This was a pretty good second chance, small town romance. I liked that single mom, guy who didn't know he was a dad redemption arc and the sensitive, my child might be gay discussions. But overall this was just an okay story for me. I don't know if it's the narrator or what but this series as a whole so far just hasn't been doing it for me. Probably a me thing, definitely decide for yourselves! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Kelly Siskind has created a series of 4 brothers who at a crucial time in their lives were torn from everything they knew and thrown into witness protection. Their stories are tender and heartbreaking, the lows are super low, but the HEA is not to be missed. Des is a complicated guy who was torn from last school and the love of his life. His comeback story is uplifting and heartwarming.

After reading 50 ways to Win Back Your Lover I was instantly intrigued by Desmond's character and storyline and this book fulfilled all my hopes. I loved reading this book from Desmond's point of view as I felt I got to fully understand him behind his rough exterior and see how much of a caring character he is. His chemistry with Sadie is perfect though I would've enjoyed more scenes of their past but considering what this book includes I understand why they couldn't be included due to length. What I loved even more than Desmond's relationship with Sadie was his relationship with Max. Despite his fears and the rocky start he realised his mistakes and was able to develop into an amazing father and have a great relationship with his kid. Definitely recommend.

I wished I read the previous book first to get to know the characters a little better. But, either way it was a fun book and I enjoyed it a lot.

10 Signs You Need to Grovel is the first book that I've read by author Kelly Siskind and I quite enjoyed it. It had some of my favorite tropes, second chance, unknown child, and family drama. I found this book to be refreshing because the entire book was from the male lead's POV, which is rare in romances. Typically you see either dual or the female lead's POV, so only seeing it from Desmond's perspective was nice. Through out the book you saw him struggle with going back to the life he once wanted, before his father's past mistakes lead to his entire family having to enter the witness protection program, and Desmond figuring out if he wants that life back.
One aspect that I liked was that not for one second did Desmond not think about going back to his one true love Sadie. The only reason he didn't go back to her sooner is he thought she had a family so he didn't want to mess that up for her, and he was also afraid to find out the truth. I also liked that when Desmond found out about his son Max, even though he was scared out of his mind about being a dad, he stepped up and was ready to do whatever he needed for Max.
My only problem with this book was the pacing. As much as I enjoyed the plot, I found it very slow going. So it took me a while to get to a point that I was more into the story.

Sadly this book wasn't for me. I felt it drag more than it should and I just couldn't keep up with it. Dnfed it at 20%

I waited for months for this book and honestly the wait paid off. After finally meeting Sadie properly and getting an insight into Des's story, his thoughts and processes, it felt like I could read the entire book in one night.

Seeing how Des, despite his doubts and fears, was ready to do anything and everything to be a father figure to Max warmed my heart to no extent. The development and progress of their story was well-paced, smooth and altogether so perfect.

This was an absolute masterpiece. It was fast paced and I easily got into it. The relationships were portrayed very well and I loved how we got to see them evolve. Des is going in the top three book boyfriends category, that man was pure perfection. I liked how he got to find himself and what he likes. My baby, Max was the cutest. Seriously, most of the times I don't like kids in books, but this one is the exception. Kelly Siskind can do no wrong!

This was a sweet book about second chances that had a great premise and very relatable characters but would have been even better if the details were tighter. There was no groveling in this book since it was clear that Desmond's circumstances were beyond his control. Also, the elaborate ruse to get close to his son seemed overly complicated and unnecessarily deceptive. These details were distracting and the romance got lost somewhere in there.

I couldn't wait for Des’s book after how "50 Ways to Win Back Your Lover” ended. Des needed a good motivating factor to reach out to his family, but also that push to show Sadie that he would be there for the long haul with Sadie and their kid Max.

The connecting to Max through the hiking for kids group was super nice and really well meant. I'm glad that it turned out so well for Desmond and Max and that it was such a great bonding experience for them. I also like that Sadie was able to be a co-leader in the hikes with Des and the kids. Overall a very sweet book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Second-Chance Romance

Desmond was the golden child. He had everything going for him. But he was still just a kid when he had to enter WITSEC. He had to leave behind everything, and while he knows that he was lucky to leave with his family – with the exception of why he had to enter – he loves his brothers and his mom. But WITSEC changed him in a fundamental way.

Now that he can go back to being Desmond, he's not sure if he wants that. But when his brother shows up with some life changing news, Desmond knows that it's time to go back.

Sadie thought her world had collapsed when she lost Desmond. They had their lives planned out. She loved him and he loved her. When that fell apart, Sadie had to start over. This time, she knows that she has to make it on her own for the sake of Max.

When Sadie and Desmond come back together, it's a long, drawn-out process. And while I can appreciate all of the time that's passed, their communication styles still stink. Both still seem kind of stuck in the past and not willing to lean into the future.

This was a fun book, mostly for the other characters. The hikers were a hit for me, and I loved how they and Desmond really drew the best from each other.

I would have liked more resolution or something between the two main characters. It seemed like a lot was left unsaid and hanging for me.

I like this series, but I was hoping for a lot more in this story.

I have been waiting for Desmond's story since I read the first one. I loved how much Sadie brings back the warmness and love of Desmond who has been so coldhearted after their breakup. And man, it wasn't for a short period of time. They had to wait for 10 years to get their second chance. And it was oh-so delicious to see. I highly recommend this book.

It’s been a decade since Desmond was torn from the future he planned and the woman he loved. He and has family has spent that time in Witness Protection and now that the danger is only he doesn’t know how to move forward with his life until he learns that not only has the only woman he ever loved returned to her hometown but she wasn’t alone.

Sadie had no choice but to move forward with her life not only for herself but her son Max as well. Desmond’s reappearance in their lives was unexpected but the feelings between them hadn’t diminished over time and it isn’t long before he shows her that he is determined to forge a relationship with the son that he didn’t know he had.

Desmond was disappointed with the life he was living but Sadie and Max give him purpose and make him want to be the man they both deserve.

I adore and love Kelly Siskind! Every book of hers makes this even more true! She’s just a lovely and kind Canadian soul.

Her latest release, 10 Signs You Need to Grovel (book 2 in the Bower Boys), is maybe my favorite one from her yet - I love all her books so much and it’s really hard to pick, but there are so many special things here. A big thing with this series is that they are all told entirely from the male POV - it’s so unique and fresh and interesting, that this, right off the bat, makes the whole series extraordinary.

Book 2 is the story of Des (Desmond) who has pined over his lost girlfriend Sadie, since he had to disappear when the family was ripped from their home in the middle of the night 10 years earlier, and thrown into witness protection, without so much as a word to anyone they were leaving behind. He had been about to propose that night until nerves got the better of him… to his nightmares for the next 10 years! He hasn’t been in touch with his family in a while because he can’t handle them moving on and being happy while he’s still miserable daily. The PI he hired to look into Sadie once it seemed their situation might be ending seems to have led to finding out she had a child - that she’s moved on past him. He just can’t deal.

When his family ambushes him with the news that the child, Max, is HIS 10 year old son - well, we get the incredible second chance romance that is this awesome book, where they bond, make so many self-discoveries about themselves and each other, have a book club, draw, hike, and he reconnects and tries to win Sadie back (with the groveling). Oh, and did I mention what an incredible dad he is to get his son to talk and open up by having a book club together, and to have him design a tattoo??!

Amazing book, amazing author - go get this book (both in the series, and all her other books) now! It’s out in KU and audio!! I cannot wait for May when we get book 3! It’s too far away…

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and Montlake and this is my honest feedback.

Really liked it!! Love experiencing this family of brother get their lives back.

This Book 2 in the Bower Boys series by Canadian author Kelly Siskind but can be read as a standalone. But you will want to meet all the brothers, so go read E's book as well 😃. Kelly is an author I am so happy to have discovered.

The thing I love about this series is that it is single POV from the male MC's POV. Not something I seen in romance.

This is such a great small town, second chance, open-door romance with amazing characters, heartfelt moments, and funny banter.

I loved both Des and Sadie. Sadie showed Des such grace and he really needed that to thrive and grow to be a better man.

Hilarious secondary characters that make the book including my favs, Olivia and Merielle. Olivia is such a little firecracker and I learned so much from her. Love a smart ass kid! I actually found myself chuckling at the banter between her and Des.

There were so many lessons in this story and loved the author handled the situation with Des getting Integrated into Max's life. It was beautiful to experience that relationship develop. Life threw everything at Des and it felt like such victory to witness him finding his way as a father and romantic partner to Sadie.

I can't wait for the third book in the series. These brothers have my heart.

Thanks to Montlake and netgalley for this great read.

Back in September I devoured an ARC of 50 Ways to Win Back Your Lover by Kelly Siskind, the first book in the Bower Boys series, which follows five brothers who have been in witness protection for ten years after their father was arrested for a money laundering scheme. 50 Ways is a second-chance romance for Edgar, the youngest brother. The next book in the series, which is available today, 10 Signs You Need to Grovel, follows Desmond, one of the older brothers. While this is also a second-chance romance in a small town, the main character has spent his time in WITSEC becoming a tattooed bad boy and a grump! Luckily his former flame is sunshine-y and spunky - and she’s the mother of his child, Max, whose existence is a recent revelation. Desmond wants to get to know Max - and his realistic conversations with him brought tears to my eyes. I love the premise of these books, and they're so fun to read! They are available on KU, and book three is coming in early May! Thanks to NetGalley and the author for my advanced copies in exchange for my honest opinion. I definitely recommend this series, and this book in particular, if you're looking for a good romance with an interesting premise and great character development.

4.5 stars

The first book, 50 Ways to Win Back Your Lover, was hands down one of my favorite books in 2022. to say that I was excited about this book and to be back in the Bower Boys world would not be a stretch of the imagination. I was right in feeling that way because this book and these brothers are special. The storyline is different and fresh. It is not one that I have encountered in romance, and I read a lot of romance. The repercussions of what their father cost them are huge and crippling. Yet, these men take it and still persevere.

The author does an incredible job and making her characters come alive, and that was especially true of Des. I cannot imagine what this must have been like for him and what he lost. In the first book, you could see how the previous years had hardened him, as it should have considering he had an almost picture-perfect life. I loved seeing him process this and soften. I liked seeing how he navigated the fallout of his father's actions. I felt connected with him and felt his anger and his disillusionment. I am not, generally, a fan of Second chance romances but if they were written like this I would be because this was beautiful.

Witty dialogue, fantastic characters, and an authentic and mesmerizing storyline kept me engaged from the first page to the last page. I cannot wait to read the next book. This book will definitely be in my top books of 2023.

3 stars

I feel like this was overall a very sweet father/son story more than a romance book.
I liked several things about it like our hero's relationship with his son and how it developed and the family aspects BUT for a romance book this was very lacking.
I feel like with a dual pov I'd enjoyed this a lot more.
Also... the title feels a bit misleading because I kept wondering "where is the groveling?" And I think that also pulled me out of the story because I was expecting that and didn't get it.
I might read book one maybe in the future and reread this one maybe I'll enjoyed it more that way. Still a sweet book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Desmond Bower e sua família viveram os últimos dez anos em um programa de proteção a testemunhas. Agora, livres para poderem voltar a viver suas vidas novamente, Desmond descobre que tem um filho de dez anos com a mulher que nunca esqueceu, Sadie Jones. E não há motivo maior para que ele decida voltar a colocar sua vida nos eixos.

Tivemos um pequeno vislumbre de Desmond em 50 Ways to Win Back Your Lover e como ele estava perdido por conta do acontecido. Apesar de toda a cara de marrento e as tatuagens mal feitas, Des é um homem de coração enorme, um tanto sensível demais e bastante altruísta.

Pelos olhos de Des, vemos que Sadie é uma mulher forte e resiliente, que teve que se virar sozinha com um bebê a caminho, sem saber o que aconteceu, e vemos que tudo acabou relativamente bem com Max sendo uma criança maravilhosa. Ela teve que abdicar de seus sonhos, mas em nenhum momento ela se ressente em relação ao seu filho e em suas ações vemos que ela faria tudo de novo.

A reaproximação desses três se dá de forma gradual. Ainda há um sentimento entre Sadie e Des, mas os dois sabem que não são mais aqueles dois jovens de dez anos atrás. Já com Max, ele está ansioso por se conectar ao filho mas também sabe também dar espaço para a criança se acostumar com sua presença; mas a conexão entre os dois é de primeira.

Outra relação que devo destacar é entre Desmond e a pequena Olivia. Eu me rachava de rir das interações dele com a mini Freud. Também gostei de ver mais dos irmãos e como eles se apoiam, apesar que suas provocações eram melhores ainda.

A narração é feita apenas por Desmond é bem divertida. Sua jornada individual também é bem legal, já que ele está muito preso ao seu eu do passado e ele vai descobrir que esse não é o que Sadie e Max precisam em suas vidas.

Agora estou super curiosa para a história de Lennon, que ela vem jogando indiretas desde o primeiro livro sobre seu passado com Maggie e por isso não vejo a hora de ler 6 Clues Your Nemesis Loves You.

The author sure knows how to write a charming book, with just enough drama to keep the readers on their toes, a lot of humor, compelling side characters–sometimes even more than the main characters–and a witty writing style that puts a smile on the readers’ face.

Considering the premise–a family that’s been on witness protection for more than ten years finally comes back to the small town they lived in before–it’s again a second chance romance. We had hint at a girl left behind in Desmond’s life in the previous book, with E eager to help his brother get back to the love of his life. We also learn that Des left something else behind: a son he wants to meet and take care of.

So we have this guy who left town successful and on his path to a bright future, but whom leaving behind his girlfriend broke him, making him angry and prompt to bad decisions. He literally lost his future, and lived day by day. But coming back to Sadie, and their boy, means forging a new future to stay in their lives forever. With the book told exclusively through Desmond’s point of view, we experience his struggles, his misunderstandings, his doubts, and his epiphanies.

I loved that, especially given the path he chooses to start his new life. It put him in hilarious situations, and forced him to reconsider who he is and what he wants. Thankfully, he has people around him to guide him, because he’s quite lost at first.

Desmond with Sadie–the romance of the book–was nice. They have good chemistry, and a past full of memories together. That means cute scenes, seriously hot scenes, and some arguments when the time comes to make decisions. But the very best part of this book is Desmond with Max, his son. They have lots of conversations, with Des discovering a bit more of the kid each time, and learning how to be a father. It was beautiful.

Also good? Desmond with Olivia. Through his interactions with the little girl, he’s exercising his parenting skills.

The Bower family is something else for sure, but the love the brothers and their mother share is inspiring, and makes for emotional scenes.

It’s a perfect score for this series for now. Fingers crossed for the next book.

Quickie

- Series: Bower boys #2 (can be read as a standalone)
- Hashtags: #small town romance #second chance romance #single mother #secret baby
- Triggers: past parental psychological abuse, mention of cheating from a side character
- Main couple: Sadie Jones & Desmond Bower
- Hotness: 3/5
- Romance: 5/5
- + the positive reactions to a child possibly coming out
- – communication, guys, it’s a thing