Title: I Want You Back by Lorelei James
Want You Series Book One
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 400 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James kicks-off her Want You Series with a Lund family cousin hot enough to melt the ice and mend a broken heart.
Former NHL star Jaxson Lund has returned to the Twin Cities, but he’s at loose ends, unsure if he belongs at Lund Industries, or where he stands with Lucy, his ex-girlfriend and mother of his daughter, Mimi. Despite the signs she’d like to leave him in the penalty box, the attraction burning between them reinforces his determination to prove that he deserves a second chance…
Lucy Quade is in a good place with a steady job, a nice apartment, and a well-adjusted daughter, which is why she’s hesitant when Jax insists on co-parenting. It’s not that Lucy doesn’t trust Jax…she’s just unconvinced he can handle multiple responsibilities when he’s been singularly focused on playing hockey. But when issues arise with Mimi, Lucy’s shocked at how levelheaded and paternal he acts, giving her a glimpse of the Jax she used to know, the sexy, sweet man she fell for years ago.
Once Lucy lets her guard down, Jax goes all in to show her how good they are together, but will their past remain too large an obstacle to ever overcome?
Review:
I Want You Back by Lorelei James is an endearing second chance at love romance. This newest release is the first installment in the Want You series (which is a spinoff of the Need You series).
Now retired from the NHL , Jaxson “Jax” Lund has moved back home and he is trying to make amends for his past mistakes. Now sober, he is determined to make up for lost time with his eight year old daughter, Mimi. Jax also wants to atone for the mess he made of his relationship with Mimi’s mother, Lucy Quade. His drinking and womanizing lead to the end of their romance and years of Jax taking her to court over custody battles and child support payments. He knows he is responsible for the demise of their relationship but Jax is hoping it is not too late to convince Lucy to forgive him and give him a second chance.
Lucy is independent, feisty and speaks her mind. While she is willing to let bygones be bygones, she is hesitant to completely trust Jax. His past actions hurt both her and Mimi but in the present, he has done nothing to cause her to worry he is reverting to past behavior. Lucy is still attracted to Jax but she does not if she can believe the changes in him are permanent. She is disappointed that he has been keeping secrets but will this prevent her from giving Jax a fair chance to prove he has genuinely changed?
Jax made huge mistakes during his hockey career. He made massive errors in judgment that ended his relationship with Lucy and will have lifelong repercussions. Jax has learned from his mistakes and his determination to prove himself is believable and quite touching. Lucy also has some emotional baggage from her childhood that she must make peace with before she can make a decision about her future with Jax. Will Lucy and Jax be able overcome their fraught past?
I Want You Back is a marvelous romance that realistically depicts addiction and the consequences of Jax’s decisions. Lucy and Jax are well-rounded characters that are flawed but immensely appealing. Lorelei James’s first installment in the Want You series is a beautifully written story of forgiveness and redemption that is heartwarming and uplifting. Readers will be impatiently awaiting the next release in this wonderful series.
