From USA Today bestselling author Kieran Kramer, comes Second Chance at Two Love Lane, a fast-paced tale about the intoxicating effects of fame and what happens when a past romance is rekindled behind the silver screen. Sometimes love is waiting in the second act… In her professional career, Ella Mancini plays matchmaker at Two Love Lane but, in her personal life, she takes the stage at the … but, in her personal life, she takes the stage at the Dock Street Theatre. Now she has a chance at a new role in a Hollywood movie that happens to be filming in Charleston–one that features a big-name actress, Samantha Drake. Long ago, Ella passed up a major audition while awaiting a marriage proposal. Not only didn’t she get the role; she never got the ring, either. Instead, her boyfriend Hank went on to become a huge film star…leaving her, and all her dreams, behind.
But now Hank’s back in Charleston, cast as the male lead in the same movie Ella’s in. In spite of the dramatic tension off-screen, he and Ella try to stay cool onset. But when their old feelings start to heat up–at the same time leading-lady Samantha tries to play cupid–all bets are off. How can Hank convince Ella, after all this time, that she’s the one he really wants to be with in real life–and that some happy, rom-com endings really can come true?
“Readers who enjoy works by Nora Roberts and Luanne Rice will want to give Kramer a try.”–Library Journal
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This story is about getting a second chance at love. It’s a well-written sweet romance story with interesting and entertaining characters. It’s got some drama and nice emotion. The sub-characters were very enjoyable and added greatly to the story. If you are looking for a sweet second chance romance then I would recommend reading this book.
I love Kieran Kramer’s Two Love Lane series! Ella Mancini and Hank Rogers are featured in Second Chance at Two Love Lane. I enjoyed reading every page of this fast- paced story and adored the characters!
The prologue scenes which featured Ella, her father and Hank were full of love and emotion and set the scene for the novel perfectly. To celebrate Ella’s birthday, Mr. Mancini treats her to a Broadway show and to a special dessert. Mr. Mancini understands Ella’s creative spirit, her desire to act and he enjoyed making memories with his daughter. Hank introduces himself to Ella and tells her that they will meet again.
Ella Mancini and Hank Roger dated when she returned to New York after college. Things ended badly when Ella turned down an acting role because she thought Hank was going to propose. Hank chose acting over Ella and is now a big movie star. Ella moved to Charleston, South Carolina and opened Two Love Lane, a matchmaking business with her college friends Macy and Greer. Ella keeps busy with her Two Love Lane clients and she performs in Community Theater. She has been offered a small role in a movie that is filming in Charleston for one week. Guess who is the leading man?
Kieran Kramer descriptive writing style, subtle humor and crisp dialogue blend perfectly in this novel. I adored the scene when Ella and Hank ran into each other. In less than 30 seconds he annoyed Ella by inviting her to lunch to catch up and then offered her a role in the movie. I imagined Miss. Thing dressed up as Queen Elizabeth and Ella’s Nonnas taking over Ella’s apartment to watch reality tv. I loved Ella’s Nonna Sofia and Nonna Boo; they reminded me of my great aunts. Nonna Sofia’s story of her shoe subtly introduces her desire for Ella—for Ella to marry the man of her heart. And of course, Hank hears every word.
Second Chance at Two Love Lane is a charming, engaging read. The Charleston setting oozes southern charm and old world traditions. Loved the friendship between Macy, Greer, Ella and Miss. Thing which has been an important part of each story in the series. They believe in the art of matchmaking and give each client a chance at love. The Mancini women, especially the Nonna’s, add so much depth and humor to the storyline. Everyone could see that Hank and Ella loved each other and deserved a chance at love—even Hank’s co-star Samantha played matchmaker for the couple. I loved that the story took place in seven days and that Kieran Kramer was able to write a fantastic story for Ella. Both characters had to learn to talk honestly with each other before they could move forward. The conclusion took me by surprise—in such a good way! The last few pages of the book are full of drama, emotion and a fabulous game of scrabble! I laughed and cried until the very last word!
Second Chance at Two Love lane has all the feels—it’s romantic, funny and heartwarming
I enjoyed reading Second Chance at Two Love Lane by Kieran Kramer, book three in her new Two Lane series. This Ella’s story as she is reunited with her ex-boyfriend, Hank, after ten years apart. Professionally, Ella is a matchmaker at Two Love Lane, but during her spare time she performs at the Dock Street Theatre. Before returning to Charleston, Ella passed up a major audition while awaiting a marriage proposal. Not only did she not get the role; she never got the ring, either. Instead, her boyfriend Hank went on to become a huge film star, leaving her, and all her dreams, behind. Now she has a chance at a small role in a Hollywood movie that is being filmed in Charleston with Hank cast as the male lead. Ella and Hank try to act cool while on the set, but their old feelings are returning when they are off the set. It doesn’t help when leading-lady Samantha Drake tries to play cupid, reuniting the former couple. Hank realizes that he never forgot Ella, nor stopped loving her. He now wonders if he can convince her that after all this time, she’s the only one he wants to be with in real life.
Ms. Kramer wrote a delightful story; filled with sexual chemistry, fun dialogue, and endearing characters. I definitely recommend this book to other readers and look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
SECOND CHANCE AT TWO LOVE LANE by Kieran Kramer. A “Two Love Lane” series, which can be read as a stand alone. Takes readers on a journey to a a small town, set in lowcountry Charleston, South Carolina, and “Two Love Love” matchmaking company.
This is the story of Ella Mancini, a matchmaker and aspiring actress. Hank, her ex-boyfriend, who is back in Charleston cast as the male lead, in a movie where Ella is also cast.
A sassy, delicious, Southern small town Contemporary Rom-Com. With humor, heart, and plenty of heat, and second chances, readers will be swept away in this entertaining romance. Ms. Kramer, has delivered an entertaining romance with exciting and lovable characters and a strong and interesting storyline. Well written and well crafted.
“I voluntarily received a complimentary copy, however, these are my honest opinions. I was in no way required nor compensated to write a review.”
Rating: 4
Heat rating: Mild
Reviewer: AprilR
Second chances in life, and love, are rare. When they come around, one should grab a hold of them with both hands and hold on for dear life. Such is the case with Ella and Hank in Kieran Kramer’s latest Second Chance at Two Love Lane. I’ve loved this series from the beginning Kramer’s distinctive lowcountry writing style keeps me turning pages as fast as I can. Visits to Two Love Lane are to be treasured, because I never want them to end.
Ella gets a second chance with Hank, but miscommunication still stands in their way.
When Hank reappears in Ella’s life, she’s convinced too many years have passed for anything to come of it, but her heart just won’t let her give up so easily. Hank, too, wants to rekindle things with Ella, but these two just can’t seem to get on the same page. I enjoyed the meddling, quirky small-town atmosphere, but the pacing was a bit stunted by too much navel-gazing and not enough personal interaction.
The writing is sweet and captivating and the HEA is never truly in doubt, making for a light romance that hits all the required notes. We do come to care about these characters and their heartwarming reunion was very satisfying. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Kieran Kramer is a masterful storyteller who does a fabulous job at portraying the angst of two long lost lovers who never got over each other. The couple meet again and fall into close quarters, reigniting a past spark. I’m a sucker for a good love story and Kramer brings it.
This was a fun, well-written book. Ella works as a matchmaker, but in her personal life she acts on a local community theater stage. She has a chance to play a role in a real movie featuring a big name actress. Her former boyfriend, Hank, comes to town as the male lead in the same movie. He wants to convince her that they can have a second chance and she’s the one he really wants to be with in real life. This book can be read as a standalone story, though it is #3 in the Two Love Lane series. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.
Second Chances at Two Love Lane is the third book in Kieran Kramer’s Two Love Lane series. Set in historic Charleston, these stories each have focused on one of the three partners in Two Love Lane Matchmakers. In this book, New York transplant and one-time aspiring actress Ella Mancini is featured.
After the death of her beloved Papa and breakup with the only love she had known, Hank Rogers, Ella needed a change. The opportunity to join her dear friends Macy and Greer at Two Love Lane comes when Ella most needs it. When Ella made the move to Charleston, the entire Mancini family relocated, too.
Now, ten years have lapsed since Hank left to make a movie and journey to becoming an A list actor. Meanwhile, Ella has become great at matchmaking for clients, but not for herself. When Hank contacts Ella asking her to help his cousin Pammy get settled in Charleston, then follows up by taking a lead role in a film shooting in Charleston, Ella is at even more of a loss to help herself.
Due to an unexpected visit from the Sicilian branch of the Mancini family, it is necessary for Ella to give up her apartment to the visitors. Pammy invites Ella to stay with her, but Ella is taken aback when she discovers that Hank is also staying with Pammy. What ensues is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
This is a wonderful series and I have enjoyed each one. I only hope there will be more stories from Two Love Lane and I do recommend this book!
A long time ago Ella Mancini passed on her chance at stardom because she thought she had another starring role coming her way, to become a blushing bride, but then the proposal was never uttered, and her supposed to be groom Hank chose Hollywood over their happily ever after. Now he has come back to town to star in a movie, she too has signed up to star in, and to say that she is nervous about the interaction after all these years is a complete understatement. For so long she has wondered what it would have been like if he had stayed, and chose her over Hollywood, and every time her heart breaks just a little bit more. She has a plan in place to keep her distance from her co-star, to keep the peace on the set, but what she doesn’t know is that Hank has a few plans of his own too…
Second Chance at Two Love Lane is an unforgettable reunion story that is not only good for the heart, but good for the soul! From the very beginning you could see that these two deserved another shot at the happily ever after they missed out on ten years previous, but there was a lot of convincing and forgiving to be had, and boy was it fun to watch them rediscover what they lost. These wonderful characters pulled me into their world in matter of a couple pages, and had me in their corner instantly, I really wanted to see them make the most of this reunion and walk away from it hand in hand. This is my second visit to the series, and I have to say this visit was even sweeter than the first, there was so much to like about this one, it had drama to keep you enthralled, heartfelt emotion to tug on the heartstrings, and humor to instigate many laughs… it’s the complete package in my book!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.
Ella has always wanting to be an actor. Her Papa took her to a restaurant every year on her birthday and told her to shoot for the stars. The last time she was getting ready to leave for college and met a busboy, Hank. He made a date four years from that day to meet back here. Both are interesting in acting and move in together. After being together for months her birthday arrives and she’s expecting an engagement ring but he tells he he got a part and is leaving. She is heartbroken and ends up in Charleston with her friends running a matchmaking business. Ella still performs in community theater and is happy. Until she finds out Hank is shooting a movie in her town. The only reason Hank took the part was to try and win Ella back but it won’t be near as easy as he hopes. She gets a small part in the movie and is living with Hank and his cousin Pammy. Ella is afraid of being hurt again but she still loves him.
Second chance at love. There is a push and pull between Ella and Hank. She pulls him close and then pushes away with her other hand. The characters were decent but Roberta and Miss Thing stole the story. Romantic. Family secrets. And each must make a decision about the future.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for Netgalley *
3.5 Stars
This is my first time reading a book by this author. Thankfully I was able to keep up with no problem. I want to go back and read the rest of this series.
Ella works at Two Love Lane as a matchmaker and is also involved in the community theater. After a break up with her boyfriend she relocated to Charleston to start over.
Now years later they reconnect and the chemistry is still there. This was a sweet romance that I enjoyed. I plan to go back and read the first two books in this series. These books can be read as a standalone.
This is the first book I have read by this author. It is well written with interesting and complex characters, set in Charlestown with its old-world charm and good manners. There is humour and a sense that life is one long adventure. However, despite the blurb on this book, I found it to be very slow moving and the connection between Hank and Ella wasn’t nearly as strong as Ella’s friendship and loyalty towards her friends and family. This is not a book to be read in one sitting, as it is more like a painting that slowly comes to life. The story is a standalone and comes to a happy conclusion. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
This is the first time that I have read anything from this author. I truly enjoyed it. It had some very heart-breaking moments. I got teary eyed at several places. I loved the dual POV format. It helps me to understand the characters so much better. I wished that Hank’s POV was reflected more. I loved him but I really didn’t understand the why of his leaving and not trying to take Ella with him or getting back with her sooner. That would have made the story even more better.
There were sections that I read and re-read over and over. I highlighted and bookmarked many places. I did thoroughly enjoy this book. I loved the entire Mancini family and the drama there. I highly recommend this story to anyone. Even though it is the third and last in the series (maybe?), you don’t have to read the prior stories. I will though as the characters sounded delightful. Highly recommend.
A beautifully written book. The author made Charleston come to life. In the midst of this is Two Love Lane, a matchmaking service. Ella Mancini was destined to be an actor but life interrupted and she ran away. Brokenhearted, her friends decided to become matchmakers. She has found a place to call home. Her big beautiful family decided to leave New York and follow her to Charleston. Everyone is thriving. That is until she received flowers after a performance from the man who broke her heart. Hank Rogers has everything you can want in life except the one person who really understood him. Now he has taken a part in a movie that will bring them into the same world. He’s looking to win her back. She is trying to come away unscathed.
Second Chance At Two Love Lane by Kieran Kramer is book Three in the Two Love Lane Series. This is the story of Ella and Hank.
Ella and Hank once were sweethearts but he left and she stayed behind to become a matchmaker and her hobby is working in local theaters.
When a film comes to town to shoot, Ella signs up to be in it. But we learn that Hand too will be starting in it along with a famous actress. Samantha Drake is a famous actress who happens to find Hank attractive too.
This was a great book for a second chance at love. Really enjoyed it and one you won’t stop reading until you are done.
This was a sweet story about second chances, I haven’t read any of the other books by this author but they definitely won me over with this one. It is a romantic journey of self discovery that I think most people can relate to on some level. It has a little bit of everything: Love, family drama, new beginnings, old adventures revisited. This is the kind of book that I love to sit on the front porch swing and get lost in.
ARC for honest review with no compensation received from Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press.
This is book 3 of the Two Love Lane series and while each book is a stand alone readings them in order gives you a feel for these lovely matchmakers!!
This book gives us a back drop to the time when Ella was young and finding her love for the theatre and therestaurant where her father always took her. The restaurant was also where she meets the love of her life and soul mate,Hank. She and Hank both have goals they want to accomplish and as life happens…things change for them and they separate. Now 10 years later Hank, a big time movie star gets a part in the film that happens to be taking place in Charleston where Ella lives. He knows that since he and Ella split his heart has always wondered if their paths would cross again and if they might have a second chance at love with the one that got away??
I have read other books by the author and thoroughly enjoyed them. This is the first book of this series for me. I enjoy the second chance trope and thought this was a really good read! I’m sure I’ll be reading the previous books in the series.
Southern charm with this second chance romance. Ella plays matchmaker at Two Love Lane but her true love is acting, when she gets the chance to audition for an upcoming movie being filmed in Charleston. Now to only find out that her ex boyfriend from ten years ago is the lead actor. Now they only have one week to reconnect. They both still love each other but can they make it work in the end?
This is the third book in the series and I was so excited to finally get Ella’s story, which I loved. II also loved the secondary characters of Pammy and Miss Thing, I think they both are a hoot!! Great dialogue between the characters that will keep you turning the pages.