Product guide

Second Time Around: A Novel — Kindle Edition

Kindle Edition: Second Time Around is a novel by Marcia Willett about three relatives who inherit a house from Mathilda Rainbird and must reckon with sharing it. Tessa is grieving her family, widower Will is drawn to housekeeper Isobel, and retired school matron Beatrice resists the arrangement.

At a glance

The story brings three previously unknown relatives together through an inheritance.
The synopsis follows Tessa's grief, Will's growing attraction to Isobel, and Beatrice's reluctance to live with her cousins.
Kindle listing specifies screen-reader support, enhanced typesetting, Word Wise, and Page Flip.

Price

$2.99Save 83%

Reference price: ~~$17.99~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

A three-character setup gives the novel distinct perspectives across a shared inheritance and home.
Kindle reading features include screen-reader support and Word Wise.

Technical specifications

14 specifications

Book details
Title	Second Time Around: A Novel
Author	Marcia Willett
Publisher	St. Martin's Press
Publication date	December 9, 2008
Edition	1st
Language	English
Print length	305 pages
ISBN-13	978-1429992718

Kindle edition details
File size	2.5 MB
Screen reader	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	Enabled
X-Ray	Not Enabled
Word Wise	Enabled
Page Flip	Enabled

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Readers looking for a character-focused family story involving grief, inheritance, and an unexpected shared household.
Kindle readers who want Word Wise and enhanced typesetting features.

Less suited to

Readers who prefer a plot synopsis that does not center on bereavement or family transitions.

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.3 / 5 · 2,707 ratings

5 stars55%55%
4 stars27%27%
3 stars13%13%
2 stars3%3%
1 star2%2%

Customer feedback describes the book's content, plot, and character development positively, including reports of page-turning storytelling and depth in the older characters. That emphasis may appeal to readers drawn to the novel's three distinct relatives and changing relationships. Aggregate ratings are generally favorable but include a meaningful middle-rating share, so responses are not uniformly enthusiastic.

Positive themes

Customers report enjoying the story content and plot.
Feedback praises character development, with particular appreciation for the depth of older characters.
A customer describes it as a page-turner.

Frequently asked questions

What is Second Time Around about?

Mathilda Rainbird leaves her home to three relatives who did not know one another. The story follows their adjustment to the inheritance and their changing relationships.

Who are the main characters?

The synopsis identifies Tessa, a young woman grieving her family, Will, a widower drawn to housekeeper Isobel, and Beatrice, a retired prep-school matron who objects to living with her cousins.

What Kindle reading features are listed?

The listing says screen readers are supported and enhanced typesetting, Word Wise, and Page Flip are enabled. X-Ray is not enabled.

How long is the book?

The listing gives a print length of 305 pages. It also lists the Kindle file size as 2.5 MB.