This Time Around

by Ellie Grace

[Cocktails and Books]

Nora Montgomery left her family and her friends behind for college in New York City. But she was also running from the heartbreak of her high school sweetheart, Jake Harris, leaving her high and dry without any explanation. The heartbreak was so bad that she hasn't set foot in her hometown once since she's been gone. But that's all about to change as the comes home for the summer and her best friend's wedding. She may think she's over Jake, but Jake has something to prove to her. This time around he's not going to let town rumors and prejudices keep him from the only girl he's ever loved.

I've been vacillating on what I felt about this book. There are times I really liked the second chance at love storyline and was happy Nora and Jake could make a go of it the second time. But then at other times I was really bugged at the fact Nora pretty much just picked up where things left off years before. Forget the heartbreak, heartache and the fact that she had avoided her hometown, family and friends because of what happened with Jake. Practically the minute she sees Jake she lets the past go and picks up where they left off. That bugged me. Nora gave into Jake too easily. When she discovered what her parents did, she was quick to be angry, leave and eventually have it out with her father, but it never felt like she ever really stood up for herself and Jake. In the end, she did, but in my opinion, it should have been something she did right away, rather than run away to Jake's apartment to hide out. Stand up for your man!

I really liked Jake. He got the raw end of the deal when it came to his relationship with Nora. Labeled a kid from the wrong end of town he could do no right in the eyes of a lot of people in town, including Nora's parents. He always felt Nora would be better with someone else, but he loved her. When he was confronted by Nora's father on the night he was supposed to meet her, he did something he knew would not only devastate Nora, but also himself, all in the hopes that Nora would get what she wanted out of life. Sure, he should have talked to Nora rather than believe her father, but at eighteen when an elder tells you letting the girl you love pursue her dreams without you is for the best, you tend to believe them (even if you don't really believe them yourself). Jake stayed local, earned a degree and was a very productive member of town, but he still had that troublemaker label by some...which really bothered me. But Jake persevered. He knew what he wanted and he was going to work for it and make sure everyone knew he was worth the woman he loved and she was worthy of him.

Despite my feelings about Nora, this was a solid read with a great second chance romance. Jake is a little swoon worthy and makes up for what I didn't like in Nora.