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Second Chances
Ready to roll the dice again on love? A warm novel about starting again and finding love when you least expect it. Perfect for fans of Trisha ashley and Katie Fforde. Succumbing to a rather clichéd midlife crisis, Dan Haywood swaps his family for an expensive red sports car and a younger woman. After 24 years of marriage, his wife Sarah is left to pick up the pieces. Trying her best to re-style her life, comfort hurt children, make time for 'helpful' friends and maintain her burgeoning career as a dress designer, Sarah feels pulled in a hundred directions. And it doesn't help that obstacles – mostly in the form of other middle-aged men – seem to conspire against her. Proud of herself for moving house and starting to build an independent life, she is shocked when Robert Maynard, her rather dashing new next-door neighbour, insists that the house was promised to him. Now she is destined to be pulled into his life by events beyond her control. After one failed marriage, will she be able to find happiness again? And do second chances really come to those who wait? This book was previously published as The Orchid Lover under the name Mary De Laszlo.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2004
60 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Mary De Laszlo
10 books9 followersLong ago my two great interests were clothes and writing so I decided to become a fashion journalist. Fortunately for me you didn't need a degree for this and I got a job at Queen Magazine as a 'dog's body' (surely such a description would be politically incorrect today!) in the fashion department. It was a great job, lurking in the background among the great designers, models and photographers, watching them work.
Later I got a job in Paris at Jardins des Modes and worked on the Paris Collections - photo shoots of the clothes all night, attending the shows by day. The models had lovely slim figures but there were no size zeros then or huge salaries so we all got on so well. Being Paris the food sent into the studios was delicious and we all enjoyed it without stressing about putting on weight etc. I loved my time there but I didn't do much writing that was left to the copy editor.
I met my husband and returned to London to live and contacted another glossy magazine for a job, but they would not even see me, saying 'married women have babies'. I was upset at the time but it was that putdown that that started me writing fiction - I did have babies (3, now grown up and 2 grandsons). While bringing them up I wrote short stories and novels having discovered that fiction was what I was happiest with.
I have now had 11 novels published and have various others in the pipeline.
Later I got a job in Paris at Jardins des Modes and worked on the Paris Collections - photo shoots of the clothes all night, attending the shows by day. The models had lovely slim figures but there were no size zeros then or huge salaries so we all got on so well. Being Paris the food sent into the studios was delicious and we all enjoyed it without stressing about putting on weight etc. I loved my time there but I didn't do much writing that was left to the copy editor.
I met my husband and returned to London to live and contacted another glossy magazine for a job, but they would not even see me, saying 'married women have babies'. I was upset at the time but it was that putdown that that started me writing fiction - I did have babies (3, now grown up and 2 grandsons). While bringing them up I wrote short stories and novels having discovered that fiction was what I was happiest with.
I have now had 11 novels published and have various others in the pipeline.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 29, 2017
4☆ Fun, easy read.
Second Chances is a book about exactly that second chances.
When happily married Sarah and husband Dan hit a bump, she had no idea he was about to trade her in for a younger model.
Which is literally what he did.
He decided that a younger women is exactly what he needed.
It Screamed midlife crisis to me!
Poor Sarah was devestated. Dan was the father to her children. He was all she has known for so long.
So when Dan starts pushing Sarah to sell their home to fund he's new younger lifestyle.
Sarah learns quickly she needs to stand on her own two feet.
The story is fast enough to keep the reader engaged.
However for me the main character Sarah really isn't likeable. To be honest I can't even see myself relating to her. She comes across to be weak, I was wishing her to stand up for herself. After all it was Dan's fault not hers. I wanted her not to give in!
I did enjoy this book. It felt a little predictable at times. However it is an easy read. It's a perfect read to get lost into without having to think too much.
A great chick lit read. Would recommend this book for readers who enjoy Chick Lit.
I received this book from the Publisher for free via Netgalley, in which I voluntarily reviewed.
Second Chances is a book about exactly that second chances.
When happily married Sarah and husband Dan hit a bump, she had no idea he was about to trade her in for a younger model.
Which is literally what he did.
He decided that a younger women is exactly what he needed.
It Screamed midlife crisis to me!
Poor Sarah was devestated. Dan was the father to her children. He was all she has known for so long.
So when Dan starts pushing Sarah to sell their home to fund he's new younger lifestyle.
Sarah learns quickly she needs to stand on her own two feet.
The story is fast enough to keep the reader engaged.
However for me the main character Sarah really isn't likeable. To be honest I can't even see myself relating to her. She comes across to be weak, I was wishing her to stand up for herself. After all it was Dan's fault not hers. I wanted her not to give in!
I did enjoy this book. It felt a little predictable at times. However it is an easy read. It's a perfect read to get lost into without having to think too much.
A great chick lit read. Would recommend this book for readers who enjoy Chick Lit.
I received this book from the Publisher for free via Netgalley, in which I voluntarily reviewed.
July 10, 2017
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
Minna Howard is back with a brand new book, Second Chances, which fits in well with the author’s style of her previous novels. I have to admit, whilst I enjoyed the majority of this book, I finished reading it with mixed feelings.
Sarah Haywood had her life turned upside down when her husband decided to trade his lifestyle in for a younger model. Yes, I am talking about his car, AND his wife. As far as Sarah was concerned, their relationship was no different to other married couples, so Dan Haywood’s change of heart came as a shock. Sarah had the chance to make a new life for herself, but, thanks to a bit of neighbourly assumption with their genitalia, Sarah has reached her limit.
How many of you agree with second chances? Are you a once chance only type of person, if they screw that up then everything is done for? Or do you believe that every single person deserves a second chance? Just to be difficult, I believe in a mixture of both as it all depends on the circumstance. However, I don’t agree that EVERYONE deserves a second chance. As for Sarah Haywood, do I believe that she deserves a second chance at happiness? Of course I do.
The storyline itself wasn’t overly original, I’ll be honest, BUT, whilst that didn’t annoy me too much, it did mean that I hoping to be wow-ed by the book. To a point, I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Second Chances’, it was such an easy and straightforward read with no serious surprises. I managed to finish Minna Howard’s book in a couple of hours so it mustn’t have been that bad!
All of the characters made me laugh in their own individual ways. Well, except Robert. I didn’t really warm to him that much – an acquired taste! I liked how the pace flowed rather nicely and did its own thing without too much weighing it down; that meant that I could switch off and just enjoy the storyline without a care in the world. Bliss!
As I said above, I really did enjoy this book, but there was something within the storyline that made me wince on a personal level. Sarah Haywood’s job is a dress designer and she works in her friends shop, selling said designs. However, both Sarah and her friend seemed to zoom in on slim people, making quite harsh comments about women with slender figures. Whilst I fully appreciate that this is a work of fiction, as someone who always gets belittled due to their slender size, I felt that those comments in the storyline weren’t really warranted and were a bit uncalled for. Maybe I am being a little over sensitive, but I personally didn’t like those parts.
‘Second Chances’ didn’t blow me away due to the above, but, I did enjoy the lightness of the storyline as a whole.
Thanks Aria.
Minna Howard is back with a brand new book, Second Chances, which fits in well with the author’s style of her previous novels. I have to admit, whilst I enjoyed the majority of this book, I finished reading it with mixed feelings.
Sarah Haywood had her life turned upside down when her husband decided to trade his lifestyle in for a younger model. Yes, I am talking about his car, AND his wife. As far as Sarah was concerned, their relationship was no different to other married couples, so Dan Haywood’s change of heart came as a shock. Sarah had the chance to make a new life for herself, but, thanks to a bit of neighbourly assumption with their genitalia, Sarah has reached her limit.
How many of you agree with second chances? Are you a once chance only type of person, if they screw that up then everything is done for? Or do you believe that every single person deserves a second chance? Just to be difficult, I believe in a mixture of both as it all depends on the circumstance. However, I don’t agree that EVERYONE deserves a second chance. As for Sarah Haywood, do I believe that she deserves a second chance at happiness? Of course I do.
The storyline itself wasn’t overly original, I’ll be honest, BUT, whilst that didn’t annoy me too much, it did mean that I hoping to be wow-ed by the book. To a point, I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Second Chances’, it was such an easy and straightforward read with no serious surprises. I managed to finish Minna Howard’s book in a couple of hours so it mustn’t have been that bad!
All of the characters made me laugh in their own individual ways. Well, except Robert. I didn’t really warm to him that much – an acquired taste! I liked how the pace flowed rather nicely and did its own thing without too much weighing it down; that meant that I could switch off and just enjoy the storyline without a care in the world. Bliss!
As I said above, I really did enjoy this book, but there was something within the storyline that made me wince on a personal level. Sarah Haywood’s job is a dress designer and she works in her friends shop, selling said designs. However, both Sarah and her friend seemed to zoom in on slim people, making quite harsh comments about women with slender figures. Whilst I fully appreciate that this is a work of fiction, as someone who always gets belittled due to their slender size, I felt that those comments in the storyline weren’t really warranted and were a bit uncalled for. Maybe I am being a little over sensitive, but I personally didn’t like those parts.
‘Second Chances’ didn’t blow me away due to the above, but, I did enjoy the lightness of the storyline as a whole.
Thanks Aria.
July 17, 2017
So this book was a little different for me, why? I hear you ask. Well, I really enjoyed it but I detested the main character. For me, it was like watching a reality television show where you dislike one of the participants, but their behaviour actually makes the show a hit.
Sarah is an opinionated, judgemental, feeble snob. I didn’t like her from chapter one. But she makes the book brilliant. Her actions had me cringing, she is just so annoying. But I didn’t want the book to end. She’s just not your typical book heroine and that in itself was refreshing for me. Minna Howard made the impossible possible. I can’t recall reading a book where I didn’t gel with the lead.
This is not your average chick lit, it’s got a twist. This was my first Minna Howard book and I wonder if her other books generate unique characters.
The storyline is well thought out and the pace is perfect. It constantly moves forward.
Again I know I say this often, but I like the cover because it gives nothing away. It’s fresh and vibrant. Encouraging for those summer days spent at home in the garden or on a far off sunny beach.
I recommend Second Chances by Minna Howard
Sarah is an opinionated, judgemental, feeble snob. I didn’t like her from chapter one. But she makes the book brilliant. Her actions had me cringing, she is just so annoying. But I didn’t want the book to end. She’s just not your typical book heroine and that in itself was refreshing for me. Minna Howard made the impossible possible. I can’t recall reading a book where I didn’t gel with the lead.
This is not your average chick lit, it’s got a twist. This was my first Minna Howard book and I wonder if her other books generate unique characters.
The storyline is well thought out and the pace is perfect. It constantly moves forward.
Again I know I say this often, but I like the cover because it gives nothing away. It’s fresh and vibrant. Encouraging for those summer days spent at home in the garden or on a far off sunny beach.
I recommend Second Chances by Minna Howard
July 12, 2017
If you want a quick, easy read that will transport you off into the world of other people’s problems for a while then Second Chances will do just that.
A married couple, been together for a ‘lifetime’ the woman Sarah makes the usual mistake of thinking all is well in their world, wife, mother, kids flown the nest, part-time job, time to relax a little & enjoy the prime of their lives etc. But hubby Dan has other ideas as so often happens, grass is always greener with a younger model (woman). Yes, I’m sounding cynical but it is a cliche .. anyway that is the basis of the story.
How can Sarah possibly cope without him, will she learn to stand on her own two feet or is she destined to rely on a different man? Will Dan find happiness with his new circumstances?
Do either of them deserve a second chance .. well of course it all comes down to personal circumstances but if the trust has gone it seems a foregone conclusion.
I found Sarah to be a bit of a wet blanket, she needed a good kick up the backside in order to have confidence in herself and realise a man isn’t the be all and end all of the world if she is independent.
The story plods along at a reasonable pace, enough to keep the reader entertained. Perfect for a beach read when you don’t want to concentrate too much, that is in no way derogatory. I simply mean I was able to switch off and enjoy it for a few hours.
Thanks to the author, Aria and Netgalley for my copy which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
A married couple, been together for a ‘lifetime’ the woman Sarah makes the usual mistake of thinking all is well in their world, wife, mother, kids flown the nest, part-time job, time to relax a little & enjoy the prime of their lives etc. But hubby Dan has other ideas as so often happens, grass is always greener with a younger model (woman). Yes, I’m sounding cynical but it is a cliche .. anyway that is the basis of the story.
How can Sarah possibly cope without him, will she learn to stand on her own two feet or is she destined to rely on a different man? Will Dan find happiness with his new circumstances?
Do either of them deserve a second chance .. well of course it all comes down to personal circumstances but if the trust has gone it seems a foregone conclusion.
I found Sarah to be a bit of a wet blanket, she needed a good kick up the backside in order to have confidence in herself and realise a man isn’t the be all and end all of the world if she is independent.
The story plods along at a reasonable pace, enough to keep the reader entertained. Perfect for a beach read when you don’t want to concentrate too much, that is in no way derogatory. I simply mean I was able to switch off and enjoy it for a few hours.
Thanks to the author, Aria and Netgalley for my copy which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
May 30, 2023
I’ve read this authors books previously and have enjoyed them so thought I’d give one of her earlier books a go.
I did enjoy this one, it was a good story, relatively well written and most of the characters were likeable and believable, that is with the exception of the main character Sarah. The character of Sarah just didn’t gel with me, I can’t even put my finger on it although she did like to bury her head in the sand a bit and get talked into things she didn’t want to do just a little too bit easily. I mean the break in for example, as if a normal neighbour would do that, me thinks not.
Anyway as I said the story was enjoyable, plenty going on, not to mention lots of drama, so all good fun.
I did enjoy this one, it was a good story, relatively well written and most of the characters were likeable and believable, that is with the exception of the main character Sarah. The character of Sarah just didn’t gel with me, I can’t even put my finger on it although she did like to bury her head in the sand a bit and get talked into things she didn’t want to do just a little too bit easily. I mean the break in for example, as if a normal neighbour would do that, me thinks not.
Anyway as I said the story was enjoyable, plenty going on, not to mention lots of drama, so all good fun.
July 20, 2017
Sarah thought that her life was settled - kids grown up and away at college, a nice house and a part time job - but her husband had other ideas and ups and leaves taking off with a younger model!
Sarah is totally at sea with no man to rely on and when her husband starts pushing her to sell the house to fund his new lifestyle and sports car she moves to a duplex. There are still problems here though her new neighbour wanted to buy it and so makes life difficult for her - can she ever move on and have a second chance!
A good light hearted read ideal for the beach but I did find Sarah somewhat frustrating - she really does need to get a life and start relying on herself instead of men!
Sarah is totally at sea with no man to rely on and when her husband starts pushing her to sell the house to fund his new lifestyle and sports car she moves to a duplex. There are still problems here though her new neighbour wanted to buy it and so makes life difficult for her - can she ever move on and have a second chance!
A good light hearted read ideal for the beach but I did find Sarah somewhat frustrating - she really does need to get a life and start relying on herself instead of men!
July 4, 2017
Sometimes a second chance doesn't mean immediate romance after a husband leaves. Although this is nicely written and a light read, Sarah really doesn't stand up for herself. Robert might be a nice guy but why not spread your wings on your own for a while. I'll admit I did read all of this quite greedily, as it's entertaining. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
July 5, 2017
This book was okay, it was well written and not a hard read but I found the main character frustrating and really wanted to watch her grow and learn to stand up for herself. While it wasn't bad at all it was, I feel, a wasted opportunity and could have been executed much better.
- I was provided a copy of this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
- I was provided a copy of this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2017
Imagine after years of marriage, you are faced with a divorce because your husband is going through a midlife crisis. Not only dealing with the needy ex-husband, but having to face an annoying neighbor, who insists that she 'stole' her new townhouse from him. This book allows you to tune out the world around and enjoy someone else's drama. What a fabulous book for the beach!
November 8, 2017
A well written and nice easy to read story. One I could relate to, Husband having a mid life crisis and Divorce etc. Story a little unrealistic in how she got a second chance quite so quickly and easily. The ending was a bit disappointing in that all of a sudden the story was over and I had finished the book!! However I would recommend the book if you want a nice quick easy read.
May 20, 2018
3.5 stars.
This was exactly the book I needed to escape my own life and stresses and focus on someone else’s - fictional as they may be.
The title is perfectly matched for the book, since it really is about second chances. It was an easy read and a great escape. I was very happy with it and, at the end, didn’t want it to be over just yet.
I’m looking forward to reading more by Minna Howard!
This was exactly the book I needed to escape my own life and stresses and focus on someone else’s - fictional as they may be.
The title is perfectly matched for the book, since it really is about second chances. It was an easy read and a great escape. I was very happy with it and, at the end, didn’t want it to be over just yet.
I’m looking forward to reading more by Minna Howard!
December 11, 2017
A nice book but the ending was a bit sudden
A very sudden ending
An ok book but the
Sudden ending was not so good. Wouldn't read another one. Ok
A very sudden ending
An ok book but the
Sudden ending was not so good. Wouldn't read another one. Ok
February 2, 2018
Loved it
July 1, 2017
Sarah is noticing that Daniel, her husband of 24 years seems to be changing. He is always busy with work and seems irritable and bored. Finally, he simply leaves Sarah. He tells her that he needs to experience more things before old age catches up to him..and, of course, his girlfriend, Nina.
His leaving is hard for Sarah and she questions their marriage and how she will be able to cope. She has always thought they would be together forever. She has a job at a dress shop where she does some dress designing and seamstresses at the shop sew them up. Sarah’s two children are away at college and come home to visit when they can.
When Daniel starts to push Sarah to sell their house so he can have some cash to fund his new lifestyle of a red sports car and Nina, Sarah soon realizes that if he withdraws support from her, she won’t be able to afford the house. Therefore she sells the house and finds a duplex type of home. It’s in a good location and she fixes it up to suit her. The problem is the next door neighbor wants to buy her side of the house and is very pushy about it.
Sarah finds herself aggravated not only at Daniel but at her neighbor. She just wants to be able to live her life and not have some man telling her what to do. But, events happen that make her decide to get involved with making these decisions and she has to learn to step up and be strong.
This is a good story, but I did get frustrated with Sarah at times because she has a spine like cooked spaghetti. I wanted to give her a little smack and tell her to stand up for herself. However, the story is one that I know readers will enjoy.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
His leaving is hard for Sarah and she questions their marriage and how she will be able to cope. She has always thought they would be together forever. She has a job at a dress shop where she does some dress designing and seamstresses at the shop sew them up. Sarah’s two children are away at college and come home to visit when they can.
When Daniel starts to push Sarah to sell their house so he can have some cash to fund his new lifestyle of a red sports car and Nina, Sarah soon realizes that if he withdraws support from her, she won’t be able to afford the house. Therefore she sells the house and finds a duplex type of home. It’s in a good location and she fixes it up to suit her. The problem is the next door neighbor wants to buy her side of the house and is very pushy about it.
Sarah finds herself aggravated not only at Daniel but at her neighbor. She just wants to be able to live her life and not have some man telling her what to do. But, events happen that make her decide to get involved with making these decisions and she has to learn to step up and be strong.
This is a good story, but I did get frustrated with Sarah at times because she has a spine like cooked spaghetti. I wanted to give her a little smack and tell her to stand up for herself. However, the story is one that I know readers will enjoy.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
June 24, 2017
I really couldn't get into this one. It just didn't seem to go anywhere in particular then suddenly jumped to another part of the story. I had to keep going back to read the previous chapter which got very frustrating!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews