Release Day Review ~ The Second Time Around by Rowan McAllister (Giveaway)

Release Day Review ~ The Second Time Around by Rowan McAllister

Title: The Second Time Around

Author: Rowan McAllister

Release Date: September 11, 2018

Category: Contemporary

Pages: 192

Dreamspinner  |   Amazon

Though born into wealth and privilege, Jordan Thorndike can’t keep pretending. He’s never going to become the lawyer his parents hope for… or provide the daughter-in-law and two-point-four grandkids they expect. Faced with an ultimatum—carry on living the lie or get out—Jordan leaves with only what he can pack in his BMW.

Homeless, jobless, directionless, Jordan heads to one of his mother’s pet charities: Better the Second Time Around Rescue ranch. With his family name and charm, he has the staff eating out of his hand in no time—except for one man.

Russ has never been handed anything, and he resents the spoiled rich brat using the ranch to live out a fantasy. Though Jordan is determined to prove himself to Russ through hard work, family and old wounds complicate matters. Will Jordan realize that what he sees as an escape is real life for most people? And can Russ accept that Jordan can grow—and that he wants him?

4 Stars!

Tired of pretending to be someone he’s not, Jordan finally admits to his parents that he’s gay. Unfortunately, however, they don’t take his coming out well and his father demands he forget all about it. Instead, Jordan should finish law school and continue to date women or else. But Jordan doesn’t want to continue living a lie and not being happy, and so he is forced to pack his bag and get out.

Homeless and disinherited, Jordan has no idea what to do or where to go, he never had a chance to form a plan. Looking for a sign, he remembers the B Star Rescue, a ranch he spent lots of time on as a child with his family. The B Star dedicates itself to abandoned, broken and rescued animals. What better place for him to land while trying to figure out what to do with his life?

While the woman who owns the ranch recognizes Jordan and is happy to bring him on to help, Russ, the ranch foreman is not pleased. All Russ sees is a spoiled rich brat who will be nothing but trouble. Jordan may have been spoiled and grew up with money but that doesn’t mean he won’t work hard to earn his place.

I really enjoyed Jordan’s character. He was a hard worker and great with the animals. He really tried his best to prove to Russ that he was more than meets the eye.

Russ was likable for the most part but he definitely ticked me off more than once. I especially got annoyed when his ex came back in the picture. I’m not a huge fan of drama for dramas sake.

Overall, though, this was an enjoyable story that was easy and quick to read. I liked the relationship between Russ and Jordan and I thought it had a sweet ending.

***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.***

3 stars

The Second Time Around is a standalone by Rowan McAllister. It is about a young man named Jordan who is disowned by his very rich and privileged family for being gay. He leaves poor, homeless and jobless. He escapes to a rescue farm his family to used to visit as a child. Russ is an older man who works at the ranch. He is the owner's right-hand man and the complete opposite of Jordan.

Jordan actually comes off as very down to earth, while he is very adamant he is not a spoiled brat, there are some instances where it does make you assume he is from a wealthy background but he changes pretty fast. He is a hard worker and is really good with the horses. He adapts to the whole broke lifestyle without a complaint. Russ is very hardened by his experiences. He assumes Jordan is nothing but a spoiled brat. He is proved wrong time and time again.

This was a nice read. The attitude changes Russ shows constantly were kind of hard to read. One second he liked Jordan, the next he was a spoiled brat again. They made an interesting couple. The biggest issue I had with the book was that despite Jordan being disowned and his father being a constant voice in his head, we do not see the father. We only see his little sister for less than a chapter. It left the story kind of unfinished in my mind. Not to mention the ending was so abrupt, I read at it twice to see if I had missed something.

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

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