Monday, May 6, 2019

Book Spotlight on That Second Chance by Meghan Quinn (Review & GIVEAWAY)


A widower’s second chance at love, and a woman’s desire to start over, bring two immensely likable people together in an endearing romance that pulled at my heartstrings.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of That Second Chance by Meghan Quinn, along with my impressions of this charming small town romance, then start counting down the minutes until this book releases tomorrow.  In honor of this first installment in the Getting Lucky series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $25 Amazon GC along with a digital copy of this book too!

LET’S GET TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MEGHAN QUINN...
1. In the past few years you have written dozens of novels! First off, how do you find the time? And second, how has becoming a bestselling author changed your life?
MQ: I have the best partner in life ever that helps out with everything around the house, including the kids. I also have a very overactive imagination so when I get into a scene, my fingers fly, giving me high word counts in a short amount of time. Even though it looks like I’m working all the time, I make sure to make time for my family, ending every day at five at night. And hitting the USA Today bestselling list was a huge goal of mine I had ever since I started writing. It meant everything to me.
2. What can you tell us about the first time you sat down to write with the goal of completing a novel?
MQ: I was a maniac. I wrote the book in a week. Yes, a week. It was insane. I had so much to say because I was thinking about it consistently while commuting an hour and twenty minutes one way to work. When my fingers hit the keyboard, it al flew out of me.
3. What is the best part about being a romance author? What is the most difficult part?
MQ: The best part is constantly being able to create, break it up, and then find it again. It’s such an old, classic formula, but it’s my favorite of all time. The most difficult is trying not to gross people out with terminology during sex scenes. There are only so many words that are on the OKAY list. Sometimes it can be restricting.
4. What draws you to writing romance novels? Specifically why is it important that your characters have happily-ever-afters?
MQ: Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved love. Instead of going out in high school, I would stay at home and watch romantic comedies. I was fascinated with falling in love and the heartbreak, and then the make up. I love everything about it. I think we all deserve a HEA, why not give it to our characters too?
5. Even though you include realism and heartbreak in your books, the thing readers really takeaway is sense of fun you pack into the novels. How is it you (and your characters) are able to find humor in everyday things?
MQ: I’ve always found myself to live in the clouds, in a land of cupcakes and fun, it’s just my personality so whenever I’m in a situation, I usually can find the fun in it and of course, I’m really good at embellishing.
6. Give us a quick snapshot of your newest novel That Second Chance.
MQ: Four brothers, small town romance, all single, all cursed. Will they be able to find love, even though they’re the most eligible yet untouchable bachelors in Port Snow, Maine?
7. What makes Ren and Griff’s story special to you?
MQ: Their meet cute is probably one of my most favorite of all time. Wayward moose, volunteer firefighter, a crazed woman new to town, looking for help. It’s all charming, funny, and perfect.
8. What’s next for this series?
MQ: Rogan!!! AND OH MY GOD!!! His story is . . . gah! I can’t even tell you how in love with it I am. There is mystery, intrigue, questions that need to be answered and so much swoon you might just fall off your chair while reading.

It was supposed to be an innocent night, celebrating my brother’s birthday. Nothing was supposed to go wrong. We’d vowed to be on our best behavior after all...
But it only took one rowdy night with my brothers to flip my world upside down. One unlucky encounter saddled us with a family curse and the promise of doomed relationships. I laughed it off immediately. “Yeah, right,” I thought. “A love curse. Ha!”
Boy, was I wrong.
Word spreads quickly in a town like mine; rumors about that night soon made us the most eligible yet untouchable bachelors in Port Snow, Maine. As a subject of endless gossip and speculation, I could kiss my dating life goodbye.
It would have stayed that way if Ren Winters, the new girl in town, hadn’t crashed into my life. Brave, beautiful, and smart—her vivacious thirst for a fresh start has given me hope that maybe, just maybe, I can have one too.
Everyone wishes for that second chance...but could this really be mine?

EXCERPT:

I’m counting out our register drawer, trying to stay focused on the numbers whipping through my head, but it’s difficult with Reid’s constant small talk. I jot down another tally mark on the paper in front of me and set aside a stack of bills.
“Hello, are you listening?” Reid asks, sounding annoyed.
“No. I’m counting.”
“Well, I’m talking about you, so you might want to lend me your ear for a second.”
Huffing, I set the cash on the counter, knowing my very persistent brother won’t be quiet until I give him my full attention. “What’s up, Reid?”
Satisfied, he smiles. “You should ask her out.”
“Ask who out?”
“Ren.”
Yeah, that’s not going to happen. “No.”
I go back to counting, but Reid starts snapping his fingers at me. “Hey, I wasn’t finished.” I look back up at him, not even slightly interested in this conversation. “I saw the way she was looking at you today. I think she likes you.”
“You’re confused. She was probably just being nice, since I’m the guy who pulled her out of the window of her car after her accident. And even if she does like me, which I highly doubt, there’s no interest on my end. So that’s the end of that.”
“Bull,” Reid and Jen both say at the same time.
Christ. My two most nagging siblings are ganging up on me. Just what I need when I’m trying to get home and relax.
“Can we not make this into a dissection of my personal life, please? I’m not in the mood, and I want to get this done so I can go home.”
“Griff, she’s pretty, she’s sweet, and she’s smart. She’s new to town and, I’m sure, could use a friend,” Jen says just as the door opens, its bell chiming through the space. Brig pops in, grease all over his shirt and a smirk on his face.
Uh-oh. There’s only one reason why he’d be smirking at me that way.
“What are we talking about?” He rubs his hands together and takes a seat on a barstool near the window. “If it’s about the hot new teacher in town, I want in on this conversation.”
“We’re trying to convince Griff to ask her out.”
Brig slow claps his appreciation. “Novel idea. I think they’re a perfect match.”
“I’m not asking her out,” I huff, giving up on the register and leaning against the wall behind me, arms crossed. There’s no way I’ll be able to concentrate on counting while these three are yapping in my ear.
“Why the hell not? She’s perfect for you,” Brig says, a little insulted at my rejection. “Before you even say no, you should at least get to know her a little. I told her today she could borrow your truck while her car is in the shop.”
I count to five before answering, tamping down my temper. “Why the hell would you do that?” Okay, maybe I didn’t tamp it down enough.
“Uh, because she lives three houses down from you?” Brig rolls his eyes as if I’m the stupid one in this conversation. “She needs some help, so be a knight in shining armor, dude. Help out the damsel in distress and then make out with her on the beach. Maybe cop a feel; get some for once.”
“I’m not doing that,” I answer, going back to the money, letting them know this conversation is over.
“And why not?” Jen asks.
“Because I’m not interested in starting or being in a relationship. I’m happy with how my life is right now, and I don’t need anything complicating it.”
“But she has heart eyes for you,” Brig says like a jackass.
“Don’t worry; there are plenty of Knightly brothers to choose from,” I reply.
“Come on, Griff, how fun can going home to an empty, lonely house really be?” Jen chimes in, concern evident in her voice.
I shift on my feet, my voice terse. “I like my house. It’s fine. I’m fine.”
Silence falls between us, an awkward air moving in like a fast-moving cold front.
“Is this because of New Orleans?” Reid finally asks, taking a seat next to Brig. Both of my brothers fix their gazes on me, waiting for an answer.
Why is this a thing whenever we talk about my love life? Can’t they just let it go? What happened was … hell, I don’t even know how to describe it. All I know is I don’t foresee love in my future.
Claire was the love of my life, and I lost her; in a blink of an eye she was gone. I’m not going through that again. Not ever.
Shaking my head, I turn away from my family. This conversation is over.
And with that, I take the cash to the back office, where I can get some peace and quiet.
Ask Ren Winters out on a date? Not going to happen.
And she’s not going to drive my truck either. I think that’s evident in the fact that she drove her car in between two trees.
Can’t blame a guy there.

BUY AT AMAZON here.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Readers will find themselves charmed by this romance of second chances as a sweet and sexy man, still grieving the loss of his wife, finds his heart reawakened the moment he saves the new teacher in town.  From there it’s a slow burn as the two of them grow closer together, morphing from friends to lovers, before a reminder of his past puts their HEA in doubt.

The Knightly brothers are a sexy bunch who are doomed to being alone after a life-altering encounter with an angry palm reader in New Orleans years ago. With a curse hanging over them that they’ll never have true love, the women of their hometown keep them at arm’s length despite how tempting the four brothers are.  For Griffin, being left alone is just what he wants as he still carries guilt over the death of his wife.  In the years since she died, he’s buried himself in work and activities that bring the inhabitants of his hometown together.  He’s put aside everything else though as he doesn’t want another woman to be hurt for loving him.  Meeting the vivacious Ren though is too much of a temptation and even as he tries to remain just friends, his heart and his family push him towards her in a sweet journey full of sexual tension.  Griffin’s an immensely appealing hero with a kind heart and a deep loyalty to family.  While many young people find small towns dull, he embraces every aspect of small town living and strives to make the whole town a success.  When it comes to romance though he’s less than successful because of his own fears and self-doubts.  I understand his grief early on, but once he claimed Ren I found his pushing her away late in the story to be a big disappointment.  I expected better from this truly good guy and wish he’d had to grovel more when trying to make amends. Despite that one moment of frustration, I really liked Griffin and found Ren to be a good match for him.

After recovering from a near-death experience Ren Winters decides it’s finally time to start living.  She decides the perfect way to do that is to start over elsewhere and chooses the quaint and picturesque town of Port Snow to make a new life for herself.  It’s a place far from the big city hustle and bustle, a place where she can leave her mark and make a close-knit group of friends like she’s never had before.  Her introduction to the town though involves her new car hitting a moose which leads to her being saved by the sexy Griffin Knightly in a heroic act that changes both of their lives irrevocably.  From there she forms a friendship with the romantically reluctant Griffin, a sweet connection that endeared both of them to me, before he gives into her.  Ren’s a very likable heroine, kindhearted, with a joyous vibe to her.  For too long she’s let others help her and now’s the time she starts living by her own rules.  Ren’s a breath of fresh air, someone who’s clearly embracing her new life to the fullest, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way.  She knew she wanted Griffin from the start but never pushed him too far as she could sense his pain. Once they made the leap to lovers though she became quite the little sex kitten, which belied her good girl demeanor and made me like her all the more for going after what she wanted.  When it came to Griffin pushing her away, after an event that was predictable in my opinion, I just wish she’d made him work a bit harder for her forgiveness as what he did and said was hurtful. Despite that I liked this vivacious heroine and the happiness with everything around her that exuded from her.  She’s the kind of heroine you can see yourself being friends with and she was a delightful addition to the town of Port Snow.

From the first page to the last this was a sweet and sexy read with likable characters and interactions that put a smile on my face.  The main couple’s relationship grew slowly which had me chewing at the bit for them to finally turn up the heat...which was ultimately well worth the wait.  Though their separation towards the end was predictable it didn’t detract from my joy in reading this as Griffin’s brothers gave me reason to smile through my frustration.  On a whole Griffin and Ren were a great match and I was fully invested in their journey to HEA.  Surrounding this appealing main couple was an equally likable cast of secondary characters.  Among those characters are the other Knightly brothers...Rogan (the serious one), Reid (the playboy), and Brig (the funny one) who endeared themselves to me through their playful antics and witty banter with each other.  This was a family who always had each other’s backs and who played matchmaker through many subtle words and deeds which made me smile.  The city of Port Snow took on a life of its own too with its colorful denizens and local charm that has me longing to return, especially with an epilogue showing the return of Rogan’s high school sweetheart.

My rating for this is an A-/B+

*I got this book from NetGalley for review in exchange for my honest opinion.


AUTHOR INFO:

USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.



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