Review: Second Chance at the Sugar Shack
By Candis Terry
Avon Impulse
Contemporary Romance
On sale 19 July 2011
Review ARC supplied by the publisher
I enjoy reading contemporary romances, and I’m always on the lookout for new-to-me authors. I especially adore contemporary stories set in small towns, so I snapped up Second Chance at the Sugar Shack when I had the opportunity to review the story.
Here’s the official blurb:
Kate Silver’s back in town, and her dead mother just won’t leave her alone.
Kate usually spends her days dressing Hollywood A-listers, but after her estranged mother dies she finds herself elbow-deep in flour in her parents’ bakery in Deer Lick, Montana. She thought she’d left small town life far, far behind, but it seems there are a few loose ends.
The boy she once loved, Deputy Matt Ryan, is single and sexy and still has a thing for her – and handcuffs.
Her mother, who won’t follow the white light, is determined to give maternal advice from beyond the grave.
And somehow Kate’s three-day stay has, well – extended. She never planned to fill her mother’s pie-baking shoes – she prefers her Choos, thank you very much. But with the help of a certain man in uniform, Kate quickly learns that sometimes second chances are all the more sweet.
Kate couldn’t wait to leave Deer Lick. She wanted to follow her dream of working as a fashion stylist. Her mother is outspoken in her disapproval of Kate’s plans, and when Kate leaves town, this leads to a rift between mother and daughter that is never mended. As the story starts, Kate learns her mother has died and she has to return home for the first time since her hurried departure many years ago. We also learn that she’s at the top of her game as a stylist, working for the Hollywood elite, yet she’s very aware how fickle her success is and how younger, newer stylists are snapping at her heels.
This is a story full of quirky characters and small-town living. There’s her mother’s ghost who starts popping into her life for regular visits. There’s her mother’s best friend who seems to hate Kate and is constantly uncomplimentary about her past behavior toward her mother. There’s her father who is mourning the loss of his soul mate, and then there’s Deputy Matt Ryan. The sparks fly between the two of them, yet Matt has changed. He’s older, more confident, and he doesn’t intend to repeat his relationship mistakes with Kate, despite their attraction.
This is a story that kept me turning the pages and has stayed with me since I read it a few weeks ago. I enjoyed the way the characters both grew and came to realize that what they initially wanted from life wasn’t necessarily the thing that would make them happy. As the title suggests this is a story of second chances and it’s full of humor. I finished the story with a smile on my face. It’s the sort of romance that made me go “ahhhh”, and I’ll definitely be looking for more from this author. Highly recommended.
Purchase link Second Chance at the Sugar Shack
Author website: Candis Terry
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
~ Grab your current read
~ Open to a random page
~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
~BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
My teaser is from Second Chance at the Sugar Shack
“He‘s devastated.” Kelly flipped on the fan. Her abrupt action seemed less about recirculating the air and more about releasing a little distress. “How would you be if the love of your life died in your arms while you were tying on her apron?”
CONTEST! Candis Terry is visiting my blog today. Please take a moment to welcome her and check out her post above. Everyone who comments on her Cherry Pits & Toilet seats post above will go into a draw to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card. Check out the rest of her tour here to score additional chances to win.
Second Chance at the Sugar Shack takes place in the very small fictional town of Deer Lick, Montana, where the big hangout is a quick stop called the Gas and Grub. If you’ve traveled anywhere farther than your living room I’m sure you’ve come up against some small town activities that jack your eyebrows all the way up your forehead. I live in and write books about small towns and I’ve become addicted to the adventure of discovering new and unusual places that barely register a spot on a map. In my travels I have discovered that Americans really do have a sense of humor.
