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The Summer of Second Chances
After catching her husband at a seedy motel with another woman, 54-year-old therapist Maggie Mitchell watches her carefully constructed life implode—on camera.
When a viral video of her parking lot confrontation destroys her reputation as a relationship expert, Maggie faces a cascade of canceled appointments, lost speaking engagements, and a marriage in ruins. Worse yet, her husband Greg claims she's the one who's been lying—about a secret that could shatter their daughter's world.
Desperate for escape, Maggie accepts an invitation from Liz, her pen pal of 27 years whom she's never actually met. In a remote mountain cabin in North Carolina, surrounded by nothing but trees and possibilities, Maggie begins to question her marriage, her career, and the safe, predictable life she's built.
As long-buried truths surface and her professional world crumbles around her, Maggie must decide—will she fight to salvage the life she's known for twenty years, or embrace the terrifying freedom of starting over?
A summer story about second chances, female friendship, and discovering who you really are when everything you've built falls apart.
This is Book 1 of 6 in the Gingercake Mountain series. Pre-order your copy now!
When a viral video of her parking lot confrontation destroys her reputation as a relationship expert, Maggie faces a cascade of canceled appointments, lost speaking engagements, and a marriage in ruins. Worse yet, her husband Greg claims she's the one who's been lying—about a secret that could shatter their daughter's world.
Desperate for escape, Maggie accepts an invitation from Liz, her pen pal of 27 years whom she's never actually met. In a remote mountain cabin in North Carolina, surrounded by nothing but trees and possibilities, Maggie begins to question her marriage, her career, and the safe, predictable life she's built.
As long-buried truths surface and her professional world crumbles around her, Maggie must decide—will she fight to salvage the life she's known for twenty years, or embrace the terrifying freedom of starting over?
A summer story about second chances, female friendship, and discovering who you really are when everything you've built falls apart.
This is Book 1 of 6 in the Gingercake Mountain series. Pre-order your copy now!
79 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2025
1174 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 23, 2025
First book in the series and is dramatic.
Emotions flying high and nobody knows what happened and what next.
The question is “ why” to everything.
The answer is,unknown….
Interesting read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Emotions flying high and nobody knows what happened and what next.
The question is “ why” to everything.
The answer is,unknown….
Interesting read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 3, 2025
After catching her husband at a seedy motel with another woman, 54-year-old therapist Maggie Mitchell watches her carefully constructed life implode—on camera.
When a viral video of her parking lot confrontation destroys her reputation as a relationship expert, Maggie faces a cascade of canceled appointments, lost speaking engagements, and a marriage in ruins. Worse yet, her husband Greg claims she's the one who's been lying—about a secret that could shatter their daughter's world.
Desperate for escape, Maggie accepts an invitation from Liz, her pen pal of 27 years whom she's never actually met. In a remote mountain cabin in North Carolina, surrounded by nothing but trees and possibilities, Maggie begins to question everything: her marriage, her career, and the safe, predictable life she's built.
As long-buried truths surface and her professional world crumbles around her, Maggie must decide—will she fight to salvage the life she's known for twenty years, or embrace the terrifying freedom of starting over?
This contemporary, clean, and wholesome starting-over, small-town friends-to-lovers second-chance romance is page-turning with exceptional world-building in the small town of Gingercake Mountain, North Carolina, where the sunrises and sunsets are magnificently painted across the majestic sky in vibrant hues, and characters who are resilient, independent, heartbroken, overwhelmed, emotionally wrecked, captivating, and realistic. Their journey is enthralling with the summer of second chances, a tame romance, divorce, later-in-life romance, second chances, female friendships, discovering who you really are when everything you've built falls apart, drama, heartfelt emotions that will leave readers needing Kleenex/Puffs to wipe away the tears that are threatening to spill down their cheeks, romantic suspense, action, adventure, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with the summer of second chances and a friends-to-lovers romance in a world where love and loss collide making for one unforgettable journey of self-discovery.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
When a viral video of her parking lot confrontation destroys her reputation as a relationship expert, Maggie faces a cascade of canceled appointments, lost speaking engagements, and a marriage in ruins. Worse yet, her husband Greg claims she's the one who's been lying—about a secret that could shatter their daughter's world.
Desperate for escape, Maggie accepts an invitation from Liz, her pen pal of 27 years whom she's never actually met. In a remote mountain cabin in North Carolina, surrounded by nothing but trees and possibilities, Maggie begins to question everything: her marriage, her career, and the safe, predictable life she's built.
As long-buried truths surface and her professional world crumbles around her, Maggie must decide—will she fight to salvage the life she's known for twenty years, or embrace the terrifying freedom of starting over?
This contemporary, clean, and wholesome starting-over, small-town friends-to-lovers second-chance romance is page-turning with exceptional world-building in the small town of Gingercake Mountain, North Carolina, where the sunrises and sunsets are magnificently painted across the majestic sky in vibrant hues, and characters who are resilient, independent, heartbroken, overwhelmed, emotionally wrecked, captivating, and realistic. Their journey is enthralling with the summer of second chances, a tame romance, divorce, later-in-life romance, second chances, female friendships, discovering who you really are when everything you've built falls apart, drama, heartfelt emotions that will leave readers needing Kleenex/Puffs to wipe away the tears that are threatening to spill down their cheeks, romantic suspense, action, adventure, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with the summer of second chances and a friends-to-lovers romance in a world where love and loss collide making for one unforgettable journey of self-discovery.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 1, 2025
This is such a great start to a great book. I like when they start right off with the story to draw you in right in the very beginning & this book definitely does that! Maggie is a marriage therapist seeing patients & doing different live AirPods. After drinking a bottle of champagne while waiting for husband to get there & many unanswered texts she does a a phone search with some help. She finds out he’s at the Grapevine Inn. She doesn’t know what where it is or what kind of place it is until the owner explains it. She gets very upset she can’t believe that is where he is & what he’s doing. She takes an uber home & just as they go by she orders the drive to pull into the Inn & she sees him with another woman. She gets out & confronts Greg, her husband. It does go well & someone conveniently is there filming & smears it all over the internet. Her daughter sees it & all of the responses & is fierce with her dad. Maggie, her pen pal for 27 years emails her at the most convenient time asking her to give her a call. What an exciting beginning to this series. They love to keep you hanging.
July 4, 2025
when a relationship "expert" us faced with betrayal, personal and career damages follow.
a chance for a vacation before getting herself back together gives her opportunities to breathe, and to discover some partners can really surprise you with the depths they are willing to go to cause hurts.
surviving midlife re sets with friends and chosen family might well be all that's left in hhe aftermath
intense serial reading that keeps the drama going. .
in book 2, instead of meeting her husband to celebrate, she found herself alone, and her husband apparently where no wife would want to find a husband.
if someone came to you with rumors about someone you loved, would you chase thrm alone, or face them together?
stumbling into anger, misinformation and surprises might take this woman back to a road not traveled
how many chances does a person get to make a right or wrong turn?
one of the worst things I ever heard someone I had lost my heart to say as he was holding me : I hate it. I can't stand it.
her therapist persona casts the love of her young heart as a man who shattered her heart and made selfish choices - perhaps because he was unaware what was at stake.
the doctor is a bit out of her routine, and perhaps a bit out of her mind, as old and new possibilities take hold of her.
what choices and chances now?
intense midlife reexamination of roads taken, and twists in the plot.
intense, overwhelming and powerful reading.
a chance for a vacation before getting herself back together gives her opportunities to breathe, and to discover some partners can really surprise you with the depths they are willing to go to cause hurts.
surviving midlife re sets with friends and chosen family might well be all that's left in hhe aftermath
intense serial reading that keeps the drama going. .
in book 2, instead of meeting her husband to celebrate, she found herself alone, and her husband apparently where no wife would want to find a husband.
if someone came to you with rumors about someone you loved, would you chase thrm alone, or face them together?
stumbling into anger, misinformation and surprises might take this woman back to a road not traveled
how many chances does a person get to make a right or wrong turn?
one of the worst things I ever heard someone I had lost my heart to say as he was holding me : I hate it. I can't stand it.
her therapist persona casts the love of her young heart as a man who shattered her heart and made selfish choices - perhaps because he was unaware what was at stake.
the doctor is a bit out of her routine, and perhaps a bit out of her mind, as old and new possibilities take hold of her.
what choices and chances now?
intense midlife reexamination of roads taken, and twists in the plot.
intense, overwhelming and powerful reading.
August 26, 2025
Maggie has it all of so she thinks
I love Sage Parker's books but wish she would make them one book. After saying that, this series,starts off with a bang. Maggie Mitchell seems to have it all, a loving husband, a great daughter, and growing recognition as a great therapist. Then her world starts coming apart, after her husband doesn't show up for a celebratory dinner. When she uses an app to track him down, she is surprised where he II s. After a very visible confrontation, Maggie returns home. The next day, the fall out begins. Not sure what to do next, Maggie receives an email from her pen pal asking her to call when she has time. The outcome of that conversation is Maggie packing her car and heading to North Carolina to actually meet her pen pal for the first time face to face. As the two women settle into the house on Gingercake Mountain, Maggie takes stock of her life. Then her husband, Greg leaves a message and Maggie returns the call., but it doesn't go the way she hoped.
I love Sage Parker's books but wish she would make them one book. After saying that, this series,starts off with a bang. Maggie Mitchell seems to have it all, a loving husband, a great daughter, and growing recognition as a great therapist. Then her world starts coming apart, after her husband doesn't show up for a celebratory dinner. When she uses an app to track him down, she is surprised where he II s. After a very visible confrontation, Maggie returns home. The next day, the fall out begins. Not sure what to do next, Maggie receives an email from her pen pal asking her to call when she has time. The outcome of that conversation is Maggie packing her car and heading to North Carolina to actually meet her pen pal for the first time face to face. As the two women settle into the house on Gingercake Mountain, Maggie takes stock of her life. Then her husband, Greg leaves a message and Maggie returns the call., but it doesn't go the way she hoped.
November 10, 2025
Reading the blurb when I saw this book on kindle, I instantly thought it would be a good read. A relationship therapist whose marriage is in trouble…. Well who among us hasn’t had a time when our personal ideas and our professional ones don’t always align?
So, me being me, I jumped right into this story.
And yet once again I have been duped!
This is not a BOOK!
This is not a STORY!
We teach second graders that a story has characters; main and supporting, a setting, a problem, attempts to solve the situation, and a conclusion.
This makes me absolutely ticked off that someone will present what is actually a chapter, a if it is a complete novel.
That reason alone is why I returned the first “installment” and will not download the rest of the story.
At no time when reading the information did I see where it was noted that this was not a real book.
Shame on authors who do this.
Why? Seriously, what is their reasoning? There may be nothing to it, but for some reason it feels dishonest or tricky to me.
Such a shame, it was starting to get good, but hey there are other books, other authors.
So, me being me, I jumped right into this story.
And yet once again I have been duped!
This is not a BOOK!
This is not a STORY!
We teach second graders that a story has characters; main and supporting, a setting, a problem, attempts to solve the situation, and a conclusion.
This makes me absolutely ticked off that someone will present what is actually a chapter, a if it is a complete novel.
That reason alone is why I returned the first “installment” and will not download the rest of the story.
At no time when reading the information did I see where it was noted that this was not a real book.
Shame on authors who do this.
Why? Seriously, what is their reasoning? There may be nothing to it, but for some reason it feels dishonest or tricky to me.
Such a shame, it was starting to get good, but hey there are other books, other authors.
July 5, 2025
Maggie is supposed to meet her husband Greg for a celebratory dinner but he no shows. When she tracks him to a seedy motel and finds him with another woman, she confronts him very publicly. Unfortunately, this is captured on video and is going viral. Maggie is a couple's therapist, and this is a disaster for her career. Her patients all cancel, every speaking engagement is cancelled, and she can't reach Greg. When her pen pal of 27 years Liz reaches out to her and offers for her to come to the mountain cabin she is renting in NC, Maggie decides to leave this nightmare for a while. Greg finally calls her but tells her that she owes him an apology. He knows everything about their daughter Sarah. This is a great start to the series, and I can't wait to learn what happens next. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from BookSprout, and this is my honest review.
July 16, 2025
After catching her husband with another woman, after failing to show up for their dinner at their favourite restaurant, Maggie tracks Greg to a dodgy hotel with another woman in the parking lot. She hires an uber and goes to confront him. Someone video tapes it and it goes viral, and Maggie’s career as a therapist is ruined. Maggie’s pen pal of 27 years who she has never met invites her to the cabin she has rented for 3 months in North Carolina. A 12 drive from Maggie, she arrives before sunset. This is exactly what she needed, she feels relaxed already until she receives Greg’s voicemail and calls him back. He tells Maggie that he didn’t cheat and isn’t apologizing to her but is calling because he says Maggie is lying to him about their daughter and she knows! Maggie’s heart sank… what is the secret? Can’t wait to find out!
July 1, 2025
Maggie had her MD and was a licenced marriage counselor.After doing a podcast on great partnerships( that went VERY WELL) she was meeting her husband of 20+ years to celebrate.
Except after waiting over 25 minutes (he was never late and not returning texts), she had the Maitre D help her with the phone app. to locate him.
The Maitre D found him in seconds and his face paled. He was at the Grapevine Inn (a place know for Afternoon Delights,ect.) She got an Uber(as she had finished off the Champagne while waiting) and found him in the parking lot with another woman!
She went ballistic and it went viral.
Yikes Sage, what a way to start a new series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Except after waiting over 25 minutes (he was never late and not returning texts), she had the Maitre D help her with the phone app. to locate him.
The Maitre D found him in seconds and his face paled. He was at the Grapevine Inn (a place know for Afternoon Delights,ect.) She got an Uber(as she had finished off the Champagne while waiting) and found him in the parking lot with another woman!
She went ballistic and it went viral.
Yikes Sage, what a way to start a new series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 3, 2025
Every time I start a new series by Sage Parker I am always left wanting so much more at the end of every book and this one has my mind conjuring up so many scenarios. Maggie’s life is thrown into chaos when her husband is found with another woman and Maggie’s life spirals so when her penpal suggests she spend some vacation time in a cabin Maggie jumps at the opportunity. Only, when her husband contacts Maggie he drops a bomb about a secret Maggie seems to be hiding and now I am anxiously awaiting the next book to find out the secret. I cannot wait and I know this series will be jaw dropping like all the other books by Ms Parker.
I received an arc copy via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received an arc copy via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
July 1, 2025
My oh my, what is Greg talking about in relation to his daughter, Sarah? What if anything, is Maggie hiding? Will she come out stronger from this downfall and will Greg really prove that he was truly not cheating? Will they be able to survive this bump in their marriage or is it truly over? I cannot wait to see how Sage navigates us through this story. It caught my undivided attention as soon as began to read the story. Another great one is unfolding here and I cannot wait to read all about it!.
July 4, 2025
Relationship Therapist Maggie Mitchell has finally begun to get the recognition she has studied and worked so hard for, when her own relationship with her husband, Greg blows up publicly! How could she have been so ignorant of what was going on and how will she survive the humiliation? When she finally talks to her husband after traveling to the mountains to stay with a friend to be able to compose or recompose her life, the mysteries begin to surface Can’t wait to read the next book in this new series to see where the author, Sage Parker will take us next !.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 6, 2025
The Summer of Second Chances, Book One, is a well written and amazing introduction to the Gingercake Mountain Series which focuses around Maggie who is a licensed therapist and relationship expert who is at the top of her career until she finds and confronts her husband, Greg, at a seeding hotel parking lot with another woman. This book is an excellent and emotional read which touches your heart for Maggie. The book ends in a cliffhanger.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 12, 2025
The Summer of Second Chances, Book 1, launches the Gingercake Mountain story. Maggie is a popular relationship expert. While waiting for her husband of over 20 years to have a celebration dinner, she catches him at a seedy motel with another woman and it is all caught on camera. Her life implodes with jobs and appointments being canceled. Her friend Liz, whom she has never met in person, asks her to vacation at the cabin she has rented in NC and she goes. Wow, this is quite the start to the series, and what a cliffhanger! On to book 2!
July 1, 2025
“The Summer of Second Chances: Book 1” by Sage Parker
-When her husband’s betrayal shatters her world, the heroine faces public humiliation and lost opportunities. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.
The story is gripping and emotional, pulling you into her journey of resilience. A strong start to the series, ending on a cliffhanger that leaves you eager for more.
-When her husband’s betrayal shatters her world, the heroine faces public humiliation and lost opportunities. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.
The story is gripping and emotional, pulling you into her journey of resilience. A strong start to the series, ending on a cliffhanger that leaves you eager for more.
July 2, 2025
Great start to a new series!
Book 1 of this new series had me hooked from page 1. I love the tension, the honest emotions and reactions to a very difficult situation. As Maggie tries to come to grips with the situation, she chooses self-preservation in a very interesting way with an old friend. This series will be another fantastic one by a very talented author. I highly recommend this book.
I read this book as part of an advance reader team. I am voluntarily writing this review.
Book 1 of this new series had me hooked from page 1. I love the tension, the honest emotions and reactions to a very difficult situation. As Maggie tries to come to grips with the situation, she chooses self-preservation in a very interesting way with an old friend. This series will be another fantastic one by a very talented author. I highly recommend this book.
I read this book as part of an advance reader team. I am voluntarily writing this review.
July 3, 2025
Maggie is at a cross road in her life. Let me backup just a little. This book is an outstanding start if what is to come. I learned a bit about Maggie, her background, her crafted life and some beginnings of what she has yet to reveal. The writing style is so accurate for what I think if for a therapist personality. I am looking for to getting deeper in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 5, 2025
This new series is off to a great start! Gripping, enthralling, this had me in its grips from the moment we met Maggie at the restaurant! Shocked to find her hubby at a known seedy inn, Maggie’s world is turned upside down as she thinks he is having an affair after 20 years together. The author spins a tale filled with twists and turns as we follow Maggie’s journey and I look forward to book two!
July 29, 2025
Interesting characters that have to dig deep within themselves to overcome a difficult time in their life. When an unexpected event happens how does she handle everything that comes along with it the good and the bad. Like the setting and the background of the story. Working through a difficult time is challenging and following along with this character makes for very interesting reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 30, 2025
Not sure what to say except another brillant book by Sage Parker. I am feeling so excited for the next book, but I want it now. Its kind of like a good show on tv and you have to wait a week for what happens next...Good Book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 2, 2025
This series is going to be phenomenal! I was glued to this page turner and need book 2 asap! The storyline makes it impossible to put down with drama, conflict, family and friendship. The character development is going to be so interesting to see unfold as the story progresses with each book. Fantastic read! Sage, you've done it again!.
July 5, 2025
Must be read in order. A relationship therapist caught in public doing everything she tells clients not to do. What truths will be revealed and can she recover her former life or is this the beginning of a new life?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 1, 2025
Margaret is a intelligent, hardworking and compassionate woman. She is successful and optimistic. Her story is a mystery and drama.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 2, 2025
I without a doubt HATE cliffhangers, I can't wait to read book 2. Sage has a gift, her writing pulls me in from the first page.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 3, 2025
Maggie, Maggie, Maggie! Wha an exciting quick read. I was not expecting the last few sentences and dialogue!
Sage Parker has me WANTING more. I will definitely be reading more in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sage Parker has me WANTING more. I will definitely be reading more in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 5, 2025
I've read a lot of books written by Sage Parker; she is one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of her books.
This is the first book in the Gingercake Mountain Series; it is the beginning of a new series. The story continues in the next book and needs to be read in order.
This is the first book in the Gingercake Mountain Series; it is the beginning of a new series. The story continues in the next book and needs to be read in order.
July 8, 2025
Maggie finds her husband of twenty years in a compromising position. She is leaves to visit her pen pal of 27 years. The story slowly peels back layers that leads to many questions.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 15, 2025
Maggie is a therapist. Her relationship with her husband blows up publicly and she’s horrified. A call from a friend asking her to visit comes at the right moment.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 4, 2025
A Very Interesting Book
The characters were very smart and thought life was set on a true course. The affair that tore their relationship apart was so intense. The love of close family and friends were very much needed. I really enjoyed this book from start to finish.
The characters were very smart and thought life was set on a true course. The affair that tore their relationship apart was so intense. The love of close family and friends were very much needed. I really enjoyed this book from start to finish.
December 14, 2025
Maggie's story is going to be very interesting. I really liked this first book laid out the situation and her life. I feel like Maggie is my friend. I am looking forward to this series with her.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews