Review: One More Last Chance Cathleen Armstrong

My rating: 2 stars / It was okay

About the Book

Sarah Cooley has come home to Last Chance, New Mexico, for one reason–because it doesn’t change. After an engagement gone bad with a man who wanted to change everything about her, Sarah is more than ready for the town whose motto may as well be, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
 

Chris Reed, on the other hand, wants nothing more than to spark some change in the little town. As the new owner of the Dip ‘n’ Dine, he’s shaking things up to draw folks from all over the Southwest into his restaurant.
 

As it turns out, the winds of change are blowing into Last Chance–just not in the ways that Sarah or Chris might expect.

My Review

I was hoping I would enjoy the second book in the series more than the first, but I was disappointed to discover that the author's writing style just isn't the right fit for me. I normally gravitate towards small-town romance, but the perspective of the two main characters was somewhat shallow, and I didn't see much growth in the first quarter of the book, making me lose interest swiftly. Sarah is sentimental and embraces her small community, to the point of being exclusionary, judgemental, and just plain mean to newcomer Chris- with no apparent justification other than he's "a big doofus." Admittedly I had difficulty relating to her. Chris has dreams for his newly acquired restaurant, but his attempts at change or improvement are met with resistance. His restaurant and social challenges, combined with his worry over his young niece suffering from neglect, brought a sense of disheartenment as I read.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Review: Welcome to Last Chance by Cathleen Armstrong

My rating: 3 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

The red warning light on her car dashboard drove Lainie Davis to seek help in the tiny town of Last Chance, New Mexico. But as she encounters the people who make Last Chance their home, it’s her heart that is flashing bright red warning lights. These people are entirely too nice, too accommodating, and too interested in her personal life for Lainie’s comfort-especially since she’s on the run and hoping to slip away unnoticed.
Yet in spite of herself, Lainie finds that she is increasingly drawn in to the dramas of small town life. An old church lady who always has room for a stranger. A handsome bartender with a secret life. A single mom running her diner and worrying over her teenage son. Could Lainie actually make a life in this little hick town? Or will the past catch up to her even here in the middle of nowhere?

My Review

This book has a great supporting cast. I enjoyed the townspeople and their personalities. The author struck a good balance between quirky and realistic. The main character seemed disconnected to me, like she held herself aloof, which was part of her personality, but it affected my ability to connect or relate to her. Her emotions were withheld not only from the other characters but from the reader as well. The relationship she had with Ray seemed a matter of convenience- their reasons for being together or caring for each other were not developed or communicated. There was some character growth, but it was very subtle. The ending was too abrupt for me, and the epilogue didn't make up for the lack of resolution.

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)