5 Romantic Second-Chance Love Stories

As Good as New, by Jennifer Dawson
This modern-day story features a heroine who is kicking some serious booty in the world of business. Penelope Watkins has a great career, a solid boss, and good friends. Still, she never could get Evan Donovan out of her mind. Not only were they intimate as teenagers (and never told anyone about it), but she’s seen the former professional football player quite a bit over the years thanks to the friends they have in common. (In fact, she’s so well-liked by everyone that even his own family is more concerned about her not getting hurt.) Dawson does a terrific job of really setting up their relationship and putting it into context. It’s easy to see why these two get under each other’s skin, and it makes you truly wonder if they’ll be able to put the past behind them and move forward.

Not Quite a Wife, by Mary Jo Putney
Laurel Herbert married James, Lord Kirkland when she was 18 years old after what was pretty much a love-at-first-sight encounter. The two were totally on the road to wedded bliss when she saw her husband, who was unbeknownst to her a spy, commit a violent act. (Not against her, though!) It was quite shocking, to say the least, so the two separated. He stumbles into her life again a 10-year estrangement, and the love is still there. What’s also great about this story is that the two protagonists are nice people. She runs a home for abused women and children. He is supportive of her and admires her in every way. Readers will definitely want to cheer on these two as they work through their issues and emotions.

Come Love a Stranger, by Kathleen Woodiwiss
Romance readers who love a good amnesia storyline will enjoy this historical romance about a man who rescues a woman who looks exactly like his late wife. Ashton Wingate, who is by far one of Woodiwiss’ more tender heroes, saves a woman who has just fallen off of her horse. She looks exactly like his Lierin, who he married three years earlier after a brief courtship. They were barely married when she was presumed drowned after a boating attack. Ashton takes her lookalike to his plantation home, and when she wakes up she has no memory of who she was. He is positive she is his wife. She is not so sure, but she can’t deny how nice it feels to be around him.

Where She Went, by Gayle Forman
Readers (especially YA fans) will love the sequel to If I Stay. Set three years later, the story continues the story of Adam and Mia, the latter who lost her family in a car crash. The sequel is told from Adam’s point of view and takes place over the course of one night. Adam is now an international rock star, and he’s going through some personal and professional turmoil. He and Mia, now an up-and-coming classical musician, reconnect in New York City after he catches a performance of hers. They’ve each changed and developed and matured in their own ways, but their feelings for each other are still there. It’s really quite beautiful to read about these two young people, who had such deep feelings for each other at an even younger age, learn about each other after they’ve had some time apart.

Caretti’s Forced Bride, by Jennie Lucas
Paolo Caretti and Princess Isabelle haven’t spoken to each other in ten years, since they were young adults who were passionately in love with each other. Circumstances forced them apart, though. She was a princess and he was a lowly mechanic. A decade after their breakup, she goes to him seeking his help because her nephew has been kidnapped. He knows people from shady places who can provide the kind of help she needs in this particular situation. Oh, and he is now the super duper rich head of a luxury car empire. He agrees to help her, but on the condition that they sleep together. Sounds dark, but he’s always loved her and now he is very intent on making sure he never loses her again.
What are your favorite stories of second chance love?