One Old, One New features two books – one old, one new, which are connected in some way. Today I am featuring two books by Lindsay Hameroff.
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on July 7, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
A sparkling romance between an ex-actress and her contractor, reminding us that it’s never too late to rewrite our destiny.
Semi-retired actress Marissa Morgan has played many parts in her life. But these days, her primary role is mother of two. Since hitting pause on her career, she’s worked hard to give her kids a normal childhood and shield them from the spotlight. So when her ex-husband announces his high-profile engagement and a media storm ensues, Marissa and her kids flee Los Angeles for a summer at her recently inherited Poconos lake house.
The long-vacant house needs major TLC, so Marissa hires a home renovation company to do repairs. But when the project hits a snag and Marissa finds herself sharing space with the crew, including Jesse, the handsome (and vaguely familiar) foreman, her plans for a drama-free summer hit choppy water.
Jesse doesn’t expect Marissa to remember him; they were just kids when they last played together at the lake. But he’s never forgotten her; he’s spent the last two decades quietly following her career, even as his own dreams fell apart. And now that she’s stumbled back into his sleepy hometown, Jesse’s predictable life has gotten a lot more complicated.
As the summer days pass, Marissa finds herself centering her own needs for the first time in years—and that includes giving into her mounting attraction to Jesse. Soon, she finds herself wondering if their fling could become something more.
After an unexpected career opportunity falls into Marissa's lap, it feels like the stars have finally aligned. But when new complications arise, the pair wonder how they’ll fit into each other’s future. Can Marissa and Jesse chart a new course together, or is it too late to rewrite the script for a happily ever after?
Trying to escape all the fanfare surrounding her ex's engagement, Marissa returns to a place she loved as a kid - her grandmother's lake house. There, Marissa finds peace and love while rebuilding herself and making plans for her future.
It was great to be back in the Poconos! Being from the tri-state area, I frequented this part of Pennsylvania and have many fond memories. I loved that this was a place that brought comfort to Marissa.
She had made it as a child actor, and her star was on the rise following a successful super hero movie franchise. She took a step away from the limelight to raise her children and finally put an end to her marriage. Now, she found herself wanting more. This was a big struggle for Marissa. She loved being a mother, but also wanted to earn her own way again. As a mom, I could relate to this, but I also thought Marissa deserved to have something for herself. She spent too many years catering to her ex, and now, it her turn to do what made her happy.
Being back at the lake house was fantastic for Marissa. She needed that space from LA to regroup and make some big decisions. She also needed the connections she found. She had lucked out with the contractors she hired as they became quite a source of friendship and support for her. The cutest part was that the foreman Jesse was someone from her childhood. He did a LOT of growing up in the past two decades, but he held tight to his memories of Marissa. It was very sweet and made me root even harder for them.
Overall, this was a fun, and heartwarming story. I loved seeing Marissa rebuild her life and wanted her to have it all - motherhood, career, and love.
*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on February 18, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
A glittering, laugh-out-loud second chance romance that reminds us true love is sometimes the one thing you never planned on.
Ali Rubin has a reputation for spontaneity. Like that time she made a drunken bet in London that led to matching tattoos with a stranger. Her joie de vivre is one of her best qualities; she lives every day to the fullest and follows her dreams wherever they take her. And now, they’re taking her from her career as a chef in New York City back home to Baltimore, where she’s interning as a wedding planner.
Despite the occasional fantasy about her British tattoo twin, Ali never expected to see Graham again. So no one is more surprised than she is when he turns up in Baltimore, ordering a latte at her favorite cafe. When they reconnect during an enchanting evening together, Ali can’t help but wonder if Graham might be someone special.
At the same time, she's desperate to succeed in her new career and prove that she isn’t the family flake. When she gets a job planning a high profile wedding at a historic hotel, it seems like things are finally falling into place. That is, until Graham turns out to be the groom.
Graham’s family owns the once-grand, now struggling Black-Eyed Susan, and he’s returned to Baltimore to help his grandmother get it back on its feet. He’s certain that hosting a wedding at the hotel is just the publicity boost it needs. Ali’s boss agrees, and promises Ali a full-time gig if the affair goes off without a hitch. Unfortunately, Ali and Graham can't seem to ignore their rekindled chemistry, especially when it’s revealed that Graham and his fiancée are planning a marriage of convenience. Still, staying away from each other is the best thing they can do, since giving in to their growing feelings might cost them everything.
Because when it comes to love, all bets are off.
Ali met and spent one amazing night with Graham during her year abroad. She returned home with a hideous tattoo, a great story, and some amazing memories. Fast forward twelve years, and Ali finds herself face-to-face with the man she thought she would never see again. Is it fate? Is this the universe telling her something? Maybe, the only problem is that Ali was hired to plan Graham's wedding.
I wish everyone could hear me rooting for this couple because I adored them. When they first reunited, I was absolutely giddy, but then the bomb was dropped. Graham was the groom. I had no idea how the author was going to justify this. There were subtle clues and a reasonable explanation, so I allowed myself to keep shipping these two.
Ali and Graham made quite the dynamic duo. I loved their banter and chemistry, and they were both so sharp and witty, I couldn't get enough of them. They made me laugh so much as I continued to hope the bride would run away.
Graham was great, but Ali was the one who experienced the most growth. She was returning home after leaving her chef position in New York. She was not unaccustomed to starting over, but she was determined to make this new career a success. She wanted to prove to everyone, including herself, that she could do it. Ali figured out a lot of things about herself during this whole experience, and it was lovely the way Graham supported her along the way.
I had a rollicking good time with Ali and Graham. It was complicated for sure, but I was thrilled with the way it all worked out in the end.
Let us know in the comments!
No comments:
Post a Comment