My Kindle broke and I had to factory reset it and lost all of my Net Galleys, so I wasn't able to complete my read/review of Second Chance on Cypress Lane.

The archive date had already passed and I wasn't able to re-download it. I'll be catching this book from my local library.

Small town romances are slowly becoming more diverse and this book is a great example of how small towns romances don't have to be white. It's also a great second chance romance and I loved the little tidbits of the next couple of couples! Looking forward to the next one!

this was such a fun summer read! i really liked this book and it made me so ready for summer! i can't wait to get to travel again and i'm so pumped!!

I am always ready for a second-chance romance trope. This one did not disappoint. I enjoyed the escape to a charming coastal town full of wonderful characters. The characters in this book had strong family ties, and they were invested in each other's well-being. With the author's descriptions, I felt like I was there with the characters. I'm excited to read more from this author and series.

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever Publishing, for this free copy in exchange for my honest review.

A new series with a fun couple. Found this to be fairly predictable book, but liked the relationship of the characters. Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

After Dakota Jones loses her job as a report in NYC when the tabloids report on the fact that her Italian boyfriend is married, Dakota returns back home to Holly Grove Island to scandal die down and figure out what comes next. The last thing she wants to do is see her ex-boyfriend, Dexter Roberts, who broke her heart years ago. Dexter has never stopped loving Dakota and regretted walking away from her ever since the day he did. With Dakota back in town, Dexter hopes this is finally his chance to apologize for breaking her heart and convince her to give him a second chance.

This is the first in a series of books set on Holly Grove Island, and I look forward to reading more of them! It is a charming town, and the characters were well developed. I love a good second chance romance story, and this one was sweet. I hope we get to see Dakota and Dex organizing festivals like the one they researched in the future books!

An investigative reporter Dakota Jones loses her job in New York City due to a scandal with a married man and she is forced to return to her hometown Holly Grove Island, North Carolina to her dad and her best friend. Her return is only a temporary thing until she spends some time with them and figures out what she needs to do next.

Back at home, she meets Dexter her ex-boyfriend who dumped her seventeen years ago. He is her boss now at the hotel resort where she is working temporarily. Dexter and Dakota meet again on a rough note but gradually become an exceptional team at work.

I love stories about a second chance at love and I enjoyed this book a lot. It is a fast and perfect read with the coziness of the small island town. The characters are lovable, realistic, and relatable. This was my first book by Reese Ryan and I want to read the next book in this series.

I recommend it. 👍

This is my first Reese Ryan book and won’t be my last!! Such a sweet, sexy, cozy romance! I loved the second chance, old high school flames story line as well as the beautiful, charming beach setting. So well written and such an easy and entertaining read!

Second Chance on Cypress Lane is a sweet second Chance romance. I thought it was a cute story. I particularly loved the setting of this book. While I enjoyed Dakota and Dexter as individuals, I had a hard time finding the connection between them. This is partially due to the work place romance elements. Not my favorite trope. But I really enjoyed the community and setting, so I’ll be looking for the next book in the series! Dakota’s dad was my favorite.

Thank you the Forever for a copy of this book.

Moderated a panel with Reese Ryan and Annie Rains for Love's Sweet Arrow (on LSA's YouTube channel)

Reese was also part of the Fall Recipe Potluck on Fresh Fiction: https://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=10855

As well as interviewed in our Jen's Jewels column: https://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=11034

Reese has captured the small town life. Whether you grew up in one or not you can relate.

The imagery was everything. You can picture this place and the people in your mind vividly. You can feel the small town connection of it’s locals.

You can feel the chemistry between Dakota and Dex from the beginning. The hurt, the need for understanding and closure. This is now a time to find resolve and healing.

This is a must read. Take a break and head over to Holly Grove Island.

Dakota Jones is a rising star as a reporter. She's had her whole life planned out, and is finally reaching her dreams. Until when mistake ends in scandal and everything comes crashing down around her. Now without a job she returns to her little hometown of Holly Grove Island, back to her childhood home on Cypress Lane. But going back isn't easy as it sounds. 17 years ago Dakota's high school sweetheart, Dexter Roberts broke her heart. Dexter is still around, and still just as charming as ever. But he broke her heart, she can't possibly still care about him, right? And there is no way he could still love her, after all this time, right? Memories cover Holly Grove Island for Dakota; it wasn't a bad place to live, she just wanted more. Or does she? Maybe amidst all that's happened, she'll finally get a chance to find out.

Second Chance on Cypress Lane is a sweet story about just that, second chances. It's not just the second chance for Dakota and Dexter though. It's also for Dakota and her best friend Sin, for Dakota's dad, and more. Second chances come in all shapes and sizes, and they are always beautiful.

I really enjoyed the plot, and I loved the characters. They had a lot of depth, and a lot of backstory. The development of Dakota and Dexter's relationship was nice, and the character growth felt well paced. There were some slow spots, but a few excellent twists made up for it. The only downside for me, was the repetitiveness. Every single chapter repeated the main dilemma for the characters at that moment. I don't mind when this happens a little bit, but all the time was a bit much.

Other than that one thing though, I really did enjoy the book. It was sweet, fun, and made me want to go to a little beach front town. I would definitely recommend this to any romance lover!

This was a cute story. I am glad that I read it, but it wasn’t a,“ I can’t put the book down” type of story. Plenty of details, great characters, and the story of a first love squashed before the flame burned out. Enjoy!

Loved reading this book. Can't wait for the next book in the series. If you haven't read it yet I highly recommend it

This book was sweeet. the perfect dip your toes romance for friends just looking to start reading it! i couldn’t get enough once i got into it.

it was a bit slow in some places & often not what i was expecting, but i loved the characters & the ending.

Second chance romance set in a small town. This book was a delight. i loved chatting with Reese about the writing process and how she came up with the small town.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Reese Ryan, and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I tried to like this book, I really did, but I really didn’t. It was terribly boring, the entire thing was cliche, and the romance was not swoony or cute or anything. It was all very robotic and too expected. I did not connect with any of the characters at all as they were dull, did not have personality, and nothing to draw the reader to them. The setting of the story was cute, and sounds like somewhere I would like to visit.

The writing of this left a lot to be desired for me. It felt too much like it was written in a way the author thought the readers would want. It’s not my kind of love story. I enjoy the feels real moments and this was definitely lacking that.

Second Chance on Cypress Lane is the first book of the Holly Grove Island series by Reese Ryan. It is a warm and friendly contemporary novel with some nice sexy bits. Dakota Jones returns to her hometown after an embarrassing love affair severely damages her career as a television reporter. While she loves returning to her father and her best friend, she is reluctant to encounter her teenage love that rejected her years before. Little does she know that Dexter Roberts has long been regretting how he treated her and still harbors a love for her. The small town where they live is quaint and charming, with everyone knowing everyone's business. Some nice secondary characters add to the atmosphere. Dakota and Dexter have quite a few feelings and issues to work through to achieve their HEA.

This was a really nice story. The conflict seemed a bit drawn out, but I liked how the main characters matured. Their romance seemed genuine. The author did a good job of preparing us for subsequent books.

ARC provided through Netgalley.

Sweet, sultry and oh so satisfying! With the first book in her new Holly Grove Island series, Reese Ryan brings a small town to life with a slow-burn reunion of first loves! The characters are richly developed, the setting is comforting and the plot held my attention throughout. I'm looking forward to a return trip!

Dakota is attention grabbing from the start. She never thought she'd be returning to her small hometown after setting out to set the world on fire in the New York broadcasting scene, but an unexpected scandal has rocked her entire foundation.

Dexter is a sweetheart. He can't believe the woman he's never gotten over is back in town, but those old feelings don't take long to overflow once again.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a small town setting with a lot of heart.

Yes y'all, here I am with another cute small town romance! Forever Romance is out there publishing the best of them. LAST CHANCE ON CYPRESS LANE features some of my favorite tropes: Dakota returns home to her small town on the Outer Banks (Holly Grove Island) after losing her job, only to find her ex, Dexter, is trying to atone for his mistakes and is just as handsome as she remembers. This is an Own Voices romance, which made it even better - so many of these small town companions series are usually full of white characters.

The two end up working together for the new resort on the island and sparks fly between them. In hindsight, there isn't a ton of plot in this book - they visit a jazz festival in Newport, RI to get some ideas for their resort and can clearly tell their feelings are back. There's a bit of back and forth while she rediscovers her love for the island.

There were a few secrets everyone was holding back from each other that were the main causes of miscommunication. I don't want to spoil anything but one thing in particular was a bit odd and extreme, which put me off for a bit.

Clearly the Holly Grove Island setting will be an amazing place to explore in the next books. I love taking guesses at who the next main characters are. Her best friend, Sinclair, better have her own book at some point soon! I'm really excited to see where this series goes next.