What Did I Think of This Second-Chance Novel?

We all know I’m not much of a sappy girl, but there are a few things that are “my jam.”  One of those: second-chance romances.  I love to see things that didn’t work… work!  So, when I had a chance to review the book Restored, by Tonya Eavenson, I jumped at it.  

Note: Links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Additionally, I requested a review copy and chose to review here.

What Did I Think of This Second-Chance Novel?

With a great premise and clean editing, Restored offers a glimpse into the difficult world of widowhood, cancer treatment, infertility, and unexpected medical trouble.  With a line-up like that, you’d expect it to be a difficult book to read, too implausible, or a little like that series, Cranford inspired by Elizabeth Gaskell—everyone dying all over the place.

But it wasn’t, and that part of the book was brilliant.

There were things I didn’t love as much as I wanted to, however—things that took this from being a great book to just a nice one.

Most things I took issue with were minor—a child’s speech patterns being spelled oddly or a little too cliche rather than authentic. A slow start (one that, in retrospect, might have been a good idea. I’m still pondering that). Much of the book could have been improved by focusing on showing rather than “explaining” things.

But my one real complaint is that I saw in the characters things I really liked, but the characters themselves came off a bit flat.  I didn’t connect with them the way I wanted to. Instead, they were… there. Perhaps the best way of stating my primary problem was that I felt like I was observing something rather than living the characters lives with them.

Still, with all that…

I’ll be reading more by this author. Something tells me she may be a favorite someday. Meanwhile, I’m not sorry I requested the review copy, and I hope she keeps going.