REVIEW: Second Time Around by Nancy Herkness

In Second Time Around by Nancy Herkness, Kyra Dixon runs into her college crush, Will Chase. Kyra works as a bartender and as a cook at a community center. Will is billionaire, running a chain of cafes with his business partner. Will himself had a crush on Kyra in college, only neither knew about the feelings the other ones had.

Now ten years later, the pair are on the opposite sides of the economical scale, but can they overcome their differences to make a relationship work?

I normally like stories where old crushes reunite and find their HEA, however, this book didn’t work for me. I didn’t connect with the characters, nor did I feel the chemistry between the pair. There was too much focus on how different their lives were. Will brings Kyra to a party hosted by his wealthy parents, where his mother isn’t friendly to her but Will doesn’t really stand up for her.

There is a continuous reference to something that happened between the pair one night in college. I was expecting something momentous, so when what happened was finally revealed, I found myself wondering why it was built up so much when I found it not to be a really big deal.

I did enjoy Kyra’s and Will’s interactions with the students at the community center and how Will stepped in to help both the children and the rescue dog program out. I just wished I enjoyed their relationship with each other and the characters themselves more than I did.
 

Book Info:

Publication: July 24, 2018 | Montlake Romance | Second Glances #1

Kyra Dixon, a blue-collar girl from the boondocks, is dedicated to her job at a community center that matches underprivileged kids with rescue dogs. When she runs into Will Chase—Connecticut blue blood, billionaire CEO, and her old college crush—she’s surprised that he asks a favor from her: to be his date for his uptight family’s dreaded annual garden party. If his parents don’t approve, all the better.
Kyra’s not about to say no. It’ll give her a chance to be oh-so-close to her unrequited love. What begins as a little fling turns so mad hot, so fast, that Kyra finds herself falling all over again for a fantasy that won’t come true. How can it? She doesn’t belong in Will’s world. She doesn’t want to. But Will does want to belong in hers.
All he has to do now is prove it. Will is prepared to give up whatever is necessary to get what his heart most desires.