Does first love deserve a second chance?

Ava Flynn sometimes feels like the clothes donated to her charity shop have seen more life than her, but ‘maximum dedication for a minimum wage’ is what it takes to keep her mother’s beloved wildlife charity, All Critters Great and Small, running – especially in the village of Dapplebury, where business is certainly not booming.

But when Ava’s first love, Henry Bramlington, returns to the village, suddenly life becomes a little too eventful. Henry escaped Dapplebury many years before, but now he has the power to make or break the village he left behind – All Critters Great and Small included.

Can Ava trust the boy who ran away to give both her and her charity a second chance?

 

 

 

 

 

Title:  A Summer of Second Chances
Series:
Author:  Carol Thomas
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  April 27, 2021
Publisher:  Choc Lit
My Rating:  4.5 stars

I love falling into a second chance romance story, especially when the couple were young lovers who were separated by not only circumstances but choices where they had little say in the outcome.  I’m always wondering if they would have survived as a couple still together if events hadn’t changed or had they grown into the people they are today because of that heartbreak.  I suppose I’ll never really know but this is what Ava and Henry are facing in A Summer of Second Chances.

Henry left Dapplebury years ago or ran away from the village depending on your outlook.  Two young lovers were separated by the opinions of the adults surrounding them.  Time moved on and shaped them into the people who will meet again when Henry returns with a lot more power than when he left… the power to not only make or break their village’s future but to break Ava’s heart once again if she isn’t careful.  Trouble is, she doesn’t really want to be careful because those feelings from long ago are just as strong today, if not stronger, should she admit to that fact.

I had such a good time in Ava and Henry’s world.  A Summer of Second Chances not only delivers a charming, funny romance full of secondary characters who deserve books of their own but adorable dogs who will always steal scenes in my eyes.  Yet, there’s more for there is quite a secret that is about to be discovered that may change so much, only time will tell.  (No, I’m not giving that away!)

From Gino’s special evenings at the pub to Flo’s unique shall we say window displays to Mary’s solid friendship, and of course, Granger and Myrtle, faithful companions of Henry and Ava, it all flows naturally as we wait for that second chance to work out for Henry and Ava.  I definitely had some laugh-out-loud moments, and times when I really wanted to have very stern conversations with this couple.  In all, I had fun here and would love to return one day for even more antics of the residents of this village.  If you adore a second chance romance with dogs as a bonus, then you’ll enjoy A Summer of Second Chances.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, ChocLit/Ruby Fiction. That does not change what I think of this story.  It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Available for your favorite e-reader, mine is the Kindle.