Second Chance on Cypress Lane

After losing her job to a scandal, Dakota returns to her home town. Her high school sweetheart, Dexter, still lives there.

Dakota is a great character, well-written with nuance and emotion. In many ways, Second Chance On Cypress Lane is her story, as she decides who she wants to be and what she wants to do, separate from the expectations of others.

Dexter is not quite as well rounded at the beginning. However, over the story, his character becomes more complicated and realistic. The sparks between the two of them are excellent, as is the pacing of the novel.

Plus, I really enjoyed the details and setting on Holly Grove Island. This is one of those novels with great meals that leave me hungry and searching my pantry for ingredients to cook what I just read about.

The book clearly sets up later stories in the series. I've placed my bets on who gets the next story, and I can't wait to learn if I am correct. I'll definitely be reading the whole series. I recommend you start with Second Chance first.

I felt the beach in this one. For me, many books that are set in a beach town don't often feel like it, but the author did a great job at prosing with phrases like "...beach waves bounced behind her." and "...taste of the warm, salty air..."

The premise...a scandal. The problem....a breakup. The solution...understanding. The result...destiny.

I loved that the book flowed and wasn't forced. The connection between Dakota and Dexter was still there after all that time. I also loved the BIG CITY to SMALL TOWN life storyline. Loved that Dexter didn't have to force his way back into Dakota's life, even though he desperately wanted to. From lemon meringue pie, gossip, fun and Sin (Sinclair-the long, lost bestie) there are so many things to adore about this story!

Returning home again is a favorite for me. I think coming back to ones roots at some point is something we all share. Not all of it is as heart-warming as this story, but it is all just as real. Chasing the big city and all the big city life things when you grew up in a small community can be glamourous and make you feel important, but at some point, whether through tragedy or scandal, you realize it can also be just as empty and fleeting. Love isn't.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this story. This is my first book by this author and it will definitely not be my last. I look forward to reading more about these characters.

Thank you Forever for my review copy.
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It’s no secret that I love cozy Romance. It’s no secret that I love books based in my beloved North Carolina. Add these two together and what do you get? A new favorite series.
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I am absolutely smitten with this sweet little town and their sweet residents. Bring in a second chance romance and I’m sold. Dex & Dakota were delightful. I loved the sprinkling of steaminess...
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All in all, this is a series I will absolutely return to.

Why have I not read anything by Reese Ryan yet because I adored this book! The second chance romance between Dakota and Dexter was so sweet and I could not put this book down. I couldn’t wait to get to the end to see what would happen, but I also didn’t want it to end because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these characters. I’m eagerly awaiting the second book of the series to be released in 2021!

After a scandal ruins her job opportunities in New York, Dakota heads home to North Carolina to reevaluate things and spend time with her father. The one person she hopes not to see when she is home is her ex-boyfriend Dexter who broke her heart 17 years ago. But of course Dakota can’t avoid him and Dexter is hoping for a second chance or at least for Dakota to forgive him for the break-up that broke his heart as well.

Dexter quickly became one of my favorite male characters in a book. Once you find out why he originally broke up with Dakota, you can’t help but fall in love with him. He was so sweet and he was willing to risk his own happiness to ensure Dakota got everything she wanted. I loved that this book offered both Dakota and Dexter’s perspective on things, I feel it just adds so much more to the story when you know what both characters are thinking. The ending to me was perfect and I hope we’ll be catching up with Dakota and Dexter in Ryan’s next book in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Reese Ryan has written a sweet, sexy, second chance romance that has you pulling for both main characters and many of the supporting characters as well. You want everyone to succeed and find happiness. . .well almost everyone!

Dakota is a no nonsense, reporter who has returned home to Holly Grove from a long running career in New York. She lost her job and moves back to her childhood home where her widowed father is living. She finds he is in ok health although he hasn't been telling her the truth about it. She also finds that 5 years away from home (and since her mother's death) have changed a few things.

Dex is the high school love that Dakota left behind after he broke her heart. And Dex is still sexy as hell and just as kind and giving as ever. Dec gets a probationary role in the company he has been working for, the dream job he has been waiting for. And through random coincidence he ends up hiring Dakota for a consulting position.

Dex serving as Dakota's boss puts them in a strange position and ultimately helps bring the past to the present and brings the truth forward. But what is the real truth? Do they get a real second chance? Do they both keep their jobs? And where does everyone go after the truth is revealed?

Read this phenomenal story of love, passion, romance and second chances to see if they are real. Just know that you will be brought into the world of Holly Grove and Dex and Dakota. Enjoy!!

I’m a big fan of second chance romance. Reese Ryan did an awesome job.

Dakota Jones and Dexter Roberts were from a small town on Holly Grove Island near Pleasure Cove and were high school sweethearts; they were planning a future together. Dexter went away to Texas A & M on a football scholarship and Dakota was to follow him and attend the same school. Dexter returns home during Christmas break and informs Dakota that they can no longer see each other. Dakota heads to NYU to pursue a degree in journalism. While playing football Dexter gets hit by another player and his football career is over. Dakota obtains her journalism degree from NYU and decides to stay in New York and she is involved in a scandal and the news station lets her go.

It has been seventeen years since Dakota and Dexter parted ways. Dakota returns to her small town in Cypress Lane and is trying to figure out a way to inform her dad and best friend Sinclair that she was fired from her job because of a scandal. Unbeknownst to Dakota news travels fast in the small town about her being involved in a scandal. No one mentions it because Dakota is a hometown girl and a famous investigative reporter on TV.

Dexter returned home and he lands a job with his best friend Nick Washington who is director of sales and marketing at a new hotel resort on the island. Dexter informs Dakota that while she is home that Nick has job for her Dakota is reluctant but decides to take job as her funds are getting rather low.

Dexter is still so in love with Dakota but he knows that he has to come clean with her about the reason for the break up but he doesn’t want her to get upset with the person responsible for the break up.

This is an awesome second chance love story about family secrets, lost loves, new loves, not living your dream but someone else dream, coming together and forgiveness.

Can’t wait for Sinclair Dakota’s best friend, Garrett Dexter’s cousin, Nick Dexter’s best friend, Em Dexter’s sister and perhaps nosey Angela books to be written.

I received a notice that "Second Chance On Cypress Lane" was available for Auto Approval. thanks Reese Ryan and Netgalley.

First of all, second chance romances are my absolute favorite and this one was no exception. I had this book on my TBR list and was super excited when I was granted my request to read it through Netgalley and the publisher. Dakota came home to Cypress Lane after losing her job. Dex is her high school love that broke Dakota’s heart. He ends up hiring her.
This book was so fun and gave me all the feels. Good characterization and story flow. I can’t wait for more from this author.