Review: One More Last Chance by Cathleen Armstrong

May 17, 2014

Title: One More Last Chance
Author: Cathleen Armstrong
Publisher: Revell
Pages: 304
ISBN: 978-0-8007-2247-0
Publication Date: May 6th, 2014

Synopsis:
Some things never change...and some things change you forever.

Sarah Cooley has come home to Last Chance, New Mexico, for one reason–because it doesn’t change. After an engagement gone bad with a man who wanted to change everything about her, Sarah is more than ready for the town whose motto may as well be, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Chris Reed, on the other hand, wants nothing more than to spark some change in the little town. As the new owner of the Dip ‘n’ Dine, he’s shaking things up to draw folks from all over the Southwest into his restaurant.


As it turns out, the winds of change are blowing into Last Chance–just not in the ways that Sarah or Chris might expect.


With the same evocative writing and fascinating characters that won fans for her debut novel, Cathleen Armstrong invites readers back to Last Chance for a soul-searching, romantic story of two people navigating the twists and turns of small-town life.
Review:
I have really started to enjoy contemporary fiction lately, so when I saw One More Last Chance, I knew I wanted to try it. I had heard some good things about Cathleen Armstrong's first book, Welcome to Last Chance.

I enjoyed this small town community. People looked out for each other and helped. It amplified my desire to move to a small town. The main characters really popped in this story, along with the minor characters.

Sarah is desperate to get back to her old way of life. To live in the norm again. She is ready to be who she used to be and enjoy a town that doesn't change. It's amazing when you have dealt with a situation that makes you shift and change ever so slightly over time who you are, how refreshing it is to get back to what you know and comfort. Sarah's portrayal of this was spot on in my eyes as I read this book.

Chris is the polar opposite. He came to Last Chance for the specific purpose to make a name for himself and to change up the only eatery in town and make it into a destination stop. However, Chris isn't just into changing a restaurant, as the story progresses you see that he didn't have the best of childhoods and he is the only one who is responsible in his immediate family. He has a responsibility thrust on him and as you get to know Chris, he really grows on you and his character shines.

The progression of the story unfolded at a good and realistic pace. The trials that were faced were real and the reactions were just as real, as I have seen these situations first hand. When you are apart of the situations, it isn't so clear to see, but when you are an observer, it is clear.

I enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and going back to read the first.

Too Read
4 out of 5

About the Author:
Cathleen Armstrong lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, Ed, and their corgi. Though she has been in California for many years now, her roots remain deep in New Mexico where she grew up and where much of her family still lives. After she and Ed raised three children, she returned to college and earned a BA in English. Her debut novel Welcome to Last Chance won the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for Women's Fiction. Learn more at www.cathleenarmstrong.com.





Thank you to the Revell Blog Tour, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

4 comments

  1. Oooooo! This one sounds really great! I'll have to check it out soon. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kara, It was really good. :-) Let me know what you think.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great review, Kate! Almost reviewed this one (because I liked the first well enough) but when it came up for review, I was drowning in INSPY reads. So I skipped. I'll have to pick it up at the bookstore so thanks for the convincing reminder! :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Like you, I have been enjoying more contemporary fiction books lately. This one was a great read. Thanks for the review!

    ReplyDelete

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