Wes and Addie Had Their Chance
by Bethany Turner
Narrated by Talon David; Patrick Zeller; Bethany Turner
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Pub Date Jul 15 2025 | Archive Date Sep 30 2025
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Description
Wes left Addie at the altar two decades ago . . . and that was supposed to be the end of the story.
When her life crashes and burns in a flurry of secrets and redacted information, Addie Atwater-Elwyn hightails it home to the tiny mountain town of Adelaide Springs, Colorado--back to living with her dad, back to working a low-paying job, back to a life of disappointments. Growing up, nobody expected their local girl to become a high-ranking CIA analyst, married to a gorgeous CIA operative. But that was Addie's life until she lost . . . well, everything.
Now she's trying to pick up the pieces of her broken life with a little help from old friends. But there's one old friend she knows her life is better without--Wesley Hobbes, her childhood sweetheart who left her standing at the altar when they were eighteen years old. Truth be told, Addie would be perfectly content never seeing Wes's stupid face ever again--which makes it very inconvenient that he's now a beloved senator and presidential frontrunner, his face everywhere she looks. But that has nothing to do with Addie personally. He might make history, but in her book, he is history.
So, when the unwelcome Wes appears back in their hometown, no one rolls out the red carpet--not Addie and not an entire town that was forced to pick sides (and unanimously chose Addie) decades ago. Senator Hobbes certainly won't win the popular vote in Adelaide Springs.
Wes, meanwhile, is sitting on a few secrets of his own, including the political scoop of the decade: he'd seriously rather gouge his eyes out than spend another minute in politics, much less ever go anywhere near the White House. Addie knows there has to be more to the story, and her curiosity is clouding her judgment. You can take the girl out of the CIA, but it's not so easy to shake the CIA out of the girl. Of course, it's not just curiosity (and the acknowledgement that his face isn't so stupid after all) that's been reawakened inside her. But after more than two decades, it's too late. Wes and Addie already had their chance. Right?
Available Editions
EDITION | Audiobook, Unabridged |
ISBN | 9781400345915 |
PRICE | |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Bethany Turner for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
If you've read the first two books in this series of interconnected standalones- you're ready for this one. The illusive Wes AND Addie get their story! And boy is it a story! I do think this would read perfectly fine as a standalone- but in the prior two books our setting, Adelaide Springs, is almost its own character and that carries into this book but isn't as prominent. From having read the first two- I didn't need more charm from the town- it's already in my heart and brain!
In this story- we do a LOT of wading through grief, addiction, life's woulda coulda shoulda's, AND the "well, we didn't and this is our story."
It's not a spoiler to share this really- but I LOVE how Addie found TRUE love in Joel after Wes left her at the altar. And nowhere in this story does the author make any effort to make Joel be any type of placeholder for Wes & Addie's second chance. No ma'am and sir- Joel and Addie's love is honored and appreciated- and Wes does NOT try to take that away. I find in many second chance widowed stories we are given some ick reason why that marriage or partnership was "bad" and that does NOT happen here. Even Wes' prior marriage was unconventional but not BAD.
This is a political story as our MMC is a front runner for President. But the politics are very neutral. Really the only issue we hear him talk about at all is campaign reform. Outside of that we have the typical pushy campaign manager AND Wes' estranged Governor of Connecticut father that comes back into the picture after 18 years.
The resolution left me with some questions. But maybe if we ask Bethany nicely she'll give us a bonus epilogue???
The narration was done very well. Both narrators were perfect picks for the characters.

The narrators for Wes and Addie are great, they bring the story to life and I really enjoyed listening to them, highly recommend!
I absolutely loved reading this series and this story is fantastic. I loved Wes and Addie’s story. They were childhood best friends and then sweethearts. When they were supposed to get married at 18, he disappeared. They married other people and their spouses die bringing them back to Adelaide Springs, a town that sounds fun to visit. Wes had a lot of apologies to make to the town for leaving and never returning. I loved how Wes and Addie had the connection from long ago, the fun banter they had with each other. I loved the updates on the friends from the other books, I enjoyed seeing how their lives were going and how they still supported each other. This is an absolutely delightful story that drew me in from the beginning so much I didn’t want to put it down, there were some twists and turns I didn’t expect which is always fun in a story, great book that I highly recommend!
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this copy of this story, the review in only my opinion.

What can I say beyond Bethany Turner is a superb writer? Every one of her books will entertain. She weaves the story in such a way and with just the right amount of comedy that its a thing of beauty.
I loved the reconciling journey Addie and Wes travel. I loved the healing, the understanding, and the forgiveness.
There are no swears or alcohol and level 1 kisses only. Dual POV. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators were wonderful.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from @netgalley and @thomasnelson. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this book. It was quick and witty and as much as I wanted to savor the characters and plot, I devoured the book overnight. Can’t wait to go back and listen to the others. So glad there’s a series.

Bethany Turner, you’ve done it again! I loved this audiobook so, so much!
Addie and Wes’s story was everything I wanted, but also heartbreaking all at the same time. After hearing about their history when they were kids, I couldn’t help but root for them the whole time. Then hearing about what they both went through after they left Adelaide Springs made me root for them even more. I loved all the characters that made an appearance from the other books in Adelaide Springs too.
Talon Davis nailed the narration as always! I enjoy Patrick Zeller bringing Wes to life too.
Thank you to Bethany Turner, Thomas and Nelson, and NetGalley for a copy of the audiobook!

Thank you NetGalley for the Audiobook!
I think if I actually read it in print it would’ve been a much different experience, the internal dialogue comes alive in the audiobook.
I loved this book, and I was hooked from the beginning.
No spice
Second chance romance
Small town

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved everything about this. The second-chance romance, the small-town setting, the history between Addie and Wes, it was all so good. I was fully invested in their story and didn’t want to stop listening. The audiobook was amazing too, the narrator made the whole thing even better. So much heart, tension, and just the right amount of drama.
Thank You NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio
The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

"I have loved you since before I any idea what love was."
This is a heartwarming second chance romance, but it's also so much more.
The complicated history between Wes and Addie provided an opportunity for character growth and an emotional journey, which the author beautifully portrayed. Their story is full of heart, humor, witty banter, genuine moments, and truly relatable characters you will be rooting for.
I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook after I finished reading this book and it was well worth the listen. The narrators did a fantastic job of breathing life into these characters. I highly recommend this book in either format!
*Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lovely. I've read some of Bethany Turner's earlier novels, but this one really touched me. Wes and Addie grew up in Adelaide Springs (the delightful, beautiful Colorado setting of two earlier books by Ms. Turner) and fell deeply in love as teenagers. Wes proposed, the date was set, and then Wes disappeared. The novel opens twenty years later, when both Wes and Addie end up back home, having led lives extraordinarily different (and more challenging) than they or anyone else in their town would have anticipated. Wes (a recent widower) is now the expected nominee for the presidential ticket, and Addie is both a heart-broken widow and a retired CIA analyst. There are lighthearted and funny moments in this book, but it is not a rom-com. It is a novel that deals with serious issues including cancer, alcoholism, aging, and loneliness, but it is foremost a novel that celebrates friendship and loyalty. Did I say foremost? Let me correct myself. It is foremost a beautiful love story that incorporates the importance of friendship and loyalty and leaves the reader and/or listener grateful for the chance to have experienced Wes and Addie's story. The narration of the audiobook was superb, and I look forward to listening to these readers again. I am grateful to NetGalley for an advance copy of this audiobook (and am buying a print copy to add to my keeper shelf).

A heartfelt small-town second-chance romance with lots of secrets.
When Wes left Addie at the alter twenty years ago, the small-town of Adelaide Springs, Colorado never forgot, even when they both left town and went their separate ways. Addie, now widowed and sober, is back home doing odd jobs to make ends meet. Wes, also widowed and now a presidential candidate, also finds himself back in town (being Ubered by Addie no less). This is the first time they've talked since that day.
To me, this would be a no-go. Leave me at the alter and never try to reach out for twenty years? Yeah - there'd be no chance at a second-chance. Wes didn't even seem like that great of a catch anyway.
Narrated by Talon David, Patrick Zeller, and Bethany Turner. This was a good audiobook and I loved that Bethany was able to record it!
🎧
Narration: 🎙️🎙️🎙️
Plot: 📖📖📖

I love listening to romcoms. Wes and Addie Had Their Chance by Bethany Turner was a great listen. It's available now.

This is another great installment in Bethany Turner's Adelaide Springs series. I loved checking in with the couples from the two previous books while watching Wes and Addie work through two decades of baggage to find their way back to each other. I liked that the protagonists were a little older (40s) and that they had a long history together. It was very satisfying to see them get their second chance. I also loved the references to pop culture that popped up in their dialogue. I had entirely forgotten about Death to Smoochy and appreciated having that bit of nostalgia brought back to me. This series has solidified Bethany Turner as one of my all-time favorite romance writers! The audiobook narration was great. The narrators' voices were a perfect match for the characters, and I really enjoyed listening to them.

Wes and Addie Had Their Chance is a second chance love story that has everything you want. Set in a small town in Colorado, Addie and Wes meet again 20 years after Wes left Addie at the alter. They are now living very different lives although both are now widowed. I loved both Addie and Wes and all the side characters too. I want to visit this small town in Colorado. While the book is a romcom, it did have depth which I wasn’t expecting but loved. I recommend this book to everyone.
I received both an audiobook and an ebook and I loved both. The narrators in the audiobook book did a great job.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Oh my goodness if you love Second chance romances, you are going to love this sweet story! A fun ending to the Adelaide Springs Love stories series. I love how there are two narrators to fit the dual POV!
I received an audio ARC through Netgalley and all opinions are my own.

Bethany Turner is fantastic! This was incredible from start to finish. The book is full of themes of second chances, redemption, healing, and the power of love. The plot was well-paced and the characters were well-developed. This is definitely one I'll listen to again! Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

I've already reviewed the book itself separately (I adored it and it became an instant 5 star for me for its excellent characters, fascinating plot and just generally fantastic romance) but the audio book really brought it up a notch. I really enjoyed the narration and feel like it really added to the book, especially with the pacing and emotion when it came to their previous relationships.

Contains an audiobook review.
This is the third book in the Adelaide Springs Love Stories series. It has some interconnected characters, but it could be read as a standalone story. It is a kisses only contemporary. The author calls it a romcom, but I wouldn't exactly describe it as such.
I'm going to give complete transparency here. I listened to this book in 1 day. I really liked it and definitely felt that it was my favorite in this series. But I didn't write my review right away. A couple of weeks later a friend started to listen to it and made a comment. I went back to see about that reference and couldn't remember a thing about the book, even after reading the blurb again! So, I decided I would listen again but at double speed. By the time I was halfway through chapter 2, the story started coming back. But I liked it so much, I continued and finished it a second time.
There's something about the dynamic of Wes and Addie that just fascinated me. I appreciated the life that Addie lived and didn't have regrets about it. I don't think I will forget the plot again. And I really enjoyed the author's note!
The only thing that bothers me, and I have noticed that other author's do it too, is that Addie's point of view is in first person while Wes' is in third. I find that a bit distracting and am not sure why authors do it.
Having said that, the audio has both a female and male narrator. I enjoyed both of them and think that they both captured the characters' personalities well. My friend that I mentioned earlier asked me why the male narrator whispered. She had to turn up her volume. I didn't notice that the first time, or at least I didn't remember it, maybe because I had earbuds in rather than listening in the car or with another speaker. The second time through I would think about it while listening. Probably because she had mentioned it.
I was given the opportunity to listen to a copy of the book by Netgalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

You know those second-chance love stories that hit you right in the chest? Yeah, this one totally delivered. There’s all this tension, all these unresolved feelings, and I swear you can feel it in every scene. It’s the kind of slow-burn that makes you want to yell at both of them to just talk already, but in the best way.
The narrator totally brought it to life. Their voice felt really natural—like they were Addie, with just the right amount of vulnerability and fire. And when it came to Wes’s parts? So good. There’s a subtle shift in tone and pacing that helped you feel his side of things without being over-the-top or cheesy. Speaking of pacing—the audiobook moved at a perfect rhythm. Nothing dragged, and nothing felt rushed. It had these quieter, emotional moments that gave you time to feel, but the story kept you hooked the whole way through.
If you’re into emotional, character-driven stories with a nostalgic edge and just the right touch of angst, I think you’ll really enjoy this one. It felt like watching an old flame get reignited—messy, tender, and completely captivating.

I adored this book. I actually had no idea this was the end of a trilogy, and it stood on it's own really well. The book warmed my heart in all the right ways, it was sweet and nostalgic and still made you guess a little bit. It took me out of my own world and plunked me down in the sweet town of Adelaide Springs, which was a welcome respite! It definitely makes me want to go back and read the other books in the series!
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