Too Hard to Forget

Romancing the Clarksons #3

by Tessa Bailey

A laugh-out-loud second-chance romantic comedy from the #1  New York Times  bestselling author of  Hook, Line & Sinker.  

This time, she's calling the shots. Peggy Clarkson is returning to her alma mater with one goal in confront Elliott Brooks, the man who ruined her for all others, and remind him of what he's been missing. Even after three years, seeing him again is like a punch in the gut, but Peggy's determined to stick to her plan. Maybe then, once she has the upper hand, she'll finally be able to move on.

In the years since Peggy left Cincinnati, Elliott has kept his focus on football. No distractions and no complications. But when Peggy walks back onto his practice field and into his life, he knows she could unravel everything in his carefully controlled world. Because the girl who was hard to forget is now a woman impossible to resist.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Second Chance, Sports, Sports Romance, Audiobook

336 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 2017

About the author

New York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after. Catch her on TikTok at @authortessabailey or check out tessabailey.com for a complete list of books.

Reviews

[~839 book boyfriends~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

literally one of the most intense and steamy second chances i’ve read till date📖🌨️😭🫂🦋🖤


so Peggy (22, now 25) and Elliot (35, now 38) met three years ago, back when peggy was a student and elliot was the football coach called the “kingmaker”
they secretly date for a while but then elliot breaks her heart in the most awful way ever and treats her horribly,
peggy moves away but now is back 3 years later to get her “revenge”😌✨

now when peggy comes back, elliot is under the impression she’s married because while they were separated he gets a wedding invitation but can’t go…..
(more on this down below🤭)


second chance💍📖
age gap (13 years)🌝
JP hero 🔥🔥🔥
lots of scenes where H gets jealous bc of other men!!!😌🦋🎀
really strong AND sexually independent h🤩💌
self depreciating and guilt filled hero🌷🛐
dirty talking and filthy smut🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
“Licked you for an hour in the stadium parking lot, didn’t I, baby? With your pristine, white cheerleader shoes dangling over my shoulders.”🥵🥵🥵
“I’ll fuck you until you’re too weak to fight what we both know is here between us. Still. Here. Never left. Never lost strength.”
H is a dumbass but finally manages to get his head out of his ass and redeems himself!!!😤😭☺️🫂
heroine has a spine! knows her worth! and learns to put herself first!🤍🤍🤍
no third act breakup!!!!
AND GUESS WHAT???
the H stays celibate and FROZEN while the h fucks around
umm yes fucking please!!!🫡🥹😮‍💨


now let me ask you
Q) do you like grovelling in your books?
Q) how about the kind of grovelling where the H really has to really work his ass off bc he knows how bad he fucked up and doesn’t make any excuses for his behaviour?
Q) a grovelling paired with celibacy during separation and the ml being absolutely whipped?
Q) a grovelling which lasts almost 55-60% of the book?
if your answer was HELL FUCKING YES to all of the above, then this book is for you!🍯🌻🌟



SPOILERS

now when peggy and elliot meet for the first time it is shortly after the death of his wife, a wife who was in a comma for 6 months, a wife with who he had a child with
YIKES😬😬
but the most important part
a wife he never felt any romantic feelings for😯
now you see the H came from a pretty religious family, he met his wife in church and after some time married her, their relationship was okay and by that i mean it was barely a relationship, even after they had the child (bc like i said he’s pretty religious and yk after “marriage” comes “children”) they never fell for each other, just had a respectful relationship, never went on any dates and were just co-existing🤐😷

now for the GUILT👺👺
though the mcs meet not far after the death of elliot’s wife, he falls heads over heels for peggy, feeling things he never felt an iota of for his wife
so obviously he can’t stop falling for peggy but simultaneously can’t get rid of this guilt and self hate😶😶😶
so while, both peggy and elliot were secretly falling for each other, their relationship wasn’t the healthiest😬
now all his hate and guilt were directed towards his own self, peggy subconsciously started believing that she was the problem, that she was the sin though she realises how toxic this was later on in the book!😭😭😭

so when they break up and elliot tells her that he sees his guilt and sin in her, she is shattered!!!🥀
which btw dick move asshole😡🙃
Peggy walks away from elliot and the town
and for the next three years does everything she can to forget about him
from fucking around to even almost getting married, 4 TIMES but she can never go through with it, so now she’s back thinking if this time she can get the upper hand, dump him and walk away she’ll finally get some closure and move tf on!😤


till here i was miserable, bc even though the chemistry between the mcs was amazing and the steam was good
i didn’t like the way the storyline was progressing🤐…
i honestly thought it would be a repeat of ”ugly love”🤢🤢
BUT SURPRISEEE
tessa bailey does it again!!!!🫣
bc at exactly 41% the h realises how much damage the toxicity of their relationship and the ml’s guilt has done to her self image and coming there to get “revenge” was just reopening old wounds🙌🙌🙌
BECAUSE SHE DESERVED BETTER AND WAS GOING TO GET BETTER!!!!!👏👏👏
and coincidently🤭 this is the point where the ml realises that while he was soo consumed by his guilt, he ruined the only woman he’s ever loved🫠😮‍💨
AHHHHHHH


Peggy realising she deserves more💌💌💌:

He’d made her feel like a weakness, a transgression unfit for anyone else, but all this time he’d been unfit. Not her. A man who took her love and made it something ugly. Maybe her crusade to make him miserable was overkill. Elliott already was miserable…and perhaps she should simply leave him to it.
Until that moment, moving on had seemed like a distant goal, but now…now it was close enough to grasp.
now before, like me you almost make elliot your villain, remember that all the things he made her feel were directed towards himself and not her also it gets so much better!🥹🥹🥹

Oh God, what would her mother think if she could see her? Breaking bread with the man who’d shattered her heart just as soundly.
Punishing herself on purpose.

“We’re bad for each other. I finally believe what you’ve always told me. So I’m done now. Maybe we can just be…nice to one another until I leave.”


NOW LET ME TELL YOU, THE GROVEL WAS FAN FUCKING TASTIC!!!!


in my opinion, i think the H was in a really fucked up head space and while he was punishing himself he unknowingly punished the people he loved and cared about, the h, his daughter, his players….everyone😣
it was amazing to see the H redeem himself in everyone’s eyes and get an HEA✨✨✨
bc i can’t believe i’m saying this he actually redeemed himself!!!🙌🙌🙌


safety
no virgins/no manwhores
The H had a wife with who he has a 12 year old daughter with
the H has never even been on a date before
3 year separation
H celibate
non celibate h
no ow drama
om drama: the h has had 4 fiancé’s and even when she’s back many guys flirt with her and try to ask her out which btw i loveddd
another way how the h was “subconsciously” affected was that she couldn’t come unless she was being treated like a “dirty secret” or like someone’s “sin” or like she was a “bad girl” while ofc having such kinks in the bedroom is fine, thinking about yourself like that in real life….not so much😶
dw though this toxic mindset is taken care of by both the h herself and the H later on

and the H’s daughter was amazing, the way she nudged him towards peggy and told him it was alright to be so in love with her even though he hadn’t felt remotely the same for her own mother💛💛💛


Elliot giving us one the best grovels ever💌💌

Peggy could do infinitely better than a man who’d inflicted damage on such a beautiful soul. God. For that alone, he deserved a lifetime of being without her. He could go back to being a member of the living dead, going through the motions, claiming he’d already lost the game. Or he could rally and fight for what he needed. For his woman. Keeping her in Cincinnati.

The Elliott who’d allowed himself to live inside numbness for so long might have agreed with Peggy and willed her to move on so he wouldn’t have to feel so goddamn much.
But this Elliott? He was fighting to the death. He wasn’t leaving the battlefield until he could walk away knowing he’d given her every breath in his body.
him realising the damage he’s done>>>>

“You’ve moved on from me. I acknowledge that—and I’m proud of you for seeing me for the asshole I am. But I’m fighting for my life here. So you’re going to tolerate me just a little while longer, understand? I’m not moving. Not until everything is out in the open, all of it, and you can be the one to look me in the eye…and tell me nothing here is worth saving.”
him accepting and owning up to his previous toxic self felt amazingg🦋🦋🦋

But after feeling…less for the person I failed, then falling straight into crazy for you right afterward, I couldn’t accept what you made me feel without the guilt. So I fought it. It’s no excuse for driving you away. Jesus, I’ll want to take back that day for the rest of my life. But I need you to understand, the failure was mine. You didn’t deserve any part of it.”
honesty…a good start🫠🥹👀

“I’m the whore, Peggy.” When she jerked with a gasp, he caged her in, keeping their gazes locked. “I’m the one that gave my body and nothing else. You gave everything and I wasn’t wise enough to accept the best part. Your heart.” His voice shook with emotion.
“So when you look at me and hear that filthy word, remember who owns the title.”
You know he’s almost there🐢🐢🐢

“I’d die before I treated you that way again.”

“Miss you?” He grated the incredulous question, dropping his mouth to her temple. “You left me without a soul. I can barely remember the days since you left. They passed without me feeling a single thing. Because you are feeling for me. You’re the only thing that keeps me from being numb. Twice in my life you’ve turned me back into a living, breathing man, and missing you…missing you, Peggy, doesn’t even begin to cover it.
You revive me.”
omggg🌸🌸🌸

“I have a daughter I don’t know well enough, and someday, she’ll stop caring one way or another. Then there’s the matter of the woman I love.” He made a gruff sound. “I need to build her happiness into my life and keep it there permanently. I’d trade away every game, every championship, to make that happen. So if she’s here—”

The feelings that burned in his soul for Peggy simply hadn’t existed for Judith. In those early days of marriage and fatherhood, he hadn’t even believed in the possibility of what Peggy inspired inside him. The kind of love that made you ache to prove it any way you could. The kind of love that could put you to sleep for three years in the absence of its potency. Or make you a lunatic at the idea of her ending up with someone else.👀💛🛐

Also remember I told you guys that Elliot thought Peggy was married when she first came back, Peggy was crushed that even after receiving the invite and knowing that she was going to be someone else’s Elliot did not intervene and stayed where he was
So here is Elliot’s pov during it👀👀…..

“When I got your wedding invitation—that deal with the yellow flowers, pink butterflies, and some other son-of-a-bitch’s name—the date had already passed. Two weeks earlier.”
“I broke my hand punching the hallway wall. I couldn’t feel the pain, though. I couldn’t feel or hear anything over the sound of every damn thing inside me dying.” He swore under his breath.
“And that’s how I stayed.”
Ngl this satisfied some broken part inside me🌝🦋🥹
and you know what for me, boy’s FORGIVEN✨


If you’re like me and love angst with lots of grovel and mind blowing smut but can’t find a decent read bc most authors seem to think angst equates cheating, then this one’s for you!💗💗💗

[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS

They called him the Kingmaker, because so many of his players had gone on to be first round NFL draft picks. That man. The one who visited her bed nightly. Well. In her dreams anyway.

Show of hands; who likes a good grovel?

How about an EPIC grovel?

How about a grovel that lasts for almost the entire half of a book?

How about when that grovel is wrapped into one of the sexiest and most delicious second chance romance stories?

And what if ALL THAT is written by the queen of dirty talk, Tessa Bailey?

Confession time, this was possibly my least anticipated book in the series. *cringes*
Don't look at me like that! It just wasn't, ok? Something about Peggy never really struck out at me, but boy am I eating my words right now because not only did I love her but this ended up being one of my top favorite Tessa Bailey books. Ever. True story.

Three years ago Peggy Clarkson fell for a man that was completely off limits. She was the popular and bubbly cheerleader, he was the closed off and brooding football coach. Their relationship was forbidden, their love was unexpected, and their end inevitable. Three years have passed and both their lives haven't been the same. While Peggy has plowed her way through a string of failed engagements, Elliot has been married to his football coaching job. Now Peggy is back in town and she knows the one thing that may fix her broken self is to leave Elliot in her dust when she walks away from him this time around. But fate has other plans...

Man oh man did this book grab me from the very first. I love a good forbidden factor and Elliot and Peggy's beginnings were certainly that. Peggy was always quick to smile and sunny and drew everyone into her orbit. Elliot is a man that only had two constants in his life; football and religion. Now I have to say, I was a little nervous about the religious element of the book. Tessa managed to take that fear and make into one of the hottest things I've ever read. Holy moly that one scene in the beginning that involved a certain Our Father prayer? *fans ovaries*

Every single detail of this book had a deeper reason. I loved the way that the author tied in Elliot's self loathing, religion, and guilt into a particular kink that Peggy had developed. Both of these characters had such depth to them that you couldn't help but fall for both of them. You want to be mad at Elliot for the way he treated Peggy but you just can't. And then there's the angst. Sweet mother, the angst! The first half of I want you but I can't have you, I want you but I don't forgive you push and pull? DE-LE-CIOUS. I was rooting so hard for both of them and I loved getting peeks into their past. The flashbacks were done so flawlessly that they seamlessly flowed into the story.

And then there's the second half of the book that is one. long. delicious. grovel. Oh my god! It was so good. I don't even have words. I cried, I swooned, I couldn't stop reading.

This was easily one of my favorite Tessa Bailey books to date. It was EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING. It was swoony and ridiculously sexy. It was addicting and unputdownable. It was one of the most satisfying second chance romances I've read in a long while and I simply can't recommend it enough.

ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review

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[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus} · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

I saw this at a non-bookish store with a very reasonable price, so my only option as an avid reader was to get it. It’s also a Tessa Bailey book, so this should be fun.

[Stacey]

DNF at 8%

I know it's early to be giving up the ghost, but I don't like reading books that religion plays a part. I know that my reading and reviewing would be affected by my feelings.

I'm cutting my losses early, so please don't judge Too Hard to Forget on my opinion alone.

I have really enjoyed this series up till now and would not hesitate to read the last instalment.

[Mandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Tessa Bailey to date.

The hero's guilt/rage/intensity - good lordy someone hold me

The heroine's resolve for a bit of revenge coupled with feeling like she isn't worthy.

The hero's GROVEL AT THE END.

Perfection in my opinion. I adored and loved.

And Bel and Sage in this book also gave me all the feels and I'm DYING for their book.

Favorite of the year so far.

[Janessa · Rating 1 out of 5]

In the 3rd book in this series full of characters who need therapy, we see Peggy Clarkson return to Cincinnati to confront the man 12 years her senior who emotionally abused her! When these two first got together, she was a college student and he was a faculty member. The inherent power imbalance is inappropriate and not something that should be normalized. The whole time they're together, he tells her how shitty their relationship is, that she's ruining his life and going to send him to hell. He never once treated her as his equal. Elliott is jealous, controlling, rude as hell, and incapable of dealing with his emotions in a constructive way. He destroys this young woman's self esteem so badly that after he dumps her, she can't be in a healthy relationship because she doesn't think she's worthy of love and affection. Sooo sexy, right??? God. Elliott Brooks didn't give a shit about his dead wife or daughter. For the 3 years between the break up and when Peggy comes back, he prioritizes work over being a parent. It's awful and I feel bad for the kid. He is so manipulative and shitty throughout the whole book, and Peggy is a goddamn idiot for ever going back to him.
She figures out halfway through the book that he has broken her down and isn't going to treat her right, yet she continues her foolish quest to gain the upper hand and "move on". Even when he's trying to apologize to her, he's controlling and demanding. I hate him.
I'm disappointed the book turned out this way, because I liked the first one and thought the second was decent. Too Hard To Forget is not a good book. All the characters need therapy.

[♥ℳelody · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 34%



Yeah...couldn't do it. I've heard so much about Tessa Bailey and been meaning to try her for some time. I already knew going into this one that the h/hr's backstory already played out off the page. That should have been my first red flag.

I'm just going to get straight to the crux of my problem here. I don't like the author's style of writing. The dirty talk most specifically. I am by no means a prude and if you want to push the envelope go for it. But y'all....this read like cheap bad porn. I mean, yeah ok let's pretend for a minute and say this is more an erotica book (it's really not), how these 2 would talk to each other in 2 minutes flat after running into each other every time no matter the setting, just gives you damn whiplash:

“Feels like I haven’t come since you left,” he grated against her ear. “Can’t wring it out of myself the way you used to. Fuck. The way you’d smile at me when you’d tighten up your pussy, like you enjoyed killing me—”
“I can do it right now. Smile my good little cheerleader smile while you slide me up. Slide me down. I’ll tighten it up until you can’t breathe.” Her voice trembled, that right knee hooking on his hip like an invitation, the heat between her legs finding his stiff groin, taunting him with the promise of relief. Finally. “I can’t orgasm without thinking of the time you spanked me,” she said in a rushed whisper. “With your rolled-up playbook. You were angry at me for talking to one of the players. Remember—”

This just...ain't it. I'm sure there are better doozies than this but I'm too lazy to pull it and this just made me roll my eyes. I felt this was trying really hard to be something heavy, dark and emotional but all I kept getting was trite flat scenarios like that ^^ to try and sell me that these two had something deep and special. I would believe it more if they didn't revert to talking like a bad porno every time they run into each other and his hand doesn't go wandering up her skirt no matter where they are. Come on. And I usually love big age differences but the whole football coach lusting after a young college cheerleader who follows him into the locker room to give him a handjob just didn't do it for me. And how he kept calling her "little girl" didn't help either. 😖 It takes a lot to turn me off on things but yeah this kept hitting all the wrong buttons or just flat out boring me. I found the hero Elliott so weak, who only seemed to care and obsess over his football coaching career over his personal life and 12 year old daughter. I found that so lame and his reasons behind not having a great relationship with his kid even worse. So pathetic, indifferent and weak. But here I'm supposed to feel sorry for him cause he pushed the heroine away 3 years ago? Oh please. Get over yourself dude. And I'm not even going to touch on the Catholic man praying out loud while dick deep in the heroine because he is "sinning". Please...no. I felt this was a poor imitation of It Had to Be You but to each their own.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somehow this series just keeps getting better! Too Hard to Forget sucked me in from the very start, which surprised me since I'm not a mega fan of second-chance romances. But with Peggy and Elliott, their story captivated me with how haunting it was. Sure, this author still kept the book light and fun, matching the rest of the series, but underneath that there was pain in these characters that had my heart breaking for them.

Being completely honest, once I realized Elliott was so religious I was prepared for this book to take a turn for the worst. I'm just not a fan of religion in my books, but I'm also not a fan of DNF'ing a book so I stuck through and I'm really happy that I did. There was so much going on with this book and surrounding these characters that I just didn't have time to focus on that part of his character. I really liked that everything happening in the book was about Peggy and Elliott and it didn't distract from them.

Overall, this is definitely a book I'd recommend. It could be read as a standalone without issue but I still recommend reading the other books first so you can get the fill affect of this family. And I can't wait for the next one!
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Ⓐlleskelle - That ranting lady ッ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review to come.



4 sets of panties later, 3 Our Father recited... Why, yes, I just read the new Tessa Bailey. 🙌🏻🔥📿

I'd agree to anything right now up against the crime of leaving you unsatisfied. For wanting to bite all your fingers to prevent you from doing it yourself.

——
More reviews and book talk at :

You can find me here too ☞

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Forbidden Stars!

Talk about an intense book! There were a few times I felt like I shouldn't be reading this book in public. The attraction between Peggy and Elliot was so hot you could feel it burn through the pages. This book had a forbidden feel to it. When they first got together, Peggy was a senior at the college Elliot coaches football at.

As much of a connection these two had, the timing was all wrong. Elliot had recently lost his wife. It was a cold marriage and when his connection to Peggy burned bright, he felt such guilt over feeling more for this forbidden fruit than his dead wife. Because of this, he ultimately treated Peggy like the sin he thought she was and then banished her from his life. Three years later and Peggy is still struggling with her life without Elliot. She tried to move on but she felt stuck to the point that she came back for Alumni week at the college to try to get closure.

The first half of this book was not an easy read. While Peggy was more or less chasing Elliot to get him out of her system, all you could really see was the pain he had caused her and continued to cause her with his constant need to fight his attraction to her. Just as she starts to get that closure, Elliot wakes up and realizes what he has done to her. The tables have turned and the second half of the book is Elliot fighting for Peggy. Now he just has to prove to her that he truly sees her.

Elliot is a devout Catholic. It explains a lot as to why he felt she was forbidden fruit and the guilt he felt over a dead wife he just existed with. This is very strong in the first half of the book but if you hang in there, the second half is what makes it all worth while. Sometimes you need to see alot of bad to truly appreciate all the good when it comes.

ARC provided by Netgalley.

[Gi's Spot Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boy, oh boy, Tessa Bailey sure created a challenging and surprising read in Too Hard To Forget, guaranteed to touch some readers' hard limits but SO worth the risk!

For those of you that, like me, know and love the Clarkson family from the previous installments, Peggy is the baby sister. The apparently bubbly, confident, sassy and so full of life, young woman, is the living proof that appearances aren't always what they seem, but even her own distant mother knew her daughter's contrasting personality facets hid a immense pain and hurt that went beyond their family issues.

Peggy the bombshell. Peggy the liar. Peggy the mediator. Peggy the grief-stricken. The angel. The devil. The baby. The old soul.

And right she was, because Peggy hid a great secret, one that cause her pain like no other - a secret relationship, three years prior, and a shattered heart by the only men she ever loved, Elliott - so that she was decided, in this trip, to solve that, once and for all, so that she could hope to truly move on and find a her happy ending.

Love, or even the illusion of it, wouldn’t be happening anytime soon, though. Not until she accomplished her mission in Cincinnati.

Peggy was then a woman on a mission. One she would achieve no matter what.

Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans! LOL! Yes, she had a good game plan, but she forgot to account for their insane chemistry and her body and hearts' pull to Elliott.

Her libido was just confused. That had to be all.
If nothing else, that confusion was another reminder that she’d come to Cincinnati to steal back the love she’d given Elliott. To bury the past and move on with a clear mind and heart.

Denial sure is a powerful thing! Rest assured because Elliott's tops hers off by a mile. Coming from an extremely religious background, Elliott was already leaving with a huge amount of guilt and remorse due to his wife's recent death, so when Peggy, a young and beautiful college student crosses his path and creates in him a world of feelings he never before felt - want, lust and even love - and to a level he could never foresee or deal with. So, when at a crossroad presented itself, he chose to hurt Peggy in such a way, that would drive her away from his life forever. Thinking it was for her best, he had no idea that Peggy never moved on and was so stuck in the past that she would do anything to get rid of the strings that attached her heart to Elliott's.

“Did you come back here to make my life hell, Peggy?” he growled. “Answer me honestly. Because you’re succeeding.”
“You always did equate me with hell, didn’t you?” she said, almost to herself, before she seemed to snap back to the here and now. “You’re tripping if you think I would drive all the way from California just to bother you, Elliott.”

Things didn't quite go as expected, for either of the parts, when Peggy came back into Elliott's life. Old feelings are brought to light, old wounds reopened and new ones created. Add a teenage daughter to the mix, a brother and best friend living in a denial of their own, and their scorching attraction, Too Hard To Forget was a rollercoaster ride!

“Bet you love knowing that sliver of stomach you showed me today in the car made it necessary to jerk off in my office with the door locked.”

Peggy's return really was a two edged sword, he both loved and hated what they had, and had to face that he needed to come to peace with his guilt and past. That proved to be a long and hard task, but Elliott overcame it, and realized his failures and that he needed Peggy, she was not his downfall but his lifeline.

“Done. It’s mine now, Peggy. I made us go without one another for three years and these failures are mine. They were mine when they happened. And they’re mine now.”

Obviously, because Tessa always gives us the good stuff - aka - HEA -, eventually they both cleared out their pain, and made peace with their decision, but in the meanwhile we got so smoking HOT, off-the-charts, tension filled, sex scenes, that caught even yours truly - and considering I'm the farthest from prude - of guard and even a bit irked. I know, I know, I never thought I would say this because come on, Tessa is the Queen of Dirty Talk, and I love every single word coming out of her heroes mouth, but in Elliot she took it to a whole new level, and there was one single element - which I will not describe, so that I don't spoil it for any of you - in their sex scenes that didn't sit quite well with me. Don't get me wrong, I still devoured them, like the pervy I confess to be, but if that hadn't been there it would have been perfect for me.
Too Hard Too Forget really was an incredible, refreshing and surprising second chance romance story. True to Tessa's books, it was beautifully written, deep character development, and ALL the feels!!! And dear Lord, I CAN'T wait for Belmont and Sage's story! I'm almost sure he will go straight to my all time best boyfriend list! Anxiously counting down the days here!!! <3 <3 <3 <3

“A fool is the kind of man who pushes away someone who makes him laugh. Makes him think. Makes him want to try harder and love harder and live harder. Live at all. That’s what Peggy Clarkson did for me. Twice in my life. Twice more than I earned. And this heart she woke up inside me loves her. It’ll beat for her until it stops altogether.”


ARC kindly provided by the author via publisher, Forever, for an honest review


For full review with Release Blitz, check out my Blog post,
http://gisspotreviews.com/index.php/2...

[Lacey (laceybooklovers) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at Booklovers For Life

I am the BIGGEST sucker for angst – and if Tessa Bailey writes it? It goes without saying that I’ll probably love it. I’d been DYING to read Peggy’s story ever since I heard it was going to be a second chance romance with an older hero who would have some major groveling to do. I love me some good grovel, and Tessa Bailey didn’t disappoint. I loved this book so, SO much. I adored Peggy and Elliot and their angst-filled, intense, steamy romance. If you’re a fan of second chance romances or groveling heroes, you need this book in your life!

One more mile to campus and she would be sharing oxygen with Elliott Brooks. Coach Elliott Brooks. The man she’d let ruin her for all others.
This weekend, Peggy would be returning the favor.

Back when Peggy was in college and in the cheerleading team, she couldn’t resist the allure of the football coach, Elliott Brooks. She had plans to seduce him, but fell in love with him instead… but he never reciprocated her feelings, and pushed her away. Now, years later, during a stop along the Clarkson family road trip to New York, Peggy is back at her old college and ready to make Elliott remember exactly what he threw away. And yeah, maybe she’s never been able to forget about him, despite her several ex-fiancés, but she’s determined to make Elliott suffer for all the hurt he caused her. But is all this effort worth it on a man who will never love her back?

Because whatever she’d felt for Elliott the man? She was declaring it dead. At one time there’d been more than sexual dependency and her need for approval between them, not that Elliott would admit it. But he’d slowly killed the good. She’d be damned before trying to revive it, when he didn’t want it back.
I’m over you, Elliott Brooks.

Elliott’s life revolves around football and it’s been his sole focus for years… except for that one period when he was obsessed with a certain cheerleader named Peggy Clarkson. But he pushed her away years ago and never expected to see her again… so when she shows up out of the blue, he’s knocked right on his ass and doesn’t know what to do with himself anymore. Then Peggy decides that she truly is O-V-E-R him, and what’s a man to do but fight for the only woman he’s ever loved and not let her go a second time?

“Miss you?” He grated the incredulous question, dropping his mouth to her temple. “You left me without a soul. I can barely remember the days since you left. They passed without me feeling a single thing. Because you are feeling for me. You’re the only thing that keeps me from being numb. Twice in my life you’ve turned me back into a living, breathing man, and missing you… missing you, Peggy, doesn’t even begin to cover it. You revive me.”

Too Hard to Forget is my new favorite read of Tessa’s. It’s my favorite so far in the series, and it’s up there at the top with Risking it All for me. This book had my heart in constant palpitations – the angst, the tension, the frustrations, the steam, all of it had me utterly hooked and infatuated with Peggy and Elliott’s story. From their torturous flashback scenes to their tension-filled, erotic present, their story was everything I could have hoped for and more. I adored Peggy and how she knew when to let go and stop fighting for a man who wouldn’t fight for her. Elliott had me frustrated and hot and bothered at the same time, but I truly fell in love with him when he realized how much he loved Peggy and was willing to move heaven and earth to prove his love to her. This man does some major groveling – you won’t be disappointed!

I had crazy high expectations for this second chance romance, but Tessa went above and beyond my expectations. I completely loved it! It’s got all sorts of tropes to love – a second chance romance, an age gap, opposites attract, a groveling hero… honestly, how could I NOT end up loving it? If you’re a fan of Tessa Bailey and her dirty, delicious reads, you’ll definitely want to get your hands on Too Hard to Forget!

Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.

Quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change in the final version.

Amazon Ebook: http://amzn.to/2d2B0o2
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/2cfhOX1
Audible: http://amzn.to/2puOS3d

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[Misha]

You guys don't understand when I say I'm literally Tessa Bailey's #1 fan. I comfort-reread her books on a continuous, never-ending loop like a mental patient. So I came back to this former DNF looking for my TB fix and why is this sooooooooooo bad. Why

[Narissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t hate the main characters more. Poor Peggy needs so much therapy and Elliot needs to be in jail or something. I mean he groomed her, told her she was horrible regularly, then threw her away. He’s a glorified abuser.

Not to mention he had a whole daughter he refused to be a good man for but sure- he’ll do it for Peggy 🤮

[Anne 'E' · Rating 3 out of 5]

was here for the smut only.



(i have become a slut reader of smut)

[Shayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm debating on whether to call this one my FAVORITE of the series, but it's so HARD because each one has been absolutely PHENOMENAL!!!

Time and time again, Tessa Bailey brings me back from book hangover despair and fills my heart with such outstanding JOY with her INCREDIBLE characters and touching love stories. This series...THIS SERIES just gets more incredible with every new release. TOO HARD TO FORGET is the highly anticipated story of Peggy Clarkson and the man who ripped her heart to shreds, Elliott Brooks. If you are following the series, you just know that Peggy's story is going to be an emotional one, but I had NO IDEA that it would hit me so damn hard! There is heartbreak, passion, and an emotional intensity that you just can't deny.

"Worried you're going to break me?"

"Aren't you worried I'll break you?"

OMG! My stomach is clenching just thinking about Peggy and Elliot's past. I had no idea that the scars ran so deep between these two lost souls. My mind, heart, and soul was constantly racing with each turn of the page. My heart was crushed. My breath was stolen from me. But in the end, there was this overwhelming sense of complete JOY for these two characters making it through the impossible. Their heartache became my heartache. Their happiness became my happiness, and so on and so forth. In this AMAZING read, where you almost become one with the characters, Ms. Bailey brought me to the edge and back with no regrets! This passionate, second chance love story turns into so much more and it will DEMAND every moment of your time. I will give it freely, over and over again.

[Rhea_Sways · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly...just please let me forget

The reason I picked it up was because I was convinced I would see some groveling (or a lot) and we all know I am a thirsty whore for that sort of thing. Plus I have read other Tessa Bailey books and I was thoroughly impressed but instead I got a huge helping of RELIGION and no fucking groveling. At least the parts that I finished reading.

Let me tell you I do not plan on continuing the read. I am DONE.

DNF

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 stars. I actually didn't think I would enjoy this book, but Tessa Bailey surprised me.


***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Too Hard to Forget by Tessa Bailey
Book Three of the Romancing the Clarksons series
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: April 25, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

This time, she's calling the shots.

Peggy Clarkson is returning to her alma mater with one goal in mind: confront Elliott Brooks, the man who ruined her for all others, and remind him of what he's been missing. Even after three years, seeing him again is like a punch in the gut, but Peggy's determined to stick to her plan. Maybe then, once she has the upper hand, she'll finally be able to move on.

In the years since Peggy left Cincinnati, Elliott has kept his focus on football. No distractions and no complications. But when Peggy walks back onto his practice field and into his life, he knows she could unravel everything in his carefully controlled world. Because the girl who was hard to forget is now a woman impossible to resist.

What I Liked:

I hate to say it, but I'm actually surprised that I enjoyed this book! I had pretty low expectations, because there are several tropes in this novel that I absolutely hate (and I'll get to them). Don't get me wrong, I adore Tessa Bailey and the vast majority of her books that I've read. But I wasn't sure that I would enjoy this one. If you'll recall, I was fairly certain I wasn't even going to read this book, after reading Too Wild to Tame. I'm happy to report that I liked this book much more than I expected!

Peggy and her siblings started their road-trip from California to New York, the four of them, and now it's just Belmont and Peggy (and Sage, Peggy's best friend). Aaron is in Indiana with his new girlfriend, and Rita is in New Mexico with her new boyfriend. Peggy knew the trip would take them through Cincinnati, where she went to university, and where she met a man that would change - and ruin - her life. Coach Elliott Brooks is known around the nation as the "Kingmaker", a legendary college football coach who has sent many football players to the NFL. He has always been focused on football and his religion, and so many Peggy came into his life three years ago, he isn't prepared for the temptation. Even three years after she left Cincinnati, Elliott has never gotten over, and Peggy has never gotten over him. Peggy was out to make him suffer, during alumni weekend, but it isn't Elliott alone who will suffer, and it isn't suffering along that they'll share.

I didn't even think I liked Peggy, after reading Too Hot to Handle and Too Wild to Tame. Sure, she's young fun and bubbly, but she seemed a little too much for me. And it was painfully clear that she was in some sort of denial, with four engagements broken (by her). But I liked Peggy a lot more in this book. It was clear to me that she has a lot of depth, she's friendly and kind, and she goes after what she wants. Yes, she wanted to make Elliott miss her like she missed him, and she wasn't planning on sticking around, but I liked how Peggy went after him again and again. She's relentless, even if she was totally clueless as to if she wanted more with him.

Elliott is an extremely successful college football coach and definitely not the type of guy that would bang a cheerleader. He has at least ten, maybe twelve or thirteen years on Peggy, and at the time, his wife had died about a year ago. At first it seems like Elliott didn't like how Peggy made him feel, but it became clear that it was because he didn't think he deserved her. Fast forward three years later, and he's still sinking in the guilt and shame. Elliott seems like a cold, hard man who is almost robotic, with his love of football and his religion. But he, like Peggy, has a lot of layers to peel back. I actually really liked how intense and sometimes scary Elliott is, with his commanding football coach nature.

The two of them are such an interesting pair. One is hard and unfeeling, the other is bubbly and vivacious and flirtatious. But they are a great match, and this shows from page one. I like that Elliott only ever had eyes for Peggy, and vice versa. You know that annoying thing that some girls do, in which they flirt with other guys in order to make the one guy jealous? Yeah, I'm glad Peggy didn't play that head game with Elliott. Peggy may have been out to make him feel bad for breaking up with her years ago, but she wasn't malicious.

The chemistry is pretty hot, between these two, as expected. With Elliott's inner struggle, you can see him pulling Peggy close and pushing her away. There are a number of tug-of-war scenes that are unfinished and yet very hot. Bailey always does well with cooking up a good amount of tension and chemistry in a romance novel. I like how each of her romances are different, and the smoking chemistry too. Elliott and Peggy like things a little rougher than your average couple, which was interesting to see play out.

Okay, so I mentioned before that I really didn't think that I would enjoy this book, because it contained three tropes that I don't usually like (or just absolutely hate): 1) second-chance romances, 2) children, and 3) older man/super young woman. I actually found that NONE of these tropes bothered me, in this story! The romance was really swoony, sweet, sexy, and occasionally heart-breaking. But it wasn't too dramatic or angst-ridden - well, not as I expected. And the children part - Elliott has a young daughter in middle school. I mentioned that his wife had died a year before he met Peggy. Elliott has never had a wonderful parental relationship with his daughter Alice, but that changes a lot in this book. And the third, the older man/younger woman thing. I'm pretty sure there is at least a ten to fifteen age difference between Elliott and Peggy. And it comes up from time to time. But I actually didn't mind it that much, and it never really bothered me.

So, in a nutshell, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would! Probably because the drama/angst wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, and those three tropes that I hate that are in this book didn't seem to bother me as much as they usually would. Even the ending of this book didn't irritate me - Elliott's grand gesture to win Peggy back was sweet, and very much warranted. Cute cute cute!

What I Did Not Like:

I kind of wanted more of a resolution in terms of Elliott and his religion. You know from the start that he is Catholic and his religion is very important to him. But then that aspect kind of disappears, towards the end of the book. I don't think Elliott turned his back on his religion - the whole religion thing just kind of disappears. Since it was such a big part of the story in the beginning and sometimes in the middle, I expected it to reappear or have some sort of progression, towards the end.

Would Recommend It:

While this isn't my new Romancing the Clarksons favorite (sorry, Too Hot to Handle still claims that spot!), I really enjoyed this book. It's nice when a book filled with tropes that you usually hate surprises you. If you're like me, and hate second-chance romances, books with children, and older man/super young women tropes, don't let these aspects of this book deter you! I'm not saying this book is for everyone, but I am saying that I was pretty convinced that it wasn't for me.

Rating:

4 stars. I liked this book! I'm actually not AS excited about Belmont and Sage's books (like most Romancing the Clarkson fans are), but I will definitely be reading it when its publication date rolls around. But I think I'm even more excited about Too Close to Call!

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars


I just finished Tessa Bailey’s Too Hard to Forget and I’m a bit stunned, but in a good way. I spent a good part of this book wondering if this couple could see their way past their past and trying to figure out the somewhat twisted relationship they had and what the future holds for them. This wasn’t an easy romance, their previous relationship left them both raw and unsettled and being near each other again brought everything back to the forefront with some added complications. A May –December romance with the added taboo element that our hero is a very prominent coach of a very successful college football program and the heroine at the time they begin seeing each other is a senior in college, add to that his wife had recently passed away and it becomes clear how messed up this relationship is from the start and that’s only half of it. Poignant, emotional, yet with an air of hopefulness, Tess Bailey’s Too Hard To Forget is an exceptional romance.

Coach Elliott Brooks is passionate about his Catholic faith and coaching football and not necessarily in that order. Some might even say he is blinded by his devotion to those two things, so much so that he neglected his marriage, his now deceased wife, and his now twelve year old daughter. He has a reputation as being a no-nonsense coach, a good but hard man, but one woman knows there is another side to him and when she returns to the University of Cincinnati for alumni weekend, he isn’t sure he’ll survive.

Peggy Clarkson has one objective in mind returning to the university she graduated from, to see out Elliott Brooks, get his interest and then leave him so that he’ll hurt the way she’s been hurting the last three years since they parted ways. If might sound petty, but four broken engagements and never being able to fully give herself to another man let alone achieve sexual pleasure has left her no other option, she just doesn’t realize how much he still affects her in more ways than one.

I’m not going to lie folks, there were some messed up flashbacks between these two and while at times the behavior seemed almost abusive, when both parties are agreeable to what is happening you can’t really call it that. Peggy was the seducer but only because she noticed the way Elliott’s eyes followed her around when she was cheering and he was coaching, she also saw the pain and sorrow in his eyes and wanted to help. He turned something on in her no one had ever before and there was no doubt she was well satisfied, but his faith and his guilt over being with her led to some pretty intense and interesting things being said during sexy times.

With Peggy’s return she is thrust into a situation where she meets Elliott’s daughter, Alice, and even has the opportunity to help her. She also sees the disconnect between father and daughter and finds Elliott’s temperament has hardened even more in the years she’s been gone. What I loved was that slowly we saw Elliott realize how his behavior was affecting others and he made great strides to change it and that was largely due to Peggy’s absolute faith in his ability and his desire to show her he could be the man she saw him as.

This was a busy book with a lot going on, but everything in it revolved around Peggy and Elliott. We also spend time with Peggy’s brother, Belmont and her best friend, Sage who have a very unique bond and I am very intrigued as to how their story will play out.

Too Hard to Forget was a bit twisted, but it was also a very satisfying romance expertly crafted by Tessa Bailey and I look forward to the next and final book in this series.

ARC provided for a voluntary review. 

[Abby Morocz · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. The dude saying the lord's prayer while balls deep did it for me. And that was on page... like... 10.

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/ 5 Fangs

I was in the mood for a steamy romance, and this book really hit the spot! This book had romance, humor, angst, drama, and plenty of banter. I blew through this book and really enjoyed it! This was the first book I read in this series, and I do plan on going back and reading the other books in this series sometime soon!

I really liked the main character, Peggy. At first, Peggy seemed like a someone I wouldn't get along with. However, as the book progressed and Peggy opened up more, I fell in love with her character! Peggy had a lot of emotional walls put up, for good reasons, and it was nice to slowly see behind those walls. Peggy was a smart, kind, funny, and well-developed character. Elliot was a typical brooding and sexy man. He was very standoffish at first which made hard to connect with him. He came off as a jerk at times, but as time went on, I liked him more. He became more loveable as the book progressed!

At first, the romance wasn't wowing me. I think that was because I didn't really like Elliot at first. However, as the book went on, the romance got better and better. By the end of the book, I was shipping Elliot and Peggy so hard! The chemistry that Tessa developed between Elliot and Peggy was off the charts. The tug and pull of their relationship was frustrating at times, but it also was very addictive. I hated it and enjoyed it at the same time. Tessa is a master at creating steamy romances that make you swoon, smile, and fan yourself off.



This book had more angst and religion than I was expecting. I don't have issues with either of those elements being addressed in books, but I felt like it took away from some of my enjoyment of the book since I was anticipating a lighter plot. Other than that, I thought the book was fun and fast paced!

Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read. I cannot wait to read more books in this series and more books by Tessa! I would recommend this book and series to anyone who is looking for a hot and steamy contemporary romance!

3. 5 / 5 Fangs

*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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[~Nichole~ Sizzling Pages Romance Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another angsty push pull to the extreme read. I am trying really hard to get to Belmonts book. Now I find out that I read out of order lol.
Gotta go back and read Rita's.

Coach Kingmaker Elliot Brooks really gave me a roller coaster ride on a up and down hill crazy trip. One minute I hated him the next I felt pity. Then I'd like him, then I wanted to punch him. I don't like alphas who let their women leave... But for years? The only redeeming quality regarding that was he was celibate because he loved her and other reasons. Now Peggy she just went about her heartbreak in a really unfair way. Being hurt doesn't give you free reign to purposely hurt others. 3 yrs of being with other men when you know you love someone else. Men get called so many names when they do it well I'm not a hypocrite.. She's wrong and it really bothers me. Not only did she get in relationships she promised to marry them. Anyway lots of safety issues for me
Also as a Christian I don't like mixing holy prayers with sex. It's disrespectful but I know a lot of people don't have that respect and enjoy it.

Elliot convinced Peggy she was a sin, dirty, and he was very ugly to her.

He did give an awesome grovel so it took me up to 3 stars (that's a fair rating ppl) and I still loved all the scenes with Bel and Sage.

There's many layers and so many things to feel here so I know a lot of people will love and have loved this and some won't even mention what didn't work for them but I can't read without honesty.

I really also don't like books where the couple isn't in a committed relationship before the end of the book. That's 2 books in this series where they get together and it ends right then.

Safety he's celibate and she's not, she used men to try to get over him and kept promising to marry them and would dump them knowing she didn't love them.
Most will be ok with her actions but wouldn't if it was the hero.
Current story totally safe.

[Setta Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tessa writes dirty talking book crack. :D

[Sienna · Rating 2 out of 5]

The two stars are for Peggy, Belmont and Sage. Elliot can fck off.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third book in Baileys Romancing the Clarksons series just took it to a whole new level. An absolutely fantastic continuation to the cross country road trip that the Clarkson siblings set out on to fulfill their mothers dying wish. She wants all 4 of her children to jump into the Atlantic Ocean on New Years Day. Together.

In this leg of the roadtrip we have Peggy Clarkson. The youngest of the siblings, and by all outward appearances a flippant, man-eating, spoiled girl who only cares about herself. I mean she wears her 4 ex-finances engagement rings around her neck for goodness sake!! BUT--things aren't always as they appear. Peggy has been hurt before, and she decides that this road trip has given her the perfect opportunity to find closure. They head to Cincinnati for alumni weekend at her old university. That's where football head coach Elliott Brooks is. The man she fell in love with her senior year of college when she was a cheerleader for the team. He's the one who destroyed her heart by telling her they were over as soon as she graduated. But Elliott had his own demons he was fighting.

Elliott Brooks is dead inside. He's a Catholic man living with so much guilt he can hardly breathe. Coaching football is his world. He was never there for his family when they needed him, especially when his wife had a tragic accident and didn't survive. Elliott feels guilty for not being there to help her, and also that he doesn't know how to connect with his daughter. Peggy comes along when he's in a dark hole and pulls him out. She's sees the good in him, the possibility of a man who can balance both worlds. But all he can see is the guilt and sin when he's with her. He can't let go of it, and it tortures him daily. He turns that self hatred on Peggy and sends her out of his life. He can't allow himself to be happy. In his mind he doesn't deserve it.

Peggy returns (during her roadtrip) 3 years after graduation to see him, and be the one to leave this time. For good. That's the closure she needs to move on. But she's left reeling when things don't go according to her plan. Elliott is finally seeing the light when it comes to Peggy. He now understands what's missing in his life, and he'll stop at nothing to make her understand that she is everything to him. There's groveling involved...and dating...and wooing...and sexy times. Oh Ms. Bailey can write some seriously hot sexy times. This book does not disappoint in any way, shape, or form. As Elliott learns to connect with his daughter, and his team, and the other people in his life-especially Peggy-he can finally let go of his guilt and learn that it's ok to let yourself be happy.

Tessa absolutely blew me away with this book. It's on a level all it's own, and you can tell she poured her heart out onto these pages. Peggy and Elliott's journey captivated me from the start. They mesmerized me, and I couldn't put it down! Peggy will surprise you in the absolute best way. I have a major book hangover with this one. I loved it so much!

[Quirky Omega · Rating 3 out of 5]

That is one intense ride. There is passion, tears, guilt tripping and dark pasts; basically a perfect soup of juicy drama.

The two stars that I have cut is because of the less than satisfactory hero. A wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am followed by a prayer to the Holy Father just doesn't sound so appealing. Plus his sudden about turn in his feelings for Peggy was unbelievable. It came suspiciously at the same time as Peggy's resolve to no longer suffer through his emotional abuse. TBH, I could have lived without this kind of a hero.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delicious dirty talk is a Tessa Bailey trademark, but the religious guilt/anger/martyr thing going on with Elliott was just too much for me. I cringed when he started reciting the Our Father prayer the first time he had sex with Peggy and was never able to recover from that moment.

[Priyanka · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an amazing read, much better than the last book. Peggy is amazing, Elliot's grovelling made it all better. Loved seeing Sage and Belmont and Alice(Elliot's daughter) too.

[Taryn Tubbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably my least fave of this series so far but the last half definitely made up for a lot of the beginning!!!

[Bubu · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This review comes a little late but I read this on the day it was published.

This is me when Tessa Bailey publishes a new book:



Certain elements are my catnip in romance novels. So let's see what we have here.

- Second chance romance = check
- Forbidden love = check
- Heartbreak without contrived drama = check
- Groveling hero = check
- Massively groveling hero = check/check/check

Add to that that this book has been written by the Queen of Dirty Talking Heroes and I'm a goner. My go-to-smut-author!

This is Tessa Bailey. I don't expect intricately developed and complex characters. That said, her characters aren't brain dead either. It's just simply pretty straight forward. Everything is solved within a matter of days, and voilá, a super sweet, super swoonworthy HEA. I don't usually gush over heroes - or rather, rarely - but I always make an exception for this author's heroes. They are all heart, raw emotions and need for their women; possessive but never patronising which is very important to me. There's not much else that leads to a quicker DNF than a patronising and domineering hero who knows what's best for the heroine.

Anyway, Elliot and Paige shared a forbidden romance three years ago while she was in her last year at college and he was (and still is) the coach of the football team. Hence, forbidden. But there were other factors that burdened their relationship that I shall not disclose. Don't want to fill this review with spoilers. Elliot is a deeply religious man which I found irritating, even disturbing, at first. I don't like religion in my romances but once the context is given, it made sense. Besides, the religious element tapers down eventually.

Full of guilt, he breaks up with her and time comes to a halt for both of them. The flashbacks are short but on the spot to give the reader the necessary background knowledge to the characters' current state of mind. Paige did try to move on.

Kudos to Ms Bailey for letting her heroine try to move on with other men. We know that most authors shy away from that as if it would cheapen the heroine. There's nothing wrong with trying to move on with your life when a relationships breaks down. This includes *gasp* Sex!

Alas, nothing has helped her get over the man she fell deeply in love with. So here she is, seemingly back for the annual alumni meet, but actually to confront/seduce Elliot and this time be the one who leaves. Maybe that way she'll finally be able to forget him. Sounds childish when put like that but I could relate to it.

Elliot is shocked to see her again and initially fights the attraction, but hey, he's a Tessa Bailey hero. How much can he fight? Well, not much and not for long, that's for sure. Let the groveling begin. And, oh yeah, he grovels, and grovels some more, and then grovels even more.

There's not much to add at this point. As I said, it's pretty straight forward but nonetheless, I enjoyed their journey. Make no mistake, the whole groveling part is quite the cheese-fest, which I usually despise, but it's the author's style that makes all the difference. It's unpretentious and doesn't try to be more than it actually is. No 'woe is me' tale, no evil forces that try to tear these two apart. It's simple without being simplistic. It tugs at my heart strings without trying to emotionally manipulate me into feeling sorry for the characters. Again, something I read so often in romance novels and which I'm so very, very tired of by now.

There were a few things that bothered me, like Elliot's daughter who acted older than a 12-year-old; also the Fed-Ex-like speed of the romance which is one of the reasons why I never can give this author's books five stars. But then, I know it beforehand and I still enjoy her stories.

The next book will be about Paige's brother, Belmont, and her best friend, Sage. Their story has been building up since book one and I'm already like: