The Whispering Pages Book Blog

~ Release Day Launch and Review & Giveaway

Second Chance Summer

(The Chances Series)
by

Emma Hart

From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Love Game and Playing for Keeps is a story of hope and the beauty of getting a second chance at the kind of love that comes once in a lifetime…

Title: Second Chance Summer (Chance Series, #1)

Release Date: Monday, September 23^rd

Cover Design by Emma Hart

Publisher: Self-Published

~ Synopsis

“You don’t get a love like ours and get to leave it behind.”

Kia James was never meant to return to her hometown of Harlan Grove, Alabama… But she has.

And Reese Pembleton was definitely not supposed to still be in love with her the way she is him… But he is.

Last summer was the summer to end all summers. It was the summer they both fell in too deep to get out, and try as she might, Kia can’t deny that whatever was there between them a year ago is still there. If she’s honest with herself, there’s so much more there than there ever was, but the way her dad walked out six years ago has shattered her belief of that fairytale love every girl craves.

Reese isn’t giving up so easily. His biggest mistake was not chasing after Kia the way he wanted to when she upped and left him without a word. Despite what she says, he knows her better than anyone, and he knows she still wants him the way he wants her. And this time, nothing will stop him from getting – and keeping – his girl.

But nothing is that easy. When Kia’s dad arrives back in town, family secrets come tumbling out she never realized existed. Everything her mom has ever told her about the reason he left is a lie – but how can she trust the man who, by his own admission, didn’t fight for her as hard as he could have?

With her past and present wants and needs colliding, Kia is thrown into the turmoil of the biggest decisions of her life. And she realizes, sometimes a second chance is all you need.

~ Excerpt

“Are you gonna be wearing that dress all day?”

I suck my bottom lip between my teeth and look at him innocently. “Why?”

“I… You can’t answer a question with a question.”

“Fine. No, I won’t be.” I cross one of my legs over the other, my dress sliding up my thigh. Reese stretches his fingers on the steering wheel.

“You won’t be?”

“No. We’re going to the beach, right?” He nods. “Well, then. I’ve got my bikini on underneath. I’ll be wearing that.”

“Just that?”

“No, Reese,” I say dryly. “I have a trench coat in my beach bag I was planning on putting on when we get there.”

He’s silent for a second, his eyes flicking to me and back to the road again a few times before he says, “I like it when you turn on the attitude.”

“I don’t have an attitude!”

“Like that.”

“I don’t have an attitude!” I repeat, shifting in my seat. “Do I?”

“Yeah, you do, baby. And I feel like I need to respond with my own attitude.”

“The one that is supposed to sweep me off my feet, right? That attitude?”

We turn off-road, taking the shortcut we used last summer, and Reese nods. “That attitude.”

“And how exactly is that attitude going to help you now?”

The truck swerves suddenly and stops at the side of the empty road. My hand is released, and I hear the click as Reese undoes his seatbelt. He leans over toward me, one hand on the back of my seat and the other resting on my thigh.

I look up from where his hand is on my leg and straight into his eyes. His nose brushes against mine as he breathes out across my lips. My eyes shut slowly, and his fingers dig into my skin a little.

“This attitude,” he whispers huskily, his probing hand moving further up my leg until it reaches my bikini bottoms. He slips a finger under the waistband, running his finger along my skin from my hip to the clenching muscles between my legs, not touching them, and back again. His breath moves across my mouth as he breathes heavier than usual, and I can do nothing but sit here and let him do whatever. I’m frozen in place with anticipation. I’m blazing hot wherever he’s touching me, and everywhere he isn’t is ice cold.

I tilt my head back slightly, but he pulls away. I open my eyes and stare at a sea of gold flecked hazel. Hardened gold flecked hazel. Yep. He’s pissed.

“If you kiss me right now,” he breathes, his face as hard as granite. “There isn’t a chance in hell we’ll make it to that fucking beach today.”

~ Review

What an AMAZING read!!! I absolutely loved the connection between Kia and Reese. The depth of their love for one another was jumping off the page. I was happy to take their journey with them as it was filled with love, heartache, trust and the ability to overcome obstacles.

Kia James, a girl from a small town in Alabama who moves to New York to attend college and escape the pitfalls of her past. But summer break is upon us and Kia returns home after swearing she never would. Will she be able to face what she left behind…..Reese Pembleton?

Oh my goodness…holy hotness!! Hello Reese Pembelton! The swooning has commenced. Reese is a good ole’ southern boy who was left with nothing but a broken heart and questions after last summer. When he wants to he can turn on the charm, but will it be enough to win back the girl that owns his heart?

You could feel the connection of Kia and Reese radiating off the pages. Kia has decided that she cannot succumb to her hearts desires and allow Reese back in, because having to leave him would just break her completely. Her solution….”Just friends”.

“Then remember what I said,” he mutters, his eyes slowly crawling my face until they meet mine again. “Because if I have to kiss you again, you’ll be begging me for something, and baby, it won’t be friendship.”

~ Reese

I could sympathize with Kia and her inability to trust for fear of her parents past mistakes taking hold of her future. When you have only been told half-truths, it may not be easy to face the truth when it arrives at your doorstep. But with the love and support of Reese, Kia faces her family’s past and decides to take hold of her future.

“Because really, all love is, is throwing caution to the wind and holding onto the beautiful feelings that blow back.”

~ Kia

This book had me smiling at Reese’s charm, praising Kia’s determination, hopeful with anticipation and of course what’s a good book without some tears. I really felt the connection the characters and the story pulled you in and didn’t let you go until the last page. If you have never read a book from Emma Hart make this your first one…because I guarantee you it will not be your last. See what’s next for Kia and Reese in “Third Chance Together”, book two of The Chance Series, coming Spring 2014.

~ Links to Buy

iTunes
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

~ About the Author

By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to two beautiful little monsters. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of whatever she fancies – usually wine – and writes books.

Emma is working on Top Secret projects she will share with her followers and fans at every available opportunity. Naturally, all Top Secret projects involve a dashingly hot guy who likes to forget to wear a shirt, a sprinkling (or several) of hold-onto-your-panties hot scenes, and a whole lotta love.

She likes to be busy - unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life.

~Connect with Emma