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A Later in Life Love Story #6
Second Nature
When Leanne Canfield’s employer lets her go with very little notice and a generous severance package, she’s ready to take a few days off before she starts job-hunting again. She gives up her apartment and leaves Chicago, ready for a new start somewhere else.
But first, she’s going to spend a weekend with her two best friends from college. They get together every year and they’ve been planning this gathering for months. It’s the first time in a long time that Leanne has been back in Ramsey, New York, where she went to college.
Of course, it always snows in Ramsey in January, and Leanne isn’t surprised by snowy roads. The tiny puppy on the side of the road is a shock, though. Sam Snyder, the handsome veterinarian in Ramsey, isn’t what she’s expecting either.
The last thing Leanne wants in her life is a puppy, but she finds herself falling in love with the little abandoned pup. Getting involved with a man who always puts work first isn’t in her plans, though.
But first, she’s going to spend a weekend with her two best friends from college. They get together every year and they’ve been planning this gathering for months. It’s the first time in a long time that Leanne has been back in Ramsey, New York, where she went to college.
Of course, it always snows in Ramsey in January, and Leanne isn’t surprised by snowy roads. The tiny puppy on the side of the road is a shock, though. Sam Snyder, the handsome veterinarian in Ramsey, isn’t what she’s expecting either.
The last thing Leanne wants in her life is a puppy, but she finds herself falling in love with the little abandoned pup. Getting involved with a man who always puts work first isn’t in her plans, though.
162 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 17, 2021
84 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Diana Xarissa
226 books262 followersDiana started self-publishing in 2013 and over a decade later she now has over a hundred books available for readers. Writing remains her passion and she has no plans to stop writing in the foreseeable future.
Diana grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, and earned a history degree from Allegheny College. She met her husband, an Englishman, while living and working in Washington, DC. Following their marriage, she moved to Derbyshire. A short while later, the happy couple moved to the Isle of Man.
During their years on the island, Diana and her husband welcomed two children, and Diana completed a master’s degree in the history of the island. In 2008, the family made the decision to move to the US. Now empty-nesters, Diana and her husband are living in the suburbs of Buffalo, New York, and contemplating moving somewhere that doesn’t get snow.
Diana also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future as Diana X. Dunn and Young Adult fiction as D.X. Dunn.
Diana grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, and earned a history degree from Allegheny College. She met her husband, an Englishman, while living and working in Washington, DC. Following their marriage, she moved to Derbyshire. A short while later, the happy couple moved to the Isle of Man.
During their years on the island, Diana and her husband welcomed two children, and Diana completed a master’s degree in the history of the island. In 2008, the family made the decision to move to the US. Now empty-nesters, Diana and her husband are living in the suburbs of Buffalo, New York, and contemplating moving somewhere that doesn’t get snow.
Diana also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future as Diana X. Dunn and Young Adult fiction as D.X. Dunn.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 2, 2026
Second Nature is a cute later in life love story that brings all the warm fuzzies of love along with the more adorable little puppy that will bring a smile to your face.
Leanne is a successful businesswoman in her 40s who is starting over in life after quitting her job and moving out of the big city of Chicago. I really enjoy Leanne as a character because I am about to hit the big 40 myself and I really understood where her character was coming from and how she processed things. I enjoyed watching her character grow and develop out of a rigid mindset to becoming more open to trying new things.
Second Nature explores the bonds of strong female friendships with Leanne and her 2 best friends from her old college days. I love seeing how strong their bond of friendship still continues to be and how they are ready to jump in an help whenever someone needs anything. It almost makes me nostalgic for the old days lol.
While enjoying taking some much needed rest and relaxation, our Leanne finds the sweetest and more adorable little Maltese named Wilbur which eventually leads to meeting the local vet where attraction is instantaneous. I do wish this book could have been a bit longer but the ending was still satisfying. I want more Wilbur!
Second Nature is a great read for anyone looking for a sweet romance or a nice winter seasonal read. Definitely recommend making some hot chocolate before cracking into this one.
Leanne is a successful businesswoman in her 40s who is starting over in life after quitting her job and moving out of the big city of Chicago. I really enjoy Leanne as a character because I am about to hit the big 40 myself and I really understood where her character was coming from and how she processed things. I enjoyed watching her character grow and develop out of a rigid mindset to becoming more open to trying new things.
Second Nature explores the bonds of strong female friendships with Leanne and her 2 best friends from her old college days. I love seeing how strong their bond of friendship still continues to be and how they are ready to jump in an help whenever someone needs anything. It almost makes me nostalgic for the old days lol.
While enjoying taking some much needed rest and relaxation, our Leanne finds the sweetest and more adorable little Maltese named Wilbur which eventually leads to meeting the local vet where attraction is instantaneous. I do wish this book could have been a bit longer but the ending was still satisfying. I want more Wilbur!
Second Nature is a great read for anyone looking for a sweet romance or a nice winter seasonal read. Definitely recommend making some hot chocolate before cracking into this one.
April 18, 2021
After leaving her job and her apartment in Chicago, former executive Leanne Canfield is on her way to Ramsey, New York, to spend a few days with some former college friends. While driving along a back road at night, she spies a small white Maltese puppy, abandoned and shivering in the snow at the side of the road.
Although Leanne doesn't consider herself an "animal person," she can't just leave the pup there; he might freeze, or be hit by a car. So she picks the puppy up and takes him to local vet Sam Snyder. In the space of just a few days, both the puppy (now named Wilbur) and handsome vet Sam have changed Leanne's heart and her life forever.
Although Leanne doesn't consider herself an "animal person," she can't just leave the pup there; he might freeze, or be hit by a car. So she picks the puppy up and takes him to local vet Sam Snyder. In the space of just a few days, both the puppy (now named Wilbur) and handsome vet Sam have changed Leanne's heart and her life forever.
August 25, 2021
Talk, talk, talk
Lawd ha’mercy the entire book is dialogue. Just an endless stream of conversation. Every chapter new characters are added to talk inanely about everything the characters do. We should have hot cocoa. Earlier, we had hot cocoa. The hot cocoa was delicious! Do you want to get hot cocoa?
Considering the male protagonist is a veterinarian, the author felt it was important for the female protagonist to drone on and on and on and on about how much she hates both animals and men who have careers they love. It was rather ironic that the fmc doesn’t want to come in second to someone else’s job given that the fmc had nothing to talk about except her own career, which is the single most important thing in her life. At one point the mmc, Sam, asks Leanne what makes her happy and she responds with 1) her job; 2) an apartment, and 3) her friends from college who she sees once a year. At another point, she tells hims that she doesn’t have interest in other people. Talk about red flags.
I am baffled that neither the author nor whomever helped edit the book noticed that the fmc had the exact same conversation with every single character. By the time the seventh character mentioned that she should get a job in Buffalo, my eyes were starting to cross with boredom. Yes, I get it. Leanne had a job in Chicago. She is visiting Ramsey because she went to school there. She thinks Sam is cute, but hates all animals. She has nothing else going on in her life. Please, for the love of all things holy, say something, anything, else.
Lawd ha’mercy the entire book is dialogue. Just an endless stream of conversation. Every chapter new characters are added to talk inanely about everything the characters do. We should have hot cocoa. Earlier, we had hot cocoa. The hot cocoa was delicious! Do you want to get hot cocoa?
Considering the male protagonist is a veterinarian, the author felt it was important for the female protagonist to drone on and on and on and on about how much she hates both animals and men who have careers they love. It was rather ironic that the fmc doesn’t want to come in second to someone else’s job given that the fmc had nothing to talk about except her own career, which is the single most important thing in her life. At one point the mmc, Sam, asks Leanne what makes her happy and she responds with 1) her job; 2) an apartment, and 3) her friends from college who she sees once a year. At another point, she tells hims that she doesn’t have interest in other people. Talk about red flags.
I am baffled that neither the author nor whomever helped edit the book noticed that the fmc had the exact same conversation with every single character. By the time the seventh character mentioned that she should get a job in Buffalo, my eyes were starting to cross with boredom. Yes, I get it. Leanne had a job in Chicago. She is visiting Ramsey because she went to school there. She thinks Sam is cute, but hates all animals. She has nothing else going on in her life. Please, for the love of all things holy, say something, anything, else.
September 4, 2021
Almost zero romance and mostly sheer drivel. A story that centers around a self-centered career woman who cannot comprehend a relationship with anyone who is more content with compassion and generosity.
In typical Xarissa style, the story is exceptionally protracted with endless mindless repetition of information already provided to the reader but needing to be regurgitated to each character in the book. The main thrust of the story does not even begin till after hallway through. Even then it starts of with Leanne detailing her disastrous relationship history which clearly has not been something she has learned from until she met (towards the end of the book) a replication of herself which (naturally) she resented., sending her into the arms of somebody (at the very end of the book) who just might be able to convince her that self-absorption is the basis for a satisfactory relationship.
In typical Xarissa style, the story is exceptionally protracted with endless mindless repetition of information already provided to the reader but needing to be regurgitated to each character in the book. The main thrust of the story does not even begin till after hallway through. Even then it starts of with Leanne detailing her disastrous relationship history which clearly has not been something she has learned from until she met (towards the end of the book) a replication of herself which (naturally) she resented., sending her into the arms of somebody (at the very end of the book) who just might be able to convince her that self-absorption is the basis for a satisfactory relationship.
August 28, 2021
A sweet and enjoyable romance
Themselves in life love stories get better and better, I Hope That we find out more about Sam and Leanne in other books in the series. Yes they reached their happy ending, but I bet I'm not the only one egocentric know what happened next
Themselves in life love stories get better and better, I Hope That we find out more about Sam and Leanne in other books in the series. Yes they reached their happy ending, but I bet I'm not the only one egocentric know what happened next
September 15, 2021
Loved it!
I really liked this story of Leanne & ma's journey to happiness. I just wish it had been a little longer. It seemed to end entirely too soon. I do look forward to the next release by this author!
I really liked this story of Leanne & ma's journey to happiness. I just wish it had been a little longer. It seemed to end entirely too soon. I do look forward to the next release by this author!
September 17, 2021
The Later in Life series is a fun idea.
I am having a good time reading these books. So far I have read five of the books. I enjoy the relationship between friends and those of their love interests.
I am having a good time reading these books. So far I have read five of the books. I enjoy the relationship between friends and those of their love interests.
August 25, 2021
The best of this series
I believe this is my favorite story of this series. The characters are so likeable and relatable I want to read more about them.
I believe this is my favorite story of this series. The characters are so likeable and relatable I want to read more about them.
December 25, 2021
really sweet story, enjoyed it...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews