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THE TAPESTRY OF TIME
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Sunshine, secrets, and swoon-worthy stories—June's featured reads are your perfect summer escape.

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He doesn�t need a woman in his life; she knows he can�t live without her.


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A promise rekindled. A secret revealed. A second chance at the family they never had.


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A cowboy with a second chance. A waitress with a hidden gift. And a small town where love paints a brand-new beginning.


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She�s racing for a prize. He�s dodging romance. Together, they might just cross the finish line to love.


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She steals from the mob for justice. He�s the FBI agent who could take her down�or fall for her instead.


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He�s her only protection. She�s carrying his child. Together, they must outwit a killer before time runs out.


The Second Chance

The Second Chance, February 2006
by Jaclyn Reding

Signet Eclipse
Featuring: Flora MacCallum; Gavin Matheson
320 pages
ISBN: 0451217861
Paperback
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"A seaside romance between people who deserve to find true love."

Fresh Fiction Review

The Second Chance
Jaclyn Reding

Reviewed by Lissa Staley
Posted January 15, 2006

Romance Contemporary

After her husband had a fatal accident on an oil rig, Flora MacCallum was left with three children to protect. Flora has been almost overwhelmed by grief for these past three years, so when her employers' new baby prevents them from following up on a seaside inheritance in America, they convince Flora that she needs a change. She crosses the Atlantic to finish preparations to open their New England bed-and-breakfast and has two weeks alone before her children join her at Ipswich-by-the-Sea. While her friends encourage her to look for a new romance, Flora can't imagine any man wanting a widow with three young children. Gavin Matheson is a composer, although he's lost his musical inspiration while trying to come to terms with his own grief. His ex-wife kidnapped their six-year-old son and left the country two years ago, and Gavin has lived in a state of panic and worry ever since. His private investigator continues to track leads throughout Europe, but Gavin has steeled his heart against being open to love again. He's house-sitting at the seaside home of a friend when he meets Flora, and while she inspires his music, his personal terrors are heightened when he learns about the existence of her children. As Gavin and Flora get to know each other better, they find both comfort and challenges, especially when Flora's three children arrive just before the bed-and-breakfast opens. Although Flora is a Scottish lass through and through, this charming tale of second chances for love is set firmly on the seashore of Massachusetts. A small mystery plot concerning a long-dead witch adds some local color, but Flora's natural Scottish brogue and Gaelic lullabies remind us of her personal history while she's stateside. This affirming, modern love story by Jaclyn Reding allows widows and divorced people with children to find additional happiness while blending new families. The complexity of relationships in this novel is realistic, and a happy ending is the perfect conclusion to this compelling story.

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SUMMARY

As a young widow with three children, Flora MacCallum thought happiness was behind her-until a friend asked her to run a bed and breakfast on the Massachusetts shore. There, her magical voice awakens the heart of a brilliant composer who is grieving his lost marriage and son. Together they learn that all is never lost, and that hope can be found in the most unlikely places.


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