What do you think?
Rate this book
Single Moms, Second Chances #2
Lucy Gets Her Life Back
Red Duck, Idaho, may be just a speck on the map, but it's perfect for a hardworking single mom looking for a good place to start over. Arriving with recipes, ambition, a silent prayer and two teenage boys, Lucy Carpenter is ready to cook her way into the hearts and wallets of celebrities who frequent the nearby ski resort and watering holes.
But she needs somebody to put the word out—and that somebody is Drew Tolman, former pro baseball player turned local big shot. She's heard the rumors—scandal, women and more—but he's the man Lucy needs on her side. It takes a little effort and a lot of decadence—in the kitchen—but word of Lucy's culinary talents spreads like melting chocolate.
Soon everyone's got Lucy's number, but her best caller is Drew. He's eager to convince the deliciously tempting Lucy that she's the dessert he's been saving room for....
But she needs somebody to put the word out—and that somebody is Drew Tolman, former pro baseball player turned local big shot. She's heard the rumors—scandal, women and more—but he's the man Lucy needs on her side. It takes a little effort and a lot of decadence—in the kitchen—but word of Lucy's culinary talents spreads like melting chocolate.
Soon everyone's got Lucy's number, but her best caller is Drew. He's eager to convince the deliciously tempting Lucy that she's the dessert he's been saving room for....
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2006
7 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
About the author
Stef Ann Holm
41 books64 followersStef Ann Holm was born in Southern California near Hollywood. With the fantasy worlds of Disneyland and Universal Studios at her doorstep, her imagination was stimulated at an early age. She attended Chatsworth High where Kevin Spacey, Mare Winningham and Val Kilmer entertained on the school's stage. As a semester elective, Stef Ann enrolled in drama and played a Fandango hostess in the chorus of Sweet Charity. It was the beginning and the end of her acting and singing career. She got a "C" in Drama and an "A" in Creative Writing.
She sold her first romance in 1987. While waiting for a load of laundry to complete at the laundromat, Stef Ann made up the name for her heroine, Camry, when she saw a Toyota Camry parked outside in the lot. Who knew that model would end up being so popular, making her in-depth research seem so shallow. Stef Ann has had twenty-three novels and one novella published. Her editor calls her contemporary romances, "Slices of life stories about real people."
Stef Ann lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, extended family and beloved Beagle.
She sold her first romance in 1987. While waiting for a load of laundry to complete at the laundromat, Stef Ann made up the name for her heroine, Camry, when she saw a Toyota Camry parked outside in the lot. Who knew that model would end up being so popular, making her in-depth research seem so shallow. Stef Ann has had twenty-three novels and one novella published. Her editor calls her contemporary romances, "Slices of life stories about real people."
Stef Ann lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, extended family and beloved Beagle.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
October 17, 2014
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for Wicked Reads.
Lucy gets her life back is about single mom Lucy. After her divorce she moves her two teenage boys to Red Duck with a plan to cook her way into being settled. She has her goal in sight, but ex baseball player Drew also lands in her sights. She just can’t help the attraction. Drew brings Lucy into his life as a cook, but soon realizes that she fits into the rest of his life all too well and he wants to keep her.
This book was a sweet read. I really like Stef Ann Holm’s character development. They are real people. I still think the side characters’ extra details kind of sidetrack from the main plot, but it wasn’t too bad in this book. I liked the romance and the family dynamics were both realistically challenging and sweet. Overall, it was an okay read for me.
Lucy gets her life back is about single mom Lucy. After her divorce she moves her two teenage boys to Red Duck with a plan to cook her way into being settled. She has her goal in sight, but ex baseball player Drew also lands in her sights. She just can’t help the attraction. Drew brings Lucy into his life as a cook, but soon realizes that she fits into the rest of his life all too well and he wants to keep her.
This book was a sweet read. I really like Stef Ann Holm’s character development. They are real people. I still think the side characters’ extra details kind of sidetrack from the main plot, but it wasn’t too bad in this book. I liked the romance and the family dynamics were both realistically challenging and sweet. Overall, it was an okay read for me.
October 17, 2014
"I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads."
This feel good, gentle romance is a lovely relaxing read. It introduces us to a lot of characters, and whilst the leads are front and centre, there are some enjoyable side stories too. Spin and Jacqui are particularly noteworthy.
In my opinion, stories involving food / chefs and so on, are usually winners. If an author can express well the feelings that good food invokes, then they are already a step ahead. Ms Holm clearly knows her onions, and weaving the rest of the tale around Lucy's cooking plans works well. Throw in a retired baseball hunk like Drew and happy reading is guaranteed. I rather wished that we knew what happened next - but maybe that is the very sign of a good book!
This feel good, gentle romance is a lovely relaxing read. It introduces us to a lot of characters, and whilst the leads are front and centre, there are some enjoyable side stories too. Spin and Jacqui are particularly noteworthy.
In my opinion, stories involving food / chefs and so on, are usually winners. If an author can express well the feelings that good food invokes, then they are already a step ahead. Ms Holm clearly knows her onions, and weaving the rest of the tale around Lucy's cooking plans works well. Throw in a retired baseball hunk like Drew and happy reading is guaranteed. I rather wished that we knew what happened next - but maybe that is the very sign of a good book!
February 24, 2016
Lucy is recently divorced and now the single mother of two boys. In an effort to start a new life she decides to move her family to Red Duck, Idaho, an upscale ski community where she has plans to start her own business as a personal chef. But the only current chef in town, the eccentric Raul, is sabotaging her attempts. Finding herself low on money and desperate for a solution, Lucy turns to the most influential person in town, ex-professional baseball player Drew Tolman. Trying to keep the arrangement professional, Lucy soon finds herself wanting to do more than cook him dinner, but then Drew has a secret past that soon starts to unravel and cause quite a stir in the community.
This was a delightfully fun read. I actually found myself laughing out loud a good many times and even getting teary eyed. A hen-lit book I would recommend.
This was a delightfully fun read. I actually found myself laughing out loud a good many times and even getting teary eyed. A hen-lit book I would recommend.
October 1, 2014
Once again, I am not into the "story lines" of other characters. I just want to know about the main ones. Not all of them. I feel it drags the story down. At times, I find myself flipping pages just to get back to the main characters.
On to the story, I have to commend single moms out there! Losing a husband, raising children on their own isn't easy. It also isn't easy to date when your life is all about your kids. Either way, this was a sweet story. There were some detail issues I found. 17 year olds don't play "little league". I enjoyed Drew, out of this series, so far, he's my favorite male. If you like longer reads, this is for you
On to the story, I have to commend single moms out there! Losing a husband, raising children on their own isn't easy. It also isn't easy to date when your life is all about your kids. Either way, this was a sweet story. There were some detail issues I found. 17 year olds don't play "little league". I enjoyed Drew, out of this series, so far, he's my favorite male. If you like longer reads, this is for you
August 10, 2011
This is one of those books that stayed with me after I'd closed the cover. I didn't want to leave these characters. This is classified as Romance but was a wonderful Women's Fiction with romance. I loved the heroine, whose body might have been a little too perfect. Hero is a lady's man who is knocked sideways by Lucy, a 45 y/o mother of two teenage boys.
As a reader who is (as they say) of a certain age, I loved reading a story with a heroine who wasn't twenty-something and totally put together.
This book sat around my house in my TBR pile for months. I am so glad it floated to the top!
As a reader who is (as they say) of a certain age, I loved reading a story with a heroine who wasn't twenty-something and totally put together.
This book sat around my house in my TBR pile for months. I am so glad it floated to the top!
August 4, 2016
This is classified as romance but it's really an easy to read piece of woman's fiction. Lucy moves with her sons to a small resort town to restart her life after a cheating husband leaves her for the other women and a divorce. A 103-year-old helps a high-powered real estate agent discover she can live without man attached at the hip. A retired baseball pro builds a relationship with a daughter, 17, he denied for year.
October 9, 2013
|3.5 stars|
I can describe it as sweet and realistically romantic...
A single mom faces the challenges of raising two teenagers in a small village, an absent ex husband with lots of broken promises, a single father, who is the coach to her son( and so cute), trying to come closer with his new daughter, his daughter that wants to make up with her father and the village's other personal cook's rivalry.... Who said life was easy?
I can describe it as sweet and realistically romantic...
A single mom faces the challenges of raising two teenagers in a small village, an absent ex husband with lots of broken promises, a single father, who is the coach to her son( and so cute), trying to come closer with his new daughter, his daughter that wants to make up with her father and the village's other personal cook's rivalry.... Who said life was easy?
April 22, 2010
While I enjoyed the book, I didn't LOVE it. I liked the characters fine, and while I didn't feel like the story was lacking, it still didn't pull me in to the point of "I LOVE this book!"
It is a bit of a love story between Lucy and Drew, but there were other stories and situations interwoven with the budding relationship between Lucy and Drew, and I really liked that.
It is a bit of a love story between Lucy and Drew, but there were other stories and situations interwoven with the budding relationship between Lucy and Drew, and I really liked that.
July 20, 2011
Entertaining but with inconsistent writing quality. Good characters but had issues with expressing their reactions in a non-cardboard way. (i.e. Lucy felt x...) Weak on the romance side, strong on the parenting aspects of the plot.
February 27, 2011
Light and easy read. Fun and fast for the weekend :)
June 29, 2011
Blurgh.
March 1, 2012
This book was interesting and not what I was expecting, in a good way. The book had more substance than what I was expecting.
July 4, 2012
This was sort of predictable mom-with-kids starting over story. It had some bright spots, and the characters were interesting, but recipes would have made this much better!
March 28, 2013
Very predictable and a fast read. Good for a light romance but I thought the charaters lacked depth. You could see where this book was headed after the first chapter.
April 26, 2022
LUCY GETS HER LIFE BACK is a Second Chances standalone romance novel written (pub 2012) by Stef Ann Holm. This was a satisfying and light reread for me with content that has aged well.
MY RATING GUIDE: 3.5 to 4 Satisfied Stars
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I ENJOYED IT; 4= I LIKED IT A LOT; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
Former pro-baseball player Andrew Tolman, 46, lives in the small town of Red Duck, just outside of Boise, Idaho. Divorcee and Personal chef Lucy Carpenter, 45, moves into town with her 2 middle and teenage sons. Lucy hopes her sons will develop new friendships and self-esteem as the three of them attempt to restart their lives in a new setting 2years following Lucy’s divorce and the desertion of the boys’ father.
What I liked ~
1) LUCY GETS HER LIFE BACK deals with picking ourselves back up after huge disappointments and/or personal betrayal, believing in ourselves enough to rediscovery our own strengths, deal with our weaknesses and current situation, then move on. LUCY covers realistic issues without getting too angst-filled, which I appreciate.
2) Unlike many romance novels today, LUCY remains mostly Clean in content (one scene in the final chapters can easily be skipped, if desired).
3) I am content with the light approach. This is an easy, Pick Me Up read for when I simply wish to relax and decompress.
What I Didn’t Like so much ~
1) Unlike perhaps most readers, I’m not a “pro-athlete, Celeb, Royal” trope fan; I sit firmly on the other side (routing for the underdogs and characters with great ethics and integrity but not much else but their guts). Holm’s had to convince me that Tolman was worthy of Lucy and her boys - not the other way around. By the conclusion she nearly had me convinced, but not entirely. Drew was sooo full of himself.
2) As in life, the ex doesn’t suffer any consequences for his (past) actions except for the fact that he has been eliminated from his family’s life - by his own choice.
Readers who enjoy Clean or mostly Clean romance novels that are comfortable and easy “reads” may wish to check out LUCY GETS HER LIFE BACK. Unfortunately many of Stef Ann Holm’s novels are in paperback only or out of print entirely. Local libraries may still carry a copy. Of similar content, other Stef Ann Holm’s novels include - Girls Night, Pink Moon, Leaving Normal, and trilogy 1) All the Right Angles, 2) All That Matters, 3) All That You Are. Family and dealing with singleness are familiar themes.
READER CAUTIONS -
VIOLENCE - None.
PROFANITY - Minimal if any.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Yes. One brief scene in the final chapters.
MY RATING GUIDE: 3.5 to 4 Satisfied Stars
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I ENJOYED IT; 4= I LIKED IT A LOT; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
Former pro-baseball player Andrew Tolman, 46, lives in the small town of Red Duck, just outside of Boise, Idaho. Divorcee and Personal chef Lucy Carpenter, 45, moves into town with her 2 middle and teenage sons. Lucy hopes her sons will develop new friendships and self-esteem as the three of them attempt to restart their lives in a new setting 2years following Lucy’s divorce and the desertion of the boys’ father.
What I liked ~
1) LUCY GETS HER LIFE BACK deals with picking ourselves back up after huge disappointments and/or personal betrayal, believing in ourselves enough to rediscovery our own strengths, deal with our weaknesses and current situation, then move on. LUCY covers realistic issues without getting too angst-filled, which I appreciate.
2) Unlike many romance novels today, LUCY remains mostly Clean in content (one scene in the final chapters can easily be skipped, if desired).
3) I am content with the light approach. This is an easy, Pick Me Up read for when I simply wish to relax and decompress.
What I Didn’t Like so much ~
1) Unlike perhaps most readers, I’m not a “pro-athlete, Celeb, Royal” trope fan; I sit firmly on the other side (routing for the underdogs and characters with great ethics and integrity but not much else but their guts). Holm’s had to convince me that Tolman was worthy of Lucy and her boys - not the other way around. By the conclusion she nearly had me convinced, but not entirely. Drew was sooo full of himself.
2) As in life, the ex doesn’t suffer any consequences for his (past) actions except for the fact that he has been eliminated from his family’s life - by his own choice.
Readers who enjoy Clean or mostly Clean romance novels that are comfortable and easy “reads” may wish to check out LUCY GETS HER LIFE BACK. Unfortunately many of Stef Ann Holm’s novels are in paperback only or out of print entirely. Local libraries may still carry a copy. Of similar content, other Stef Ann Holm’s novels include - Girls Night, Pink Moon, Leaving Normal, and trilogy 1) All the Right Angles, 2) All That Matters, 3) All That You Are. Family and dealing with singleness are familiar themes.
READER CAUTIONS -
VIOLENCE - None.
PROFANITY - Minimal if any.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Yes. One brief scene in the final chapters.
November 9, 2024
I haven’t written a review and I really long time and this book is one of the most amazing books that I’ve ever read in my entire life. Half way in and I felt that it would be on my top list. I know for a fact that I’m giving this book 5 stars but the thing is I have very few books that I would give more than five stars, books that are just amazing and for now this book is the 3rd to be this good. If I start telling you about how good the book is, you would never understand . It feels like home. I started reading this book when I was in my home country and I finished it after I travelled to another country to pursue my masters degree. I don’t know how to explain it but the fact that this book travelled with me as I was reading it just gives me warm feelings inside and it feels warm as a book it feels like a hug it feels like a good friend. I loved every single character in this book. Lucy was just amazing. Her relationship with Drew was giving me all sorts of butterflies
the relationship of Lucy and her boys especially Jason was such a beautiful portrayal of a single mom who did her best for her kids. And then the relationship of Drew and McKenzie was just pure example of how can someone change over time and Pick up all his mistakes. I haven’t finished this book yet as I have been writing this review but it fills me with the grief that I’m gonna finish it so soon I have only 70 pages left which I am sure I will be finishing in one sitting. Everything about this book is purely beautiful. All my life I have been choosing books based on gut feelings. I never read the popular books or the best seller resort. The books that are famous on TikTok or whatsoever and I feel like some books deserve recognition. And this book is one of them. I just finished reading it rn. And GOD I LOVE HAPPY ENDINGS. i definitely sobbed for Drew and his daughter and when Spin died, even tho i knew it was coming. I LOVE THIS BOOK SOOOO MUCH
the relationship of Lucy and her boys especially Jason was such a beautiful portrayal of a single mom who did her best for her kids. And then the relationship of Drew and McKenzie was just pure example of how can someone change over time and Pick up all his mistakes. I haven’t finished this book yet as I have been writing this review but it fills me with the grief that I’m gonna finish it so soon I have only 70 pages left which I am sure I will be finishing in one sitting. Everything about this book is purely beautiful. All my life I have been choosing books based on gut feelings. I never read the popular books or the best seller resort. The books that are famous on TikTok or whatsoever and I feel like some books deserve recognition. And this book is one of them. I just finished reading it rn. And GOD I LOVE HAPPY ENDINGS. i definitely sobbed for Drew and his daughter and when Spin died, even tho i knew it was coming. I LOVE THIS BOOK SOOOO MUCH
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2025
Many years ago, when Stef Ann Holm was writing her Brides for All Seasons historical romance series, I posted a good review on a romance website and she contacted me and as the series went on, sent me a copy of every new book. Just because. It still tickles me to this day - it was simple kindness and I so appreciated it. I loved those books. Still do, may need a reread! Honey, the one about baseball, is my favorite.
I have her women's fiction books and have been parsing them out, as it's hard for me to read paper books anymore.
This was a pleasant read while I was home alone for a week. Nothing earth shattering, but there's something about reading a contemporary book written in 2006 that makes you long for a simpler time - ha, 2006 a simpler time. But it was. Cell phones, yes, but not as prevalent as the smart phones of today. Not as much social media. Take me back!
Some reviewers complain there are too many characters. I enjoy seeing other people move about these worlds. Just focusing on the hero and heroine is dull.
Just a pleasant book with people trying to do better. What's not to like?
I have her women's fiction books and have been parsing them out, as it's hard for me to read paper books anymore.
This was a pleasant read while I was home alone for a week. Nothing earth shattering, but there's something about reading a contemporary book written in 2006 that makes you long for a simpler time - ha, 2006 a simpler time. But it was. Cell phones, yes, but not as prevalent as the smart phones of today. Not as much social media. Take me back!
Some reviewers complain there are too many characters. I enjoy seeing other people move about these worlds. Just focusing on the hero and heroine is dull.
Just a pleasant book with people trying to do better. What's not to like?
August 29, 2021
Rating: 5 Stars!! (Wish i could rate it 10 Stars!!)
Review:
This was my first time reading a book by this author so i wasnt sure what to expect even tho the cover and synopsis sounded intriguing to me.
The Characters were so funny and interesting to read about especially Jacquie and Drew.
The Setting was beautifully described which made it easy to picture Red Duck, Idaho while reading.
Overall a really good Contemporary Romance and i can't wait to read more by this author in the future!!
Review:
This was my first time reading a book by this author so i wasnt sure what to expect even tho the cover and synopsis sounded intriguing to me.
The Characters were so funny and interesting to read about especially Jacquie and Drew.
The Setting was beautifully described which made it easy to picture Red Duck, Idaho while reading.
Overall a really good Contemporary Romance and i can't wait to read more by this author in the future!!
March 31, 2019
I put this one down just over halfway. I had given it a couple of chances. She did a good job of thinking through the characters and describing them so they weren’t flat. However I just wasn’t engaged in the story, or the characters really.
September 7, 2024
Considering this was written nearly 20years ago, i didn't think it had dates that badly and I liked the themes of strong independent women throughout.
The small community vibe was lovely and I liked the emphasis made on that rather than the actual romance.
And enjoyable read.
The small community vibe was lovely and I liked the emphasis made on that rather than the actual romance.
And enjoyable read.
November 23, 2023
Was good not as good as the first
March 27, 2007
Single-mother Lucy Carpenter hopes she has made the right decision moving her two sons to Red Duck, Idaho. The upscale ski community should provide ample opportunity for her to work as a personal chef, although rival chef Raul is sabotaging her attempts. He seems to have cornered the cuisine market, so Lucy must carve out her own and turns to the town's Lothario for help. Everyone loves ex-professional baseball player and present-day Little League coach Drew Tolman. All the women are attracted to him, and Lucy is no exception, despite her postdivorce hesitation. But nothing stops her from using Drew to stir up business, while he just wants to stir her.
A good read. The relationship between Lucy & Drew was built up throughout the whole book which made it have a little more substance than so many other books. I really enjoyed reading this one.
A good read. The relationship between Lucy & Drew was built up throughout the whole book which made it have a little more substance than so many other books. I really enjoyed reading this one.
May 11, 2011
I am not usually very "gushy" in my reviews, but I have to say this again(because I'm fairly sure I've said it before) - this woman is one of the most underrated writers of romantic fiction. This book is about so much more than Lucy, the title character; there's the retired baseball star and his 17-year-old daughter he's never really acknowledged, his former girlfriend who "finds herself" in a most unusual way, Lucy's sons who are dealing with the desertion of their jerk of a father, and a chef whose ego is bigger than the whole state of Idaho, where the story is set.
If you have never read anything by this author, you owe it to yourself to give her a try. I cannot guarantee you will fall in love with her writing, but I can assure you that she is one of my very favorites. And I read a LOT.
If you have never read anything by this author, you owe it to yourself to give her a try. I cannot guarantee you will fall in love with her writing, but I can assure you that she is one of my very favorites. And I read a LOT.
December 2, 2015
Divorced Mom, Lucy Carpenter, moves with her 2 sons, Jason, 16, and Matt, 12 to Red Duck, ID from Boise to remove Jason from some bad influences. She rents a rundown house in this resort area and begins looking for clients for her personal chef business. Ex-baseball pro, Drew Tolman, coaches Little League and the school baseball team. Drew also has a 17 year old daughter that he had denied was his until she was 14, at which point she wanted nothing to do with him. When her mother dies she moves in with her aunt in Florida but Drew tries to develop a relationship. Drew has past issues that need to be addressed and Lucy needs to rebuild her self-worth and family life, while both address their attraction. Their stories are well developed. A great side story involving Drew's ex-girlfriend and a 103 year old resident at the Seniors Home is both funny and touching. Highly recommended.
February 20, 2011
Pretty good story line although fairly predictable. I had trouble, however, getting over the lack of editing. A few words misspelled and misplaced here and there but there were two big areas I noticed where the author contradicted herself. For instance I remember Lucy is admiring Drew's crisp white shirt in one paragraph and in the next she is describing his nipples although he still, apparently has that crisp shirt on! And then in another part of the book Lucy is going to her car to get a sweater because she is cold and on the way runs in to Drew who takes a sweater off of her even though she has not even gotten it yet! These little discrepancies made it difficult for me to fully enjoy and get in to this book.
June 28, 2009
My hat is off to Stef Ann Holm for making her characters attractive, imperfect, and nicely seasoned. They have children, they have flaws, and they make mistakes. Sometimes you look beneath the surface and find the hidden gem. When your first love is not the lasting love of your life, don't give up. Don't miss out on the second chance, which may be richer and more fulfilling than you ever dreamed!
June 23, 2012
really liked this book. I have read a few books by Stef Ann Holm and have enjoyed each one. The ending was kind of predictable but still very satisfying. It's good to read about strong women and Lucy Carpenters is one. Raising two teenage sons after a divorce and moving, she set out to get her life back....and succeeds. Well done
July 30, 2014
Unlike the many who said the book was predictable and boring, I on the other hand thought it was a good story. It wasn't predictable at all. There were many characters in this story and each had their own story to tell. It was captivating and I personally enjoyed reading it. I have read other books by Stef Ann Holm and have enjoyed them all. Would recommend this for as a good summer read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews