Book Review: Their Second Chance Season by Ella Matthews

I’m pleased to be welcoming Ella Matthews to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book,  Their Second Chance Season.

Can a ballroom reunion… Lead to a union at the altar?

War hero James Ashworth needs a rich wife to restore his family’s fortune. Despite the scars battle left on his soul, he’ll do his duty—even if everywhere he turns, he sees the woman he loved and lost…

Meeting James catapults widow Amelia back to the past— the letters he stopped responding to while at Waterloo and her subsequent forced marriage. Yet, when she discovers her father’s role in the Ashworths’ misfortune, she’s compelled to help—even if she has no intention of falling for the man who broke her heart!

*****

It’s 1816. Amelia Washbrook, the widow of the late Lord Mortram is determined to start enjoying life. This doesn’t stop her worrying as her sister, Sienna, makes her debut season in the Ton. Things are made even more complicated when James Ashworth returns to society. Can she avoid the man who broke her heart? 

I do love myself a regency themed novel and couldn’t wait to get started on Their Second Chance Season. 

Although this is the third book in the A Season to Wed series, it can be read as a standalone and there was never any point where I felt I was missing information. This was also my introduction to Ella Matthews. 

I very easily fell into this book. The plot was compelling and had its share of drama. The description of the setting made me feel like I was in regency London. It was good to see a woman in this time making her own way in the world and having confidence in her own decisions, especially when it comes to business. 

Amelia is brilliant and I loved the chemistry between her and James. She has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders and yet she still is determined to have fun. I felt incredibly sad for her when it comes to certain beliefs she had. 

James (Ash) shows us that men also had a lot of their shoulders during this time and were also tied to societal pressures. The PTSD he suffers due to being in the war is treated with grace. 

Their Second Chance Season is a fun, warm story of two people who are determined to get in their own way. It’s a great read for fans of Bridgerton. I have become a fan of this author for sure. 

(Thank you to Mills & Boon, Netgalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.) 

About Ella Matthews –

Ella Matthews lives and works in beautiful South Wales. She writes medieval romances for Mills & Boon.

When not thinking about handsome heroes she can be found walking along the coast with her husband and their two children (probably still thinking about heroes but at least pretending to be interested in everyone else).

Say hello to Ella via Facebook, Instagram, X and Threads. 

Their Second Chance Season is book three in the A Season To Wed series and was released by Mills and Boon on 24th April 2025. Click to buy on Amazon UK, Waterstones, Amazon US and Barnes & Noble.

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.