The Second Jam

Love and Skate spin-off #1

by Lila Felix

*This is Book One of the Love and Skate spin-off series.*

For months, Cyrus Black has been in hiding. After ruining his cousin’s chances of college, he goes from job to job, from place to place, making sure he doesn’t have to face them—or himself.

Beatriz Morales is set. She has a plan, a schedule, and a dream. Life has thrown her a few curve balls, but nothing keeps a derby woman down.

She’d never admit it, but she’s stretched too thin. Something has to give.

Love doesn’t just choose a person to see our strengths—sometimes love chooses the person we trust with our weaknesses.

The choice is hers.

Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Roller Derby

ebook

First published January 9, 2015

About the author

Lila Felix is full of antics and stories. She refused to go to Kindergarten after the teacher made her take a nap on the first day of school. She staged her first protest in middle school. She almost flunked out of her first semester at Pepperdine University because she was enthralled with their library and frequently was locked in. Now her husband and three children have to put up with her rebel nature in Louisiana where her days are filled with cypress trees, crawfish, and of course her books and writing. She writes about the ordinary people who fall extraordinarily in wild, true love.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lila Felix has done it again...
Her Love and Skate series is totally phenomenal and being able to continue on with the next generation is just AWESOME!!!!
The derby girls are so much fun to read about. They are ever witty and strong.. just the right type of heroine you love to read about...
And then you have the male lead that just makes you go weak in the knees...yes...meet Cyrus Black...
Complete swoon worthy...
The Second Jam is a beautiful love story and it gripped my heart from the beginning...and absolutely that feel good read that leaves with a huge amazing smile on your face...
A definite must read!!!

[Mandy Reads Indie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I for one am glad to be back in the derby world we all came to know and love in the LOVE AND SKATE series. Now the Black kids will have their time to shine. They are all grown up and ready for the real world. A world full of derby bouts, bruises, and hairy situations.

Nellie and Owen's son, Cyrus, has cut himself off from the family after a terrible downfall went down. A downfall that will grip at your heart strings when it is revealed. But Cyrus is definitely one of those characters that will stand out throughout the coming series ahead. Just like Owen did. Just like Falcon did as well. Readers are going to fall in absolute love with him and his laid back personality. Laid back...but oh so swoon worthy and sexy.

And not only will readers love Cyrus...but hearts are going to fall for Beatriz too. She is a no nonsense, take action kind of gal. A tough cookie. But deep inside she is full of love and has a giving heart. I loved her from the start! I loved her attitude and her spunk. Cyrus is definitely going to have his hands full with her.

The plot will pull you in, if the mere fact that this is a spin-off of one of the greatest stories ever told hasn't already. I was heartbroken for what the characters go through and even had to wipe a few tears away during a special time between Nellie and Beatriz. My heart was so full of emotion reading this wonderful read. Oh yes, it was good to be back.

THE SECOND JAM is a drop what you are reading kind of read! I wholeheartedly recommend it to any and all who love a sweet, clean story that will have you hooked from the start. Felix is a genius when it comes to romance and will have you swooning after her characters in no time flat. 5 Brilliantly Done Stars!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a spin off of the Love and Skate series...20 years later...

First off it was so GREAT being back in this world!! I missed the Blacks!! Cyrus is totally swoon worthy and Bea is a total firecracker!!! Absolutely LOVED them!!!

Cyrus was estranged from his family because of something that happened in the past...he's on his own trying to make it by and not doing a great job. Of course Bea is a derby girl on Nellie's team...aka Cyrus mom!

Love how Cyrus and Bea meet...definitely not what you'd expect!! I love how she helps him out while in turns he's helping her even though he doesn't know that. They end up making a deal to help each other which means spending a lot of time together!

Love what Bea did for him at the end with his family!!

This is such a great book!!! You def wanna grab this especially if you've read the Love and Skate series!! If you haven't go grab the box set from Amazon!!

[Three Chicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Review by Jen Skewes


Lila Felix has done it again. A Second Jam is a spin off of her amazing Love and Skate Series. In that series we met the Black family who I just felt in love with. Each male member of the family is sweet, caring, sexy and all around just amazing men. They treat their woman with respect and love. We watched all of them fall in love and have families of their own. And now it is time for their children to get their own story.

Cyrus Black (Owen and Nellie’s son) has not spoken to his family for months now. He screwed up big time and just cannot bear to face them. He is trying to make ends meet and trying to do it all on his own but he is having some difficulty. One night he meets Beatriz and everything changes.


Bea is a feisty no nonsense girl. She in my opinion is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. She has an ex boyfriend who unfortunately is still around even if she doesn’t want him to be, a father who she needs to take care of as well as his business. And on top of all that she is working on opening a hope center. With all that she never asks for help or admits that she even needs it. She is one of those heroines that you just adore. She may be feisty but she has a huge heart and she kicks ass at roller derby.


Cyrus has such an amazing heart but that is no surprise considering who raised him. He had some issues that he has had to face in life and when you find out what it is your heart will hurt for him. But meeting Bea has helped him to make strides in life. And as much as she is there for him and helps him, he is there for her as well. He cares about her and wants to see her succeed. He is there to help with her father and he cares for the man just as much as he does his daughter. Bea knows his issues and loves him in spite of it all. She also knows how close he was with his family and knows that he needs them. Cyrus treats her with love and respect which is something she is not used to because let’s be honest her ex boyfriend was a complete ass.


Cyrus and Bea were so adorably cute together. Cyrus is this totally swoon worthy man with a full beard and a man bun, something I never thought I would see as sexy until he came along. The Second Jam had everything that I love in Lila's books. The wit and sarcasm that I love and the swoon worthy hero who you find to be sexy and adorable all in one. Cyrus’ love and devotion to Bea as well as the way he cares for his family is what will make your heart melt and make you swoon. The Second Jam is the beginning of the next generation of Blacks and I cannot wait to see what Ms. Felix has up her sleeve. I love this family. When you read each story you feel more and more like a part of their family. They aren’t perfect but no matter what they are ALWAYS there for each other. Cyrus is no different. And Bea is the perfect addition to this family. I am really looking forward to Scout’s story!!

[MJLovestoRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is yet another truly wonderful read in the Love and Skate series. This time around, we are finally introduced to the 2nd generation of the Black family. From the time that I read that tease of a quote to his dad that he was in love with a derby girl, I just knew I had to have his story.

Cyrus Black, son of Owen and Nellie and trying to find his place in the world. Beatriz, feisty latina, who is a bit mouthy but has a heart of gold and wild moves in roller rink. Cyrus is the son of roller derby royalty and when his world collides with Bea, nothing he's know before will ever be the same. And in turn, all of the love and support he thought he threw away when he left his family behind, returns to him when he least expects and needs it the most.

To start with, the Black men are in a class by themselves. These are men raised right by mama Sylvia to treat women with respect. Bea doesn't know what to think when she meets the bearded, man bun wearing Cyrus. But as she gets to know the man behind all that hair, she finds a vulnerable yet fierce white knight that would slay any dragon for her. And for anyone he loves. His admirable humility has no place in her world but their chemistry is undeniable. Paired with the desire to better themselves with each other's help, and you have the recipe for a storyline that made me smile and sigh more times than I can count.

Cyrus and Bea. Theirs is a beautiful love. A heart-stopping, passion-filled love. Lila Felix does not write sexy in the traditional sense. But the way Cyrus cares for his woman, the way he wants her to conquer the world with her Hope center and the way she cares for her father, is sexy to me. Their lustful exchanges and heated kisses add just the right touch. With the addition of the entire extended Black family and their boisterous ways, you've got a book that will melt your heart.

I will not ever get enough of these books and I am so grateful the author has continued with this spin-off.

Well worth your time. I encourage you to start from the beginning with Love and Skate and experience all the roller derby love these books offer. Another 5 star read from me.

[Dawn Strickland · Rating 5 out of 5]

**The Second Jam is Even Sweeter**
I am once again blown away by the complex and beautifully human characters that Lila Felix conjures. The Second Jam is the first stand-alone book in the spin off series of Felix’s beloved Love and Skate Series. This series revolves around the children of the Black family characters we fell in love with in the Love and Skate Series.
Cyrus is loyal, kind, protective and living with guilt from an event that he believes ruined his best friend’s life. The guilt has heightened his insecurities and caused him to flee the comfort and love of his family. Without their constant presence he is struggling. Then he meets a fiery, strong, beautiful derby girl and his life is once again irrevocably altered.
Bea is a substitute teacher by day and derby girl by night. She has a degree in social work and is working hard to realize her dream of opening a community center dedicated to providing skills and hope to her neighborhood. She must also juggle taking care of her father that has early onset Alzheimers. Bea is juggling a plethora of responsibilities and is fiercely independent. One night she is in need of help and Cyrus’ easy nature while helping her out catches her off guard.
On the surface these two characters seemingly have nothing in common, even though their lives have a common thread, roller derby. Through several minor encounters a friendship is born and builds a great foundation for love.
Lila Felix has delivered another fun, funny, heartwarming work of art. We get to meet new characters and visit with some of our favorite Black family members along the way. I highly recommend The Second Jam and give it 5 stars. Authentic characters and a moving story result in an unforgettable read.

[Ashley Ulsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am soo biased because I have been in love with each man of the Black clan since the first page of Love and Skate. I felt no different about Cyrus, and I spent the whole book swooning!!! Man buns are very sexy! I have done alot of thinking lately regarding the difference between needing someone and wanting them there. I was surprised to see this topic in the book, I believe that wanting someone in your life is a largly more powerful thing than needing someone there . Beatriz was so independant, I didn't know if she would ever allow Cyrus to help her! She's a one woman show!! I found this to be a very relatable story, as all of Lila's books are. I can see a bit of myself in Bea, trying to do it all and make it all happen "flawlessly". I loved that these two brought out the best in one another on every occasion! This book is a great addition to the Love and Skate family!

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, that didn’t suck! (inside joke - but it doesn’t just the same)

The Second Jam picks up with the next generation of the Black family! If you haven’t read the previous five Love and Skate books that’s ok, it’s not required to follow along with the story, but there are a lot of characters from those previous books that you might want to read about first.. I’m just sayin’.

True to the Love and Skate style, The Second Jam is easy on the drama and heavy on the swoon. It’s a slow simmering romance between Cyrus, the latest of the fabulous Black boys and Beatriz a derby girl who thought she had everything planned. But one thing you can’t plan for is love.

[-BeautifullyBookish- · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book was enjoyable because I love this whole series, the family and Lila Felix's writing I have to say this fell a little short.
One reason for this was that I didn't feel really connected to the characters or their story. It is also very forgettable.
The end just happened, I felt like half the book was missing or at least a well drawn out conclusion. It seemed very rushed which was a shame because I feel we were getting to a good point of their relationship.
I will of course read on in this series because I really love the characters and storyline's but this wasn't all I had expected. It was good, just not like the first series.

[justwant2read · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a terrible memory when it comes to books and characters so I had issues with the characters from the original series.. that's my issue not the authors I just wish that I could have remembered who belonged to who :( Maybe if this series continues, we could have a family tree to refer too! lol!

Aside from that, this was just ok for me, I didn't love it and I didn't hate it either. It did however feel very rushed towards the end of the book and the last chapter was super rushed for me.

[Arora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keeping the Blacks rolling

Through the Love and Skate series, the Black family feels like my own and I didn't know how to say goodbye after Rex's story. Getting to see the roles change as the kids now become the main characters is fantastic.
I enjoyed getting to know Cyrus. I felt like there could have been more details about how the family handled his dyslexia and what happened in the wake of he and Scout getting caught. Overall, it is a good addition to the series and I am looking forward to the next installment.

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is going to be short and sweet.

What I liked: It is a Lila Felix book - which for me is enough said...but it is also a spin-off of the Love and Skate Series; the next generation of one of my favorite fictional families - The Blacks.

What I didn't like: I've got nothing.

Would I recommend it: Yes! If you haven't read the Love and Skate series, you really should! If you enjoy romance, these guys are swoon worthy!

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like the ending came a little too quickly, and there wasn't a lot of derby in this one. Hints here and there but really it wasn't quite as good as the first series. I like knowing more about Cyrus but didn't feel quite as engaged to these characters as the first again. Of course I think author is wonderful and will of course read more.

[Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, but felt the end was a little rushed. As always, Felix delivers great characters and plot. The story draws you in and melts your heart. I like how real the issues are along with realistic reactions from the characters.

[Seanang · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's nice to catch up with the old characters, and to see that the family is still so close and tied together. I loved meeting the children as adults. Cyrus is definitely how I would have imagined Nellie and Owen's son to be. Loved him.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read. I loved every minute of this book. I could not put this down it was intriguing and so heartfelt. I hope there will be more.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars