She was his first kiss, first time, first love, and after being absent for over a decade, Allison was back in his life. Her publicist thought dating a small town average Joe would be good for her tarnished image. Jackson agreed to this "showmance", but would he be able to deny the truth of what lies in his heart?

Second chance romances are among my favorites. I live for the history the hero and heroine share, as well as the idea, that some endings are only temporary and forgiveness is achievable.

Both Jackson and Allison had dreams, but while Allison had opportunities to pursue her's, Jackson was limited by his circumstances. When they saw no way to save their relationship, they went their separate ways.

He poured his pain and heartbreak into his work, and enjoyed some success as a business owner in their hometown, but he never forgot what he had shared with Allison, and was sort of never able to move on.
Allison, though enjoying Hollywood success, was also somewhat stunted in her romantic life. Thank goodness the universe (and the unforgiving public) intervened, because Allison and Jackson were reunited and it really did feel so good.

I wanted these two, no, needed these two to find their way back to each other. After reading the flashbacks, and seeing how they fell back into step so easily with each other, I knew they were meant to be together, and I was rooting for one of them to make that bold move, that bold choice, and not repeat their previous mistakes.

This story was sweet and sassy, tender and sexy. I laughed, smiled, swooned, and maybe even shed a few tears, because look -- I'm a hopeless romantic, and I couldn't imagine this fictional world without Jackson and Allison coupled in it.

Jax and Allison were high school sweethearts, they dated into college, were each other's worlds until Allison went to California to intern but the acting bug bit hard! Long distance romance just wasn't meant to be. Jax stayed in Ohio working for his father, continuing life with a broken heart, he even started his own business, which has him working on Allison's parents home. Nina Lockart (aka Allison) comes home as a Hollywood scandal rocks her reputation and acting career, she walks in in full star mode, tears and all falling into the strong arms of her ex. Jax and Allison feel the sparks that never went away but where can their lives intercept, he's blue collar small town guy, not the Hollywood type. But when Allison needs a photo op partner, her sexy ex fits the part well, but is it only acting? What happens when those old feelings come back, or did they never really go away? Fun story line, great chemistry and plenty of heat!

I really enjoyed this slow burn, second chance romance! You could really feel all the emotion and unrequited love between Jax and Allie. I loved the push and pull between them and felt like it really made their relationship feel real. Great addition to this wonderful series.

America's Sweetheart is the 5th book in the Real Love Series by this author, but can be read as a standalone. Some of the characters in these books do cross over, but it isn't necessary to read them in order. Saying that, I would definitely suggest reading all of them because this author knows how to write sweet and sexy contemporary romances! I've given all these books high ratings and I've loved them all, this one included, but I have to say that I wasn't a fan of Allison until about halfway through the book, but then again, that's probably what the author wanted! Of course, I loved Jackson from Page 1 -- he's the perfect combination of swoony/sexy bad boy and sweet/fun boyfriend and at times your heart breaks for him. The book starts out with Jackson's POV and we don't get Allison's POV until about halfway through and that's about when she redeemed herself with me. I love second chance romances and this one pulls at your heartstrings and heats up the pages equally. Another winner in the Real Love Series! I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC for NetGalley.

Jessica Lemmon has quickly become one of my favorite authors. This story follows Allison, who left her sweetheart, Jackson, and found success as an actress in Hollywood. Years later, she is disgraced and returns home to hide and plan her comeback. She didn't expect to find Jackson at her parents' house. Needing support, Allison turns to Jackson. Passion ignites, old feelings return and the reader is taken on a roller coaster of emotions while Allison is figuring her life out. The ending was surprising but was in no way disappointing. The book flowed well, was easy to follow and very entertaining. What I really like about Jessica Lemmon's books is how old characters resurface in her novels so we get another peek at their happily ever afters. All in all, a great read!

This review was made possible with the Advanced Reader Copy that I received from the author (Jessica Lemmon), the publisher (Loveswept), and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a steamy, second chance romance book. I was nicely surprised by the ending and hope that there is a future book about Allie and Jax.

I have read other books in this series and those characters have little cameo appearances in this book. I enjoy losing myself in Ms Lemmon’s books!

4 1/2 Stars! Allie and Jax are high school sweethearts, but when the prospect of fame calls to Allie, she takes off for LA. Not long after, they end their relationship because the long distance is just too much. Ten years later, Jax is remodeling her parents house while they are on holidays and he is caught off guard when Allie shows up in tears. Allie has just been accused of stealing a legend's Oscar award and her boyfriend tells the press that she's going to rehab. So she takes off to the only place she feels safe ... home, but is shocked to find Jax standing in the hallway. They are still both single and still aren't over each other, but will they be able to make this second chance work?

These two are great characters and are easy to love. Their chemistry is off the charts even after 10 years apart ... it's like they were waiting to grow up a little so that they could truly appreciate each other. Ms. Lemmon just has that way of writing to make the banter between characters so realistic. If you are looking for a second chance, funny, swoon worthy romance ... then this is the book for you. A great addition to the series.

I received an ARC courtesy of Random House - Loveswept through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

Allison and Jackson were high school sweethearts then they were college sweethearts. When Allie moved to California it was only supposed to be for the summer. Then she got a role as a extra on a TV show. Being a actress was something she dearly wanted and Jackson wanted her to have anything she wanted and needed. He just couldn't live in California though so he left her there and shortly later they broke up. Now some ten years later Allie is back in town hiding from a scandal and Jackson is there for her. When there is some sizzle between them again the question is how much sizzle and is it enough to burn the house down. The answer is yes. Yes it is! Jackson or Jax as he's called is one of those guys whose calm in any situation. I liked Allie and Jackson together but i think they had some communication issues which is understandable considering how they ended it years ago. While it was fun watching these two finding each other again I was taken out of the story several times by the going back from past two present. Overall i enjoyed the story though and loved the ending.



Find out more about Jessica Lemmon and this series here www.jessicalemmon.com

This series are standalone books but still loosely connected. I loved seeing Barrett and ‘Kitty-Cat’ from Rumor Has it, which is one of my favorites in the series along with Eye Candy.

I love second chance love stories and fell in love with Jackson. He and Allison fell in love years before and when she had a chance to go to LA to become an actress, she left college. The time apart was initially only for the summer but she wanted to stay in CA and Jackson didn’t want to move from his small hometown in Ohio. Ten years later when Allison is involved in a scandal, she returns home and sees Jackson.

I loved Jackson, his character, how kind he was and I enjoyed that fact that Jackson didn’t turn into a womanizer after they broke up. He was determined not to fall in love again, knowing Allison would be returning to Hollywood but they couldn’t stay away from each other. There were several sweet, hot sexy times and some were quite poignant.

I know that actors have to portray themselves in a certain way but I didn’t care for some of the things Allison said and did. I didn’t feel connected to her like I did to Jackson until the latter part of the story when she started feeling more like herself before she became a Hollywood star. The story seemed slow in some areas and I didn’t like this story as much as some of the author’s other stories.

I enjoyed the dual POV and especially love the male perspective in stories. I love epilogues and this was sweet HEA and not the usual circumstances between two characters that live in different states.

I want to thank Netgalley, the author and publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this early copy.

I've loved Jessica Lemmon's Real Love series and America's Sweetheart is another great addition to it. When Allison, a Hollywood starlet, comes home to hide out from a scandal she quite literally runs head-on into her childhood sweetheart Jackson and the sparks start flying immediately. These two had chemistry in spades, whether fighting their attraction, faking their relationship or giving in to their feelings. There's always something special about a second chance romance and Lemmon portrayed it perfectly. With walls built up, both Ali and Jax thought they could escape a short-term fling unscathed but alas, these two fell hard once more for each other. Their relationship was fun and I enjoyed watching them rediscover one another on a different level. Funny and Sexy, America's Sweetheart is told from a dual POV. Although part of a series, it can be read as a complete standalone.

When I requested an ARC of America's Sweetheart I was looking for a lighthearted romance book to enjoy. America's Sweetheart did not disappoint as it is full of romance and a very cute couple. I loved Allie and Jax together. Allie id vulnerable and sweet and Jax is strong and supportive but also completely smitten. Super sweet couple that you find yourself cheering for page after page.

I didn't give the book five stars because, for me, there were too many sexual references and descriptions of their bodies. It got to a point of being just too much in my opinion. It overwhelmed the story. Also, I was hoping that there would be more outside conflict other than just their internal emotions. Going in I assumed that they were going to wind up together so I was hoping to see something else big happen. Make Xavier's story stronger, or have some other ex show up. Not sure what but something to move the storyline along.

With that said I liked the book a lot. I had not realized that this was book 5 in a series. So, that proves that it reads extremely well as a stand alone book. I didn't feel like I was missing something as I read the story. If you are looking for a light read with likeable characters this is a good book to choose.

Allie and Jackson were high school sweethearts on their way to being college sweethearts on the path to forever. Except Allie's dreams lead her to LA and the spotlight of Hollywood. At twenty, Jackson's dreams are decidedly not on a move to Hollywood. With distance and life pulling them in two different directions, Allie and Jackson call it quits, devastating both of them.

Now, ten years later, Allie's (going by Nina Lockhart) run on her very successful television series America's Sweetheart is ending and Jackson has built himself a good life in Ohio starting his his own home remodeling business. When a celebrity scandal sends Allie home for some much needed time away from the spotlight, she finds Jackson remodeling her parents' home.

While they'd like to believe that they're are perfectly fine being without each other. The truth is: the feelings are still there between Allie and Jackson. But when all is said and done, they're still in the same predicaments they were ten years ago, Allie loves being an actress, and Jackson could care less about the limelight. Once the scandal blows over, where will they be left?

I thought America's Sweetheart was simply perfect. I loved everything about this story. Jessica Lemmon proves she's a pro, tugging at the heartstrings while delivering some serious heat between Jackson and Allie. There was undeniable heart-wrenching running through the story as all of Jackson and Allie's interactions simultaneously bring to mind their relationship then and what they could be now if they could just get on the same page.

I loved that Allie's celebrity wasn't bought at the expense of her relationship, despite how it may appear. She was following her dream, and I loved that Jackson supported her 100%. It's not that Allie went to Hollywood and completely did a 180 personality-wise, as I know I've read before in similar celebrity romance stories, but somehow she still gets caught up in the glitz and the glamour, but not as a detriment to who she was or where she came from. And Jackson didn't suddenly turn into a bitter womanizer in the wake of their break-up. In my mind neither of them plays the "bad guy" it was all about the timing. I liked that it was both of them living out their dreams / lives for the past ten years, really figuring out who they are when they're thrown back together. Like the final piece of the puzzle that is Jackson and Allie that needs to be solved.

Second-chance romances are my favorite trope. I love that, typically, there's so much history between the characters, and Jessica Lemmon does a great job of giving readers all the feels, yet focusing mostly on the present.

I really liked the way the story was configured. Instead of every chapter alternating between Jackson and Allie, each character gets about half of the book just for their perspective. It was an interesting way to go about showing us who the characters are. We get used to Jackson's point of view and his feelings about Allie, and his possible misconceptions about her current feelings for him, then we switch and we see things from Allie's perspective and see that she's going through the same emotional dilemmas as Jackson. Proving ever more how these two just fit together.

I think by this point I've read all (or nearly all) of Jessica Lemmon's books, and America's Sweetheart is definitely a standout. She takes a recognizable storyline (the celebrity comes back to town and runs into her ex), but makes it her own and gives it her own spin with characters you root for and grow to love.

4 stars, Loving Jessica Lemmon big time. She has a perfect way to laying out her ideas and creating characters who will grab your interest and then capture your heart. Well done.

I’ve read a few of this authors books, and have really enjoyed them, until America’s Sweetheart. Starts off 10 years in the past, Jackson and Allison are high school sweethearts, now in college, both studying for a business degree, but Allison wants to go to California for the summer during the break to take advantage of a walk on opportunity that her aunt has set up for her with a tv show. Jackson doesn’t want her to take it, they’re inseparable, and he’s afraid he will lose her if she goes, he’s right, she takes off for California and never looks back. The story then picks up to the current time when Allison comes back into Jackson’s life when he’s doing a remodel on her partners home after being humiliated in Hollywood and breaking up with her famous boyfriend. I found Allison to be a self centered, opportunistic and self serving person who I lost interest in pretty quickly. Though I liked Jackson’s character, I found myself getting rather irritated for continuing to fall for her BS, time after time again, stopping the “romance” because they “shouldn’t”, just plain frustrating to read. Slow in parts, then when you start to see the story pick up, it comes to a halt again and goes into the same round about with her staging things and Jackson falling into the trap again. Very disappointed I didn’t like this book more since I adore this author. Maybe the next one....

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

This was a quick, easy, and funny read. I liked the "star studded" cast and it was super cute. It was a bit too easy for me though - I wanted them to struggle a bit more!!

When Allison left town and everything behind her, including her boyfriend Jackson; initially only intending on spending the summer with her Aunt. Then she never came back. She changed her name got a TV show and life was off at breakneck speed for Allison aka Nina. That was until her arm candy boy friend dumped her, publicly humiliated and accused of something she didn't do, she fled. Back home to Ohio and the comfort of her parents home. She needed to hide out away from the cameras and lies. Away from her phone, her agent and all the rest of the insanity her life had become. She was already guilty in the eyes of the public. Coming home the last thing she expected was to find Jackson working on her parents home. They're in Europe on vacation and doing a remodel on their room. Jackson's company is doing the work. Seeing Jackson for the first time, she flung herself into his arms and cried. Wounded little girl. Jackson wasn't quite sure what to make of it, but soon the sniffling was over and Allison straightened herself up and flipped right into Nina mode, wondering what he was doing there and how this work was going o effect her sleep in the morning. Gah! she flipped from Allison to Nina quite a bit in the beginning of the book. These two have quite a history, long term and Jackson didn't want to live in California. Not with him needing to help his Dad back in Ohio and he just didn't like it. She wanted her career. She chose that over him. Can't say I blame the guy for being just a wee bit unhappy. Seeing each other has brought back a lot of old feelings to the surface and I have to say there were a couple of times I thought I was going to have to throttle Jax, fortunately the self talk was just that and he didn't follow through. Allison didn't make it easy either.
I'll be honest here, I had a tough time really liking these two people until well into the book. I'm saying that because this was the first time in any of Jessica's books I haven't liked the main characters straight off. But as usual they really were perfectly written. It was great to see Fox and Catarina again (be still my heart) and while they were brief, their appearance's played well into the plot of the book. The story has a nice flow and I liked the way the story unfolds before us. It certainly kept me glued to my reader. Her books will do that. She knows how to hook you and reel you right in.
Fantastic read.
arc from NetGalley and publisher for an honest review

America’s Sweetheart by Jessica Lemmon was an enjoyable story. What happens when first loves & high school sweethearts go their separate ways and then ten years later are reunited? Major sparks and a renewed relationship. Allison left for California to try to be an actress and she hits it big and becomes famous. Jackson was left behind when he did not follow her but starts his own building renovation business and is successful. They both have led very different lives but still find that the changes they have made do not block their true feelings for each other. This romance is their second chance at love if they can overcome all the issues. Jessica Lemmon is one of my favorite romance writers and I again enjoyed her story.

Allison Murphy left her small Ohio town for the fame and bright lights of Hollywood and she got it as famous actress Nina Lockwood, stealing the hearts of America on her hit TV show, America’s Sweetheart. However, a major scandal has sent her running home to the small town with her tail between her legs to hide out with her parents. Only, when she arrives home, it’s not her parents who give her the comfort she’s looking for, it’s the boy whose heart she broke years ago; but Jackson Burke is far from the boy she left. He’s all man, all grown up and as she spends more time with him all she ever wanted.

The last thing Jackson expected while remodeling the home of the parents of his high school and college sweetheart was to have said sweetheart come barging through the front door on the cusp of a massive emotional breakdown. The last time he laid eyes on Allison was ten years ago when she informed him Hollywood was where she was meant to be. Like the rest of his home town Jackson watched Allison or Mini as he liked to call her, reinvent herself as actress Nina Lockwood burying the Allison he knew and loved. Determined to not let her get to him Jackson plans to simply ignore “Nina” and go on as life as usual, but the attraction between the two is very much alive and Jax soon realizes that the Allison he knew in loved is buried so deep after all.

I love second chance romances and all the feels that come with two people who were never meant to part rediscovering each other all over again. So I wasn’t disappointed with Jax and Allie’s story. These two fell into old routines very easily which screams premature break-up; but as we read their story it obvious that in order for them to appreciate what they had, they had to part when they did. They each grew as people but at the same time they didn’t. They moved on with their lives, but they didn’t. As far as professional lives they grew up and moved on but in love in relationships…they both kind of remained stagnant. Jax and Allie, embarked on relationships; Jax’s more casual than Allie’s but neither saw future’s with these relationships. They decide to not fight their attraction and live in the moment and although they know their relationship has a shelf life, they very easily can see a future with each other.

I liked both characters; Jax just had this charm and boy next door quality that immediately makes you fall in love with him. Reading about him, you know he was most definitely the marry the woman of his dreams and make a family with him type of guy and made him just so damned loveable. Allison however, while I liked her I didn’t love her the way I did Jax. I felt like she was still so unsure of herself after her “incident” that she always seemed to be playing a role. In their relationship the compromises seemed to come from Jax. Even in the end, he made his life in a world he wasn’t totally comfortable in to make her happy and see her dreams come true. She just never seemed to lose that “brat” title for me.
That aside, totally enjoyed this book! This is actually book five in the Real Love Series so I’ve put books 1-4 on my TBR list.

A confession, I'm a Jessica Lemmon fan. When Netgalley agreed to send me an ARC of her latest book I was thrilled. By sharing my thoughts I hope I can help you see what I do in Ms. Lemmon's books. Her newest story, America's Sweetheart, will be in bookstores and on-line on October 2, 2018.

Our hero is Jackson "Jax" Burke. He's a successful, smart, handsome, nice man with a broken heart. As the owner of Burke's Builders he finds himself remodeling the home of his former sweetheart's parents. Weird but doable. He's had a hard time moving on from Allie, maybe not moving on is more like it. Their break-up was bad and it left emotional scars. His love life is practically nonexistent, he turns down a blatant offer from his current blind date. Not what most guys would do so you know he's in a bad place. He's shocked when Allie comes barreling into his life again. It's been ten years but those old feelings overcome his hurt and anger. He's back in a 'relationship' with Allie before you can blink. It's unnerving when his feelings change and grow more adult and deeper than before. Jax has my favorite line, "I don't follow my dick around like it's motorized and speeding away from me in high gear." That one made me laugh out loud.

Our heroine, lets make that female love interest, is Allison "Allie" Murphy. She's Jax's high school/college girlfriend. During a summer break she takes off for an internship with a television network in LA. She convinces Jax that it's only for one summer and their relationship can stand that short time apart. Incredibly she lands a walk-on role on a show called America's Sweetheart that turns into a permanent job.. She changes her name to Nina Lockhart and her career takes off. I'd change my name to Rumpelstiltskin for a chance like that. She and Jax try a long distance relationship but we all know those end in either one person giving in or blowing up. They blew up. She wouldn't come home and he wouldn't move to LA.

Allie (Nina) has a Hollywood incident that threatens to ruin her career. She decides to go home to Mom and Dad and hide until she can figure out what to do. Her parents aren't around but Jax is. To hopefully salvage her reputation they pretend to date and it turns hot pretty quick. It's interesting and entertaining to watch their new relationship change, grow, be threatened again and, of course, work out in the end. If there wasn't a happy ending it wouldn't be a romance book. I think you'll find America's Sweetheart a sweet story and a good read. Enjoy and keep reading.

Allison Murphy left her small town life behind for the the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and never looked back; leaving behind a life that involved a love affair with a man she was certain would follow her, but he just didn't see the same future she did, and it hurt more than she ever thought it could. Once the heartbreak settled she put all her focus into her career, eventually landing the role of a lifetime and earning the success she craved, but that success came with a price, one that has earned her a negative place in the spotlight. Now all the negative attention is more than she can bare, it's caused her to doubt the sincerity of everyone around her, and has forced her to return to a place she hasn't called home in years.... and right back into the arms of the man who broke her heart years ago!

From the very first kiss Jackson Burke was certain that Allison was his future wife, everything about her and their relationship was perfect, then her dream came calling and she walked away... and it crushed him. In the years that have passed he's watched her find the fame she craved, and he can't help but hurt a little to know he was never enough for her, and that the life he dreamed they'd have wouldn't be enough either. He's tried moving on, but every woman he's dated has never compared, and he's beginning to think they never will... she was it for him. But unfortunately she is umpteen million miles away, and he's just a small blip in her past... or is she?

I have been anxiously awaiting for the opportunity to return to this series, and have the chance to get better acquainted with Jackson, and I have to say that he was definitely worth the wait!! He swooped in and captured my attention right from the start and had me hanging on his every word... he had my heart immediately! As soon as Allison blew back into his life and they shared their tension filled reunion, I knew that the story that lied ahead of them would be filled with angst, drama, heartfelt emotion, and hopefully lots of making up for lost time... and all I am going to say is that I got my wish... and then some, it was amazing!! America's Sweetheart is a gem of a tale, the characters personalities shine brightly on every page, and the story line is beautifully crafted; it's reunion story that should not be missed! Highly recommend!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.