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Starting Over #2
Second Chances
Stacy Hutchins thought she’d finally met the one, until a startling realization that shatters everything...
Mark Jefferson, her undercover DEA agent boyfriend lied about one tiny little detail…his wife and kids. Stacy hates liars and cheaters so she kicks him to the curb. But Mark makes it very clear he will not go willingly.
Has his obsession with Stacy tied them together forever? Or will Mark finally walk away?
Dustin Carmichael swore off women a long time ago, until his sister reconnected with her best friend from high school, Stacy.
But after a perfect month together, a year ago, Stacy played the ‘friends’ card. Unfortunately, they’ve been good friends ever since.
When Stacy's life turns to shambles, Dustin’s more than willing to be there for her. As she tries to get herself together, Stacy finds herself in another dilemma, she can no longer deny the feelings she’s always had for Dustin.
Will her failure to see that Dustin has changed stop them from having something everlasting?
Mark Jefferson, her undercover DEA agent boyfriend lied about one tiny little detail…his wife and kids. Stacy hates liars and cheaters so she kicks him to the curb. But Mark makes it very clear he will not go willingly.
Has his obsession with Stacy tied them together forever? Or will Mark finally walk away?
Dustin Carmichael swore off women a long time ago, until his sister reconnected with her best friend from high school, Stacy.
But after a perfect month together, a year ago, Stacy played the ‘friends’ card. Unfortunately, they’ve been good friends ever since.
When Stacy's life turns to shambles, Dustin’s more than willing to be there for her. As she tries to get herself together, Stacy finds herself in another dilemma, she can no longer deny the feelings she’s always had for Dustin.
Will her failure to see that Dustin has changed stop them from having something everlasting?
329 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2014
201 people are currently reading
857 people want to read
About the author
Evan Grace
77 books1,720 followershttps://www.authorevangrace.com
A Midwesterner and self-proclaimed nerd, Evan has been an avid reader most of her life, but five years ago got bit by the writing bug, and it quickly became her addiction, passion and therapy. When the voices in her head give it a rest, she can always be found with her e-reader in her hand. Some of her favorites include, Shayla Black, Jaci Burton, Madeline Sheehan and Jamie Mcguire. Evan finds a lot of her inspiration in music, so if you see her wearing her headphones you know she means business and is in the zone.
During the day Evan works for a large homecare agency and at night she’s superwoman. She’s a wife to Jim and a mom to Ethan and Evan, a cook, a tutor, a friend and a writer. How does she do it? She’ll never tell.
A Midwesterner and self-proclaimed nerd, Evan has been an avid reader most of her life, but five years ago got bit by the writing bug, and it quickly became her addiction, passion and therapy. When the voices in her head give it a rest, she can always be found with her e-reader in her hand. Some of her favorites include, Shayla Black, Jaci Burton, Madeline Sheehan and Jamie Mcguire. Evan finds a lot of her inspiration in music, so if you see her wearing her headphones you know she means business and is in the zone.
During the day Evan works for a large homecare agency and at night she’s superwoman. She’s a wife to Jim and a mom to Ethan and Evan, a cook, a tutor, a friend and a writer. How does she do it? She’ll never tell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
February 1, 2019
2 ⭐⭐ - Meh!
May 10, 2025
D.N.F.
Heroine is TSTL, and too stupid to care about.
What seems to be an intelligent heroine drops IQ points and ruins her character. She's unknowingly has an affair with a married DEA agent. Clarification, she knows he's a DEA agent but does not know he's married with kids. She ditches him when she finds out Does she A) file a police report, B) contact his supervisor, C) shoot him, D) at least have a friend take photos of the bruising and teeth marks. Yes, teeth marks. Nope to all of the above. He shows up later to threaten that more stalking will be coming soon and she still does nothing. So DNF'ing at 10%.
I suspect based on other similar plots that she will get beaten up/kidnapped/insert some level of violence that fictional female characters are so often doomed to at least one more time, her new boyfriend will be attacked, and the villain will end up dead. She'll have nightmares that she is responsible for the death of a man and boo hoo.
I just don't have time for recycled misogynistic BS especially when written by women. The heroine in Starting Over was celibate while the H moved on for hookups until they meet up again, he prioritized his friendship with her brothers over her, and she was then stalked, roofied, totally beaten up and almost killed by a really bad guy.
I was at least hoping that she would be a stand up heroine and file a report then the villain would go rogue, or be protected by his police buds, or, hey here's a thought, let his police force abduct buddies condemn him and find a more original way to insert angst in the story. Or she and the furious ex-wife could plot and bring him down together.
Heroine is TSTL, and too stupid to care about.
What seems to be an intelligent heroine drops IQ points and ruins her character. She's unknowingly has an affair with a married DEA agent. Clarification, she knows he's a DEA agent but does not know he's married with kids. She ditches him when she finds out Does she A) file a police report, B) contact his supervisor, C) shoot him, D) at least have a friend take photos of the bruising and teeth marks. Yes, teeth marks. Nope to all of the above. He shows up later to threaten that more stalking will be coming soon and she still does nothing. So DNF'ing at 10%.
I suspect based on other similar plots that she will get beaten up/kidnapped/insert some level of violence that fictional female characters are so often doomed to at least one more time, her new boyfriend will be attacked, and the villain will end up dead. She'll have nightmares that she is responsible for the death of a man and boo hoo.
I just don't have time for recycled misogynistic BS especially when written by women. The heroine in Starting Over was celibate while the H moved on for hookups until they meet up again, he prioritized his friendship with her brothers over her, and she was then stalked, roofied, totally beaten up and almost killed by a really bad guy.
I was at least hoping that she would be a stand up heroine and file a report then the villain would go rogue, or be protected by his police buds, or, hey here's a thought, let his police force abduct buddies condemn him and find a more original way to insert angst in the story. Or she and the furious ex-wife could plot and bring him down together.
July 20, 2014
I still think the author is waaay overly descriptive and the story could be edited down by 30-40 pages. Also, I didn't like how, when there is a dangerous stalker trying to get someone, people would keep secrets. Mark threatened Stacy on multiple occasions that she never told anyone about and Dustin knew Mark was watching and didn't warn Stacy.
Another thing that really bothered me is that Mark showed up to go out with Stacy's friend Greta and Stacy only gave her a vague warning at best. Really? With friends like that...
Another thing that really bothered me is that Mark showed up to go out with Stacy's friend Greta and Stacy only gave her a vague warning at best. Really? With friends like that...
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April 13, 2014
**originally posted atBedroom Bookworms
After having enjoyed the hell out of Starting Over, I was chomping at the bit to read Second Chances. I try not to read back-to-back books by the same author because it tends to accentuate some negative things (much like spending too much time with your husband on vacation) that would otherwise be overlooked. So I gave myself a one-book-break and then dove right in. I liked it. I didn't LOVE it, but I liked it. I was sucked in right away because the first twist was straight out of my past. Without going into great detail, I seriously wanted to ask Evan Grace is she dated a man named Larry from Indiana because I think he appears in the novel under the name Mark Jefferson. Both of them are lying sacks of shit.
Overall Rating: 4 stars- Kept telling myself “just one more chapter.”
My one complaint remains that some of the dialogue just feels a little clunky. There are some mundane details in the story that aren't necessary and are a little distracting, but they're not a big deal. But some of the conversations between the characters just feels a little forced to me.
However, outside of that, it was still a great book. Evan does an amazing job of conveying very real emotions that the characters would go through. It feels very authentic. Having experienced some of the same hardships that our characters have (pregnancy loss, being lied to by a married man, for example. Heavy, emotional stuff.) I was perhaps a little more emotionally raw about the topics than everyone would be. But I also didn't feel angry about how the topics were handled, and that's a huge compliment.
I often feel like grief and betrayal are handled poorly in novels but Evan Grace is not an example of that. Her emotional portrayal of these topics is what lead me to re-read Before Jamaica Lane. In my world, that's a big thing. I love that book (even more the 2nd time, I think!) and to feel like Evan's 2nd novel is reminiscent of Samantha Young's is a big deal.
There's also quite a lot of action in the book. Even bloodshed, which should make Megan happy. One particular scene actually creeped me out and then actually made me angry (at the character, not the author) which is another nod to Evan's ability to connect with the reader's emotions.
And of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the smut. If you read my postings or know me, you know that my threshold for shock is somewhat high. But I literally made a note "That's some kinky shit." at one point during the book. Trust me that I mean it in only the best ways. Evan could (should!?) write a book of just erotic scenes and I'd be first in line to buy it.
All in all, if you liked Starting Over, you'll like Second Chances. It wasn't quite as steamy for me (admittedly because book 1 featured major dirty talk and I am ALL about that) but still had me squirming while I was reading. Good stuff.
Smut Factor: 5 stars- Had to wake my husband at 2am to quench my “need.”
Character likability: 4 stars- I wish we were friends.
Storytelling: 4 stars- Totally bought it.
Writing and editing quality: 3 stars- A few errors, but nothing that took away from the story.
After having enjoyed the hell out of Starting Over, I was chomping at the bit to read Second Chances. I try not to read back-to-back books by the same author because it tends to accentuate some negative things (much like spending too much time with your husband on vacation) that would otherwise be overlooked. So I gave myself a one-book-break and then dove right in. I liked it. I didn't LOVE it, but I liked it. I was sucked in right away because the first twist was straight out of my past. Without going into great detail, I seriously wanted to ask Evan Grace is she dated a man named Larry from Indiana because I think he appears in the novel under the name Mark Jefferson. Both of them are lying sacks of shit.Overall Rating: 4 stars- Kept telling myself “just one more chapter.”
Stacy Hutchins thought she'd finally met the one, until a startling realization that shatters everything...
Mark Jefferson, her undercover DEA agent boyfriend lied about one tiny little detail...his wife and kids. Stacy hates liars and cheaters so she kicks him to the curb. But Mark makes it very clear he will not go willingly.
Has his obsession with Stacy tied them together forever? Or will Mark finally walk away?
Dustin Carmichael swore off women a long time ago, until his sister reconnected with her best friend from high school, Stacy.
But after a perfect month together, a year ago, Stacy played the 'friends' card. Unfortunately, they've been good friends ever since.
When Stacy life turns to shambles, Dustin's more then willing to be there for her. As she tries to get herself together, Stacy finds herself in another dilemma, she can no longer deny the feelings she's always had for Dustin.
Will her failure to see that Dustin has changed stop them from having something everlasting?
My one complaint remains that some of the dialogue just feels a little clunky. There are some mundane details in the story that aren't necessary and are a little distracting, but they're not a big deal. But some of the conversations between the characters just feels a little forced to me.
"Daddy says you're so pretty and sweet, but you go out with shitheads."
However, outside of that, it was still a great book. Evan does an amazing job of conveying very real emotions that the characters would go through. It feels very authentic. Having experienced some of the same hardships that our characters have (pregnancy loss, being lied to by a married man, for example. Heavy, emotional stuff.) I was perhaps a little more emotionally raw about the topics than everyone would be. But I also didn't feel angry about how the topics were handled, and that's a huge compliment.
I often feel like grief and betrayal are handled poorly in novels but Evan Grace is not an example of that. Her emotional portrayal of these topics is what lead me to re-read Before Jamaica Lane. In my world, that's a big thing. I love that book (even more the 2nd time, I think!) and to feel like Evan's 2nd novel is reminiscent of Samantha Young's is a big deal.
She could hear Dustin inhale and groan. "Oh, sugar, you smell fucking heavenly."
There's also quite a lot of action in the book. Even bloodshed, which should make Megan happy. One particular scene actually creeped me out and then actually made me angry (at the character, not the author) which is another nod to Evan's ability to connect with the reader's emotions.
And of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the smut. If you read my postings or know me, you know that my threshold for shock is somewhat high. But I literally made a note "That's some kinky shit." at one point during the book. Trust me that I mean it in only the best ways. Evan could (should!?) write a book of just erotic scenes and I'd be first in line to buy it.
"Do you need to come, baby?"
All in all, if you liked Starting Over, you'll like Second Chances. It wasn't quite as steamy for me (admittedly because book 1 featured major dirty talk and I am ALL about that) but still had me squirming while I was reading. Good stuff.
"N-no, I don't need anything; just you."
Smut Factor: 5 stars- Had to wake my husband at 2am to quench my “need.”
Character likability: 4 stars- I wish we were friends.
Storytelling: 4 stars- Totally bought it.
Writing and editing quality: 3 stars- A few errors, but nothing that took away from the story.
January 7, 2015
2.5 stars
I grew to really not like Stacy. Girl "lock" your doors!!! Her lack of trying to proactively protect herself drove me crazy.
Sex.....fill in the story with something besides this.
Garrett... I didn't see the purpose of his harsh scene.
I grew to really not like Stacy. Girl "lock" your doors!!! Her lack of trying to proactively protect herself drove me crazy.
Sex.....fill in the story with something besides this.
Garrett... I didn't see the purpose of his harsh scene.
April 11, 2014
Second Chances
by Evan Grace
Stacy Hutchins is dating Mark, the undercover DEA agent who saved Bellamy in Starting Over. She thinks their relationship is developing well until she find out that he is married with children. When Stacy breaks it off with Mark he becomes abusive and begins stalking her.
Dustin hasn't forgotten the one month of passion that he had with Stacy last year. When Stacy needs help, Dustin is more than willing to step in and assist.... hoping that it will lead to more.
I loved reading Dustin's POV. He was sweet and attentive. He truly loved and cared for Stacy. She is understandably nervous about entering into any new relationships. She has gotten burned and is afraid to get too attached and get let down again. Dustin was great - he was careful about taking things slow and not pushing Stacy too hard. Their romance developed slowly and was very natural, but once they hit the bedroom things really heated up! Some of the sex scenes definitely had me blushing!
It was a real treat to revisit the families from the first book. One of the things I really love about serials is the opportunity to get invested in characters and follow-up with them. We get to see Bellamy and Luke along with their young daughter and the rest of the clan.
Second Chances had a nice blend of romance and suspense. There is just a little bit of suspense with the stalker angle, but not too much. It didn't overwhelm the book. I thought it lacked that little something extra special to make it a great book, but overall this was a nice read. 3.5 stars!
by Evan Grace
Stacy Hutchins is dating Mark, the undercover DEA agent who saved Bellamy in Starting Over. She thinks their relationship is developing well until she find out that he is married with children. When Stacy breaks it off with Mark he becomes abusive and begins stalking her.
Dustin hasn't forgotten the one month of passion that he had with Stacy last year. When Stacy needs help, Dustin is more than willing to step in and assist.... hoping that it will lead to more.
I loved reading Dustin's POV. He was sweet and attentive. He truly loved and cared for Stacy. She is understandably nervous about entering into any new relationships. She has gotten burned and is afraid to get too attached and get let down again. Dustin was great - he was careful about taking things slow and not pushing Stacy too hard. Their romance developed slowly and was very natural, but once they hit the bedroom things really heated up! Some of the sex scenes definitely had me blushing!
It was a real treat to revisit the families from the first book. One of the things I really love about serials is the opportunity to get invested in characters and follow-up with them. We get to see Bellamy and Luke along with their young daughter and the rest of the clan.
Second Chances had a nice blend of romance and suspense. There is just a little bit of suspense with the stalker angle, but not too much. It didn't overwhelm the book. I thought it lacked that little something extra special to make it a great book, but overall this was a nice read. 3.5 stars!
December 16, 2014
The Stacy, Dustin, and Mark extravaganza began, and what a wild ride it turned out to be! Second Chances is a thrilling story and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Mrs. Grace has a way with adding action, intrigue, and passion into her characters that make them seem so real. No spoilers, but I am so happy with the way Mrs. Grace wrapped up Stacy and Dustin's story. Bravo! Now I'm off to read book 3, Begin Again!
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May 29, 2014
I love this series!!
July 27, 2023
Stacy Hutchins was falling hard for Dustin Carmichael, but they were close friends and she was worried that the feelings were not mutual. Saving herself the heartache she agreed to give Mark Jefferson, a man who was undercover with the DEA and lied to her, a second chance. Things are going great until she finds he is keeping even more secrets, breaking it off immediately.
Dustin knew when Stacy broke it off with him he was in love with her. Finding out that Mark is stalking her, Dustin keeps her close and lays it all out for Stacy. Her past is holding her fears in check, learning to fully trust Dustin is hard but as Mark does something despicable Stacy fears what will happen next. Can Dustin break through the wall that Stacy is hiding behind?
This was very angsty and while you get a little bit of Stacy's history I grappled a bit with her character. I liked Dustin a lot, he is so protective of Stacy that is sweet to read. Great series though.
Dustin knew when Stacy broke it off with him he was in love with her. Finding out that Mark is stalking her, Dustin keeps her close and lays it all out for Stacy. Her past is holding her fears in check, learning to fully trust Dustin is hard but as Mark does something despicable Stacy fears what will happen next. Can Dustin break through the wall that Stacy is hiding behind?
This was very angsty and while you get a little bit of Stacy's history I grappled a bit with her character. I liked Dustin a lot, he is so protective of Stacy that is sweet to read. Great series though.
June 26, 2018
I loved this book. I think I loved it even more than the first one - which is proven by the fact I’ve read it in one sitting and should have even asleep about three hours ago! This was a gripping story of love between Stacey and Dustin while dealing with the psychotic stalker of an ex-boyfriend, Mark. The characters were cute in their short scene in the first book but boy did they come alive in their own novel. Incredible read. Now onto book three!
April 30, 2014
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for my honest review for the blog tour.
This is the second book in the Starting Over series but each can be read as a standalone (I think!?), however I do wish I had read book one first as I felt left out of the loop with things that had happened. For instance Mark who is the cad in this book was some kind of a hero in the first book which left me wondering how he could change so much from a heroic DEA agent to a selfish stalking PITA. Anyhow I digress…
This is my first read of this author and I have to say I really enjoyed this book, in fact I loved it. Well I loved Dustin really as he just made the book in my opinion.
Stacy is a curvy, family orientated beauty but she is love shy and even more so after the way Mark treated her. However she leans on her good friend Dustin, who is the brother of her best friend, Bellamy (her story was the first book with Luke) Stacy and Dustin did have a bit of a fling at Bellamy and Luke’s wedding the previous year, but Stacey backed off before things got too deep due to Dustin’s reputation of a commitment shy guy. They both agreed to be friends yet neither one knew the other’s secret yearnings for more. That is until Dustin becomes Stacy’s main support in her break up with Mark whose stalkish behaviour is getting more and more erratic that it becomes a threat.
It’s through all the togetherness that Stacy and Dustin begin to develop deeper feelings for each other that things progress to the relationship building to something more substantial. Let me just tell you when this happens the heat rises from the kindle. These two are smoking hot together, it had me steaming just reading about them!
I loved the family aspect this story gave, the whole family togetherness was so beautiful to read of how supportive their families were and seeing the circle extending evermore. Oh and let's not forget Dustin's hot twin, Dylan! Double Ds!
Dustin is a gorgeous, hot alpha but differs slightly in how sweet and understanding he was. It was more of a gently alpha than the ‘MINE!’ usual offerings (he does say Babe though, sah-woon) which was a welcome change. Totally made me sit up and take notice!
Stacy is a great role model to read about. She is a normal curvy woman with her insecurities but she doesn’t suffer the small stuff, she gets on with life and does what she can. She has a great family and I’d just love to go to one of their family ‘get togethers’ – her father sounded hot too! I loved the relationship she had with her uncle (who was more like a brother to her) and that he was in a loving gay partnership with two kids. Aww again just love the family acceptance and stronghold.
This is wonderful hot romance to read with just the right amount of suspense and angst added to the erotic interludes (*pants*) to give it a touch of light and shade. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next to get down and dirty with Dylan! Well deserved 4 stars.
This is the second book in the Starting Over series but each can be read as a standalone (I think!?), however I do wish I had read book one first as I felt left out of the loop with things that had happened. For instance Mark who is the cad in this book was some kind of a hero in the first book which left me wondering how he could change so much from a heroic DEA agent to a selfish stalking PITA. Anyhow I digress…
This is my first read of this author and I have to say I really enjoyed this book, in fact I loved it. Well I loved Dustin really as he just made the book in my opinion.
Stacy is a curvy, family orientated beauty but she is love shy and even more so after the way Mark treated her. However she leans on her good friend Dustin, who is the brother of her best friend, Bellamy (her story was the first book with Luke) Stacy and Dustin did have a bit of a fling at Bellamy and Luke’s wedding the previous year, but Stacey backed off before things got too deep due to Dustin’s reputation of a commitment shy guy. They both agreed to be friends yet neither one knew the other’s secret yearnings for more. That is until Dustin becomes Stacy’s main support in her break up with Mark whose stalkish behaviour is getting more and more erratic that it becomes a threat.
It’s through all the togetherness that Stacy and Dustin begin to develop deeper feelings for each other that things progress to the relationship building to something more substantial. Let me just tell you when this happens the heat rises from the kindle. These two are smoking hot together, it had me steaming just reading about them!
I loved the family aspect this story gave, the whole family togetherness was so beautiful to read of how supportive their families were and seeing the circle extending evermore. Oh and let's not forget Dustin's hot twin, Dylan! Double Ds!
Dustin is a gorgeous, hot alpha but differs slightly in how sweet and understanding he was. It was more of a gently alpha than the ‘MINE!’ usual offerings (he does say Babe though, sah-woon) which was a welcome change. Totally made me sit up and take notice!
Stacy is a great role model to read about. She is a normal curvy woman with her insecurities but she doesn’t suffer the small stuff, she gets on with life and does what she can. She has a great family and I’d just love to go to one of their family ‘get togethers’ – her father sounded hot too! I loved the relationship she had with her uncle (who was more like a brother to her) and that he was in a loving gay partnership with two kids. Aww again just love the family acceptance and stronghold.
This is wonderful hot romance to read with just the right amount of suspense and angst added to the erotic interludes (*pants*) to give it a touch of light and shade. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next to get down and dirty with Dylan! Well deserved 4 stars.
June 20, 2014
An action packed, suspenseful, sexy romance novel that will leave you begging for more!
Stacy Hutchins thought that she may have found a good, decent guy, but a phone call from his wife certainly changes things fast. Not only does Mark prove to be a liar, but also an abusive jerk who decides to stalk her! So Stacy turns to her best friend’s brother, Dustin. While they had a fling together about a year ago, Stacy and Dustin decided they would be better as friends only. As Stacy leans on Dustin to get her through one horrible situation after another, she begins to see that maybe she was wrong about the “friends only” idea with Dustin. But with everything that is going on with crazy ex-boyfriend Mark, can Stacy trust her instincts and show Dustin how much he means to her or will she run away, scared to start a deep relationship with someone like Dustin?
Dustin thought everything was going great with Stacy. That is until a month into a perfectly good relationship, Stacy throws out the “friends” card and he has no choice but to agree or risk losing her for good. So he sits in the shadows and waits. He can’t believe he’s playing second fiddle to a jerk like Mark, but the moment Mark goes all pyscho on Stacy, Dustin is right there to offer her protection, security, and if she’ll take it, love. But he knows that Stacy has lots of issues to overcome in the relationship department so he’s more than willing to take it slow. That is until the unthinkable happens and forces Stacy and Dustin to really evaluate their relationship and determine if they have what it takes to stay together through the good times and the bad.
This novel has more action, suspense, twists and turns than your usual “make you feel good” romance! This one kept me turning page after page to find out what would happen. And I will not throw out a spoiler, but I will say, towards the middle of the novel when events unfolded that seemed like it would be the end, it left me asking “now what?” but just hold on for the ride because the best is yet to come with regards to the plot! I fell in love with Dustin’s character almost immediately, but I liked him in the first novel also. Stacy’s character, while she wasn’t my favorite in the first novel, certainly grew on me in this one. Her determination to overcome obstacles at the end of the novel was great since she has struggled with self-esteem throughout the series. Overall Second Chances is a great continuation of the Starting Over series! While this can be a stand-alone read, I would strongly recommend that you read the first book in the series, Starting Over, first so that you can have a clearer understanding of the overall plot and characters. Definitely a Must-Read in my book!
Rating: 4.5
Heat Rating: Hot
Reviewed by: AprilP
Courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
Stacy Hutchins thought that she may have found a good, decent guy, but a phone call from his wife certainly changes things fast. Not only does Mark prove to be a liar, but also an abusive jerk who decides to stalk her! So Stacy turns to her best friend’s brother, Dustin. While they had a fling together about a year ago, Stacy and Dustin decided they would be better as friends only. As Stacy leans on Dustin to get her through one horrible situation after another, she begins to see that maybe she was wrong about the “friends only” idea with Dustin. But with everything that is going on with crazy ex-boyfriend Mark, can Stacy trust her instincts and show Dustin how much he means to her or will she run away, scared to start a deep relationship with someone like Dustin?
Dustin thought everything was going great with Stacy. That is until a month into a perfectly good relationship, Stacy throws out the “friends” card and he has no choice but to agree or risk losing her for good. So he sits in the shadows and waits. He can’t believe he’s playing second fiddle to a jerk like Mark, but the moment Mark goes all pyscho on Stacy, Dustin is right there to offer her protection, security, and if she’ll take it, love. But he knows that Stacy has lots of issues to overcome in the relationship department so he’s more than willing to take it slow. That is until the unthinkable happens and forces Stacy and Dustin to really evaluate their relationship and determine if they have what it takes to stay together through the good times and the bad.
This novel has more action, suspense, twists and turns than your usual “make you feel good” romance! This one kept me turning page after page to find out what would happen. And I will not throw out a spoiler, but I will say, towards the middle of the novel when events unfolded that seemed like it would be the end, it left me asking “now what?” but just hold on for the ride because the best is yet to come with regards to the plot! I fell in love with Dustin’s character almost immediately, but I liked him in the first novel also. Stacy’s character, while she wasn’t my favorite in the first novel, certainly grew on me in this one. Her determination to overcome obstacles at the end of the novel was great since she has struggled with self-esteem throughout the series. Overall Second Chances is a great continuation of the Starting Over series! While this can be a stand-alone read, I would strongly recommend that you read the first book in the series, Starting Over, first so that you can have a clearer understanding of the overall plot and characters. Definitely a Must-Read in my book!
Rating: 4.5
Heat Rating: Hot
Reviewed by: AprilP
Courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
May 1, 2014
Loved. This. Book.
Stacy is a sweetheart. However, with men it’s made her a bit of a doormat. She doesn’t have a lot of girlfriends basically because they are all jealous. She’s beautiful. Olive skin, curves in the right places, men totally noticing her. She thinks they don’t like her because she’s not the “normal” skinny. Dustin completely adores her and he’s her best friend. They tried a real boyfriend/girlfriend relationship a year ago but she backed it off thinking she was getting too close and she didn’t want to lose her BFF when he chose to leave her. She thought breaking if off before he could would save the friendship.
Dustin has been there for Stacy since they were in their single digits in age. Stacy and Bellamy are best friends. Bellamy is also Dustin’s sister. Dustin is not giving up though. He agreed to the no relationship except friend thing but he’s done with it. The women he’s been with just don’t add up to Stacy and he can’t imagine being with anyone for the long haul except her. He’s going to get he back….
Stacy becomes extremely upset when she finds out her boyfriend, Mark, is married with two little kids. She throws him out of her house and tells him it’s over. But he’s not going easy since Mark thinks Stacy is his “property” and asults her before leaving. Dustin completely comes to her rescue making sure she’s ok. Will Stacy allow Dustin back into her heart? Will she finally allow a real relationship to form? Dustin is going to have to be patient with her, will he be able to be what Stacy needs?
Loved this book! Oh yeah, I already said that! But it’s so good! I’m leaving a HUGE part out of this review because it would be a big spoiler if I talked about it at all. Just know that you HAVE to read this book! It’s sooooooo great! I’m a total fan of Evan Grace now! I have to go read the first one. This is a standalone and I agree with that but I would rather have read them in order. That’s just a tic of mine. But Ms. Grace does a great job re-introducing the characters in a way that’s not redundant to the readers that read the first one but enough that it can be considered standalone. There were things that happened in the first book that were discussed slightly in this book, so I would recommend reading the first one first. I’m definitely going to go back and read!
Stacy is a sweetheart. However, with men it’s made her a bit of a doormat. She doesn’t have a lot of girlfriends basically because they are all jealous. She’s beautiful. Olive skin, curves in the right places, men totally noticing her. She thinks they don’t like her because she’s not the “normal” skinny. Dustin completely adores her and he’s her best friend. They tried a real boyfriend/girlfriend relationship a year ago but she backed it off thinking she was getting too close and she didn’t want to lose her BFF when he chose to leave her. She thought breaking if off before he could would save the friendship.
Dustin has been there for Stacy since they were in their single digits in age. Stacy and Bellamy are best friends. Bellamy is also Dustin’s sister. Dustin is not giving up though. He agreed to the no relationship except friend thing but he’s done with it. The women he’s been with just don’t add up to Stacy and he can’t imagine being with anyone for the long haul except her. He’s going to get he back….
Stacy becomes extremely upset when she finds out her boyfriend, Mark, is married with two little kids. She throws him out of her house and tells him it’s over. But he’s not going easy since Mark thinks Stacy is his “property” and asults her before leaving. Dustin completely comes to her rescue making sure she’s ok. Will Stacy allow Dustin back into her heart? Will she finally allow a real relationship to form? Dustin is going to have to be patient with her, will he be able to be what Stacy needs?
Loved this book! Oh yeah, I already said that! But it’s so good! I’m leaving a HUGE part out of this review because it would be a big spoiler if I talked about it at all. Just know that you HAVE to read this book! It’s sooooooo great! I’m a total fan of Evan Grace now! I have to go read the first one. This is a standalone and I agree with that but I would rather have read them in order. That’s just a tic of mine. But Ms. Grace does a great job re-introducing the characters in a way that’s not redundant to the readers that read the first one but enough that it can be considered standalone. There were things that happened in the first book that were discussed slightly in this book, so I would recommend reading the first one first. I’m definitely going to go back and read!
February 15, 2017
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: It goes without saying that the author IS very talented because the overall storyline behind this book was great. There was a lot happening and I could not help feeing very intrigued. There were a few issues with the author's style that bugged me, but that's personal. In MY opinion, the character names were overly used to the point that it threw me off. Every other sentence we got a "Stacy this" or "Stacy that" and it got to be way too repetitive. With some re-wording, it could've been better, but again, that's MY opinion.
The narrator, however, was horrible!!!! I fear that maybe that too kept me from enjoying the book more. Nikki literally read the book out loud. No emotions, no voice changes, nothing. She literally just...narrated. Ugh. SUPER frustrating!
That said, I will be checking out more of this author's work. If there's any more on audible, I will definitely hold off if it's the same narrator and just read the book.
4 stars to the book
2 stars to the narration
The narrator, however, was horrible!!!! I fear that maybe that too kept me from enjoying the book more. Nikki literally read the book out loud. No emotions, no voice changes, nothing. She literally just...narrated. Ugh. SUPER frustrating!
That said, I will be checking out more of this author's work. If there's any more on audible, I will definitely hold off if it's the same narrator and just read the book.
4 stars to the book
2 stars to the narration
April 16, 2014
Stacy dumped Mark as soon as she found out about his wife and kids, but he won't take "it's over". Now as she tries to move on she remembers how much she cared for her best friends brother Dustin, she broke thing off with him when her feelings were getting stronger because he was known for his commitment phobia. As Stacy moves foward Marks constant calls and visits scare and and she becomes close to Dustin once again, can things be different this time?
Dustin swore after his high school sweetheart cheated and him and broke his heart he'd never have a relationship ever again, but Stacy makes him want things he hasn't wanted in years. With their feelings growing stronger and her ex's constant threats will the two have the relationship they really want or will everything happening pull them apart forever?
Stacy is strong in some ways but her dislike for her body causes her allot of heartache, throughout all I wanted was to see her become happy with who she is. Dustin is sweet and caring and a total alpha male wanting to make sure Stacy is ok. I enjoyed the relationships between the characters and their family and how everyone was always there for each other. The storyline leave you guessing where things are going and how it will all turn out, but I enjoyed the ride
Dustin swore after his high school sweetheart cheated and him and broke his heart he'd never have a relationship ever again, but Stacy makes him want things he hasn't wanted in years. With their feelings growing stronger and her ex's constant threats will the two have the relationship they really want or will everything happening pull them apart forever?
Stacy is strong in some ways but her dislike for her body causes her allot of heartache, throughout all I wanted was to see her become happy with who she is. Dustin is sweet and caring and a total alpha male wanting to make sure Stacy is ok. I enjoyed the relationships between the characters and their family and how everyone was always there for each other. The storyline leave you guessing where things are going and how it will all turn out, but I enjoyed the ride
March 8, 2015
I started this as soon as I finished book one. It was more enjoyable in my opinion and there was an improvement in the length and plot.
Second Chances was a shorter read than Staring Over and I was glad of this fact. The pacing felt better in this book and I found myself skimming less because there were a lot less irrelevant details. I also thought the conversations flowed better and were less stilted. Things in this book felt more natural and for me it was a more cohesive read.
Whilst the story isn't an easy read, it was an engaging book. Once again the love of the family and friends surrounding Stacy was clear and I think it's what makes these 2 books so interesting. Stacy goes through hard times but she always has a support group. They are a strong community and I like that about these stories.
If there was one thing I didn't enjoy so much is that once again the writing was slightly repetitive. The author really needs to vary sentence starts. As well as this I did roll my eyes a few times. The characters made stupid mistakes that got them in trouble and it didn't feel like something someone in Stacy's situation would do.
Overall though I enjoyed this more than book 1 and I'm starting book 3 now.
Second Chances was a shorter read than Staring Over and I was glad of this fact. The pacing felt better in this book and I found myself skimming less because there were a lot less irrelevant details. I also thought the conversations flowed better and were less stilted. Things in this book felt more natural and for me it was a more cohesive read.
Whilst the story isn't an easy read, it was an engaging book. Once again the love of the family and friends surrounding Stacy was clear and I think it's what makes these 2 books so interesting. Stacy goes through hard times but she always has a support group. They are a strong community and I like that about these stories.
If there was one thing I didn't enjoy so much is that once again the writing was slightly repetitive. The author really needs to vary sentence starts. As well as this I did roll my eyes a few times. The characters made stupid mistakes that got them in trouble and it didn't feel like something someone in Stacy's situation would do.
Overall though I enjoyed this more than book 1 and I'm starting book 3 now.
November 5, 2014
Let me start this review off by saying, I am came into this book very excited since I had read the first book of the series. I was slightly disappointed but still enjoyed the book. I was not immediately pulled into the book or the main character as I was in the first book. Thought this books is part of a series it can be read as a stand alone.
Stacy Hutchins, thinks she has met her dream man. He is everything she could ever want in a man. Mark is a DEA agent and to Stacy he is the bees knees. There's just one little detail he left out...he's married!!! Upon hearing this Stacy does what any woman with self respect and consideration a woman should do, she kicked his sorry butt to the curb. Of course Mark didn't take it well, or go too willingly.
Now we have Dustin Carmichael, he has sworn off of women. That is until Stacy comes back into his life. Her life is in ruins. Dustin of course being the dreamboat that he is tries to help Stacy. He is so patient and loving just like any man should be. I wound up loving the relationship between the pair and enjoyed the book. I enjoyed getting to know Dustin. I really like the Carmichael family and cannot wait to read the next book.
Stacy Hutchins, thinks she has met her dream man. He is everything she could ever want in a man. Mark is a DEA agent and to Stacy he is the bees knees. There's just one little detail he left out...he's married!!! Upon hearing this Stacy does what any woman with self respect and consideration a woman should do, she kicked his sorry butt to the curb. Of course Mark didn't take it well, or go too willingly.
Now we have Dustin Carmichael, he has sworn off of women. That is until Stacy comes back into his life. Her life is in ruins. Dustin of course being the dreamboat that he is tries to help Stacy. He is so patient and loving just like any man should be. I wound up loving the relationship between the pair and enjoyed the book. I enjoyed getting to know Dustin. I really like the Carmichael family and cannot wait to read the next book.
March 17, 2014
I was given this book by author Evan Grace for an honest review. This is book 2 of the Starting Over series by the author.
This book has Stacy finding out that the DEA agent Mark, who saved Bellamy is married and a stalker to her after a short romantic relationship. Dustin comes in to help her and they fall in love but it gets complicated when Mark calls Stacy and eventually gets Dustin in trouble with the law. Getting pregnant was not in the equation for Stacy but Mark had other plans.
I actually cried for Stacy because of how Mark treated her when she ended it. I could feel her pain and frustration with how things were playing out and she could not do any thing about it. Lucky for her Dustin fell in love with her and was by her side the whole time.
This was a awesome romantic thriller and I loved every page of it. I started the book and just had to finish it with out stopping. There are no bad parts to this book or the characters.
For any romance book lover who likes a little thriller in the mix then this book and series is well worth the reading time. I have to say that some sexual content makes this book for mature readers.
This book has Stacy finding out that the DEA agent Mark, who saved Bellamy is married and a stalker to her after a short romantic relationship. Dustin comes in to help her and they fall in love but it gets complicated when Mark calls Stacy and eventually gets Dustin in trouble with the law. Getting pregnant was not in the equation for Stacy but Mark had other plans.
I actually cried for Stacy because of how Mark treated her when she ended it. I could feel her pain and frustration with how things were playing out and she could not do any thing about it. Lucky for her Dustin fell in love with her and was by her side the whole time.
This was a awesome romantic thriller and I loved every page of it. I started the book and just had to finish it with out stopping. There are no bad parts to this book or the characters.
For any romance book lover who likes a little thriller in the mix then this book and series is well worth the reading time. I have to say that some sexual content makes this book for mature readers.
April 9, 2014
This story picks up about a year after the first book, Starting Over, ended. Stacy was seeing Dustin but when things got serious she balked and pulled the "let's just be friends" card. She started seeing Mark, the DEA agent, until she found out that he was married with children. When she broke up with him he went a little psycho and abusive too. As far as she is concerned, their relationship is over. Dustin steps in to help Stacy through the end of this abusive relationship and they end up together. Mark has other plans for each of them though.
Loved it! The relationship between Stacy and Dustin is magical. He's so patient and understanding. He must have learned all that from his father. I love that characters from the first book play a big part of this book too. I laughed and I cried right along with these characters. The first explosive scene with one of her close family members was a tearjerker and massively heartbreaking. I was angry with Stacy's entire family! Don't worry, I'm OK now. This was a fantastic book and I can't wait for Dylan's story to be told.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Loved it! The relationship between Stacy and Dustin is magical. He's so patient and understanding. He must have learned all that from his father. I love that characters from the first book play a big part of this book too. I laughed and I cried right along with these characters. The first explosive scene with one of her close family members was a tearjerker and massively heartbreaking. I was angry with Stacy's entire family! Don't worry, I'm OK now. This was a fantastic book and I can't wait for Dylan's story to be told.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2014
I would classify this book as more of a romantic suspense/thriller than a straight romance book. This is the second in the Starting Over series by Evan Grace.
In this book Stacy Hutchins has been dating Mark Jefferson who is a undercover DEA agent. When Stacey finds out that Mark has kept a secret from her, Stacey breaks up with him. The secret is that Mark is married and has a kids..Pretty big thing you left out there Mark!
Stacey kicks his ass to the curb but Mark wants Stacey and will not let her go without a fight...ok this is where the suspense and thriller portion starts to come into play. With the help of Dustin Carmichael Stacey's best friend's brother who Stacey had previously dated but broke if off because Dustin couldn't make a commintment in the relationship. Got that one?
While trying to keep Mark at bay as he becomes more of a stalker, both Stacey and Dustin both have to make a decision that can and may break them both.
I was given this book as a gift from the author for a honest review.
July 6, 2014
After reading Starting Over with Bellamy and Luke, I couldn't wait to start Second Chances. Man, this book had me on the edge of my seat. It was definitely more a romantic suspense than just a romance book and I LOVED every second of it. I fell in love with Dustin in book 1 and couldn't wait to read this one. Ms. Grace definitely did not disappoint. I am not going to give anything away except I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Stacy and Dustin. Truly, I was shocked how the story started and how it came about, but I am so glad Stacy and Dustin had the opportunity to be friends and see how their relationship would work. The flow of the story was perfect and I was really happy to see Bellamy and Luke as well as Dylan, Dustin's twin, in the story. I can not wait to read Dylan's story!! Ms. Grace has knocked it out of the park with this one! If I can give this a million stars I would it is that AMAZEBALLS!!!
A copy was gifted in exchange for an honest review.
Review by Tabitha
A copy was gifted in exchange for an honest review.
Review by Tabitha
May 23, 2015
Another winner from Evan Grace with well-draw characters (primary and secondary) and a plot that kept me coming back even though I had a trillion other things I was supposed to be doing. This story was a romance with a light suspense element. The suspense element with the ex was well-done, and the author didn't hold back on it. One thing that annoyed me and had me mark this book down one star was the way the heroine kept secrets and seemed to downplay the danger to her well-being, putting herself in dangerous situations even when she knew this guy was a loose cannon. It didn't quite fall into the too-stupid-to-live category, but it did make me want to reach into the story and shake her. Overall though, I enjoyed the story and truly loved the characters and relationships the author has drawn (and that's why I read romance, so it's a win!).
I've already read book 3 in this series because I accidentally did that one first, but I'll be on the lookout for new books by this author.
I've already read book 3 in this series because I accidentally did that one first, but I'll be on the lookout for new books by this author.
May 9, 2014
Second Chances provides us with a story of Stacy Hutchins and Dustin Carmichael.
Stacy has finished her relationship with the DEA agent Mark after she found out his secret. But for him nothing is over. He won´t let her go and will do anything to get her back.
She is trying to move on with her life and that is when he comes into the picture. Dustin is her best friend´s bother who she was dating before and now they have a second chance.
Evan gave us in Second Chances a very great romantic thriller with some amazing twists and turns that have you guessing what will happen next.
The story was told in both POV and that provided us a chance to get to know the characters better. They were well developed and flawed with great depth.
Looking forward to read more from Evan in the future.
≧◔◡◔≦ 4 ✰ read ≧◉◡◉≦
>>>Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review<<<
Stacy has finished her relationship with the DEA agent Mark after she found out his secret. But for him nothing is over. He won´t let her go and will do anything to get her back.
She is trying to move on with her life and that is when he comes into the picture. Dustin is her best friend´s bother who she was dating before and now they have a second chance.
Evan gave us in Second Chances a very great romantic thriller with some amazing twists and turns that have you guessing what will happen next.
The story was told in both POV and that provided us a chance to get to know the characters better. They were well developed and flawed with great depth.
Looking forward to read more from Evan in the future.
≧◔◡◔≦ 4 ✰ read ≧◉◡◉≦
>>>Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review<<<
April 29, 2014
I really enjoyed this romantic thriller story. Although I didn't read book one I felt the author did such a great job with this book I didn't lose out on any of the storyline. Having said that I'll be reading book one very soon.
I just loved the relationship between Dustin and Stacy. I love Dustin. What a fantastic alpha male he is. I want my own Dustin :)
This is a really brilliant storyline with lots of drama. You may need tissues!!
Received in return for an honest review.
I just loved the relationship between Dustin and Stacy. I love Dustin. What a fantastic alpha male he is. I want my own Dustin :)
This is a really brilliant storyline with lots of drama. You may need tissues!!
Received in return for an honest review.
October 2, 2014
I am in love with the Starting Over series by Evan Grace. Second Chances was the second book in this series and it was fabulous. Honestly I didn't think that this series could get any better, but it absolutely did. The storyline was awesome and of course I love a great second chance romance story. Loved the characters in the first book and fell in love with them again in this book. Cannot wait to start the next book in this series to see how Dylan will find his happily ever after!!
March 27, 2015
I really liked this book. Loved the characters and the way they connected into the larger picture of the extended families. The text was a little choppy but overall it was a solid story with wonderfully developed characters. I'm going now to look for more from this author and series :)
August 1, 2014
Want to read more.....
Want to read more.....
sassy storyline! love it when people stay driven to break down the walls that others have built knowing there is something great on the other side. Great characters in this book, and a dramatic ending tread you to immediately buy #3 :)
Want to read more.....
sassy storyline! love it when people stay driven to break down the walls that others have built knowing there is something great on the other side. Great characters in this book, and a dramatic ending tread you to immediately buy #3 :)
January 13, 2015
When I read the blurb and saw Stacey was dating Mark and not Dustin, I was thinking WTH??? This couple has some major issues to get through, but it's a romance and remember love conquers all. I have to say I'm really excited to read Dylan's book next. The great thing about this series is the parental and family support all the characters get.
January 17, 2015
Great
Ok this book was great, I gave starting over 3 stars cause it kinda left you hanging. This book picks up pretty much where that book leaves off. I loved the story of Dustin and Stacy. Dustin being the older brother of her best friend. There romance went through so much, I'm glad they managed to work it out and come out on top! Can't wait to read book 3!
Ok this book was great, I gave starting over 3 stars cause it kinda left you hanging. This book picks up pretty much where that book leaves off. I loved the story of Dustin and Stacy. Dustin being the older brother of her best friend. There romance went through so much, I'm glad they managed to work it out and come out on top! Can't wait to read book 3!
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