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Secrets and Second Chances
Enjoy FOUR delicious beach reads for one low price!
"Love Not Luck"; "Solving for X"; "Butterfly Kisses"; "A Taste of Magic"
Beautifully written, mature, engaging, fast-paced, excellent. --Amazon reviewer
She's able to write in a way that makes me feel like I'm in seventh grade swooning over Gilbert Blythe again --Emily M., reviewer
Read Melanie Jacobson's Tangerine Street stories together in one place for the first time!
Meet four women who fall under the irresistible spell of Tangerine Street, the best kept secret in this sleepy beach town, where love waits in the most unexpected places.
A cafe where the first fortune in your cookie always come true . . . and love is right under your nose next door.
An antique shop where each treasure tells a surprising story . . . but not more surprising than the attraction between two total opposites.
A wishing well that grants your heart's true desire . . . and a casual summer romance grows roots of its own.
A bakery where each delicacy almost tastes like magic . . . and the baker must hide her biggest secret from the man in her past who most deserves to know it.
"Love Not Luck"; "Solving for X"; "Butterfly Kisses"; "A Taste of Magic"
Beautifully written, mature, engaging, fast-paced, excellent. --Amazon reviewer
She's able to write in a way that makes me feel like I'm in seventh grade swooning over Gilbert Blythe again --Emily M., reviewer
Read Melanie Jacobson's Tangerine Street stories together in one place for the first time!
Meet four women who fall under the irresistible spell of Tangerine Street, the best kept secret in this sleepy beach town, where love waits in the most unexpected places.
A cafe where the first fortune in your cookie always come true . . . and love is right under your nose next door.
An antique shop where each treasure tells a surprising story . . . but not more surprising than the attraction between two total opposites.
A wishing well that grants your heart's true desire . . . and a casual summer romance grows roots of its own.
A bakery where each delicacy almost tastes like magic . . . and the baker must hide her biggest secret from the man in her past who most deserves to know it.
359 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2019
84 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 6, 2020
Oh, that was a lovely collection. Maybe I had been prepared for the short story format and so was not disappointed (as it often happens) that I did not get four novels instead of novellas. Or maybe these stories are really that good. Either way, I enjoyed all of them, different as they were. I even liked the touch of magic connected to the places and the people which is not something I usually look for in the genre. It took me some time to get through the last novella because the scenario was one of those I generally dislike, but once I gave the story a go, it turned out to be so good! The author did manage to work through all the feelings of all the parties involved in a credible and at times deeply touching way.
I have become really attached to the characters populating Tangering Street and all its places, and now I considering buying the other TS collections (with stories by other authors) even though I know I would have to pay for these four stories again.
I have become really attached to the characters populating Tangering Street and all its places, and now I considering buying the other TS collections (with stories by other authors) even though I know I would have to pay for these four stories again.
July 7, 2019
(4.5 stars) - happiness times four!
This is a collection of 4 novellas previously published elsewhere. Melanie Jacobson's heroines are always strong (even when they're insecure), witty & frequently a bit quirky. I always enjoy her stories.
(1) 5 stars - "Love Not Luck"
This one is the most solidly written, and if pressed, I'd probably say it was also my favorite. Even with the stereotypical snobby parents of the fiance, the only fault I could find with it was that Carl wasn't wrong about liberals ruining the country, but hey, even a blind hog finds an acorn occasionally 😉
(2) 4 stars - "Solving for X"
Fun, though at times Abbie's a little over the top. And the tie scene is funny in fiction but not in real life, so reconciling it in my mind pushed me out of the story a bit. Holden's multiple humiliations was just a tad overdone, & I had to wonder how many guys of his temperament would have thought the risk of hanging around further would be worth it. The final reunion was fun but not at all believable for me.
(3) 4.5 stars - "Butterfly Kisses"
Ridley is my favorite character in this story, and I think I'd rather have a Ridley than a Tom Hiddleston. 😄 I enjoyed this story, but it felt a little... unfocused? It didn't quite engage my interest & sympathy as fully as the others.
(4) 4.5 stars - "A Taste of Magic"
I loved this one, especially with the little hint of magic in the story (reminded me of Tara Sheets' "Don't Call Me Cupcake" & it would be fun to see Jacobson do more with it) but this being a novella results in the resolution feeling a little too quickly & neatly resolved. I couldn't help but wonder how they decided to deal with the evil grandparents, too.
Clean romance level: passionate kisses, some joking & innuendo, and a past relationship resulting in a child make it advisable for parent's to use discretion before sharing it with their younger teens
Language: minimal, a couple of d*mns & h*lls
This is a collection of 4 novellas previously published elsewhere. Melanie Jacobson's heroines are always strong (even when they're insecure), witty & frequently a bit quirky. I always enjoy her stories.
(1) 5 stars - "Love Not Luck"
This one is the most solidly written, and if pressed, I'd probably say it was also my favorite. Even with the stereotypical snobby parents of the fiance, the only fault I could find with it was that Carl wasn't wrong about liberals ruining the country, but hey, even a blind hog finds an acorn occasionally 😉
(2) 4 stars - "Solving for X"
Fun, though at times Abbie's a little over the top. And the tie scene is funny in fiction but not in real life, so reconciling it in my mind pushed me out of the story a bit. Holden's multiple humiliations was just a tad overdone, & I had to wonder how many guys of his temperament would have thought the risk of hanging around further would be worth it. The final reunion was fun but not at all believable for me.
(3) 4.5 stars - "Butterfly Kisses"
Ridley is my favorite character in this story, and I think I'd rather have a Ridley than a Tom Hiddleston. 😄 I enjoyed this story, but it felt a little... unfocused? It didn't quite engage my interest & sympathy as fully as the others.
(4) 4.5 stars - "A Taste of Magic"
I loved this one, especially with the little hint of magic in the story (reminded me of Tara Sheets' "Don't Call Me Cupcake" & it would be fun to see Jacobson do more with it) but this being a novella results in the resolution feeling a little too quickly & neatly resolved. I couldn't help but wonder how they decided to deal with the evil grandparents, too.
Clean romance level: passionate kisses, some joking & innuendo, and a past relationship resulting in a child make it advisable for parent's to use discretion before sharing it with their younger teens
Language: minimal, a couple of d*mns & h*lls
August 29, 2019
Tangerine Street!
I love my visits to Tangerine Street, have read several stories by multiple authors and then I found this set. Thought it would be a nice stroll down memory lane, but while I had read 1 and 4, 2 & 3 were brand new to me, yay! Everyone I meet here has an engrossing story and that's what it's all about!
I love my visits to Tangerine Street, have read several stories by multiple authors and then I found this set. Thought it would be a nice stroll down memory lane, but while I had read 1 and 4, 2 & 3 were brand new to me, yay! Everyone I meet here has an engrossing story and that's what it's all about!
February 9, 2020
Hallmark Movie Hits
Thoroughly enjoyed these quick romance stories that should be Hallmark Movies, only better. Not long enough to thoroughly develop characters, but perfect for a quick light read. All take place in same town, and characters start to overlap. Just a touch of “magic” adds charm. Totally recommend these stories.
Thoroughly enjoyed these quick romance stories that should be Hallmark Movies, only better. Not long enough to thoroughly develop characters, but perfect for a quick light read. All take place in same town, and characters start to overlap. Just a touch of “magic” adds charm. Totally recommend these stories.
January 16, 2020
I was excited to read these four novellas from Melanie Jacobson. Each story was different, but all were set in the same town and some of the stories mentioned the same places. Melanie has a unique style of writing that makes the story come alive. Each was a quick read with fun characters.
April 23, 2022
This was a solid 3.5 stars. I loved that the stories centered on the same town, without necessarily having character overlap. These are perfect light, beachy reads and I'd read them again.
Love, Not Luck - Things started out rocky from the first chapter, and I was a little iffy about how a "lucky necklace" would play into the story, but the way Lucy worked through her relationship fallout and the way the plot wrapped was really sweet.
Solving for X - This was a great opposites-attract trope novella. Abbie and Holden are so different and Abbie's past experience with business types visiting the beach town absolutely colors her perception of him (fair!). The novella context meant less time fleshing out Holden's history, which I missed, but overall this felt plausible and I laughed a lot as this story unfolded.
Butterfly Kisses - I think this story was my least favorite. Ridley withholds info about who he is and is vague about his employment and Brooke is earnest about her nonprofit and forthright about her work as a plastic surgeon. Assumptions based on stereotypes occur, some fun connection happens during Brooke's stay at a conference in Ridley's hometown, and I didn't care for how things worked out at the end of the story. Misunderstandings as a major plot point is one of my least favorites.
A Taste of Magic - Delilah's bakery and follow-her-whim approach to her menu immediately won me over. The way her backstory was gradually revealed was well-done. Luke's approach and interactions with Delilah made me smile. A bit of how the story played out felt a little.. rushed, I think? Overall, though, I thought this was a sweet story and the ending made me teary.
Love, Not Luck - Things started out rocky from the first chapter, and I was a little iffy about how a "lucky necklace" would play into the story, but the way Lucy worked through her relationship fallout and the way the plot wrapped was really sweet.
Solving for X - This was a great opposites-attract trope novella. Abbie and Holden are so different and Abbie's past experience with business types visiting the beach town absolutely colors her perception of him (fair!). The novella context meant less time fleshing out Holden's history, which I missed, but overall this felt plausible and I laughed a lot as this story unfolded.
Butterfly Kisses - I think this story was my least favorite. Ridley withholds info about who he is and is vague about his employment and Brooke is earnest about her nonprofit and forthright about her work as a plastic surgeon. Assumptions based on stereotypes occur, some fun connection happens during Brooke's stay at a conference in Ridley's hometown, and I didn't care for how things worked out at the end of the story. Misunderstandings as a major plot point is one of my least favorites.
A Taste of Magic - Delilah's bakery and follow-her-whim approach to her menu immediately won me over. The way her backstory was gradually revealed was well-done. Luke's approach and interactions with Delilah made me smile. A bit of how the story played out felt a little.. rushed, I think? Overall, though, I thought this was a sweet story and the ending made me teary.
December 16, 2023
A book containing four short novels, all of which take place in the same city, and even the characters of the four stories overlap slightly.
The book has the feeling of romantic Christmas movies, cute stories, simple characters, and a happy ending.
Love, not luck
I admit that I read the book from back to front, so the first story was the last for me. It was okay, the glimpse of friendship between the two characters was very nice.
Solution for x
Well, it's not very good. The beginning is an exaggeration between the two characters, then a lot of scenes that are supposed to be funny but are not, and then an exaggerated ending as well. I didn't like that story very much.
Butterfly kisses
It was exactly the story of romantic comedies. Everything about it was similar to those movies. I enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed those films.
Taste of Magic
This is another stereotypical story, a kid whose father doesn't know about him, and then he finds out, and the girl discovers that she got it wrong and then they get back together as a family again. It was light and simple but I didn't enjoy it very much maybe because it's very stereotypical.
The book is light and simple for light reading and makes good material for simple entertainment and clean romance.
2.5/5
The book has the feeling of romantic Christmas movies, cute stories, simple characters, and a happy ending.
Love, not luck
I admit that I read the book from back to front, so the first story was the last for me. It was okay, the glimpse of friendship between the two characters was very nice.
Solution for x
Well, it's not very good. The beginning is an exaggeration between the two characters, then a lot of scenes that are supposed to be funny but are not, and then an exaggerated ending as well. I didn't like that story very much.
Butterfly kisses
It was exactly the story of romantic comedies. Everything about it was similar to those movies. I enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed those films.
Taste of Magic
This is another stereotypical story, a kid whose father doesn't know about him, and then he finds out, and the girl discovers that she got it wrong and then they get back together as a family again. It was light and simple but I didn't enjoy it very much maybe because it's very stereotypical.
The book is light and simple for light reading and makes good material for simple entertainment and clean romance.
2.5/5
July 12, 2020
This was a collection of novellas all taking place in the same little beach town. It’s apparent there are other books written about this town, but I haven’t read them and these novellas still made sense. There was a little bit of magic floating around this town, but not so much to make it ridiculous.
July 18, 2020
Great collection of stories with people from Seashell Beach with intriguing jobs that the characters have - not your typical ones I've heard-making her stories come more alive. There was only one that I hope she'll do a little more with Butterfly Kisses and make a separate novel.
February 2, 2022
I loved the touch of magic in these four novellas. I enjoyed the super sweet stories. It's only a 3 (and a three is still good in the Relyn Rating world.) because each story would have been even better if they had been fleshed out a bit more.
June 29, 2020
I liked the stories but the fourth story was my favorite.
July 21, 2020
I've enjoyed Melanie Jacobson's novellas in the Tangerine St collections I've had the chance to read, and it was fun to reread those and read some I haven't had the chance to read before.
October 13, 2021
Quick, easy read. 3.5 ⭐️
December 5, 2024
I didn’t love the set up of having multiple different couples stories in one.
July 28, 2019
I love MJ books and have been hitting myself I didn't know about these books! I want to read the original from other authors too. Sounds like Seashell Beach is a great little town!
I loved the first 2 novellas in this collection. The third one didn't hold my attention and I felt like all of a sudden they were making out and he was always kissing her. I had to backtrack to see if I missed anything. The last one, was cute but I had a really hard time liking Delilah for not telling Luke. It didn't feel complete. Delilah claims she never told Luke because he'd be a bad dad (and how could she tell that to her son? She didn't know how'd he be!" from what glimpses of the past we saw, nothing showed me he'd be a bad dad. Was that all from the misunderstanding? Because that's a huge leap of assumption. I get it, she was young and scared and alone. It wrapped up HEA a little too easily for me, even if I liked it, but I wish there was more to this story.
I loved the first 2 novellas in this collection. The third one didn't hold my attention and I felt like all of a sudden they were making out and he was always kissing her. I had to backtrack to see if I missed anything. The last one, was cute but I had a really hard time liking Delilah for not telling Luke. It didn't feel complete. Delilah claims she never told Luke because he'd be a bad dad (and how could she tell that to her son? She didn't know how'd he be!" from what glimpses of the past we saw, nothing showed me he'd be a bad dad. Was that all from the misunderstanding? Because that's a huge leap of assumption. I get it, she was young and scared and alone. It wrapped up HEA a little too easily for me, even if I liked it, but I wish there was more to this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2020
I liked most of these stories. I like how they are connected by a place rather than by characters. Kisses only
July 3, 2019
Mostly Sweet Romances
I usually love her stories, but I did not love the random swear words. Otherwise I liked the characters and stories. I had read most of them before. There were still a few typos, but not many. There was plenty of kissing!
I usually love her stories, but I did not love the random swear words. Otherwise I liked the characters and stories. I had read most of them before. There were still a few typos, but not many. There was plenty of kissing!
July 3, 2019
Great collection
I read these stories in the original books, but it was awesome to have all of these together in one collection. I love everything by this author and snatch it up as soon as it is published!
I read these stories in the original books, but it was awesome to have all of these together in one collection. I love everything by this author and snatch it up as soon as it is published!
July 20, 2019
I really enjoyed rereading the first three stories and reading Delilah's story for the first time. Tangerine Street is such a magical place.
Content: clean- innuendo, a few swear words, passionate kissing
Content: clean- innuendo, a few swear words, passionate kissing
August 17, 2019
Seashell Beach has a little magic
Seashell Beach seems to have a little bit of magic in the air. Special things happen there and these four stories share a little bit of that magic. Don’t miss these fun, sweet romances set in this California coast town.
Seashell Beach seems to have a little bit of magic in the air. Special things happen there and these four stories share a little bit of that magic. Don’t miss these fun, sweet romances set in this California coast town.
September 25, 2019
I’m not a massive fan of short stories, but I did enjoy these. Even though I don’t feel these are typical books of this author, I enjoyed them. They were creative and fun. I get annoyed at a few things though. They just don’t crack me up like her typical novels.
July 26, 2019
Wonderful
Great group of stories! I loved all of them. Charming, romantic, and enjoyable.
Clean, just some kissing, though other things are vaguely referred to.
Great group of stories! I loved all of them. Charming, romantic, and enjoyable.
Clean, just some kissing, though other things are vaguely referred to.
December 16, 2019
What a lovely (and funny! and well-written!) story! I adored Lucy and Carter - and Lucy's mom and dad, too! But now I'm curious about Emma and Stella, too...
December 27, 2019
I LOVED returning to Tangerine Street! I loved visiting the characters again. And of course there is the swoony romances that I just adore!!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews