He was my first crush, my first kiss, my first everything.But I’m not a lovesick teenager anymore, and I’d never let that cocky troublemaker break my heart again.So when he shows up out of the blue asking me to have dinner with him “for old time’s sake,” I say I will. After all, it’s been twelve years, and I’m stronger and smarter than I was back then. Except…he still does something to me. He’s … something to me. He’s got those eyes that make me weak, those hands that drive me wild, and a body I can’t resist—especially once I see the tattoos. It doesn’t take long for our trip down memory lane to go from sweet to sizzling.
We’re just as good together as we were back then—better, even—and I’m willing to give the only man I’ve ever loved another chance.
But he’s got to tell me the truth.
* * *
All I wanted was to see her again. Tell her I’m sorry. Make her smile.
Okay, that’s a lie. I wanted to do more than that—a lot more. But I know she’s better off without me, and I promised myself I’d behave.
Except I’ve never been much good at keeping promises…or my hands to myself when I’m around her.
I can make her laugh, I can make her cry, I can make her body surrender to mine in ways that neither of us could have imagined back then. I can—and I do—love her more than she’ll ever know.
But I can’t tell her the real reason why I’m here.
And I can’t stay.
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I love Second Chance Romance and Only Him is a perfect example of this trope. The premise that The One you were sure was destined to be your life forever, only to be separated for whatever reason, and later reunited is my idea of the best HEA! This is the second book in the One and Only series, featuring the Devine sisters, and it is a Standalone. This is Maren’s story and it reunites her with Dallas, her high school first and only love, who suddenly left without an explanation twelve years earlier.
Maren Devine teaches yoga at her own studio, something she loves doing. She had studied to be a ballet dancer, and had been with the American Ballet Theater in NYC for a year, with an apprenticeship, before deciding to drop out and return to Detroit. Now twenty-nine, she’s content with her life and has a close relationship with her sisters, Emme and Stella. All except her love life, or lack of. Lately she’s had a disturbing nightmare that has her exhausted and wondering what the meaning of it is. When Emme wonders if it could have anything to do with an unresolved relationship, or more to the point, with Dallas Shepard, Maren is quick to deny he could be the cause.
“My first crush, my first kiss, my first everything.”
Dallas has been living in Portland, Oregon for years, working as a tattoo artist. At thirty, he hasn’t had a relationship since he left Maren without an explanation, embarrassed he was being sent away. Having grown up with a brother, Finn, who was the perfect child, his parents had always compared him to Finn and found him lacking, he’d acted out throughout his teen years; until his parents decided to send him to boarding school, after a prank went wrong, and they’d had enough of his antics. On his way to Boston, where Finn lives, for an appointment he’s arranged for Dallas, he decides to stop off in Detroit and make amends to Maren. He feels she deserves an apology, after all these years, and wants to do it in person.
“You were the last person on earth I ever wanted to hurt.”
“You were the last person on earth I ever thought would hurt me.”
There’s so much going on with Maren and Dallas in the story, so much which was a mystery is explained; but there’s still more that isn’t due to secrets one of them is unwilling to share. There’s a little angst and a lot of humor in the story and it’ll have you glued to your seat, until the very HEA ending!
Dallas and Maren were in love so many years ago…he disappeared and then walked into her life 12 years later. Will they get a second chance or will current life events get in the way? I love this story, it has all the feels. Thank you Melanie for another amazing book.
*Second chance perfection!* Melanie Harlow has touched another spot in my heart with her second standalone in her One and Only series. Dallas and Maren are a stubborn pair. The push and pull of this story makes the slow burn worth every passionate moment. The meeting of these two after so long, along with the resentment and anger that had been allowed to fester over time, provides just the right amount of angst for their story.
Maren’s loving personality proved to be a blessing and a curse when it came to Dallas. I loved that about her. She was so strong that eventually staying that way for so long gave way to its inevitable breaking point. Her vulnerability was endearing because her heart was filled with such love.
The situation that these two were faced with was inescapable. It was the path that was intended for them. Had it not been for this scary obstacle, Dallas’ stubbornness may have prevailed. It is within this wonderful mess that Melanie Harlow creates romantic literary magic. She knows the perfect turns to make this story take to get to its juicy bits and swoon-worthy moments.
Only Him is love wrapped up in its own little box of perfection. I ALWAYS appreciate and hold dear the moments that Melanie Harlow melds some of her “book worlds” together. Cameos made by beloved characters are a welcomed surprise and often nostalgic. This book, for me, has an underlying theme of hope. It truly is lovely, and warms my heart. Grab this book and savor every word!
Oh, how Dallas and Maren captured by heart. I loved everything about their story. There is something about second chance romance stories that get me every time, add in that it was a first love, second chance romance and I was in heaven! The emotion that I felt in this book, oh my. It was everything I needed. It’s been 12 years since they’ve seen each other but the feelings are still there when they do see each other. Watching these two reconnect was so much fun. You could tell that there was a connection still that never left; there was a reason they haven’t been in relationships since. Like any good stories there are challenges they have to overcome, but watching them overcome these challenges to be together was sweet.
Second chance romance at it’s best!! Melanie Harlow scores another 5 star review from me!! Torn apart from Maren by his parents who sent him to a new school, Dallas didn’t explain to Maren and left her broken hearted until 12 years later. He was never good enough in his family’s eyes. Now Dallas decides he needs to make things right between them. Apologize and hope she understands. He can never tell her why he really came to see her again. I fell hard for Dallas. He has a beautiful soul. So sweet, broken, self destructive, incredibly talented, you’ll want to save him desperately! Maren is also so sweet, centered and deeply heart broken, a character you instantly connect with. I highly recommend this book as it has all the right feels. This isn’t your typical story, so much thought went into these two characters! Loved them!! The steamy scenes sizzled right off the charts! Grab this book and devour all it’s beautiful pages today!!!
“Tell me we can find a way. Promise me.”
ONLY HIM is a second chance romance that will take your breath away! It’s sexy, beautiful, angsty goodness that you will never want to put down. Dallas and Maren were wonderful characters that will melt your heart. Like any great second chance romance, the chemistry, the connection is there in spades, but when you add Melanie Harlow’s heart and soul in the mix, it becomes something more. Her writing has a way of reaching to the depths of my soul and pulling every single emotion possible out of me, and with this story, there was that heartbreaking, achy feeling that you couldn’t deny, but there was also a wonderful, almost uplifting feeling that took its place. While this myriad of emotions are swirling around in your mind, you can’t help but root for this couple every step of the way. Harlow, once again, gives us an unforgettable and emotional love story with a happily ever after you won’t want to miss. It may be a hard road to get to this happily ever after, but the heartache will be worth it, for sure!
Only Him is a great swoon-worthy, heart-gripping second chance romance. Every time I read a Melanie Harlow book I am always pleasantly surprised. No two characters are ever the same which adds a unique element to her stories.
Dallas and Maren were high school sweethearts and when he abruptly left without telling Maren, her heart was crushed. Several years later they meet again however it’s not a chance encounter. Dallas intentionally seeks Maren out as he’s never gotten over her and she’s never gotten over him. Their encounters are intimate, passionate and filled with love. There are some angsty moments since Dallas is harboring a huge secret from Maren. I was a nervous wreck and biting my nails waiting for him to tell her!!!
Dallas is charming, selfless and a natural romantic. He owns my heart. Maren is a sweet, kind-hearted, soulful and nurturing woman. She’s a wonderful relatable character and I enjoyed reading about her. I adored both of them as their connection was strong and their bond was unbreakable. I definitely recommend Only Him and I can’t wait to read Stella’s book.
Only Him is a wonderful second chance romance with lots of flirty banter, humor, sexy scenes and emotionally filled moments. I love that Melanie Harlow can have me laughing out loud one minute to sobbing silently the next. Whether the story is making my heart melting with love or squirming in my seat with sexiness, I could not put Only Him down. I’ve had it on my “to be read” list and was anxiously awaiting it. I was not disappointed. Melanie Harlow’s writing shines in all her books and the talent she displays is full blown in Only Him. I am ready for more.
As the second book in the “Only” series, this book had a lot to live up to because I LOVED Emme and Nate from the first book. As usual, Ms. Harlow did not disappoint!!!
I have to say that in the first book, I wasn’t a fan of Maren with her fru fru welcome the universe ways, but she totally grew on me in this book. Dallas was her first everything and when he abruptly left, she was devastated. As you can imagine, this led to unsuccessful relationships, a whole bunch of what if’s, etc.
Enter Dallas who makes a pit stop on his way to Boston to finally, FINALLY say he was sorry. From the minute she opened the door, the chemistry between the two was reignited. The story had it’s sad parts but I have to say this couple won me over, It was sweet and poignant and I did not want it to end. Melanie Harlow seems to always make me want more!
The good thing is that there is another story in this series and in true Harlow fashion, I’m sure we will be seeing Emme, Nate, Maren and Dallas again. This will not be a book you can put down, nor will you want it to end!
Only Him isn’t like any other second chance romance novel I’ve read before—it’s a little different and probably not entirely how you’d expect it to be. It’s a captivating and heart-rending tale of second chances that will pierce and rip your heart out, then put you back together all in one breath. It’s sweet. It’s emotional. It has just the right amount of tension and sexiness. It’s everything you’d expect when you crack open a book penned by Melanie Harlow.
“He tasted sweet and sinful at the same time—like whiskey and butterscotch, like a memory and a fantasy—and his mouth was familiar but his kiss felt brand new.”
Dallas Shepherd is a stubborn, yet very talented and creative tattoo artist who only loved and had eyes for one person—the girl he fell deeply in love with when he was in high school. But he’s always been an independent and wayward soul—someone who constantly got in trouble and never really cared what others thought of him or his actions. Until he was forced to walk the straight and narrow, and get his act together—away from the only person who’s ever made him feel grounded, alive and himself.
Maren Devine is a sweet, free-spirited yoga instructor with a heart of gold who always wanted a forever kind of love with the first boy she’s given her everything to. She tried her best to move on and forget about him, especially after he pulled a disappearing act and left without a word or explanation. A heart can only break so many times, right? But when it’s the kind of love that Maren has, giving a second—or even a third—chance doesn’t seem like too much. She fought, she persisted, and in the end, she won.
“Some things are just meant to be, some people are just meant to be together, and sometimes, love is forever.”
Dallas and Maren’s story will undoubtedly give you an overwhelming rush of feels right when you dive in. Their journey to get to where they were by then end of this book was nothing short of a rocky and uphill battle—it was painful and heartbreaking and gut wrenching—but it was absolutely worth it. And it won’t only teach you so much about life in general, but it’ll also inspire you to look back on your own regrets and see if there’s anything else you can do, even years later. Indeed, nothing would truly hurt if you try. Who knows, you just might find the same happiness and sense of completeness someday like these two.
While I didn’t go crazy over this one like I did with Only You, I still felt the love, passion and fire burning between the characters deep in my bones. I only wish it went a little longer before we got to that epilogue—it just ended way too soon. I feel like I needed to know more of what happened between that time span to bring the whole story fully together, but that also might just be me wanting more of Dallas and Maren. And now that we have Emme’s and Maren’s books, here’s to hoping Stella gets hers too—whether that be with Buzz or not.
Melanie is an expert at men. I love her men! And Dallas is no exception.
The story she tells in Only Him of second chance romance will tug at your heartstrings and it wouldn’t be a Melanie book without that scorch factor!
Oh Dallas, you stubborn, prideful man!!! This was really a second and then a third chance romance! Maren was super strong to really listen to Dallas and follow her heart. And what a wonderful payoff it was. Anxiously awaiting Stella’s book!
This was a quick read with all the touch points for a second chance romance. If you like angst and HEAs this is the book for you.
I absolutely adore this book! Read it all at once, because I simply couldn’t put it down.
The story is very intriguing, it will make you lust for more and more and you will just want to know how it will end! Melanie sure made me ‘omg’ at several points of this book. The story was frustrating, but totally in a good way.
For all the second-chance suckers out there, this one is for you! Maren and Dallas meet again after 12 years when Dallas unexpectedly shows up at Maren’s doorstep. He brings back old feeling and a tons of baggage on him. To see where life takes them in Only Him was a pure reader bliss.
The characters are amazing, very real and down to earth if you know what I mean. They are simple human beings driven by emotions and feelings – for each other as well as for themselves.
I absolutely recommend this book – it’s brilliant!
Dallas and Maren… I’m honestly not even sure where to begin with this book. We met Maren in her sister Emme’s book, and I was immediately drawn to and intrigued by her as a character. I wanted her back story!
Maren is living a good life in Michigan. She owns her own yoga studio, has a great relationship with her two sisters, has a good life… she’s happy… right? Not really. She keeps having these nightmares. Every night, and she cannot figure out what is causing them. Out of the blue, her first and only love, Dallas shows up at her doorstep, looking for forgiveness and closure. 12 years later. Maren isn’t sure why, and neither of them is prepared for the spark and heat that ignites between them at his appearance.
But Dallas has a secret, and he isn’t ready to tell Maren about it. Will this tear them apart? It very well could. But it could also be the thing that brings the two of them back together for good, if he is willing to get out of his own way.
This book was truly fantastic, I cannot even say enough good things about it. I lost sleep over it, it made me cry, and it steamed up the pages whenever I opened it back up. You will NOT be disappointed in this love story! Please, just do yourself a favor a buy this book! 5 HUGE STARS!
Maren believes she will finally be able to deal with her unresolved feelings when Dallas shows up on her doorstep out of the blue. She has no idea that he is there to apologize for breaking her heart twelve years ago because he realized time could be limited.
Melanie Harlow has once again given us a story that will pull at your heartstrings and cause you to shed a few tears. There were times I could have strangled Dallas for being so stubborn. He tried to push everyone away and probably would have succeeded at living a loveless life had it not been for Beatriz talking some sense into him. Maren was such a sweetheart and loved him even when he pushed her away. She truly loved Dallas and was wishing him the best even when her heart was breaking — that is true love!
Only Him by Melanie Harlow is the second book in her One and Only series and a beautiful second chance romance. Maren Devine and Dallas Shepard have history. They shared something special and strong, until Shepard left with no word. Now twelve years later he is back.
Dallas was Maren’s first everything. But then he was gone, and she thought that was that. Now he is back, and old feelings are also coming back. But can she risk her heart again? I love how Maren was caring and thoughtful, even as she struggled with letting Dallas back in.
Dallas needed to see Maren again, but was not expecting their chemistry would still be so strong. Once he did, could he walk away from her again? Dallas was really a great guy, even if he did not even see it himself. He was a caring and loving guy but did not always make the best choices. He has so many regrets and is currently in the process of making choices. Will he make the wrong one again?
I loved Dallas and Maren, even as my heart broke for them. This was a story of second changes, regrets and love. I am a huge fan of Melanie Harlow and her writing. I love her characters and stories so much. Only Him gave us a second chance with a bit of angst and all the feels and a great read!
4.5 stars. Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
Melanie Harlow does it again!! Only Him is a swoony and sexy second chance romance that did quite a number on my feels. My goodness!! I did not expect to be so emotionally wrecked. I loved this book. It made me laugh and cry (multiple times) and swoon. With these great characters and this amazing storyline, Only Him is a second chance you don’t want to miss.
We first met Maren in Only You. She is Emme’s free spirited, yoga enthusiast sister with a good heart and calming personality. Maren has been unlucky in love. She sees her sisters in stable relationships and wants what they have. Her last serious relationship was with her high school sweetheart, Dallas Shepard – the rebellious bad boy who abruptly left her and broke her heart.
Years later, Dallas is back to make amends. He was only meant to apologize and move on but their chemistry is as strong as ever.
I loved Dallas and Maren’s connection, even after so much time apart. I love their banter, their sweetness, their sexual chemistry. I loved it all. They fit so perfectly together.
I will say though, Dallas conflicted me like no other. He made me swoon and at the same time frustrated the hell out of me. There were times that I wanted to shake him and say “what are you doing?!” I understood his reasoning for wanting to keep Maren away and that the way he was brought up effected how he saw himself but…ugh! I still love him.
Only Him is a great example of why Melanie Harlow is one of my go to authors. I can’t wait to see where she goes with Stella’s story.
Only Him is the second book in the One and Only series and I loved it. This was Maren and Dallas story. High School sweethearts how reunited 12 years later were still very much in love with each other after all the years.
The story was steamy and emotional. It was sweet and hilarious. I could not put it down and read it all in one sitting.
Told in dual POV this story, you will get all the thought and emotions felt by both characters. With an interesting storyline, well-developed complex characters and an amazing HEA ending, this novel was a great read and I would recommend it.
Only Him was a sweet, sexy, slightly angsty read. This story was about second chances and the bumps in the road that you come across along the way. I really enjoyed reading about Maren. I thought she was interesting and different and unique. She was also strong, even when other didn’t want her to be and when she didn’t believe she was. Dallas was troubled and conflicted, but oh so in love with Maren. They were definitely soul mates and this story made you believe in them and root for them to have their HEA. I always love Melanie’s writing style and was so excited to revisit her other characters. I am so very excited to read about Stella in the next book!