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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Man, I love a really good second chance romance! And whoa, that’s just what you get here with Only Him. Maren and Dallas fell in love as teenagers and never stopped… but life and circumstances t in the way…
And now Dallas is trying to make amends. Trying to do the right thing and apologize for past behaviors. Trying to not fall in love with Maren again. But to no avail.
And Maren. She’s tried to move on. Tried to love again. But no one comes close to what she had in her relationship with Dallas.
But can they make a go of it again. Now that they’re adults and able to make their own decisions. To live their own lives. Can they trust in the love that they never stopped feeling? Is it enough, is it strong enough for when the truth is finally revealed? For when the hard parts really happen?
I couldn’t help but root for Maren and Dallas to make it work. There’s something magical about their relationship—in and out of the bedroom. I found myself wanting to reach throughly kindle to both shake some sense into them and give them big comforting hugs. Yes, the big secret was drawn out and sometimes their inability to truly communicate was frustrating… but in the end it was perfect.
I loved the connections between Maren’s sister, Emme and Nate from Only You, along with their sister, Stella. Seriously, some of the best moments were their sister discussions. And I really enjoyed the relationship between Dallas and Finn… that they did love each other even if they didn’t really like each other.
All in all, Only Him was a sweet, swoony read and I’m hoping we get Stella’s story soon!
If you love a good second chance romance, this is your book! Maren and Dallas were high school sweethearts, but circumstances Maren was unaware of separated them leaving her devastated and unable to easily trust. At the time Dallas did what he thought was the right thing, but issues with his health are making him face unresolved things from his past. Maren being one of them. So on his way to a doctor’s appointment on the other side of the country, Dallas decided to stop in and make amends with the only girl he has ever loved. What he didn’t expect was to fall for her all over again 10+ years later. However, Dallas has issues with self-worth and feels he isn’t good enough for Maren.
My heart broke for Dallas. Reading his feelings about his childhood and how it affected him as an adult was brutal. I really related to him as I still have similar feelings at times. Maren is an amazing woman. She is forgiving and just a breath of fresh air. I love her attitude on life! Dallas and Maren’s banter was freaking adorable. Dallas is sexy, witty, charming and so romantic!
I honestly don’t know what else to say about this book. As usual, Melanie has given us a beautiful love story! If you are new to Melanie’s books, you can’t go wrong with anything she writes.
Only Him is a sweet, and poignant second chance romance. We first met Maren, Emme’s younger sister, in Only You. She is funny, kind, understanding, and caring. But Maren is troubled with a recurring nightmare and can’t figure out what it means. When her first love, Dallas, shows up on her doorstep, she figures he has to be the reason. But things are never as simple as they seem. Dallas left town years ago without a word, breaking her heart. He is sexier than ever and when he apologizes and wants to make up for past wrongs, she can’t turn him away. Dallas is struggling with something as well and his secrets could break them both. Maren and Dallas’ journey is a roller-coaster of emotions. They have fun learning who they are again, falling fast and hard. They are both so beautifully flawed and they have to learn to trust each other with their vulnerabilities. Dallas was an enigma to me. I didn’t care for his self-doubt but then he would be so sweet and thoughtful, he really made me swoon and fall in love with him. I was especially moved by Dallas’ relationship with his brother. This romance made me laugh, cry and swoon and I loved it all!
Only Him was a heart-wrenching second chance story. It didn’t make me cry but it definitely punched me right in the heart. I devoured it in one sitting. I loved watching these characters reconnect and cannot wait to read the next book in the series. I definitely recommend it.
ARC provided by author in exchange for a honest review
It’s been a long time since a book wrecked me this much. It was as OK read up until 70% and after that I was a crying mess. A mascara-smeared-puffy eyes, running nose kinda crying mess. It struck a chord in me because I come from a family that have had the same problems as Dallas had in the past few years. As for the story itself – My heart was all over the place. I was one step away from committing murder when he pushed her away yet again. Good thing he came to his senses. 😉
It was beautiful to see how time and space sometimes are not enough to forget about someone, and how loving someone can only make you stronger and happier at the end.
I hate Melanie for making me cry so much. But it was fate that made me pick up this book because it was just what I needed so that I could cry out all the unshed tears that have been trapped inside me for a long time and for that I thank her .
Looking forward to the next book – minus the tears 😛
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
Melanie has out done herself again with this second chance romance. Only Him is book #2 in her One and Only series, it can be read as a standalone. Maren and Dallas’s story was so good. I love that Melanie can pull me in while I’m reading her characters and make me feel like I’m the one going through it.
Another winner from the pen of Melanie Harlow! I’m marveling at the fact that apparently this author cannot write anything less than 5 stars worthy romance. This second chance story of Maren and Dallas is now one of my favorite Melanie’s books, and it has left me feeling so happy and satisfied that the smile still hasn’t slipped off of my face.
The very first few pages gripped my attention, and throughout the whole book I never felt the need to put it down. The writing was so good, so seamless in transitions from action, dialog, and internal thoughts, it makes the time stand still, and next thing you know, it’s been 3 hours even though you’d said you’d read ‘just one more chapter’. (Yes, this happened to me.) I loved that the story was written in dual POV and the two voices of the main characters were very different, and it was easy to distinguish them, which is not always the case. The story is a beautiful, romantic drama: the story of second chances, of letting love in, of letting the past go, of learning to fight for life and love in it. It’s not only sweet and romantic, it was also very hot and steamy. The intimacy, the sensuality, the insatiable need the characters felt for each other – it all brought so much to the story.
When it comes to the characters, I always think Melanie Harlow writes some of the best heroes. The romance novels world is full of alphas, protective, possessive, growling macho men, the homo sapiens with the needs and protective urges of neanderthal, and I do love them. But Melanie Harlow’s heroes are sentimental, intelligent, and thoughtful first, and growling alphas second. Dallas here, he’s got some issues that stemmed from his childhood, but continued further in life – his family always treated him badly, comparing him with his older brother and always found him lacking. It all drove him from feeling like he’s enough, from relationships, and also from Maren. Some unexpected circumstances in life bring him to her doorstep 12 years later, and this is where their story begins, or better yet, continues.
“But loving her was the purest, deepest thing I’d ever felt, and I wanted – I needed – to hold on to that for a little bi longer. One more day.”
Maren is the kind of character you can’t help but like: she radiates serenity and peacefulness, she’s yoga instructor who loves anything that brings you internal peace and content, and feels very much balanced in her life on all plans, except for love. And one thing she didn’t expect was to see Dallas on her doorstep, but it might just be the thing she didn’t know how much she needed.
“It was almost as if we’d never been apart.
I felt myself falling.”
Their story is far from over, and as they try to navigate the intricate paths of their reunion, some things become clear, and they threaten to drive them apart again: secrets, old and buried, never healed wounds, trust issues. The characters’ pain and happiness felt as though my own, and even though I didn’t always like the choices they made, I felt like it was all necessary for building this story. There was some angst, and no drama – yes to this. And it was a lovely story of two wonderful people finding their way back to the love they shared, finding their strength to fight for it, finding their peace in each other. I didn’t expect to love this story as much as I did, and I guarantee no one will make a mistake if they pick up this amazing read. It’s one of the books I will wholeheartedly recommend to everyone who loves some romance in their lives!
“It was then and it was now and there was never a time when our bodies didn’t crave this heat and our hearts didn’t share this rhythm and our souls weren’t always leading us right back to this place, this feeling, this moment.”
I found this to be such a sad second chance romance with some hot steamy scenes. Dallas and Maren were high school sweethearts that hadn’t seen each other in 12 years after he had suddenly left without saying goodbye.
He showed up all of a sudden and she hesitated for all of two seconds but then it seemed like they were going to pick up where they left off 12 years before. They did lots of catching up but Dallas had something very important that he needed to tell Maren but he decided to omit. Things were going well until Dallas did the unthinkable.
There story was sort of sad especially Dallas. He was going thru do much and thought he had to go the things he did. It was dumb but that’s just men. Maren had her own demons but she was there for Dallas when he least expected it.
There story was emotional and the epilogue was just them, beautiful.
Second chance romance read and Gah alo the feels!
Dallas, oh the feels with him.
Maren, I loved her.
That ending had me swooning! Highly recommend this one
It never fails. When I start reading a Melanie Harlow novel, I tell myself that I’m ready. That I can handle it. Then I open the book, and I discover that I’m not. She gives you all the sexy, dirty bits, but she also gives you true, raw emotions. So when I ran out of tissues, I used whatever panties she crushed to dry my tears.
Yes, this book is THAT sexy, but it’s also so deep. It’s intense and my heart was breaking even though I knew I had to trust Melanie to piece my emotions back together. Which she does, spectacularly.
Only Him falls under the second chance trope, however, it’s nothing like I read before. Dallas walked away from Maren twelve years with no warning or explanation. So when he comes back into her life, he does it knowing it’s temporary. He’ll have to let her go, again.
I read this book in one day. Every word exchanged between Dallas and Maren drew me in more. I refused to put it down and not know what happened in the next chapter. My time and my emotions were fully invested in their story.
You can never go wrong reading a Melanie Harlow novel. She’ll take a trope and shocked the heck out of you. I highly recommend this story. Dallas and Maren, I love you hard!
A beautiful second chance romance. Learning to let go of the past, right the wrongs and being open to love are issues Dallas and Maren need to overcome. You’ll go through a gamut of emotions throughout this story and won’t want to put it down. Another great read by Melanie Harlow.
An epic second chance romance that may bring tears to your eyes. Keep those tissues ready and enter this beautiful story of Dallas and Maren. You get to meet Maren a little in Only you. If you didn’t know she is Emme’s sister. I love how Maren and her sisters so close and supportive of each other. There are many times you can’t help get your heart squeezed by either Maren and her sisters and Maren and Dallas. Maren has this beautiful spiritual way about her. She seems so centered and calm. But as you read you know that may not be the case. You can tell there is something missing. And that one that is missing after all those years is her first and only love Dallas. Where to start with Dallas. He can be stubborn, considered the black sheep and unforgettable. He comes off as a tough as nails tattoo artist but under it all you know something is missing. I love how when Dallas decides to reconnect with Maren the sparks are still going strong after years apart. You feel for him with all the inner turmoil he deals with. When he finally sees the light of everything its amazing and beautiful and tissues will be needed. There were many times I teared up throughout this read and it is so worth it. The roller coaster of emotions will make your heart hurt a little but in the end will totally heal it. Dallas and Maren have this love that is worth fighting for and you just hope that they are both up for the challenge. I wanted to just scope them both up at one point and hug them tight. Melanie Harlow has created such a beautiful emotional second chance read. The One and Only series is a MUST READ series and I can’t wait for Stella’s book.
4.5, I’m not done loving you, Stars!
Only Him is a beautifully written second chance romance. With Melanie Harlow’s signature humor and wit, this story is sure to make you believe in the forever kind of love.
Only Him is the second book in The One and Only Series and follows the story of Maren and Dallas. Maren and Dallas had the once in a lifetime love. They fell hard and fast. Maren was the good girl and Dallas couldn’t seem to stay out of trouble. But, somehow, these two just worked. Their story was everything you could want until their happily ever after was ripped away….Now, 12 years later, neither one of them has forgotten about the other. To Maren and Dallas, they are the one who got away. Fate has a plan in mind and is about to turn these two former lovers lives upside down. Will they be able to move on from the past? Is it too late for second chances? Or will a devastating secret destroy everything once again??? There’s only one way to find out….
Only Him is the kind of story that just screams romance at you. It sucks you in from page one and will have your eyes glued to the pages. Maren and Dallas are the kind of couple that just can’t help rooting for. They are far from perfect, and that just makes me love them even more. Their story tugged at my heart and left me breathless. It was beautiful. It was complicated. It was down right heartbreaking. There were moments where I wanted to rage. Moments that made me want to scream and just devastated me. There were moments that had me swooning so hard, I thought I was going to float away.
Only Him is everything I want from a second chance romance. Secrets. Lies. Love. Humor. Heartache. Pain. Forgiveness. Acceptance. This book had it all. It’s the kind of story that will just bury itself into your heart and keep you begging for more. It’s the kind of story that takes you by surprise and that will take you on the most fantastic journey. And when you get the end, you’ll be left with a full heart and smile that just won’t stop.
I enjoyed everything about this story from beginning to end and look forward to re-reading it again in the near future.
Only Him is another amazing read by Melanie Harlow. A beautiful second chance romance about Dallas and Maren. They were each other’s first love but Dallas disappeared and broke her heart. This was a little emotional and angsty at times and it gives you all the feels! I really loved Maren, she was sweet! Dallas, he frustrated me a little but I did love him! Dallas and Maren had an amazing connection! I loved them together!! This is a must read! I definitely recommend this and Maren’s sister Emme’s book- Only You!
I’ve had to take some time to think about what I wanted to say about this book. I started this book at night and got a few chapters in and knew if I didn’t want to be up all night, I needed to put it down. The next night I picked it up and read the rest of it. I could NOT put down this completely captivating and heartfelt story.
I have been a big fan of Ms. Harlow’s since I picked up Some Sort of Crazy. I’ve devoured all of her books. Sebastian has always been my one and only, but there is a new man in my heart and that man is Dallas. Only Him completely knocked me on my ear with the story.
Maren and Dallas were high school sweethearts until one day he just disappeared. Now, years later he has come back to town to make amends with Maren. What neither of them expected was to feel the pull they did so many years ago and not be able to say good bye.
Ms. Harlow truly pulls out all of the stops in this one. She completely breaks your heart and then puts it back together again. The story had me crying half way through until almost the end as I prayed for these two to find their way back to one another. The story was everything I love to read and one of my favorite reads of 2018! Awesome book!
Love, love, love!
Thank goodness I decided to finish this book at home instead of taking it to work to read on my lunch break…I don’t think my coworkers would have appreciated, or undertood, the sobbing. The last time I cried this much over a MH book was with Jack and After We Fall. And before that it was Sebastian and Some Sort of Happy. Dallas Shepherd has now joined the ranks of Jack and Sebastian as characters I just want to hug and love on and never let go!
I loved this second chance romance between long lost high school sweethearts so much! Dallas and Maren were young, in love, and oh so happy…until Dallas disappears without a word. Now, 12 years later, he’s back. His plan was to return home, apologize and move on again, considering what’s going on in his life. Easier said than done, though, because once he sees Maren it’s like no time has past.
Oh how Ms. Harlow tugged at my heart with this book! Dallas, guh, what can I say about him? He’s damaged and tormented, and so weighed down by what life has thrown at him.
When he saw Maren neither of them were prepared for the feelings they had for each other to come roaring back. My goodness, when these two reconnected it was wonderful and sweet and so full of feelings. I just adored them together. And I loved how Dallas went out of his way to show her how sorry he was. (view spoiler) But then he does the unthinkable…
Nothing is ever easy, and Dallas, oh Dallas…as much as I wanted to love on him and hug him, I really wanted to shake him, too! Understanding his decisions didn’t make them any easier to accept. So much heartache and pain.
I did not want to put this book down, as Dallas and Maren so completely stole my heart. Theirs was an emotional and passionate love that stood not only the test of time, but was able to survive secrets that could have really torn them apart. Only Him was a roller coaster of a ride that was worth every single tissue!
Melanie just keeps getting better and better…
Only Him is the second book in the One and Only series, but can totally be read as a stand alone. However a true Harlow Harlot, who has read all of her books will see past characters make appearances throughout the story. By no means does that detract from the main characters, Maren and Dallas, and their story, it just adds more to it.
Oh my, this story of Maren and Dallas is beautiful.
Maren is such a free spirit, a true spiritual being trying to better herself and the people that she meets and loves. She is just a lovely soul.
Dallas is such a misunderstood, right brain, artist. I could so relate to him on a personal level (my daughter is a total right brain artist too) I could empathize with his turmoil and pain that he grew up with, being judged. Being found lacking, never comparing to the perfect ideal his family had. But Dallas is perfect in his own way.
When Maren and Dallas met all those years ago, you think oh young love. How it burns so hot and so fast. Heartbreak is inevitable, and years pass. Will their connection stand the test of time? Read it find out!
The twist in the story is heartbreaking and you know what’s coming and you want to yell at Dallas to do the right thing (I know I did!)
Maren and Dallas’ souls were meant to be together. Even though time was long and lonely road for the both of them, I was happy that they found each other again.
Melanie has yet to write a book that I haven’t proclaimed as a “Must Read”. This is a definite Must Read!
I so love a good second chance romance. Add in that they were each other’s first loves? Awww.
Maren is very different from her sisters, one of whom already has a story. She’s very into yoga and chakras, clean eating and all that stuff. Even though she has a weakness for poptarts, which amused me.
Dallas- eh, I loved him sometimes and was aggravated with him other times. He’s stubborn and thinks negatively about himself and has issues with his family. But he’s creative and thoughtful, romantic, and sexy.
Only Him made me laugh and cry and sometimes get frustrated and want to scream at the characters! It’s an unputdownable book, I read it in one sitting. Couldn’t help myself.
Wow!!! What an amazing 5 star story this was. It made me so many different emotions.
Dallas and Maren were each other’s first love until circumstances made it that they never saw each for over a decade. They reunite but under rather difficult times for Dallas. He can’t accept what he’s going through so he pushes everyone he loves away. He will realize he needs his family and Maren.
This was such an amazing story that I had a difficult time to put it down for very long . I might have shed a few tears along the way. A captivating story about getting a second chance at love and life. Beautifully written story with an addicting storyline. I just loved these great characters. This is a must read.
This is the second story in the One and Only series. The characters from the first story come play a role in the present story. It’s safe to say that both can be read as a standalone. Told in a dual POV with an HEA. I strongly recommend this story.
Melanie Harlow is one of the greatest heartstring puppeteers I have ever read. She has such a beautiful way with words where I am just overwhelmed and in awe of her skills. I absolutely loved Maren from Emme and Nate’s story and felt that her connection with Dallas was fantastic!
This story was angsty and emotional and had all the facets of a great Melanie Harlow story. Dallas was looking for redemption after leaving Maren thirteen years earlier at seventeen and she was looking for closure in finally getting over her first love. But when they reconnect they never could have expected that their love would once again consume them. But with a lingering secret between them, will their second chance at love go up in flames once again?
The chemistry between Maren and Dallas was fiery and their connection was just as hot. I enjoyed their banter and how they picked up right where they left off. It felt honest, natural and fluid. But while I did enjoy the story I felt like the “secret” was overwhelming at times and I was frustrated by their lack of communication and roadblocks in their path. My favorite part of the story however was the ongoing comraderie and sisterhood between Emme, Maren and Stella. I loved their banter, jokes and solidarity. Their unwavering support for one another was heartwarming and wonderful to see. I can’t wait for Stella’s book! Bravo! 4 stars! ~Ratula