Second Chance Honeymoon

Second Chance Honeymoon by Ally Blake

Juliana "JJ" Jones has gotten very good at running.  She has run away from every uncomfortable situation she has ever found herself in; from marriage to a man she thought she knew, but didn't, to a job for a boss with grabby hands.  Now, however, she has landed right smack dab in the middle of a situation she can't run from: A Second Honeymoon Cruise for seniors.

Kane Phillips loves his job as Fitness Director on the Royal Pacific.  He specifically loves working the Second Honeymoon Cruise because there is something revitalizing about watching these seniors really live their lives, with no worries of him breaking the forbidden staff/guest romance rule.  It also helps him keep his mind off the hell that caused him to go wild and blow a successful football career out of the water.  Convinced that his wild days were behind him, he is thrown for a loop when he meets JJ, a Wild Girl who just might be worth the chance of risking everything.

This was a super fun read.  The characters were incredibly real, with problems that nearly everyone can relate to.  JJ is the friend everyone either had, or was, in high school.  You know, the one who would charge in to every situation with a twinkle in their eye and a smile that said "watch me".  Everyone laughed at them at the time, but also knew that it was probably a front for something.

Kane is the typical "man's man" that every woman wants to have, and every man wants to know.  Under it all, though, he is endearingly humble and wise to his own weaknesses.  He isn't dismissive of his fame and doesn't bleed false modesty, he is just very aware that he made some big mistakes and wishes to move on from them.

The supporting characters are a riot.  I love seniors to begin with.  The best hours of my life have been spent listening to funny stories of things that happened "when I was your age".  These characters are so on the money that I could actually envision having a conversation with each one of them.

Overall, the book is a blast.  A quick read and so worth it.  At the end I felt that the story was finished, with nothing more to be said.  It didn't drag on, or speed through, keeping a great pace all the way through.  A great beach read for the summer.  One of my rare Perfect 5's.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 5 

Language – 5

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5