Second Time Around


 
 
 
 Praise for Looking for Leroy
 
 “No one writes clean, contemporary romance quite like Carlson. With plenty of humorous encounters, delightful misunderstandings, and realistic characters, this is one to hand to readers looking for a fun read with a hint of faith.”
 
 Library Journal
 
 “A delightful read, like all of Melody’s novels. The engaging characters, whose good intentions get twisted into trouble by others less honorable, kept me reading later than I’d planned. A glorious setting in California wine country, a family business in danger of going under, and emotionally real characters dealing with life combine to yield a memorable novel.”
 
 Lauraine Snelling, bestselling author of over one hundred novels, including the Red River of the North series
 
 “Carlson is laugh-out-loud funny as she blends cringe comedy and heartwarming tenderness in a winning mixture. This sweet romance satisfies.”
 
 Publishers Weekly
 
 “A sweet toast to second chances. Missed opportunities and misunderstandings abound in this heartwarming tale.”
 
 Booklist
 
 Praise for The Happy Camper
 
 “This story is as sweet and spunky as the title. Melody is gifted at creating characters and settings right out of a Hallmark movie. Enter this charming world and you’ll find yourself believing in fresh starts right along with Dillon.”
 
 Robin Jones Gunn, bestselling author of Becoming Us
 
 “Carlson delivers a light romance in this cute inspirational. Memorable characters and a satisfying inspirational core make this one a winner.”
 
 Publishers Weekly
 
 “The Happy Camper was a blast! I had so much fun reading this book, getting to know the characters, and wishing that I lived in the world that Melody Carlson created.”
 
 Bold Girl Magazine
 
 “Packed with a lot of small-town charm, Carlson’s latest delivers a fun romance with crossover appeal.”
 
 Library Journal
 
 
 
 
 Half Title Page
 
 
 
 
 Books by Melody Carlson
 
 Courting Mr. Emerson
 
 The Happy Camper
 
 Looking for Leroy
 
 Second Time Around
 
 FOLLOW YOUR HEART SERIES
 
 Once Upon a Summertime
 
 All Summer Long
 
 Under a Summer Sky
 
 HOLIDAY NOVELLAS
 
 Christmas at Harrington’s
 
 The Christmas Shoppe
 
 The Joy of Christmas
 
 The Treasure of Christmas
 
 The Christmas Pony
 
 A Simple Christmas Wish
 
 The Christmas Cat
 
 The Christmas Joy Ride
 
 The Christmas Angel Project
 
 The Christmas Blessing
 
 A Christmas by the Sea
 
 Christmas in Winter Hill
 
 The Christmas Swap
 
 A Christmas in the Alps
 
 A Quilt for Christmas
 
 
 
 
 Title Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Copyright Page
 
 © 2023 by Carlson Management Company
 
 Published by Revell
 
 a division of Baker Publishing Group
 
 PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
 
 www.revellbooks.com
 
 Ebook edition created 2023
 
 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
 
 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
 
 ISBN 978-1-4934-3968-3
 
 This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
 
 Baker Publishing Group publications use paper produced from sustainable forestry practices and post-consumer waste whenever possible.
 
 
 1
 
 
 
 Everyone moves on.
 
 Everyone except for Mallory Farrell. At least that’s how she felt as she drove home after her daughter’s wedding. Mallory sighed. Dear Louisa had made such a beautiful bride and, thanks to all of Mallory’s careful planning, it had been a gorgeous wedding. Picture-perfect down to the tiniest detail. Well, almost.
 
 Mallory had suppressed the urge to growl when her ex-husband, dressed in a sleek black tux, escorted their youngest child down the aisle. Vince, who’d been mostly absent from their lives for nearly twenty years and now had a new wife with two young kids, had the gall to take center stage with the daughter Mallory had raised by herself. And when asked, “Who gives away the bride?” he proudly proclaimed, “I do.” Oh, sure, he’d added “on behalf of the family” in a quieter tone, but Mallory had felt the sting.
 
 Despite her pasted-on smile throughout the day’s wedding festivities, Mallory was left with a bad taste in her mouth. She’d only learned Vince planned on coming during the wedding rehearsal. After she’d been so pleased to see her older son, Seth, practice-walk Louisa down the aisle, she’d imagined a repeat performance for today. But as they left the church, her younger son, Micah, had spilled the beans.
 
 “Dad just texted me that his flight was delayed,” he’d whispered, “but he’ll be here in time tomorrow.” She could tell by Micah’s half smile that he’d felt conflicted too.
 
 When her kids had questioned why her boyfriend wouldn’t be there to share in the nuptial celebrations, Mallory had feigned nonchalance, saying she and Marcus were taking a break. After all, she didn’t need her personal life to detract from Louisa’s limelight. She sure didn’t want them all to feel sorry for her when the truth was that Marcus, after almost four years, had suddenly decided he, too, wanted to move on. Just three days before the wedding where he was supposed to be her plus-one.
 
 Despite Marcus’s usual bad timing, Mallory had told herself it was for the best. Sure, the relationship had been handy when it came to social functions. Marcus was charming and attractive and well-connected, but he’d always been more about Marcus than Mallory. Was it possible he’d viewed her as nothing more than the consummate escort? And maybe she deserved that. After all, everyone moved on