Book Review: Another Chance at Happiness by Dani Phoenix

2.5⭐
Genre ~ women’s fiction
Setting ~ Colorado
Publication date ~ November 22, 2022
Page Count ~ 371 (28 chapters +e)
POV ~ single 3rd
Featuring ~ characters in their 40’s, infidelity, slow burn, second chance, minimal steamage

*possible spoilers ahead*

Lela & Nathan had an affair years ago, but Nathan decided to try to make it work with his wife for the kids sake, so he left Lela in the dust. Now they see each other again after Lela’s divorce and it seems their feelings for each other never went away.

What I liked:
~ how Lela finally went after her dream of owning a bed and breakfast and business took off rather quickly.
~ Lela’s relationship with her 3 grown children was lovely.
~ Lela’s instant connection with Betty Lou who stayed at the BNB and how they developed a sort of mother/daughter bond.
~ I felt that how Nathan’s boys were handling the impending divorce was just how I’d expect 9 & 11 year olds to do so.
~ the epilogue was sweet.

Why I am at 2 stars:
While infidelity is not a trigger for me that is in part of what frustrated me so much with these characters. Nathan was back and forth with what he was doing ~ is he leaving Mary or is he trying to work it out by going to marriage counseling? And Lela is just sitting around patiently waiting for him to come over. I can understand Nathan wanting to try to make it work for the children, but in turn these children need to see happiness, too, and that is not the vibe they get when all their parents do is fight.

Overall, I do feel like it’s well written, but the subject matter and the characters choices were just something that I could not get on board with. I do believe there is a book for every reader and maybe this one is for you.

Side note ~ I should take a whole star off for the bacon abuse ~ Nathan burnt a whole package of bacon and had to throw it out! Can you imagine??!! 🤣

*Thanks to the author for sending me an ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

Add to your never ending TBR  ~ goodreads

Book blurb:

Newly independent after a long-awaited divorce from an emotionally abusive husband, LELA is finally following her dreams. She reaches out to her former lover, NATHAN, to inspect her potential B&B purchase. Months later, he appears with startling news of his own impending divorce. Lela grabs at this chance to be with him but soon discovers her insecurities, his guilt, his wife’s underhanded manipulations, and his family’s firm feelings about his marriage and their relationship threaten their chance at happiness.
Trapped in an unfulfilling marriage with a wife who criticizes and rejects him, Nathan struggles with pride and feelings of failure both as a husband and as a father. He willingly sacrifices his own happiness for his boys and his faith; however, the sudden revelation of his wife’s own infidelity gives him the push he needs to seek out his own happiness, with Lela.

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