Little Rock, Arkansas, 1995: Jade Smith’s life has never been entirely stable. Bouncing back and forth between her mother and foster care, she learned that the only person she can really trust is herself. So when she starts to fall for newsroom reporter Sebastian Hudson, her defenses go up. When she gets a job offer from a company in Atlanta, Georgia, she immediately takes it, leaving Sebastian behind. He might have claimed to love her, but she knows no one sticks around for long.
Clementine, Arkansas, 2005: Ten years after his heartbreak, Sebastian is back in his tiny hometown running the local paper and writing his slice-of-life column. The numbers in the accounting book are telling a story he’s not ready to read, but he’s refused to entertain any buy-out offers from big conglomerates, even as other small presses are being grabbed up, and in some cases, put out of business. He’s determined not to let anything happen to the Clementine Times.
In Atlanta, Jade is eager for the promotion that will finally provide the security she’s always craved. There’s only one hitch–her boss wants her to convince a small-town newspaper owner to sell his paper to their company. No big deal, right? Then she learns the owner is none other than Sebastian Hudson. Now it’s a very big deal.
Reunited for the first time since their awful break-up, Sebastian and Jade dig in their heels, refusing to see each other’s side. But the small town of Clementine won’t let them stay at odds with each other for long. Between a springtime hoedown, a dangerous apartment fire, Sebastian’s slightly meddling younger sister, and the surprise appearance of Jade’s younger brother, Sebastian and Jade end up discussing everything but business. They also rekindle past feelings.
But when one of them makes an unforgivable decision, can they find their way back to each other? Or is this second chance the very last one?
About The Author
My Review
The book kicks off in 1995 when Jade Smith leaves her job at a Little Rock newspaper—and her boyfriend, Sebastian Hudson—for a better-paying position in Atlanta. Her dream is to adopt her younger foster brother, but fast forward ten years and things haven’t gone quite as planned. When her boss sends her back to Arkansas to convince the owner of a small-town paper to sell, she’s shocked to find it’s Sebastian. Their reunion is tense, emotional, and full of sparks.
Adding even more charm is Kalista, a spoiled L.A. teen stuck in Clementine for the summer. Watching her adjust to farm life and newspaper delivery had me smiling.
This story has all the things I love in a small-town romance—second chances, meddling neighbors, and just the right mix of humor and heart. Overall, this is a sweet, uplifting story about love, forgiveness, and finding where you belong. A thoroughly enjoyable read!
My Rating
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