"Second Time Around" by Melody Carlson

Second Time Around (Mar. 7, 2023) by Melody Carlson.*

*This is a standalone novel.*

With her youngest, Louisa, recently married, 40-something Mallory Farrell is truly an empty nester. She’s inherited her grandmother’s run-down tourist shop in Portside, Oregon, and the interior designer initially thinks she’ll sell to Grayson Matthews, former secret crush. As Mallory spends time in the shop, she makes the decision to sell her big, lonely Victorian and relocates full-time to Portside. She runs with her dream to open a décor shop called Romancing the Home, and while her shop is eye-catching and sophisticated, the Rainbow Brite apartment above is decrepit and smells like mildew. This isn’t a problem since she’s the only one who sees it until the host of a popular renovation TV show informs Mallory that her apartment will be featured, too. She’s ready to declare herself the village idiot, but Grayson tells her not to be so hasty. With 13 days to go until filming, can Grayson romance Mallory’s home and possibly move into her heart as well? Or will the demands and costs of renovating a major fixer-upper see her leaving in shame?

            Mallory is an admirable character. Readers learn she raised her three kids mostly on her own, but she’s not defeated. The independent woman with a good head on her shoulders shows faith, strength and entrepreneurial prowess. She’s clearly a hard worker. I’ve never initiated a construction project, but Mallory’s accumulating list of challenges had me cringing in sympathy all the same, such is Carlson’s skill with prose. This inspirational fiction novel is ideal for fans of clean romance and readers of contemporary fiction. The ups and downs of new relationships and the ups and downs of construction projects do not take away from the bright, uplifting tone of the story. The setting is a seaside escape, and the town is full of charm. I would delightedly grab ice cream at Brower’s Ice Cream Parlor, catch supper at Fisherman’s Wharf and wander through Romancing the Home.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”