I am so glad to have had the chance to read this one. I read a lot of erotica and every so often I need to step away and read something that has more substance than what one normally gets in that genre. Secondhand Romance was a perfect book to cleanse my reading pallet! This is book 2 in the Brothers of Audubon Springs series, but I read it as a stand alone and enjoyed it very much. I never felt lost and didn't feel that there were things that I was missing having not read book 1. However, after reading Secondhand Romance, I will eventually go back for book 1, Return to Audubon Springs. DeFranco has provided romance, sexiness, and humor but most importantly there's a good story all rolled into this sweetly told romantic tale.
Annie and Tony's relationship is not easy or quick which leads the reader through what it takes for them to develop a relationship despite family, hesitations, and reservations on the parts of both Annie and Tony. Annie is no wide eyed innocent easily fooled and distracted by a handsome man. She is recovering from the loss of her parents and determined to make a success of her bookstore, Second Chance books. Tony is a bit on the cocky side and is very free and loose with his opinions, but in an extremely likable way.
I found this book entertaining and refreshingly different from my normal reads. There are no werewolves or vampires, and no overly dominant billionaires in this one. Just normal people dealing with normal hardships and trials with a slight twist. However, we do get a healthy dose of sexy Italian men-hey, we gotta have a little something extra! If you are looking for a sweet romance that would make a GREAT summer or vacation read pick this one up and you won't be disappointed.
**Thank you to the author, RoseAnn DeFranco, for providing me with a complimentary copy of Secondhand Romance in exchange for an honest review.**
Annie O’Malley’s dream of owning a secondhand bookstore in tight-knit Audubon Springs is coming true. Still reeling from her parents’ sudden deaths, she believes that signs or messages can be found within the pages of books. She loves her job and has made plenty of friends but longs for the acceptance only love and a family can provide.
Tony Iuliano is there to fix the wiring in her shop. He doesn’t believe in fate, magic, or the power of a good book. All this combined with his sexy-as-sin presence and all-knowing attitude infuriates Annie. The quirky bookworm intrigues him enough to accept her bet to read a book from her shop. When he discovers a stack of fifty-year-old love letters in the book, he wants to leave the past alone, but seeing it as a sign, Annie challenges him to read the letters and search for the long-lost lovers or lose the bet.
While shaking the dust off several ill-fated romances and fighting their attraction at every turn, the pair soon become the town gossip daily special. If they can stop arguing long enough, they may just discover this particular sign was meant for them all along.
About the Author:
RoseAnn DeFranco grew up in upstate NY with her nose in a book and a song in her heart. Following the pursuit of a musical theatre career in NYC, she turned her creative energy to writing funny, steamy romance with heart. A NJ shore transplant, she enjoys time spent at the beach with her family and would love to one day live in a quaint shore town like the fictional town from her BROTHERS OF AUDUBON SPRINGS series. More information about these Contemporary Romantic Comedies can be found at radefranco.com.
Connect with RoseAnn:
Thrilled to hear you enjoyed Secondhand Romance!
ReplyDeleteThanks you for a great read!
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