From New York Times bestseller Lexi Ryan comes a sexy new standalone romance in the bestselling Boys of Jackson Harbor series. Meet single dad Easton Connor as he leaves the NFL and returns to Jackson Harbor to fight for another chance with the love of his life.***I don’t regret much. Not my decision to enter the NFL draft before finishing college.Not fighting for custody of my daughter—even if, … college.
Not fighting for custody of my daughter—even if, biologically speaking, it turns out she’s not mine.
And certainly not seducing my buddy’s little sister ten years ago.
But when it comes to Shayleigh Jackson, my no-regrets attitude stops there. I screwed up royally where she’s concerned. Then I made another mistake when I let her shut me out of her life.
Now after more than a decade living in different time zones, I’m coming home to Jackson Harbor. My first priority is keeping my daughter away from the media circus in Los Angeles, but the moment I see Shay, I know something else brought me back here. Now I’ll stop at nothing to win her back.
So what if she won’t speak to me? So what if she’s changed? So what if she’s fallen for some douchebag professor? I’ve never gotten over her, and I know she feels the same about me.
I’ve let her go twice. I won’t make that mistake again.
If It’s Only Love and all other books in this series can be read as standalones, but you’ll enjoy reading them together.
The Boys of Jackson Harbor
1 – The Wrong Kind of Love (Ethan’s story)
2 – Straight Up Love (Jake’s story)
3 – Dirty, Reckless Love (Levi’s story)
4 – Wrapped in Love (Brayden’s story)
5 – Crazy for Your Love (Carter’s story)
6 – If It’s Only Love (Shay’s story)
more
If It’s Only Love by Lexi Ryan was an emotional and angst-filled second chance romance. Easton Conner has only one regret, letting Shayleigh Jackson shut him out of her life. The younger sister of one of his friends, he knows he has hurt her, but he is back and ready to fight for their second chance. Even if she will have nothing to do with him and has moved on.
Throughout the story, we see Easton and Shayleigh both in the past and present as we see what happened to them and how they got to where they are now. Shay has come a long way, how can she let Easton back in? Easton thought he was doing the right thing, but sometimes the right thing hurts those you love. Can this finally be their time after so many missed opportunities?
This story had a little bit of everything, friendship, love, second chances, family and so much more. It was sweet and heartbreaking and had me captivated from start to finish.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
damn … ya’ll … i mean dayum!
There is one thing you can always count on when you pick up a Lexi book … consistency. She is consistent in her triangles inside hexagons trying to fit in a pentagon romance journeys. EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. I am left in pure wonderment after I finish. EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.
I am a ridiculous fan of Lexi’s. Not just as an author, but as a human. I’ve laughed with her and I’ve cried with her and a whole lot in between. I’m not entirely sure it’s not her fault I’ve been banned from reviewing on Amazon LOL But I digress. I wanted to put this tidbit in my review because as much as I love her, sometimes I hate her and want to slap her senseless. Man, she just does not make it easy on her characters. NEVER!! One time I’d like to pick up a Lexi book and just … I dunno what, but maybe not have to take anxiety pills *shrug* But I do love how real and relatable she makes her stories. These men and woman that she creates are just a touch away. Their lives and their circumstances are right here right now and honestly most times do not even feel like fiction to me. That’s her thing right there. When you read her stories, you’ll more than likely think … Jesus, that could be me. AND IT IS GLORIOUS!!
Shay and Easton … damn do they have bad timing or what?! #JesusSaveMeFromTheseTwo lol But you know what? Can it really be bad timing if all the years they spent like two ships passing in the night, if it allowed them to grow independently to become the people they needed to be for each other in the present? Everything happens for a reason they say … Their history made for one of the most poignant second, third, maybe fourth, okay fifth time to get it right! Their story is not a simple story. It’s an intricate maze of circumstances and life events. It’s complicated and messy and filled with so much hope it will have you reading for hours on end because you just can’t wait to see what happens next. It’s full of heart and growth and family and love. It is amazing !!
I truly could not wait for this book to release! I feel like Lexi always save the most mysterious family member for last. In this case she wasn’t necessarily mysterious but truly kept close to the heart about anything and everything in her life that was personal. She would shy away anytime anyone asked her about her love life. Shay had been one of my favorites from the start. A woman growing up among a whole lotta men in her life. And her strength and resilience shines through. She’s passionate about her family and they truly do first and foremost come to the forefront of her life.
I couldn’t wait to see what turns this story would take, from the moment I read the synopsis from Lexi I was excited for this story. Second chance romances are one of my most favorite troupes! From the moment the book started I felt that dreamy flutter in my stomach for Easton Connor! I loved how Lexi gave us great moments from the past and present. I loved how she mixed it all together. The past chapters were perfectly placed and gave you just enough but not too much. We finally got a huge moment in all their lives seen from Shay’s POV and I died a thousand deaths right along with the Jackson family. I wasn’t truly expecting that.
My second favorite thing is daddy’s with their daughters in books! GAH! There is nothing hotter and sweeter than a good dad who loves his child unconditionally. I loved that Easton would move heaven and earth to keep his daughter happy and safe. His return to Jackson Harbor was to protect the innocence of his daughter and to take her from the lime light of Hollywood. Being back with his second family, the Jacksons, and the girl that got away Shay, was a bonus.This book was a roller coaster of emotions.
I went through a love hate with Shay and her attitude toward Easton. I mean don’t get me wrong as you go through the book, you totally get why, but at times I got really mad at her. Easton was really caught between a rock and a hard place, several times over. I didn’t love the way he made his decisions but knowing his background, it all becomes clear, that he made the best decisions that he could given the situations as they presented.
This was a fabulous conclusion to this story. It brings a family together one last time for beautiful moments that will make you laugh and cry. I couldn’t have thought of a better conclusion for this series! Truly Lexi outdid herself with each and every story along the way. They were all unique and fabulous in their own right. I cannot wait to see what she brings us next, but I’m really sad that this series has come to an end.
I have been waiting for Shay’s story. As the only girl in the Jackson clan Lexi Ryan saved the best for last.
I loved every word of this story. The way the story flashed back over the years was good. It was nice to see all the events that had lead up to the point Shay and Easton are at now. They have had so many obstacles put in their way through out the years. The fact that it has all gone down in secret makes this even more heartbreaking.
Easton, oh he made me swoon and I honestly wanted to hug him. He always tried to do the right thing putting his happiness on the back burner but now he is here to fight for what he wants and that’s Shay.
Lexi always manages to give us a great story of love, friendship and especially family which is why I loved this series so much.
If It’s Only Love is the sixth book in The Boys of Jackson Harbor series. This is a beautiful and emotional story of love and healing, second chances, moving on, family, heartache, drama, angst, unexpected twists, humor, sizzling chemistry, lust, and love. Remarkably well written with a wonderful storyline and endearing characters you can’t help but love. This book played with my heartstrings.
I volunteered to review an advance reader copy of this book.
If It’s Only Love is the 6th book to The Boys of Jackson Harbor series and this book is Shayleigh’s story. I went into this as a stand-alone, which it is, but I think I may have gotten more of a feel for the characters if I had started from book one, but with that said, it wasn’t any less amazing and it didn’t take me much to get into the story, but I will be going back and starting the series from book one after reading this gem!
Easton and Shay story was epic! It’s their third chance at love with each other and these two have baggage upon baggage. But to see them come together again and fall helplessly in love with each other was beautiful, but they didn’t do it without struggle.
I love sports romances, they’ve become a guilty pleasure of mine and this book marked every box with a tick! It had humor, passion, lust, love, heat, angst, and unexpected twists, it was deep but it was a book that I was at ease with reading. It was a mixture of all and balanced out just perfectly!
The author knows how to write characters that’ll have you fallen for them within a chapter, and a couple that you can’t help but cheer for… and Shay and Easton were just that and as the book progressed, the more that push and pull between these two increased and I am a sucker for all things angsty. I loved how this third chance relationship developed! It was extremely well written and will be a book I’ll come back and re-read again in the near future!
I have absolutely loved getting to know the Jackson’s, and with every book I fall more in love with these wonderful characters. This is Shay’s book, it’s sexy, emotional and a all around great story.
Friends to lovers, childhood to adult and brother’s best friend. Yep, this book is all of the above. Some of my favorite genres all mixed together. And I absolutely love it.
Easton has had a crush on his best friends sister for years and tried to stay away but forced keep pushing them together only to tear them apart again. I love Easton and Shays story as well as all the Others in this great series. Definite must read.
I have absolutely loved getting to know the Jackson’s, and with every book I fall more in love with these wonderful characters. This is Shay’s book, it’s sexy, emotional and a all around great story.
Friends to lovers, childhood to adult and brother’s best friend. Yep, this book is all of the above. Some of my favorite genres all mixed together. And I absolutely love it.
Easton has had a crush on his best friends sister for years and tried to stay away but forced keep pushing them together only to tear them apart again. I love Easton and Shays story as well as all the Others in this great series. Definite must read.
*Review by Michelle
The final book in the Boys of Jackson Harbor series, this is Shay’s book. As the only sister with 5 brothers, Shay grew up surrounded by boys. One such boy, her brother’s best friend, was Easton. He was 4 years older than her, and pretty much off limits when they were kids, but that didn’t stop her crushing on him from afar, and on the night he was drafted to the NFL, conversation changed the course of their relationship. It looked like maybe they could be friends of their own merit, outside of her brothers. When Shay needed him, Easton was there, more than once, but real life intrudes, even in the most perfect of times. Ten years later Easton is back in town for good, and on a mission to prove he is in it for the long haul this time. Shay doesn’t make it easy for him, and some hurdles may seem insurmountable at first. But if it’s only love, they have have everything to lose if they can’t get it right this time.
Lexi always does a great job of writing strong, believable characters. She provides real world situations and realistic story lines. Her heroes are always the best guys. I thought the Jackson brothers couldn’t be beat, but Easton gives them all a run for their money. Shay is relatable in that even in the most perfect of families, it is easy to lack the confidence you need to be proud of your body and yourself. She was broken, and put herself back together again thanks to that strong foundation. It would take something special for her to risk her heart again. I think many people reading this will be able to relate to that. Everyone just trying to make the right move, finding out it may have been the wrong move the entire time.
I thank Lexi Ryan for providing me an ARC, thus allowing me to read this book early. I think everyone will be able to agree this series ended on a strong note.
5 “Short stack” Stars
If It’s Only Love is the sixth and final book in The Boys of Jackson Harbor series. And finally we get Shayleigh’s book. Shay is the only sister of the five Jackson brothers and her story is the one I was most anticipating. And oh boy, it was so worth the wait.
Shay grew up surrounded by boys and one in particular was her brother’s older best friend. Easton was four years older than her and was definitely off limits. But it didn’t stop Shay from having a crush on him and watching him from afar. On the night that Easton gets drafted to the NFL, something happens that makes Shay think that maybe there’s a chance that he feels the same way she does. And it turns out it’s only the beginning of heartaches and also the start of not the right timing being on their side.
Easton has always wanted one thing, and that’s playing in the NFL. He thought that if he didn’t have football, he didn’t have anything. But he was wrong, because there was something else he wanted, more like someone. Easton knew that liking his best friends younger sister would be complicated, but he couldn’t stop the feelings he had for her. He also couldn’t predict the missed opportunities and the amount of longing and sorrow there would be.
Shay and Easton have been through a lot. From the very first innocent touch that started their whirlwind of emotions. But life and timing have a way of getting in the way and ultimately they played a crucial part in Shay and Easton’s lives. Shay and Easton have ten years’ worth of hurdles to get through. It won’t be easy, but if they can get it right this time everything they’ve been through would’ve been worth it.
If It’s Only Love is a beautiful and emotional second chance romance. It’s a story of love, heartache and healing. Shay and Easton’s story is one I wasn’t expecting, but it was everything I could’ve hoped for. I’m going to miss them just as much as I’m going to miss all the other characters. It’s sad to say goodbye to Jackson Harbor and this lovable family, but what a ride it was.
While reading this series, I’ve always felt like Jackson Harbor would be a place that could feel like home. If It’s Only Love brought back that feeling and made me very happy. I love this setting and places like this make me want to move and live there.
If It’s Only Love is the sixth book in this series and I think after reading Shay and Easton’s story, that this one is my favorite. I’ve enjoyed them all so far, but this one just stands out. Once I started reading If It’s Only Love I couldn’t stop. Part of the reason I love it so much is the way it’s set up I think. This book is split up in parts and swtiches between the past and present. That made me connect with this story so much more!
Shay is a smart girl. Even though she hasn’t always been happy with her body, she’s definitely gotten some more confidence. I think I connected with Shay the most, because of her love of books. Mentioning reading Harry Potter and she definitely scored points with me. Shay is a hard worker and has devoted a lot of her time and energy for her degrees.
Easton has been a part of the Jackson family since he was younger. He’s been friends with one of the brothers and basically all of the family knows him well. Easton loves sports and even played for the NFL professionally for some years. I liked him from the start. He’s definitely more sensitive and very caring!
The feelings and connection between Shay and Easton isn’t something new and has been going on for years. Every once in awhile they give in to their feelings and are together for a night. These moments made me smiling, but also broke my heart when they weren’t able to get their happily ever after. Seeing them so many years later when Easton moves back brought so many more feelings.
I’m a big fan of second chance romances and even people just finding each other again. If It’s Only Love is definitely fille with some angst and things don’t always go smoothly, but that makes it so worth it! The events we read about between past and present takes you on an emotional roller coaster ride. I loved these characters and just wanted them to end up together.
Once again, this author gave us a book that makes you laugh, cry, get angry and just want a happily ever after. Add some steamy scenes and this romance is complete. On top of that, the characters we’ve come to know and love are in some way a part of this story as well. I love reading about them after reading their story!
I’m sad this is the last book, but all of them were amazing! I hope Lexi Ryan writes more books like this in the future!
Love Me a Second Chance Romance
It feels like I have waited forever for Shay’s story, not that it was a bad wait…. The Jackson brothers were beyond entertaining and I loved all of their stories!!! I just couldn’t wait for Shay to get her happily ever after. It was definitely worth the wait!
Shay and Easton certainly did not have an easy go of it. Every time I thought this was it and they would be able to be in their happy bubble, something else came out of left field and made it almost impossible for them to have it. But you know what they say about love conquering all? Well that is this story lol… No matter what life throws at them, the end game is always the same.
These two belonged together, they loved each other and they made it work which made me a completely happy camper. I am so sad that this series is over, but I am all about re-reading my favs and I will for sure be picking these books up again and again.
Lexi Ryan has this ability to rip my heart out of my chest, stomp it into a million pieces, put it back and leave me smiling with tears running down my face. And the Jackson Harbor series has been nothing short of perfect.
This story was complicated and angsty and heartbreaking in all the ways only life can be. And while things were happening to make me cry it really would have helped to have someone to blame and I really wanted to be mad at Easton but then I would get his point of view and my heart broke all over again for him.
Everything was messy and nothing played out like I wanted but it was so real I couldn’t help but love it. Shay was such a great character and I really wanted her to get the happily ever after she had been waiting her whole life for but watching her hit every bump with so much grace and understanding just made her perfect.
And as much as I loved Easton and Shay it was awesome to catch up with the brothers and their beautiful other halves. And I am so hoping that we are going to get another book in this series just to catch up with the crew because I could never get enough.
Now I have to try get out of this book coma and get back to real life. Because seriously that book has me so sucked in that I hardly slept and I picked it up as soon as the kids were dropped off at school. And my mind doesn’t want to settle on anything but Jackson Harbor.
This was my first Lexi Ryan’s book and won’t be my last. If It’s Only Love is book 6 in the Boys of Jacson Harbor Series. You can read this story as a standalone, like I have done, but I believe it’s better to read them all, in order. This is a great second chance to love. Shay and Eston’s story is complex, and beautifully written. I loved it! They are so great together! I love them both. The secondary characters are also great. I love the family spirit in this story. The storyline has some unpredictable twists and turn. The ending is amazing. I trully enjoyed reading this story and I highly recommend it. Now, I’m looking forward to listen to the entiere Series in audiobooks. I need Ethan, Jake, Levi, Brayden ad Carter’s stories!
So the Jackson Brother might be BACK but this is ALL about the only Jackson girl .. Shayleign !! And she doesn’t let us down even though she is a GIRL !!
The things she goes through during her life .. girls .. body type .. boys is hard just being you but when you have brothers to look after you even though you can hold your own with the boys and the girls being as smart as Shay is .. it is Hard !! There is always someone around looking after her. When feelings keep getting stomped on sometime it does take a toll on your heart and head.
When her head is always filled lingering thoughts of her brothers best friend Easton we can never be sure where it will lead her .. in Jackson Harbor ?? NYC ?? LA ?? Or even Paris ??
Easton has ALWAYS had an eye for Shay BUT Carter put a stop to it early on .. BUT sometimes you can stop how the heart feels. When an NFL career takes him across the map Shay knows they will never have a chance or will they ??
They both have HARD life decisions to make and they each think they are doing each other a favor by backing away .. each time it gets harder and harder. Sometimes LIFE just gets in the way ..
This installment will STOMP on your heart HARD .. it has love, loss, friendship and anxiety .. how and I mention crying !!
Glad to see the whole Jackson crew back to have each other’s back in the good and the bad times !!
4.5 Stars
I devoured this book. It had everything I needed, full of angst and sweet moments. These characters were perfect for each other. I really enjoyed Shay and Easton’s story.
Easton and Shay have known each other for a long time. He is her brother’s best friend and was always around. When he left Shay thought she had gotten over him but him coming back proved her wrong. She plans to stay as far away from him as possible but that’s easier said then done. Easton walked away from her one too many times and will have to prove himself if he wants her back.
If it’s Only Love was just what I needed and I couldn’t read it fast enough. This book captured me and I highly recommend it. I read this book as a standalone and plan on going back and reading all the other books in the series.
This is the first book that I have read by Ms. Ryan and I am wondering what has taken me so long to do so. She writes a really good single dad/friends to lovers/best friends’ sister second chance romance. I mean you get it all with this story and I loved it. Shay and Ethan have known each other forever and she has always had a crush on him. Ethan has always had a thing for her as well but with her brothers always warning him off, it wasn’t able to happen. There was always the pesky timing problem but now since they are older, there is really nothing standing in their way – too bad that wasn’t the case. They will have to fight to get their HEA and the journey was worth every turn of the page.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
My first book from Lexi Ryan and what an amazing first experience.
This book really took me by surprise, I thought it’s going to be an easy full of fun second chance romance read, but it’s very far from that, so many heart breaks, so many sad teary moments, so many angers, so complicated and oh sooooooo good. It’s like riding an emotional rollercoaster, and I’m enjoying every moment of it.
Great story, amazing characters, plenty of love and sacrifices and with a good portions of hotness, yup totally recommended.
If you’re looking for a romance read packed with emotions, this book is definitely for you.
I was patiently waiting for Shay’s story and I must say everything was going good until almost the ending. The history between Shay and Easton will have you glued from beginning to end. This was a completely different brother’s best friend with younger sister romance and it made it that more intriguing. Easton had his flaws but he fought for his second chance with Shay something fierce. Shay on the other hand didn’t make it a walk in the park for him. She was one tough cookie. I loved her but was also disappointed in her because for someone close to being a genius she was not so smart for common sense things which is what held me back from giving this story a 5. I’m glad they got their HEA but I personally thought Easton deserved better especially after having something similar to him happen in the past. I still enjoyed them and the rest of the family as always.
I loved Shay and Easton! This one was a long time coming. It is definitely a slow burn, but has all the feels. Shay is the only girl in a family filled with Jackson brothers. And she is in love with her brother’s best friend. This book proves that sometimes love is a journey, but one worth taking every time. Welcome back to Jackson Harbor—welcome home.