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The House of Second Chances
Can a house heal heartache? From coastal Australia to the rugged beauty of Ireland, an enchanting novel of starting over, in the tradition of Maeve Binchy and Monica McInerney.
Their grandmother's stone cottage was always a welcome retreat in the childhood summers of Ellen and Aidan O'Shea. After a trip home from Australia, Ellen is keen to bring the neglected home back to its former glory and enlists the help of her dear friend and one of Ireland's top interior designers, Colette Barry.
Aidan is already begrudging the work on the house he has avoided for nearly twenty years. The last thing the builder needs is an interior designer who seems to do nothing but complicate his life. With their own personal heartaches to overcome, will Aidan and Colette find the courage to give the house and themselves a second chance?
Their grandmother's stone cottage was always a welcome retreat in the childhood summers of Ellen and Aidan O'Shea. After a trip home from Australia, Ellen is keen to bring the neglected home back to its former glory and enlists the help of her dear friend and one of Ireland's top interior designers, Colette Barry.
Aidan is already begrudging the work on the house he has avoided for nearly twenty years. The last thing the builder needs is an interior designer who seems to do nothing but complicate his life. With their own personal heartaches to overcome, will Aidan and Colette find the courage to give the house and themselves a second chance?
- GenresRomanceContemporary
389 pages, Paperback
Published February 12, 2019
24 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Esther Campion
6 books57 followersEsther Campion is from Cork, Ireland and currently lives in north-west Tasmania. She attended North Presentation Convent in Cork and has degrees from University College Cork and the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.
Esther and her Orcadian husband have lived in Ireland, Scotland, Norway and South Australia. They have a grown-up daughter in Adelaide and the two youngest at home in Tassie with an over-indulged chocolate Labrador and two horses, which Esther firmly believes are living proof that dreams really can come true.
Esther and her Orcadian husband have lived in Ireland, Scotland, Norway and South Australia. They have a grown-up daughter in Adelaide and the two youngest at home in Tassie with an over-indulged chocolate Labrador and two horses, which Esther firmly believes are living proof that dreams really can come true.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 21, 2019
Ellen O’Shea and her brother Aidan shared many wonderful childhood memories in their grandmother's cottage. Sadly, over the years the cottage had become run down and was in desperate need of repairs to get it back to the beautiful place, Ellen once remembered it to be. Ellen has asked her friend Colette Barry one of Ireland’s top interior designers.
Although Aidan is a builder, he wasn’t thrilled about working on the cottage and he became less thrilled when he found out he had to work alongside an interior designer. Aidan had enough going on in life and dealing with, Colette, who had all these different ideas for the cottage was actually testing his patients. Could Aidan and Colette work together long enough to get the cottage back to its former self or would it stay neglected and run down.
Aussie author Esther Campion is fast becoming another favorite author of mine. After reading the first chapter of this book I knew I would love it and I was right. Esther’s descriptions throughout this book are really wonderful and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.
The House of Second Chances is the sequel to Leaving Ocean Road, which I also loved and recommend. Two wonderful stories which I highly recommend.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review.
Although Aidan is a builder, he wasn’t thrilled about working on the cottage and he became less thrilled when he found out he had to work alongside an interior designer. Aidan had enough going on in life and dealing with, Colette, who had all these different ideas for the cottage was actually testing his patients. Could Aidan and Colette work together long enough to get the cottage back to its former self or would it stay neglected and run down.
Aussie author Esther Campion is fast becoming another favorite author of mine. After reading the first chapter of this book I knew I would love it and I was right. Esther’s descriptions throughout this book are really wonderful and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.
The House of Second Chances is the sequel to Leaving Ocean Road, which I also loved and recommend. Two wonderful stories which I highly recommend.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review.
February 7, 2019
Even though Ellen O’Shea had returned to South Australia after her visit to her home in Ireland, she knew her brother Aidan who was a builder, would continue the renovation of their grandmother’s stone cottage in West Cork. Ellen had taken her good friend, interior designer Colette Barry on board, and knew she would do an excellent job with the cottage. But Aidan didn’t want the added cost that came with Colette’s grandiose ideas.
While good friend Gerry Clancy was trying to obtain the visa he needed to join Ellen in Australia, Colette was busy at her interior designer company, Fabulous Four Walls, along with good friend and partner John. When Colette and Gerry joined Aidan at the West Cork cottage, she could see the potential and knew the house would have a second chance with all they could do. But she also wondered how she could work with the perpetually grumpy owner of the cottage. How could he be the brother of her best friend?
With troubled pasts and dark secrets, plus events with family and friends of an upsetting nature, was there a possibility of second chances and starting over? Would Aidan find happiness? Would Colette?
The House of Second Chances by Aussie author Esther Campion is the sequel to Leaving Ocean Road, and it was wonderful to catch up with Ellen, Aidan and Gerry once again. The story continues on from the ending of Leaving Ocean Road and was exceptionally well done, with the blending of known characters with new ones. The parts of Australia in the novel – Port Lincoln, Millicent, Mount Gambier, the Coorong – are places I know (I lived in Mount Gambier as a child); while Ireland is a place I haven’t been, but the descriptions of the countryside were delightful. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and whipped through it in a matter of hours (who needs sleep?!) Highly recommended.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
While good friend Gerry Clancy was trying to obtain the visa he needed to join Ellen in Australia, Colette was busy at her interior designer company, Fabulous Four Walls, along with good friend and partner John. When Colette and Gerry joined Aidan at the West Cork cottage, she could see the potential and knew the house would have a second chance with all they could do. But she also wondered how she could work with the perpetually grumpy owner of the cottage. How could he be the brother of her best friend?
With troubled pasts and dark secrets, plus events with family and friends of an upsetting nature, was there a possibility of second chances and starting over? Would Aidan find happiness? Would Colette?
The House of Second Chances by Aussie author Esther Campion is the sequel to Leaving Ocean Road, and it was wonderful to catch up with Ellen, Aidan and Gerry once again. The story continues on from the ending of Leaving Ocean Road and was exceptionally well done, with the blending of known characters with new ones. The parts of Australia in the novel – Port Lincoln, Millicent, Mount Gambier, the Coorong – are places I know (I lived in Mount Gambier as a child); while Ireland is a place I haven’t been, but the descriptions of the countryside were delightful. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and whipped through it in a matter of hours (who needs sleep?!) Highly recommended.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
February 26, 2019
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
3.5 stars
A quaint book that embraces you with its genuine warmth and open friendly tone, The House of Second Chances is the delightful second novel from Esther Campion. For her second offering, Campion takes her readers from the one of Australia’s most stunning coastal regions, to the rolling green hills of Ireland. This is a memorable journey of overcoming loss, welcoming love and embracing new chances.
The House of Second Chances asks us, can a house heal heartache? I’d like to think so. A once beautiful stone cottage in the West Cork region of Ireland is the central stage prop for The House of Second Chances. This old cottage was the home of the grandmother of Ellen and Aidan O’Shea. It holds plenty of memories for the two. Ellen is heading back to the cottage after a sojourn in Australia and she is keen on restoring the cottage to its former state. Helping Ellen along the way is a friend and much respected interior designer Colette. Meanwhile, Aidan is not keen at on all on the whole renovation process. He would much rather avoid the place. With tension soon arising between Aidan and Colette, the cottage becomes a site for both pain, angst, heartache, but also new opportunities.
I love nothing more than a good second chance story – whether it is about love, relationships, friendships or life in general. The House of Second Chances is an example of a very agreeable second chance love and life lit based story. It is a continuation of sorts from Esther Campion’s debut 2018 novel, Leaving Ocean Road. However, with plenty of details filled in for new readers, The House of Second Chances can be read as a complete standalone to the previous novel penned by Campion. For me personally, The House of Second Chances provided me with the chance to return to the people and the familiar writing of Esther Campion
I just adore the cover design of The House of Second Chances. The welcoming and picturesque garden that features on the front has such an embracing feel. The steps leading into the sun provides a warm tone to the book that I just couldn’t resist! The attractive cover definitely worked to draw me in to the pages of the novel and the unfolding story.
I really liked the way Esther Campion draws implicitly on her passion, love and understanding of two locales that she holds dear. This is expressed at every axis point of her novel. We travel effortlessly from coastal South Australia and its breathtaking natural beauty, to the pristine clear green hills of Ireland. I was with the characters every step of the way, breathing in the setting with them.
Characters are clearly Campion’s forte, she inhabits them so well. There are some returning characters for Campion to extend upon and she does this with finesse. Likewise, there are some new protagonists that add much to the fold. I enjoyed unpacking their stories, some were tinged with past hurts and pain, while others offered plenty of hope. I particularly enjoyed Aidan’s journey into overcoming his past obstacles, his wellbeing overhaul and eventually his connection to Colette.
There are plenty of resounding themes for the reader to sink their teeth into. The most significant or overarching theme is that of overhaul. This applies to the overhaul and renovation process of the stone cottage, which kick starts this story. Then there is the overhaul of the characters and their complicated lives in the story. I recently read another home renovation story but this one is the superior one. I appreciated the angle Campion took with the redesign process of the West Cork cottage.
With an unexpected thread thrown in on a missing child in the parting stages of the novel, it certainly added a surprising extra dose of intrigue to this emotional storyline. I did like how it all panned out in the end. Campion wraps her second novel up in a more than satisfactory fashion. I’m keen to see who and what she will introduce us to next!
A poignant book that reminds us that we do have the ability to make changes in our lives in order to become healthier, happier and more fulfilled people, The House of Second Chances is a highly relatable novel that will be appreciated by a broad audience.
*Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The House of Second Chances is book #21 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge
3.5 stars
A quaint book that embraces you with its genuine warmth and open friendly tone, The House of Second Chances is the delightful second novel from Esther Campion. For her second offering, Campion takes her readers from the one of Australia’s most stunning coastal regions, to the rolling green hills of Ireland. This is a memorable journey of overcoming loss, welcoming love and embracing new chances.
The House of Second Chances asks us, can a house heal heartache? I’d like to think so. A once beautiful stone cottage in the West Cork region of Ireland is the central stage prop for The House of Second Chances. This old cottage was the home of the grandmother of Ellen and Aidan O’Shea. It holds plenty of memories for the two. Ellen is heading back to the cottage after a sojourn in Australia and she is keen on restoring the cottage to its former state. Helping Ellen along the way is a friend and much respected interior designer Colette. Meanwhile, Aidan is not keen at on all on the whole renovation process. He would much rather avoid the place. With tension soon arising between Aidan and Colette, the cottage becomes a site for both pain, angst, heartache, but also new opportunities.
I love nothing more than a good second chance story – whether it is about love, relationships, friendships or life in general. The House of Second Chances is an example of a very agreeable second chance love and life lit based story. It is a continuation of sorts from Esther Campion’s debut 2018 novel, Leaving Ocean Road. However, with plenty of details filled in for new readers, The House of Second Chances can be read as a complete standalone to the previous novel penned by Campion. For me personally, The House of Second Chances provided me with the chance to return to the people and the familiar writing of Esther Campion
I just adore the cover design of The House of Second Chances. The welcoming and picturesque garden that features on the front has such an embracing feel. The steps leading into the sun provides a warm tone to the book that I just couldn’t resist! The attractive cover definitely worked to draw me in to the pages of the novel and the unfolding story.
I really liked the way Esther Campion draws implicitly on her passion, love and understanding of two locales that she holds dear. This is expressed at every axis point of her novel. We travel effortlessly from coastal South Australia and its breathtaking natural beauty, to the pristine clear green hills of Ireland. I was with the characters every step of the way, breathing in the setting with them.
Characters are clearly Campion’s forte, she inhabits them so well. There are some returning characters for Campion to extend upon and she does this with finesse. Likewise, there are some new protagonists that add much to the fold. I enjoyed unpacking their stories, some were tinged with past hurts and pain, while others offered plenty of hope. I particularly enjoyed Aidan’s journey into overcoming his past obstacles, his wellbeing overhaul and eventually his connection to Colette.
There are plenty of resounding themes for the reader to sink their teeth into. The most significant or overarching theme is that of overhaul. This applies to the overhaul and renovation process of the stone cottage, which kick starts this story. Then there is the overhaul of the characters and their complicated lives in the story. I recently read another home renovation story but this one is the superior one. I appreciated the angle Campion took with the redesign process of the West Cork cottage.
With an unexpected thread thrown in on a missing child in the parting stages of the novel, it certainly added a surprising extra dose of intrigue to this emotional storyline. I did like how it all panned out in the end. Campion wraps her second novel up in a more than satisfactory fashion. I’m keen to see who and what she will introduce us to next!
A poignant book that reminds us that we do have the ability to make changes in our lives in order to become healthier, happier and more fulfilled people, The House of Second Chances is a highly relatable novel that will be appreciated by a broad audience.
*Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The House of Second Chances is book #21 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge
February 15, 2019
I read MS Campion’s debut book Leaving Ocean Road and was left gobsmacked by how good it was, and then I picked this one up and just felt so good, it was like being back with family and friends, Gerry and Ellen and now we get to see Aiden and Collette come together in a heart-warming and poignant story that had me turning the pages and feeling so close to all of the wonderful characters, sit back and enjoy this one as I did on a journey to love, that is helped along by a house.
Ellen and Aiden have decided to renovate their grandmother’s home in West Cork on the coast Ireland, a beautiful setting a lovely old house that needs a lot of work, Ellen has hopes of turning it into B&B or a place people can stay to get their lives back on track. Aiden is not so convinced in the beginning and is not happy when Ellen requests her best friend Collette to step in and help with the interior designing, but Aiden has memories from this house that have caused him heartaches over the years, is it time to open up and let them go.
Collette Barry a former teacher now one of Ireland’s top interior designers and divorced is living at home with her Mum, she works hard and is excited when her best friend Ellen asks her to help bring back to life her grandmother’s house, but she seems to meet a brick wall when she meets up with Ellen’s brother and the builder Aiden. Never one to give up after what she has been through she is drawn to Aiden and when there is heartbreak with a child this brings them closer together and working on the house starts to make her open up.
I loved this story in so many ways, there are beautiful emotions flowing on the pages, such awesome characters that add so much to Aiden and Collette’s touching journey. MS Campion is an amazing story teller who gets to the heart of people and brings them to life, for the thorough enjoyment of readers, I loved the settings as we do a bit of travelling from Australia to Ireland. This is a story that I highly recommend, there were tears and happy sighs because Aiden and Colette so deserved love and happiness they are beautiful people, thank you MS Campion for another keeper.
Ellen and Aiden have decided to renovate their grandmother’s home in West Cork on the coast Ireland, a beautiful setting a lovely old house that needs a lot of work, Ellen has hopes of turning it into B&B or a place people can stay to get their lives back on track. Aiden is not so convinced in the beginning and is not happy when Ellen requests her best friend Collette to step in and help with the interior designing, but Aiden has memories from this house that have caused him heartaches over the years, is it time to open up and let them go.
Collette Barry a former teacher now one of Ireland’s top interior designers and divorced is living at home with her Mum, she works hard and is excited when her best friend Ellen asks her to help bring back to life her grandmother’s house, but she seems to meet a brick wall when she meets up with Ellen’s brother and the builder Aiden. Never one to give up after what she has been through she is drawn to Aiden and when there is heartbreak with a child this brings them closer together and working on the house starts to make her open up.
I loved this story in so many ways, there are beautiful emotions flowing on the pages, such awesome characters that add so much to Aiden and Collette’s touching journey. MS Campion is an amazing story teller who gets to the heart of people and brings them to life, for the thorough enjoyment of readers, I loved the settings as we do a bit of travelling from Australia to Ireland. This is a story that I highly recommend, there were tears and happy sighs because Aiden and Colette so deserved love and happiness they are beautiful people, thank you MS Campion for another keeper.
February 25, 2019
A beautiful story set in Ireland. I read The House of Second Chances as part of Books with Heart's Book Club and really enjoyed it. I'll have to go back and read Esther's first book now.
February 8, 2019
Copy received from Hachette Australia for an honest review
When I picked up this book, I was not aware that it was connected to Esther Campion's first book, Leaving Ocean Road, so that was a pleasant surprise.
Back in Ireland, Ellen's (from Ocean Road) brother is a bit curmudgeonly and has become an expert at keeping people out of his life.
Colette has had a crappy time of things lately, and throws herself into her work.
When they are thrown together on a job, neither of them is looking for anything other than getting a house renovated. But what they got was so much more.
Their "relationship" is one of begrudging acceptance, to friendship, to more. It is a slow burn of a story, and I could feel their attraction and emotions leap off the page
Ms Campion has brought us wonderful characters. Colette and Aidan are so wonderful, but the secondary characters just bring this story so, so much, and show our lovelies that there is more out there for them if they are willing to open their hearts again.
Beautiful writing drew me right into the scenes. It was wonderful be back in Australia and Ocean Road, where we also get little snippits of Ellen's life after that book ended.
Trials, tribulations, a bit of heartbreak along the way. Ms Campion swept me up in this story, and I didn't want it any other way.
I can't wait to see what Ms Campion brings us next.
When I picked up this book, I was not aware that it was connected to Esther Campion's first book, Leaving Ocean Road, so that was a pleasant surprise.
Back in Ireland, Ellen's (from Ocean Road) brother is a bit curmudgeonly and has become an expert at keeping people out of his life.
Colette has had a crappy time of things lately, and throws herself into her work.
When they are thrown together on a job, neither of them is looking for anything other than getting a house renovated. But what they got was so much more.
Their "relationship" is one of begrudging acceptance, to friendship, to more. It is a slow burn of a story, and I could feel their attraction and emotions leap off the page
Ms Campion has brought us wonderful characters. Colette and Aidan are so wonderful, but the secondary characters just bring this story so, so much, and show our lovelies that there is more out there for them if they are willing to open their hearts again.
Beautiful writing drew me right into the scenes. It was wonderful be back in Australia and Ocean Road, where we also get little snippits of Ellen's life after that book ended.
Trials, tribulations, a bit of heartbreak along the way. Ms Campion swept me up in this story, and I didn't want it any other way.
I can't wait to see what Ms Campion brings us next.
July 8, 2019
A beautiful book with great characters. I didn’t want to put it down.
February 26, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were endearing and the setting of Australia and Ireland well depicted. The main couples relationship develops over time, although it isn't the only focus in the book. I loved the other issues and aspects and how they were explored. Plus a troubled teen who finally finds a place to call home.
March 1, 2019
I didn’t actually realise that this book is connected to Esther Campion’s first book, Leaving Ocean Road. I haven’t read that and for the first little bit as I settled into this story, it was a bit confusing working out who was who and how everyone was connected. Once I had that sorted, it was easier to sink into the story and figure out what was happening.
Siblings Ellen and Aidan O’Shea are undertaking a renovation of a cottage left to them by their grandmother. As Ellen lives in Australia now, Aidan will be undertaking the bulk of the renovation, as he’s also a builder by trade. But Ellen has enlisted the help of her best friend, interior designer Colette to assist, much to Aidan’s chagrin. Although the two have known each other for a long time, given the friendship between Ellen and Colette, they’ve had little to do with each other since Ellen went to live in Australia. And when they are thrown back into close proximity to work on the house, it doesn’t exactly go smoothly. Aidan is skeptical of an interior designer’s role but he finds himself outnumbered and outvoted by Ellen and his father, which means that Colette’s role will be a prominent one.
Colette is six years out from a painful divorce and although she’s highly successful in her chosen career, moving from teaching into interior design, she hasn’t moved forward in her personal life in some time. She’s still living with her mother, where she went after her marriage ended and perhaps Aidan will provide an opportunity for something new…..if they can stop bickering.
I really like renovation stories – I watch quite a few renovation shows on television and I always enjoy their inclusion in books. However there wasn’t a huge amount of focus on the renovation, just enough to provide a bit of conflict between a skeptical Aidan and Colette, who didn’t understand Aidan’s somewhat hostile attitude. Aidan is not a particularly endearing character at first – he’s a bit rude, he makes no secret of the fact he thinks Colette’s inclusion is at best, a waste of time and at worst, something that will end up ripping them off. In fact there were a few instances where I may have put the book down and thought, “Aidan, what on earth is your problem mate?”
But he grew on me. It’s like he learned to swallow his pride, take a step back and stop being judgemental and actually look at what Colette was contributing and what her accomplishments were. Aidan also realises he needs to do something about his health – he’s pushing 40 or just over it, he’s getting a bit of that spread. So he changes his diet, takes up some exercise. This seems to help focus him as well, or mellow out his disposition somewhat! He becomes much more palatable and he and Colette actually find a way to have a conversation that doesn’t end in an argument which helps steadily build an attraction between them.
Meanwhile Ellen is in Australia, waiting for her partner’s visa to come through so that he can join her there permanently. She’s still dealing with some fallout that was addressed in the previous novel and learning to muddle through going from agreeing to be in a relationship with someone she was very involved with twenty years ago, to actually being in that relationship and learning the day to day sort of routine of it.
I enjoyed the snapshot of Irish life and also the snippets back in South Australia with Ellen as well. Aidan and Colette grew on me and I did find myself quite invested in them towards the end, even though there wasn’t really much in the way of actual romance in the story. The thing that did feel a bit left field for me was the case of a missing child, which comes up without warning and then dominates the plot in the latter parts of the book. It just felt like a bit of an abrupt change in tone and subject and I wasn’t expecting it to go in that direction at all, or have the effect that it did on numerous characters. One part that I did really think contributed to the story was that of Shane, the troubled nephew of Colette’s business partner who comes to work for them. He’s incredibly surly and reluctant at first but slowly he thaws and opens up and establishes a real bond with both Colette and his uncle. That was really great to read.
This was an appealing story that swept me away to Ireland and made me really want a little cottage in Cork. I’d happily revise this world.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
Siblings Ellen and Aidan O’Shea are undertaking a renovation of a cottage left to them by their grandmother. As Ellen lives in Australia now, Aidan will be undertaking the bulk of the renovation, as he’s also a builder by trade. But Ellen has enlisted the help of her best friend, interior designer Colette to assist, much to Aidan’s chagrin. Although the two have known each other for a long time, given the friendship between Ellen and Colette, they’ve had little to do with each other since Ellen went to live in Australia. And when they are thrown back into close proximity to work on the house, it doesn’t exactly go smoothly. Aidan is skeptical of an interior designer’s role but he finds himself outnumbered and outvoted by Ellen and his father, which means that Colette’s role will be a prominent one.
Colette is six years out from a painful divorce and although she’s highly successful in her chosen career, moving from teaching into interior design, she hasn’t moved forward in her personal life in some time. She’s still living with her mother, where she went after her marriage ended and perhaps Aidan will provide an opportunity for something new…..if they can stop bickering.
I really like renovation stories – I watch quite a few renovation shows on television and I always enjoy their inclusion in books. However there wasn’t a huge amount of focus on the renovation, just enough to provide a bit of conflict between a skeptical Aidan and Colette, who didn’t understand Aidan’s somewhat hostile attitude. Aidan is not a particularly endearing character at first – he’s a bit rude, he makes no secret of the fact he thinks Colette’s inclusion is at best, a waste of time and at worst, something that will end up ripping them off. In fact there were a few instances where I may have put the book down and thought, “Aidan, what on earth is your problem mate?”
But he grew on me. It’s like he learned to swallow his pride, take a step back and stop being judgemental and actually look at what Colette was contributing and what her accomplishments were. Aidan also realises he needs to do something about his health – he’s pushing 40 or just over it, he’s getting a bit of that spread. So he changes his diet, takes up some exercise. This seems to help focus him as well, or mellow out his disposition somewhat! He becomes much more palatable and he and Colette actually find a way to have a conversation that doesn’t end in an argument which helps steadily build an attraction between them.
Meanwhile Ellen is in Australia, waiting for her partner’s visa to come through so that he can join her there permanently. She’s still dealing with some fallout that was addressed in the previous novel and learning to muddle through going from agreeing to be in a relationship with someone she was very involved with twenty years ago, to actually being in that relationship and learning the day to day sort of routine of it.
I enjoyed the snapshot of Irish life and also the snippets back in South Australia with Ellen as well. Aidan and Colette grew on me and I did find myself quite invested in them towards the end, even though there wasn’t really much in the way of actual romance in the story. The thing that did feel a bit left field for me was the case of a missing child, which comes up without warning and then dominates the plot in the latter parts of the book. It just felt like a bit of an abrupt change in tone and subject and I wasn’t expecting it to go in that direction at all, or have the effect that it did on numerous characters. One part that I did really think contributed to the story was that of Shane, the troubled nephew of Colette’s business partner who comes to work for them. He’s incredibly surly and reluctant at first but slowly he thaws and opens up and establishes a real bond with both Colette and his uncle. That was really great to read.
This was an appealing story that swept me away to Ireland and made me really want a little cottage in Cork. I’d happily revise this world.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
March 12, 2019
Perfect Valentines Day Read
My View:
This was the perfect Valentine’s Day read – and if you haven’t had an opportunity to read it yet, sit yourself down in a comfy chair, cup of tea (or glass of wine) in hand and take some time to be in the moment, to be in Ireland, to be in the countryside - wild, romantic and picturesque. Imagine yourself with you sketch pad or easel capturing the vista, relaxed.
Armchair travelling at its best.
Everyone deserves a second chance.
For those who haven’t read the Leaving Ocean Road – the book that introduces to the main characters and background stories, check out Brenda’s review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
PS Love the cover art.
My View:
This was the perfect Valentine’s Day read – and if you haven’t had an opportunity to read it yet, sit yourself down in a comfy chair, cup of tea (or glass of wine) in hand and take some time to be in the moment, to be in Ireland, to be in the countryside - wild, romantic and picturesque. Imagine yourself with you sketch pad or easel capturing the vista, relaxed.
Armchair travelling at its best.
Everyone deserves a second chance.
For those who haven’t read the Leaving Ocean Road – the book that introduces to the main characters and background stories, check out Brenda’s review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
PS Love the cover art.
February 2, 2019
http://jessjustreads.com
The House of Second Chances by Esther Campion is a novel about letting go of past mistakes, failed relationships and learning to let others in. This is Esther’s second novel and explores love, loss, grief and family.
Aidan and Colette have both been in relationships they’d rather not remember. Colette’s ex-husband treated her terribly and cheated on her many times, and Aidan’s ex-girlfriend left and married someone else. Aidan also acts as a babysitter for another ex-girlfriend who likes to offload her daughter onto Aidan on a regular basis.
Both Aidan and Colette like to shut people out, and they keep pretending that they’re happy being single. When they meet, they initially don’t like each other. They fight over what’s best for the house and the renovation of the property. But soon, they start to understand each other and friendship develops.
“The whole group were looking at him. Oh man! He’d half hoped he might find the seat beside Colette empty for once and enjoy his pint while actually having a civil conversation with the girl. This was not how he’d planned it.”
At first I was a little taken aback with how people spoke to Aidan about his weight. Aidan acknowledges that he weighs more than he used to, and he's let his fitness slip. His internal dialogue reflects what a lot of people who feel unfit think about themselves. They know they need to eat healthier, exercise more.
But Aidan’s friends and family outwardly comment about his weight and Aidan just takes it. He seems like the kind of character who isn’t afraid to speak his mind, so it seemed a little surprising that he just accepted everyone’s jokes and remarks without sniping back. Even though he thought their comments were justified, I would’ve expected a character like Aidan to respond differently to how he did.
“Ben Dineen cut a fit-looking figure in a designer polo shirt that showed off his biceps. Aidan imagined the six-pack concealed under the shirt tucked into the belted chinos. Lucky bastard, he thought, drawing the sides of his open jacket together to cover the gut that had brought him to this.”
The grandmother’s cottage in the book read like a character, it held such a strong significance to the plot and to the characters’ journeys. It holds memories and is therefore an important place for the characters, but renovating the house is also about moving forward and reflecting on what’s transpired.
Esther brings a range of characters to this story, all of whom are struggling with something. Grace and Ben are having silent fights and communication is needed to overcome their issues. Aidan’s ex-girlfriend Jane keeps running back to her problematic boyfriend despite him being a bad influence on her and her daughter. Colette’s new work experience kid Shane is rebellious and troubled, but is really skilled at drawing. These are just a few of the side characters who enrich the story.
“She’d wanted a daughter too. But this was no time to be maudlin. She had bills to pay, a mother to look after as she got older and, down the track, her own senior years to secure. She’d worked her socks off and would continue to do so. A partnership would just make it more her own.”
Initially, it was really hard to wrap your head around the characters. In the opening chapters of the book, Esther seems to introduce just about every character in the book and it was easy to get lost in all the information because it felt like an information dump. I would’ve preferred if the characters were drip fed a bit more, without so much background information all at once.
Perfect for readers who love family sagas, romance novels, and heartwarming and heartfelt stories.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The House of Second Chances by Esther Campion is a novel about letting go of past mistakes, failed relationships and learning to let others in. This is Esther’s second novel and explores love, loss, grief and family.
Aidan and Colette have both been in relationships they’d rather not remember. Colette’s ex-husband treated her terribly and cheated on her many times, and Aidan’s ex-girlfriend left and married someone else. Aidan also acts as a babysitter for another ex-girlfriend who likes to offload her daughter onto Aidan on a regular basis.
Both Aidan and Colette like to shut people out, and they keep pretending that they’re happy being single. When they meet, they initially don’t like each other. They fight over what’s best for the house and the renovation of the property. But soon, they start to understand each other and friendship develops.
“The whole group were looking at him. Oh man! He’d half hoped he might find the seat beside Colette empty for once and enjoy his pint while actually having a civil conversation with the girl. This was not how he’d planned it.”
At first I was a little taken aback with how people spoke to Aidan about his weight. Aidan acknowledges that he weighs more than he used to, and he's let his fitness slip. His internal dialogue reflects what a lot of people who feel unfit think about themselves. They know they need to eat healthier, exercise more.
But Aidan’s friends and family outwardly comment about his weight and Aidan just takes it. He seems like the kind of character who isn’t afraid to speak his mind, so it seemed a little surprising that he just accepted everyone’s jokes and remarks without sniping back. Even though he thought their comments were justified, I would’ve expected a character like Aidan to respond differently to how he did.
“Ben Dineen cut a fit-looking figure in a designer polo shirt that showed off his biceps. Aidan imagined the six-pack concealed under the shirt tucked into the belted chinos. Lucky bastard, he thought, drawing the sides of his open jacket together to cover the gut that had brought him to this.”
The grandmother’s cottage in the book read like a character, it held such a strong significance to the plot and to the characters’ journeys. It holds memories and is therefore an important place for the characters, but renovating the house is also about moving forward and reflecting on what’s transpired.
Esther brings a range of characters to this story, all of whom are struggling with something. Grace and Ben are having silent fights and communication is needed to overcome their issues. Aidan’s ex-girlfriend Jane keeps running back to her problematic boyfriend despite him being a bad influence on her and her daughter. Colette’s new work experience kid Shane is rebellious and troubled, but is really skilled at drawing. These are just a few of the side characters who enrich the story.
“She’d wanted a daughter too. But this was no time to be maudlin. She had bills to pay, a mother to look after as she got older and, down the track, her own senior years to secure. She’d worked her socks off and would continue to do so. A partnership would just make it more her own.”
Initially, it was really hard to wrap your head around the characters. In the opening chapters of the book, Esther seems to introduce just about every character in the book and it was easy to get lost in all the information because it felt like an information dump. I would’ve preferred if the characters were drip fed a bit more, without so much background information all at once.
Perfect for readers who love family sagas, romance novels, and heartwarming and heartfelt stories.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2019
- thanks @hachetteaus for sending a copy my way and allowing me to be part of the book tour, it's an honour! ❤️
I am glad I had the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and I was able to give The House of Second Chances a try. Contemporary romance it's not something that I usually read but this book was an interesting journey.
The book contemplates the lives of several characters distributed in different parts of the world like London, Ireland and South Australia. The scenery of the book was very refreshing and it made me want to visit those places real bad!
Our MCs are two adults who have spent their lives trying to find a companion but for several reasons they are now single and not willing to give love a try. Everything changes when certain house renovation project starts in Ireland and thanks to it, our main characters start to doubt their rejection to love.
The pace of the book was slow at times but it does allow to get to know our characters better. At times it felt that there were too many characters to care about and I found myself going back to the first pages to try to understand the connections. There were some "gotta be fit if you wanna get a date" lines of thought that did not sit well with me. Another issue I had was the huge build-up throughout the whole book that led to a rushed-up ending.
Overall, if you are into romance and travelling, I think this book it's ideal for you. It has a nice message about giving yourself a chance acknowledging that the past does not necessary need to interfere with your present and your future.
I am glad I had the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and I was able to give The House of Second Chances a try. Contemporary romance it's not something that I usually read but this book was an interesting journey.
The book contemplates the lives of several characters distributed in different parts of the world like London, Ireland and South Australia. The scenery of the book was very refreshing and it made me want to visit those places real bad!
Our MCs are two adults who have spent their lives trying to find a companion but for several reasons they are now single and not willing to give love a try. Everything changes when certain house renovation project starts in Ireland and thanks to it, our main characters start to doubt their rejection to love.
The pace of the book was slow at times but it does allow to get to know our characters better. At times it felt that there were too many characters to care about and I found myself going back to the first pages to try to understand the connections. There were some "gotta be fit if you wanna get a date" lines of thought that did not sit well with me. Another issue I had was the huge build-up throughout the whole book that led to a rushed-up ending.
Overall, if you are into romance and travelling, I think this book it's ideal for you. It has a nice message about giving yourself a chance acknowledging that the past does not necessary need to interfere with your present and your future.
February 17, 2019
Esther Campion is an author fans of Cathy Kelly and Maeve Binchy need to check out immediately. Her stories are warm, combining family and friends with life in Ireland or far away. The House of Second Chances reintroduces the reader to some of the characters from Leaving Ocean Road, but will easily work as a standalone. There is never a dull moment as the characters try to negotiate friends and family in a close-knit community.
The story has two main characters, both closely connected to main character Ellen from Leaving Ocean Road. Aidan is her brother and Colette her best friend, both tasked with renovating the interior and exterior of a family cottage in West Cork. Ellen is blissfully ignorant of the storm she’s created by throwing these two together. Aidan is sceptical that an interior designer can do anything truly worthy and Colette thinks him abrupt and distasteful. As they are forced to work together, they discover their own shortcomings and later the best of each other. While this is happening, there are dramas both big and small occurring with their families and friends (like missing children, arguments and surly teenagers).
As the story continues, there is less focus on the cottage and more on the lives of Aidan and Colette. The reader learns about their histories and what drives them to be like they are now. This in turn brings in more and more characters (with their own baggage) to the point where the story is more about the people in their circle than the cottage renovation. (For me, this is a good thing.) The domestic and crime dramas had me far more interested and eager to find out what happened next. I found the first part of the story not quite as interesting for a couple of reasons. First, there are a lot of characters. Many are new to this book and it took me some time to work out how they were related to each other. Perhaps a character list at the front wouldn’t have gone astray (like Penny Vincenzi had in her novels). The second was that Aidan really wasn’t a likeable character initially to me. At some points, he came across as a rude pig – ignoring a woman at dinner, gutsing his way through the meal and then thinking himself hot enough to be worthy of a repeat performance. Just no. I empathised with Colette a lot more and her view of Aidan initially. Fortunately, he does learn some manners and redeems himself otherwise this book would not have been as enjoyable!
The subplots were some of my favourite parts. I enjoyed the redemption of Shane from directionless, unwanted teenager to young man with a purpose. The missing child also added interest, as well as bringing the characters closer together. Overall, The House of Second Chances is an enjoyable, easy read which effortlessly transported you to the magical world of Ireland.
Thank you to Hachette for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The story has two main characters, both closely connected to main character Ellen from Leaving Ocean Road. Aidan is her brother and Colette her best friend, both tasked with renovating the interior and exterior of a family cottage in West Cork. Ellen is blissfully ignorant of the storm she’s created by throwing these two together. Aidan is sceptical that an interior designer can do anything truly worthy and Colette thinks him abrupt and distasteful. As they are forced to work together, they discover their own shortcomings and later the best of each other. While this is happening, there are dramas both big and small occurring with their families and friends (like missing children, arguments and surly teenagers).
As the story continues, there is less focus on the cottage and more on the lives of Aidan and Colette. The reader learns about their histories and what drives them to be like they are now. This in turn brings in more and more characters (with their own baggage) to the point where the story is more about the people in their circle than the cottage renovation. (For me, this is a good thing.) The domestic and crime dramas had me far more interested and eager to find out what happened next. I found the first part of the story not quite as interesting for a couple of reasons. First, there are a lot of characters. Many are new to this book and it took me some time to work out how they were related to each other. Perhaps a character list at the front wouldn’t have gone astray (like Penny Vincenzi had in her novels). The second was that Aidan really wasn’t a likeable character initially to me. At some points, he came across as a rude pig – ignoring a woman at dinner, gutsing his way through the meal and then thinking himself hot enough to be worthy of a repeat performance. Just no. I empathised with Colette a lot more and her view of Aidan initially. Fortunately, he does learn some manners and redeems himself otherwise this book would not have been as enjoyable!
The subplots were some of my favourite parts. I enjoyed the redemption of Shane from directionless, unwanted teenager to young man with a purpose. The missing child also added interest, as well as bringing the characters closer together. Overall, The House of Second Chances is an enjoyable, easy read which effortlessly transported you to the magical world of Ireland.
Thank you to Hachette for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
May 24, 2019
When I spotted this book the blurb on the back appealed to me, so I decided to read Esther's 1st book Leaving Ocean Road beforehand.
I felt totally invested in Ellen and Aidan's lives after reading Leaving Ocean Road and was really looking forward to following their stories with the introduction of Colette in The House of Second Chances. What's not to love abut renovating your grandmother's cottage in West Cork, Ireland with the help of a top interior designer who was Ellen's old friend. Then we understand that Aidan and Colette have their own personal heartaches to overcome with the big question being will they give the house and themselves a second chance?
This sounded like the kind of book I could sink my teeth into. However, I feel that I would have enjoyed the story more if there was more about the history of the house, as well as the details of the renovations and progress and the interior design outcomes. I was a bit miffed by the large cast of characters in the story. I didn't expect them all to come on board or understand why some of them did. I was also thrown by the chapters about the missing girl and had trouble understanding the connection or relevance to the story.
As far as Aidan and Colette were concerned I felt there was very little evidence or development of them taking a second chance. Wasn't the book called The House of Second Chances and the blurb on the back cover had me expecting to read exactly that. As I said I was totally invested in Aidan's story and was definately expecting to hear a lot more about how he and Colette did move on from past hurts and how they allowed themselves to trust and find love again. And the book ended before I found out whether or not they really did give themselves a good second chance. Not impressed.
I felt totally invested in Ellen and Aidan's lives after reading Leaving Ocean Road and was really looking forward to following their stories with the introduction of Colette in The House of Second Chances. What's not to love abut renovating your grandmother's cottage in West Cork, Ireland with the help of a top interior designer who was Ellen's old friend. Then we understand that Aidan and Colette have their own personal heartaches to overcome with the big question being will they give the house and themselves a second chance?
This sounded like the kind of book I could sink my teeth into. However, I feel that I would have enjoyed the story more if there was more about the history of the house, as well as the details of the renovations and progress and the interior design outcomes. I was a bit miffed by the large cast of characters in the story. I didn't expect them all to come on board or understand why some of them did. I was also thrown by the chapters about the missing girl and had trouble understanding the connection or relevance to the story.
As far as Aidan and Colette were concerned I felt there was very little evidence or development of them taking a second chance. Wasn't the book called The House of Second Chances and the blurb on the back cover had me expecting to read exactly that. As I said I was totally invested in Aidan's story and was definately expecting to hear a lot more about how he and Colette did move on from past hurts and how they allowed themselves to trust and find love again. And the book ended before I found out whether or not they really did give themselves a good second chance. Not impressed.
March 17, 2019
The House of Second Chances is the sequel to the much loved Leaving Ocean Road by Irish/Aussie author, Esther Campion. It feels like I read Leaving Ocean Road a long time ago so I didn’t remember much when I picked up The House of Second Chances. I was happy to discover that Campion’s latest offering can be read as a standalone and I’m sure that it would be a welcome return to those who remember Leaving Ocean Road. With themes of family, friendship, forgiveness, second chances and moving on, the House of Second Chances is full of warmth and heart that brings back memories of Maeve Binchy.
This is the story of brother and sister duo, Ellen and Aidan O’Shea. With cameos from Leaving Ocean Road, the characters are richly detailed, flaws and all. Ellen now lives in South Australia with her partner and Aidan is still residing in Ireland. With Campions description of both countries and the local slang, they are brought vividly to life for the reader. Despite the distance between them, Ellen and Aidan are renovating their grandparent’s Irish home together. With Aidan able to complete much of the grunt work, Ellen brings in her good friend and interior designer, Collette Barry. From the moment Aidan and Collette set eyes on each other, the chemistry is obvious. Both characters bring with them their own past and baggage, causing them to fight their feelings. Like any good Binchy novel, I knew Aidan and Collette would be together but it was all about the journey…what was keeping them apart and how would they end up in each other’s arms? When Aidan and Ellen seal their relationship with a kiss, it is worth the wait!
The House of Second Chances is one for those who miss Maeve Binchy or are after a life affirming read.
#AWWC10#
This is the story of brother and sister duo, Ellen and Aidan O’Shea. With cameos from Leaving Ocean Road, the characters are richly detailed, flaws and all. Ellen now lives in South Australia with her partner and Aidan is still residing in Ireland. With Campions description of both countries and the local slang, they are brought vividly to life for the reader. Despite the distance between them, Ellen and Aidan are renovating their grandparent’s Irish home together. With Aidan able to complete much of the grunt work, Ellen brings in her good friend and interior designer, Collette Barry. From the moment Aidan and Collette set eyes on each other, the chemistry is obvious. Both characters bring with them their own past and baggage, causing them to fight their feelings. Like any good Binchy novel, I knew Aidan and Collette would be together but it was all about the journey…what was keeping them apart and how would they end up in each other’s arms? When Aidan and Ellen seal their relationship with a kiss, it is worth the wait!
The House of Second Chances is one for those who miss Maeve Binchy or are after a life affirming read.
#AWWC10#
February 4, 2019
The House of Second Chances is a beautiful, heartwarming and deep look into the challenging world of adult life, romance, loss and second chances.
Esther Campion writes a wonderful slow burning and realistic romance in the setting of serene Ireland and coastal Australia. It is written with many different viewpoints and storylines all weaving into one. Overall it was extremely easy to read and engaging. This story was full of trials and even a little bit of heartbreak, all of which was wonderful to read.
We meet our main characters, Aidan and Colette, who knew each other as children and have come together in their mid-forties to restore Aidan and his sister Ellen Grandmother's house. Both Aidan and Colette have gone through their own life challenges but slowly start to learn they can go through life together with the support of their close friends and family.
It's not a completely easy road but this story made me happy and I enjoyed reading about Aidan and Colette. If you enjoy sweet adult romance that is slow burning and with its up and downs, this book is definitely for you.
Esther Campion writes a wonderful slow burning and realistic romance in the setting of serene Ireland and coastal Australia. It is written with many different viewpoints and storylines all weaving into one. Overall it was extremely easy to read and engaging. This story was full of trials and even a little bit of heartbreak, all of which was wonderful to read.
We meet our main characters, Aidan and Colette, who knew each other as children and have come together in their mid-forties to restore Aidan and his sister Ellen Grandmother's house. Both Aidan and Colette have gone through their own life challenges but slowly start to learn they can go through life together with the support of their close friends and family.
It's not a completely easy road but this story made me happy and I enjoyed reading about Aidan and Colette. If you enjoy sweet adult romance that is slow burning and with its up and downs, this book is definitely for you.
February 13, 2019
I was sent a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and to take part in a blog tour. If you want to see my full spoiler-filled review, head to www.bookishintoxicationwrites.com
I have just finished this title, and woah did the last 60ish chapters blow my mind. There was so much drama and action and pure emotion! I think they were the best 60 pages in the entire book. I do wish that there was more about the house that Aidan and Colette were working on. A little more history about the place, more details on the renovation and interaction around it, as the book is called The House of Second Chances…
As I have said countless times, this book is well written, mid-paced and emotionally charged. It is filled with characters that you can’t help but love and it gives you all of the information and back-story that you could possibly need. It is set between stunning Ireland and Australia and it has an incredibly home like feel about it.
I have just finished this title, and woah did the last 60ish chapters blow my mind. There was so much drama and action and pure emotion! I think they were the best 60 pages in the entire book. I do wish that there was more about the house that Aidan and Colette were working on. A little more history about the place, more details on the renovation and interaction around it, as the book is called The House of Second Chances…
As I have said countless times, this book is well written, mid-paced and emotionally charged. It is filled with characters that you can’t help but love and it gives you all of the information and back-story that you could possibly need. It is set between stunning Ireland and Australia and it has an incredibly home like feel about it.
February 17, 2019
This isn't my usual kind of romance book and normally one I would pass along to Mum. But I'm so glad I picked this up because it was a joy to read.
You've got second chance romance, you've got enemies to lovers (my fav trope) and a cast of characters that feel like your neighbours.
It warmed my heart and I'd highly recommend you give it a chance if you want a smile and a swoon.
You've got second chance romance, you've got enemies to lovers (my fav trope) and a cast of characters that feel like your neighbours.
It warmed my heart and I'd highly recommend you give it a chance if you want a smile and a swoon.
July 19, 2022
The House of Second Chances is the sequel to Leaving Ocean Road and I loved both books.
Esther Campion has become a favourite author of mine over the last few months. She writes extremely well, with vivid descriptions of characters and places.
For lovers of Maeve Binchy books, Esther Campion’s books are a must read. For everyone else, I highly recommend her books!
Esther Campion has become a favourite author of mine over the last few months. She writes extremely well, with vivid descriptions of characters and places.
For lovers of Maeve Binchy books, Esther Campion’s books are a must read. For everyone else, I highly recommend her books!
April 22, 2019
I am sure that my enjoyment of this book would have been enhanced had I know that it was a follow on to her previous book Leaving Ocean Road. In spite of being occasionally baffled by the large cast of characters and family relationships, I enjoyed reading it.
June 5, 2022
A very enjoyable story, with much heartache and many issues that are relevant in society today. Each has been woven into the story in a subtle way. Having the courage to face the issues head on and be supportive to each other was a focal point, as well as true love and happiness along the way.
March 6, 2019
Review to come.
Read
April 10, 2019A sweet easy read in the style of Maeve Binchy
Ending somewhat predictable however a very pleasant read
Perhaps 3 and a half stars
Ending somewhat predictable however a very pleasant read
Perhaps 3 and a half stars
July 23, 2019
3.5 stars
January 31, 2020
Beautifully written novel - I enjoyed every word.
March 11, 2020
didnt really enjoy
Read
October 6, 2020What a follow up to Leaving Ocean Road. Compelling reading, great story lines. Can't wait for the next book.
June 29, 2024
wonderful follow on story from her first book Leaving Ocean Road, would love to read more of her stories, natural story teller
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