When Stella Jo Chandler gets an offer to work at the Second Chance Ranch celebrity rehab facility right after graduating from Texas A&M, she’s tempted to turn it down. She wants to help real people with real problems, not spoiled celebrities going on vacation for publicity. But growing up on her family’s ranch left her with a love of horses that draws her to the opportunity. How bad can babysitting a bunch of strung out celebrities be?
What she didn’t count on was being roped into a tangled mess with infamous rocker and three-time rehab drop out Van Ransom on her first day. And she sure didn’t expect to feel the overwhelming attraction that pulls her to the man who has more issues than she can count on both hands. Like the hotel rooms and tour buses he’s famous for trashing, the havoc he could wreak on Stella’s heart would be irreparable.
Van isn’t at Second Chance for publicity or because he’s suffering from “exhaustion”. He’s on the brink of destruction, and he needs the kind of help Stella isn’t sure she can give. But without her, he'll lose everything. Because he’s on his last second chance.
It has to be said first and foremost: Van Ransom is one
kickass rock star name! And then to give
him a love interest named Stella--genius!
I mean, really? Big props for nailing the names, Caisey!
I've been excited to read this book for quite a while. Not only am I just a huge fan of Caisey's
Quinn's work, but knowing that these books were based on a place that was a
labor of love by my beloved Trace (of the Kylie Ryans Series) had me
chomping at the proverbial bit! Second
Chance Ranch is a rehab facility that prides itself on privacy and discretion,
and so it is a haven for celebrities and other high-profile
"clients." It's the perfect
place for a rock star to recover from "exhaustion" and other such
ailments, and who would know? There's no
Van Ransom registered, for example, just a guy named John Walker. Anonymity is key, but it's hard to keep a low
profile when you're so damn delectable!
Van Ransom is a mess of a rockstar bad boy; he's a stereotypical
hotel-room-trashing, drunk-off-his-tush, anything-to-get-the-next-high,
burying-his-demons-in-a-bottle rockstar bad boy, and I loved him for it. I like my heroes messy with a side of dark
and broody, and Van delivers. He comes
to the Second Chance Ranch on the last of his second chances (as the title
implies), having been threatened by his record company: Get clean or get
out. And just so you know, he's not too
happy about it.
Stella's fresh out of college and officially on her
own. She could go home, but who'd want
to with a father who largely ignores her and a mother who seems to enjoying
trying to make her perfect? She takes a
job at Second Chance hoping to find a place for herself, and she does--in the
stables with the horses and with Second Chance's newest client, Van
Ransom. While every nurse, aide and
random employee with ovaries are plotting ways to get at Mr. Rock Star,
Stella's just hoping to be able to keep it professional (but that's easier said
than done).
My favorite thing about this book is the sense of connection
between Stella and Van. They see each
other for the first time and BLAM-O!
There's a hook and they're both on it.
It's the stuff of romance novels, right?
Sure, but it's not exclusive to the pages of a book. Paper is not the only place connection lives
and breathes. Outside of Disney and the
escape of romance novels, the instant click of connection happens, and what I
love about Caisey Quinn is the way she honors that. We saw it in the Kylie Ryans Series
with Trace and Kylie, and we see it here with Van and Stella. While there are similarities between these
books, please don't mistake them for retellings of the same story. I only point out the ways in which the
characters are drawn to each other right away to illustrate just how well Ms.
Quinn represents the phenomenon. If
you've ever felt it, I bet you got a jolt, a spark of recognition when it
happened in these pages. And I bet it
made you smile; I know I did.
The forbidden nature of the whole relationship added a level
of tension that I loved. The limit
wasn't tested too much--this is not a therapist/patient relationship (I think
that might be hard for me to swallow), but Stella is clearly crossing a
professional line here. She has access
to information about Van that no ordinary love interest would, and it's not so
easy to resist the temptation to dip into that pool. Lines are crossed all over the place, girls,
but you'll be sitting beside Stella urging her own. You know it's wrong, but…..what's a girl
supposed to do when the guy she thinks she might be in love with won't talk to
her? (Insert
monkey-with-his-hands-over-his-eyes emoji here)
And really, who could resist a man with so little self
control when it comes to what he wants (especially if that thing happened to be
you)? What I found interesting about Van
(but what also made me give a "hold up, wait a minute" to Stella) was
the way Van almost seemed to trade one addiction for another: drugs and alcohol
for Stella. He wanted her, she made him
feel better and forget why he was there for a bit, and though he talked a good
game to himself about staying away from her, when faced with the temptation of
her, he gave in, and gave in, and gave in.
Besides the fact that he felt this tremendous pull towards her, I had to
wonder if Stella was his new drug of choice.
This is why, when this book ended, I was looking for a Book
2 excerpt. There's so much here to
mine. Instead, I got an Epilogue that
made me happy for them (and ladies, I need an HEA, so this was a good
thing), but left me thinking, "Ummmmm, Caisey Quinn, don't stop now! You're on a roll!" This story is such an interesting one, this
relationship so full of potential potholes and stumbling blocks, but with so
much potential for mind-blowing growth.
I wouldn't even mind if Caisey broke my heart for a little while in the
process because I just know that these two could work it out! And here's what I know: Caisey Quinn can
full-on blow me away. Van and Stella
will grab onto your heart with their nails and hold on, and I am perfectly
willing to wear the scars.
I'm a Gemini, wife, mom, and former high school English teacher living in Birmingham, Alabama. I spend my days chasing a three year old and hiding away with my Macbook. I spend my nights writing because sleep is overrated.
Website: http://www.caiseyquinnwrites.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/CaiseyQuinn
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCaiseyQuinn
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaiseyQuinn
Caisey Quinn’s
TOP TEN WRITING MUST HAVES
I get asked about my
writing process and where I write so I wanted to share my Top Ten MUST HAVE’s
for writing sessions!
1.
My
MacBook Air (& its charger)– It’s light and travels well!
2.
My
headphones/ear buds – Because not everyone in the library/bookstore/coffee
shop wants to hear my Spotify book soundtrack apparently. (weirdos)
3.
A pen
& notebook – Yes, I write lots of things out by hand still! Call me old
fashioned! #iprefervintage
4.
My iPhone
– The notes app is my friend!
5.
Bottled
water – so I don’t dehydrate
6.
Iced
coffee – So I can stay awake
7.
My
reading glasses – For years I got migraines while typing, until I started
wearing them! #lifesaver
8.
Snacks
– Sometimes it’s chocolate, or granola and dried fruit, or a protein bar, just
something so I don’t get hunger headaches.
9.
Pepcid Complete
– Not kidding. My characters give me indigestion. Or it could be number 6…
10. Excedrin Migraine – Are you sensing a
theme with the headaches yet? Hours at the computer and looong nights make this
miracle drug very necessary. I might be slowly destroying my liver or
something, but writers gotta write! ;)
Thank you sweet girl for the lovely review!! And for tempting me to write more #VanElla!! ;) Big hugs to you ladies for participating in the tour!! xxoo CQ
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