Lost in You by Lauren Dane

Getting lost in the arms of a bad boy never felt so good.

Time and the military have made Joe Harris a better man than he was when he left Petal, Georgia, ten years ago. Now that he’s back, all he wants is to take care of his dad, get his garage up and running and spend time with his dog. He has no plans for a relationship, especially one with his best friend’s kid sister, no matter how much she tempts him. And boy does she ever.

Beth Murphy grew up surrounded by trouble, so these days she steers clear when she sees it. Until Joe Harris rides back into town—he’s the kind of trouble worth getting tangled up in. She knows he’s not the same guy he once was, but there’s something he’s not telling her.

When things at home take a turn, Joe does the only thing he can: he pushes Beth away. This is his responsibility, not hers. But Beth isn’t about to lose him—not when they’ve already lost their hearts to each other.

Previously published; newly refreshed by author—including bonus chapters!

FREE BONUS CHAPTERS INCLUDED IN THIS EDITION!

A Visit to Petal, Part Two: Girls’ Night Out

There’s a wedding coming up and the pre-parties are half the fun. Glimpse what the citizens of Petal are up to in between Lost in You and Count on Me, the next book in the series. Now available at the end of the novel!

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Carina Press – Harlequin

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second in the series of republished and edited stories. I would recommend that you read all the goodness of these books in order, as they will soon become families that you care about and connect with – from Polly Chase and her brood, and Tate and the Murphys, you will soon know how they are going to react, what will set them off, and when someone should probably step down, or up. I love this feeling of belonging and the intensity of Lauren Dane's writing. Not predictable, but always consistent, heartfelt, and reading gold.

In this installment, Beth sets her sights on newly returned ex-bad boy Joe Harris. He recognises her worth but can't see how a relationship can fit in with the crazy that is his life. So, there is a push and pull worthy of a tug of war. Thanks to family, patience, and forgiveness, this is another romantic hit.

It is in the little details that Dane gives us the measure of a person and connects us to their normal live. For me, the scene of Beth eating a whole bag of Doritos and having to wash off the yellow on her fingers just fit so perfectly – both in the moment and the person. And of course, Buck's reaction to Beth, and his condemnation of Joe's stupidity remind us of how clever dogs really are, and that they maybe should be listened to more often!

Add in all the catching up with Lily and Nathan from book one and the rest of the clan, and we can only smile at the importance of family – and to regulars, a chuckle over Polly's hairstyle and her driving skills completes the perfect story!


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

This is Beth's book. She sees her brother's bad boy best friend and sets her sights on wanting to date him. Beth has overcome a lot from her past. She is done hiding from it, but also doesn't shout it from the rooftops.

Joe is back, but he's not sure if that's a good thing. He likes being near his friends and family again, but with his dad's health issues at the forefront of his mind, he isn't quite sure if he can handle a new relationship too.

I loved watching Beth's family and friends trying to help them get together. They are hysterical, loving, and understanding. I think this was a sweet story about choosing family and loving the family you have.

At times, I wanted to really smack Joe, but overall, I understood why he was reacting that way. I loved Beth and how strong she was throughout. I can't wait to see what happens next. This is a great family.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars

This is my favourite story in this series so far. Beth is an irrepressibly likeable heroine and despite all his attempts to be a jerk, Joe is a surprisingly charming leading man. I like the gender reversal in this book – it’s Beth who throws herself into wooing and courting a reluctant Joe. Beth’s plotting and scheming is comical, and I really like her irreverence. I actually liked characters from other stories more than I liked some of them in their own books because Beth seems to make the people around her more vibrant. I like that this story is laugh out loud funny in places, but it also tackles quite difficult themes of domestic abuse, mental illness, and PTSD.

So, while this was a more enjoyable read than others in the series, I think this will probably be my last visit to Petal, Georgia. I’ve explained my reservations about these books in previous reviews. In short, I really struggle with the wholesome small-town family values feel to these books. It’s a personal reaction based on my own considerable baggage and I know I’m not going to do the author any favours by signing up for more books to review. I hope that readers with different values and life experiences will really enjoy these stories.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆
I liked this book and the characters, yet there was something that just didn't click for me.

Beth likes Joe and wants to be part of his life, but Joe's hardheadedness leaves her feeling left out when it comes to his family. Her family treats him like he’s part of the family, yet she's on the outside looking in when it comes to Joe's.

Small towns equal small worlds yet we don't see his parents interacting with any of the major players, which to me is a little odd.

The romance is there, yet I would have understood if Beth walked away.

Also Available in the Petal, Georgia Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Carina Press – Harlequin

For reviews & more info, check out our Once and Again post.

Lauren Dane is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over fifty novels and novellas across several genres. She lives in the Northwest with her patient husband and three wild children.

Connect with Lauren

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Lost in You (Petal, Georgia #2) by Lauren Dane to read and review.