#BookReview As Good As New - Jennifer Dawson

He was the high school hottie. She was the teacher’s pet. But in private, none of that mattered...
 
At the tender age of six, Penelope Watkins fell for her best friend’s brother, Evan Donovan, future hunk. By the time they were teenagers, they were having heart-to-hearts…and hot and heavy top secret make-out sessions. All that changed when Evan’s father suddenly died. Abruptly, Penelope lost him to grief—and to his true love: football. But now an injury had ended Evan's NFL career. The notorious bad boy was in a depression no one could penetrate, except maybe the one woman who still knew him best—and still wanted him most…

Penelope is the last person Evan wants to witness the wreck he’s become. So when she shows up at his door he’s less than welcoming—even though the sight of her brings back the same old rush of desire. As a teenager, the emotions overwhelmed him. Now, when he wanted to be overwhelmed, Penelope wasn’t playing. She was telling the golden boy it was time to man up. It may have taken a concussion for Evan to realize it, but that’s exactly what he wants to do—starting with her…


What did I think of the story?

Passion so hot - be careful you don't scorch your fingers on the pages!

What a fantastically passionate, romantic story As Good As New is. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book. This story is about two very opposite people, who have loved each other forever.

I really relished the backstory of this book - there is nothing better than reading a romance novel when the protagonists have a past with each other. Back when they were 16, they kept their relationship a secret. Evan, despite having a promising career in front of him, never really thought himself good enough for someone like Penelope. She was too nice to be with someone like him. On the other hand Penelope could not understand why he would be interested in someone like her, when he could have anyone he wanted. But they loved each other – even if they never did say that out loud.

Evan broke Penelope’s heart and supposedly never looked back. However, Penelope is best-friends with his sister and works for his brother, so they crossed paths every so often - while pretending all along that they meant nothing to each other – but occasionally their eyes would betray them.

When they finally do get together again the passion is explosive. They may not fully trust each other, but their hearts tell them something different. I thought Dawson portrayed their relationship beautifully. It was totally believable and I am sure it will resonate with many of her readers - especially those who never really got over their first love.

Dawson explores a whole host of human emotions in this book. She deals with depression and the effect that has, not only on Evan, but also on his immediate family. She explores mistrust and guilt. Love. Loss. And she shows why it is so important to tell our loved ones what we are really thinking. It really is an emotional roller-coaster of a ride. But...it is worth it!

I thoroughly enjoyed As Good As New and I will definitely be looking for other books by Jennifer Dawson.

I Highly Recommend.

Where can I buy this fabulous book?

This title will be released on March 29, 2016.

About the author

Jennifer Dawson grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and graduated from DePaul University with a degree in psychology. She met her husband at the public library while they were studying. To this day she still maintains she was NOT checking him out. Now, over twenty years later, they re married and living in a suburb right outside of Chicago with two awesome kids and a crazy dog. Despite going through a light FM, poem writing phase in high school, Jennifer never grew up wanting to be a writer (she had more practical aspirations of being an international super spy). Then one day, suffering from boredom and disgruntled with a book she d been reading, she decided to put pen to paper. The rest, as they say, is history. These days Jennifer can be found sitting behind her computer, writing her next novel, chasing after her kids, keeping an ever watchful eye on her ever growing to-do list, and NOT checking out her husband.