REVIEW: I Want You Back by Lorelei James

I Want You Back by Lorelei James: Jaxson is fresh off his retirement from the NHL and just trying to be the dad he always should have been. He’s made many mistakes, especially when it came to his ex, Lucy, and their daughter, Mimi. Jax was known for his skills on the ice and partying off the ice, but he’s in the process of really turning his life around and figuring out his life. Jax is still sexy, handsome, and charming.

Lucy is smart, sexy, blunt, and takes no BS. She is a great mom, but she’s learning to adjust to Jax taking a more active parental role instead of shouldering the load herself. She enjoys her job at Lund Industries, despite it being Jax’s family’s company and where he now works.

Jax and Lucy have quite the history. They met, fell in love, and it all fell apart. Lucy had low expectations of any man going in, and Jax lived down to them. Their relationship only deteriorated from there as they unsuccessfully navigated being parents after ending their romantic relationship. It helps that Jax has moved back to the Twin Cities, but Lucy still isn’t quite sure of Jax in any respect.

He leaned in closer. “Do you trust me?”
“With her? Yes.”
He ground his teeth together with such force that I heard the tendons in his jaw pop. “You just had to quality it, didn’t you?”
“Yes. This trust is about Mimi, not about me. I just wanted you to be clear on how far that trust goes.”

Jax has actually changed quite a bit and he definitely shows in his actions that he’s fully committed. Their relationship is less contentious and has started to transition to more of the banter and bickering from the old days. The chemistry is certainly there. Navigating their changing relationship while also managing all the changes in their respective careers and parenting a precocious and athletic eight-year-old certainly tests their bond and trust in each other.

She whispered, “I’ll bail you out if you get thrown in jail for taking a swing at him.”
“Are you advocating violence, Lucy Q?”
“Just this one time, so make it good.”

I Want You Back is entertaining and sexy, yet heartwarming and endearing. Lorelei James found a believable history and path to redemption for Jax along with a second chance he earned. Ms. James continues to build this world of the Lund family who are supportive, engaging, funny, and down-to-earth. Fans of A.L. Jackson and Melanie Harlow will love I Want You Back.

Book Info:

Publication: April 2nd 2019 | Berkley | Want You #1

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?