America's Sweetheart

Real Love #5

by Jessica Lemmon

Old flames burn bright. When a disgraced starlet returns home to lick her wounds, she discovers that her high school sweetheart is just as tempting as ever.

“No one writes big-hearted bad boys like Jessica Lemmon!”—New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster

When I left for California, I gave myself a new name and never looked back. Now my carefully crafted good-girl image is getting torn to shreds in the press thanks to my Oscar-winning A-hole of an ex-boyfriend. So I escape to the only safe haven I know and trust—my hometown—to take a breather while I plot my triumphant Hollywood comeback. However, when I arrive at my parents’ house, Jackson Burke answers the door instead. And suddenly the past comes rushing back. . . .

First kiss. First time. First love. Yep, Allison Murphy and I shared a lot of firsts back in the day. When she left, she took half my heart with her. Now she’s back in town, and even though I swore I’d keep my distance, her parents hired me to remodel their house, and I’m going to finish the job. But one hot kiss later, suddenly the press is calling us the next big celebrity couple. Sure, I’ll play the part, for Allison’s sake—but I refuse to let her close enough to break my heart all over again. . . .

Genres: Romance, Second Chance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Adult, Celebrity Romance

210 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2018

About the author

Jessica Lemmon is a former job-hopper who resides in Ohio with her husband and rescue dogs. She holds a degree in graphic design currently gathering dust in an impressive frame. When she’s not writing emotionally-charged stories, she spends her time drawing, drinking coffee, and laughing with friends. Her motto is Read for fun, and she believes we should all do more of what makes us happy.

Reviews

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Delightful Lemmon Tale Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free-It's Live!!!
I am going to make this one of my shortest reviews, Shocking I know!

My Reviewing Partner in Crime, Diane'sBookReflections, Wrote Every Single Thing I Would Have...so why be redundant!
Here is her review and enjoy!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
We All Have Had Them...
First Kiss...
First Time...
First Love...

Only most of us...
Haven't had them with...

America's Sweetheart-October 2nd 2018


A gifted copy was provided by LoveSwept via NetGalley for an honest review.

Eye Candy (Real Love, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Arm Candy (Real Love, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Man Candy (Real Love, #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Rumor Has It (Real Love, #4)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
America's Sweetheart (Real Love, #5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Dali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Lemmon adds a sexy, sweet and heartwarming story to her Real Love series with the tale of high school sweethearts Jackson Burke and Allison Murphy who grew up and grew apart but life gave them a second chance at once in a lifetime love.

Allison dreams of leaving her small hometown and even though she left Jackson behind, she never looked back until years later when her Hollywood star is being tainted and the only refuge she can think of is within the safety of her childhood home. She never imagined Jackson Burke would opening the door and floodgates of their past.

To Jackson, Allison had been his first in many things, including his first and only love. Even though he tried to move forward with his life, having her back home is bringing back not so forgotten feelings. Though he’s older and wiser and won’t let her break his heart again, he can still have some sexy fun with her while she’s in town.

Jessica Lemmon knows how to write fun and flirty stories and America’s Sweetheart was no exception. Though I wasn’t a fan of Allison and her selfishness I adored Jackson. He wasn’t just a hot and sexy hero, a successful business owner, he’s sweet and caring and impossible not to fall for.

America’s Sweetheart is book #5 of the Real Love series by Jessica Lemmon. It is a standalone second chance, contemporary romance. It is lighthearted and fun, told from both points of view with a happy ending.

Amazon -> https://amzn.to/2CWWL8y

* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via NetGalley. I am voluntarily reviewing this title. *

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[Jessica Lemmon]

Dear Reader,

Raise your hand if you love a reunion story! 🙋🏼‍♀️

You can probably tell (from plenty of evidence in my book backlist) that I love the heck out of a reunited lovers story. America's Sweetheart allowed me to do the whole college-sweetheart thing but with a fun element that us authors are sometimes discouraged from exploring. HOLLYWOOD. 

Allison Murphy is an Emmy-award winning actor. Ten years ago she landed a walk-on role on a show called America's Sweetheart that turned into the biggest role of her life. Now that the show is over she's looking for her next Tinseltown gig, but there's quite the scandal surrounding her. Namely: A v. famous person's missing Oscar. Missing because Allison "allegedly" stole it. GASP! Not only has Hollywood turned on her, but so has her Oscar-winning boyfriend, who just publicly dumped her on TMZ. Yowch.

Now Allison is back home but her parents aren't. They're celebrating an anniversary out of the country. But guess who's been hired to remodel their bedroom and redo the deck while they're away? None other than Jackson Burke, Allison's first love, first kiss... first everything. Throw in a bit of paparazzi naming Jax & Allie the new "it" couple and plenty of run-ins at the Murphy homestead and what you have is a reunion story that feels like going back in time to when Jax and Allie were head-over-heels, knock-down, drag-out in love with each other.

There's only one question... will they last?

I hope you love Allie's and Jackson's story as much as I enjoyed writing it. It was pure fun to be in a celebrity's head and write a hero who was so brokenhearted by Allie he was afraid to open up again.

Happy reading!
xoxo, Jessica

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I adore Jessica Lemmon and the stories that she tells. But, America's Sweetheart had me really thinking about how much I could hate one heroine. Then, leave it to Jessica Lemmon to turn her around and actually make her loveable!

Allison was a self-centered, ignorant, Hollywood witch. Yep, that's exactly what I thought of her from the first time that I read her name in the story. She was definitely all me, me, me even in college. And she really didn't change much until everything started crashing down around her. But, come to think about it, she was still ugly when that happened as well. I honestly think it took a miracle to get me to like her and look at her as a loveable character. But, in the end I did. Did she deserve all that was happening to her … no. Did she deserve to be ostracized from Hollywood … probably not. Did she deserve the love of a man like Jackson Burke … hell, no. But, she had it. Now, let's hope she does the right thing with that love.

Aw, Jackson. Sweet, sexy, loving, incredibly hot Jackson. He can't believe that his shirt is being soaked by a sobbing Allison. No, he just can't believe that she's here and every memory is coming back. No, he's not going to let her back into his life like that. Will he help her? Sure, it's the right thing to do. But, he knows where he stands with her … it's all for the camera's, it's all a publicity stunt … until it isn't for him anymore and he just can't do it anymore. He did it, he let his heart get involved and he finally admitted that he never fell out of love with her.

OK, it took a lot to redeem Allison in my eyes. I still don't think she deserves Jackson. But, Jessica Lemmon made me see that the heart wants what it wants and love knows no boundary .. she has a way of doing that. I love that she can write sweet, strong men and have them tame that witchy woman.

[konstantina · Rating 4 out of 5]

cheesy na romance books thank u for existing

[Ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.* 

America's Sweetheart is the fifth book in Jessica Lemmon's Real Love series and can be read as a standalone. I requested it on a whim because even though the books in this series have been a hit or miss with me, I was hoping this one would be a hit. Plus, I'm a sucker for second-chance romances and my fingers couldn't resist hitting the request button.

Allison Murphy and Jackson Burke were high school sweethearts who thought they would end up together forever. But things fell apart when Allison makes it big in Hollywood and moves out there to pursue a career in acting. Ten years later and Allison's career is up in the air after she gets caught in a scandal and she decides to head back home to hide away. Jackson never thought he see Allison again, but when she ends up in his arms again he can't help but think about what they could've been. He knows her return is only temporary and he's willing to take whatever Allison is willing to give but will he willing to let her go for a second time?  

I was really hoping that I would end up loving this book since it has my all-time favorite trope but lack of depth between the writing and the characters just left me craving something more. Let's start with the writing. I thought this book would be more emotional considering these two were together for years but there were no "pull at the heart strings" moment. Like even their breakup didn't even stir up any emotions because neither one fought to stay together. Another thing that irked my nerves with the writing was that there was no indication for when the POVs switched. The first half of the book is in Jackson's POV and then all of a sudden it switches to Allison's and I ended up having to start from the beginning of the chapter again because I was so confused as to what was going on. Now for our characters. I really like Jackson. He's such a gentleman and I really connected with his POV. He was the heart of this story and the only reason why I even finished this book. I wasn't a fan of Allison's character at all. She was just so shallow and self-centered. I didn't feel the chemistry between her and Jackson and to be honest I felt like Jackson was more invested in their relationship than Allison ever was. Like you were in a relationship with this dude for years, known him since you were little you should be able to read him like an open book. It just frustrated me how Allison could be so blasé about things and I struggled to connect with her in the end. Overall, America's Sweetheart ended up being a quick read that left me less than impressed. I'm not sure if Jessica plans on extending this series but I plan on calling it quits with this series because I just not invested in it anymore.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original review can be found at https://kristineandterri.blogspot.com...

** I received an advanced readers copy from Loveswept via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**

America's Sweetheart is the fifth book in the Real Love series but it can be read as a stand alone. I have read some of the books in the series but not all of them and it did not impact my enjoyment of this book at all.

Allison and Jackson were high school and college sweethearts who were together for more than four years before Allison's move to California and her path to stardom separated them. Ten years passed and then a devastating scandal happened. Allison returned home to hide out only to find Jackson spending most of his time in her childhood home doing a massive renovation. You can imagine the sort of things that lead to. This is a second chance romance at its very cutest and best.

I have read a few of Jessica Lemmon's books from this series and others but it has been a little while so I forgot. I forgot how much I enjoyed her writing and her characters. There is a sweetness mixed with sexiness that made me smile as I turned the pages. She definitely knows how to pull at the romantic heartstrings of her readers. Allison and Jackson were so sweet together and it was easy to pull for them. First loves, first everything really so who wouldn't want a happily ever after for them. I know I certainly did. However, the star of the book was not the famous one (for me) but the small town business owner with the giant heart. Yes I am talking about Jackson. I adored everything about him and his unselfish ways. He was always putting Allison first at the risk of his own happiness. Sigh... I admit to a little book crush.

Fans of second chance romances will really enjoy this book. It had the perfect combination of sweet and sexy. It simultaneously pulled at the heart strings and heated up the pages creating the perfect balance. I am really glad that I had the opportunity to read America's Sweetheart and for the reminder of how much I enjoy Lemmon's writing in this genre. Now I need to go back and read the ones I missed!

[Ruthie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~

This is the fifth book in a run of books which are linked, but there is no need to read one to enjoy another. This is a sweet second chance romance, which gives both the protagonists a voice, and an opportunity to make right what went wrong before.

I particularly liked that Jackson had made a success of his life - he may have a view that he was blue collar and not glitterati, but he had a successful business, and clearly was a self-made man. It made sense that he had made the decisions he did, and allowed the story to move forward with much more parity between them, than might have been expected. He is obviously also drop dead gorgeous, and has morals ... lucky Allison! That said, she may have been tainted by tinseltown, but has the good sense to return to her roots to regroup and recover from a horrible situation. I like how the reveal is placed in the book, and the twists and turns that affect the progress of their renewed relationship.

This is an easy, fun and entertaining read, thank you Jessica Lemmon.

[Nadine Bookaholic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Allison has returned home after a scandal surrounds her in Hollywood. Instead of being able to hide away in her parents home she comes home to find that her high school sweetheart has been hired to remodel her parents bedroom and redo the deck while they're away.

Their relationship may have ended when she moved to California but their chemistry is still their. While I liked Jackson, Allison was another story - I found she got on my nerves quite a bit.

If you enjoy second chance romances you should check out America's Sweetheart, also If you enjoy audiobooks I felt that Kathryn Lynhurst and Jason Clarke did a great job with bringing Allison and Jackson's story to life.

Happy Reading!!!

Merged review:

Allison has returned home after a scandal surrounds her in Hollywood. Instead of being able to hide away in her parents home she comes home to find that her high school sweetheart has been hired to remodel her parents bedroom and redo the deck while they're away.

Their relationship may have ended when she moved to California but their chemistry is still their. While I liked Jackson, Allison was another story - I found she got on my nerves quite a bit.

If you enjoy second chance romances you should check out America's Sweetheart, also If you enjoy audiobooks I felt that Kathryn Lynhurst and Jason Clarke did a great job with bringing Allison and Jackson's story to life.

Happy Reading!!!

[Candyce Kirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Between 3 and 3.5 stars

I received an ARC of this book to read and review.
This was a fast and fun read and I enjoyed the characters, but I do have mixed feelings about the book.
I am a big fan of second chance romances and this seemed like a fun one. Highschool sweethearts who don't have their happily ever after get a second chance at love.
Jackson never really moved on after his relationship with Allison ended. He has slept around, but never really committed to another serious relationship. He has his own company now and is proud of where he is.
Allison loved Jackson, but couldn't give up her dream of Hollywood. When she got a main part in a TV show, she couldn't turn away. She never imagined ending up back home after some Hollywood drama. There are rumors flying everywhere.
Jackson is working at Allison's parents house and never expects to run into her while working. It's hard to block out old feelings that may have never went away. Hollywood isn't always what it seems. To get Allison's reputation back on track, Jackson agrees to pretend to be dating her, so people will see a different side of her.
This book has its ups and downs. I loved Jackson. He seems like an amazing bookboyfriend and so sweet. Jackson worked really hard to get where he is in his company. The first part of the book is only from his own POV and I loved seeing how he thought. That's why the change of POV came out of nowhere. I know we needed Allison's POV, but it seemed off at first. I also thought it was really weird that after that we didn't read anymore from Jackson's POV. There were a lot of moments I really needed this.
The whole pretending to date for the papparazzi was a fun idea, but I think this could've been a bigger part of the book. Stuff happens a few times, but it seems like at times the author forgot to mention more of it.
I loved the romance in this book and the clear connection Jackson and Allison had. There were a lot of sweet moments with the kind of humor I love seeing in this type of books. Sometimes it's clear that true love does find its way!

[Heather C · Rating 3 out of 5]

America's Sweetheart is a sweet second chance romance that will warm your heart and make you swoon. Who isn't a sucker for a second chance romance, because I know that I certainly am.

Allie and Jackson where high school sweethearts but opportunity forced Allie to move to LA, where she thrived and became a major Hollywood star. When a major scandal involves Allie, she is forced to seek some semblance of an escape so she goes back home to Ohio. Image her surprise when the love her of life is standing in her parent's home when she gets there. And boy does he still just look as amazing as ever.

I've always enjoyed these kind of stories. The ones where you get childhood lovers who end up apart but eventually realize they are perfect for each other. Especially when you add in that one of them has become famous. With that being said, something didn't connect fully with me in America's Sweetheart. I've been trying to really understand what it was. At first I thought it was just one of those "it's me and not the right headspace when reading moment" but the more I stew on it, the more I think it's that I didn't feel the chemistry between them when they came back into each other's lives. At least I didn't feel it enough that I was emotionally invested. I wanted to feel more between them. Feel the pain because we knew it was there. So maybe that is what I needed. I needed more angst.

Jackson is probably one of the sweetest guys I've read in a while. He's patient, loving and just overall a good soul. If anything, he was the one that made me feel the most, which is surprising because I love the jerks.

If you are looking for sweet and safe, then you will enjoy America's Sweetheart. It reads quickly and is an easy escape that can be used as a reading palate cleanser.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really sweet reunited romance. I love the second chance romance trope and this one does it rather well. I enjoy this entire series but these can each be read as stand-alone novels. I think the hero was fantastic ... that all you can dream of kind of hero. I didn't love the heroine as much but I think the two of them together was a good match. The mix of sweet and sexy is well done in this one. There is a little bit for all kinds of readers. I really liked it and recommend this one and the series as a whole.

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

She was his first kiss, first time, first love, and after being absent for over a decade, Allison was back in his life. Her publicist thought dating a small town average Joe would be good for her tarnished image. Jackson agreed to this "showmance", but would he be able to deny the truth of what lies in his heart?

Second chance romances are among my favorites. I live for the history the hero and heroine share, as well as the idea, that some endings are only temporary and forgiveness is achievable.

Both Jackson and Allison had dreams, but while Allison had opportunities to pursue her's, Jackson was limited by his circumstances. When they saw no way to save their relationship, they went their separate ways.

He poured his pain and heartbreak into his work, and enjoyed some success as a business owner in their hometown, but he never forgot what he had shared with Allison, and was sort of never able to move on.

Allison, though enjoying Hollywood success, was also somewhat stunted in her romantic life. Thank goodness the universe (and the unforgiving public) intervened, because Allison and Jackson were reunited and it really did feel so good.

I wanted these two, no, needed these two to find their way back to each other. After reading the flashbacks, and seeing how they fell back into step so easily with each other, I knew they were meant to be together, and I was rooting for one of them to make that bold move, that bold choice, and not repeat their previous mistakes.

This story was sweet and sassy, tender and sexy. I laughed, smiled, swooned, and maybe even shed a few tears, because look -- I'm a hopeless romantic, and I couldn't imagine this fictional world without Jackson and Allison coupled in it.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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[Rowena · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute story about an actress and a builder who reconnected after a decade apart. I enjoyed both Jackson and Allie (she’s Allie to me, not Nina) and really enjoyed seeing them together. Their story was sweet, Jackson was dreamy and Allie really comes into her own over the course of the story. Jessica Lemmon got it right with these two and I’m glad.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-3.75 stars

[Sue Galuska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackson Burke was in love with Allison Murphy in high school and college....hell....he probably still was 10 years later. While in college at the Ohio State University, Allie headed to Los Angeles, CA for a summer internship at a big TV network. What started out as just a summer turned into 10 years now. Allie, now called Nina Lockhart, has made it big as a TV actress and is trying to move into movies. She is even dating the big movie star Xavier McCormack.

Allie has only ever wanted to be a star. She loves the fame and attention. Too bad when her boyfriend throws her under the bus, she high tails it back to the one place she can feel safe, her parents house in Columbus, OH. Imagine Allie's surprise when she enters her parents house to find not her parent there, but Jackson Burke....the only guy she has ever loved. And damn, he looks better than ever!

Jackson was hired to remodel Allie's parent's bedroom while they are on a vacation and he convinces himself he can continue to work with Allie in the house. Yeah, that doesn't last very long and the next thing you know they are sharing a kiss and all those repressed feelings coming roaring back. Maybe they can just be together while Allie is hiding out....maybe they can pretend to be dating so she looks better in the press....whatever they decide to do, neither of them is sure that it will end with their hearts still intact.

As Jax and Allie spend more time together, they both realize they still love each other. They both need to decide what they are willing to do in the name of love!

I just adored Jax and Allie and this was such a fun second chance at love story! It was so evident how much these two still loved each other and their story had such a perfect happy ending.

[Booked & Busy Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

America’s Sweetheart is a cute second chance romance that will make your heart skip a beat. This was a cute story about Jackson and Allie, two high school sweethearts, who were separated when Allie left to make a name for herself and now that she’s back because of a scandal, find their way back to each other. Full of sweetness, fun and a whole lot of sexy, America’s Sweetheart is a great read!

[Veronica Ticker · Rating 4 out of 5]

(audiobook) Despite some flaws and a simple plot, this book was oddly endearing. Mostly thanks to the characters.

It’s the story of two highschool sweethearts reconnecting after many years apart and who have matured enough that they’re finally ready to start their life together. They couldn’t be more different, with a hard working blue collar and a TV celebrity, but once upon a time, they had plans together, and they clicked. But of course, the author didn’t make their journey an easy one.

On top of being a second chance romance, it’s also a fake relationship. To clean her image after a scandal, Allison publicizes her reunion with her high school boyfriend, except it’s fake. At first. Allie and Jackson navigate this PR situation while also remembering how good they were together, and discovering who the other has become. Lines are blurred, and lies and truth sound the same after a while.

I loved the romance, really. It was interesting to see how grown ups deal with situations that seemed insurmountable as teenagers. But to be honest, I saw a lot of attraction and lust, but little love. Like they just assumed they still loved each other because of their past, instead of falling in love again. For instance, they didn’t have any meaningful relationship between then and now, making it perfectly clear that no one could replace the other.

But as for the attraction, there was plenty. The tension was off the charts! Even though they took their sweet time. But it’s the building up that’s nice.

I loved that the point of views didn’t alternate every chapter. We get to spend time with the character before we switch to the other. And I felt the change was always at a crucial and meaningful moment. All in all, the point of view for each chapter was chosen perfectly.

The narration was pretty good. Both narrators were great with their character. I felt the female narrator didn’t have a strong enough male voice for Jackson, but it wasn’t unpleasant either.

Quickie

- Series: Real love #5 (can be read as a standalone)
- Hashtags: #small town romance #second chance #fake relationship #celebrity
- Triggers: mention of alcohol abuse
- Main couple: Allison Murphy & Jackson Burke
- Hotness: 3/5
- Romance: 4/5
- + I loved how Jackson’s and Allison’s maturity changed their priorities
- – the whole fiasco as a premise didn’t make a lot of sense

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful reunion story. I like how Jessica brought her two characters back to one another and rekindled their relationship.
America's Sweetheart Alison comes home after being set up by her Hollywood boyfriend and she is coming home to an empty house, except for her ex-boyfriend who she left for the bright lights of Hollywood. She cries in his arms and once again Burke has the one woman, he has always loved, in his arms again. But can Burke allow Allie to break his heart again when she leaves town again?

There are some really great moments in this book when I laughed out loud and when I smiled and sighed because you wanted these two to have their HEA and they did it Hollywood style.

A wonderful read for a for anytime of the day!

[Sarah Lehman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a 2nd chance romance story & this one did not fail. Jackson & Allie were such a cute couple & together in college. Jackson figured they would be together forever, however that ended when Allie went to Hollywood for an internship but then stayed & became a huge star. A scandal broke out with Allie at the heart of it so she returned home to hide & try to get her mind on other things to find that Jackson is doing renovations at her parents house. It was fun to see their interactions, see them find their way back to each other.

[Bette Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good second chance romance which this one is and I wanted to give this five starts but I disliked the main female character Allison so much I just couldn't. Jackson on the other hand I adored. I wanted to shake him and scream "you can do so much better." The heart wants what the heart wants though even if he know she'll probably break his heart again. Even with my dislike of Allison I did enjoy this book. The author has a great way of infusing humor and witty banter into the story making it so much fun to read. I'd recommend this one with snarled "Allison"!

[Amy A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allie and Jackson were high school sweethearts on their way to being college sweethearts on the path to forever. Except Allie's dreams lead her to LA and the spotlight of Hollywood. At twenty, Jackson's dreams are decidedly not on a move to Hollywood. With distance and life pulling them in two different directions, Allie and Jackson call it quits, devastating both of them.

Now, ten years later, Allie's (going by Nina Lockhart) run on her very successful television series America's Sweetheart is ending and Jackson has built himself a good life in Ohio starting his his own home remodeling business. When a celebrity scandal sends Allie home for some much needed time away from the spotlight, she finds Jackson remodeling her parents' home.

While they'd like to believe that they're are perfectly fine being without each other. The truth is: the feelings are still there between Allie and Jackson. But when all is said and done, they're still in the same predicaments they were ten years ago, Allie loves being an actress, and Jackson could care less about the limelight. Once the scandal blows over, where will they be left?

I thought America's Sweetheart was simply perfect. I loved everything about this story. Jessica Lemmon proves she's a pro, tugging at the heartstrings while delivering some serious heat between Jackson and Allie. There was undeniable heart-wrenching running through the story as all of Jackson and Allie's interactions simultaneously bring to mind their relationship then and what they could be now if they could just get on the same page.

I loved that Allie's celebrity wasn't bought at the expense of her relationship, despite how it may appear. She was following her dream, and I loved that Jackson supported her 100%. It's not that Allie went to Hollywood and completely did a 180 personality-wise, as I know I've read before in similar celebrity romance stories, but somehow she still gets caught up in the glitz and the glamour, but not as a detriment to who she was or where she came from. And Jackson didn't suddenly turn into a bitter womanizer in the wake of their break-up. In my mind neither of them plays the "bad guy" it was all about the timing. I liked that it was both of them living out their dreams / lives for the past ten years, really figuring out who they are when they're thrown back together. Like the final piece of the puzzle that is Jackson and Allie that needs to be solved.

Second-chance romances are my favorite trope. I love that, typically, there's so much history between the characters, and Jessica Lemmon does a great job of giving readers all the feels, yet focusing mostly on the present.

I really liked the way the story was configured. Instead of every chapter alternating between Jackson and Allie, each character gets about half of the book just for their perspective. It was an interesting way to go about showing us who the characters are. We get used to Jackson's point of view and his feelings about Allie, and his possible misconceptions about her current feelings for him, then we switch and we see things from Allie's perspective and see that she's going through the same emotional dilemmas as Jackson. Proving ever more how these two just fit together.

I think by this point I've read all (or nearly all) of Jessica Lemmon's books, and America's Sweetheart is definitely a standout. She takes a recognizable storyline (the celebrity comes back to town and runs into her ex), but makes it her own and gives it her own spin with characters you root for and grow to love.

*Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Danielle Cordsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

America’s Sweetheart
By: Jessica Lemmon

📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚

Why didn’t Love conquer all?

When American’s sweetheart runs home to hide from reality can she remember what Love once was? Can he let Love in again or is it best to protect himself.
Well let me start by saying I have become a huge fan of this author. She writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some are quick witted story lines are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills.

Authors Blurb: Allison: When I left for California, I gave myself a new name and never looked back. Now my carefully crafted good-girl image is getting torn to shreds in the press thanks to my Oscar-winning A-hole of an ex-boyfriend. So I escape to the only safe haven I know and trust—my hometown—to take a breather while I plot my triumphant Hollywood comeback. However, when I arrive at my parents’ house, Jackson Burke answers the door instead. And suddenly the past comes rushing back. . . .

Jackson: First kiss. First time. First love. Yep, Allison Murphy and I shared a lot of firsts back in the day. When she left, she took half my heart with her. Now she’s back in town, and even though I swore I’d keep my distance, her parents hired me to remodel their house, and I’m going to finish the job. But one hot kiss later, suddenly the press is calling us the next big celebrity couple. Sure, I’ll play the part, for Allison’s sake—but I refuse to let her close enough to break my heart all over again. . . .


I really enjoyed this book and it kept me engrossed throughout. I really loved the characters and the way they interacted with each other. This is a fun, hot, romantic must read book and I would definitely recommend this book to
This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in dual POV my personal favorite this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know your 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.

Thanks Netgally for letting me read and review.📚💕

[Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jackson and Allison were the quintessential high school sweethearts until she took a chance on fame and fortune in Hollywood, and it broke them apart. Now, years later, Jackson's still in their hometown, owner of his own construction company and working on Allison's parents' home, when who crashes into his life again while running from scandal? Allison of course. Jackson has never gotten over his first and only love. Oh, sure, he's tried, but he's never been successful. So when she comes home with her tail tucked between her legs, he's at first determined to never go down that path again with her. Not when he knows she'll always choose her career over him, over them. But, the heart wants what the heart wants, and their chemistry is still there. Who is Jackson to deny himself the one woman he's always loved, even if it's only temporary?

Gah! I wanted to love America's Sweeheart because I adore second chance romances, and I've liked everything else of Jessica Lemmon's I've read previously. Unfortunately, America's Sweeheart just did not work for me. I loved Jackson, but he's really the only thing I liked about this story. I couldn't stand Allison - she never grew or matured as a character or as a person until the very end. She remained the same selfish, self-absorbed twit she was in the very beginning, and I could not for the life of me see what Jackson saw in her. Really, if Jackson hadn't been the real sweetheart, and if I weren't giving this story somewhat of a pass because I like Jessica Lemmon's writing normally, I'd probably 2 star it. But I'll leave it at three stars because Jackson is awesome and because I'd hate to 2 star something of a writer whom I normally love.

ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

Full review posted on Live Through Books Blog.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

What a fantastic second chance love story! There are plenty of them out there, but I really enjoyed Jessica Lemmon's take on it and how it all unfolded.

Back in high school and college, Jackson Burke thought he and Allie Murphy were going to end up together forever. What he didn't plan on was Allie deciding that heading off to Los Angeles to chase the bright lights of Hollywood would win out over their relationship. Jackson knew he was headed home to help his father run the family construction business and LA was the last place he'd ever want to be.

It's been 10 years and the last thing that Jax expects when he's working on a construction job is for his ex-girlfriend, and the one woman he's never gotten over, to come barreling into his arms. While it is her parents home, Allie, or Nina, as she's known in Hollywood has come back to hide out after being accused of stealing and being publicly humiliated by her then boyfriend. Even though Allie is cool toward Jax in the beginning, it's clear that there is something still between the two. Will spending time together rekindle the sparks that are clearly still smoldering? Or will this "reunion" just cause more heartache for both of them?

I loved Jax from the outset of this book. There was just something about him that drew me in. He was loyal, kind, sexy and selfless. It was clear what he wanted, but he also wanted Allie to be happy and to him that was more important than his own happiness. While I eventually came to love Allie too, the build was much slower. She definitely had her moments of being a spoiled Hollywood starlet, but then the small town girl showed through and you got to the root of the real Allie.

This was a great second chance romance and while it is part of a series, it could be read as a standalone. Another really enjoyable work by Jessica Lemmon!

[Misty (Reds Romance Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allison Murphy left her small town life behind for the the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and never looked back; leaving behind a life that involved a love affair with a man she was certain would follow her, but he just didn't see the same future she did, and it hurt more than she ever thought it could. Once the heartbreak settled she put all her focus into her career, eventually landing the role of a lifetime and earning the success she craved, but that success came with a price, one that has earned her a negative place in the spotlight. Now all the negative attention is more than she can bare, it's caused her to doubt the sincerity of everyone around her, and has forced her to return to a place she hasn't called home in years.... and right back into the arms of the man who broke her heart years ago!

From the very first kiss Jackson Burke was certain that Allison was his future wife, everything about her and their relationship was perfect, then her dream came calling and she walked away... and it crushed him. In the years that have passed he's watched her find the fame she craved, and he can't help but hurt a little to know he was never enough for her, and that the life he dreamed they'd have wouldn't be enough either. He's tried moving on, but every woman he's dated has never compared, and he's beginning to think they never will... she was it for him. But unfortunately she is umpteen million miles away, and he's just a small blip in her past... or is she?

I have been anxiously awaiting for the opportunity to return to this series, and have the chance to get better acquainted with Jackson, and I have to say that he was definitely worth the wait!! He swooped in and captured my attention right from the start and had me hanging on his every word... he had my heart immediately! As soon as Allison blew back into his life and they shared their tension filled reunion, I knew that the story that lied ahead of them would be filled with angst, drama, heartfelt emotion, and hopefully lots of making up for lost time... and all I am going to say is that I got my wish... and then some, it was amazing!! America's Sweetheart is a gem of a tale, the characters personalities shine brightly on every page, and the story line is beautifully crafted; it's reunion story that should not be missed! Highly recommend!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

[Deanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Original review: A Novel Glimpse

Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

I have mixed feelings about America’s Sweetheart. I’m not sure I agree with the structure of this book. It started out in Jackson’s point of view. I loved Jackson. He was a totally normal, nice guy. He made his dreams a reality with the exception of losing “the one” back in college. Jackson loved his small town life, and he made me love it, too. I felt bad for him that he lost Allie and still hadn’t quite been able to move on from her. When she showed up back in town, I was excited for Jackson and what it could mean. I loved how he handled everything and his part in this book. What I didn’t love was Allie’s personality.

I didn’t like what I met of Allie through Jackson’s perspective. She actually seemed like a pretty horrible person. I know that’s because I didn’t know her side of the story. She didn’t have a POV at fist. All of her actions really bugged me. It made me wonder how Jackson could still be so attracted to her. I hated her. Then, half way into the book, bam! Her point of view shows up. It threw me off guard because there wasn’t a heading or anything letting me know of the change. As I got to know and understand her, I understood she was just as weary and hurt as Jackson. I liked what she learned about herself after returning home. I still wasn’t 100% sold on her, but I felt better about Jackson’s feelings for her than I had during his POV…until I didn’t again. The way she messed with Jackson’s feelings and was constantly acting was messed up. Her priorities were never straight. Once they were, I was over her.

To sum it up, I loved Jackson. I liked his relationship with Allie when she wasn’t being Nina. I never truly connected with Allie nor did I end up liking her. The only thing that might have made this one better me was if Allie’s POV had been mixed in with Jackson’s at the beginning. Maybe then she would have seemed like she had more heart or something. If it wasn’t for Jackson, I wouldn’t have liked this book at all. That makes me sad because I’m a fan of Jessica Lemmon’s writing.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a special fondness for right person, wrong time stories and this fits the bill perfectly.
Allison and Jax were high school/college sweethearts until a Hollywood internship for her turned into more. Decisions at the time ended their relationship, but did either of them really move on?
Fast forward 10 years to Allie coming home under less than ideal circumstances.....
I really liked both characters here, even if Allie did have to grow on me a little bit. Jax is a hero that was just easy to like from the get go - it took me a little bit to realize that I had met him in one of the earlier Real Love books - he's so easy going that when he shows his more emotional side it's impressive.
For Allie, I slowly warmed up to her. I don't know if it was emotional growth or her shaking off the Hollywood persona, but the longer she was home the more I enjoyed her character. As the story progressed it was easy to see her in both places and it was hard to know what outcome to root for.
I appreciated how Ms. Lemmon crafted Jax and Allie's time together. There was a good mix of awkward, friendship, slow burn, and blazing chemistry. One of my favorite things was how the conflict of the story flowed through the whole book, there wasn't just one big blow up to fix, there were small moments all along that clued us into the struggle both characters were going through. The resolution was never a forgone conclusion and I liked the anticipation of wondering if their happy ending really meant them being together.
This was a fun read and reinforced Ms. Lemmon's status as a go to author for me.

[Locs and Lenses · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently, I am late to this Real Love party but I am not new to Jessica Lemmon which is the reason I requested this book on NetGalley for review and was very excited to have to opportunity to read it. The book is very interesting because we receive both character's point of view. The book flip-flops it, which I enjoy. I cannot remember if this is a consistent thing with Lemmon's books since I do read so many different authors. However, I did enjoy that aspect of the book. This book is also part 5 in a series that I did not even realize existed but it was not hard to follow. We meet a couple of other characters but they were not involved enough to throw you off of Allison and Jackson's story. Allison is a huge television star and is running from Hollywood due drama with a fellow actor. She runs to her parents home and into the arms of Jackson, who is her high school sweetheart. He is doing construction on her parent's home and she must see Jackson on a daily basis. She then decides to use Jackson as a way to get back into the good graces of Hollywood. Old feelings begin the follow. Jackson is a sweetheart and is only looking out for Allison's best interest. Allison can seem a little bratty at times but not enough to make me throw the book down, which I have been known to do. I enjoyed this book. It was a quick and relaxing read with hot, steamy love scenes. You can easily pick this up get started without being lost. I plan to go back and read the rest of this series.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

America's Sweetheart - great second chance romance that gave us swoon worthy Jackson!

I loved Jackson immediately- he was the high school jock, goes off to college with sights of bettering himself yet returning to help his family. He has a high school sweetheart that follows him to college and he is head over heels in love with the sweet Allison. Allison, however, has different goals in life and while Jackson is the love of her life, she wants to go to Hollywood and make it big. A call from an aunt leads Allison to her big break in Hollywood, but also a big break-up with Jackson. 

So we have Jackson back home with his own construction business, and might I add a great set of friends (please read the previous books in this series). Allison now in Hollywood has become a star with a new name and a new scandal. Running back home, Allison is shocked to find none other than Jackson working in her parent's home. Here is where the starlet was unlikable for me as she treats Jackson with a hauty attitude. Jackson is such a sweetheart that you can't help but to fall in love with him. He takes Allison's treatment yet decides to help her in her time of need. Allison's character wins me back shortly thereafter and then I was ready for these two to get together and the sparks fly. It's obvious that they still have the attraction, but is the love still there. If it is, is it enough to get these two together for good. Oh Hollywood needs it's ego stroked so Allison falls into line and does what is best for her image and career, dragging Jackson along with her. Lines are blurred and Jackson doesn't know when Allison is acting or being her true self. Allison is afraid to let her guard down and do what she actually wants rather than what is expected. This makes for a great story and keeps the interest and excitement into these two and their outcome. Love it! Hoping "big sis" gets a turn.