Love a book set in Brisbane, being a queenslander it makes me feel at home. I adore a book with second chances and this one certainly hit the mark for me. Its a story about love and family.

This story is filled with hope, strength and possibilities.

Both the main characters are strong willed, but deep,down, they are hoping to have what others have.

A few issues that pop up, that they need to delve into and move on from and these characters show what love can come from.

EXCERPT: . . . the road climbed away from the paddocks, rising to the homestead, perched on a hill that had been visible from the main road. She'd stopped at the gate to look over the property, not planning to go in, taking in fresh growth after the recent rain and the house itself, laden with history. That was the time to ignore the impulse to keep going. Now, halfway up the driveway in full view of the house, was almost too late. An easy drive of twenty kilometres on a bitumen road had lured her into thinking she could come and look. Once she'd seen the place, it seemed stupid to return to town and wait for him to come to her. She wanted it over, needed it done.

ABOUT 'A CHANCE TO BELIEVE': Can a fling turn into a family?

After a chance meeting in Brisbane, Shayne Smith and Cassie Long had a perfect fortnight together. But when Shayne returned to his historic sheep property, they both assumed there was no future in a relationship between a city girl and a grazier.

Six months later, Cassie arrives at Maiden's Landing to let Shayne know they made more than memories in their brief idyll. She has no expectations, only a duty to let him know.

Shayne's life is already complicated with a property to run and a sixteen-year-old daughter growing up fast. He never expected the woman he can't forget to turn up on his doorstep bringing news that is all too familiar.

Fiercely independent Cassie isn't asking anything of him, but he persuades her to stay at his homestead until the twin babies are born. Cassie's difficult pregnancy means that any possibility of romance must be put on hold - despite the intense attraction they feel for each other. How long can they resist? And will each of them overcome their own baggage so they can build a future together?

MY THOUGHTS: A quick, enjoyable read.

I didn't know when I requested it that A Chance to Believe is the second book in the Redemption Creek series. However, as this is one of those series that deals with different characters in a selected location in each book, it didn't really matter. The first book, A Matter of Trust, deals with Dr Morgan Cavanaugh and Becca Walters, both of whom make a cameo appearance in A Chance to Believe.

Both Cassie and Shayne are likeable characters. Cassie is a strong, independent woman who has suffered great loss in her past. It is because of this loss that she is reluctant to love anyone again. Shayne has a teenage daughter whom he loves and who lives with him, the result of a one-night stand many years previously. Kimberley, his daughter, is initially understandably reticent to accept this woman into her life, but they soon find common ground to bond over.

Cassie and Shayne each had their own reasons for not following up on their brief relationship and it was interesting watching them work through their reservations with one another prior to the birth of their twins.

Part of me wanted a little more depth to the story, perhaps with a little more resistance from Shayne's family, and a little more concern about the effect on Kimberley; but not enough to dim my enjoyment.

An enjoyable, quick, rural romance read that held my interest throughout.

#AChancetoBelieve #NetGalley

⭐⭐⭐⭐.1

THE AUTHOR: Fiona Marsden shares her five-acre rural block in Australia with kangaroos, wallabies and a koala. A keen reader from childhood, she hasn't let the proliferation of books available prevent her from writing her own stories.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Escape Publishing via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of A Chance to Believe by Fiona M. Marsden for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Set mostly in rural Maiden’s Landing, near Brisbane, A Chance To Believe is a story of second chances for both city girl Cassie Long and grazier Shayne Smith. These two are likeable characters who had a fling several months before the story began, the result being that Cassie is now pregnant with twins. Both of them have been hurt in the past so they’re understandably a little wary of their ongoing attraction, though each of them wants the best for their babies. I loved watching them grow together as well as watching Cassie get to know Shayne’s family. This is a sweet, family-filled romance with plenty to offer readers. I enjoyed it.

A Fiona Marsden story is sure to leave you feeling good, I love her characters, they are real and easy to love and I did love the setting, I am very fond of a fabulous rural romance and this one is one not to be missed, come along and meet Shayne and Cassie as they find their way to a beautiful HEA.

It is six months since Shayne Smith was in Brisbane for The Ekka, where he met the beautiful Cassie and spent two glorious weeks with her, they were not only filled with passion but a friendship as well, but at the end it was time for Shayne to go back home to his responsibilities, a relationship with a city girl and a grazier really had no future.

Cassie Long has been through so much in her life but meeting Shayne set her body alight like never before and although she is a very private person she could not control the pull they had and the two weeks together where the best of her life, but he was gone and Cassie must get on with her life as a single person, finding true love was not in her future, because of her past.

Life turns upside down for Cassie when she finds herself pregnant with twins, she must go and see Shayne, it is six months since they last saw each other and when she turns up on his doorstep, that pull is still there and for Shayne it appears life is repeating itself, and Cassie is shocked to find out that Shayne is the single father of a sixteen year of daughter.

How will they work all of this out, yes the attraction is still there as strong as ever, neither have not let a day go by in the past six months without thinking of each other, but both Shayne and Cassie have things from their past that they need to get out in the open and there is the rest of Shayne’s family as well, will they overcome the hurdles to be able to find love and happiness and a family together?

I did love this one very much and highly recommend it to any lover of a fabulous romance.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

A Chance to Believe by Fiona Marsden is a charming story about family and love, when an instant attraction evolves into something deeper and stronger; despite all their fears. Shayne is a single dad who is dedicated to his family and community. Cassie is reserved and wary after dealing with all the tragedy in her past. Arriving in Maidens Hill pregnant and cautious, Cassie believes she owes it Shayne to let him know about the consequences of the amazing time they spent together. Shayne, wary and concerned at first, slowly tackles tearing down Cassie’s protective walls; showing her how much he cared for her. The more time Cassie spends with Shayne, and his family, the more comfortable she feels with them; allowing cracks to form in her armor. An enjoyable story rich with friendship, attraction, chemistry, supportive community, and charming secondary characters, helping Shayne and Cassie find their way to a forever love.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

3.5 stars.
A charming story about family and love featuring a guarded wounded heroine and a down-to-earth and very sure of his feelings hero, “A Chance to Believe”, by Fiona Marsden, is about how instant attraction and lust turns into something deeper and stronger, despite all the fears.
I liked watching sensible and pragmatic Shayne, with the love and devotion for his family and community, slowly tear down Cassie’s walls.
I understood both had reasons for their fears and reservations, but Cassie was even more cautions.
I also enjoyed the very pregnant heroine and how she gradually built a relationship with Kimberley.
The secondary characters are great and I hope they’ll have their own story – Ben, Kimberley.
I liked the setting, the pride and duty Shayne feels about Maidens Hill, the sense of community and how welcoming they are.
It was rewarding to watch Shayne and Cassie’s HEA after all the tragedy in their pasts.
I felt Cassie’s past still dominated her and in the end acknowledging her feelings for Shayne seemed a bit feeble. From being fond and comfortable with each other to love was a process not that clear to me.
At times I felt I was missing seeing how and why they reconnected, besides the twins, and the ways chemistry, passion, love worked between them (perhaps a bit difficult task when you have a pregnant heroine).
An enjoyable read with a different setting, with realistic, likeable characters.