Should I or shouldn’t I? Those two little questions are constantly on the minds of the two main characters in Second Chances by Jodi Culliney. First, there’s Charlotte “Lottie” Berg, who is just trying to start over after her divorce. She decides to go on a road trip with her best friend, Amy. They visit the small town of Beverley, South Dakota, and Lottie spots an attractive man outside a shop. She’s immediately drawn to him. At the same time, that man, Henry Livingston, sees her and is intrigued. Neither says anything. She later decides to move to Beverley after accepting a teaching position there, beginning a new chapter in her life. He’s also dealing with his own complicated past, including an ex-wife who unexpectedly reappears. Once she moves there, Charlotte and Henry keep crossing paths, but don’t think the other is interested, so they don’t act on their attraction. Can two people carrying so much history find the courage to embrace a new future?

Dolly Parton once said, "If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one." As I read Second Chances by Jodi Culliney, I couldn't help but think of that quote when Charlotte decides to take a chance on something new. This book was incredibly hard to put down. Charlotte and Henry’s pull to each other was like two magnets. I love a good second-chance romance, so I couldn’t wait to see how their story unfolded as they each worked through the baggage from their pasts. There were also some moments when I truly felt for Charlotte and understood her insecurities. The writing balanced emotional parts with humor, family dynamics, and romance. Two characters kept testing my patience because of the tension they created: DD and Melanie. But they were necessary because every good love story needs a little conflict. I would never have guessed why Henry's ex-wife kept reaching out to him. The explanation turned out to be quite a twist. Anyone interested in small-town romance, later-in-life love stories, or second-chance relationships should grab this book. It's an intriguing story that kept me invested from beginning to end.

Set in the charming small town of Beverley, South Dakota, Second Chances: A Love Story by Jodi Culliney follows Henry Livingston, an auto shop owner, who must now raise his son alone after his wife left him. Charlotte Berg is a fifty-year-old English teacher reinventing herself after a divorce. She thinks she is done with love and the heartbreaks that accompany it. She relocates to town and meets Henry at his garage. The chemistry sparks between them, growing into a slow-burning courtship hindered by Henry’s lingering wounds, and becomes even more complicated when his ex-wife resurfaces with disturbing secrets. Can true love grow for Henry and Charlotte when overshadowed by past betrayals and secrets?

Jodi Culliney’s characters are relatable, and their romance feels authentically earned, which is what I look for in this genre. Charlotte has transformed herself from an invisible wife into a confident woman who knows exactly what she wants and what she is worth, and watching Henry grow more vulnerable around her was fun. The author captures the characters' emotions with clarity: the furtive looks, the giddiness of the first kiss, and more. Second Chances: A Love Story is well-paced, and the characters' hesitation when faced with choices is natural and adds to the suspense. The intimacy between Henry and Charlotte develops through dance-floor moments and shared coffee, and accelerates into passion. The story's realism and heartfelt moments will make readers remember their first kiss; a truly delightful story.