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
Ohmygoodness….. I want to start off by saying I claim Easton… You know I have loved all the Jackson Harbor brothers and now Carter’s best friend Easton has been brought into the picture with eyes looking at the only sister, Shay, in this mix of Jackson siblings. This is not just a brother’s best friend, but also a second chance…. and timing is a b!t@h! This book was amazing. Easton has been around the Jackson family for years and Shay has had a crush on Easton for quite some time. There are a few brief moments that make Shay question if Easton feels anything, and this book takes you to and from the past to show you the connection between these two, but like I said, the timing sucks! The question is can they find their timing. This book was amazing and the story for these two may be riddled with hiccups along the way, but they are beautiful together. I absolutely loved their story! <3<3<3<3<3
I’ve been not so patiently waiting for Shays story for what feels like forever and it was nothing like I was expecting. I love a second chance romance almost as much as i love a single dad, put them both together and I’m just about beside myself with excitement, especially when it’s written by one of my automatic click authors. I’ve read and loved the previous books in this series but this is the one I’ve been desperate to get and I loved every word of it.
Shay fell for her brothers best friend when she was just a kid. There was something that drew her to Easton and a genuine connection grew between them. He’s the guy that’s always been there when she’s needed him until it all became too much and now Shay doesn’t even want to see him nevermind talk to him. This story jumps from the past to the present and I LOVED it. Their past plays such an important part in their story and I loved getting both povs and all the details on what really happened between them. It helped me connect with both Shay and Easton really easily.
I had such high hopes for Shays book, I’ve been desperate for her story from the start of this series and it was everything I wanted and more.
Finally getting Shayleigh’s story – and Lexi does not disappoint! Shay has known she has been in love with her brother’s best friend Easton since she was a kid. Knowing that her feelings would never be reciprocated, she always kept her feelings inside. But as she gets older, Easton starts to be more blatant with how he feels about her, and that earns him a threat from Shay’s brother. After Easton gets drafted into the NFL, the pair continues to keep in touch and further their exploration of feelings in secret moments in time. But after a surprise pops up in Easton’s life, Shay severs their semblance of a relationship and tries to forget him and her feelings. After years of being away from home, Easton finally decides to not only move back home, but also go after who he’s always wanted – Shayleigh – but she’s not an easy sell, especially with their past. Throughout this book, we see Easton trying to make up for how he handled their past and show Shay that he wants the real deal with her, until Shay’s past comes back to haunt them. Wow this book was so much I didn’t realize I needed in Shay’s storyline. Being the only girl in addition to the end of the series and siblings, I really wasn’t sure where Lexi was taking this but I was NOT disappointed! The added level of twists and turns in this storyline made me want to jump in and shake this couple because it seemed that every time they got close to defining a relationship, something happened to ruin it in one way or another. My heart bled for Shay and the situation she gets into in this book, which might be the only thing I had a hard time with, but other than that I adored this book. After reading all the others in this series, this was a great ending to this family and I’ll miss them so! Another hit from Lexi, and I can’t wait to see what’s next!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Oh the angst!! Finally we get Shay’s story and boy I was not prepared for the journey this book took me on. I devoured this book one night when insomnia kicked in and then sent a message like a crazy stalker professing my love for all the words. When it comes to a book that consumes me as much as this one did then I have no shame.
I adore Easton, what a gent he is! I want him!!
I admire Shay’s sass and the fact that she tries to do what’s right even when it’s not easy. It was great to also catch up with the rest of the family too! 5 amazing stars!!
I took some time to think before starting this review. I have some very strong feelings and was thinking I needed to cool down before writing it. I will start by saying If it’s only love is a really well written friends to lovers story. I love the Jackson family! Shay Jackson is a wonderful character that I LOVE. She comes from a loving family, but she was always so hard on herself. My heart ached for her! I started reading this story one night and hated to put it down, but I had to go to sleep. I dreamt about this story because I kept thinking about it while trying to go to sleep. I was anxious to get back to it the following day. So, this was definitely a good story. My issue is the main guy character, Easton. I was expecting to love him, but I didn’t like him at all. I initially thought I hated him. But hate is a really strong word and he wasn’t really a bad guy per se. But I hated the way he treated Shay. He claims he loved her since he was 21, but he sure didn’t treat her the way you would treat someone you loved. If that’s his version of love, I want no part of it. He always treated her as an after thought. He put everyone else in front of her and her happiness. It really broke my heart. I know he wanted to be a good father and do what was best for his daughter, but I don’t think he did. It doesn’t make sense to me to marry someone you don’t love and try to make it work. Especially, when there is a person out there that you do love. Maybe people in he real world do this all the time. I don’t know. All I do know is that it doesn’t make sense to me and I didn’t like it. I think Shay deserved better. I love Lexi Ryan and everything she writes and I’m not giving this book a low rating because it is a well written book. But I did deduct points for my feelings. And I’m sure I’m on the minority with my issues. Everyone else will probably love Easton. But I couldn’t write an honest review and not include how it made me feel.
This is the 6th book in this phenomenal series, and is Shay and Easton’s story. Shay has always had a huge crush on her brothers’ best friend, Easton, but as a typical teenager she suffered from insecurities about her weight / looks, so she felt that she would be the last girl he would ever look at. Now Easton has left the NFL and has returned to his hometown. This is a well written flawless story, which had me hooked and intrigued throughout this addictive page turner. I highly recommend this talented authors’ work for all.
I have been waiting for Shayleigh Jackson to finally get her happily ever after reading all the books in the Boys of Jackson Harbor Series. Throughout the entire series each of her brothers has found their happily ever after. Readers have gotten to know the Jackson family and all their flaws. They have also gotten a taste of living in the small-town of Jackson Harbor, Michigan.
Shayleigh has been there for her family. She has been a rock for her brothers, a true friend to her new sister in laws, and the favorite auntie to her nieces in nephews. She has kept her private life under wraps by staying busy with her family and working on her doctorate degree thesis. She’s finally at the finish line, almost ready to defend her thesis. She’s ready to move up to the next level until her past comes blowing back in town.
Easton Connor has always been a part of the Jackson family. They became his second family while his single mother struggle to provide for them. He has always loved Shayleigh but knew her brothers would not approve of them being together. He broke her heart in high school when he left for the NFL. He shattered her heart in Paris while she was in college. He completely destroyed her hope when he married another woman and had a child. Their love story would never have a happily ever after when it never really had a real beginning.
Easton may be back in Jackson Harbor but Shayleigh isn’t going to let him derail her life again. She has worked too hard. She is involved in an easy relationship that does not interfere with her carefully laid plans. She just has to get her heart on board and Easton out of way until she can move onto the next steps in her carefully planned life.
Life has a way of changing carefully laid plans and derailing everything.
The heart wants what it wants. Easton wants Shayleigh and will do everything in his power to win her love once again. Shayleigh may be running from her feelings but Jackson is ready to catch her and keep her forever.
If It’s Only Love by Lexi Ryan is my favorite book in the Boys of Jackson Harbor series. Easton Connor was the perfect man for Shayleigh and could definitely knock her sexy brothers down a peg or two.
I loved this book!
4.5 Why I Want You Stars!
I have always loved the Men of Jackson Harbor and the women who bring them to their knees! But move over boys, cuz Ryan has saved the best for last with Shayleigh and Easton’s story! What she put this pair through to finally get the timing right took my breath away, brought me to tears, but had me totally cheering for their HEA! Shay and Easton were always drawn to each other. Easton was best friends with Shay’s older brother, and Carter warned him to stay away. But East had issues that only Shay was able to soothe. Shay was the little sister who followed them around. Shay had her own image problems and never saw that she was good enough for the popular star quarterback. But East saw her for who she really was and didn’t want to hold back his intelligent, loving, sexy friend. With East being four years older and drafted to a football team across the country, they were never in the same place and same time in their lives to act on their love for each other. Now that Easton is moving home, he is through with taking the easy route, and is determined to fight for Shay, and make her his. But Shay has been through too much heartbreak and loss and isn’t willing to open herself up to him again. Their forbidden, friends to lovers romance was sweet, steamy, and riveting. Ms. Ryan expertly and exquisitely portrayed life with all it’s complications, joy, heartbreak, and pleasure. She skillfully revealed this story in alternating past and present sequence allowing the reader to be truly engaged both emotionally and thoughtfully. She expertly weaved a tale of friendship, love, loss, and heartbreak, and ultimately of hope and healing. This story is a raw and emotional journey that will keep you captivated from beginning to end. I am so in love with the whole Jackson family and how loving, supportive, and essential they are to each other. Two scenes at the end, with Shay’s mom, and then with Easton had me in tears, in a good way! What a perfect ending to this fun, exhilarating, emotional and steamy family saga series. I have grown to really care for each of them. I am sad it is done but so happy I was along for the ride!
The angst! The sweet! The heart break! The swoon! If it’s Only Love is a second chance that will entirely smash your heart before putting it back together. Easton and Shay have such an intense history and pairing that with the drama they’re each individually going through in the present made their story one that had me going from biting my nails, to tearing up, to full on happy sighing from start to finish.
Bouncing back and forth between the past and present and learning just how the events of the past unfolded, while side by side seeing these two be reunited really took things to the next level when it came to feeling all that these two were going through.
DNF this book…..I didn’t connect with the characters or storyline
Easton and Shay’s history was so heartbreaking. The reasons for them being apart were pretty good ones, but he could have handled it better. I really enjoyed this story and seeing how hard Easton worked to show Shay how he felt. It just missed 5 stars for me because I did fell that there was a bit too many obstacles for them. Clear communication would have helped. Loved the epilogue!
It’s time to head back to Jackson Harbor, this time it’s not for the Jackson brothers, but it’s for the only Jackson sister, Shayleigh. I have been waiting this book and her story since we first met her. I loved everything about her and Easton’s story. Their story is one that expands years and years and timing that never truly worked out.
There was so much complications, baggage and emotions between Easton and Shay. Their story was an angsty, slow burn. It was emotional, it was beautiful. It was full of heartache and love. There is no denying their chemistry was through the roof and seemed to only grow throughout the years.
I loved the flashbacks throughout this story, it was nice to see the entire Jackson family at different stages throughout the years. In the previous stories we heard stories, but it was nice to get these flashbacks.
I love Jackson Harbor, I love the Jackson family and I love all the other books in this series, but Shay’s may be my favorite. Her story was full of so much pain, heartbreak but also there is so much love and family in this. Her story proves that family is so so so much more than blood.
If you haven’t met the Jackson family you should. Each book can be read as a standalone but they are all MUST READS!
Another amazing read in the Jackson family series. Shay and Easton never seemed to get their timing right, at least not for very long. Life always seemed to get in the way, whether it was exs, new careers or living too far away. But holy when these two FINALLY get it right, it is magical. Loved every second of reading this book, even if i wanted to throw my e-reader across the room a few times.
This is book 6 in The Boys if Jackson Harbor series and even though it’s the last book in the series it can certainly be read as a stand-alone, I can say this hand on heart because I haven’t read all the previous books but I will be going back to play catch up as soon as time permits.
This is a story spanning over time and it will touch you on so many levels because those years cover every emotion you ever want to feel. It’s a book full of regrets and doubts but it’s also full of love and happiness as love takes its toll when time and distance comes into play.
This is single dad Easton Connor and Shayleigh Jackson’s story and let’s be honest it’s going to take a special type of man to win Shay and her 5 brothers over. Easton has returned to Jackson Harbor with his daughter to start over and he can’t wait to reconnect with the Jackson’s the family he missed the most when he moved away but will they welcome him with open arms after all its going to take time to win their trust and love back….
This book has it all second chance romance, a single dad, great characters with sizzling chemistry and a well written beautiful love story. All I can say is Shay and Easton are taking chances why don’t you and one click this great read you won’t be disappointed .
Oooohhhh what a story!! I was waiting for Shay’s story! The only sister in the Jackson clan and she was quite the enigma in the previous books!
The flow of this story is spectacular, the way the story flashes back to the past between Easton and Shayleigh is smooth and easy to follow. It brings more to their story and what a rollercoaster it is.
Easton and Shayleigh have a rough relationship. Time and distance, circumstances beyond their control forces them to separate. But beyond space and time the love between these two is epic.
Shayleigh, oh this girl…I wanted to hug her hard. I wanted to be her best friend. She has some severe insecurities and that unfortunately rules how she moves forward in the future. She is so hard headed and I wanted to shake her too!
Easton, this fella well I was swooning hard over. He tries to do the right thing but at what cost? He is admirable and yes he has made some mistakes but he tries to own up to them and move forward.
Ms. Ryan has created a world and a cast of characters that are so believable and honest! Jackson Harbor is a town I would love to live in! And the Jackson family? Well I want to be an honorary member!
Get you hands on this angsty, twisty love story! You won’t be sorry!
Before Shay and East, I never knew love could hurt so good. If It’s Only Love is a reminder that it’s okay to shed a few tears. Ryan is an ace when it comes to heartache, but equally skilled at romance. Teen infatuation becomes a heartbreaking love story that was years in the making. Will young love get an adult happy ending? Compelling and endearing meets enduring and emotional to create an unforgettable find.
I should really start reading these series in order. I feel like a broken record by saying I’m going back to read the previous books. I’ve had book one on my kindle for far longer than I’d like to admit and then i saw this one. Saw the blurb, saw you could read it as a standalone and jumped at the chance and now I’m kicking myself because if i had read the others then i would of had the whole build up to Shay’s story but either way i absolutely loved Easton and her story!
The ups and the downs in the book has your belly twisted in knots like you think you have it sussed and then something else pops up but i was hooked.
Easton was amazing, he was an amazing father to his daughter and he put all his needs aside and put her first which i admire so much because how can you not love him for that?
Shay she was pretty stubborn and head strong which was great, she had her mind set to where she thinks she wants to go and where she wants to go and nothing is stopping her but when Easton comes back he kinda throws and wrench in the works.
As i said before i absolutely loved this book and I’m totally going back and reading the rest of the series even if it kills me. (Judging by my TBR I’ll be nearly dead by the time i get through quarter of it)
Where do I even begin…..
How do I convey how this book made me feel?!
So much, just so very much! The words captured my heart as well as my attention and I just couldn’t put it down!
I haven’t read many books in this series however this one blew me away!
The emotional storyline was incredibly beautiful and what the characters go through really made me feel alot! I laughed, I shed tears and thought Shay and Easton had a long and difficult time growing up and how they overcame certain things as well as how Shay’s family was, made this an amazing story the author should be incredibly proud of!
It was very hard to try and put down words about this book as it was profoundly beautiful and just shows that perhaps true love can stand the test of time!
4.5 stars
I have been looking forward to sister, Shay’s book since the beginning of the series. And I have to say as much time as we spent with her, I never expected this to be her backstory. This is an emotional and angsty ride that spans years.
Shay has crushed on her brother’s best friend, Easton Connor since she was seven years old, but it was not until her late teens that he noticed her. But she was his friend’s little sister and totally off-limits. At first the missed chances were expected due to circumstances, but later on they just become more and more serious and heartbreaking. These two could never seem to quite get their timing right and always seemed pulled in different directions. It was like life had other plans for them and fate kept them apart. And it was all a big secret from her close-knit family that always considered East one of their own.
But now Easton is moving back to Jackson Harbor and his next goal is to win Shay once and for all. But their past is fall of disappointments, unresolved feelings, and broken promises. Shay is already a woman with self-worth issues and is already at a crossroads in her own life. And Easton’s return threatens to stir up a lot of mixed feelings.
I loved Easton. He is a charming, caring man with a big heart. For the most part he tried to do the right thing, but it just could not be the right thing for everyone at the same time. There were extenuating circumstances and hard decisions that had to be made. But he knows what he wants and is not afraid to go after it. I have always liked Shay. She is stubborn, sassy, and independent. But now we see more of her vulnerability, insecurities, past pain, and current issues. And not even she is not sure what she wants her to future to hold at this point. She has a lot of big decisions to make. These two have history and chemistry, and definitely pull strong feelings out of the other.
Can East convince her to take chance on getting it right this time? And how will Shay’s plans affect that?
I have loved this series and it was fun catching up with all of her brothers and their significant others. There was so much more to Shay and Easton’s story than I was expecting, but I was totally invested in them. It was a heartfelt, angsty, raw story of first love, second chances, choices, and consequences. It’s sad to say goodbye to Jackson Harbor and this lovable family.
Arc provided in exchange for an honest review
This books gave me all the feels. I was so excited for Shay’s story and it couldn’t have been any better. There is so much more I want to say but I don’t want to give anything away. I will say that last 20% about did me in emotionally and I was definitely crying by the end. I’m so glad Shay and Easton got their happily ever after. He is perfect for her and exactly what she needed. They went through so much and fought hard for their HEA. It was the perfect way to end the series.