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Second Chances: A Romance Writers of America Collection

(Stark World #2.5 (One Night))

J. Kenner (Goodreads Author),

Tina Ferraro (Goodreads Author),

Christina Lauren (Goodreads Author),

Brandi Willis Schreiber (Goodreads Author),

Liliana Hart (Goodreads Author),

Alyssa Day (Goodreads Author),

Rachel Hauck (Goodreads Author),

Damon Suede (Goodreads Author),

more…

4.06 · Rating details · 246 ratings · 113 reviews

Do you believe in second chances?

Romance Writers of America® brings together seventeen of today's hottest authors in an anthology of never-before-published tales that reveal true love always deserves a happy ending.

Follow New York Times best-selling authors J. Kenner and Christina Lauren back to reader-favorite worlds.

New York Times bestseller Alyssa Day sprinkles dj ...more

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Kindle Edition, 399 pages

Published September 12th 2017 by Romance Writers of America, Inc.

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Sep 05, 2017 Lacey (laceybooklovers) rated it really liked it

Shelves: adult, arc, blog-review, contemporary-romance, anthology, second-chance-romance, review-copy

Originally posted at Booklovers For Life

I love love love second chance romances, so this anthology chock-full of second chance romance stories was perfect for me. It was interesting to see so many different takes on this trope. And despite being short story length, they were all highly developed and well-written. If you love second chance romances too, I highly recommend picking this up!

It’s hard for me to review this with seventeen different stories, but I do want to mention few that stood out Originally posted at Booklovers For Life

I love love love second chance romances, so this anthology chock-full of second chance romance stories was perfect for me. It was interesting to see so many different takes on this trope. And despite being short story length, they were all highly developed and well-written. If you love second chance romances too, I highly recommend picking this up!

It’s hard for me to review this with seventeen different stories, but I do want to mention few that stood out to me. Christina Lauren’s The Fisher Men: Levi’s Story was the one that I was most anticipating, and this beloved author duo didn’t disappoint. Levi is the youngest of the Roberts men (he’s Finn’s younger brother!), who are all part of a fishing company reality show. When the only girl he ever loved shows up on his boat to be his nurse after he gets injured, he gets a second chance at admitting his feelings and winning her heart. I adored this sweet, simple story. I wish we could have gotten more of it, not only because I loved Levi and Emmy, but also because I loved seeing Finn and their other brother.

Scandalous by Cassandra Dean is a historical romance and a second chance romance ten years in the making. The scandalous Earl of Edgington may have abandoned Sofie when she needed him the most, but now that she’s back from her travels around the world, he’s not about to make the same mistake and let her go again. Angsty yet sweet, I loved this story and its determined hero.

One Night was my first J. Kenner story, but it won’t be my last. It’s a fast-paced, sexy romance about putting your heart on the line and taking a second chance at love. I love when one night stands turn into something more, and Penny and Blake’s story just worked for me. I definitely need to go and read the rest of the Stark World books!

With seventeen stories in Second Chances, you’re sure to find one that you love. There’s every kind of second chance romance in this anthology, from being jilted at the altar to falling in love with a magical Djinn. They are all quick, easy, romantic reads that are sure to satisfy the second chance romance lover.

Thanks to the authors for generously providing me an ARC to review.

Amazon Ebook: http://amzn.to/2vCTsLs
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/2yvr9n4

Liked this review? Subscribe to Booklovers For Life for more! ...more

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Sep 10, 2017 Sissy's Romance Book Review rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-netgalley, trt, 4-star, 2017-read, box-set

Second Chances is a Box Set of Novella Books from different Authors with about 399 pages. I love box sets like these that give you a taste of how the Authors write is a plus with me. In addition, I like Novella books when I am waiting or when I have a few minutes to kill...I am one of those people that once I start a book I cannot put a book down. I have read some of the authors in this set so I knew I would have a few go to books.
Thanks Authors for putting this box set together!
"My honest revi ...more

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Aug 09, 2017 Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ added it

Shelves: anthology

So admittedly, I only got this anthology for the novella by Christina Lauren. What? I'm an addict when it comes to their writing. If you're like me, you're going to be thrilled to be getting Levi's story. And if you're not familiar, Levi is Finn's younger brother from Sweet Filthy Boy.

There are a whole lot of authors packed into this anthology, and this worked out well for me because I got a taste of some authors I've been curious to try but haven't had the chance to yet.

Each story has the same ...more

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Sep 06, 2017 Ambur rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance

I've always been a sucker for a good second chance romance, so when I saw that RWA was putting together an anthology titled, Second Chances, I jumped at the chance to read it! I actually didn't look at the author list until I was about to start reading it...and when I saw that the first story in the anthology was written by Christina Lauren, I was thrilled! :D

To be honest, I don't typically read anthologies all the way through, but with this one I did! I did it because I wanted to give the enti I've always been a sucker for a good second chance romance, so when I saw that RWA was putting together an anthology titled, Second Chances, I jumped at the chance to read it! I actually didn't look at the author list until I was about to start reading it...and when I saw that the first story in the anthology was written by Christina Lauren, I was thrilled! :D

To be honest, I don't typically read anthologies all the way through, but with this one I did! I did it because I wanted to give the entire anthology a fair shot, and I actually really enjoyed the stories and wanted to keep reading it, too. As I've hinted already, the Second Chances anthology starts off with a story by one of my favourite authors, Christina Lauren! It was titled "The Fisher Men: Levi's Story" and it featured, you guessed it!--Finn's brother, Levi! Levi is one of the secondary characters from their Wild Seasons series, and this anthology was worth reading for me for their story alone. I absolutely LOVED Levi's story and I only wish that it had been longer! haha ;)

Other than Christina Lauren, I hadn't actually read anything by any of the other authors in this anthology until I read their short stories here, but I enjoyed them all. I definitely liked some more than others, but they all had their merits and I think this anthology would be great for all romance readers, especially if you're already a fan of any of these wonderful authors! I was surprised that two of my other standout favourites in the anthology were the historical romances: "Scandalous" by Cassandra Dean, and "The Jilt" by Sharon Sobel. And the last few stories had me tearing up, especially "The Family Tree" by Brandi Willis Schreiber! The final story in the anthology, "Jake's Djinn" by Alyssa Day also surprised me! It's the only fantasy story in the anthology so it felt a little out of place at first, but I loved it (made me want to go back and read the author's books from the same series)!

I think what I loved most about this anthology was that the authors interpreted second chances in different ways. Most of them were what you would expect, couples that had their time together, had some kind of breakup/separation, and they came back together, but they were all still completely unique which I really loved! Other were second chances of another sort, which was interesting! I also loved that there was a mix of genres. Some were contemporary, others were historical, and as I previously mentioned, there was even one fantasy! The age range varied too. A couple of the stories were young adult and were sweeter, light romances, while others were a bit steamier and were aimed at a more mature audience. Most of the stories were m/f romances, but there was one m/m, and all of the stories were definitely adorable! Some of them had me laughing, others had me crying, but they all left me smiling in the end!

Overall, I really loved the Second Chances anthology! I don't think you necessarily have to read all of the stories at once--it would be a great anthology to come back to whenever you were craving a quickie romantic novella, but if you do choose to read them all in one go, like I did, I don't think you'll be disappointed! This is the perfect anthology for anyone who has a romantic side, and loves happy ever afters! ...more

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Sep 10, 2017 Wit & Wonder Books rated it really liked it

** ARC provided by the author for an honest review **

A second chance as defined by Merriam-Webster is an opportunity to try something again after failing one time. In the Romance Writers of America collection, Second Chances seventeen authors give their spin on second chance. These romantic short stories vary in age and genre, guaranteeing there is something for everyone.

The anthology starts off with a visit to the Roberts brothers from one of my favorites, Christina Lauren’s Wild Seasons series ** ARC provided by the author for an honest review **

A second chance as defined by Merriam-Webster is an opportunity to try something again after failing one time. In the Romance Writers of America collection, Second Chances seventeen authors give their spin on second chance. These romantic short stories vary in age and genre, guaranteeing there is something for everyone.

The anthology starts off with a visit to the Roberts brothers from one of my favorites, Christina Lauren’s Wild Seasons series. The Fisher Men: Levi’s Story is you guessed it, baby brother Levi’s chance at love. This one was super sweet, as Levi gets a second chance with his high school crush, Emmy, when the reality show hires her to be his nurse after an accident. Levi is a sweetheart and his flustering around Emmy is adorable. Of course, Finn and Colton are there to give him hell for his feelings. I only have one complaint with this story, it was way too short!

Another one of my favorites is J. Kenner’s Stark World. In her short story One Night, Damien’s secretary Penny comes face to face with the one night stand she’s never forgotten, Blake Thornton. When he shows up at Stark Industries by chance and lays out a deal for the night, she agrees because she still wants him. But is it seduction or punishment for him? These two are hot! With cameos by Damien and Jackson, I loved this stroll in the world of Stark.

Let’s switch gears for a minute. In the only paranormal story, Alyssa Day closes out the anthology with Jake’s Djinn. Jake is a wizard and Donya is a Djinn, they have history in the form of a night of wishes in Vegas a few years ago. Neither has forgotten the other. These two are so entertaining. I found myself laughing out loud at their bickering and quips. An absolutely wonderful and fun story to end with.

This anthology has a little bit of everything, from young adult to romantic suspense to historical, there’s even a M/M story. Besides my favorites I mentioned already there are authors that were new to me but are definitely on my radar now. This collection is a must read for those who believe love deserves a second chance. FOUR stars to all the incredible authors included in this amazing collection. ...more

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Sep 19, 2017 Ann Lorz rated it liked it

Shelves: anthology

Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog: http://romancingthereaders.blogspot.c...

I really love anthologies. It's the perfect way of finding new authors or just enjoy a short story by a author you love. Because of all I just said I have to admit that I was very excited about reading Second Chances.

The fact that they are stories about second chance romances makes it easier dealing with how short the stories are. The characters already know each other so all that's left to do is fall in love...aga ...more

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Sep 06, 2017 Lynne rated it it was amazing

I'm a total sucker for 2nd chance romance- ESPECIALLY any story with high school 2nds chances, which was why I loved Kerri Carpenter's story so much. It hit all my buttons; nerdy computer geek, reunion story, friends-to-lovers. Total perfection! ...more

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Sep 02, 2017 The Romance Book Disciple (Samantha) added it

Shelves: arc-s

So, I have been really digging anthologies lately! I love getting short stories I can dive into and finish in one sitting and I love getting a peek into authors I might not have heard of or read before. In this case, those authors I have never read before were ALL of them except Liliana Hart and Tara Wyatt. Yep, I have never read J. Kenner or Christina Lauren. So, here is a perfect way for me to get a taste of LOTS of great new-to-me romance authors! Yay!

All the stories have 1 thing in com ...more

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Sep 12, 2017 Sofia Lazaridou rated it really liked it

*This review is only for One night by J. Kenner. I am not into second chance romances and I don't think I will read the rest of the stories. *

One night is the latest addition to the Stark universe. It follows Penny and Blake two people who hooked up before and they went their different ways. Now they get their chance at love once again when Blake sees Penny at Damien's office. I liked the book and the characters. The story is stand alone and that makes it easy to read. I would have wanted to exp ...more

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Sep 03, 2017 Tanaka K (The Romantic Angel Blog) rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs, heartwarming, alpha, dirty-talkers, hottest-sex-scene, second-chance, just-plain-hot

Second Chances features 17 unforgettable and different stories about second chances. I love this trope so much and I got the opportunity to read One Night by J. Kenner. One Night is a sultry and erotic romance about love and taking chances. It is set in the Stark World and I seriously adore the Stark World because it gives so many goosebumps and sweeps me away from reality. J. Kenner is one of my go to authors and her writing is so descriptive that I find myself transported to the she creates. O ...more

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Sep 07, 2017 Carlene rated it it was amazing

Oh my goodness, if you are a fan of romance, the RWA Anthology on second chances is going to make you a very happy reader. I especially loved Kerri's Carpenter's sweet new adult story, Homecoming. It's entertaining from the very first lines in which we find out the hero's name is Ford and he and his bestie Lana Banana have definitely got more than meets the eyes going on with each other. I couldn't stop rooting for them and I think you'll fall in love just as quickly as I did. Happy reading and ...more

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Sep 10, 2017 Karen Mc rated it it was amazing

Sometimes you need a quick fix when reading, words you can inhale with lightning speed. You need a tale that is going to tempt you to read further but one that you can quickly gobble up in one sitting. You may need a test drive into new author territory before jumping behind the wheel or you may need more from your favorite author. Anotholgies like Second Chances by the Romance Writers of America are the perfect places to test drive authors' words before you thrust full throttle into their books ...more

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Aug 10, 2017 Dawn rated it really liked it

Anything by J. Kenner is always a definite read for me. I'm a huge fan and it is just an additional plus when it is in the Stark world.

This one being Penny and Blake. Penny is a floater for Damien's company and today she is on his administrative desk. But in a previous world she knew Blake for one of the most beautiful, hot nights of her life. So when she gets a call that her Blake is in the building she all but freezes.

And then the elevator dings. Will this be a second chance?

I received this ...more

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Sep 12, 2017 Michelle rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2017, second-chance-romance, anthology, netgalley, second-chances, contemporary, september-2017, contemporary-romance

ARC provided by publisher and author in exchange for an honest review

Review of One Night by J. Kenner: 4.5 Second Times A Charm Stars!

One Night by J. Kenner is a sweet, sexy fast paced second chance romance of two people reuniting. Penny and Blake had a passionate one night stand after meeting each other when their flights were delayed due to a snow storm. Fast forward to several months later, these two reunites when Blake has to do business with the Stark Enterprise, where Penny happens to be t ...more

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Sep 12, 2017 Shelee at Book Reader Chronicles rated it really liked it

Lovers of second-chance romances will fall in love with Second Chances. There is a story for everyone, from Contemporary to Young Adult to Paranormal to Historical to Romantic Suspense and anywhere in between. Some familiar faces from Christina Lauren’s Wild Seasons series and J. Kenner’s Stark world pop up, and from there, for me, there’s a whole host of authors for the sampling that I’ve never had the chance to read before which is always the best part of an anthology. And RWA did an amazi ...more

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Sep 04, 2017 Sue "DavinciKittie" Brown-Moore rated it really liked it

Shelves: anthology, short-story

Read the full review—including an exclusive Q&A with authors Alyssa Day & Brandi Willis Schreiber—on GraveTells: http://bit.ly/GTSecondChances

4.5/5 stars total

THE FAMILY TREE by BRANDI WILLIS SCHREIBER
The Family Tree is a lovely, touching story about second chances—not just in love but with family. The setting and the hero’s nationality (Scottish) cast a homey, romantic glow on the budding relationship between these two people who have suffered loss but yearn for a special someone to call th ...more

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Sep 18, 2017 Bookgasms Book Blog rated it it was amazing

Shelves: missy

I am just loving an anthology lately! I am still reading through the excellent novellas contained within Second Chances but I wanted to highlight two of the best that I've read so far: One Night by J. Kenner and The Fisher Men by Christina Lauren.

In One Night, we meet Penny and Blake. They shared One Night of passion, but haven't seen each other since. Until Blake happens to show up for a meeting at Stark Enterprises. Their reconciliation begins with dinner and goes from there . . . One Night is ...more

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Sep 02, 2017 Jessi rated it really liked it

Shelves: _2017, anthology, contemporary, historical, m-m, romance

One of my favorite tropes for romance short stories and novellas is the second chance. It makes it infinitely more believable for two people to find their HEA. It clears up the need for a first-meet and makes more room for a good story. This is a really nice mix of stories. I didn't love all of them but I didn't need to, this was more an introduction to the authors and I think that most of these stories probably nice captured the author's tone and writing style.
With sixteen stories, I'm not goin ...more

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Sep 12, 2017 Sandy S rated it really liked it

NOTE: My review covers ONE NIGHT by J. Kenner. I will tack on additional reviews as I read.

About the book: Release Date September 12, 2017

ONE NIGHT by J. Kenner is a Stark World short story found in the multi-authored SECOND CHANCES: A Romance Writers of America anthology.

Told from first person point of view (Penny) ONE NIGHT is a second chance short story focusing on the rekindling romance between our story line heroine and a one night stand-approximately eighteen months earlier- Blake Thornton ...more

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Sep 13, 2017 Marty Mayberry rated it it was amazing

Second chance is one of my favorite tropes, and I adored all 17 of the short stories in Second Chances. The anthology is made up of a mix of age groups, from YA to adult (and there’s even a M/M romance, which I love), and each offered a different take on second chance love. From historical to contemporary, to paranormal and romantic suspense, there’s something for everyone in this approximately 400-page book.

I highly recommend this anthology. It’s the perfect way to get a taste for some wonderfu ...more

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Sep 12, 2017 Francoise rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017-reads, second-chance

Review of One Night by J. Kenner

I’m a sucker for second chance romances and I was given the opportunity to read One Night by J. Kenner. Although this story was very short, I thought it was incredibly well-crafted. It keeps you riveted from beginning to end. And icing on the cake, this story is set in the world of Stark International, with cameo appearances of Damien Stark, one of my favorite romance hero! Blake and Penny’s second chance story was intense, their chemistry was explosive and their ...more

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Sep 05, 2017 Pennie Morgan rated it it was amazing

One Night by J Kenner
Can you fall in love at first sight or in just a few hours? That is the pivotal question in this book and has both characters spinning even after several months when they are brought face to face once again. Another night and another chance but does that cement the feelings or make them stronger? I thoroughly enjoyed this tidbit and hope this glimpse is just the appetizer to a full length featuring these two. Definitely recommend this!

**Received this ARC for review**

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Sep 11, 2017 Gemma rated it it was amazing

Second chance romances is one of my favourite genres of romance books and this anthology had everything I love about second chances. There was drama, romance, steamy moments and characters that I adored. This book series was such an amazing read and I really enjoyed all of the different stories.

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Sep 21, 2017 Karen rated it liked it

Shelves: anthology, read-2017, own

I know this is anthology and the stories are supposed to be short but these are so abrupt it's jarring. ...more

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Oct 26, 2017 L.K. Simonds rated it really liked it

First story I read was "The Family Tree" by Brandi Willis Schreiber, a wonderfully moving story about love, family, and friends being the family you choose. Ms. Schreiber is a new writer to watch. ...more

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Sep 14, 2017 Danielle rated it really liked it

I love second chance romance stories! They are my fav! I am not a fan of short stories, because I always want more! That is my only complaint with this book! I want more!!

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Aug 26, 2017 Rebecca rated it really liked it

***Review for One Night by J. Kenner***

Can a true connection occur in one night?

Can a matter of hours create something worth risking everything for?

These are the questions J Kenner tries to answer in her newest short story set in the Stark World. And while readers only get a small glimpse into the chemistry between Penny and Blake, it's clear that what developed between them in one stolen night can only grow as long as they're both willing to take a risk on one another.

One Night is a short and ...more

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Sep 12, 2017 amy & erin rated it did not like it

Shelves: 2017-challenges-books, reviews, 2017-dangerous-heroes-challenge, 2017-long-novels, books-i-own, contemporary-flirty-cute, christina-lauren, historical-romance

preface: my rating is based on the Christina Lauren story and not the entire collection of stories as that was the only one I read.

the Christina Lauren story was frankly a little pointless. I get that it's supposed to be short but there really wasn't a lot of character development and based on what we were given in the story.. the ending and how Levi and Emmy got together seem a little out of the blue and hard to understand to me at least. ...more

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Mar 02, 2018 Jennifer rated it it was amazing

Wonderful short stories.

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Sep 12, 2017 Armenia rated it it was amazing

Absolutely romantic..5stars!

Review for One Night by J Kenner
Penny never expected to see Blake Thornton, again. Sure, she only counted 17 months and 23 days since their one, hot night together in a Chicago hotel while waiting for their flight. No, she’s not obsessed with him...just head-over-heels in love with the man. Penny doesn’t trust herself enough to believe in love at first sight, risking her heart, although she surrendered every bit of herself to him. Refusing Blake’s offer of forever, sh ...more

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About J. Kenner

J. Kenner

9,490 followers

J. Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and #1 International bestselling author of over one hundred novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

Though known primarily for her award-winning and international bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the New Y ...more