If your ex arrives in your hometown eighteen months after you walked out on him while you were eight months pregnant, follow this short list of rules before you give him a second chance. Rule #1 – Don’t stand in the way of your brothers who want to rough him up.Rule #2 – Don’t meet him for coffee and agree to allow him to meet your daughter.Rule #3 – Don’t drool when your daughter falls asleep … your daughter falls asleep on his chest for the first time. It’s just your ovaries talking.
Rule #4 – Don’t let him hold your hand. While we’re at it, no hugs, no kisses on the cheek… just no physical contact in general. That only leads to remembering better times.
The last one is the most important…
Rule #5 – When you find yourself needing someone’s help and you’re tired of always asking your family, don’t let him be the one who’s there for you.
Because all those good qualities of his will suck you right back in and you’ll have no chance of fighting your feelings, especially now that he’s ready to be a father to your daughter.
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I haven’t read the other books in the series and now realise I’ve missed out. This is an enjoyable second chance romance that was an emotional rollercoaster. I was very quickly on the hate Jamieson side at the beginning but Piper took those feelings and flipped them on their head and made me fall for the sweet complicated man that was slowly revealed. Sedona was a fierce single mama and I loved that she had put herself and her child first. There were some fun moments along the way to a hard won HEA.
Are the Baileys stories really almost complete? My heart isn’t ready! Piper Rayne saved one of the most challenging love stories for the last. (well the last full length story, that is) We knew this book would be a challenge- because Bailey fans disliked Jameson almost as much as the Baileys themselves dislike him, and love stories that try to grow from deeply fractured, toxically damaged ground are always the hardest roads. But oh my, boy does that make the reward all the sweeter. So sweet that this book is one of my favorites of the entire series- perhaps my favorite.
Jameson really messed up- he had the girl of his dreams, pregnant with his daughter, but he was losing a battle to a crippling addiction, a means to cope with his insecurity and lost sense of self after a career ending injury. Despondent and heartbroken, Sedona leaves him with nothing but a sonogram photo and a one way ticket to rock bottom. And he goes there. In the present, Sedona has returned home to the safety of the Bailey crew in Alaska and is raising her eighteen month old daughter Palmer on her own- well, with the Bailey crew help, of course. After a hard fought journey of healing and finding sobriety, Jameson has reclaimed his mind and body from his consuming addiction, and now he’s ready to make amends, and hopefully reclaim his family. He’s never even met his daughter, never attempted to be part of her life, so Sedona is shocked to find him in Lake Starlight. And, Jameson is shocked to find Sedona pregnant. But, he immediately loves his daughter, and clicks with her. While Sedona seems open to opening their lives for Palmer and Jameson to know each other, she seems unwilling to open her heart. With good reason- while Jameson looks healthy, is he really recovered? Will he really be there for Palmer after letting them down for so long? And can the former celebrity truly be content to hang around in peaceful Lake Starlight?
This couple may be my favorite Bailey couple. I just adore Sedona- she’s so compassionate and SO rationale. She’s calm and pragmatic- firm in her beliefs but willing to listen and understand others. Such a great contrast to the fire of Phoenix. She’s protective, loving, and so patient- definitely a quieter, more stoic heroine, and one that I really appreciated and admired. And Jameson won me over- and QUICKLY, too. He’s clearly a changed man- from the first chapter in our Scotsman’s head, I was in love. He’s so deeply remorseful and so committed to his family. He’s learning how to be a dad, but his heart already knows how to love Sedona. He proves himself- over and over. He’s so caring and emotionally open, protective but not overly dominant, and he’s determined but patient and respectful. He lets Sedona call the shots. And I loved seeing him with Palmer- the Bailey book men and babies just SLAY me. Palmer really stole my heart, too. She’s truly a special little girl.
I loved the approach to chemistry here- Piper Rayne lets it be awkward and uncomfortable at first, despite the pull we can feel between them. Their connection is messy and confusing, and so the relationship dynamics are too, especially as Sedona struggles to think about what she wants, and what is okay with when it comes to Jameson. But the spark, the spark is there- we can feel it slowly burning away as they to work through some stuff. And when these two find their way back together, it just feels so rewarding.
This particular trope (second chance, addiction) can be super angsty- but here it gets the Piper Rayne treatment- we have some tension, but nothing explosive or overly combative. Both characters communicate- openly and frequently- and they LISTEN to each other. They are both incredibly patient and giving. It is not a fast and easy road (and fortunately we get a few sweet flashbacks to tide us over in this slower burn), but it is not overly angsty or dramatic. I also appreciated the window into addiction recovery we get here- the maintenance side, at least. Seeing Jameson responsibly check in with his mentor, attending meetings, and using coping strategies to stay sober is an important reminder that there is no cure for addiction- it is always constant and intentional work.
What makes this series so special is the ensemble focus- these magical Baileys, the fact that this is not just a series about individuals finding romance, but it is also a series about a family showing up to support one another. And that story has grown over the last nine books as we see this family function as a unit- in good and bad times. Most of our Baileys get a moment or two in this story. I especially loved seeing Kingston and Palmer. And, of course, we have the delightful meddling of our octogenarian matriarchs. The small town Bailey buzz is still alive and well, and we finally find out the voice behind the infamous BUZZ WHEEL (and all I have to say is CALLED IT!), but the revelation was still unexpected.
At the conclusion of this in the adorable epilogue, we not only get full hearts as we can finally sit back and see all of our beloved Baileys happy and thriving in true love, but we also have the promise of a whole new family of kids nearby Lake Starlight that are about to get the Ethel and Grandma Dori treatment. I’m not sure much can top the magic of the Baileys, but if that new series has the same heart, inspires that welcoming familiarity, and has that same amazing family dynamic that makes this series so special then I KNOW we’ll love it. Looking forward to the final Bailey novella, but I’m certainly not ready to say goodbye!
Rules for Dating Your Ex is bittersweet for me. I have fallen in love with this series and the entire Bailey family. I wasn’t prepared for this story to end but this book was everything I could have wanted and so much more for Sedona and the entire Bailey family.
Sedona Bailey, one of the youngest in the family, and the one member who up until this point don’t know a whole lot about. She is a single mother to the most adorable little girl, Palmer. She works hard to provide for her and her daughter and she is 1000% selfless when it comes to helping her family. Her relationship with Jamison has been mentioned throughout the series, but he is also somewhat of a mystery. He is the father of Palmer, he is also Sedona’s one love and a professional soccer player, however, he went through his own struggles that caused him to lose everything he cared about. But, now he is better and he is back for Sedona and his daughter.
Sedona and Jamison’s story was an emotional one. They haven’t had it easy throughout the course of their relationship and Jamison has a lot to make up for when it comes to Sedona trusting him. I loved seeing him with Palmer, there were so many sweet father/daughter moments throughout, and they will melt your heart. I loved that Sedona and Jamison still had so much chemistry between them, there is so much love still there.
There is plenty of the whole Bailey gang in this story and some brief introductions to an upcoming series from Piper Rayne. If you’re wondering who is behind the Lake Starlight Buzz Wheel…..all is FINALLY revealed!
Rules for Dating Your Ex is emotional, beautiful, and hilarious. It is the perfect combination of everything you want in a romance. A MUST READ and a great farewell to the Bailey family.
Rules for Dating Your Ex is a great read! It’s book nine in te The Baileys series. Each book covers a different Bailey sibling so they can be read as standalones. This one is the last full novel and the series and I’m a little sad because I loved the Baileys. I have been waiting for Sedona’s story since she walked back into town pregnant. Now eighteen months after she left him, Jamison is back to win her back and be a father. Jamison is nice. He had a rough time in the past and hit rock bottom and now he’s ready to earn back what he lost. Sedona has her heart guarded this time. She makes him prove that he’s there for the long term. Even though she is reluctant to start anything with him again, she great and doesn’t keep his daughter from him. The Bailey siblings are there to give Jamison a tough time but Grandma Dori s rooting for him. I really loved this one and oh we find out who’s behind the Buzz Wheel.
All good things must come to an end. That’s what I keep telling myself. It doesn’t make saying goodbye to the Bailey’s any easier. If you had told me a year ago, that I would get emotionally invested in a book series, to the point that I am, I would have laughed in your face. But invested I got. As I read each and every book, I became more obsessed with Lake Starlight Alaska and each and every Bailey sibling, and the thing that kept me going, was knowing that there were more to come. But alas, the final Bailey sibling Sedona, gets her story and so marks the end of a book era.
Rules for Dating Your Ex is exactly what I was expecting from a Piper and Rayne book. It had all the feels and then some. It was filled with all kinds of aww shucks, sweet and snarky, laugh out loud, naked sexy times moments, that you come to expect from one of their books. It also gave us one hell of a love story that you saw snippets of throughout the other books in the series.
Sedona and Jamison were high school sweethearts who went their separate ways, reunited, went through hell and back, separated again and once more found their way back to one another. Their happily ever after was a sigh inducing, gravity defying, roller coaster ride that you will willingly want to go on again and again.
Piper Rayne’s The Bailey Series is small town romance at its very best and among the nine full length books, you will find the right book, to satisfy whatever romance craving you may have. TBR and immerse yourself in Lake Starlight Alaska.
Its the end of an era, I was sad, but excited to read the last Bailey book, but let me tell you Piper Rayne did not disappoint! this story was everything and more! I loved all the twists and turns it took! I read it in one sitting because it was simply beautiful!
We’ve all watched and followed along as each of the Baileys have had their chance and grabbed hold of their future. This is the last of the Bailey clan to find their HEA, and this book doesn’t hold back. We all know the history of Sedona and Jamison, now we finally find out where he’s been and what he’s been up to since he’s been gone. He has a lot to make up for and Sedona doesn’t make it easy for him. You can definitely feel his determination, he has one goal in sight and is willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish it.
This series has been one that I’ve always enjoyed, the way the family bands together to support each other, someone is always around when anyone needs a hand. The dynamic between the siblings and their other halves is definitely relatable, there’s tension when someone oversteps, understanding and compassion when someone needs a boost, the antics and banter between them all keeps us laughing through the tears, happy and sad. This is a great series, and I’m glad we’re going to get more from Sunrise Bay next.
Every story has an ending.
I was crying when I reached the end of Rules For Dating Your Ex by Piper Rayne, not just because of the emotional finish, but because it really is the end of the ‘story road’ for the Bailey’s of Lake StarLight.
Sedona was the last Bailey to find her happy ever after, and it was a tangled, emotional love story if ever there was one.
Sedona met Jamison right at the beginning of the series and they fell madly in love. But, while she went to college in New York, Jamison returned home to play professional football. Eventually, they were reunited when Jamison arrived in NYC to play soccer there and for a time, it seemed all was right in their world, until book 8. Sedona came back to Lake Starlight… pregnant- and alone. Her big love affair was over and done with.
Or so it seemed.
Sedona has been mentioned at times, been present at others and only a text or phone call away for the rest in every single book in this fabulous series. But now, she gets to shine the light on her past with Jamison, show us the guy she originally fell for and in time, the one she’ll fall for again.
After suffering an accident, Jamison let his frustrations with his lot in life get the better of him and he lost not just his career but his love too.
Eighteen months later, he’s ready to be the man… and the father he should have been, but will Sedona give him the chance? He hurt her badly and she’s wary of letting him in.
But, her daughter, Palmer, needs her dad. It’s the only reason she allows him to get close.
This book had all the feels. It’s angsty, heart-warming and it’ll make you cry. You’ll smile too, if bittersweetly as the end is reached.
I think Piper Rayne has kept the best until last, as this book filled every nook and cranny. It’s not to be missed that’s for sure.
Ahh, I can’t believe this the last Bailey book! It’s bittersweet and I am so sad this is the end. I am going to miss this family and their antics. I have adored the Bailey family from the very first time I opened book one of this series. Each book has been so engaging and it’s impossible not to fall in love with this family. And what a fantastic story to end this series…Piper Rayne nail it once again. The Bailey family will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Sedona and Jamison’s have a beautiful second chance at love story. A relationship that has spanned years. An endless and forever kind of love. The connection between these two was always there, right from the very beginning as high school teenagers. Their hearts were always going to destined for one another, no matter the obstacles. This story had all the comedy elements, but it also brought the feels and emotions. I hurt for both Sedona and Jamison and wanted nothing more than for them to have that much deserved happy ending.
As much as I am sad to see this series come to an end, this book was the perfect conclusion. I loved everything about this story. It has all the elements of what is so quintessential about The Baileys. A delightful and quirky big family, an unconditional love, and wonderful stories that all weave together to create a cast of memorable characters that you cannot help but fall in love with. It’s definitely one of those series that I will reread time and time again.
5 stars
Rules for Dating Your Ex had all the laughs, love and drama of a Piper Rayne novel but this one has the added emotion of being the final book in my favorite series in ages. I cannot believe the Baileys series is over but thankfully we’ll see them again in a new series that was perfectly set up towards the end of this book.
Sedona is the last of the clan to get her happily ever after and it was a rocky one. Jamison and Sedona grew up together, as young adults in love they’ve experienced life’s joys and it’s struggles. When Jamison loses his career as a professional soccer player, his world is turned upside down and unable to see past his grief, he goes off the rails. With a baby on the way, Sedona must make the impossible choice to raise her daughter on her own. Eighteen months later, back in Lake Starlight, the last person she expects to see is Jamison claiming he’s ready to reclaim his life and his family. Trust doesn’t come easy but you never stop loving your first love.
Oh my heart, Sedona, Jami and Palmer are everything! This story is a beautiful second chance romance full of the fun we always associate with the Baileys and emotion to break your heart then put it back together again. I loved everything about this book and was so sad to see it end! There’s a fun secret at the end and thankfully, the introduction to a new series not too far from Starlight!
AnnMarie – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
Sedona and Jamison are left for very last; the one Bailey sibling that was more in the background, just coming in at certain times throughout the series. We knew very little about Sedona and even less about her relationship with Jamison. That is until she showed up at the very end of Kingston and Stella’s story alone and pregnant. Now, months later, Jamison shows back up wanting to know his daughter and hoping it’s not too late to get Sedona back. But just how will the Bailey’s take to him coming back into town? Is the huge pregnant belly that Sedona is now sporting a sign it’s too late?
I am so sad that this is over, but what a way to end the series! This was a super fantastic story, giving us drama, laughs, shock, and a few really good naughty bits. Piper Rayne has managed to give us a series that really keeps you on your toes, always guessing as to what will happen next. I give Rules for Dating Your Ex 5 stars.
What can I say that hasn’t already been said about Sedona Baileys story apart from it was everything I expected and so much more, this was the book I have been waiting for and I wasn’t disappointed.
This is the second to last book in the series and that means the Baileys are coming to an end, I’m sad to say goodbye to the family I have come to love like my own family but rest assured this series will be read and re-read because I will never grow tired of this family and residents of Lake Starlight, Alaska.
This is Sedona and Jamison’s second chance at love but it’s going to take a lot of hard work for Jamison to win the girl and convince her family that he is a changed man.
I love Sedona but I have to admit at times I disliked Jamison but as I turned the pages and this man opened himself up I grew to love the man trying to fight his addition and win the love of his life back. This wouldn’t be the Baileys without some meddling from family members and it certainly has some laugh out loud moments but it’s the whole package that makes this a great read, it’s the story, the strong writing, the characters, the chemistry and the witty banter that make this book one of my top reads of this year. I loved catching up with the residents of Lake Starlight and I’m excited for the final instalment into their life’s.
To be honest I hate book that go to the then and the present I don’t know why but I just fell like if you gonna make a book just make the book in the present but this was a really great book I just hate and ever couple of chapters to read about their past.
Amazing & Moving Story! Elizabeth @ Carolina Chic’s Reads
Jamieson and Sedona’s story is one of deep emotion and tremendous strength. You are going to be pulled into their story in a great way. This Baby Daddy is read for his woman and baby girl! Jamieson has the most tender heart and is perfect for our Sedona.
Also… you get to find out who runs the BUZZ WHEEL… its so perfect and hilarious at the same time. You also get a peek at Ethel’s grandchildren and Grandma Ethel and Grandma Dori will have their hand full!! BRING IT ON!!! I can’r get enough of these two.
Not gonna lie readers…I went into this story with a broken heart. A broken heart because I knew this was the last story in the Bailey series that the dynamic duo of Piper and Rayne has gifted us with.
This is Sedona and Jamison’s story and what a beautiful story it is.
Now we knew there was some mystery and drama concerning Sedona’s second pregnancy, but when the story unfolds, it’s gonna make you weep (I know I did).
It was beautiful to read Jamison’s interactions with Palmer. How he took apologizing and groveling to a whole new level of swoon. With some help from other family members, he was able to right the wrongs of his past.
Sedona is just lovely, I loved her dynamic with Phoenix and her dynamic with the whole Bailey family. Her trust in Jamison is moving to read and the ways that she made it whole again was brilliant!
Now I am going to go sit, relax with a box of tissues, and weep at the beautiful happily ever afters, laugh at all the antics of Grandma Dori, and swoon at the love that all the Baileys have for their significant others and their children.
God, I devoured this book. I’ve been waiting for Sadona’s story for forever. This is the last book in the Bailey family series and I have loved every single one of them. We’ve watched things with Sadona and Jamison quietly plays out in the background for more than a few books.
Jamison walks back into Sadona’s and his daughter Palmer’s life and although he had made huge mistakes in the past, for me in this book he’s character is magical. Magical in the respects of the way he is with Palmer and the way he although battles with his demons he refuses to give up the drive and determination in getting what he needs and wants. That being, to stay sober, and to win back his family.
Sadona is a strong and bold character and although she is a twin she is nothing at all like Phoenix. She is softer, she can’t help but love hard. And throughout this book, you get to see the struggle she has. She clearly loves Jamison but she is so scared and reluctant to put her heart out there. Palmer for me is a fantastic character and although she is a child she is part of some of the most magical moments in this book. Palmer is also the star of one of my favorite scenes.
This book is a beautiful love story. A relationship that spans years. An endless and forever kind of love. And finally, all is revealed in this book in regards to one of the biggest secrets that are kept throughout this whole series. I totally recommend this fantastic book.
Reviewer: Donna
Sedona and Jameson had a connection that was ingrained in them to their very souls and a heartbreakingly muddy history that tore them apart but Jameson was determined to not only be in his daughter’s life but also rekindle what he and Sedona once had.
It didn’t take long for Jameson to worm his way into my good graces but Sedona wasn’t as quick to forgive and I appreciated that about their road to a second chance, someone can say “I’m sorry” a million times but the proof of their remorse is in their actions. Jameson said all the right things and he backed them up every single day with his actions. His interactions with Palmer was the ultimate swoon worthy book boyfriend moment.
The pain that Jameson and Sedona carried individually and also the mutual pain they shared over their past really cut me deep it hurt my heart for them. This last book in The Baileys series was an exquisitely emotional journey of forgiveness, redemption and a love shared by two people that was so deep they figured out that together they could weather any storm.
Rules For Dating Your Ex is the final book in The Baileys series. Sniff, sniff. Throughout the series, Sedona Bailey hasn’t been a dominant presence, so her story has been a bit of a mystery. All we really knew is that she was in a relationship with Scottish soccer star Jamison Ferguson and that she walked out on him while pregnant. That was 2 years ago and so much has happened in both of their lives since the night she left him in NYC and returned to Lake Starlight.
Theirs is a story with so many layers, complications, and surprises. As it unfolds, it’s apparent that being in love is not the problem, but overcoming past doubts and earning trust is the mountain they must climb. In true Bailey fashion, they are not alone as our favorite Alaskan family is there for support, a little push in the right direction and a wee bit of tough love. It’s not an easy journey for them, but is heartwarming and endearing on so many levels. Sedona and Jamison’s story has to be one of my favorites in the series.
As much as I hate to see this series come to an end, this book was the perfect conclusion. It contains all the elements of what is so great about The Baileys. Delightful big family, unconditional love, a mischievous, yet adorable grandmother, and wonderful stories that all weave together to create a memorable cast of characters that you can’t help but love.
It’s one of those series you will want to read again and again.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Jamison and Sedona finally get their HEA!!!! Lana~White Hot Reads
It might have taken a while for these two get back on track but once they do, its full steam ahead. Jamison rights his wrong and will anything to win Sedona and Palmer back. The way he stepped to for Palmer will pull at your heart strings.
I was both thrilled and sad to read this book. This is the ninth, and final, book in the Bailey’s series of books. I have loved this series from the first book and am sad that we won’t be seeing the Baileys front and center any more. The books center around the nine siblings in the Bailey family. When their parents were tragically killed, the two oldest decide to raise the family themselves. Each of the previous stories are a different romantic trope (oops, my one night stand is my new boss; younger brothers best friend; surprise baby, etc.). This is a wonderful second chance romance with Sedona Bailey and Jamison Ferguson. In the prior book, Sedona left Jamie when she was eight months pregnant, because of his drinking. Jamie turned to drinking after an injury ended his professional soccer career. It is now 18 months later, and Jamie has returned to Lake Starlight. He has been sober for a year and determined to make amends and win back the love of his life and his daughter. I loved Jamie and Sedona, and their story may be one of my favorite in the series. While I suppose this could be read as a stand-alone, you will really want to read from the beginning to really appreciate the Baileys. I received an arc of this book from the author for my honest review.