She’s a former Olympic figure skater whose world turned upside down. He’s a pro-football player who never let go of the past. What happens when these two finally have their second chance and a stalker threatens everything?
Brandon Dixon came into my life like a quiet storm. Powerful and intense. I was sure he was my fresh start. But it turned out life had other plans.
We’ve spent the past decade avoiding each other until we can’t anymore. And if I thought a younger Brandon was hard to resist, that boy doesn’t hold a candle to the man standing in front of me now. Bigger, broader, and more protective than ever, ignoring him is impossible.
The longer we fight our attraction, the higher and hotter the flame grows—until one night and one elevator change everything.
Am I the only one who had no idea Ashlyn’s man is NFL star Brandon Dixon, Maddie’s brother? I don’t know if I missed that little info nugget somewhere in the description or if it was just a nice surprise, but it made me happy. I liked Brandon in Maddie and Hudson’s book, although I never thought he’d get his own. Ashlyn and Brandon have a complicated history and they’ve kept it a secret from everyone for over a decade. Life pushed them in opposite directions, but they’ve always wondered what might have been, so they choose to ignore that history, including the undeniable connection they felt from the very moment they met.
But when Ashlyn finally admits to being stalked, the pretense is dropped. Brandon rushes to her side and soon decides he has no intention of stepping away from it, not even once she’s safe. She ghosted him once and he won’t let it happen again because he knows they’re meant to be together. Ashlyn is shocked that Brandon just jumps into her life and her family like it’s the most natural thing in the world. She probably should mind but she doesn’t mind at all. Having him with her just feels right. He’s the first man she’s even considered dating since her husband died and he’s always been her one that got away. She had no intention of jumping into a relationship, especially when she has a teenage daughter and needs to set an example, but she knows they belong together and doesn’t fight it.
These two are perfect together despite all of their baggage and the suffering in their pasts. Ashlyn is a badass, so strong and determined, refusing to cower in the face of her stalker; Brandon is her protector, devoted to taking care of her and her daughter. Everyone’s supportive, even Hudson, who teases more than once that Brandon is going to be his new stepdaddy. The family embraces their relationship whole-heartedly, but can two damaged people really overcome so many odds and make it work after fifteen years? Things aren’t simple, especially with the pressure of his NFL career and the constant threat to Ashlyn and Lindy. Can they make it work this time?
Second chance romance is usually one of my least favorite tropes because they’ve often missed so much, so many milestones, all of the most important moments in one another’s lives. This story gave us a fresh take on it by highlighting the positives and making it clear that things happened exactly as they were supposed to, without a doubt. I really loved Ashlyn, but Brandon is new favorite, probably second only to Cade. This story is a nice epilogue for the whole group, showing us a glimpse into the future for everyone, which every reader wants. I’ll probably miss the family group chat more than anything because I relate completely and it’s always good for a laugh.
It’s always bittersweet when a favorite series ends because I’d much prefer if authors could churn out endless tales of beloved characters in perpetuity, but of course it has to end. The blow is softened here since we know the next gen series is coming soon, so rather than this end, I’m looking forward to a new beginning. I’d like to thank the author and Literally Yours PR for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
