The Second Chance Cafe

So I was lucky enough to get an ARC for Alison Kent's The Second Chance Cafe.

The book comes out March 2013 from Montlake Romance.

My recommendation to you, Bake brownies before you even open the book (and then try the recipes inside -- OMG YUM!)

The Second Chance Cafe is a story of Secrets, Love, Forgiveness, and all the fun of living in a small town where nobody forgets anything and everyone knows everything or so they think. It brought me back to my own life in a small town.

Without giving away anything, this book is the story of Kaylee Flynn, a former foster child, who's moved back to the only home she ever truly knew intent on untangling the mysteries of her past. Her plans are to open a Cafe in the house and in doing so, she meets contractor Tennessee Keller. Tennessee or Ten as everyone calls him, has his own past to face.

As they work together and get to know one another, of course feelings develop and both of them fall in love with the other. There is however the matter of their pasts and both are resolved more or less. You really have to read the book to find out all of these details because I'm not spoiling it.

I fell in love with Kaylee from the get go. Even with the questions about her past and the memories of her upbringing, she kept moving along and following her dreams. And her dog, Magoo -- who couldn't love him. If I had a Magoo, I might be a dog person!

Tennessee wasn't a hard sell either. From the start, you could tell he was a gentle soul, even if he didn't understand it. The way he tried to protect everyone and handed out second chances was awe-inspiring. He was everything good in a man, you'd want there but so much more.

I absolutely adored Kaylee and Ten's journey to each other and to resolving their pasts. It's not always easy for them, but it was real. Each step they made towards each other was full of emotion and I felt like I needed to cheer them on. Kaylee pushed Ten to recognize some truths from his past and Ten pushed Kaylee to learn more about her past. In this they were perfect for each other, a wonderful support system.

Kaylee and Ten's story is beautifully woven around tales of their friends and family. I adored so many of the secondary characters of this book. I felt right at home in Hope Springs and I cannot wait for the rest of the series.

Thanks Alison for the ARC and the chance to meet and fall in love with these characters and with Hope Springs in general. Bring on Luna's story!

Will post this review on both Amazon & Good Reads closer to pub. date.

Excerpt and order info available  HERE

Occasionally we just talk randomness

Sometimes in our daily gtalks we put aside books, and writing, and editing and we just talk randomness.  
it's part of why we're best friends.
Here's a gem from today. A reminder that I love this girl!
Basira: sandwich or salad? sandwich or salad? sandwich or salad?
me: I vote sandwich
Basira: Says the woman who is a size 4
me: ROFLMAO So could eat the woman who needs to run tonight  
Basira: Hmmm that's a good idea I am going to walk to Penn, so that's half a mile and then another mile from the LIRR station to my house. And then I'll run or skip or something with you
me: LFMAO Skip Please. And have someone video it  
Basira: God no
me: Where is your sense of adventure?  
Basira: I got none  
And of course we went right back to reading/writing after that.

Bout of Books 6.0

 

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 7th and runs through Sunday, January 13th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 6.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books 6.0 team

  This is my first time participating in the Bout of Books. I'm excited to do it. I'm sure its going to help me get more reading done.

Time Devoted to Reading

I will be reading at least 3 hours a day during the week and 5 hours on weekends. Yes, its true, I never sleep.

My Goals

• Read at least 10 books. 
• Comment on at least 10 other participants blogs.
• Respond to any comments left for me here.

Books to Read

• Finish Currently reading books (Print Arc of Alison Kent's Second Chance Cafe, Kindle Lady X's Cowboy, and Nook Uncross your Heart Taryn Elliot) 
• Hopeless Colleen Hoover
• Someone to Love Addison Moore
• Up to Me M. Leighton
• A Song for Julia Charles Sheehan-Miles
• That Wedding Jillian Dodd
• Restoring Jordan Elizabeth Finn
• Breath on Embers Anne Calhoun
• Tempting the Player J. Lynn
• any of the many kindle freebies I own already.

Updates 

will update daily.

Monday
Number of books I've read today: 2
Total number of books I've read: 2
Books: ARC of Alison Kent's Second Chance Cafe, Uncross your Heart Taryn Eliot, and ended at 65% of Lady X's Cowboy.

Tuesday

Number of books I've read today:  counting as 1.
Total number of books I've read: 3
Books: Finished the last 35% of Lady X's Cowboy and read 70% of Tempting the Player.

Wednesday

Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 4
Books: Finished Tempting the Player J.Lynn. and read All of You Dee Tenorio.

Thursday

Number of books I've read today:
1 Total number of books I've read:
5 Books:
the unidentified redhead
Friday

Number of books I've read today:
2 Total number of books I've read:
7 Books:
up to me, all or nothing
Saturday

Number of books I've read today: 1.5
Total number of books I've read:
8.5 Books:
restoring Jordan, 1/2 fragile
Sunday

Number of books I've read today:
Total number of books I've read:
Books:

Under Construction

B and I are working on things for the blog.....It's not exactly "Up and running" yet.

Debut Author Challenge 2013

This year the Debut Author Challenge is being hosted by Tara at HObbitsies.  If you want to read more about it or join in the fun click here!

The minimum is to read 12 books, but I'm not about minimums so I'm starting with these and going from there.

1. Nobody But Us Kristin Halbrook
2. Anna Collomore The Ruining
3. If You Find me Emily Murdoch
4. The Collector Victoria Scott
5. Bruised Sarah Skilton
6. Vengenance Bound Justina Ireland
7. My Life After Now Jessica Verdi
8. Maid of Secrets Jennifer McGowan
9. Ink Amanda Sun
10. Triangles Kimberly Ann Miller
11. Reclaimed Sarah Guillory
12. The Ward Jordana Frankel
13. Prophecy Girl Cecily White
14. Linked Imogen Howson
15. The Rules for Disappearing Ashley Elston

November Reads

I didn’t get to read very much this month as I was doing NaNoWriMo (more on that later) 

But the month of November I did read the following:

• Tart Lauren Dane
• Leave Me Breathless Cherrie Lynn
• Nauti Temptress Lora Leigh
• My Favorite Mistake Chelsea Cameron
• Double Time Olivia Cunning
• The Marriage Trap Jennifer Probst
• Rogue Rider Larissa Ione

And then I was lucky enough to win a contest and I got Sorcha Mowbray’s backlist. She was a new to me author so I was happy to get her books and devour them.

 

I finished Love Revealed and Taking her chance in November and I am currently reading Love Redeemed now!

I’ll be updating Good Reads and posting some reviews soon!


B didn't get to read much due to school. But she'll catch up soon, won't you B?  :D