Second Time Sweeter (Blessings Series #9)

by Beverly Jenkins

Overview

NAACP nominee and USA Today bestselling author Beverly Jenkins continues her beloved Blessings series with a new heartwarming novel set in Henry Adams, Kansas.

Malachi “Mal” July has run into trouble in the past. With a reputation as a player, he’s now a recovering alcoholic and has made progress in redeeming himself in the eyes of his family and the citizens of Henry Adams, Kansas. He’s not only turned his diner into a profitable business, but also mentors the town’s foster kids. And he’s even staying true to one woman—Bernadine Brown.

But all it takes is a moment of pride to blind Mal to his blessings—a moment that makes him betray his friends and family, and lose Bernadine’s trust and love. Will he ever be able to win her forgiveness?

Meanwhile Homecoming Weekend is fast approaching, and store owner Gary Clark is reunited with his high school sweetheart. All it takes is a few minutes for them to realize the spark is still there, but is it too late for second chances?

A little help from the good people of Henry Adams may give both Mal and Gary the best second chance at the happiness they missed the first time around…

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062699268
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/28/2018
Series:	Blessings Series , #9
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	328,270
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Beverly Jenkins is the recipient of the 2018 Michigan Author Award by the Michigan Library Association, the 2017 Romance Writers of America Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the 2016 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for historical romance. She has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award in Literature, was featured in both the documentary Love Between the Covers and on CBS Sunday Morning. Since the publication of Night Song in 1994, she has been leading the charge for inclusive romance, and has been a constant darling of reviewers, fans, and her peers alike, garnering accolades for her work from the likes of The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, and NPR.

To read more about Beverly, visit her at www.BeverlyJenkins.net.

 

Editorial Reviews

09/03/2018
The ninth Blessings novel from Jenkins (after Something Old, Something New) thoughtfully considers notions of forgiveness and second chances. Malachi “Mal” July has a lot to atone for after years of belligerence and home-wrecking in Henry Adams, Kans. After seeking treatment for alcohol addiction, Mal establishes a diner and sets his eyes on Bernadine Brown, the woman who once gave him her heart. Readers will root for Mal as he comes to terms with the consequences of his actions and seeks forgiveness. Series fans will find all their favorite characters here, including Trent and Lily July, who are planning their high school reunion, and grocery store manager Gary Clark, whose ex-wife arrives in town demanding custody of their daughters. Though many subplots run throughout, Mal’s story remains the focus, and it’s through his experiences that the town of Henry Adams once again emerges as a vibrant character. Although the book will be tough to follow for readers new to the series, Jenkins’s many fans will love this installment. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

If you haven’t yet gotten your hands on [this] author’s work, you should do so immediately.” — Shondaland

From the Publisher

Mal’s path to atonement and restitution is full of surprises as Jenkins employs her signature layered, thoughtful storytelling style. Though the entire cast is appealing and faceted, the teenage characters are written especially well, with respect and intelligence. Readers will want to move to Henry Adams, where, when problems intrude, people respond with hope. Another of Jenkins’ excellent Blessings tales.

Booklist

2018-06-18
In the town of Henry Adams, Kansas, intrigue and second chances abound.Jenkins' (Tempest, 2018, etc.) ninth jaunt into Henry Adams continues the story of Bernadine Brown, who bought the town on eBay in the first Blessings novel. Several years into the new history of a budding small town, Bernadine has fallen in love with Malachi July and finally decided to pursue a relationship. Unfortunately, due to misplaced male pride and momentary stupidity, Mal has screwed up and embezzled money belonging to the town only to lose it all to a con man. Word travels quickly, and Mal loses the trust and respect of everyone in town and the surrounding areas—but most poignantly, Bernadine has decided to never forgive him. While Mal is working to earn back the money lost and the trust of everyone in the county, grocery store manager Gary Clark is preparing for a high school reunion with both his ex-wife and the woman he loved before getting cruelly manipulated into marriage. In the meantime, a hired hit woman is after two of the town's newest residents. Finally, the continued coming-of-age of the town's collection of adopted teenagers evolves through family troubles, new teachers, attitude problems, and potential crushes. An ever growing cast of characters and a lack of a constantly engaging plot limits the reach of the novel, leaving the reader to experience an uneven balance of empty filler and engrossing moments. The format feels like an ongoing television series, with episodic moments that sometimes lead nowhere; this might work for some readers. Award-winning author Jenkins knows how to create sympathetic characters, but the residents of Henry Adams seem to have outlasted her capability to keep us interested in the goings-on of their lives for more than bits at a time.Only for readers waiting with bated breath for the next Henry Adams story.

Kirkus Reviews

If you haven’t yet gotten your hands on [this] author’s work, you should do so immediately.

Shondaland