FOOL ME ONCE
Second chances are for kids, diets, and shelter pets—not for relationships. Especially not one like Chase and Emma’s.
Before he was writing chart-topping hits and smashing record sales, Chase Lawson was Emma’s childhood friend and first love. They promised each other forever, but forever expired at eighteen, when he landed a major record deal and left Emma and their hometown behind.
Ten years later, he shows up at their high school reunion with a proposition she can’t refuse. Six months. Seven figures. He gets a chance to clean up his reputation, and she gets the means to restore the old family farmhouse. It’s only for show—hold hands in public, kiss for the cameras—but boundaries blur behind closed doors.
It isn't long before Emma feels her resolve slipping, crushed by the shadow of the boy she grew to love in the man selling out stadiums of present. Can Emma resist one of the most irresistible bachelors in the world? Or will she fall for the same man twice?
REVIEW: 2 STARS
"Letting you go was the bravest thing I've ever done."
I know this isn't going to sound good, but this book wasn't terrible but it most certainly was not my favorite. After reading a book that owned my heart and knowing what a well written book can do to me, this one fell far shorter than I wanted it to. No, I'm not comparing it to another book....I'm just realizing what I like and what works well for me. That makes me sad because I have been wanting to read her for quite some time. My disdain doesn't come from horrible writing, because that really wasn't it. It actually stems from the characters, and some of her actions...but also because it fellllt soooo sloooow to me and it was a bit too light for my taste.
Nicole Williams isn't a complicated writer, and for that I was thankful. She had an easy flow when it was moving forward. But having said that, it was also a very light book without a lot of depth and for that, I'm sad. At some points it felt very scripted, and there were times that the "drama" felt strategically placed in order to create an action to propel another action. Almost robotic: Cue the fighting couple so she can rescue her aaaaand ACTION! Cue the talk to keep her safe backstage and give her stubborn independence she needs to fight him, aaaaand ACTION! One plot point after another was added to run interference in their relationship to provide the necessary bumps along the way and I just didn't feel it. It may have also just been Emma....
I struggled quite a bit with Emma, to be honest, and I think she is what actually ruined the book for me. Yikes, I know! Not only did she fight what was right in front of her face the entire freaking time, but she ignored everything Chase was saying. Every.Single.Thing. And I, for the life of me, wanted to shake her while screaming at her - ARE YOU LISTENING?? Unfortunately, the ending sealed my deal on her. I was not a fan of hers at all. Not even a little bit.
But Chase? Man, oh man. He tried so freaking hard to bring her heart back to where it rightfully belonged and he had the patience of a saint - not gonna lie. I did enjoy their banter and I did feel the pull between them when she would actually give in to her feelings, against her mental arguments. It was very tangible....but again, her stubbornness and ridiculousness made me shake my head. Chase was a standup guy, earning himself an amazing living doing something he loved. Aaaand, NO. NOPE. Nuh Uh. That ending made me SO very angry. it just didn't work for me.
I know this isn't going to sound good, but this book wasn't terrible but it most certainly was not my favorite. After reading a book that owned my heart and knowing what a well written book can do to me, this one fell far shorter than I wanted it to. No, I'm not comparing it to another book....I'm just realizing what I like and what works well for me. That makes me sad because I have been wanting to read her for quite some time. My disdain doesn't come from horrible writing, because that really wasn't it. It actually stems from the characters, and some of her actions...but also because it fellllt soooo sloooow to me and it was a bit too light for my taste.
Nicole Williams isn't a complicated writer, and for that I was thankful. She had an easy flow when it was moving forward. But having said that, it was also a very light book without a lot of depth and for that, I'm sad. At some points it felt very scripted, and there were times that the "drama" felt strategically placed in order to create an action to propel another action. Almost robotic: Cue the fighting couple so she can rescue her aaaaand ACTION! Cue the talk to keep her safe backstage and give her stubborn independence she needs to fight him, aaaaand ACTION! One plot point after another was added to run interference in their relationship to provide the necessary bumps along the way and I just didn't feel it. It may have also just been Emma....
I struggled quite a bit with Emma, to be honest, and I think she is what actually ruined the book for me. Yikes, I know! Not only did she fight what was right in front of her face the entire freaking time, but she ignored everything Chase was saying. Every.Single.Thing. And I, for the life of me, wanted to shake her while screaming at her - ARE YOU LISTENING?? Unfortunately, the ending sealed my deal on her. I was not a fan of hers at all. Not even a little bit.
But Chase? Man, oh man. He tried so freaking hard to bring her heart back to where it rightfully belonged and he had the patience of a saint - not gonna lie. I did enjoy their banter and I did feel the pull between them when she would actually give in to her feelings, against her mental arguments. It was very tangible....but again, her stubbornness and ridiculousness made me shake my head. Chase was a standup guy, earning himself an amazing living doing something he loved. Aaaand, NO. NOPE. Nuh Uh. That ending made me SO very angry. it just didn't work for me.
And yet, here's the caveat: if you like second chance romance with a very light flow to it, this may work for you. It was a very quick read. I can see many have enjoyed it, but it wasn't for me.
"My mind knows I don't stand a chance, but my body doesn't give a fuck about the odds."
~BEE
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~MEET NICOLE WILLIAMS~
Nicole Williams is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of contemporary and young adult romance, including the Crash and Lost & Found series. Her books have been published by HarperTeen and Simon & Schuster in both domestic and foreign markets, while she continues to self-publish additional titles. She is working on a new YA series with Crown Books (a division of Random House) as well. She loves romance, from the sweet to the steamy, and writes stories about characters in search of their happily even after. She grew up surrounded by books and plans on writing until the day she dies, even if it’s just for her own personal enjoyment. She still buys paperbacks because she’s all nostalgic like that, but her kindle never goes neglected for too long. When not writing, she spends her time with her husband and daughter, and whatever time’s left over she’s forced to fit too many hobbies into too little time.
Nicole is represented by Jane Dystel, of Dystel and Goderich Literary Agency.
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