A single mom gets a second chance at love with her high school sweetheart.
Wary of love after divorce, Janae Sanders focuses on the best things in her life: her son James and her besties in the Savvy, Sexy, and Single Club. As for romance? Not today, Satan. That is, until high school heartthrob Adam Henderson crashes back into her life at their 20-year reunion. Sparks fly, but just when Janae considers dating again, the new superintendent of James’ school district slashes his beloved arts program. Instead of getting her groove back, Janae gets her protest on.
Returning home after twenty years, Adam jumps at the chance to reacquaint himself with Janae, the one who got away. But he’s nearly reached his limit, juggling a meddling father, school politics, and―unbeknownst to him―Janae’s ire. If he can’t get the head of the PTA off his back after cutting programs that were costing the district money, his debut role as superintendent and his love life hang in the balance.
When a school board meeting is called and they both realize they’ve been dating the enemy, Janae gives Adam two choices: restore the program or lose her. Adam proposes a third option: one weekend at his cabin to talk it all out―funding the arts, and old feelings too. When her girls cheer her on, Janae must decide if she’s willing to risk it all. Armed with sass, sarcasm, and a suitcase full of emotional baggage, Janae and Adam discover that sometimes love shows up in the most infuriating and unexpectedly sexy ways.
I have to say that I loved Janae Sanders’ Second Time Around by LaQuette. I happily give it five stars. I had never read any books by the author LaQuette but I will be glamming her back list with pleasure. In fact, this book is the second in this series which means that when I read the first book, I get to reintroduce myself to the members of the Savvy, Single and Sexy Club. That’s the name of the club Janae and her fellow divorcees Vanessa and Cree formed following their divorces. Janae, for one, was most certainly not in the market for love or marriage. Her own toxic marriage and divorce put a moratorium on that aspect of her life. Her laser focus is on her career as a nurse anesthetist and on supporting her son’s own career aspirations.
That focus is knocked on its side when her high school crush saunters back into her life. Adam Henderson looked as fine at forty-three as he did as the school’s star basketball player back at Monroe Hills High School. He went on to be an NCAA and NBA super star. He left that behind to pursue a career in education. That turned out to be his true calling. It was also one of the reasons for his move back to his hometown. Adam was also pleased to see Janae again. It turns out he also had a crush on Janae in high school.
It seems that at every turn there are challenges for Adam and Janae to face as a couple and individually. Just as Janae’s resistance to any kind of relationship starts to soften she comes to learn that Adam is the new interim district superintendent she, as PTA president, is set about to go to battle with over slashes to the arts programs in the district. These programs are vital to her own son’s dreams of a career in dance and fashion design. You don’t poke a mama bear! Interfering and judgemental parents are not conducive to romance either.
Adam and Janae face each obstacle with a dogged determination to explore their mutual attraction and buried feelings. They do hit a brick wall as emotions get the better of them and they are forced to look within themselves. Adam, to his credit, knows he was in the wrong. And, with the help of his friends, grovels in a hilarious way. Chef’s kiss! His gesture makes Janae realize that she needs to work on her tendency to run away from acknowledging her own faults. This type of growth leads to a wonderful HEA.
I am going to say that as a contemporary romance
the author, LaQuette, could have framed it as a happily ever after for now.
However, I think this is a true love story more than a let’s see where this
romance goes. LaQuette’s storytelling reaches into very telling parts of each
character’s make up and personalities. This creates well rounded, though
flawed, characters. I enjoyed that depth of storytelling. I look forward to
her next book in the series. Please go and get your copy of this gem today. You
will not be disappointed!
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