The Second First Date by Marie Lark

After years of an unrequited crush and exchanged secret looks, Mitchel Finch and Danny Rojas had one weekend of sex and self-discovery at a friend’s wedding. But when the morning after came, Danny got to return to his life in Philadelphia while Mitchel was left to deal with the fallout of publicly defending Danny from his high school bullies. He wasn’t quite dragged out of the closet, but he’s clinging to the door frame with the tips of his fingers and stubbornness.

Having grown up terrorized for his sexuality, Danny can’t imagine Mitchel ever choosing to be with him--even if the nights they shared were the most intensely amazing of his life. He knows Mitchel won’t risk his life or position in their small home town. No matter what Danny hopes for, he doesn’t expect they’ll get another shot.

Now, after weeks apart, they have two nights to explore their feelings for each other without fear of discovery or consequences. Is it enough to pull Mitchel out of hiding--and to convince Danny their connection is deeper than sex?

It’s all riding on their second chance at a first date.

Book 2
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
4.5 Emotional Stars

The Second First Date picks up approximately a month after the end of The First Morning After. I would advise against reading this as a standalone, even though this isn't listed as being in a series. This novella is a continuation of The First Morning After. To me, it reads more like a serial about Mitchel and Danny, with both books spanning a few days each in the lives of the characters.

Mitchel travels to Philadelphia to visit Danny for the weekend. The next 36-hours is a journey of emotional character development, without any other bells and whistles. The sole focus is on the relationship between Mitchel and Danny, which spans nearly their entire lifetime.

As the Golden Boy, Mitchel is in the closet to his family and everyone in their town. After the events in the previous novella, Danny fears the reception Mitchel is receiving at home. I was anticipatory while reading to know what was happening back in Peach Blossom myself, but the story sticks to Philadelphia, with a few paragraphs explaining what was going on back home.

The Second First Date was an enjoyable read, and I look forward to more about Mitchel and Danny in the future, as well as reading more by this author.


Veronica – ☆☆☆
Following on from The First Morning After, Mitchel and Danny's story continues with The Second First Date. Mitchel travels to the city to spend the weekend with Danny. But Mitchel is more than a little uncomfortable in the city's gay district. He is still in the closet and struggling with his emotions and what he should do.

Danny and Mitchel want to be with each other but they are coming from very different places. There are repeated uncomfortable emotional situations and the story gives us a good amount of angst. I really liked seeing the difficulties these guys faced. I liked the realistic portrayal of their sex life. It is not perfect and the two of them learning about each other together.

As the story draws to a close, it is clear that we will see more of Danny and Mitchel and I look forward to seeing where they go from here.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
Six weeks after Danny and Mitchell’s emotional hometown reunion, Mitchel summons the courage to visit Danny in the city to see if there is any chance of a future for them together. The connection between them is strong, but with Danny justifiably wary of straight boys and Mitchel completely unsettled by Danny’s open life in his urban gayborhood, they don’t get off to the best start.

If the first story in this series focuses more on Danny coming to terms with his past, this second book focuses on Mitchel coming to terms with his sexuality and considering his future as a gay man. His options aren’t simple and he can’t simply let go of the hateful ideas he has grown up with.

As Danny observes Mitchel’s struggle, he is torn between protecting his heart and hoping for a happily ever after. I had more empathy for Mitchel in this second book, but I still wanted to protect Danny from Mitchel’s hurtful comments and reactions. I loved Danny in his own environment. The confidence he lost when he returned to his hometown is back and he is wonderful in the city.

I’m guessing this isn’t the end of the series because the author again refuses to force a happily ever after on Danny and Mitchel. After this second book, I’m heavily invested in Danny and Mitchel’s relationship but theirs is a seriously angsty, difficult story. Each of the two books only covers an interval of an emotionally charged few days in Danny and Mitchel’s lives. The result is intense but I still can’t imagine these two actually sharing life together.

I’m thoroughly surprised that this hasn’t been marketed as the second book in a series – I think readers who haven’t read The First Morning After would be completely lost. This definitely isn’t a standalone story.

Also Available in the Series

Book 1
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For reviews & more info, check out our The First Morning After post.

Marie Lark is a part-time teacher and rest-of-the-time writer. She lives in New York with her very respectable husband and tiny dog. She writes contemporary New Adult and LGBTQ romance, but loves love stories of all kinds. Romance is like kung fu—it’s in everything. Jackie Chan said that, right?

Connect with Marie

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Second First Date by Marie Lark to read and review.

The First Morning After by Marie Lark

For as long as he can remember, Danny Rojas has wanted all-star first baseman Mitchel Finch. And he could swear that in high school, Mitchel was maybe interested, too. But the baseball team made Danny’s life a living hell back then, and the moment he was able, he got out. Five years later at a friend’s wedding, Danny finally has the chance, and more importantly, the courage, to act on his years-long crush.

Mitchel Finch used to have it so good--a brilliant athlete with lots of friends, a gorgeous girlfriend, and a place of importance in his home town. All he had to do was play it straight. But when an injury ends his baseball career, and his best friend’s wedding reminds him of everything he lost, Mitchel jumps at the opportunity Danny gives him--a night to be honest with himself. A night to finally feel wanted for exactly who he is.

The trouble is, neither of their circumstances has changed by morning. Mitchel is still closeted, and Danny is still the town pariah. Can a connection, building for years and forged in one night, survive the first morning after?

Book 1
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
I love stories about returning to a hometown, and the character development in this short novel is wonderful. Danny is an incredibly complex character. Just beneath the surface of the confident, independent university graduate is a vulnerable young man still desperate for his peer’s respect and his parents’ affection. While the story only captures a few days in Danny’s life, the author manages to pull all the warring threads of Danny’s life together in a very powerful way.

The unchanging nature of Danny’s hometown is bleak and the author captures the stagnant glory days reminiscing beautifully. Former homecoming king Mitch hasn’t aged well and his closeted life is stifling. While I felt empathy for Mitch by the end of the story, I never really felt he was good enough for Danny, despite Danny’s lifetime of hero worship.

The relationship between Danny and Mitch is awkward. There were times I hated Mitch for his treatment of Danny and times I wished Danny wouldn’t forgive quite so easily. While neither man’s behaviour is heroic or inspiring, both Danny and Mitch are uncomfortably believable.

This is more of a coming of age/coming to terms new adult character study than a romance and I I’m glad the author doesn’t force an awkward happily ever after on readers. This is a well written little gem and I look forward to reading more from this author.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
Dual point of view, this story spans only a few days and gives us a glimpse into the lives of Danny and Mitchel 5 years after high school. Both men are at different stages in their lives. Danny is openly gay and has moved away from the small town he grew up in to create a life for himself. Mitchel is very much in the closest and living a fairly miserable life trying to meet his family's expectation.

We learn so much about these two in such a small space of time. They each have demons to face and their tenuous connection felt like it would snap at any minute.

The First Morning After isn't a long story but it has plenty of substance. I didn't want it to end and I wonder if the author is going to give us more of Danny and Mitchel. Part of me wants more and another part thinks this story is special and should left as a standalone. Either way, I loved The First Morning After and I have already gone in search of more work by Marie Lark.


Erica – ☆☆☆☆
4 Angsty Stars.

Marie Lark is a new-to-me author, and from word-one I was hooked. Steady pacing and a storyline that was both lusty and angsty.

The First Morning After is a sexy yet emotional novella, featuring Danny, a man coming home to small-town Pennsylvania for his best friend's wedding, sharing the groomsmen's duties with his crush since 8th grade. Mitchel is the town's golden boy, with his core group of friends still stuck in high school, unable to be the man he wishes to be.

I found the novella to pack a punch, eliciting emotions from me, particularly when it came to Danny's narration. Mitchel said and did some nasty things, but I could still empathize with him.

Sexy, real, angsty, and emotional, The First Morning After was an engrossing, entertaining read. While it did have a solid, fully-fleshed out beginning, middle, and ending, I would happily read another short novella by these same characters as a follow-up on where their relationship has developed, and I'm usually a one-and-done (pun intended) type of girl.

Recommended for MM romance fans.

Marie Lark is a part-time teacher and rest-of-the-time writer. She lives in New York with her very respectable husband and tiny dog. She writes contemporary New Adult and LGBTQ romance, but loves love stories of all kinds. Romance is like kung fu—it’s in everything. Jackie Chan said that, right?

Connect with Marie

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The First Morning After by Marie Lark to read and review.

Third Take is the Charm by Marie Lark

Not everyone gets a second chance at their own happily ever after—except maybe in the movies.

All her life, filmmaker Melody Gellar has wanted to tell the perfect love story. Recently widowed and with her thirtieth birthday looming, she decides that now more than ever she needs to remind herself what true love looks like. With a passion for erotic cinema and an eye for chemistry, she finds two male dancers with a long history together to play the lovers in her film.

Francis and Denny are electric on screen, but Melody quickly discovers she’s stumbled into an actual romance—one that neither of her stars have acknowledged and that threatens to push them apart. Worse, Melody begins to fall for them both from behind her camera. With their troubled, violent past dogging their every step, Francis and Denny need Melody to come out in front of the lens, to tell her own story with them—to make their happily ever after.

Sometimes the third take is the charm.

Buy Links

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Jacki – ☆☆☆☆
I was happily surprised by this one. It had originally grabbed my attention by the subject alone, but as I read, it was more than I'd expected it to be.

This almost felt like two storylines running parallel to one another and blending at the end. I really enjoyed that and felt like it brought more depth and made the book more well-rounded as a whole.

The characters were easy to love and full of personality. I liked seeing different sides of them as the story progressed.

Overall, this was a great read for me. I definitely judged before reading and I'm happy to say this one beat my expectations. I thought I'd think it was okay, but I think it's good. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a nice erotic read with more going on than just sex. I'll be looking into more by this author and her smooth writing style.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is a much deeper story than one would expect from the blurb. The characters and their issues got under my skin, and really made me think about issues which were not immediately evident on reading the story. Although the story is told by Melody, we get the other two on camera, so it unfolds in a rather jolted, double layer way, which ... just works. And, I have to say the heat level intensifies very, very nicely.

Rough & ready, yet somehow charming, this book worked for me. Thank you Ms. Lark!

Marie Lark is a part-time teacher and rest-of-the-time writer. She lives in New York with her very respectable husband and tiny dog. She writes contemporary New Adult and LGBTQ romance, but loves love stories of all kinds. Romance is like kung fu—it’s in everything. Jackie Chan said that, right?

Connect with Marie

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Third Take is the Charm by Marie Lark to read and review.