Lottie moves to Devon when it all comes tumbling down- and she finds new friends as well as love. It's a good read.

I love books about second chances, and this story was so sweet! It is the perfect summer read, and I'll be recommending it to all of my friends.

Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will enjoy.

The Summer of Second Chances is the debut novel by Maddie Please and it was one that I absolutely adored. With a gorgeous cover and a beautiful story, The Summer of Second Chances was an uplifting, feel-good read that was so very easy to become immersed in. At a time when I needed it most, this book was the perfect distraction from daily life and was one that really did leave me with a huge smile on my face.

Within the Summer of Second Chances we meet Lottie who has very recently experienced a very traumatic and difficult time which resulted in her losing everything - her home, her relationship and her money. Desperately in need of somewhere to live, her best friend offers her a roof over her head in the form of a cottage in Devon which Lottie agrees to redecorate in exchange for free rent. Whilst Lottie cannot forget the past, after settling into the cottage she quickly gets to work on it with the frequent help of the handsome neighbour Bryn, but after everything she’s been through will she allow herself a second chance? Will she ever learn to live and love again?

Maddie Please has created a marvellous character within Lottie whose journey was an absolute pleasure to follow from beginning to end. As someone whose world was falling apart when we were first introduced to her, Lottie was a character who I had a great deal of empathy for and was one who I loved from the start. As I couldn’t bear to be parted from Lottie’s story, I desperately hoped that things would turn out well for her, that she would get to where she wanted to be in life and have the happiness she so desperately deserved. All of the characters that surrounded Lottie were equally as marvellous, including Bryn whose relationship with Lottie was so lovely to see develop and grow.

The Summer of Second Chances was a book that was so wonderfully written and whilst it was mainly light-hearted Maddie has also included a number of deeper and darker themes within it, handling them in a wonderful manner with much sensitivity and tact. One thing that I particularly loved about the way this book was written was the way in which it switched seamlessly between the past and the present, something which allowed the reader to see the bigger picture. I also adored the way in which this book reinforced an important life lesson about not letting the bad things in life hold us back or prevent us from moving forwards and achieving our dreams.

All in all The Summer of Second Chances was a gorgeous little book that really did feel like a ray of sunshine on a rainy day. It was a fabulous debut novel and one that has left me feeling really excited to go on and discover more of what Maddie writes in the future. She’s definitely an author to look out for!

The Summer of Second Chances is the début novel from Maddie Please. It has a cute and colourful cover and is a typical chicklit story that won't set the world on fire but is a pleasant enough read. The chapter headings are all various flowers and the meaning of each given underneath, the first chapter being the snowdrop and its meaning of hope which makes sense as it is the first sign of Spring, after the long and dark months of winter, that bright and happy days are around the corner and that is what Lottie wishes for with all heart and soul. Initially I liked the thoughts behind having the names of flowers and their meanings as headings but after a few chapters I even forgot they were there and got straight into the chapter. I had been trying to find a connection between the chapter content and the meaning of each flower but to be honest they were tenuous at best so that made me question the necessity of their inclusion?

The book started off promising enough as our main female character Lottie is facing a major life upheaval. Her sanctuary of security and certainty is gone and she now faces the unknown. Now she will have to do a lot of growing up pretty fast and become the independent person she didn't realise she had needed to be for her own personal benefit and growth. 'I lost my partner, my home, a lot of my friends and my peace of mind - not necessarily in that order- and yet only a few days had passed'. The unthinkable has happened to Lottie. The man she loved, trusted and believed she knew so well has gone and in doing so has left her world in tatters. Partly because her rock has gone but also because of the lies and secrets and debt he left behind.

Lottie's cushy lifestyle is no more and she has to embark on a new adventure and as the title suggest a summer of second chances and new opportunities awaits. One questions whether Ian and Lottie were ever meant to be together for the long term given the fact that Lottie had refused his proposals of marriage several times over the years. Did she know at the back of her mind that all would turn out so different from the reality she believed she had been existing in? She had put her trust and faith in Ian and it all come crashing down. She was the one who had to deal with the repercussions of everything and in doing so over the course of the book she became a different woman as she attempted to journey through the hurt, bitterness and anger hopefully to emerge a far stronger person on the other side.

Left homeless and virtually penniless Lottie grabs the opportunity presented to her by her friend Jess. She has a cottage in Devon recently vacated by tenants and is in need of some redecorating before Jess decides to put it on the market or not. As Lottie spend hours redecorating the house she shared with Ian, in order to pass her days, she is the perfect person to step in and help Jess out.'Now I had to take this chance and focus on the future because I certainly couldn't change the past'. At the same time she has somewhere to run to,to lick her wounds and attempt to heal. She wants no one to know where she is and she wants it kept that way for as long as possible.

I've read heaps of books where women have been let down, are now hurting and bewildered as to the next step in their lives and Lottie was no different. From the moment she arrives at Holly Cottage, aged 34, broke and with no immediate prospects, and sees the state of the cottage Lottie knows she has a challenge ahead of her and it is one she is most certainly up for. Her encounter with neighbour Bryn living in Ivy Cottage next door is the typical introduction I've read countless times before. The two get off on the wrong foot and instantly Lottie has conjured up this bad image of Bryn. Misconceptions and misunderstandings abound and they remain for the majority of the novel, yet at the same time a spark is ignited between the pair and as Bryn is the brother of Jess' husband Greg, Lottie knows she has to thread very carefully. It was fairly obvious the eventual outcome of the story and normally if I guess fairly on I sit back and enjoy everything that unfolds in the lead up to the big moment but at times in this story my attention wandered. Just as I feel the plot at times did within this book, it felt overly long and if it had been slightly shorter with a few chapters cut out, not much would have been missed out and I feel the story would have been tighter and not as aimless as it did become for several chapters.

The reasons behind the situation Lottie faces aren't all clearly explained straight away. Instead, frustratingly so, in the middle of most chapters, we would wander from present day and Lottie's adventures doing up the house, back to the past and to the time leading up to Ian's death and the immediate aftermath. The reasons were never fully explained, hints and teasers were dropped and I could guess what had happened. I understand it was Lottie's mind thinking back to what she had been through while working on a task in the present but honestly it felt all wrong and very disjointed for this to occur midway through a chapter. I think it would have been far better if the author had split chapters into present and modern day if she wanted to recap what had happened to Lottie in the months leading up to Ian's death and the immediate period following it. Leaping back and forth unexpectedly was very annoying and it didn't really help the flow of the story as I found myself on edge that in a minute I would be back in a different time frame and having to acquaint myself with a different time and place. Normally this wouldn't usually bother me but as I have said distinct separate chapters would have been more beneficial overall.

The story in the present day the more it progressed did become more enjoyable if a little bit inevitable as to the eventual outcome. The inclusion of Jenny, Lottie's sister, was a breath of fresh air. She was the polar opposite to Lottie and in a completely different place in her life compared to her sister. She was a woman on a mission to find a man and her eyes were open at every opportunity to seek what she was searching for. Having left three husbands behind in her wake and a handsome American - Trent pining for her she was here to show Lottie a good time and as Jenny felt the silence and the isolation of the cottage was too much for her she wanted Lottie to get out and get dating and get some excitement in her life. I think the hot tub scene provided more than enough excitement than Lottie could cope with and it did have me laughing out loud. Also the scene with the water and the ceiling was hilarious and a clever way of moving the story forward, having characters come together and a few more strands of the story weaving themselves nearer to completion.

Lottie was a woman who, after being through a trauma, wants to feel good about herself but the reader can see her confidence has been knocked and a new life of positive action won't be easy to come by. The fallout of Ian's death and the estrangement from his mother Susan has bashed her confidence and she arrives at the cottage stuck in a rut, one in which she sees no way of emerging from. It was enjoyable to read of her journey to find a path that will lead to happiness but at times it just felt as if I had read this storyline umpteen times before and there was nothing new here that made this book stand out from all the rest. Undoubtedly the author has plenty of potential and there were glimpses of greatness here but they came too little for me to fully throw myself in and adore every page of this book. It was a pleasant read but not the most memorable story, the reel me in factor and have me hooked until the last page just wasn't there so what could have been amazing was just OK. I'd be interested to see how people would view the author's second book A Year of New Adventures in comparison to this one but I think I will be reading other people's opinions before deciding to read it or not.

Good romantic story, easy to read. Very enjoyable with plenty of drama. Ideal for summer holiday reading and relaxing.

I'm not really sure I enjoyed this book, I felt I skim read a lot of it. Lottie annoyed me with her attitude towards Bryn, she rushed out of his house after spending the night, avoided him for days and then 'wondered' what she did wrong... really! I did enjoy reading about her doing up the house and reading about her past although it wasn't elaborated what actually happened to Ian, it would have been better if this was in a bit more detail rather than him getting in the car and then the police turning up. Towards the end when she said 'she didn't know why she was so emotional all of a sudden' it was obvious she was pregnant and I thought the last paragraph of the book was strange saying she had 4 sons with Bryn etc, it does leave it for another book, but it's kind of already given it away. Thank you for letting me read and review this book.

I really enjoyed this light-hearted, fun to read book. I felt that the characters could be my friends. Would definitely read more of this author’s books. Thanks to NetGalley for tha ARC copy of this wonderful book.

In The Summer of Second Chances we meet Charlotte (Lottie) a woman in her early thirties who was quite content. She had lived with Ian for eight years, had a large, beautiful home she had decorated, worked part time as a receptionist for a doctor so she wouldn't be bored, and spent the rest of the time with her friends or entertaining. It all fell apart one New Year's Eve when she found out he was having an affair and when he stormed out drunk, had an accident where he was killed. Finding out the business was bankrupt, that he had gambled away all their money and that he left the house to his mother, she was now destitute, homeless and not sure what to do next. When her friend Jess offers her Holly Cottage as a place to live while she redecorates it, she has no other choice. She heads off to Devon and her second chance.

This was a nice feel good read which was well written. The characters of Lottie and Bryn were both very easy to like. They were fun, emotional and interesting to get to know. The secondary characters also added much to the story, especially Ian's mother. It was a very quick read, I did it in one sitting which surprised me. The funny moments in this story had me laughing out loud, but the sad moments brought you back down to earth. The growth of Lottie's new relationship was slow and believable. I really enjoyed this story and I will look for more books from this author. Check this one out for a summer read or to sit by the fire in the winter, you won't regret it.

I have got to chapter 11 and realised that I can't be bothered to finish this book. I don't like the main character or the others in this book. I can't work out why the chapters are named after flowers, they seem to have no relevance at all. I really don't want to waste any more time on this book.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. What a great cute story and a perfect summer read, just what I needed a real pick me up

If you are selecting your holiday reading, then it is perfect to read by the pool.
Full review to be found at
https://culturalwednesday.co.uk/summer-second-chances-maddie-please/

This was a lovely light easy read, easy to lose yourself into the story and involve yourself with all of the characters.

I loved the setting, location of the story, sounded perfect and quaint.

I thought the story plot was well thought out and very realistic. All of the characters were well written and I loved getting to know them all. There were a few laugh out loud moments, so definitely funny in places.

If you're looking for a light easy read, then look no further.

This was a nice feel good read which was well written with warm characters and an interesting plot. There were lots of laugh out loud moments and some very touching moments. I found myself liking the main character a lot and enjoyed reading her story.

Loved this easy to read romance. The book is a story of loss and second chances. I was pulled immediately into the plot and found myself completely lost in it. Great book.

3.5 stars.

The Summer of Second Chances is an extremely enjoyable novel with fascinating characters and story lines. Every character in this flows nicely together and there are many witty and funny moments.

One thing I liked about this book is that it kept referring back to 'that night' where everything went wrong, it keeps you on the edge of your seat, wanting to know what happened and wanting to know more! And as you read on, the story slowly unravels and makes the story that bit more interesting.

The characters all flowed really nicely I think, and although the characters were a bit more high maintenance than other books I've read (the fact that they all have flashy cars, big houses etc), I still found myself enjoying it and really hoping that Lottie and Bryn got together - they just seemed perfect for each other!

The story follows Lottie as she loses everything and is forced to leave her home. She moves into an idyllic little cottage and instead of paying rent, she does the decorating. This is something that Lottie loves to do, and this really comes across in the book. I did like Lottie's character, I liked her more once she moved into the cottage and changed to become a bit of a 'country gal' though and I thought Bryn's character was really charming and lovely and I loved the humorous moments between them.

Overall, I did really enjoy this book. It was lighthearted and made it easy to read.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

I found this book to be one of those that was so easy to get into that you lose yourself completely for a few hours and it leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy once you've finished!

Lottie, the main character, is so easy to empathise with. She's found herself alone, homeless and puzzled as to where her life is going. Losing her partner has been a major shock, and the fall out from his untimely death was one she hadn't been expected. So when she is offered a friends' rundown cottage in the country to crash at and renovate, she is left with little option but to grab it! But once she gets painting she loses herself and finds that time therapeutic and gives her the time needed to get her life back on track.

Of course, it does help when your next door neighbour is a rather quiet, secretive and dishy bloke! He's the brother in law of her best friend, but that is as much as he wants people to know! But he always seems to find a way of seeing Lottie when she's not looking her best - wearing a tin of paint is one way to introduce yourself to your neighbour!

Their relationship does evolve quite quickly but I like the way they are with each other - it's fun and flirty but they don't let each other know everything about each other straight away. They both seem quite reluctant to share every detail of their lives and with their pasts becoming clear you can understand why. But they connection they seem to have is really heartwarming!

The setting is idyllic and I loved the characters introduced throughout - Lotties' sister, her best friend, and her partners' mother - all show different aspects to the stories running throughout and they aren't all light and fluffy, and I think Lottie copes quite admirably with whatever is thrown at her - this is one of those books that shows exactly why you should never give up even when all seems bleak!

Read it in one sitting as I just enjoyed being in 'Lottie world' and I highly recommend this to anyone looking for inspiration, warmth and escapism

The Blurb :
Lottie is about to discover that even when you think you’ve lost everything, hope and romance can be just around the corner . . .
It takes time to build your life. To get into a long-term (OK, a bit boring) relationship. To find a job (you don’t completely hate). Lottie might not be thrilled with the life she’s put together, but it’s the one she’s got.
So when in the course of one terrible evening, it all comes crashing down around her, Lottie has a choice: give herself over to grief at being broke, single and completely lacking in prospects.
Or, brick by brick, build herself a new life. And this time, with a little help from friends, a crumbling cottage in Devon and a handsome stranger, maybe she can make it the one she always wanted.


My Thoughts :
Firstly I love love love the cover of this book. Its so colourful and pretty and it stands out so would make anyone want to pick it up and have a read.
We meet Lottie who is newly single, homeless and has no money. After her friend Jess, suggests she needs some time out, lottie goes to stay at her friends cottage in Devon. The deal is Lottie has to clean up the cottage, redecorate and make the cottage feel like a home again after being left in an awful mess by the last tennants. Lottie jumps at the chance to get away from everything and have some time out.
Throughout the book we learn more about Lottie and her past and how she got to where she is today.
A story wouldnt be complete without adding in a hunky male neighbour by the name of Bryn, we slowly get to see a developing relationship between the couple. And I wont give too much away so you have to read it to find out what happens.
This was a lovely, happy, fun read by Maddie Please and I like the way there was a lot of empathy in the story. It is easily relatable to someone going through heartbreak and finding it hard to love yourself. Its most definitely one to look out for and I hope there will be a follow up as there is so much more to this story.

Wow, what a gorgeous, cute little story "The Summer of Second Chances" was! I truly didn't know what to expect from this book but it really wow-ed me, with the light - hearted writing style, interesting plot and lovable characters, and the last few sentences at the end were just brilliant and a perfect end to this book. OK, I admit, there was one thing that bothered me, namely for me it looked as if this book was written by two different authors - why, I hear you ask? Well, you know, so the story and narration flew steadily and then suddenly, like the impossible to see icebergs, the narration was starting to turn incredibly hilarious, the events ridiculously funny and I was finding myself laughing out loud at Lottie's antics, and it lasted for a few pages and then the story telling was back again to this normal, steady one. It happened a few times and while it didn't make me confused or something, oh no, I enjoyed those moments incredibly, it just made me think. But that's me. My problems. Don't pay any attention and just read this book because it's great. And it has a stunning cover - so summery!

The story introduces us to Lottie, who's been through some dramatic moments in her life recently - she's homeless, money - less, jobless, single - and is now looking for a fresh start. It seems that she can find it in a little cottage belonging to one of her friends - in return for redecorating it, Lottie can live there next, and she jumps at the chance. After living a comfortable life, with no financial troubles and a partner on her side, it was a change for Lottie, wasn't it? But maybe it was this what Lottie needed right now? Well, this and a new neighbour, Bryn?

I have seen many accident prone characters in my life but Lottie overdone them all! Guys, it was incredible, really, those situations and troubles she was getting herself in - this story abounded in many awkward, embarrassing situations. I loved Lottie, she was such a positive personality, even though she had to cope with so many awful things in her life. She was this kind of character that grows on you and you keeps everything crossed for her. And I loved to see Lottie changing, spreading her wings despite all new troubles and worries and turning into almost a different person. She was honest and told us about things how they really were, and I really didn't have any problems to connect with her and to understand her.
And of course, let's not forget Lottie's new neighbour, Bryn. Not broody nor moody, like many other characters yet incredibly interesting and colourful and hmmm, I wouldn't say no to such a neighbour and his jacuzzi.

It wouldn't be a rom - com without the "rom" part, of course, and I loved this aspect of this story! Sure, there were the necessary ups and downs, the road to happiness was bumpy and not too straightforward but it never felt too cheesy or forced, if anything it was fresh, funny, adorable and honest. It was not too rushed, which was also great, because moving into a new man too quickly would make it too unbelievable, and it also gave the heroine time to come to terms a little with the new situation.

Altogether, "The Summer of Second Chances" was a lovely and easy read that made me feel relaxed and I finished it grinning from ear to ear. There were characters that you quickly start to root for and relate to, and it was a light take on new beginnings and - yes! - second chances. It also makes you think about life, about figuring out what it is you really want, but not in a too serious way, nono, no worries. However, there is also so much to this story than meets the eye, there is depth, it touches upon some sensitive issues but it's perfectly mixed with light - heartedness and really some best one - liners and situations in history. So if you are in need of cheering up, picking yourself up and seeing how not to give up, try this book - I can only highly recommend it to you!

I really enjoyed reading the Summer of Second Chances. I'd gone through a stage of reading psychological thrillers so wanted some light hearted chick lit to read and this didn't disappoint.

The book follows the story of Lottie, who feels like she's lost everything but may be about to discover there are always chances of hope and happiness.

I read this book in a couple of days and found it a fairly quick read, great characters and some funny moments too. It's a perfect summer read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and the author for the chance to review.