Full disclosure - I haven't read any of the other books in this series.  It didn't matter though - this is a book that stands on its own merits.  

The author has delivered a contemporary romance with a light touch.  Jackson is, for the start of the story at least, by far the more likeable character.  And yet, as the book progresses, Allison is revealed to be equally relatable.

At the core of this story though, is the connection between these two.  And that inevitable pull is nicely captured and explored.

An enjoyable distraction.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

I love a 2nd chance romance story & this one did not fail. Jackson & Allie were such a cute couple & together in college. Jackson figured they would be together forever, however that ended when Allie went to Hollywood for an internship but then stayed & became a huge star. A scandal broke out with Allie at the heart of it so she returned home to hide & try to get her mind on other things to find that Jackson is doing renovations at her parents house. It was fun to see their interactions, see them find their way back to each other.

I thoroughly enjoyed this second chance romance even though Allison made me wince more than once a chapter sometimes more than once a page. She was so dislikable I wondered how Jax could fall for her again but the heart wants what the heart wants and when it is true love what are you going to do. Allison/Nina is caught in a bad place when she is set up in L.A. for a stunt her "boyfriend" commits but blames on her in the media and she runs home to Columbus. When she shows up at home who does she find, the last person she expects...her ex-boyfriend, Jax, who is remodeling her parent's bedroom. They try to stay out of each other's way but that soon find out they are still friends, or friendly, and then that escalates into more. Yep, that heart thing...

This entire series is fun and each book can be read as a standalone and this one especially.

**Received this ARC for review from the publisher via NetGalley**

America's Sweetheart by Jessica Lemmon is an interesting romantic story. In this case, the guy is the one who had his heart broken. Then, his first loves comes back and everything spirals out of control. Such as faking a relationship with her to help keep appearances. But how much of it is actually fake between them? And Jackson fell hard the first time, there is definitely no way, he will be able to follow his own damn rules. Like kissing his ex or falling back in love all over again...

The characters were great. I loved Jackson. He would do anything for anyone especially for the woman who broke his heart. I felt sorry for him. I did not like his ex girlfriend that much. Her personality just did not click with me. However, I was cheering for Jackson that he may actually be getting another chance to have his happily ever after-even if that meant his ex. Overall, it was a sweet, sexy, and entertaining tale.

The flame is still burning!

Allison Murphy AKA Nina Lockhart Is in the dog house with her career in Hollywood after she carried out an Oscar under her jacket for her actor boyfriend after a Hollywood party. Her manger and her boyfriend want her to take the blame for the theft but instead of going to a fake rehab, she decided to visit her parents in Ohio the first person she runs into is her former boyfriend Jackson (Jax) Burke that is renovating her parent’s house while they are gone on a trip. Jax had dated Allison during high school and college before she went to California to try and make acting a career and they broke up because of the distance. Allison and Jax started to hang out together because Allison needed to company and didn’t want to be alone.

I love reading America's Sweetheart because reading reunited lovers when the flame is still burning is still a comfort type of read for me. America's Sweetheart is A Real Love Novel series but each book stands alone.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

America's Sweetheart is a TV show that Nina Lockheart, formerly known as Allison Murphy, stars in. A Hollywood scandal is brewing and she decides to get out of town and go home. Only her parents are on vacation and her high school sweetheart is renovating the house. Jackson Burke stayed to help his father and decided to go into business for himself. Jax is a solid dependable man who believes that people are good and decent. Allie on the other hand has been jaded. Can the two of them be just friends with all the sizzle in the air? What will happen when the scandal dies down?

Between 3 and 3.5 stars

I received an ARC of this book to read and review.
This was a fast and fun read and I enjoyed the characters, but I do have mixed feelings about the book.
I am a big fan of second chance romances and this seemed like a fun one. Highschool sweethearts who don't have their happily ever after get a second chance at love.
Jackson never really moved on after his relationship with Allison ended. He has slept around, but never really committed to another serious relationship. He has his own company now and is proud of where he is.
Allison loved Jackson, but couldn't give up her dream of Hollywood. When she got a main part in a TV show, she couldn't turn away. She never imagined ending up back home after some Hollywood drama. There are rumors flying everywhere.
Jackson is working at Allison's parents house and never expects to run into her while working. It's hard to block out old feelings that may have never went away. Hollywood isn't always what it seems. To get Allison's reputation back on track, Jackson agrees to pretend to be dating her, so people will see a different side of her.
This book has its ups and downs. I loved Jackson. He seems like an amazing bookboyfriend and so sweet. Jackson worked really hard to get where he is in his company. The first part of the book is only from his own POV and I loved seeing how he thought. That's why the change of POV came out of nowhere. I know we needed Allison's POV, but it seemed off at first. I also thought it was really weird that after that we didn't read anymore from Jackson's POV. There were a lot of moments I really needed this.
The whole pretending to date for the papparazzi was a fun idea, but I think this could've been a bigger part of the book. Stuff happens a few times, but it seems like at times the author forgot to mention more of it.
I loved the romance in this book and the clear connection Jackson and Allison had. There were a lot of sweet moments with the kind of humor I love seeing in this type of books. Sometimes it's clear that true love does find its way!

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

Typically, I loved books in this series but I had a hard time getting into this book. I don't know if it is because the first 12 chapters are all from Jax's point of view and it is not until after that chapter that the POV goes back and forth between Jax and Allie.

I mean, we know that Allison did not try to steal the Oscar but we don't hear about her side of the story until almost half way into the book. At this point, I started "feeling" the story and couldn't put it down.

I really did wonder how these two were going to figure out a way to be together because if she kept acting, Jax would either have to go to LA or they were done as a couple. If she quit, then she leaves her dream job, and what would she do in Ohio? And as much as these two love each other, you want them to figure out how to be together!

The secondary characters were such fun - Barrett and his Kitty Cat, and I can't wait for Jules to meet the man that can be her match!

Jackson Burke and Allison Murphy were once inseparable, but when their young love was put to the test of a long distance relationship, they found out the hard way that some things just weren't meant to be. 

With Allison's unexpected return, she and Jackson come to realize that their long ago feelings may have left some unfinished business between them. And as long as they can be friends without either of them getting too attached, they can go their separate ways this time, with no hard feelings... 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I really enjoyed this second chance romance, where the limelight associated with fame turns on one of Hollywood's beloved actresses, and the only place she can ground herself again is back in her hometown, with the only man she has ever loved... and who she left for all the trappings of Hollywood in the first place...

Jax was devastated when Allie moved to California and essentially never looked back. With the distance and her new left coming between them, breaking up seemed like the only option. But, reunited 10 years later, he can still see glimpses of the woman he once loved. And had to let go. 

When Allie moved to California, she reinvented herself as Nina Lockhart. Becoming a successful actress is a dream come true, and she wouldn't trade it for anything, until she starts to realize just what she left behind when it comes to Jax. 

I really loved Jax. He was a steady, down to earth, man who tried his hardest to move on from the hurt of when Allie left him. Seeing her again, and how she has changed, essentially cements his decision that their relationship was doomed to fail. As for Allie, she drove me a little crazy in the beginning, with her seemingly "better than" demeanor. And, she had changed a lot since she dated Jax, but the more time they spend together, the more she finds the Allie that existed before fame. 

This was such a fun read. Sexy, entertaining, and with just enough emotional development, Jax and Allie are given a second chance, but have even more hurdles to overcome than they did the first time their relationship fell apart. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

I love a good second chance romance which this one is and I wanted to give this five starts but I disliked the main female character Allison so much I just couldn't. Jackson on the other hand I adored. I wanted to shake him and scream "you can do so much better." The heart wants what the heart wants though even if he know she'll probably break his heart again. Even with my dislike of Allison I did enjoy this book. The author has a great way of infusing humor and witty banter into the story making it so much fun to read. I'd recommend this one with snarled "Allison"!

As a second chance romance story, “America’s Sweetheart” hits all of the right buttons. The characters are realistic, as is the situation (one person follows dreams, while the other is left behind – but they never really forget each other). The secondary characters are fun, not just window dressing, but this story belongs to Jackson and Allison; they are the couple in question, and totally worth rooting for. The observations about Hollywood are accurate (sad, but true), which gives authenticity to the conflict keeping the two apart. The slow burn as they try to find the correct paths that will (hopefully) lead back to each other is deliciously evident throughout the book, and unfolds in a way to keep the reader interested (even though you know the HEA is coming). A fun, light read, this was a great “take a brain break” book. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group (Loveswept), and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At this point, I think I've lost track of how many of Jessica Lemmon's books I've read. I know that this is the fifth book in her Real Love series, a series that I had been more or less enjoying... until now. I'm not sure what exactly it was about this book that bothered me so much, but I found myself rolling my eyes all the way through.

To start, I guess that the premise really isn't my favorite thing. I love a good second chance romance, but this book almost had too many tropes for me. Not only is it a second chance romance, but it's got some fake dating, a small-town girl who became a famous actress, a misunderstanding that turned into a scandal, some agents meddling in their clients' lives... it was too much.

And not only that, but I couldn't get over the push and pull between Jax and Allison. Do you want to be together or don't you? Is it a bad idea or a good one? Are you pretending to date or dating for real? Are you dating other people or not? Make up your mind! You're grown adults.

And finally, the POVs. I am totally fine with multiple POVs in my books, but it needs to make sense. Alternate every chapter or every couple chapters. Don't just do the first 45% from one character's POV only to randomly switch to the other's. And if you're going to randomly switch like that, maybe just leave it? Don't randomly switch back in the middle of a sex scene. It was so disorienting and there wasn't even so much as a character's name at the top of the chapter to warn me.

I've really enjoyed many of Jessica Lemmon's previous books, but this one just didn't do it for me.

Jessica Lemmon brings her Real Love series to a close with America’s Sweetheart. She seamlessly blends second chance / high school sweetheart and starting over to bring Jax and Allie their HEA. I enjoyed the glimpses of Fox and Kitty Cat that peppered the pages. Jax and Allie make me want to look up my high school boyfriend…well, maybe not.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.

Rating 4/5

Whenever I read a book on second-chance romances and reunited lovers, I expect kind of a lot - the big break up scene, lots of character maturity (comes with age right) and learning to accept your faults for what happened before. This book didn't have much of that and it was a little disappointing.

I generally disliked Allison's character - she let fame get to her, dumped a boy who treated her well for that fame and fortune and when things get rough runs straight back to him because it was *someone who still accepted her* despite what was going on in her life. I expected her to grow out of that childish behavior, but it didn't seem she did.

Jackson was the real heart of this novel, and a bigger focus should have been on him. He still put her first over his own needs (which is what both members of a relationship should do, not just one) and to be quite frank, he was too good for her.

Overall, the story was pretty good and the romance was sweet - I just didn't give it a 5 because of Allison.

America's Sweetheart is a heartwarming light romance that will having you wanting more. Jax and Allie were high school / college sweethearts who ended up going their separate ways but when she shows up years later and falls into his arms they find their feeling were not as finished as they may have thought. I love the characters and story line on this book. Allie may be a little torn but she is sweet at the same time.

America's Sweetheart is a sweet second chance romance that will warm your heart and make you swoon. Who isn't a sucker for a second chance romance, because I know that I certainly am.

Allie and Jackson where high school sweethearts but opportunity forced Allie to move to LA, where she thrived and became a major Hollywood star. When a major scandal involves Allie, she is forced to seek some semblance of an escape so she goes back home to Ohio. Image her surprise when the love her of life is standing in her parent's home when she gets there. And boy does he still just look as amazing as ever.

I've always enjoyed these kind of stories. The ones where you get childhood lovers who end up apart but eventually realize they are perfect for each other. Especially when you add in that one of them has become famous. With that being said, something didn't connect fully with me in America's Sweetheart. I've been trying to really understand what it was. At first I thought it was just one of those "it's me and not the right headspace when reading moment" but the more I stew on it, the more I think it's that I didn't feel the chemistry between them when they came back into each other's lives. At least I didn't feel it enough that I was emotionally invested. I wanted to feel more between them. Feel the pain because we knew it was there. So maybe that is what I needed. I needed more angst.

Jackson is probably one of the sweetest guys I've read in a while. He's patient, loving and just overall a good soul. If anything, he was the one that made me feel the most, which is surprising because I love the jerks.

If you are looking for sweet and safe, then you will enjoy America's Sweetheart. It reads quickly and is an easy escape that can be used as a reading palate cleanser.

Great story line, interesting characters, talented author. Found this book to be a very enjoyable read. There is regret, discovery and lots of sexual attraction. Second chances are possible, especially if the love never died. Don't miss out on this terrific read!

Jackson (Jax) and Allison (Allie) are high school and college sweethearts. Allison drops out of college and moves away to California for an internship, but ends up getting her big break. In the meantime, her relationship with Jax can’t withstand the distance and comes to an end.
Flash forward 10 years, Allie’s career is being destroyed by a scandal and she escapes the hustle and bustle of Hollywood and returns home to Ohio. She didn’t expect to open the door of her parents’ home and find her ex, Jax, opening the front door. Will being around each other stir up old feelings?
This is a perfectly sweet and sexy second chance romance. Allie and Jax were each other’s first for everything and you could feel the unresolved feelings between the two. I absolutely adored Jackson, he never got over Allison and now that she was back he didn’t want to let her go, even if it meant risking his own happiness. Allison took some warming up for me. She almost came across as selfish, that she only cared about her career at the start of the book, but then I warmed up to her about half way through the story.
This is a definite read for anyone who is a fan of second chance romances or loves the perfect mix of sweet and sexy.

I enjoyed reading about Jackson and Allison and their second chance in America’s Sweetheart by Jessica Lemmon, her fifth book in The Real Love series. These two high school sweethearts parted ways after a long distance relationship affected them. Allison dropped out of college to move to Los Angeles for an internship in Hollywood. This position gave her the opportunity for a walk on role, which then became a permanent role on a television show. Jackson wasn’t ready to leave Ohio to be with Allison instead building homes for his dad. Ten years later and we find Jackson having his own remodeling business and Allison fleeing Hollywood after pictures showed her having stolen an Oscar statue. Not all in Hollywood is as it seems. Allison returns to her parents’ home only to find Jackson remodeling the house.

Jackson and Allison spend numerous hours together only to discover that the love they once felt never died, but lay dormant until they reconnected. These two also find that they know each other almost as well as themselves. Jackson knows that Allison needs to return to Los Angeles and continue her acting career. What he does need to figure out is how they can stay together, loving each other, without losing who he is.

Ms. Lemmon wrote a wonderfully moving story filled with sexual chemistry, fun dialogue, and endearing characters that is not to be missed. I highly recommend this book to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

I adore Jessica Lemmon's books and this one was no exception! I was very quickly lost in Jackson and Allison's story. This was a book I found I couldn't put down. Ohhhh the feels! Jessica Lemmon is one who does a great job bringing her characters to life and gets the reader to feel for them. This second chance love story was captivating, endearing and I didn't want Jackson and Allison's story to end. She is a young, Hollywood star who trusted the wrong people and she finds herself back home while the dust settles. Allison is the last person Jackson expects to see again, yet the pull between them is still there. While they don't know each other anymore, the past is in front of them and they work on being friendly. I enjoyed the way this story moves from each of their perspectives and the way the past intertwines with the now. The reader gets snippets of their history as memories and displays their young love. This read was fantastic and if you're looking for a feel good, HEA, this is your book! Be sure to grab your copy!