Wes and Addie had Their Chance by Bethany Turner is a sweet second chance love story. Readers who love sweet, clean romance will adore this book. Ms Turner excels at writing romance, particularly rom coms. I’m not sure I’d classify this novel as a rom com. This romance stands out for its great emotional complexity and the many layered approach she takes at this second chance romance. It is still fun and quirky at times, but I came close to crying a few times as well. I loved everything about this book. It had me mesmerized and I could not put it down. I highly recommend it. This author’s books just keep getting better and better. I cannot wait for the next one! I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

🏔️Book Review🏔️

4⭐ 1🌶️

I have been loving this series and this one is just as good as the past two. What I love about these books are that the hometown is such a large part of what happens, including all the surrounding side characters. This one, in particular, has a large influence from side characters and past characters.
It is also a major redemption arc for the MMC. The depth of the characters is really what had me hooked. The trauma and the history that each character had was absolutely wonderful. It was also so refreshing to read older main characters as their aches and pains history and trauma is so relatable.

Big thanks to NetGalley and @seebethanywrite for a copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Unfortunately I DNF'd this around 50%. I did not read the first two books in the series (I didn't realize this was a series when I requested it) and that really affected my reading experience. There are interconnected standalones, and then series, and this is for sure a series. The childhood friendships were a big part of this story, and I felt like I was jumping in the middle of something and trying to play-catch up or getting a lot of info dumps. I also just didn't really connect with Addie or Wes, unfortunately. I think if I had read the other two books, this might have been a true 3-star read for me.

I really liked this story. While there were parts that were heavier, it was also light and funny. This book was easy to stay engaged with and I found myself looking forward to when I could have time to read it. Overall, I will definitely recommend this book.

"Wes and Addie Had Their Chance," a heartfelt second chance love story by Bethany Turner, takes readers on an emotional journey through the complexities of love, loss, and forgiveness. Wes and Addie were once inseparable—childhood sweethearts who dreamed of a beautiful future together until everything came crashing down the night before their wedding. Unexpectedly breaking apart, they went their separate ways, leaving their dreams and hearts shattered.

Fast forward decades later, both find themselves back in their small hometown, single and navigating the challenges of life that have changed them in unimaginable ways. Wes, once depicted as a kind but reserved young man without ambition, has transformed into a charismatic and successful politician, even a presidential candidate. Yet, his return is met with scorn from the very community he abandoned, particularly from Addie, who still bears the scars of their abrupt separation.

As their paths cross again, the rekindling of their relationship unfolds in a predictable yet tender manner. Addie, now a widowed woman, feels the weight of loneliness in a town that holds so many memories. Meanwhile, Wes appears to have been carrying a heavy heart, longing for the love he lost, despite drifting away from Addie for so many years.

While I struggled to reconcile the drastic transformations of the main characters from their younger selves to who they are now, the story's emotional core is undeniable. The conclusion offers a satisfying resolution, tying up loose ends with a warm, uplifting finale. Despite the implausibility of certain plot points, the themes of childhood friendships blossoming into love and the magic of second chances in a quaint small-town setting shine through.

This review is based on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This review may contain mild spoilers

This was a great 3.75 -star read for me.

This was my first time reading Bethany Turner and I will absolutely be reading more of her books.  This was technically the 3rd book in this stand alone series so I am looking forward to reading books 1 and 2.

The longing and tension in this book had me so invested.  It took me reading the whole book, and then thinking back on it, that we only had kissing. I did not even notice there was no spice and it was not even missed that's how good the romance was! 

I enjoyed that Wes and Addies past was revealed throughout the book so we were getting their back story interwoven into the current story.  The things this man did for her, dream book boyfriend!   They both went through so much to get where they were, it literally made my heart ache for them.  I enjoyed this second chance romance, it had me laughing, and swooning, and falling in love and it even had a bit of mystery. 

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a small town, second chance, spice free romance. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.  #WesandAddieHadTheirChance #NetGalley.

Unfortunately this book was a DNF for me. The premise and blurb sounded right up my street but the writing style just wasn't it for me. I'm sure other people will absolutely love this book, but this just wasn't for me.

I really loved coming back to Adelaide Springs for this adorable second chance romance! I did feel like the plot was very character driven and had a lot of internal monologue which made the book kind of slow for me. But I am a sucker for a second chance romance and I loved the redemption arc that Wes’s character has.

I loved 'Wes and Addie Had Their Chance'. To pitch it as a humor and romance completely undersells how deep and thoughtful this book really is. It provides it all - humor, loss, redemption and love. I highly recommend it and the two other books by the author set in Adelaide Springs, CO. You will have a wonderful experience!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this second-chance romance and the opportunity to revisit the charming setting of Adelaide Springs. I’m a sucker for small-town romances, and this series continues to keep me coming back for more. What stood out most in this installment was the thoughtful exploration of grief for both love interests. Turner does a fantastic job crafting a more layered, emotionally resonant romance, with protagonists who feel fully realized. I loved following both Wes and Addie on their journey of growth, both as a couple and as individuals.

This is such a great set up - a terrific read! Wes and Addie are adults, both around 40, and they have history - not piddling stuff either. Wes left Addie literally at the altar when she was 18, so she had to deal with heartbreak, but also the fallout. Cut to 20-odd years later and they are both back in Adelaide Springs, both widowed, both navigating big stakes in their lives. Really big stakes in fact - Wes is on a countdown to a Presidential election, and Addie has recently been fired from the CIA. This is so propulsive - I couldn't wait to find out whether Wes would run, what went down for Addie, and if they could get past it all. It's closed door, but there's no shortage of pining.

If I had a quibble, it's that Addie's point of view is first person, but Wes is in third. This took me out of the story with every new chapter. Apart from that, it's great - they are complicated, lovely people who need to work hard to win each other back. Characters from previous books in the series wander in and out and add layers. The politics and the spy stuff are both handled lightly and add to the stakes of it all.

Thank you Bethany Turner and Thomas Nelson for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Wes and Addie Had Their Chance is Bethany Turner’s latest clean romantic comedy set in the tiny mountain town of Adelaide Springs, Colorado. It’s a second chance romance with mature characters, told from both Addie and Wes’ POV. It can be read as a stand-alone story but will be enjoyed more if read after Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other and Cole and Laila are Just Friends.

40-year-old Adelaide “Addie” Atwater Elwyn has been living in her hometown for the past year, trying to get her life back on track. She’s keeping her distance from her high school classmates, Brynn, Cole, and Laila, because she doesn’t want to talk about her failures. Addie is still grieving her late husband, Joel, a CIA operative. She was a behind-the-scenes CIA analyst, and now she’s working a low-paying job and living with her dad, “Doc”. To add insult to injury, Addie keeps seeing her first love, Wesley Hobbes, a senator from Connecticut who is running for president, on TV and in newspapers. Wes was their friend and classmate before abandoning Addie at the altar when they were 18 years old.

When Senator Wesley Hobbes re-appears in tiny Adelaide Springs, Colorado, looking like a GQ model, no one is glad to see him. They remember how he did Addie dirty 22 years ago. He’s figuring out his next steps, since he’s discovered some political bombshells and is considering stepping away from the political arena. Naturally he encounters Addie and needs to clear the air with her. She knows that he’s keeping secrets and can’t resist using her spy skills to ferret them out.

While Addie and Wes are attracted to one another, they have so many obstacles to overcome. In addition to their shared painful past, they each have experienced subsequent tragedies. They are opposites in appearance and personality and live on opposite sides of the country. Readers will wonder if it’s possible for them to find their happily ever after with each other.

Wes and Addie Had Their Chance is a rich character-driven story that contains no profanity or sex scenes. Readers will definitely empathize with Addie. She’s a good woman who has experienced more than her fair share of tragedy but keeps pressing forward. Her father, Doc, is a fountain of wisdom and just an incredible man. The cameos of characters from earlier books add to the story. Addie’s career with the CIA juxtaposes nicely with Wes’ experience in politics.
While Wes and Addie Had Their Chance contains some heavy emotional stuff, the story itself is written in a humorous tone. Addie’s descriptions of things are hilarious, and I especially loved her suggestions for menu items at the Franklin Beans Café. This story gives “all the feels” and is suitable for all adult readers. The book series should definitely be made into a TV series like Bridgerton.

After purchasing the paperback, I received a complimentary ARC copy of this e-book from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishers. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4.25 Stars. I do love a good second chance romance and this was definitely a unique one. Both characters are in their 40s and are widowed after he left her at the altar when they were 18, and now she’s ex-CIA and he’s running for POTUS. I liked Wes and Addie and thought they were good together, even if it felt like things happened a little quickly. I liked the way they had other lives and other loves and still ultimately found their way back to each other. The town of Adelaide Springs, CO is the stuff of small-town romance dreams and I love the ensemble cast and the characters we’ve gotten to know throughout the series.

This is a beautifully written second-chance romance that many readers will absolutely love—but I personally struggled with the emotional weight of the story. The writing is rich and full of heart, and the author does an incredible job bringing these characters and their world to life.

Wes left Addie at the altar when they were just 18, vanishing without explanation. Now a U.S. Senator and potential presidential candidate, he returns to face the past and rediscover what truly matters. Addie, who went on to marry a wonderful man (a fellow CIA agent), is widowed and trying to find her way forward. Her job, her strength, and her quiet resilience were all highlights for me.

The small-town setting was charming, and there were moments of humor and warmth that gave the story great balance. I could easily picture some scenes playing out on the big screen—they were that vivid and well-crafted.

That said, I had a hard time emotionally forgiving Wes on Addie’s behalf. Her pain was so raw and well written that I felt it deeply—and found it difficult to move past what he had done, even as the story moved toward healing and redemption.

Despite my personal hang-ups, this is a powerful story of love, loss, and second chances. It’s a heartfelt, emotional journey, and Bethany Turner tells it with skill, sincerity, and grace. If you're a fan of deep, emotionally layered romance, this one may be for you.

Thank you for letting me read this book. It ended up not being the book for me which is fine. I did still share a release day post on my bookstagram page.

I enjoyed this one and getting to know Wes and Addie, but this was not my favorite of the three books in this series. It seemed a little unrealistic to me. 🤷‍♀️ That said, I did enjoy their love story and learning more about the people in Adelaide Springs.

I’m definitely going to miss all of these characters in the mountains of Colorado! Cole and Laila are still my favs!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have enjoyed every book set in the little Adelaide town. It has been fun to see Brynn, then Cole and Laila, and now Wes and Addie after hearing about them from the other books! Another great read with truly laugh out loud lines.

Addie and Wes are high school sweethearts who decide to get married. Wes leaves Addie at the alter the day of their wedding and disappears. Fast forward 20 years later and Wes is running for President and returns to his hometown of Adelaide Springs. Can Addie and the town forgive Wes and is there hope for second chances?
I dint know this was the 3rd book in a series. I will definitely read the other two.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was absolutely perfect! I hadn't read any of the books preceeding this and I didn't need to, but I'm definitely going to now because I have fallen in love with this universe and Bethany Turner's writing.

I love a good political romance and strong, well developed characters. Addie really was an exceptionally well written character who you can't help but love, and I really enjoyed that Turner didn't write Wes as the most redeemable until the end - like low burn redemption? Their romance was slow but fiery and I loved it! I also really appreciated that Turner didn't minimise either of their previous marriages to maximise their relationship with each other. This was beautifully written and engrossing!

Slow burn sweet romance. Although Wes is a senator, his character’s role doesn’t delve deeply into politics- readers of any political leaning should be ok w/ his character. Overall, this was enjoyable. No explicit sex scenes, yet obvious chemistry between Wes & Addie.