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Second Chances #1
Almost a Family
What do you do when the boy next door turns out to be the only man you’ve ever loved?
When her sister is badly injured, Molly Schaeffer rushes home to look after her niece, Sara. Discovering that her ex, Jason, is living next door makes the task nearly impossible. Six years ago he’d had their lives all mapped out – where they’d go to school, the house, the number of kids they’d have – but Molly refused his ring and broke off the relationship to pursue her own dreams.
The last thing Jason expects is to have feelings for the woman who broke his heart so completely when she chose her career over a life together, but clearly things weren’t as over as they thought. She’s only home for a few weeks and they both know she’s going back to her successful career. Still, neither manage to keep their distance as old sparks ignite a new flame. Can they learn from past mistakes and give their love a second chance, or is this goodbye for good?
When her sister is badly injured, Molly Schaeffer rushes home to look after her niece, Sara. Discovering that her ex, Jason, is living next door makes the task nearly impossible. Six years ago he’d had their lives all mapped out – where they’d go to school, the house, the number of kids they’d have – but Molly refused his ring and broke off the relationship to pursue her own dreams.
The last thing Jason expects is to have feelings for the woman who broke his heart so completely when she chose her career over a life together, but clearly things weren’t as over as they thought. She’s only home for a few weeks and they both know she’s going back to her successful career. Still, neither manage to keep their distance as old sparks ignite a new flame. Can they learn from past mistakes and give their love a second chance, or is this goodbye for good?
219 pages, Paperback
First published January 9, 2007
185 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
About the author
Donna Alward
287 books695 followersSince 2006, New York Times bestseller Donna Jones Alward has enchanted readers with stories of happy endings and homecomings that have won several awards and been translated into over a dozen languages. She’s worked as an administrative assistant, teaching assistant, in retail and as a stay-at-home-mom, but always knew her degree in English Literature would pay off, as she is now happy to be a full-time writer. Her new historical fiction tales blend her love of history with characters who step beyond their biggest fears to claim the lives they desire.
Donna currently lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, with her husband and cats. You can often find her near the water, either kayaking on the lake or walking the sandy beaches to refill her creative well.
Find out more at www.donnajonesalward.com
Donna currently lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, with her husband and cats. You can often find her near the water, either kayaking on the lake or walking the sandy beaches to refill her creative well.
Find out more at www.donnajonesalward.com
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 27, 2017
As far as second chance romances go, this one falls into the category of reasons why I'm not a huge fan. It just took to long (IMO) for the h to realize she was still into H. Then it was over. I prefer my second chance romances to happen within the first 15% of the book not the last.
October 5, 2019
A wonderful and heart touching second chance romance, i loved to read about Molly and Jason as they rekindled the love they had for each other that never got away.
August 2, 2017
Good second chance romance with a few small plot holes and some lovely sentimental extras.
March 31, 2017
2.5
There's nothing really wrong with it, but I just didn't like it. It is extremely angsty for no reason except to be angsty. There's very little story or character development other than the big 'ta-da' moment. I wouldn't say the characters aren't likeable, but I don't like them. Nothing really happens for the entire book, we just need to read all those extra pages between 'this is the problem, and this is the problem solved' when it really could have been sorted in the first chapter if the characters had've put an ounce of 'adult' anywhere... and I mean... anywhere!
There's nothing really wrong with it, but I just didn't like it. It is extremely angsty for no reason except to be angsty. There's very little story or character development other than the big 'ta-da' moment. I wouldn't say the characters aren't likeable, but I don't like them. Nothing really happens for the entire book, we just need to read all those extra pages between 'this is the problem, and this is the problem solved' when it really could have been sorted in the first chapter if the characters had've put an ounce of 'adult' anywhere... and I mean... anywhere!
October 15, 2015
An alright story overall but nothing really memorable about it.
March 22, 2017
Free Ebook
She comes home to take care of her niece while her sister is in the hospital. Her next door neighbor is the man she loved and left 6 years ago, she still loves him.
She comes home to take care of her niece while her sister is in the hospital. Her next door neighbor is the man she loved and left 6 years ago, she still loves him.
May 16, 2017
Almost a Family
This was a wonderful heartwarming story that shows just how much compromise is needed to make a relationship work! Loved it!
This was a wonderful heartwarming story that shows just how much compromise is needed to make a relationship work! Loved it!
March 19, 2018
Light romance and easy to read. Great for a nice quiet day!
February 3, 2019
I loved the affectionate ending!! It was perfect!! The whole story fell into place like a well oiled machine!! Bravo!!!
December 7, 2022
Almost A Family: big city lawyer Molly returns to her hometown after six years away. Her sister, Kim, was in an accident and needs help taking care of her toddler. Little does Molly know that her ex, Jason, is Kim’s neighbor and friend. Can Molly and Jason put the past aside and find love again?
This could have been a novella. The story and the characters were all fine, I guess, but I found the writing to be very repetitive. Just the same thoughts swirling around in Molly/Jason’s heads over and over. It got a little annoying. For me. Like, I got it. I also wasn’t sure why they had feelings for each other aside from nostalgia and wanting to bone. Which I think would have worked for me had this been a much shorter book. In the back half of the book Molly and Jason get a small amount of past, back story, motivations, information about their families and childhoods, but before that they were pretty blank. Which doesn’t always bother me, but the book was so repetitive about other things, maybe this info could have come sooner.
I also just didn’t care much for Jason. Molly made her feelings clear over and over and he just didn’t care. Everything is about him and his wants and feels. Like, leave her be! Just grow up and be a friend! Stop being so manipulative!
All in all, this one just wasn’t for me.
This could have been a novella. The story and the characters were all fine, I guess, but I found the writing to be very repetitive. Just the same thoughts swirling around in Molly/Jason’s heads over and over. It got a little annoying. For me. Like, I got it. I also wasn’t sure why they had feelings for each other aside from nostalgia and wanting to bone. Which I think would have worked for me had this been a much shorter book. In the back half of the book Molly and Jason get a small amount of past, back story, motivations, information about their families and childhoods, but before that they were pretty blank. Which doesn’t always bother me, but the book was so repetitive about other things, maybe this info could have come sooner.
I also just didn’t care much for Jason. Molly made her feelings clear over and over and he just didn’t care. Everything is about him and his wants and feels. Like, leave her be! Just grow up and be a friend! Stop being so manipulative!
All in all, this one just wasn’t for me.
August 20, 2022
I liked the story to begin with, although I didn't like Molly much. I didn't finish because when she is at Jason's house and her little niece is in the next room, they get romantic and he locks the door so they can continue. I didn't think that was too realistic with her niece there especially since she had gone outside earlier in the story by herself. She is only 3 so I thought that would be irresponsible to do so while her mother is in the hospital. Plus it seemed weird since Molly keeps acting like she has no desire to get back with him.
August 3, 2025
This was a beautiful second chance romance story, and I loved every bit of it. Not only was there a second chance for the couple, but also for a set of sisters who really needed it. In spite of being a second chance, it was somewhat of a slow burn due to the stubbornness of both characters. I truly enjoyed watching them wake up and realize what they were doing. I definitely recommend this book to lovers of the subgenre.
February 29, 2024
The story of Jason and Molly made me laugh and cry. Molly was so strong willed that she could not realize what she left so many years ago and Jason was so blind he could understand why Molly left. It takes Sara and Kim to bring them back together and for them to understand each other. I enjoyed this story.
April 24, 2022
This was a fun book to read. It was well written and had a great plot, with lots of fun and a different concept. I enjoy Alward's book as they are fun to read and you are never quite sure what the outcome will be. I can honestly sty they are happy books.
November 4, 2017
3/5 It took a while for anything to really happen.
February 3, 2018
A bit slow moving at times but a good quick read.
May 27, 2022
A Long Time to Get Things Right
This was a fun read. I read it in one setting. The characters were perfect for the story. I like happy endings!
This was a fun read. I read it in one setting. The characters were perfect for the story. I like happy endings!
June 29, 2022
Once Again
When Molly came back to help after her sister's accident, Jason thought he'd never be able to get through it. Losing her once was so hard, how could he ever do it again. No, he just had to keep his distance.
When Molly came back to help after her sister's accident, Jason thought he'd never be able to get through it. Losing her once was so hard, how could he ever do it again. No, he just had to keep his distance.
November 14, 2022
Great story
I loved the story of Molly and Jason but wow they sure had a tough time getting there. Sara was such a cute child, also apparently a matchmaker.
I loved the story of Molly and Jason but wow they sure had a tough time getting there. Sara was such a cute child, also apparently a matchmaker.
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September 30, 2024Fantabulous 🫠😊
February 24, 2026
I like this one. Cute love story. Although it took long enough to get Molly to see things Jason's way. Even if deep in her heart she felt the same, she was very stubborn.
April 25, 2017
It was ok.
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June 23, 2017didn't finish this one. language was disappointing and it didn't hold my attention. Read up to the end of chapter two. The fact that took almost a week says a lot in itself.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews