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Chasing a Second Chance: A Spicy Second Chances Romance
Not yet published
Expected 30 Jun 26272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Expected publication June 30, 2026
About the author
Brenda Jackson
914 books3,662 followersIn 1994, Brenda Jackson’s first novel, Tonight and Forever, was released. Since then she has had more than 100 novels and novellas published (the first African-American author to accomplish such a feat) and has over 3 million books in print.
A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Brenda is the first African-American author to have a book published by Harlequin Desire and the first African-American romance author to make the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller lists within the series romance genre.
In 2012, Brenda received the Romance Writers of America’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award—one of the highest literary awards a romance author can receive. In 2013, she was recognized by the mayor and the city of Jacksonville as being a Trailblazer in the literary field.
In 2010, she collaborated with Five Alive Films to turn her Truly Everlasting title into a feature film. Brenda’s 2011 novel A Silken Thread is scheduled to be filmed with Debbie Allen attached as director in 2015.
Email Brenda at authorbrendajackson@gmail.com or visit her on her website at brendajackson.net.
A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Brenda is the first African-American author to have a book published by Harlequin Desire and the first African-American romance author to make the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller lists within the series romance genre.
In 2012, Brenda received the Romance Writers of America’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award—one of the highest literary awards a romance author can receive. In 2013, she was recognized by the mayor and the city of Jacksonville as being a Trailblazer in the literary field.
In 2010, she collaborated with Five Alive Films to turn her Truly Everlasting title into a feature film. Brenda’s 2011 novel A Silken Thread is scheduled to be filmed with Debbie Allen attached as director in 2015.
Email Brenda at authorbrendajackson@gmail.com or visit her on her website at brendajackson.net.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Did Not Finish
May 31, 2026This is a Steamy Second Chance Romance, and this is the 8th book in the Westmoreland Legacy. I have read some of the other books in this series. I tried to listen to the audiobook for this book, and I really did not love the narrator for this audiobook. I ended up DNFing this book around 24% into this book. I just could not get into this book, and I also did not love the narrator for this audiobook. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✨ ARC Audiobook Review — Chasing a Second Chance by Brenda Jackson
Advanced Listener Copy provided by Harlequin Special Edition & Harper Audio , thank you!
Brenda Jackson is the reason I started reading romance and the reason I fell in love with it. If she writes it, I’m reading it , that’s simply gospel. And this newest Westmoreland Legacy novel reminded me exactly why her catalog stays undefeated.
🖤 Brenda writes Black men and Black love with intention
One of the things that hooked me on Brenda’s writing from the very beginning is how she writes Black men. In her books, Black men are thriving, successful, family‑centered, and deeply loving. Even the ones who start off rough grow into men who show up. That’s exactly what we get here.
👏🏾👌🏾 Matthew Caulder is classic Brenda
Matthew is a lawyer, a single dad, and a man who raised his daughter on his own. Now that she’s almost grown, he’s finally ready to feel that spark again. And the moment he meets Iris? He’s drawn in. Completely.
💐 Iris is guarded, grieving, and deserving of softness
Her late husband lived life on the edge, and loving him came with fear and uncertainty. She’s not looking for another risk. She’s not looking for another heartbreak. She’s barely looking for a fling.
But Matthew doesn’t push.
He proves.
🔥 A true slow burn — tender, patient, grown
This is 100% a slow burn in the way Brenda does best:
- Real dates
- Real conversations
- Real yearning
- Real emotional intimacy
Nothing is rushed. Nothing is forced. They build something intentional, something earned, something that feels like two adults choosing each other with clarity.
And yes, there’s spice ,but Brenda’s spice always feels real, mature, and purposeful.
🎧 Audiobook Notes — Ron Butler is HIM
This was an audio‑only ARC, and honestly? That’s all it needed.
Ron Butler has become the voice of Brenda Jackson’s universe. He narrates so many of her books, and he brings a consistency and emotional depth that makes every story feel like home. His pacing is flawless. His delivery is warm, confident, and expressive. And even though this is a single‑narrator audiobook, he makes it feel like a full cast.
He knows Brenda’s rhythm.
He knows her men.
He knows how to carry the emotional weight of her stories in a way that feels lived‑in and intentional.
He doesn’t just read , he performs.
🌱 Their love story blooms beautifully
Watching Matthew and Iris move from guarded to open, from hesitant to hopeful, felt tender and deeply satisfying. Brenda knows how to write yearning that sits right in your chest.
🏡 The Westmoreland universe always feels like coming home
This is book 8 of 8 in this branch of the series, and if you know Brenda, you know there’s always more coming. The Westmorelands, the cousins, the extended family... stepping back into this world always feels familiar in the best way.
🌟 Final Thoughts
Chasing a Second Chance is Brenda Jackson doing what she does best:
Black love, Black family, and Black men written with dignity, depth, and desire.
It’s tender, slow, intentional, and full of that signature Brenda yearning that keeps me coming back every single time.
Advanced Listener Copy provided by Harlequin Special Edition & Harper Audio , thank you!
Brenda Jackson is the reason I started reading romance and the reason I fell in love with it. If she writes it, I’m reading it , that’s simply gospel. And this newest Westmoreland Legacy novel reminded me exactly why her catalog stays undefeated.
🖤 Brenda writes Black men and Black love with intention
One of the things that hooked me on Brenda’s writing from the very beginning is how she writes Black men. In her books, Black men are thriving, successful, family‑centered, and deeply loving. Even the ones who start off rough grow into men who show up. That’s exactly what we get here.
👏🏾👌🏾 Matthew Caulder is classic Brenda
Matthew is a lawyer, a single dad, and a man who raised his daughter on his own. Now that she’s almost grown, he’s finally ready to feel that spark again. And the moment he meets Iris? He’s drawn in. Completely.
💐 Iris is guarded, grieving, and deserving of softness
Her late husband lived life on the edge, and loving him came with fear and uncertainty. She’s not looking for another risk. She’s not looking for another heartbreak. She’s barely looking for a fling.
But Matthew doesn’t push.
He proves.
🔥 A true slow burn — tender, patient, grown
This is 100% a slow burn in the way Brenda does best:
- Real dates
- Real conversations
- Real yearning
- Real emotional intimacy
Nothing is rushed. Nothing is forced. They build something intentional, something earned, something that feels like two adults choosing each other with clarity.
And yes, there’s spice ,but Brenda’s spice always feels real, mature, and purposeful.
🎧 Audiobook Notes — Ron Butler is HIM
This was an audio‑only ARC, and honestly? That’s all it needed.
Ron Butler has become the voice of Brenda Jackson’s universe. He narrates so many of her books, and he brings a consistency and emotional depth that makes every story feel like home. His pacing is flawless. His delivery is warm, confident, and expressive. And even though this is a single‑narrator audiobook, he makes it feel like a full cast.
He knows Brenda’s rhythm.
He knows her men.
He knows how to carry the emotional weight of her stories in a way that feels lived‑in and intentional.
He doesn’t just read , he performs.
🌱 Their love story blooms beautifully
Watching Matthew and Iris move from guarded to open, from hesitant to hopeful, felt tender and deeply satisfying. Brenda knows how to write yearning that sits right in your chest.
🏡 The Westmoreland universe always feels like coming home
This is book 8 of 8 in this branch of the series, and if you know Brenda, you know there’s always more coming. The Westmorelands, the cousins, the extended family... stepping back into this world always feels familiar in the best way.
🌟 Final Thoughts
Chasing a Second Chance is Brenda Jackson doing what she does best:
Black love, Black family, and Black men written with dignity, depth, and desire.
It’s tender, slow, intentional, and full of that signature Brenda yearning that keeps me coming back every single time.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Chasing a Second Chance by Brenda Jackson (2026)
Westmoreland Legacy #8
related series: before - Westmorelands, Westmoreland Trilogy, after - Westmoreland Legacy: The Outlaws
related books Westmoreland's Way - Westmorelands #16 AND Irresistible Forces - Forged of Steele #5
6h 45m narrated by Ron Butler, 279 pages
ALC courtesy of Harlequin Audio and NetGalley
Genre: African-American Romance, Western Romance
Rating as a movie: XX for strong sexual content
Featuring: Author’s Note - Supporting Characters From Other Series books get Spotlight as MMC and FMC, Lawyer, Epigraphs, Divorcé, Widow, Adult Children, PR Consultant, Quadragenarians, Workplace Setting, Secret Baby, Los Angeles, California; Washington D. C., Single Parents, Dual POVs, Weddings and Parties, Denver, Colorado; Outlaw Family, Babies Everywhere, Burned Out vs The Believer, Skeptic’s Surrender Trope, Steele Family, Sex - Graphic Details, Trust Issues, Second Chance Trope
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½📢⚖️
My thoughts: Having read 21 books by Brenda Jackson, I’ve long enjoyed the world-building she creates, and I was excited to dive into Chasing a Second Chance. It was a blast seeing familiar faces from Taming a Heartbreaker, and I was even caught off guard by a surprise appearance from the Delaney's Desert Sheikh crew. However, while I appreciate how Brenda makes sure new readers won't feel lost, I found the constant commercials for other Westmoreland books a bit distracting this time around. At times, the story felt less like a focused narrative and more like a series of updates on the wider universe. Between all the background info on side characters and the endless string of social events, it got pretty hard to stay invested in the main couple's journey. Honestly, I find her Catalina Cove series more immersive; she manages to keep those connections without needing to give the full rundown on every single backstory, which keeps the pacing tight and the focus where it belongs, on the love interest and the main character. At the end of the day, it's impressive how Brenda weaves such a huge, connected world together, and her signature charm is definitely still there. I’m already looking forward to her next release, and I’m definitely hoping she leans back into the intimate, character-driven vibe that made me fall in love with her writing in the first place.
Recommend to others: Yes. Even with the pacing issues, it’s a solid pick for anyone who loves intense romantic tension and bold, explicit scenes.
Westmoreland Legacy
1. The Rancher Returns (2016)
2. His Secret Son (2017)
aka A Secret Son
3. An Honourable Seduction (2018)
4. His To Claim (2019)
5. Duty or Desire (2019)
6. One Steamy Night (2023)
7. Taming a Heartbreaker (2024)
8. Chasing a Second Chance (2026)
Songs for the soundtrack: "Boots on the Ground" by 803Fresh
Westmoreland Legacy #8
related series: before - Westmorelands, Westmoreland Trilogy, after - Westmoreland Legacy: The Outlaws
related books Westmoreland's Way - Westmorelands #16 AND Irresistible Forces - Forged of Steele #5
6h 45m narrated by Ron Butler, 279 pages
ALC courtesy of Harlequin Audio and NetGalley
Genre: African-American Romance, Western Romance
Rating as a movie: XX for strong sexual content
Featuring: Author’s Note - Supporting Characters From Other Series books get Spotlight as MMC and FMC, Lawyer, Epigraphs, Divorcé, Widow, Adult Children, PR Consultant, Quadragenarians, Workplace Setting, Secret Baby, Los Angeles, California; Washington D. C., Single Parents, Dual POVs, Weddings and Parties, Denver, Colorado; Outlaw Family, Babies Everywhere, Burned Out vs The Believer, Skeptic’s Surrender Trope, Steele Family, Sex - Graphic Details, Trust Issues, Second Chance Trope
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½📢⚖️
My thoughts: Having read 21 books by Brenda Jackson, I’ve long enjoyed the world-building she creates, and I was excited to dive into Chasing a Second Chance. It was a blast seeing familiar faces from Taming a Heartbreaker, and I was even caught off guard by a surprise appearance from the Delaney's Desert Sheikh crew. However, while I appreciate how Brenda makes sure new readers won't feel lost, I found the constant commercials for other Westmoreland books a bit distracting this time around. At times, the story felt less like a focused narrative and more like a series of updates on the wider universe. Between all the background info on side characters and the endless string of social events, it got pretty hard to stay invested in the main couple's journey. Honestly, I find her Catalina Cove series more immersive; she manages to keep those connections without needing to give the full rundown on every single backstory, which keeps the pacing tight and the focus where it belongs, on the love interest and the main character. At the end of the day, it's impressive how Brenda weaves such a huge, connected world together, and her signature charm is definitely still there. I’m already looking forward to her next release, and I’m definitely hoping she leans back into the intimate, character-driven vibe that made me fall in love with her writing in the first place.
Recommend to others: Yes. Even with the pacing issues, it’s a solid pick for anyone who loves intense romantic tension and bold, explicit scenes.
Westmoreland Legacy
1. The Rancher Returns (2016)
2. His Secret Son (2017)
aka A Secret Son
3. An Honourable Seduction (2018)
4. His To Claim (2019)
5. Duty or Desire (2019)
6. One Steamy Night (2023)
7. Taming a Heartbreaker (2024)
8. Chasing a Second Chance (2026)
Songs for the soundtrack: "Boots on the Ground" by 803Fresh
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Chasing a Second Chance AUDIO by Brenda Jackson is an entertaining, second-time-around romance between a lawyer and a PR person. They meet at an extended family party and both are attracted, but Iris is already in an exclusive relationship and Matthew discovers some disconcerting news that throws him off his game for awhile. They continue to see one another at family get-togethers until the inevitable happens.
This Westmorelands are a large family, this is book eight in the series, and my biggest complaint about this book is that much of it is a retelling of all the stories from the past. I do love seeing characters repeat in books and getting an update, but all the mentions and rehashing became cumbersome. I still enjoyed the book, but it could have been so much better.
The reader was Ron Butler and he did a credible job. He was open and inviting and made the book a very enjoyable listen.
I was invited to listen to Chasing a Second Chance by Harlequin Audio. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #HarlequinAudio #RonButler Brenda Jackson #ChasingASecondChance
This Westmorelands are a large family, this is book eight in the series, and my biggest complaint about this book is that much of it is a retelling of all the stories from the past. I do love seeing characters repeat in books and getting an update, but all the mentions and rehashing became cumbersome. I still enjoyed the book, but it could have been so much better.
The reader was Ron Butler and he did a credible job. He was open and inviting and made the book a very enjoyable listen.
I was invited to listen to Chasing a Second Chance by Harlequin Audio. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #HarlequinAudio #RonButler Brenda Jackson #ChasingASecondChance
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First, I want to thank NetGalley, author Brenda Jackson, and Harlequin Audio for providing me with this ALC. Narrated by Ron Butler.
The audio itself was enjoyable overall, although I did feel like some of the female narration felt a little off at times, though I can’t quite pinpoint exactly what it was.
I do want to note that while this is part of a series, each book follows a different couple, so it can absolutely be read as a standalone. This is also a shorter audiobook, which made it feel like a quick, sweet listen.
This was my first book by Brenda Jackson, and I was immediately pulled into the family dynamics, the characters’ personalities, and the instant chemistry between the FMC and MMC. This is a second-chance-at-love story centered around healing after loss and heartbreak, featuring two single parents finding connection again.
There’s a decent amount of spice, plenty of chemistry, and you can genuinely feel the pull between these characters throughout the story. Overall, I thought this was a cute, enjoyable listen.
The audio itself was enjoyable overall, although I did feel like some of the female narration felt a little off at times, though I can’t quite pinpoint exactly what it was.
I do want to note that while this is part of a series, each book follows a different couple, so it can absolutely be read as a standalone. This is also a shorter audiobook, which made it feel like a quick, sweet listen.
This was my first book by Brenda Jackson, and I was immediately pulled into the family dynamics, the characters’ personalities, and the instant chemistry between the FMC and MMC. This is a second-chance-at-love story centered around healing after loss and heartbreak, featuring two single parents finding connection again.
There’s a decent amount of spice, plenty of chemistry, and you can genuinely feel the pull between these characters throughout the story. Overall, I thought this was a cute, enjoyable listen.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My first book by this author and I have not read the previous in this series although I believe some of the story would have a deeper meaning if I had. Single dad and single mom genre that seem to hit it off in the meeting. The story unfolds slowly but you can appreciate the tightness of family ties in this novel. There is definitely some spice and it is nice to see the relationship develop.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews