When Sarah Rawlings fell for her best friend’s older brother in high school, she knew he was trouble. But she couldn’t resist his pull and the sweetness she sensed underneath his protective bad boy persona. Their relationship was everything she had ever dreamed of, until she was rocked by his painful betrayal. Eleven years later, Sarah must return to Whidbey Island following her beloved grandmother’s death. She knows she must stay away from Ian, but he’s not making that easy and every time she sees him, she’s reminded of what might have been. 

One look at Sarah stirs up memories regrets that still linger in Ian McLaughlin’s heart. She was the love of his life and he still can’t understand how he blew it and how she could have also hurt him so badly in return. He plans to steer clear of Sarah while she’s on Whidbey Island, but that’s impossible when she’s often at his family’s pub. Thinking to indulge in a little casual seduction for fun, neither is prepared when the embers burst into flames. 

So many years and secrets separate them. Can their powerful attraction also include understanding and forgiveness?

Titles in The McLaughlins series include:  One More Round – Straight, No Chaser –

Title:  One More Round
Series:  The McLaughlins #1
Author:  Shelli Stevens
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  February 13, 2018
Publisher:  Tule Publishing
My Rating:  4 stars

Betrayal at any age is devastating, yet as a teen in love it’s just that tad bit worse.  Sarah was in love with bad boy Ian, her best friend’s brother.  She was certain that they’d last forever… until she was proven wrong.  Now years later Sarah is back on Whidbey Island, settling her grandmother’s estate which requires that she live in the house for a certain amount of time before making the decision to sell or not.  Unfortunately, this traps her in Ian’s territory and he’s the very last person she wants to run into.

There are twists and turns, miscommunications and misdirection in One More Round.  Yet what is solid throughout is the spark between Sarah and Ian, even after a decade apart that still holds true.  While it’s really not difficult to guess at secrets, it is a compelling journey to see those secrets come out and be dealt with.  Life is full of shades of gray, if only that weren’t true we’d make a lot less foolish mistakes.

I enjoyed One More Round.  It’s intriguing, sexy and full of second chances if one couple can be brave enough to risk it all.  I’m looking forward to continuing this series, and would definitely recommend it to any Romance reader.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Available for the Kindle