Seven years ago, Max Varela was working on perfecting his design of protective body armor. Jake, a military man, worked with Max, and he and his squad tested the armor. During the process, Jake befriended Max, and often invited him home for dinner. The two men had great respect for each other and became friends, unfortunately, Max found himself becoming deeply attracted to Emily, Jake's wife. Although it was painful, when their work together was done, Max moved his business to New York, and severed all contact with Jake and Emily. In the intervening years, Max, has become extremely wealthy and successful. He's in the process of selling his company, moving to Chicago, and returning to his first love - research and inventing. To say the least, he is shocked when Emily Wade bursts into his office.

In the three years since her husband was killed while on a mission, Emily has tried her best to build a good life for her daughter, Izzy. She was lucky enough to inherit a house in New York, and has become director for a center in South Harlem which runs children's programs. An opportunity has come up for her to acquire an adjacent property for the center, which would allow them to expand to some wonderful new activities. Unfortunately, all of her funding options have failed, and she's down to the deadline. She knows of Max's success, and in desperation, Emily rushes past his assistant, and barges in to make a plea for her cause, based on their long ago friendship.

All of the old feelings come rushing back to Max as he invites Emily to sit and describe her situation. He had not heard of Jake's death, and feels bad about never even acknowledging it. He makes no promises to Emily, other than agreeing to look into the possibility of helping her. Yet, he rearranges his already full schedule in order to tour the center. Though his intention was helping Emily personally, he's also impressed with what she's accomplished. His very generous support overwhelms Emily, and she impulsively invites him to dinner, which then leads to an official first date.

Emily had a happy marriage, and she deeply grieved for her husband. Now she's ready to begin living again. Years ago, she was fond of Max, though she never saw him as more than a friend, but now, things are different. Max is such an endearing character. He has acquired poise, confidence, and polish, but none of the arrogance you might expect to find in a billionaire CEO. He treats Emily and her daughter with kindness and respect, and he's overly generous with the center. It also turns out that Max and Emily have an intensely hot chemistry together. Their affair is progressing beautifully, until Max mentions his pending company sale and his move to Chicago. Though Max has no intention of ending their relationship, (in fact, he's committed to commuting back to New York every weekend) Emily refuses to even consider this, and ends things.

SECOND TO NONE is a short, but very powerful and emotional novella. I love the person that Max was, and is now. He always acted honorably, he's generous, he's kind, and his vulnerability for someone in such a powerful position is very touching. I admire most of Emily's traits - her dedication to her daughter and to the center. I love that she was strong and ready to move on, yet I really hated her inflexibility in not even being willing to consider continuing her relationship with Max, though it would be a commuter relationship. There are many tender and poignant moments in this well written story, and I thoroughly enjoyed the happy resolution in SECOND TO NONE.

Second to None is the prequel introduction to the Second Glances series. This novella packs a serious story punch, so don’t let the size of the book fool you – you’re in for quite a story here.

Max and Emily’s story nicely sets up the foundation for the series and gives us a lovely, heartfelt romance as well. Once, years ago, Max fell in love with another man’s wife. Oh neither she or her husband knew that for Max is an honorable man. He cut contact with them after he finished the project they were working on, and kept his feelings to himself. Now years later Emily is a widow with a young daughter… and comes crashing into Max’s office asking for help. Maybe second chances do happen for the good guys, too.

I don’t believe it would take long for this romance to capture your attention. While Max does have a tendency to come off a bit cold at times, it’s not really surprising given his background. Where there is no coldness is his feelings for Emily and his growing affection for her daughter. Her cause is a good one, much needed and worth his help. Yet Max is making a huge move in a few weeks, just when the woman he loves has come back into his life.

Now choices have to be made. Emily cannot leave the foundation that she’s put her heart and soul into. Life and love are often not completely fair, but when the right decision is obvious you grab happiness and hold on tight.

I’m hooked on this series already and it’s only barely begun. I would definitely recommend Second to None and I cannot wait to find out what happens next.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Very sexy, pretty cute. I thought that the pacing was good and it held my interest. I liked the depth that the author gave with the kid.

Emily is a widower, but has known Max, who was good friends with her deceased husband, for many years. Emily goes to Max to ask for help with funding a project for the local community center she established. Max who hasn't seen Emily in many years because he was avoiding the feelings he developed for her, offers his assistance. The two reconnect and they try the relationship thing.

This was a good read. I have read many Nancy Herkness books and this one did not disappoint.

This is a cute, quick, friends to lovers read about finding love after loss. I enjoyed the read minus the slang which seemed unauthentic and like the author was trying a bit too hard. Although “dope” has made its way back into teenage slang, I have teenage nieces and cousins who talk about throwing shade (hating on someone) and good tea (gossip) both of which root me firmly in 2017 rather than in the 1990s when “dope” was also popular. Here the youths' slang and grammar errors seem like what non-urban, non-minority people think urban, minority teens sound like, but actually don't. Alas, the slang was a liability rather than an asset for this reader. If you don't know any better, it likely won't bother you. If you do, the stereotypical nature of it may rub you the wrong way.

I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

What’s it About? Billionaire Max Varela is a brilliant chemist but when Emily Wade storms his office asking for his help for her program he realizes just how lonely he’s been. Seven years ago he fell in love with Emily while she was happily married to his friend and in order to keep his sanity he cut off all contact with her. Now she’s a widow and in need of his help. Seeing Max again brings back the pain of losing her husband but it also brings an awareness of Max that Emily didn’t expect.


Overall reaction to the story? Second to None was my introduction to author Nancy Herkness though I’ve heard about her books from other readers. I enjoyed this novella quite a bit though I will say that the romance felt rushed and a little forced for the circumstances the characters were in. I think there was a little too much going on for such a short story that I felt a bit short changed on almost everything. That said, I am keeping in mind that this is a novella and most of them do feel rushed. That didn’t take away from the fact that I liked Herkness’ style and her characters. I’m definitely hopping on the fan train for this author.


Describe the hero in five words: Lonely. Mysterious. Kind. Intelligent. Determined.
Did you like him? Yes.
Why? Max pretty much stayed a mystery throughout the whole novella which was frustrating to me because I wanted to get to know him as a character and I wasn’t able to because Second to None is a novella. However, there were some things about him that stood out and gave me a little glimpse into who he was and I liked what there was. He was an honorable man who was caught in a difficult situation back before he became rich. I loved how he acknowledged his feelings for Emily but also knew that she was married at the time and he respected that. I liked his quiet admiration and kindness towards Emily and towards those who needed help. Max was so smart and so successful but he had the incredibly normal problem of being lonely. I found that part of him made him more reachable as a character. He wasn’t just another jerk billionaire with a god complex. He was just lonely and a little clueless.


Describe the heroine in five words: Loving. Stubborn. Clever. Selfless. Lonely.
Did you like her? Yes.
Why? Emily could have easily been boring. She had all the makings of a goody two shoes character but I liked that the author made her vulnerable and kind but also a person who would cross lines to do what was right. That’s what kept Emily from being a disappointment. I think Second to None gives readers more of an insight into who Emily is as a character than Max. A lot of the scenes focus on her and what she does for others so I felt that I got to know her better and I liked her kind but strong heart.


Let’s talk about the romance: The connection between Max and Emily was pretty intense on Max’s part, he’d loved Emily for years but Emily was happily married. Now that she’s a widow, she wasn’t used to or prepared to feel anything for Max but I liked how that was handled. The romance was rushed though. I think all the emotional baggage that Emily had and the guilt that Max mentioned feeling at one point for wanting his friend’s wife was too quickly and neatly put aside in favor of the happy ending. I think I needed a little more convincing with these two but the almost insta-love was sort of backed up with their history together. Still though, I wanted a bit more development of the romance and for them to deal with the past and Max’s guilt.


How about that supporting cast? Emily comes with quite the group of friends and her daughter Izzy. I liked them all as brief as their appearances were, they all added to the picture being painted of Emily as a woman who cared for those around her, not just her daughter.

Click It or Skip It? Click It. Second to None may have been really quick with the romance but Nancy Herkness’ style of writing is easy to follow and easy to like. I can’t wait to try a full length novel of hers.

This is the type of novella you wish was longer because it's such an enjoyable read. The hero billionaire is more of a beta than an alpha, which is a nice change of pace from the usual billionaire hero romances. Max is a chemist who is all work and no play. His social skills are lacking, but that changes when he meets the generous and very kind single mother heroine, Emily. Emily runs a non-profit afterschool facility for teens. She wants to expand programs that include using dogs to help the teens and children find self-worth and responsibility. Her funding has dried up, and to expand this new program, including a bigger property, she needs to find money. She turns to Max, who she once knew when her military husband was still alive. What she didn't know was that Max had strong feelings for her, but kept them a secret out of respect for her husband and their marriage. Now that Emily has re-entered his life, and is a widow, perhaps Max can prove to Emily he's worthy of heart even though her heart still rests with her deceased husband.

Second to None is a feel good romance. There's a cute dog and cute kids, including a Prince Charming type hero who adores the heroine. There's not much angst here other than Max trying to figure out a way to be with Emily without using his fortune to push her into a relationship with her. He's beyond smitten with Emily, and watching him court her is one reason to read this latest by Nancy Herkness.

A feel good romance that will push aside the blues. Max and Emily may just be one of my favorite romance couples of 2017!

Longing was a key element that was for Max and Emily. For Max love came at a time when he could not act on his feelings. The man who seemed to have it all together was internally falling apart. Kate is a woman with a great deal of plans. Her work helps her through loss and a sense of guilt that has haunted her every waking moment. Dealing with her emotions has never come easy, but nothing worth having ever is. Ms. Herkness is a crafty storyteller. She weaves intricate tales that have emotionally challenging themes, but can seduce the most critical of skeptics to open up their hearts and minds to her brand of temptation.

I read this book through Netgalley for an honest review. It was such a sweet story. Widow who asks for help from an old friend (who has always had the hots for her - though she never knew it) Max was such an interesting person. A chemist who got very rich, was afraid of dogs (why was a disgraceful deceit told by his parents). Emily has a daughter and runs a program in Harlem for kids and wants to enlarge it to include dogs for the kids to interact with. A lovely concept. I loved this story and the ending was perfect. I highly recommend this book and will look forward to more of her stories.

Max Varela has just sold his company and made himself a billionaire when a woman busts through the door to his office demanding to speak with him. After a moment, he realizes it is the wife of a friend from his past. He had developed feelings for her and therefore severed all contact with them. She is even more beautiful than he remembers.

Emily Wade lost her husband 2 years ago and her surrogate Aunt last year. She is raising her daughter alone. She is the director of Carver Center, an after school program for disadvantaged kids, 8 - 13, in South Harlem. She applied to Max’s Foundation for funding and was denied. In a last desperate attempt to get the funds, she decides to try to use their past association to get it pushed through.

I wasn’t a big fan of Max. He was stiff, formal and standoffish. I get that he was supposed to be a highly intelligent science geek with not the greatest social skills, but it still didn’t work for me. He used his money to buy his way into Emily’s life. I didn’t feel their connection. It all felt contrived to me.

I have read a couple of full length books by this author and enjoyed them, so I decided to try this very short story. It was disappointing. The characters needed more background and the story more developed.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

Oh Max and Emily gave me hearts in my eyes! How sweet are they? Add in Izzy and the kids and pets at the center! You get an all around feel good romance that was years in the making. And so worthwhile. Also worth mentioning, I absolutely love that this book has grown adult characters. Love, love, love it!

Emily survived the loss of her husband and then her Aunt Ruthie. She turns to Max in a desperate attempt to score funding to expand and save the center that is her pride and joy. Max distanced himself from Emily years prior because of his secret feelings for his friends wife. Now that she barges in to his office he can't get her off his mind. He has success and financial security but no one to share his life with. The perfect love story!

This story has a steady build up and a lot of back story and detail considering it's a novella. This is my first read of Nancy Herkness. I will definitely have to see what she writes next.

I like to dub Nancy Herkness 'queen of characters’ because in her novels every character counts. From heroine and hero, to their side kicks and children, to pets, farm or stray animals. Not a single character is an afterthought or underwritten but each one of them comes to life and sparkles in one way or another.

The story of “Second To None" unfolds as the blurb predicts, so there's no need to provide yet another summary. What I'd like to point out though is that the heroine Emily Wade is not your stereotype romance novel damsel in distress but a business woman in her own rights, who wants her enterprise to be successful. Bonus points for this being a non-profit one. So yes, here's to reading not only about a dashing billionaire, and smart kids and cute dogs but an interesting, full fledged woman too!

The problem with a novella is, well, its inherent shortness but since “Second To None" is the kick-off to a new series, fans of Nancy Herkness can look forward to a full length novel soonish. Maybe soon?

Holy crap not only is the cover hot but the book was just as good.
I was at first expecting a stuffy book based on what they characters did, but this exceeded my expectations. It is a book that shows if you put others first you will most certainly be rewarded. It also pulls at your heart strings. I felt I was right there in the story and the way the book was written it was beautifully put together.


** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

This was a cute, quick novella about two good people reconnecting after seven years, through the power of charity, kids and adorable dogs. Max fell in love with Emily years ago, but couldn’t do anything because she was married, while Emily has never thought of him that way. However, after three years as a widow, she now sees him in a totally new and sexy light and Max is ready to seize a chance he never thought he would get.

I liked this book. Both Emily and Max are good people. Emily is driven by her need to make things better for the kids she works with, while Max just wants to stop being a CEO and get back in the lab where he belongs. Their attraction is believable and even though Max is a little bit reserved, it was obvious how much he cares for Emily and her daughter.

However, this is really short so there isn’t much time for in-depth angst or serious conflict. I liked the idea of the center, but we only get to know one kid and one puppy, and I was sort of expecting a little more on the dog front. For a quick, easy, enjoyable read, though, this definitely hit the spot and I’ll be interested to read more from this series.

Sweet and tender short story of forbidden love and second chances told in the slightly formal writing style that Nancy Herkness is known for.
I liked it.

This was a wonderful heartwarming story. A nice easy read that makes for a perfect relaxing afternoon. Max was so sweet and it was fantastic to see him get a chance with Emily. When they first met she was married but after losing her husband in the war Emily is available and Max plans on letting her know how much he's always wanted her. They have to deal a little with guilt but if they can get past that a bright future could lie ahead. Definitely a good read I would recommend.

I really had trouble getting into the book initially and getting caught up in the emotions of the characters. The storyline was good, but it just didn’t stand out in my mind amongst other books in the genre. The blurb was great, but overall the book just fell flat for me, not to mention it was just too short for all the history between the characters.

Review by Estella for Love Romance Books Blog

I was asked by the author for an honest review.

Max Varela is a billionaire chemist. He has decided to sell his company and leave New York for good! That is until Emily Wade storms into his help in funding her program that helps disadvantage kids and shelter dogs. Seven years ago, Max had fallen in love with Emily when she was married to another man. To fight the unbidden attraction, he cut off all contact. Max has never forgotten her.

When Emily's husband died, she poured her heart and soul into the after-school care center. When seeing Max reawakens the pain of loss, but it also brings unexpected hope for the future. They start a passionate affair that seems destined for a fairy-tale ending. That is until he reveals that he's moving Chicago in a few weeks. He wants Emily and her daughter to go with him.

I love Nancy Herkness's books. This one was no exception. This book is well written and the characters are well developed. I can't wait for the next book!

This book had a satisfactory story running through it. I liked the history that the characters shared and I loved the story with the K-9 centre.
It was similar to a Mills and Boon romance with a bit of descriptive sex in the middle. It delivered more or less what I thought it would and it kept me entertained one evening.
Thanks to NetGalley, Nancy Herkness and Montlake Romance for the opportunity to read and review this novella.