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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

What’d I Love Best about This Second-Chance Romance?

by Chautona Havig · 6 Comments

I'm not often a straight-up romance fan, but this second-chance romance caught my attention and kept me reading and without overdosing me with sap! via @chautonahavig

It wasn’t in my planner.  Confused, I looked at the reminder again, stared at my planner again, and blinked. Again.  I knew I’d reviewed the book already. Over a month ago–maybe two. No… at least two. I didn’t think I was even home for good when I did it.  In fact, I knew where the book was.  I’ve been saving it for a reader here in Ridgecrest but hadn’t had a chance to drop it off yet.

Just to reassure myself, since I had put one month’s worth of blog posts on the NEXT  month last year, I decided to go get the book.  Prove it for myself.

I found it all right.  Second Chances.  The problem was, this “friendly reminder” was for More Than A Second Chance… not Second Chances. Oops.

I had great plans for getting almost done with my manuscript tonight.  Um… nope. that wasn’t going to happen. Not if I had a second-chance romance to read.  Still, the synopsis sounded good.  At least I’d enjoy myself!  I hoped.

second-chance romance

Note: links are affiliate links and will likely provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.  Additionally, while I requested and received a free review copy, I read More Than A Second Chance on Kindle Unlimited and chose to post a review of it without obligation to do so.

What’d I Love Best about This Second-Chance Romance?

Let’s see… what’s not to love?  Maybe the Australian setting?  I mean, after all… who wants a cool Aussie setting where you can practically hear the accents coming through?  Ahem.  Perhaps it’s the Aussie-American couple in the book?  No American would possibly be interested in that idea.  Right?

It could be a couple committed to focusing on the Lord and His will for them long before there was even a hint of them?  The exploration of things like abortion?  Adoption?  Troubled teens? Domestic violence? Depression?

Wow.  Looking at that list, More Than A Second Chance sounds like a real downer of a book.

Guess what?  It’s not.  I mean, how could a second-chance romance be a downer?

Everyone knows I love me some flawed, relatable characters, and this book has them in spades (throwing that in for the canasta reference in the book). Not one character in this book behaved in a cliched manner.  Not one made me roll my eyes at over-the-topness.  In fact, I’d say characterization and the guts to tackle difficult topics, even piled on top of them, are Lisa Renee’s biggest strengths.

What I loved best, though, is the focus on the Word, the Lord, and being immersed in both.  Look, not everyone is going to agree with the conclusions on divorce and remarriage.  Not everyone will agree with “band” choices or “Christian teacher” choices, either.  We all study the Word and come up with differing conclusions.

What I loved about More Than A Second Chance is that I believed the characters were doing that–studying the Word and coming to conclusions rather than using the Word to support conclusions they’d already come to–or wanted to.

If I wanted to be nitpicky (and I really don’t), I’d say that there are a few typos (repeated opening sentences, a word here or there, etc.)  Nothing major.  (you know, like how I just typed “magor” for reasons that make NO sense to me. I’ve never done that in my life!)  Additionally, it does get a bit “telly” and “info-dumpy” in places, but for reasons I don’t understand, I didn’t care.  Seriously, my pet peeves… didn’t faze me.

I think it’s because this second-chance romance is that good. 

No rushed romance (hey, those happen.  My parents met and married in six weeks!), all the spiritual focus without much preachiness.  What’s not to love?

Melissa’s dad.  That’s what’s not to love.  And if you want to know what I mean by that… read the book.

Recommended for lovers of romance (especially second-chance romance s) that isn’t flowery protestations of undying devotion, lovers of realistic fiction that shows the ugly side of life without steeping you in it, and lovers of Christian fiction without apology.

second-chance romance

About the Book

Book:  More Than A Second Chance

Author: Lisa Renee

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Release Date: August 30, 2019

Does Cassie deserve another chance at love?

Cassie Chambers, a dedicated youth worker, is determined to rescue the troubled youth in the city of Perth, Australia.

Cassie has made mistakes but hasn’t allowed tragedy or divorce to stop her. She devotes every working hour at Youth Connect. But her own needs are neglected.

Chef Chris Evanson offers work experience to young men from Youth Connect. Cassie and Chris’s encounters become more than sassy bantering with a hint of attraction. Chris is a sincere romantic.

How will Chris respond when he finds out her secret? She must tell him before he falls in love. Will he believe she deserves more than a second chance?

To complicate matters, one of Youth Connect’s troubled teens needs rescuing. She’s pregnant and moves in with Cassie, bringing absolute chaos. Chris gains insight into what life with Cassie involves. Does he still want the total package? Is Chris her true soul mate?

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Comments

  1. James Robert says

    February 9, 2020 at 12:06 am

    Thanks for sharing your book with us. I think we all enjoy hearing about new books we previously didn’t know about. Also, thank you for the giveaway.

    Reply
  2. Amelia says

    January 27, 2020 at 2:44 pm

    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  3. James Robert says

    January 26, 2020 at 12:36 am

    Hello! Thanks so much for sharing your book with us. Always fun reading about another book to enjoy.

    Reply
  4. Linda Palmer says

    January 25, 2020 at 8:13 pm

    This book sounds good. Especially if you like it Chautona.

    Reply
  5. Abigail Harris says

    January 25, 2020 at 4:40 pm

    I need to read this one!

    Reply
  6. Patty says

    January 25, 2020 at 6:42 am

    I always love your honest reviews Chautona!
    A book set in Australia by an Australian author sounds good. And one that deals with real life everyday issues sounds even better.

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
byChautona Havig

I had a chat with actor and author Henry O. Arnold a while back, and boy did we have a lot of fun. His Song of Prophets and Kings series features the advent of Israel’s kings from Samuel’s birth through David hiding from Saul (so far) and onward. Listen in as we chat about his most recent release, The Singer of Israel.

 

note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

What Made David Such a Man after God’s Heart?

I think this series will show us. I love that Henry O. Arnold started back at Samuel’s story to prepare us for the story of arguably the most influential king of Israel. Yes, Solomon was the wisest and richest, but David offered something that Solomon didn’t have. He was an average guy—a shepherd, no less—chosen by God to lead his country.

In a sense, it’s kind of the ancient Jewish version of a poor, everyday guy growing up to become President of the United States. If you know what I mean.

This five-book series is available as an eBook, in print, and as an audiobook, too! Henry read a snippet of it to us, and boy you get a feel for his love of Scripture and God’s people as he reads.

And if that wasn’t enough, he even gave us a hint of his upcoming Christian suspense/thriller “series. He says he has two books planned for sure, so… at least a duology, but maybe we can talk him into a trilogy at least? Get those odd numbers and everything?

The Singer of Israel by Henry O. Arnold

A singer’s voice inspires a troubled nation…A shepherd’s courage vanquishes a giant

The last official act of the prophet of Yahweh was to secretly anoint a replacement for the king of Israel who has been brought low by an unbalanced mind. The great prophet of Israel lives in fear of the wrath of the king. Then out of the hills of Bethlehem emerges the last-born son of a family of shepherds to become the unforeseen hero of Israel.

When David sings of the glory of Yahweh, this shepherd wins the hearts of the royal family and restores King Saul’s troubled mind. But when the singer/shepherd defeats the champion of the Philistines in single combat, David becomes forever known as “the giant slayer.” Saul quickly sees that David is now a threat to his kingdom and secretly plots to have him killed.

David may be the champion of the people of Israel, but he must live under the constant threat of Saul’s wrath until he is finally forced to flee for his life.

The Singer of Israel is a tale of triumph and tribulation, deepest love, and burning rivalries; the new epoch is given a voice…and it is The Song of Prophets and Kings.

You can learn more about Henry on this WEBSITE.

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Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
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