Mixing Temptation: A Second Shot Novel

Mixing Temptation in book three in Sara Jane Stone’s Second Shot series. This book takes us back to Forever, Oregon and back to Big Buck’s bar, home base to say for the characters we love. This book can be read as a standalone but I would not. I highly recommend reading at the least the first two books in the Second Shot series before starting this book since it follows up with some of those characters. In this book we meet Josh’s siblings who were featured in the author’s Independence Falls series, which I have not personally read, but after reading this book I would have liked to have read that series as well before settling into this book just so I could know more about their history. With that being said it is not imperative that your read that series as I was able to follow the book just find with having read just the Second Shot books. Josh and Caroline’s story first starting playing out in the first installment of the series Serving Trouble. Josh suffered short term memory loss and came close to losing his life in an accident. After feeling like he has been given a second shot a life he is determined to change his ways. He wants the same HEA he has seen his siblings found and he can’t help but feel that the path to that happiness starts and ends with Caroline. They have known each other for over a year and even though it has been a slow process Josh is finally breaking through the walls Caroline has built to protect herself. He knows that she is going to need time heal and to learn to love and trust someone again. And he has no problem trying to push the odds into his favor by making her pies and brownies. Caroline wants to heal and move on with her life but she can’t escape the fear that is lurking everywhere. She is on the run from the military and police for going AWOL after being raped by her commanding officer, she can’t let anyone other than the few people at Big Buck’s know who she really is or she will end up being court marshaled and put in jail. She is tired of being scarred all the time and having to look over her shoulder. The only good thing she has going in her life right now is Josh, the man who befriended her over their mutual sweet tooths. She knows Josh wants more and honestly she does too but she doesn’t know if she can push aside the fear enough to give the handsome and caring man a chance. How can she move on, find love and happiness if she isn’t allowed to be herself and how can she ask a man to take a chance on her when she might have to run at a moments notice. I have loved Josh from the very first book. His character drew me in with his compassion and not to mention his gorgeous ginger looks (swoon). I have anxiously been waiting for Josh and Caroline’s book and I have to say it was definitely worth the wait. These two are perfect together and the way they helped each other to heal and find their HEA was beautiful. I would highly recommend this book to others and look forward to more books from this series. I received an eARC of this book compliments of the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion and review. All ratings and opinions stated are my own.

As posted on The Smutty Kitty reviewed by KittyKelly 4 out of 5 Licks I am so excited this book is finally here!! I've been dying for Josh's story since his accident in the Independence Falls series. I fell in love with him and couldn't wait for his story. I was super sad when Sara completed the IF series and his story wasn't told, but then he popped up in the Second Shot series and I had everything crossed. Josh is seriously the most patient character I think I've ever read about. Most of the heroes you read about these days are alpha males or just plane a** hats, but not Josh. While everyone else is walking on eggshells around Caroline he treats her like a regular old human without pushing her boundaries. Caroline is running from her past and terrified she will be caught and punished for going AWOL. She is scared to move forward, but Josh knows he can be the one to bring her forward and help her. I couldn't imagine how Sara was going to get around the AWOL issue. Turns out she doesn't try to skirt it, Caroline winds up turning herself in and Josh does everything he can to free her. I really enjoyed watching Caroline move forward and seeing Josh help her along the way. As always I really enjoyed what Sara brought to the table and I can't wait to read more from her.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you..... for writing Caroline's story. I was touched by her plight from the moment she entered the scene in the first book. She was so strong, yet broken. And Josh--he is the creamiest marshmallow, yummy guy. Patience should be his name. It is a wonder they both didn't weigh an extra person or so with all his baking. Yep, she suffered in the war, she didn't loose a limb, or suffer a bullet wound, but her pain was on-going with limited chance of healing . Because of her situation, she did something she would never have done--always wanting to become a marine--now she left without leave. Josh wasn't the only one wanting her, the law did as well. What will it take to get her life back? After a year, will Josh's patient, persistence break through? Will she be able to watch another woman suffer as she did and not do anything? Read the story of the brave woman and the man who helped her move on. See what true love will bring a man to do. Watch the woman the country should have been honoring, instead, they deserted her when she had to fight a much closer enemy. Every woman should read this book and make sure you support those women like Caroline. Thank you, Sara Jane Stone. I was provided an ARC for an honest review.