Second Chance Summer

Chance #1

by Emma Hart

From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Love Game and Playing for Keeps is a story of hope and the beauty of getting a second chance at the kind of love that comes once in a lifetime…

“You don’t get a love like ours and get to leave it behind.”

Kia James was never meant to return to her hometown of Harlan Grove, Alabama… But she has.
And Reese Pembleton was definitely not supposed to still be in love with her the way she is him… But he is.

Last summer was the summer to end all summers. It was the summer they both fell in too deep to get out, and try as she might, Kia can’t deny that whatever was there between them a year ago is still there. If she’s honest with herself, there’s so much more there than there ever was, but the way her dad walked out six years ago has shattered her belief of that fairytale love every girl craves.

Reese isn’t giving up so easily. His biggest mistake was not chasing after Kia the way he wanted to when she upped and left him without a word. Despite what she says, he knows her better than anyone, and he knows she still wants him the way he wants her. And this time, nothing will stop him from getting – and keeping – his girl.

But nothing is that easy. When Kia’s dad arrives back in town, family secrets come tumbling out she never realized existed. Everything her mom has ever told her about the reason he left is a lie – but how can she trust the man who, by his own admission, didn’t fight for her as hard as he could have?

With her past and present wants and needs colliding, Kia is thrown into the turmoil of the biggest decisions of her life. And she realizes, sometimes a second chance is all you need.

Genres: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Summer, Young Adult, College

200 pages, Unknown Binding

First published September 21, 2013

About the author

Emma Hart is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty novels and has been translated into several different languages. She first put fingers to keys at the age of eighteen after her husband told her she read too much and should write her own.
Four years later, she's still figuring out what he meant when he said she 'read too much.'

She prides herself on writing smart smut that's filled with dry wit, snappy, sarcastic comebacks, but lots of heart... And sex. Sometimes, she kills people. (Disclaimer: In books. But if you bug her, she'll use your name for the victims.)

You can find her online at www.emmahart.org, www.facebook.com/emmahartbooks, or join her reader group at http://bit.ly/EmmaHartsHartbreakers.

Reviews

[Emma Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

SECOND CHANCE SUMMER is book 1 of the Chance series, and there is NO cliffhanger. There are loose ends that need tying up in both the second book and companion novels – to be announced – but I have tried my best to resolve the main story line in this book.

[[~Ami~]♥Sexy Dexy♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars



I love books about second chance romance. Kia is back for the summer having left Reese a year before to go to college. 

This was an nice simple romance without any crazy drama. Reese was a nice guy still waiting for the girl that ran from him and I can see other readers swooning over him.

It still beats for you Kia...Every day, every beat, it's all for you

What I didn't like was Kia and her reason for leaving last summer didn't feel justified enough for me. Then, fighting her feelings for Reese. As the story progressed I thought they were cute together but I felt more interested in the secondary characters, Adam and Luce's story. 

A cute second chance romance that ends sort of nicely but at the same time keeps you wondering what will happen next.

ARC provided by the Author

[Laurelin Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was such an honor for me to be an early reader of Second Chance Summer. Emma Hart has such an honest style of writing and, as in her previous books, she told another beautiful story with this one. She rocks her characters. They're very real and intense and I believe everything they say and do. I love how her voice isn't overly sentimental, but still filled with emotional depth. I adore Reese. And I super adore her supporting story lines. Really, beautiful.

[Siiri (Little Pieces of Imagination) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second Chance Summer starts just as your usual re-united couple stories do. Kia returns to her hometown and has a haunted past, Reese is the evercharming Southern lad who wants her back. They had a wonderful summer together and they still have the hots for each other. Kia's stubborness and past keep them apart though. We've all seen that before. It was a good novel that flew by and made me miss summer terribly. I really loved Reese and Kia grew on me, but I didn't form a true connection with her. They had extremely cute and sexy scenes together though. I did, however, absolutely adore Adam and Luce though and since I knew Reese and Kia would get their HEA (they're clearly meant to be) then I found myself rooting for Adam and Luce more than for Reese and Kia. As Adam and Luce's story didn't have a conclusion in this novel, I hope that we will see them in the future and they will get to tell us their story scene by scene.

[books are love · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from the author in return for a honest review and boy am I glad I did.

This was so beautiful. There were some intense scenes and ones that we can all learn from but this was just amazing. Reese is another new book boyfriend. He's so precious and sweet and adorable. He is so in love with Kia and no matter how much she pushes him he comes back. He does this to show her that he is there for her no matter what that she is where he belongs.

Kia has a past that has affected how she views everything. Herself, life, love, relationships and even friendships. Her biggest fear is becoming her parents. they messed up big time. Problem is for her she doesn't know all she does about them and is basing her thoughts on what is her perception of the situation. When Reese gets close she runs. And boy does she run. When Kia comes home, she has to face Reese afterall he isn't going to let her off that easy. Reese, though he should be angry really really angry at kia, forgives her and is waiting for her with open arms. The whole time she was gone his love for her grew as did hers for him except she didn't want to admit it. Silly silly girl.

Anywhoo, Reese finally gets her to realize he isn't going anywhere but once this issue is dealt with Kia has her parents and her feeling of inadequacy to deal with, top that with her friend's now crisis with Adam and how she is to deal with her feelings with Reese and we have alot going on in that mind. Will her and Reese continue on? What is up with her friend and Adam? You just need to read this poignant and beautifully sweet book to find out. And Ms. Hart please get the next one in the series out as quick as you can I am dying to know how this is going to continue...

[Alexia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I participated in a blog tour for this book.

Review:
It's hard to articulate exactly what this book meant to me. I related to Kia in a lot of ways,but there were ways that I didn't and couldn't relate to her as well. I couldn't relate to her relationship with her mother as I have a very close and loving relationship with my mother. But I related to her when it came to her father and to Reese.

When I was a baby, my father cheated on my mom multiple times and was abusive to her. Thankfully my mom had the strength to get out of the relationship, but I still wondered about my biological dad. Where was he? Why didn't he try harder to be the father I deserved? And why oh why was he being a better father to my half siblings than he was to me?

I understood Kia's reluctance to forgive her father when she learned the truth.Why forgive someone who could have tried harder to stay in contact with his only child? My father may have had a darker path than Kia's father, but the questions still remain the same. The reluctance to forgive is still the same and the curiosity is still the same.

Kia and I took different paths to figure out what we wanted, but I'd like to think that we still felt a similar sense of peace about the decisions that were made about this man that we barely, and in my case, don't know.

Now Reese reminded me a lot of my on again off again boyfriend.He was sweet, kind, loyal and best of all, he loved Kia. It was obvious to me that he was fully intent on getting Kia and keeping her.Not in a possessive way, thank goodness.He was there for her when she needed him and when she didn't need him, he allowed her to retain her independence, which I loved.

Finally, a female character who knows that she doesn't need a guy to stand on her own two feet. I was SUPER excited about that. Kia is a strong, independent woman who knows that she can stand on her own and she doesn't need Reese constantly.Too many NA books have characters who are in a codependent relationship and that usually ruins a book for me.

"I'm an independent woman and as much as I need Reese, I don't need him to make me okay.He takes away the pain I feel ,but to be okay I need to face up to that pain which means I need to be alone right now more than I need him." -Kia-

This book was amazing. It helped me heal in a lot of ways. It helped me make decisions about my own life. Decisions that I had been wavering on for a very long time. Kia was a wonderful character who I related to big time. I was rooting for her and Reese all the way through because the way they loved each other just jumped off of my Kindle in a magical way. It should come as no surprise that I am giving this book five stars.

[Tricia Santos · Rating 2 out of 5]

**ARC provided by for blog tour and honest review**

So, this book was definitely not what I was expecting at all. I was expecting sweet. And I got insane. I mean, come on, the drama! I forgot how much drama there is in a small town where everyone knows your business before you even do. Second Chance Summer is a quick read about second chances, learning to forgive, moving on, accepting the inevitable, and letting yourself fall in love.

“You ran, and you’re doin’ it again. And you know why? It’s ‘cause you can feel it too, you can feel it’s more than sex, more than a simple summer romance… I can’t see anything other than you. I can’t think about anything other than you.”

Kia and Reece are? Were? Best friends. Until one night they finally gave in, and Kia ran away to New York the next morning. She doesn’t come home for a year. When she comes back, things are still the same. Her father is still gone and unheard of as he has been for years. Her mother is still the alcoholic she has been since he left. And she’s still in love with Reese. Oh, and he’s in love with her too. Even if he has a new plaything on the side (a girl who made me ashamed of being a girl).

“You can’t ever be friends with the person your heart cries out for, and you definitely can’t be friends with the person whose heart cries out for you, too. That ain’t the way it works.”

The plot is simple enough, right? Wrong. I got whiplash from reading this book. Kia is such a teenage girl. She changes her mind pretty much every two seconds. She’ll resolve to stay away from Reese. Then Reese shows up. So then she decides to try to stay friends. Then they end up kissing. Then she pushes him away. And he runs after her. Maybe they don’t talk for a few days. And then repeat. After a couple cycles like this they get back together. Oh, and they mix it up a bit with some of Kia’s past and then some side-story with their two best friends.

“Reese Pembleton owns me. Heart, body and soul. It’s all his. He owns me so completely and entirely it petrifies me. And the only thing that’s scarier than that is looking into his eyes and knowing I own him the exact same way.”

Kia and Reese confuse me. One minute I like them, the next I want to punch them in the face. I understand it’s hard for Kia with the whole dad leaving in the middle of the night when she was just a kid and then her mom not caring about anything else but the bottle in front of her. It sucks that she had to grow up so fast and become the parent in a lot of situations with her mom. I understand that sometimes the emotions are just overwhelming. I understand her need to get out and move to the city to make something of herself. What I don’t understand is basically anything she does that pertains to Reese. She’s like the guy in this situation! She keeps pushing him away and thinking she’s not good for him. Then there’s Reese. I didn’t know whether to think he was sweet or a pussy. He never made Kia fight for him. He was there for her at every turn and call. He relentlessly pursued her, and usually I think a guy who goes after what he wants is hot, but dang I wondered where his balls were sometimes. He did make me swoon a couple times though. He has a way with words…

“Yeah you’re my girl. You always have been, Kia, and you always will be. You try to find me someone that can tell me any different and see what happens to them.”

They were good together though. The few moments they were together. I know they belong together. I don’t know how it’s going to work out with the way it ended. No cliffhanger, my butt. That’s totally a cliffy. Which I did not appreciate. I feel like this book could be a lot shorter. Then combined with book 2. The only really good parts here were the steamy scenes. Gotta look forward to those. I’m pretty curious to see how the best friend plot plays out. Need to read the second one soon.


“Kia, it doesn’t matter where you to, who you’re with, or what you’re doing. You’ll never leave me behind entirely, because you’ll always have my heart with you. You don’t get a love like ours and get to leave it behind. It doesn’t matter where we are, or how many miles are between us. Our love will always be there.”

See full review here http://www.romanceaddictbookblog.com/...

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

[review also posted on my blog http://beentherereadthatreviewedthebo...]

Before this review turns into a long-winded fangirling ramble, I have to say that other than Second Chance Summer, I’ve never read an Emma Hart book before. I had heard a lot about the author and liked the sound of her other books but none of the plots drew me in as much as Second Chance Summer did.

I don’t know yet what other readers have thought about this book, and I don’t know how it compares to other books by the same author. But as soon as I started reading Second Chance Summer, I knew my reaction to this book would be different to other readers/reviewers/bloggers because it felt like I was reading a story written about my summer of a few years ago.

Luckily for me, unlike Kia, my mum’s not an alcoholic and my dad is still around. Yet the relationship between her and Reese, the kind of relationship between her best friend and Reese’s best friend and even down to the mention of (one of my favourite songs ever) Stay by Black Stone Cherry was just so relatable to me. Only, I really loved how Emma Hart told it.

The writing really drew me in. Straight away, we’re thrown into the story but to keep us up to speed, we have perfectly placed flashbacks of what had happened the summer where so much went right and wrong for Kia.

As for Reese, yep I swooned. The whole way through. And even when it was finished and the book was over and I was just counting down the days till Spring 2014 when the next instalment is released.

But aside from Kia and Reese, there were just so many other characters and their stories which were developed well enough to make me care. Kia’s parents, Luce, Adam, Patty, Eric, Jay and even Luce’s crazy brothers were all characters I was interested in learning about. Adam and Luce could have had a book on their own (and maybe they will).

I think it’s pretty clear to say I loved this book. It was heartfelt and had sweet moments, moments to make you laugh and cry and a few things to tie up in a story I just didn’t want to end.

There was also some, ahem, slightly hot scenes which made me swoon even more but just like the flashbacks, they didn’t feel thrown in just to add to the word count. They fit really well with the story and enhanced it too.

Maybe other people will cover some negative things about this book. After all, we all have different opinions and even I wasn’t expecting to become such a fangirl after reading this. However, I did and for me, Second Chance Summer was the perfect book.


*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis: “You don’t get a love like ours and get to leave it behind.”

“Kia James was never meant to return to her hometown of Harlan Grove, Alabama… But she has.
And Reese Pembleton was definitely not supposed to still be in love with her the way she is him… But he is.

Last summer was the summer to end all summers. It was the summer they both fell in too deep to get out, and try as she might, Kia can’t deny that whatever was there between them a year ago is still there. If she’s honest with herself, there’s so much more there than there ever was, but the way her dad walked out six years ago has shattered her belief of that fairytale love every girl craves.

Reese isn’t giving up so easily. His biggest mistake was not chasing after Kia the way he wanted to when she upped and left him without a word. Despite what she says, he knows her better than anyone, and he knows she still wants him the way he wants her. And this time, nothing will stop him from getting – and keeping – his girl.

But nothing is that easy. When Kia’s dad arrives back in town, family secrets come tumbling out she never realized existed. Everything her mom has ever told her about the reason he left is a lie – but how can she trust the man who, by his own admission, didn’t fight for her as hard as he could have?

With her past and present wants and needs colliding, Kia is thrown into the turmoil of the biggest decisions of her life. And she realizes, sometimes a second chance is all you need.”

Review: I was given an ARC of Second Chance Summer by Ashley’s Reading Bliss blog for an honest review. This book started out with Kia coming home from her first year at college. When she left Kia ran away from Harlan Grove because she was afraid of her feelings for Reese. She comes home and sees Reese with another girl and it breaks her heart but she knows that she can’t be with him. She runs into Reese at the car garage when she has to get a new battery. The attraction to one another is undeniable. Reese wants Kia back and won’t stop until he gets her. Kia has a hard time dealing with her family life and Reese is there to help her. I don’t want to give away too much of the story but it was a good story. I enjoyed the read. Emma has a way of drawing you in with her words. I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

[Sweets Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah to be young and to be in love. Have the fairytale life style and romance. Well if that's what your hoping to get from 'Second Chance Summer' then your going to be sorely disappointed. Cause its anything but that.

As our story starts we met Kia and you can't help but relate to her. She's a normal 19yr old girl with a shity life. But most of all she has that 1 true BFF that she can count on. Plus she has her college BFF who is the typical man-whore. But past that she actually goes after her dream of bettering herself and getting out of the god-forsaken town she grew up in. Which I think everyone can agree they want that too when they grow up.

But her dream comes at a price a hefty one. And she has it stuck in her head that she can't have her dream & love. Although some would agree others would just say "you have to fight for what you want". Isn't that the truth? And that is exactly what her love (Reese) does. Of course she doesn't make it easy ,its a uphill battle for Reese. But he doesn't it let it push him away, only fight harder.

Now Kia's story has drama boy does it have drama. But for once it isn't the typical guy/girl drama. You all know what I mean. Nope Kia's drama is parent drama, mainly mama drama. And rightfully so! She discovers not all is as it seems and her f'd up world gets even more messed up. But throughout it all her and Reese are able to grow closer and talk for once.

Now, as for ending I was like 'What, but......no I don't want to wait.' But sadly yes we don't get to see what happens with Reese & Kia, or their friends. We have to wait till Spring of 2014. So not fair, not fair at all. But I'll wait but not patiently! Overall I loved this story and I recommend.

Till next time - Sweets Books

[twobrokegirls · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second chance summer was a sweet story about first loves and second chances.

Kia fell in love with Reese. He was her love. But Kia is a little messed up because of her crazy family. Her dad ran out on her and her mom, her mom is a raging alcoholic and when Kia realizes just how in love she is with Reese she runs. She leaves Alabama and moves to New York to go to school.

She not only ran but hides from everything. She hides her heart, she hides from Reese and she hides her hurt and anger at her parents. When the summer comes and she has to go home she dreads it. She dreads the feelings she knows she will have when face to face with Reese, she dreads being the adult and taking care if her mother.

While home she realizes that her feelings for Reese are still strong and he is going to fight for her. Reese still loves her and he makes sure she understands. Her mother continues to drink herself into stupid and after years of not knowing why her dad left he show up and finds out everything that she was told or believed was not so.

Kia is angry and confused at the new revelation her father has told her. But Reese is her calm in the storm and she knows she is not running this time. She is all in and besides Reese isn't going to let her run.

It was just so sweet. You can't help but love Reese. Oh and the friends Luce and Adam now that is bound to be a explosive story.

If you want something sweet and calming then a great read for ya to pickup.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice romance set in Alabama about two people who had a wonderful summer together last year but then she went (suddenly) away to college in New York and left him behind wondering what happened. She comes home the next summer to deal with her alcoholic mother and she sees him again and the lust and spark is still there.

This was a well written romance, I liked the characters and the writer did really make you feel, through the dialogue and descriptions that you were in the deep south. But, not to stereotype my wonderful southern friends, things are a little more laid back down there and this book was a little too laid back for me. The book kind of just slowly drifted along, came to its conclusion and then said Book #2 to come. I thought the story had concluded so I'm not really sure what Book #2 will be about but because it seems to be set in New York, hopefully it will a little bit faster paced.

[♠ Becka & Cerys ♠ | Spitfire Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Smacks my head on the computer desk* Why, oh why can't there just be 1 book per HEA? It wasn't a cliffhanger - thank God! But all the same, it makes me mad to have to wait 6-7months for the next installment, by which time, I won't even remember what this book was even about.

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled to finish this book. It was lacking something. I just can't put my finger on it.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

I was so happy to be a part of the cover reveal for this book! I love the cover and the blurb immediately had me hooked! (How sexy is a name like Reese?!) I jumped at the chance to receive an ARC of this book and was so excited I got offered the chance! (Thanks Emma!) To top it all off, I saw I was even mentioned in the acknowledgments! That is such a huge honor for me as a blogger- so thank you Emma! <3 <3

I absolutely fell in love with Emma's The Game series, so I already knew she was a talented writer. She does such an amazing job of creating strong characters (both main and side) that you can't help falling in love with and she does a fabulous job of developing them. Second Chance Summer was no exception. She has created an emotionally charged main character who, while having her own issues to overcome, doesn't let that control the tone of the book. While Second Chance Summer tackles topics such as alcoholism and parental issues, it is a fun, sexy read filled with a great cast of characters.

Kia, our main character, has just returned home to Alabama for summer vacation from school in NYC. It is very clear she doesn't want to be there- she left for a reason. And one of them has to do with the gorgeous Reese Pembleton- the boy who she spent last summer falling for. She is determined to steer clear of Reese and of the memories last summer held for both of them. She gave that up as soon as she ran away from him one year ago. However, it wasn't just him Kia was running from. Her mother is an alcoholic and her father took off on them- to say things are complicated for Kia is an understatement. But it does really give you insight as to why she won't let herself be caught by Reese. Upon not obtaining stability in her own home with her parents, who's to say she won't end up the same way? She has walls around her heart in order to protect herself, but it's only matter of a time before the very persistent Reese manages to shatter them around her.

"You can't ever be friends with the person your heart cries out for, and you definitely can't be friends with the person whose heart cries out for you, too. That ain't the way it works." (e-ARC 38)

I loved Reese. He's the definition of a sexy, Southern boy. As much as he hurts from Kia's disappearance, he won't let that get in the way of winning her back. What I love most about Reese is that even though he's in love with her, he is such a good friend to her. He doesn't hesitate in being there for her, even if she does push him away every time they start to make progress. Yet, as Kia clings to the heartache of her father leaving her mother, she can't keep fighting Reese forever. She is ruled by fear and it takes some serious convincing on his end to get her to take a chance on them.

"You want that magic of last summer back, when there was nothing that mattered except us. I know deep down you want nothing more than to turn around right now and grab me and kiss me the way you used to. You want to remember what it was like not to have a care about anything other than the person right in front of you. You want it as much as I do. I want to wake up each morning knowing you're mine and I'm yours. I want you to fall asleep in my arms again just so I can hold you and kiss your forehead. We both know you want everything I do. You're just better at hiding it than I am." (e-ARC 40)

Emma is the queen of writing secondary characters. Adam and Luce are so pivotal in this book and I am really anxious to see what happens for them. Adam, being Reese's best friend, and Luce being Kia's, have always spent time together. Luce has been crazy about Adam, but he doesn't come across as the relationship type. Both of them are charged with sexual attraction and yet neither have made the first move. I liked Luce a lot. She is a great friend to Kia and always has been. When things got to be too much at Kia's house, Luce has always offered her friend comfort at her own.

As I stated above, Kia's mom is a real piece of work. She is an alcoholic, working at a bar where she wastes her money away on drinking. She's never around and when she is, she's usually passed out drunk somewhere in the house. She is bitter over her husband leaving her and once we find out the reason behind it, I don't blame him one bit. The way he handled it however was wrong. Kia did not deserve to be left without answers and be the one to take care of and clean up after her mother as a teenage girl. With all that in mind, it's easy to see why Kia tries to keep Reese at such a distance. She doesn't want to fall so in love him only to have him leave her someday. Yet, Kia's already fallen and now she just needs the reassurance he will catch her every time.

Overall, I love Emma's writing, her characters and their development. Thankfully the story does not end on a cliffhanger, but like Emma said there are loose ends to be tied up in the next book, not just with Kia and Reese, but also Adam and Luce. I can't wait for more!

*Received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.*

[Raima Rahman · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so bad that I got into a reading slump.

[Sab · Rating 3 out of 5]

Come check out the giveaway on my blog for a chance to win signed copies and swag from Emma Hart!

Yet another book by Emma Hart that will make you fall in love... or frustrated that you're not in love. As frustrated as I was. But that's not the point! My point is: this book is sweet. The right kind of sweet that will fill your reading experience with plenty of happy sighs.

Second Chance Summer is the first book in Emma Hart's new Chance series. What a series opener! I've read the first two books in The Game series and they were both really good. This one isn't any different. So we start off with Kia coming home to Alabama for her summer break. I like that the story didn't waste any time and went right to business. Right away we meet Reese and we can see that he has history with Kia. More than that however we find out that there's something else, something bigger, that's keeping Kia away from her home town. Immediately, Reese turns on his charm and tries to win Kia back. That guy is just oozing with confidence that you'll quickly like/love him and will even hate Kia for being so reluctant. Throughout the book, Reese shows Kia just how much he loves her despite everything what she did one summer ago. Just when you think Kia's finally on board she pulls back - much to Reese's and my disappointment. I think I was just cheering for the first half of the book! Come on, Kia. How can you not give him a chance?! Thankfully though, Kia gave in. But then things still weren't perfect at home.

That's when we get to see just what really went down in Kia's family. She had herself believe that she'll somehow end up like her drunk mom, left behind by her dad, if she allowed herself to be happily in love. But towards the end of the story, we find out the real reason behind her parents' marital problems. Kia finding out the truth really broke her and she found comfort in Reese and her friends. I loved that Kia had a support system other than Reese, that she was surrounded by a lot of people who genuinely cared for her. I think this is the what I liked about the book the most: that it wasn't just her and Reese. There was Luce and Patty and Adam and everyone else in the Grove who weren't so eaten up by gossip. It just showed that in spite of how Kia feels about their small town, it was still home. Not the conventional kind, but home nonetheless. I also liked how Kia sorted out her crap and was strong in handling all off it. It really showed her tougher side as opposed to the one that quickly melts in Reese Pembleton's arms.

One other factor that made this book enjoyable were glimpses of Kia and Reese's previous summer - the one where they got together. They were really just brief flashbacks but I loved seeing how they fell in love with each other before the drama caught up with them. They were also somewhat similar to some of the things that were happening in the present. It was almost like Reese purposefully did a couple of things similar to last summer for the sake of reminding Kia how great they were with each other. And they are. All it took was for Kia to accept that Reese wasn't going anywhere and they were back to how they were before, better this time around. I think the only thing that I didn't quite like was the constant push and pull between Kia and Reese. While it was understandable, given Kia's history, I still wish it didn't take them so long. It got kind of dragging for me at some point. But that's just me.

The story leaves readers with a couple of loose ends that'll surely be answered in the coming books. It's scary waiting for the next installments but I'm sure the wait will be worth it. Emma Hart brings another love story that teaches us that in love, taking chances is just as important as giving them.

(I received a copy for review. This did not influence me in any way.)

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find this review and more at kimberlyfaye reads .

"This place is like a drug. It's the last thing you need, the thing you want out of your life but try as you might, you can't fight it. It keeps pulling you back in until you're broken, shattered and dependent."

"One year and Reese still haunts me. His voice is still an echo in my mind. I still feel his touch whenever goose-pimples snake across my skin, because the feelings are one and the same."

I love a good second chance love story, especially when the characters are so obviously still in love with each other. Kia and Reese are meant to be. Their chemistry was intense, their feelings for the other obviously still very real and powerful. Friends since they were young, Kia and Reese shared one magical summer together. Then Kia ran away, afraid of her feelings for Reese and afraid of getting stuck in her small hometown. Now she's back for another summer and Reese is determined to get her back. She learns a lot about love and life, and deeply-buried family secrets come out and change her entire perspective on love. And Reese.

"It still beats for you, Kia," he whispers back. "Every day, every beat, it's all for you."

"You drive me crazy in every way possible, girl. You're it. And you know it. You're all there is for me. You're my forever."

This book is one of the rare situations where I actually like the male lead more than the female. I think it's because Reese isn't your typical male. I love that he was so up front with Kia when she returned. He wasn't afraid to put himself out there and tell her what he wanted. He was sweet and swoony and honest. The perfect Southern gentleman. I want one. I wanted to scream at her to just take him back. I understand she didn't want to get "stuck," but it frustrated me that she just ran away from him after their summer together. She didn't discuss it with him or give him a chance to tell her he would follow her anywhere.

"Because, really, all love is, is throwing caution to the wind and holding onto the beautiful feelings that blow back."

Kia's strained relationship with her mother played a huge part in her feelings about love. Her greatest fear is getting stuck in her small Alabama hometown because of love and then having that love leave her broken. She refuses to follow in her mother's footsteps. Truthfully, I shouldn't even call this person a mother. She's never there for Kia, so thankfully she has a fantastic "replacement mother," Patty. I absolutely loved Patty and Eric. They were there for both Kia and Reese to offer a shoulder and advice and, sometimes, a swift kick in the butt when needed. They were truly wonderful characters.

"You can't ever be friends with the person your heart cries out for, and you definitely can't be friends with the person whose heart cries out for you, too. That ain't the way it works," Eric comments absently.

Second Chance Summer is one of the best second chance love stories I've ever read. It was realistic. Believable. Kia and Reese were so obviously right for each other, so obviously still pining for each other, that I couldn't help but get wrapped up in their story and cheer them on. Their dialogue was perfection. There were so many swoony boy quotes in this book that it made me feel all the feels. It was a quick and easy, sweet and charming, sexy read. Second Chance Summer was a perfect escape with a bit of a cliffhanger that will leave me pining for the next book in this series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All quotes come from the review copy and may differ from the final version.

[Rachel R. (My Book Empire) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma Hart never fails to make me swoon with her stories.

In Second Chance Summer, we have Kia, a teenager who wants a normal and quiet life in New York. She was trying to get away from everything, starting from her alcoholic mother up to her absent father. Then one summer, she decided to go back to Harlan Grove, and that’s when everything gets complicated once again, especially with having Reese, her ex-fling, around. Will Kia give her past a second chance? From being the small town girl and then growing up in New York, I’m sure it was hard for Kia to adjust without her parents guiding her. For me, she was a relatable character. She’s a 19-year old girl figuring out what she wants to do in life. I was surprised when she decided to go back to Harlan Grove, but then I realized that there is still no place like home. She missed that familiar feeling of tranquility and safety. She missed being home. Seeing her mother drown herself with alcohol made me feel very sad for Kia, because she was the one taking care of her instead of the other way around.

It was nice to see Kia being vulnerable and loosening up a little. When she first came home, she immediately thought that nothing good will ever happen to her and seeing Reese did not help too. But I loved the undeniable attraction and chemistry between the main protagonists. We can clearly see that Kia was trying her best not to fall for him again, but the thing between them is just so easy and so natural, that I can’t help but root for them from the very beginning. (Plus, Reese was hot too, I promise.)

I also loved the fact that the author also focused on some other characters in some parts of the story, like Luce and Adam. Having an idea of what they are like also made me understand Kia and Reese’s personalities and relationships. They’re all outgoing and fun to be with, so there were no dull moments when these four are together. I am also glad to see them rekindle the friendship that they had the previous summer.

Reese never failed to make me smile and blush while reading this. He knows the right words to say and the right things to do. He knew what he wanted from Kia from the very beginning and he did not stop until he got what he wanted. Kia, on the other hand, knew what she wanted but she never admitted it to herself. She just kept on fighting her feelings and controlling her emotions and it was just so frustrating at times. One moment you think that they’re going to be together, and then the next, she’ll second guess herself again. I understand that she thinks Reese will leave because that’s what her parents did, but seeing all of his effort should be enough proof. Although one thing that I did like about her is that even though there are tons of problems that she has to face, she stayed strong and she stood up for herself.

Also, it was fun reading about the snippets of flashbacks that Hart squeezed in. I loved all of them!!! The moment when Kia realized how strongly she felt about Reese, and her reluctance – all the rawness made me turn every page of this book.

This is a story that makes us realize the importance of giving someone a second chance, even if it is such a risky move. Try it again one more time, and you’ll see that it REALLY IS SWEETER the second time around.

*I received an ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review. This, however, did not influence my review in any way.*

[Jodie Squelch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Emma Hart’s writing ever since I read the memories series and this book was just as fabulous!
Kia James ran away from her screwed up home life to New York for college……She manages to avoid returning to Harlon Grove, a small town in Alabama all year but has to face the realities of home once summer break arrives….
Home for Kia was once a happy loving place till one night in her thirteenth year when her dad just ups and leaves without explanation…… this leaves Kia and her mom heartbroken…..Kia’s mom finds escape within the bottom of a bottle of vodka….
Within the small town of Harlon Grove everyone knows everyone and their business…… Kia not only has to grow up overnight but also shoulder all the town gossip about her family...... she works hard at school so at eighteen she can escape small town living for the big apple where she can become invisible….
Her only saving grace in Harlon is her best friend Luce.... Kia’s last summer before college was the summer to end all summers….with the help of Luce, Adam and Reese Pembleton!
Reese is your typical small town southern cowboy…. With floppy hair, chiselled jaw and ribbed abs…. he is sex on a stick…. And he wants Kia…. A hot summer fling is had.
Even with thousands of miles and a whole year Kia can’t forget Reese….
On return to Harlon a whole year later…… Kia wants to stay hidden, especially from the one and only Reese Pembleton….. Her broken home life as left Kia with many insecurities and a 6ft wall around her heart!
In true small town fashion……Kia is face to face with Reese and instead of hating her for running….. He is still crazy about her and she isn’t sure how long she can resist him and his charm.
Reese won’t let Kia run again without a fight….
‘You don’t get love like ours and get to leave it behind.’
Reese charms the pants off Kia and not only breaks down her 6ft walls but worms his way in to my heart too…. Emma sure knows how to create swoon worthy book boyfriends…..
This paragraph just completely made my heart melt
‘Kia, if I’m certain of anything, it’s that you were made for me. I know when the girl that holds my heart in her hands has left the arms I promised would always protect her.’
No matter how many times Kia pushes Reese away he keeps coming back which allows her to let him in to stay. With Reese not far away and Luce support Kia can start to overcome her insecurities and deal with her family drama….
‘Kia, it doesn’t matter where you go, who you’re with, or what you’re doing. You’ll never leave me behind entirely, because you’ll always have my heart with you. You don’t get a love like ours and get to leave it behind. It doesn’t matter where we are, or how many miles are between us. Our love will always be there.’ How can you not love Reese when he says shit like this….
I loved loved this sweet romance story which is full of drama, sex and swoon worthy moments…. Emma Hart is able to get the balance just right which for me give this book a more realistic feel and enables you to connect with the characters.
I can’t wait for more of Reese, Kia, Luce and Adam in the next instalment in this fabulously, witty, quirky series…..
For me this book as just added more concrete to my already growing Emma Hart fan girl status…… I can’t wait for more of her work!!!!

[Emily McGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second Chance Summer was my introduction to Emma Hart's books. Can I just say... Wow! This book is a perfect blend of all the things I love about the New Adult genre. The angst, love, heat and, of course, my weak spot a southern gentleman :) We meet Kia as she is coming back home from college for summer break. She never wanted to return to the life of a broken home and a neglectful drunk of a mother but, she had no other choice. Kia just wants to keep her head down and get back to school ASAP. But things aren't always as easy as they seem, right? Soon enough she runs into her summer-after-high-school sweetheart and he's not about to let her go again. Reese Pembelton is my hero. I said it. He is. He's charming to the max. Loving to a fault. And completely devoted to Kia. She may have left without a word but, his love for her never wavered.

This summer will be the most trying Kia has ever had. Her problems are piling up and she doesn't know who to trust, who to confide in, or what the truth is. At the top of her list is her father. He's back and is toting the family's dirty laundry with him. Meanwhile, Kia is at hew wits end with her mother's addiction and careless lifestyle. Reese, on the other hand, is her rock. She may not have asked for his support, but he's offering it up freely. Kia as so much baggage that she doesn't know what to do with it all. But she starts weeding out the important from the bullshit and all that's left worth fighting for is Reese. Her family will never be the supportive, caring family she needs them to be. But Reese is willing to take her on, baggage and all. And this time when the summer comes to and end he won't let her walk away so easily.

Every girl needs a supportive, "I'm never letting you go again" guy like Reese in their life. He is the epitome of what guys should be. And Kia is a complete hardass. At times I was so frustrated with her standoffish attitude towards Reese. But, I get that she needed to be the one to work through her own drama and she finally stands up for herself. I really felt like standing up and clapping for her. Once Kia laid her family demons to rest, as best she could, it paved the way for her and Reese to finally have their HEA. Only problem? She has to back to school, miles away, and Reese has his life in Harlan Grove... I won't spoil their ending but... I will tell you that this series is going to be continued. This was such a wonderful story. I felt like Kia had a huge journey ahead of her and handled it a maturely as can be in her situation. And Reese... well he's just my favorite! I loved their story, and I definitely hope to see more of it in the future.

Happy Reading!
*Review copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review*

[Dianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Also posted at Oops! I Read A Book Again*

Thank you to Emma Hart for the review copy! This in no way affected my views of the novel.

Shockingly, this is my first book by Emma Hart, which feels so wrong and weird. But I've been meaning to start her The Game series ever since Sab named her Kindle Braden after the guy from Playing for Keeps. I went into Second Chance Summer excitedly and it was good until I felt tired of it.

I ended up reading this book in a span of two months because I just couldn't finish it. I almost gave up on it but I felt bad so I dropped it and picked it up multiple times in that time period. It's just that, it was actually good at the start. I felt like I'd like it. And then, the repetitiveness started grating on my nerves. What repetitiveness, you might ask? It's just that, the book was from Kia's perspective so we get a lot of insights on her thoughts and all that. She makes small problems seem a lot bigger and she runs away from Reese instead of talking and they make up then she'll run again and they'll try to solve the problems. Again and again and again. After some time, it felt soooooo done, like, isn't there a new plot? A new arc or problem to solve? The conflicts just took a different face but it's still the core problem. I know this is due to Kia's childhood and all that but come on, stop.

Moreover, Kia, of course Reese will be jealous with your best friend (who I forgot the name but I'd like to read more of) because you guys are living together/will live together and duh. I mean, I know, Reese shouldn't be jealous but don't get shocked when he does. Then we get the side characters I actually like and then I found them kind of meh at the end due to their plot arcs. Then I learned that this is a freakin' series and I can just imagine what's going to happen in the next books and gosh, all of that could have been condensed into a single book.

I still recommend this book because the writing was well-done and the feelings and emotions really shone through. But it was too much for me because I need more meat. And yes, I know I love YA novels full of emotions and angst even though it kinda feels repetitive and I admit I have a double standard with NA. I guess I ended up not loving Kia as a heroine so I ended up feeling so meh about this one. I'll still check out Emma Hart's other books though!

[Donna ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an AMAZING read!!! I absolutely loved the connection between Kia and Reese. The depth of their love for one another was jumping off the page. I was happy to take their journey with them as it was filled with love, heartache, trust and the ability to overcome obstacles.

Kia James, a girl from a small town in Alabama who moves to New York to attend college and escape the pitfalls of her past. But summer break is upon us and Kia returns home after swearing she never would. Will she be able to face what she left behind…..Reese Pembleton?

Oh my goodness…holy hotness!! Hello Reese Pembelton! The swooning has commenced. Reese is a good ole’ southern boy who was left with nothing but a broken heart and questions after last summer. When he wants to he can turn on the charm, but will it be enough to win back the girl that owns his heart?

You could feel the connection of Kia and Reese radiating off the pages. Kia has decided that she cannot succumb to her hearts desires and allow Reese back in, because having to leave him would just break her completely. Her solution….”Just friends”.

“Then remember what I said,” he mutters, his eyes slowly crawling my face until they meet mine again. “Because if I have to kiss you again, you’ll be begging me for something, and baby, it won’t be friendship.”
~ Reese

I could sympathize with Kia and her inability to trust for fear of her parents past mistakes taking hold of her future. When you have only been told half-truths, it may not be easy to face the truth when it arrives at your doorstep. But with the love and support of Reese, Kia faces her family’s past and decides to take hold of her future.

“Because really, all love is, is throwing caution to the wind and holding onto the beautiful feelings that blow back.”
~ Kia


This book had me smiling at Reese’s charm, praising Kia’s determination, hopeful with anticipation and of course what’s a good book without some tears. I really felt the connection the characters and the story pulled you in and didn’t let you go until the last page. If you have never read a book from Emma Hart make this your first one…because I guarantee you it will not be your last. See what’s next for Kia and Reese in “Third Chance Together”, book two of The Chance Series, coming Spring 2014.

[Holly Reads Xx · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*

I love Emma Hart's books and Second Chance Summer was no exception. True to Emma's usual style of writing, SCS is a great mix of fun, sexy and drama so if you haven't read it yet, you definitely should.

Kia James moved away from her hometown of Harlan Grove, Alabama to not only attend school, but to escape. Living in a small town where everyone knows your business and there's constant possibilities of running into the boy you gave your heart and more to last summer meant that Kia couldn't get out of there fast enough. But as the next summer rolls around, it's time for Kia to face everyone she left behind and also the person who left her behind.

I loved pretty much everything about Kia and Reese's relationship. Their chemistry was sizzling!!! Honestly, I'm surprised that smoke didn't start pouring from my kindle. In typical Emma style, the sexy scenes were SEXY but for me the main attraction was their connection and the complete and utter love they have for one another. It had me a puddle of mush on more than one occasion.

There was a great bunch of characters involved in this book. Kia was very likable and you couldn't help but feel for her and what she went through with her parents, and the reason she tries to keep Reese at a distance. Reese was swoon-worthy in a melt-your-heart, slide-your-panties-off kind of way, but I was hoping for more of a rip-your-panties-off man. He was a little too sappy for me but I still absolutely loved him.

The book was left open for a sequel which I'm very much looking forward to, and I'm also hoping that some of the secondary characters get their own books such as Kia's best friend Luce, because she was fantastic and I would definitely love to see more from her.

If you haven't read any books by Emma Hart yet then what have you been doing???? That should be fixed immediately! And if you are already a fan of Emma's fabulous New Adult novels, then you will love Second Chance Summer. A must have for all TBRs.

[Zili · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second Chance Summer is the first instalment in Emma Hart's latest New Adult series. As with all of her books, Second Chance Summer features complicated and troubled characters who have a lot to overcome before they can find their HEA.

The Main characters Kia and Reese have known each other for forever, and after chasing Kia for a long time, Reese finally won her over. They spent the previous summer together before Kia ran off to New York to start Uni. A year later and Kia is back home and however much she tries to avoid Reese and forget what they had she simply can't.

At times Kia and Reese reminded me of Ella and Micha from Jessica Sorenson's The Secret of Ella and Micha. Second Chance Summer is in a similar tone, so if you liked Ella and Micha's story then I'm sure you'll enjoy Kia and Reese's.

Reese is most definitely swoon-worthy and patient. I thought he was really forgiving - Kia did run out on him a year ago, and for all of his bad boy reputation and image he was really sweet and caring with her. Don't worry, Reese isn't all sweetness; he's also cocky, determined, playful and a sometimes-pain-in-the-butt! The smexy scenes are super hot and I loved how Reese seemed incapable of not saying anything smutty to Kia!

I won't go into the plot anymore as I don't want to give anything away, but I will say how I felt that there was an overwhelming sense of hope. Even though Kia's been lied to, betrayed and put upon she begins to open up and Reese is strong enough to help her. Bring on book #2.

4 Stars in my Sky!

My fav non-spoilery quotes:

•"That's the problem with you girls - you all complain when we're dicks to you, but when we're nice you crush us."
•"I'm the mechanic around here, Kia. If anyone is giving a service, it's me, and I'm pretty sure you're next on my to-do list."
•"You know, sometimes you can be the cutest guy ever, but others you're a total pig."

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Also reviewed on my blog Zili in the Sky!

[Tamsyn Bester · Rating 4 out of 5]

** 4.5 Stars **
Second Chance Summer is a sweet love story about second chances… Kia James and Reese pembleton are a young couple who fall into a summer of young love and bliss, until Kia decides that leaving her home town for something better is her only option… Reese is left confused and heartbroken, and when Kia returns a year later, for the summer, his feelings for her haven’t changed.
Being back home, Kia realizes that it wasn’t Reese that she was running from a year ago – it was her fear that her parents history would somehow become her future. Seeing Reese after all the time that has passed reignited the feelings she spent a year repressing and when spending time with him is inevitable, she finds herself reliving the magical summer that brought them together. This time, Kia won’t allow the mistakes her parents made to come between her and Reese and she finally accepts that the only way to prevent that is with Reese at her side.
I feel like Emma Hart went in a slightly different direction with Second Chance Summer than with Playing For Keeps. While what Kia went through with her parents was challenging, it wasn’t the kind of situation that pulled at your heart strings. Instead, it was the swoonworthiness of her relationship with Reese that keeps you reading. Their best friends, Adam and Luce, provided much entertainment throughout the book and left me hoping that they too will get a book. This was a very light read, but suits the New Adult genre perfectly and described the experience of two young teens that experience a summer of firsts rather accurately. There’s a cliffy at the end of the book, but not a relationship cliffy and I hope we’ll get to read more from Reese’s POV in the next instalment.
I enjoyed this book, as I do all of Emma’s books, and as always, look forward to what she will come up with next!

[Mary Tatar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma has done it again. She has written a book that I absolutely love. Second Chance Summer was one of those books that grabbed me right away. I loved that this book took place in the south in a small town where everyone knew everyone. This really was a sweet love story and the characters were strong and addicting. I can't help but want to be friends with them.



Kia James returns to her hometown of Harlan Grove after leaving a year ago for college. She not only left her life behind but also Reese. Kia and Reese both had the best summer of their lives but all good things come to an end. Now Kia is back and doesn't have any intention of even seeing Reese. He never even cam after her and the reason she had to get out of that town had nothing to do with him. Now That Reese knows Kia is back for the summer he's ready to turn on his southern charm and win her back, The biggest mistake he ever made was not running after her, He has been miserable every day that she was gone. When family secrets come out it is Reese who finally is able to catch Kia before she falls. Now they are both ready to give one another a second chance.



Not only doe I love both Kia and Reese, but I love hoe honest they are with their feelings. There are no ulterior motives. They both know what they mean to one another and that honesty is why I love this book so much. He in a way is like her knight in shining armor ready to rescue her when she needs him to.



If you haven't read any of Emma's books then you really should. This is the first in the Chance series. Now the ending was kind of left wide open. Anything can happen. It kind of felt like a cliffhanger with a hea, but I'll let you be the judge of that. So if you love a sweet summer love story then this is exactly the book you will want to read.

[Broadway Girl Book Reviews (Beth Lattanzi) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: 4.5

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a second chance at love? No more regrets of the past but just being able to be with that one person again?? Sit back and experience that with Kia and Reese in Second Chance Summer!

I fell in love with Reese. I thought he was so open and honest with his emotions that it blew me away. He knew exactly what he wanted and although he didn’t go right after it when it (she) left he gets a second chance. He knows that anger will only push her further away so he takes a different approach and shows her how they are meant to be together. The words that he spoke melted my heart and I wish that a guy would say those things to me.

One of my favorite quotes:

“Tonight isn’t about any of that- it’s about me holding you so tightly you’ll wake up tomorrow morning believing I’m never gonna let go.”

Kia has issues with her parents and their separation. Her mom’s an alcoholic that can’t get over the fact her husband left in the middle of the night. Unfortunately there are tangles of lies weaved into the mix that will be brought out that could have changed circumstances in the past. Had Kia known the true reason behind her father leaving maybe, just maybe, she wouldn’t be so hesitant with Reese. I did become frustrated with her at times because they are meant to be together but she keeps him at an arm’s length to help protect her. Her fear is becoming just like her mom.

I’m a little torn with the ending…. Of course there is another novel coming but it leaves it wide open. Who knows what the future will hold for both Kia and Reese but with a love as powerful as theirs I hope that they end up finding their happily ever after together.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kia James has had a hard life. Her dad left 6 years ago with no excuse making her mother into an alcoholic. Kia is forced to grow up and become the parent to can take care of her mother. After spending a year in N.Y.for college, she has to come home for the summer. She is dreading coming home after last summer when she fell completely in love with the oh so sexy Reese. She does everything possible to avoid him but when her car breaks down she is forced to go to his job to get it fixed.

Reese is determined to get her back. As angry and hurt as he is and continues to get hurt he keeps trying to convince Kia that they belong together. Kia is terrified to allow Reese to have her heart because of fears she hasn't told anyone about. She begins to start snooping for information about her parents separation when her dad shows up. Her bitterness and hatred is unleashed until she finds out the truth of why her father left.

Kia's best friend Luce had been in love with Adam for forever. They bicker and flirt to no avail. Neither of them will admit there feelings until one drunken night they give in to their lust. With the fear of the ramifications, Luce now has a broken heart to deal with as well.

With both girls feeling broken and completely alone, they are left with the decision to run away or turn to the one they love.

This book was just lovely. I think I fell in love with Reese. His determination was so awesomely adorable. He didn't let anything get in the way of having Kia. I definitely want someone that in love with me. Kia was definitely an interesting character. She is someone who people can relate to. She had been hurt and feared of getting hurt. I definitely recommend this book to NA lovers and anyone who loves a good love story with a bit of heartbreak.

[Aestas Book Blog]

Ooooh!! A new second-chance romance!!

“You don’t get a love like ours and get to leave it behind.”



Kia James was never meant to return to her hometown of Harlan Grove, Alabama… But she has.

And Reese Pembleton was definitely not supposed to still be in love with her the way she is him… But he is.

Last summer was the summer to end all summers. It was the summer they both fell in too deep to get out, and try as she might, Kia can’t deny that whatever was there between them a year ago is still there. If she’s honest with herself, there’s so much more there than there ever was, but the way her dad walked out six years ago has shattered her belief of that fairytale love every girl craves.

Reese isn’t giving up so easily. His biggest mistake was not chasing after Kia the way he wanted to when she upped and left him without a word. Despite what she says, he knows her better than anyone, and he knows she still wants him the way he wants her. And this time, nothing will stop him from getting – and keeping – his girl.

But nothing is that easy. When Kia’s dad arrives back in town, family secrets come tumbling out she never realized existed. Everything her mom has ever told her about the reason he left is a lie – but how can she trust the man who, by his own admission, didn’t fight for her as hard as he could have?

With her past and present wants and needs colliding, Kia is thrown into the turmoil of the biggest decisions of her life. And she realizes, sometimes a second chance is all you need.