I love second chance romance, childhood friends, and small town romance, so this story was very enjoyable. I especially liked the friendship between Sin and Dakota as it felt so realistic, and Sin was just a lot of fun. I also liked the build up to learning why Dakota and Dexter originally split, and I think it was well placed because it let me learn more about Dexter and their current relationship before knowing all the facts. I think the main thing I didn't enjoy about this story is that it felt really repetitive in that the characters kept mentally rehashing the same information every couple of chapters. Overall though it was a cute romance with characters I loved and a great setting that made the town feel like its own character.

I received an ARC from Forever (Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley for an honest review. Dakota was really close to becoming the lead anchor but she got fired because of a scandal. She hadn't been home to visit her father for a while so she decided to go home to visit. Once she got there she saw how much weight her father had lost in the six months since he had come to New York to see him.
Her high school sweetheart, Dex, had moved back and he is the one who told her that her father had diabetes. As I continued to read, I saw how she was picking herself back up and the changes that were happening. This wasn't a smooth sailing story, it had its ups and downs, the community members we meet, are the well-loved members of a small town, and it is will someone really stubborn stop and think about maybe there is a compromise. There are also secrets along the way which adds more spice to keep you enjoying this book. The story takes us on Dakota's journey and it is like most of our journey's which is one reason I loved this book. Second chances isn't always a second chance at love, it is also picking yourself up from a mistake you made, learning that other people's decisions might have been different than what you always thought and you decide what you are going to do about it. I enjoyed this story and life does have a way of making us see things differently sometimes.

This is such a wonderful feel-good book! I loved it!. Reese Ryan is an excellent author. The storyline and characters are very well written.

This is a great start to a new series! Dakota comes back home to Holly Grove Island after losing her job and a romance with a married man. The author writes an inspiring story about starting over. This is the perfect chick lit to lose yourself in.

Sometimes as a reader you need a nice and gentle read which cleanses your reading palette from all of the debauchery, crime and grime of the genres that I love. I generally accomplish this cleanse by reading a good cozy mystery or a light romance. Second Chance on Cypress Lane does the job quite well. It is a charming old flame romance set in an idealic coastal southern town in North Carolina.The book features Dakota and Dexter two former HS sweethearts whom still love each other but won't tell each other.

Now I love a really good unhurried second chance love story, and what I enjoyed about this one is that Ms. Reese deftly conveyed that Dakota and Dexter shared a destiny but she also focused on how they both had changed but that evolution did not diminish their passion for one other which only made their unspoken love stronger. The one drawback of second chance romance as trope is when characters reminisce about the past too much. After a while it can feel a bit redundant, and Ms. Ryan did fall into the redundancy trap, I would have loved to have seen more witty, smart and engaging dialogue between Dakota and Dexter to reveal who they are now as human beings and to showcase their chemistry. In my opinion, focusing on the past consistently in each character's mind without actual flashback scenes took away from the reader reveling in their chemistry. Still, I liked this book and it's message of love and loyalty in this small town community.

A Second Chance on Cypress Lane is a very good romance and is perfect for readers who enjoy gentle reads with some spice. I rate it 3.75 stars, I am really looking forward to continuing the series. Ms. Reese crafted a cozy coastal community while introducing the reader to characters that I am excited about getting to know in the future, particularly nosy Sin, clueless Em, and my favorite messy Angela.

I love a small town romance. The author did an amazing job painting a descriptive picture of this small island town in the Outer Banks. I could picture it in my head as I was reading. It makes me want to visit the area.

I liked both of the main characters Dex and Dakota. I could feel the heartbreak that they both felt from being apart. I rooted for them getting a second chance at love.

The relationship between Dakota and Sin showed a lasting friendship especially on the part of Sinclair. Everyone could use a friend like her. I look forward to reading more about these amazing characters. I highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley, Reese Ryan and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC of Second Chance on Cypress Lane. This is my personal review.
Dakota and Dexter were high school sweethearts after breaking up Dexter regrets breaking up.
Dakota returns home to Holly Grove Island after a scandal affects her career. This is a chance for Dakota to prove to her that the breakup was a huge mistake.
This is the first book in a new series, Holly Grove Island Series.
The book was a comfy second chance romance. It was slow reading at times for me.

Second Chance on Cypress Lane was a wonderful second chance love story between Dakota and Dexter. They were high school sweethearts and Dexter has always regretted breaking up with her.

Dakota returns home after a scandal affects her career, and I really enjoyed watching the development of their relationship as they get to know each other again. The small town of Holly Grove Island and its residents were entertaining and I am looking forward to reading more about them in future books!

Scandal sends Dakota back to her small town beach home. SHe’s stayed away for the past 5 years and only infrequently visited since high shcool… being dumped by your first love can do that to you.

Now that Dakota is finally back in Holly Grove, Dexter will do anything to get back into her good graces after breaking both their hearts with their break up years ago… can they become friends again? Could they become more?? The possibility seems viable until their work situations line up to make Dexter Dakota’s boss…

This was a sweet coming home story that really focused on the idea that you can always come home. Dakota has been gone for so long, but Holly Springs is still her home and welcomes her back into the fold with open arms. She reconnects not only with her first love, but old friends and strengthens her relationship with her father.

Low on steam, but high on relationship building, this was a comforting read and it made me long for a chance to revisit the South Carolina coast!

Second Chance on Cypress Lane by Reese Ryan is scheduled to release December 1st, 2020.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Forever Grand Central Publishing) through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#SecondChanceonCypressLane #ReeseRyan #Netgalley #pinkcowlandreads

I was excited to read Reese's first foray out of category romance but unfortunately I don't think this has the same spark as her old books. This series isn't for me.

I loveeeee the second chance romance. And books about small places. This one was good not the best, but it has it's moments.
It was a little slow for my taste.
All in all 3.5 stars

Second Chance on Cypress Lane introduces us to Dexter and Dakota (D & D). They were high school sweethearts who had their whole life p!banned. Unfortunately, their plans changed. Second Chance on Cypress Lane has potential, but it is a slow read. The story line is missing that love feeling. I am usually a fan of Ms. Ryan's books. This particular book did not hold my interest as much. I kook forward to continue reading the next book in the series.

3.5⭐️
As evidenced by the title, this is a second chance romance set in the most adorable small NC beach town - and don’t let the sweet cover fool ya, there is steam hidden inside! After losing her job as a TV news reporter in NYC, Dakota returns home to her widowed Dad. Of course she runs into her HS boyfriend, Dexter, who crushed her heart with an unexpected breakup.

I enjoyed being along for the ride as Dakota and Dex rediscovered each other and as Dakota rediscovered her love for the small town she grew up in. I did find myself wanting for a bit more connection between them, which sometimes happens for me with third person POV. It’s a slow burn and things got a little more electric after the steam kicked in! The friends, locals, and family were all so lovely - I will be so excited to read more of this series!!!

This made me want to escape to a beach right now. This is a super cute read about a small island full of hot men, jazz, sweet tea, and home feels! I liked that this was a mid 30s romance and wish there was more of those out. It did take me a bit to get into this one. This is a second chance romance for high school sweethearts that haven't seen each other in over a decade.
I found out I'm not a fan of 3rd person which this book is, I don't enjoy them as much.

Overall, 3.5 stars and 3 steam

This is a great story of love and second chances. You definitely are left in suspense for quite a while trying to figure out how it will work. It’s a sweet story of love and a steamy reunion.

I was fortunate enough to get an ebook version of this book to review from #Netgalley & @readforeverpub in exchange for an honest review.

I liked a lot of things about this book. I always appreciate reading more about the struggles black men & women face in today's society. Things I never thought of as a white woman like how Dakota felt forced to change her hair to help get ahead as a broadcaster. It shows we still have so far to go. I liked the small town atmosphere & how Dakota was able to rebuild so many important relationships.

What frustrated me was how many YEARS LONG misunderstandings could have been solved by the characters having more open & honest communication. I can understand it to a point but it got a to be a little much. I also would have loved to see more of the friendship between Sin & Dakota.

Overall it was an enjoyable read for me.

So happy I could get myself enough time and space to get this in before publication day. TRULY enjoyed this work, as I knew I would because Reese Ryan does not miss.

Love the small town atmosphere of the island, like family. I am a big fan of a slow burn, the long glances, the longing thoughts at night. And then the coming together of our couple just feels like an enormous sigh of relief.

Count me in for more from this series. I already see several starts I want to watch bloom.

Dakota runs back home when her career implodes and stays with her father to regroup. Holly Grove Island is a typical small town where everyone knows everything and her first love, Dexter, still is.

This is a sweet second chance romance, but it was way too much of a slow burn for me. It took forever to get to the actual romance and not a lot of steam so people who prefer less steam will enjoy it. The forbidden work aspect seemed too contrived and tied up too neatly.

I liked all the characters and the town. I didn’t quite understand Dakota’s mom who had passed away. For as much as they sang her praises, the memories and actions shared really didn’t support that. However, I really liked her dad and his storyline.

Overall, a sweet second chance romance. Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.

Reporter Dakota Jones has high dreams for her career but all that ends when she finds herself embroiled in a scandal that ruins her reputation. After losing her weekend anchor position, Dakota decides to return home to Holly Grove, out of the spotlight. The only problem is in a small town, she is bound to run into the man who was once her first love.

Dexter Roberts ended his relationship with Dakota when they were teens but he has never forgotten his first love. When he learns Dakota has returned home, Dex knows he has to grab this second chance to make things right. He has never loved anyone like her and hopes they can move forward from the past to an even better future.

Reese Ryan delivered in this second chance romance! I loved Dakota and Dexter's story and found them believable. I love small town reads and how she was able to effortlessly bring the town and beach to life using her descriptions. Dexter was such a great and well-written character. I could feel his sincerity and I found myself rooting for him. I could see how he changed from a youth to a man and there is nothing sexier than a man who goes after what he wants--respectfully, of course.

I think readers who love sweet readers will eat this up. This is the first in this series and I believe the other books will be just as good. Reese Ryan has set up the supporting characters to provide for so many good tales. I look forward to more in this series.
Thank you #Netgalley and #Forever

I've been an avid reader of Reese Ryan for quite sometime and have always enjoyed her stories. So when I got the chance to read her small town second chance romance I was thrilled. I love seasoned couples finding love while dealing with grown folk issues.
When Dakota Jones is forced to leave her reporter job in New York because of a romance gone terribly wrong returning to her small hometown and the house she grew up in with her father is her only option. She feels like a failure and she wants no one to know the real reason for her return. She also has no desire to see the ex boyfriend who broke her heart 17 years ago.
Dexter Roberts has his on secrets that he has been dealing with for 17 years and his biggest regret is breaking Dakota's heart. When he sees her again all he can think about is a second chance with his love which is not going to be easy.
Finding out his secret you can't help but like the selfless romantic man that wears his heart on his sleeve. He will risk all he's worked for to prove that he and Dakota deserve this second chance.
I enjoyed this book however I felt it dragged some but overall it was a very cute story. I'm waiting on the next book in this series.
Thank you Net Galley for this ARC and the opportunity to give it an honest review.