***This review originally appeared with RT BOOK REVIEWS***

Burton’s winning recipe of an independent heroine, a hardworking hero next door, a lovable mutt, and the neighborly town of Hope, Oklahoma is served up this time with a reunion twist. The electricity between these two doesn’t let up for a moment. There’s a sweetness to Deacon’s developing friendship with Loretta’s nine-year-old daughter, and in the way he can’t resist their big goofy dog, but it’s the crackling attraction between Deacon and Loretta that steals the show. Their unresolved past slows them down, but the heat between has never gone away and the grown-up perspective they bring to the relationship is a pleasure to read.

SUMMARY: Loretta broke Deacon’s heart back in their high school days, to follow her parents’ wishes into an ultimately unhappy marriage. Breaking free of a cold, political husband, she brings her daughter back to her hometown, focused on providing a warm and happy country home for her daughter with dogs and chickens and gardens. She never expected Deacon’s forgiveness, but she also didn’t expect that connection to come back as though she’d never left.

*3.5 stars*

A bittersweet second chance…

I couldn’t wait to see the latest goings on in Hope, Oklahoma! This family-centric series is full of interesting characters and the drama that ensues when love is in the mix…

Loretta is back in town and just happens to be setting up shop next to Deacon’s latest construction project. Once upon a time they were in love but things didn’t end well…

At their first meeting in years, the tension between them could be cut with a knife. Deacon was bitter and I could understand that. He was “done wrong” and when feelings are still in the mix, it’s hard to let it go. Loretta was not a bad person, she did what she thought was right at the time. Coming back, facing that backlash, couldn’t have been easy. Resolving their differences, seeing if they could live in the same town again seemed too big a task but… This author knows human nature and love doesn’t always disappear (even if you want it too!).

“Uh, no. Nothing sexual is happening in my bedroom.”
“Too bad for you.”

Surrounded by the endearing characters of Hope, Oklahoma, their way was paved with love, humor and small town shenanigans. Once again, I left wishing this town were real!

Because I was unable to get into this series and its characters, I will not be leaving a review at this time. However, I am a huge fan of Jaci Burton and will circle back to the HOPE series in the near future and give it a go again.

A second chance romance in a small town where everybody knows your business and I just couldn't get enough.

Back in high school, Loretta broke Deacon's heart when she broke up with him out of the blue. Instead of staying with the love he thought they had, Loretta had chosen to leave him and marry a guy with high social standing who later becomes a future politician. Fast forward some years and following a divorce, Loretta is back in Hope along with her 9 year old daughter. What Deacon didn't know was that Loretta was forced into her marriage by her parents and now that she has freedom, she's determined to make things right with Deacon.

Not going to lie, I ate this book up. I knew it was going to be a good story, Burton always knows how to tell a good one, but there was something about this one. The moment Deacon spoke to Hazel, Loretta's daughter, I was sold or swooning....or both. I also really liked that Burton chose to bypass a book full of anger and fighting and chose to instead focus on forgiving and growing. Yes, Deacon was hurt. Yes, he acknowledges that. But he also realizes they were kids and both made choices they weren't proud of. He's ready to hear her out (after some initial grumbling, of course).

Deacon and Loretta had amazing chemistry. With a lot of romances I find myself getting bored with the love scenes. They almost seem repetitive. But I didn't feel that here. Everything flowed naturally and wasn't overdone. Oh, and completely hot.

And can we just talk about Hazel and Otis (the giant dog they adopt). They stole scenes right and left. That dog was a character all unto itself. I loved seeing what sort of mischief he would get up to. Then there was the relationship that Hazel built with Deacon. Talk about swoonworthy. Hazel, having an absentee father who only wants her around for photo ops, just falls in love with Deacon immediately. He's there when he says he's gonna be there. He takes time to help her and further her curiosity about the world around her. You can tell that they have a special bond. And it's true what they say, you can tell a lot about a guy with how he treats kids and animals (and his momma).

This has to be my favorite Burton read so far. I just adored it.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jerjen

Who does not love a second chance at love story? This book was a story about a second chance at love, fulfilling your dreams and letting go of your past.

Loretta and Deacon were highschool sweethearts who had their future all planned out in their minds. But as we all know, sometimes life steps in and destroys those plans we have made. Loretta let her parents influence her actions and she broke up with Deacon, feeling it was better for both of them. She went away to college and eventually married someone her parents approved of. Unfortunately the man that she married was a cheater and after much soul searching, Loretta divorced him and moved back to Hope, along with her nine year old daughter. She now owns a bookstore and has bought a farm to raise her daughter, Hazel. She is determined to make a new life for herself and her daughter, without help from any man.

Deacon is not very happy to learn that Loretta has moved back to Hope. His heart was broken after the breakup, and although he has moved on, he never forgot the hurt that Loretta caused. His plan is to live his life and avoid Loretta at all costs. But that does not work out so well for him when he starts spending time with Hazel, helping her to train the new dog that Hazel has adopted.

Spending time with Hazel means spending time with her mother, and he soon finds himself falling for Loretta all over again. Can he forgive her for breaking his heart and give love a try again? And maybe even more importantly, can Loretta forgive herself and let go of her guilt for a second chance at love?

The characters were well developed and well rounded. Loretta is a very strong woman who has learned to make her own choices and to stand up for herself. Being independent is very important to her and she has vowed to herself to not let anyone ever control her life again. She has to learn that she can be independent and still have a man in her life. Deacon is one of the good guys and I really liked the way he took to Hazel and her dog, Otis. He was patient with them both and quickly adjusted to having them in his life. Hazel was a typical nine year old girl, full of questions and energy. And Otis was just adorable. I enjoyed the fact that characters from other books in the series were included, it was nice to be able to catch up on their lives.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and in creating a great small town feeling. Loretta and Deacon have a very great core group of friends and it was great to see how they were ready to help each other at a moment’s notice. We should all have friends like that.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted second chance love story. I would not recommend letting a young adult read this book due to some language and a lot of steaminess. You do not have to read this series in order, but I honestly do not know why you would not want to read all of this series. I am already looking forward for the next book to be released.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Life doesn’t always work out like we plan. For Loretta - a broken marriage lands her back in her old hometown to start a ‘new life’. As the former wife of a politician, Loretta is determined to give her daughter Hazel the time and attention that was lacking in their former life. Armed with determination and a lust for a home that Hazel could be herself in, Loretta decides to head back to Hope to put down roots.

One of the biggest drawbacks to moving back to your hometown is the past that follows you through life. Loretta’s torment comes in the form of a sexy handyman named Deacon Fox. The two were an item throughout high school, and things did not end well for the couple. In fact, Loretta was the one breaking hearts. Leaving Deacon harboring hard feelings and a guilt for Loretta that never went away.

Now the duo find themselves no longer able to ignore the other. Deacon’s job has landed him working right next door to Loretta’s shop. An inconvenience that seems to disappear courtesy of Loretta’s daughter Hazel. With the curiosity of a kid lurking in the doorway, Deacon slowly warms up to the woman he thought walked out of his life for good. The chemistry that once existed between the two quickly simmers to life again. Leaving this two destined lovers to rediscover a love that lingered in their hearts.

Love Me Again is another great romance from author Jaci Burton. This tale of second chances resonates with so many. A life that doesn’t quite work out the way you planned leading you on a journey that was meant to be. Loretta and Deacon clearly have a chemistry that builds throughout the story. Hazel’s sweet and inquisitive nature adds a dose of ‘real life’ to this romance. Then there are the antics of Otis…..a dog that steals the show!! A perfect combination to add to the Hope Series!! A definite addition to any summer reading list (or the rest of the year for that matter).

Love Me Again is a story of second chances of first love. Throw in an adorable kid and an oversized pup and you have a classic romance of giving love another chance after 12 longs years. Loretta Simmons has returned to Hope, Oklahoma and is determined to make a fresh start after her divorce and be the independent woman she always wanted to be. She has started her own business and wants to bring some long needed happiness in her daughter Hazel’s life. Unfortunately she knew it wasn’t going to be easy being back in her hometown and not run into the boy whose heart she broke. Deacon Fox didn’t realize how hard it was having Loretta back in town because it was always out of sight out of mind. Now she’s on his mind a lot these days but he isn’t going to let his heart get broken again. Can he prevent himself from not falling in love all over again? Deacon couldn’t help but fall with a little help from Otis, Hazel and an incredibly sexy woman Loretta has become.

I loved reading this story because it was from both Deacon and Loretta’s point of view. They are older and hopefully a bit wiser and realize the past is in the past. Fortunately Deacon helps Loretta to put the past behind her and move forward with her life now. He was good for her soul and for her self-confidence. He was patient and caring and knew when to push and when to give her space. I have been waiting for Deacon to get his own story and he was everything and more. I fell in love with Deacon and want him for my own!

Loretta needed time to get it through her mind that she could have it all if she get out of her own damn way. It is frustrating as a reader to see her make a mistake but then she is going to have to figure that out on her own. It was good to see her spread her wings and know that she’s making friends that will have her back and truly care about her.

Jaci Burton has done it again and delivered a good contemporary romance for today’s woman and the bonus are some sexy romance scenes. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again that she is one of the best when it comes to sexy and sensual love scenes. She loves to bring in animals, children and friends and they definitely add a fun dynamic for the main characters. It is good to catch up with the other characters from previous stories and see what is new in their lives. Josie and Zach are new characters and I’m intrigued by both of them and wonder if they will be a future story for this series. We’ll have to wait and see. I love this series and have enjoyed the small town of Hope. Her characters are multi-dimensional and show true emotions in all types of life situations. I’m so glad that Deacon and Loretta found a second chance at love. Those two so deserve it and were one of my favorite’s couples to read about.

4.5 Stars

The story has laughs, secrets, twists & turns, a second chance, and heartbreak.

If you have not read the below I would recommend reading those books(s) first:
Hope Smolders (Hope, #0.5)
Hope Flames (Hope #1)
Hope Ignites (Hope, #2)
Hope Burns (Hope #3)
Love After All (Hope, #4)
Make Me Stay (Hope, #5)
Don't Let Go (Hope, #6)

This is Loretta and Deacon’s story. Loretta and Deacon were high school sweethearts until her family convinced her that she should be with a different man. She went along with her parent’s suggestion even though it broke Deacon’s heart and her own heart. Now years later she is back in her hometown and divorced. She is all about just raising her daughter and she has no time for a man. But Deacon still lives in her small town and the chemistry between them is still burning hot. Can they resist each other? First before having any future they have to overcome all the hurts of the past. Can they do that or is it just too late for that? Can Loretta try and have a relationship with Deacon when she knows if they break up what kind of impact that will have on her daughter Hazel that is already in love with Deacon? Can these two get a second chance at love? Or will she always listen to the advice of her parents and shut Deacon out?

I loved these characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read.


I highly recommend this book.

I can not say enough good things about Jaci Burton and the world she created in Hope! I absolutely fell in love with Deacon, Loretta, Hazel and Otis! This is a true second chance romance for two people who 100% deserve each other! I can't wait for the next Hope book because I know it will be spectacular and I have a feeling I know who it's going to be about.

✦Review: LOVE ME AGAIN (A Hope Novel) by Jaci Burton
Publication Date: May 2, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 5 Stars

I fell in love with this book. Deacon is the perfect man to fall in love with. Understanding, caring, hot and sexy. Who can ask for more? I was glad that I could relate to Loretta right away, so that I could care about her and her little girl, Hazel. I’ve enjoyed the Hope novels, but this one gave me the warm fuzzies without going overboard. Smoothly written, believable and reinforced my desire to live in Hope. I can’t wait for the next installment.

*Review copy provided by Pengiun in exchange for an honest review.

~*~*~*~

***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley***

4.5 Stars

Second chance romances are some of my favorites. There is a challenge for the author in balancing the reason that the couple broke up in the past with the idea that they can work things out in the future. This hit the balance well.

Loretta and Deacon were high school sweethearts, and they split because, as teenagers do, Loretta listened to the advice of others and made decisions that she thought were going to be best for both their futures. Fast forward a number of years and those choices didn't work out as well as anticipated and Loretta is back home, in Hope and working next to Deacon's current renovation project. At first, neither is happy, but as they spend time together, and he bonds with Loretta's daughter, the attraction and emotion that was only slightly buried comes back to the surface.

I loved that the characters both worked through some of the issues with their past, that they came to the realization that they wanted to be together here, in the now and in the present, and that there was more than just the past with them.

This is the 7th in a series and while the book is definitely focused on Loretta and Deacon, there are snippets of other characters from previous stories which were fun. You can definitely start with this book, and the other characters will be pleasant secondary characters, but if you have read the previous books, the little bits of time with them are a lot of fun.

Jaci Burton is a go to author for me, so a small town second chance romance, well, I knew I was going to be getting something good. And I was not disappointed.

I recommend this book.

Man, Jaci Burton has some of the absolute best covers on her books. This cover sucked me right in and I decided to jump into the series at this point, as I have not read the earlier books. While there is some character crossover, I think you are fine reading these books as standalones.

The setting for this series is the small town of Hope, Oklahoma where everyone knows everyone, and some adults haven't left behind the drama of high school. Following a disastrous marriage that failed spectacularly, our heroine has returned home to Hope with her inquisitive nine year-old daughter in tow. By all outward appearances, Loretta Simmons has her stuff together. She opened a book store which is doing well, she is a great mom with a great kid, and they have moved onto their own farm with plans for lots of animals. Her politician ex-husband is too busy for their daughter, Hazel, and is a huge disappointment for them both. I admired Loretta for wanting to be independent, and for doing what was best for herself and her daughter, even though things may have been uncomfortable for her in Hope. I did have a hard time connecting with her, because we just really didn't have much in common. This story features heavily on the "mom" aspect, and that's not my thing, but others will probably love this characteristic.

Deacon Fox was a swoonworthy hero. He ticked the boxes of nice guy AND hunky hero, and I don't have a bad thing to say about him. I love a man that can work with his hands and keep up a good conversation, and Deacon could do that and more. He is building and renovating all over Hope, but also made time to fix fences and plumbing for a single mom and her cute kid. I liked that he jumped right in with Hazel where many men would shy away from the lonely little girl of an ex-girlfriend. I think a lot of moms will be drooling over Deacon and his whole good guy persona.

There was a flipped power dynamic with this second chance romance, as Loretta was the heartbreaker of the relationship the first time around. Now that she is back in Hope, things are awkward between her and Deacon, and they have to find a way to work past that. (It didn't take them very long.) The relationship felt realistic and was probably a good view of dating when you have a kid. I liked that we had mature characters and weren't dealing with an overload of angst given the relationship history between Deacon and Loretta.

There was something that made me ranty... and that involved a softball game in the June heat where our characters were dressed all wrong (jeans, capris and silk lingerie!) and our heroine did a head first dive into home plate (that silk bra would have been toast!). Anyway, after this very sweaty activity... there was sex with lots of tongue before any showers were had. Ew. There had to be some sweat and smells and DIRT (hello - head first slide!). This is a big ol' NOPE from me. Move that mess into the shower please.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Berkley. I recommend Love Me Again to fans of uncomplicated writing with straightforward romance and/or romance with a family feel.

When the book opens, Loretta Simmons is still trying to figure out her relationship with Deacon Fox (and, seriously, is that not the best romance hero name ever?). Things are still awkward between them after she broke up their grand high school romance because her parents had better things in mind for her. But now Deacon is working on the shop next door to her bookstore so they're seeing each other every day. And Loretta's nine-year-old daughter, Hazel, is super-interested in anything dirty (e.g. construction) and is also somewhat looking out for a father-figure.
Deacon is wary at first but <gasp> is adult enough not to hold a grudge for something that happened over a decade ago. The two start hooking up and then fall deeply in to love.
And that's pretty much the story with a Great Dane who is more of a plot moppet than Hazel is. I was only a little disappointed with Loretta's "resolution" with her parents (but, arguably, it's a work in progress and therefore truer to life). The part with her ex-best friends could have been fleshed out a bit more but I think served to introduce us to Josie and set up her romance with Zach (who I really, really hope ends up owning the fancy cabin they all went to in this book because he made a ton of money from writing romance novels.)

Four stars
This book went on sale May 2

Loretta broke Deacon's heart a long time ago so when she moves back to town Deacon is wary of her. Sweet romance

What happens when you have a cute kid and a very large dog. Sometimes it brings two people together who separated years ago but really do belong together. Burton uses a familiar theme in a very entertaining way. Both Loretta Simmons and Deacon Fox have a history and when Loretta moves back to Hope they try to ignore each other. That cute kid and the very large dog keep that from happening. A nice story about second chances.

Once again Jaci Burton gives us a great story about getting a second chance at love. The adorable nine year old and her wayward dog really makes this a great story and helps the adults realize what is important. Looking forward to Josie and Zach's story hopefully.

When Loretta Simmons returns to Hope, Oklahoma, after a disastrous marriage, she’s determined to remain independent for the sake of her daughter. The only thing standing in her way is Deacon Fox—the man she loved and walked away from years ago.

Since Loretta owns the bookstore right next to his current renovation project, Deacon can’t escape the woman who broke his heart. Throw in her adorable little girl and one ridiculously oversized dog, and they’re almost a family. Only he can’t be that guy—what they had was once in a lifetime.

But love has a funny way of re-opening a door you thought was firmly closed…

Loretta and Deacon were in a relationship in high school and even talked about their future life together. Loretta’s parents had other ideas for her future and being the dutiful daughter she’d always been she ended up dumping Deacon and getting married to another man, Tom. Loretta’s life with Tom was anything but fun but she got a wonderful daughter, Hazel, out of her marriage. When she divorced her cheating, controlling husband she wanted nothing more than to be an independent woman and show her daughter how strong women could be without a man involved.

Loretta moved back to her hometown of Hope after her divorce. The bookstore she started is next to a building that Deacon’s construction company is working on. Deacon first meets Hazel and loves her personality. When Hazel gets a dog Deacon offers to help her with the training. When he’s out at the farm that Loretta bought he offers to give her a bid for some work that needs to be done around the farm. This puts him on the farm quite a bit between the training and the work.

Deacon was heart-broken after Loretta broke up with him but he moved on. He dated some and started his own construction company with his friend Reid. He didn’t hold a grudge against Loretta for breaking up with him and while things are awkward with her when she first returns to town he can’t stop staring at the beautiful woman she’s become.
Deacon falls in love with Hazel and would do anything for Loretta’s incredible child. Deacon and Loretta get closer and soon start a relationship. Neither are sure it’s the best idea but they just can’t stay away from each other.
Another great addition to the Hope series. I loved both Deacon and Loretta and I really loved the fact that this was a pretty light and airy story with little to no angst. The author gave us a lovely second chance romance.

I mentioned little to no angst and one of the things I loved about this book was that Loretta and Deacon were so…adult. I mean that in the best way. There were no ridiculous misunderstandings and when it came to Loretta being upset with Deacon, he knew it. He also said to her that she needed to talk to him about what was bothering her rather than sitting at home by herself being mad at him and him not being about to defend himself if necessary. I mean, geez, what a novel concept, right? Two people talking things out and communicating - what is the world coming to? :) That was one of my favorite parts of the book.

Another favorite of mine in the book was, you guessed it, the dog…Otis. Burton loves animals in her stories and this was a good one. Otis was a gigantic goofy great dane who was a big love-bug. Hazel had picked him up at the pound when her mother said she could get a dog. Loretta was hoping for a small dog like a chihuahua but no, Hazel picked the biggest dog she could find. It was adorable and so was Otis. I loved him to pieces and wanted him for my own.

Overall the story was great. We got to interact with characters from previous books and catch up with them so if you’ve read all of the books in the series you’ll enjoy that part. The book has a lot going for it – adorable little girls, love, romance, a goofy dog and some pretty hot sex scenes. It’s definitely a book I recommend as it was just fun to read.

Rating: 4 out of 5

This will post as a guest review on Book Binge.
http://bookbinge.com/

Love Me Again by Jaci Burton is the 7th book in her wonderful Hope series. I have loved every book in this series, and Jaci Burton does it again with another wonderful story.

We knew from previous book that Loretta Simmons had returned home to Hope, after a failed marriage. We also knew she broke her high school sweetheart, Deacon Fox’s heart, when she married someone else. Deacon has not forgotten Loretta, but is determined to avoid her as much as possible, since he wants nothing to do with her.

Loretta owns a book store in town, and is dismayed when she sees Deacon beginning to restore (he owns a construction business) the building next store. Loretta’s 9 year old daughter, Hazel, sits outside the store, and watches Deacon work. Almost immediately, a friendship begins with Deacon and young Hazel. When Loretta allows Hazel to bring home a dog from the local shelter, she is not too happy with her choice of a huge great dane. It will be Deacon who will work with Hazel to train Otis, the dog. This will open the way for Loretta and Deacon to start talking again, and slowly a second chance romance starts.

Where both of them are gun shy, their chemistry is still there, and it doesn’t take long for the fire to ignite. Deacon was surprisingly sweet and always looking out for Loretta. In a short time, they will rehash the days when she left him and why. Deacon learns that Loretta was pushed to marry her ex by her own parents, which turned out to be a disaster. For the first time, Loretta has become independent and handling things on her own, without her parents rule. It was nice to see both of them fall in love again, and how much Hazel has come to love Deacon, too. Tom, Loretta’s ex, is an upcoming politician, and did not spend quality time with Hazel.
Loretta and Deacon were a great couple, and it was nice to see many of our previous couples again. I also loved Otis, the fun loving dog, and the interaction with him and both Hazel and Deacon. Lots of fun.

Jaci Burton once again gives us a sweet heartwarming story line, in a small town, with so many wonderful characters that we get to see. In each book, she gives us a great couple, each might have some issues, but love will prevail, and we always get our happy ever after. If you enjoy sweet and sexy romances, with a nice storyline, and great couple, then you should be reading this series.

I loved Rules of Contact by the same author and loved the writing style, and I do love second chance romance books. I felt like this was a must read for me. Loretta is back home after a bad relationship and now her ex is working right next door! I enjoyed the book for the most part as I was a little against Loretta at first. Loretta has a daughter who softens Deacon heart and It was sweet to see her and Deacon's interactions. The story ended well for me but Loretta frustrated me at times with her choices, but I did wind up liking her by the end. I was a Team Deacon from the start though all the way!
Great read and one, that I will re-read again!

Review will be posted on the blog during release month.

NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4
After Loretta’s divorce she found herself at a bit of a cross roads. Not really knowing what to do or where to go. But when she thought of were she wanted to raise her daughter the only place that would do would be Hope. But going home is not always the easiest thing to do. Going home means facing your past. A past that involves on Deacon Fox.
Another wonder story from Hope, Oklahoma. In Love Me Again we get to see high school sweethearts Deacon and Loretta reconnect after to many years apart. I really enjoyed watching Loretta grow as a person and a mom. For her to find her own footing but still being able to lean on Deacon.
I really enjoyed this story. Deacon is just so sweet and forgiving. He knows what he wants and is not afraid to go for it. Convincing Loretta might be another story. And of course Otis!! I mean who could love this silly, tomato plant stealing, shoe chewing guy?

But I do want to know about the two high school friends. It felt like the story line on that was never really resolved. Yes there was a confrontation but I wanted more out of it. Maybe in a future book there will be more? I don’t know. But until then. I am looking forward to the next installment in this series.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.