This is such a sweet story, and with a perfect title too. All the conflicts are internal, which are the worst ones sometimes, and the way the guys change is just... Well, it's a really sweet story, for friends and family as well as for Paul and El and that silly dog. I'm still smiling. ( )

Second Hand
Tucker Springs, Book 2

I Picked Up This Book Because: No idea. It was on my selves so I picked it up.

Media Type: Print
Source: Owned
Dates Read: 6/2/2022 - 9/30/2022
Stars: DNF - no rating

The Story:

I’m not sure what it is but I just haven’t been motivated to pick this book up. With that said I am declaring this a DNF. ( )

Second Hand is book two in the Tucker Springs series. It’s the story of Paul Hannon, a veterinary secretary, and El Rozal, a pawnshop owner. This story was told in alternating viewpoints but in an unusual way. Paul’s pov was told in first person and El’s was told in third person. More of this later inside the spoiler cut.



This is the story of Paul, his belief that he’s always second best. He’s also holding onto his belief that he’s straight and wants his ex-girlfriend back. Paul is a very clueless guy with a big inferiority complex. I couldn’t quite figure out why he felt so inferior because he admits that he has no reason for it, so I wasn’t all that convinced about him as a character. El has decided that relationships aren’t meant for him that is, until he meets Paul. This is also the story of people not seeing what’s right in front of their eyes and what they have or who wants them. It’s also about letting go of the old to let in the new.

As I mentioned at the beginning, I didn’t like the switching from first person pov to third, even though it probably gave us a little more insight into Paul’s personality when seen through El’s third person pov. The first to third and back again pov’s made the reading jolting for me. I couldn’t settle into a nice smooth rhythm for the story and it made the reading herky-jerky. Even though I don’t like first person, I think that first person was probably written slightly better than third person. From El’s pov the writing felt distant and detached. I couldn’t connect with El’s feelings. It wasn’t until about the last twenty pages of the story that I felt like the story was finally starting to draw me in. So pretty much the different pov styles messed up the story for me, but even if it was only in one style, the characters couldn’t draw me in to empathize with them.

The writing felt clipped. It was like the authors wanted to get their ideas into quick short sentences then onto the next idea as fast as possible. This also kept me from getting drawn into the story because it was too abrupt.

There were a lot of “rolled” eyes. It’s a pet peeve of mine. There has got to be other ways an author can convey the emotion they wish to convey without the constant rolling of eyes. I can expect it in a children’s story, or possibly a YA story with preteens and teenagers, but not an adult M/M story.

Second Hand was an OK read if you want to pass the time. I think the best part of the book was the dog Mojo. If I read future stories by these co-authors, I’ll have to make sure the stories are not written with different povs, because that was annoying. I can only give this book 3 Stars.


( )

This was such a cute story! I love these authors and this book just reinforces why..

Even though it's book two of the series, this one could easily be read as a stand alone. But I'll admit after reading this one, I definitely want to read the first one again.

Paul is an extremely sweet, slighty (okay, maybe more than slightly) clueless guy, who goes through life seemingly always chasing what is just out of reach. Al, come across as a tough guy, but has a very soft heart that he tries to hide. Paul also is straight...or so he thinks.

The story is a lovely build-up of their relationship and some of the hurdles they need to jump to find happiness. And I would love to read more about them in the future. ( )

AWESOME! Separately, Heidi Cullinan and Marie Sexton are great authors. Together, they were amazing! I liked this continuation of the Tucker Springs world. They did a great job enhancing and continuing with the setting that L.A. Witt described in [b:Where Nerves End|14061034|Where Nerves End (Tucker Springs, #1)|L.A. Witt|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337538048s/14061034.jpg|19698182]. Poor Paul had such a PITA for an ex and he was so stuck on her, mainly because it was what he knew and he had low self esteem. Where Paul was adorable, El was so damn sexy. He ended up having a soft spot for Paul that he would never admit was a crush. When they finally got together, I was so glad for them. I loved Paul's mom, too!
I had read book 3 back before it was expanded (when it was still a short story), so I found myself chuckling at El and Denver in the laundromat talking about how you never just find love in a laundromat. :-) Looking forward to the next book! ( )