A review by kfriend
Rules for Dating Your Ex by Piper Rayne
5.0
Are the Baileys stories really almost complete? My heart isn't ready! Piper Rayne saved one of the most challenging love stories for the last. (well the last full length story, that is) We knew this book would be a challenge- because Bailey fans disliked Jameson almost as much as the Baileys themselves dislike him, and love stories that try to grow from deeply fractured, toxically damaged ground are always the hardest roads. But oh my, boy does that make the reward all the sweeter. So sweet that this book is one of my favorites of the entire series- perhaps my favorite.
Jameson really messed up- he had the girl of his dreams, pregnant with his daughter, but he was losing a battle to a crippling addiction, a means to cope with his insecurity and lost sense of self after a career ending injury. Despondent and heartbroken, Sedona leaves him with nothing but a sonogram photo and a one way ticket to rock bottom. And he goes there. In the present, Sedona has returned home to the safety of the Bailey crew in Alaska and is raising her eighteen month old daughter Palmer on her own- well, with the Bailey crew help, of course. After a hard fought journey of healing and finding sobriety, Jameson has reclaimed his mind and body from his consuming addiction, and now he’s ready to make amends, and hopefully reclaim his family. He’s never even met his daughter, never attempted to be part of her life, so Sedona is shocked to find him in Lake Starlight. And, Jameson is shocked to find Sedona pregnant. But, he immediately loves his daughter, and clicks with her. While Sedona seems open to opening their lives for Palmer and Jameson to know each other, she seems unwilling to open her heart. With good reason- while Jameson looks healthy, is he really recovered? Will he really be there for Palmer after letting them down for so long? And can the former celebrity truly be content to hang around in peaceful Lake Starlight?
This couple may be my favorite Bailey couple. I just adore Sedona- she’s so compassionate and SO rationale. She’s calm and pragmatic- firm in her beliefs but willing to listen and understand others. Such a great contrast to the fire of Phoenix. She’s protective, loving, and so patient- definitely a quieter, more stoic heroine, and one that I really appreciated and admired. And Jameson won me over- and QUICKLY, too. He’s clearly a changed man- from the first chapter in our Scotsman’s head, I was in love. He’s so deeply remorseful and so committed to his family. He’s learning how to be a dad, but his heart already knows how to love Sedona. He proves himself- over and over. He’s so caring and emotionally open, protective but not overly dominant, and he’s determined but patient and respectful. He lets Sedona call the shots. And I loved seeing him with Palmer- the Bailey book men and babies just SLAY me. Palmer really stole my heart, too. She’s truly a special little girl.
I loved the approach to chemistry here- Piper Rayne lets it be awkward and uncomfortable at first, despite the pull we can feel between them. Their connection is messy and confusing, and so the relationship dynamics are too, especially as Sedona struggles to think about what she wants, and what is okay with when it comes to Jameson. But the spark, the spark is there- we can feel it slowly burning away as they to work through some stuff. And when these two find their way back together, it just feels so rewarding.
This particular trope (second chance, addiction) can be super angsty- but here it gets the Piper Rayne treatment- we have some tension, but nothing explosive or overly combative. Both characters communicate- openly and frequently- and they LISTEN to each other. They are both incredibly patient and giving. It is not a fast and easy road (and fortunately we get a few sweet flashbacks to tide us over in this slower burn), but it is not overly angsty or dramatic. I also appreciated the window into addiction recovery we get here- the maintenance side, at least. Seeing Jameson responsibly check in with his mentor, attending meetings, and using coping strategies to stay sober is an important reminder that there is no cure for addiction- it is always constant and intentional work.
What makes this series so special is the ensemble focus- these magical Baileys, the fact that this is not just a series about individuals finding romance, but it is also a series about a family showing up to support one another. And that story has grown over the last nine books as we see this family function as a unit- in good and bad times. Most of our Baileys get a moment or two in this story. I especially loved seeing Kingston and Palmer. And, of course, we have the delightful meddling of our octogenarian matriarchs. The small town Bailey buzz is still alive and well, and we finally find out the voice behind the infamous BUZZ WHEEL (and all I have to say is CALLED IT!), but the revelation was still unexpected.
At the conclusion of this in the adorable epilogue, we not only get full hearts as we can finally sit back and see all of our beloved Baileys happy and thriving in true love, but we also have the promise of a whole new family of kids nearby Lake Starlight that are about to get the Ethel and Grandma Dori treatment. I’m not sure much can top the magic of the Baileys, but if that new series has the same heart, inspires that welcoming familiarity, and has that same amazing family dynamic that makes this series so special then I KNOW we’ll love it. Looking forward to the final Bailey novella, but I’m certainly not ready to say goodbye!
Jameson really messed up- he had the girl of his dreams, pregnant with his daughter, but he was losing a battle to a crippling addiction, a means to cope with his insecurity and lost sense of self after a career ending injury. Despondent and heartbroken, Sedona leaves him with nothing but a sonogram photo and a one way ticket to rock bottom. And he goes there. In the present, Sedona has returned home to the safety of the Bailey crew in Alaska and is raising her eighteen month old daughter Palmer on her own- well, with the Bailey crew help, of course. After a hard fought journey of healing and finding sobriety, Jameson has reclaimed his mind and body from his consuming addiction, and now he’s ready to make amends, and hopefully reclaim his family. He’s never even met his daughter, never attempted to be part of her life, so Sedona is shocked to find him in Lake Starlight. And, Jameson is shocked to find Sedona pregnant. But, he immediately loves his daughter, and clicks with her. While Sedona seems open to opening their lives for Palmer and Jameson to know each other, she seems unwilling to open her heart. With good reason- while Jameson looks healthy, is he really recovered? Will he really be there for Palmer after letting them down for so long? And can the former celebrity truly be content to hang around in peaceful Lake Starlight?
This couple may be my favorite Bailey couple. I just adore Sedona- she’s so compassionate and SO rationale. She’s calm and pragmatic- firm in her beliefs but willing to listen and understand others. Such a great contrast to the fire of Phoenix. She’s protective, loving, and so patient- definitely a quieter, more stoic heroine, and one that I really appreciated and admired. And Jameson won me over- and QUICKLY, too. He’s clearly a changed man- from the first chapter in our Scotsman’s head, I was in love. He’s so deeply remorseful and so committed to his family. He’s learning how to be a dad, but his heart already knows how to love Sedona. He proves himself- over and over. He’s so caring and emotionally open, protective but not overly dominant, and he’s determined but patient and respectful. He lets Sedona call the shots. And I loved seeing him with Palmer- the Bailey book men and babies just SLAY me. Palmer really stole my heart, too. She’s truly a special little girl.
I loved the approach to chemistry here- Piper Rayne lets it be awkward and uncomfortable at first, despite the pull we can feel between them. Their connection is messy and confusing, and so the relationship dynamics are too, especially as Sedona struggles to think about what she wants, and what is okay with when it comes to Jameson. But the spark, the spark is there- we can feel it slowly burning away as they to work through some stuff. And when these two find their way back together, it just feels so rewarding.
This particular trope (second chance, addiction) can be super angsty- but here it gets the Piper Rayne treatment- we have some tension, but nothing explosive or overly combative. Both characters communicate- openly and frequently- and they LISTEN to each other. They are both incredibly patient and giving. It is not a fast and easy road (and fortunately we get a few sweet flashbacks to tide us over in this slower burn), but it is not overly angsty or dramatic. I also appreciated the window into addiction recovery we get here- the maintenance side, at least. Seeing Jameson responsibly check in with his mentor, attending meetings, and using coping strategies to stay sober is an important reminder that there is no cure for addiction- it is always constant and intentional work.
What makes this series so special is the ensemble focus- these magical Baileys, the fact that this is not just a series about individuals finding romance, but it is also a series about a family showing up to support one another. And that story has grown over the last nine books as we see this family function as a unit- in good and bad times. Most of our Baileys get a moment or two in this story. I especially loved seeing Kingston and Palmer. And, of course, we have the delightful meddling of our octogenarian matriarchs. The small town Bailey buzz is still alive and well, and we finally find out the voice behind the infamous BUZZ WHEEL (and all I have to say is CALLED IT!), but the revelation was still unexpected.
At the conclusion of this in the adorable epilogue, we not only get full hearts as we can finally sit back and see all of our beloved Baileys happy and thriving in true love, but we also have the promise of a whole new family of kids nearby Lake Starlight that are about to get the Ethel and Grandma Dori treatment. I’m not sure much can top the magic of the Baileys, but if that new series has the same heart, inspires that welcoming familiarity, and has that same amazing family dynamic that makes this series so special then I KNOW we’ll love it. Looking forward to the final Bailey novella, but I’m certainly not ready to say goodbye!