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Honeymoon Harbor #4
Second Chance Spring
"Readers won't want to leave the heartwarming stories of Honeymoon Harbor."—Publishers Weekly
Welcome back to Honeymoon Harbor, where the majestic scenery of this small coastal town is second only to the legendary romances that have built the community...
Pro quarterback Burke Mannion is at a crossroads in his career—nearing retirement age, he wonders if it’s time to hang up his cleats, or keep pushing on and head to training camp in a few short weeks. The decision is delayed by an upsetting phone call from his brother, and without blinking, Burke packs for Honeymoon Harbor and the home he hasn’t seen in years. The last person he expects to see when he arrives is the woman he had once thought might be the one—the same woman who had broken up with him by text as she left New York.
Having heard Burke’s stories about Honeymoon Harbor, Lily Fletcher never really believed there was any place as idyllic as he’d made it sound. But as much as she’s tried to keep her past in the past by avoiding personal connections, deep down she secretly always hoped she’d see Burke again. As Lily and Burke fall back into their unresolved feelings for one another, she knows she has to come clean about who she really is as he struggles with the choice to go back to the celebrity life he knows or embrace the one he’s beginning to think could be the true path to happiness.
Bonus Novella! Just One Look
When Honeymoon Harbor holds a local bachelor auction at the annual Labor Day boat festival, Cam Montgomery needs to make sure his best friend, Megan Larson, wins him as a date. Cam’s grand gesture should go off without a hitch, but only if Megan is willing to take a chance, too…
Honeymoon Harbor
Book 1: Herons Landing
Book 2: Snowfall on Lighthouse Lane
Book 3: Summer on Mirror Lake
Book 4: Second Chance Spring
Welcome back to Honeymoon Harbor, where the majestic scenery of this small coastal town is second only to the legendary romances that have built the community...
Pro quarterback Burke Mannion is at a crossroads in his career—nearing retirement age, he wonders if it’s time to hang up his cleats, or keep pushing on and head to training camp in a few short weeks. The decision is delayed by an upsetting phone call from his brother, and without blinking, Burke packs for Honeymoon Harbor and the home he hasn’t seen in years. The last person he expects to see when he arrives is the woman he had once thought might be the one—the same woman who had broken up with him by text as she left New York.
Having heard Burke’s stories about Honeymoon Harbor, Lily Fletcher never really believed there was any place as idyllic as he’d made it sound. But as much as she’s tried to keep her past in the past by avoiding personal connections, deep down she secretly always hoped she’d see Burke again. As Lily and Burke fall back into their unresolved feelings for one another, she knows she has to come clean about who she really is as he struggles with the choice to go back to the celebrity life he knows or embrace the one he’s beginning to think could be the true path to happiness.
Bonus Novella! Just One Look
When Honeymoon Harbor holds a local bachelor auction at the annual Labor Day boat festival, Cam Montgomery needs to make sure his best friend, Megan Larson, wins him as a date. Cam’s grand gesture should go off without a hitch, but only if Megan is willing to take a chance, too…
Honeymoon Harbor
Book 1: Herons Landing
Book 2: Snowfall on Lighthouse Lane
Book 3: Summer on Mirror Lake
Book 4: Second Chance Spring
390 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 28, 2022
216 people are currently reading
254 people want to read
About the author
JoAnn Ross
240 books798 followersNew York Times bestselling author JoAnn Ross has written over a hundred novels for a bunch of publishers. Two of her titles have been excerpted in Cosmo and her books have also been published by the Doubleday, Rhapsody, Literary Guild, and Mystery Guild book clubs.
A member of the Romance Writers of America's Honor Roll of best-selling authors, she's won several awards, including Romantic Times's Career Achievement Awards in both category and contemporary single title.
Currently writing a new Honeymoon Harbor series for HQN set on the Washington peninsula, that will launch in April, 2018, JoAnn lives with her husband (her high school sweetheart, who proposed at the sea wall where her Shelter Bay books are set), in the Pacific Northwest.
A member of the Romance Writers of America's Honor Roll of best-selling authors, she's won several awards, including Romantic Times's Career Achievement Awards in both category and contemporary single title.
Currently writing a new Honeymoon Harbor series for HQN set on the Washington peninsula, that will launch in April, 2018, JoAnn lives with her husband (her high school sweetheart, who proposed at the sea wall where her Shelter Bay books are set), in the Pacific Northwest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
August 4, 2022
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
What the hell was Lily Carpenter doing in Honeymoon Harbor?
Second Chance Spring is the story of a second chance romance between guarded Lily and Burke, a NFL QB who she broke up with by text. I wasn't aware it was a part of a series, Honeymoon Harbor, when I started it and because of how much series characters play a part in this one, that greatly impacted my enjoyment. Burke is living in New York, where he's the starting QB for the Gotham Knights and trying to figure out if he wants to become a free agent, sign with the Knights again, or retire. He gets a call from his brother that their mother was in a car accident, so he rushes home only to find that Lily, the woman he dated for three months and was already starting to think was the one, now lives in his hometown.
And now that day had come. It was time, she knew, to face the music.
After having a horrible childhood where her mother, father, and grandmother played tug of war with her through the courts, Lily changed her last name when she was eighteen and tries to live a guarded single life. When she met Burke at a charity function they instantly were attracted to each other but she warns him right away that it can only be hook-ups between them and when Lily starts to have deeper feelings for Burke, she breaks up with him and runs. Bouncing from town to town, Lily remembers how Burke talked about his hometown and how she fell in love with it through his words, so she decides to stay a few months there, only to end up staying and building roots and relationships with everyone. Now two years later and Lily and Burke are coming face to face again.
But the one thing Burke knew was that nothing was going to interfere with him coming up with a game plan to win Lily Carpenter.
If you're a frequent reader of the Honeymoon Harbor series, you'd probably enjoy all the past characters that make up Burke's family (his mother and father are the novella couple that start off the series) and the townspeople that are at length shown in the beginning. As a new reader, it was overwhelming with so many characters, especially when I was just trying to get to know Burke and Lily. A big chunk of the beginning was more small-town and family fiction as everyone came in and out of the picture. It's mentioned that Lily has a big secret, something to do with not wanting to be recognized by the press and that is why she's fighting hard to stay away from Burke and around 50% she reveals what it is. It has to do with her past and how damaging it was to be in the news, honestly, something that didn't feel like too big a deal to me as a reader and obviously to the characters in the story. Burke shrugs it off, along with the friends Lily has made in the town when she tells them about her past. It was such a non-entity that was supposed to be the block and angst keeping Lily and Burke apart but pretty much flopped as a reveal because of how it wasn't a big deal and not really dealt with again.
But just then, in that very special moment, seated on a quilt, sharing tacos with the man she loved, she was living her best life.
The second half has the reveal done with and Burke and Lily tentatively try to bond again and I thought here was where the romantic relationship between the two was really going to get going and while they spend more time together finally, there was also a secondary romance taking place and more of that small town, family fiction eclipsing Lily and Burke. There wasn't much to their relationship on page emotional development, more of a condensed stop and go showing of their foreplay, fade to black bedroom scenes, and then some more sexual by-play. Then the ending gives a rushed resolution that even when it's supposed to be the romantic wrap-up to how these two are going to work out being together the story seems to be more concerned with Burke's career. I typically love details to characters and story but this had too many characters in it, all those little details began to feel pointless, trivial, and really slowed the pace down for me. Again, if you're a Honeymoon Harbor reader, you'd probably enjoy this a lot more than me as a newcomer because you would know these characters and care about them. I wanted to get to know Burke and Lily but they were often playing second fiddle in their own book and neither character gave me an emotional connection, which definitely lead to their romance feeling perfunctory. This wasn't about the heat and emotion of a singular romance but rather a broad look-in at the characters of Honeymoon Harbor and a small-town, family fiction vibe.
What the hell was Lily Carpenter doing in Honeymoon Harbor?
Second Chance Spring is the story of a second chance romance between guarded Lily and Burke, a NFL QB who she broke up with by text. I wasn't aware it was a part of a series, Honeymoon Harbor, when I started it and because of how much series characters play a part in this one, that greatly impacted my enjoyment. Burke is living in New York, where he's the starting QB for the Gotham Knights and trying to figure out if he wants to become a free agent, sign with the Knights again, or retire. He gets a call from his brother that their mother was in a car accident, so he rushes home only to find that Lily, the woman he dated for three months and was already starting to think was the one, now lives in his hometown.
And now that day had come. It was time, she knew, to face the music.
After having a horrible childhood where her mother, father, and grandmother played tug of war with her through the courts, Lily changed her last name when she was eighteen and tries to live a guarded single life. When she met Burke at a charity function they instantly were attracted to each other but she warns him right away that it can only be hook-ups between them and when Lily starts to have deeper feelings for Burke, she breaks up with him and runs. Bouncing from town to town, Lily remembers how Burke talked about his hometown and how she fell in love with it through his words, so she decides to stay a few months there, only to end up staying and building roots and relationships with everyone. Now two years later and Lily and Burke are coming face to face again.
But the one thing Burke knew was that nothing was going to interfere with him coming up with a game plan to win Lily Carpenter.
If you're a frequent reader of the Honeymoon Harbor series, you'd probably enjoy all the past characters that make up Burke's family (his mother and father are the novella couple that start off the series) and the townspeople that are at length shown in the beginning. As a new reader, it was overwhelming with so many characters, especially when I was just trying to get to know Burke and Lily. A big chunk of the beginning was more small-town and family fiction as everyone came in and out of the picture. It's mentioned that Lily has a big secret, something to do with not wanting to be recognized by the press and that is why she's fighting hard to stay away from Burke and around 50% she reveals what it is. It has to do with her past and how damaging it was to be in the news, honestly, something that didn't feel like too big a deal to me as a reader and obviously to the characters in the story. Burke shrugs it off, along with the friends Lily has made in the town when she tells them about her past. It was such a non-entity that was supposed to be the block and angst keeping Lily and Burke apart but pretty much flopped as a reveal because of how it wasn't a big deal and not really dealt with again.
But just then, in that very special moment, seated on a quilt, sharing tacos with the man she loved, she was living her best life.
The second half has the reveal done with and Burke and Lily tentatively try to bond again and I thought here was where the romantic relationship between the two was really going to get going and while they spend more time together finally, there was also a secondary romance taking place and more of that small town, family fiction eclipsing Lily and Burke. There wasn't much to their relationship on page emotional development, more of a condensed stop and go showing of their foreplay, fade to black bedroom scenes, and then some more sexual by-play. Then the ending gives a rushed resolution that even when it's supposed to be the romantic wrap-up to how these two are going to work out being together the story seems to be more concerned with Burke's career. I typically love details to characters and story but this had too many characters in it, all those little details began to feel pointless, trivial, and really slowed the pace down for me. Again, if you're a Honeymoon Harbor reader, you'd probably enjoy this a lot more than me as a newcomer because you would know these characters and care about them. I wanted to get to know Burke and Lily but they were often playing second fiddle in their own book and neither character gave me an emotional connection, which definitely lead to their romance feeling perfunctory. This wasn't about the heat and emotion of a singular romance but rather a broad look-in at the characters of Honeymoon Harbor and a small-town, family fiction vibe.
August 8, 2022
It was a book. I bought it from the grocery store. Going to go back next week to buy “kiss me cowboy”
August 27, 2023
This is the story of a man and a woman who are given a second chance at love and a relationship. It is set in Honeymoon Harbor in the Pacific northwest. The book was an easy read.
March 17, 2023
Burke Manion is a pro quarterback and wondering if it's time to retire.
He ends up back home for an emergency with his family.
Meanwhile, still trying to decide the future of his career.
He sees Lily Fletcher, a women he had an affair with in New York.
But she broke up with him via text. Yikes!
Lily may have had a good reason but Burke is still upset about it.
Can they figure out a way forward?
Well done romance dressing real issues and concerns.
Great characters.
He ends up back home for an emergency with his family.
Meanwhile, still trying to decide the future of his career.
He sees Lily Fletcher, a women he had an affair with in New York.
But she broke up with him via text. Yikes!
Lily may have had a good reason but Burke is still upset about it.
Can they figure out a way forward?
Well done romance dressing real issues and concerns.
Great characters.
July 21, 2025
Lily Fletcher loved the stories that pro quarterback Burke Mannion had told her during their time together in New York. But she abruptly broke off with him, and disappeared, showing up in Burke's hometown of Honeymoon Harbor, working at the local community college. And then Burke shows up, at a crossroads, where the team he's on isn't committed to getting players to protect him in games. So they are both reinventing themselves. But Lily has a secret that could put her on the move again.
July 9, 2022
Great continuation of the Honeymoon Harbor series
These book have heart and laughter. While Burke is negotiating his contract with his NFL team, he gets a call that his mom was injured in a car accident. He rushes home and finds the girl who dumped him is now living in his hometown! Lily has been running from her past all her life. After breaking up with Burke, she didn't know what to do or where to go. So she went to Honeymoon Harbor because it sounded too good to be true! Surprisingly, it was even better so she decides to try staying in one spot! Can they move on and get a second chance at love?
There is a bonus novella that takes place before this one. It features the dreamy vet Cam and how he gets his love interest Megan on a first date after a bachelor auction! There are some very romantic scenes in this!
The pace for both is fast and the tone is hopeful with a character oriented storyline that has no action and some steamy scenes that are not super detailed. The characters are vibrant and endearing. The pets just add to both stories. I would recommend reading this series in order if possible to get the most from it. That means reading the short story Home to Honeymoon Harbor first which is bundled with the Kindle book 1 called Heron's Landing, then book 2 Snowfall on Lighthouse Lane, book 2.5 Once Upon a Wedding Kindle novella and then Summer on Mirror Lake before these 2 with 3.5 Just One Look before Second Chance Spring. If you like contemporary romances with complex characters and lots of emotion, then this is for you! Enjoy!
These book have heart and laughter. While Burke is negotiating his contract with his NFL team, he gets a call that his mom was injured in a car accident. He rushes home and finds the girl who dumped him is now living in his hometown! Lily has been running from her past all her life. After breaking up with Burke, she didn't know what to do or where to go. So she went to Honeymoon Harbor because it sounded too good to be true! Surprisingly, it was even better so she decides to try staying in one spot! Can they move on and get a second chance at love?
There is a bonus novella that takes place before this one. It features the dreamy vet Cam and how he gets his love interest Megan on a first date after a bachelor auction! There are some very romantic scenes in this!
The pace for both is fast and the tone is hopeful with a character oriented storyline that has no action and some steamy scenes that are not super detailed. The characters are vibrant and endearing. The pets just add to both stories. I would recommend reading this series in order if possible to get the most from it. That means reading the short story Home to Honeymoon Harbor first which is bundled with the Kindle book 1 called Heron's Landing, then book 2 Snowfall on Lighthouse Lane, book 2.5 Once Upon a Wedding Kindle novella and then Summer on Mirror Lake before these 2 with 3.5 Just One Look before Second Chance Spring. If you like contemporary romances with complex characters and lots of emotion, then this is for you! Enjoy!
August 30, 2022
Another in the Honeymoon Harbor series, in which NFL star Burke Mannion comes home after learning his mother has a serious injury from a car accident. Another surprise awaits him when he encounters Lily Fletcher, with whom he'd had a sheets-burning 3-month-long affair years earlier and that she's now settled in Honeymoon Harbor and working at the local college in the marketing department.
What Burke is going to do with his life and his contract with his team becomes a focal point in the issues that he and Lily have to deal with, including who she really is and why she never told him about her background.
But help from two of his brothers provides at least one solution, or maybe three. But will Lily agree?
What Burke is going to do with his life and his contract with his team becomes a focal point in the issues that he and Lily have to deal with, including who she really is and why she never told him about her background.
But help from two of his brothers provides at least one solution, or maybe three. But will Lily agree?
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November 27, 2023I didn't realize until I was into the book that I'd read one of the books in this series before. Everyone was beautiful or handsome, everyone is incredibly successful (Gabe is a gazillionaire and could Sarah actually have been a professor of English at Oxford?) And everyone is sexually attracted and/or loves someone else immediately. Looking back, I found that hard to believe. But I will say I was propelled into reading it by the writing, it kept my interest, especially Lily's secret which was 12 years old! So, really, was it that important? Oh and is sexual compatibility so instant that they would know the first time they meet? Of course, everything ends happily. Entertaining but unbelievable to me.
January 1, 2026
Burke Mannion nearing retirement age in his football career is trying to decide whether to hang up his cleats or report for Spring training camp. He receives a call from his brother that his Mom had been in a terrible accident and immediately returns to Honeymoon Harbor, his childhood home to help out with his Mom.
Upon his return, he finds Lily Fletcher, the one woman he thought was the one, but she ran out on him, only to settle in his childhood town. Lily ran out on him, because she was trying to hide her past. Lily and Burke find their way back to each other, but first she must come to terms with her past.
Upon his return, he finds Lily Fletcher, the one woman he thought was the one, but she ran out on him, only to settle in his childhood town. Lily ran out on him, because she was trying to hide her past. Lily and Burke find their way back to each other, but first she must come to terms with her past.
July 26, 2022
Didn’t realize this was two separate stories. While enjoyable, I kinda felt like they were both cut short. I initially picked it up bc I liked that the first story centered on a football player. Romance novels are not usually my thing and parts were a little cheesy but all the characters were likable. Also enjoyed the descriptions of the picturesque fictional locale of Honeymoon Harbor.
May 20, 2024
This book was like a 2.8 for me. It's fine, but nothing exciting. Everything was just meh, the characters, the storyline, the writing. If it's the only thing you have to read it's not awful, but with all the amazing books in the world I would not recommend to my friends to rush out to buy or read this one.
June 9, 2024
Cute book amd i would love to visit their hometown as it sounds beautiful. I will say I didn't realize I was reading the preview for the author's other book at the end until I was about 3 chapters in. It was a rather long preview as there was still like 4 other chapters left before I stopped reading!
June 29, 2022
Pro quarterback Burke Mannion travels back to Honeymoon Harbor after his mother is involved in serious car accident. There he runs into the one who got away, Lily Fletcher. They had been involved in a secret 3 month relationship, in New York, when she sent him a text breaking it off.
July 7, 2022
Great characters snd storyline. I wouldn’t mind living in Honeymoon Harbor. The question is , can you go back in time, can you forgive and open your heart again? Read it and you’ll find out a fun read!
April 27, 2024
It's rare that I don't finish a book but I just couldn't get into this one. Uninspiring writing, not particularly compelling characters and a lot of random dialog and story threads that trailed off to nothing.
May 27, 2025
nice sweet love story but actually rather boring. Maybe I am outgrowing these mindless romances but this one particularly had no real storyline that grabbed me. having said that, i will probably find the last story in the series just for completion sake.
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June 1, 2022Categories
Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Wholesome Romance, Small Town & Rural Fiction
Miniseries
Honeymoon Harbor
Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Wholesome Romance, Small Town & Rural Fiction
Miniseries
Honeymoon Harbor
July 3, 2022
Worth the wait
I've waited a long time for this book to come out and now I will be impatient my wait ing for the next one!
I've waited a long time for this book to come out and now I will be impatient my wait ing for the next one!
July 17, 2022
Not her usual style. Too trite and less about the story, more about sex. A bit disappointed.
July 30, 2022
I enjoyed Joe and Sage’s story more.
November 14, 2022
Great book, not enough of the ending. It had an abrupt end.
January 10, 2023
Reminds me of a Robyn Carr book like the Virgin River series!
March 12, 2023
As always, JoAnn Ross has written a wonderful and sweet story. You will truly enjoy this. Even though this is the fourth book in the series, it can be read as a standalone.
May 2, 2024
3.5, but def not my favorite. Weak on plot.
September 22, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Want to read
February 6, 2025E
March 18, 2025
Loved it!
March 18, 2024
I found this book to be a little boring and long. Stopped midway through. DHF.
June 20, 2023
I read this last summer. It was ok, a classic hallmark plot. But lots of different stories in one book.
June 17, 2024
Very good Read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews