Second Chance
Grade : C+

When I was a girl, my grandmother used to give me paint-by-number kits for Christmas. I'd follow all the instructions and when I was finished I could see that what I'd accomplished was obviously a picture of something, but I never fooled myself into thinking I was Leonardo da Vinci. Reading Second Chance reminded me of that experience: yes, it's a romance, and all the ingredients are there, but it lacks that touch of genius that would set it apart from all the rest.

Chance Macauley is thrilled and scared when the Boston ad agency that employs her gets a shot at landing a new, huge account for Martin Foods. She's stunned, however, when she discovers that the firm has hired Nick Tremaine to help them land it. Five years ago, just as she was certain he was on the brink of proposing to her, Nick walked out of Chance's life, and she hasn't seen him since.

Nick's reaction to meeting Chance again is one of shock, then cautious optimism. He never stopped loving her, but he left to protect her - or so he thinks. The reason he stepped out of her life all those years ago is no longer a threat, and as soon as he sees her, Nick just knows he'd do anything to have another shot at building a life with her. But first he has to overcome the barrier his departure created, and earn Chance's trust once more. There's also the added complication of the professional clashes they'll face, and the potential rivalry in the quest to land the Martin account, to say nothing of the overly-possessive man Chance has been dating casually.

This is a by-the-numbers execution of a series romance, even if it hasn't been published in one of the series lines. The writing is acceptable, the characters likable. You have a fairly solid internal conflict between the hero and heroine, two basically pleasant people who happen to share a past filled with painful memories. Each of them is given sufficient, sympathetic motivation for acting: Chance needs the extra money the new account will bring so she can help her arthritic father move from Boston to Arizona. For Nick's part, new vistas and visions have opened for him, and all he wants is to share them with Chance.

The external conflict of trying to land the account for the ad agency is adequately developed. What the author doesn't handle so deftly, however, is the subplot involving the man Chance is dating when Nick comes back into the picture. He's portrayed as a possessive control freak, and the ease with which Chance brushes him off is not portrayed in a realistic fashion. I felt I was being prepared for a stalker scenario, and when this didn't happen, I had to wonder why nothing of the sort took place after that kind of set-up.

All art is subjective, however, and many readers may enjoy this safe story of lost love rediscovered. For me, while I didn't have the feeling I was gazing at the Mona Lisa, at least it wasn't exactly like looking at modern art and wondering what the heck I was supposed to be seeing, or even having to endure another velvet Elvis.

Reviewed by Nora Armstrong
Grade : C+

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date : November 8, 1999

Publication Date: 1999

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