Second Chance Hero: Palm Cove Tales

by Kristin Wallace

Second Chance Hero is the follow-up to The Heiress Games trilogy, featuring the Douglas sister who not only lost the Armington fortune, but also managed to escape the competition without falling in love.

Or so she thought…

It all starts with a new challenge… and bald cat named King Tut.

After losing the Heiress Games, Serena Douglas, has been reduced to living off the largess of a pampered pig and the benevolent graces of her childhood nemesis, Eve Bennett. Not to mention sharing the Armington mansion with three “newly-in-love” couples. It’s enough to send anyone into the depths of depression. Then Serena is presented with an opportunity to win a fortune of her own. Deceased heiress, Victoria Armington, has arranged for the losers of the Heiress Games to secure a $10 million trust, including Serena’s sisters, Abby and Isabella. The catch? In order to gain control of the trusts, they must all be gainfully employed. Serena is determined to get her hands on the trust. Not for herself, but for the sake of Isabella, who needs the money to fight against leukemia. All she has to do is find someone willing to hire a former heiress with no job skills. Serena’s search leads to Damon Grant, the man she’s been trying to forget since she was a teenager. All she has to do is convince him she can help protect a bald show cat.

Security expert, Damon Grant, nearly lost his life when a bereaved mother tried to take out the participants of the Heiress Games. He’s been stuck in Palm Cove trying to recover his health and his dignity. Just when he’s finally ready to escape, Damon finds himself agreeing to protect a Sphynx cat named King Tut. The hairless cat has been threatened if his owner doesn’t remove him from a prestigious cat show that’s being held in Palm Cove. First pampered pigs and now a naked show kitty? His reputation as world-class security expert might well be over, but he owes a favor to the Sherriff, so he’ll do it. Damon never figured on hiring an assistant for the job, and certainly not pampered princess, Serena Douglas. She’s been an enticing thorn in his side since he was a teenager. By rights he should hate her. She’s spoiled, arrogant, and she used to torment his best friend, Eve Bennett. Still, that’s never stopped him from wanting Serena, or saving her, even when it cost him everything.

As Serena and Damon work together to uncover the villain threatening King Tut, they’re also working overtime to resist an attraction that’s been simmering for decades. Can they overcome past pain, and Serena’s past behavior, to find a second chance at love?

247 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 26, 2019

About the author

Growing up Kristin devoured books like bags of Dove Dark Chocolate. Her first Golden Book led to Laura Ingalls Wilder, Nancy Drew, Encyclopedia Brown, C.S. Lewis and the Sweet Valley High series. Later, she discovered romance novels and fell in love all over again. It’s no surprise then that Kristin would one day try her hand at writing them. She writes inspirational romance and women’s fiction filled with love, laughter and a leap of faith. When she’s not writing her next novel, Kristin works as an advertising copywriter for clients that have included the Miami Marlins, Discovery Networks, The Peabody Hotel, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises and Sea World. She also enjoys singing in her church choir and worship team and playing flute in a community orchestra.

Reviews

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot hero!

I have read all of Kristin's books and absolutely adore them. This one is no different. Having read the previous Palm Cove books I really wasn't sure how I would feel about Serena as a heroine. But Kristin turned a vapid woman into a heroine with heart. Revealing Serena's tragic past and vulnerability endeared her to me. Damon (hero) is just WOW! Handsome, protective, sexy ....I could just go on and on!! He always believed in Serena, and their back and forth chemistry filled conversations made for interesting reading! Highly recommend this book!!

[The Mysterious Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Kristin Wallace’s the Heiress Games trilogy (which I highly recommend, by the way), and Second Chance Hero: Palm Cove Tales is the perfect romance follow-up to those books. It’s stars, Serena and Damon, we’re supporting characters in the trilogy and it’s a great pleasure following along as their long simmering romance finally blossoms and pulls them together. It’s also just a fun story (c’mon, the major story line her involves protecting a hairless Sphynx cat named King Tut - I giggle just writing that). Perfectly written this story is also perfectly enjoyable. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises. The book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend.

[Irene S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serena has the reputation as an Ice Princess. As the only one not gainfully employed, Serena has to get a job so that Bailey, Serena and her sisters can inherit a trust. Damon has promised to stay in town to guard King Tut, a Sphinx cat who is the favorite to win the prestigious cat show. Serena talks Damon in hiring her to help with security. I received a free copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. This book is a wonderful combination of romance, humor, and suspense. It's fun watching Damon and Serena tip toe around love as they work together. We also learn more about Serena and Damon's backgrounds. This will be the book where Serena can prove her value to others. I love reading this book and this series.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read the Heiress Games, I enjoyed finding out Serena’s story and the reasons why she protects herself from hurt by being sarcastic and unpleasant. Damon is the one person who can get under her skin and make her feel. When yet another challenge is thrown down by the late Victoria Armington, Serena has to find a job and pushes her way onto Damon’s local case of security for a show cat. Spending time with each other resurrects bad memories but also past feelings. Recommended book which can be read as a standalone.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Bobbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series. It had a great premise and followed through with wonderful stories about each of the characters. This story is about the last of the single heiresses. Serene is the only one of the group to not fall in love during the competition to become a trustee to a pig. You will be laughing out loud at Serena as she tries to portray the haughty façade that has always protected her in the past. A fun and entertaining book that is well worth your time. I was given a review copy and this is my honest review.

[Glenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just found another author to add to my favourite list😀. I so enjoyed this story. It was very entertaining to read as Serena and Damon volleyed back and forth between flirting and anger. Damon knew the real person behind Serena’s facade but no one else did. Enter a hairless cat and someone threatening him if the owner did not pull him from a local show. You will have to read the book to follow the action and find out what happens😀. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a review.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to second Palm Cove trilogy!!

Love this story about the heiress who didn't get a love story in the first Palm Cpve trilogy, which was the Heiress Games books. I loved those books! I'm very interested to see what comes next in this trilogy. I have really enjoyed the way the Palm Cove tales have been told, and I love the characters. They're quirky abd fun, and so far, they include a pig and 2 cats--one of which us my favorite breed, a Sphinx, which is a hairless cat! I can't wait to see what comes next. Highly recommended, fun tales!

[Shelly Celli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book answers so many questions about Serena that I’ve had since the heiress games. The banter is spot on with the other books, and I still LOVE the characters...even the little piggy. 😊 Serena finally opens up to everyone about why she’s the way she is...and gets her HEA along the way. I hope there’s a story for Chloe coming soon as well. I’m voluntarily reviewing an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serena was the spoiled rich girl in the previous books. I usually don't like the mean girl but something about her made me want her to have her own book especially when Damon showed up. The author did a great job of redeeming the mean girl IMO. Loved her and Damon together and how forgiveness was extended from to and several people. A pretty unique mystery and sweet love story. Hoping this series continues. I was given a review copy and this is my honest review.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the Heiress series. This is a continuation of the series but can easily be read as a stand alone. The previous books just let the reader understand the whole series of events. I am glad that Serena and Damon got their chance at love, even with all of the obstacles along the way. It was a fun book to read and nice to have a conclusion for all of the women. I was given a review copy and this is my honest review.

[Sandy Bartles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read in this series and I really enjoyed it. I loved reading about the family dynamics, the pig and King Tut. The author did a fabulous job with this book.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Chance Hero is the follow-up to The Heiress Games trilogy a well written story I enjoyed reading. This is Serena Douglas and Security expert, Damon Grant's story it has a good storyline that kept me turning pages.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crazy Families

Kristin has written another cute story with strong and believable characters.
Can Serena find happiness? Palm Cove Tales are very original types of stories.

[J Lundsten]

Serena was the most hated heiress but she was always my favorite. Yes, she was mean and sometimes down right cruel, especially to Eve but I knew there was so much more to her and I couldn't wait to get her story. Now she has to team up with Damon, the man who saved her life, to protect a hairless cat at a cat show. As they work together to save King Tut sparks fly and old feelings return. But past hurts run deep, maybe too deep.

I loved this! This can be read as a stand alone but I was glad to have the background of the other characters. The other books are excellent too.