If you’re a fan of small town, slow burn, second chance romance, pick up Second Chance on Cypress Lane.
Dakota is back on the Outer Banks after her TV news career is torched by scandal. She’s picking up the pieces and trying to keep the reason for her return under wraps.
But not long after she gets back, she runs into Dexter, the high school sweetheart who broke her heart 17 years ago. And what Dakota convinced herself was dead and done looks more like unfinished business.
I liked that these two are adults dealing with other problems — a parent moving on after the death of his spouse, the lingering effects of how our parents raised us, career advancement, etc.
But at the same time, when it comes to the romance, both Dakota and Dex create more roadblocks and reasons they SHOULDN’T get back together, despite the sparks between them. Dakota even ends up with Dex as her boss at the Holly Grove Island Resort. Look, I know we need conflict, we need some push and pull, but at times, the slow burn was a little tooooo slow for me.
That said, Reese Ryan can write a scene that gets you right in the feels. Not long after Dakota is back in town, Sinclair drags her out to a bar where Dex and some other locals are playing that night, and the band busts out a rendition of Mint Condition’s Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes). I’m a sucker for 90s R&B. Gah.
Surrounded by a strong (and sometimes meddling) supporting cast, I’m already in for the set up for book 2 in the series with Dakota’s bestie Sinclair and Dexter’s buddy Nick, who’s…well, I won’t call him a player, but he’s definitely got an eye for the ladies. I’m betting Sinclair is gonna be a “I know better than to fall for this guy, but…” type heroine. Yes, please.
Overall, an enjoyable read. One I think I would have liked even more if I’d read it in the summer. It just has that feel to it.
3.5 stars
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