Second Chances

by Leigh Morgan

History professor, Rhiannon Thorson, flees her life in Milwaukee to pursue research in Southern Wales and get a new start in life. Ramsey Macleod, international rock star, is burned out from life in the fast lane and is looking for a new lease on life. When they meet in a small village in Glamorgan, sparks fly, music is made, and they may get a second chance at love, life and happiness. WHY I WROTE SECOND CHANCES Second Chances was born from three forces that melded together in my life at the time. The first was a desire to spend more time with my family. In particular, I wanted to be more available for my children. I wanted to chaperone their field trips and just be present when they got home. I was working as a lawyer who represented children in family and abuse and neglect cases. I did other legal work as well, but the majority of it was child focused. At times I felt as if I was caring more about other people’s children than my own, (guilt thy name is mother) so I decided to do something that would change my life. I started writing stories. The second force was I fell in love with a voice on the radio. It was some voice. I’m smiling and sighing as I feel the voice wash over me in my head. I heard that voice, loved that song, and made up a character to go with it. Shazam! Ramsey Macleod was born. Now I had to pair him with someone who wouldn’t normally travel in his circle or appear on his radar. Rhia wanted to change her life and expand what she considered her career ~ just like me ~ but she needed to be her own marvelous person. The third force that kept circling in my life was the relationship between older women and younger men. I was close friends with two men at the time who had chosen older women as life-mates. In one instance the age difference was fifteen years and in the other, twelve years. Both men wanted children, but one would have been fine with or without them. I will never forget his plain statement that still warms my heart; he said, and I’m paraphrasing, If I marry someone my age or younger, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we will be able to have children of our own. I love her and I’m going to make a family with her. Still gets me. What a man he was then. What a wonderful husband, father and friend he is now. He needed a mate equally wonderful and he found her. So there I had younger man, older woman, child issues, ex-issues, and just to add some more to the mix, child sexual orientation issues and coming out stress. Ram and Rhia are not my friends with new names. They are products of my imagination. I picked some of the best and some of the worst traits from my world as it was then and mixed it all up into a story that I wanted to live in for a while. I chose Wales ~ specifically Pontrhydyfen ~ as a setting because I love Ponty and my Welsh family. I also love Welsh myth and the very real magic that comes from visiting such a lyrical place. My life is different now. I do spend more time with my children, my husband, and with my characters. Many days I can also show up to work in my pajamas, which is a huge change. One thing that will never change is the love of place I feel for Scotland, Wales and England. That love lives within me always and will continue to color my stories. I love Ram and Rhia and hope you enjoyed sharing their story. If you did, or even if you didn’t, I’d love to read your review. Until next time, my friend, happy reading! Leigh Morgan

Genres: Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Romance

303 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2011

About the author

Leigh Morgan is a native of Wisconsin, a graduate of Marquette University Law School, a fifth degree black-belt in Okinawan Shorin Ryu karate, and a writer of fiction, both contemporary and historical, with strong romantic elements. Leigh writes about things she knows and loves about life including: family ties, living by a personal code, and loving with a loyal and fierce heart. Leigh's characters are quirky, witty and wise, although they seem to get themselves in trouble quite a lot on their way to a happy ending.

Leigh is an avid traveler and lover of all things Celtic, Scottish in particular, so many of her stories have ties to Scotland; some in fact and some in myth and legend.

Leigh is pleased to announce the recent release of DEFENDING DESTINY, Book 3 of The Warrior Chronicles.

Reviews

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Second Chances, but I was also impressed with so much of it. At the beginning, I thought it was going to be a typical, but good contemporary romance;it far exceeded my expectations. The complexity of the characters extended to most of the secondary characters who each had a story to tell rather than just providing support or foil for the main characters. The romance was sweet, lovely, and HOT but not erotic.

Rhiannon's divorce has kicked her into doing something she has always wanted to do, go to Wales and and research women warriors and goddesses in a land where they are still respected. She shelled out a nice chunk of money for a house with meals in a town that sounded perfect.
Ram (Ramsey McCleod) has had it with the rock scene and needs time in the town that has become home so he heads for Wales.
In their first, hilarious, encounter that fact that she doesn't recognize him only increase how much this bit of a woman intrigues him.
You can see why I thought, "Typical romance", but life races and twists whether we want it to or not and so do their lives. The warm, strength, humor and more than a bit of head-strong stubbornness turn this into a novel to be remember and reread.

I received my copy of Second Chances from the author in exchange for an honest review. I was thrilled to be able to tell Leigh Morgan and the rest of the world that I LOVED it.

[Marcie Oropeza · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read, lots of twists and turns and a nice ending w/ lots of romance and romantic sites in between. Add in the music (I actually checked out the band, Seven Nations ~ worth a hit!) and the concept of the older woman/younger man....I'm there.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many books have made me cry, few have made me laugh. Second Chances made me laugh(arguing with sheep). This is more than boy meets girl, problem, boy gets girl, the end. Then the boy gets the girl back (early in the book) the story really begins. This story has a well developed plot and lovable characters. More importantly, when I got to the last page I didn't want it to end, a sure sign of a great read.

[ReviewerLarissa]

**Review coming soon for Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell**