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Second Winter

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Second Winter

By: Sophia Soames
Narrated by: Jaxon Jensen
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About this listen

Ten years ago, Ned Anderson made the biggest mistake of his life.

Now he’s been invited to go back to Sweden for his exchange-year high school reunion. It’s a chance to reunite with all the people he once considered friends, and the invite promises a charcuterie board, open bar, all that…crap.

The biggest mistake of his life was leaving, and if he went back…Does he even want to?

Teddy Backman has become exactly what everyone expected of him. He runs his farm the way his father once did. Gets up in the morning and gets things done. Tries to remember what’s next. Wonders why he feels so violently lonely when he’s surrounded by so many good things. The sun. The sky. The earth. The trees. All the trees.

He’s already deleted that email—the one inviting him to someone’s idea of a joke. There’s no one from back then he’s interested in talking to, let alone drinking or, God forbid, dancing with.

A high school reunion is Teddy’s idea of a nightmare, and he probably shouldn’t let anyone drag him along. He’ll only regret it.

But what’s the point of regret in the grander scale of things? It’s not like Ned Anderson’s going to turn up, is it? The guy who fled straight back to Arizona without even a last longing glance.

Second Winter is the story of something that was always there. A second chance at happiness in the last place you’d expect to find it. This book is a standalone contemporary M/M romance with a HEA, dealing with the death of a loved one and the grief that follows. Please listen with care if these topics could affect you.

©2024 Sophia Soames (P)2025 Sophia Soames
Contemporary Romance
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Listener received this title free

I love Sophia Soames’ writing, the detail, the thought, the humour is always there and this was still evident with the two Edwards - Teddy and Ned. I found the loss of Teddy’s dad and the letters really emotional and the Swedish cleaning quite fascinating yet still so very sad.

I liked the narration - Jaxon Jensen is new to me but their general narration style is easy enough to listen to.

Cute and yet quite emotional

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Listener received this title free

This is one of those stories one reads that quietly captures one's attention, before you know it you're done with a satisfied smile. No big angst or drama, just 2 guys reconnecting after a brief encounter 10 years prior.
Ned finished high school as an exchange student, in Sweden where he meets (and falls for) Teddy. Sadly Ned returns to the US and loses touch with Teddy.
Fast forward 10 years: Ned is unsatisfied with his life, goes back for the high school reunion in Sweden and reunites with Teddy, who has been dealing with an ailing father.
Not all is plain sailing, the men have their baggage, grief and some insecurities to deal with, then there is some unrequited feelings for Teddy (by a good friend) that he has to deal with.
I felt the narrator did a good job, I knew who was talking. He conveyed the atmosphere of the story and the ups and downs of the MCs quite well.
Great for those who love second chance romances and/or stories with feeling.

Quiet, emotional story

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Listener received this title free

The first time I've heard this narrator, and I hope to hear a lot more, it was particularly well done.
Story - 4.25 stars. This didn't feel the same as the other books I have read by this author, but it was still really good. The grief Teddy struggled with was sympathetically written, and the shock of the Swedish death clean was understandably traumatising. It was really sweet that Ned figured himself out in time to help Teddy, especially as they had barely connected during school. The scenery and other characters were lovely.

excellent

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Listener received this title free

A lovely story set in Norway, which follows the lives of two men who are still figuring out how to live their lives for themselves.

Brought back together by a high school reunion, Teddy and Ned find themselves and happiness.

The story is tender and full of complicated emotions, but it has a quiet warmth and a beautiful payoff.

The audiobook is narrated by Jaxon Jensen, who is new to me. He has a lovely voice and delivered a compelling performance. I did struggle a bit to differentiate between the two characters, but otherwise, it was a wonderful listen, and I would enjoy hearing more from him.

beautiful

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Listener received this title free

A heartwarming second-chance-at-love romance with touching hurt/comfort moments woven in. The story is set against a backdrop of gorgeous Swedish scenery to match the gorgeous, troubled Swedish MCs. At the start of the story Teddy and Ned are both unhappy and struggling. Life seems bleak, but love and hope find a way. After seeing each other again for the first time in years at their high school reunion, Ned takes a big risk and moves back to Sweden from the US. He’s drawn there by happy memories, an aunt and a life he misses, a place he felt he truly belonged, and a certain special someone… Teddy has lost his father and lives alone, with his cats, and luckily he has a good friend in Flora. There’s a certain sense of isolation and feeling of being stuck where they are, for both Teddy and Flora, a certain predestination in their life that they can’t shake and struggle with at times. Yet through it all their friendship endures, even if with Ned’s arrival, things change and life is no longer stagnant. Teddy and Ned are lovely together, messy and genuine. Ned can be a bit forward and pushy, but he brings joy and warmth to Teddy’s life, which was really great to read. The secondary characters, including Teddy’s dad reaching out from the past through letters, are very well written. I especially liked Ned’s down-to-earth, hardworking aunt.
Loved the audiobook version of this incredible story. The narrator did an amazing job bringing the characters to life.

Wonderfully narrated, beautiful story!

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