Second Chance with the Enemy Next Door

by N.J. Monroe

He’s back. Blake Freaking Sinclair is back.

Ten years ago, my high school sweetheart abandoned me and his family, skipping town and leaving everyone in his rearview.

I’m great at many things, but I excel at two: teaching my kindergarteners and holding a grudge. I’m not one to forgive or forget.

Tired of being a hotshot New York City firefighter, he's determined to right the wrongs of the past. No place is safe from him. Not my classroom. Not the best bar in town. Not even the vacant house next door.

No matter how fast my blood heats when he sneaks past my defenses, I pretend he doesn’t exist. Unless he’s washing his truck shirtless.

Or naked in my bed.

I’m determined not to be swept off my reluctant feet and fall for him again, but Blake’s got more than guilty confessions, orgasms, and flowers up his tattooed, muscular sleeve.

Tricks that will either leave the past in the past or ensure we can never breathe the same air again…

Genres: Enemies To Lovers

210 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2024

Reviews

[Avantia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too immature

I'm sorry but I couldn't make it pass 40% they are meant to be adults but they act like teens! She's angry but let's him touch her while being with someone else... He's too cocky! There were reasons for what happened 10 years ago but instead of fighting for her and justice he left leaving everyone around him to deal with it then after 10 years HE decides it's time for him to be with her? TEN years has passed but he's pushy and refuses to give up which would have been fine up to a year after the fact but he wait 10 years then was expecting her to just fall in line. He should have been trying to get to know her again but he thinks he still knows her - full of himself. Everything about it is just too immature for me.

[Lisa Semmens · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved reading this book

Laughed and laughed. Couldn’t put it down. The character are fantastic and the book is a romantic but not nauseating. I love a strong female in books

[Rick Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun reading

A book you won’t put down. Fast moving and keeps you guessing. It is well worth the read for all romantics

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking a Chance on Love . . .

Blake left town 10 years ago, and now he’s back again. Does he seriously want another chance to hook up with Siobhn? Or is it too late for her to risk her heart? With his former girlfriend lurking around, he may not get a another chance with Siobhn whether he wants it or not.

[Jane Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow this a good book. Second chance romance in a small town. You never know when you go the grocery for milk and and bread who you run into. Blake was a quarterback turned to firefighter. Help me god. He claims he came back to town for me. Everywhere I turned he is there to. I hated him. He winks and smirked at me. He melts my panies when he touches me.

[Dee Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

You won’t be able to put this book down. It has everything you want in a romance book. Loved it! Looking forward to more from this author.

[Realistic Reviews · Rating 1 out of 5]

*I CAN SEE WHY THE 5 STAR REVIEWS ARE DUE TO THEM RECEIVING THE BOOK FOR FREE RATHER THAN GIVING AN HONEST REVIEW.*

Dnf’d at 49%

It’s as if NJ Monroe was trying to meet a minimum word count since they keep repeating topics over and over. Like the several mentions of how attractive Blake is, how fully tatted Blake is, Siobhan’s love for her sisters/girl friends, how much of doozy Dave is, the hatred for Sabrina or Bobby, the list goes on for a book that’s 206 pages. There’s at least 2 mentions of these topics throughout each chapter.

Siobhan is weak, there was no mention of her fiery personality that matches her ginger hair. Her “fiery” persona was just her being childish and immature for someone who says she’s over Blake.

Blake honestly has no comprehension of what consent is and just bulldozed through Siobhan’s life because he’s supposedly now ready to be the man that she needs.


SAVE YOURSELF AND DON’T READ THIS BOOK, YOU'LL BE WASTING YOUR TIME.

[Aussie · Rating 5 out of 5]

- A Small Town, Forced Proximity Romance
- this book has put me through all different  emotions 
- Blake returns back to the small  town after leaving for 10 years aswell he left the woman he loves because of the town thought he cheated on her aswell letting their sport team down
- he works so hard being a fireman but he soon realize  that he is missing the woman that he isn't with anymore
- Shiv is all growned  up but never gotten over her Heartbreak  from Blake 10 years ago but Blake is back and determined  to win her back again, would she take the risk ?
- I despite that  Victoria character as she seem that she can't let go of Blake which made me quite annoyed  but I love how Blake stands up against her
- Blake and shiv are truly meant to be and it does get very Steamy between them
- I love the ending as they finally got married .Was such a perfect ending

[PollyAnna Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second chance stories seem to be a big draw for me. I SAY I don't really like that trope, but yet, when I look at my Kindle selections, there are a lot more second chance stories than I would have thought! LOL. Clearly, I like them more than I think I do! Blake comes home after having been disgraced during his senior year of high school to find that his high school love is as single as he is. Realizing this is his second chance and he can't blow it - again, Blake sets out to win Shiv's heart once more. She doesn't make it easy for him, but he refuses to give up. Of course, there are some steamy scenes to heat things up and help prove that Sioban isn't as immune to Blake as she pretends to be! Personally, I can't believe Shiv is able to resist the hunky fireman she'd fallen in love with when they were just teeenagers!!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though Blake keeps trying to set the record straight, he really does a poor job of proving he did nothing wrong. For the most part, his “wink and smirk” routine seems kind of smarmy and would not make ME believe he was rebuffing the women coming on to him. More damning, I thought, was that it took him TEN YEARS (in which HE had at least one relationship) to grow up and come back to try to make things right. I was on Siobhan’s side! She really needs to find a way to put mean girl Sabrina in her place. The story made me laugh, even when I didn’t want to, and then made me want to cry for all that Siobhan went through, even though she didn’t deserve any of it.

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

[Louisa Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book took me through all the emotions. Blake is returning to town after being away for 10 years, he left the woman he loves because the whole town thought he cheated on her and let their sports team down.
He's spent years working hard as a fireman and he's realised he's been missing his life by not being with the woman he loves.
Shiv is all grown up but has never really moved past her heartache, when Blake tries to win her back can she let him in again?

The women who can't let Blake go made me so angry, but the scenes between him and Shiv show they're really meant to be and they're so steamy!.

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

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blake has returned home after leaving ten years ago in a blaze of shame. His goal is to get back that woman he left behind by coming to terms with what happened in the past. He is met with set back after set back but when he finally comes clean with the help of his brother and friends. will he and Siobhan finally get their chance to rekindle the love they have for each other and finally a chance for happiness.

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

[Jackie Harding · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. It should be labeled as Suspenseful Romance. Oh my goodness I could not put this down until I read every last word. Blake going through obstacles to get back to the one that got away. This book will keep you guessing. Can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

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

[Julie Juhl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Chance with the Enemy Next Door by NJ Monroe was a great book. It is book one of Pink Blossom Lake series. The book is well written and has a unique plot, which made it hard to put down. I am looking forward to the reading the next book in the series.

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

[Dia Beckett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire, fire, fire— so, of course, he's a fireman. Blake is cheeky and feisty, but Siobhan, with her unwavering strength and determination, doesn't deal with any nonsense.
Together, they are a force to be reckoned with, their chemistry sizzling and undeniably sexy.
NJ Monroe has written a sexy and funny page-turner!
I look forward to reading more from this author.

[CRB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny from start to finish. Loved the small town feel of this story and all the various characters had me laughing out loud.
Very steamy, I kept a fan handy.
Definitely want to read more in this series.

[Sharon Rudolph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This was a great fun read!! The book was quick, the characters were wonderful and I loved their storyline! They made me laugh! I can't wait to read about the rest of the characters.

[Pat Weingartner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!

I really enjoyed book 1 in this series watching Blake and Siobhan travel their bumpy road to finding their HEA. I'm looking forward to reading book 2 and will definitely recommend this book to everyone.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a wonderful book!

I couldn’t put the book down. It was so good I had to know what was going to happen since it was up and down the whole time. lol. I am not a spoiler so you will have to read it for yourself. But you won’t be disappointed, I promise.

[Michelle Jameson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adored this book. Such a great romance story. Took this book on holiday for a beach read and literally could not put this book down. Thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read! The mmc after 10 years tries to make things right with the fmc after a break up as teenagers. He's relentless and dead set on making her hear him out and making her his again! Her group of girlfriends always ready at a moments notice for getting together and indulging in man hating and wine just made everything that much more hilarious! Definitely worth the read, especially if you love second chances!

[CRB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny from start to finish. Loved the small town feel of this story and all the various characters had me laughing out loud.
Very steamy, I kept a fan handy.
Definitely want to read more in this series.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great second chance story! Siobhan and Blake were each other’s first love. After Blake and his girlfriend break up. He decides to move back home. Blake left town ten years ago. Because of an incident he doesn’t remember. Siobhan had caught him kissing another girl at a party. Siobhan wouldn’t even talk to him, then. So, he never had a chance to tell his side of the story. He then ran away. But he can’t get her off of his mind. He moves back home. And he knows from their first few encounters that she is still attracted to him. So, he becomes relentless in his pursuit of her. There are so many funny moments in their story. Which is very well written. I literally couldn’t put it down, until I was done. I really enjoyed this book!