Second Dance

A Small Town Beach Romance (The Parent App, Book 1)

By: Tess Thompson

Narrated by: Eleanor Caudill, Robert Hatchet

She never forgot her first love. Her daughter just found him on a dating app.

One summer in New York City, Gillian Horton met Alex Garcia—the boy who made her laugh, dream, and fall head over heels. Then tragedy struck. Gillian returned home to raise her infant niece, and Alex went back to MIT. Their love story ended in silence.

Fourteen years later, Gillian has built a life in Willet Cove. Grace, the little girl she raised, is now a teenager who longs for a father. What Gillian doesn’t know is that Grace and her friends have secretly put her profile on a dating app. And the first match to appear nearly stops Grace’s heart—Alex Garcia, widowed billionaire and single father of two.

Seeing Alex again shakes Gillian to her core. His teenagers raise painful questions about whether he had a family the summer he loved her. But as Grace soon discovers, the truth is more complicated—and maybe more hopeful—than her mother believes.

Reuniting first love is never simple. With trust to rebuild, families to blend, and grief still tender, Gillian and Alex must find the courage to risk their hearts again. Because some dances are worth a second chance.

©2025 Tess Thompson (P)2026 Blue Nose Publishing

Fun & Charming

I have listened to a bunch of dark romance lately, so this small-town, second-chance romance was a nice breathe of fresh air, even though it packed an emotional punch too.

A fun and charming setup for a new small-town series. Five best friends getting secretly signed up for a dating app by their kids? Immediately chaotic, immediately entertaining, and I was hooked right away. Gillian and Alex's reconnection pulled me right in. There’s just something about a first-love-meets-second-chance story that hits every time.

Gillian, who gave up her dreams to raise her niece, and Alex, a widowed dad still navigating grief, both come into this story carrying a lot of history and heart. Their connection feels natural and familiar. You can feel the “what could have been” woven into every interaction, and watching them explore what could still be was really sweet.

I appreciated that the story didn’t ignore the messy parts of blending lives, grief, and moving forward. It made everything feel more grounded, even when I wanted to stay in the lighter, swoony moments.

The dual narration by Eleanor Caudill and Robert Hatchet brought so much life to these characters. They both did a great job capturing the emotional weight of the story. The hesitation, the longing, the quiet hope underneath it all. Great job guys!

Now I can't wait to see what the other friends get up to.