BEGIN AGAIN (Stay 3.6/ 1001 Dark Nights) by Jennifer Probst-Review &tour
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 28, 2020
Chloe Lake is finally living her dream. As the daughter of the Governor, she’s consistently in the spotlight, and after being dubbed the Most Eligible Bachelorette of NYC, both her career and personal life has exploded. Fortunately, her work as an advocate for animal welfare requires constant publicity and funding, so she embraces her role and plays for the camera—anything for the sake of her beloved rescues.
But when a big case is on the line, she’s faced with the one obstacle she never counted on: the boy who broke her heart is back, and in order to gain justice, they need to work together.
Chloe swears she can handle it until old feelings resurface, and she’s faced with a heartbreaking choice.
Will this time end differently—or are they destined to be only each other’s first love—instead of forever?
Owen Salt fell hard for Chloe when he was a screwed-up kid in college, and spent the next years changing himself into the man his grandfather believed he was capable of. But when his career led him across the country, he knew he needed to leave the woman he loved behind. He’s never forgotten her, but as the new darling of the press, now, she’s way out of his league. When work brings him back to fight for justice by her side, he swears he can handle it.
But he’s never really gotten over his first love—and he wants one more opportunity to prove he’s a man who’s worthy.
Can Owen convince the woman who holds his heart to take a second chance on forever—or is it too late for them both?
Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series.
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REVIEW:BEGIN AGAIN by Jennifer Probst is a contemporary, adult romance storyline set in the author’s STAY series, and the latest instalment in the multi-authored 1001 Dark Nights series. This is attorney Owen Salt, and advocate for animal welfare Chloe Lake’s story line. BEGIN AGAIN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Chloe’s story begins in book one THE START OF SOMETHING GOOD.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Chloe and Owen) BEGIN AGAIN follows the second chance romance between twenty six year old attorney Owen Salt, and twenty-eight year old animal advocate Chloe Lake. Approximately seven years earlier, Owen Salt walked away from the woman he loved in an effort become the best man he could possibly be but in doing so Owen destroyed our heroine’s heart. Fast forward to present day wherein Owen returns to New York, as the new lawyer for Chloe’s animal rights group, a position that forces Chloe to work side by side with the man that cause her so much heart ache and pain. With another suitor hoping to make Chloe is own happily ever after, Owen must step up his game if he is going to prove to Chloe that he is a changed and better man. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Owen and Chloe as Owen must prove he is worthy of Chloe’s love.
Owen and Chloe met years before as both were serving mandatory community service at a local animal rehab farm. Owen immediately fell in love with our story line heroine but their two year age difference and Owen’s less than stellar (prior) behavior forced Owen to reconsider his direction in life, and in doing so meant Owen would have to leave a heart broken Chloe behind. Chloe Lake never completely recovered from Owen’s rejection, and his return to New York brought with it too many memories of a time long ago but Chloe was willing to give Owen another chance if only to prove he was a worthy adversary and advocate for the animals she so dearly loved.
The relationship between Chloe and Owen is a rekindling romance; a second chance relationship between two people whose lives went in opposite directions when Owen walked out of Chloe’s life in search for something ‘more’. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.
Several of the previous story line characters and couples play secondary and supporting characters including the return of Hei-Hei, the giant Polish chicken, and Chloe’s now governor father Jonathan Lake and his new wife Alyssa (Something Just Like This 3.5).
BEGIN AGAIN is a sweet yet spicy story of second chances. The premise is engaging and entertaining; the romance is captivating; the characters are familiar, dynamic, stubborn and fun.
Reading Order and Previous Reviews
The Start of Something Good
A Brand New Ending
All Roads Lead to You
3.5 Something Just Like This
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
He cut the engine. Leaned in. Her hand drifted up to hesitantly touch his face, smooth and stubble free, his square cut jaw straight, full lips, and cut cheekbones straight from a superhero comic. “You’re very handsome,” she whispered.
He chuckled. “Thank you. But you are a work of art.” He stroked her hair. “And it’s officially our fifth date. Would you invite me up?”
Tension stiffened her muscles. She wasn’t ready to sleep with him yet. There was something sacred about inviting a man into her bed. When she was young and reckless, she’d made a bunch of bad choices, sleeping with bad boys to prove nothing could hurt her, and it only made a bigger mess in her head. Now she accepted her need to go slow and refused to apologize for it. “I don’t think tonight is a good idea,” she said.
He nodded, taking the rejection with his normal ease. “Got it. Then I’ll just have to show you how you make me feel right here.”
He lowered his head and kissed her.
Chloe responded immediately, allowing her mouth to soften under his, her hands gripping his broad shoulders. He smelled of expensive cologne, a musky, ocean scent that should have driven her crazy. He knew what he was doing, expertly applying the perfect amount of pressure, slowly sliding his tongue with subtle precision, allowing her to warm up. Her body responded like a fine-tuned machine and she sank into the kiss, deliberately shutting her mind down to enjoy the moment.
When he finally lifted his head, satisfaction gleamed in his eyes. “You are delicious,” he muttered. “I can’t wait to see you again.”
“Me, too.” She smiled and grabbed her purse. “I better go. Thanks for dinner.”
“Thanks for saying yes.”
Chloe climbed out of the car and walked to her apartment building. Nodding to Art, the doorman, she took the elevator up to the eighth floor and entered her sacred space. Kicking off her heels, she went straight to her living room, got comfortable, and took out her phone.
He answered on the second ring. “Sweetheart! It’s so good to hear from you. What’s up?”
The sound of her father’s voice was everything good in the world, and she leaned her head back on the sofa, closing her eyes. Funny, for so many years, she hid everything from him, refusing to share any of her feelings. Now she looked forward to their talks, and though she had many close friends who’d be there anytime, she preferred going straight to her father. “Hi, Dad. Am I interrupting?”
“There’s nothing I could be doing where I’d consider you an interruption. You sound funny.”
She laughed but it turned into a half sob. “I had a date. With Drew Dinkle.”
A whistle cut over the phone. “That’s great! I’ve always liked Drew. He’s got his priorities straight—family values, hard work, and charity. If I had a choice to set you up with anyone, I’d pick Drew. How’d it go?”
“Great. He took me to Felice’s.”
“Our favorite place. See, he’s winning already. How long have you been seeing him?”
“This was our fifth date. Dad, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Is it better to be ruled by your heart or your head?”
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Jennifer Probst is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of both sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her novel, The Marriage Bargain, was the #6 Bestselling Book on Amazon for 2012. Her first children’s book, Buffy and the Carrot, was co-written with her 12 year old niece, and her short story, “A Life Worth Living” chronicles the life of a shelter dog. She makes her home in New York with her sons, husband, two rescue dogs, and a house that never seems to be clean. She loves hearing from all readers! Stop by her website at http://www.jenniferprobst.com for all her upcoming releases, news and street team information.
