Second Helpings at the Serve You Right Café

"A quirky romantic novella about a reformed ex-con and the enterprising young woman who helps him rediscover his self-worth…. Jacobs creates an enchanting world. A charming story for those who enjoy a quick, action-packed, romantic fairy tale."  —Kirkus Reviews

"The scones are warm, the tea is hot, and the characters jump off the page.  Tilia Klebenov Jacobs has served up a winner. Love this story." —Ray Daniel, award-winning author of the Tucker Mysteries

"Tilia Jacobs’ gripping novella, Second Helpings, is a witty, heartwarming story about finding redemption and love in all the right places. Vivid prose, brilliant dialogue, and elegant description add sparkle and punch to this fresh, masterfully told story. But it’s the generous spirit, nuanced insight, and riveting cast of characters that capture the reader’s heart and make Second Helpings such a brilliant, unforgettable read."—Terri Giuliano Long, author of In Leah’s Wake

"Tilia Klebenov Jacobs writes with a deep heart and sparkling wit about second chances and the power of friendship.  Her novel has it all: characters you’ll love spending time with; crackling, pitch-perfect dialog; and a plot that builds to a powerful conclusion.  A winning story from a writer to watch!" —Elisabeth Elo, author of North of Boston

"The Serve You Right cafe is a place where readers will enjoy getting a taste of unexpected romance and a dash of suspense….  The themes of the story paint a portrait of redemption and, like its title, the rare beauty of second chances." —IndieReader.com

"With Second Helpings at the Serve You Right Café, her follow-up to her wildly satisfying debut novel, Wrong Place, Wrong Time, Tilia Klebenov Jacobs proves her success is no fluke.  Jacobs, who teaches writing to prison inmates, has used her experience and insight to craft a highly entertaining yet deeply moving story about an ex-con trying to make a fresh start while facing an enemy who doesn't want him to go straight.  Second Helpings at the Serve You Right Café is thrilling and exciting, but it's also a love story and a story about community.  The café itself is as real as any location in fiction, a place so vividly rendered you can smell the coffee and taste the scones, and its patrons create a tapestry of the town of Oxbridge, in Western Massachusetts, where the novel is set.  The characterizations are rich and detailed, full of charm as well as complexity.  Emet and Mercey are star-crossed lovers the reader desperately wants to have a chance.  In order for that to happen, Emet has to free himself from the past, and the stigma and suspicion that come with it.  Second Helpings is the story of his struggle to do so, and the reader is with him every step of the way, hanging on his every decision, suffering his every setback, holding out hope that Emet—like all of us, really—will get the second chance he deserves."—Peter Ullian, award-winning and critically acclaimed author of Big Bossman and The Triumphant Return of Blackbird Flynt