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Second Time Around

by Beth Kendrick (Goodreads Author)

3.57 of 5 stars 3.57 · rating details · 1,014 ratings · 153 reviews

Every summer, four college friends hold a mini-reunion. They laugh, reminisce, and commiserate about their soul-sucking jobs. Maybe they should have listened to everyone who warned them to study something “practical.”

Then an unexpected windfall arrives—one million dollars, to be exact—with the stipulation that they use it to jump-start their new careers. Almost overnight,...more

Paperback, 336 pages

Published March 30th 2010 by Bantam (first published March 25th 2010)

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Dec 25, 2012 chippyvale rated it 4 of 5 stars

Every year, a group of former English majors meet up to update each other on their lives. The book starts off with the premise that majoring in English equals to saddling oneself with school debts after one has graduated and unabling to find a decent job. This resonates throughout the entire novel; somewhere along the story, a hardware shop assistant by the name of Everett echoed that sentiment too whose major was philosophy.

"Fine arts major?"
"Worse. Philosophy." He spread his arms out to enco...more Every year, a group of former English majors meet up to update each other on their lives. The book starts off with the premise that majoring in English equals to saddling oneself with school debts after one has graduated and unabling to find a decent job. This resonates throughout the entire novel; somewhere along the story, a hardware shop assistant by the name of Everett echoed that sentiment too whose major was philosophy.

"Fine arts major?"
"Worse. Philosophy." He spread his arms out to encompass his realm of drywall and crowbars and PVC pipes. "See where four years of Aristotle and Descartes'll get you?" He held out his right hand. "I'm Everett."

Having had friends who major in English literature, I was all too familiar with that complaint. I was keen to know what the author had in mind to rectify that age-old grouse. Practicality in the book refers to majoring in Law (as seen on the first page of the novel) or Engineering.

However, I was a lil bemused by the sudden "windfall" whereby each person inherited a whooping 250 grand. I won't say what the reason for the windfall was for fear of ruining the story for those who have yet to read it. It was pretty cliche. The money allowed the friends to have a "second chance" in life whereby each of them sought to chase after their dreams. For instance, one of the characters Brooke used her inheritance to purchase Henley House in order to refurbish it as a Bed & Breakfast; Jamie who quit her bartending job, turned into an event-planner. Her seemingly overnight success left me puzzled; if only that would happen in real life!

Overall, it was a good and light-hearted read. There weren't any big surprises in the book; definitely a few twists and turns but nothing too major. As mentioned earlier, the novel started off with the premise that majoring in English is impractical, and it ended off with that theme in mind, albeit an optimistic one. It was like trying to assure readers that it matters not what major he or she chooses in college as long as he or she has a passion for it. With passion, comes potential.

"We may not always be practical, but we have infinite potential." - Anna.

It's perfect for someone who's looking for a good pick-me-up read. ;) (less)

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Apr 06, 2010 Charlotte rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: nook

Set it the beautiful Adirondacks, Second Time Around, is a book that proves it is not too late to follow your dreams. The ten years following their college graduation have not been the easiest or the happiest for any of the girls. They are determined to get it right this time. When one of the girls buys their home during the college years, the girls discover that you can go home again. The money that Arden left them is just what they needed to get their lives back on track. Second Time Around is...more

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Mar 02, 2010 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010, firstreads

Just wanted to note that I won this on Goodreads Firstreads.

Ok. Let's see. I thought this was a very cute book. It was filled with happiness, sadness, love, hate, drama, scandal and, of course, sex. I only gave it 4 stars bc I didn't think there was anything superb about it, just chick-lit but it was still cute. The one problem I had was trying to keep all the girls (and their men) straight. I would definitely recommend. Can't wait for another Beth Kendrick book!!

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Aug 16, 2011 Ruth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Five English majors who were friends and roommates all through college have remained friends in the 10 years since they have graduated. Each of them has a job but not a career that they would like to stick with. Each of them has a dream job that they think they would love.

What would you do if you were suddenly given the advantage of being able to finally pursue whatever your heart desired. What if you were given the chance to start over without needing to worry about funds? Would you find that...more

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Apr 26, 2010 Kimberly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010

Four former-roommates come into a lot of money when their fifth friend dies of lupus. The money arrives just as their respective lives are falling apart, so they all end up together in a small town in their old dorm, which one of the girls is transforming into a B&B with her share of the money.

There are the typical chick-lit cliches (and I don't think I'm spoiling anything by saying this): each girl finds her ideal man, each girl is a terrific success at what she chooses to do, and the theme...more

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May 16, 2012 Nicola rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books, challenge-books

A low three.
Four friends convene in their college town after the death of a fifth urges them to follow their dreams. Together the girls rediscover themselves and each other. They each search for their perfect mate, but must first become content with who they are.
Sorry, but I found this while book to be a little trite. There were no big surprises and all received a happy ending. While I am not against happy endings at all, it just seemed too easy. I would be thrilled with the happy endings if the...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Jeanette Diaz Michel rated it 4 of 5 stars

This novel is about four friends. These women are all English majors and aren't where they want to be in life. When they each come across a quarter of a million dollars, this gives them each the opportunity to start anew.
I really enjoyed this novel. It's about following your dreams and confronting your problems. Each character has closure ( I know in real life this isn't the case) but they each got there with their friends. The bond of friendship in this novel is strong and genuine. I really lik...more

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Feb 24, 2010 Nancy Stangel rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was thrilled to receive this book through the Goodreads First Reads program. I wasn't disappointed! From the moment I began reading the book, I was drawn into the story by the characters. Beth Kendrick has a great ear for dialogue which along with the pace of the story kept me reading. It helped matters that I, too, was an English major so I felt like the characters were all people that I would be friends with. I also enjoyed the literary references that were made during the tale. This was the...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Halley rated it 3 of 5 stars

Kendrick is a good writer. I got this book out of the library because I was looking for something light. Chick lit, I guess. I was surprised by the insightful quotes at the beginning of each chapter and even more surprised by the complete sentences each character was able to produce. Again, my expectations were really low.

The plot is a little weak and pretty predictable, but good writing and intelligent characters with enough of their own sub-plots saved it for me. I'm not even going to put thi...more

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Feb 10, 2010 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I received this book for free through First Reads. I loved it. From the moment I picked up the book and started to read, it was difficult to pull myself away from it. The story itself was very intriguing and captivating. I found myself wondering what was going to happen next and had to fight the urge to read ahead when I was in a rush. It was great to read a story about these 5 women who became like family and helped each other through major changes in their lives. Character development was so i...more

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May 07, 2012 Anissa rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: dusty-bookshelf-challenge-2012, contemporary-fiction

I picked this up because it's been sitting on my bookshelf for too long. It's chick-lit & for what it is, it's fine. I think I have officially outgrown this type of chick-lit. It felt very much like a Lifetime movie & by that I mean, you have your standard main characters & you know that it's going to end pretty tidily. There's nothing wrong with that in & of itself but I am beyond finding that very satisfying at this point. All other things being equal, I'd have rather read a Ma...more

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Feb 11, 2012 Kaley rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was lucky enough to win this (signed!) book from Liz and Lisa over at Chick Lit is Not Dead last September when I commented on their post "What's on Beth Kendrick's Bucket List?". I had read Kendrick's book Nearlyweds the summer of 2009 and absolutely loved it so I decided to try to win Second Time Around. And what do you know? I actually won it! Amazing.

Now that you know how I came across this novel, let me tell you that I loved, loved, loved it. I had a gala event that I was planning for wor...more I was lucky enough to win this (signed!) book from Liz and Lisa over at Chick Lit is Not Dead last September when I commented on their post "What's on Beth Kendrick's Bucket List?". I had read Kendrick's book Nearlyweds the summer of 2009 and absolutely loved it so I decided to try to win Second Time Around. And what do you know? I actually won it! Amazing.

Now that you know how I came across this novel, let me tell you that I loved, loved, loved it. I had a gala event that I was planning for work this past weekend and reading this book was a fantastic escape. I was incredibly stressed out so the fact that I was able to focus on the characters and the story really shows how great this novel was. It was also a particularly delicious experience to read this book while laying in my hotel room bed the morning after the gala - massive weight off my shoulders, a great book, and an incredibly squashy and comfy bed. Heaven.

If you've ever wondered what would happened if you had done something differently (and come on, who hasn't?), you'll really enjoy this book. These four friends get the chance to change their lives and, as cliched as this sounds, find happiness. Each of the four women have a chance for a mini do over in their lives when they inherit $250,000 and each of them handles it in different ways. The four friends are the key to this novel so I want to give a little peek into how they deal with their new situations.

Brooke is the sensible one of the bunch who decided to stay in their college town and is working at the alumni office. When the money comes to her she decides to jump right in and do what she's always wanted.

Cait is working as an English professor and is hoping for tenure. She's always wanted to write a novel but even with this money, she can't quite seem to take the chance. Suddenly her situation changes at the college she's teaching at and she finally runs out of excuses.

Jamie is the wild girl who always does what she wants and everyone else be damned. Guys come and go and she seems to be content with her job as a bartender - until her boss refuses her time off and she quits. In typical Jamie fashion, she falls headlong into her dream job when she's visiting Brooke.

Then there's Anna. She's the only married one of the four but things are not all sunshine and lollipops. She and her husband have been trying for a baby for years and it has finally taken a toll on their marriage. He has to go oversees for work so she decides it's a perfect time to visit with the girls at Brooke's place and it's there she rediscovers her passion for baking.

This book has everything - laughing, crying, loving, fighting, playing, and thinking - and it's all wonderfully woven together. The characters are all well rounded and incredibly likeable. I like that none of the women are perfect because, really, who is? The great thing about having this many different characters is that there's usually one that you can really identify with. In my case it was Cait. I can't quite put my finger on why but hers was the story that I always enjoyed going back to. Not to say that I didn't like reading about the other women, because I did. I actually wanted to be friends with them. And I think that is a key thing. These women have a friendship that all other females envy. Ten years ago they met in college and have stayed in touch ever since. While they may be living in different parts of the country, they still manage to see each other at least once a year and always pick up where they left off. They're doing better than some of my friends and I and we're all (for the most part) in the same province! Hence, the envy.

I also think the setting is key. The four friends are back in their college town, which is a quaint, stereotypical upstate New York college town. For me, this was the kind of place that I always thought of when I thought about going away to university. The cover also helped convey what the setting was going to be like as well. There's nothing like seeing some Muskoka chairs, one with books on it, surrounded by green space. I think there also may be some sort of deeper meaning behind the setting. Perhaps Kendrick had all the women end up in the same town they went to college in for a reason. I think it might be because that's when things started to change and they began to make "real" decisions for the first time. I may have gone waaaay too deep for this novel, but it's an interesting thought.

I highly recommend this book because it really is everything that chick lit should be. Compelling female characters, great friendship, a little bit of romance, and a journey. Do you really need any more convincing? Find this novel in some way or another and read it. You won't regret it.(less)

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Jul 04, 2010 adventurat rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, 2010, fiction, womens-fiction, romance

I've liked ensemble-cast, reunion-type stories since reading Rona Jaffe's Class Reunion and seeing The Big Chill, so I was drawn to the description of this one. And it had all the elements I enjoy: good friends, good relationships, making dreams come true, a bit of romance. Also, it got into my head and I couldn't sleep until I'd finished it.

The four main characters are sympathetic, interesting, and well-differentiated, and their friendship is believably solid, though they're a little nicer tha...more

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May 16, 2010 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Jennifer by: jennsicurella@verizon.net

Shelves: chick-lit

Second Time Around is female bonding at its best. Five women, friends since college, get together for a mini-reunion once a year. One dies, leaving a million dollars to be split between the rest. The catch? They need to use the money to follow their dreams.

Each woman has a job she doesn't love. Each has a seemingly impossible dream. The money gives those dreams a chance. While changing their careers, the women are forces to deal with personal problems ranging from guilt over accepting their dead...more

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May 16, 2012 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, reviewed

Five college friends meet up every summer to catch up and are usually bemoaning their jobs and talking about the dreams. When one of the group Arden, dies of an ongoing illness she leaves a million dollars to be split between the remaining 4. The only catch to the money is that she tells them to use it to pursue their dream. The rest of the plot follows them as they work out what to do with the money and how to pursue their dreams.

The first to use the money is Brooke, who works at the alumni off...more Five college friends meet up every summer to catch up and are usually bemoaning their jobs and talking about the dreams. When one of the group Arden, dies of an ongoing illness she leaves a million dollars to be split between the remaining 4. The only catch to the money is that she tells them to use it to pursue their dream. The rest of the plot follows them as they work out what to do with the money and how to pursue their dreams.

The first to use the money is Brooke, who works at the alumni office at the college they all graduated from. With the windfall and an old dorm just being put up for sale from the college, she jumps on the chance to try and run a Bed and Breakfast in the small college town with their past. The others gather around her as she tries to get the B and B up and running and finds that the house which holds their memories and her dream now might not be in the condition she thought it was and her dream requires more work then she might be able to do.

Jamie follows her to the B and B as she quit her job in order to go to Arden's funeral. With three failed weddings under her belt she can't imagine that it is that hard to plan weddings and events for other that actually succeed. What she doesn't count on is ghosts from her past visiting that make it hard for her to take Arden's money and making her question what she wants and can do.

Cait is a professor of literature, but prefers to read romance novels. She blows off work as her ex tries to manipulate her and heads to the B and B to pursue her dream of writing. With a blast from the past with one of the girls past professors she may realize what her real dream is and what she wants to write as well as find out about herself and her own courage.

The last to join them is Anna, who has been trying to get pregnant and all they are gaining is debt. It is straining her marriage too. She joins the girls at the B and B when she is needed for a crisis, but stays when her marriage needs the space. Anna, has always found comfort in baking, so she starts baking for parties. The other Baker in town challenges her, but they may find that they both need each other.

Different parts of the story focuses on each of the girls. Since it was covering so many character I personal feel like too much was covered in the plot and in such a short period of time that the book took place. But, I did enjoy reading all the characters story, I would have just like more and deeper connections at times. Also, I think that characters relationships were speed up in the time frame also..

One of my favorite parts of the book was how information/secrets about the characters were revealed. We were given hints that something specific would be going on , but just enough to know that it has an influence, but not what specifically happened or is going on until we really need the information and at that point the character grows and can forgive or learn from the revelation of the secret.

I would give this book 3 starts in that it was a very enjoyable read, but there are draw backs to the book so I couldn't give it more than that. I liked the writing style and will check out other books by Kendrick, I appreciate how she built the characters and hope to see more like that.

Check out more of my reviews at http://teaandscribblesbooks.blogspot....(less)

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Jul 09, 2010 Christina (Confessions of a Book Addict) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: beach-read

I was drawn to the premise immediately. A group of English majors and best friends who graduated ten years ago from a small liberal arts college meet every 4th of July to catch up. They discuss everything and anything, but mostly how they wish they had different jobs and perhaps didn't major in English. Arden, their wealthy friend from the group, is dying of lupus, which saddens this group of girls tremendously. A few months after their 4th of July get together, she passes on and leaves them eac...more I was drawn to the premise immediately. A group of English majors and best friends who graduated ten years ago from a small liberal arts college meet every 4th of July to catch up. They discuss everything and anything, but mostly how they wish they had different jobs and perhaps didn't major in English. Arden, their wealthy friend from the group, is dying of lupus, which saddens this group of girls tremendously. A few months after their 4th of July get together, she passes on and leaves them each $250,000. But there is a stipulation. They must use this money to pay off their debt and pursue their real dreams, whether it be to become an event planner, a pastry chef, a novelist, or a bed and breakfast owner. Beth Kendrick's Second Time Around is like a fresh breath of air. While reading this entertaining novel, I enjoyed fantasizing about dropping everything and pursuing my own dreams if I were given a chance just like these women. This is a must read for anyone who is a fan of chick-lit and has ever pondered the important question of.........what if?

What is so great about this novel is the simple fact that there are four women that are extremely relatable. There's Jamie who is a bartender and has traveled around the world serving up drinks. She never really sees things through. Then there's Brooke who is a southern belle and resident nice girl that works for the college they graduated from. Cait is an English professor that always falls for the wrong guy and Anna, a copywriter, who rarely works and is trying to conceive, but finds out she's infertile. Most women could relate to at least one of these characters; they were very realistic. Which leads me to another thing I enjoyed about this novel: friendship. Second Time Around illustrates true friendship and strong female characters that support each other through time times. I feel like this is rare in chick-list; there's always that one mean girl, but these four women got along swimmingly.

I also enjoyed Kendrick's incorporation of classic literature. Since I, too, was an English major, I particularly liked the various allusions to Shakespeare or Dickens. I also liked that Kendrick put a quote before each chapter. It was a nice touch. However, you don't have to be an English nerd to appreciate this.

My only issue with this novel is that things sometimes worked out too easily for the girls. It was rather unbelievable at times. Some of the girls didn't have to work too hard in order to achieve their dreams.....sometimes it fell into their laps. I also wasn't a fan of Cait's writing. She wanted to become an author and found herself writing a romance novel. Kendrick incorporated a few excerpts from her writing, which in theory sounds entertaining; however, I am not a fan of romance novels. At all. Personally, this drove me nuts, but if you are a fan, they you will appreciate this glimpse into Cait's writing.

All in all, I felt this was an interesting summer read that makes you think about the fact that maybe it isn't too late to strive for some of the goals that were set in college. Anyone, not just English majors, will enjoy this novel and the premise. I mean comon'.......Who doesn't dream of dropping everything to chase after your dreams?(less)

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Jun 01, 2012 Jessica rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Chick-Lit lovers Looking for a Quick Read

Shelves: chick-lit

I am usually very easy to please when it comes to books and I never say I dislike one, but this book did not meet my expectations to what I thought it would be. There are several characters in this book and up to the very ending, I had a rather difficult time keeping track of each one. Although the characters all melded well with one another, their stories were weak and not fully formed. In order to completely understand each character there would have need to be more details about their lives.
T...more

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Apr 02, 2011 Suzanne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Five old college friends reunite every summer. When one of them dies, she leaves money to the rest to pursue their dreams and get a second chance at life. The four friends come back together when Brooke buys their old college house to convert into a bed and breakfast. Each friend confronts their issues as they live and work together. Of course, things work out well for all. It is a good read. The characters are all fun to spend time with.

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May 16, 2011 Tabitha rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book. This was my first time reading this author. This was a great "chick-lit" read. I will definitely read her other books. This story is about a group of college roommates who maintain contact after 10 years, by reuniting once a year for a week. After they suffer a tragic loss, they are all given a surprise windfall and challenged to use it to follow their heart and do what they love. This book really makes you think about what you would do with your life if money were no o...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Charleen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: year-2010, first-reads, 4-stars

This was a fun, light, quick read. I don't read much chick lit, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I think it's a really relatable idea, wanting to start over and pursue your dreams. I also graduated with an impractical major -- music, in my case -- and am suffering something of a quarter-life crisis, so it was really fun to live vicariously through these women. I'd recommend this to anyone feeling similarly. (First Reads winner)

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Mar 28, 2012 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Perfect book for Spring Break reading...especially following a winter of what seemed like too many "serious" reads. A fun chick lit book which has a happy ending.

"Every summer, four college friends hold a mini-reunion. They laugh, reminisce, and commiserate about their soul-sucking jobs. Maybe they should have listened to everyone who warned them to study something “practical.” Then an unexpected windfall arrives—one million dollars, to be exact—with the stipulation that they use it to jump-star...more

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Apr 10, 2012 Christi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads

Cute story about college friends who are given the chance to make their dream jobs a reality. It's not an instant fairy godmother gift. These girls still have to put in a lot of time, effort and sweat equity.

But it's definitely appealing for anyone who hates her desk job and dreams of doing something different.

I'd definitely like to read a sequel maybe 5 years in the future to see where these four are at in their lives - professional and personal.

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Feb 15, 2010 Lauren Stahl rated it 5 of 5 stars

I couldn't wait to read this book and was extremely happy to win it on Goodreads!
Once again Kendrick did a great job of drawing the reader into the stories of her characters. The characters were strong women, who I could relate to and probably many others can relate to as well. From the first page of the book to last it was hard to put the book down and I found myself staying up late at night to try to finish. A great success by Kendrick, well done.

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Apr 29, 2013 Pat Buzby rated it 3 of 5 stars

After finishing a very sad and disturbing memoir, I was ready for this light hearted click flick about a group of girl power college friends who re-invent themselves. I was amazed how in a matter of a few short weeks how many eligible men these girls found in a small town...guess they were all doing something right. Anyone in the 30 year old range will enjoy this one.

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Feb 08, 2010 Kimberly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, arc, 2010-read, lit-for-chicks

As I have read two of Kendrick's books previous to this, and really enjoyed both, I was very excited to win this ARC from Goodreads.

This book is another great story by Kendrick. She is able to weave the stories of each woman wonderfully, going back and forth between each character. Each woman's story is interesting and different. I really enjoyed how I was not able to predict how the story ended, which is a problem I seem to be running into more and more.

In short I loved the characters, and lov...more

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Sep 17, 2012 Beth Gordon rated it 3 of 5 stars

College friends lament paths not taken. One of the friends passes away from lupus, and she gives each of her four friends $250,000 to explore the paths not taken.

The characters could have been stronger. The only one who you could tell was talking without her name being attached was a non-friend who was the archenemy of one of the main characters. It was hard to keep everyone straight because they all seemed the same, albeit with different occupations and names.

There is no mourning for the rece...more

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Oct 06, 2011 Cheryl rated it 3 of 5 stars

I started off this book a little confused. There were 4/5 main characters and I had to keep flipping back to see which one was which. By the end of the novel I knew each one and what they were about but I wish they were a little better established in the beginning. Besides for that, this novel had everything you want in a feel good read.

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Oct 03, 2010 MB rated it 3 of 5 stars

Not my fave by this author. The resolutions were a little too pat, a little too easy, although I loved the home improvement aspects. But the woman and man who'd had an affair 10 years earlier? That drama seemed... overstated. I couldn't quite believe it was as big a deal as the characters thought it was.

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May 01, 2012 Luci Vieira rated it 2 of 5 stars

This was certainly a well written, enjoyable read with likeable characters. The one problem I sometimes had was trying to keep all the girls (and their men) straight. I found the book starts off too slow and then rushes right through the interesting parts.

Readable but a little bit of a disappointment.

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Feb 17, 2010 Natalie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

Received this from the First-reads program . This is my first novel from Kendrick and I loved it ! I was totally hooked from the first chapter till the end ! The characters were well-drawn and believeable . The plot was really interesting and thought out to a satisfying conclusion . If you enjoy women's fiction novels then consider reading this book !

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Chick Lit Book Club: Chapters 26-End	10	48	Jun 01, 2012 11:08pm
Chick Lit Book Club: Chapters 21-25	10	28	May 30, 2012 01:01am
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Chick Lit Book Club: Chapters 6-10	17	34	May 19, 2012 05:31pm
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About Beth Kendrick

This is the part where I’m supposed to brag about all my illustrious accomplishments, but honestly, I’d rather talk about my dogs and brag about some of the things I haven’t done:

I’ve never been to prison*, court-ordered rehab*, or splashed across the cover of a salacious weekly gossip tabloid with my ladybits on display**.

I’m a Leo, a middle child, and a formidable Trivial Pursuit opponent. I re...more This is the part where I’m supposed to brag about all my illustrious accomplishments, but honestly, I’d rather talk about my dogs and brag about some of the things I haven’t done:

I’ve never been to prison*, court-ordered rehab*, or splashed across the cover of a salacious weekly gossip tabloid with my ladybits on display**.

I’m a Leo, a middle child, and a formidable Trivial Pursuit opponent. I read everything I can get my hands on, from the classics to comic books. I don’t drink coffee because, frankly, I’m high strung enough without adding caffeine into the mix. Here is the true story of how I became a novelist:

So I had just started seeing this guy, and on our second or third date, he invited me to be his guest at a family wedding. Being young and free and a bit commitment-shy, I was about to decline until he casually mentioned that the bride was a successful romance novelist. Well, the second I heard that, I had to go. Being a writer had always been my dream job, and I’d never met anyone who’d actually beaten the odds and made the leap into big-time publishing. So I RSVP-ed, sidled up to the bar at the reception, waited until the bride and all her author friends uncorked the good champagne, and then peppered them with endless questions about writing, editing, and landing an agent. They were so funny and encouraging and generous with their time and advice. (And drunk!) Next thing you know, I had joined a critique group and was knee-deep in the manuscript that would eventually become MY FAVORITE MISTAKE. The open bar at that wedding changed my life forever.

Oh, and the guy who invited me to the wedding? I ended up marrying him. All together: awww…

I live in Arizona in a very cute fixer-upper that my husband and I bought in a burst of can-do, pioneering confidence. We thought it would be fun to embark on a series of do-it-yourself renovations. Yeah. I know. Turns out, replacing baseboard that’s been painted over 15 times since 1958 is not as easy as those Home Depot commercials would lead you to believe. Also, freshly-installed lawn drip systems and “helpful” dogs are a bad mix.

Friday and RoxieSpeaking of dogs, here we have the indefatigable canine lawn maintenance crew: Roxie and Friday. Both were rescued from the pound when they were puppies. I think they’re Rhodesian Ridgeback mixes. (Probably. Maybe? Anything’s possible.) Roxie is the brains of the operation and Friday is…well, he’s very sweet. And so indolent he could be mistaken for a piece of furniture, which I consider a very desirable trait in a family dog.

I absolutely love hearing from readers, so please feel free to email me, with the caveat that I am often on deadline/on the road/on the ragged edge of sanity, so it may be awhile before you get a reply. Just know that it’s not you; it’s me!

Have fun exploring the site, and if you have any questions about my new book, my backlist, or finding an agent…I’ll be right over there at the bar.

*Yet.

**That I know of.(less)

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Quotes from Second Time Around

“Blind date' is code for 'We met online and don't want to talk about it.” — 3 people liked it

“...so we could all burn in our beds with no warning?' 'Oh, you’d have plenty of warning, ma’am. The smoke detectors all work.” — 2 people liked it

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Second Time Around

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