This is a good book. The two main characters are Emma and Mateo. They dated in high school and broke up. Several years later Emma comes home and the first person she sees is Mateo. There is an instant attraction. They start dating. They realize they never stopped loving each other.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

Matteo thought he had lost the love of his life when he went to prison. Now, face to face with each other after eight years, he soon realized the flame was still burning for her. With a new start before them, Matteo decided to go for it no matter what.

great book and loved the mystery through out the book. I loved the characters and how they grew through all of their adventures. I enjoyed this book and this author and will check them out again add them to my reading pile.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

Matteo and Emma keep running into each other in their small hometown after a tornado rips through damaging many homes and gardens. The couple works to get past their romantic history and traumatic breakup and try to find a way to coexist is town while helping rebuild the tornado damage. The Second Chance Garden is full of engaging characters and quirky dialog. A fun read and here's hoping it is the start of a series.

Emmie came back to her hometown to try and help rebuild after a devastating hurricane ravaged the landscape. With the upcoming garden festival it's all hands on deck to replant flowers and prune shrubs for the contest. But townsfolk are busy rebuilding and repairing their homes and businesses until an unknown artist pops up with unique sculptures around town.

Matteo has been working with his dad in wildlife rescue and removal, but is surprised when his ex is at her family's Inn. Their breakup was devastating for both and his incarceration was for the wrong reasons. He was set up and he works hard to find out the how and why all while working on a surprise .

This is a delightful and charming story about small town life, righting a wrong, and second chances .

Although I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I luckily got this one on audio too, so I finished this one quickly! The author did such a great job with the characters!

A small town second chance romance- for both Emma and Matteo and the town of Summertown. A tornado tore through the small town, wrecking havoc, but there's a plan to enter it in a Garden Festival that's got a big prize. Emma's come home to check on her parents and their B&B. She didn't expect to run in Matteo, her long lost love who is newly released from prison. These two split after he was convicted but the time apart, well, it only strengthened their feelings. This love story is enhanced by the hunt for the anonymous local artist who is placing painted hub caps around the town. There aren't any real surprises but the circumstances of Matteo and Emma's lives adds a bit of grit. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

A charming second-chance romance. Small town issues. Family, friends, and a cat all add to the fun. I would have rather there not be swear words or intimate scenes, but neither kept me from enjoying the book. Also rather predictable, but don't we all want that in a happily ever after story. I look forward to visiting Summertown again. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

This second chance, small town romance had great summer, beach read vibes with the emotional depth of CoHo's best gut-wrenchers. I really enjoyed the disability rep (asthma her and muscular dystrophy in a parent) and the redemption story angle (he's a recently released convict looking to redeem his reputation and help her save the town after a natural disaster destroys their chances to win the local Garden Fest competition). Good on audio narrated by Stephanie Rose and a great start to what looks to be a new small town series perfect for fans of authors like Laura Pavlov. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

Steam level: some open door spicy scenes

Second Chance Garden was quick and easy and low angst. It's a small town romance with heart and community and even a little steam! When a tornado hits her home town, Emma goes home to help her family at their Inn. While total chaos ensues, her childhood love is unexpectedly the one who helps make sure things get put back together. She didn't know he was home after years away. She didn't expect to be confronted with feelings and conflict and a smidge of love.

This was the perfect book to cruise through on audio while I worked and cleaned and went about my day.

Emma Woods heads to her hometown after a tornado hits the town. She only plans to stay long enough to check on her parents and help with the B&B. Matteo Rouke has been back in town for a year now since his father hurt his back. He's running his father's business.
Emma runs into Matteo the first day; they were in love in high school but broke up when he went to prison.
Matteo knows he messed up 10 years ago; but he was not a drug dealer only a user. He told Emma to forget about him and leave when she visited him in prison.
Emma is trying to help the town get back on track since the tornado. They town is known for its gardens they took a hit. Someone in town starts putting out decorated hub cabs as decorations and the mayor wants them arrested for vandalism. Emma and her friend see them as art.
Wonderful story of finding each other again and forgiveness and moving forward.

The Second Chance Garden is a lovely story of second-chance romance and a woman who wants to help her town rebuild following a tornado.

Emma has returned to her hometown of Summertown to help her parents run their Inn following the tornado that blew through damaging many things, including the gardens that need to be refurbished prior to Garden Fest. The one person she is not expecting to encounter is her ex, Matteo, who broke her heart eight years prior.

Matteo has been back home for over a year and he's helping his father to run his business and when he gets called to the Inn in a professional capacity, he and Emma begin to tentatively form a friendship again. The two work together to help get the town back in shape for the Garden Fest and they also try to solve the mystery of who the mysterious artist is that is installing the amazing art installations around town. Will they be able to figure it out in time?

This was an enjoyable second-chance story for Emma and Matteo with the side story mystery thrown in. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to more from this small town.

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

A sweet story with a bit of mystery thrown in, this small town, second chance romance kept my attention throughout because though I guesses the secret, I have to admit, I wanted to tune in because I liked the characters and I wanted confirmation. Lots of smiles, a few swoony moments and just a fun way to spend a couple of hours.

An enchanting journey through vividly imagined worlds and compelling characters. This fiction gem weaves a tapestry of emotions, adventure, and unexpected twists that kept me eagerly turning the pages. The author's masterful storytelling evokes a powerful connection, making this book an absolute delight to read. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a captivating escape into a richly crafted story!

I really enjoyed this small town, second chance romance. It stars Matteo who went to jail for 18 months and moved back home about a year ago. His long ago (8 years before) ex is also back in town trying to help her parents after a storm destroyed the town when she runs into her ex.

These two form a friendship as they try and help the town and try and convince the mayor to let the town enter a flower art contest. Meanwhile there is an artist on the loose and a big mystery for Matteo and Emma to try and find out who it is.

This was a really fun whodunit with a second chance for Emma and Matteo and I really loved it. The town is very quirky and has its small scandals. Despite being an ex con Matteo was a really good guy and part of the mystery is what happened to him.

Wow! Do you ever read a book and shortly in think of how you and the author could absolutely be best friends?? From the very beginning of the book this was my thought process. Her cat, me, I have 4. 80's playlist, yep! Friends and Ross references. Are. You. Kidding?? I frequently pull out PIVOTTTT! And the Paramore T Shirts. Ha. I just seen them live last month. I have my very own Paramore T Shirt I should have kept on throughout the whole book! I have been in a romance mood lately and this book checked ALL the boxes for me without being cheesy or overdone. I loved the art undertone and the ending. 5/5 stars from me. I have a feeling this will make my top 10 of 2023!!

This was sweet small town romance . Emma returns to her small town after a tornado hits the town to assist her parents with their inn . She runs into the guy who broke her heart years ago who is now a ex con. They end up working together to save the town and to try and win the Garden festival.

Like cotton candy fluff or a bad Hallmark movie... obvious, simplistic, formulaic. Unfortunately I couldn't finish it.