STS - 09.13.2025.png
STS - 09.13.2025.png

Second Time's Sweeter: A Short Story (Ebook)

$1.00

Melissa Mastro

A recipe contest brings two finalists to a chocolate factory in Belgium where they face off—and find love—in this heartwarming and hopeful story about second chances.

Ophelia Watson is having a hard time, so when she sees a news article about a recipe competition that offers a grand prize of $25,000 and a trip to Europe, she immediately jumps at the opportunity.

Tate Ripley is struggling, too, and with a nudge from his best friend, he begrudgingly submits a recipe to an annual competition in honor of International Chocolate Day. He isn’t expecting much; it’s just a silly recipe contest, after all. But, to his surprise, it becomes so much more.

Ophelia and Tate meet in Brussels, Belgium, to see who will be crowned champion. Only one can take home the grand prize, but they might both leave winners.

Chocolate may not be the answer to all of life’s problems, but it can definitely make things sweeter, and sometimes, it can even be the catalyst for a second chance at love.

Melissa Mastro

A recipe contest brings two finalists to a chocolate factory in Belgium where they face off—and find love—in this heartwarming and hopeful story about second chances.

Ophelia Watson is having a hard time, so when she sees a news article about a recipe competition that offers a grand prize of $25,000 and a trip to Europe, she immediately jumps at the opportunity.

Tate Ripley is struggling, too, and with a nudge from his best friend, he begrudgingly submits a recipe to an annual competition in honor of International Chocolate Day. He isn’t expecting much; it’s just a silly recipe contest, after all. But, to his surprise, it becomes so much more.

Ophelia and Tate meet in Brussels, Belgium, to see who will be crowned champion. Only one can take home the grand prize, but they might both leave winners.

Chocolate may not be the answer to all of life’s problems, but it can definitely make things sweeter, and sometimes, it can even be the catalyst for a second chance at love.

This story first appeared in Recipes for Romance: A Sweet Valentine’s Day Anthology, released in January 2025 by And You Press. This ebook contains small edits from the author; this version is no longer centered around Valentine’s Day.

This title is currently enrolled in Kindle Select/Kindle Unlimited.
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Reviews

“This was such a sweet story! I adored it in so many ways. I had always loved short stories. Even though they are brief, they can still capture your heart. That’s the feeling I got while reading Second Time’s Sweeter.”

“This short story was everything—sweet, emotional, and so, so amazing.”

“Mastro tackles big feelings and captures them in this sweet short story that can be read in one sitting. The reader rides an emotional rollercoaster, and you find yourself rooting for love the entire time.”

Second Time’s Sweeter: A Short Story
Melissa Mastro

Attic Ebooks

Release Date: September 13, 2025