Second Chance in Asheville

by Julie Milo

Available as a free download from the author's website.

What Ramona needs: a birthday getaway in the mountains with her two best friends.

What she doesn’t need: getting stuck in a storm with the guy who broke her heart.

Between Ramona’s stalled career and lackluster dating life, this vacation is a much needed distraction from obsessing about all she hasn’t yet achieved.

Until an unexpectedly severe storm leaves them stranded at their vacation rental. That’s when she discovers the adorable cottage, and the North Carolina horse farm it sits on, belong to her college boyfriend, Kevin, who all but ghosted her after he graduated nine years ago.

But Kevin doesn’t see it the same way. She’s the one who got away and the woman he never got over. He’s locked-in on convincing her to give him another chance before the roads clear and distance comes between them again.

The very last thing Ramona needs: another broken heart.

What Kevin needs most of all: Ramona.

Second Chance in Asheville is a standalone, closed door/just kisses romance novella with forced proximity and a second chance at love.

161 pages, ebook

Published March 1, 2025

About the author

Julie Milo spends most of her time reading and writing. When she’s not reading and writing scholarly stuff for her day job, she’s reading romance, nonfiction, and literary fiction for fun. She writes closed door/kisses only (also called “sweet”) romantic comedies.

Julie was raised, but not born, in Florida where she started dictating stories to her parents before she even knew how to write. By kindergarten she was writing and illustrating picture books and subjecting her classmates to read alouds at school. While the illustrating did not stick (her drawing skills never evolved past about third grade), the writing did, and for most of her childhood, her answer to “What do you want to be when you grow up?” was “an author.” Returning to writing decades later is a dream come true, and Julie is proud to finally be able to call herself an author.

Julie currently lives on the Gulf coast of Florida with her thoughtful husband, two amazing children, and two dogs (one delightful pit bull and one very energetic black lab). She loves dessert and hates cold weather.

Reviews

[Smiley_Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet and clean second chance romance novella that takes place in the picturesque mountains of North Carolina. Ramona and Kevin casually dated in college, but their relationship fizzled and left them both with unresolved feelings. Years later, a birthday trip and a severe storm bring them back together unexpectedly. I appreciate the glimpse of what it might have been like for those directly and indirectly affected by Hurricane Helene. This book not only delivers a cute love story, but also a sense of compassion and empathy for those enduring hardships.

💕: kisses, mild innuendo
⚠️: natural disaster

[Amber Cheek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will admit when it came reading this book in the beginning, it was to get the answers for a quiz there contest. As I read the book. I really started to enjoy the book. Ashville makes me want to come for a visit. I think it's nice to read about girls going on a girl's trip. I always have to do it with my sisters. I haven't yet, but I would like a chance one day too. The character's name Romana reminds of a movie I watched during my childhood which was Romana and Beezus. Finding out about Ramona and Kevin were college sweethearts was a plus to this story. I enjoy reading stories about school sweethearts. It's not that common any more. They both ended their relationship in heartbreak. There was too much misunderstanding there. Maybe if they told their feelings sooner then maybe they would have not been hiding from it. Romona seems to have never got over Kevin. I admire her devotion and love she had for him. Not everyone gets a second chance at finding their first love again or even getting back together with them. Kevin is the guy who puts everything before him. He puts his family first and the farm that the whole family takes good care of. He can be selfless, but the type who runs away from love problems. He left without saying how he felt and he didn't fight to keep Romana in his life. 9 years old when they see each other again, Kevin also shows that he never got over Romana as well. When they talk about Biltmore, the place and the Hallmark movie itself made me excited. I love that movie. Though she never got to go there after the storm they experienced, I wish I could have seen the bonus story of Romana visiting the place and seeing what happens. It was long overdue when Kevin and Romana got back together. They did have to do long distance, and miss being with each other. Romana did the right thing going for a dream by finding the actual job she always wanted and goes to Asheville to be with Kevin to start a new life there.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cute second chance story, college sweethearts without the ‘title’ but all the feelings meet after a vacation years later gone wrong due to a tropical storm that blew through. The intense feelings between each other and the battle between wanting to help the community and keep a long distance relationship. Things finally go for a discussion which ends in heartbreak and thoughts to their own to make it work. It all ends with a wedding of course, but honestly after learning about trauma bonds I wonder if there is a bit of that in there.

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet second chance romance between Ramona & Kevin in the midst of floods in Asheville, NC. It’s so hard to imagine the devastation that occurred in this town & the surrounding areas, but this books gives you a glimpse of what it was like in the days & weeks after the remnants of hurricane Helene went through the area. Ramona & Kevin dated in college 9 years ago & ended with a lot of unresolved feelings. When their paths cross again they have a second chance at love.

[Mindy Killgrove · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this debut novella from author, Julie Milo. I would recommend it to anyone who likes second chance romances and who believes that anyone, at any time, can make a grand gesture. While reading I kept thinking of the story of the starfish. I won't get all the details right, but the point is that one person, helping one other small thing in a seemingly insignificant way, can make a difference.

[Lizzie Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute second chance romance! Ramona and Kevin's continued love story is set against the backdrop of a serious situation, but the author handled it all beautifully. This novella packs an emotional punch in all the best ways 💕

[Kelsey Dicou · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute short read! Thank you Julie for the free download!

[Megan Olds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nicely written story. Both main characters are relatable, and I really liked the romance.

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.7 ⭐