Tear Jerker and Unputdownable! The author has mad writing style that she was able to incorporate just enough heartache, but have heartfelt touching love to bolster the characters.
Ava is the epitome of strength in a strong relationship and knows when something is wrong with her child. Carly, her daughter at ten is diagnosed with a horrendous life changing disability that will affect the whole family. She is going to lose her sight.

I cried like a baby reading this book. The choices the mother had to make and the father is having to make decisions about his own profession.

The book has so much going on it that I will not go into the storyline except to say that this is definitely a 5 star plus book in more ways than one. The characters are strong and believable and enchant you to follow them page to page.

I definitely would recommend this book to my friends and family.

This story gripped my heart so tight. Wonderfully told this story will tear your heart out. The characters are so genuine and lovely. Gut wrenching at times and beautiful at others. I adored this book. From start to finish. There were moments I could almost feel the characters anguish, it’s so well written. A story of love and loss and hope. This book has something for everyone. Wonderful.

Her Last Chance by Alison Ragsdale is an emotionally charged journey that will tug at your heartstrings from the word go. Ms Ragsdale has created empathetic characters that will stay with you long after the final page has been turned.

Ava and her husband Rick adore their ten year old daughter Carly, and dote on their only child. But when Carly begins to stumble, and fails to see what is right in front of her, Ava knows immediately that something is very wrong with her beautiful child. A devastating diagnosis is quickly followed by a tragic accident, and Ava must find a way to move forward in strength when her whole world is shattered in the blink of eye.

This is a heartwrenching read that will keep you in an emotional stranglehold as you bear witmess to a family's unfathomable pain.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.

BOOKWORMS REVIEW:
Ava,Rick and Carly are 3 peas in a pod,the perfect family unit. At 10 years old Carly loves painting and Horseriding,shes a typical adventurous child. Lately though,shes been falling over and walking into things. Convinced something is wrong Ava consults a specialist, where they learn Carly has a rare debilitating genetic disease...that will one day rob her of her sight.

Committed to making every day count Rick and Ava decide to take Carly on a 2 month trek of Europe to see all the splendour it has while she still can. However at the start of their adventure the unthinkable happens, and an accident sees their family ripped apart.

Faced with massive decisions on behalf of her husband, her daughter,and their life together..Ava is plunged into a scenario she never could have imagined. A real heart wrencher...beautifully told.

With Thanks to Alison Ragsdale,Netgalley,and the team at Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for my review.

MY RATING: 📘📘📘📘📘

Gut wrenching, beautiful, deep, timeless and just downright GOOD!! These are just a few of the many adjectives I’d use to describe Alison’s newest book, “Her Last Chance”.

Special thanks to Alison and Bookouture for the advanced readers copy of this page turning, exquisite work of art that has become synonymous with Alison Ragsdale. Alison writes from her heart and does her research when it comes to things that intrigue her, which was the eye disease that Carly has in the book. Her descriptions are so intriguing and wonderfully creative. She tugs on your heartstrings to open up deep set emotions on the verge of a tantrum. I love her for it, she’s the only author I know who writes almost poetically. I’m such a fan and I can’t say enough except, you all should go buy this book.

Carly and her parents have moved to her Mum’s grandma’s house to begin a new life. They’re in the process of updates and upgrades when they’re devastated with news about Carly’s vision. So they plan the trip of a lifetime to give Carly all the visuals she can see before it’s too late. Sadly, tragedy strikes and that’s when Ava and her daughter must band together to make it through.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Grab your copy NOW!! You won’t regret it!

I don’t even know where to start with this beautiful and emotive book, it’s just so wonderful, but also so heartbreaking.

I really loved this whole family. Ava and Rick are such a solid couple, and such great parents to Carly. They make such a happy family unit, and it’s terrible to think that anything will come along to shatter this happiness.

Without giving too much away, I actually have personal experience with the genetic condition that Carly is diagnosed with, through my work with children with additional needs, and as soon as I read what she’d been diagnosed with, my heart sank, as I knew what lay ahead for her. Then life throws another cruel twist at them, and it seems so unfair that Ava has to go through all this.

I was full of admiration for Ava, and how strong she ultimately turned out to be in the face of such difficulties. Carly is wonderful too, and her courage is inspirational.

Everything about this book is just so special. The setting and descriptive passages are so evocative, even down to the sensory experiences of the characters. It adds so much depth to the story. The characters are so real and the whole book feels like a true story, rather than fiction.

While this book is heart-rending and emotional, in a strange way it’s also uplifting, as it shows us how strong the human spirit can be, and how precious life is. An absolute must-read, this book will bring you tears, but also smiles. Just stunning.

Call it the natural instinct of a caring mother, but Ava knows something is wrong with her daughter Carly. Her husband Rick is a wonderful husband and father, but he thinks Carly will be just fine. Nonetheless, Ava takes Carly to be evaluated and soon sees a specialist. Ava discovers that Carly has a degenerative diseases that will eventually cost Carly her sight.

Stunned by this devastating news, and truly saddened that Carly might never see the fulfillment of what just might be a promising career as an artist, Ava and Rick make plans to do some traveling to give Carly an opportunity to see as much of the world as possible before her world goes completely dark. Just as the family is beginning their adventure, a terrible accident occurs and Ava is torn, now providing for Carly's needs as her vision grows dimmer and dimmer is at war with something equally critical. What road will Ava take?

In this compelling read by Alison Ragsdale, love, emotion, tragedy and sacrifice all play critical roles. This sensitive story shows love at its deepest, making this a heartbreaking read. However, there is a thread of hope that shines through, especially when it comes to the hearts of the characters in this touching story. I was completely in awe of this wonderful story. As a wife, mother and grandmother, I could not help but put myself in Ava's place as I read this book. I applaud the author for writing such a fabulous read and now cannot wait to read more from her in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and to Bookouture for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Alison Ragsdale has written a stunning novel that will make you think about what you would do if faced with the choices Ava must face. Her daughter is quickly going blind, and at just ten years old, it doesn't seem fair. When events happen that may make another choice possible, she finds herself in an even further dilemma. And she's just not sure what to do. My favorite book by this author is "The Art of Remembering." But with this one, I think I'm about to switch my allegiance. The story never gets boring. Something is happening at every turn that makes it easy to flip the pages. Yet every once in a while, I put the book down into my lap so that I could stare at the wall for a minute to gather myself and wonder what I would do in Ava's shoes. If I could be as strong as she is. Keep a box of tissues handy. Right beside you. Because I promise that this book will touch you many times within its pages. But with as many hurdles that this family finds itself facing, there are triumphs too. So that not all of your tears will be sad ones. Some will be happy too. Thank you to Ms. Ragsdale and to NetGalley for my advance copy.

I love love this book! Let’s start with the cover. The photo itself is achingly beautiful, but that tag line (which is perfectly placed) that goes along with the photo just cinched it for me. I tend to be most interested in books about children and family with emotional psychological issues and I knew that I would love this one. I was incredibly emotional when reading this because I was so drawn towards each member of this family, especially sweet Carly. What this poor girl had to go through was devastating and she handled it better than most adults would! She was so mature about it all. That’s not to say my heart didn’t go out to Ava or Rick - there is a whole lot more layers of issues they were managing somehow. To me, an author demonstrates immense talent to be able to create and present characters and situations in such a way that the reader CRIES and feels true pain and emotion in reaction to what is happening to the characters. I was gripped and could not stop reading about this family. You’ll need tissues for this one!

This is the first novel I've read by Alison Ragsdale.

This is a very emotional and heart wrenching read.

It gripped me on the first page and my emotions were all over the place until the end of the story.

I can't recommend this book enough. Excellent!

Her Last Chance is a beautifully written story that is sure to tug on your heart strings! Ava, Rick and Carly feel like my own family. Be sure to have tissues handy!

Ava and Rick takes their 10-year-old daughter, Carly, to the doctors where they learn she has a rare disease and will eventually go blind. While they are dealing with that, another tragedy strikes, and Rick ends up in the hospital. Ava had to find the courage and the strength to keep herself from falling apart, take care of her daughter who was learning how to cope with losing her eyesight, and she still had the house and the everyday things she had to do. She visited her husband in the hospital every day, and she realized she had friends who were there for her and with their support things started to get a little easier. There were so many decisions to make, and she made them. The life they had was gone, and they had to find a way to live the life they now had.
I received an ARC from Bookouture through NetGalley for an honest review.

First, I want to thank Alison Ragsdale, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.

WOW!! Alison Ragsdale’s Her Last Chance is a beautifully written book that utterly moved me to ugly cry! It is just one of those powerfully emotional books that will stay in your heart long after. It is a definite add to anyone’s tbr list.

Alison gave her characters some pretty big challenges, obstacles and hurdles. In doing so she did an incredible job educating her readers about these challenges and solutions. These characters were so strong and if put into their shoes not sure how I would have coped.

Many times I yelled and screamed at my Kindle at the shocking moments that left you breathless. Alison can sure write those scenes with a lot of detail and heart!

I will say thanks to Alison I will never be able to open a can of soup again.

Alison’s book might make you reflect on your own life. At least it did for me.

Outstanding read from beginning to end. I fell in love with Ava, Rick, and Carly right from the beginning and so admired their love for each other. I laughed at times and cried many tears and was amazed at how strongly I felt for these three, due to the brilliance of Alison Ragsdale’s powerful writing. Her descriptive writing style brings everything alive. One passage depicting a nightmare Alison was having about Rick disappearing was probably the most moving passage I have ever read. I cannot recommend Her Last Chance highly enough. So looking forward to reading more by this brilliant author. Many many thanks to Alison Ragsdale and NetGalley for the incredible opportunity to read an arc of this highly emotional gem of a read.

This is a true tear-jerker. If you enjoy books that tug at all the heartstrings and give you all the feels, you definitely must read this book!

It has all of the hallmarks of Alison Ragsdale’s excellent writing; memorable characters, heart-warming with emotional ups and downs, and the majesty of her Scottish settings.

If you enjoy a good cry in these times when we all need a safe release, then this book is indeed heart-breaking and almost guaranteed to get you there. Have the tissues ready!

Her Last Chance deals with the pain and inadequacy of feeling powerless as you watch your child lose her sight to disease, and is also a true example of a heroine facing the very worst -and finding she still has the strength to carry on and find hope.

Ragsdale’s love for her characters jumps off every page as a family is torn apart. A heartbreaking yet hopeful tale of how deep a mother’s love and strength can run.

What a heart wrenching novel this was! A story of love between a mother and child, tested by a very difficult set of circumstances. Beautifully written!

A completely heartbreaking story. It's hard to imagine being in Ava's shoes, the decisions she has to make, finding her inner strength to carry on. It will leave you wondering, if I was in Ava's place could I contemplate the dilemmas she faces regarding her daughter? What would you do? Honestly, you really need to read *Her Last Chance to find out what I'm going on about!!

The author plays with your emotions, smiling one minute and crying the next. It's fantastically written and well-described settings down to the last minute detail. The characters are amazing Alison!

A wonderfully fast-paced family story that you won't be able to put down. It pulled at my heartstrings and left me weeping at how cruel life can be to one family.

Wow! What an amazingly beautiful story, heartbreaking but heartwarming. A beautiful portrayal of true love. Be prepared to cry but worth every stuffy nose minute. Alison Ragsdale you hit all the feels and some we didnt know we had. Thank you to Net Galley, the Publisher and Author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “Her Last Chance” by Alison Ragsdale, April 13, 2021

Alison Ragsdale, the author of “Her Last Chance” has written a unique, heartbreaking, emotional and thought-provoking novel. Alison Ragsdale has written a powerful family drama that just takes my breath away. I admire that the author shows her empathy and sensitivity as a mother, and asks all the “What ifs” that a mother would ask. What is so impressive is that reading such a poignant and honest story, is that the author is able to bring so much positivity and hope to the reader.

Ava and her husband Rick and their daughter Carly make a decision to move to Ava’s family home, where there is tremendous planning for a beautiful life. Carly, who is ten, loves to paint, and the views are described vividly through the author as breath-taking. Ava notices that her daughter stumbles, and takes her to the doctor, where the family learns that Ava has a genetic progressive disease, that will change all their lives.

Rick feels that taking a trip, while Carly can enjoy things would be beneficial. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes, and that is not possible. What is amazing, is that Ava is able to let her friends help, and is able to do the best she can, and deal with difficult decisions. I would highly recommend this amazing book to other readers.

I thought this book was going to be very predictable, but I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t.

Ava, Rick, and Carly appear to have the perfect life. After they make the decision to move and remodel where Ava’s grandmother lived, they find out that Carly has a genetic eye disease that will eventually take her sight. Rick and Ava are devastated. What unfolds following the diagnosis is worse than anyone could have ever predicted.

I thought I had the book totally figured out halfway through. I didn’t at all and the ending left me in tears. Watching the mother/daughter relationship was heart wrenching and inspiring all at the same time. I would definitely recommend this book to friends!