The Cost of Love was my initiation into the world of D. S. Walls, and what an introduction! The characters, their complicated lives, and the emotional journey of their relationship kept me invested from beginning to end.
Title: The Cost of Love
Author(s): D.S. Walls
Series: The Reluctant CEO #1
Published by Self Published on September 18, 2026
Pages: 324
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Source: Author
Format: eArc
Purchase: Amazon
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She has no time for love. He refuses to walk away.
Chanice Jones has three kids, two jobs, and zero space in her life for a relationship. Raising her younger siblings means putting their needs above her own—including giving up her dream of becoming a chef. So when Alexander Whitmore walks into her life at a charity gala she is working, the only thing she’s willing to offer is sex—no strings, no promises.
Alexander Whitmore never wanted to return to London, but duty calls. As the reluctant new CEO of his family’s empire, he's buried under pressure and expectations. Then he meets Chanice—bold, beautiful, and unlike anyone he’s ever known. She doesn’t just challenge him; she awakens something real. And he’s not about to let that go.
Their connection is undeniable, but their worlds couldn’t be more different. Haunted by their pasts and overwhelmed by responsibility, they struggle to bridge the divide. Intervening mothers, class divides, and the weight of obligation threaten to pull them apart.
Is love enough to make a relationship work?
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 Cost of Love is the first book in D. S. Walls’ Reluctant CEO series, and if this is any indication of what’s to come, I’m definitely looking forward to more. Set in London, the story introduces Chanice Jones and Alexander (Alex) Whitmore, two people from different worlds.
At twenty-three, Chanice has carried more responsibility than most people twice her age. Since she was nineteen, she has been the guardian of her three younger siblings. She ensures they have a home, food, and everything they need while putting her own dreams on hold. She works multiple jobs to keep them afloat. This leaves little room for herself and certainly no room for romance.
Alex has a different set of problems. He has the wealth and privilege Chanice could only dream of, but with that comes family expectations he wants no part of. He’s expected to take over the family business, marry a suitable woman, and eventually provide an heir. What Alex really wants is something genuine, and after seeing Chanice, he gets a glimpse of what that could look like.
Of course, getting Chanice to give him a chance is easier said than done.
There was so much working against these two. Their class differences, Chanice’s responsibilities to her family, and the expectations placed on Alex all stood in the way of their relationship. But what I loved most was that this wasn’t a story where the wealthy hero simply swooped in and fixed everything. Chanice was strong, determined, and fiercely protective of her siblings, and Alex respected that.
Their relationship started out as something physical but gradually grew into friendship, love, and ultimately family. I loved watching the transition and seeing the trust between them develop along the way. They shared some sweet moments, and Alex falling first definitely worked for me.
Chanice and her siblings shared a special bond. Her love for them and fierce need to protect them leapt off the pages. I loved how Alex became part of their lives and watching their connection grow. Carter, Alex’s best friend, also caught my attention, and after getting to know him here, I’m definitely curious to see what’s in store for him in the next book.
The emotional journey impacted me most. Chanice had spent so much of her life caring for everyone else that learning to make room for love and allowing someone to care for her was meaningful. Alex, too, had to figure out what he wanted for his life, instead of simply accepting what was expected of him.
The Cost of Love gave me a beautiful romance, characters to care about, and a relationship that grew naturally.
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About D.S. Walls
D.S. Walls is a wine-loving, cat mom who devours books. Having spent most of her life in a plus-size body, it became her mission to create the representation she wished to see. A firm believer that all women deserve love, her stories focus on complex women who aren’t always the most likeable. Her books will always give you banter, spice and a curvy woman getting all the love she deserves.
