Second Dance by Tess Thompson ~ 5⭐️

Genre: Later in Life Romance Release
Date: November 20, 2025

REVIEW:

Second Dance by Tess Thompson was almost a fairy tale. I loved every minute I spent with this book. If you remember, I read Second Act, which is a prequel to The Parent App Series. I was so excited when I finished that book, I immediately knew I wanted to read the remainder of the series.

When the Second Dance hit my inbox, I couldn’t wait to crack it open and get reading. The series is about 5 women who all had children starting their first day of school. They met at a coffee gathering for moms who were leaving their kids at school for the first time. They became like family over the years. The kids are now in high school and decide their moms need a man in their lives when they leave for college so they put their moms profile on a dating app. Each book is a different mom’s experience at finding forever love. 

The Second Dance is about Gillian Horton who is reunited with her first true love Alex Garcia. These two characters were so warm and loving they made my heart sing. Alex is a widow and Gillian has never been married. Gillian is so understanding of young people and is patient and kind. Just the kind of parents you want to see today.

I’ve found myself leaning more toward romance lately. I think the main reason is it is a kinder and gentler world than the one we are living in right now. I think I need that escape from all the violent and horrible crimes that are happening right now. I find myself crying during the news at night and these books bring such joy into my life.

If you are like me and looking for books that are uplifting and make you forget the horror that is going on around you, then I highly recommend The Parent App Series. I suspect these books will be somewhat standalones but, we are early in the series so read the prequel first and then jump right in. I think the next book is coming out fairly soon and you will be ready for it. They definitely belong on your nightstand to bring you sweet dreams. Until next time…Happy Reading!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

SYNOPSIS:

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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tess Thompson is the USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author of contemporary and historical Romantic Women’s Fiction with over 50 published titles. Her books are emotional and heartwarming with themes of second chances, redemption and the power love has to change lives and create community.

She lives in the Pacific Northwest in a house on a small lake with her husband and kitties. Her four children are now young adults exploring their own paths and adventures, leaving an empty nest and a lot more time to write. She and her husband enjoy a quiet life, obsessed with birds and the other wildlife on their property, which makes them officially old. On any given day their yard could be visited by deer, bears, coyotes and squirrels.

Most days, she can be found curled up in her favorite chair reading or in her office writing while keeping an eye out for hummingbirds in the feeder outside of her office.

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