With I Want You Back, Lorelei James opens up a brand-new series set around Snow Village, a high-rise apartment complex that hosts multiple winter sports athletes.  This first novel is about a hockey player trying to regain the trust of his daughter and his ex-girlfriend – two people who alternate between being lovable and irritating.Jaxson ‘Stonewall’ Lund is cashing out of his very lucrative NHL career with the Chicago Blackhawks and plans to begin an even more profitable life as a private citizen, returning to his Minneapolis home town and joining his father’s billion-dollar company, Lund Industries.  Part of his plan includes being there more often for his eight-year-old daughter - and trying to impress upon his ex, graphic designer Lucy ‘Luce’ Quade - who is tired of Jaxson’s habit of constantly disappointing Mimi due to his busy schedule and poor lifestyle choices - that things are going to change.  Mimi adores and worships her father though, and Luce tries to make the best of the situation.   She’s dating an unexciting guy named Damon who doesn’t know how to turn her metaphorical crank, and her magnetic chemistry with Jaxson still lingers.Jaxson and Luce met years ago, in the lobby of a car wash.  It was all fireworks from the beginning; she thought he was a dick for being a loud cellphone talker (he was trying to convince his agent NOT to negotiate for a larger salary), he teased her for her taste in magazines.  He bridged the awkwardness with flirtation, and asked her out to dinner.  Soon, their explosive sexual chemistry resulted in Mimi, but Luce refused to move to Chicago when he signed with the Blackhawks, leaving Jax feeling shut out of his family’s life.  Jaxson ended up cheating on Luce with some puck bunnies, and his indulgence in alcohol resulted in their break-up.Jax is determined to prove to Luce that he’s changed, that now sober and level-headed, he will be a good father to his daughter.  He’s even trying to get used to life at Lund Industries, though he finds the corporate world a baffling, dull nightmare.   While trying to solve Mimi’s morning brattiness and her rebellion against their authority, Jaxson and Luce have to put their heads together, and their chemistry begins to take over their well-meaning attempt at staying platonic.Warning: if you don’t like romances where heroes cheat – even though it was in the past - this book is probably not for you.  I have to admit that I was conflicted about it; the author handles it with realism, but it’s hard to look at what Jaxson did and imagine that he’ll be forever faithful to Luce, no matter how strong the chemistry between them.Jax and Lucy are, for the most part, pretty good people; entertaining and flawed, and struggling to be good parents.  But James does have a tendency to make them sound like jerks – sometimes that makes them more human, other times it just makes them irritants, and they do piss each other off like no one else in the universe.  For example, Jaxson apparently always calls Lucy ‘Luce’ as an inside joke because she wouldn’t sleep with him on the first date (um…), and he also says things like “by the third date, you will know how perfectly wicked it’ll feel to have my mouth all over you.” Not sexy, makes him sound like a lamprey, and who the heck talks like that?  Yet she’s a down-home, pizza and beer type, and Jaxson is unpretentious, so their chemistry is generally pleasant. Mimi is a very believable kid, unruly and messy and sloppy, and I love that her big rebellion was over getting into hockey.  Some might fight her annoying, but her not-too-cuteness is a delight. I loved Jaxson’s friendship with his neighbor, Jens, and the couple’s struggles – in Luce’s case to trust and be more vulnerable, in Jax’s case to grow up and stick with it – struck home in an entertaining way.  I found his jealousy of Luce’s relationship with poor, bland Damon mildly amusing.The worldbuilding here is fun – rich but workaday, with understandable conflicts.  Even though Jax is a billionaire, he can’t get his daughter to stop lying to him or wake up at a reasonable time, or stop himself from getting lost in his father’s company.  Jax’s brother, Nolan, is fully primed to be the next hero in the series.Ultimately, the fun, spiky chemistry between the leads, and the charming nature of I Want You Back works in its favor and makes it a worthwhile read.Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/KoboVisit our Amazon Storefront

Retired hockey player, Jaxson, comes home to be a father to his daughter, Mimi, and patch things up with his ex, Lucy.

This story was definitely a slow burn as the main couple had a lot of prior issues to solve. I loved how the author shows Lucy and Jaxon putting their daughter first and foremost while figuring out their relationship. Their family dynamic was great.

This was a pretty good read overall. One thing that did bother me was that this book kicks off a new series for this author, but it is connected to another of her series. Both series share characters, so it was a little confusing at points with names and a small reliance on knowledge of the history of the main couple. It isn't super important to have read the previous book as this one touches on previous acts and stands alone pretty well. I would have preferred to have more of the back story, but seeing as this was the first book in a new series, I didn't know they were connected so closely.

Jaxson Lund retired from the NHL a popular and winning hockey player. He spent much of his career living the clichéd life of women, drinking, and mostly being either an absent father or a combative one. After finally getting his life back together, Jaxson is determined to win back the only woman he has ever loved, Lucy, and be a real father to their daughter, Mimi. The Lund family are the wealthy owners of Lund Industries and expect Jaxson to come on board to help run the company.

Lucy, who also works for the Lunds, has been raising Mimi mostly alone and with only strife and disappoint from Jax. His poor treatment of her in the past has left a lot of hurt and resentment for the several years they have been apart. Now that he has finally life together, Jax has a lot to atone for including all he has done to Lucy. She does not need him disrupting everything she has worked hard to attain in her life and job.

Since much of their interaction has to do with a young daughter, this is where the current strife is centered. They have always had an explosive relationship which might work for lovers but not parents. Jax’s new and improved behavior for the most part impresses Lucy, but consequences from his past behavior may derail any chance of them being together.

This book is first in the Want You series, but is connected to the Need You series where Jax and Lucy are first mentioned. Parts of this story are told in flashbacks establishing Jax and Lucy’s relationship, but not showing much of the bad times. At times I found Jax a bit hard to take; he can be pushy, loud, and has temper issues as well as being somewhat manipulative. Lucy was quite forgiving considering all the hell he put her through over the years; however, since they have a child to consider, she wanted to take the higher road. Lucy shows a lot of grace and mercy I think in this situation. Fans of the Need You series will likely be interested this book to see how their story plays out.

4.7 stars

I knew going into this book that this was going to be a good read. I am not sure that there is anything this author cannot write. This is a big book with a lot of details. She goes all in regarding details and as a reader, I REALLY like that about her books. This is a slow burn romance which makes sense that there would be a lot of depth to the details and how these characters got from there to here. This is not a cookie cutter romance by any means. She covers some pretty heavy topics, one of which I have never seen discussed in romance. Not only is it never talked about but she did it with such grace and tenderness. I realize that people read romance to escape real life things, but sometimes, just sometimes, it is refreshing to see real things that aren't outlandish and how people learn from those mistakes and grow from them. Both of these topics are examples of how bad choices have consequences but it doesn't define the person nor does it mean that someone hasn't learned from their mistakes.

The characters were fantastic. I appreciated how Luce and Jax worked together. They had to overcome so many things that had broken them and learned how to let the past stay in the past and focus on the future. Their bickering/bantering was like foreplay and I loved every minute of it. I appreciate this author taking the risks that she did with them both laying all their cards out on the table. Some of the things were painful and harsh while others were sweet and vulnerable. There was a lot at play here and not just having a child who maybe wasn't as keen on her parents getting back together again or dealing with alcoholism as another topic.

If this is a prequel into what the rest of this series is going to be like then sign me up.

This is my first Lorelei James book, and I loved the story so much that I went back and purchased the first book that introduces the Lund family.

Everything about this book is perfect. How the hero and heroine met, what broke them up, why they are put in a position to have to see more of each other and then finally what get's them back together.

The author builds their second chance romance bit by bit, as the hero and heroine find their way back to each other.

Each layer reveals more back story and advances the plot so that I couldn't wait to get home at night and read what was going to happen next.

Thanks to net galley for the advance reader copy

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40788440-i-want-you-back

I absolutely loved this second chance take-me- back-even-though-I-royally-screwed-up romance! I understand that a lot of readers will not agree with me because of cheating, but this is a worthwhile read to witness a character's redemption and willingness to change and grow, and the power of forgiveness.

I was rooting for this couple. I loved the chemistry between them. I wanted them to be a family for their daughter Mimi. I saw the change and determination in Jaxson. I believed that Jaxson and Lucy were the loves of each other's life. I loved that Lucy could forgive. I was just sad that they wasted years...but I think it was necessary for both of them to mature.

This was one that was hard to put down. Once again I was reading out of order in this series, so keeping all the characters from other books who popped in and out was confusing at first. But I think I understand the whole dynamic of this series, so I'm going to go back and read all the other stories. As a side note, I can see that LJ did her homework regarding hockey--I have no complaints on that aspect. Actually, I have no complaints on any aspect of this story!

This is a spinoff of the other Lund series books, and I do recommend you read them first to get more of Jax and Lucy's backstory. The description above makes it sound a lot less turbulent than it was. Jax is an alcoholic; Lucy doesn't trust him because he cheated on her, kept taking her back to court to screw her over about custody even though he's a multi-millionaire and she wasn't getting any money from him for their daughter (and forcing her to spend what money she did have on lawyers); treated her like garbage and his family (excluding his mom, who knew better) turned against her because of his lies. He had no custody rights to their daughter because Lucy showed up when she was a toddler and found their daughter abandoned while he was drunk and too busy having sex with other women to remember Mimi was even in the apartment (this was in another book and isn't referenced in this one).

I Want You Back takes place three years after Jax has gone to rehab. He's sober, he's retired from professional hockey, he has moved back to Minneapolis and has custody of Mimi every other weekend. He and Lucy are civil because of their daughter but they have a lot of baggage and finally hash it out after getting to a fight in front of her.

Jax does want to get back together with Lucy. The book flashes back and forth from falling in love for the first time and current day tension in the first half and then mostly drops the flashbacks, which is good because they were mostly disruptive. The flashbacks may work better for readers who haven't read some of their backstory in other books.

Lucy is cautious for a number of valid reasons. I have to say that I really appreciate that Lucy wasn't celibate and pining for Jax secretly all these years. She's an adult who had relationships in the 8 years from when they broke up after their daughter was born and now. Lucy's dad cheated on her mom and left so she doesn't have high standards for men in this area. This leads to the reveal that another character in the book had cheated on their spouse of decades before they married as proof that people can get past it, but in my opinion it felt unnecessary. The point is, can Lucy and Jax move on and let it all go? The answer is yes. They have communication ups and downs and a lot to learn, but they get there. One of the major reasons this works for me is that it has been years since they've been in a relationship and they've both changed a lot since that time. Hockey is no longer number one in Jax's life, and that forces him to recognize what he did to all his other relationships when it was. Their first relationship was long enough ago that they're no longer stuck in a loop about his cheating and the breakdown of it.

Another plus is that Mimi is not a cookie-cutter child. She can be sweet; she can be a brat; she manipulates her parents for her own aims and they all work through it together. This is one of the better examples of single parenting in a romance novel that I've read.

The flashbacks in the first half clogged up some of the pacing and it was hard to tell if love-triangle territory was going to be attempted (fortunately no). This is somewhat of a continuation of Jax's redemption but it's not his redemption story. It's about what he does with his life after it. For Lucy, it's about realizing what their future could be now that things are different for both of them. For romance fans looking for epic grovel, this isn't the right book, but it is one where two characters learn to trust each other and each other's feelings again.

The first is the 'Want You' spin-off series from author Lorelei James. Former NHL star Jaxson Lund has returned to the Twin Cities, but he's at loose ends, unsure if he belongs at Lund Industries, or where he stands with Lucy, his ex-girlfriend and mother of his daughter, Mimi. Despite the signs she'd like to leave him in the penalty box, the attraction burning between them reinforces his determination to prove that he deserves a second chance. Lucy Quade is in a good place personally and professionally. She is hesitant to co-parent with Jax, but pleasantly surprised at his ability and the positive changes he's made in his life. Once Lucy lets her guard down, Jax goes all in to show her how good they are together, but will their past remain too large an obstacle to ever overcome?

Smart, sexy, and well written character driven novel. I adore James' style.

4.5 stars

My love for Lorelei James knows no bounds.
Her Need You series (where this series spins off of) is one of my favorites, so my LJ standards are always set very high.

No disappointment here. For reference, Jaxson is in the Need You series and has some very serious addiction issues and is a real jerk.

I Want You You Back is Jax's chance at redemption with his family, his ex and his daughter. I'll admit to some frustration with Lucy but I understood her own frustration with Jax and all the crap he put her and her daughter through.

I loved I Want You Back, it's a fantastic redemption and second chance love story.

I'm not always a big fan of second chance romances. I usually feel like there is a reason why the couple broke up in the first place. Now with this couple that is very true, but I also think neither was fully into things at the start which didn't help when things started to get tough. I get why Jason would want to keep exactly who he was a secret, but that meant from the start he was hiding things and hockey was so very important to him. Lucy had her own issues with men and when she laid them out to Jaxson he knew she didn't expect what should be a given.

One thing I really liked about this was that neither of them jumped into a relationship again. Instead they focused on being parents to their daughter, to getting on the same side to do right by Mimi. Things were rocky as Mimi had to adjust to Daddy not always being fun Daddy, but Jaxson did a good job of not letting Lucy always be the bad guy.

Another great thing about this was that Jaxson and Lucy had some very real talks about why their relationship failed in the past, how both of them were at fault, how they were able to forgive the past and go forward smarter and really ready to make things work. They also didn't hop back into bed hoping that would fix things. Just getting to that point required a big talk, one that quite frankly I was impressed happened due to how it made one of them look.

By the end of the book I was happy these two were back together, happy that they figured things out and that Jaxson, Lucy and Mimi got to experience being a family all together.

This is my first Lorelei James book...but it won't be my last. i loved this storyline! The characters were well developed and hilarious at times. If you are a true romance reader and like a little humor sprinkled into your story this is the perfect book for you! Loved loved loved this book!

I Want You Back is listed as #1 in the Want you series, but when reading it I felt like there were back stories to the supporting characters and probably a hint of the main characters in other books. Looking it up, discovered this is actually book #5 in the Need You, Want You series. This CAN be read as a stand alone, and it's good that way, I just personally like reading these types in order. The relationships with side people add a little extra to the story. That being said, this is an easy read that was quite enjoyable. This series isn't as "steamy" as some of her others, so if you blush easy this is an ok one! :) Now I need to go back and read the rest of the series!

I’ve been reading Lorelei James for going on 10 years and I never grow tired of her writing, with each book she crafts complex characters that show growth throughout, intricate plots, she doesn’t shy away from discussing tough subjects, and while she may make her couples work for their happy ever after, they do eventually get there. Her latest release I Want You Back features a couple whose relationship hit the skids years ago, one in which the trust was broken repeatedly, one in which big mistakes were made, and one to be honest I wasn’t sure how she was going to repair and while it takes time, patience, and a whole lot of forgiveness and work this couple gets there and along the way they find out more about themselves and each other. I LOVED this book for fact that while their relationship was broken, they were forced together because of the child they shared, and they had to really dig deep and examine everything that tore them apart and how they worked in the first place. I felt I was part of this story, that what happened to them mattered to me and I had a vested interest in how it played out. I ran the gamut of emotions reading this book and I have to say that this is Lorelei James at her best.

To say that Jaxson “Stonewall” Lund has made a mess of his life and relationships is putting it mildly. Cheating on his girlfriend, ignoring his daughter, and lying to his parents, brother, and cousins are just a few of his sins, but he’s had a life wake-up call and after getting help for his alcohol addiction and retiring from the NHL, he is back in Minneapolis and is ready to make amends and get his life back in order. He knows he’ll have an uphill battle and that includes trying to figure out his next move business wise, because while he’s been “working” at Lund Industries for the last 6 months, nothing about that makes him happy and Jax knows he has big decisions to make in all areas of his life.

With her ex back in town permanently, Lucy Quade is dealing with sharing her daughter more than she’s ever had to and worrying every time he picks her up for a visit. While she is happy for her daughter that her father is finally putting forth some effort in her life and he has stopped being the antagonist he once was, she can’t help but worry. Thankfully with a great job at her ex’s family’s corporation no less, she is no longer struggling, but seeing Jax more and more makes her wonder if he’s really changed or just putting on a good front.

Flat out, this couple has baggage; hell, their baggage has baggage and for a good part of this story they were having a hard time unpacking it so they could move forward. I do have to give this author big kudos for the incident that made them both realize they had to make some changes in order to make their child feel safe and secure. Because they had history, this book contained flashbacks that let the reader see how they became a couple in the first place, it took us through to their break-up and even delved into the issues that has made it hard for them to be civil with one another and I appreciated that background information because it showed they did have a foundation in which to work from. While there was no doubt Jax screwed up royally on many levels, Lucy was not without fault, and I think the fact they both realized how badly they messed up is what made them reassess and work towards being a better people in general along with being better to each other. I loved seeing the little epiphanies along the way as they worked towards not only being better parents on a united front, but looking at rebuilding the relationship they once had.

No doubt about it Jaxson’s well meaning family from his parents and brother to his cousins were front and center to add nuggets of wisdom or to set both him and Lucy straight. Lucy’s sister was a good sounding board for her and helped her see things in a different light. Some of these scenes were lighthearted, others were eye opening, but one thing was certain both Jax and Lucy have people in their lives that care about them immensely.

This book is a bit heavier than the other books in the companion series, but this couple’s situation warranted it, yet there was no manufactured drama. Each and every situation in I Want You Back had a purpose and meaning, making this book romance perfection!

This was one of my favorite romances of the year so far. One of the first books that I've ever read and arc of and still planned on buying a physical copy when it's released. It was relatable, loving, honest, and showed not only a happily ever after but the work it takes to make a successful relationship.. successful. I loved it, without a doubt would recommend to anyone wanting a solid, full length, and deep read.

This is the story of Lucy and Jackson. We met them in “All you need”, Annika’s and Axl’s story. Jax is an NHL hockey player who had a child with Lucy out of wedlock. You get to discover their past and their issues as they rediscover each other and fall back in love ; the story is in the present with flashbacks in time. Their daughter, Mimi, is a doll and typical of kids. It was a fun, great story. Highly recommended.

It had been a while since I read the other books in the series, so it was great to rediscover some characters and see where they were now in their life : married, with children or not. I am looking forward to the next chapters of the Lund family. I recommend to read this series in order, so you get to discover every character and the family dynamics.

We've watched Lucy and Jaxson through the Need You series and it's never been good. Initially, Lucy seemed like the money grubbing baby mama. Then we learned that Jaxson was the bad guy. He'd made false accusations and taken Lucy to court repeatedly for no real reason. Wow. How does a couple who were once everything to each other come back from all that? How did they even get there to start with?

I'm excited to finally get the details on who this couple are and why. When Lucy went to work at Lund, it was obvious she was a much better person than Jax had accused her of being. She's a hard worker and dependable and mature enough to allow Jax's family to get to know their daughter. As the family watches, it becomes clear Lucy is a good and loving mother.

Jax. Who knew what demons he was dealing with? Most didn't even know he had any problems. He's the golden boy, an amazing athlete at the top professionally and heir to a huge conglomerate. Lucy's know three versions of Jax now. The man she fell hard and fast for, the drunk jerk and now this contrite man trying to be a good father.

James does an excellent job of unfolding this story. Jax is an enigma even to his family and it takes a lot of different scenarios for his family, Lucy, and the reader to see all the sides of Jax. And as we do, he defies all of our expectations at every turn.

Lucy didn't realize she needed to grow too but she learns that she not only needs to learn to trust but she needs to react differently when there is stress between her and Jax.

It was fun getting a few glimpses of the rest of the Lund clan, especially Nolan. I'm looking forward to his story. A lot.

I cheered for these two more than most couples and loved them together and with Mimi.

Jaxson Lund has retired from hockey and is turning his life around. Gone is the man who abused alcohol, slept with random women and the man who didn’t have a relationship with his daughter. Now Jaxson, is trying to build a relationship with his daughter, Mimi and rebuild a relationship with her mother, Lucy. To Lucy, it seems Jaxson has changed. He is more involved in his daughter’s life, and he is doing his part as a co-parent. Jaxson would like another chance with Lucy, but how can she trust him after the infidelities, and being absent during the early years of his daughter’s life?

This book was an introduction to Lorelei James. I enjoyed her writing style, especially the dialogue between the characters. There were times this book felt slow, and there were a few instances where I thought the book could have or should have ended. The flashbacks seems to slow down the book, and I felt the story could have been told with out them.

Ultimately I decided to give this book four stars because the author addressed real issues that occur in a co-parent relationship, and other issues such as alcoholism and STDs. I’ve read many romance novels and I’ve never seen STDs addressed like this. Many kudos to the author for this.

Oh. My. Gosh.

Y’all, this was one of those books that I didn’t want to end. And it’s not a short book, but the more I read the more I wanted to keep reading. I was positively glued to it, and I still couldn't get enough. And that, right there, is the hallmark of a fantastic book to me.

And it was fantastic. This is a second chance romance, so the story is told in present time and in flashbacks which are threaded neatly into the chapters as the characters experience the memories. I sometimes lose patience with books that rely heavily on flashbacks to paint me the picture of the love story, but that wasn’t the case here. I felt like the flashbacks were balanced pretty perfectly with the present love story, and there was no feeling of dread like an anvil was going to drop on me. We already knew what had happened to pull them apart. The flashbacks served to show us what brought them together in the first place, and establish the chemistry and connection that – even after everything fell apart – was never really severed.

I loved it.

I felt like Ms. James nailed the chemistry. I loved the sparks that flew between Jax and Lucy, the tenderness they showed each other, and ultimately the grace they gave each other in order to move on with their lives together. I adored the family dynamic – both between Jax, Lucy and Mimi, and between the entire Lund Collective. I felt like the “blended family” storyline was realistic and authentic and added layers to the love story that made me feel it on a much deeper level. I loved how the Lund collective pitched in, stood up, and stood by while Jax and Lucy sorted through their baggage and slowly made their way toward their happily ever after. There are layers here, and each one is complicated, nuanced, and completely lovely.

I Want You Back delivered for me on literally every level. Not only was the storyline compelling and addictive, but the love story set my heart aflutter and got my pulse racing. I loved the hockey pieces. I loved the character growth in both Jax and Lucy. I loved the sweet slow burn and the tiny little curveballs Ms. James threw at me. I completely adore the Lund family and am beyond excited to get more from them in the future. And I loved – loved, loved, loved - the happily ever after here. It was so sweetly satisfying, so adorably romantic, and absolute perfection for these two. I could not be more thrilled with this book and I absolutely recommend it!

Jaxson Lund knows he hasn't been a good father, for the last eight years he has only made a few attempts to spend time with his daughter. His career in the NHL has kept him on the road and away from her, but it's also enabled him to make excuses to not be around for her, and her mother Lucy too. He has spent the last few years drinking, carousing with women, and trying to get over being crushed by the woman he loved. But no matter how many liquor bottles he fell to the bottom of, or nights he spent with random women, he just couldn't stop the feelings for Lucy from bubbling to the surface.

When Lucy found out she was expecting he offered to help her, but his intentions didn't seem genuine, and he wasn't exactly giving off a responsible air, or making her feel welcome in his life. Not to mention it would have required her to give up a lot of her own, so she decided to do it on her own. But a lot has changed for him in the last eight years, and he wants to prove to her, and his daughter, that he is a better man... he just has to hope they'll believe him, and be willing to give him a shot.

As soon as I read the synopsis for I Want You Back something about it struck a cord with me, and made me feel like I needed to read it, and I am so happy my instincts lead me to it. This one was really tough on my heart, and gave my emotions a serious work-out, but there was a beauty to be discovered there too. The situation these characters found themselves tangled up in seemed impossible. But little by little I saw growth and forgiveness, a relationship start to take shape, and eventually love begin to bloom, but not without a few setbacks. This was such a beautifully crafted story, it shined a light on addiction, and also showed the importance of forgiveness. I really encourage anyone who stumbles across this one to take a chance on it, within it's pages you'll meet some endearing characters, that have an unforgettable story to tell.

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, via NetGalley, and I am leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

This was my first time reading a Lorelei James book and it truly did not disappoint. Great for the fan of contemporary romance, second chances, or sports (hockey!). I'm going to keep James on my to-read list for sure.!