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.
more
If there is an author that can do a second chance romance, it’s Melanie Harlow. I think I covered all emotions while taking this journey with Dallas and Maren. I don’t regret one moment with them, despite my up and down mood swings!
Happiness
Sadness
Frustration
Heartbroken
You might want to grab the tissues as well, there are some circumstances you don’t see coming that will keep you on edge. Your heart might break a little, but in the next breath you might want to throw your Kindle because Dallas has that effect on your emotions. He was stubborn to a fault, but his sometimes-skewed judgment was all for the greater good, that being Maren.
Maren’s character was refreshing and relatable. She had such a fabulous outlook on life, always searching for what would give her stability and strength. She loved with her whole heart because that was the only way she knew how. Maren believed in that true connection with a soulmate and wonders if she’s found that missing piece with Dallas returning into her life. She wants to feel vibrant and alive again, the way she used to feel when her and Dallas shared young love.
The chemistry between Dallas and Maren is undeniable, all those years apart did nothing to diminish their true feelings for one another. They’re both vulnerable and struggling to deal with putting these feelings to rest or acting on them at the risk of being rejected. I loved watching them get reacquainted with one another. They may be older and have certain life experiences they didn’t have as teens, but at the heart they were same people and their connection was as solid as ever.
There was true passion, emotion and complexity in their journey and Melanie displays that eloquently in this second chance romance between teenage sweethearts torn apart. You will be rooting for Dallas and Maren the moment you feel the undeniable connection between them. Melanie doesn’t disappoint and as usual, I leave her world with a warm heart and excitement for what’s to come.
*Sniffles* Pass me the tissues, please. I need a moment.
Okay. I’m good now. It took me a few to figure out how to compose this review of Only Him.
Maren is struggling with extreme lack of sleep due to a horrible reoccurring dream. I mean, it’s about a snake, being naked, and unable to run away from the slithering creature for god sakes!! (Now you know why I was crying… lol) As she’s trying to come to term with what the dream means and how to get it to stop, she’s met with the blast from her past her first love. Her only love. The man who left her without a goodbye and took her heart right along with him.
Dallas has a secret and ohhhh is it a good one. Don’t fret, he’s not married. In fact, he’s a no relationship kind of guy. That is until Maren is back in his life. A trip that was supposed to last hours – to give an apology over a decade over due – lasted days as Dallas found himself falling once again for his first love.
Only Him is an emotional tale about a couple who never would have parted had they been given the choice, but with the emotional damage already done, you’ll have to read to find out if they are able to overcome.
A sweet, sexy and heartwarming story about second chances. It will capture your heart from the beginning as it takes you through an emotional ride as it pulls at your heartstrings with its twists and turns. It’s well written with characters you will love. I loved the connection and banter between the characters. The chemistry is sizzling and steamy. I enjoyed reading about their journey as they overcome insecurities. A great addition to the series.
I loved second chance romances and loved Dallas and Maren’s story!
Dallas and Maren were high school sweet heart who parted on not great terms. Ten years later Dallas faces a life changing event and decides he needs to make amends while he still can. Maren is dealing with inner turmoil and no sleep and can’t understand why. Then Dallas shows up out of the blue and she thinks that closure might be the answer. Little do they both know what’s really in store.
This is a standalone #2 in the One and Only series. Enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next one!
Omg so love this book. Melanie’s got another amazing book. Love a second chance romance. Made me cry in a good way. Loved every second. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Only Him by Melanie Harlow is a second chance romance. It is the second book in the One And Only Series. It can be read as a standalone, but you will want to read Only You. WOW! Only Him is easily one of my favorite books of this year. This book grabbed me by the heart. I completely devoured this book, I could not put it down. Dallas and Maren were high school sweethearts. Then suddenly Dallas was gone. After more than a decade he has returned. He is seeking forgiveness and wants to make amends. He is facing a health issue that could destroy or change his life forever. From the moment they reconnect it is clear that their time apart has not changed their connection. Their chemistry is sizzling hot! This book will melt your heart and your panties!
Loved this book! Second Chance Romances always win me over because it is a chance for the characters to get their Happily Ever After.
Author Melanie Harlow gives just that. Fall in love with Dallas & Maren story.
Loving, enduring, sexy and seeing Dallas & Maren falling in love with each other all other again had me swooning.
Go one click this book!
I am a sucker for a good second chance romance and Ms Harlow delivers that in spades with Only Him.
Our focus here is Maren, the youngest of the Devine sisters we originally met in Only You (the books are connected, but this is a stand alone) and her high school love, Dallas.
I loved both of these characters and seeing them deal with their emotional baggage to get where they needed to be. Ms Harlow did an excellent job of making Maren and Dallas’s journey relatable and by degrees joyful and heartbreaking. One of the things I appreciated about Only Him is that we got to see the relationships journey from both sides and see both of them deal with what was holding them back.
Well written, Only Him pulls the reader in and doesn’t let go. Not only are the main characters robust, but the secondary cast adds layers to the story that make it easier to see what’s going on.
While this is a stand alone, if you have read Only You, you will be glad to see Emme and Nate and what is going on in their story as well.
The second in this series is probably better than the first!
You say you never really get over your first love, and for Maren Devine, it’s completely true. When her high school sweetheart Dallas Shepherd disappeared without a word, she was crushed.
Now, he’s shown up at her door 12 years later and wants to apologize, and have dinner “for old times sake.” hmm. He apologizes, she somewhat forgives him, and agrees to dinner, until that one dinner isn’t enough for either of them.
This second-chance romance was fun, and then BAM – emotional! You get a bit more of the three Devine sisters (hilarious), and now I’m waiting for the last book about Stella and the Bee Dude!
I absolutely loved this second chance at love novel by Melanie Harlow. Maren and Dallas were high school sweethearts, whose romance abruptly ended without closure. Twelve years later, Dallas shoes up on Maren’s doorstep to apologize and make things right. They fall in love again, only to have more obstacles stand in their way for a new life together.
Maren and Dallas are lovable characters who are brought to life by Melanie’s amazing writing. This is a sweet, sexy, angsty, heartfelt romance that drew me in from the very first page and didn’t let go until the very last.
This book can absolutely be read as a standalone novel, but I highly recommend reading the first in the series as well. It was great catching up with Emma and Nate and reading about the relationship between Maren and her sisters. I can’t wait for Stella’s story!
Grab your box of tissues and settle in for this story!
Dallas…This amazing, beautifully broken man. There is no way on earth you can read this book and not fall in love with him. Yes, he’s somewhat grumpy. Yes, he can be blunt and gruff with his words. Yes, he can sometimes come across as a ‘not-so-nice’ guy. But follow his story and you’ll see there’s more to him than meets the eye. He’s all these things, but he’s also undeniably charming, loving, a true romantic at heart, and he can even be sweet.
Maren is someone you take an instant liking to. She’s quirky, funny, and loyal. She’s had her fair share of heartbreak though, making it difficult for her to move on from her first love. And it’s even harder for her to resist the man who broke her heart when he shows back up in her life years later.
You’re going to love this story even if there are plenty of times when you won’t like what’s going on. Funny, heartbreaking, and everything in between, this book is full of all the feels and emotions. You won’t be able to read it fast enough because you can’t wait to get to the ending. And once you do, you’ll be lamenting that it’s over so soon.
Another five-star read from Melanie Harlow.
I really LOVED this second chance story. I enjoyed it even more than the first book in this series. Only Him was the story of Maren and Dallas. Maren is the younger sister to Emme from the first book. And Dallas was her high school boyfriend and first love, who she never got over. When he was 17 he got sent away and never told Maren goodbye or why he left. Twelve years have gone by and neither has quit thinking of the other. She is still angry that he left and she can’t seem to let go of her hurt feelings from him leaving her. He feels guilty for hurting the one person he ever loved. My heart hurt for both of them. Dallas had a childhood that broke my heart. And Maren thought she would never find love again. I enjoyed watching their story unfold. It all felt very realistic and made me feel so many emotions. I will definitely be recommending this beautiful, second chance at love story to all of my reading buddies.
Need a second chance romance that brings on ALL THE FEELS? Then Only Him is THE BOOK! I fell hard for Dallas and Maren’s story. I laughed, I cried, I paused to collect my feelings, I swooned… HARD! Melanie Harlow was one of the first authors I ever had the pleasure of reading, and each book she writes will have you begging for more. Only Him is definitely a favorite read so far this year!!
“You once asked me to let you love me, and I promised I would. Let me keep my promise.”
5 Stole My Heart and Made Me Fall… Only For Him!!
Only Him is the second book in the One and Only series. Can be read as standalone. The story is a well written, emotional, second chance love story. The characters Maren and Dallas were realistic, they showed real emotions and they had a lasting love. I liked that we got to see past characters too. I enjoyed reading Only Him, and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
5 STARS FOR THIS HEARTFELT STORY!! Hold on to your heart, it will be pulled, tugged and ripped out of your chest. Dallas and Maren get a second chance, but life is never easy. These two will take you through their lives and relationship. Melanie Harlow is the queen of beautifully written characters that you fall in love with and these two are no different. Make sure you one click this fantastic book.
I really enjoyed Only You, and was heavily anticipating Only Him. I could not put it down!
I loved their characters and this story made me go through all the emotions.
This was the second book in the series but can be read as a stand-alone. You do get to see characters from previous books, which is a bonus for those who have read them. It had the humor and wit that I’ve come to love in all of Melanie Harlow’s stories, and left me to anxiously await the next book in the series!
Oh my gosh…I love Maren and Dallas.
I think I can relate to Maren because who hasn’t had their heart broken by their first love? I know I have and I ended up marrying the fool (and I have him reading my reviews) 😉
I also missed my Prom because of said fool…not that I am holding on to that…
Anyway…I guess when you find that one you know that no matter how much time passes that once you come back together it’s like you pick up right where you left off…obvi there were some bumps and shizzzz but I mean love will always find a way I guess.
I love this story and I love a good second chance at romance prob cause I had one myself.
Dallas and Maren are fire in the sack…like boy oh boy they were lighting them sheets up.
#Craisins #Prom #SadChicken #Dinghy #Mermaids #Chakras #BlowJobs #Tattoo
Melanie Harlow really knows how to write a story that packs a punch and has all the feels. Maren and Dallas were high school sweethearts until he just disappears from her life. Twelve years later, he shows up on her door step asking for her forgiveness.
Maren is a former ballerina and owns her own yoga studio. She has never felt a connection with another man like she had with Dallas. The moment he shows up at her door, the intense connection returns. Dallas is now a tattoo artist in Portland and has a huge secret. He needs Maren to forgive him for the past, but seeing her again reawakens all the old feelings.
This story was a perfect second chance romance with all the feels. Dallas’ wit makes you laugh out loud and he’s so charming. There is such raw passion between the two of them and they are sizzling hot together. I loved this book and can’t wait for more.
This book is a second chance romance at its best. Dallas and Maren were high school sweethearts but their romance was doomed because of his parents sending him to boarding school. Flash forward to adulthood and Maren still has not moved on. With a health scare in the back of his mind, Dallas reconnects with Maren and their relationship takes off but will his secret break them apart for good? Or will it be the one thing that they overcome together? With beautifully written characters and a storyline that had me hooked from the opening pages this book is a must read. Once again Melanie Harlow creates characters that the reader cannot help but fall in love with.
I really loved and enjoyed Only Him. An awesome story that had me hooked right away! couldnt get enough of Dallas. I loved his charming personality. cant wait to read more.