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Synopsis
Second chances are for kids, diets, and shelter pets—not for relationships. Especially not one like Chase and Emma’s.
Before he was writing chart-topping hits and smashing record sales, Chase Lawson was Emma’s childhood friend and first love. They promised each other forever, but forever expired at eighteen, when he landed a major record deal and left Emma and their hometown behind.
Ten years later, he shows up at their high school reunion with a proposition she can’t refuse. Six months. Seven figures. He gets a chance to clean up his reputation, and she gets the means to restore the old family farmhouse. It’s only for show—hold hands in public, kiss for the cameras—but boundaries blur behind closed doors.
It isn’t long before Emma feels her resolve slipping, crushed by the shadow of the boy she grew to love in the man selling out stadiums of present. Can Emma resist one of the most irresistible bachelors in the world? Or will she fall for the same man twice?
Review
“We all just take a leap of faith. Sometimes we fall. But we’d never know what it felt like to fly if we didn’t take the risk.”
3 stars
A short, sweet, easy read with a fun set-up and a swoony second-chance-romance.
Emma is at her ten year high school reunion when in saunters Chase Lawson, country music’s hottest star – also her first love and the man who broke her heart. Chase and Emma were once everything to each other, but after promising each other forever, he left her at 18 to pursue his career, never looking back. He has since hit the big time, but he’s also gotten into trouble and has been told to clean up his image. So he’s back in his home town to make Emma an offer – $1million to join him on his six-month tour, pretending to be his girlfriend. There’s nothing the tabloids love more than a reformed bad boy getting his act together by reuniting with his country-girl high-school sweetheart. It’s an offer too good to refuse, that will set Emma up for life and allow her to achieve her dreams, so she agrees.
This is a really predictable storyline, and it’s no surprise where it’s going to go, but I was surprised at how quickly it moved as Chase holds nothing back once Emma is back in his life.
“No amount of fame was worth the cost of losing you.”
“Six months,” I whispered unevenly.
His mouth lowered, floating just above my lips. “I’d take six seconds.”
Chase makes it clear from the very beginning that he still has feelings for Emma, and though she’s never really gotten over him, she’s determined to keep him at arm’s length to protect her heart. But that doesn’t mean they can’t act on their wild attraction, and so for six months they agree to just let it happen, despite the deadline on their time together.
“You left me in pieces when you disappeared.”
“I know.” His hand ran through his wet hair as he stared at the floor, his forehead drawn. “You’ll leave me in pieces this time when you leave.”
It’s an unusual arrangement, with both of them following their hearts and embracing their second chance, with no plans beyond their six months together, but they are so sweet together, and I fell in love with Chase as he grabbed his second chance with both hands and just went for it.
“I’m a big believer in second chances. Kind of an important policy to adopt when you’re as big of a screw-up as I am.” His hands wrapped around the back of his neck. “I want a second chance with the first woman I ever loved.”
It’s sexy and swoony with some really fun moments and a nice amount of emotion, and though it moves quickly, I could feel everything that was between them. But they have big decisions ahead of them, which leads to some drama towards the end and I must admit that I wasn’t really satisfied with the ending. Yes, it’s a happy ending, but it’s not the ending that I wanted for them, and though it’s romantic, it’s abrupt and all felt a bit anti-climactic.
But they get their happy ending, so I can’t complain too much.“I love you, Em. Always have. Always will.”
I’m a fan of Nicole Williams, and though this book is lacking the substance and intensity that I’m used to from her writing, it’s definitely a sweet read.
3 stars.
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
About the Author
Nicole Williams is the New York Times and USATODAY bestselling author of contemporary and young adult romance, including the Crash and Lost & Found series. Her books have been published by HarperTeen and Simon & Schuster in both domestic and foreign markets, while she continues to self-publish additional titles. She is working on a new YA series with Crown Books (a division of Random House) as well. She loves romance, from the sweet to the steamy, and writes stories about characters in search of their happily even after. She grew up surrounded by books and plans on writing until the day she dies, even if it’s just for her own personal enjoyment. She still buys paperbacks because she’s all nostalgic like that, but her kindle never goes neglected for too long. When not writing, she spends her time with her husband and daughter, and whatever time’s left over she’s forced to fit too many hobbies into too little time.
Nicole is represented by Jane Dystel, of Dystel and Goderich Literary Agency.
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