The Second First Chance - by Mona Shroff (Paperback)

About the Book

"Riya Desai and Dhillon Vora grew up together. They were playmates, best friends and as teenagers almost something more. Until a devastating house fire ripped them apart, claiming the life of Dhillon's father and Riya's big brother, Samir. Riya and Dhillon have barely spoken since that terrible night, but they both made big decisions based on that fire. Dhillon became a veterinarian. Riya became a firefighter. When a chance encounter with a rescue dog throws Riya and Dhillon together again, he's furious at her career choice"--

Book Synopsis

"Striking a perfect balance between drama and romance, this is sure to please."--Publishers Weekly

The Second First Chance is a big, wonderful, messy love story about family, heartbreak, strength and courage. It shows us that sometimes what we want is what we least expect, and that everything we need is often right in front of us.

Strength comes in many different forms.

Riya Desai and Dhillon Vora grew up together. Sharing secrets, hiding in their tree house, they were playmates, best friends and later--as teenagers--almost something more. Until the devastating house fire that ripped them apart, claiming the life of Dhillon's father and Riya's big brother, Samir. Riya and Dhillon have barely spoken since that terrible night, but they both made big decisions based on that fire.

Riya has chosen to fight fire with everything she's got, but it's not easy. As the only female firefighter and one of the only people of color at her fire hall, she has to prove herself over and over. Plus, she's hidden her career from her family.

Dhillon wanted to heal things, so he became a veterinarian. When a chance encounter with a rescue dog throws Riya and Dhillon together again, he's furious at her career choice. After what happened to them, how can she run into fires on purpose? For Riya, Dhillon's anger is unacceptable: How can he not see that she's protecting others from the very losses they both experienced?

Review Quotes

"Shroff tenderly conveys the complexities of familial relationships, the lingering effects of trauma, and the thorny road to healing, without ever letting things get too heavy...Striking a perfect balance between drama and romance, this is sure to please."--Publishers Weekly on The Second First Chance

"Mona Shroff does it again, with a beautifully engrossing tale of family, forgiveness, and finding the courage to follow your dreams."--Tracey Livesay, author of Like Lovers Do on The Second First Chance

"A sweet romance with a ton of heart...Riya is a fierce, intelligent heroine who knows what she wants and goes after it, and Dhillon is protective, caring, and incredibly sexy. Plus adorable puppies, meddling but ultimately loving family members, realistic cultural details, and a touch of angst. This book kept me turning pages until the heartwarming end. I loved it!"--Farah Heron, author of Accidentally Engaged on The Second First Chance

"Shroff's latest powerfully poignant love story not only delivers plenty of relatable messy family drama and a heartfelt exploration of the bond that unites humans and dogs, it also thoughtfully grapples with the ongoing misogynistic challenges many women still face in the workplace."--Booklist on The Second First Chance

"Shroff is a writer to watch."--Publishers Weekly

"The best storytellers know how to keep the tension in the story threads taut as they weave the strands together, by turns compelling, by turns beckoning. Mona Shroff is one such storyteller and Then There Was You is a fascinating story."--Frolic on Then There Was You

"A sweet, angsty romance with a second chance for two people struggling to overcome the harsh mistakes of their past." --Sonali Dev, author of Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors, on Then, Now, Always

"Mona Shroff weaves a sweet and heartwarming romance of forgiveness and second chances, and the lies we tell in the name of love. Sam and Maya are utterly unforgettable."--Falguni Kothari, author of The Object of Your Affections, on Then, Now, Always

"This was the kind of story that lives and breathes with you...the kind where the characters stick with you long after you're done."--Shaila Patel, author of Soulmated, on Then, Now, Always