What do you think?
Rate this book
The Queen of Second Chances
A tale of a young woman who champions seniors' hopes and dreams while challenging their worst enemies: regret and abuse.
Carraway (Carra) Quinn is a free-spirited English major confronting an unreceptive job market. Desperate for cash, she reluctantly agrees to her realtor stepmother’s marketing scheme: infiltrate a local senior center as a recreational aide, ingratiate herself with the members, and convince them to sell their homes.
Jay Prentiss is a straitlaced, overprotective elder attorney whose beloved but mentally fragile Nana attends that center.
More creative than mercenary, Carra convinces Jay to finance innovations to the Center’s antiquated programming. Her ingenuity injects new enthusiasm among the seniors, inspiring them to confront and reverse the regrets of their past. An unlikely romance develops.
But when Carra’s memoir-writing class prompts Jay’s Nana to skip town in search of a lost love, the two take off on a cross-country, soul-searching chase that will either deepen their relationship or tear them apart forever.
Carraway (Carra) Quinn is a free-spirited English major confronting an unreceptive job market. Desperate for cash, she reluctantly agrees to her realtor stepmother’s marketing scheme: infiltrate a local senior center as a recreational aide, ingratiate herself with the members, and convince them to sell their homes.
Jay Prentiss is a straitlaced, overprotective elder attorney whose beloved but mentally fragile Nana attends that center.
More creative than mercenary, Carra convinces Jay to finance innovations to the Center’s antiquated programming. Her ingenuity injects new enthusiasm among the seniors, inspiring them to confront and reverse the regrets of their past. An unlikely romance develops.
But when Carra’s memoir-writing class prompts Jay’s Nana to skip town in search of a lost love, the two take off on a cross-country, soul-searching chase that will either deepen their relationship or tear them apart forever.
- GenresRomance
204 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 7, 2021
1 person is currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
D.M. Barr
9 books306 followersWHO IS D.M. BARR?
By day, a mild-mannered salesperson, wife, mother, rescuer of senior shelter dogs, happily living just north of New York City. By night, an author of suspense, satire, and sweet romance.
My background includes stints in travel marketing, travel journalism, meeting planning, public relations and real estate. I was, for a long and happy time, an award-winning magazine writer and editor. Then kids happened. And I needed to actually make money. Now they're off doing whatever it is they do (of which I have no idea since they won't friend me on Facebook) and I can spend my spare time weaving tales of debauchery and whatever else tickles my fancy.
The main thing to remember about my work is that I am NOT one of my characters. For example, as a real estate broker, I've never played Bondage Bingo in one of my empty listings or offed one of my problem clients.
But that's not to say I haven't wanted to...
By day, a mild-mannered salesperson, wife, mother, rescuer of senior shelter dogs, happily living just north of New York City. By night, an author of suspense, satire, and sweet romance.
My background includes stints in travel marketing, travel journalism, meeting planning, public relations and real estate. I was, for a long and happy time, an award-winning magazine writer and editor. Then kids happened. And I needed to actually make money. Now they're off doing whatever it is they do (of which I have no idea since they won't friend me on Facebook) and I can spend my spare time weaving tales of debauchery and whatever else tickles my fancy.
The main thing to remember about my work is that I am NOT one of my characters. For example, as a real estate broker, I've never played Bondage Bingo in one of my empty listings or offed one of my problem clients.
But that's not to say I haven't wanted to...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
July 23, 2021
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE QUEEN OF SECOND CHANCES by D.M Barr is a heartwarming standalone contemporary romance/comedy love story packed with memorable characters and humorous dialog. Besides the lovable hero and heroine, there are several seniors to fall in love with as well as canine companions.
Carraway “Carra” Quinn graduated as an English major who wants to write novels and is having difficulty paying her share of the bills where she lives with her best-friend. Her stepmother has pulled her and her sister into a scheme to infiltrate senior facilities to convince them to sell their homes for the equity and downsize. Cara is working at the local senior center as a recreational assistant. She starts a memoir writing class and as she comes to know the seniors and their stories, she refuses to use them to pull herself out of her financial straits.
Jay Prentiss is a successful attorney dealing with the elderly who has political aspirations. Jay’s beloved nana attends the senior center where Carra is working. While Jay is a major contributor, Carra wants to show him it is not the facilities that need his money, but the individual seniors that could use their help and attention.
Carra and Jay both have personal traumas from their childhoods which effect their present lives. Can the two work together to overcome their pasts and get a second chance at love?
This story is a perfectly balanced mix of romance, love, empathy, humor, crazy situations and heart. The romance is realistically paced as Carra and Jay come to know each other and the differences in their styles in helping the seniors. Their past traumas in their childhoods also are dealt with in believable ways. The seniors in the story are people you would find at any senior center. They are not overly quirky or strange, but real people who still have so much to live for and offer. I wanted to adopt them all. Last, but not least there are two canines in this story and having adopted my own AmStaff, I was so happy to see how the author depicted this one. The sex scenes are behind closed doors and not until later in the story at an appropriate time. This is an all-around enjoyable read!
I highly recommend this contemporary romance/comedy!
THE QUEEN OF SECOND CHANCES by D.M Barr is a heartwarming standalone contemporary romance/comedy love story packed with memorable characters and humorous dialog. Besides the lovable hero and heroine, there are several seniors to fall in love with as well as canine companions.
Carraway “Carra” Quinn graduated as an English major who wants to write novels and is having difficulty paying her share of the bills where she lives with her best-friend. Her stepmother has pulled her and her sister into a scheme to infiltrate senior facilities to convince them to sell their homes for the equity and downsize. Cara is working at the local senior center as a recreational assistant. She starts a memoir writing class and as she comes to know the seniors and their stories, she refuses to use them to pull herself out of her financial straits.
Jay Prentiss is a successful attorney dealing with the elderly who has political aspirations. Jay’s beloved nana attends the senior center where Carra is working. While Jay is a major contributor, Carra wants to show him it is not the facilities that need his money, but the individual seniors that could use their help and attention.
Carra and Jay both have personal traumas from their childhoods which effect their present lives. Can the two work together to overcome their pasts and get a second chance at love?
This story is a perfectly balanced mix of romance, love, empathy, humor, crazy situations and heart. The romance is realistically paced as Carra and Jay come to know each other and the differences in their styles in helping the seniors. Their past traumas in their childhoods also are dealt with in believable ways. The seniors in the story are people you would find at any senior center. They are not overly quirky or strange, but real people who still have so much to live for and offer. I wanted to adopt them all. Last, but not least there are two canines in this story and having adopted my own AmStaff, I was so happy to see how the author depicted this one. The sex scenes are behind closed doors and not until later in the story at an appropriate time. This is an all-around enjoyable read!
I highly recommend this contemporary romance/comedy!
April 2, 2022
Carraway (Carra) Quinn, a recent graduate with an English major, is struggling to secure a stable editorial position in a tight job market. Unfortunately for Carra, the job market for English majors are slim to none. And to top it off, her first novel still needs to be revised in order to get published — a feat next to impossible when the ominous “writers’ block” has strangled her chances. Carra desperately needs to get her finances together or else face the pink slip of eviction.
Carra’s stepmother, Bea, sees Carra’s struggles as an opportunity to advance her realtor career. Bea convinces Carra to get her real estate license and sign on as an agent with her. The catch — Carra is to infiltrate a senior center, gain the member’s trust, and convince each member to sell their homes under the guise of downsizing.. But can Carra in good concious do that to the men and women living on fixed incomes?
The Queen of Second Chances is such an entertaining read. It’s a lighthearted romantic comedy with well developed characters that color the pages with wit, humor, and a bit of snakiness. I liked the dual points of view — first person Carra and Jay via third person. But it was a bit rough in the beginning until that flow gets established. This first and third person points of view didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the novel since the rythm is easily navigable.
I really loved the storyline with a backdrop of a senior center. It really brought forth how seniors can stagnate under a controlling and budgeted, constrained system that dooms them to oblivion. It is also about how innovative and forward thinking people can transform a mundane existence into a vibrant one. The romance aspect is just window dressing in my opinion. But it is a nice touch to an already engaging novel. Five adoring stars.
I received a digital copy of the book from the author. The review herein is completely my own and contains my hones thoughts and opinions.
Carra’s stepmother, Bea, sees Carra’s struggles as an opportunity to advance her realtor career. Bea convinces Carra to get her real estate license and sign on as an agent with her. The catch — Carra is to infiltrate a senior center, gain the member’s trust, and convince each member to sell their homes under the guise of downsizing.. But can Carra in good concious do that to the men and women living on fixed incomes?
The Queen of Second Chances is such an entertaining read. It’s a lighthearted romantic comedy with well developed characters that color the pages with wit, humor, and a bit of snakiness. I liked the dual points of view — first person Carra and Jay via third person. But it was a bit rough in the beginning until that flow gets established. This first and third person points of view didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the novel since the rythm is easily navigable.
I really loved the storyline with a backdrop of a senior center. It really brought forth how seniors can stagnate under a controlling and budgeted, constrained system that dooms them to oblivion. It is also about how innovative and forward thinking people can transform a mundane existence into a vibrant one. The romance aspect is just window dressing in my opinion. But it is a nice touch to an already engaging novel. Five adoring stars.
I received a digital copy of the book from the author. The review herein is completely my own and contains my hones thoughts and opinions.
September 6, 2021
D.M. Barr has a quirky senior tale that many readers will get a kick out of and totally relate one or more family members to while reading.
Read full review in the 2021 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2021 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
October 2, 2021
Youtube: https://youtu.be/6XbZ8vVZxis
Blog: https://nanasbookreviews.wordpress.co...
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Queen of Second Chances by D.M. Barr is a romantic comedy.
Carraway Quinn aka Carra was a writer who was currently unemployed and with writer's block. Her stepmother used Carra's misfortune in order to use her for a scheme. She got hired at SALAD, Seniors Awaiting Lunch and Dinner, and she had to convince the elderly there to sell their homes. At first, she hated that job but soon she changed her mind. With her recreational aide position, she was starting to change the lives of the people there, they were happier and more active. Carra also met Jay Prentiss there, an elder lawyer who had his nana in the center. They bonded through her attempts to create something special for those in need. It was the first time for both of
them that they felt something deep for another person. Was this newfound love strong enough to overcome the obstacles?
It's such a cute and romantic story. The plot is simple and entertaining but also emotional at times. The story is divided into two parts that blend in together. The one part is the romance between Jay and Carra. It's a slow burn with sweet and fun moments. The other part gives us a glimpse of the lives of the elders who have disabilities, money problems, or being lonely. That was filled with emotional moments and later it became more uplifting. The characters were incredible, especially Carra she was my favorite. I love it when a character is a mess with good intentions and humor. My favorite scenes were when she found ways to create a new daily routine.
This is a great book that I highly recommend you to read. I enjoyed it a lot and I will rate it with 4 stars.
Blog: https://nanasbookreviews.wordpress.co...
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Queen of Second Chances by D.M. Barr is a romantic comedy.
Carraway Quinn aka Carra was a writer who was currently unemployed and with writer's block. Her stepmother used Carra's misfortune in order to use her for a scheme. She got hired at SALAD, Seniors Awaiting Lunch and Dinner, and she had to convince the elderly there to sell their homes. At first, she hated that job but soon she changed her mind. With her recreational aide position, she was starting to change the lives of the people there, they were happier and more active. Carra also met Jay Prentiss there, an elder lawyer who had his nana in the center. They bonded through her attempts to create something special for those in need. It was the first time for both of
them that they felt something deep for another person. Was this newfound love strong enough to overcome the obstacles?
It's such a cute and romantic story. The plot is simple and entertaining but also emotional at times. The story is divided into two parts that blend in together. The one part is the romance between Jay and Carra. It's a slow burn with sweet and fun moments. The other part gives us a glimpse of the lives of the elders who have disabilities, money problems, or being lonely. That was filled with emotional moments and later it became more uplifting. The characters were incredible, especially Carra she was my favorite. I love it when a character is a mess with good intentions and humor. My favorite scenes were when she found ways to create a new daily routine.
This is a great book that I highly recommend you to read. I enjoyed it a lot and I will rate it with 4 stars.
November 15, 2024
“Carra, a second chance is the greatest gift you can give someone. This time, that someone is yourself.”
The chemistry Jay and Carra have!! I loved reading about their blossoming romance. I was a little skeptical of the money aspect at first (Jay buying out Carra’s love, and Carra using Jay for what he could bring to SALAD). But from the moment the two of them started flirting with each other, I was sold. I loved the teasing and playful flirting.
Other than Carra and Jay, I liked all the elderly characters. Despite her rough exterior, Blanche is sweet as honey. Poor Michaela is touching, Simon too. After years of being alone, it is inspiring to see Helen finally prioritizing herself.
D. M. Barr’s writing style is straightforward and consistent. One thing I didn’t like, though, is the inconsistency between the points of view. Carra’s chapters are narrated from the first person POV whereas Jay’s are from the third person. It was destabilizing at first, and although I don’t have any preference between both narrations, I wish the author had settled for one or the other.
Overall, the plot is a little predictable, but all the characters are endearing and I appreciate the happy ending. The Queen of Second Chances deserves a good rating of 4 out of five stars.
Thanks a lot to the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a review!
The chemistry Jay and Carra have!! I loved reading about their blossoming romance. I was a little skeptical of the money aspect at first (Jay buying out Carra’s love, and Carra using Jay for what he could bring to SALAD). But from the moment the two of them started flirting with each other, I was sold. I loved the teasing and playful flirting.
Other than Carra and Jay, I liked all the elderly characters. Despite her rough exterior, Blanche is sweet as honey. Poor Michaela is touching, Simon too. After years of being alone, it is inspiring to see Helen finally prioritizing herself.
D. M. Barr’s writing style is straightforward and consistent. One thing I didn’t like, though, is the inconsistency between the points of view. Carra’s chapters are narrated from the first person POV whereas Jay’s are from the third person. It was destabilizing at first, and although I don’t have any preference between both narrations, I wish the author had settled for one or the other.
Overall, the plot is a little predictable, but all the characters are endearing and I appreciate the happy ending. The Queen of Second Chances deserves a good rating of 4 out of five stars.
Thanks a lot to the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a review!
July 26, 2021
Read my review on NovelsAlive.com by clicking on the link below. It is also posted in full.
https://novelsalive.com/2021/07/26/4-...
The Queen of Second Chances by D.M. Barr was a quick read rom-com and had some quirkiness throughout. Filled with seniors who hang out at the recreational center at SALAD and/or get meals delivered to them at their homes, there were many different personalities involved. Carra gets a job there through her stepmom when she needs to pay the rent since she’s procrastinating revising her novel that her editor is waiting on.
Carra’s stepmother, who is in real estate, thinks Carra should approach the seniors about selling their homes and moving into something smaller or an apartment. Her stepmom does the same with Nikki, Carra’s sister, but at a rehab center.
Carra pays lips service to her stepmom, but that’s about all. Carra shakes up the activities portion of SALAD—much to the chagrin of those in charge—and gets reprimanded more than once.
Carra and Jay, an attorney for the elderly whose grandmother goes to the rec center each day, meet when Carra asks for a favor since she heard he’s a big donor to the center. The two hit it off, but there are lots of secrets between them, and they both sometimes say things without thinking them through.
As their attraction builds and Carra comes up with more ideas Jay can help with, he starts to rethink some pieces of his life. His current girlfriend, his administrative assistant, and his lack of humor seem to all point to changes he needs to make, but how will that go over? He’s very protective of his grandmother to the point that Carra doesn’t even know which senior she is.
The story twists and turns with some heartwarming moments and others that are heartbreaking. We get to see Carra’s relationship with her roommate as well as her sister and stepmom. There are several pieces to the story, all centered around SALAD, woven together nicely. There are pets, love interests, activities to plan, people to visit to enrich their lives, clients needing help with different parts of their lives, misunderstanding, anger, sadness, danger, heartache, truths uncovered, romance and ultimately love.
As Carra and Jay get closer, they often take one step forward and two or three back. His current girlfriend doesn’t seem to get the hint that their relationship is history. There is some closure and a happily ever after in the offing, especially thanks to the last chapter that takes place a year later. The cover was cute and drew me in.
Ms. Barr is a new to me author. The Queen of Second Chances is her first rom-com, and I hope she writes more of them since I enjoyed her writing style.
https://novelsalive.com/2021/07/26/4-...
The Queen of Second Chances by D.M. Barr was a quick read rom-com and had some quirkiness throughout. Filled with seniors who hang out at the recreational center at SALAD and/or get meals delivered to them at their homes, there were many different personalities involved. Carra gets a job there through her stepmom when she needs to pay the rent since she’s procrastinating revising her novel that her editor is waiting on.
Carra’s stepmother, who is in real estate, thinks Carra should approach the seniors about selling their homes and moving into something smaller or an apartment. Her stepmom does the same with Nikki, Carra’s sister, but at a rehab center.
Carra pays lips service to her stepmom, but that’s about all. Carra shakes up the activities portion of SALAD—much to the chagrin of those in charge—and gets reprimanded more than once.
Carra and Jay, an attorney for the elderly whose grandmother goes to the rec center each day, meet when Carra asks for a favor since she heard he’s a big donor to the center. The two hit it off, but there are lots of secrets between them, and they both sometimes say things without thinking them through.
As their attraction builds and Carra comes up with more ideas Jay can help with, he starts to rethink some pieces of his life. His current girlfriend, his administrative assistant, and his lack of humor seem to all point to changes he needs to make, but how will that go over? He’s very protective of his grandmother to the point that Carra doesn’t even know which senior she is.
The story twists and turns with some heartwarming moments and others that are heartbreaking. We get to see Carra’s relationship with her roommate as well as her sister and stepmom. There are several pieces to the story, all centered around SALAD, woven together nicely. There are pets, love interests, activities to plan, people to visit to enrich their lives, clients needing help with different parts of their lives, misunderstanding, anger, sadness, danger, heartache, truths uncovered, romance and ultimately love.
As Carra and Jay get closer, they often take one step forward and two or three back. His current girlfriend doesn’t seem to get the hint that their relationship is history. There is some closure and a happily ever after in the offing, especially thanks to the last chapter that takes place a year later. The cover was cute and drew me in.
Ms. Barr is a new to me author. The Queen of Second Chances is her first rom-com, and I hope she writes more of them since I enjoyed her writing style.
June 5, 2021
Charming, funny, and heartwarming, the Queen of Second Chances is not just a love story where two people discover each other, it is a story of self-discovery. Like all good romances, this one starts with the two main characters loathing each other before slowly realizing that they are perfect together. But before either Jay or Carra can come to that realization, they have to work through their personal shortcomings. Carra feels like a failure and is unable to get past her mother's desertion of her as a child. Jay, while his helping people who desperately need rescuing demonstrates his fundamental goodness, puts a little too much emphasis on wealth and status. Helping a group of seniors find fulfillment is the catalyst that allows both the main characters to embrace changing their own lives and then ultimately embrace each other. A joy to read, the Queen of Second Chances is the perfect mood lifter in these stressful times.
August 11, 2021
I really liked Carra and could relate to her efforts to find her own way, despite the real pressures she faces to do what she knows would be wrong. Jay would seem to be an odd match for her – older and much more sophisticated – except once you get to know him, you can see how there might be potential. For one thing, they seem to both love puns, which add a light tone to their banter. As befitting any good romance, the attraction is mutual; then a few misunderstandings and obstacles threaten to derail their relationship… until the happy ending. Overall, an entertaining, very punny light escape.
FTC disclosure: I received an advance reader copy as a part of this blog tour. This has not affected the content of this review.
FTC disclosure: I received an advance reader copy as a part of this blog tour. This has not affected the content of this review.
July 28, 2021
The Queen of Second Chances by D.M. Barr is a romantic comedy, I fell in love with so many of the characters in the book. Carra and Jay are the main characters in the book, but without the supporting cast of the senior citizens and any book with animals is a win in my opinion. As Carra and Jay struggle with things in their past, they both have to work on coming to terms with things and accepting and letting go. I found this to be a good, quick read that was a fun read. Definitely would recommend it to others. I received a digital copy from the author and #partnersincrimevbt, and I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions expressed here are my own.
July 16, 2021
In The Queen Of Second Chances, author D.M. Barr weaves a lighthearted romantic tale of friendship, love and second chances.
Set in the Hudson Valley town of Rock Canyon, the reader is easily drawn into this entertaining story as they follow Carra Quinn and Jay Prentiss as they navigate the trials and tribulations of life and second chances.
Carra Quinn is a recent college graduate who wants to be a novelist. While trying to break into the literary profession, money is tight, and she is reluctantly pushed by her step-mother Bea to get her real estate agent license in order to help her score sales at the real estate agency she works at. Bea talks Carra into applying for a recreational aide position at a local senior center, and utilize her marketing scheme to talk the seniors into downsizing and list their homes with the real estate agency. But once Carra starts working at the senior center, she realizes that the senior center recreational program needs to be revitalized, and that some of the seniors really need help in their personal lives as well, and doing her step-mother's scheme is not what she is going to do, earning her the nickname "the queen of second chances" from the seniors.
Jay Prentiss is a successful elder care attorney who also has political aspirations. Jay's beloved Nana is a senior client at the local senior center, and he is very protective of her since she raised him after his parents died in a car accident when he was eight years old. Jay is one of the senior center's biggest contributors, but he's met his match when he meets Carra, and she shows him that the seniors need to be taken better care of at the senior center, and recruits him to help her make those changes.
Carra and Jay are both broken souls who have personal issues from their pasts that stymies them from having happiness in their lives, but can working together help them put their traumatic pasts behind them, and give them a second chance at finding love and happiness?
The Queen Of Second Chances is an enjoyable romantic comedy that easily keeps the reader engaged as they follow Carra and Jay's story. Told in the alternating first person narrative by Carra and third person narrative by Jay, the reader follows along as their unexpected meeting helps them not only help the lifestyles of the seniors at the senior center, but also helps both of them gain a sense of self-discovery, and a second chance at finding love and happiness in their lives.
There was a great mixture of emotion, drama, angst, humor, and crazy antics mixed in this story. The author does a great job of describing Carra and Jay's lives, especially with the flashbacks to their traumatic childhood memories throughout the story. You can't help but feel compassion for Carra and Jay as they face the ghosts from their pasts, and embrace the changes in their lives that helps them gain self-discovery, and find unexpected love along the way.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I enjoyed reading about the seniors and their hilarious scenes at the senior center. As a retired nursing home administrator, who also ran a senior center (adult day care), I couldn't help but reminsce over the fun time that I had with the senior clients. The senior characters and the description of the recreational program and overall administration of the senior center brought back a lot of memories that made me smile. You can't help but laugh at the crazy antics that Carra and the seniors engage in, and when you add in the the bond that grows between Carra and Jay, you have a lighthearted tale that is so much more special.
The Queen Of Second Chances is a heartfelt story that has enough emotional depth, drama, romance, comedy, and witty banter, that makes it a delightfully entertaining romantic comedy tale that romance fans will certainly enjoy!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Providence Book Promotions.
https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspo...
Set in the Hudson Valley town of Rock Canyon, the reader is easily drawn into this entertaining story as they follow Carra Quinn and Jay Prentiss as they navigate the trials and tribulations of life and second chances.
Carra Quinn is a recent college graduate who wants to be a novelist. While trying to break into the literary profession, money is tight, and she is reluctantly pushed by her step-mother Bea to get her real estate agent license in order to help her score sales at the real estate agency she works at. Bea talks Carra into applying for a recreational aide position at a local senior center, and utilize her marketing scheme to talk the seniors into downsizing and list their homes with the real estate agency. But once Carra starts working at the senior center, she realizes that the senior center recreational program needs to be revitalized, and that some of the seniors really need help in their personal lives as well, and doing her step-mother's scheme is not what she is going to do, earning her the nickname "the queen of second chances" from the seniors.
Jay Prentiss is a successful elder care attorney who also has political aspirations. Jay's beloved Nana is a senior client at the local senior center, and he is very protective of her since she raised him after his parents died in a car accident when he was eight years old. Jay is one of the senior center's biggest contributors, but he's met his match when he meets Carra, and she shows him that the seniors need to be taken better care of at the senior center, and recruits him to help her make those changes.
Carra and Jay are both broken souls who have personal issues from their pasts that stymies them from having happiness in their lives, but can working together help them put their traumatic pasts behind them, and give them a second chance at finding love and happiness?
The Queen Of Second Chances is an enjoyable romantic comedy that easily keeps the reader engaged as they follow Carra and Jay's story. Told in the alternating first person narrative by Carra and third person narrative by Jay, the reader follows along as their unexpected meeting helps them not only help the lifestyles of the seniors at the senior center, but also helps both of them gain a sense of self-discovery, and a second chance at finding love and happiness in their lives.
There was a great mixture of emotion, drama, angst, humor, and crazy antics mixed in this story. The author does a great job of describing Carra and Jay's lives, especially with the flashbacks to their traumatic childhood memories throughout the story. You can't help but feel compassion for Carra and Jay as they face the ghosts from their pasts, and embrace the changes in their lives that helps them gain self-discovery, and find unexpected love along the way.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I enjoyed reading about the seniors and their hilarious scenes at the senior center. As a retired nursing home administrator, who also ran a senior center (adult day care), I couldn't help but reminsce over the fun time that I had with the senior clients. The senior characters and the description of the recreational program and overall administration of the senior center brought back a lot of memories that made me smile. You can't help but laugh at the crazy antics that Carra and the seniors engage in, and when you add in the the bond that grows between Carra and Jay, you have a lighthearted tale that is so much more special.
The Queen Of Second Chances is a heartfelt story that has enough emotional depth, drama, romance, comedy, and witty banter, that makes it a delightfully entertaining romantic comedy tale that romance fans will certainly enjoy!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Providence Book Promotions.
https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspo...
January 11, 2022
Carra is a recent college graduate living with her criminally-minded realtor stepmother and sister. She dreams of being a novelist, but is encouraged to take a job at a retirement community in order to convince the elderly members to part with their homes for her stepmother’s profitable scheming. Instead, Carra brings joy and enlightenment to their lives by adding fun to their daily activities, chatting with the homebound during meals on wheels deliveries, and generally annoying her boss who loves things quiet, boring, and status-quo. Carra proves that she has a heart of gold, in spite of her family’s and coworkers’ manipulations.
Jay Prentiss, a successful elder attorney, is keeping a close eye on the retirement community center because his beloved grandmother frequents there and he wants to ensure that nobody takes advantage of her. He is used to looking at the big picture and throwing money at his problems. When he encounters Carra, she slowly opens his eyes to how small acts of kindness can sometimes do so much more than what the bigger picture shows.
The story is full of colorful characters, family drama, bumbling crooks, and a tender slow burn romance guaranteed to tug at readers’ heartstrings. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was pleased at the happy ending, even though it didn’t quite end the way I expected. Worth a read.
Jay Prentiss, a successful elder attorney, is keeping a close eye on the retirement community center because his beloved grandmother frequents there and he wants to ensure that nobody takes advantage of her. He is used to looking at the big picture and throwing money at his problems. When he encounters Carra, she slowly opens his eyes to how small acts of kindness can sometimes do so much more than what the bigger picture shows.
The story is full of colorful characters, family drama, bumbling crooks, and a tender slow burn romance guaranteed to tug at readers’ heartstrings. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was pleased at the happy ending, even though it didn’t quite end the way I expected. Worth a read.
December 1, 2024
This was such a fun, fast-paced rom-com with an endearing lead and plenty of cute momments! The main character was lovable, and the elderly side characters totally stole the show-they were adorable. The romance itself could have used a bit more spark, and while I was hoping for more of an enemies-to-lovers vibe, it was a cute strangers-to-lovers story. The male lead was charming, but he could've been more of a hardass to really amp up the tension. The story shifts between first and third person, which threw me off a little, but overall, it was an easy read with an exciting ending and a great wrap-up. With a bit of drama and even some suspense, I'd recommend this one for anyone into slow-burn, low-steam rom-coms
July 6, 2021
Carraway seems to need a second chance on a regular basis. BTW, who names their kid after a seed? Was it really so? Does that name start the need for all of Carra’s second chances?
Her mercenary stepmother pushes her into a job at a senior citizen center so she can sell their houses. Carra ends up loving her job as she gets creative with activities for them.
Jay Prentiss gets sucked into helping her as his grandmother is one of the ladies spending time at the center. He likes the things Carra is doing for the seniors.
But it isn’t all puppy kisses and roses between the two after Jay’s grandmother takes off to find her lost love. Blaming Carra, he drags her along in a race to get to his Nana before she totally disappears.
I enjoyed this book. I was a bit hesitant as I began reading it. I was afraid I would run into explicit sex scenes as the author had stated that she was an author of sex, suspense and satire. Thank you, D.M. Barr for providing an enjoyable read without messing it up with unnecessary sex.
***Book provided without charge by Providence Book Promotions.***
Her mercenary stepmother pushes her into a job at a senior citizen center so she can sell their houses. Carra ends up loving her job as she gets creative with activities for them.
Jay Prentiss gets sucked into helping her as his grandmother is one of the ladies spending time at the center. He likes the things Carra is doing for the seniors.
But it isn’t all puppy kisses and roses between the two after Jay’s grandmother takes off to find her lost love. Blaming Carra, he drags her along in a race to get to his Nana before she totally disappears.
I enjoyed this book. I was a bit hesitant as I began reading it. I was afraid I would run into explicit sex scenes as the author had stated that she was an author of sex, suspense and satire. Thank you, D.M. Barr for providing an enjoyable read without messing it up with unnecessary sex.
***Book provided without charge by Providence Book Promotions.***
July 9, 2021
The Queen of Second Chances is a feel-good, humorous read with surprising depth.
Carra, our main character, is young and still trying to find her way in life. When she reluctantly takes a job as a recreational aide at a senior center, all sorts of unexpected things happen for her and the seniors.
I enjoyed every aspect of this story. We have a blossoming romance that provides all the romcom vibes. But the heart of the story is a look at aging, life choices, regrets, hopes, and resilience. Old age doesn’t mean we stop living, and I absolutely loved how this story portrayed seniors.
This is an easy read that will leave you smiling.
*I received a review copy as part of a book tour with Partners in Crime.*
Carra, our main character, is young and still trying to find her way in life. When she reluctantly takes a job as a recreational aide at a senior center, all sorts of unexpected things happen for her and the seniors.
I enjoyed every aspect of this story. We have a blossoming romance that provides all the romcom vibes. But the heart of the story is a look at aging, life choices, regrets, hopes, and resilience. Old age doesn’t mean we stop living, and I absolutely loved how this story portrayed seniors.
This is an easy read that will leave you smiling.
*I received a review copy as part of a book tour with Partners in Crime.*
June 30, 2021
Low steam, sweet but slow rom-com
This was a funny story with a twist. Instead of a widower with child or uncle with child, we have a grown grandson who cares for his Nana. Carraway (Carra) Quinn has obligations and in order to meet those, she must do something that she really doesn’t want to do. Her step-mother gets her a job at a “daycare” for the elderly but what Carra sees are older people just putting in time, doing puzzles, playing board games and looking as bored as it all seems. If she must be here, she wants to inject some spunk into their daily routine.
Jay Prentiss, Esquire is a very successful attorney for the elderly. He has certain expectations and plans which should never be abridged. What happens when the red-headed always-spontaneous Carra meets the curmudgeonly Jay who she has nicknamed Adonis or Donny for short? He’s 10 years her senior and their personalities don’t seem to match but there is definitely an attraction. Backstories are entertaining and poignant.
Well-written and well-edited but slow book in my opinion. I also didn’t appreciate the political statements made in the ending. The author appears to paint all Conservatives with the same broad strokes. Not true. If you like clean rom-coms, this book may be for you. I give it 3.75 stars because it was so slow moving. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a funny story with a twist. Instead of a widower with child or uncle with child, we have a grown grandson who cares for his Nana. Carraway (Carra) Quinn has obligations and in order to meet those, she must do something that she really doesn’t want to do. Her step-mother gets her a job at a “daycare” for the elderly but what Carra sees are older people just putting in time, doing puzzles, playing board games and looking as bored as it all seems. If she must be here, she wants to inject some spunk into their daily routine.
Jay Prentiss, Esquire is a very successful attorney for the elderly. He has certain expectations and plans which should never be abridged. What happens when the red-headed always-spontaneous Carra meets the curmudgeonly Jay who she has nicknamed Adonis or Donny for short? He’s 10 years her senior and their personalities don’t seem to match but there is definitely an attraction. Backstories are entertaining and poignant.
Well-written and well-edited but slow book in my opinion. I also didn’t appreciate the political statements made in the ending. The author appears to paint all Conservatives with the same broad strokes. Not true. If you like clean rom-coms, this book may be for you. I give it 3.75 stars because it was so slow moving. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 10, 2021
‘Ah, the entitlement of the rich. Walk over everyone, then storm off.’ – A superb Barr!
New York author D.M. Barr has worked in travel marketing, travel journalism, meeting planning, public relations, and real estate. After success as an award-winning magazine writer and editor she became a mother, and now writing is her business. Her books to date - EXPIRED LISTINGS, SLASHING MONA LISA, SAVING GRACE, and now THE QUEEN OF SECOND CHANCES. She lives in the Hudson Valley.
Having read all of Barr’s books, becoming involved in this new novel turns on lights illuminating even more of her strong values as an author. She moves from psychological thrillers to romance comedy and inserts some sociological issues as well – such as abuse of the elderly – without diminishing the light atmosphere a bit. That is a skill that takes talent! And as always the polished quality of her prose is expected.
Barr’s irresistible flair for unfolding a story is evident as she opens this new novel: ‘I couldn’t take my eyes off the man. He came barreling into the recreational center at SALAD – Seniors Awaiting Lunch and Dinner, Rock Canyon’s answer to Meals on Wheels – as I sat in the outer office, awaiting my job interview. He was tall, but no too tall. His expensive suit barely concealed an athletic physique that fell just shy of a slavish devotion to muscle mass. Early thirties, I estimated, and monied. Honey-blond curly hair, dimples. Why did there always have to be dimples? They were my kryptonite, rendering me powerless to resist. I nicknamed him Adonis, Donny for short, lest anyone accuse me of being pretentious. He was the stuff of every girl’s dreams, especially if that girl was as masochistic as yours truly.’ Not only does Barr paint her character well, but she also gives a nod to the delightful quality of writing this book displays.
Having anchored our attention, the plot is well distilled in the synopsis: ‘Carra’s memoir-writing class teaches seniors to resolve the regrets of their past. But to win over elder attorney Jay, will she follow her own advice? Carraway (Carra) Quinn is a free-spirited English major confronting an unreceptive job market. Desperate for cash, she reluctantly agrees to her realtor stepmother’s marketing scheme: infiltrate a local senior center as a recreational aide, ingratiate herself with the members, and convince them to sell their homes. Jay Prentiss is a straitlaced, overprotective elder attorney whose beloved but mentally fragile Nana attends that center. More creative than mercenary, Carra convinces Jay to finance innovations to the Center’s antiquated programming. Her ingenuity injects new enthusiasm among the seniors, inspiring them to confront and reverse the regrets of their past. An unlikely romance develops. But when Carra’s memoir-writing class prompts Jay’s Nana to skip town in search of a lost love, the two take off on a cross-country, soul-searching chase that will either deepen their relationship or tear them apart forever.’
D.M. Barr continues to impress as an author of note. This is one superb romance comedy – with some fine underpinning messages. Another winner from this fine artist.
New York author D.M. Barr has worked in travel marketing, travel journalism, meeting planning, public relations, and real estate. After success as an award-winning magazine writer and editor she became a mother, and now writing is her business. Her books to date - EXPIRED LISTINGS, SLASHING MONA LISA, SAVING GRACE, and now THE QUEEN OF SECOND CHANCES. She lives in the Hudson Valley.
Having read all of Barr’s books, becoming involved in this new novel turns on lights illuminating even more of her strong values as an author. She moves from psychological thrillers to romance comedy and inserts some sociological issues as well – such as abuse of the elderly – without diminishing the light atmosphere a bit. That is a skill that takes talent! And as always the polished quality of her prose is expected.
Barr’s irresistible flair for unfolding a story is evident as she opens this new novel: ‘I couldn’t take my eyes off the man. He came barreling into the recreational center at SALAD – Seniors Awaiting Lunch and Dinner, Rock Canyon’s answer to Meals on Wheels – as I sat in the outer office, awaiting my job interview. He was tall, but no too tall. His expensive suit barely concealed an athletic physique that fell just shy of a slavish devotion to muscle mass. Early thirties, I estimated, and monied. Honey-blond curly hair, dimples. Why did there always have to be dimples? They were my kryptonite, rendering me powerless to resist. I nicknamed him Adonis, Donny for short, lest anyone accuse me of being pretentious. He was the stuff of every girl’s dreams, especially if that girl was as masochistic as yours truly.’ Not only does Barr paint her character well, but she also gives a nod to the delightful quality of writing this book displays.
Having anchored our attention, the plot is well distilled in the synopsis: ‘Carra’s memoir-writing class teaches seniors to resolve the regrets of their past. But to win over elder attorney Jay, will she follow her own advice? Carraway (Carra) Quinn is a free-spirited English major confronting an unreceptive job market. Desperate for cash, she reluctantly agrees to her realtor stepmother’s marketing scheme: infiltrate a local senior center as a recreational aide, ingratiate herself with the members, and convince them to sell their homes. Jay Prentiss is a straitlaced, overprotective elder attorney whose beloved but mentally fragile Nana attends that center. More creative than mercenary, Carra convinces Jay to finance innovations to the Center’s antiquated programming. Her ingenuity injects new enthusiasm among the seniors, inspiring them to confront and reverse the regrets of their past. An unlikely romance develops. But when Carra’s memoir-writing class prompts Jay’s Nana to skip town in search of a lost love, the two take off on a cross-country, soul-searching chase that will either deepen their relationship or tear them apart forever.’
D.M. Barr continues to impress as an author of note. This is one superb romance comedy – with some fine underpinning messages. Another winner from this fine artist.
July 22, 2021
I love the unique storyline of this featuring older characters. This is a book full of romance and comedy. It’s an enemies to lovers story of main characters, Carra and Jay. They both help the elderly in different capacities, which brings them together.
They find love as friends and giving themselves second chances on their journey of self-discovery.
Both of them struggle to get through things from their past.
While they are finding their selves, they also make a difference in the lives of the seniors.
Carra is labeled by the seniors as “The Queen of Second Chances” as she not only gets her, but she works with them getting one as well.
This is a wonderful book of women’s fiction not only with the main character, Carra, but also the women in the senior center, who create their own wittiness and lightheartedness.
I recommend this fun, sweet read that brings some laughs along the way.
They find love as friends and giving themselves second chances on their journey of self-discovery.
Both of them struggle to get through things from their past.
While they are finding their selves, they also make a difference in the lives of the seniors.
Carra is labeled by the seniors as “The Queen of Second Chances” as she not only gets her, but she works with them getting one as well.
This is a wonderful book of women’s fiction not only with the main character, Carra, but also the women in the senior center, who create their own wittiness and lightheartedness.
I recommend this fun, sweet read that brings some laughs along the way.
June 9, 2021
Hi
I like this book. I love both jay and cara character .i definitely recommend this book. It about how a girl a join a senior group for a hidden purpose but eventually starts to help them.i love how the author had kept the nana's name suspense . It would helpful if they author put like pov when character change like one character jay pov and next is cara pov. It was little bit difficult for me.other than that everything is excellent.
I would love if the author added like jay confronting his Secretary and the other lady or what happened to his nana when goes without informing him and later how both move on it.
Thanks for the author to write such a amazing story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I like this book. I love both jay and cara character .i definitely recommend this book. It about how a girl a join a senior group for a hidden purpose but eventually starts to help them.i love how the author had kept the nana's name suspense . It would helpful if they author put like pov when character change like one character jay pov and next is cara pov. It was little bit difficult for me.other than that everything is excellent.
I would love if the author added like jay confronting his Secretary and the other lady or what happened to his nana when goes without informing him and later how both move on it.
Thanks for the author to write such a amazing story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2024
Carra Quinn, a recent English major graduate, is in need of a job to pay her bills and agrees to her realtor stepmother’s plan to work at the local senior center in order to get close to the seniors and talk them into selling their homes. Jay Prentiss is a prim and proper attorney that helps finance the center because his aging nana attends the center. Carra convinces Jay to fund some of her ideas to liven up the center’s programming and a romance starts to blossom between them. When Carra’s memoir writing class convinces Jay’s nana to find a lost love, they take off on a cross country journey that will make or break their new found romance.
It is really easy to dismiss romantic comedy novels as frivolous, light, and fluffy.
And while this novel was a quick and easy read, it was anything but frivolous.
Carra is wonderfully written and complex. We get to see her grapple with not only her decision to go along with her realtor stepmother’s scheme of talking seniors at the center into selling their homes, we also see her tackle her mother’s abandonment and reappearance in her life as well as a strong fear of dogs.
Jay is also a strong and complex character. He has political aspirations and is dating a woman he doesn't really love but thinks he should. We initially see him as a shallow character but his growth is prompted by Carra’s passion to help the seniors. In true romantic comedy fashion, there were several obstacles for Carra and Jay to overcome.
The novel was full of humorous dialogue and compelling situations. Without spoiling the story, one of the seniors found themselves in a terrible situation and seeing how Carra and Jay handle that situation allows you to see them not just as characters in the novel but as real people you want to root for. Watching Jay’s personal growth and Carra’s compassion for the seniors bring them closer together was not only fun and compelling, but served as a reminder that if we looked long enough, we can find we have more commonalities than differences with each other.
This a book I would highly recommend to anyone looking for romantic comedy with heart and compassion.
I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for this review. The thoughts and opinions in this review are strictly my own.
It is really easy to dismiss romantic comedy novels as frivolous, light, and fluffy.
And while this novel was a quick and easy read, it was anything but frivolous.
Carra is wonderfully written and complex. We get to see her grapple with not only her decision to go along with her realtor stepmother’s scheme of talking seniors at the center into selling their homes, we also see her tackle her mother’s abandonment and reappearance in her life as well as a strong fear of dogs.
Jay is also a strong and complex character. He has political aspirations and is dating a woman he doesn't really love but thinks he should. We initially see him as a shallow character but his growth is prompted by Carra’s passion to help the seniors. In true romantic comedy fashion, there were several obstacles for Carra and Jay to overcome.
The novel was full of humorous dialogue and compelling situations. Without spoiling the story, one of the seniors found themselves in a terrible situation and seeing how Carra and Jay handle that situation allows you to see them not just as characters in the novel but as real people you want to root for. Watching Jay’s personal growth and Carra’s compassion for the seniors bring them closer together was not only fun and compelling, but served as a reminder that if we looked long enough, we can find we have more commonalities than differences with each other.
This a book I would highly recommend to anyone looking for romantic comedy with heart and compassion.
I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for this review. The thoughts and opinions in this review are strictly my own.
September 20, 2021
The Queen of Second Chances by D.M. Barr is, ultimately, an uplifting and fun novel. A standalone romantic comedy, the novel is full of loveable and a few not-so-loveable characters along with interwoven and interesting stories. It culminates in a feel-good ending that will leave you smiling.
The story centers around Carra Quinn, a recent college graduate with a degree in English and an aspiring novelist. Her step-mother, a greedy real estate agent, pushes Carra into a job for the wrong reasons, but Carra’s heart will not allow her to be the person her step-mom wishes her to be. Carra’s job is working with the elderly, and she develops a very tender heart toward them and wants to add more fun and excitement to their daily routine. In steps a handsome and well-off lawyer for the elderly, Jay Prentiss, who’s “nana” happens to visit the center where Carra works. Through a series of events and unpredictable twists, Carra and Jay’s lives intertwine to create a fun and adventurous and sometimes nail-biting story till the very end. And among the many smaller stories in The Queen of Second Chances, we learn the origins of its title and it is a very sweet one.
I enjoyed this novel. It did take me till I was about 40% of the way through it to get into it. The beginning was a little bit choppy and slow, but once the stories all started to come together, it picked up and I enjoyed it more. However, I did feel that the end was a bit rushed. I reached the last page and yearned for just a little bit more.
The Queen of Second Chances is an easy and enjoyable read that will put a smile on your face.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story centers around Carra Quinn, a recent college graduate with a degree in English and an aspiring novelist. Her step-mother, a greedy real estate agent, pushes Carra into a job for the wrong reasons, but Carra’s heart will not allow her to be the person her step-mom wishes her to be. Carra’s job is working with the elderly, and she develops a very tender heart toward them and wants to add more fun and excitement to their daily routine. In steps a handsome and well-off lawyer for the elderly, Jay Prentiss, who’s “nana” happens to visit the center where Carra works. Through a series of events and unpredictable twists, Carra and Jay’s lives intertwine to create a fun and adventurous and sometimes nail-biting story till the very end. And among the many smaller stories in The Queen of Second Chances, we learn the origins of its title and it is a very sweet one.
I enjoyed this novel. It did take me till I was about 40% of the way through it to get into it. The beginning was a little bit choppy and slow, but once the stories all started to come together, it picked up and I enjoyed it more. However, I did feel that the end was a bit rushed. I reached the last page and yearned for just a little bit more.
The Queen of Second Chances is an easy and enjoyable read that will put a smile on your face.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 22, 2023
Lovable characters.
It takes a gifted author to portray such an excellent characterization of seniors. Add in some lovable dogs and you have a great combo.
Carra, a college graduate, needs a good job to help her pay the rent. She doesn't want to take advantage of the seniors like her stepmother and sister are willing to do. She obtains a job at a seniors' place and believes she can improve their quality of life. The seniors love it but the woman in charge is totally against it. Carra doesn't know that this woman is working with her stepmother to get the seniors to sell their homes and move into smaller living quarters so they can profit from the sale of their properties.
Jay is very protective of his nana who goes to the seniors' place. He is a lawyer who helps the elderly. His way of helping is to build a new wing for establishments.
Carra first sees Jay when he is complaining to the woman in charge about the way they are treating his nana. She doesn't like him because of his temper.
As things progress, they find they really like each other and work well together. Carra gets Jay to see that he can better help seniors with everyday things instead of building an expansion. Due to trauma in their past, they both have to change to be able to have a life together.
Elder abuse, elder antics, elder feelings, elder ways of living and coping are very well depicted in this book along with 2 young people who are great advocates for the elderly against those who will do whatever to take advantage of the elderly.
The dogs are so lovable. I do recommend this book.
It takes a gifted author to portray such an excellent characterization of seniors. Add in some lovable dogs and you have a great combo.
Carra, a college graduate, needs a good job to help her pay the rent. She doesn't want to take advantage of the seniors like her stepmother and sister are willing to do. She obtains a job at a seniors' place and believes she can improve their quality of life. The seniors love it but the woman in charge is totally against it. Carra doesn't know that this woman is working with her stepmother to get the seniors to sell their homes and move into smaller living quarters so they can profit from the sale of their properties.
Jay is very protective of his nana who goes to the seniors' place. He is a lawyer who helps the elderly. His way of helping is to build a new wing for establishments.
Carra first sees Jay when he is complaining to the woman in charge about the way they are treating his nana. She doesn't like him because of his temper.
As things progress, they find they really like each other and work well together. Carra gets Jay to see that he can better help seniors with everyday things instead of building an expansion. Due to trauma in their past, they both have to change to be able to have a life together.
Elder abuse, elder antics, elder feelings, elder ways of living and coping are very well depicted in this book along with 2 young people who are great advocates for the elderly against those who will do whatever to take advantage of the elderly.
The dogs are so lovable. I do recommend this book.
October 26, 2024
I'm always honored when an author asks me if I would be interested in reading their books and giving it an honest review. This was the first book I've read from this author and I have to say I am so glad that she shared this book with me because it was exactly what my heart needed this week! In talking with her, she shared this is her only rom com to date and I was floored. This book had everything! It was cute. It was cozy. It was laugh out loud funny at times. The main character, Carraway Quinn, was so relatable. She was a character who helped everyone around her realize they deserved a second chance whether that meant finding the one that got away, getting that education, playing in that band, or whatever that dream may look like. BUT, when it came to her own life, she didn't give herself that same grace. I felt that in my core. And along comes Jay. In the beginning I wasn't sure how I felt about him, but he grew on me very quickly. And the way their story develops is genuinely heartwarming. If you are looking for an easy, sweet read, I highly recommend this book! I definitely look forward to reading more by this author and I am interested to see how her thrillers compare in writing to her rom com.
November 3, 2021
A story of one woman’s journey to finding herself and getting things to finally go her way. Carraway (Carra) has found herself without a job, the rent and utilities due and no boyfriend. Her bossy stepmother forces her into a job she thinks she’ll hate so that she can try to convince the elderly to sell their homes to help her stepmothers agency and in-turn herself. But she finds that she likes the people and the work seems to fulfill her, not to mention the prospect of romance. But her stepmother won’t quit pushing, she’s trying to still find a job that is inline with her degree and the romance is getting complicated. Carra has to figure it all out to get her HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 16, 2021
Jay and Carra cross paths as she works at the senior center where his mother resides. She is caring, giving and fun while he is more about wealth and advancement. Then the two are forced to be with each other on a road trip after his mom, they start to realize there is more to each other than first expected.
The characters have great chemistry once they get started and the sparks fly. The storyline is a discovery of what really pushes them and gives them hope for the future. Great backstories and banter as these two fight it out. Love the ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The characters have great chemistry once they get started and the sparks fly. The storyline is a discovery of what really pushes them and gives them hope for the future. Great backstories and banter as these two fight it out. Love the ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 6, 2024
The Queen of Second Chances is a fabulous and heart warming read. I truly enjoyed learning about Carra as she followed her own beliefs and instincts.
This was a perfect little dose of happily ever after. I enjoyed the romance and dual POVS, highlighting both the FMC and MMCs self doubt, excitement, desire, and over coming conflict.
The imbued reminder throughout this book; to always persevere, find the silver lining, and to not get in the way of your own happiness because of fear, truly hit home for me.
This book is truly delightful and I highly recommend for anyone who loves a good rom com and contemporary romance.
Favorite quotes from the book:
“Sometimes, happiness might seem scary because there’s so much on the line if things go wrong. But don’t let fear stop you from experiencing joy when you have the chance.”
“…a second chance is the greatest gift you can give someone. This time, that someone is yourself.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🫑
This was a perfect little dose of happily ever after. I enjoyed the romance and dual POVS, highlighting both the FMC and MMCs self doubt, excitement, desire, and over coming conflict.
The imbued reminder throughout this book; to always persevere, find the silver lining, and to not get in the way of your own happiness because of fear, truly hit home for me.
This book is truly delightful and I highly recommend for anyone who loves a good rom com and contemporary romance.
Favorite quotes from the book:
“Sometimes, happiness might seem scary because there’s so much on the line if things go wrong. But don’t let fear stop you from experiencing joy when you have the chance.”
“…a second chance is the greatest gift you can give someone. This time, that someone is yourself.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🫑
November 4, 2021
Caring for Others . . .
Carraway Quinn (“Carra”) was unemployed, so her stepmother misused her situation to set up a scheme to convince seniors to sell their homes. But as a recreational aide at the senior center, Carra started making changes to make the seniors happier and more involved.
Carra met Jay Prentiss there, a lawyer for the elderly, with his own Nana in the center. Carra and Jay worked together to truly do something good for those in need. And for Carra and Jay, it was life-changing. Were they falling in love?
Carraway Quinn (“Carra”) was unemployed, so her stepmother misused her situation to set up a scheme to convince seniors to sell their homes. But as a recreational aide at the senior center, Carra started making changes to make the seniors happier and more involved.
Carra met Jay Prentiss there, a lawyer for the elderly, with his own Nana in the center. Carra and Jay worked together to truly do something good for those in need. And for Carra and Jay, it was life-changing. Were they falling in love?
November 5, 2024
This book had my attention by page one, however, the red flags all around Jay at the beginning of the book were not it. A man who judged his potential future wife on how well she made him look & the size of her waist? EUGH. But Carra was such a positive person, rule 1 was to not get personal and she immediately got personal with everyone and made the best with what she had, she really is who we should all strive to be like!
This was a great book over all, fast paced and great chat development imo
This was a great book over all, fast paced and great chat development imo
Read
June 11, 2021Great story. Carra is a good girl who has to accept a job because she needs the money. She finds her calling and meets a handsome attorney. Their love story has ups and downs. Carra's trust issues stems from her past and Jay breaks through the walls. Jay also has to resolve issues from his past as well.
An enjoyable read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
An enjoyable read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 28, 2021
This is an entertaining and heartwarming storyline, with money problems and writers bloke Carra's finds her self pulled into a scheme from her stepmum, but when she meet the people at the senior center as a recreational aide, she gets to know them and meets Jay an attorney whose beloved Nana attends. They end up on a wild journey to find lost love or it maybe new love along the way. Enjoyed the read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 10, 2025
This book was great i would give it 4 &1/2 stars but wasn't quite a 5 star read for me i felt like the book could of been a few chapters shorted the beginning defending dragged and it wasn't till part way through the middle part of the book that I started to get more intrigued the ending was amazing and I loved the way the author told the characters backgrounds through out the story but I just felt it could of started better than it did.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews