Second Chance Town

by Karly Lane

The town of Bundah is dying, with many of its young people fleeing for jobs in the city. A desperate plan to revive Bundah's fortunes—with generous incentives to attract new businesses—results in a flood of people coming to the town to set up shop.

As Bundah begins to come to life with the new arrivals a spate of teenage drug overdoses starts to divide the locals. Many are convinced the narcotics trade has been brought to town by one of the newcomers. It doesn't help that the mysterious new owner of one of the local pubs has a dark past.

Lucy Parker is a single mother doing her best to support her teenage daughter, Belle, through her last year of high school. It's long been Belle's dream to go to university, so when she starts to turn wayward, hanging out with the wrong kids and experimenting with alcohol and possibly drugs, her mother is deeply troubled.

The very last thing Lucy needs is for a man like Hugh Thompson to mess with her heart and disrupt her life. However it seems fate has other ideas.

Suspenseful and packed with romance, Second Chance Town is sure to grow the fan base Karly Lane has established with her bestselling novels Poppy's Dilemma and Gemma's Bluff.

Genres: Romance, Book Club, Romantic Suspense, Australia

328 pages, Paperback

Published April 27, 2016

About the author

Karly Lane lives on the beautiful Mid North Coast of NSW in Australia. A certified small town girl, she is most happy in a little town where everyone knows who your grand parents were. She writes women’s fiction – everything from romantic suspense to family sagas and life in rural Australia. She has romantic suspense titles published under Karlene Blakemore-Mowle and her latest release, Third Time Lucky is available now.

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy Parker is a single mother living in her hometown of Bundah. Lucy loves living in a small tranquil town with her teenage daughter, Belle. Of course raising a child on your own is always hard as Lucy knows, but going through the teenage years is proving to be somewhat difficult.

Hoping to put his sorted past behind him and make a new start, Hugh Thompson decides to make a go of it in Bundah. He starts off by purchasing a rundown old pub which he has plans for. But not long after Hugh arrives in town things start to happen to some of the local kids and immediately people are talking behind Hugh's back and they think he has something to do with it all.

Once Lucy hears what's been happening to the local kids she starts to worry about Belle. Are the kids that Belle hangs out with a good influence or is Belle about to get herself into the same danger as other kids in town have?

Whenever I pick up a book written by Aussie author Karly Lane I know I'm going to enjoy it from start to finish and that's exactly what happened with this book, Second Chance Town. If you enjoy romantic suspense novels, then I urge you to give this one a go as I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5★s

Lucy Parker wasn’t at all sure about the newcomers in town, but she couldn’t fault her boss Ken’s idea to revitalise their town of Bundah. The thought of new businesses opening in town was both scary and invigorating. Lucy and her daughter Belle had been living in Bundah for the past seventeen years – all of Belle’s life. Belle was in her last year of high school and anxious to get to Sydney and university but she was starting to rebel at Lucy’s strict rules; Lucy was shocked at her on more than one occasion.

When a leather clad bike rider rode into Lucy’s service station for fuel she hoped he was just travelling through town. But it seemed Hugh Thompson had plans to buy and renovate the top pub – not everyone was keen on the idea, especially when they learned of the sort of clientele he envisioned. Lucy was surprised at her reaction to the rugged handsomeness of the new publican though – her heart beat faster in his presence but she kept her distance. She always had, much to the disgust of her best friend Nicole.

With a sudden spate of drug and alcohol related episodes springing up amongst the local teens, the Bundah cop Nate was at his wit’s end. Seeming to correspond with the arrival of the newcomers, the townsfolk were up in arms; demanding they leave before more trouble erupted. And it seemed Hugh had dark secrets in his past – secrets which Nate was just discovering. What would happen to the quiet little town of Bundah? Was there danger ahead for them all?

Second Chance Town by Aussie author Karly Lane is a romantic suspense novel which draws on the horrors of the drug trade; it shows how drugs affect everyone, everywhere. And small rural country towns are not immune. Rippling with suspense and danger, Second Chance Town also shows its romance, though not heavily. Also the struggles of a single mother to bring up her daughter in a small country town where there’s “nothing to do” for the young people. This novel is another excellent addition to this author’s impressive list of titles - I thoroughly enjoy her work and highly recommend Second Chance Town.

With thanks to Allen & Unwin for this copy to read in exchange for my honest review.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 and a half stars.
Single mother, Lucy Parker lives with her teenage daughter Belle, in the small town of Bundah. Lucy works at the local service station owned by Ken Baxter, who is a prominent person in the small town. Ken’s plans to revitalise the dying town seem to be coming to fruition as several newcomers move in. Among them is a leather clad biker who has his own plans to revitalise the old pub. At their first meeting, Hugh Thomson and Lucy start off on the wrong foot. Yet there is a certain attraction just the same. The reader waits in expectation that things will change. But will it? Especially when secrets from Hugh’s past refuse to stay secret. These may have serious consequences not just for Hugh but others in town. When some drug incidents and an overdose occur, the locals look with suspicion on the newcomers to town. And Lucy worries about the effects on what is happening among the young people on her teenage daughter. But surely Belle would not be so silly? Or would she? She has already started hanging out with the wrong kids at school and rebelling against parental confines.
This novel portrays the setting of a small town, its prejudices and its familiarity with each other’s business, well. The characters on the whole are likeable, with one or two exceptions. What starts out as the story of a town evolving and lives entwining turns into a novel of suspense and even murder as danger escalates. This is a book that got me in early on and kept my interest throughout. I couldn’t wait to get back to it and towards the end the pages were being turned at a very past pace. I enjoyed the suspense and the romance was handled well too. A thoroughly enjoyable read from one of our many talented Aussie authors. I have read several books by this author and enjoyed them all but this one was one of the favourites.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Chance Town is about single mum Lucy Parker and Hugh Thompson. A small town in NSW called Bundah was becoming a ghost town, so the locals decide to start a campaign to bring people back into the town. The Chamber of Commerce placed adds in all city newspapers highlighting the benefits of having a business in Bundah. The campaign generated new faces into the town, and one of these was Hugh Thompson who brought one of the Hotels. Readers will follow the twist and turns in the relationship with Lucy Parker and Hugh Thompson. Readers of Second Chance Town will be surprised with the ending of this book.

I like reading Second Chance Town. I fell in love with the Lucy and Hugh and the way they interact with each other. Karly Lane did a lovely job of describing living in a small town and the consequence of rural communities mistrust of newcomers. I learnt by reading Second Chance Town that not all bikers are bad. Second Chance Town also highlights the problems that drugs can do to a community.

Readers of Second Chance Town will learn about working undercover and the consequences if something goes wrong. Also, by reading Second Chance Town, you will learn about how bikie gangs and the way they are governed.

I recommend this book.

[Deb Bodinnar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best novel so far by this Author. I really enjoyed the crime aspect that came into the storyline. The tension between the two main players was well done and believable. Love the concept of small country towns of opening themselves up to get new people into new businesses to rebuild a town.

[Stacey Houllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karly Lane has done it again. I read this book in four days. The last night of reading the book I could not put down and had to finish it. This is the story of a fictional town in NSW called Bundah it has limited employment opportunities but when the local Real Estate Agent Ken begins to advertise businesses for sale it brings people from out of town to work in the town. Hugh Thompson is one of them who buys the pub and renovates it. Lucy Parker is a single of a teenage girl Belle who is testing the boundaries of wanting the freedom to do as she pleases and to one leave the town once she is eighteen. But then things start to happen in the town to do with drugs been sold to teenagers in the coomunity. Lucy and Hugh Strike up a relationship and decide to take things slow. Lucy is a protective mother daughter and she tries to be firm but strict with her due to her own experiences of being teenager and death of her sister to drugs and she doesn't want the same things for her . One night she rebels and Hugh finds her drunk and takes her home. Nate the town police officer believes that Hugh is involved in the drugs being sold in their town and warns Lucy not trust him. Hugh has a secret past that he finds it hard to tell Lucy and they break up. It is not until Lucy goes missing that Hugh reveals the truth to Nate that he was and an undercover cop. Lucy is found and Hugh tells her the truth. Hugh helps Nate find the bike gang that is after him.
Karly Lane does great with the ending that you think that Hugh has died in the chase for gang that has wrong and Lucy is left on her own to live in the town and run the petrol station and her moved up to Queensland. But Hugh turns up alive in the way you least expect it. You have to read this book to understand what great author Karly Lane is.

[KAS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucy Parker is just plodding along in life as a single mother of a seventeen year old, when Hugh "smokin hot" Thompson rides into town on his motorcycle, clad in leather and tattoos, stirring up all kinds of feelings she thought were long gone.

Lucy is doing her best working as a manager of a fueling depot and raising her teenage daughter, Belle, who feels like she is being smothered and can't wait to leave the very small town of Bundah, Australia. Hugh comes to town to purchase and renovate an 1800's pub and try to put his sordid, secretive past behind him and hopefully have a fresh start and lead a normal life. Unfortunately, he finds it difficult to outrun his past.

This was an enjoyable read with likeable characters and a good storyline. Second half of book really grabs your attention. 3.5 Stars!

*I received a copy of this book, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review*

[Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent contemporary rural Australian novel/romantic suspense.

My View:
Australian women writers are awesome! This is another excellent example of a contemporary rural Australian novel/romantic suspense – emphasis on the suspense. It will entertain, engage, thrill you and ultimately make you smile. Along the way Ms Lane weaves in some very contemporary issues regarding drugs - effecting all parts of society, and the demise of small Australian rural towns and the efforts some communities make to breathe life back into the towns.

Had a trying day? Feeling weary, need to re charge your batteries? Then this is the perfect read for you!

[Dianne Sidebottom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. Some mystery and I was able to be read into the scenario and be right but there were twists.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karly Lane has done it again, I started reading Second Chance Town yesterday when I went to pick the kids up from school. I managed a couple of chapters before the hordes descended on the car and then the Friday routine set in to get us out to football. We got home and everyone went to bed and the house was quiet and peaceful so it was the perfect time to read. Every time I looked at the clock I thought I really should go to bed, and then I told myself just one more chapter.

At 3am I decided that was it, I had to go to bed. The alarm goes off at 7 on Saturday for swimming so if I was going to sleep at all now was the time. I dug deep and found the willpower to put it down with about 50 pages to go, as soon as I got home today I curled up to get back into it; I couldn't stay away any longer.

Bundah, the small fictional NSW town, is dying; employment opportunities are few and many of the younger generation are fleeing to the city for jobs and uni. A local business owner and real estate agent has been hatching schemes to attract people to their town and turn the slump around, the plans have never made it past the community but this latest one has merit and it might just work.

Luring new business to town with generous incentives sees an influx of people, and not all of them are welcomed with open arms. The more people arrive the more the community unrest escalates. What seemed like a good idea now looks like it may start to affect the long standing business of the town, vandalism picks up and then the drug problem escalates.

Could it be coincidence that the drug problem escalates with the influx of new people to town?

One of the new people in town is Hugh Thompson, he bought the top pub and is renovating with plans to cater to bike enthusiasts. Small town gossip immediately takes that and imagines bikie brawls and unsavoury characters invading their town at all hours, what Hugh envisages is the weekend bike enthusiasts who love a ride through the mountains or along the freeway and want a comfortable place to spend the evening with a nice meal and a bottle of wine.

Hugh is in Bundah for a fresh start and a new life but they aren't necessarily easy to come by, especially when you want to keep a low profile and leave the past behind you. There are hints from early on that there's more to Hugh than meets the eye and he is distancing himself from a past he'd rather forget.

Lucy Parker is an overprotective single mother with a teenaged daughter and long time resident of Bundah. Lucy was only a teen herself when her daughter Belle was born and things haven't always been easy, she has worked hard to do the best she can for Belle and wants to protect her from making the mistakes she did. Belle accuses her of not being able to remember being a teenager and not allowing her to have any fun but I think it's more that Lucy remembers all too well and wants to avoid Belle being in the same predicament. Teenage parties in the small town of Bundah often take place outside of town on property with no adult supervision, older guys and lots of alcohol - a recipe for disaster.

The remainder of the review will be live at Beauty and Lace.

[Dee/ bookworm · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had a very hard time finding anything interesting in this book. It seemed like everything centered around sexual attraction and a daughter that literally all of the sudden is a problem. I don't know teens these days, but I would think there would be some lead up to 'girl goes down dark tunnel'. This book got really great reviews, so maybe its me. Try it, and see.

I received a free copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

[Shallowreader VaVeros · Rating 2 out of 5]

As much as I liked Tallowood Bound, I just couldn't get into this story. It had more crime than I normally like reading. It did though have Lane's usually lovely writing voice. It just wasn't the right book for me.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely cant fault this book. I loved it from the beginning. And the ending just wasn't what I was expecting. I have become a fan of Karly's books, having read most of them now. It was great. Do yourself a favour and get a copy if you are into this genre.

[Dianne James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is set in rural NSW and clearly illustrates both the annoyances along with the warmth and camera derive peculiar to small towns. Bund ah is just such a town - and it is dying. There are few facilities and even fewer opportunities for employment.
In an effort to reverse this and give the town an opportunity at a more prosperous future, there is a drive to bring more people and businesses to town. In essence, everyone is in favour but the reality creates problems of its own.
Lucy is a single mum bringing up a teenage daughter. When Hugh Thompson rides into town to buy an old pub, sparks fly. But while they fight their obvious attraction, darker elements are at play among the town's youth. Drugs and teenage deaths have the townspeople worried and Hugh's shady past helps put him under suspicion.

"Although it wasn't really silent, once you listened hard there was a chorus of insects humming and birds calling out high up in the treetops, leaves rustling in the wind and branches scraping against tree trunks. But the absence of man made sound was like a balm to the soul. If he had to die today, at least he could take this moment of calm with him.
A rumble sounded in the distance and Hugh's skin began to prickle. The sound grew louder, a slow, steady roar that grew in strength as it came closer. Bikes, and lots of them, we're heading his way."

This is no simple love story as there is plenty of mystery, action and drama. The characters are great and many exhibit their best as well as their less than stellar, attributes. I love stories set in Australia and this is no exception. Even though it was a little predictable in places, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Kylie Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Karly Lanes books in my opinion each book seems to be better than the previous one. In second chance town we read about single mum Lucy living with her teenage daughter Belle in a small country town where every one seems to know every one else's business which is pretty typical in small country towns. Lucy is a strict mum and doesn't allow Belle to go out to parties due to the fact she lost her sister to drugs and she became a single mum at a young age and basically doesn't want her daughter making any of these same mistakes. So Belle is rebelling which again is typical of teenagers anyway the town where they are living is starting to have new business's open up bringing into town newcomers to run these business's one of whom is Hugh. Hugh and Lucy are attracted to one another but to find out anymore you will have to read the book which I loved. You may need to keep tissues nearby whether you need them or not is another thing. I will say one thing I did work Ken out early in the book not saying who he is or what he does. Thank you to Karly Lane for another great read I really do love all her books

[Beccabeccabooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The small historical town of Bundah is about to be revitalised. Those seeking a tree change have been enticed to set up businesses that the town desperately needs to move ahead in time. But, as newcomers arrive, so does trouble. Issues with youth, drugs and bikie gangs start threatening the town, and all signs point to the source as bad boy Hugh Thompson.

All Hugh wants to do is put his chequered past behind him. However, its a huge ask when he's constantly being hounded by the local cop. Hugh has also gained the attention of local Lucy Parker. As their relationship develops, Hugh desperately tries to keep Lucy and her daughter Belle safe. But how can Lucy trust a man with so many secrets?

I usually devour a Karly Lane novel. This time, I found myself struggling to remain focused. Too many things were happening at once. Karly has taken a different direction in this book- there's more crime than small town romance. Not too bad of a read though.

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

[Lucinda Tolmie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. Single mother Lucy who works at a petrol station has a teenager daughter who is smart and never in trouble. They live in small town but the town is dying. They advertise for new businesses to join their town and in roles Hugh who opens a bikie pub. All of a sudden the small quiet town is now overrun with bikie and kids are dying from drugs overdoses. Will Lucy's daughter head down that path as well when she started rebelling and hanging with the wrong crowd. Even though the bad guy was predictable the story was great and showed us that not all bikies are bad. The relationship between Lucy and Hugh is also great to read about. Cant wait to read more books by this author.

[Vicki Basham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Single mother Lucy Parker loves the quiet historical charm of her hometown of Bundah. Raising her teenage daughter Belle can be challenging and, in a small town where everyone knows everyone else's business, it's even more daunting than usual.

Newcomer Hugh Thompson is determined to put his chequered history behind him. Excited by the potential he sees in Bundah, he buys a rundown pub with big plans for a fresh start. But not long after Hugh's arrival, a spate of teenage drug overdoses starts to divide the locals and there are whispers they might be connected to the reclusive new publican who has a somewhat dark and mysterious past.

[Mon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of Lucy living in a small town with her daughter and how change comes to the town but is it a good thing or a bad thing. When the top pub is bought and renovated by newcomer Hugh he seems just a businessman with a set plan for his life but his dark history comes back to haunt him but is it not all it seems. A good read

[Peter McKelvie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always with Karly Lane, I really enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting and well developed and the story, alongside some great romance, was full of suspense to the last. As usual, there were some amusing quirky characters in the cast.

[Leesh Myky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from chapter 1, the love story was a slow burn and it had multiple side stories going on which was a little distracting & frustrating but left me wanting more and I couldn’t put the book down. Finished it in 3 days it was that addictive.

[Robyn Coyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read - loved the storyline

[Elizabeth Flood · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light easy read which kept me wanting to find out how the story was going to end. With drama, drugs, family, friends and some mystery thrown in how was this small town going to end up.

[Abby Nancarrow grimshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet again another FANTASTIC book by Karly Lane, a couple of twists at the end I didn't expect.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read, bit of an escape.

[Anne Hubber · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Karly Lane book I have read, loved it. Definitely wont be the last.

[Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book.

[Andrea Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable book by Karly although I didn't pick the ending of this one

[Cheryl Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read with some plot twists - easy to finish in a day.

[Heather Robb]

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