Second Chance Girl by Susan Mallery, Tanya Eby

From the #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Susan Mallery, read the second irresistible installment in the Happily Inc. series! Mathias Mitchell's easy smile hides a world of hurt. After the worst kind of family betrayal, he moves to Happily Inc., California-the wedding destination town supplies a steady stream of bridesmaids, perfect for his no promises, no pain lifestyle. Yet he can't stop watching for his beautiful, elusive neighbor on the animal preserve behind their homes. Gamekeeper Carol Lund knows she's not special enough to attract an alpha male like Mathias, so his offer to help her adopt a herd for her lonely giraffe is surprising-and his determined seduction, even more so. But just as she finally welcomes him into her bed, his careless actions crush her heart. Will she give him a second chance to prove she'll always come first in his heart? Don't miss You Say It First, the first book in Happily Inc. Editorial Reviews 08/21/2017 Mallery's delightful second Happily Inc. contemporary (after You Say It First), set in a small California town that markets itself as the perfect wedding destination, is a heartfelt and genuine friends-to-lovers story fraught with emotional trauma that makes the happily-ever-after satisfyingly sweet. Perky Carol Lund, a gamekeeper at an animal preserve, is happy with her life, as long as her secret crush on Mathias Mitchell is just an intellectual exercise. She's sure that she is too plain and ordinary for her charming, handsome neighbor. Glass artist Mathias enjoys his camaraderie with Carol, and he's struggling not to act on his growing attraction to her, as he only does no-promises hookups. One night, after drinking too much, Mathias confesses to a recurring fantasy about Carol; they have the best sex ever, but the next morning he thinks it was just another dream. They continue as friends, wondering whether to attempt a romance, while also dealing with painful past issues. Slowly they realize that all romances don't follow a stereotypical course, and accept what their hearts are telling them. A wide cast of sharp, well-drawn characters, a lonely giraffe, and a naughty beagle add depth to the story, as does the town of Happily Inc. Agent: Annelise Robey, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Oct.) - Publishers Weekly Susan Mallery never disappoints and with Daughters of the Bride she is at her storytelling best. -Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author Mallery enthralls readers with this introduction to the small seaside community of Los Lobos as she follows the lives of a bride's three daughters as they face realistic, believable problems and search for their own happy endings. -Publishers Weekly on Daughters of the Bride Readers looking for sister relationships, wedding details, and steamy scenes will enjoy Mallery's latest. -Kirkus Reviews on Daughters of the Bride Heartfelt, funny, and utterly charming all the way through! -Susan Elizabeth Phillips, USA Today and New York Times bestselling author on Daughters of the Bride This insightful, laughter-laced story fairly crackles with sexual tension and has a lot to say about friendship, love, and relationships. Heartwarming and memorable. -Library Journal on Best of My Love An engaging read to be savored all the way through. -Publishers Weekly on The Friends We Keep The characters will have you crying, laughing, and falling in love...another brilliantly well-written story. -San Francisco Book Review on The Friends We Keep - From the Publisher 2017-07-17 An animal-sanctuary gamekeeper secretly in love with her artist neighbor is stunned when he shows her some attention, but as the two dance around a potential relationship, their emotional wounds get in the way.Years ago, the Mitchell family's famous artist father dropped the bombshell news that his son Ronan was illegitimate, though he'd been raised alongside the four legitimate brothers. In fact, Ronan and Mathias were told they were fraternal twins. Ronan moved to Happily Inc, California, and Mathias followed him, trying to mend their relationship, to mixed results. Feeling betrayed by his family and brother and mistrusting love, Mathias opts for one-night stands with the abundance of bridesmaids who visit the destination-wedding town. Still, he finds himself completely drawn to his neighbor Carol, the unassuming gamekeeper of the animal preserve that borders his property. Carol is just as drawn to Mathias, but she knows better than to expect that someone as handsome and talented as he is would be attracted to the likes of her. Yet as the two become friends, then closer, Mathias expends time and energy helping Carol raise money to create a herd for her beloved giraffe, Millie. However, when a planned gallery show sets up an emotional showdown within the Mitchell family, Mathias retreats to his typical safe distance and Carol can't muster the self-confidence to challenge him. Meanwhile, Carol's sister is dealing with her own romantic turmoil when an English duke comes to town and turns her world upside down. Mallery's second title in the new Happily Inc series (You Say It First, 2017, etc.) features her typical mastery of the romance format, with another quirky small town and a set of characters for her fans to love, complete with a mascot animal. The potent and prolific Mallery delivers again. - Kirkus Reviews Two sisters, Carol and Violet, find romance in the idyllic wedding town of Happily, Inc., California. Narrator Tanya Eby is a perfect fit for this quirky story, and her light, lilting voice invites smiles. When a giraffe in the road throws Violet and a British duke together, it's not surprising that he ends up her boyfriend. Eby's insouciant tone also plays up the humor caused by Sophie, a beagle who is staying with Carol's boyfriend, Mathias. An artist whose family troubles take up much of the book, Mathias has a droll tone that swings from eager to humorously resigned in an irresistible fashion. Overall, Eby captures the lighthearted spirit of her characters' search for love. C.A. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine - OCTOBER 2017 - AudioFile