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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thoroughly enjoyed this second-chance romance and the opportunity to revisit the charming setting of Adelaide Springs. I’m a sucker for small-town romances, and this series continues to keep me coming back for more. What stood out most in this installment was the thoughtful exploration of grief for both love interests. Turner does a fantastic job crafting a more layered, emotionally resonant romance, with protagonists who feel fully realized. I loved following both Wes and Addie on their journey of growth, both as a couple and as individuals.
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(I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)
funny
lighthearted
I have the audiobook and it's obvious that the male narrator has lower quality recording equipment. It was never something that I thought about with other audiobooks but it was bad enough to stand out
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this book and was excited to come back to this universe of characters. The FMC and MMC are lovable and flawed and it was refreshing to read a middle(ish) aged romance. I wish it had been longer because I wasn’t ready for the story to end!
Thank you Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction audio and NetGalley for this ALC in return for an honest review.
Thank you Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction audio and NetGalley for this ALC in return for an honest review.
There was a lot to like in this book, and I found the character of Wes to be really fun to read. There was a lot of elements going on, like the CIA, presidential candidate, being left at the altar, second chance romance, death of a spouse, alcoholism, fake marriage, and so much more. It was a lot packed into one story. There was also a small town romance, And links to the characters we saw in the first few books of this town. I didn’t love these characters as much as the previous, however Wes really was a great character. He was interesting, a little bit sloppy and crazy, but we love him for it. Addie was an interesting one for me, I am not 100% sure on how I feel about her. I understood her motivations, she was pretty well written, but as a character I didn’t really engage with her. I bought their story, I bought what happened in the plot when we came into it, but I really came to the story for Wes.
While this was printed under a predominantly Christian publisher, I wouldn’t call this book a Christian book. A lot of Bethany‘s earlier books would have an easier time being labelled as that, but a lot of her later books are not. There was one very small reference and in passing to Jesus in here, but if you are looking for what made her earlier books so great in the Christian space, you won’t get it here. In fact you won’t get it in this entire entire series. Not that I mind necessarily, I did feel like this book had a little bit of a sellout vibe to it though. I understand it’s a story that Bethany wanted to write for a very long time, so I understand if she had to do what she had to do to get this written, or she could’ve wanted the story to look like this the whole time. It doesn’t really matter, it was still a good book.
I liked the idea of the presidential campaign in the background, but it really wasn’t the focus of the book. There was even death of a parent to focus on, and a lot to try and pin down. I think perhaps that’s why some of this fell a little less than I was hoping for, because it was just so much jam packed into one story.
Side note for the audiobook - I couldn’t understand why the male narrator felt different until I saw his other bodies of work… yeah then it made sense. Not that he didn’t do a good job, he did, but the vibe was certainly interesting for a book like this.
While this was printed under a predominantly Christian publisher, I wouldn’t call this book a Christian book. A lot of Bethany‘s earlier books would have an easier time being labelled as that, but a lot of her later books are not. There was one very small reference and in passing to Jesus in here, but if you are looking for what made her earlier books so great in the Christian space, you won’t get it here. In fact you won’t get it in this entire entire series. Not that I mind necessarily, I did feel like this book had a little bit of a sellout vibe to it though. I understand it’s a story that Bethany wanted to write for a very long time, so I understand if she had to do what she had to do to get this written, or she could’ve wanted the story to look like this the whole time. It doesn’t really matter, it was still a good book.
I liked the idea of the presidential campaign in the background, but it really wasn’t the focus of the book. There was even death of a parent to focus on, and a lot to try and pin down. I think perhaps that’s why some of this fell a little less than I was hoping for, because it was just so much jam packed into one story.
Side note for the audiobook - I couldn’t understand why the male narrator felt different until I saw his other bodies of work… yeah then it made sense. Not that he didn’t do a good job, he did, but the vibe was certainly interesting for a book like this.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Grief
Minor: Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I love second chance stories but this felt unnecessarily complicated. There was plenty to add drama but I felt like this could have ended differently. I liked Addie and Wes together and I wanted them to make it. I liked the set-up and how things came back together. There was a plot line added (that seemed unnecessary) that made the ending have only one possible outcome and I just would have liked to see it end in a different place. I still like the small town vibes though I did not read Leila and Cole’s story - only Brynn and Sebastian.
I enjoyed both narrators and thought that was all well done.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted audiobook. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
Content Notes: Kisses
I enjoyed both narrators and thought that was all well done.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted audiobook. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
Content Notes: Kisses
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings: Alcohol Addiction, Spouse Death, Parent Death
"Wes and Addie Had Their Chance" is a second-chance romance that, for me, was both a beautiful read and a challenging journey. Despite some struggles with the characters' emotional arcs, I still found myself really enjoying the book and appreciating the growth they ultimately achieve.
The story follows Addie, a widow and former CIA operative with PTSD, and Wes, the politician who broke her heart years ago. This premise sets the stage for a deeply emotional romance, and Bethany Turner doesn't shy away from the heavy themes. I liked the last two books in the series, but I found myself struggling to connect with Addie, who is the focus of much of the book's emotional weight. I understood that her trauma was a core part of her character, but the constant "trauma dump" throughout the story felt at times like it was preventing her from growing and truly connecting with others. She felt very resistant to help, even from those who cared about her most.
However, this resistance made her eventual triumphs all the more powerful. I was incredibly proud of her journey toward sobriety and the significant growth she shows by the end of the book. While I didn't love her relationship with her father, her overall character arc was a testament to her resilience. Wes, on the other hand, was charming and remorseful, and his efforts to right his past wrongs and show Addie that he still cares for her were genuinely compelling.
The narration was a highlight of the audiobook experience. Talon David, Patrick Zeller, and Bethany Turner did a fantastic job of bringing the book to life. Their performances were seamless and never took away from the story. My struggles were with the plot and character development itself, and had nothing to do with the narration, which was excellent throughout.
Overall, I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy second-chance romances and are prepared for a deeply emotional character journey. The payoff is worth the difficult, but ultimately rewarding, road these characters travel.
I received this ALC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this ALC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death
Minor: Death of parent