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A Second Chance in Paradise
Long Island salesman Sonny Raines has had it. He’s sick and tired of living in a world where wrong always wins over right. Then, on his thirty-ninth birthday, when he loses his job and comes home to the most devastating shock of his life, that’s it. He’s dropping out.
With nothing left to lose, and little in his pocket, Sonny chucks it all and drives his aging van fifteen-hundred miles to the lower reaches of the Florida Keys. All he wants is to get over his recent losses and simplify his hectic life, and that’s exactly what he thinks he’s doing when he settles on a paradisiacal speck of an island known as Wrecker’s Key. While surrounded by the warm aquamarine waters of two tropical oceans, he not only falls in love with the key but also establishes a close bond with the free-spirited locals who call it home.
But all isn’t blue skies, swaying palms, and coconut oil on Wrecker’s Key. There’s trouble wafting in the warm breezes that caress the island. Although Sonny certainly isn’t looking for romance, he finds himself falling for his next door neighbor. Ex-model Julie Albright just may be the kindest, most beautiful woman to ever grace his eyes, but there’s a snag. She has a small physical flaw that, no matter how hard he tries, Sonny can’t overlook. And his feelings are no secret to Julie. She can read them, and they weigh as heavy on her heart as they do on his. Then things get even worse. One night, under the cover of darkness, danger drifts up the deep, silent currents from the lower keys—serious danger—life and death danger. And Sonny Raines finds himself right in the middle of it.
With nothing left to lose, and little in his pocket, Sonny chucks it all and drives his aging van fifteen-hundred miles to the lower reaches of the Florida Keys. All he wants is to get over his recent losses and simplify his hectic life, and that’s exactly what he thinks he’s doing when he settles on a paradisiacal speck of an island known as Wrecker’s Key. While surrounded by the warm aquamarine waters of two tropical oceans, he not only falls in love with the key but also establishes a close bond with the free-spirited locals who call it home.
But all isn’t blue skies, swaying palms, and coconut oil on Wrecker’s Key. There’s trouble wafting in the warm breezes that caress the island. Although Sonny certainly isn’t looking for romance, he finds himself falling for his next door neighbor. Ex-model Julie Albright just may be the kindest, most beautiful woman to ever grace his eyes, but there’s a snag. She has a small physical flaw that, no matter how hard he tries, Sonny can’t overlook. And his feelings are no secret to Julie. She can read them, and they weigh as heavy on her heart as they do on his. Then things get even worse. One night, under the cover of darkness, danger drifts up the deep, silent currents from the lower keys—serious danger—life and death danger. And Sonny Raines finds himself right in the middle of it.
166 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2013
47 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Tom Winton
32 books90 followersTom Winton has done everything from working on a railroad gang in the Colorado Rockies to driving a taxicab in some of New York’s most dangerous neighborhoods. He has also been a mailman, a salesman, an entrepreneur and more. Since having his first book published in 2011 he’s written eight more, and they’ve all been bestsellers.
Said to be a man who writes with his pen dipped in his soul, Tom has been listed as one of Amazon's Top 100 "Most Popular Authors" in both Literary Fiction and in Mystery, Thriller and Suspense. He has also been named by Wattpad (the world’s largest online reading platform) as one of their most followed authors.
Tom Winton lives on the east coast of Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 11, 2014
Tom Winton must be channeling the spirit of Ernest Hemingway. If you liked “The Old Man and the Sea”, you’ll love “A Second Chance in Paradise”. Like Winton’s previous book, “Four Days With Hemingway’s Ghost” this novel has a lot in common with old Papa’s titles. It’s about a “wounded warrior”. It takes place in the Florida Keys. There’s a lot of fishing, ocean storms, and battles of several kinds that pit man against nature. When the hero, Sonny, lands a 165 pound fish, the description is so vivid that you’ll swear you’ve suffered line cuts on your own hands, and you’ll wonder why your back hurts.
Sonny Raines is a furniture salesman in New York. After telling his boss off, and quitting his job, he comes home to find out his wife, Wendy, is having an affair. He packs his bags into his old van and heads for Florida to start a new life. He settles into a small town just outside Key West where he meets good common people who also have battle scars like his own. He finds a new job, makes a new life, and falls in love again. But while he is at it, he gets pulled into a dispute about a real estate developer, protected mango trees, and a threat to the new life he’s learned to love.
If you’re a fan of Hemingway’s scarred heroes, and you want to read a six-star future best seller, here you go. If you are a budding author who wants to study the work of a master, well, this is how it’s done, son.
Agents and editors will blog and write articles about the “rules” of writing, and point to techniques that no author should even think of sending in. It is a rare and talented writer who can get away with breaking those rules. One of those rules is that a writer should never say “little did he know”. Another rule is that background information should be delivered in small doses. Too much background at one time is known as an “information dump.” As a rule, background should not exceed more than a page at a time.
In this story, Winton successfully uses the “I didn’t know this at the time, but…” ploy, and follows it with pages of background that cover Julie’s engagement to her former fiancée, a car accident, and a resulting handicap. It’s done so smoothly that the reader doesn’t even notice the rules are being broken. After reading that chapter, I had to stop and consider the feat this author pulled off. I read the chapter again, just to admire the beauty and skill of the way it was written.
The love scene is also excellently portrayed. While written from a man’s point of view, using tasteful language and descriptions, the scene comes off the way a woman wants it. It’s not just climactic, but tender and loving at the same time, giving, not taking, passionate, yet tender. Wendy was a complete fool to ever let Sonny go.
The action scenes are also tastefully described, yet make you gouge the edges of your Kindle and squirm in your seat. These scenes prove that, with skill, a writer doesn’t need to resort to guts to make a book gut wrenching.
The only thing that could possibly improve the story would be if Sonny realized that being sterile is a sort of handicap, too. That would have motivated the ending better, but even without that insight, the ending will make you say “aaaaaaaah” and you’ll be tempted to read it again and again.
Sonny Raines is a furniture salesman in New York. After telling his boss off, and quitting his job, he comes home to find out his wife, Wendy, is having an affair. He packs his bags into his old van and heads for Florida to start a new life. He settles into a small town just outside Key West where he meets good common people who also have battle scars like his own. He finds a new job, makes a new life, and falls in love again. But while he is at it, he gets pulled into a dispute about a real estate developer, protected mango trees, and a threat to the new life he’s learned to love.
If you’re a fan of Hemingway’s scarred heroes, and you want to read a six-star future best seller, here you go. If you are a budding author who wants to study the work of a master, well, this is how it’s done, son.
Agents and editors will blog and write articles about the “rules” of writing, and point to techniques that no author should even think of sending in. It is a rare and talented writer who can get away with breaking those rules. One of those rules is that a writer should never say “little did he know”. Another rule is that background information should be delivered in small doses. Too much background at one time is known as an “information dump.” As a rule, background should not exceed more than a page at a time.
In this story, Winton successfully uses the “I didn’t know this at the time, but…” ploy, and follows it with pages of background that cover Julie’s engagement to her former fiancée, a car accident, and a resulting handicap. It’s done so smoothly that the reader doesn’t even notice the rules are being broken. After reading that chapter, I had to stop and consider the feat this author pulled off. I read the chapter again, just to admire the beauty and skill of the way it was written.
The love scene is also excellently portrayed. While written from a man’s point of view, using tasteful language and descriptions, the scene comes off the way a woman wants it. It’s not just climactic, but tender and loving at the same time, giving, not taking, passionate, yet tender. Wendy was a complete fool to ever let Sonny go.
The action scenes are also tastefully described, yet make you gouge the edges of your Kindle and squirm in your seat. These scenes prove that, with skill, a writer doesn’t need to resort to guts to make a book gut wrenching.
The only thing that could possibly improve the story would be if Sonny realized that being sterile is a sort of handicap, too. That would have motivated the ending better, but even without that insight, the ending will make you say “aaaaaaaah” and you’ll be tempted to read it again and again.
November 3, 2015
A second Chance in Paradise by Tom Winton is a smooth read that took me away from my own life which put everything into perspective from reading about the tough times. Still, this is an uplifting story with plenty of guts and heart.
This is realistic and powerful. Full of real-life emotion and passion, the writing pulls you right into the center of the drama. There is an honesty that says something about the character of the author. Emotionally charged, I enjoyed the unsteady ride.
Quote ~
"Slowly but deliberately - as if in a trance, I approached her. With each small step my tormented eyes cut deeper into hers. They spoke to her - cried out to her, and she understood them. They told her what she had done to me. They told her my heart felt like it was being wrenched by a thousand savage hands."
This is realistic and powerful. Full of real-life emotion and passion, the writing pulls you right into the center of the drama. There is an honesty that says something about the character of the author. Emotionally charged, I enjoyed the unsteady ride.
Quote ~
"Slowly but deliberately - as if in a trance, I approached her. With each small step my tormented eyes cut deeper into hers. They spoke to her - cried out to her, and she understood them. They told her what she had done to me. They told her my heart felt like it was being wrenched by a thousand savage hands."
July 17, 2018
This book seemed like it couldn't decide if it was a romance, a mystery suspense or whatever else. The main character finds his wife cheating on him on his 39th birthday, also the same day he quits his job. I would have felt bad for him, but he was not a likeable character at all, and so shallow.
He moves from Long Island to the Florida keys to start over. He keeps going on and on about how in love with his wife he was, but all he can talk about is her looks, no other qualities about her. He then meets a girl, Julie, in the Keys who is a former model and sweet and lovely, but she has a "handicap". She is missing two fingers on her left hand. Apparently the H is so amazing that he just can't get past this "handicap" and lets her know about it too. And she is understanding about it. Please, she should have told him where to go in no uncertain terms.
He then gets involved in a mystery of sorts with his employer and some other people in the keys. Apparently someone is out to get them and they are taking matters into their own hands. He sort of leaves them high and dry too.
By the end, it just wanted it to be over.
He moves from Long Island to the Florida keys to start over. He keeps going on and on about how in love with his wife he was, but all he can talk about is her looks, no other qualities about her. He then meets a girl, Julie, in the Keys who is a former model and sweet and lovely, but she has a "handicap". She is missing two fingers on her left hand. Apparently the H is so amazing that he just can't get past this "handicap" and lets her know about it too. And she is understanding about it. Please, she should have told him where to go in no uncertain terms.
He then gets involved in a mystery of sorts with his employer and some other people in the keys. Apparently someone is out to get them and they are taking matters into their own hands. He sort of leaves them high and dry too.
By the end, it just wanted it to be over.
February 4, 2014
I really enjoyed this book very much, especially the beginning. I applaud the author for being bold enough to point out the settle prejudices that people have against physically challenged people. The story also touches on what some real estate developers are willing to do for money. I wish the book had stayed on a more personal course but I love a good ending. Worth a read.
November 11, 2017
A furniture salesman is fed up with his job and comes home to find that his wife has been screwing her boss. Feeling destroyed, he spends a few months working with an old friend and then makes his way to the Florida Keys to try to rebuild his life. He finds a great place to start from and a wonderful woman who is as attracted as he is, but he screws that up. In a short time he gets involved with longtime residents to try to thwart some legal land grabbers and then the violence begins. It is certainly a different look at life in the keys and the bottom feeders exploiting them.
Dave Clark does a fine job as narrator.
Dave Clark does a fine job as narrator.
February 27, 2020
Another excellent story
There is one thing that I always get when I read a Tom Winton book and that is a feeling of being THERE. His story telling ability continues to amaze. His characters are authentic and their thoughts mimic their feelings. The main character, Sonny, struggled with betrayal and I was disappointed for only a hot minute in his reaction to a minuscule issue, but Tom turned the man around. Keep writing, Tom!
There is one thing that I always get when I read a Tom Winton book and that is a feeling of being THERE. His story telling ability continues to amaze. His characters are authentic and their thoughts mimic their feelings. The main character, Sonny, struggled with betrayal and I was disappointed for only a hot minute in his reaction to a minuscule issue, but Tom turned the man around. Keep writing, Tom!
April 16, 2014
Tom Winton. Superb
A Second Chance in Paradise
After catching his wife out having an affair with her boss,Sonny packs his bags and heads down to Florida.
This book follows Sonny and his adventures in trying to make a new life for himself he has some good times but also some very bad times as well. This is the first book by Tom Winton that I have read but it won't be the last. You will enjoy reading this book and it goes along at a fair pace. It will also keep your attention all the way to the end. Highly recommend this book. Tom Winton is now on my list of must read authors.
5stars. 16 April 2014.
A Second Chance in Paradise
After catching his wife out having an affair with her boss,Sonny packs his bags and heads down to Florida.
This book follows Sonny and his adventures in trying to make a new life for himself he has some good times but also some very bad times as well. This is the first book by Tom Winton that I have read but it won't be the last. You will enjoy reading this book and it goes along at a fair pace. It will also keep your attention all the way to the end. Highly recommend this book. Tom Winton is now on my list of must read authors.
5stars. 16 April 2014.
July 22, 2016
Long Island landscaper and his wife are feeling the results of the poor economy and money is tight. When he comes home early one day to find her in bed with her boss, he has had enough and packs up and moves out. After the divorce is final, he heads for the Florida Keys and sets himself up on a small key where he gets a job in a bait & tackle shop while renting an old trailer in a small park behind a general store. He soon makes friends and alerts the residents when he sees signs of a developer about to despoil the protected land on the neighboring key. Not a bad read, interesting characters and setting.
December 4, 2015
"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."
I listened to this audiobook and almost from the start I loathed the protagonist. I found no sympathy for his shallow character. I wanted to throat punch Sonny Raines until the last quarter of the novel.. He did fortunately seem to grow in the end. On another day I may have felt differently, but I doubt it.
I listened to this audiobook and almost from the start I loathed the protagonist. I found no sympathy for his shallow character. I wanted to throat punch Sonny Raines until the last quarter of the novel.. He did fortunately seem to grow in the end. On another day I may have felt differently, but I doubt it.
January 27, 2016
This might almost be a tourist brochure for the Florida Keys, with it's rich descriptions of the peace and beauty of this chain of little islands. Certainly it left me wishing I could take a trip there! It probably isn't the best of Tom Winton's impressive body of work (I thought it was let down by some inconsistencies in character development) but it was still a story well told with a smooth and captivating flow of words leading to a satisfying conclusion.
May 7, 2014
Excellent read
Super character development in this book. Sonny seeks to run away from his broken marriage and the love he thought he had haunts him. Packing up and heading for Key West, he stops short on Wrecker Key. There his life changes forever in a way he never thought would happen.
J.W. Thompson
Author of Rusty Steele
Super character development in this book. Sonny seeks to run away from his broken marriage and the love he thought he had haunts him. Packing up and heading for Key West, he stops short on Wrecker Key. There his life changes forever in a way he never thought would happen.
J.W. Thompson
Author of Rusty Steele
not-going-to-finish
October 16, 2014The first 5 chapters were so engrossing I was surprised this book wasn't a prize winner somewhere. Not sure what happened, but the next 3 chapters didn't come out with the same quality, and the 9th chapter just felt like it belonged in an 'Archie' comic book. I think the author has the ability, just needs to think through where the story should go and rework it --- but that's just my opinion.
January 19, 2014
I enjoyed the story somewhat, but not so much the main character. I think Sonny was extremely shallow - Julie's handicap bothered him to the point he couldn't see of a relationship with her - what a turkey. And he kept thinking of his ex - the cheater.
April 5, 2014
Having published books myself I know how difficult it is to please everyone and even editing is tough. This has a few high points but there were more flat ones giving it an uneven pace and making me want to rush through some pages but linger and think about others. I applaud the work and effort
January 12, 2014
The preposterous claims linking this author with Ernest Hemingway aside, this novel leaves me speechless in the most rotten of ways.
March 16, 2014
Weak writing takes away from what is otherwise not a bad storyline. Can't beat the Florida Keys place-setting, though.
September 7, 2014
I expected more Key West, more fishing, more paradise. There was very little, but plenty of whining from a grown man that I just wanted to punch out. Needs editing and more fishing.
April 5, 2017
This book was very well written. Characters were wonderful and the storyline was fantastic. I really enjoyed this book.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews