Title: Finding Dandelion
Series: Dearest #2
Author: Lex Martin
Release Date: July 11, 2014
When soccer all-star Jax Avery collides with Dani Hart on his twenty-first birthday, their connection is instantaneous and explosive. For the first time in years, Jax isn’t interested in his usual hit-it and quit-it approach.
But Dani knows better. Allowing herself a night to be carefree and feel the intensity of their attraction won’t change anything when it comes to dealing with a player. So when Jax doesn’t recognize Dani the next time he sees her, it shouldn’t be a total shock. The fact that he’s her new roommate's brother? That’s a shock.
Dani doesn’t regret that night with Jax, just the need to lie about it. Since her roommate has made it clear what she thinks about her brother’s “type” of girl, the last thing Dani wants is to admit what happened.
Jax knows he’s walking a fine line on the soccer team. One more misstep and he’s off the roster, his plans to go pro be damned. Except he can’t seem to care. About anything… except for the one girl who keeps invading his dreams.
Despite Jax’s fuzzy memory of his hot hookup with his sister’s friend, he can’t stay away from her, even if it means breaking his own rules. But there are bigger forces at work–realities that can end Dani’s college career and lies that can tear them apart.
Jax realizes what he’s losing if Dani walks away, but will he sacrifice his future to be with her? And will she let him if he does?
FINDING DANDELION, the second book in the Dearest series, is a stand-alone novel. This New Adult romance is recommended for readers 18+ due to mature content.
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#1 Dearest Clementine
Ah, I do so love a good reformed man-whore story. And a story that gives me feels. Finding Dandelion provided me with both and that would probably explain why I was laughing and smiling while reading it outside in the afternoon sun and why I was quietly crying while reading it in my big ole bed at one am. Quietly only because I didn’t want to wake the kids – there’s some serious ugly cry potential here...
Dani Hart is a good girl. She’s heard it all her life, like it’s a bad thing. And given her history with love, that certainly seems to be true. When she hooks up with soccer star Jax Avery on a fun and carefree night out, she doesn’t expect the intense connection they share to make everyone before and since pale in comparison. And she doesn’t expect to find out he’s the brother of her friend and roommate. And she certainly doesn’t expect that he won’t remember her and their hot night together the next time they come face-to-face.
Jax has a few hard and fast rules when it comes to the women he hooks up with. No married women and definitely not one of his twin sister’s roommates. When he sees Dani for the first time, he doesn’t know why he experiences a strong sense of déjà vu and an even stronger need to claim the beautiful woman, but he does know that she’s off limits. But when an accident brings them closer, keeping their hands to themselves and denying their attraction proves to be impossible. They are both holding back though and when their secrets – and their pasts – come to light, they’re going to have to find their way back to one another.
It took me a few chapters to really get into this book, but when I did I couldn’t stop reading. The story was a great one – without going into spoiler-rific details, finding out exactly WHY Jax doesn’t remember his hot hook-up was interesting and a bit different – and the characters were likeable, fun, flirty and played well off each other. The alternating POV gave insight into both sides of the story and that is something I always enjoy, especially when it showed that Jax, the renowned man-whore, wasn’t all asshole – far from it, in fact. After all, who really wants to lust after an irredeemable jerk? Certainly not me.
Dani was a great play on the good girl character, with enough edge and spunk to make her the kind of gal you’d want to be friends with and enough innocence to make her actions when it comes to Jax completely believable. The secondary characters – most of whom were introduced in the first book in this series, Dearest Clementine – made a strong and funny supporting cast. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t read Clementine, however, because Lex Martin was smart enough and kind enough to give me enough details to keep me in the loop, while making me want to search out and read her previous book. I’m not going to say what made me cry – again, I want to avoid spoilers – but I will say that it reminded me how far from home I am, how important my family and friends are, and how easy it could be to let someone slip through your fingers. And that is what I mean when I say there is serious ugly cry potential. Well that and the fact that Jax isn’t real and I’m not the one reforming him....
Finding Dandelion is the second book in the Dearest Series and can be read as a standalone. There is no cliffhanger.
~ Review by Beth
What can I say but Lex Martin is officially on my radar of fave authors. Finding Dandelion is a beautifully written book on finding yourself and letting yourself go. Danielle, aka Dani & Dandelion, is in college far from her mother, even though her mother is fighting her own battle with cancer. If it was up to Dani, she would not have left her mother's side but her mother wanted Dani to experience life before it was too late. Dani figures so she doesn't get hurt again, she would just give in to one night of passion with a sexy stranger and she kind of does but it get a bit complicated. That is were Jax (Clementine's man-wh@re twin) comes into the equation. He gives Dani the night she wanted but doesn't remember it. One thing after another happens that has Dani & Jax continually crossing paths in each other's lives but still Jax doesn't remember that night, even though he keeps getting déjà vu every time he's close to Dani. Well Dani & Jax are forced to spend Thanksgiving break together and that's when it comes to him... that's all I'm going to say because you have to read it to see all that goes down.
There were plenty of times that I wanted to reach out, grab and smack Jax because of the stupid things he said or did but I must say he totaly redemmed himself. And the fact that Dani had him groveling his way back to her was pretty awesome! This book had me laughing, swooning, sniffling(darn allergies decided to kick in at the sad moments), gasping and leaving me with a Big O Smile on my face once the book ended!! Can't wait for the next book in this series and maybe we can get a little more on what's in store for Jax & Dani?
~ Review by Kara
This book and series has hooked me!! Yet again, I read this book in just a few hours. I couldn’t put it down and it didn’t matter if my family needed me for something. I had to know how it was going to end!
Finding Dandelion is the second book in the Dearest series by Lex Martin. While each book is a standalone you get to see the entire cast of characters so I would recommend reading the first book, Dearest Clementine, before you read this one. I loved the first book! But I think I enjoyed this one even more! My emotions while reading this book were everywhere; I was happy, laughing, and then next thing you know I was ugly crying. The sex scenes were steamier in this book too! I can’t wait for Daren’s story!!!
~ Review by Tiffany
Lex Martin writes new adult novels, the sexy kind with lotsa angst, a whole lotta kissing, and the hot happily ever afters. When she's not writing, she lives a parallel life as an English teacher. She loves printing black and white photos, listening to music on vinyl, and getting lost in a great book. Bitten by wanderlust, this native Texan has lived all over the country but currently resides in the City of Angels with her husband and twin daughters.
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