What do you think?
Rate this book
Second Time Around
Korie Dillon’s ready to get married, but her wishes don’t fit into her boyfriend, Darren Howard’s, “five-year plan.” He isn’t about to get sidelined before he can achieve his career goals and he runs out on her, leaving her devastated. Years later, Korie’s been dating, but no one seriously. Mainly she hangs with her best girl, Jayna, who has issues of her own. Meanwhile, Darren’s kept his focus on his career; he hasn’t been able to get involved with any other women because his feelings for Korie still burn strong. When the five years are just about up, Korie meets a sweet, caring man who worships the ground she walks on. Then “Mr. Five-Year Plan” comes strolling back into her life.... But will she follow her head or her heart?
425 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
40 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 7, 2011
Five years after her boyfriend left her, Korie has moved on with her life. She’s in the best physical shape, her business is prospering and she’s involved with millionaire businessman DeVaughn Harris. Her ex boyfriend, Darren, on the other hand, has not gotten over walking out on Korie. While everything in his life is going well, the only thing missing is Korie. Is a second time around in the cards for Korie and Darren?
Three things I can always count on from Darrin Lowery is 1) great sex, 2) a good song selection and 3) a story to talk about. In the case of SECOND TIME AROUND, I didn’t quite get what I wanted. While the concept was interesting, SECOND TIME AROUND was very repetitive, resulting in redundancy and making this read not as enjoyable as it could be. Repetition included the constant references to how much things cost - a 500-dollar dress, 3,000-dollar custom made suit, 100,000-dollar car, 4,000-dollar bed, 2000-dollar weave. I found it quite annoying and not necessary to the plot’s development. The story also veered off many times taking unnecessary side trips by giving too much information about irrelevant characters or details not pertinent to the plot. (Example: the explanation of Bryce’s therapy sessions.)
I normally come away from one of Darrin’s book with the need to make a CD based on the songs he mentioned, but in this novel the constant mention of what particular song was playing each and every time a character did something was excessive. Also excessive: such-and-such has a body like . Women had bodies long before Beyonce. I would have preferred if the characters were described instead of just being likened to a celebrity, with a little less emphasis on the physical and more on their personalities.
Also of concern, the narration. This novel occasionally slips from third to first-person narration, particularly at the end of chapters. And there was more telling than showing. The plot slowed down considerably with the narrating of situations and then would pick back up momentarily with dialogue, only to slow down again with narration.
Despite the issues I had with SECOND TIME AROUND, it’s not a bad read and Darrin definitely is a talented brother, but this just wasn’t his best book. Clear of the redundancy and editing quirks, this could have been a really great read. That said, I look forward to Darrin’s next book.
If you haven't already, check out:
Congratulations
Still Crazy: Book One
A Woman Scorned
Still Crazy II: Crazy About You
A Woman Scorned
Down Low, Double Life
Forbidden
Divorce Him, Marry Me: Second Edition
Three things I can always count on from Darrin Lowery is 1) great sex, 2) a good song selection and 3) a story to talk about. In the case of SECOND TIME AROUND, I didn’t quite get what I wanted. While the concept was interesting, SECOND TIME AROUND was very repetitive, resulting in redundancy and making this read not as enjoyable as it could be. Repetition included the constant references to how much things cost - a 500-dollar dress, 3,000-dollar custom made suit, 100,000-dollar car, 4,000-dollar bed, 2000-dollar weave. I found it quite annoying and not necessary to the plot’s development. The story also veered off many times taking unnecessary side trips by giving too much information about irrelevant characters or details not pertinent to the plot. (Example: the explanation of Bryce’s therapy sessions.)
I normally come away from one of Darrin’s book with the need to make a CD based on the songs he mentioned, but in this novel the constant mention of what particular song was playing each and every time a character did something was excessive. Also excessive: such-and-such has a body like . Women had bodies long before Beyonce. I would have preferred if the characters were described instead of just being likened to a celebrity, with a little less emphasis on the physical and more on their personalities.
Also of concern, the narration. This novel occasionally slips from third to first-person narration, particularly at the end of chapters. And there was more telling than showing. The plot slowed down considerably with the narrating of situations and then would pick back up momentarily with dialogue, only to slow down again with narration.
Despite the issues I had with SECOND TIME AROUND, it’s not a bad read and Darrin definitely is a talented brother, but this just wasn’t his best book. Clear of the redundancy and editing quirks, this could have been a really great read. That said, I look forward to Darrin’s next book.
If you haven't already, check out:
Congratulations
Still Crazy: Book One
A Woman Scorned
Still Crazy II: Crazy About You
A Woman Scorned
Down Low, Double Life
Forbidden
Divorce Him, Marry Me: Second Edition
June 19, 2011
A Tainted History
It's been five years since Korrie Dillon's live-in boyfriend, Darren Howard, left her. Although he abandoned her, Korrie's number hasn't changed, her address is still the same and her prayer has been that someday, someway, he returns and they live happily ever after.
While waiting, she meets Vaughn Harris, an African American multimillionaire. A kind man, Korrie is concerned about their age difference. As they continue to date, she finds herself falling for him. What happens when Darren shows up wanting a second chance at love?
"Second Time Around" by Darrin Lowery is just an okay read. I've read several of Darrin's titles and usually find myself going through his books rather quickly. Unfortunately, this one was extremely repetitive and could have just as easily been summed up in 200 pages or less. Some sub characters have very little to do with the story and readers will find themselves wondering what was the point. Some issues in editing.
Reviewed by: Crystal
3.5
It's been five years since Korrie Dillon's live-in boyfriend, Darren Howard, left her. Although he abandoned her, Korrie's number hasn't changed, her address is still the same and her prayer has been that someday, someway, he returns and they live happily ever after.
While waiting, she meets Vaughn Harris, an African American multimillionaire. A kind man, Korrie is concerned about their age difference. As they continue to date, she finds herself falling for him. What happens when Darren shows up wanting a second chance at love?
"Second Time Around" by Darrin Lowery is just an okay read. I've read several of Darrin's titles and usually find myself going through his books rather quickly. Unfortunately, this one was extremely repetitive and could have just as easily been summed up in 200 pages or less. Some sub characters have very little to do with the story and readers will find themselves wondering what was the point. Some issues in editing.
Reviewed by: Crystal
3.5
September 7, 2016
This book was entertaining, but that's about all it had going for it. The amount of sexism and slut-shaming is ridiculous. There are typos and grammatical mistakes everywhere - the author has no clue how to use a semicolon. The author is also way too into repetition. On every second page there was a paragraph structured like this: "He was this. He was that. He was another thing. He was something else."
Worst of all, the ending is not satisfying at all. This seems to be the first book in a series or something, but there was no indication of this on the cover or the back. I would never have picked this up if I had known it was going to end on a cliffhanger like that.
Worst of all, the ending is not satisfying at all. This seems to be the first book in a series or something, but there was no indication of this on the cover or the back. I would never have picked this up if I had known it was going to end on a cliffhanger like that.
August 16, 2011
Time waits for no man, especially one that left a check and a note on the table. This love story was interesting but the constant repeating of thoughts and over explanation of side story lines stopped this book short. Lowery has talent but it needs a little more editing. However, I will keep Lowery on my author to watch list.
October 3, 2012
Korrie found out that great sex wasn't everything. Darrin was a player anyway. He got what he deserved. I wiuld not have aborted my baby for him. In the end I am glad she decided to give Vaughn a chance.
September 20, 2013
Loved it, I was glad Kori stayed with Vaughn & trying to make that work. Darrin needs to move on. & it was ironic how everyone knew each other & their paths crossed so many times.
April 14, 2016
good book. keeps you wondering if he will show at her wedding.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews