Single Daddy's Second Chance

by Bella Brandon

My first love is home after ten years,
With an adorable daughter,
And an absurd proposal.

Marry him…just for a year.
Restore his reputation and mayoral campaign.
And he’ll give me anything in return.

I want to refuse, but…

In our small town,
Cole is the only one who can save my floundering ballet studio.
I’ll suck it up for my mother’s legacy.

We may be moving in together,
But I’ll never tell Cole I still have vivid dreams about him.

His dominant hands and sensual touch,
The million dollar smile he shows the public,
And the sweet, devastating grin he reserves only for me.

I’m a teenager all over again.

But if this fake marriage is going to work,
I need to forgive him for the tragedy that tore us apart.

216 pages, Paperback

Published May 21, 2024

About the author

Bella Brandon is a contemporary romance author who specializes in alpha males with hearts of gold and the women they can’t resist. After a decade of screenwriting, the global pandemic forced her back to her hometown, where she turned to writing fanfiction to ease the long days of quarantine. What started out as a hobby to cope with severe loneliness turned into original characters and a reigniting of a childhood love of storytelling (with added steam).

When she isn’t working to create new and exciting stories, you can usually find her snuggled up with one of her three kitties, gaming, and nursing a glass (or three) of wine.

To keep up with latest releases, and get Soldier’s Secret Baby for FREE, subscribe to her newsletter! https://dl.bookfunnel.com/hdo71cksst

Reviews

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julia Evans and Cole Harrison used to be stuck like glue. That's the way it is when you're high school sweethearts. However, things changed their senior year forever. When Julia wakes up in the hospital with enough where-for-all to understand what had happened, she decides to blame Cole. The accident was nobody's fault, but at that time and age, her life and career were over. Cole was the easy target. He was the guy who would be leaving her, to pursue his dream career. Life is not fair.

And since he was driving the car, she couldn't yell at anyone else. She told him not to come she told him she needed time, and this is what pushing too much, fast, and hard gets you. Get you kicked out of her life with ugly nasty words. Would the same outcome be what Cole was trying to understand even now? Maybe. However, by pushing her and making her see him, he yes got her to show her hand as to what she was thinking. But, it built in more anger and resentment. As you find out later, he didn't keep her safe and protected from hurting her legs. Therapy is still greatly needed to work out the anger issues still there, over losing her ballet career.

However, it's the anger she has for her father for putting her in her current position. Where she has to play ball with Cole to save her home and studio. See how they have to play nice and do some acting for the overall good of the town. Which in the end helps her father, herself, and Cole. The thing they have to remember though is that there is a new heart involved, CeCe’s. Running for mayor is something that involves the family, but it's for the community. Because the guy who had been doing it is
all kinds of bad.

This was a very good story but some of both of their reasonings don't make sense. But, okay being angry at the time, but Julia is an adult now and should have some clarity. Yet, seems just as angry now as back then. On the other hand, Cole is running on family values, yet he never was married to CeCe’s mom. It never says why either or if he loved her the way he loved Julia still.

[BP34 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cole and Julia were high school sweethearts until a car accident took away her dream of being a prima ballerina. Even though it was caused by a drunk driver, she always blamed him and pushed him away. She remained best friends with his sister and parents while continuing to teach ballet at her Mom's studio. Fate brings them back together when his daughter insists on taking ballet lessons from her. His race for mayor takes on a different tone when his opponent starts a smear campaign. She agrees to a fake engagement to help his reputation and old feelings surface. What happens when she finds out about the financial mess her dad has put them in? What is the evil mayor up to? Lots of drama, angst and turmoil as this story develops. The author did a great job of keeping your interest with twists and emotion. Secrets revealed and emotions exposed. A great book with well-developed characters and an engaging, emotional story line. An HEA and no cliffhanger. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kazz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant story of single dad, Cole and his high school sweetheart Julia. They were inseparable and madly in love until it happened. Ten years later Cole is running for mayor and his opponent is the very corrupt current mayor Archie Miller. The campaign race is getting dirty with Miller now throwing doubt on Cole's family platform, when his campaign manager suggests a fake engagement his mind immediately goes to Julia, she is still in town, he still sees her often, she teaches his daughter Cece ballet, his heart still beats harder every week when he sees her. Surprisingly Julia agrees and his campaign is looking good, their relationship is growing, now throw in some unforeseeable twists and turns, plenty of steam, guilt, betrayal, heartbreak,hope and love
A beautifully written romance with great characters that I really loved enjoyed reading.

I received an advanced reader's copy of this book via Booksprout and I am writing this review voluntarily

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is high school sweethearts Cole and Julia’s story.
This is a well written story which has is an emotional roller coaster, with family, friendships, single dad, angst, drama, turmoil, secrets, tragedy, fake engagement, enemies / lovers, engaging and realistic characters, second chances, and love, which leads to an entertaining small town romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This MIND-BLOWING romance book is going to really shatter your whole heart and then some. Cole and Julia have a HEARTFELT love story that ends with a great HEA ending. If you’re needing to add some extra spiciness to your week then this second chance romance book will definitely deliver that to you.

[L KQ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explosively Emotional

Explode your mind with this emotional read. Can Julia and Cole overcome their past so that they could have a future together that he desires? Twists and turns will have you wanting to keep reading until the end.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was Cole and Julia’s story. My first love is home after ten years. He has an adorable daughter.
And an absurd proposal. Marry him…for one year. Restore his reputation and mayoral campaign.
And he’ll give her anything in return. But if this fake marriage is going to work, she has to forgive him for the tragedy that tore them apart. Will it work? Am voluntarily leaving this review.

[booklover0228 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cole and Julia

This is a second Chance story. Loved everything about it. Cole and Julia were high school sweethearts. After a bad accident Julia pushed Cole away. 10 years later he comes back to his hometown. His daughter joins Julia’s dance class. It takes a long time and a bunch of ups and downs but they both finally figure it all out and are able to find their HEA.