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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
3.25-3.5 stars. This was a pretty good book. This is Lily and Aidan's story. Lily is a hair stylist that has left a bad relationship and job situation in CA to come back to Cedar Ridge, Colorado, where she grew up. She has a lot of bad memories from the last time she was in town, when her sister and father died. She left behind Aidan, her first love, and ran away, blaming herself for their deaths. Now, she is back temporarily until she can find a new job in CA, helping her friend, Johnathan, in his salon at the Cedar Ridge Resort. Aidan's family, the Kincaid siblings, own and run the resort. Aidan is shocked to find her back and wants to know why she left him all those years back. He still cares for Lily and they both still feel a connection. But their past is complicated and they both carry a lot of baggage. Aidan wants to overcome the past, but Lily is not so sure it is possible. She pushes Aidan away a lot, but eventually he gets through to her and helps her see they belong together.
I liked Aidan and Lily. They were both interesting characters. I liked them together. I didn't love that Lily pushed Aidan away for most of the book. It was obvious that they loved each other but it was way too close to end before they admitted it. But I liked the setting of Cedar Ridge. I really liked the side characters, all the Kincaid siblings, especially Gray and Penny. I liked the hair salon aspect and when Lily did hair/facial treatments on Aidan. Overall, this was a sweet, fairly easy read. I am looking forward to more from this series and the other Kincaid siblings stories!
I liked Aidan and Lily. They were both interesting characters. I liked them together. I didn't love that Lily pushed Aidan away for most of the book. It was obvious that they loved each other but it was way too close to end before they admitted it. But I liked the setting of Cedar Ridge. I really liked the side characters, all the Kincaid siblings, especially Gray and Penny. I liked the hair salon aspect and when Lily did hair/facial treatments on Aidan. Overall, this was a sweet, fairly easy read. I am looking forward to more from this series and the other Kincaid siblings stories!
Fun and sweet wrapped up in a sexy package. A heartwarming start to a series that made me laugh, blush and left me wanting more.
Lily and Aidan were young, but they were sure they had found a unique connection with one another under the Rocky Mountains’ blue skies and pine-scented hiking trails. Until Lily’s sister claimed Aidan as hers and then tragedy struck, twice.
Unable stay in her hometown and face the guilt and constant memories of the people she loved but would never see again, Lilly left forever never looking back, until she returned. Lily doesn’t want to go back to Cedar Ridge, but she’s out of options. Can she face the ghosts of her past as well as the sexy firefighter with the overwhelming smile?
Rescuing people is second nature to Aidan Kincaid. He and his brothers don’t just help others, they drop everything to help their family and their own. Ten years ago he let Lily go. Now that she’s back, Aidan has been helping Lily with scaring snakes off, carrying logs and patching up bruises in-between sweet and sultry kisses. But can he convince Lily to stay long enough so he can save her from herself and give them a real chance?
Jill Shalvis writes amazingly sexy, protective, take charge and utterly warm and sweet alpha males. Aidan Kincaid is no exception. For the past decade, he tried to mend his crushed heart and move on. But once Lily was back, I loved how his long ago mangled soul couldn’t hold on to its hurt. He understood Lily’s reasons for leaving and didn’t give up on her or them. Making sure she understands that he’ll be there to support her.
Lily was a really great match for Aidan, even though there was hesitancy on her part which I could understand to a degree. She’s strong and independent, but she carries guilt and self-blame, which are strong emotions and not easy to deal with especially when she had no support system, like family and friends, to help her through it. So I was very happy when she finally gave in to the love and care of a wonderful man.
I’m always on the fence with second chance romances. I like to experience the feels but in all honesty angst isn’t one of my favorites and this type of trope can easily take you to over the top drama and anxiety. But as I’ve come to know Jill Shalvis’ writing, she gives us a great romance, with of course some stormy weather the characters have to live through but mostly a lot of communication and understanding that moves the story along in a beautiful way that’s so easy to enjoy.
Even though I feel there could’ve been more details about their pasts and the time they were apart, I loved every single interaction between Aidan and Lily. From the humorous times when Aidan swoops in to help the damsel in distress even though she stresses she doesn’t need it, to the even more humorous moments they had in the beauty salon, to the incredibly molten hot ones.
I love how Jill not only develops loveable main characters, she also builds an entire community around them with friends and family with gorgeous backdrops I relish reading about. Aidan’s mother was a total hoot and the camaraderie and kinship with his brother’s and sister severed to pull me in further. No matter whether they’re in an emergency situation or just hanging out, the shenanigans between these guys never stop. (Two words for you: man sack!)
Jill Shalvis has become an automatic go-to author for her fabulous writing, wonderful plots and character development. I cannot wait to read more of this new series to see how the Kincaids save their family business while keeping up with the hijinks.
Book Facts: Second Chance Summer is book #1 in the Cedar Ridge series by Jill Shalvis. It’s written from both points of view. Can be read as a standalone with a happy ending.
Amazon -> http://amzn.to/1f1Gtv7
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via the author’s publicist. The excerpts are from that copy. *
Pinterest board -> https://www.pinterest.com/jillshalvis/book-second-chance-summer/
More reviews * Stalk us on FaceBook * As well as Twitter * Pinterest Board for Book Teasers
Lily and Aidan were young, but they were sure they had found a unique connection with one another under the Rocky Mountains’ blue skies and pine-scented hiking trails. Until Lily’s sister claimed Aidan as hers and then tragedy struck, twice.
“Lily’s charms had been more internal, an inner warmth behind her adventurous spirit that Aidan had been inexplicably drawn to… They’d been two adventurous souls, kindred spirits.”
Unable stay in her hometown and face the guilt and constant memories of the people she loved but would never see again, Lilly left forever never looking back, until she returned. Lily doesn’t want to go back to Cedar Ridge, but she’s out of options. Can she face the ghosts of her past as well as the sexy firefighter with the overwhelming smile?
“She’d left because of grief. She’d stayed away because of guilt. Not because of him. The knowledge at once changed things for him and also devastated him—for her.”
Rescuing people is second nature to Aidan Kincaid. He and his brothers don’t just help others, they drop everything to help their family and their own. Ten years ago he let Lily go. Now that she’s back, Aidan has been helping Lily with scaring snakes off, carrying logs and patching up bruises in-between sweet and sultry kisses. But can he convince Lily to stay long enough so he can save her from herself and give them a real chance?
“He wanted to soothe, to help ease the pain, but wasn’t sure how to do that without losing his heart and soul to her. Again.”
Jill Shalvis writes amazingly sexy, protective, take charge and utterly warm and sweet alpha males. Aidan Kincaid is no exception. For the past decade, he tried to mend his crushed heart and move on. But once Lily was back, I loved how his long ago mangled soul couldn’t hold on to its hurt. He understood Lily’s reasons for leaving and didn’t give up on her or them. Making sure she understands that he’ll be there to support her.
“This is too important to ignore… You’re too important. What we’re working on here is too important.”
Her gaze skittered away. “What we’re working on?”
“Yeah,” he said. “Us.”
Lily was a really great match for Aidan, even though there was hesitancy on her part which I could understand to a degree. She’s strong and independent, but she carries guilt and self-blame, which are strong emotions and not easy to deal with especially when she had no support system, like family and friends, to help her through it. So I was very happy when she finally gave in to the love and care of a wonderful man.
I’m always on the fence with second chance romances. I like to experience the feels but in all honesty angst isn’t one of my favorites and this type of trope can easily take you to over the top drama and anxiety. But as I’ve come to know Jill Shalvis’ writing, she gives us a great romance, with of course some stormy weather the characters have to live through but mostly a lot of communication and understanding that moves the story along in a beautiful way that’s so easy to enjoy.
“What do you want from me?” she blurted out.
He picked up her purse and handed it over. “Worried?”
“A little… Or, you know, a lot.”
His smile was warm and made her throat tighten. “This,” he said, and put a hand over her heart. “I want this.”
Even though I feel there could’ve been more details about their pasts and the time they were apart, I loved every single interaction between Aidan and Lily. From the humorous times when Aidan swoops in to help the damsel in distress even though she stresses she doesn’t need it, to the even more humorous moments they had in the beauty salon, to the incredibly molten hot ones.
I love how Jill not only develops loveable main characters, she also builds an entire community around them with friends and family with gorgeous backdrops I relish reading about. Aidan’s mother was a total hoot and the camaraderie and kinship with his brother’s and sister severed to pull me in further. No matter whether they’re in an emergency situation or just hanging out, the shenanigans between these guys never stop. (Two words for you: man sack!)
Jill Shalvis has become an automatic go-to author for her fabulous writing, wonderful plots and character development. I cannot wait to read more of this new series to see how the Kincaids save their family business while keeping up with the hijinks.
Book Facts: Second Chance Summer is book #1 in the Cedar Ridge series by Jill Shalvis. It’s written from both points of view. Can be read as a standalone with a happy ending.
Amazon -> http://amzn.to/1f1Gtv7
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via the author’s publicist. The excerpts are from that copy. *
Pinterest board -> https://www.pinterest.com/jillshalvis/book-second-chance-summer/
More reviews * Stalk us on FaceBook * As well as Twitter * Pinterest Board for Book Teasers
I think perhaps I just ought to admit that Jill Shalvis gets an automatic 4 stars from me.
I'm a big fan of Ms. Shalvis. I'm going to start by saying this one isn't my favorite (but it's still excellent).
The good: If you've ready any of Jill Shalvis's books, you know that they are steamy, and that a lot of the times the romances are based on chemistry. A big plus for this one - while there is plenty of steam, there is plenty of heart to go with it. Emotions, big and bold to accompany that steam, more so than in most of the other books I've read.
The bad: The first quarter of the book felt a little like we're trying to hard to make the hero the biggest bad-ass ever written. Assholery? (there is a tendency to create new words based on the level of bad-ass-ness). Not one of the better starts to a story.
The story? A severely emotionally damaged woman, a man carrying baggage of his own. We come to expect that from Ms. Shalvis, and this story is no exception. Going back to the bad, I felt she was trying to out-do herself on the damagedness of the characters (I can make up words, too). I liked Aiden's steadfastness, I wasn't too sure about Lily's need for isolation.
Bottom line - it was still an excellent read, but not the first one I'd recommend if you are new to Jill Shalvis books.
The good: If you've ready any of Jill Shalvis's books, you know that they are steamy, and that a lot of the times the romances are based on chemistry. A big plus for this one - while there is plenty of steam, there is plenty of heart to go with it. Emotions, big and bold to accompany that steam, more so than in most of the other books I've read.
The bad: The first quarter of the book felt a little like we're trying to hard to make the hero the biggest bad-ass ever written. Assholery? (there is a tendency to create new words based on the level of bad-ass-ness). Not one of the better starts to a story.
The story? A severely emotionally damaged woman, a man carrying baggage of his own. We come to expect that from Ms. Shalvis, and this story is no exception. Going back to the bad, I felt she was trying to out-do herself on the damagedness of the characters (I can make up words, too). I liked Aiden's steadfastness, I wasn't too sure about Lily's need for isolation.
Bottom line - it was still an excellent read, but not the first one I'd recommend if you are new to Jill Shalvis books.
Looking forward to book 2. Really enjoyed this. Great summer read.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Received an ARC. No chemistry, no character development, and too much dependence on a slow-moving, aged backstory.
Did not finish, stopped 40% through. It was so boring! I felt lukewarm about all of the characters. Almost everyone was acting like idiots. I just didn't have the will power to continue.
Lily left her hometown after tragedy changed her life forever. She never looked back, except to fantasize about Aidan. They had a strong attraction and she had strong feeling for him, but when she left she broke all ties with him. She returns ten years later and finds that her hometown has changed and moved on without her. After losing her job and not getting any bites on her resume she takes a temporary job back home. When she runs into Aidan the attraction is still crazy hot. Can Lily move on from the past and take a chance on her own happiness? Great read! Jill does it again.