I've read my fair share of Bailey's books, practically all of them really, and they're all winners in my book. But, every now and then there's a gem in her books that really gets to me. Makes it so damn hard for me to put the book down and the story and characters stay with me for awhile after all is said and done. This is one of those times and this is one of those books. This book was so close to a 5-star read for me, with one minor issue that I'll discuss below. I was hooked from the very beginning and Vaughn gripped me until the very end. 
 Vaughn is ex-military with a lot of baggage from his tour, and he's also the town "loser" who wasn't ever going anywhere with his life. Of course, in a town like theirs, people don't really go anywhere. River and Vaughn are pretty much lifers of their town, with River content to stay in the house she grew up in, raising her daughter, and Vaughn realizing he can't escape the home he inadvertently made for himself before he left River "for good". I loved seeing these two reconnect. Their love, and lust, was so palpable, it was like this person sitting next to me, forcing me to hold onto their story. Now, I'm not a fan of characters, or people in general, who are exceedingly self-deprecating, and Vaughn is of that way, but it's understandable in his case. His childhood wasn't the best and everyone and their moms kept hinting at how River was too good for him, despite her telling him otherwise. I just wish he would've seen the good in himself a lot sooner because that kind of attitude gets tiring after awhile. Other than that, I couldn't get enough of this man. 
 Okay, now about my one gripe. I will admit that I love a dirty-talker as much as the next lady out there, but it was a bit far-fetched at over-the-top in this book. There were definitely hot and heavy moments between Vaughn and River that I reveled in and they obviously warranted some dirty words, but it was kind of hard to read them without cringing over the fact that no one IRL would either say those things or want to really hear it. Of course, you let your imagination run a bit wild in books and I read stuff that I love in books that I wouldn't care for much IRL, but there's a fine line and this one bordered on ridiculous. I'm a big enough fan that I can look past this, but just in case this kind of thing bothers you, just know that it's there. 
 Nevertheless, I seriously HEART Vaughn with a passion. He is right up there with my favorite of Bailey's boys (aka Derek, Brent, and Bowen). I just loved his dedication to River and how baffled and sweet he was with Marcy. It was so adorable seeing him learn how to be a parent. He truly revered and cherished River, despite the way that he hurt her in the past. I love me a possessive dirty-talker who knows how to worship the ground his lady walks on, and that's pretty much how Vaughn is. Once he got over himself, he was unstoppable. If you love a good second-chance love story, heavy on the emotions, family ties, and of course, scorching hot sex; then this is the book for you. I definitely enjoyed this book so much more than the first in the series, and I am SO looking forward to Duke's book. Oh, and I loved Duke's sisters. Hilarious! 
 You know I always recommend a Bailey book, but this one that is a MUST READ!