Review: If It's Only Love by Lexi Ryan

I don’t regret much. 

Not my decision to enter the NFL draft before finishing college. 
Not fighting for custody of my daughter—even if, biologically speaking, it turns out she’s not mine. 
And certainly not seducing my buddy’s little sister ten years ago. 

But when it comes to Shayleigh Jackson, my no-regrets attitude stops there. I screwed up royally where she’s concerned. Then I made another mistake when I let her shut me out of her life. 

Now after more than a decade living in different time zones, I’m coming home to Jackson Harbor. My first priority is keeping my daughter away from the media circus in Los Angeles, but the moment I see Shay, I know something else brought me back here. Now I’ll stop at nothing to win her back.

So what if she won’t speak to me? So what if she’s changed? So what if she’s fallen for some douchebag professor? I’ve never gotten over her, and I know she feels the same about me. 

I’ve let her go twice. I won’t make that mistake again.

If It's Only Love and all other books in this series can be read as standalones, but you'll enjoy reading them together.


3.5 Stars
Review by Jen Skewes

Shay and Easton have a history together, one that started when they were kids.  He is best friends with her brother and close with her family. Shay has always had a crush on Easton. At some point Easton realizes that Shay is all grown up and his feelings for her start to change.  But knowing what his future holds and that she is off limits, being she’s his best friend’s sister, he tries to keep his feelings to himself. Until one night when things go a little farther than they should.  Easton has been drafted to the NFL and he is moving across the country to live out his dream. While he is living the life he has dreamed of, that means laving Shay behind.  Over the years they are tried to make a relationship work but it only left Shay with a broken heart.  Easton hurt her one too many times.  So, when he comes back to town for good, she needs to protect her heart once again.  

Easton is retired and is moving back to his hometown.  He knows that he has screwed up in the past, when it comes to Shay, but now the timing is right.  He is all in when it comes to her.  She is the one that got away and he is not going to lose her again.  But there are many obstacles in his way.  For one, the hurt her and she has a hard time forgetting that.  Not to mention her current relationship status.  Can Easton prove to Shay that he is in this with her forever and that she is the only woman he wants and loves?

I really loved this series and could not wat for Shay’s story.  I love a second chance, friends to lovers, story, but there seemed to be so much more to this story.  Shay and Easton were great together and you could see that whenever they were together. They had chemistry and a closeness that is what made them perfect for each other.  I enjoyed their story but at the same time I had a hard time with it. We go back and forth to the past, slowly leading up to the present, finding out what really happened between them.  I think that there was so much that happened, to the point that it was too much.  There is also one part of the story that I am honestly not sure if it even fit or made sense.  I loved the end and loved Easton’s reaction to one particular “issue” that they faced.  All though maybe not his initial reaction but in the end.  But at the same time, I wondered if it should have happened that way. It’s hard to explain without spoiling it, so I will just leave it at that.   I also wanted more of them and the emotional side of their relationship. Overall I did enjoy it and loved the characters, loved the Jackson family and how close they are.  But some things were just too much for me.