Putting Out Old Flames: A Second Chance, Small Town Romance

Allyson Charles

Apr 2021 · Pineville Romance Book 1 · Alice Weiss

About this ebook

Who said high school love doesn’t last?

Everyone. Or they should if they had any sense. Jane thought she’d seen the last of her no-good, heart-breaking boyfriend years ago when she went off to college...and he broke up with her with a greeting card. But now he’s back, looking sexier than ever, and as much as she tells herself she’s older and wiser, some feelings never burn out.

Chance McGovern is once bitten, twice shy. Getting over a rocky divorce, all he wants is a stable life for him and his son. Moving them to Pineville, Michigan and taking the assistant fire chief job was the first step to getting back to normal.

And then Jane stomps back into his life, his partner in organizing a charity fireman’s ball. Leaving her was one of his biggest regrets. And from the fire in her eyes, she won’t let him forget his teenaged screw-up.

But nothing is impossible in Pineville, not even second chances. With their small town rooting for them, Jane and Chance are fighting against more than just their hearts. But their relationship crashed and burned before. Is their love worth the risk?

Ratings and reviews

Chance shouldn’t have been so quick to think Jane would forgive after he broke up with her with a bad greeting card before college. She has a wall up because of it. They have a lot of juvenile moments in the book where I wondered if they had grown up yet. His young son Josh was adorable. But his unstable ex comes back into the picture and threatens custody and Chance and Jane’s budding second chance relationship.

Second chance romance: Jane and Chance had a lot to overcome but thankfully they had both matured during the intervening years and so were eventually able to work things out but their journey wasn't easy! I liked that there were some humorous moments which helped offset all of the internal dialogue. There was also a little mystery and intrigue thrown in to keep things interesting. That being said I found this quite a weighty read and I just wanted to fast forward over all the drama and have them sort their issues out sooner. I don't think I'll be carrying on with this series. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

He was the jerk that led her on and dumped her, going on to a different state for college and she was the ex that got rejected and spurned on the altar of ambition. Maybe it was his karma but he failed to become the neurosurgeon he wanted to be and impregnated a girl instead and was forced to get married. Years later, divorced and raising a son they meet again. She with a grudge and a chip on her shoulder. There are some instances that were hilarious and some with all the angst of emotional female fury. The author is very good at connecting with the reader, empathize over the character's predicament and issues. Though some interactions were a bit juvenile but it was very comedic. Overall, a very entertaining read.

About the author

Allyson Charles lives in Colorado. She’s the author of sexy and funny small-town romances, including the Pineville Romance series and The Forever series. A former attorney, she happily ditched those suits and now works in her pajamas writing about men’s briefs instead of legal briefs. When she’s not writing, she’s probably engaged in one of her favorite hobbies: napping, eating, or martial arts (That last one almost makes up for the first two, right?). One of Allyson’s greatest sources of happiness is that she now lives in a city that has a Cracker Barrel.

Allyson Charles also writes steamy historical romances under the name Alyson Chase, and paranormal romances under the name A. Caprice.