Cocktails and Books received this book for free from Enticing Journey in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect our opinion of the book or the content of our review.
This is a swoon worthy second chance read with a dose of sexy and sweet! Meet Aubrey and Cole, high school sweethearts whose relationship ended abruptly close to their wedding….. Fast forward 10 years….
Aubrey is a character that is easy to like. She’s achieved professional success and it was easy to relate to her questioning the robustness of her personal life when she gets her wake-up call. Cole is equally easy to like; I appreciated the fact that he was dealing with his own case of the “what ifs” and didn’t hold Aubrey’s decisions against her too much. The welcome Aubrey received when she returned to her hometown and the instant re-connection between her and Cole was heartwarming and created hope for the future.
As much as I liked Aubrey, Cole, the small secondary cast, their interactions, and their story, I did feel like a small piece was missing. While I understood why Aubrey made the decision she did at 22 and some of what was behind it, I also felt a bit confused. As Aubrey would interact with the people from her hometown and explain, I couldn’t help but wonder “why?” As many times as she explained, the core motivation to take a left turn in her life wasn’t there.
Even with my confusion about Aubrey’s original motivations, this was still a book I truly enjoyed. I loved the sense that when the person is right, the timing will work itself out.
Title: Love, Again
Author: L.P. Dover
Genre: Contemporary 2nd Chance Romance
Release Date:Β April 9, 2019
βAubrey and Cole are sure to steal your heart. Love, Again is one of my new favorites!ββNew York Times bestselling author Krista Lakes
βA remarkable love storyβI highly recommend Love, Again.ββNew York Times bestselling author Jill Sanders
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βLooking for a classic love story? Love, Again is that and more!ββUSA Today bestselling author Devney Perry
Sometimes all you need is a second chance …Β Β
Aubrey Reynolds is a small-town girl whoβs made it big.Β
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A successful Hollywood director, Aubrey doesnβt have time to linger on what could have been.
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But when a routine blood test comes back with a false positive, she decides to take some time off to do the things sheβs always wanted to do: taste the famous chocolate chip cookies at the Minnesota State Fair, hike the Grand Teton National Park, scuba dive in the Caribbean.Β
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But after Aubrey admits to herself what sheβs really missing, she heads back home to Dusty Valley, Oklahoma . . . and the man she left behind.
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Cole Haywood is a small-town fireman and thatβs just fine with him.Β
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Sure, when the love of his life left their hometown to chase her dreams he was heartbroken andβheβll admitβdamn mad.
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But Cole would have never forgiven himself if he had held Aubrey back from success.Β
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So the last thing he expects after all these years is to walk into his favorite bar one night and find the girl heβs always lovedβthereβlooking for him.Β
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Maybe nowβs the time to make his dreams come true.
I always knew Aubreyβs path and mine would collide one day, but I definitely wasnβt ready for it. For years I closed myself off from my feelings, but the second she came into town, they all hit me in the fucking face. Iβd seen her on TV, winning her many awards, but seeing her in person hurt on a deeper level. It killed me to walk away from her, but I was so damn pissed. Ten years of pent-up emotions that I hadnβt been able to deal with were bursting out of me. I didnβt know how to cope with it.
Pulling into my driveway, I slammed on the brakes and hopped out. My chest felt like itβd been ripped wide open. I stormed inside my house and went straight for the liquor, knowing it wasnβt the way to deal with the issue. Turning up the bottle of the whiskey, I gulped down a couple of chugs. It burned the whole way down to my stomach, but it took the edge off. I donβt know how long I sat at my kitchen bar, staring at the half-drunk bottle before my brotherβs voice echoed from behind.
βHas she already driven you to drinking?β
I turned around, and there was my brother, standing in the kitchen doorway. Gaze narrowed, I slammed the bottle on the counter. βHow could you not tell me she was in town?β
Bennett sighed and lowered his head. βIβm sorry. There was no time.β Then he looked over at me. βAfter I ran into her at the fair, I took her to where she was staying and we started talking. She told me the truth about everything. You need to let her explain.β
I threw my arms in the air. βLike itβs going to make me forget the last ten years.β When Aubrey said she was filled with regret and guilt, I was too. Iβd hated myself for not doing what I shouldβve done when she left. Grabbing the bottle of whiskey, I set it on the kitchen table and sat down. Bennett sat across from me, his accusatory stare right on mine. We both knew Aubrey wasnβt the only one to blame.
βYou two have a lot of talking to do, brother,β Bennett said. βI understand if youβre mad, and thatβs okay, but you owe it to each other to work this out.β
I shook my head. βWe canβt just turn back time.β
Bennettβs lips pulled up in a sly grin, and he shrugged. βMaybe not. Then again, it might be best you move on for good. That way, I can have Aubrey all to myself. If you donβt want her, Iβd be happy to take her off your hands. We both know Iβm better looking.β
A feeling I hadnβt felt in a long time ignited in my veins. Jealousy. Bennett knew better than to take what was mine. And there it was . . . the stark realization hitting me upside the head. Iβd tried to convince myself for years that I was over Aubrey, but in fact I was still in love with her, no matter how much I wanted to hate her for leaving. I hated myself more for not following her, even when she told me not to.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she began her literary journey she worked in periodontics, enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.
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She loves to write, but she also loves to play golf, go on mountain hikes, and has a passion for singing. Her youngest daughter, who sheβs also written a childrenβs book with, expects a concert each and every night before bedtime, usually Christmas carols.
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Dover has written countless novels in several different genres, including a childrenβs book with her youngest daughter, but her favorite to write is romantic suspense. However, she has found a new passion in romantic comedy, especially involving sexy golfers. Who knew the sport could be so dirty and fun to write about.
Sometimes all you need is a second chance …Β 
I didn’t know the author nor the book but looks interesting. Thanks for the info!
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