When handsome California surf god Lincoln Savage suddenly rolls into Ocean Beach like a rogue wave, shy beauty Simone Bianchi’s foundation is shaken. No longer under the thumb of her domineering father, she’s made a simple quiet life for herself and her fluffy fourteen pound Havanese pup running a surf shop in her hometown of OB. Long ago she gave up her dreams for a future with Linc.
But now the … now the notorious lead singer of the Dirt Dogs has returned, and Simone is reluctant to admit that she’s still vulnerable to his killer dimpled smile and easy charm. She finds that although she’s stowed away the mementos, it hasn’t been as easy to erase the memories of their epic summer love.
It seems he hasn’t forgotten, either.
Is the recording contract he’s offering merely a pretense?
Or does he have something more in mind?
Does he really believe that they can just pick up where they left off, despite all the bad luck and heartache?
And is she willing to risk everything again for one last chance at love?
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Second Chance Rock/Surfer
This is a story of second chance and hopeful longing. Lincoln and Simone find a young all consuming love over a summer and naturally the circumstances rip them apart. Neither of them can forget, even though the try and move on. 15 years later Linc is back and the longing for Mona is as bright and intense as ever. But, pain of loss in any form is hard to move beyond. Especially the pain of love.
“I’ve seen you at your best and I’ve survived you at your worst. So don’t think you can come here and play games with me.”
Second chances always come with angst as you HAVE to recall the past. I road those waves and felt it all.
“You were the best thing that ever happened to me, Lincoln Savage. And the worst.” ~ Simone
The way Michelle Mankin wrote this book truly captivated me. This booked suck me in from the beginning It felt like I was part of Lincoln and Simone’s life. All the ups and downs they went through brought tears to my eyes and when I finished reading my heart was smiling.
Fantastic Story & Audible Listen Beautiful & Heartfelt!
Outside
Rock Stars, Surf and Second Chances #1
By: Michelle Mankin
Narrated by: Kai Kennicott, Wen Ross
Wow, this is such a beautiful and heartfelt story. Michelle Mankin has a wonderful writing style, she grabbed my attention right from the start and held to the end. I adored the characters she created, they were realistic and easily relatable. Both Simone “Mona” and Lincoln “Linc” were far from perfect each having their own issues and struggles in life. But they were so good together and for each other. Sadly life and their own insecurities got in their way and Linc went and screwed it all up breaking Mona’s heart. Fifteen years later Linc returns to OB and tries to make amends with Mona, whom he still loves. After all that time can she forgive him and give him another chance? I was happy that Linc finally came to his senses, sure did take him long enough to wise up. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I loved the way the time frame was plotted, starting with the now, the past in the middle and ending in the now. It is like a glimpse into the whole picture that goes full circle. Thank you Michelle Mankin for this wonderful story and the emotional rollercoaster ride.
I listened to the Audible edition, narrated by the mega talented Kai Kennicott and Wenn Ross. They bring these characters to life, give each their own voice and personality. They did a great job projecting the emotions of the characters, as well as the drama of the story into their performance. I just loved the ending and that magnificent duet, consider me wowed! This dynamic duo are always a pleasure to listen to, they are amazing storyteller who’s performance enhances a great story another level. Thank you for another great listen
What an emotional, and breathtaking second chance romance! Linc and Simone meet as young adults and have instant chemistry. The story begins 15 years later after their heartbreaking split, when Linc comes home to win her back. Simone is a strong successful business owner and Linc has had a great music career. But they both are missing something, never really moving on from each other. I loved how the story is told in flashback, giving us the foundation of their love and the struggles they had being together. I loved that Simone wasn’t going to make it easy for Linc to just move back into her life. It made this story feel honest and more captivating. Their friends, family and adversaries were all great additions making this story so beautiful and multifaceted. Kai Kennicott, and Wen Ross kept me totally engaged from start to finish. Their voice changes for the growth and maturity for each character was so believable and their chemistry was palpable. I truly felt the struggles, joy, heartbreak and love of each character as I was lost to their storytelling making this book even more intoxicating.
3.5-3.75 stars
I enjoyed OUTSIDE and am looking forward to diving into the rest of the series. I did feel more connected to the hurt in the present than the past. I spent so long waiting to return to the present that once we got there, it was over too soon. I hope we’ll be getting more of Simone and Linc throughout the series.
Loved reading about Linc & Mona after learning about them in Oceanside. It was nice to go back & get their backstory of how they came to be. They had a lot of ups & downs but love how they found their way back to each other.
I really enjoy a well written second chance contemporary romance. The good ones run you through all of the emotional highs and lows of a love story, usually twice, past and present, then after you have been run through an emotional tornado, leave you completely satisfied with the HEA of your hero and heroine at the end. Add the serious surfing scene on the California coast and the temptations of rock-and-roll stardom, you have OUTSIDE (Rock Stars, Surf and Second Chances, #1) by Michelle Mankin.
Summer love brings together a surfer boy and a shy beauty who loves the ocean and watching the surfers. Lincoln Savage wants to be a pro-tour surfer and Simone Bianchi has plans for college in the fall, but nothing, not even a domineering father cannot keep these two apart.
When Linc has a tragic accident, he joins his cousin and friends in their band, Dirt Dogs. When the band goes on their first tour, Simone has broken away from her family and goes with them. The beginning of fame, insecurities and misunderstandings break up their young love.
Fifteen years later, Simone is still living in O.B. and owns a small surf shop. Linc is back in town for good and wants his one true love back. Can they move past the hurt they inflicted on each other all those years ago and learn to trust and love each other again?
I really liked Lincoln and Simone. They had chemistry that ignited off the page and behaved realistically in both emotions and actions. Ms. Mankin’s use of a rock band combined with the California surf scene added uniqueness to the story. The sex scenes were hot and appropriate to each time period in the H/h lives, young love and mature.
I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series!