If It's Only Love 

(The Boys of Jackson Harbor #6)

Lexi Ryan

I don’t regret much. 

Not my decision to enter the NFL draft before finishing college. 

Not fighting custody of my daughter—even if, biologically speaking, it turns out she’s not mine. 

And certainly not seducing my buddy’s little sister ten years ago. 

But when it comes to Shayleigh Jackson, my no-regrets attitude stops there. I screwed up royally where she’s concerned. Then I made another mistake when I let her shut me out of her life. 

Now after more than a decade living in different time zones, I’m coming home to Jackson Harbor. My first priority is getting my daughter away from the media circus in LA, but the moment I see Shay, I know I’ll stop at nothing to win her back.

So what if she won’t speak to me? So what if she’s changed? So what if she’s fallen for some douchebag professor? I’ve never gotten over her and I know she feels the same about me. I’ve let her go twice. I won’t make that mistake again.

If It's Only Love and all other books in this series can be read as standalones, but you'll enjoy reading them together.

I have been looking forward to sister, Shay's book since the beginning of the series. And I have to say as much time as we spent with her, I never expected this to be her backstory. This is an emotional and angsty ride that spans years.

Shay has crushed on her brother's best friend, Easton Connor since she was seven years old, but it was not until her late teens that he noticed her. But she was his friend's little sister and totally off-limits. At first the missed chances were expected due to circumstances, but later on they just become more and more serious and heartbreaking. These two could never seem to quite get their timing right and always seemed pulled in different directions. It was like life had other plans for them and fate kept them apart. And it was all a big secret from her close-knit family that always considered East one of their own.

But now Easton is moving back to Jackson Harbor and his next goal is to win Shay once and for all. But their past is fall of disappointments, unresolved feelings, and broken promises. Shay is already a woman with self-worth issues and is already at a crossroads in her own life. And Easton's' return threatens to stir up a lot of mixed feelings.

I loved Easton. He is a charming, caring man with a big heart. For the most part he tried to do the right thing, but it just could not be the right thing for everyone at the same time. There were extenuating circumstances and hard decisions that had to be made. But he knows what he wants and is not afraid to go after it. I have always liked Shay. She is stubborn, sassy, and independent. But now we see more of her vulnerability, insecurities, past pain, and current issues. And not even she is not sure what she wants her to future to hold at this point. She has a lot of big decisions to make. These two have history and chemistry, and definitely pull strong feelings out of the other.

Can East convince her to take chance on getting it right this time? And how will Shay's plans affect that?

I have loved this series and it was fun catching up with all of her brothers and their significant others.  There was so much more to Shay and Easton's story than I was expecting, but I was totally invested in them. It was a heartfelt, angsty, raw story of first love, second chances, choices, and consequences. It's sad to say goodbye to Jackson Harbor and this lovable family.
Shay Jackson is the final Jackson sibling to settle down. She has loved watching her brothers find their perfect matches and loves having new “sisters” but her focus has been on her academic career, and her doctoral degree is finally within reach. She has a casual boyfriend she is keeping secret from everyone around her, and isn’t prepared for the feelings brought up when she learns Easton Connor is returning to town after years playing professional football.

Easton Connor has lived the NFL since he entered the draft early. He may have left Jackson Harbor before he had planned, but it has always been the place he called home, especially around the Jacksons. He may be returning to Jackson Harbor with his daughter (who may not biologically be his, but is every bit his daughter in his eyes), but he doesn’t know what welcome he is going to receive from Shay after their many near misses over the years.

I loved watching as Shay’s crush on Easton is revealed in flashback scenes. Because both characters serve as narrators, readers know it is not a one sided crush, but watching as each character questions what is really going on made the present day scenes mean more. Knowing they were each regretting decisions made with the best intentions so many years later had me cheering so hard for these two to figure their issues out!

Shay’s story had more depth that I think I was expecting. She always seemed so focused on school, I never imagined she would have so many other things going on in her life. There were times I wished she was as confident in herself as she was in the people around her. I guess I missed that she had body confidence issues when her influence was background because I wasn’t expecting the confidence struggles she had to work through as she faced her feelings for both her secret boyfriend (whose existence I questioned in early books) and Easton. But as she stood up to the situation with the secret boyfriend and confronted her feelings with Easton, I loved watching as she really come into herself and decided what was most important in her life.

This felt like a fitting end to the Jackson Harbor series, though I am sad to see this family’s story finished. All the Jackson siblings are happy and settled, and that’s what a reader starts a series hoping, but it’s also hard to say goodbye to a group of characters that have felt so familiar.

From New York Times bestseller Lexi Ryan comes a sexy new romance novel about a runaway bride, a single dad who’s sworn off love, and the kind of family secrets that can threaten to break even the deepest bonds.

You never forget your wedding day. Or the moment your twin sister pukes on your bouquet and confesses she’s pregnant . . . with your fiancé’s baby.

I wanted to get away, to hide until my heart mended. I found myself in a strange town with a mysterious stranger whose talented mouth and hands almost made me forget it was supposed to be my wedding night.

Afraid to go home to face my broken life, I pretend to be my twin so I can take her job in Jackson Harbor caring for a six-year-old girl. Imagine my surprise when I find out my new boss is my mysterious stranger—Dr. Ethan Jackson.

I never meant for Ethan to discover my secrets. I never meant for them to matter. But the longer I work with him and his sweet daughter, the harder I fall, and the clearer it becomes that I’m not the only one carrying a secret that could tear us apart.

Get ready to fall for the boys of Jackson Harbor in Lexi Ryan’s sexy new contemporary romance series. These books can all be read as standalones, but you’ll enjoy reading them as a series!


Lexi Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of emotional romance that sizzles. Lexi is the 2018 winner of the Romance Writers of America® RITA®  award for Best Long Contemporary Romance. She considers herself the luckiest girl around to make a living through storytelling. She loves spending time with her crazy kids, weightlifting, ice cream, swoony heroes, and vodka martinis.
Lexi lives in Indiana with her husband, two children, and a spoiled dog. You can find her at her website: www.lexiryan.com