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Want You #1
I Want You Back
Former NHL star Jaxson Lund has returned to the Twin Cities, but he's at loose ends, unsure if he belongs at Lund Industries, or where he stands with Lucy, his ex-girlfriend and mother of his daughter, Mimi. Despite the signs she'd like to leave him in the penalty box, the attraction burning between them reinforces his determination to prove that he deserves a second chance . . .
Lucy Quade is in a good place with a steady job, a nice apartment, and a well-adjusted daughter, which is why she's hesitant when Jax insists on co-parenting. It's not that Lucy doesn't trust Jax . . . she's just unconvinced he can handle multiple responsibilities when he's been singularly focused on playing hockey.
But when issues arise with Mimi, Lucy's shocked at how levelheaded and paternal he acts, giving her a glimpse of the Jax she used to know, the sexy, sweet man she fell for years ago. Once Lucy lets her guard down, Jax goes all in to show her how good they are together, but will their past remain too large an obstacle to ever overcome? Contains mature themes.
Lucy Quade is in a good place with a steady job, a nice apartment, and a well-adjusted daughter, which is why she's hesitant when Jax insists on co-parenting. It's not that Lucy doesn't trust Jax . . . she's just unconvinced he can handle multiple responsibilities when he's been singularly focused on playing hockey.
But when issues arise with Mimi, Lucy's shocked at how levelheaded and paternal he acts, giving her a glimpse of the Jax she used to know, the sexy, sweet man she fell for years ago. Once Lucy lets her guard down, Jax goes all in to show her how good they are together, but will their past remain too large an obstacle to ever overcome? Contains mature themes.
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First published April 2, 2019
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About the author
Lorelei James
77 books8,334 followersLorelei James is New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary erotic westerns and erotic romances. She lives in western South Dakota.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 434 reviews
April 2, 2019
Despite what you may think I am NOT 1 staring this due to the cheating involved. I’m giving it 1 star due to I felt like the cheating was not addressed and it was all glossed over and it was boring as hell.
We are 8 years post breakup and we HEAR about the situation in passing BUT due to the length of time the hurt pain and emotional side of the situation is numb and in the past. There’s only like two mentions of the cheating. The heroine makes a comment of her finding out due to a friend showing her an Instagram post and her saying the Hero never tried to hide it so it was the start of the end for them. That comment led me to believe that their relationship didn’t end at that time...it took him not hiding his multiple cheating for them to split...WTF??!!
The other instance was when the Hero was talking to his little brother about it.
THATS IT! We didn’t see the break up, we didn’t see the custody battle (heroine made 1 comment about the hell the Hero put her through for custody)....we saw NOTHING that got them to this point in time.
Because of the lack of “drama” I found the story extremely boring. I’m glad the H got his shit together but 8 years is a little too late. I’m glad the heroine forgave him and saw growth in him but I’m not that forgiving...
Also, his business partner is a woman...a woman he had sex with multiple times...yet they’re “just friends” now....and the heroines ok because it was “never a woman who came between them it was hockey...” 🤦♀️
I’m sorry but this book was a complete fail for me...
We are 8 years post breakup and we HEAR about the situation in passing BUT due to the length of time the hurt pain and emotional side of the situation is numb and in the past. There’s only like two mentions of the cheating. The heroine makes a comment of her finding out due to a friend showing her an Instagram post and her saying the Hero never tried to hide it so it was the start of the end for them. That comment led me to believe that their relationship didn’t end at that time...it took him not hiding his multiple cheating for them to split...WTF??!!
The other instance was when the Hero was talking to his little brother about it.
THATS IT! We didn’t see the break up, we didn’t see the custody battle (heroine made 1 comment about the hell the Hero put her through for custody)....we saw NOTHING that got them to this point in time.
Because of the lack of “drama” I found the story extremely boring. I’m glad the H got his shit together but 8 years is a little too late. I’m glad the heroine forgave him and saw growth in him but I’m not that forgiving...
Also, his business partner is a woman...a woman he had sex with multiple times...yet they’re “just friends” now....and the heroines ok because it was “never a woman who came between them it was hockey...” 🤦♀️
I’m sorry but this book was a complete fail for me...
March 9, 2019
4 STARS
I've read a lot of second chance romance; it IS my jam after all. But rarely does one stick out in my memory the way this one did. I was thinking about it days after finishing. I Want You Back is a refreshingly different take on the second-chance romance trope. It's emotional, raw, and unapologetically real. It doesn't sugar coat or spare feelings. It takes the reader on an emotional ride with all the bumps along the way. It's a slow burn sort of read with plenty of chemistry and a dash of angst. I seriously enjoyed this one!
Jaxson Lund is one of the best imperfect characters I've read in a while. A retired professional hockey player that allowed his sports reputation to get the best of him, Jax is no stranger to failure. What I loved about him the most is that he wasn't afraid to take accountability for all the things he did wrong. Here's a man that's a recovering alcoholic that lost the love of his life because he betrayed her in the worst way possible. He's a man that's trying to right all of his wrongs; including becoming a staple in his daughter's life when he was more of a memory to her as she was growing up due to his hockey career.
I absolutely loved the way that he fought to get back into his ex's good graces. But what I really loved the most, is the fact that Lucy wasn't perfect herself. This was a shockingly realistic look at what happens when two people love each other beyond reason but their pasts mold them into an inevitable conclusion. The story is told in alternating flashbacks of past to present, telling the reader how they got together and what led to their inevitable implosion. Lucy is woman with plenty of issues of her own; including trust issues that are formed by her childhood. Issues that only get reinforced when her and Jaxson break.
There's no unnecessary drama or added issues in this book to convolute what's already happening. It's just two broken people that are slowly working on putting their pieces back together. Their journey back to each other is not paved in sunshine and butterflies, but it's also not unnecessarily angsty either. I really loved the way that the author handled a lot of the issues in this book. James doesn't try to sugarcoat the repercussions of Jax's mistakes and addiction. You get an incredibly realistic look at the results of his hard living. This may come as a shock for some people. I'll admit that I have NEVER read a book where the author went there but boy do I love that she did. And no I won't tell you what that was, but I will say that I'm still thinking about it.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a perfectly paced and emotional slow burn. I wished that we got flashbacks a little further and truly experience the break between Lucy and Jax, but at the same time I understand why the author chose not to quite go there. If you're looking for something just a little different, then you definitely need to check this one out. I can't wait for the rest of the series. There's a certain Lund sibling whose book I'm already salivating for.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
Kissing Jaxson Lund wasn’t something I could ever forget.
I've read a lot of second chance romance; it IS my jam after all. But rarely does one stick out in my memory the way this one did. I was thinking about it days after finishing. I Want You Back is a refreshingly different take on the second-chance romance trope. It's emotional, raw, and unapologetically real. It doesn't sugar coat or spare feelings. It takes the reader on an emotional ride with all the bumps along the way. It's a slow burn sort of read with plenty of chemistry and a dash of angst. I seriously enjoyed this one!
Jaxson Lund is one of the best imperfect characters I've read in a while. A retired professional hockey player that allowed his sports reputation to get the best of him, Jax is no stranger to failure. What I loved about him the most is that he wasn't afraid to take accountability for all the things he did wrong. Here's a man that's a recovering alcoholic that lost the love of his life because he betrayed her in the worst way possible. He's a man that's trying to right all of his wrongs; including becoming a staple in his daughter's life when he was more of a memory to her as she was growing up due to his hockey career.
I absolutely loved the way that he fought to get back into his ex's good graces. But what I really loved the most, is the fact that Lucy wasn't perfect herself. This was a shockingly realistic look at what happens when two people love each other beyond reason but their pasts mold them into an inevitable conclusion. The story is told in alternating flashbacks of past to present, telling the reader how they got together and what led to their inevitable implosion. Lucy is woman with plenty of issues of her own; including trust issues that are formed by her childhood. Issues that only get reinforced when her and Jaxson break.
There's no unnecessary drama or added issues in this book to convolute what's already happening. It's just two broken people that are slowly working on putting their pieces back together. Their journey back to each other is not paved in sunshine and butterflies, but it's also not unnecessarily angsty either. I really loved the way that the author handled a lot of the issues in this book. James doesn't try to sugarcoat the repercussions of Jax's mistakes and addiction. You get an incredibly realistic look at the results of his hard living. This may come as a shock for some people. I'll admit that I have NEVER read a book where the author went there but boy do I love that she did. And no I won't tell you what that was, but I will say that I'm still thinking about it.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a perfectly paced and emotional slow burn. I wished that we got flashbacks a little further and truly experience the break between Lucy and Jax, but at the same time I understand why the author chose not to quite go there. If you're looking for something just a little different, then you definitely need to check this one out. I can't wait for the rest of the series. There's a certain Lund sibling whose book I'm already salivating for.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
April 3, 2019
This has got to be one of the grossest hero's ever presented under the guise of a romantic hero. He was a cheating, unworthy doushe. Was this author inebriated when she wrote this? Or perhaps the pills that keep rational thoughts in her head had ran out. I'll never know.
Let me be frank: THE HERO CAUGHT AN STD...HERPES...FROM ALL HIS WHORING AROUND....AND SHE'S SUPPOSED TO TAKE HIM BACK CAUSE HE'S SEEN THE ERROR OF HIS WAYS.
I'm waiting.... Go ahead and make that romantic. I dare you.
NO...THIS WAS AN EPIC FAIL.
I'm looking for romance, not an 'E' True Hollywood Story.
Let me be frank: THE HERO CAUGHT AN STD...HERPES...FROM ALL HIS WHORING AROUND....AND SHE'S SUPPOSED TO TAKE HIM BACK CAUSE HE'S SEEN THE ERROR OF HIS WAYS.
I'm waiting.... Go ahead and make that romantic. I dare you.
NO...THIS WAS AN EPIC FAIL.
I'm looking for romance, not an 'E' True Hollywood Story.
May 11, 2019
Second chance story – 7 years after the hockey star hero cheated on his girlfriend and mother of his newborn daughter.
Hero is now retired and is 3 years sober after a stint in rehab. He’s wealthy in his own right and on the board/major shareholder of his family-owned corporation. He is trying to be a good father to his daughter, whom he neglected while she was growing up. He wants the heroine back - the only woman he ever loved.
It’s a tall wish.
Because this isn’t a category, it’s not the only focus of the story since H/h needed something to do besides revel in their hurt/nostalgia in the past.
There is a lot – a lot – about:
the heroine’s job.
the hero’s real estate investments and plans
the many minor characters from past and future novels
the logistics of parenting an 8 year-old girl. From pick up times to meals to play dates
their daughter’s foray into minor hockey, complete with practice drills and disastrous games
the hero’s remodeling his penthouse apartment and bar where they met (nice metaphor author)
the meals he cooked, etc
I kinda enjoyed/kinda was exhausted by the schedules they were keeping and the to-do lists they were juggling.
But it distracted me from the meat of the problem –the four years of the hero’s cheating, his vindictive behavior with child support and badmouthing the mother of his child, culminating in threats to sue for full custody. His father and brother believed all the lies he told about the heroine and were going to pull strings to deprive her of her daughter until the hero’s mother put her foot down. There are a few mentions of this, specifically when the hero’s business partner (and former f*ck buddy) calls her “Lucifer.” (Her name is Lucy.) But for the most part, the author left the hero’s bad behavior in the past and highlighted the heroine’s bad behavior in the present. (Jumping to conclusions, making accusations before hearing his explanations, arguing in front of her daughter.)
But they both settled down as propinquity took over.
So how *does* a hero climb out of the cheating hole? This is why I read cheating stories.
This hero apologized over and over and tried to make amends as part of his 12 step plan. He had three years of sobriety and abstinence before he approached his ex with hints of reconciliation. The hero went to an AA meeting when he felt himself craving a drink. He did everything he could to change himself and forge a new life.
The hero was a fully-rounded character. The heroine not so much. Once her anger abated there really wasn’t much to her character. She was a doting mother to a difficult daughter. She didn’t know anything about hockey and only watched the hero play in a few times. (I found that hard to believe) Her father was a cheater, therefore she thought all men cheated. Mistrust was her pattern from their first meet-cute. The author glossed over heroine’s struggles in favor of showing how hot and bothered the hero made the heroine even when she was angry.
This story reminded me a lot of the latest version of a Star is Born. Focus was on the hero and his drama rather than the heroine who just learned to cope with such an unreliable partner.
That focus makes sense for a story-teller. What’s more dramatic than someone turning their life around? And let’s face it - a fragile male who has shucked off all of his bad habits that were his coping skills and showing his vulnerable side is always going to be compelling –
But also exhausting.
Hero called himself a narcissist at one point in the story and it fits. By the end, the heroine is happy with catering to his ego (and the low odds of picking up his std) so okay, I guess? It’s her life.
The character I worried about was the daughter who was realistically bratty. The author made a point of the H/h rejecting one counselor’s advice and seeking out another more sympathetic counselor. I’m not sure I would have dismissed the first counselor so quickly. Daughter knew how to manipulate her parents and I didn’t see that dynamic changing since they were both so guilty. Realistic – but not reassuring to this reader.
So if you hate cheating books with the one partner having to do all the forgiving, you will hate this one. That is the dynamic. Hero wore her down – again. Will he cheat again? Pfft. The author tied his cheating to his drinking. Now that the hero doesn’t drink anymore, he’ll never cheat. The std was an extra punishment to keep him line.
I will point out that alcoholism is a disease and cheating is a character flaw – so her formula doesn’t work for me.
You’ll either buy that the hero’s imperfect love is what makes him human and the perfect partner for the heroine or you’ll see this as a narcissist who manipulated and returned to the familiar now that the adoring fans are gone.
I felt uneasy about the ending, I won’t lie. It’s good they’re rich and the H/h are hot in bed and everyone has a hobby/job. I don’t see them weathering the storms of life too well (say if anything happens to the “fucktacular” body of the hero).
Hero is now retired and is 3 years sober after a stint in rehab. He’s wealthy in his own right and on the board/major shareholder of his family-owned corporation. He is trying to be a good father to his daughter, whom he neglected while she was growing up. He wants the heroine back - the only woman he ever loved.
It’s a tall wish.
Because this isn’t a category, it’s not the only focus of the story since H/h needed something to do besides revel in their hurt/nostalgia in the past.
There is a lot – a lot – about:
the heroine’s job.
the hero’s real estate investments and plans
the many minor characters from past and future novels
the logistics of parenting an 8 year-old girl. From pick up times to meals to play dates
their daughter’s foray into minor hockey, complete with practice drills and disastrous games
the hero’s remodeling his penthouse apartment and bar where they met (nice metaphor author)
the meals he cooked, etc
I kinda enjoyed/kinda was exhausted by the schedules they were keeping and the to-do lists they were juggling.
But it distracted me from the meat of the problem –the four years of the hero’s cheating, his vindictive behavior with child support and badmouthing the mother of his child, culminating in threats to sue for full custody. His father and brother believed all the lies he told about the heroine and were going to pull strings to deprive her of her daughter until the hero’s mother put her foot down. There are a few mentions of this, specifically when the hero’s business partner (and former f*ck buddy) calls her “Lucifer.” (Her name is Lucy.) But for the most part, the author left the hero’s bad behavior in the past and highlighted the heroine’s bad behavior in the present. (Jumping to conclusions, making accusations before hearing his explanations, arguing in front of her daughter.)
But they both settled down as propinquity took over.
So how *does* a hero climb out of the cheating hole? This is why I read cheating stories.
This hero apologized over and over and tried to make amends as part of his 12 step plan. He had three years of sobriety and abstinence before he approached his ex with hints of reconciliation. The hero went to an AA meeting when he felt himself craving a drink. He did everything he could to change himself and forge a new life.
The hero was a fully-rounded character. The heroine not so much. Once her anger abated there really wasn’t much to her character. She was a doting mother to a difficult daughter. She didn’t know anything about hockey and only watched the hero play in a few times. (I found that hard to believe) Her father was a cheater, therefore she thought all men cheated. Mistrust was her pattern from their first meet-cute. The author glossed over heroine’s struggles in favor of showing how hot and bothered the hero made the heroine even when she was angry.
This story reminded me a lot of the latest version of a Star is Born. Focus was on the hero and his drama rather than the heroine who just learned to cope with such an unreliable partner.
That focus makes sense for a story-teller. What’s more dramatic than someone turning their life around? And let’s face it - a fragile male who has shucked off all of his bad habits that were his coping skills and showing his vulnerable side is always going to be compelling –
But also exhausting.
Hero called himself a narcissist at one point in the story and it fits. By the end, the heroine is happy with catering to his ego (and the low odds of picking up his std) so okay, I guess? It’s her life.
The character I worried about was the daughter who was realistically bratty. The author made a point of the H/h rejecting one counselor’s advice and seeking out another more sympathetic counselor. I’m not sure I would have dismissed the first counselor so quickly. Daughter knew how to manipulate her parents and I didn’t see that dynamic changing since they were both so guilty. Realistic – but not reassuring to this reader.
So if you hate cheating books with the one partner having to do all the forgiving, you will hate this one. That is the dynamic. Hero wore her down – again. Will he cheat again? Pfft. The author tied his cheating to his drinking. Now that the hero doesn’t drink anymore, he’ll never cheat. The std was an extra punishment to keep him line.
I will point out that alcoholism is a disease and cheating is a character flaw – so her formula doesn’t work for me.
You’ll either buy that the hero’s imperfect love is what makes him human and the perfect partner for the heroine or you’ll see this as a narcissist who manipulated and returned to the familiar now that the adoring fans are gone.
I felt uneasy about the ending, I won’t lie. It’s good they’re rich and the H/h are hot in bed and everyone has a hobby/job. I don’t see them weathering the storms of life too well (say if anything happens to the “fucktacular” body of the hero).
July 15, 2019
2 Stars
Too much page time spent on unnecessary subplots and not enough time spent on the hero and heroine’s damaged relationship and the healing process required to mend it. A few important and needed conversations got swept under the rug, and because of that, I had a hard time fully believing in the HEA. However, what really bothered me and kept me from fully connecting with the characters was the heroine manner of speech. She talk like a guy. You know, the way men talk to each other in locker rooms or just hanging out. I’m not a fan of heroine’s that cuss like sailors (she didn’t) or address their heroes as “dude” or “sport” (She did). It’s a pet-peeve and can ruin a book for me. That said, I admired the way the author kept the story pretty realistic.
Too much page time spent on unnecessary subplots and not enough time spent on the hero and heroine’s damaged relationship and the healing process required to mend it. A few important and needed conversations got swept under the rug, and because of that, I had a hard time fully believing in the HEA. However, what really bothered me and kept me from fully connecting with the characters was the heroine manner of speech. She talk like a guy. You know, the way men talk to each other in locker rooms or just hanging out. I’m not a fan of heroine’s that cuss like sailors (she didn’t) or address their heroes as “dude” or “sport” (She did). It’s a pet-peeve and can ruin a book for me. That said, I admired the way the author kept the story pretty realistic.
May 13, 2019
This is Lorelei James toned down on the erotica and moving to the big city.
So standard LJ tropes apply. Pushy Alpha Male, this one with a booze problem. Treacherous Body Syndrome heroine - who at least did have the great good sense to dump his cheatin' hiney the first time around.
This also follows LJ's forgive and forget the bad stuff, which in this instance was probably wise. It is always easier to accept a cheatin' hero when the cheating happened years before the book starts and the hero's rehab makes it easier to use the "I am a different person now" trope.
(In cheating romance, the assumption that a life changing experience has created a new moral compass is used to essentially set the romance clock back to zero. The h can accept and have a relationship with the H in his new persona, because theoretically neither one of them are the people they were and therefore the relationship will work this time.)
Plus LJ throws in that 'we have a child together' trope and even tho the H was a horrible father in the past, he is reformed now and it is better for a kid to have a dad than not.
(I don't know if I entirely agree with that estimation, but LJ wrote it, so I went with it.)
The HUGE kicker in this one is that the H now has genital herpes and the h agrees to sleep with him and have more children with him.
Part of me is utterly appalled, because herpes and pregnancy is a very bad thing. The other part of me went and looked up some statistics on the prevalence of genital herpes and I was shocked. The numbers of people who have the HSV2 virus are large. 1 in 10 men and 1 in 5 women worldwide is the current World Health estimate.
So that got me to thinking, it probably is about time that we had a romance that deals with living with the permanent STD situation. Whether it is genital warts or herpes, people have to deal with that in real life and I don't think it should preclude an HEA.
(Of course the utter romance cynic in me, that comes from hanging out in HPlandia too long, is thinking this H was really controlling and pushy. His STD is definitely another sneaky way for him to keep the h stuck with him permanently, cause I sure couldn't see this h trying to explain her disease status to anyone else.)
I wasn't massively impressed by this one, it was pretty standard LJ. My feelings after reading this one are decidedly mixed.
But I do think giving your hero a permanent reminder of why you shouldn't be out messing around was a bold step forward in the romance genre. I am just glad I wasn't the heroine in this one and did not have to make that choice.
So standard LJ tropes apply. Pushy Alpha Male, this one with a booze problem. Treacherous Body Syndrome heroine - who at least did have the great good sense to dump his cheatin' hiney the first time around.
This also follows LJ's forgive and forget the bad stuff, which in this instance was probably wise. It is always easier to accept a cheatin' hero when the cheating happened years before the book starts and the hero's rehab makes it easier to use the "I am a different person now" trope.
(In cheating romance, the assumption that a life changing experience has created a new moral compass is used to essentially set the romance clock back to zero. The h can accept and have a relationship with the H in his new persona, because theoretically neither one of them are the people they were and therefore the relationship will work this time.)
Plus LJ throws in that 'we have a child together' trope and even tho the H was a horrible father in the past, he is reformed now and it is better for a kid to have a dad than not.
(I don't know if I entirely agree with that estimation, but LJ wrote it, so I went with it.)
The HUGE kicker in this one is that the H now has genital herpes and the h agrees to sleep with him and have more children with him.
Part of me is utterly appalled, because herpes and pregnancy is a very bad thing. The other part of me went and looked up some statistics on the prevalence of genital herpes and I was shocked. The numbers of people who have the HSV2 virus are large. 1 in 10 men and 1 in 5 women worldwide is the current World Health estimate.
So that got me to thinking, it probably is about time that we had a romance that deals with living with the permanent STD situation. Whether it is genital warts or herpes, people have to deal with that in real life and I don't think it should preclude an HEA.
(Of course the utter romance cynic in me, that comes from hanging out in HPlandia too long, is thinking this H was really controlling and pushy. His STD is definitely another sneaky way for him to keep the h stuck with him permanently, cause I sure couldn't see this h trying to explain her disease status to anyone else.)
I wasn't massively impressed by this one, it was pretty standard LJ. My feelings after reading this one are decidedly mixed.
But I do think giving your hero a permanent reminder of why you shouldn't be out messing around was a bold step forward in the romance genre. I am just glad I wasn't the heroine in this one and did not have to make that choice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
nope
April 27, 2019It's not only the low rate reviews that put me off a book, sometimes the high rate ones do it too. Even though this reviewer was complimenting and praising the book, all that was written is not my cup of tea. Strange, eh? And the price ?! Not worthy for a cheater book. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... I just can't condone/justify/excuse/accept cheating. It has nothing to do with being human. It's about character (lack of) and a choice. Being drunk is no excuse either. Sorry, not sorry. IMO. I keep looking through these second chances books in hope to find one that will suit me, but I think it's a lost cause. Well....
P.S. And I don't forgive... I believe the best way to forgive is to completely forget about someone, like they never existed.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Update: 4/2nd/19
Now I have a review to go with my note and tells exactly what a bunch of ....... (fill in the lines) this story is https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
P.S. And I don't forgive... I believe the best way to forgive is to completely forget about someone, like they never existed.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Update: 4/2nd/19
Now I have a review to go with my note and tells exactly what a bunch of ....... (fill in the lines) this story is https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
do-not-read-cheating
April 23, 2022Spoilers and reminder as to why I won’t read this
.
.
.
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H cheated on her a lot. She breaks up with him after she sees IG photos of his cheating. 8 years pass, he wants her back as well as be more involved in his kid’s life. All his cheating led to catching an incurable STD, meaning, he’s been bareback with who knows how many women. Doesn’t really grovel and many issues aren’t dealt with. Of course the h takes him back.
.
.
.
.
H cheated on her a lot. She breaks up with him after she sees IG photos of his cheating. 8 years pass, he wants her back as well as be more involved in his kid’s life. All his cheating led to catching an incurable STD, meaning, he’s been bareback with who knows how many women. Doesn’t really grovel and many issues aren’t dealt with. Of course the h takes him back.
January 23, 2019
I absolutely loved this second chance take-me- back-even-though-I-royally-screwed-up romance! I understand that a lot of readers will not agree with me because of , but this is a worthwhile read to witness a character's redemption and willingness to change and grow, and the power of forgiveness.
Jaxson "Stonewall" Lund has just retired after a long, illustrious career with the NHL Chicago Black Hawks. Not only was Jax a highly paid athlete, but he is also a member of Minnesota's billionaire Lund family. Jaxson has an eight year old daughter, one he has sporadically seen throughout her life. He has definitely not been a father-of-the-year type, but that's about to change. Newly sober and with a dedication to turning his life around, Jax has a goal--to win back the daughter (Mimi) he has neglected and to undo the damage that he has done to the only woman who's ever mattered to him--the mother of his child (Lucy). It all starts with his relocation back to his hometown...
Lucy has been raising her daughter mostly as a single parent. Her relationship with Jaxson started as a hot, intense one during the hockey off season. These two had chemistry like wow, but would that be enough to sustain a long distance relationship? Due to some family obligations, Lucy was unable/unwilling to move to Chicago with Jax when she unexpectedly became pregnant. And with Jaxson getting some really bad advice from a veteran teammate, combined with a drinking problem and his girlfriend in another state, Jax did the unthinkable. Yeah. How could he?
When Jax realizes he's lost the best thing in his life, he spirals downward. He finally gets his sh** together, but is it too late to start over with his family? How does he show Lucy that he's not the alcoholic manwhore he once was? He's taken responsibility for his past, but is there a potential future with Lucy?
I have to admit that I was disappointed in Jaxson at first and what he did. How could he? Yes, there were extenuating circumstances (which I don't condone)...but he's human. He's flawed. But I loved his determination to a be a father to his (handful of a ) daughter and to be the man that Lucy could trust again. Did he pay for his past behavior? Yes...no spoiler...but unfortunately, he paid.
I was rooting for this couple. I loved the chemistry between them. I wanted them to be a family for Mimi. I saw the change and determination in Jaxson. I believed that these two were the loves of each other's life. I loved that Lucy could forgive. I was just sad that they wasted years...but I think it was necessary for both of them to mature.
This was one that was hard to put down. Once again I was reading out of order in this series, so keeping all the characters from other books who popped in and out was confusing at first. But I think I understand the whole dynamic of this series, so I'm going to go back and read all the other stories. As a side note, I can see that LJ did her homework regarding hockey--I have no complaints on that aspect. Actually, I have no complaints on any aspect of this story!
5 big stars!
My thanks to the publisher for an ARC via Netgalley
Jaxson "Stonewall" Lund has just retired after a long, illustrious career with the NHL Chicago Black Hawks. Not only was Jax a highly paid athlete, but he is also a member of Minnesota's billionaire Lund family. Jaxson has an eight year old daughter, one he has sporadically seen throughout her life. He has definitely not been a father-of-the-year type, but that's about to change. Newly sober and with a dedication to turning his life around, Jax has a goal--to win back the daughter (Mimi) he has neglected and to undo the damage that he has done to the only woman who's ever mattered to him--the mother of his child (Lucy). It all starts with his relocation back to his hometown...
Lucy has been raising her daughter mostly as a single parent. Her relationship with Jaxson started as a hot, intense one during the hockey off season. These two had chemistry like wow, but would that be enough to sustain a long distance relationship? Due to some family obligations, Lucy was unable/unwilling to move to Chicago with Jax when she unexpectedly became pregnant. And with Jaxson getting some really bad advice from a veteran teammate, combined with a drinking problem and his girlfriend in another state, Jax did the unthinkable. Yeah. How could he?
When Jax realizes he's lost the best thing in his life, he spirals downward. He finally gets his sh** together, but is it too late to start over with his family? How does he show Lucy that he's not the alcoholic manwhore he once was? He's taken responsibility for his past, but is there a potential future with Lucy?
I have to admit that I was disappointed in Jaxson at first and what he did. How could he? Yes, there were extenuating circumstances (which I don't condone)...but he's human. He's flawed. But I loved his determination to a be a father to his (handful of a ) daughter and to be the man that Lucy could trust again. Did he pay for his past behavior? Yes...no spoiler...but unfortunately, he paid.
I was rooting for this couple. I loved the chemistry between them. I wanted them to be a family for Mimi. I saw the change and determination in Jaxson. I believed that these two were the loves of each other's life. I loved that Lucy could forgive. I was just sad that they wasted years...but I think it was necessary for both of them to mature.
This was one that was hard to put down. Once again I was reading out of order in this series, so keeping all the characters from other books who popped in and out was confusing at first. But I think I understand the whole dynamic of this series, so I'm going to go back and read all the other stories. As a side note, I can see that LJ did her homework regarding hockey--I have no complaints on that aspect. Actually, I have no complaints on any aspect of this story!
5 big stars!
My thanks to the publisher for an ARC via Netgalley
never-no-way
September 21, 2019I dislike 90% of second chance romances as they are rarely done well. And this book would definitely be one I would hate fiercely if I ever considered reading it - and I DON'T!
Why would I want to read about an idiot who takes back the man who cheated on her multiple times and then fought her tooth and nail on a custody case?
He also got an incurable STD from his past hook-ups - such a catch he is, right?!!!
For more details, here are some amazing reviews:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Why would I want to read about an idiot who takes back the man who cheated on her multiple times and then fought her tooth and nail on a custody case?
He also got an incurable STD from his past hook-ups - such a catch he is, right?!!!
For more details, here are some amazing reviews:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
September 25, 2019
2 ⭐⭐ - Meh!
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UPDATE: Great Review Here
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UPDATE:
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UPDATE: Great Review Here
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UPDATE:
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October 20, 2022
Jackson, hockey player and heir to a fortune, has been a MIA father for the first 8 years of his daughter’s life. Lucy, his ex, has been raising her on her own and isn’t exactly hoping they’ll get back together when Jackson announces he’s moving back to town and that he’s given up his slimy philandering, crappy-fathering ways. One reason this worked for me was that the author did a good job of keeping jerk-Jackson in the past and focused heavily on how he’d had a “see the light” moment and wanted to be a better man going forward. The scenes where he tried to start fixing his relationship with Mimi (daughter) were cute and this was a slow-paced, but nice romance to curl up with. If you like a story with lots of flashbacks, you’ll love this one!
June 13, 2019
I should have listened to Boogengan and StMargrets’ reviews.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I hated this. I hated, I mean HATED, the incredibly bitchy heroine, hated the incredibly bratty and manipulative daughter, and merely disliked the reformed alcoholic and cheating H. At least he tried to change his behavior, but his late admission of his cheating and its life altering consequences were less pity inducing than annoying. I DO NOT READ FICTION FOR THIS CRAP.
Scarily enough the most interesting part of the story was the hockey portion. I don’t even like hockey.
The heroine was the clincher for me as she was so unlikeable. Every time she opened her mouth or monologued about the hero it drove me crazy. Yes, he cheated on her which is a huge NO for me, but he has turned his life around and groveled and changed. He has been celibate for three years as well as dry. She, on the other hand, started out snarky, uncompromising and bitchy and ended up snarky, uncompromising and bitchy.
A shock this was from the usually reliable Lorelei James. That and the sex scenes she had in the Rough Rider series were tamed down from lion in the wild to kitten in basket.
A couple of characters I hope she pulls in on what is obviously going to be a series: the psychic and scatty little cousin and the hockey playing chick that hates the H’s brother. Gee, I wonder who will be her man?
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I hated this. I hated, I mean HATED, the incredibly bitchy heroine, hated the incredibly bratty and manipulative daughter, and merely disliked the reformed alcoholic and cheating H. At least he tried to change his behavior, but his late admission of his cheating and its life altering consequences were less pity inducing than annoying. I DO NOT READ FICTION FOR THIS CRAP.
Scarily enough the most interesting part of the story was the hockey portion. I don’t even like hockey.
The heroine was the clincher for me as she was so unlikeable. Every time she opened her mouth or monologued about the hero it drove me crazy. Yes, he cheated on her which is a huge NO for me, but he has turned his life around and groveled and changed. He has been celibate for three years as well as dry. She, on the other hand, started out snarky, uncompromising and bitchy and ended up snarky, uncompromising and bitchy.
A shock this was from the usually reliable Lorelei James. That and the sex scenes she had in the Rough Rider series were tamed down from lion in the wild to kitten in basket.
A couple of characters I hope she pulls in on what is obviously going to be a series: the psychic and scatty little cousin and the hockey playing chick that hates the H’s brother. Gee, I wonder who will be her man?
January 8, 2019
I've been DYING for Jaxson and Lucy's story since they were first introduced in the series. I couldn't wait to see how Lorelei James would redeem Jaxson, as he couldn't be more awful in previous books. As a professional hockey player, he messed up big-time with the love of his life and their child. Now that he's retired, he's determined to win back Lucy's heart and be the father he should have been. I Want You Back is a fantastic redemption story that I highly recommend if you're a fan of the Need You series!
Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.
Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.
April 2, 2019
4.5 Stars
I’m such a sucker for a good second chance romance, even more so when the couple have a child together, so I was really rooting for Jax and Lucy to get their HEA! From the beginning this couple felt like they were always meant-to-be, which was enhanced by flashbacks to some of their first dates. A super meet-cute, and palpable chemistry had me hooked! I loved the flashbacks, and I felt like it gave a depth to their connection that wouldn’t have been there otherwise, but I was glad we didn’t relive their messy breakup, as I’m not fond of super angsty romances.
My heart ached for the loss of their relationship since it was clear neither were over the breakup even though it happened years ago, right around when their eight-year-old daughter Sophie was born. It’s always tough for me to get over a cheating in a relationship, but Ms. James handled it beautifully! Not to excuse Jax’s behavior, but alcoholism and toxic peer influence contributed. I appreciated he never made excuses, and acknowledged how badly he screwed up, losing “the love of his life” in the process. He definitely made up for it! Lucy wasn’t completely blameless in the death of their relationship, IMO, and I’m glad she recognized her part and worked to change.
Jax and Lucy’s story was mentioned here and there in the Need You series, so I’ve been eagerly anticipating their turn, and I Want You Back did not disappoint! Loved Jax and Lucy’s story to pieces! This series is a new spin-off, something I just figured out. I thought is was part of the Need You series, and we do have cross-over characters. However, you don’t have to read any of the other books to love Jax and Lucy’s story.
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
I’m such a sucker for a good second chance romance, even more so when the couple have a child together, so I was really rooting for Jax and Lucy to get their HEA! From the beginning this couple felt like they were always meant-to-be, which was enhanced by flashbacks to some of their first dates. A super meet-cute, and palpable chemistry had me hooked! I loved the flashbacks, and I felt like it gave a depth to their connection that wouldn’t have been there otherwise, but I was glad we didn’t relive their messy breakup, as I’m not fond of super angsty romances.
My heart ached for the loss of their relationship since it was clear neither were over the breakup even though it happened years ago, right around when their eight-year-old daughter Sophie was born. It’s always tough for me to get over a cheating in a relationship, but Ms. James handled it beautifully! Not to excuse Jax’s behavior, but alcoholism and toxic peer influence contributed. I appreciated he never made excuses, and acknowledged how badly he screwed up, losing “the love of his life” in the process. He definitely made up for it! Lucy wasn’t completely blameless in the death of their relationship, IMO, and I’m glad she recognized her part and worked to change.
Jax and Lucy’s story was mentioned here and there in the Need You series, so I’ve been eagerly anticipating their turn, and I Want You Back did not disappoint! Loved Jax and Lucy’s story to pieces! This series is a new spin-off, something I just figured out. I thought is was part of the Need You series, and we do have cross-over characters. However, you don’t have to read any of the other books to love Jax and Lucy’s story.
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
dnr
April 7, 2019Cheating pig, deadbeat dad, sleazy dirtbag who was such a whore he got an STD.
What's not to love.
Eye roll. Some women are just pathetic losers to drop their standards to something as low this dog. These women give all other women who KNOW this douche for what he is, a bad name. And now that he's had years of fucking every woman that breathes he turns his sights back on the doormat h.
This deadbeat does not deserve a second chance. Just because after YEARS of being a dickhead and sticking his dick into anything that moves he NOW wants to change because it suits HIM everyone is supposed to gush how great he is for trying and just accept all his shit? What the ever fucking hell???
Degrading.
And for those who want to try and pin some blame on Lucy, SHAME ON YOU!!!!! HE was SCUM for years!!!!! SCUM!
What's not to love.
Eye roll. Some women are just pathetic losers to drop their standards to something as low this dog. These women give all other women who KNOW this douche for what he is, a bad name. And now that he's had years of fucking every woman that breathes he turns his sights back on the doormat h.
This deadbeat does not deserve a second chance. Just because after YEARS of being a dickhead and sticking his dick into anything that moves he NOW wants to change because it suits HIM everyone is supposed to gush how great he is for trying and just accept all his shit? What the ever fucking hell???
Degrading.
And for those who want to try and pin some blame on Lucy, SHAME ON YOU!!!!! HE was SCUM for years!!!!! SCUM!
March 11, 2019
I’ve been reading Lorelei James for going on 10 years and I never grow tired of her writing, with each book she crafts complex characters that show growth throughout, intricate plots, she doesn’t shy away from discussing tough subjects, and while she may make her couples work for their happy ever after, they do eventually get there. Her latest release I Want You Back features a couple whose relationship hit the skids years ago, one in which the trust was broken repeatedly, one in which big mistakes were made, and one to be honest I wasn’t sure how she was going to repair and while it takes time, patience, and a whole lot of forgiveness and work this couple gets there and along the way they find out more about themselves and each other. I LOVED this book for fact that while their relationship was broken, they were forced together because of the child they shared, and they had to really dig deep and examine everything that tore them apart and how they worked in the first place. I felt I was part of this story, that what happened to them mattered to me and I had a vested interest in how it played out. I ran the gamut of emotions reading this book and I have to say that this is Lorelei James at her best.
To say that Jaxson “Stonewall” Lund has made a mess of his life and relationships is putting it mildly. Cheating on his girlfriend, ignoring his daughter, and lying to his parents, brother, and cousins are just a few of his sins, but he’s had a life wake-up call and after getting help for his alcohol addiction and retiring from the NHL, he is back in Minneapolis and is ready to make amends and get his life back in order. He knows he’ll have an uphill battle and that includes trying to figure out his next move business wise, because while he’s been “working” at Lund Industries for the last 6 months, nothing about that makes him happy and Jax knows he has big decisions to make in all areas of his life.
With her ex back in town permanently, Lucy Quade is dealing with sharing her daughter more than she’s ever had to and worrying every time he picks her up for a visit. While she is happy for her daughter that her father is finally putting forth some effort in her life and he has stopped being the antagonist he once was, she can’t help but worry. Thankfully with a great job at her ex’s family’s corporation no less, she is no longer struggling, but seeing Jax more and more makes her wonder if he’s really changed or just putting on a good front.
Flat out, this couple has baggage; hell, their baggage has baggage and for a good part of this story they were having a hard time unpacking it so they could move forward. I do have to give this author big kudos for the incident that made them both realize they had to make some changes in order to make their child feel safe and secure. Because they had history, this book contained flashbacks that let the reader see how they became a couple in the first place, it took us through to their break-up and even delved into the issues that has made it hard for them to be civil with one another and I appreciated that background information because it showed they did have a foundation in which to work from. While there was no doubt Jax screwed up royally on many levels, Lucy was not without fault, and I think the fact they both realized how badly they messed up is what made them reassess and work towards being a better people in general along with being better to each other. I loved seeing the little epiphanies along the way as they worked towards not only being better parents on a united front, but looking at rebuilding the relationship they once had.
No doubt about it Jaxson’s well meaning family from his parents and brother to his cousins were front and center to add nuggets of wisdom or to set both him and Lucy straight. Lucy’s sister was a good sounding board for her and helped her see things in a different light. Some of these scenes were lighthearted, others were eye opening, but one thing was certain both Jax and Lucy have people in their lives that care about them immensely.
This book is a bit heavier than the other books in the companion series, but this couple’s situation warranted it, yet there was no manufactured drama. Each and every situation in I Want You Back had a purpose and meaning, making this book romance perfection!
March 18, 2019
4.5 stars!
I immediately read this the moment I got hold of the ARC, and I was not disappointed. This was a good one especially considering how Jaxson was in the Need You series. But this was well written, emotionally nuanced second-chance romance that doesn't hold back in showing readers the consequences of infidelity.
Full review closer to the release date.
ARC provided by Berkely
I immediately read this the moment I got hold of the ARC, and I was not disappointed. This was a good one especially considering how Jaxson was in the Need You series. But this was well written, emotionally nuanced second-chance romance that doesn't hold back in showing readers the consequences of infidelity.
Full review closer to the release date.
ARC provided by Berkely
November 21, 2019
Former NHL star Jaxson Lund, justified his infidelity to Lucy, his ex-girlfriend by her refusal to uproot her life from Minnesota to Chicago...using his teammate and mentor as his moral compass to excuse his actions. Jax was a highly paid former pro hockey player from an affluent family. Yet, he enlists family support in a contentious custody and child support battle.
Edie (Jax’s Mum) never questioned why her son was denied contact with his daughter. She never commented on the court battles he instigated. The only time she chose sides was when the male family members threatened to file for custody for their ego-fed scheme.
Lucy’s past dictated her self-fulfilling prophecy of all men being cheaters. She has a steady job, a nice flat and a well-adjusted if at times ill-mannered daughter, Mimi. Mimi’s father, Jaxson Lund, was a member of a billionaire family. When Jax resurfaces, insisting on co-parenting, Lucy is reluctant based on his past irresponsible behaviour.
Lucy is unconvinced he can multitask, Jax, as a recovering alcoholic and serial womaniser has only ever had one true love, hockey. After rehab and retiring Lucy allows herself to be persuaded by the impassioned pleas of his cheering committee.
The H was celibate for three years not because he planned to redeem himself - nor was he remorseful, rather because he’s now afflicted with an incurable STD from indiscriminate sexual encounters.
“I’d contracted a sexually transmitted disease. I didn’t know when it’d happened or who passed it to me or if I’d unknowingly passed it to someone. Random encounters meant I had no way of finding out. My stupidity arrogance, self-involvement and entitlement had brought me to the lowest point in my life. I checked into rehab two days later. I dealt with the booze addiction and my new reality as being a lifelong carrier of an STD. It’s been a lot easier telling people that I’m an alcoholic than I have HSV-2 and I’ll be on medication for the rest of my life. Mimi can’t get it from me. But you can. In fact if we have sex, there’s an eight percent chance that you’ll be infected.
I discovered that Herpes 2, like AIDS, can’t be cured. I just have to learn to live with it and tell any potential partner that I have it, so knowing that, I decided I wouldn’t subject anyone to the slightest chance of exposure and chose abstinence”.
Loosely translated, I am ashamed to admit that I am a lying, cheating tool and I now have a contagious STD.
But our heroine being a woman of compassion decides to have unprotected sex in the name of Love (insert sarcasm here).
Her response should have been ‘enjoy your disease, I hope it was well worth it’.
Quel dommage !
I do not think so!
Edie (Jax’s Mum) never questioned why her son was denied contact with his daughter. She never commented on the court battles he instigated. The only time she chose sides was when the male family members threatened to file for custody for their ego-fed scheme.
Lucy’s past dictated her self-fulfilling prophecy of all men being cheaters. She has a steady job, a nice flat and a well-adjusted if at times ill-mannered daughter, Mimi. Mimi’s father, Jaxson Lund, was a member of a billionaire family. When Jax resurfaces, insisting on co-parenting, Lucy is reluctant based on his past irresponsible behaviour.
Lucy is unconvinced he can multitask, Jax, as a recovering alcoholic and serial womaniser has only ever had one true love, hockey. After rehab and retiring Lucy allows herself to be persuaded by the impassioned pleas of his cheering committee.
The H was celibate for three years not because he planned to redeem himself - nor was he remorseful, rather because he’s now afflicted with an incurable STD from indiscriminate sexual encounters.
“I’d contracted a sexually transmitted disease. I didn’t know when it’d happened or who passed it to me or if I’d unknowingly passed it to someone. Random encounters meant I had no way of finding out. My stupidity arrogance, self-involvement and entitlement had brought me to the lowest point in my life. I checked into rehab two days later. I dealt with the booze addiction and my new reality as being a lifelong carrier of an STD. It’s been a lot easier telling people that I’m an alcoholic than I have HSV-2 and I’ll be on medication for the rest of my life. Mimi can’t get it from me. But you can. In fact if we have sex, there’s an eight percent chance that you’ll be infected.
I discovered that Herpes 2, like AIDS, can’t be cured. I just have to learn to live with it and tell any potential partner that I have it, so knowing that, I decided I wouldn’t subject anyone to the slightest chance of exposure and chose abstinence”.
Loosely translated, I am ashamed to admit that I am a lying, cheating tool and I now have a contagious STD.
But our heroine being a woman of compassion decides to have unprotected sex in the name of Love (insert sarcasm here).
Her response should have been ‘enjoy your disease, I hope it was well worth it’.
Quel dommage !
I do not think so!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
March 21, 2023DNF. This had been in my TBR for a while. A plot that could have delivered a good second chance romance with angst and a groveling hero. Instead, all the angst happens off-page (before the start of the book), all of the hero's past transgressions are never really explored (see reviews), and the heroine seems to be cool about it. Good for her but not good for this reader. For years and years, he was terribly selfish and did her and their kid wrong while she waited in the sidelines, and now that he's willing to change, she's there at his beck and call, ready to forgive and forget, easily. Ugh, I hate that. One of my biggest pet peeves. How long did it take him to come around, about 8 years? SMH
It's boring, and there's like 20 side characters with their own stories that appear in the pages as if I'm supposed to know them already. It feels like I'm walking into the middle of a series. There is so much side BS with the hero's family, his retirement plans and business venture, that it makes me think the romance isn't really central to the story. Laters.
It's boring, and there's like 20 side characters with their own stories that appear in the pages as if I'm supposed to know them already. It feels like I'm walking into the middle of a series. There is so much side BS with the hero's family, his retirement plans and business venture, that it makes me think the romance isn't really central to the story. Laters.
August 30, 2019
Jax and Lucy were great in this second chance romance. I enjoyed them being with their daughter Mimi. The other Lund siblings and cousins appear too and their close friendships were a highlight. I felt the story focused a lot on hockey which is Jax’s passion in life. The flashbacks of him and Lucy and them in the present time lacked chemistry. I struggled with their connection. It was a lot of telling instead of showing which was a shame cause there was no doubt about them having feelings for one another.
If there’s going to be another book in this series I hope it’s Jax’s brother Nolan. So even though I Want You Back didn’t wow me I’m still hoping for more.
If there’s going to be another book in this series I hope it’s Jax’s brother Nolan. So even though I Want You Back didn’t wow me I’m still hoping for more.
April 2, 2019
Oh. My. Gosh.
Y’all, this was one of those books that I didn’t want to end. And it’s not a short book, but the more I read the more I wanted to keep reading. I was positively glued to it, and I still couldn't get enough. And that, right there, is the hallmark of a fantastic book to me.
And it was fantastic. This is a second chance romance, so the story is told in present time and in flashbacks which are threaded neatly into the chapters as the characters experience the memories. I sometimes lose patience with books that rely heavily on flashbacks to paint me the picture of the love story, but that wasn’t the case here. I felt like the flashbacks were balanced pretty perfectly with the present love story, and there was no feeling of dread like an anvil was going to drop on me. We already knew what had happened to pull them apart. The flashbacks served to show us what brought them together in the first place, and establish the chemistry and connection that – even after everything fell apart – was never really severed.
I loved it.
I felt like Ms. James nailed the chemistry. I loved the sparks that flew between Jax and Lucy, the tenderness they showed each other, and ultimately the grace they gave each other in order to move on with their lives together. I adored the family dynamic – both between Jax, Lucy and Mimi, and between the entire Lund Collective. I felt like the “blended family” storyline was realistic and authentic and added layers to the love story that made me feel it on a much deeper level. I loved how the Lund collective pitched in, stood up, and stood by while Jax and Lucy sorted through their baggage and slowly made their way toward their happily ever after. There are layers here, and each one is complicated, nuanced, and completely lovely.
I Want You Back delivered for me on literally every level. Not only was the storyline compelling and addictive, but the love story set my heart aflutter and got my pulse racing. I loved the hockey pieces. I loved the character growth in both Jax and Lucy. I loved the sweet slow burn and the tiny little curveballs Ms. James threw at me. I completely adore the Lund family and am beyond excited to get more from them in the future. And I loved – loved, loved, loved - the happily ever after here. It was so sweetly satisfying, so adorably romantic, and absolute perfection for these two. I could not be more thrilled with this book and I absolutely recommend it! ~ Shelly, 5 Stars
****
My favs:
✓ Second-chance romance
✓ Sports romance
✓ Single-parent romance
I’ve hit the Trifecta with I Want You Back because it’s all three! And O.M.G. I loved it!
Get ready to feel all the feels. Seriously because, Jaxson has been through hell and back. He’s figuring out his way after retiring from hockey. Figuring out who he is and who he wants to be—and where he fits within his family and the family business. The one thing he’s not trying to figure out is if he wants to be back together with Lucy. His daughter’s mother and the one he let slip through his fingers due to his own actions.
Gah, I loved the interactions between Lucy and Jax. And the flashbacks to when they got together. And typically I am not a fan of flashbacks, but it totally worked for me in this book. I really understood Jax and Lucy and what happened between them to drive them apart. And what ultimately, hopefully, would bring them back together.
I loved Lucy’s strength and her snark. Loved that she didn’t hold back with Jax—that she always told him her thoughts and didn’t just go along with things. And it’s been eight years since she and Jax were a couple. Eight years that she’s raised Mimi a single-parent, for the most part. Eight years that she battled Jax and his BS custody fights and crap. And now she’s trying to balance her own life with the needs of her daughter, her job and Jaxson.
I loved the emotional balance of their romance. That they somehow managed to get it together and be adults. Okay, so perhaps with some help from a sprite of a girl and an uncle or two. But in the end, they got it together. They loved fiercely. And they made it through the trauma of their past. And I cannot wait for more! ~ Missy, 5 stars
Y’all, this was one of those books that I didn’t want to end. And it’s not a short book, but the more I read the more I wanted to keep reading. I was positively glued to it, and I still couldn't get enough. And that, right there, is the hallmark of a fantastic book to me.
And it was fantastic. This is a second chance romance, so the story is told in present time and in flashbacks which are threaded neatly into the chapters as the characters experience the memories. I sometimes lose patience with books that rely heavily on flashbacks to paint me the picture of the love story, but that wasn’t the case here. I felt like the flashbacks were balanced pretty perfectly with the present love story, and there was no feeling of dread like an anvil was going to drop on me. We already knew what had happened to pull them apart. The flashbacks served to show us what brought them together in the first place, and establish the chemistry and connection that – even after everything fell apart – was never really severed.
I loved it.
I felt like Ms. James nailed the chemistry. I loved the sparks that flew between Jax and Lucy, the tenderness they showed each other, and ultimately the grace they gave each other in order to move on with their lives together. I adored the family dynamic – both between Jax, Lucy and Mimi, and between the entire Lund Collective. I felt like the “blended family” storyline was realistic and authentic and added layers to the love story that made me feel it on a much deeper level. I loved how the Lund collective pitched in, stood up, and stood by while Jax and Lucy sorted through their baggage and slowly made their way toward their happily ever after. There are layers here, and each one is complicated, nuanced, and completely lovely.
I Want You Back delivered for me on literally every level. Not only was the storyline compelling and addictive, but the love story set my heart aflutter and got my pulse racing. I loved the hockey pieces. I loved the character growth in both Jax and Lucy. I loved the sweet slow burn and the tiny little curveballs Ms. James threw at me. I completely adore the Lund family and am beyond excited to get more from them in the future. And I loved – loved, loved, loved - the happily ever after here. It was so sweetly satisfying, so adorably romantic, and absolute perfection for these two. I could not be more thrilled with this book and I absolutely recommend it! ~ Shelly, 5 Stars
****
My favs:
✓ Second-chance romance
✓ Sports romance
✓ Single-parent romance
I’ve hit the Trifecta with I Want You Back because it’s all three! And O.M.G. I loved it!
Get ready to feel all the feels. Seriously because, Jaxson has been through hell and back. He’s figuring out his way after retiring from hockey. Figuring out who he is and who he wants to be—and where he fits within his family and the family business. The one thing he’s not trying to figure out is if he wants to be back together with Lucy. His daughter’s mother and the one he let slip through his fingers due to his own actions.
Gah, I loved the interactions between Lucy and Jax. And the flashbacks to when they got together. And typically I am not a fan of flashbacks, but it totally worked for me in this book. I really understood Jax and Lucy and what happened between them to drive them apart. And what ultimately, hopefully, would bring them back together.
I loved Lucy’s strength and her snark. Loved that she didn’t hold back with Jax—that she always told him her thoughts and didn’t just go along with things. And it’s been eight years since she and Jax were a couple. Eight years that she’s raised Mimi a single-parent, for the most part. Eight years that she battled Jax and his BS custody fights and crap. And now she’s trying to balance her own life with the needs of her daughter, her job and Jaxson.
I loved the emotional balance of their romance. That they somehow managed to get it together and be adults. Okay, so perhaps with some help from a sprite of a girl and an uncle or two. But in the end, they got it together. They loved fiercely. And they made it through the trauma of their past. And I cannot wait for more! ~ Missy, 5 stars
January 13, 2019
James' latest romance is a bittersweet, sexy, and compassionate second chance romance between a hockey star and the woman he lost. Filled with passion, recriminations, and redemption, James doesn't hold back any punches as she guides this couple towards their HEA while forcing them to take a hard look at the issues that broke them and the part they each played in it. She devolves in-depth into infidelity, drug addiction, and the consequences of unsafe sex. A well-written story that both entertains and informs..
May 6, 2019
This is first in a new series, but the series is a follow-on to James' Need You series. And frankly, the family relationships are important enough that I recommend reading those first. Not to mention that Jax has been in the background throughout all of those books as well, so the impact he has had on his family is stronger if you've kept up from the beginning.
James took a real risk starting this new series with Jax's story. It's a redemption story with some heft to it. Jaxson was an egotistical party-boy who partied so hard he needed a serious stint in rehab to prevent a complete crash and burn. He's been out of rehab for a bit and retired from his major-league hockey career and has completely changed his priorities. And that includes his daughter and the love he completely screwed up by being a major jerk. So Lucy has a lot of baggage given her by Jaxson himself and that's going to be a tough sell—not least because his bad behavior included cheating on her.
And Lucy has had her own growth from the carefree/careless woman she had been before, too. It's clear if you read at all deeply that their crash wasn't solely due to Jax's immature and entitled stupidity. Not that the story ever excuses his bad choices, because it's pretty relentless (in an appropriate, non-boring way) about the ground he needs to cover to be worth a relationship, now. It's just that both main characters have some patterns they need to adjust and the ability to forgive and move on isn't entirely one-sided.
I attached to both leads early. And I didn't hate the memory flashbacks James indulged to give us some of the details of their courtship nine years prior. But my biggest engagement was their interactions with their daughter, Mimi. A problem I had with the just-prior book, When I Need You, was how the kid, Calder, was too perfect. This is so not the case with Mimi. She's a willful eight year-old and precocious and determined and not at all sure she wants to share her parents with each other ("I'll only have one bedroom!"). I loved her strong personality and the fits she gave her parents and the totally realistic manipulations she pulls. Plus, I loved her drive to play hockey, not just because it's what her dad did but because it was fun.
And James even threw in a wrinkle that few romance authors take on, . I'm torn between wishing James hadn't added that when she had so much else on the plate because I fear it didn't get the space it deserved. On the other hand, kudos for going there.
Anyway, it was a solid read and very engaging. The awkward flashbacks and some plot elements that didn't quite get where they needed to go keep this from being a full five stars. But it's still a solid four.
A note about the Audiobook: Both narrators were very good. But Troy Duran has one of those voices that just drips allure. I spent maybe a minute of each switch to his narration basking in his mellow bass.
A note about Steamy: There are two or three explicit sex scenes and some playing around leading up to it. So it's in the middle of my steam tolerance. Sex is in many ways at the core of their relationship and dealing with broken patterns takes up a not-insignificant amount of what they need to work out. Which ironically makes the detailed scenes themselves a bit gratuitous, though all the discussion and lead-up were completely necessary.
James took a real risk starting this new series with Jax's story. It's a redemption story with some heft to it. Jaxson was an egotistical party-boy who partied so hard he needed a serious stint in rehab to prevent a complete crash and burn. He's been out of rehab for a bit and retired from his major-league hockey career and has completely changed his priorities. And that includes his daughter and the love he completely screwed up by being a major jerk. So Lucy has a lot of baggage given her by Jaxson himself and that's going to be a tough sell—not least because his bad behavior included cheating on her.
And Lucy has had her own growth from the carefree/careless woman she had been before, too. It's clear if you read at all deeply that their crash wasn't solely due to Jax's immature and entitled stupidity. Not that the story ever excuses his bad choices, because it's pretty relentless (in an appropriate, non-boring way) about the ground he needs to cover to be worth a relationship, now. It's just that both main characters have some patterns they need to adjust and the ability to forgive and move on isn't entirely one-sided.
I attached to both leads early. And I didn't hate the memory flashbacks James indulged to give us some of the details of their courtship nine years prior. But my biggest engagement was their interactions with their daughter, Mimi. A problem I had with the just-prior book, When I Need You, was how the kid, Calder, was too perfect. This is so not the case with Mimi. She's a willful eight year-old and precocious and determined and not at all sure she wants to share her parents with each other ("I'll only have one bedroom!"). I loved her strong personality and the fits she gave her parents and the totally realistic manipulations she pulls. Plus, I loved her drive to play hockey, not just because it's what her dad did but because it was fun.
And James even threw in a wrinkle that few romance authors take on, . I'm torn between wishing James hadn't added that when she had so much else on the plate because I fear it didn't get the space it deserved. On the other hand, kudos for going there.
Anyway, it was a solid read and very engaging. The awkward flashbacks and some plot elements that didn't quite get where they needed to go keep this from being a full five stars. But it's still a solid four.
A note about the Audiobook: Both narrators were very good. But Troy Duran has one of those voices that just drips allure. I spent maybe a minute of each switch to his narration basking in his mellow bass.
A note about Steamy: There are two or three explicit sex scenes and some playing around leading up to it. So it's in the middle of my steam tolerance. Sex is in many ways at the core of their relationship and dealing with broken patterns takes up a not-insignificant amount of what they need to work out. Which ironically makes the detailed scenes themselves a bit gratuitous, though all the discussion and lead-up were completely necessary.
April 6, 2019
Yuck, why do I do this to myself.
A cis-gender, heterosexual male has a history of alcohol abuse, infidelity and an STD. Has harassed the mother of his child by taking her to court to fight for custody while he's also been an absentee father.
This book isn't criminal because it has such an a-hole male protagonist. It's criminal because it chooses to gloss over, justify and ignore his actions. Meanwhile, the female protagonist's most valuable contribution has been her hot and bothered descriptions of how the man drives her crazzzzyy. Yuck.
A cis-gender, heterosexual male has a history of alcohol abuse, infidelity and an STD. Has harassed the mother of his child by taking her to court to fight for custody while he's also been an absentee father.
This book isn't criminal because it has such an a-hole male protagonist. It's criminal because it chooses to gloss over, justify and ignore his actions. Meanwhile, the female protagonist's most valuable contribution has been her hot and bothered descriptions of how the man drives her crazzzzyy. Yuck.
April 6, 2019
Do all these other Lunds already have books? Because I constantly felt like I was missing part of the story... This was ok but I’ve read better second chance romances. Somehow there was no real anticipation for the two main characters to get together.
January 27, 2019
Wow! This is my first book by the talented Ms. James and I was blown away!
The characters were written so flawlessly, seeming so real, I struggled to put this book down, needing to devour every word and soak it in. Even when I was forced to put it down to adult, I couldn't stop thinking about it.
Jax and Lucy's story broke my heart then taped it back together. This is a story about love, forgiveness and second chances.
The strength Lucy inspired left me breathless. She was such a selfless woman and having to endure the awfulness of a love gone bad was heartbreaking. She was so strong, a lot sassy and was willing to not let the past dictate her future.
Jax. At first, I didn't know what to think of this sexy, egotistical man.
“I may not kiss you tonight, but by our third date you will know how perfectly wicked it'll feel to have my mouth all over you.”
He was young and listened to the wrong person and it changed his life forever. He broke my heart with how he treated the 'love of his life' and his child before he confronted his addiction. I was elated for him in his decision to get healthy and in time, get her (them) back. And then left me holding my breath when he bared his soul and all his secrets only to fear losing her again because of them.
Addiction is an ugly beast and I think this author did a great job of showing the struggle isn't just contained to the person with the addiction, but everyone around them. It was wonderful to see that both Jax and Lucy had a unshakable support system.
I absolutely loved feeling like I was part of Lucy and Jax's story and I can't wait for the next book in this series!
Hey book whores, if you want to follow me, you can find me here
April 23, 2019
Lucy has been raising her daughter alone while Mimi's father plays in the NHL. However, now that he's retired, he's back in town and wants to connect with his daughter more, and reconnect with Lucy. Now, I'm all for hockey players. I'm also a sucker for second-chance romances, but this one just didn't work for me and I found myself not finishing it.
For one, the pacing on this novel is extremely slow. Like, excruciatingly slow. Normally I like getting the behind-the-scenes look at characters lives, but I don't need to see every little mundane part of it. Which, is what it felt like while reading this novel. I found myself just really bored the majority of the time because it seemed like the story wasn't really going anywhere. I was just watching a single mom live her life the best she could while trying to play nice with her baby daddy.
There's cheating in this story, and I can't stand cheating in my romances. It's the #1 turn off for me. Granted, the cheating happened in the past, but the whole reason these two aren't together anymore to raise their daughter as a cohesive team is because he couldn't keep it in his pants while she was at home pregnant. Another blow came when during the rehashing of the past, she knew he was cheating since pictures were surfacing on social media and she just shrugged off it off since it was the first time and it was bound to happen. WHAT?!? Then, the kicker... (and spoiler alert!) homeboy gets a STD from his philandering ways, and not just any STD, but genital Herpes. So, let's recap, not only does the hero cheat on his PREGNANT girl friend, but he gets Herpes from it... and they still live happily ever after? Oh hell no!
So yeah, this was not for me. It sounded like a win for me since it dealt with a lot of things that I like, but there were a lot of issues I had with this story. A lot.
For one, the pacing on this novel is extremely slow. Like, excruciatingly slow. Normally I like getting the behind-the-scenes look at characters lives, but I don't need to see every little mundane part of it. Which, is what it felt like while reading this novel. I found myself just really bored the majority of the time because it seemed like the story wasn't really going anywhere. I was just watching a single mom live her life the best she could while trying to play nice with her baby daddy.
There's cheating in this story, and I can't stand cheating in my romances. It's the #1 turn off for me. Granted, the cheating happened in the past, but the whole reason these two aren't together anymore to raise their daughter as a cohesive team is because he couldn't keep it in his pants while she was at home pregnant. Another blow came when during the rehashing of the past, she knew he was cheating since pictures were surfacing on social media and she just shrugged off it off since it was the first time and it was bound to happen. WHAT?!? Then, the kicker... (and spoiler alert!) homeboy gets a STD from his philandering ways, and not just any STD, but genital Herpes. So, let's recap, not only does the hero cheat on his PREGNANT girl friend, but he gets Herpes from it... and they still live happily ever after? Oh hell no!
So yeah, this was not for me. It sounded like a win for me since it dealt with a lot of things that I like, but there were a lot of issues I had with this story. A lot.
September 21, 2021
4.5 Stars for I want You Back (audiobook) by Lorelei James read by Troy Duran and Kristin James.
I really enjoyed this slow burn second chance romance. I love the characters and setting and the story is great. I’m looking forward to reading more from this series.
I really enjoyed this slow burn second chance romance. I love the characters and setting and the story is great. I’m looking forward to reading more from this series.
June 17, 2019
Reread Update: The one star stands.
It kills me to one star a Lorelei James book but this story was pretty craptastic
Positives:
All of the author's engaging storytelling abilities. Neither of the main characters were likable yet I didn't despise them.
Negatives: The plot was simply too busy. The characters' flaws and past/present bad behaviors were too much to make a HEA realistic. HFN? Sure, why not? Maybe the follow-up book detailing their epic divorce and their daughter's multiple visits to rehab as a young adult would resolve any lingering questions. Or maybe she will be the first Lund heiress who is a stripper. Not that there's anything wrong with that...
Note to authors undertaking Tricky Tropes:
Choose the sins of the characters judiciously. Don't make your characters irredeemable by adding so many. Don't make the duration of transgressions last so long a HEA is unrealistic. There are no special awards given for making a story tropetastic. Trust me, serial cheating and threatening to remove a child from a good parent's custody is enough. Throwing in almost a decade of child neglect, STDs and addiction issues along with former bang buddies permanently in the picture is a guaranteed shit show.
It kills me to one star a Lorelei James book but this story was pretty craptastic
Positives:
All of the author's engaging storytelling abilities. Neither of the main characters were likable yet I didn't despise them.
Negatives: The plot was simply too busy. The characters' flaws and past/present bad behaviors were too much to make a HEA realistic. HFN? Sure, why not? Maybe the follow-up book detailing their epic divorce and their daughter's multiple visits to rehab as a young adult would resolve any lingering questions. Or maybe she will be the first Lund heiress who is a stripper. Not that there's anything wrong with that...
Note to authors undertaking Tricky Tropes:
Choose the sins of the characters judiciously. Don't make your characters irredeemable by adding so many. Don't make the duration of transgressions last so long a HEA is unrealistic. There are no special awards given for making a story tropetastic. Trust me, serial cheating and threatening to remove a child from a good parent's custody is enough. Throwing in almost a decade of child neglect, STDs and addiction issues along with former bang buddies permanently in the picture is a guaranteed shit show.
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