This is Book 2 of The Hasting Sisters series, and this is Cora's story. She was once happy, ready to marry the love of her life, until he heartlessly jilted her at the altar. Without a single word of explanation, Peregrine fled off to the Royal Navy, only to return three and a half years later, still stirring feelings in Cora when she sees him again. Peregrine returns from war, a scarred man, and is resigned to finding a wife and settling down. His heart isn't in it, until he crosses paths with Cora again at a ball. The sparks are still strong between them, but Cora can't forget what he did and is reluctant to trust him again . Not to mention she also has other things in her life to deal with, like her heartless employer and her family, so she really has no time to rekindle anything. But Peregrine is determined to win her trust and love again and doesn't give up.
This was a well-written story, but I couldn't really get behind the hero, he seemed a bit too self-centered. I also would have like to have seen a bit more depth with the characters. But nonetheless, the story was entertaining and enjoyable and I look forward to the next installment.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Miss Cora Hasting Has just recently settled into a new form of living as a companion. But the cantankerous old dragon knows how to poor on the guilt trips and especially twists the stories so her new companion does exactly what she says.
The Captain has future plans which does not include a certain lady from his past until it does..
i really enjoyed seeing Cora blossom into the woman who can be her self instead of pushed around by others. The novel was engaging worth the time reading.
I received a complementary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review.. the opinion I have given is my own. I am disclosing this according to the guidelines.

This book is about forgiveness and second chances. Our hero, Perry, has Done Wrong, and that is with capital letters. Three years ago he left Cora at the altar and ran off to join the navy instead. Now he has been invalided out and is starting over. Cora has had an unbelievably difficult time since then. He's back on land, in town and sees Cora. He begins to try to win her back.

What I liked about this book:
-he groveled, groveled some more, apologized. He knew he was wrong. Good. There needed to be copious amounts of groveling and my man Perry just kept it up. As he should. Cora eventually forgave him. I enjoyed seeing them reunited and trying for happiness together the right way.
- Matey, his dog. This man loved that dog and the dog adored him
- Charles, his best friend was a good influence

Now, some personal requests! :)
I look forward to Cora's twin sister Nora's book, and Nora needs the best, super loving, solid gold Best Man there is. Nora needs to be swept off her feet by a GOOD MAN. I'm ready!
Also, we need Miss Beaufort and Deborah's story! And Charles too:)
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Good second chance romance. The story begins three years after Cora’s fiancé left her at the altar to continue his naval career. Family circumstances have forced her to take a paying position as a companion to a grouchy old woman. She hasn’t forgotten Perry or the heartbreak he caused her.

Perry has returned to London after a medical retirement from the navy. He is scarred, physically and emotionally, by what he has been through. He has never forgotten Cora and regrets his actions.

Their first encounter after Perry’s return is volatile, to say the least. There is no doubt that the chemistry between them is as strong as ever, but their path to a future together is full of challenges.

I had a difficult time liking Perry. I thought he was selfish. He never considered what leaving Cora at the altar would do to her reputation and went on his merry way. On his return to London, he couldn’t be bothered to check on her or apologize for his actions. It wasn’t until he mistook her for another woman that he was forced to face up to his actions. He then proceeded to be just as uncaring of propriety as before. Yes, he decided he wanted to marry her, but he was more concerned with his feelings than hers.

Cora is reluctant to trust Perry after his earlier betrayal but can’t deny her attraction to him. She has also taken her family’s financial burdens on her shoulders and stubbornly clings to that responsibility as her mission in life. She is loyal to her employer but can’t see how manipulative the woman is.

Perry determinedly pursues Cora. She is torn between her growing feelings for him and her self-imposed vision of her future. I liked his persistence and grew frustrated at Cora’s blindness. I ached for both when Perry issued his ultimatum. He is stunned and hurt by her decision. Cora has to face the consequences of her decision, especially when she learns the truth about her employer.

The ending was a little frustrating because I didn’t like Perry’s attitude when Cora showed up to talk to him, especially considering what a jerk he’d been before. I was happy they worked things out, but both still have some growing up to do.

Miss Cora Hasting, second daughter of Baron Landover, is paid companion for a cantankerous lonely Mrs Alice Bromington. She send part of her money home to help pay the back taxes so the family does not loose their home. After a holding on her wedding day, the guilt of what happened keeps her from finding love and happiness. Her older sister helped also until she married. Her twin does not speak so she is unable to find work. One of her wild younger sisters is looking for a governess position to help.

With a chance encounter from her former fiancee, Captain Peregrine Wetherford, all the hurt, anger, and fear come to front and center. Perry has a moment of guilty conscious and wants to make up for what he did. When His friend Charles, or rather Viscount Maubrey. Points out this may be fate telling him he can not only right the wrong but that Perry might still hold the love for Cora.

Join in the courtship as Perry tries to thwart the "dragon" Mrs Bromington, to get to Cora. Will Cora forgive him of holding her? Can the dragon keep them apart?

Such fun antics abound, A secret gets revealed, and sneaking around occurs. The conflict, emotions, and snappy comebacks abound by all. A great time away from worries is had and a beautiful romance intertwined made for A lovely adventure.

Love, Regrets, and Second Chances

He jilted her at the altar and broke her heart. Could she forgive him? After Peregrine abandoned her, Cora’s circumstances were reduced. Her family fled town in shame, and she had to work as a companion to a bitter woman to help her family. Now that Peregrine was back from the navy, he would run into Cora. They still loved one another, but Peregrine had much to answer for. Could he redeem himself? What he did was inexcusable, but we often forgive those we love even when their sins were unforgivable. Cora and Peregrine's path would be rocky, and the woman Cora worked for would put many obstacles in front of them. If you like second-chance historical romance, you might enjoy this story. Was Peregrine justified in leaving Cora as he thought? You must be the judge. I certainly did not think so, and I thought he needed to grovel quite a bit. However, love has made fools of the best of us.

“A Second Summertime Courtship” is book two in the series The Hasting Sisters by Sandra Sookoo. The female lead is Cora Hasting, daughter of a baron that has fallen on hard times. Cora goes to work to earn money to send to her family in an effort to stem the decline. She has taken a position as companion to an elderly lady, Mrs. Bromington, aptly nicknamed the Dragon. Mrs. Bromington is a sour, crotchety, mean, demanding old lady who plays a prominent role in Cora’s life and love life. This woman had a knack for manipulating situations and people for her own gain. Opposite Cora is Captain Peregrine “Perry” Wetherford with physical and mental scars from his service in the British navy. Three years prior, the Captain left Cora at the alter after compromising her and returned to the sea. When they reunited the feelings and the pull toward one another was still there. They had a difficult road to travel, along with Mrs. Bromington’s interference, to land their happy ever after. This story was not as good as I anticipated it to be. I have read a lot of Sandra Sookoo’s work as she is one of my go to authors. The characters and the plot didn’t have the depth she normally achieves. The Captain seemed too self centered and Cora was unable to see beyond being her family’s financial savior all on her own if necessary. The passion between the two read forced not hot and steamy which is Ms. Sookoo’s norm. I did get annoyed when Peregrine left Cora to stand out in the rain, getting soaked through, as she was trying to offer a heartfelt apology to an argument. Also, I was waiting for Cora’s confrontation with Mrs. Bromington after certain discoveries. The end of the story felt rushed and incomplete. I’m going to switch gears a bit and read Sandra Sookoo’s “Outrageous in Orchid” next.

I received this book from NetGallery, my thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

I'm sorry, but i didn't like the so-called hero in this book at all. He is selfish. When our heroine was asked to make a choice, like he had years before, he was nowhere near as forgiving as she had been. Mind you, I think she was much more willing to forgive than most would have been. I feel that he wanted everything his way. Not what I want in a hero.

There is nothing wrong with the storytelling telling , it's purely that I really didn't like the hero.

I usually like this author's work.

Horrible hero.

Reading this novel made me wonder how many opportunities people miss in life through devotion to duty and allowing others to use them as doormats. Sometimes “NO” is the hardest word to say. Cora's past mistakes have taken their toll on her and her thoroughly disagreeable employer is the worst kind of person. Peregrine's reappearance in Cora's life turns everything upside down and her resulting conflicting feelings are easy to understand. I found this romance to be very sad, but fortunately, Perry and Cora finally come to a place where the past can be dealt with and they can face a joy-filled future. I received a copy of this novel as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

A lot of angst, misunderstandings, manipulations and guilt. Miss Cora Hastings loved Peregrine Wetherford until he jilted her three and a half years ago on their wedding day. Without a word, he fled back to the Royal Navy. Retired with the rank of Captain, he is working to establish himself back into society. The last person he expected to see was Cora at a ball. He had his eye on another young lady to court, but seeing Cora makes him rethink his feelings. Cora has her own problems with family and her employer. A more selfish woman you will never meet. What begins as a second chance may be destroyed by the wrong choice. Moves a little slow from complexity to forgiveness.
Mild descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

I liked this second chance romance, even if it doesn't come close to the first part of the series. The plot is very well told and emotional, but very complex. I liked the twists and the steam but I couldn't get on with the characters for a long time, Peregrine was too selfish and reckless at first, Cora was too absorbed in her role as a victim, too easily manipulated and her feelings towards her married sister, although understandable, quickly got on my nerves.

Three years ago, Captain Peregrine Wetherford and Cora Hasting were engaged to be married, but he chose a life at sea over her and jilted Cora on their wedding day, leaving her heartbroken and ruined.

Due to her family's poor financial situation and her father's declining health, Cora feels responsible for her family's welfare and is now forced to take a job as a companion to a cantankerous old lady, Mrs Bromington.

After being discharged from the navy due to his injuries and scars, Peregrine is finally ready to settle down, open his own shop and find a wife.

When the two meet by chance at a social event, Peregrine realises his mistake and is determined to win Cora back, but he is not only fighting for her love, but also against her fearsome, manipulative dragon of an employer who wants to keep Cora for herself…

All in all an entertaining story with many emotional ups and downs!

Trigger warning: if off-scene descriptions of miscarriages upset you, you shouldn’t read the book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A Second Summertime Courtship by Sandra Sookoo is another Miss Hasting book. This Miss Hasting was left on the steps to the church years earlier just as she was about to be married and it caused quite the scandal. The family decided to move to their home in the country where they discovered the mismanagement of the estate had left them almost bankrupt. The first sister, Amelia, had left home to find work to assist with the bills, but ended up in love with and married to a penniless viscount so the second Miss Hasting, Cora, had now become a companion to an older, decidedly unpleasant woman in London. As she was attending an event with her mistress, she ran into the man who had left her at the altar. Then things got complicated.

Cora is a very stubborn woman, first in her determination to keep Mrs. Bromington as her employer, and later to fend off the advances of Captain Peregrin Wellington when he showed up again in her life. He had left her and gone to sea because he was scared but was back now with an injury that kept him from serving. For many his scars were ghastly. He was also a strong person, also stubborn. Sookoo’s stories always include people whom society has left behind, who prove once again that anything can be overcome with determination. This was one such story. Cora stood up repeatedly to Mrs. Bromington and somehow they got along better for it. The plot included a second chance romance that appeared to be going nowhere: there were too many impediments. Sookoo has done it again, with a terrific novel!

I was invited to read A Second Summertime Courtship by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #SandraSookoo #ASecondSummertimeCourtship

I can't imagine the horror, embarrassment and feelings of rejection at being left at the altar on my wedding day. Poor Cora! I felt so badly for her and her family as her life took a downward turn after that. Then there's Peregrine, a war hero and the one who left her at the altar. When a second opportunity to reconnect takes place, will they take it? Can they forgive the past? A complex story with well written characters. The second in the series from a talented writer.

3.75 Stars
Miss Cora Hasting—middle daughter of Baron Landover—is not happy. Having lived with reduced circumstances for a few years, she aspires to so much more than making her position as a companion to the elderly Mrs. Bromington. Captain Peregrine Wetherford has tried for the past three years to put his mistakes behind him. Decorated naval officer, left with scars and wounds for his service, he’s made a passable living attending various social functions and accepting coin for speaking engagements. However, during one fateful evening when he accidentally runs into his former fiancée, his past and his future collide, and this time he refuses to run. Sparks and words fly between Cora and her former beau, but while she might be willing to forgive but she can’t forget.
The second book in the series & whilst it could be read on its own I feel the series would be best read in order. A well written book with strong characters & a well paced story. I grew to like Peregrine & to some extent Cora but I didn’t love them, I did enjoy the book but I found it to be a bit too angsty for me at times. I disliked Cora’s employer & wanted her to have some comeuppance. I usually love the author’s books but this one left me wanting
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

This is a second chance romance ( I admit not my fav trope but sometimes surprises me ) and I struggled with the overall story of this one tbh . The book is well written but I just couldn’t believe that the heroine forgave the man who stood her up at the alter so easily 🤷🏼‍♀️ it’s my first time with this author and I will definitely try one of her books again

A Second Summertime Courtship
This is the second book in the Hasting’s sisters series. Cora was jilted at the alter by her fiancé. That one moment set off a chain of events that has led to Cora having to take work in London as a lady’s companion. She doesn’t trust the concept of love anymore and she certainly never wants to see her former fiancé again. Peregrine is back from war a broken man covered in the scars of war. He knows it is time to find a wife but his heart just isn’t in the task. When he crosses paths with Cora for the first time since their broken engagement, he is drawn to her. Again. Will the hurt each other again or will they mend their broken hearts by finally admitting their true feelings?

This is a well written story, but it just didn’t connect with me the way the first story did. Perhaps it’s unfair to compare the two but they are part of the same continuous storyline, so the comparison is inevitable. I like the base story of Cora and Peregrine working through their hurt and embarrassment to get back together. I didn’t like that she repeated the same mistakes this time as the last. She might be a fallen woman already but he didn’t deserve her trust this time around after he left her at the church. Cora is bitter toward her sister after she found love and happiness. I can understand the author including that Cora felt her sister’s decision to marry a poor man has left the weight of the family finances on her shoulders but her attitude made me dislike her and the author never turned that around for me. Cora’s employer is bitter and nasty. I understand why the author created a character like the employer but the character went nowhere. I kept waiting for the bad guy comeuppance moment or some big shift in personality but it just went nowhere In the end, I found the story frustrating and I couldn’t wait for it to end.

This is a romance set in London in 1817. This is a second chance romance between two grown adults. While this installment wasn’t my cup of tea, I will definitely read more from this author in the future because I like most of her books.

Book 2 of 2 - After being left at the alter, three years pass and they run into each other again. They try to work through their differences. I enjoyed the banter between them.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a fairly smooth sailing story that had a lot of potential rough spots, but all seemed to be dealt with in a mature manner and smoothed out very quickly. Nice and entertaining read, looking forward to the next one.

Fate, Complications, Hateful Dragon, a Stunning Romance:
This wonderful story begins with Cora 3 years after being jilted by her soon to be husband Peregrine.
Family difficulties cause Cora to take a paid companion position, but her heart is still broken from her lost love.
Peregrine returns after a tragic disfiguring accident that has added to his emotional state.
He admits his mistake at leaving Cora and when he comes across her in a most scandalous way things change for both of them
The story is well written with intriguing characters throughout the story.
Their path to admitting and accepting just how much they love and trust each other is filled with much turmoil., angst, many heartfelt moments,
lots of desirous passion which warranted having my fan ready.
A good solid love story with many deeply emotional situations. A gripping ending along with a nice epilogue to top the story off.
Mature Advisory:💋💋💋+

In 1814, Peregrine Wetherford left Cora Hastings on the church steps- the scoundrel- and ran off to sea. Cora's life has gone downhill in the intervening years. She is now the paid companion to Mrs. Alice Bromington, a cruel employer who treats Cora horribly, Now 1817, Captain Wetherford is back, and runs into Cora, unaware of the ruin her life has been since his abrupt departure.

Sparks fly, but he is the scoundrel who broke her heart!

Peregrine faces an uphill battle and it has little to do with his injuries and premature retirement from the Navy. Cora is burdened with family concerns as well as her nightmare employer.

There is the bright light of Miss Beauford (who I would love to see get her own tale) who proved to be a good friend to Peregrine, and a final betrayal that drives the resolution of the story.
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On my wish list:
I wish there had been an explanation of her family issue being resolved, as it drove Cora's employment and then was somehow resolved with no details given in the Epilogue, which I must say was darker than I am used to in this Genre. I also wish there had been a final confrontation with the villain of the story- I think that was a missed opportunity.