Just One Chance (The Kingston Family #3)

by Carly Phillips

Blurb:

He thought she was the one…until she walked away. Now she’s back and he wants her more than ever.

As a former Marine, Xander Kingston’s writing keeps him sane. Bonus? His thrillers made him one of Hollywood’s most desired screenwriters—and also introduced him to a fledgling starlet who broke his heart. With his close-knit family in New York, Xander returned home and found peace. Until Sasha Keaton shows up at his Hamptons retreat. Now an A-Lister, she’s as beautiful as he remembers. And just as dangerous to his heart.

Sasha learned from watching her mother to never sacrifice her dreams for anyone—only to discover how empty life could be without the man she loved. Now cast in Xander’s latest movie, she needs his insight to play the part, but secretly hopes for a second chance.

Xander has built emotional walls to keep Sasha at a distance, but their physical attraction can’t be denied. When a stalker’s threats intensify, Xander moves Sasha into his house to keep her safe. Before long she's back in his bed and making inroads in his life.

But when the danger passes and the movie wraps, Sasha and Xander face a familiar choice—put career first or give love a fighting chance.

Themes: Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating:

Review:

Second chances are the most important loves but only if the two people involved take the time and give the effort to make that chance worth every moment. I loved seeing Carly Phillips take on this second chance at love and giving Xander and Sasha the ability to find one another again. This series has led us into some seriously intense emotional issues, from best friends having one night stands, to jilted brides falling into love with unexpected foes, to now a former flame coming back with the potential to reshatter a barely healed heart. Carly gives her all in each and every one of her stories, making her readers feel the pain and turmoil right alongside her characters and this story was certainly no exception. Every second had me in tears and anticipating what would happen next and knowing that Xander and Sasha has such a limited time period to find their way to peace and a long-lasting HEA made the story all the more intense. Xander never thought he’d have to face such close quarters with the woman that broke his heart years ago, but when Sasha is cast as the heroine in the movie adaptation of his latest novel his worst fears come true. Faced with having to see him every day, Sasha on the other hand is both terrified and thrilled to be in Xander’s orbit again and is determined to make the best of each moment, even when he’s being an ass. When a dangerous stalker puts Sasha in his sights, Xander knows that he is the best man to keep her safe, even if the chemistry between them is too much to resist. But even though the danger is escalating, the passion between them and the connection is quickly becoming more than either of them ever imagined they could have again. Now if they can just stay safe long enough to have a chance at a future.

Xander has grown up a lot since the first time he attempted a relationship with Sasha and though he still feels the pain of her loss, it’s obvious that he knows himself much better now. The problem is that men, even enlightened ones, can still be boneheads when it comes to relationships, which Xander proves quickly with his behavior toward Sasha. His caveman mentality of taking over her life, albeit for her safety, could be considered sexy but he also has to give Sasha the chance to be the smart and independent woman she has become in the years they were apart. Sasha has matured even more than Xander, because without the man she loved by her side she had no reason not to devote 100% of her time to her professional goals. She has spent all her time expanding on her career and she is exhausted, but having another chance with the man she loves is the best opportunity of her life and she will not give it up, even knowing heartbreak is at the end. I loved getting to know her more and see how sweet and loving she was with Xander and how smart and dedicated she was. She seems to be the perfect match for him in every way, even standing up to his alpha overprotectiveness several times so he knows she won’t let him walk all over her. The fiery passion between these two burned from the very first moment they crossed paths again and I loved seeing them embrace it and find a way back into one another's arms, as it’s obvious they never stopped loving one another. I am dying to find out what happens in the next story between Xander’s brother Dash and Sasha’s best friend Cassidy as we got some serious hints and sneak peaks in this story, but just enough to whet my appetite and make the waiting game painful. As usual Carly has hit another homerun and left me with the lasting love story of two people that were meant to be together finally getting Just One Chance (again) at their HEA.

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was provided.