An intriguing read with some intense moments!

Bethany Maines is a new author for me to read and I really enjoyed how she carefully wove suspense and romance together to create this romantic thriller. I will say, I struggled with the first few chapters as I tried to figure out everything that was happening, to get a feel for the characters, and to understand just exactly what was going on with the Deveraux family. But after the second chapter, I was glued to the story. Dominique was actually quite interesting and I really like the way she was portrayed. She was different, and the fact that she had shared a past with Max, gave the story that romantic flair. She and Max were quite the pair, for sure.

Overall, the uniqueness of the Deveraux family and the fact the someone was out to harm them, kept things intense throughout most of the story. It was a fast-paced read with lots of excitement and mystery, something a bit different from what I normally read. If you're looking for a story that's not too heavy on the romance, yet lots of intensity, then this is certainly one you'll want to try.

1.5 Stars

I wanted to like this book. I love the bodyguard trope and it sounded like a good romantic suspense novel. However, there's never any suspense (it's very obvious who the bad guys are), and Dominque's family was written in an almost laughable way. They seemed like caricatures of political or rich people who lived in the morally grey area and have "dark" pasts and are misunderstood.

This would have to be the best book I've read recently. It was intriguing and a real page turner, but also reasonably light and just all round really enjoyable to read.

The story begins on the premise of U.S. Marshal Maxwell Ames meeting Dominique Deveraux 6 years after he botched up any potential of a relationship with her. But he's given a second chance when he gets tangled up with the Deveraux's when someone tries to attack members of the family.

Great characters and development of them, some nice sub plots and a few twists and turns.

This is great as a stand alone novel but I hope there is more because it was a great read.

Great Suspense! More family drama, mystery, and action than romance, but a great mix and some humor sprinkled in as well.
A drunken night at college six years ago had Max making a complete fool of himself in front of Dominique. He is determined to right the wrong he made all those years ago and earn a second chance at her heart. Dominique's family is not quite your average family and together they try to navigate through all the obstacles that are thrown at them.
Character and plot development were great, and really made the book a page turner. First book I have read from Bethany Maines, and I am looking forward to more.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Intriguing, mystery/suspense filled with a little steamy romance. A story of family dynamics and dysfunction with politics. Truly enjoyed this.

The Second Shot is my first read by Bethany Maines, and I thoroughly enjoyed this intriguing, thrilling and mystery filled romance. The Deveraux family are dynamic and totally addictive and certain to capture many readers attention with the promise of more gripping stories to come. Believable world building, an intense and exciting plot and the added bonus of the passionate relationship between Dominique and Max. The cast of characters within this story have a multitude of deep and complex personalities, but there are also some light-hearted and humorous moments that make their faults all the more enjoyable. I’m excited to read the next in this series.

A drunken mistake in college cost U.S. Marshal Maxwell Ames the love of Dominique Deveraux and six years later, he’s determined to fix the slip-up. But there’s just one tiny problem.When I started reading I couldn't put it down.Bethany Maines is magnifysent and amazing writer.I cannot wait to read more of there books.Keep up the great work.You should definitely read this book.Can't wait for the next book.

Family Drama
Whilst marketed as romantic suspense, it was more a complex tale of family dynamics. The Deveraux cousins are a dysfunctional group under the authoritarian rule of their grandmother. At times I felt the characters had multiple personality disorders as they conversed or acted contrary to how the author had depicted them. The author also seemed confused as to where the story was taking place. A location was only mentioned late in the book when the heroine recognised an Illinois phone number but then the bodyguard mentioned they were in New York and then later talked about the past few years in Chicago...? It also felt like the book was trying to be a small town novel where everyone know one another from high school etc. however they were supposed to be in a large city (wherever that actually was!). There was some chemistry between Dominique and Max and it was nice to see them finally become a couple. Overall the premise of the book was good however it was poorly executed and felt clumsy.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This book was a journey, and to be honest, I’m not quite sure where to start.

I received this book from the publisher, and from a tour company that I work with. Immediately, I’ll admit, I was drawn into the romance of it. Plot be damned, I wanted to know about Maxwell Ames and what drunken mistake he still had to make up for towards Dominique Deveraux after six years, and was drawn in by the romance of it. A US Marshall? Sounds like fun to me. Romance flourishing while dodging mercenaries and bullets is always a win in my book, so I requested it with little regard or a second thought.

When the ARC finally arrived to my kindle, I’d honestly forgotten about it and panicked, realizing that I’d accepted too many ARCs in a short amount of time. I was determined to buckle down and read it, because I wasn’t going to renege on my deal. But then I reread the description and thought: What was I thinking? Romantic suspense might be favorite, but I’m still quite picking about them and to be completely honest, I was so not in the mood. I wanted more fluffy romances, please!

Good thing this delivered… eventually. I went into it sullenly, upset at myself for getting too happy with the acceptance button and didn’t enjoy the beginning of the book. It was a bit muddled, to be quite honest, and it took until nearly the end for me to puzzle some basic things out, and that part wasn’t my mood’s fault. So many characters were thrown at me at once, I was struggling to keep track. I still don’t know who Owen and Randall are, and while they were dead during the events in the book, they heavily influenced the characters still. They were… some kind of family relation, at least.

This book was hugely character-driven, so I can see why things were so overwhelming in the beginning, and the author did a great job of giving them all very distinct personalities. Unfortunately, all of those personalities were very loud and took up a lot of space. So while the side characters were perfectly enjoyable, I felt the character I knew least was one of the main characters, Max. Yes, that’s the hero of the book, the US Marshall. I couldn’t help but think that he and his emotional baggage was shoved to the side, only to be tied up very neatly at the end. I missed a lot of emotional journey’s our main characters went through, because so much of it was focused on the side characters. This was a tad disappointing, even though the side characters were frequently funny.

The whole plot device where Max thought Jackson and Dominique were dating (spoiler: they’re cousins), grew very tired, very fast. And by “very fast,” I mean it took 65% of the book. Max’s internal dialogue about the whole thing was also irritating, because he insisted that he wouldn’t move in on another guy’s territory, and then the next page when she flashed some leg, was like “fuck it, I’m going in,” only to flip the other way again once their lips locked. It was frustrating, and I think there were cleverer devices that could have been used to move the plot along and still roadblock the romance in the way the author so clearly wanted.

Also… a bit disappointed in the way Eleanor was written. She was a bit too big for her britches in a very stereotypical way. Is she a mob boss? Or a dainty elder woman of society? Oh, I get it she’s both. Smiles in your face and stabs you in the back. Badass bitch. Yeah… okay…

Overall, it wasn’t a bad book. I think it was a bit underdeveloped in some ways and over-developed in others, but it had a genuinely good idea behind it. Things might have dragged in the middle and been tidied up a bit too fast there at the end, but it was an enjoyable way to pass the time, if you’re looking for a book that you don’t want to get too invested in during a busy time in life, but can still be interested in how the plot and romance develop. I especially enjoyed the side-plots going on, indeed, they were my favorite part, and the biting one-liners and humor sprinkled throughout. Definitely kept things interesting, and I cracked several smiles! Click here to enter the giveaway!

Thank you Next Step PR for the title, of course, and to Social Butterfly PR for the work you do 😄

I enjoyed it somewhat, but it wasn’t really a romance at all. Maybe it was misfiled on NetGalley, but I wouldn’t have requested it if I knew it wasn’t a romance.

“The Second Shot wasn’t what I expected at all! I thought it was going to be a story full of romance but surprisedly it wasn’t the main point. Funny, hilarious with the perfect mix of suspense. Trust me, the intriguing plot will keep you on the edge. I guarantee you’ll adore every single one of the characters, they were simply perfect in the most unique style. The plot was extremely well written and developed. Once you start you won’t want to stop until you reach the end. I’m so pleased of what I read and I highly recommend it yo you! The plot was different and that make this story outstanding. “

This book wasn’t for me I don’t know why I requested so I won’t leave a bad review due to my error.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I enjoyed this book a lot. However, I wouldn't call it a "romance" since that part of the story is very underdeveloped and nonexistent. It was more of a family ensemble story with a little suspense and a little romance mixed in. That said, I adored every character in the book. Each one was very distinct and had their own secrets and mysteries. It was also very well written and paced. The plot was interesting and kept me engaged throughout, and as I said, I loved all the characters and their interactions. I am definitely looking forward to the next book and to what happens to these characters next. 👍👍

4.5 stars The Second Shot is an entertaining romantic suspense with an intriguing plot and a great cast of characters. For me, I found that the book wasn't just about the mystery and suspense of who was targeting the Deveraux family, but also the interesting dynamic between the various family members. They each presented with strikingly unique personalities complete with various strengths and faults which lended to some rather humorous interactions between them. Still, one can't deny the family loyalty! While there is some action and suspense, there is surprisingly a fair amount of humor and sarcasm which I absolutely loved as it kept me chuckling throughout the book.

As for Dominique, I loved her strength and stubbornness. She thinks nothing of jumping right into the foray and of course Max tries to reign her in (or perhaps it's more appropriate to say supervise her since she has that independent streak?) before she gets into too much trouble. Dominique is a breath of the air and not the stereotypical socialite, but rather a headstrong woman who is somewhat underestimated by her family. Max is a great hero who didn't exactly make the best impression when he approached Dominique at a college party years ago. However, that attraction he feels towards her is just was strong as ever and he has a bit of protective streak without being overbearing. The two of them work well together and make a great couple. I cannot review this book without mentioning the secondary characters as the matriarch, the cousins, and Dominque's brother all fall somewhere between eccentric, quirky, funny, and are all wildly entertaining.

The Second Shot is told from various POVs which I think was a great way to illustrate how the story unravels. It did take me a bit to initially get into the book, but once I did, I couldn't put it down! I am definitely looking forward to more books by this author.

I received an early complimentary version of this book.