REVIEW: Once and Again (Petal, Georgia #1) by Lauren Dane

Author: Lauren Dane

Series: Petal, Georgia

Genre: Romance - Contemporary

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

AMAZON: Once and Again

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

This time, he plans to do it with class. Style. And more than a little groveling…

Petal, Georgia, Book 1

Seven years ago, Lily Travis was only too glad to see her hometown of Petal, Georgia, in her rearview mirror. Thanks to her father running off with a twenty-year-old, though, here she is, trying to pick up the pieces. First order of business: meet with her brother’s teacher in a quest to pull his grades out of a downward spiral.

Nathan Murphy is pretty much resigned to his bachelor status—until he looks up from his desk to see an all-grown-up Lily walking into his classroom. Of all the women who turned out to be totally wrong for him, she’s the only one who felt right. At least until his foolish, immature mistake drove her away.

Lily has to admit that time has been more than kind to gorgeous, sexy Nathan. Except there’s no room on her full plate for another complication. Especially with a man who broke her heart once before.

With a little help from his friends, Nathan has a plan to rekindle the flame. It isn’t long before they’re burning up the sheets. Winning her heart? That’s another matter.

Warning: Hot, sexy high school teacher in denim and boots. Strong-willed females abound. Bad words and naughtiness, too. Come on, you know you want to read it. 

REVIEW: 3 out of 5 stars

I was quite excited to see a new series released by Lauren Dane, and even better a spin-off to the wonderful Chase Brother’s series.

Lily Travis has left her life in Macon to return home to Petal, Georgia to take over responsibility of her young brother Chris who is failing at school and getting into all sorts of trouble. With no parental guidance since their father ran off with a 20 year-old and her mother turned to pills and alcohol for solace, Lily has taken on the role of Guardian to Chris to try and set him on the straight and narrow.

Lily has big plans to help her brother and her first order of duty is to meet up with each of his teachers, never expecting one of them to be her ex-boyfriend Nathan Murphy who broke her heart by cheating (a kiss).

Nathan Murphy is Tate from Making Chase’s brother and his sister Beth is Lily’s best friend, he ruined what was a perfect relationship with Lily when they were younger and never sought to rectify his mistakes. He doesn’t want to lose Lily for a second time so sets out on a mission to regain her trust and rekindle their past relationship.

It isn’t an easy road for Lily, Chris seems to be rebelling and a persistent Nathan wants to start back up where they left off. Romance is the last thing on Lily’s mind, she has family responsibilities to tend to without worrying about Nathan Murphy.

Lily and her family’s drama was the focal point of the story and her reunion with Nathan wound its way into it. The situation Lily was facing with not only her parents but also her young brother and conniving sister Nancy was certainly a stressful time for her and something she shouldn’t have been burdened with but she took on the responsibility head on and never let-up, for this I admired her as a character.

I absolutely adored Ms Dane’s Chase Brothers series so had high expectations for Once and Again and for me, something was missing. I didn’t fully connect with the characters, I liked Lily enough and felt for what she was going through but I don’t feel Nathan was developed enough – as a couple, I felt they lacked the chemistry and there wasn’t enough wooing for my taste, she forgave him too easily.

I did enjoy the re-appearance of all of the characters from the previous series; especially Polly Chase who I think is the most wonderful mum.

Ms Dane’s writing as usual is solid and engaging, but the plot fell short for me and the lackluster ending was abrupt and disappointing, I wanted more.