Old flames burn bright. When a disgraced starlet returns home to lick her wounds, she discovers that her high school sweetheart is just as tempting as ever. “No one writes big-hearted bad boys like Jessica Lemmon!”—New York Times bestselling author Lori FosterAllison: When I left for California, I gave myself a new name and never looked back. Now my carefully crafted good-girl image is getting … back. Now my carefully crafted good-girl image is getting torn to shreds in the press thanks to my Oscar-winning A-hole of an ex-boyfriend. So I escape to the only safe haven I know and trust—my hometown—to take a breather while I plot my triumphant Hollywood comeback. However, when I arrive at my parents’ house, Jackson Burke answers the door instead. And suddenly the past comes rushing back. . . .
Jackson: First kiss. First time. First love. Yep, Allison Murphy and I shared a lot of firsts back in the day. When she left, she took half my heart with her. Now she’s back in town, and even though I swore I’d keep my distance, her parents hired me to remodel their house, and I’m going to finish the job. But one hot kiss later, suddenly the press is calling us the next big celebrity couple. Sure, I’ll play the part, for Allison’s sake—but I refuse to let her close enough to break my heart all over again. . . .
Praise for America’s Sweetheart
“Excellent contemporary romance—a second-chance love story that skillfully blends lighthearted sweetness and gut-wrenching emotion.”—New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne
“From Hollywood to the heartland, this sexy, poignant romance from Jessica Lemmon proves that you can go home again and rekindle your first love.”—Kate Meader, USA Today bestselling author of the Laws of Attraction series
“America’s Sweetheart is the perfect second-chance reunion! A dynamic combination of sweet and sexy.”—USA Today bestselling author Jules Bennett
“True love and steamy seduction, with a healthy dose of destiny, make this latest entry a success.”—Library X-Press (starred review)
Look for Jessica Lemmon’s standalone romances with heartfelt HEAs:
FIGHTING FOR DEVLIN | FORGOTTEN PROMISES | SHUT UP AND KISS ME | EYE CANDY | ARM CANDY | MAN CANDY | RUMOR HAS IT | AMERICA’S SWEETHEART
This ebook includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
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Allison Murphy left her small town life behind for the the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and never looked back; leaving behind a life that involved a love affair with a man she was certain would follow her, but he just didn’t see the same future she did, and it hurt more than she ever thought it could. Once the heartbreak settled she put all her focus into her career, eventually landing the role of a lifetime and earning the success she craved, but that success came with a price, one that has earned her a negative place in the spotlight. Now all the negative attention is more than she can bare, it’s caused her to doubt the sincerity of everyone around her, and has forced her to return to a place she hasn’t called home in years…. and right back into the arms of the man who broke her heart years ago!
From the very first kiss Jackson Burke was certain that Allison was his future wife, everything about her and their relationship was perfect, then her dream came calling and she walked away… and it crushed him. In the years that have passed he’s watched her find the fame she craved, and he can’t help but hurt a little to know he was never enough for her, and that the life he dreamed they’d have wouldn’t be enough either. He’s tried moving on, but every woman he’s dated has never compared, and he’s beginning to think they never will… she was it for him. But unfortunately she is umpteen million miles away, and he’s just a small blip in her past… or is she?
I have been anxiously awaiting for the opportunity to return to this series, and have the chance to get better acquainted with Jackson, and I have to say that he was definitely worth the wait!! He swooped in and captured my attention right from the start and had me hanging on his every word… he had my heart immediately! As soon as Allison blew back into his life and they shared their tension filled reunion, I knew that the story that lied ahead of them would be filled with angst, drama, heartfelt emotion, and hopefully lots of making up for lost time… and all I am going to say is that I got my wish… and then some, it was amazing!! America’s Sweetheart is a gem of a tale, the characters personalities shine brightly on every page, and the story line is beautifully crafted; it’s reunion story that should not be missed! Highly recommend!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
I love a 2nd chance romance story & this one did not fail. Jackson & Allie were such a cute couple & together in college. Jackson figured they would be together forever, however that ended when Allie went to Hollywood for an internship but then stayed & became a huge star. A scandal broke out with Allie at the heart of it so she returned home to hide & try to get her mind on other things to find that Jackson is doing renovations at her parents house. It was fun to see their interactions, see them find their way back to each other.
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) i liked Jax from the very beginning now Allison, not so much. She truly became the spoiled hollywood actress people had come to know. So Jax and Allison were high school sweethearts and in college Allison decided to go to California so her and jax’s relationship paid the price. Jax loved Allison and here is 10 years later and although he feels something for her he doesn’t want to give her his heart again. For some reason Allison was not very nice to him and I wasn’t crazy about her, eventually I tolerated her. Jax was loyal and sweet and kind enough to be there for her when she didn’t really deserve it. When they start loving each other again her past comes knocking, how does she react? And, will they break them again? Or do they finally have a chance? I also love Julie, Jax’s twin, she was great.
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
What a fantastic second chance love story! There are plenty of them out there, but I really enjoyed Jessica Lemmon’s take on it and how it all unfolded.
Back in high school and college, Jackson Burke thought he and Allie Murphy were going to end up together forever. What he didn’t plan on was Allie deciding that heading off to Los Angeles to chase the bright lights of Hollywood would win out over their relationship. Jackson knew he was headed home to help his father run the family construction business and LA was the last place he’d ever want to be.
It’s been 10 years and the last thing that Jax expects when he’s working on a construction job is for his ex-girlfriend, and the one woman he’s never gotten over, to come barreling into his arms. While it is her parents home, Allie, or Nina, as she’s known in Hollywood has come back to hide out after being accused of stealing and being publicly humiliated by her then boyfriend. Even though Allie is cool toward Jax in the beginning, it’s clear that there is something still between the two. Will spending time together rekindle the sparks that are clearly still smoldering? Or will this “reunion” just cause more heartache for both of them?
I loved Jax from the outset of this book. There was just something about him that drew me in. He was loyal, kind, sexy and selfless. It was clear what he wanted, but he also wanted Allie to be happy and to him that was more important than his own happiness. While I eventually came to love Allie too, the build was much slower. She definitely had her moments of being a spoiled Hollywood starlet, but then the small town girl showed through and you got to the root of the real Allie.
This was a great second chance romance and while it is part of a series, it could be read as a standalone. Another really enjoyable work by Jessica Lemmon!
3.5 Stars
I was given an ARC of this book for my honest review. Jax and Allie were high school sweethearts and madly in love. During their first year in college, Allie gets an opportunity to intern in Hollywood. She decides that she wants to make it in Hollywood. They initially try the long distance thing, but end up breaking up. Flash forward ten years and Allie, now Nina, is in the middle of a scandal and comes home to find her parents gone and Jax remodeling their home. What I love about a second chance romance is that the characters have matured and are now in the right place to make it work. I would say that is true with Jax. He is a great guy and the perfect book boyfriend. I had a real hard time with Allie/Nina. She seemed like an incredible narcissist and user. Towards the end, she did seem to chance a bit, but I thought that Jax probably deserved better.