Tag Archives: Second Chances

Second Chances by Abbie Williams – a Review

Posted on by
8

Second Chances by Abbie Williams – a Review

 

Second ChancesAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
The past summer has been a wild ride for Joelle Gordon, in more ways than one. After discovering her husband cheating, she fled Chicago for her small-town childhood home in Landon, Minnesota. There, her family’s lakeside diner, the Shore Leave Café, remains unchanged. Yet nothing else in Landon is the same, including her family of women, her three teenaged daughters, Camille, Tish, and Ruthann, and the intense, passionate love she has found with Blythe Tilson.  Now Blythe is in trouble and Jackson is back in Landon, rethinking the divorce. Joelle must face one of the most difficult and important decisions of her life – or will the Davis family curse ruin any chances of finding love?

Review:

Second Chances is the conclusion of Summer at the Shore Leave Cafe and the second Shore Leave novel by author Abbie Williams.

This novel begins with our heroine Joelle (Jo) preparing to go to Oklahoma to support her love Blythe Tilson. He’s up on charges of leaving the state without parole approval. Long story, but he had some troubles, explained in this story, that ended with his incarnation for a brief time. He thought since he had a job in Minnesota he was okay to go…short of it is he’s not a criminal even though her ex likes to say so.

He’s sentenced to thirty days, then will be released and can come back to the Shore Leafe Café to work. But not seeing him and having only 15 minutes once a week phone call and letters, makes a month feel like forever for the two of them. And while he’s away, the ex tries to win her back.

It’s an in depth look at finding your life again, beginning to put things in perspective for Jo. There’s lots of heartache for several people, as well as happiness and love, adventure and some issues. In short, it’s a great picture of the life of this family and friends at the Shore Leave Café.

Author Abbie Williams does a marvelous job of depicting the interesting lives of everyone concerned, while still having this plot revolve around Jo’s life and decisions.

There’s plenty of what most of us like, love scenes and downright romantic and hot conversations, fun, and thrills.

There was even a hint of drama for the next novel.

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy provided by Publisher

Share

All They Ever Wanted by Tracy Solheim – Review & Giveaway

Posted on by
17

All They Ever Wanted by Tracy Solheim – Review & Giveaway

 

All They Ever Wanted Banner

 

All They Ever WantedAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

Description:
All he ever fought for…

Aspiring congressman Miles McAlister has dreamed of representing his hometown of Chances Inlet, North Carolina, since he was a boy. So when he’s asked to help run his mother’s bed and breakfast he moves home and rolls out his campaign at the same time. But political stardom isn’t a given, especially when he’s expected to compromise the very ideals he’s trying to uphold. Making matters worse is the inn’s stubborn, and distractingly beautiful cook. He’s loved and lost before, so falling for Lori Buchman is not part of his plan.

All she ever feared…

Lori just wants to do her job and be left alone until she can safely move on. The last thing she needs is to get involved with her boss’s son. Miles proves to be too sexy to ignore, however. Their heated fling elicits feelings deeper than either anticipated. But everything about Lori is a lie. She’s harboring a secret that’ll destroy Miles’s career, and when the truth gets out it’s going to shock Chances Inlet to its core, forcing Miles to make the hardest decision of his life.

 

Review:

All They Ever Wanted by Tracy Solheim is the 2nd book in her Second Chances series. In All They Ever Wanted, Miles McAlister is our hero, and we had already met him in the first book of this, as he was Gavin’s (previous hero) brother. Miles is the politician in the family, have planned since he was a child to become the President one day. Now that Miles is older, he still plans on his political career, running for congressman in his hometown in Chances Inlet, North Carolina. Miles is well respected, and has the support of the governor politically, he is also the almost perfect good guy.   He is in the middle of his campaign, when his mother gets hurt. Miles puts his campaign in the hands of his associates, while he goes home to help run his mother’s B & B.

Lori is our heroine, she works in the B & B, as the cook and baker, not to mention being Mrs. McAlister’s right hand. We know that Lori is in hiding, living in Chances Inlet for a short time, and only planning to stay until Mile’s mom is back on her feet. What or who is Lori running from? This is a mystery throughout most of the book, which answers will be found closer to the end.

Early on, Miles who rarely deviates from his overall plan, finds himself becoming very attracted to Lori. Miles had fiancée years before, who had died in an accident, and he swore he would never get seriously involved; concentrating solely on his political career. We know what happens to best laid plans. However, Miles did come across as arrogant at times, which kind of annoyed me. Though he was interested in Lori, he gave her a hard time. He knew she was running from something, and was determined to find out what it was. When various items in the B & B became missing, Miles automatically thought of Lori being the culprit. He also put some pressure to seduce Lori, who also felt the attraction but did not want to become involved, since she was leaving soon.

The political scene in town becomes a major topic as a popular local resident decides to oppose Miles. Miles team, which includes the Governor’s daughter play major roles in this story. We also get to spend time with the McAlister family, which includes Gavin and Ginger (the couple in the first book).

In the last 1/3 of the book, as the political pressure builds, the romance between Miles and Lori heats up. Just when Lori realizes she needs to leave fast, all hell breaks loose. Miles becomes his original negative self, which fortunately is short termed, and everyone will work together to try to discover the truth about Lori, and how to help her. Will Miles accept Lori about her past? Will Lori be able to prove her innocence? Will Miles political career survive the scandal?

Tracy Solheim has written another wonderful story in her Second Chances series.   I enjoyed this story, and have come to like most of the characters in Chances Inlet. If you are looking for romance, a little bit of mystery, good characters, with a wonderful small town atmosphere, then you should give this series a try.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

giveaway

Tracy’s publisher is offering a paper copy of ALL THEY EVER WANTED to ONE(1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE and Follow Tracy Solheim  on Facebook

4. Please follow The Reading Cafe on Tumblr

5. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

6. FOLLOW us on Twitter for an additional entry.

7. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

8. Giveaway open to USA only.

9. Giveaway runs from March 3 – 7, 2016

Share

Back to Before by Tracy Solheim – a Review

Posted on by
12

Back to Before by Tracy Solheim – a Review

 

Back to BeforeAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository / BAM

Description:
Chances Inlet, North Carolina, has an infamous power for second chances. But its charms are lost on the town’s favorite son—until she comes along…

When his father’s sudden death puts his family’s construction business in serious debt, architect Gavin McAlister is forced to put his dream career in New York on hold. Making matters worse, his fiancée calls it quits. Desperate to return to his big-city life, he discovers an opportunity to save his family, one that has him reluctantly starring in a home restoration TV show.

Former soap star Ginger Walsh hopes this job as a TV makeup artist will lead to better things. So far it’s only brought her to a hamlet full of people who don’t like her—except Gavin. After a wild night out leads to Ginger waking up in Gavin’s loft—and the rest of town talking—the two of them soon wonder if getting back to before is what they want. Because being in each other’s arms certainly feels like what they need…

 

 

Review:

Back to Before by Tracy Solheim is the first book in her new Second Chances series. This was a sweet romance that takes place in a small town in Chances Inlet, North Carolina.   Gavin McAlister is our hero, who has put his career as an architect on hold to help save his late father’s construction business. After the death of his father, Gavin found the business was deeply in debt, which would also cause the possible loss of his mother’s dream B&B. For two years, Gavin has been secretly working to fix things, and do a TV restoration show to bring in money to pay off the debt. His family does not know that when things are fixed, he will sell the construction business, save his mother’s B&B and go back to New York.

But before he can do that, he must force himself to work on the TV show. It is here he meets Ginger Walsh, our heroine, a former soap actress, who is helping the producer of the show. Ginger is hoping to rebuild her career to work as a choreographer, but she has to survive the small town’s dislike of her, based on the character she played on the soap opera. It doesn’t take long for both Gavin and Ginger to become intimately involved, with the promise it will end when the show is over.

This was really a very sweet story about second chances, and a wonderful romance between Gavin and Ginger. When Ginger first arrived with the television troupe, the whole town treated her badly, thinking of her as Destiny, the character she played on the soap opera. What made this such a nice story were the wonderful characters Solheim created. Gavin’s family, which includes his mom, who is having a secret affair with the town’s sheriff; his politician brother, who was bit obnoxious; a teenage girl, who is an outcast at school; Diesel, Ginger’s best friend, and producer of the television show, plus so many more, who play an integral part in this story.

Slowly, as she begins to help with many townsfolk, while staying at the B&B, Ginger will win them over. She also begins to fall hard for Gavin, as he has become irresistible, but Ginger knows she will move on soon. Gavin also cares for Ginger, and enjoys watching the town change toward her. Gavin figures they can keep their secret no commitment relationship going, as soon as he closes the deal and goes back to New York, where Ginger will be working. The wild ending with anything and everything going wrong, will bring things to a head, with all secrets revealed, and best laid plans that do not always work out. You will need to read this fun enjoyable book to find out what happens to many of these wonderful characters, as well as to Gavin and Ginger. Back to Before is a perfect read if you love romance, small towns, great characters, and a great couple.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

Share