Second Time Around (Hardcover)

“I think this shop deserves to go a second time around. Maybe I do too because I'm considering using this space myself,” Mallory explains in Melody Carson's novel, Second Time Around. ~ What ~ This three-hundred-and-four-page paperback targets those who enjoy a clean contemporary romance set in a small coastal town. With no profanity or sexual scenes, topics of divorce, illness, and death may not be appropriate for immature readers. The ending includes a teaser for another novel by the writer, the author's biography, and advertisements. In this tale set mostly in fictitious Portside, Oregon, almost fifty-year-old Mallory decides to move away from her too-large home and her busy adult children when she inherits her grandmother's dilapidated tourist shop on the coast. Being an interior decorator, she takes it to task to completely renovate the shop, even as it drains her finances and dampens her creativity. With the help of Grayson, a guy she had a crush on as a teen, and others from the small town, she wonders if it's possible to get a second chance at happiness. ~ Why ~ Since I live in Oregon, this story piqued my interest as it justly described our state's idyllic seaside towns. Mallory's character is realistic as she deals with the disappointments of life and the excitement and promise of starting over. I liked how the story promoted being true to yourself and focused on achieving one's goals. ~ Why Not ~ Those who do not like predictable romances of overcoming frustrations while accomplishing tasks may want to pass on this one. Some may find the protagonist always being catered to without giving back much to her newfound community. With prayer being mentioned sporadically, some may wish there were more trust in God, and the eternal plan of salvation included. ~ Wish ~ I wish all pronouns of God were capitalized for reverence. ~ Want ~ If you like a romantic story that involves a determined woman reinventing herself in a quaint seaside town and a widow moving on, this read is perfect to cuddle up with during a stormy weekend I received a review copy of this book courtesy of Revell through Interviews