Second Time's Sweeter: A Short Story

by Melissa Mastro

A recipe contest brings two finalists to a chocolate factory in Belgium where they face off—and find love—in this heartwarming and hopeful story about second chances.

Ophelia Watson is having a hard time, so when she sees a news article about a recipe competition that offers a grand prize of $25,000 and a trip to Europe, she immediately jumps at the opportunity.

Tate Ripley is struggling, too, and with a nudge from his best friend, he begrudgingly submits a recipe to an annual competition in honor of International Chocolate Day. He isn’t expecting much; it’s just a silly recipe contest, after all. But, to his surprise, it becomes so much more.

Ophelia and Tate meet in Brussels, Belgium, to see who will be crowned champion. Only one can take home the grand prize, but they might both leave winners.

Chocolate may not be the answer to all of life’s problems, but it can definitely make things sweeter, and sometimes, it can even be the catalyst for a second chance at love.



This short story originally appeared in Recipes for A Sweet Valentine's Day Anthology, published by And You Press, an imprint of Nicole Frail Books, LLC, in January 2025. It has since been edited and revised.

Genres: Contemporary, Short Stories, Romance

33 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 10, 2025

About the author

Melissa was born and raised in New York but now calls North Carolina home. A lifelong lover of words, she has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Stony Brook University, where she graduated with honors. When she’s not writing, Melissa enjoys reading, red wine, and Pilates.

Reviews

[MJay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second Time's Sweeter is a super quick emotion read with heart and humour and some romance.
Short, sweet and to the point. A perfect heartwarmer and cleaner between heavier reads.

Thank you Melissa ❤️

ARC Review - 4.75⭐️

[Gina 🥰 · Rating 5 out of 5]

the sweetest

This is the sweetest, but also saddening, short story I’ve ever read. I loved the ending so much. Melissa is such a great writer!!!

[Jenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet story! I adored it in so many ways. I had always loved short stories. Even though they are brief, they can still capture your heart. That’s the feeling I got while reading Second Time’s Sweeter, and I connected with both Ophelia and Tate, but mostly Ophelia. I liked how Melissa portrayed those characters' emotions; it was so vivid that I felt those same emotions. The only issue with short stories is that once you reach the end, you find yourself craving more, and that’s the same feeling I got from this story. I wanted to know what would happen to Tate and Ophelia after.

I loved it because it was a cooking competition, I love those and have seen quite a few of them over the years. I liked it because it was a different cooking competition. I felt for Ophelia, and I could relate to her because when I was 16, someone close to me went through precisely the same thing that Ophelia was going through. I already know that I'm going to read anything Melissa Mastro writes. I am excited to see what she has for us next!

[Chloe - Lolos.literary.nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Sometimes loving someone meant letting them go. Even if it broke your heart, too.”

✨5/5 stars✨

I never quite understood how a short story could captivate someone. Now I do. This did. I can’t believe so much can be packed into a short little story that only took me 20 minutes to read.

I connected so deeply with the FMC, how real her feelings are and how incredibly relatable they are. The love for others she has that motivated certain decisions and actions, real and raw.

The grief and healing that run through this story makes for an incredibly emotional read. 🥹

Melissa always has me wanting more. She writes deep, irresistible, emotional AND important stories. Anything she writes, I’m reading.

Read Second Times Sweeter TODAY, September 12!! Available for purchase on Amazon OR access with your Kindle Unlimited subscription! Congratulations on this beautiful new release sweet friend!! 🤍🤍

[Laura Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutley beautifully written short story that is so sad but equally so cute.
Ophelia enters a recipe into a competition where the prize is $25,000 and a trip to Brussels. When her recipe is selected she goes to Brussels to meet the other finalist..... who happens to be her ex Tate who she jilted at the alter 😮.
The competition can only have one winner but will they both become winners?? 🥰

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet! A simple, sweet, second chance romance.

Ophelia and Tate- reunited under odd circumstances… by entering the same chocolate contest in Belgium- where they will face each other as opponents. However, Ophelia has a sad secret. Will Tate accept her back after she jilted him?

Read and find out! Thanks Melissa Mastro for another TREAT of a story. 💖🍫

[Amy Hepp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mastro tackles big feelings and captures them in this sweet short story that can be read in one sitting. The reader rides an emotional rollercoaster, and you find yourself rooting for love the entire time.
Bravo!
#bookreview
#shortstories
#secondtimessweeter
#lovewins❤️

[Desi Stowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story is a poignant story of learning who's in your corner. The characters are real and believable, I wanted to know more!

A perfect story to reading between longer books.

[Ruby Dick · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was cute and sad at the same time but VERY short. Felt like I definitely needed way more.

No 🌶️
2.5 ⭐️