SECOND TIME SWEETER - Beverly Jenkins
A Blessings Novel - Book 9
William Morrow Paperbacks
ISBN-10: 0062699261 
ISBN-13: 978-0062699268
September, 2018 
Contemporary Romance

Henry Adams, Kansas – The Present

As in many previous editions of the Blessings series, two stories intertwine in this volume. The once small and failing, but historical, town of Henry Adams is changing and continues to improve. In this story readers learn change is not always good and sometimes brings danger. Bernadine Brown, the owner of Henry Adams, keeps trying to develop Henry Adams, but she has lost the man she loved, Malachi ‘Mal' July. 

Mal embezzled seventy thousand dollars from the town and then left for an oil field hoping to earn enough to pay back the money. He returned to town two weeks ago for a wedding, bringing another woman with him, which upset Bernadine even more. To be fair, Mal planned to replace the money. It was an investment gone very wrong, and the town officials (his son Trent is mayor) decided not to arrest him. He has to repay the money while living under the residents' disapproval. It's not easy. He wants to make up with Bernadine, but how? 

The second story is about Gary Clark. His wife Colleen forced him into marriage at the end of high school by telling her father she carried Gary's baby. It was a lie, but her father threatened Gary with rape charges. It lost him his dream to go to college and become a lawyer. Now, twenty years later, he is divorced, manager of the local grocery store, and taking care of his two daughters whom Colleen didn't want…until now, when her second husband decides to divorce her. It is clear she is not a good mother, and her oldest, very intelligent daughter Leah hears rants about her looks and her love of science, which won't win her a husband. Colleen wants Gary to remarry her, but he has other plans.

One thing briefly mentioned about Mal is that he is a Vietnam veteran, along with his good friend Clay. Mal's return from the war lead to alcoholism, as with many other Vietnam veterans. For me, it gave him a depth of character I hope continues to be explored. He has been sober, but his current troubles are worrisome. Characters from all the previous volumes are still in town including an amazing cast of children and teenagers. Most residents are well-intentioned individuals, caring and helpful, but like Malachi, good people can do stupid and harmful things. Others in town are just troublemakers seemingly incapable of understanding, but in this slice-of-apple-pie American town, perseverance and hope can carry the day.

Robin Lee