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That Second Chance #3
Simple Riches
When Alexandra Chamberlain arrives Rastelline, Pennsylvania, to convince the townspeople to turn their small logging community into a luxury resort, she comes up against Dr. Nick Androvich, who is determined to show her what really matters in the world--love, passion, and family. Original.
315 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2002
99 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Mary Campisi
80 books420 followersMary Campisi is the author of over 40 emotion-packed novels that center around hope, redemption, and second chances.
Mary should have known she'd become a writer when at age thirteen she began changing the ending to all the books she read. It took several years and a number of jobs, including registered nurse, receptionist in a swanky hair salon, accounts payable clerk, and practice manager in an OB/GYN office, for her to rediscover writing. Enter a mouse-less computer, a floppy disk, and a dream large enough to fill a zip drive. The rest of the story lives on in every book she writes.
When she's not working on her craft or following the lives of five adult children, Mary's digging in the dirt with her flowers and herbs, cooking, reading, walking her rescue lab, Henry, or, on the perfect day, riding off into the sunset with her very own hero/husband on his Ultra Limited aka Harley.
If you would like to be notified when Mary has a new release, please sign up at http://www.marycampisi.com/book/book-...
website: marycampisi.com
e-mail: mary@marycampisi.com
blog: marycampisi.com/blog/
twitter: twitter.com/MaryCampisi
facebook: facebook.com/marycampisibooks
Instagram: instagram.com/marycampisiauthor/
Mary should have known she'd become a writer when at age thirteen she began changing the ending to all the books she read. It took several years and a number of jobs, including registered nurse, receptionist in a swanky hair salon, accounts payable clerk, and practice manager in an OB/GYN office, for her to rediscover writing. Enter a mouse-less computer, a floppy disk, and a dream large enough to fill a zip drive. The rest of the story lives on in every book she writes.
When she's not working on her craft or following the lives of five adult children, Mary's digging in the dirt with her flowers and herbs, cooking, reading, walking her rescue lab, Henry, or, on the perfect day, riding off into the sunset with her very own hero/husband on his Ultra Limited aka Harley.
If you would like to be notified when Mary has a new release, please sign up at http://www.marycampisi.com/book/book-...
website: marycampisi.com
e-mail: mary@marycampisi.com
blog: marycampisi.com/blog/
twitter: twitter.com/MaryCampisi
facebook: facebook.com/marycampisibooks
Instagram: instagram.com/marycampisiauthor/
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 8, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the small town atmosphere presented in Simple Riches. It was refreshing to get to know other characters outside of the "Family Affair" series of books, though this is the prequel to the next book I will be reading in that series.
I enjoyed watching the transformation of Alex and Nick, as well as getting to know the back story behind so many of the events which happened prior to the story told in Simple Riches. It was definitely a story which tugged at my heartstrings, especially as I read the flashbacks Alex would have about life before her parents were taken from her. The bond she shared with her father definitely came through, loud and clear.
If you haven'tdelved into Mary Campisi's books yet, I would encourage you to give her a try. I read, A Family Affair, a few years ago and, even now, the fictional town of Magdalena stands out in my mind.
I enjoyed watching the transformation of Alex and Nick, as well as getting to know the back story behind so many of the events which happened prior to the story told in Simple Riches. It was definitely a story which tugged at my heartstrings, especially as I read the flashbacks Alex would have about life before her parents were taken from her. The bond she shared with her father definitely came through, loud and clear.
If you haven'tdelved into Mary Campisi's books yet, I would encourage you to give her a try. I read, A Family Affair, a few years ago and, even now, the fictional town of Magdalena stands out in my mind.
February 7, 2021
Good book. Enjoyed it.
September 7, 2020
Let's sum up the believability factor of this book in one simple example. The owner of a lumber company tells the female lead that few if any people today--definitely not he--can recognize and name trees simply by looking at their bark and leaves. This is on a par with a master chef stating that few people--definitely not she--can name a spice by tasting it.
Not convinced? Here's another. For seven years this woman has gone from one small town to another, lying to the locals, weaseling her way into their lives, gaining their trust, and assessing how she can best get them to sell out and move to a condo in the city. She is a master (mistress?) at this. And yet, coming upon the town which is the center of this story, she is bowled over by the down-home-ness of one woman's country cooking, one couple's foreign accent, one woman's mental collapse as a result of her daughter's death, and of course, the requisite hunky man-meat with a wounded heart who will never let himself love again. See anything in that list that you wouldn't find in every other heartland-USA small town?
Okay, that part is funny. What isn't funny--what is simply irritating--is that this master of deceit seems never to be able to think of anything deceptive to say. She never says or does anything to demonstrate the masterful technique that we have been told makes her the best at what she does. She goes through her time in this town in a constant state of cognitive dissonance, torn between the need to complete her mission and the allure of this wonderful back-country life apparently unstained by Walmart and MacDonald's.
Nope, sorry. I'm willing to suspend my disbelief at the door to a certain extent, but this is just ridiculous.
Not convinced? Here's another. For seven years this woman has gone from one small town to another, lying to the locals, weaseling her way into their lives, gaining their trust, and assessing how she can best get them to sell out and move to a condo in the city. She is a master (mistress?) at this. And yet, coming upon the town which is the center of this story, she is bowled over by the down-home-ness of one woman's country cooking, one couple's foreign accent, one woman's mental collapse as a result of her daughter's death, and of course, the requisite hunky man-meat with a wounded heart who will never let himself love again. See anything in that list that you wouldn't find in every other heartland-USA small town?
Okay, that part is funny. What isn't funny--what is simply irritating--is that this master of deceit seems never to be able to think of anything deceptive to say. She never says or does anything to demonstrate the masterful technique that we have been told makes her the best at what she does. She goes through her time in this town in a constant state of cognitive dissonance, torn between the need to complete her mission and the allure of this wonderful back-country life apparently unstained by Walmart and MacDonald's.
Nope, sorry. I'm willing to suspend my disbelief at the door to a certain extent, but this is just ridiculous.
July 12, 2018
Simple Riches: That Second Chance, Book 3
The love story of Nick and Alex, and Michael and Elise. Alex is a rich orphan girl from Virginia who's uncle's company but out small town and turn them into exclusive resort. Alex is now looking at Restalline, Pennsylvania. Can she do it?
Nick is the town doctor and is a single father and is part owner of Androvich Lumber. The town is looking to find him a wife, will Alex be his next wife or will her want to destroy the town ruined it?
Michael is part own of Androvich Lumber and now acting out because his wife run off with other man. Nick want Elise be Michael next wife and help him be the man he use to be. Will it work or will Michael ruin it? Great story.
The love story of Nick and Alex, and Michael and Elise. Alex is a rich orphan girl from Virginia who's uncle's company but out small town and turn them into exclusive resort. Alex is now looking at Restalline, Pennsylvania. Can she do it?
Nick is the town doctor and is a single father and is part owner of Androvich Lumber. The town is looking to find him a wife, will Alex be his next wife or will her want to destroy the town ruined it?
Michael is part own of Androvich Lumber and now acting out because his wife run off with other man. Nick want Elise be Michael next wife and help him be the man he use to be. Will it work or will Michael ruin it? Great story.
February 20, 2019
Enjoyable
"Simple Riches," was a wonderfully enjoyable novel about tragedy, self growth, lies, truth, deception, love, friendship, and community. It is also a novel about second chances in several areas of ones life.
This is the prequel to the next "Family Affair" series. I am beyond interested how the author will bring two of Resstilene's most revered characters to Magdalena.
Rating: 4.8
✳✳✳✳✳.
"Simple Riches," was a wonderfully enjoyable novel about tragedy, self growth, lies, truth, deception, love, friendship, and community. It is also a novel about second chances in several areas of ones life.
This is the prequel to the next "Family Affair" series. I am beyond interested how the author will bring two of Resstilene's most revered characters to Magdalena.
Rating: 4.8
✳✳✳✳✳.
May 3, 2020
When you are raised without simple love, you don't know what it's like. When you have't grown up in a small town, you really are missing out. Alex heads into town with one goal in mind. Her whole life she's felt like something has been missing....and she's about to find out what it is. Sometimes you don't even know what was missing until you find it.....or it finds you. Really enjoyed this story. Great story and characters.
August 24, 2020
3.5 stars
October 1, 2025
Not a fan at all of predictable books built on a lie, ie lie is found out and couple break up before getting back together at the last minute.
February 14, 2014
This is the third book in the second Chance series I have read.. Each time I think the last book was the best.. how wrong am I ?? Mary Campisi's books get better and better.This one is no exception. As an Author she makes you feel you really know the Characters.. you feel real empathy with them... I really felt I lived in the town of Restalline.. with all the families.. neighbours.... friends..Grand parents and Children.. The book has Intrigue.. distrust..false pretenses... And last but not least LOVE.. Alexandra (Alex) Chamberlain and Nick Androvich come together at odds yet they manage to fall in love.. I loved the interaction with them..both hurt and damaged souls.. will they get their HEA if you want to know get the book... these books are stand alone but all have the same theme of second chance love.. I will never give the story away I detest spoilers !!! Mary Campisi I say again YOU ROCK !!!
February 4, 2017
This story has some surprising twists.
I am in the process of reading all the Truth and lies stories and found the Second Chance series are prequels to some of them. Since I like to read stories in order I decided to jump to these books as they fit. The second chance books I'm sure will introduce characters who will appear n the next truth and lies novel. I love Mary Campisi's writing style and the well rounded characters. By the time I finish both series, I'll know a couple of towns full!
I am in the process of reading all the Truth and lies stories and found the Second Chance series are prequels to some of them. Since I like to read stories in order I decided to jump to these books as they fit. The second chance books I'm sure will introduce characters who will appear n the next truth and lies novel. I love Mary Campisi's writing style and the well rounded characters. By the time I finish both series, I'll know a couple of towns full!
December 21, 2012
Great story.
July 29, 2015
Good Book, I love of of Mary Campisi books, they all have a real story, that could really happen.
Read
September 13, 2016What a lovely slice-of-life romantic book. I loved the characters and the problems they faced. I can so relate. Also, it makes me want to move to a small town again.
July 22, 2020
This is my fourth read in this series and they keep getting better.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews