chance romances with real emotional grit, complex heroines, and a strong undercurrent of suspense, If I Told You, I’d Have to Kiss You belongs at the top of your TBR. Yardley and KC don’t just fall back in love—they fight for a life built on truth, honesty, and fearless vulnerability.

Mae Marvel delivers more than just romance. They also deliver a story of identity, healing, and the kind of love that demands you face yourself and still dares to hope.

https://a.co/d/3DDh0oUWant more from Mae Marvel?!?

Listen to this Author Spotlight with the women behind Mae Marvel
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Listen to another interview of Ruthie and Annie here