If that weren’t bad enough, Mal, knowing he has disappointed so many people and hurt Bernadine terribly, is behaving almost as if HE is the injured party. As the story begins, we learn that Bernadine is broken hearted after the man she was dating, Malachi July, pulled a terrible stunt, putting everything he had worked so hard to achieve at risk.

The story appears to be centered around Bernadine Brown, the owner of the small Kansas town of Henry Adams. I don’t have time to binge read the previous eight installments, so I just took a leap and dived in, hoping for the best. I didn’t intend to start reading another series- I know, you’ve heard that a million times- much less start in on the ninth book.

I added this book on a whim because I was so surprised to see a contemporary novel written by Beverly Jenkins, an author, who for me, has always been associated with historical romance novels.Īpparently, this book is a part of an ongoing series I knew absolutely nothing about. Second Time Sweeter by Beverly Jenkins is a 2018 William Morrow publication. All it takes is a few minutes for them to realize the spark is still there, but is it too late for second chances? A little help from the good people of Henry Adams may give both Mal and Gary the best second chance at the happiness they missed the first time around… Will he ever be able to win her forgiveness? Meanwhile Homecoming Weekend is fast approaching, and store owner Gary Clark is reunited with his high school sweetheart. But all it takes is a moment of pride to blind Mal to his blessings-a moment that makes him betray his friends and family, and lose Bernadine’s trust and love. And he’s even staying true to one woman-Bernadine Brown. He’s not only turned his diner into a profitable business, but also mentors the town’s foster kids. With a reputation as a player, he’s now a recovering alcoholic and has made progress in redeeming himself in the eyes of his family and the citizens of Henry Adams, Kansas. Malachi “Mal” July has run into trouble in the past. NAACP nominee and USA Today bestselling author Beverly Jenkins continues her beloved Blessings series with a new heartwarming novel set in Henry Adams, Kansas.