What do you think?
Rate this book
The Second Chance
What happens when two women die at the same moment, but when only one body is brought back to life, the wrong soul has entered the body?
Nichole Bannister is a mother of two, married to a loving husband and living the life every woman dreams about. Yet she is living a lie. She married Cayden, gaining the freedom she wanted from her overbearing mother. Already pregnant by another, she slips a drug into his drink and seduces him one night at a party. When they wake up the next day, she has planted evidence of blood on the sheets, to make him believe he has taken her virginity. When it becomes evident that she is pregnant, he does the honorable thing and marries her. From the beginning the marriage is a farce. Using her pregnancy as an excuse, she denies Cayden his right to the bedroom. Yet her need drives her to the beds of others. After the birth of twins, Cayden gives her the space she needs, doting on the two tiny bundles that become the center of his life. After given permission from her doctor, Cayden tries to resume his marriage rights, only to find his wife is cold and unresponsive in bed. Soon the effort to even try becomes too much, and they assume a life of separate bedrooms. Cayden turns his love to his son and daughter, but when rumors surface his wife is cheating he confronts her. When she doesn’t deny it and he announces his plans to divorce her, she hands him the blow that will shock him to his core. Paternity tests that prove the two children he has loved and raised for the past two years belong to another. When she threatens to make the divorce ugly and very public, he does what any father would do to protect his children, concede to her demands. Married in name only he allows his wife her freedom, providing she remain discreet and keep her distance from the children. Cayden raises the two children, as his own his wife falls deeper into her addiction; men.
Summer, aka Jostlen Carlotti, is a woman on the run, for three years she has remained hidden from the man that stole her innocence. Only after she had been married did her husband reveal his true colors. First he degraded her and then the violence began. With the violence came the threats and the fear. When she learned she was pregnant she finally found the courage to run. Hiding out with the only people she knew that her husband didn’t know, she gives birth to a son that she will be forced to leave behind. She will stay one step ahead of her husband, changing her name each time he finds her, till that fateful night he arrives on her door step, intent on taking back what is his. She knows the odds are against her, but this time she will fight back. In the process she is shot and her husband flees, leaving her to die in her own blood.
When Cayden gets the news his wife has been seriously injured in a car accident, one that has killed her latest lover, he can’t help but wish she doesn’t survive. However, when he is called to the hospital after his wife becomes conscience; he is informed that the accident has caused some trauma, resulting in her memory loss. When he asks the doctors to elaborate, they explain that at first she thought she was someone else, and then didn’t know who she was. They do not know how long the condition will last, but suggest it best for her to return to her home, in the hopes the surroundings will jog her memory.
What Cayden doesn’t know, is that Nichole’s soul no longer inhabits his wife’s body. What Summer doesn’t understand, is how this happened. Given a second chance, she must decide which life to choose. Faced with a woman he has never met, Cayden must decide what is best for his family. When two strangers decide to risk it all for a chance at love, will her past will return to threaten it all.
Nichole Bannister is a mother of two, married to a loving husband and living the life every woman dreams about. Yet she is living a lie. She married Cayden, gaining the freedom she wanted from her overbearing mother. Already pregnant by another, she slips a drug into his drink and seduces him one night at a party. When they wake up the next day, she has planted evidence of blood on the sheets, to make him believe he has taken her virginity. When it becomes evident that she is pregnant, he does the honorable thing and marries her. From the beginning the marriage is a farce. Using her pregnancy as an excuse, she denies Cayden his right to the bedroom. Yet her need drives her to the beds of others. After the birth of twins, Cayden gives her the space she needs, doting on the two tiny bundles that become the center of his life. After given permission from her doctor, Cayden tries to resume his marriage rights, only to find his wife is cold and unresponsive in bed. Soon the effort to even try becomes too much, and they assume a life of separate bedrooms. Cayden turns his love to his son and daughter, but when rumors surface his wife is cheating he confronts her. When she doesn’t deny it and he announces his plans to divorce her, she hands him the blow that will shock him to his core. Paternity tests that prove the two children he has loved and raised for the past two years belong to another. When she threatens to make the divorce ugly and very public, he does what any father would do to protect his children, concede to her demands. Married in name only he allows his wife her freedom, providing she remain discreet and keep her distance from the children. Cayden raises the two children, as his own his wife falls deeper into her addiction; men.
Summer, aka Jostlen Carlotti, is a woman on the run, for three years she has remained hidden from the man that stole her innocence. Only after she had been married did her husband reveal his true colors. First he degraded her and then the violence began. With the violence came the threats and the fear. When she learned she was pregnant she finally found the courage to run. Hiding out with the only people she knew that her husband didn’t know, she gives birth to a son that she will be forced to leave behind. She will stay one step ahead of her husband, changing her name each time he finds her, till that fateful night he arrives on her door step, intent on taking back what is his. She knows the odds are against her, but this time she will fight back. In the process she is shot and her husband flees, leaving her to die in her own blood.
When Cayden gets the news his wife has been seriously injured in a car accident, one that has killed her latest lover, he can’t help but wish she doesn’t survive. However, when he is called to the hospital after his wife becomes conscience; he is informed that the accident has caused some trauma, resulting in her memory loss. When he asks the doctors to elaborate, they explain that at first she thought she was someone else, and then didn’t know who she was. They do not know how long the condition will last, but suggest it best for her to return to her home, in the hopes the surroundings will jog her memory.
What Cayden doesn’t know, is that Nichole’s soul no longer inhabits his wife’s body. What Summer doesn’t understand, is how this happened. Given a second chance, she must decide which life to choose. Faced with a woman he has never met, Cayden must decide what is best for his family. When two strangers decide to risk it all for a chance at love, will her past will return to threaten it all.
418 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2014
5 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Miller
9 books16 followersLeslie Miller was born in 1958 the middle of 6 children. Raised in California she spent her younger years entertaining her school friends with wild tales using them as the main characters. Her writing career ended suddenly when she was gripped with writers block during her high school years. Spending most of her adult life in the printing industry as a buyer her energies were concentrated on making deals and putting out fires.
She met her husband in church and less than 8 months later they were married. She set about balancing her work life with her home life raising her step son and three other children with her husband. Life was spent between corporate deals, soccer games, softball games and swim parties. In 2006 she and her husband moved their 3 younger children from their home in California to Pensacola hoping to give them the life style they had enjoyed as kids growing up in California.
No longer stimulated with work her creative ability fought to break free. When her dreams became so vivid her husband suggested she write them down the words began to flow. Less than a year later she had completed writing the first four books in her series and was well on her way to finishing the fifth. Deciding to self-publish with the aid of her friends she launched the first in the "Dark Series" called "What Lies Within Dark Secrets" currently available at Amazon.com. When not writing she enjoys her other passion; painting. Ms. Miller can be followed on twitter Leslie Miller @LeslieM79016246 or emailed directly at millerleslie321@yahoo.com
She met her husband in church and less than 8 months later they were married. She set about balancing her work life with her home life raising her step son and three other children with her husband. Life was spent between corporate deals, soccer games, softball games and swim parties. In 2006 she and her husband moved their 3 younger children from their home in California to Pensacola hoping to give them the life style they had enjoyed as kids growing up in California.
No longer stimulated with work her creative ability fought to break free. When her dreams became so vivid her husband suggested she write them down the words began to flow. Less than a year later she had completed writing the first four books in her series and was well on her way to finishing the fifth. Deciding to self-publish with the aid of her friends she launched the first in the "Dark Series" called "What Lies Within Dark Secrets" currently available at Amazon.com. When not writing she enjoys her other passion; painting. Ms. Miller can be followed on twitter Leslie Miller @LeslieM79016246 or emailed directly at millerleslie321@yahoo.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 8, 2014
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. From the first description I was intrigued, from the very first pages I was captured. This book has it all, humor, warmth, suspense, sex and hope. It amazes me that Ms. Miller's talent has yet to be discovered by a publisher. She creates stories that pull you in from the start and keeps your attention to the very end.
April 22, 2014
omg, i have to tell you that this book was so good. i was very hesitant when i read the description, i really didn't know if i as going to like it or if i could get into it. but holy heck i couldn't put the book down. every page you have one more piece of the puzzle. you start the story with Summer who was a young lady that has had a rough life. from the first page you are met with action. Summer who has changed her name 4 times is getting ready for her weekly meeting when she gets the feeling that somethings off. she is checking her messages and notices that there were two calls that said nothing, the hair on her neck stands. she knows he has found her once more. she thinks that this time she maybe able to out run him. but as she looks around the apartment there is no one. she lets her guard down and goes to walk out the door and is met with strong arms,pure muscle but not the kind you want around you. ini that very moment another woman Nicole is clinging to life after a horrific car accident. her life as been one of mistreatment of her loved ones by her actions. she has been living a different life of cheating, lies and deception. her husband Cayden was wanting a divorce but with there twins in the line of the fire, he is informed by her that they are not even his but he loves them as his own he can not allow this woman to hurt them. they are all he has left other then his grandma Grace and best friend Travis. so he stays but this night he thinks that God will finally rid him of the horrible woman that lies in the operating table. at that moment Summer is met with Johnny her abusive husband, he is finally found her and he is not letting her go so easy. he will end her life no one leaves Johnny until he lets them. two shot and darkness falls. you have to read this story you will not be disappointed. there are twist and turns and action that you will be glued to every page. can a love be all you need to mend a family that has nothing left, will it bond a man and woman for the rest of there lives.
April 28, 2014
Summer Parks has only known a life of fear and escape ever since meeting Johnny Spanetti. Now Summer's only hope is that Johnny never finds out about his son. Summer will continue to run and fight for herself and her son's freedom. Only this time Johnny finds Summer under current identity as Jostlen Carlotti ending her life. When Summer discovers that she's alive but in a strange twist of fate inside another body and named Nichole Bannister. As Summer struggles within her new existence and cope with her attraction to Nichole's husband Cayden Bannister. Cayden prayed for Nichole's death to end the pain and suffering he and their children Isabella and Hunter faced. Yet Cayden is presented with a very different version of Nichole than the one he knows. Cayden doesn't trust this new version of Nichole but Cayden's grandmother Grace asks him to have faith. Summer gradually gains Cayden and the children trust by her actions and words. Cayden's is investigating Johnny Spanetti in cooperation with LAPD and FBI. Can Summer really trust Cayden with her past for their future? Will Cayden accept that Nichole is different? Will Johnny Spanetti be caught? Your answers await you in The Second Chance.
This story is about redemption and new beginnings for everyone involved. The characters were well thought out, believable, honest, and breathe taking in emotions. The story resonated with me on a personal level. I will continue to read more of this author's work.
This story is about redemption and new beginnings for everyone involved. The characters were well thought out, believable, honest, and breathe taking in emotions. The story resonated with me on a personal level. I will continue to read more of this author's work.
April 8, 2014
One of the great things about this site is the ability to read self published authors. While they may not have the team of editors, creative designers and publishing firms out there promoting their work doesn't mean they have any less talent. This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review and I have to say the concept is what first hooked me in. How would you feel if you die and when you are brought back enter into another woman's body? From the start I was drawn into the characters and their lives and could not put the book down till the last page. L.A. Miller is a talented writer and I am honored to have been given this chance to read her work even in it's raw stage. I am glad she has found an editor and know this book will be a success once it is published.
April 10, 2014
I was lucky enough to be given an advanced copy of this book. The premise of this story seemed really interesting to me and it didn't disappoint. It's full of all the things I love in a book; drama, mystery, action and romance! I don't want to give a lot away but the journey that the two main characters travel was both heartbreaking and full of hope. I did not want to put this book down, it got me from the beginning and I was sad when it ended because I really wanted to keep reading about these characters!
April 12, 2014
I have to say this book was a wonderful change from the run of the mill books around at the moment. It was a wonderful book, great story, great characters and brilliant plot so kept me interested all the way through even to the point of sucking in breath at points thinking 'oh no' when something happened that I hadn't expected or wanted to happen. I loved this book and would say if you fancy something a little bit different to read go for it.
Well done to the author for trying something different for us happy readers
Well done to the author for trying something different for us happy readers
June 20, 2014
Received an advanced copy of this book for an honest review:
This book captured me from the beginning. It was a perfect blend of romance, love, erotica, action, and suspense. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. It was truly one of those books that you can't put down. I found myself forgoing sleep to try to get through the next chapter. This is L.A. Millers best work so far. Strongly encourage you to read it.
This book captured me from the beginning. It was a perfect blend of romance, love, erotica, action, and suspense. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. It was truly one of those books that you can't put down. I found myself forgoing sleep to try to get through the next chapter. This is L.A. Millers best work so far. Strongly encourage you to read it.
April 22, 2014
WOW... Leslie sent me an advance copy this is a must read that you can't put down.....you will love the story line about Cayden and Summer and how tough things were for them and the love they have for each other. 5*all round great read. Thank you Leslie :)
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews