What ensues is an addictive, insatiable, sweet and tender romance that won't be simple, but it will be more than worth the fight. 

I read this without reading Getting Schooled and I did not have any trouble getting into this one although his friends from the first book do pop up frequently in this story. There is even a little connection to one of my favorite Emma Chase characters.

Lainey is a lifestyle vlogger with her own webcast. So she and her gifted son, Jason are moving their lives to Lakeside for her next big assignment. She is strong, creative, independent, likable, and does not like to rely on anyone and risk being disappointed.

Dean is a part-time drummer during the summer and Honors teacher and offensive coach during the school year. He is handsome, funny, caring, and charming. He has a bad rep as a playboy and does not do relationships. He has abandonment issues and does not have much faith in his own ability to be good enough to sustain one. 

These two have one extremely hot night that they cannot seem to get out of their heads. But had no way to find the other...until their worlds collided again. I will admit it seemed like it took a bit long to run into each other again, but maybe I was just jonesing for it so badly.

Now they are dealing with something they never expected. Lainey basically sets the rules that Dean will either be ALL IN or ALL OUT. Attachment is scary. The fear of disappointment is real. It's a small town with lots of people taking an interest in their relationship. These two are both in unchartered waters and not exactly sure where they are going. I loved seeing growth in the characters, especially Dean. I just adored him.  And I was dreading the black moment that I figured was coming. Sometimes unnecessary angst that could be corrected by a real conversation does get to me.

And I did get a bit bogged down sometimes in the vlogging and decorating tips and taken out of the story, but with that being said some of the vlog entries were sweet and also allowed more involvement from others.

Overall this is an engaging, funny, sexy, and heartfelt story with likable characters. Their banter and chemistry are fantastic. I enjoyed the small-town setting and getting to know the quirky and unfiltered side characters. They have fun and caring friends and family. I would like to return to Lakeside for more in future stories.

Lainey Burrows is a lifestyle blogger with a new assignment: redecorate and reinvigorate an old house in a new town. The new assignment means she and her genius son will be moving to a new town for a new start.

Dean Walker is living the single life. His band still tours in the summer, though the rest of the year he has settled into the life of an Honors Math teacher. His wild teenage years still life large through much of the summer as he travels with his band.

A one-night stand after Dean’s band plays in Lainey’s hometown leaves them both wishing they could have more than one night. But that isn’t the way they think things should work and they go their separate ways.

This was both a quick start and a slow burn. What starts as a one night stand shifts in a different direction, and Lainey holds all the cards. She lays down her rules and isn’t afraid to demand what she wants from Dean, leaving it up to him if he is willing to meet her terms or not. Dean has a lot to answer for from his past, and though he may be ready to try something new, he has to convince Lainey he is through with his player ways.

I haven’t read the previous book in the series for a few reasons, but I am so glad I jumped in at this point. Though I don’t know the story from the other couple, I was able to fit into this world seamlessly and without feeling like I was missing anything by not having the background. They do appear as support characters, but their story isn’t central to Dean and Lainey’s.

This kept me grinning from nearly page 1. I loved the surprise pregnancy, especially as Lainey is mid-move to the (unknown to her) hometown of her one-night stand. And then when Jason turned up in Dean’s class as well. Melt my heart. I think I was just jonesing for this type of book, though I wouldn’t have been able to articulate that before I was mid-read.

Emma Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the hot and hilarious Tangled series and The Legal Briefs series. Emma lives in New Jersey with her husband, two children and two naughty (but really cute) dogs. She has a long-standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.