New Release Book Review: Second Chance Lane by Nicola Marsh

Title: Second Chance Lane

Author: Nicola Marsh

Published: October 7th 2020

Publisher: Mira – AU

Pages: 384

Genres:  Fiction, Contemporary, Romance

RRP: $29.99

Rating: 4.5 stars

From USA Today bestselling Australian author Nicola Marsh comes a compelling story of love, redemption and community.

When the past crashes into the future, there’s more than hearts on the line.

Natasha Trigg leads a simple life in small-town Brockenridge. She works at the roadhouse, has good friends, and at the centre of her world is her daughter, Isla. She knows dumping musician Kody Lansdowne thirteen years ago by misleading him about her pregnancy was best in the long run. She drove him away so he could achieve his dreams but has always felt guilty. When a matchmaking Isla invites a surprise new neighbour to dinner, Tash and Kody come face to face once again…

Now a bona fide rockstar, Kody’s in hiding to sort through the mess his life has become after a concert resulted in devastation. The last thing he needs is discovering he has a child. Especially as it means the one woman he’s never been able to forget is now permanently part of his life. Pity he’s so furious with her…

For Jane Jefferson, who has deliberately fooled townsfolk into believing her reputation is worse than it is for years, a second chance is something she thought she’d never get. Reconnecting with friendships she thought lost forces her to face the question: do past mistakes define you forever?

While navigating the troubled waters of forgiveness, friendship and love, will these three Brockenridge residents discover everyone deserves a second chance?

Review:

Second Chance Lane is the latest contemporary romance from Nicola Marsh. With themes of rekindled love, parenting, family relationships, trauma, redemption and acceptance leading the way, Second Chance Lane is another truly delightful story from an author I have come to admire very much.

Second Chance Lane is the story of the past, the future, choices, mistakes and forgiveness. Unveiling the tales of two very different women, both haunted by their pasts, we learn how they cope and change over the course of this heartwarming small town tale. Tash Trigg is a single mother to twelve year old Isla, who has settled into life in the outback town of Brockenridge. With a job at the local roadhouse and plenty of friends to call on, Tash has forged a life for herself, away from the shadow of her judgmental parents and musician ex. But alarm bells ring when Tash’s daughter Isla sets her up with a handsome new neighbour. As a result, Tash must face her past and confront long hidden secrets. While for Kody, Tash’s new neighbour, dealing with the recent trauma of a tragic accident has seen his life taken a downward turn. Kody is in no position to accept a new figure in his life, especially a daughter he has no knowledge of. Meanwhile, the other pivotal character of this tale is dealing with her past and hoping those in the town of Brokenridge can accept the amends she is trying to make in relation to previous mistakes. Can Jane restore her reputation and will the Brockenridge community let her back in to its fold? Together these souls try to overcome difficult times as they each work at restoring their own past grievances.

Nicola Marsh is an author who writes with a genuine feeling, emotion and sincerity. Second Chance Lane is the second novel I have read by this talented author. Although I have only managed to experience Marsh’s contemporary romance stories, I have a number of this author’s domestic fiction stories ordered. I can’t wait to delve into more fiction from Nicola Marsh.

I think the wonderful thing about this story is that Nicola Marsh has constructed a set of characters that appear very relatable and honest. With situations and problems that we can all connect to on some level, Second Chance Lane proved to be an easy, readable and engaging read. Nicola Marsh does not shy away from presenting the flaws and weak points of her protagonists, which allows the reader to really connect on a deeper level to the issues presented in the novel. With three core characters to contend with, Nicola Marsh has provided her audience with an involving narrative, full of emotion and drama.

With themes of parenting, relationships, second chances, difficult choices, long held secrets, trauma, pain, forgiveness and restitution following this new tale from Nicola Marsh, there is much more than just a standard romance to Second Chance Lane. Marsh tackles her core issues with a sense of understanding and raw honesty.

I loved my first visit to the quaint Australian town of Brockeridge. Yet again the folk of Brockeridge displayed their country hospitality and I felt like I was welcomed with open arms for the duration of this novel. A clear picture is developed thanks to Marsh’s prose of this small town location, which is full of engaging community members and interesting general happenings. It is hard not to get completely caught up in this township.

I admired Marsh’s approach to her romance in her previous novel, Long Way Home. I was impressed yet again by the romance slant in Second Chance Lane. With plenty of personal baggage, a past history, trust issues, secrets, trauma and shock revelations leading the way, Marsh has concocted a love story that sweep you away from everyday life.

A beautiful and touching story, underscored by emotional themes, Second Chance Lane is not to be missed if you are a fan of contemporary romance stories.

Second Chance Lane by Nicola Marsh was published on 7th October 2020 by Mira – AU. Details on how to purchase the book can be found here.

To learn more about the author of Second Chance Lane, Nicola Marsh, visit here.

*I wish to thank Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.

Second Chance Lane is book #119 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge