One has grown past who they were with their previous partner, the other incredibly hurt by theirs. Maybe the second time around, things will be different.

Second Wind is one of those books you want to read on a cold winter’s day with warm socks and a hot cup of tea. It reads as both cozy and intimate, and I wish I could have spent more time with this one. Set in a picturesque small town, this is an easy, feel-good type of romance with two people meeting at just the right time.

The two leads could probably carry the story alone, but there are quite a few memorable characters supporting them as well. Each one felt unique and real, which is hard to do considering this novella comes in just under 100 pages. In particular, the sister of one of the leads and the daughter of the other helped to flesh out the world in the novel.

Going in, I was worried that I wouldn’t like some aspects because a good portrayal of a transgender person, especially in a romantic lead, is often hard to find. I shouldn’t have, though. The author does a fantastic job with that character and with how other characters interact with him. The only criticism I could offer at all in this arena would be that the world might be a little too idealistic to match the current state of things. But then the novella wouldn’t have that melt-in-your-mouth charm that it does have.

Errors are typos are the main reason I didn’t give Second Wind the highest rating. This is mostly in the form of missing or misused words and punctuation issues. It wasn’t egregious, but it was enough to be noticeable. I also wish there had been a bit more of the orchestra and music involved. As is, it feels more like a backdrop than anything else, though that might be more a byproduct of the shorter length.

Short and sweet, any fans of soft M/M romances would enjoy this story.

Second Wind is available to buy on Amazon.

Verdict:

READABLE