Lisa Renee

Cassie is one of those characters that took a while to grow on me, but I love the mission she set out to accomplish of helping troubled girls. Having been burned on the marriage front and not having any children of her own, she pours herself into the troubled youth she is helping through Youth Connect..

Her brother expresses concern for her safety and more but is a very loving brother. Chief Chris Everson provides inspiration when he offers to help the troubled young women in the program, but I had to wonder if he could become something more to Cassie.

This book does an excellent job of examining the ramifications of love lost and finding the strength and courage to take another chance at love and relationships.

So if you want to read a book that deals with relationships, emotions, and stepping out in faith, check out this book for yourself.… (mehr)

I did enjoy the setting of the story in Australia. The author describes the place beautifully and I could here the accent as the people spoke .Cassie was a complicated character to me. Her heart was for helping youth and making a difference in their life. I loved reading about the programs Cassie had set up and the opportunities she was able to give. The story does take on some difficult issues like drug abuse, abortion, premarital sex and suicide. The author handles these subjects with grace and shows how hard it is to overcome some of these issues. There are a few moments when curse words were used that may offend some.

It was easy for Cassie to relate to the youth because she had faced similar issues in her life. It was hard to hear her tell her friend Chris about her past and the loss she experienced. With her ability to share her secret, I think it helped Chris see her in a different light. Chris is an accomplished chef who now owns his own restaurant. The amazing food that was described in the story made me hungry, The details were good and I appreciate the author making the cuisine fit the place the story was set in.

The story has many layers of trust and forgiveness in the story. The title of the book fits perfectly with the story because we all deserve chances. God never gives up on us and in the story, Chris was willing to give Cassie as many chances as needed for her to realize who she was in Christ and that she could trust a man. There are some moments in the story that are difficult to read such as emotional abuse which is hard to overcome.

I have often wondered if I ever made a difference in a child's life when I was a Children's Pastor. I may not ever know that answer but the author offers a great example of making a difference for someone in the story. A young woman who Cassie mentored comes back into her life and I think this was my favorite part of the story. It is a roller coaster ride with this person and it shows cracks in Chris and Cassie's relationship. I sometimes thought that Cassie was to pushy and always wanted to control everything. Their relationship is put to the test when this young woman needs help. It is a good story that explores relationships as well as trusting God.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.… (mehr)

Everyone deserves a second chance and Cassie Chambers is determined to make this happen but seeing a need and doing something about it takes a lot of work. Cassie does just that when she creates a program to help young people who need that second chance. By opening up a youth center she is able to change their lives through a lot of hard work and smart networking but Cassie's personal life is not as fortunate. Two divorces and a struggle with fertility have scarred her and she doesn't believe she is deserving of a second chance at happiness.

Author Lisa Renee has created some great characters and some realistic situations in More Than a Second Chance! Cassie's compassion and determination gained my admiration and Chris Evanson is a dream because he is VERY caring and VERY romantic! There is an apparent attraction between the two of them but Cassie wants a friendship only and it looks like she will keep it that way! Melissa is a young girl that Cassie befriends in the start of this story and in four years, after a series of backsets, we see her mature into a successful young adult. She is another example of Renee's realistic plot because the desire to change does not guarantee an immediate conversion--there are often failures and backsets before the change is complete. That is the reason that offering more than a second chance is so important in today's world!

More Than a Second Chance is romantic and entertaining and there are a lot of plot twists in the story but the best part is the inspiration that it offers. We are all deserving of a second chance and we need to offer support and compassion to others!

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book but a positive review was not required. These are my own thoughts.… (mehr)