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Bright Lights #1
One Last Try
Jane Caulfield's first love went missing one dark night, turning her heart cold, and leaving her to face an uncertain future alone. After a demotion at work, she heads to her grandmother's Iowa farm in search of something more than a life filled with apathy and her best friend's meddling.
Jag Winchester is a handsome actor with a successful but unremarkable career. Tired of meaningless flings, Jag longs for a woman who sees him as more than a ticket to Hollywood premieres. As he prepares for his next movie role, devastating news sends him home to the family farm in Iowa.
When Jag and Jane meet under the most difficult of circumstances, they fall hard and fast, awakening hearts that had forgotten how to love. Just when happily ever after seems like a sure thing, tragedy strikes and painful secrets are brought to light.
With everything on the line, Jane must decide how much she'll sacrifice for her one chance at true love.
Jag Winchester is a handsome actor with a successful but unremarkable career. Tired of meaningless flings, Jag longs for a woman who sees him as more than a ticket to Hollywood premieres. As he prepares for his next movie role, devastating news sends him home to the family farm in Iowa.
When Jag and Jane meet under the most difficult of circumstances, they fall hard and fast, awakening hearts that had forgotten how to love. Just when happily ever after seems like a sure thing, tragedy strikes and painful secrets are brought to light.
With everything on the line, Jane must decide how much she'll sacrifice for her one chance at true love.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 23, 2018
187 people are currently reading
465 people want to read
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March 31, 2018💝 FREE on Amazon today (3/31/2018)!💝
Blurb:
They had only one thing in common. . .and it was the last thing either of them wanted.
Jane Caulfield's first love went missing one dark night, turning her heart cold, and leaving her to face the fight of her life alone. After a demotion at work and a string of dead-end relationships, she heads to her grandmother's Iowa farm in search of something more than a life filled with apathy and her best friend's meddling.
Jag Winchester is a handsome actor with a successful but unremarkable career. Tired of meaningless flings, Jag longs for a woman that sees him as more than a ticket to Hollywood premieres. As he prepares for his next movie role, Jag receives devastating news that shatters every plan he ever had. With nowhere else to turn, he flees to the family farm in Iowa.
When Jag and Jane meet under the most difficult of circumstances, they fall hard and fast, awakening hearts that had forgotten how to love. Just when happily ever after seems like a sure thing, tragedy strikes and painful secrets are brought to light. Will Jag and Jane’s love endure, or does fate have other plans?
Blurb:
They had only one thing in common. . .and it was the last thing either of them wanted.
Jane Caulfield's first love went missing one dark night, turning her heart cold, and leaving her to face the fight of her life alone. After a demotion at work and a string of dead-end relationships, she heads to her grandmother's Iowa farm in search of something more than a life filled with apathy and her best friend's meddling.
Jag Winchester is a handsome actor with a successful but unremarkable career. Tired of meaningless flings, Jag longs for a woman that sees him as more than a ticket to Hollywood premieres. As he prepares for his next movie role, Jag receives devastating news that shatters every plan he ever had. With nowhere else to turn, he flees to the family farm in Iowa.
When Jag and Jane meet under the most difficult of circumstances, they fall hard and fast, awakening hearts that had forgotten how to love. Just when happily ever after seems like a sure thing, tragedy strikes and painful secrets are brought to light. Will Jag and Jane’s love endure, or does fate have other plans?
May 8, 2018
“Cole’s the kind of guy that would drop everything to help a friend,” [Jag] said instead.
[Cassandra] faced him, nodding slowly. “He would.”
“I don’t want that.”
“But is it really your choice?”
Hidden among the love story, there’s a story here about the ethics of making choices for other people, and how that affects both your life and theirs. That’s what made this interesting, and that’s what gained it 3 stars despite my absolute dislike of the hero.
Eva Longoria. She’ll be the one to spit on my cold, dead body. I never should have dumped her on that street corner in Santa Monica. If I’d known the next part she’d get was Desperate Housewives, I would have dumped her after a couple of bottles at the Trio.
Jag is a jerk. We meet him on the day of his 44th birthday, where he talks about how he lies his way through a relationship with a woman for about six months until she wants more of a commitment at which point he says he wants no commitment at all (which apparently he’s unable to communicate beforehand?) and shames all the women around him for their ‘enhancements’ and ‘filler-injected lips’, while simultaneously doing everything he can himself to stay in shape. There’s also a whole lot of name-dropping, which is probably meant to make him seem interesting, but really just made him seem less competent. We’re supposed to believe woman fall all over him, but I can’t really see why. Not exactly my kind of hero. I guess I warmed up to him a little throughout the rest of the book, when Jane and his cancer starts taking up all of his thoughts and he at least gained some awareness of what a jerk he was. I can’t say I was cheering for him, though.
Jane is far more sympathetic. While both are at a rough point in their career for reasons they can’t help – Jag for getting too old, Jane for getting cancer – Jane’s rough patch hit me much harder. She comes across as capable, hurt but not broken, and most of all not as willing to take her issues out on the people around her. She’s scared, but unwilling to give up. She’s had to do it all on her own so far, and she could really, really, use someone to take care of her for a change (which is why it’s too bad that she’s the one doing the caring for during the entire story).
There are a couple of side characters – Cole as Jag’s caring best friend is the best character in the whole book, Betsy as Jane’s unhappily married best friend is a character I can’t quite grasp, Jane’s family consisting of her aunt and grandmother are the stereotypical busybodies and Jag’s father who is pretty much just... there.
Amazon has it on the Women’s Religious & Inspirational Fiction and Christian Contemporary Fiction best seller ranks. That calls to mind a much more religious story than it is; while it does have that wholesome feel, and there’s no sex (Jane wants to wait until marriage), God is only mentioned 8 times in the book, and only 5 of those in reference to the main characters.
It’s also labelled as Medical Genre Fiction, which really does fit. One of the things that I liked about the book is that it doesn’t shy away from the grittier aspects of cancer. I also really liked where Alstead chose to end their story.
The book was well edited, well written. There were a couple of time jumps that felt a little jarring to me (it’s really written in four parts and in my opinion it could have used that division), but that’s nit-picking.
January 9, 2023
A pediatric oncologist who has a rare form of cancer that always comes back. She has endured the horrible side effects of chemo. Now, facing a joyless life, tired of imposing on her college roomie and bestie, she up and takes off to her grandma's place, no excuses offered to the man who demoted her from her research because of her illness, cut her pay and rank, made her write grant applications for others, and put her in an old janitor's closet turned "office" for the last doctor this boss of hers disliked, demoted, and gave the closet to as an office. Disgusted with not having had family her first round of chemo, even with her former college roomie and bestie trying to help (while dealing with 3 kids and a lazy husband), even though she is in remissiosn at present, she walks away from her job, emails her boss her resignation, and goes home (btw, as a retired nurse, I can tell you that even those who worked through chemo and took off very little time relatively, still get demoted and shoved aside like garbage and eventually are let go or resign as they become disgusted with however they're being treated).
A B list actor who can design, cook, and likely write, struggling to maintain a chance at non-senior citizen roles, on a diet of juicing and hard core exercises, hair dye, spray tans, whose latest ex-girlfriend has posted photos of him naked with her on the Internet, and who is feeling tired and losing weight without trying, finds out what is wrong. After 3 consults with various oncologists, he decides it is time not to be alone or with only hired help. He confesses to his dad what is wrong, and moves back home, telling his agent only that he needs to spend time with his aging father.
Said father meets the woman, and she goes with him to evaluate the new cancer center in town. Satisfied they'll do right by the man's son, she offers to help the son through the chemo. Realizing who he is, the neighbor boy grown up, she insists on helping as a friend.
As their relationship grows, they are both hiding things from one another that will alter their relationship once known. Can their relationship survive what they don't know about one another?
This book is one of a series, and there is a teaser chapter at the end of the book that promises to be worth reading.
The book flows nicely in pacing, has some surprises, and resolves nicely. There's a teaser chapter for the next book in the series.
A B list actor who can design, cook, and likely write, struggling to maintain a chance at non-senior citizen roles, on a diet of juicing and hard core exercises, hair dye, spray tans, whose latest ex-girlfriend has posted photos of him naked with her on the Internet, and who is feeling tired and losing weight without trying, finds out what is wrong. After 3 consults with various oncologists, he decides it is time not to be alone or with only hired help. He confesses to his dad what is wrong, and moves back home, telling his agent only that he needs to spend time with his aging father.
Said father meets the woman, and she goes with him to evaluate the new cancer center in town. Satisfied they'll do right by the man's son, she offers to help the son through the chemo. Realizing who he is, the neighbor boy grown up, she insists on helping as a friend.
As their relationship grows, they are both hiding things from one another that will alter their relationship once known. Can their relationship survive what they don't know about one another?
This book is one of a series, and there is a teaser chapter at the end of the book that promises to be worth reading.
The book flows nicely in pacing, has some surprises, and resolves nicely. There's a teaser chapter for the next book in the series.
November 2, 2019
With her skill at depicting profound emotions and strong characters, Alstead returns with this highly engrossing series that’s sure to tug at readers’ heartstrings.
‘In One Last try,’ Jane Caulfield, an oncologist, returns to her grandmother’s Iowa farm to seek a new path in her life after a difficult phase in her personal and professional life and meets Jag Winchester, a successful movie actor with an unremarkable career, who is going through a personal crisis of his own. As they fall in love, painful secrets come to surface and threaten to destroy their relationship. Alstead brilliantly balances the sadness of a potentially fatal illness with the heartwarming bonds of family and true love, and the combination is sure to make readers’ hearts swell.
In ‘The First sunset’ Betsy Anstead, a newly divorced single mother, falls hard for Gage Mendoza, a handsome widower and Minor League baseball coach. But circumstances are not in the couple’s favor as Betsy is forced to fight a bitter custody battle with her ex-husband while Gage has his eyes set on a dream coaching position. Betsy and Gage are rich, engaging, thoroughly sketched characters, and Alstead’s writing shines.
‘Dance Me Home.’ another one in Bright Lights series which can be read as a standalone, possesses all of Alstead’s trademarks—thoroughly sketched characters, assured writing, crisp prose, gripping plotting, and profound emotions. Lovely Adrianna, a ballerina nearing the end of her career, arrives in Ohio to heal from an injury and falls for handsome Drew Mendoza, a lawyer, haunted by his past. But when it’s time to pick between her career and her love, Adrianna is unable to decide.
The way Alstead’s main protagonists’ feelings toward each other evolve while they navigate through their personal insecurities, fears and past demons, is marvelously developed, and the relationships that eventually develop between them seem gentle yet bursting with hope. Alstead gives tremendous depth to her characters, making the books more than your average stereotypical romance reads. With its diverse cast, stellar writing, and excellent plotting, this contemporary romance series has broad appeal, and it will please lovers of both contemporary romance and women’s fiction.
Readers can go ahead and pluck this series off the shelves in a heartbeat. They won’t be disappointed!
‘In One Last try,’ Jane Caulfield, an oncologist, returns to her grandmother’s Iowa farm to seek a new path in her life after a difficult phase in her personal and professional life and meets Jag Winchester, a successful movie actor with an unremarkable career, who is going through a personal crisis of his own. As they fall in love, painful secrets come to surface and threaten to destroy their relationship. Alstead brilliantly balances the sadness of a potentially fatal illness with the heartwarming bonds of family and true love, and the combination is sure to make readers’ hearts swell.
In ‘The First sunset’ Betsy Anstead, a newly divorced single mother, falls hard for Gage Mendoza, a handsome widower and Minor League baseball coach. But circumstances are not in the couple’s favor as Betsy is forced to fight a bitter custody battle with her ex-husband while Gage has his eyes set on a dream coaching position. Betsy and Gage are rich, engaging, thoroughly sketched characters, and Alstead’s writing shines.
‘Dance Me Home.’ another one in Bright Lights series which can be read as a standalone, possesses all of Alstead’s trademarks—thoroughly sketched characters, assured writing, crisp prose, gripping plotting, and profound emotions. Lovely Adrianna, a ballerina nearing the end of her career, arrives in Ohio to heal from an injury and falls for handsome Drew Mendoza, a lawyer, haunted by his past. But when it’s time to pick between her career and her love, Adrianna is unable to decide.
The way Alstead’s main protagonists’ feelings toward each other evolve while they navigate through their personal insecurities, fears and past demons, is marvelously developed, and the relationships that eventually develop between them seem gentle yet bursting with hope. Alstead gives tremendous depth to her characters, making the books more than your average stereotypical romance reads. With its diverse cast, stellar writing, and excellent plotting, this contemporary romance series has broad appeal, and it will please lovers of both contemporary romance and women’s fiction.
Readers can go ahead and pluck this series off the shelves in a heartbeat. They won’t be disappointed!
March 21, 2018
I borrowed One Last Try from the Kindle Unlimited program.
In One Last Try Jane Caulfield and Bobby 'Jag' Winchester both have ties to farms next to each other in Iowa. They also both have a health problem in common and one neither of them wants; both are fighting cancer.
Jane is a oncologist from Ohio and Jag is a Hollywood actor when the both return to Iowa to be near relatives and family support. Jag has his father and Jane has her Grandma Emma and Aunt Ida, two very opinionated senior ladies with a unique sense of style. Jane is in remission from a reoccurring and incurable cancer when she agrees to help Jag through chemo and radiation treatments.
The romance is sweet, the characters are mature and very human as they face a battle for their lives and the humor the two 'old biddies' provide along with a good dose of unwanted advise is perfect to give the two younger people hope. The story is very realistic in dealing with the side effects of treatments and the reality that people with cancer are not just survivors but people first. The author did an excellent job with the realities of life and the importance of having hope.
In One Last Try Jane Caulfield and Bobby 'Jag' Winchester both have ties to farms next to each other in Iowa. They also both have a health problem in common and one neither of them wants; both are fighting cancer.
Jane is a oncologist from Ohio and Jag is a Hollywood actor when the both return to Iowa to be near relatives and family support. Jag has his father and Jane has her Grandma Emma and Aunt Ida, two very opinionated senior ladies with a unique sense of style. Jane is in remission from a reoccurring and incurable cancer when she agrees to help Jag through chemo and radiation treatments.
The romance is sweet, the characters are mature and very human as they face a battle for their lives and the humor the two 'old biddies' provide along with a good dose of unwanted advise is perfect to give the two younger people hope. The story is very realistic in dealing with the side effects of treatments and the reality that people with cancer are not just survivors but people first. The author did an excellent job with the realities of life and the importance of having hope.
January 31, 2020
Jane Caulfield's first love went missing one dark night, turning her heart cold, and leaving her to face an uncertain future alone. After a demotion at work, she heads to her grandmother's Iowa farm in search of something more than a life filled with apathy and her best friend's meddling.
Jag Winchester is a handsome actor with a successful but unremarkable career. Tired of meaningless flings, Jag longs for a woman who sees him as more than a ticket to Hollywood premieres. As he prepares for his next movie role, devastating news sends him home to the family farm in Iowa.
When Jag and Jane meet under the most difficult of circumstances, they fall hard and fast, awakening hearts that had forgotten how to love. Just when happily ever after seems like a sure thing, tragedy strikes and painful secrets are brought to light.
With everything on the line, Jane must decide how much she'll sacrifice for her one chance at true love.
Jag Winchester is a handsome actor with a successful but unremarkable career. Tired of meaningless flings, Jag longs for a woman who sees him as more than a ticket to Hollywood premieres. As he prepares for his next movie role, devastating news sends him home to the family farm in Iowa.
When Jag and Jane meet under the most difficult of circumstances, they fall hard and fast, awakening hearts that had forgotten how to love. Just when happily ever after seems like a sure thing, tragedy strikes and painful secrets are brought to light.
With everything on the line, Jane must decide how much she'll sacrifice for her one chance at true love.
June 17, 2019
Could not put it down.
This book was so real and fed every emotion one feels.
I kept rooting for the couple at every page.
Knowing they both had secrets , I kept hoping they were not earth scattering so they could not overcome the obstacles. Great.
This book was so real and fed every emotion one feels.
I kept rooting for the couple at every page.
Knowing they both had secrets , I kept hoping they were not earth scattering so they could not overcome the obstacles. Great.
September 21, 2019
(Bright Lights) 1. One Last Try
Telling a story about people with cancer isn’t easy with all the emotions involved. I liked how Jane gave of herself to help another get through cancer.
Telling a story about people with cancer isn’t easy with all the emotions involved. I liked how Jane gave of herself to help another get through cancer.
December 21, 2019
Jane Caulfield's first love went missing one dark night, turning her heart cold, and leaving her to face an uncertain future alone. After a demotion at work, she heads to her grandmother's Iowa farm in search of something more than a life filled with apathy and her best friend's meddling.
April 12, 2021
Wow! The long and winding road that brought you to me. How heart-stoppingly beautiful!
Delicious humour, heart-wrenching battles with cancer, and a friendship that's worth living for. A terrific story -even the second time around.
Delicious humour, heart-wrenching battles with cancer, and a friendship that's worth living for. A terrific story -even the second time around.
November 21, 2019
Goodreads is not letting me review. Third attempt. This was a good read with very sad subject topics.
December 24, 2019
Jag was a well know actor. Now he needs to hide.
You .can't run from cancer. Jane knows. She has fought for her life. Now she has to help him right for his.
You .can't run from cancer. Jane knows. She has fought for her life. Now she has to help him right for his.
January 6, 2020
Love this book
This is one of the best books I have read so far. It was hard to put down. I can't wait to start the next part.
This is one of the best books I have read so far. It was hard to put down. I can't wait to start the next part.
February 1, 2020
A well written story that I enjoyed very much.
January 12, 2020
An ok read....
Both characters were to stubborn in my opinion, keeping secrets from one another can cause to many misunderstandings and undo stress, Jane being a doctor lacked common sense in that area. I think I will stick too historical fiction, a little more entertaining to me.
Both characters were to stubborn in my opinion, keeping secrets from one another can cause to many misunderstandings and undo stress, Jane being a doctor lacked common sense in that area. I think I will stick too historical fiction, a little more entertaining to me.
September 30, 2022
Life happens in this book!
This story is about survival and relationships. You have 2 childhood friends and the ups and downs of their relationship as well as one with a boy from the neighborhood. Plot is believable and I can't wait to read the next book.
This story is about survival and relationships. You have 2 childhood friends and the ups and downs of their relationship as well as one with a boy from the neighborhood. Plot is believable and I can't wait to read the next book.
June 19, 2018
True love
This was an easy read but should be required reading for every serious young couple
Marriage requires serving each and being there for better or worse I just passed my 53 year of marriage.
This was an easy read but should be required reading for every serious young couple
Marriage requires serving each and being there for better or worse I just passed my 53 year of marriage.
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