REVIEW: A Surprise Second Chance by Anna J. Stewart

A Surprise Second Chance by Anna J. Stewart is the third book in the Hawaiian Reunions series. This can be read as a standalone. I haven’t read the previous books in the series; while it felt like I was expected to have already known about some of the other couples, I didn’t feel like I was missing too much, and it didn’t impact my overall reading experience. Readers new to the series should have no problems jumping into the series here.

After Griffin Townsend broke her heart and her father ended up in prison due to financial crimes, Daphne Mercer took off to Hawaii. There she healed and found acceptance from the whole town and a new family in her friends. What she doesn’t expect is to walk into a hotel one day and find Griff there, along with his two young children.

Griff, a newspaper journalist, has been offered the story of a lifetime: the chance to interview Richard Mercer, the man who broke Daphne and him up. Since his arrest, Richard hasn’t granted an interview. He has chosen Griff, but under one condition: he convinces Daphne to visit him at the prison. Griff needs to provide for his two young children and help his parents out, so this story could help his career. But when he gets to Hawaii and sees Daphne again, he realizes that he has never stopped loving her. But if Daphne discovers the real reason he went to Hawaii, would she still be willing to give him a second chance?

I liked Daphne and Griff, but I felt like they both avoided talking about difficult topics, such as why Griff walked away after graduation, when they both knew he had been planning to propose. Instead, they spend a lot of time bonding with Griff’s children, Noah and Cammie, and acting like an instant family without addressing the elephant in the room. I did enjoy Daphne’s connection with Noah and Cammie, and how they all instantly bonded with one another.

This is a clean romance, so it lacks steaminess. But what it lacks in that department, it more than makes up for in the heartwarming department. It’s clear that the couple never stopped loving one another, and that all of them, the kids included, filled voids for each other that they’ve been missing. There’s a little drama and some sadness in the book, but it’s mainly a sweet tale of two people finding their way back to one another. This book would be for readers who are looking for a heartfelt second-chance romance.

Book Info:

Publication: March 26, 2024 | Harlequin Heartwarming | Hawaiian Reunions #3

Could a secret…Bring them together? Lush rainforest, magical sunsets and a welcoming community—Nalani has everything botanist Daphne Mercer needs…except the only man she ever loved. Griffin Townsend broke her heart years ago. Now he’s in Hawai’i on vacation, a single dad with two kids. Daphne is charmed by Griff’s little family, and he longs for a second chance. But will she forgive him when she learns his true reason for seeking her out?