Second-Chance Sweet Shop

Wickham Falls Weddings #8

by Rochelle Alers

Can she cook up love?

Brand-new bakery owner Sasha Manning didn't anticipate that the teenager she hired would have such an attractive father. Back home after years away, Sasha still smarts from falling for a man who seemed too good to be true. Divorced single dad Dwight Adams will have to prove to Sasha that he's the real deal...and once again learn to trust someone with his heart along the way.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 17, 2019

About the author

Rochelle Alers was born in Manhattan, New York, USA, where she raised. She obtained degrees in Sociology and Psychology, before started to work. She is a member of the Iota Theta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and her interests include gourmet cooking and traveling. She has traveled to countries in North, Central and South America, and Europe. She is also in accomplished in knitting, crocheting and needlepoint.

Published since 1988, today a full-time writer, has been hailed by readers and booksellers alike as one of today's most prolific and popular African-American authors of romance and women's fiction. With more than fifty titles and nearly two million copies of her novels in print, she is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, regularly chosen by Black Expressions Book Club, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Pen Award, the Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award. She also wrote as Susan James and Rena McLeary.

Rochelle Alers lives in a charming hamlet on Long Island.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes. This in no way influences my review; all words, thoughts, and options are my own.

Content notes:


🧁 references to toxic marriage (MC’s parents’ daily yelling arguments) in past
🧁 death of father in part, coronary
🧁 references to divorce
🧁 references to military service
🧁 depression
🧁 toxic marriage, controlling spouse
🧁 heteronormativity, amanormativity
🧁 car accident in past, death of father
🧁 alcohol consumption
🧁 allusion to emotional abuse
🧁 casual ableism
🧁 reference to toxic masculinity, men’s inability to accept rejection
🧁 mention of past stalking
🧁 reference to cheating
🧁 pregnancy of secondary character
🧁 “more than friends”
🧁 “Blood is thicker than water” used to mean blood family matters are between blood and friends could be seen as interloper
🧁 mention of addiction
🧁 on page sexual content
🧁 stepfather threatening to slap teenager
🧁 abuser unexpectedly showing up on doorstep
🧁 man grabbing woman’s arm to keep her from moving away
🧁 ALS diagnosis of secondary character
🧁 abuser seeking absolution after terminal illness diagnosis
🧁 doubting story of abuse after seeing kiss from distance

This book started out around four stars for me but then I was so bored I was going to give it two stars because the premise was cute and I did enjoy familial bonds. So why is it one star? The last 10% has absolutely infuriated me!

Natasha “Sasha” returns to The Falls after divorcing a country music star in order to open her own patisserie and while building her business she hires Kiera, a Black teenager whose father is the local dentist and whose mother is in New York with her new husband of 12 years. When Sasha meets Dwight there is an immediate level of attraction, but both of them have baggage from previous marriages and are hesitant to develop anything other than friendship, especially with concerns of how it may affect Kiera as Sasha’s employee.

The idea of this story definitely has potential, but I very quickly got bored reading. It also felt like the pacing was inconsistent, things developing quickly one scene and then nothing happening in the next. I actually ended up mainly skimming the last half of the book and couldn’t read the last several pages with how much the book pissed me off.

Sasha‘s ex-husband was emotionally abusive and is described as narcissistic. He comes back to town, uninvited and without notice, so he can inform Sasha that he recently received an ALS diagnosis and to seek her forgiveness for how he treated her. When he starts to cry, she decides to forgive him, and that felt way too easy to my mind, especially after Sasha had yelled at her mom for being willing to welcome Grant back into her home despite knowing what he’d put Sasha through last several years. After she grants him absolution, she gives him a kiss, and OF COURSE Dwight sees the kiss from a distance. And what really pushed my button to the point I couldn’t finish and gave this book 1 Star is Dwight wondering if she made up the story of abuse to make herself a victim rather than a villainess. Abuse victims, especially of non-physically-violent abuse, have enough trouble being believed and getting resources without having the hero of a romance doubting her story of survival as a reaction of his own securities. I just couldn’t root for them to find a happy ending at that point because Dwight doubting Sasha’s history like that feels like he would potentially bring it up as a point of she’s a liar or something if they get into an argument.

This has a cute premise, but for me this book very quickly was boring to read and then to have an abuser receive absolution so quick and easy just ruined any good feelings I had for this story.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the things I love about second-chance romance tales is that the main characters have some experience under their belts ... and some baggage to boot. They feel far more "real" than a lot of other stories, and this one is no exception.

Dwight and Sasha both have some relationship trauma to overcome, and neither one of them is looking to get into a relationship. However, there's no denying the attraction they feel for one another as their friendship grows. Dwight's never left his hometown, and Sasha swore she'd never come back ... but the opportunity to start her own patisserie is just too good to pass up.

You know going into these books that there will be some bumps on the road to happily ever after, and that's certainly the case here. Still, it was an enjoyable light read that I highly recommend.

[Merle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Wickham Falls weddings continue. In this one, dentist Dwight Adams has taken over primary custody of his teenage daughter since she and her stepdad don't get along. Sasha Manning was a Falls girl who couldn't wait to leave after high school, anxious to escape her parents' constant fighting. She returns to open a bakery, or sweet shoppe. When Dwight's daughter applies to work there part time, she asks to speak with Kiera's dad since she is young for the job. They are attracted to each other and begin to date casually, because Dwight wants to keep his time free for his daughter. This has a happy ending which seemed a little abrupt. Another chapter would have made it a little smoother ending.

[lorraine throckmorton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wickham Does It Again

Another story in Wickham Falls has made me feel like it is a great place to live. Sasha and Dwight both went through a lot with their first marriages. Both decide to concentrate on making a success of their businesses. Kiera is the reason they make a connection initially. Through all the roadblocks Sasha and Dwight something they have been missing in their lives when they come together. Something worth fighting for. Once again a good job by Ms. Alers.

[Tim Covell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title has nice alliteration, but is a tad misleading, since this isn't a second-chance trope, at least not how I understand it. Both couples have previous relationships, but not with each other. Final obstacle was a little out of left-field, followed by a rapid conclusion, but generally an enjoyable story.

[Mark Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

not enough conflict between the two main characters for it to be exciting

[Ranie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written with extraordinary wonderful characters...❤️✨️ 💖 ♥️ 💕 💙 ❤️✨️ 💖

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really nice love story, a little slow for a while but then it picks up. It was also enjoyable to read about characters from the other books in the series. I look forward to reading more of the Wickham Falls Weddings series.

[Harlequin Books]

Categories
Multicultural & Interracial Romance, African American Romance, Small Town & Rural Fiction, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Wickham Falls Weddings (Book #8)

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book up until the last few chapters and then it was just rushed.

[Arch · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hero: Dwight: 38 year old black man. Only Child. Dentist. Own his own company. Has a 16 year old daughter, Kiera with his first wife.

Heroine: Sasha: 32 year old white woman. Owns her own baking company. Has three brothers. She left home at 18 years old and returned at 32 year old. She married a country singer and they’ve divorced.

Dwight is six years older than Sasha. They do not have any chemistry. Sasha hires Kiera to work in her shop. She needed someone to run the counter and Kiera applies for the job. She’s the first person that applied for the job and eventually gotten the job, and that’s how Dwight and Sasha started seeing one another.

In my opinion, the hookup was forced. Dwight And Sasha didn’t have chemistry.

Dwight and Sasha gets engaged quick. They’ve quickly worked on a baby. They gotten married and pregnant.

I believe in love at first sight, but not forced love. When reading a book, I can tell when the hero and hero have chemistry.

[Michelle Lindo-Rice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Rochelle Alers work. This cover and title sounded so promising. But, Dwight and Sasha's romance lacked chemistry. I think it was because they were so doubtful the entire way through. One minute they wanted to be just friends and the next more. Then, they seemed to jump into love. I will continue to read more from this author.
Thank you, #Netgalley.

[Ava Smith-forrest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr Adams and Shasa

I am hooked on Wickham Falls no matter what happens in this in this small West Virginia town I'm there to witness it. Good read

[Jewlsbookblog · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this story, but the execution fell short. Sasha and Dwight had so much mistrust from their previous relationships that it kept interfering with their developing one and by the time the both did something about it...well, the ending was really rushed.

I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley/Harlequin and this is my honest review.

[Helen Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

New bakery owner Sasha Manning was totally not expecting that the teenager she hired would have such an attractive father. Now that she is back home after being away for years Sasha is still dealing with feelings from falling for a man who seemed too good to be true. Divorced single dad Dwight Adams will have to prove to Sasha that he is the real deal and he will also have to learn to trust someone with his heart along the way.

[Bin Blogs Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice sweet story. I read this during a rainy weekend, relaxing and sipping tea. This was a perfect pairing. Slow to start but worth it to continue.

Thanks NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, loved it, loved it!!! A sweet and touching love story with great characters you will really start to care about.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, quick read! I read this as part of the 2019 PopSugar Reading Challenge, “ a book with salty, sweet, bitter, or spicy in the title.”

[KAREN MCCRAW · Rating 5 out of 5]

WICKHAM FALLS

As usual I enjoyed my journey to Wickham Falls . Sasha and Dwight each found something they didn't know they were looking for or needed. Kiera was a delight.

[Tigger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ending was rushed...last chapter was kind of unrealistic, but HOA

[Inky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was book was of variable quality. But it is still better than average for the small and misused BMWW romance genre.