Love, Second Time Around

A Summerfield Village Sweet Romance #1

by Penny Appleton

In LOVE, SECOND TIME AROUNDMaggie Stewart is a retired lawyer, working to preserve the heritage of her little English cottage in Summerfield village. Her children have grown and she's content to ride horses in the countryside and enjoy her retirement.

Except she needs money for her renovations ... and she's lonely.

When she joins her old environmental team to go up against an oil company, Maggie finds herself working in opposition to a man she once loved from afar, many years ago.

Idaho ranch owner Greg Warren is rich and entitled, with a dark past that he hides behind a professional smile. But inside, he struggles with loneliness after the loss of his wife, and the rage of a wild daughter who won't let him move on.

Love blooms as Maggie and Greg take a chance on a new start, but can they find a balance between their two worlds?



˃˃˃ In this sweet romance, set between the English countryside and the mountains and farmland of Idaho, can Maggie and Greg find love second time around?If you love a happy ending, this clean and wholesome, contemporary romance might just be for you. Download a sample or buy now.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Amazon, Contemporary

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2017

About the author

Penny Appleton is the pen name of a mother and daughter team from the south-west of England.

We both enjoy traveling and many of the stories contain aspects of our adventures.

We both like reading. Some of our favorite romance authors include Danielle Steele and Nora Roberts, plus we love The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCulloch, as well as Jane Austen and Stephenie Meyer.

Our favorite movies include Legends of the Fall, A Room with a View, and The Notebook.

We both enjoy walking in nature, and a gin & tonic while watching the sun go down.

One of us is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author in another genre.

We are good friends … although sometimes we want to strangle each other! Family relationships are at the heart of our books.

Reviews

[Vania Nunes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about second chance for love. But this second chance is a bit different because the couple, in fact, have never had a relationship before.
Maggie had two children to raise and could not accept an offer of work that would lead her to live far from England. The family (the two children) came first.
At that time she met Greg, an enigmatic and professional man, but he was married and happy.
Years passed, Maggie's children were adults and she was retired, but her and Greg's paths came back to cross. She was still alone and he, a widower.
There was every reason to believe that a romance between them could easily happen.
And even though that first flame still existed, now, there were other people who could get in the way.

There are two big differences in this book for you to read it: First, the story is about two mature people who probably would not even think about having a chance to love. Second, because there has never been a romance in the past, only a strong attraction.

To see the dynamics of a more experienced couple if they get through on a known path, but at the same time new and exciting, is wonderful.
A calm and pleasant reading.
5 stars

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, Second Time Around by Penny Appleton
Story starts out wth Maggie and she's heading to the seminar in Edinburgh. Through many sources of travel she does arrive, in time and sees her old friend Greg. They had often been on opposite sides of the table, both are fighting for their side to win-environmental oil issues.
She put a lot of work into her research and is a bit thrown off by finding him there. They do connect but she keeps her distance.
When they meet up later and spend the night at the same hotel after a conceert they draw closer. She needs the money to fix up her square cottage.
Love parts of the land and surrounding areas that are described. Love also the US locations as I've been through many. Love learning about the new places to explore.
Lvoe hearing about the horses and the places they are able to get to. When they meet for another meeting in the city her boss finds out she's spent time with Greg and she's fired. He does find out and I like hearing what he did about it. He has the solution if she will agree.
Love hearing of the native Indian customs and tradiitions. Love the escusions. You wonder if they will ever get to connect again. Love chats they had about their past lives and kids as they create new memories.
Can't wait to read more from this author. Wish some parts she had spent more time on with more details because I really like to learn new things.
Beautiful story! Love that it's about older people, not those in their 20's because the problems are different. This book has something for everybody to enjoy.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

[R.K. Ryde · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely sweet stand alone romance by a debut author. I really enjoyed the age group of the main characters and the complexities that goes along with that. I also enjoyed learning about the local knowledge of the locations mentioned in the story. Well done!

[Chloe Flanagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Touching Story if Second Chances

I loved Maggie and Greg’s story. They are both intelligent, caring people but weighed down by their individual histories. The author does an excellent job showing how their love overcomes obstacles past and present.

[Jennifer Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are few things I like more for light reading than a sweet romance. If it happens to be set in England with loads of cozy domestic details (think Rosamund Pilcher), so much the better. So when I read the opening chapter of this book, with its description of a toasty kitchen in a charming English cottage on a rainy morning, I settled in for a satisfying read.

The story lived up to its promise, reminding those of us past the first blush of youth that midlife, too, can also be filled with romance, fresh starts, and reawakened dreams. When Maggie runs into former beau Greg on a flight, attraction crackles. But soon they find themselves working on opposite sides of an important issue, and the road to romance is suddenly filled with potholes.

I found myself liking both Maggie and Greg: two smart, accomplished, and imperfect people daring to dream of happily-ever-after amid the assorted complications that come with full lives lived on two continents, grown children, ex-spouses, and career responsibilities.

Highly recommended.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Love, Second Time Around, retired lawyer Maggie Stewart, who lives in a small English village, is reacquainted with former colleague and unrequited crush Greg Warren, who owns a ranch in Idaho. They met and worked together many years before, when Maggie was recently divorced and raising her two children, but Greg was happily married. It’s clear within the first few chapters that Greg was fond of Maggie, at least as a good friend. When the story opens in present day, Greg is a widower, his wife having passed away a few years earlier. While Maggie and Greg previously worked together on a long-term project, Maggie is now contracting with a company that opposes Greg’s firm. When he invites her out—he has two concert tickets but his niece can’t make it—she is hesitant because of the potential conflict of interest. She needs the work and doesn’t want to put her job in jeopardy, but she’s also eager to spend time with Greg. They agree not to talk about work, and their old friendship resumes from there.

The first thing I noticed about the book—which I might not have noticed if I hadn’t been reading it specifically to review—is that it’s written in first-person, present tense. That surprised me because I usually find that in New Adult romances, and this is basically the opposite of New Adult. The story is also told completely by Maggie, so we’re never inside Greg’s head. All that said, I quickly got used to the voice and tone, and it didn’t bother me at all. It might have been good to get Greg’s perspective at times, but I enjoyed being in Maggie’s head, and I don’t fault the author’s choice to stay with one narrator.

The conflicts in the story seemed real and believable. Their lives are on separate continents, so that’s a big one. Second, their work situation essentially pits them against one another, and their growing relationship puts Maggie on shaky ground. Although Maggie is technically retired and has enough money for everyday expenses, she seeks out limited and contract work to pay for intermittent expenses like house repairs—we’re told early in the story that the roof of her cottage needs to be fixed—and to pay for some travel. Greg, meanwhile, seems to be rolling in dough, and Maggie seems uncomfortable sometimes at the difference in their means.

There’s one scene where Maggie has come to visit him on his ranch in Idaho, and rather than going horse riding with her, Greg needs to take an urgent and lengthy work-related phone call. Maggie goes riding with Greg’s daughter Jenna instead. (I can’t recall Jenna’s age; probably 20-23?) Jenna is upset to see her dad with another woman and doesn’t make Maggie feel welcome. That scene made me annoyed with Jenna, but positively angry with Greg, because you don’t invite someone to come visit you from another country and then basically blow them off the first morning. So, Greg has a few issues: he’s a workaholic, and clashes with his daughter, and there are a couple more that we find out about later. After the horse rides ends badly, Greg does make it up to Maggie, and they have a few good days together. But, it takes a long time before Maggie believes that she and Greg can have a real future together.

The thing I enjoyed most about the book was probably the sense of place. As I read, I could imagine myself in the English countryside, or riding a horse in rural Idaho. The most interesting character, to me, was probably Jenna. She’s still dealing with the loss of her mother, and alternately clings to and rebels against her father. She seems more free and happy with horses than with people. I was pleasantly surprised to see that she’ll be the main character in the next book in the series, and I definitely want to read it.

If you enjoy reading romances featuring “mature” characters / couples of a certain age / “silver foxes,” you should absolutely give this one a try. This one could also satisfy readers who like second chance romance, widow or widower characters, long-distance relationships, and/or sweet and clean stories (only kisses, no rough language).

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of the book from the author, but this does not affect the content of my review.

[Nicole Evelina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came upon Love, Second Time Around completely by chance on Twitter. I have to admit that if I’d come across the book on the shelf, I would have passed it by because the couple on the front is older. Shame on me! That actually turned out to be one of the things I liked about the book. It was refreshing to see two people who are mature in their dealings on love, as opposed to the selfish 20- and 30-somethings that normally populate romance novels. The characters felt real and I could truly believe the heroine, Maggie, and the hero, Greg, have been meant for each other all along. I do have to admit that Greg’s sometimes misogynistic attitude that comes out toward the end turned me off of him a bit, but that is in keeping with the generation he belongs to, so I can give the author that. It is nice to see a flawed hero whose wound is something realistic, unlike a lot of the brooding heroes out there. Same goes for Maggie. I felt really bad for her once I learned her back story. And oh, could I relate to her financial woes!

By far my favorite part of the book was the settings, especially Maggie’s Square House cottage in England. I didn’t want to leave those parts because the writing was so vivid that I felt like I was living in rural England. (We all know that is a weakness of mine!) Even Greg’s Idaho ranch came to life for me, despite me not generally liking anything to do with the American West. This book is a great example of how setting can teach you something about the character, as their different home lives really serve to show just how far apart they are in what they are comfortable with. Understanding that really made me want to know if they could work past those differences to make their love happen.

I have to admit being a little in love with silver fox Greg. He’s my kind of man: rich and fond of the grand gestures. Yes, this book definitely fulfilled a fantasy for me. But beyond that, he’s kind and truly loving to his family – perhaps too indulgent with his bitchy daughter – and that’s the kind of man I want to end up with. I’ve always liked older men, and now that I’m staring down 40, perhaps this is the kind of man I’ll look for in the future.

This book is short – I read it in a matter of hours – but it has surprising depth for it’s length. It’s sweet, but in a romantic way, not in a religious or sickeningly trite way. It’s a beautiful, old-fashioned romance that will sweep you up and then gently put you down when it’s over. We need more books like that. This would be perfect for a Hallmark Channel movie adaptation. I will definitely be reading the other books in this series, and anything else Penny Appleton (the pen name of a mother-daughter duo) writes.

PS – This book is written in first person from Maggie’s POV. Yay to more authors breaking the romance “rule” that the book has to be written in third person and be from both the hero and heroine’s POVs.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complex love

A divorcee with 2 kids and a less than stellar first marriage now lives in a village outside of Oxford, in a small cottage built when America was still British colonies. Years ago, she met a man, who was married, and who she fell for, hard. But the timing wasn't right. Meanwhile, thongs eventually smoothed out with jer andnjer ex and his new family; his 4 and her 2 get along; her 2 are out on their own, one married, one a globetrotting photographer.
Greg is a hard driving businessman who also owns a ranch in Idaho. He jad a wife and 3 kids when he met Maggie. He did feel some attraction to her, but loved his wife and family. But now, his wife has died, he has 2 kids out on their own and the youngest still on the ranch.
Many years later. Both semi-retired, they meet again. Greg's wife died some 3 or 5 years ago...both intervals are used in the book, making it difficult to figure out which it was. Her mother's death has hit the youngest daughter hard. She loves the ranch, loves horses, helps rescue horses (like some rescue cats or dogs) and rehabs them, loves riding...bareback, on a large Appaloosa she calls her "Spirit Animal."
They meet again, on opposite sides pf rhe negotiating table this time. He asks her to attend a concert for which he has 2 tickets, but his companion has bowed out. She is concerned this may be a confict of interest, bit they decide it's a concert, they won't be discussing work, it's a one off, no harm done.
But things expand, moving forward. He visits her cottage, in the spare room; she introduces her to English riding, tells him about the cottage and village, soon the weekend ends. Then he invites her to Idaho, just when her roof with the expensive-to-fix potlatch shingles give way during a few storms. She hesitates, but her daughter suggests she take the risk. She decides to, but the visit goes awry because he hasn't seen fot to tell his daughter to expect a guest - esp a female guest. Once back home, it's not long befire the next conference in Edinburgh...where she gets a call from her photographer son for lunch, and introduces Greg when he stops by. Someone sees them just when he pecks her on the cheek where her injury was, and they're seen by a colleague of hers who os jealous and covets her spot on the team. She's fired and her reputation ruined.
So, what next? Will their relationship continue, will it deepen, or will this break them up?

[Nina ( picturetalk321 ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first foray into a sub-genre of romance called "sweet romance" -- guaranteed happily ever after, no sex on the page, nothing too dark. I enjoyed it a lot, and it came at a time that is otherwise emotionally taxing. Its low-key sweetness was a soothing balm.

I particularly enjoyed the mature-age protagonists, both retired, both with careers and other marriages behind them, both with grown children. This is the core of representation that resonates with me: middle-aged genteel people in their 50s and 60s who like merlot (I don't like wine but the whole wine culture resonated), gardening and finding out about places they travel to. Maggie worried about work that needs doing to her roof. She has hair that is blonde with a little professional help. She drinks tea from mugs. She lives in an impossibly twee village with roses round her door, a friend who runs a riding school for disabled kids and a benevolent neighbour.

Some nice lines:

"I undress quickly in the luxurious bathroom and put my black jacket on a hanger, where the steam will freshen it." (Love this practical detail.)

"when the hope of another partner is gone, there's room for smaller delights: luxuriating in the bath..." etc (Lockdown resonance or what?)

"I'm a stupid fool with shattered romantic dreams and a broken, old body. I just want to go home." (I feel you, woman!)

"The 'retired' now are people who were often incredibly successful. But who and what are we now?" (As my own retirement beckons somewhere on the horizon, this is a question close to home.)

"We both have our grown-up children, and we have both had our careers. Marriage at our age is about love and support for the next adventurous third of our lives when we get to have fun." (A tad child-normative, a tad validating marriage above living on one's own -- but this is a romance after all.)

Penny Appleton, I feel seen.

I chose this for the Reading Women Challenge 2021, rubric "protagonist over fifty; bonus point if author is also over fifty", because the author is the mother of Joanna Penn whose podcast on writing and creative entrepreneurship I listen to every week. It is through this podcast that I first heard of Penny Appleton, and I'm so glad I did.

Format: indie publisher Curl Up Press. Impeccably edited and formatted. Cute cover design by Jane at JD Smith Design.

[Kameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)

Young or old, everyone deserves a chance at love and I am thrilled Penny Appleton focused her love story around two individuals with a few extra years under their belts. These added years also meant they had a bit more baggage than most young, budding romances do such as prior spouses and full-grown kids.

As much as I love rekindled relationships, I somehow didn’t fully embrace this couple. I felt as if Maggie loved the Greg she knew from the past and those memories clouded her judgment of him now. He didn’t show her the appropriate amount of attention she deserved when she flew all the way to Idaho for him. Plus, I couldn’t shake the feeling he really thought a woman’s place was in the kitchen. And, there’s the conversation between Barb and Maggie. Barb’s description of Greg nagged at me through the rest of the story. Barb: “But Greg was hard to live with at times. He can have flashes of temper and lay down the law as if he’s Moses.”

I know Greg and Maggie were not getting any younger but, no matter the age, there’s something to be said about getting to know your potential spouse before you pledge your undying love. Making sure you’re truly compatible.

Now for more positives: Penny described both England and Idaho so beautifully that each sounded like a wonderful place to visit. I also appreciated the bit of history she weaved into the storyline: Wolf Recovery Program, Nez Perce (Native Americans), and Native American Heritage Day (day after Thanksgiving). It’s always nice to learn something new.

(Find more reviews/ratings at www.superkambrook.com)

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie attends a conference, where she encounters a once-upon-a-time love, Greg warren, who is rich and entitled. Long ago, while Greg was married, Maggie had a crush on him, though she realized that, as a married man, Greg had his own obligations which did not include her. Thus, Maggie went on with he life her own way, leaving Greg to his. With her children grown and a house needing repairs that cost money, Maggie returns to work and encounters Greg, now a widower and a man who shows an immediate interest in Maggie. Maggie is hesitant, remembering how difficult getting over Greg was and aware of possible work repercussions due to involvement with the “other side”, but succumbs to his interest. Immediately, her old fires are re-ignited. Greg is the same, but somehow different. He is lonely after the loss of his wife, though still a rich, entitled ranch owner in the USA, with a wild daughter who drives him to distraction. In this story, the couple takes a chance on love and a life with each other, not knowing whether things will work or not for them. As time passes, they manage to meld their separate lives into one involving both of them.

The romance was well done. I felt the chemistry between the two from the start. I found it interesting how they each ruinated on every possibility they might and did encounter as two mature people, coming from opposite sides both in life and in business. A good book to relax with on a quite afternoon, with little of the angst often found within. I received this from Happy Book Reviews to read and review.

[A. R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Love, Second Time Around," is just as the title suggests. And older couple (at the edge of retirement) reunite to find love with each other. They were business acquaintances in the past, but now feel the tug of a blossoming love.

Unfortunately, the story did little for me. It felt like a recitation of events. "He walked in, we opened a bottle of Merlot, we sat and talked." Nothing really happens in this story. There are a few moments of conflict, but they are resolved so quickly and so easily that I felt like I was reading a quick synopsis in the paper. Appleton's style left little to get involved with--it all felt superficial.

One thing that did intrigue me was the present tense style. Usually, I don't care for stories told in present tense. I know the style is supposed to put you into the story, help you feel the immediacy of the action, ect. ect. For me, present tense seldom succeeds at any of those. (As it did with this novel) But the one thing it did do, and I attribute this to the authors (Appleton is a mother/daughter team) the present tense created a lovely feeling of drifting along. I've not had that experience before. It was like being on a raft floating down a lazy river. I don't know how Appleton did that!

That feeling unfortunately was lost at the end, when the wedding was described in excruciating detail. This may have made a wonderful short story. As a novel it lacked emotion and character development.

[Sandra Olshaski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retired lawyer Maggie Stewart lives in charming 300-year-old Square Cottage in Summerfield, England - "it (the cottage) looks like a cottage teapot without a handle or a spout." Maggie is divorced with grown children. And more or less happy with her lot in life, albeit a bit lonely. Upon attending an environmental conference in Edinburgh Maggie reconnects with rich, handsome 60-ish Greg Warren from America, a heartthrob from the past. Mutual attraction rekindles, and the story begins.

I enjoyed the London landmarks the author referenced - the Tate Museum, the Globe Theatre, the Thames, and St. Paul's Cathedral, among others that lent authenticity to the story.

Both Maggie and Greg are sympathetic characters. When obstacles to the growing relationship arise, Maggie is pragmatic and upbeat, "...when the hope of another partner is gone, there's room for smaller delights: luxuriating in the bath, the song of the robin outside, visiting friends....I'm free to do whatever I want to do." Maggie is a strong, independent woman.

I appreciate the historical references to the Nez Perce in Idaho (where Greg lives), the wolf program in Yellowstone Park and the Appaloosa horses that authenticate the American part of the story.

I can wholeheartedly recommend this clean, romantic novel.

[Bobbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since romance is not typically a genre I enjoy, I was very surprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did. Romance novels can be so sickeningly sappy and unrealistic that I usually don't even bother with them. I certainly wouldn't have read this book had I not received a free copy. Was the book sappy? Yes, of course! It's a romance novel after all. Were their times when I rolled my eyes at manufactured drama? Yes again! You might wonder why I kept reading then. It's because this book also contained a lot of very interesting cultural and scientific facts. While I couldn't quite get into the cheesy Native American and Scottish references, the authors wove in some really interesting information about English riding, architectural practices of specific areas, and history related to the various settings. Those little breadcrumbs spurred me to look up additional information in outside resources, and that's a marker of a good author in my opinion.

While this book stayed true to its romance roots, it shouldn't be discounted as a silly escape novel. The authors clearly put a lot of emphasis on enriching the content and teaching the readers something new and exciting. If you are a reader who enjoys a little substance with your sap, this book might be just what you're looking for!

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this quick story about love and timing, where it is never too late, no matter what stage we are in life. For me, I'm at what some may call the quarter-life, maybe a little past that. Stories about love later in life have not been in my reading routine, however, this storytelling has made me hopeful that love can happen at any time. I was left wanting more even though it is a pretty cut and dry story. It gives new meaning to "it's complicated" when thinking about the trans-Atlantic relationship, the two different worlds, and two different past marriages - both losses but of a different reaction and lead up to the point they are at currently. I appreciate Appleton's focus on shining a light on romance beyond the physical but the emotions and chemistry that has lasted longer than they've seen or even touched each other. In Greg's case, there are more than one 'The One' - it's about timing and loving a person in the way that makes sense for that time in life. An endearing story crafted to inspire optimism and second chances.

Some quotes that stood out to me:

"But when the hope of another partner is gone, there's room for smaller delights...I'm free to do whatever I want to do. It's a happy life. But sometimes a lonely one...Everybody faces loneliness in one way or another, but I have grown used to this life over the years" (Appleton 70).

"'Marriage at our age is about love and support for the next adventurous third of our lives when we get to have fun.'" (Appleton 131).

"'I'm terrified that it will be like the ocean cruise I went on. I looked forward to it and was so convinced it was what I wanted. But in the end I was desperately claustrophobic, with no ability to get off'" (Appleton 137).

Read Love, Second Time Around if you like the themes of:

Romance
Companionship
Blended Families
Long Distance Relationships

[Pattisue · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are several things I loved about this story. First, that the characters were mature and seasoned. They have a past, have loved and lost, and have grown children. With time comes wisdom and maturity, they come “from different worlds, and he has to return to his.” The second thing I loved about this story is that when they were faced with attraction and temptation they ran away. Now that Greg’s wife is gone and Maggie is single, they are free to follow their hearts. I also liked that I got into Maggie’s head through the first person dialogue and flashbacks. She had “wrapped her love for Greg in memory and tucked it deep inside.” After so many years, Maggie Stewart and Greg Warren are shocked to find the electricity and attraction between them never faded. Yet this time they are on “opposite sides of the table” and “Maggie is fierce when she is on the warpath.” Reunited, they have a second chance to “make some new memories.” But Greg “belongs in the wild expanse of the American West, not here in Maggie’s world in the quaint green hills of England.” But things do not go smoothly as conflict and drama arise. I recommend this gentle, autumn romance.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are uniquely my own.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie is a retired attorney living in rural Summerfield England. When she travels to Edinburgh Scotland to a conference as a consultant, she runs into her former boss, Greg, and realizes she never got over her strong feelings of attraction for him. They never acted on those feelings since Greg was married at the time. Greg is a wealthy oil man, semi-retired, living on a ranch outside Boise Idaho. His beloved wife, Rachael passed away three years ago and Greg felt like he lost his heart when she was gone. When he sees Maggie at the conference, sparks of attraction fly but they are on opposing sides in their work and both have grown children. This book is well written with likable characters. I look forward to Jenna’s story in the next book!

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Scotland, America, 2nd Love

A clean romance, about finding love later in life. For the most part the story was enjoyable. I usually don't like stories told in first person, such as we & I. The parts of story I didn't like was when the heroine talked about herself as being strong & independent all the time, & how she had provided for her children & herself. Then she would start talking as if she wanted to be with the hero & a few sentences later that she didn't want to give up her independence. Very repetitive about her cottage & maintaining it's upkeep. When she went to visit America, she was taken to a remote cabin for a weekend. She had never been there but knew the names of the lake and surrounding area. Not sure if I would read more books in the series.

[Heather Button · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of the book from the author, and this review is my own opinion.

I'm a bit late in posting my review, but I wanted to make sure I included it. This sweet romance was really lovely to read, and I quite enjoyed Maggie's chance at love. I love the mix of horse cultures as well. The descriptions of setting are really beautiful, and some scenes are quite magical.

This book is the first in a series, but I just wanted to let people know that the series is that of the family, not friends. So, if you're looking for more Sweet Romances for the older crowd, it will come back to a younger heroine next time.

[Jeanne Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and Goodreads giveaway for my unbiased opinion of the book. The book is about Maggie Smith a retired environmentalist and is asked to join her old team to battle an oil company. It is an answer to her prayers due to expensive renovations needed on her cottage. She meets an old crush at the seminar and things escalate from there. I really found the story lacking any depth. It was overly predictable, and things were resolved too quickly and forgiven in a blink. I do not mind a little sugar coating on a story but this one gave me a toothache, way to saccharine for my taste.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book I bought yesterday and thought okay just a couple of chapters WELL that did not happen! I could not stop until the book was finished ! Maggie Stewart a retired lawyer has rejoined her old environmental team to go up against an big oil company, as she needs repairs on her home. On the plane to the meeting she meets widower Greg Warren a retired rich Idaho rancher and her old boss and now her opponent who she had feelings for when she worked for him . Will they get a second chance ?

[Amanda Clay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet read! This romance was so refreshing! For one, I loved that it was about an older couple. I like me some angst, but it can be a little exhausted reading about self-centered 25 year olds trying to figure out love and life, ha. This book was set in the charming English country side (with such perfect little details--I could just hear their accents!). This is a perfect book to lift your spirits on a rainy afternoon. Highly recommend if you like a sweet, intelligent romance with endearing characters.

[Pamela Kenney · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is lovely to read a romance novel featuring older people. So wonderful to see love blossom at any age.
Also the descriptions of the various locations around the world are marvellous! It really makes a person want to travel more.
Overall a good first effort for this writing duo. There will be more in the series...which is definitely a good thing!

I read an advance copy of this book and my review is based on that.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this modern romance. I liked that it was a clean and sweet romance.

It had some good conflict, coming from Gregs daughter, who doesn't like the idea of her dad having a girlfriend.

The settings for this book were wonderful. Horses in both places! The England setting also had rabbits. That was cool. The old cottage was neat too.

It was well written and easy to read. Great for an afternoon relaxing in the recliner.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads Kindle Copy Win

A second chance romance as love reunites after years apart.

Meeting once again at a conference triggers old feelings that they never touched on since at the time both were married. But now she is divorced and he has lost his wife for a few years. Feelings will rekindled but willshe be able to go past her insecurities.

A sweet story of neer giving up on love even after time has passed.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, Second Time Around is by Penny Appleton. This cute romance takes place in Summerville in England. It is definitely worth reading.
While on her way to a conference, Maggie runs into a former friend, Greg Warren. They had worked together years ago on a project and sparks had flown; but as both were married, they ignored those pesky sparks. Now, time finds them both single at the same time. Greg lives in Oregon and Maggie in England. Will things work out for them this time?

[Jean Hall]

A sweet romance about 2 people who worked together many years ago, who meet up at a conference on different sides. Nice story about an older couple, with complicated pasts. She was interested in him years ago, but he was married. Now he is a widower with a daughter who has trouble coming to term with him getting serious with another woman. She had a not so happy first marriage and is afraid of being hurt again. Lovely how they overcome their difficulties and married.

[Diana Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sweet

Such a sweet story of two co-workers who were attracted to one another but never crossed the line with each other. The two meet up years later and both are older, have grown children and both are single. Priorities change over the years and thankfully true love can happen at any age!!

[Shauna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a look at finding love when your a bit older with someone you connected with earlier in life. It was an easy read, but just okay for me. I would have liked to know Greg a bit better, and things tied up rather easily for the couple, but it's still a nice getaway that made me wish for a visit to Summerland.

[Emily F - Seriously Sweet Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet romance. Both characters were flawed, which I appreciated. Clean, I'd rate it Pg. It was interesting to see both England and the United States and how the characters interacted in each of the backgrounds and what brought them together. Some of the conflicts seemed to be minimized and didn't impact the story like I thought they should.