Second Chance at Riverview Inn by Molly O’Keefe
Riverview Inn #5
Contemporary Romance
May 10, 2022 – Self Published
Purchased
Review by Angela
I don’t think I even saw this book up for pre-order when I scrolled through Amazon while doing the New Release post, but I did see a Twitter post about it on release day and couldn’t stop my one-click finger from hitting that buy now button.
I haven’t read any of the previous books in the Riverview Inn series, but I couldn’t resist a romance featuring a woman working for a charity meeting and falling in love with a bad boy rock star. Especially when it’s hinted that he has some secrets. I do believe you can read it as a standalone and not be lost, but I will say I have already gone back and checked out the series backlist and have added them to my TBR.
Helen Larson is a fundraiser for Haven House Charity and spends her time taking care of her baby girl, spending time with family, and putting her life back together after the death of her fiance. Out of the blue, she receives a rather large donation from Micah Sullivan of the rock band, Band of Outlaws, and an invitation to one of their rehearsals. She wants to go, but this will mean stepping out of her sanctuary and comfort zone for the first time in a long time.
Micah Sullivan has a secret, he owes Helen Larson for saving his life- twice. Once when he was a child and his mother needed help and again during the lockdown when he was struggling with his alcohol addiction and trying to write a new album. He needs to come clean about his reasons for donating to her charity and how he came up with the lyrics for his album. He will, eventually.
These two are so sweet together. Helen is grieving, but ready to move on and Micah has a lot of shit in his past that he can’t let go of. There is quite a bit of heat and chemistry between them, but at the same time, their romance felt soft and tender. I loved Helen’s family and how they all supported her, while still urging her to get it on with the hot rock star. Each of the secondary characters has been featured in their own romance earlier in the series and I’m sure fans will rejoice in seeing them again and so happy and settled.
This is a book about forgiveness, conquering fear, and falling in love again. It’s equal parts sweet and spicy. I really enjoyed the HEA. I gobbled it up in an afternoon and was glad I pushed everything aside to read.
Grade- B
I enjoyed this book—and I thought O’Keefe did a great job with showing both Micah’s dysfunctional enabling relationship with his brother (I assume he’ll feature in a future book) and his ability to create music from anything: words and phrases, images, feelings, etc. Of course, it’s Micah’s magpie habit of grabbing everything for inspiration that causes the big rift between him and Helen. I’ve read all the previous books in the Riverview Inn series and they’re all solid reads. However, I will caution that people do age in the series—so if you’re ok with the young MCs of one book having graying hair and laugh lines in another, I strongly recommend all the books.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Angela.
I’m curious. You mentioned that the female lead had saved the male lead’s life when he was a child. Does that mean the female lead is the older of the two?
She’s a little older, a couple of years maybe, but the “saving his life” is more metaphorical/emotional than a physical fact. (Angela will correct me if I misread the situations in the book.)
She is older (I think) but like DDD said, she saves him more in an emotional sense.BHelped him when he needed it as a child.
@DDD and @Angela ~ Thank you both!