A Second Chance for Sugarplums

Hometown Holiday Heartstrings #0.5

by Emily Dana Botrous

It’s been seven years since Alexandria Long bid farewell to her high school boyfriend, Zander. When she moves back to her small hometown in time for Christmas, she’s not happy he’s the first person she sees. She’s determined to keep her distance while her heart heals from fresh hurts and plentiful mistakes—until she ends up caring for Zander’s meddling mother and decking her halls for Christmas. Zander Billings is facing possibly the most important game in his assistant coaching career. Not to mention the art show he’s not prepared for. But he’s always regretted letting Allie go. Running into her now could make this Christmas the best one since sugarplums were concocted. But Zander will have to do more than convince Allie sugarplums are edible. He has to do everything in his power to convince Allie it isn’t too late for a second chance – with him, and with God. This novella is the prequel for the Hometown Holiday Heartstrings series, but all books can be read as a standalone.

Genres: Romance

115 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 19, 2020

Reviews

[Mya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was done so well. I enjoyed the main female's character back story and reading about her growth and progress.

[Priscilla King · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a romance this novel takes a remarkably realistic and up-to-date look at the small towns in southwestern Virginia (in one of which I live). Alexandra (Allie), a yuppie who worked in a bank in Miami, comes home and takes a job helping a disagreeable old woman in and out of the bathroom because that's what's available. People refuse to accept that, up into the present century, her relationship with a man in Miami has been a common-law marriage (though a bad one); they see it as a sin of which she needs to repent, renouncing all financial claims on one man but getting everyone's blessing to marry a better man. People preserve family traditions, like recipes; a symbol of Allie's love for Zander and his family is that, although everyone agrees his mother generally cooks better than Allie does, Allie learns to make oldfashioned sugarplums just the way his aunt used to do. Even the way the characters talk--they're well off and well educated, and use quaint, quirky expressions now and then--is true to life; not exaggerated by an outsider, but accurately recorded by someone who's lived here.

It's a Christian romance all the way through. Allie and Todd not only go to church but pray, repent, confess, and seek Christian counsel as their relationship develops. It's a romance; the genre requires characters to be idealized, enough to deserve an idealized happy-ever-after ending. Still, the considerable influence the characters' faith has on their lives is not unusual in their part of the world.

For a self-published romance, A Second Chance for Sugarplums is extraordinarily well written. Romance writers can easily take it for granted that romance readers will accept a claim that any two young attractive people resolved all their differences and lived happily ever after. Botrous has put substantial thought into working out what it would take to allow her fictional, believable characters to accomplish that.

This is indisputably my favorite of the Booktober Blitz e-books I read in December. I'd expect other people in the Point of Virginia to rate it their favorite too, but I think anyone who's interested in reading a Christian Romance novel would be likely to love this one.

As a romance, A Second Chance for Sugarplums is less ambitious than the novels of Rita Sims Quillen, Barbara Kingsolver, or Harriette Simpson Arnow. It doesn't try to be a study of the human condition; it's just a nice little story about a young couple. Nevertheless, within its range, this one shows a incisive, empathetic kind of sight and insight that earns a place beside our best regional "literary fiction." Libraries should invest in printed copies--hardcover ones.

[Priscila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, wow! I think I just found my new favorite author 😍 A Second Chance for Sugarplums is the prequel to Emily Dana Botrous' "Hometown Holiday Heartstrings" series, but I think it's the perfect sample of her writing: sweet romance, characters with a past and/or real struggles that you can't help but feel for, the chemistry between the MCs paired up with humor, and the sweet message of salvation interwoven through it all. 💕

I honestly can't remember the last time the characters pretty much jumped out of the page to me and had me thinking of them when I had to force myself to put the book down in order to be productive, lol. My heart definitely went out to Allie and her past story, and I loved her relationship with her dad (I teared up at the scene in her parents' living room - it was so beautiful!). Of course, I also loved getting to know Zander and what had happened before, as well as how things were going to play out this time. The "secondary characters" felt pretty real to me too (Kathleen and Kendra were such a hoot, as well as Nancy, Cassidy, Nicole, and Allie's parents), and I can't wait to read the next one in this series! Completely recommended!! ~ 5 stars

[Trudy Cordle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Allie and Zander's story!! Alexandria and Alexander meet in high school in Biology class. Their plan was they would go to the same college after high school graduation. However, that changed when Zander's best friend since kindergarten was killed a few weeks before their graduation. Zander's mom also had a stroke before that, and he knew he needed to be the one to take care of her, while he attended a local college. Now, seven years later, Allie is goes home after leaving her job and boyfriend in FL. When the only job available is being caregiver for Zander's mom, Allie takes it. The more time they spend together, the more they realize they still love each other. However, Allie's not sure she can trust Zander, and after what her ex put her through, and knowing she made a rule that she'd never date an ex a second time, Zander knows he's got his work cut out for him. He knows all he wants for Christmas this year is a second chance with Allie. Now, he's just got to be patient and figure out a way to win her back. Love how it's thanks to Zander that Allie finds her way back to a relationship with God, and that it's thanks to Zander that Allie realizes that she can trust again.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, heartwarming second chance novel.

Allie doesn't feel she deserves to be happy after the choices she's made. It's been four years since she's been home. It's been six years since she's seen him. Her high school boyfriend Zander was supposed to be her forever, but he tossed her aside for someone else as soon as she left for college. Now, she's coming home to get away from one man, not to get mixed up with another.  Especially the one who dumped her for an ex-girlfriend the moment she left for college. Allie will struggle to find forgiveness for her choices but forgiving herself may be her biggest challenge.

Zander never saw himself as a big town guy. He loved his small hometown. But when he and his girlfriend Allie graduated from high school Zander had to make a difficult decision, one he would grow to regret. Now, he has a second chance at the love he lost, if he can just convince Allie to trust him again, and if she can find the faith to believe she is worth forgiveness.

[Gretchen Garrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allie certainly did not expect to run into her former boyfriend, Zander on an airplane. Returning back home after heartbreak was hard enough. Desperate times call for difficult decisions as the only job that she can find is working as a caregiver for his mom. Will she learn that sometimes you can have second chance even if your past is riddled with mistakes?

I have come to really appreciate author Emily Botrous' mission in writing books - to point readers to Jesus and to His redemption. Allie definitely did not have it all together and had made some choices that alienated others. But I appreciated Zander's persistence in not holding her mistakes against her. He freely gave out grace just as he had been given grace.

This is really the first book in the Hometown Holiday Heartstrings book. Somehow I read this one last. I still enjoyed it, but I think I might want to read all of the books in order at some point.

[Donna Beckner · Rating 5 out of 5]

True Love

Love sees the good and the bad but loves through it all.We can run and try to hide but when we let God have control our life is unbelievable, its great, its wonderful, its amazing. When love breaks your heart and you don't think you could ever give that person another chance God just may have different things planned. This story I cried, I smiled I thank God for reminding me he has my best interest at heart. Second chances are better with God in charge. This was a great book. Please read and know God is working in your life to if you let him.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allie and Zander were high school sweethearts. When she left for college he broke up with her and broke her heart and because of this she made some really bad decisions. Hated how he went about it.
Can they have a second chance? Can she forgive him? He is determined to win her heart again. This book made me feel many different emotions I wasn't really sure if I wanted them to reconcile. His mom was a great side character and a huge part to their story - IMO. Loved the grand gesture.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SO lovely and heartbreaking at the same time…second chances and forgiveness lies at the heart of this clean heartwarming romance. Both main characters Allie and Zander have their shortcomings but God can make everything beautiful in His timing!

Really enjoyed this and recommend this short read!

[Bonnie Jarrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never too late

This was a wonderful love story. All the emotions that could be written were there. Theauthor brought out all the feelings of two people that found their way back to each other. I loved readiing this book and look forward to other book written by Ms. Botrous. Thank you.

[Bonnie Theel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allie lived in Miami with her rich boyfriend. She got tired of the way he treated her and decided to go back to her hometown, Claywood. Her ex-boyfriend still lived there. She had made up her mind that she wasn't going to date any of her ex-boyfriends. This is a sweet romance.

[Marilyn Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never eaten sugarplums. Maybe they are good. I might try them after reading that this guy lived them. And he was a great friend to many. He was kind loving to family and cared deeply fir others. He was also a Christian. He forgave a lot of people and friends. And he loved a girl deeply

[Barb Hegreberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes, rules are made to be broken. And maybe, just maybe, God can redeem the mistakes of the past to create a life better than we could ever imagine.

I received this book free from the author, publisher, or other source. My only obligation is to provide a fair and honest review.

[Konrie Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute compact story in a novella! It doesn’t feel rushed or half-baked. It has depth of story, emotion and character development. I love the overarching theme of healing, forgiveness, and second chances with God and man.

[Danielle Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Felt so real while reading. Allie and Zander are great people. Love and trust are most important.

Got book free from author in exchange of an honest review.

[Heidi Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable, sweet little Christian fiction novella. I'll definitely be reading more from this author!

[Margaret Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started hearing about this author recently, and decided to try this book. I enjoyed reading it.

[Lolita · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, heartfelt and loving story!

[MaryEllen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overtly Christian story about love and forgiveness.

Girl goes home to heal from a bad relationship and discovers she's in more need of healing from the bad break-up from years gone by than the recent one.

And the guy from that long ago break-up? He's hoping for a second chance.