Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Second Chance at Love

SERIES:  Unexpected Love

AUTHOR:  Diana DeRicci

PUBLISHER:  MLR Press

LENGTH:  106 pages

RELEASE DATE:  September 9, 2019

BLURB:

The hole in Tony Teagan’s heart is slowly shrinking. Since losing the love of his life, he’s buried himself in running West TonDe Press, but now he can remember the good times. Still, that doesn’t mean he’s ready for a new man in his life. Then he meets nighttime delivery guy Brandon, who appears on his doorstep with Thai food. Tony’s interest is piqued despite their almost ten-year age difference, and Brandon is all for a new relationship. Relinquishing his hold on his deceased lover is the hardest challenge Tony will face, but if his future is combined with Brandon’s, he may have a second chance at love after all.

REVIEW:

Tony lost his partner, best friend and husband two years ago.  He still misses him but the pain is more of a dull ache than the raw wound it once was.  He’s content running his business and yes, maybe he’s using that as a way to avoid other relationships.  But then Brandon delivers his Thai food one night.  He’s intrigued and when he runs into Brandon again the next morning, he’s even more fascinated and wants to help.  He ends up offering Brandon a job that will alleviate the need for Brandon to work the two jobs he has and concentrate on what he really wants.

Brandon is a college student working two jobs and going to school part time to get his finance degree.  His family situation has left him without financial support, so he’s been doing what needs to be done to fulfill his dreams.  When he first meets Tony as a customer on his delivery route, he’s shocked at how attractive he is and also how nice he seems.  After meeting Tony at his office and seeing what Tony’s publishing house does, he’s on board for changing his life for the better and getting his degree faster.

Tony is attracted to Brandon but he’s fighting it.  For reasons.  Firstly, he’s his boss.  Secondly, he’s 9 years older.  Thirdly, well he’s not sure he’s really ready to move on and feels guilty about his deceased husband.  But he becomes pretty possessive of Brandon and also pretty jealous when he sees Brandon on photo shoots, etc.  Brandon is obviously smitten as well and he finds it increasingly hard to hold back his feelings.  When the dam breaks, boy does it break.  But there are still a lot of issues to work through – for both Tony and Brandon.  They need to find a way around their obstacles to a new relationship and a potential happily ever after.

I really enjoyed this story!  I loved Brandon and Tony both.  Tony was definitely working through his issues of being single after having experienced love and loss.  Brandon is just trying to figure out a way to make it in this world on his own.  He’s doing it, but it’s hard.  When Tony offers him some respite from the rat race, he decides to take a chance.  I liked how Brandon took charge at points when Tony was teetering on the edge of backing away.  Tony had his guilt to overcome.  Brandon had to take a leap of faith with Tony and he did it.  If you’re looking for a sweet and smexy story with a minimum of angst and a happy ending, this fits the bill.

RATING:

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