This Time Around is the second book in the Great Missenden Ever After Series of contemporary romances set in an English village. While this can easily be read as a stand-alone story, I do recommend reading the first book called Between the Lines as an introduction to the community and many of its characters.

Maggie is the landlady of The Roaring Stag, a pub at the heart of the story. Money is tight, but she just about manages. Childhood friend Fergus is a reliable employee, quietly fixing broken items and taking on the heavy work. Fergus returned to the village after a rugby injury put paid to his playing career; he’s a quiet man who also coaches the local youth rugby team.

Maggie and Fergus spend a lot of time dancing around each other in this ‘will they, won’t they’ tantalising romantic storyline. Add in the pressure of hosting a family wedding in the pub at short notice, a missing rooster and a riot of colourful characters and there is much to enjoy from this tale.

I particularly liked Maggie’s terrific no-nonsense command of her bar and the back-and-forth banter with the patrons. Both Maggie and Fergus were very endearing people to spend a few pleasurable reading hours with. This was a good second story and a charming edition to the series.