I liked the fact that this was an uncomplicated style of writing and was very straightforward. However, I wasn't a huge fan of how basic the main character was. It made it hard to connect with her. Overall, not for me.

A laugh out loud love triangle story between a woman and two men (a father and son) that want to be with her.

This was cute and thought provoking but didn't quite land with me.

I requested this novel at a time when I was into these types of romances, but my tastes have since changed. Take my review with a grain of salt for that reason.

I liked the fact that this was an uncomplicated style of writing and was very straightforward. However, I wasn't a huge fan of how basic the main character was. It made it hard to connect with her. Overall, not for me.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Claire and Smith. Claire is a widow with three adults children. Smith is a realtor who is the brother of the child that Claire is a nanny for. There is an instant attraction. Claire is ten years older than Smith. Claire has some trust issues but Smith helps her through the issues. They fall in love.

The Second Time Around by Mary Beasley is a difficult book for me to review. While the story is well written, the premise of a father and son falling for the same woman wasn’t a fit for me. I found it super uncomfortable and unrealistic that Claire and Smith could be together after everything with Banks and Mona.

While this book wasn’t a fit for me, I know there is an audience out there that will love it!!!

Special thanks to Netgalley, Montlake, and Mary Beesley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

The story line flowed easily, the characters are engaging. My take on it was about 2nd chances. Good read overall id recommend reading it.

A great read for any adult especially one who has suffered loss and experienced grief. This well written story may open your mind to feelings you may have suppressed or do not realize need dealing with so you can move on with your life. Very good character development of mature, rational, open minded folks. A small insight into how emotions can inspire creative art. A feel good experience.

This is a story unlike any other, and by me it’s so well-adored. I would definitely be recommending reading it to experience the beautiful prose for yourself

Unfortunately, I did not have time to finish this book before it was archived. The premise behind the book sounded very interesting.

I had very mixed feelings about this book. I wasn't a big fan of the writing style and it just wasn't hitting the mark for me.

In this captivating tale, Claire's journey unfolds as she navigates the complexities of her heart as she’s determined to start anew after being widowed and becoming an empty nester. She takes on the role of a nanny for the young son of the wealthy Banks Sexton. However, it is Banks' older son, Smith, who unexpectedly becomes a source of challenge and intrigue for Claire. With a ten-year age difference between them, both men begin to show an interest in Claire that she is hesitant to accept. Fearing potential heartbreak (after her failed marriage to an abusive deceased husband long shattered her heart and passion for life), Claire keeps herself closed off from them both. Despite her efforts to stay on her own path, Claire finds herself at a crossroads, torn between these two men. She knows that the love she has always yearned for is within reach, but she is unsure which direction to turn. I really enjoyed following Claire’s journey. I definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a feel good story with a lot of heart.

This book was somehow so awesome and so awkward at the same time. I would say its a love triangle but its even more complicated than that, more like a love square, and with multiple family members involved and its so confusing and awkward. However, i think the author wrote about it so well (and no there is no incest, or extreme age gaps). Credits to Mary Beesley. This was a very fun read, i recommend!

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This a cute refreshing read. This is a good book to get you out of a reading slump. I loved it and it was a quick read.

This book had just the right amount of love and romance. It was definitely insteresting to see a story that included a widow, as I have not read much of those. This book truly had me wondering what was going to happen next.

This was a quick read, and a cute little pallet cleanser if you’re needing to get out of your slump. I love the characters and instantly connected with them, but thought it was well written as well 3 1/2 stars!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

What a fun, charming, and refreshing book!

Mary is a 30 year old widow, and now caught in a love triangle between a 50 year old man and his 30 year old son.

I loved the multiple pov’s, which I felt like was a must for this story. I felt like the author touched on grief in such a beautiful way. The characters were well rounded and overall, I just really enjoyed this book! Once I started, I couldn’t put it down! I can’t wait to read what’s next from Mary Beesley!


📘: The Second Time Around by Mary Beesley
🗓️: October 31, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley, Mary Beesley, and Montlake for this ARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Reviewed on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Well this was an interesting read!! I do feel like the blurb could have been written a little differently but the story was a quick read. I adored Claire's relationship with Tommy and her history kind of broke me. Claire's resilience of what she went through was inspiring. I do wish that we would have gotten to see more of her being a grandma. Everybody was so hung up on that fact yet we didn't see much of it. And Smith. What a wonderful person. He showed up. And I loved him for that. I struggled with Banks a bit. For being the oldest of the characters, his 5 year old managed to act more mature than him at times. Tragic plot lines for everyone but I'm happy with how things ended.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to ARC read this book.

I really enjoyed the plot of this story, and the love triangle was super fun! I also really love Tommy, and usually I'm not the biggest fan of the dad trope in books, but this story did it so well. I also loved the changing of the seasons and following this family and nanny through multiple holidays.

I also really enjoyed the depiction of grief, and the examples of how grief is not linear and there will be ups and downs in our lives when we lose someone we love.

I did find that the conflict climax was a bit quick to conclude, and it felt like the ending of the story was rushed and could have been drawn out a bit more. It felt like the characters should have had more conflict towards the end, given the journey they all went on during the book, and how drawn out the rest of the story was.
I also found that this wasn't the best love triangle because we kind of learn to dislike one of the MMC's, and in a true love triangle, I find it more effective when you really can't decide who you hope the FMC ends up with (but of course, this is personal preference.

Overall i really enjoyed this but I did feel like it fell a bit short for me! 3.5 stars.

I will admit that I had a hard time getting into this. It wasn't a bad read by any means, but I don't know if I was the intended audience. The characters were funny and the writing was great...I just struggled to connect for whatever reason.

I think there is definitely a good chance that many other people will fall easily for this sweet story, so I say give it a chance!