5 Stars, Second Chances

SECOND CHANCE CHRISTMAS by Lori Wilde

Welcome to Twilight, Texas. It's where love has a habit of coming true. This is book 12 in the series, but since I've only read this title, I can honestly say that each book is a stand-alone.

Joel and Jana work together, they are good friends and they are in a case of mistaken identity. They are setting up the nativity scene at their local church and find a young baby in the cradle of the manger. A note says that the mother will pick up her baby on New Year's Day. Joel and Jana are neither one married, they don't really know what to do with a baby. It becomes a pleasant ordeal for them to get the proper supplies to be able to take care of the child themselves.

The mystery of a lost baby at Christmas time is a good fit. Highly recommend it if you enjoy stories set at that time.

Thanks a bunch to #netgalley #loriwilde for the complimentary copy of #secondchancechristmas I was under no obligation to post a review.

3.5 stars, rounding up to four.

This is book 12 of The Twilight, Texas series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone. It is a story about overcoming the troubles and horrors of your past, facing your fears, opening yourself up to others, second chances, love, and Christmas miracles.

This book makes you feel a wide variety of emotions. It made me laugh and cry. Parts were rather heavy, other parts kind of sappy, and still others had that feel good Christmas vibe. It was a Christmas rom-com, but with some very heavy themes looming in the background that happened in the past that the main character had to face to move forward.

Overall, it was a good story and one that kept my interest throughout. It was a fast read. It unfortunately had a bit too much sexual content for my liking.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #SecondChanceChristmas

This was a typically Christmas rom com read but it also had some heavier themes in it. I enjoyed the Christmas atmosphere and the plot was engaging until the end.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy to honestly review.

This was a cute Christmas book that takes place over the span of about two weeks in the town of Twilight, TX. Joel and Jana, who are best friends, discover a baby in a manger abandoned by his teenage mother who says she’ll be back at New Years to get him. They choose to take care of him for her and during this time their underlying feelings for each other that have been growing for 2 years start to emerge. Joel is all in but Jana has some past trauma and secrets she hasn’t confided to him yet which may change things. That’s all I’m going to say otherwise it would spoil the emotional depth Lori Wilde wrote into the story.

This was a sweet fast romance that does focus some on the heavier notes of teenage pregnancy, abusive pasts and second chances. I wish there had been more focus on the heavy subjects. We get some closure, especially in the epilogue, but really needed more and I think this comes from the fast wrap up. Lori Wilde did a wonderful job with the book up until the last 50 pages or so (I was on a kindle so I’m guessing). Then it was quick paced wrapping up all her threads which hindered the dark subjects weight in my opinion.

Overall though I loved how Joel and Jana are deeply developed characters and how she seamlessly interwove who I assume are character from previous books. I’d give it a 3.5 but will round up bc it was a fun read. If you like light romance, Christmas miracle stories, second chances or friends to lovers then definitely pick yourself up a copy!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

— Staci McIntyre.

I love Christmas and anything to do with Christmas.. book about chaser my guilty pleasure. I really enjoyed sr his book and don’t want to give to much away except to say put it on your list when it comes out !

Lori Wilde does it again. I enjoy all of her books. This is another feel good Christmas book, but with a bit of not so happy background stuff to make some of us really happy that we had a great and easy childhood.

I received Second Chance Christmas as part of a NetGalley giveaway.

It's Christmas week in Twilight, Texas, and and friends and colleagues Joel and Jana discover a newborn baby in the manger of the town's nativity scene, with a note from his mother promising to return soon. They decide to take him in, at least until the mother's supposed return date, and in so doing acknowledge desires--both romantic and --that have long been simmering under the surface. But Jana has a dark past and a host of secrets that put her relationship and future with Joel at risk. Can she open up to the man she's falling in love with and help forge a life together?

Second Chance Christmas was too saccharine sweet for me. It ostensibly deals with heavy subjects, but in my opinion glosses over them and doesn't afford them respect, which makes it feel a bit careless. Additionally, it romanticizes the busybody small town and casts anyone who might like privacy as being "weird." As an aforementioned privacy-lover, it really rubbed me the wrong way. I would have appreciated a bit more weight to the story if the trauma subjects were going to be broached, or simply remove them completely to make a lighter plot.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Jana who arrived in this small town in Texas finds a newborn baby with her hood friend Joel. They both decide to keep the baby short term for the holidays. I liked the chemistry between Jana and Joel.

Loved this cozy Christmas love story!

Joel and Jana are best friends who find a abandoned baby right before Christmas. An adventure ensues full of love, growth, and compassion. As they share their deepest, darkest secrets they fall in love each other. Accepting the good, the bad, the ugly.

This heartfelt story had me hooked from the very beginning. The feel of true community had me wishing I could journey to Twilight, Texas to experience more of it.

I've been a long time Lori Wilde reader and Second Chance Christmas does not disappoint. Going back to Twilight, Texas is always a treat and watching Jana and Joel falling in love over a baby was a very satisfying

Good friends, Jana and Joel find a real live baby in the Christmas manger out front of the Episcopal Church. The baby’s mother saw them together and thought they looked like a loving couple, able to care for her child until she could find a home. But they weren’t a couple. Or are they? Jana has been in foster care or on the streets since she was three. She has massive walls that keep people from getting to know her. And that keep her from knowing she is interested in Joel. Joel knows he is interested in Jana but thinks she may not want to be more than friends. But agreeing to care for the baby starts to shatter all of that.
It was nice to return to Wilde’s Twilight. As always, it made a beautiful backdrop. I was impressed how Wilde was able to make a vegan who practiced mindfulness into a real and appealing character instead of a caricature. Although Joel was portrayed as something of an opposite, totally open but liking rules, we saw what he loved in Jana and it rang true.
I will love adding Second Chance Christmas to our holiday displays and book talks.

I loved Jana and Joel's story. He was a superstar of understanding and she reveled in learning to trust. Having to share a baby between them really set them on their path together.+

I received this book for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

This is a new to me author and I really enjoyed this Christmas book it was heartwarming yet also exciting.

I received an advance copy of, Second Chance Christmas, by Lori Wilde. This is a cute Christmas story, love, secrets, an abandoned baby, beautiful book.