Last Chance Hero - A Review

Published - September 2015, Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group
Series - A Place to Call Home Book 4
Author - Cathleen Armstrong
Title - Last Chance Hero
Format - ebook, paper
Find on Amazon

Dr. Jessica McLeod is excited about starting up her new practice in the small town of Last Chance, New Mexico. There's one problem. The townspeople are reluctant to switch doctors even though they are thrilled that Last Chance finally has its own doctor. Jess longs to get involved in the community. Her best option to do so is to attend the high school football games. Jess knows absolutely nothing about football and doesn't understand the way that EVERYONE in the town seems to live and breathe football. To complicate matters, Jess finds herself drawn to the new football coach, Andy Ryan. Andy's the town's golden boy. He was on the football team during the town's Glory Days and went on to play in the NFL. Now that he's back, the town expects a return of the Glory Days. Andy tries to tell people that this is a different time, different team, but the expectations are very high. As he gets to know Jessica, he discovers that she's the only person in the town who doesn't care about the Glory Days. Yet when they clash over the treatment of an injured player, will their friendship survive?

I've read all of the others in this series and enjoyed them. This one didn't have the same feel to it. For starters, it is classified as a romance, but I didn't really pick up on the romance. Truthfully, I thought that Andy and Jessica's friendship was in fact opening doors to their romance. But I wouldn't go so far to classify this as a romance. It's a sweet story, and I did read it quickly. This one also left a lot of issues unresolved. I also found that it ended rather abruptly.

It was fun to reconnect with some of the other characters from the Last Chance books. But I wish that there had been more to the development of Andy & Jess's romance. Maybe that'll come more to play in the next book. I don't know.

I'll admit that I'm not a football fan. My knowledge is slightly more than that of Jess's. So her trying to understand why everyone seemed to live and breathe football made sense to me. I got that. And I understand that she was willing to make an attempt. I liked that about her. I didn't really like the fact that Jess would use her status as a doctor to ensure that football related activities did not take one of her patient's focus off of his grades. I loved Andy's conversation with Jess after that. He made her think about the student and was she really acting in the kid's best interest.

There were a lot of things I wish had been developed more or even resolved. Andy and his father's relationship had potential. Jess's faith journey. Her suspicions of  one of her patients. These are just to name a few.

Don't get me wrong. I liked the book. I didn't love it. It's just ok. It didn't have as much depth as I'd hoped. But it was enjoyable.

I received this book for free from Revell for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Friday Night Lights, football, contemporary fiction

Rating - 3 stars

At Home in Last Chance - A Review

Published - January 2015, Revell Books a division of Baker Publishing Group
Series - A Place to Call Home Book 3
Author - Cathleen Armstrong
Title - At Home in Last Chance
Format - ebook, paper
Find on Amazon

Kaityln Reed has always run from her problems. The last time she ran, she left her seven year old daughter in Last Chance with Kaitlyn's older brother. Now she's back and trying to start over. She has a lot to prove to the town, to her brother, and to her daughter. Will Kaitlyn finally find her own home?

I've read both of the other books in this series and enjoyed them. This one was no exception. While it is a part of the series, it does stand alone. Readers don't really need to read the other two to fully enjoy this one.

Like the other books in this series, the story has the small town feel to it. I found it to be a quick read. I enjoyed not having to think through this book. I did think that Kaitlyn needed to really grow up. I also thought that the townspeople were a little hard on her. She was trying. She realized she'd made mistakes and was willing to change her life.

I thought that Steven was too much of a charmer. And he knew it too. I admired him for trying to show his family that he wasn't the same guy he was years ago. I didn't like him too much at first, but he grew on me. By the end of the book, I liked him.

Overall, I'd say this series is pretty good. I'm pretty sure that this was the conclusion, and if so, then it wrapped nicely. If it's not, I look forward to the new adventures in Last Chance.

I received this book for free from Revell Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of women's fiction, contemporary fiction, Denise Hunter, Melody Carlson

Rating - 4 stars

One More Last Chance - A Review

Published - May, 2014, Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Series - A Place to Call Home book 2

Author - Cathleen Armstrong

Title - One More Last Chance

Format - ebook, paper

Find on Amazon

Sarah Cooley has returned to her hometown of Last Chance, New Mexico as a new 2nd grade teacher. She's thrilled to be back in Last Chance because nothing ever changes there. Yet, unknown to Sarah, change is coming. Chris Reed is the new owner of the Dip-n-Dine diner and would love to change things on the menu. Yet everything that he tries is consistently vetoed by his cook.When he suddenly finds himself caring for his seven year old niece, he comes to realize that sometimes change is good.

This book had the feel of a typical small town. It seemed to just kind of gently flow along. I'm not saying that it was slow moving, because I read this in a day and a half, but that it just felt like a small town. I loved the townspeople. I loved how they'd come together to welcome someone into the community and to help out when things needed it. I loved how Chris wanted to change things, slowly. I did feel that Sarah was a little too resistant to change, but as the book went along, she got better.

Overall, this would be a good summer read. I enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to the next one.

I received this book for free from Revell books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of women's fiction, Becky Wade, Melissa Tagg, Irene Hannon

Rating - 4 stars

Welcome to Last Chance - A Review

When Lainie Davis's car breaks down in the small town of Last Chance, New Mexico, all she wants to do is find a way to get out of this small town where the people's hearts are huge and they truly care. Lainie has never experienced the love that the small community shows her. She's a bit unnerved by it to be truthful. Yet the longer she remains in Last Chance, she begins to think that maybe she has been given a second chance.

This is the debut book by Cathleen Armstrong and I found it to be a very quick read. I found myself feeling for Lainie when her car broke down. Having had my own car coast into the repair shop before, I understood what she went through. I loved how she had to come to a point where she could not only accept the love of the people of the town, but also had to surrender to God. I'm looking forward to more books by this author.

I received the paperback for free from Revell books for the purpose of reviewing. I later bought the Kindle edition.

Recommended to fans of contemporary fiction, Irene Hannon's contemporary romances, Susan May Warren, Katie Ganshert

Available in August 2013 at your local bookstore from Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Rating - 4 stars