Last Chance Hero Book Review

 A Place to Call Home Series

Book Four

SUMMARY:  What happens when your heart is intercepted before you even know it's in play?
     The folks in Last Chance, New Mexico, could not be more pleased.  Dr. Jessica MacLeod has opened an office right on Main Street, and Andy Ryan, the best athlete the little town ever produced, has come home from the NFL to coach the high school football team. Unfortunately, Dr. Jess immediately gets off on the wrong foot with this football-obsessed town when she admits that she's never seen a football game, isn't really interested in doing so, and in fact doesn't know a first down from a goalpost.
     Despite having little in common, Jess and Andy find themselves drawn to each other.  But when a disagreement over the future of an injured player puts them both on the defensive, it begins to look like this game it over . . .

REVIEW:  As with the other books in this series, this series is fun, full of laughter, and serious points, too.  The characters are ones you'd want to be friends with, in real life.  While the main focus is on Dr. Jess and Andy, I love how the characters you met in previous books are developed more and how more of their lives are revealed.  It would be nice, though, if a Cast of Characters was included to remind you who everyone is and how they are connected. 
     The town, while quick to accept Dr. Jess as a person, has a harder time accepting her as their doctor.  They are set in their ways and find it difficult to switch gears.  On the other hand, townsfolk are quick to support Andy in anything he does, as long as he accomplishes a winning football season. 
   While this is a great book, it ended way to quickly and left a LOT of unfinished business.  What happened at Homecoming?  Would Jess ever be able to understand and appreciate the game of football?  Did Emma and her family get the help they needed?  What did the college scout think of Zach and Gabe?  Also, the spiritual aspect was hardly mentioned.  Now, Elizabeth alluded to faith when talking to Jess and she attended church with the rest of the town, there was no personal relationship with Christ mentioned. 
     All in all, it's a good book but, like I mentioned earlier, a lot seemed to be left undone.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Cathleen Armstrong lives in Orange County, California with her husband, Ed, and their corgi.  Though she has been in California for many years now, her roots remain deep in New Mexico.  Her debut novel Welcome to Last Chance won the American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for Women's Fiction.  She is also the author of One More Last Chance and At Home in Last Chance.  Learn more at www.cathleenarmstrong.com.

At Home in Last Chance Book Review

A Place to Call Home

Book Three

SUMMARY:  What happens when the life you're running from won't let go of your heart?

     Kaitlyn Reed and Steven Braden have always had a similar philosophy of life:  when the going gets tough, they get going - out of town and away from the problem.  Now they are both back in Last Chance, New Mexico and trying to start over.

     Kaitlyn is working to reestablish a relationship with the seven-year-old daughter she left behind six months earlier.  Steven is trying to prove to his family that he is not the irresponsible charmer they have always known him to be.  As Kaitlyn and Steven find themselves drawn to one another, one big question keeps getting in the way:  How will they learn to trust each other when they don't even trust themselves?

     With emotional depth and characters who leap off the page and into your heart, Cathleen Armstrong invites you to return once more to the dusty and delightful town of Last Chance.

REVIEW:  Like the other two books, I really enjoyed reading this one.  Kaitlyn is really trying to get her life back on track, and I commend her for it. She sticks with a job she hates to prove to herself and everyone else that she is here to stay and will do whatever it takes to be a good mom to Olivia.  I like how Steven is determined to prove to his family that he is not irresponsible and takes on the job of getting his grandmother's house ready for her after an accidental fall.  There were a few times I wanted to hurry the story along (especially when it came to Kaitlyn's job decision). Other than that, I loved this book.

     This is the third book in the series.  You need to read the second one to fully understand Kaitlyn's past, Chris' custody of Olivia, and how it affects this story.  The first book comes in handy to fully understand Steven's history with Last Chance.  This book neatly ties up all the loose ends of the first two books.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

 

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.  She is the author of Welcome to Last Chance, winner of the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for Women's Fiction, and One More Last Chance.

One More Last Chance Book Review

A Place to Call Home

Book Two

SUMMARY:  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 a relationship 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 charming characters that won fans for her debut novel, Cathleen Armstrong invites you back to Last Chance for a heartwarming, romantic story of two people navigating the twists and turns of life in a small town.

REVIEW:  This is the second book of this series.  You do not need to read the first one to understand this one unless you would like a little background on some of the minor characters and the history of the Dip 'n' Dine restaurant.

     This is a good book.  I like how Sarah wants to stand on her own but doesn't turn away anyone who wants to help her, especially her grandmother Elizabeth.  She has a huge heart for the kids she teaches and does what she can to help one of them when they experience difficulties in adjusting after moving to Last Chance.  Chris is wonderful.  Even though he is single, he steps up and takes in his niece Olivia after his sister leaves with her boyfriend.  He does a wonderful job running his restaurant and hosting a tasting party while trying to be a "single dad."  

     This is a fun book to read.  Check it out if you need something to do this summer or anytime.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Cathleen Armstrong is the award-winning author of Welcome to Last Chance.  Though she lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, her roots remain deep in New Mexico where she grew up and where much of her family still lives.  Learn more at www.cathleenarmstrong.com.

Welcome to Last Chance Book Review

A Place to Call Home

Book One

SUMMARY:  She's learned you can't count on anyone - but she didn't count on landing in Last Chance.

     The red warning light on her car dashboard may have driven Lainie Davis to seek help in the tiny town of Last Chance, New Mexico, but as she meets the people who make this one-horse town their home, it's her heart that is flashing bright warning lights.  These people are entirely too nice, too accommodating, and too interested in her personal life - especially since she's on the run and hoping to slip away unnoticed.

     Yet in spite of herself, Lainie is increasingly drawn into the small-town dramas and to a handsome local guy with a secret of his own.  Could Lainie actually make a life in this little town?  Or will the past catch up to her even here in the middle of nowhere?

REVIEW:   Last Chance seems like a wonderful place to live.  It's a very small town where everyone knows your name and looks out for each other, too.  If someone needs help, they are there quickly and for the long haul, if need be, without complaint.  They do have their problems and can be judgmental but they come together when needed. 
     Lainie is very independent.  She has been on her own since she was fourteen years old so she isn't very trusting.  When the locals help her find a place to stay after her car breaks down and a job when she starts to run out of money, Lainie is still a little suspicious but she eventually learns to trust them.  This sounds strange but one of my favorite parts is when she goes to the police to turn in something her ex-boyfriend hid in her backpack instead of trying to get rid of it on her own.  Most stories I've read in books or watched on television do not have the story go like this.  It gave me an opportunity to talk to my daughter about what she would do in that kind of situation.  I like how Lainie changes, trusting the townspeople more and trusting God when things look grim.
     When I first started reading the book, it seemed a little slow but I really got into it about half way through.  This is a good book and one to share with your daughters for an opportunity to discuss what Lainie did and find out what they would do. 

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

  

Available August 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Cathleen Armstrong lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, but her roots remain deep in New Mexico, where she grew up and where much of her family still lives. Her debut novel, Welcome to Last Chance, has already won the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for Women's Fiction.  For more information, check out her website at www.cathleenarmstrong.com.