Review: Love In The Balance #2: Hard to Handle

Hard to Handle by Jessica Lemmon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hard to Handle by Jessica Lemmon, book two in the Love In The Balance series, continues the story of Aiden & Sadie.

He's been burned by his cheating ex-wife. She's been burned by her ex-fiancee turned brother-in-law.

We first met Sadie and Aiden at the very beginning of Crickett and Shane's romance (Tempting the Billionaire) and I don't know about you, but I was immediately intrigued. On their first date they spent the whole night just talking and finally opening up to someone and letting their own personal demons out! On their second date, they had a night of heavy petting and spooning. A great start to what they both expect to be a forever kinda thing...that is, until tragedy hits and tears them apart.

Many months later, what happens when circumstances force them together...?

"I loved you," Sadie said, her eyes wide and earnest. "And you blew it." That said, she tugged the shirt to her waist, flopped onto one side and pulled the covers over her head.
-Sadie

The jaw she had kissed, had raked her fingernails against; the same jaw that had scraped the softest part of her neck when he kissed her, was covered with enough scruff to make her feel the phantom scratch of it on her skin now.
-Sadie

"Well, if you have everything you need..." he drawled. The low timbre of his voice galloped down her rib cage like a troupe of Riverdancers.
-Aiden

Bringing to mind Bobby from Supernatural...
Dad rolled his eyes. "You two sound like a couple of idgits."
-Mike Downey

A beautiful story that will have you laughing and crying and feeling so deeply for Sadie and Aiden. I cannot wait to read more in this series.

About HARD TO HANDLE:

ONCE BURNED
Sadie Howard never dates a guy more than once-but Fate has other plans for her when it comes to Aiden Downey, the one that got away. Aiden loved her, left her, and broke her heart. Yet suddenly she's bumping into him at every turn, driven to distraction by his wicked grin and rock-hard body. Now she can't resist finishing what they started-as long as she doesn't let herself fall in love . . .

TWICE AS TEMPTING
Aiden Downey threw away the best thing he ever had when he let Sadie go, and now he's determined to win back the woman he's always wanted. Sadie agrees to let him into her life-and her bed-as long as there are no strings attached. But Aiden's not about to make the same mistake again. Can he convince her to take a second chance on a once-in-a-lifetime love?

About Jessica Lemmon:

Jessica Lemmon has always been a dreamer. At some point, she decided head-in-the-clouds thinking was childish, went out, and got herself a job . . . and then she got another one because that one was lousy. And when that one stopped being fulfilling, she went out and got another . . . and another. Soon it became apparent she'd only be truly happy doing what she loved. And since "eating potato chips" isn't a viable career, she opted to become a writer. With fire in her heart, she dusted off a book she'd started years prior, finished it, and submitted it. It may have been the worst book ever, but it didn't stop her from writing another one. Now she has several books finished, several more started, and even more marinating in her brain (which currently resides in the clouds, thankyouverymuch), and she couldn't be happier. She firmly believes God gifts us with talents for a purpose, and with His help, you can create the life you want. (While eating potato chips.)

My reviews of other books in the series...