If I had a second for every task I’m behind in right now, I’d be a chronological millionaire. My problem, of course, is words. So many words to read! (Guilty secret: I love newspapers – printed ones – almost as much as I love books!) I’ve taken to “cheating” the last several years: unable to read all that I want, I listen to audiobooks constantly. Where am I going with this? Let me share a newly discovered treasure.
If you’re anything like me, you rank the novelist Sherry Thomas among your deities. I say “novelist” because she does it all: historical romance, romantic (historical) suspense, fantasy, YA, and contemporary. THE ONE IN MY HEART is her unforgettable contemporary, published in 2015. But just recently, Ms. Thomas got together with the marvelous narrator, Kate Reading, and the two of them created an audio version of The One In My Heart. What’s more, they priced it compassionately for Overdrive and other services, so your local library can probably be easily convinced to buy it as mine was. I urge you to take a second look—or listen—to this magnificent novel. And if you’ve never experienced it before, don’t waste another moment. The only negative is its length. I wanted it to last forever, and sadly, it doesn’t.
What else have I devoted my allotted seconds to of late? FINDING MRS. FORD, by Deborah Goodrich Royce, is the epitome of a second chance novel, in which a woman in 2014 tries desperately to escape/rewrite the events of 1979. But it’s also a brilliantly crafted mystery, with layer upon layer slowly revealed as “Mrs. Ford” fights for a chance to build a life of her own choosing, with perhaps some true love thrown in.
Similarly, MAKE A WISH, Helena Hunting’s newest release in her Spark House series, delivers a literal second chance to a couple separated by a ten-year age gap, ten years apart from each other, mis-placed guilt, and of course, challenged communication skills. The story IMHO could have been shortened a bit, but it is a lovely conclusion to a great series. I think you’re fine starting with this volume, but the house (“Spark House”) and its history play an interesting role in the earlier books, and the immersion into the beautiful Colorado surroundings are well worth a visit, if you have time.
Last, but not least, allow me to bend your ear and share my admiration for the amazing THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, by Julia Whelan. Ms. Whelan is an award-winning narrator, and her renditions of blockbusters such as Kristin Hannah’s THE FOUR WINDS or V.E. Schwab’s THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE turned those amazing books into extraordinary audio experiences. But she’s also a beautiful writer. MY OXFORD YEAR from 2018 turned me into a blubbering idiot, and last year’s Thank You for Listening kept me spellbound from the first page to the last. Does it qualify as a second chance story? Of course, it does. The protagonist, who just happens to be an audiobook narrator, has a brief romantic encounter that lifts her heart (and other places), but then she returns to her normally aggravating existence, battling stereotypes, AI, poor pay, and family issues. And then she’s tasked with narrating a romance novel (vomit!) alongside a detested male heartthrob. Life could not look much bleaker for Sewanee Chester. Yes, the moniker’s origin is explained, but if I had one criticism, it would be to change the protagonist’s name. But no matter. Does Sewanee get a second chance at happiness? Might there be cleverly constructed twists and turns in the narrative? Come on, now. It’s here in this column, isn’t it? Grab a copy, or better yet, listen to the author narrate her own book, and experience a delightful escape.
And for a quick second visit with characters, I hope you’ve come to love, check out my story Second Homecoming in the limited-edition anthology Mrs. Right. You’ll be reunited with the cast of Second Stanza as they once again fight the odds to seize and hold on to their happily-ever-after.
About Meg Napier
Meg’s friends during her high school years all expected her romance novels to hit the shelves decades ago, but she foolishly allowed “serious pursuits” to get in her way. Now that her beloved children can feed, clothe, and most importantly, support themselves, she’s free to turn her attention to her first passion – putting words to paper that capture your attention and make your heart sing in quiet joy. Her stories tell most frequently of second chances–in life, love, and sometimes even at rediscovering a soul-mate from a previous life.
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