Tuesday, August 13, 2013

My Review - Welcome to Last Chance



Congratulations to Cathleen Armstrong on her debut novel.  WELCOME TO LAST CHANCE, was welcoming indeed.

Lainie Davis is running when she ends up in Last Chance, New Mexico.  With a chip on her shoulder, a broken down car, and barely enough money to get her through the week, she has no choice but to take the part-time job she’s offered at the local diner, and the spare room at an elderly lady’s home.  But what she can’t get over is how nice everyone is in the little dead end town.  They know nothing about her but seem so willing to help out.  Not use to hand outs, Lainie wants nothing more than to get her car fixed and get out of there before her past catches up with her. 

But as time progresses, Lainie blends in with the locals and finds the simple pace of Last Chance growing on her, along with the people.  Especially the local bartender, Ray.  Though they got off on the wrong foot the day she arrived, she is drawn to Ray, and he to her.  When Lainie finds out Ray’s future plans involve leaving Last Chance, she decides to keep their relationship uncomplicated, or at least tries to.  When Ray’s brother, Steven, returns from the Marines, he stirs things up between Ray and a bullheaded Lainie.  When her past catches up with her, Lainie realizes how much she has to lose.

I really enjoyed WELCOME TO LAST CHANCE.  The variety of characters was great, but I wish Ms Armstrong would have taken the time to introduce Ray a little better.  The first interaction between him and Lainie pretty much passed me by before I realized this is someone she could’ve been interested in.  Also, I felt the overall story was pretty light on the romance.  It was there in the wings, but I never really felt as if it was the main character.  Just when things got going between Lainie and Ray, the drama surrounding the citizens of Last Chance took center stage.  But, that in no way will deter me from reading the next installment in the A Place Called Home Series.

Book provided for review purposes.

Available August 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

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