Jack Everett left his family’s ranch home ten years ago and never looked back, leaving his two younger brothers in the care of his aunt who rescued all of them from an abusive alcoholic father. Now he’s returning for his father’s funeral and finding himself very disconnected from his brothers. He has a per chance encounter with Ava Ellis, the girl-now-woman who was his first and only love who shattered his young heart, and learns he has a nine-year old son, Owen. His plan for a fast getaway back to his life now needs some adjustments.

Jack and Ava have a complicated history and I struggled with her decision to not tell him about their son for so long and for him to have essentially abandoned his family emotionally during that time. They had very good reasons for their initial decisions; it’s just the length of elapsed time that made no sense to me. However, I really enjoyed how these two communicated with each other and the way their new relationship evolved. Owen was a great kid and made the story so much more enjoyable.

Jack had a bit more angst than I preferred, to the point where it became tiresome. However, the secondary relationships added a lot of layers to the story, harbingers of stories to come. Those characters had a lot of “meat on the bones” and I like how the story ended, not necessarily cleanly and neatly but nicely and realistically. I will definitely be continuing the series. 3.5 stars

'There was something in that moment before a kiss, in the anticipation of it. An exquisite ache. A rare hope. The promise of amazing—or of unimaginable heartbreak.'

I’m going to start with two simple facts:

1) This is the first book I’ve read by A.J. Pine.
2) This is absolutely not the last book I’ve read by A.J. Pine.

That’s possibly enough to sum up how I feel after reading Second Chance Cowboy, but allow me to elaborate—this was a smartly written, highly emotional and very, very enjoyable read.

For starters, COWBOY. I mean, that’s my crack. But beyond that—and despite the slow-ish (for me) start—this book was nearly impossible to put down. I loved Jack and Ava and Owen. I loved their dynamic, their chemistry and even their hang-ups. It worked for me, for the most part, and I absolutely wanted a HEA for them—all three of them.

Just like I now want a HEA for Jack’s brothers (side note: I uncharacteristically read the preview in the back of the book for Luke’s story and I need it ASAP), and also for his aunt. The way Ms. Pine drew, then developed, this family was excellent—intriguing enough to leave me wanting more, but never more than this particular story could handle.

Which works out perfectly for me, a reviewer who has just read her first book by a new-to-me author—and is already eager to read her second. And third.

(P.S. Consider arming yourself with a box of tissues before you embark on this one. It’s not crazy angsty, but I’d be lying if I said a tear or two didn’t escape during some particularly emotional moments.)

“You’re like the goddamn sun, and I’m the closest planet. Powerless against your gravity.”

~ 4.5 Shortstop STARS ~

A.J. Pine writes stories that pull you in, and keep you reading through to the last page. The personal interactions are so realistic, and completely relatable, from the friendships to the family interactions and the romance. Oh the romance.

This is never more apparent than in Second Chance Cowboy. When Jack Everett comes back to his childhood home for his father's funeral ten years after high school, he has no plans to stay longer than it will take to close out the estate documents - then he'll get back to his daily life. Running into his high school love Ava Ellis is the last thing he expects.

As they spend time together, they both struggle with the past and what it means for both of their futures, but neither can deny that the attraction that first brought them together is still there, as strong as it was the day Jack left town.

This one really tugged at my heart strings. There were such raw emotions and intense chemistry that kept me immersed in Crossroads Ranch. A five star, can't put it down, read in one day story. I don't know that I have to patience to wait for the next book!

I just love it when a books gives me chills because of the intensity and realness of the book. This is it you guys.! My first 5 Star read of 2018 and I am proud to say that this year is starting off great for cowboys. From the very first page, I knew that I was gonna love this book and its characters. This story is about love, second chances, and family which really touched me in a wonderful way. The intensity of their relationship was so powerful and realistic that it made me tingle.


We have Ava and Jack, high school sweethearts who had the sweetest love ever at the tender age of 18. Ava makes a huge mistake by sending Jack away and unbeknownst to Jack, she is pregnant. Fast forward 10 years, Jack comes back to town to attend his father's funeral and is surprised to learn that he has inherited a ranch and a vineyard along with his 2 brothers. Looking to sell the vineyard, he enlists the help of Ava, the girl who crushed his heart and renowned grape expert. Ava holds a big secret and when Jack finds out, it's pure gold. Throw in an adorable 10 year old, a grumpy brother, and a sarcastic brother, you have yourself an emotional, grounded, and entertaining romance .

As far as negatives goes....there wasn't any for me. I loved Jack, the cowboy-at-heart lawyer who did not forget how to get his hands dirty. I adored Ava, a single mom, who was passionate for grapes as much as she was passionate about her son. Their relationship was realistic, passionate, and grounded and I completely felt their chemistry straight to my core. There is a scene at the 89% that will absolutely pull at your heart strings. Seriously, Owen is a great kid and a wonderful addition to this story.


Well, you guessed it. I absolutely loved this book and I loved ava and Jack together. The brothers added a nice family dynamic to this along with sweet, little Owen. It was so grounded, raw, and heartfelt. Go pick this up pronto!!!

This is an amazing start to this new series!!!

Ten years ago, Jack left home but he didn't know all that he was leaving behind. Now that he's home for his father's funeral, Ava decides that the time is right to share that Jack is a father to an amazing nine-year-old boy. This book is completely about second chances- for Jack and Ava, for the Everett family, and for Owen.

From the first page, I was drawn into this book and didn't want to do anything other than power through to the end. I hope every character in this story gets their own book!!

*This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*

I first encountered AJ Pine through her fantastic Kingston Ale House series. I did not guess she'd follow it with a contemporary cowboy romance. Going from Chicago to California wine country cowboys? After reading Second Chance Cowboy, Pine made a believer out of me.

Jack is headed back to his small ranching hometown for his dad's funeral. To say Jack has complicated feelings about being home is an understatement. It was interesting to see the roles each Everett boy plays and what their dynamic is like as adults as Jack reconnects with them.

Into that mix comes Ava, Jack's first love and the girl who broke his heart. It turns out they have a 10 year old son together and she never told him she was pregnant. It's heartbreaking but her reasons were valid. But now Jack has to figure out how he feels about having a son and what his role will be.

Jack is off kilter but he's such a good guy. He's always looking out for other people. Part of that is because of how he shielded his brothers from their dad's abuse and part of that is because he believes he owes them a debt for leaving town. He lives on the bare minimum so he can send money to help with the ranch. He doesn't believe he deserves better and oh was this hard to see.

Ava's life has been put on hold in many ways. She loves being a mom but she wants to rely less on her parents and start pursuing her art again. She's such a strong, generous woman and I loved how she tried to balance taking care of the people in her life. She has plenty of reasons for keep Jack at arms length, chief among them that he's just going to leave again. But these two have never gotten over each other.

I loved how they got to know one another again. It's not always easy- the question of what Jack will do about Owen always hangs between them- but it's clear they still have feelings. They also have big issues to work through. Jack needs to deal with his past and confront his fears about being like his dad. Ava needs to own up to how she lied to Jack and caused him to miss ten years of Owen's life. Ava and Jack are able to tell each other hard truths and they're better for it.

I struggled with how much time Ava, Jack, and Owen spent together without Owen knowing Jack's relationship to him. You just know it's not going to end well. I also really struggled with Ava's dad. He was a real jerk, almost over the top. I didn't understand his logic at all and it just pissed me off anytime he was on the page. But it was gratifying to see Ava finally stand up to him.

I adored Jack's brothers Walker and Luke. I cannot wait to see what happens in their books! There's so much promise with the ranch and vineyard settings. I also loved Aunt Jenna and I've already asked Pine to give Jenna her own HEA. She deserves it and then some.

This was such a sweet, fun read and I'm looking forward to seeing how the series develops. Bring on the cowboys!

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

4.5 Stars

There was something about this book. The chemistry between Jack and Ava was scorching. There's a lot more to this book that is worth mentioning, but it isn't very often that the chemistry between characters sparks this strongly from their first meeting (well, the one 10 years later) and continue throughout the title.

This is my first book by A. J. Pine, and I absolutely loved it. I thought Jack was authentic, and my heart broke for him and all of the things he was denying himself because he was afraid he was like his father. I loved all of the moments he had to prove to himself, and those around him, that he was nothing like the man and the past that he was running from.

I liked Ava, a lot. I thought she was strong, and I respected the reasons for the decisions she made, even though I am not sure I fully agreed with them. Choosing to keep from someone that he is going to be a father is a big secret to keep, and she knows this. And, she owns that she did it without really making excuses. She gives explanations, but not excuses. Did I totally agree with her? No...although I see her logic.

But, it doesn't matter if I agree with the choices of the characters as much as it matters that I believe they do...and, I believed in the characters.

The best thing about a second chance, and it worked so well here, is that there is a history between the characters that heightens not only the first meeting, but the subsequent interactions. It was done so well in this title that you felt the tension between Jack and Ava, the longing, the desire to reconnect and the fear that them not making it this time would destroy them both.

This is also the first book in a new series yet it doesn't fall into the trap of being too much about the secondary characters in order to build the story (which is a pet peeve of mine). I think this worked so well because the secondary characters are his brothers, and other members of his family, so their inclusion in the story feels more natural than other first in the series titles.

This was an emotional read with amazing sexual chemistry. I loved it, I recommend it, and I can't wait for the next in the series!

3.5 stars
This is a tale of two people who missed their time together. As a boy turning into a man... He knew he had to leave in order to survive. As a young girl made into a woman... she was not about to hold him back... but by letting him go she held back the most important thing there could be.
Now he has to return home to bury the father... thinking it will be done and he can move on. Unfortunately that isn't the case and it allows this woman to try to right a wrong from ten years ago.

Such dynamic characters! Jack, Luke, and Walker can make you laugh and cry in the same scene—like great big puppy dogs. You never know if they are going to snarl at you, smother you with kisses, or pounce on you. If they are not romping with each other to prove who is the alpha, they are chewing on a “bone” of which they will never let go.

The story opens with Jack driving back home from San Diego to bury his father. Arriving at the cemetery, he sees only his brothers, Aunt and the officiant. Grabbing a bouquet of flowers walking toward the family he hasn't seen and has distanced himself from for the last ten years, he lays the bouquet at the headstone of his mother.
Jack's father was an abusive alcoholic and being the oldest Jack took the punishments that were meant for his younger brothers. Ever the protector. His Dad went down the tube after the death of their mother and the boys moved to live with their Aunt, their mothers sister who wasn't too much older than Jack at the time.
Jack starting a new high school meets Ava and she is it for him and ditto. After a broken leg ( at the hands of his father) dashes Jack's hopes for a baseball scholarship, Jack's not quite sure what he's going to do after graduation but here they are. Graduating. Things happen during a graduation party, her parents still don't know that she's seeing Jack, knowing her father who is a self righteous judgmental prick wouldn't approve, she's waiting for the right time to tell them. When things calm down a few days later and Ava needs to tell Jack something that will change both their lives, their conversation which we don't get until later in the book has Ava telling Jack that he should go. To go and leave town. Jack does just that. For ten years. Going through law school and has a great job and just earned a big promotion which has him moving to New York after he cleans up legal matters with the old mans death.
When he find out the old took a mortgage out on their ranch where his brothers still live (which he didn't even know they'd move back) and bought a vineyard that abuts the ranch property Jack isn't happy. The vineyard is in bad shape and isn't really sellable until it can produce fruit and a profit.
It's then that he runs into Ava too, seeing her after 10 years and also the surprise of his life when her parents come home early from their lunch with Owen, her son. Their son. Ava was pregnant when Jack left. Jack is one angry man. But seriously? Not like Ava didn't look for him. Then after while gave up thinking he was married and didn't want to rock the boat. After all it isn't like Jack ever came back looking for her either. Despite what Jack went through, there were some things I dislike about him and his martyrdom was one of them. It got old quick. For a smart guy his self flagellation would have worn down the strongest woman.
I loved his two brothers! Walker and Luke. They work the ranch. Walker self medicates and can be a belligerent sob when he's drunk, but damn if he doesn't speak the truth. Luke just speaks it sober.
When he and Ava decide to try the friend route to get Owen used to being around Jack and the family it works great. Jacks mood swings left me dizzy but he's so well written you're right in there with the story. The bulk of the book is Ava and Jack working through his trash. She's a great support for him.
She realizes too at some point that Jack isn't going to stay there and will likely return to San Diego and he finally admits he's got a job in NY. Which puts a whole new spin on things. The long distance Dad trip. Ava even wonders at one point if telling Owen is the best thing then having his father leave again the next week.
My heart really went out to Ava. She was a great Mom and Owen was a great kid. She did so well despite her absolutely obnoxious father who I wanted to cold cock and was really welcomed by Jack's brothers, her helping them get the vineyards in shape but they really took an interest in Owen and seemed to enjoy being with him. Oddly enough the one thing that stuck out for me in this story was that it was the brothers who did things with Owen and not Jack. Just sayin'.
This was a great read. It kept me turning the pages and I read it in one sitting which says a lot.
I can't wait to read Luke's story coming up next!
Get story AJ!!

**arc from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review. The review contains thoughts and opinions that are strictly my own**

Jack and Ava meet in high school and fall in love. Jack is just not the type that Ava’s parents had in mind for her. Things happen and Jack makes a big mistake that changes his life. He has to leave town fast and little does he know that he is not going to find out about one of the most important things in his life, his child. Fast forward ten years and Jack goes back to town and finds much more than he ever expected. Good story with solid characters and enough emotion for everyone!

Second Chance Cowboy by A.J. Pine will be available February 27, 2018 from Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

DNF @ 27%, so no rating.

I'm a huge fan of the secret baby trope when done well, but from what I read here, I just didn't enjoy it. For one thing, I had a hard time buying Jack and Ava's connection in the present. I buy Ava not being able to let go of Jack, because she's been raising the son they 'share' for the past ten years, but after a five month romance so long ago, I can't believe Jack was still so plagued by thoughts of her. What really took the cake for me, though was when Ava went to where Jack was living after (I can't remember exactly, four or five years maybe?) to tell him about their son, but didn't because he was engaged. Even if I could buy why she didn't tell him back then, it was a selfish selfish move on her part not to tell him at that point. And another thing that really bothered me was that she let Jack go under the pretense of being afraid of him, and he was so scared of being like his father that it was just too much for me that she would do that. I did not like this woman at all. I did find Jack's family and their dynamic intriguing, but not enough to continue the story.

I am such a sucker for a good second chance love story and this one has everything I love about them.
Ava and Jack have never recovered from their heartbreaking past. Both never really moving on. When Jack's father dies he returns home to help his family get things in order. He and Ava are thrown together to try and rebuild the vineyard his father left behind.
Pine had me hooked from the start and I couldn't put it down. It was full of surprises and so many feels I couldn't help but fall in love and hope for Jack and Ava's HEA.
I loved this one and can't wait to get more from Crossroads Ranch!

**4.5 stars** I so loved this second chance romance! A.J. Pine’s writing always pulls me right into the story from page one and Second Chance Cowboy did just that. This emotional, heartfelt story was everything I hoped it would be.

Jack Everett had a very painful childhood. When Jack and his two younger brothers lost their mother at an early age, their father, Jack Senior turned into a very different person. Jack always tried to protect his brothers as much as he could from the abuse. When Jack meets Ava Ellis his senior year in high school, he sees her as a beacon of light and hope for something good in his dark world. But one night at a graduation party changes everything and Jack and Ava’s future doesn’t go the way they planned.

Now 10 years later, Jack is back at the family ranch to attend his father’s funeral. It’s the first time he’s been back in years to see his brothers and his aunt Jenna. He’s wanted to stay as far away as possible and away from the painful memories of living in their family home and losing the only woman he ever loved. What Jack doesn’t know is that Ava has held a huge secret all these years; his son.

When Jack and Ava run into each other near her family’s vineyard, Ava is in shock. She never thought she’d see Jack again. She knows it’s time to tell him about their son and her reasons for keeping him a secret all these years. She also knows her feelings for Jack have never gone away. Will Jack be able to forgive her? Will he be open to another chance between them? Will he embrace fatherhood? Jack isn’t planning on staying at the ranch for very long, but maybe what he thought was his future just might take a different path.

Jack is having trouble fighting off the demons of his past though. He’s so afraid of turning out like his father. Ava sees the good in him and knows he isn’t like his father, but Jack must figure that out for himself before it’s too late and he risks losing Ava all over again; and this time his son too.

I loved everything about this book. I highly recommend this wonderful second chance romance. I can’t wait to read about the other two brothers’ stories!

**I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Ava Ellis has never gotten over Jack. She let him go 10 years ago when he was setting his sights on a career as a lawyer. But now he’s back for his father’s funeral and he’s thinking of her too.

Its all about second chances. A chance encounter, a connection that cannot be denied and a love that never could be forgotten.

Pine perfectly struck that emotional cord, invested her readers and took us into the hearts of her characters. 5*

I received this ARC copy of Second Chance Cowboy from Forever - Grand Central Publishing. This is my honest and voluntary review. Second Chance Cowboy is set for publication Feb. 27, 2018.

My Rating: 5 stars
Written by: A. J. Pine
Series: Crossroads Ranch
Sequence in Series: Book 1
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: February 27, 2018
ISBN-10: 1538727064
ISBN-13: 978-1538727065
Genre: Contemporary Ranch Romance

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Second-Chance-...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seco...
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/seco...

Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com

4 likes

Oh my tears and heartache for Ava. Years later Ava is reunited with her first love Jack. and Jack is in for a surprise. Overall I enjoyed this romance. It made me cry but in the end I was glad I read it. A.J. Pine has done an outstanding job.

OH This book. The feels. I think that is what wrapped me up in this story by AJ Pine. The raw and powerful emotions evoked through this story with Jack and Ava. The reasons behind how things happened was heartbreaking. This is a beautiful second chance romance story as Ava and Jack are thrusted together during a tragic time. I love watching them rebuild. Not just the vineyard but also their hearts.
Overall, this is a beautiful story. It felt so real that I really connected with it. Pine has a brilliant way with words to wrap you up like a cozy blanket and Second Chance Cowboy does just that!

Sweet second chance romance. Add in a single parent and a really great kiddo and this hit all the marks for me. Really can't wait to read the other brothers books. Hope they get HEA's as well Loved Jack and Ava together. True love never dies--right?? Great read!

I received a complimentary arc for review from NG.

I really enjoyed this story. It is book 1 in a new series and it was my first time reading this author. It was well written, had interesting characters and a great storyline.

It stars Ava and Jack. Ava had a tough decision to make as a teen and she made it. Jack went off into the world and became a lawyer. Now he is back in town and he has inherited a vineyard. He and Ava share some issues from the past (no spoilers) and they work together on the vineyard they start to get to know the other and fall in love.

My only issue with this story is it took a while to get there. I really enjoyed the book once things started happening it just felt like it took a long time to get there. I loved Ava's parents and how the truth comes out and I loved Jack's reaction and his aunt and brothers.

The author did an amazing job with this story in creating a place and characters I would love to read more about.

Second Chance Cowboy is the beginning of a new series. I thought the author did a good job introducing all characters and their issues.
Jack is sweet but didn't have an easy childhood. He kept his emotions hidden and ran every chance he could.
Ava loved him so much she knew she had to let him go. After 10 years apart these two still have feelings for each other.
While I enjoyed the book I thought these two lacked a spark. It was also a bit redundant at times.