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Granite Springs #2
The Life She Chooses
Following the loss of her husband and the devastating accusations surrounding his death, Kay Jackson has experienced the icy chill of alienation from the close-knit town of Granite Springs. Thrust into the position of personal assistant to a professor at the local university, Kay, who prefers to stay in the background away from the town gossips, is unsure how she will cope.
When Nick Kerr’s wife leaves him for a younger man, the professor is left nursing a broken heart while struggling to adapt to life as a single parent of two teens. Reeling from the indignity of his wife’s actions, Nick has no intention of putting himself in such a vulnerable position again.
However, as Kay and Nick’s professional relationship develops, they find themselves drawn to each other. As their friendship begins to morph into something more, Kay’s daughter arrives in town intent on controlling her mother’s life. The combined actions of Kay’s daughter and Nick’s children reinforces the many doubts the couple have on embarking on a new relationship.
Is there a future for Kay and Nick or will their families destroy any chance of happiness?
The Life She Chooses is the second book in the Granite Springs series set in a small Australian country town.
When Nick Kerr’s wife leaves him for a younger man, the professor is left nursing a broken heart while struggling to adapt to life as a single parent of two teens. Reeling from the indignity of his wife’s actions, Nick has no intention of putting himself in such a vulnerable position again.
However, as Kay and Nick’s professional relationship develops, they find themselves drawn to each other. As their friendship begins to morph into something more, Kay’s daughter arrives in town intent on controlling her mother’s life. The combined actions of Kay’s daughter and Nick’s children reinforces the many doubts the couple have on embarking on a new relationship.
Is there a future for Kay and Nick or will their families destroy any chance of happiness?
The Life She Chooses is the second book in the Granite Springs series set in a small Australian country town.
270 pages, Paperback
Published December 3, 2019
About the author
Maggie Christensen
90 books151 followersAfter a career in education, Maggie Christensen began writing contemporary women’s fiction portraying mature women facing life-changing situations. Her travels inspire her writing, be it her frequent visits to family in Oregon, USA or her home on Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast. Maggie writes of mature heroines coming to terms with changes in their lives and the heroes worthy of them.
From her native Glasgow, Scotland, Maggie was lured by the call ‘Come and teach in the sun’ to Australia,where she worked as a primary school teacher, university lecturer and in educational management. Now living with her husband of thirty years on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, she loves walking on the deserted beach in the early mornings and having coffee by the river on weekends. Her days are spent surrounded by books, either reading or writing them – her idea of heaven!
She continues her love of books as a volunteer with her local library where she selects and delivers books to the housebound.
A member of Queensland Writer’s Centre, RWA, ALLi, and a local critique group, Maggie enjoys meeting her readers at book signings and library talks. In 2014 she self-published Band of Gold and The Sand Dollar, Book One in the Oregon Coast Series, in 2015, The Dreamcatcher, Book Two in the Oregon Coast Series and Broken Threads, and in 2016, Madeline House, book Three in the Oregon Coast Series
From her native Glasgow, Scotland, Maggie was lured by the call ‘Come and teach in the sun’ to Australia,where she worked as a primary school teacher, university lecturer and in educational management. Now living with her husband of thirty years on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, she loves walking on the deserted beach in the early mornings and having coffee by the river on weekends. Her days are spent surrounded by books, either reading or writing them – her idea of heaven!
She continues her love of books as a volunteer with her local library where she selects and delivers books to the housebound.
A member of Queensland Writer’s Centre, RWA, ALLi, and a local critique group, Maggie enjoys meeting her readers at book signings and library talks. In 2014 she self-published Band of Gold and The Sand Dollar, Book One in the Oregon Coast Series, in 2015, The Dreamcatcher, Book Two in the Oregon Coast Series and Broken Threads, and in 2016, Madeline House, book Three in the Oregon Coast Series
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 24, 2020
Three years have passed since Kay Jackson’s husband died and still she is trying to deal with grief and the shame, so Kay kept to herself a lot and became a loner. But Kay knew living like this was not good, and then she got herself a job at the local university. When Kay is asked to fill in as a PA for Professor Nick Kerr she’s not sure she’s the right person for the job. But in no time at all she settles into the position and the Professor makes her feel at ease which helps her a great deal.
Kay is surprised to see her daughter, Zoe and her son Noah arrive in Granite Springs even more surprised when she finds out Zoe has taken long service leave and will be staying for with her for a while. It seems Zoe and her husband were going through a rough spot, but Kay knew what her daughter was like and she was not the easiest person to get along with.
Nick’s wife left him for a younger man and as time passes, he and Kay friendship builds they begin to have feeling for one another. But the downside to this was Nicks teenage children, Samantha and Ryan who were going back and forth to their parents. Was Kay ready to deal with adolescent children at this stage of her life, but if she wasn’t she knew she would lose Nick.
This is the second book in the Granite Springs series, a series I am absolutely loving. Aussie author Maggie Christensen is fast becoming another of my favourite authors as I really love the way she writes. Easy to read and yet very entertaining too. I can’t wait to read the third book in this series. Highly recommended.
Kay is surprised to see her daughter, Zoe and her son Noah arrive in Granite Springs even more surprised when she finds out Zoe has taken long service leave and will be staying for with her for a while. It seems Zoe and her husband were going through a rough spot, but Kay knew what her daughter was like and she was not the easiest person to get along with.
Nick’s wife left him for a younger man and as time passes, he and Kay friendship builds they begin to have feeling for one another. But the downside to this was Nicks teenage children, Samantha and Ryan who were going back and forth to their parents. Was Kay ready to deal with adolescent children at this stage of her life, but if she wasn’t she knew she would lose Nick.
This is the second book in the Granite Springs series, a series I am absolutely loving. Aussie author Maggie Christensen is fast becoming another of my favourite authors as I really love the way she writes. Easy to read and yet very entertaining too. I can’t wait to read the third book in this series. Highly recommended.
December 8, 2019
It had been three years since Kay Jackson’s husband had died, but the grief and humiliation was ongoing. When Kay took a position at the local university in Granite Springs, she gradually came into her own, grateful for the job and how it kept her loneliness at bay. Professor Nick Kerr’s PA had to take six months leave for family reasons and Kay was asked to fill in for her – she wasn’t sure if she would fit in that position; her desire to remain in the background was still with her. But Kay immediately felt at ease in the office, busy and organized as she had always been. The professor was easy to get on with as well.
When Kay’s daughter Zoe and son Noah suddenly arrived in Granite Springs from Brisbane, Kay was shocked that she’d taken long service leave, intending to stay with Kay for the duration. Zoe was headstrong and bossy, and it seemed she and her husband Eric had had a falling out. Kay knew she and Zoe would clash, especially when she tried to organize her mother’s life.
Nick and Kay developed a friendship which gradually became more. Nick’s wife had left him for a “younger model” and their two teens, Samantha and Ryan, were back and forth between their mother and father. Kay wasn’t sure she was interested in having teenagers in her life again; after all her two were adults with children of their own. What was their future to be? Would it be safer for Kay to forget Nick?
The Life She Chooses is the 2nd in the Granite Springs series by Aussie author Maggie Christensen and I really enjoyed it. I liked catching up with Jo and Col again, from The Life She Deserves, as Jo is Kay’s best friend. The author captures the older character well, and Kay has depth, integrity and compassion. The Life She Chooses is one I recommend, and I’m already looking forward to #3.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
When Kay’s daughter Zoe and son Noah suddenly arrived in Granite Springs from Brisbane, Kay was shocked that she’d taken long service leave, intending to stay with Kay for the duration. Zoe was headstrong and bossy, and it seemed she and her husband Eric had had a falling out. Kay knew she and Zoe would clash, especially when she tried to organize her mother’s life.
Nick and Kay developed a friendship which gradually became more. Nick’s wife had left him for a “younger model” and their two teens, Samantha and Ryan, were back and forth between their mother and father. Kay wasn’t sure she was interested in having teenagers in her life again; after all her two were adults with children of their own. What was their future to be? Would it be safer for Kay to forget Nick?
The Life She Chooses is the 2nd in the Granite Springs series by Aussie author Maggie Christensen and I really enjoyed it. I liked catching up with Jo and Col again, from The Life She Deserves, as Jo is Kay’s best friend. The author captures the older character well, and Kay has depth, integrity and compassion. The Life She Chooses is one I recommend, and I’m already looking forward to #3.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2020
*Special thanks to Maggie Christensen for an ARC of her newest novel, THE LIFE SHE CHOOSES, which enabled me to read it and write this unbiased review.
THE LIFE SHE CHOOSES is the second book in THE GRANITE SPRINGS series by Maggie Christensen. I enjoyed THE LIFE SHE DESERVES, the first book in this series set in a fictional country town in Australia. So, I was pleased to revisit Granite Springs and get "caught up" with what was taking place in the lives of some familiar characters like Joanna, her son and business partner Rob, and Steve, Colin Ford and the five-year-old twins.
Maggie Christensen's characters are so realistic and well developed that they "step off the page". I liked widow Kay Jackson, her grandson Noah, her best friend Joanna, and Professor Nick Kerr.
Kay's daughter Zoe "rubbed me the wrong way" with her bossy and selfish behaviour.
This very moving story touched themes of grief, shame, guilt, infidelity, trust, love, blended families and second chances.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this fast paced story and look forward to reading the next Granite Springs novel the talented Maggie Christensen writes.
5 stars ⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️
THE LIFE SHE CHOOSES is the second book in THE GRANITE SPRINGS series by Maggie Christensen. I enjoyed THE LIFE SHE DESERVES, the first book in this series set in a fictional country town in Australia. So, I was pleased to revisit Granite Springs and get "caught up" with what was taking place in the lives of some familiar characters like Joanna, her son and business partner Rob, and Steve, Colin Ford and the five-year-old twins.
Maggie Christensen's characters are so realistic and well developed that they "step off the page". I liked widow Kay Jackson, her grandson Noah, her best friend Joanna, and Professor Nick Kerr.
Kay's daughter Zoe "rubbed me the wrong way" with her bossy and selfish behaviour.
This very moving story touched themes of grief, shame, guilt, infidelity, trust, love, blended families and second chances.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this fast paced story and look forward to reading the next Granite Springs novel the talented Maggie Christensen writes.
5 stars ⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️
December 3, 2019
I loved being back in the small town of Granite Springs and this time we get to see Kay go through a big change in her life, doing something she never thought she would again and that is fall in love, I hope you pick this one up and cheer Kay on to happiness.
Kay Jackson was devastated after the death of her husband and all of the rumours surrounding his death, she became a hermit but when she takes her life back and takes on a job at the local university she has been very happy but when she is asked to fill in as PA for Professor Nick Kerr she is apprehensive at first, but Kay is drawn to him and soon they are more than friends.
Nick Kerr’s wife has left him for a younger man they have two teenage children and his life has been turned upside down, he is not looking to find love again, but when he meets his temporary PA Kay, there is a spark between them and they work well together and that friendship soon escalates into something more, but the path of true love very rarely runs smoothly.
Kay and Nick have a few hurdles to overcome to get to the happiness that they both deserve and that comes in the form of children, when Kay’s controlling daughter and grandson arrive then there are Nick’s children this puts a spanner in the works, but Nick is determined to prove his love and joy and happiness arrive. MS Christensen has bought us a fabulous story with an older hero and heroine, both are so easy to like and feel like friends, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and can highly recommend it just as much as the first one in the series and I am very much looking forward to visiting Granit Springs again for the next book, thankyou MS Christensen for another page turner.
Kay Jackson was devastated after the death of her husband and all of the rumours surrounding his death, she became a hermit but when she takes her life back and takes on a job at the local university she has been very happy but when she is asked to fill in as PA for Professor Nick Kerr she is apprehensive at first, but Kay is drawn to him and soon they are more than friends.
Nick Kerr’s wife has left him for a younger man they have two teenage children and his life has been turned upside down, he is not looking to find love again, but when he meets his temporary PA Kay, there is a spark between them and they work well together and that friendship soon escalates into something more, but the path of true love very rarely runs smoothly.
Kay and Nick have a few hurdles to overcome to get to the happiness that they both deserve and that comes in the form of children, when Kay’s controlling daughter and grandson arrive then there are Nick’s children this puts a spanner in the works, but Nick is determined to prove his love and joy and happiness arrive. MS Christensen has bought us a fabulous story with an older hero and heroine, both are so easy to like and feel like friends, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and can highly recommend it just as much as the first one in the series and I am very much looking forward to visiting Granit Springs again for the next book, thankyou MS Christensen for another page turner.
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February 17, 2020*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
‘Kay wondered if what they all imagined was possible. Could she really find love again?’
The Life She Chooses signals a return visit to the pleasant Australian country township of Granite Springs. Maggie Christensen’s second novel in this appealing series welcomes a new couple, Nick and Kay, who take some tentative steps towards newfound love. The Life She Chooses is a strong women’s fiction title, with a distinct Australian flavour.
When two individuals, from two very different families are united through their employment and attraction to one another, they negotiate a path to happiness that is marred by past hurts, trust issues and family conflicts. Kay is a mature aged woman, in a great deal of emotional pain following the shattering disclosure made about her husband, prior to his death. Since her husband’s passing, Kay has locked herself away from the world, she has been too afraid to face the harsh reality of her husband’s past. In a small town like Granite Springs, accusations such as those attached to Kay’s husband are not forgotten in a hurry. However, a position a local university provides Kay with the boost of confidence she needs to face the world again. In Nick, her new boss, Kay feels she is not being judged for the first time in a long time. Eventually, these two form a close bond. Nick is man who dealing with the impact of a marriage built on lies. He is now a single parent to two teenagers, complicating his life further. With neither party willing to commit from the onset to a new relationship, it seems both are destined to be single. However, a successful working partnership between Kay and Nick begins to morph into something much more. As the two consider the possibility of letting love into their lives again, the pressures of family life threaten this fresh new relationship. The Life She Chooses considers the difficulties in taking a chance on a second chance style relationship, when outside influences bear down on a mature aged couple.
It was a nice feeling to reconvene with the town and folk of Granite Springs, which is brought to life by the penmanship of Maggie Christensen. Drawing on her own unique blend of mature age second chance love stories, family conflicts and life’s challenges, Christensen gifts her audience with another engaging chapter in the Granite Springs series.
The shocking prologue, which outlines a devastating allegation and a life shattering accident, immediately draws the reader in to this new Granite Springs tale. Once I got over the moving introduction, I settled into Kay and Nick’s journey. Initially, Kay was a difficult character. She seemed standoffish and distanced. I think this is a direct result of what she had to deal with, after years of marriage her husband dies, after taking his own life, following a series of child abuse allegations. I’m not sure how I would deal with this situation myself. Christensen certainly does a good job of exploring the feelings and responses of a woman working through some tough terrain. We learn that Kay has distanced herself and locked herself away from the world. She feels shame and she has accepted the blame somewhat for her husband’s actions. Things light up for Kay when she gains employment at a local university and the tides, as well as the plot changes.
Nick is the leading male protagonist of this tale. I did feel a great deal of pity for Nick. His ex sounded pretty nasty and underhanded. I’m sure readers who have been through the pain of separation and estrangement after spouse has found a younger partner, will be able to relate. Nick’s predicament is universal to say the least, and it is further complicated by his parenting situation. He is the single parent of two teens, which also brings about its own set of challenges. When Nick connects with Kay in their employment base, things change. A friendship is formed, and eventually this blossoms into love. Christensen’s romances are always clean and authentic, which I appreciate.
The Life She Chooses provides the scope for Christensen to explore a number of resounding themes within her unfolding plot. There is a strong focus on guilt, blame, estrangement, isolation, trust, relationships, infidelity, parenting, family support and working relationships within this involving novel.
This is my second visit to Granite Springs and again I was taken by the quaint small town beauty of this country area. Christensen supplies her readers with plenty of descriptive passages dedicated to showcasing the attractiveness of rural Australia. I know I lapped up this aspect.
At its very core, The Life She Chooses is a realistic women’s fiction title, that delves into the nitty gritty details of family life and the grassroots issues that impact mature second chance style relationships. The restorative nature of mature age love will be sure to charm fans of Christensen’s work, along with a greater readership.
*I wish to thank the author, Maggie Christensen, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Life She Chooses is book #14 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
‘Kay wondered if what they all imagined was possible. Could she really find love again?’
The Life She Chooses signals a return visit to the pleasant Australian country township of Granite Springs. Maggie Christensen’s second novel in this appealing series welcomes a new couple, Nick and Kay, who take some tentative steps towards newfound love. The Life She Chooses is a strong women’s fiction title, with a distinct Australian flavour.
When two individuals, from two very different families are united through their employment and attraction to one another, they negotiate a path to happiness that is marred by past hurts, trust issues and family conflicts. Kay is a mature aged woman, in a great deal of emotional pain following the shattering disclosure made about her husband, prior to his death. Since her husband’s passing, Kay has locked herself away from the world, she has been too afraid to face the harsh reality of her husband’s past. In a small town like Granite Springs, accusations such as those attached to Kay’s husband are not forgotten in a hurry. However, a position a local university provides Kay with the boost of confidence she needs to face the world again. In Nick, her new boss, Kay feels she is not being judged for the first time in a long time. Eventually, these two form a close bond. Nick is man who dealing with the impact of a marriage built on lies. He is now a single parent to two teenagers, complicating his life further. With neither party willing to commit from the onset to a new relationship, it seems both are destined to be single. However, a successful working partnership between Kay and Nick begins to morph into something much more. As the two consider the possibility of letting love into their lives again, the pressures of family life threaten this fresh new relationship. The Life She Chooses considers the difficulties in taking a chance on a second chance style relationship, when outside influences bear down on a mature aged couple.
It was a nice feeling to reconvene with the town and folk of Granite Springs, which is brought to life by the penmanship of Maggie Christensen. Drawing on her own unique blend of mature age second chance love stories, family conflicts and life’s challenges, Christensen gifts her audience with another engaging chapter in the Granite Springs series.
The shocking prologue, which outlines a devastating allegation and a life shattering accident, immediately draws the reader in to this new Granite Springs tale. Once I got over the moving introduction, I settled into Kay and Nick’s journey. Initially, Kay was a difficult character. She seemed standoffish and distanced. I think this is a direct result of what she had to deal with, after years of marriage her husband dies, after taking his own life, following a series of child abuse allegations. I’m not sure how I would deal with this situation myself. Christensen certainly does a good job of exploring the feelings and responses of a woman working through some tough terrain. We learn that Kay has distanced herself and locked herself away from the world. She feels shame and she has accepted the blame somewhat for her husband’s actions. Things light up for Kay when she gains employment at a local university and the tides, as well as the plot changes.
Nick is the leading male protagonist of this tale. I did feel a great deal of pity for Nick. His ex sounded pretty nasty and underhanded. I’m sure readers who have been through the pain of separation and estrangement after spouse has found a younger partner, will be able to relate. Nick’s predicament is universal to say the least, and it is further complicated by his parenting situation. He is the single parent of two teens, which also brings about its own set of challenges. When Nick connects with Kay in their employment base, things change. A friendship is formed, and eventually this blossoms into love. Christensen’s romances are always clean and authentic, which I appreciate.
The Life She Chooses provides the scope for Christensen to explore a number of resounding themes within her unfolding plot. There is a strong focus on guilt, blame, estrangement, isolation, trust, relationships, infidelity, parenting, family support and working relationships within this involving novel.
This is my second visit to Granite Springs and again I was taken by the quaint small town beauty of this country area. Christensen supplies her readers with plenty of descriptive passages dedicated to showcasing the attractiveness of rural Australia. I know I lapped up this aspect.
At its very core, The Life She Chooses is a realistic women’s fiction title, that delves into the nitty gritty details of family life and the grassroots issues that impact mature second chance style relationships. The restorative nature of mature age love will be sure to charm fans of Christensen’s work, along with a greater readership.
*I wish to thank the author, Maggie Christensen, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Life She Chooses is book #14 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
December 9, 2019
Realistic portrayal of 💕romance later in life👍
4.5🌟stars
Author Maggie Christensen is one of my favorite Australian authors and, once again, she's created a great, highly relatable picture of how family commitments and life experiences complicate second chance romance later in life. I thoroughly enjoyed Kay's story, complete with the drama of her self-absorbed, married daughter Zoe, and the issues that surface with Kay's slightly younger new man. I also liked that the author told their story from alternating viewpoints between Kay and Nick, her new boss and romantic interest. NIck's life as a newly-separated father of two teenagers is just as fraught as Kay's!😟
Kay is coming into her own after a rough three years when she bottomed out in depression and almost destroyed a precious friendship that supported her when her marriage abruptly ended in rumors and shame. Jo, the heroine of Christensen's last novel (The Life She Deserves), reappears and plays a key role in Kay's social life, acting as a needed sounding board when doubts surface about Kay's new chance at a relationship and Kay's misgivings about her daughter's behavior.
I love the concept of building a romance around 50 years plus characters whose first thought cannot always be for themselves. Christensen does it so well, with a writing style that makes the prose flow smoothly. I am always a bit sad when I turn to the last page. In this particular case, I did feel the story wrapped up more abruptly than expected after the pace of the rest of the story. But, overall, it was a lovely read.😊
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book but purchased it asap to ensure its place in my permanent library; this is my voluntary and honest review.
4.5🌟stars
Author Maggie Christensen is one of my favorite Australian authors and, once again, she's created a great, highly relatable picture of how family commitments and life experiences complicate second chance romance later in life. I thoroughly enjoyed Kay's story, complete with the drama of her self-absorbed, married daughter Zoe, and the issues that surface with Kay's slightly younger new man. I also liked that the author told their story from alternating viewpoints between Kay and Nick, her new boss and romantic interest. NIck's life as a newly-separated father of two teenagers is just as fraught as Kay's!😟
Kay is coming into her own after a rough three years when she bottomed out in depression and almost destroyed a precious friendship that supported her when her marriage abruptly ended in rumors and shame. Jo, the heroine of Christensen's last novel (The Life She Deserves), reappears and plays a key role in Kay's social life, acting as a needed sounding board when doubts surface about Kay's new chance at a relationship and Kay's misgivings about her daughter's behavior.
I love the concept of building a romance around 50 years plus characters whose first thought cannot always be for themselves. Christensen does it so well, with a writing style that makes the prose flow smoothly. I am always a bit sad when I turn to the last page. In this particular case, I did feel the story wrapped up more abruptly than expected after the pace of the rest of the story. But, overall, it was a lovely read.😊
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book but purchased it asap to ensure its place in my permanent library; this is my voluntary and honest review.
November 16, 2019
Thanks to author Maggie Christenson for an e copy of The Life she Chooses to review. I found this an easy book to get into after a busy day , it was great to relax with, I am really loving these books from Australian authors . Maggie writes with great respect and sympathy for older people finding themselves single for a variety of reasons and this flows through the story and I found myself relating well to the story of family life , the ups and downs and complexities of two different families , both still reeling from past hurts. I was able to feel the tension mounting as I turned the pages in this book and the author skillfully added some twists throughout. A good read , I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a book about complex family life .
December 9, 2019
Australian Women's Fiction
This is another bit of Women's Fiction based in Granite Springs, Australia. This is a sweet and clean novel that centers around a middle-aged couple finding their way in a new relationship. It can get tricky when each party has a full life behind them. This is a very good story that is more Women's Fiction than romance. I love the way the author has written this series. Love is much different for folks who are more experienced and mature. I received this ARC from the author for free and this is my honest review.
This is another bit of Women's Fiction based in Granite Springs, Australia. This is a sweet and clean novel that centers around a middle-aged couple finding their way in a new relationship. It can get tricky when each party has a full life behind them. This is a very good story that is more Women's Fiction than romance. I love the way the author has written this series. Love is much different for folks who are more experienced and mature. I received this ARC from the author for free and this is my honest review.
December 9, 2019
Maggie is an amazing author. Her characters are so real. The use of family, humor, sadness and past relationships all blend together in Nick and Kay’s story to make this a book you won’t put down.
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January 19, 2021Onto the next book in the series!
November 20, 2019
Kay is just starting her life over again, after devastating accusations and her husband's suicide. She has a job she loves and is put into the position of helping out a Professor at the university. Nick's life just takes a turn as his wife leaves him and moves away. Juggling kids and life leaves little time for having their own lives. But, somehow Nick and Kay find the time to see if the sparks between them can lead to something more. A wonderful book that gives hope to all of those that are older and starting over at love again. Because you are never too old for the sparks to fly.
December 6, 2019
Another wonderful book. Look forward to Maggie Christensens books, where I can sit and read a great story, and be transported into a place where there are solutions to problems and a happy ending. thank you and always look forward to the next one.
December 16, 2019
Second in the Granite Springs series about mature women facing life's challenges. An enjoyable exploration of some contemporary issues. Read in a few days.
December 13, 2019
Kay's husband commited suicide and three years later she is still struggeling to ,oove on.
Nick's wife left him but work is a saving.
When work throws them togeter the ice starts to melt.
A good story line
Nick's wife left him but work is a saving.
When work throws them togeter the ice starts to melt.
A good story line
November 22, 2019
This is the second book in the Granite Springs series by Maggie. It tells the story of Kay who is a friend of Jo who is in book #1 of this series. Kay has become quite bitter after the suicide of her husband who was suspected of some improper conduct in the community. Kay works at the local university and is asked to take over from one of the secretaries who works for one of the heads of department there while she attends to her ill mother. Kay reluctantly agrees.
Nick Kerr lives for work and is still devastated about his wife leaving him for a younger man even though they have two teenage children. When Kay begins working for Nick he is impressed by her efficiency and eventually the attraction grows.
Just as Kay becomes open to finding love again, her daughter arrives on the scene with grandson in tow and moves into Kay’s house. Her daughter also has marital problems and has fled the family home and wants to relocate to Granite Springs.
I really enjoy Maggie’s writing, but I felt this book was too much like book #1 in the series and I would have liked to have read something different this time. Don’t get me wrong though, it’s a well written book but needed to have more versatility in the plot and characters.
Nick Kerr lives for work and is still devastated about his wife leaving him for a younger man even though they have two teenage children. When Kay begins working for Nick he is impressed by her efficiency and eventually the attraction grows.
Just as Kay becomes open to finding love again, her daughter arrives on the scene with grandson in tow and moves into Kay’s house. Her daughter also has marital problems and has fled the family home and wants to relocate to Granite Springs.
I really enjoy Maggie’s writing, but I felt this book was too much like book #1 in the series and I would have liked to have read something different this time. Don’t get me wrong though, it’s a well written book but needed to have more versatility in the plot and characters.
September 23, 2020
A story of hope, family, healing from the past and a second chance at love.
Kay Jackson is just putting her life back together after the death of her husband and the chilling accusations that were spread through the town.
She is hired for a position as a personal assistant to a professor at the local university and she is hoping to move on and away from gossip.
Nick Kerr, a University professor is mending from a broken heart after his wife leaves him for a younger man.
Left to parent his two teen children, Nick is surviving one day at a time.
Kay and Nick find themselves attracted to each other and as the friendship develops so does something quite deeper.
But the struggles of interfering family and life in general, they both seem to be questioning everything.
The second book in the Granite Springs series, a mature age fiction story and one I’m really loving.
Another engaging tale with older characters at the helm and while I did enjoy this second helping, I found Kay not to be very friendly.
She didn’t leave a very good impression from the first book and I found her, in this one, not very warm and inviting.
It was great to return to the small town and reconnect and also to check in with Jo and Col, from the previous novel and see how their relationship is progressing.
While there’s a firm focus on a number of different themes, at the centre of this book is a strong contemporary relatable cultured plot.
The writing and drama flows very naturally complete with the ups and downs of realistic everyday life.
I look forward to my next holiday in Granite Springs.
Kay Jackson is just putting her life back together after the death of her husband and the chilling accusations that were spread through the town.
She is hired for a position as a personal assistant to a professor at the local university and she is hoping to move on and away from gossip.
Nick Kerr, a University professor is mending from a broken heart after his wife leaves him for a younger man.
Left to parent his two teen children, Nick is surviving one day at a time.
Kay and Nick find themselves attracted to each other and as the friendship develops so does something quite deeper.
But the struggles of interfering family and life in general, they both seem to be questioning everything.
The second book in the Granite Springs series, a mature age fiction story and one I’m really loving.
Another engaging tale with older characters at the helm and while I did enjoy this second helping, I found Kay not to be very friendly.
She didn’t leave a very good impression from the first book and I found her, in this one, not very warm and inviting.
It was great to return to the small town and reconnect and also to check in with Jo and Col, from the previous novel and see how their relationship is progressing.
While there’s a firm focus on a number of different themes, at the centre of this book is a strong contemporary relatable cultured plot.
The writing and drama flows very naturally complete with the ups and downs of realistic everyday life.
I look forward to my next holiday in Granite Springs.
December 9, 2019
Another story about the people in Granite Springs which is just as delightful as the first. Kay has suffered the loss of her husband through suicide and some stories about his life that made the normal support of family and friends questionable. Although this was years ago she still is uncomfortable reaching out. She has recently started working at a University and now has been asked to fill in for a PA who needs a family leave for 6 months. Instead of working for many, she would be working with just one professor which would be a new step for her. She agrees, still uncertain of her choice.
The professor, Nick, has just lost his wife to another man and his two teenage children are having trouble with the new life presented to them. However, even though he is 5 years younger than Kay, he is just what she needs to trust life once more.
Somehow, even though there are loss and challenges, Maggie Christensen's books are also full of hope and love. Actions of relatives, friends and acquaintances are often selfish and cruel. This author takes these challenges, gives them prospective then adds the hope and love making it difficult to resist her charming tales. Very well done!
The professor, Nick, has just lost his wife to another man and his two teenage children are having trouble with the new life presented to them. However, even though he is 5 years younger than Kay, he is just what she needs to trust life once more.
Somehow, even though there are loss and challenges, Maggie Christensen's books are also full of hope and love. Actions of relatives, friends and acquaintances are often selfish and cruel. This author takes these challenges, gives them prospective then adds the hope and love making it difficult to resist her charming tales. Very well done!
December 21, 2019
I always look forward to picking up a book by Maggie Christensen, and I so enjoy her character-driven stories: I know that it’ll be like spending time with good friends, seeing and experiencing all the complications life may throw at them.
I wasn’t sure I’d like Kay as much as I did the author’s other female leads – she didn’t leave the best impression from the first book in the series, with her spikiness and hard edges, but she certainly had good reason to protect herself with that brittle shell. Her experience through the loss of her husband and the circumstances in which it happened have left deep scars, and an understandable wariness around letting anyone get close to her. At the university where she works, she accepts the opportunity to cover for a professor’s PA – and although it takes her away from the chatter and gossip of colleagues, which she welcomes, he does have a reputation for being a tad “difficult”. But he – Nick – is damaged too, his wife having left him for a younger man, leaving him with caring for two teenage children.
The way their relationship develops becomes the main thread of the story – an embryonic relationship fraught with difficulties as they both wrestle with family issues and the legacy from their life experiences. Kay’s assertive (and difficult) daughter Zoe arrives, along with young son Noah, having walked away from her marriage: and she makes Kay’s life considerably more turbulent and difficult, her behaviour becoming increasingly thoughtless and inconsiderate as she rekindles a relationship from her teenage years. Meanwhile, Nick is going through the agony of a difficult divorce, while taking on the challenge of being sole parent to two demanding (but very real) teenagers. I very much enjoyed watching the way the relationship developed and sometimes foundered against the background of the demands of family – and grew to really like both Kay and Nick, very real people hoping for the possibility of future happiness together.
I particularly enjoyed seeing Jo and Col again (from the first book) – Kay regularly meets her for coffee, support and advice. It was good to see how their relationship had developed – and to meet again her twin grand-daughters (who particularly fascinate young Noah). And I loved the book’s vivid setting – rural Australia, with its touches of the unfamiliar and exotic in the small touches from the natural world around them.
This was a really well-told story about the challenges of parenting, the complexities of families, the difficulties in putting the past behind you, and of learning to love and trust again. As the characters feel their way forward, the author’s emotional touch is as wonderfully assured as ever – authentic and believable thoughts and feelings, moments of uncertainty that were entirely real and understandable, moments of happiness that brought a tear to my eye and a smile to my face.
I wasn’t sure I’d like Kay as much as I did the author’s other female leads – she didn’t leave the best impression from the first book in the series, with her spikiness and hard edges, but she certainly had good reason to protect herself with that brittle shell. Her experience through the loss of her husband and the circumstances in which it happened have left deep scars, and an understandable wariness around letting anyone get close to her. At the university where she works, she accepts the opportunity to cover for a professor’s PA – and although it takes her away from the chatter and gossip of colleagues, which she welcomes, he does have a reputation for being a tad “difficult”. But he – Nick – is damaged too, his wife having left him for a younger man, leaving him with caring for two teenage children.
The way their relationship develops becomes the main thread of the story – an embryonic relationship fraught with difficulties as they both wrestle with family issues and the legacy from their life experiences. Kay’s assertive (and difficult) daughter Zoe arrives, along with young son Noah, having walked away from her marriage: and she makes Kay’s life considerably more turbulent and difficult, her behaviour becoming increasingly thoughtless and inconsiderate as she rekindles a relationship from her teenage years. Meanwhile, Nick is going through the agony of a difficult divorce, while taking on the challenge of being sole parent to two demanding (but very real) teenagers. I very much enjoyed watching the way the relationship developed and sometimes foundered against the background of the demands of family – and grew to really like both Kay and Nick, very real people hoping for the possibility of future happiness together.
I particularly enjoyed seeing Jo and Col again (from the first book) – Kay regularly meets her for coffee, support and advice. It was good to see how their relationship had developed – and to meet again her twin grand-daughters (who particularly fascinate young Noah). And I loved the book’s vivid setting – rural Australia, with its touches of the unfamiliar and exotic in the small touches from the natural world around them.
This was a really well-told story about the challenges of parenting, the complexities of families, the difficulties in putting the past behind you, and of learning to love and trust again. As the characters feel their way forward, the author’s emotional touch is as wonderfully assured as ever – authentic and believable thoughts and feelings, moments of uncertainty that were entirely real and understandable, moments of happiness that brought a tear to my eye and a smile to my face.
August 14, 2020
Having read several of Maggie Christensen's books (one previous one in the Granite Springs series), I knew that I would be in for a heart-tugging story about families families with realistic and relatable struggles. Sure enough! In The Life She Chooses, the second book in the series, I enjoyed reading about Kay and Nick as they journey their way to a loving relationship despite issues with their children, grown and teenaged, and, of course, the "ex".
The author, Maggie Christensen, again, gives her readers older, more mature characters who find that a second chance does come around and the importance of being willing to 'seize the day' when the chance arrives. It is a story of family, friends, and love the second time around.
I received a complimentary copy of the book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
The author, Maggie Christensen, again, gives her readers older, more mature characters who find that a second chance does come around and the importance of being willing to 'seize the day' when the chance arrives. It is a story of family, friends, and love the second time around.
I received a complimentary copy of the book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
December 31, 2019
Here is another lovely story from this author.
I always feel like I have just slid my feet into a comfy pair of slippers.
The characters and their situations are pleasingly familiar.
After Kay's husband's suicide, she eventually goes to work for a professor who is getting used to life after his wife left him for another man. A relationship develops between the two.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this latest in "A Granite Springs" series, but I found that the romance is entirely predictable.
Having said that, I will still be eagerly awaiting the next in the series!
I always feel like I have just slid my feet into a comfy pair of slippers.
The characters and their situations are pleasingly familiar.
After Kay's husband's suicide, she eventually goes to work for a professor who is getting used to life after his wife left him for another man. A relationship develops between the two.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this latest in "A Granite Springs" series, but I found that the romance is entirely predictable.
Having said that, I will still be eagerly awaiting the next in the series!
March 11, 2020
As an ARC reader, I was blessed to spend time with another of Maggie Christensen's masterpieces. Her characters could be my neighbors, friends, or family. They have children, marital woes, jobs, and imagination. They live around the corner, down the street, and miles away. Maggie has woven her story of chance, change, and an older love so special, we can all enjoy. I could not put it down, and am still wanting more of these delightful characters
June 16, 2020
Very Nice
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Life She Choses. I appreciate the fact that there are familiar Characters and places from the first book, but that it's a stand alone book in itself. I also appreciate the fact that the intimate details are left to your imagination, and not graphically described. I love reading novels about mature folks and can relate to the children and grandchildren and their relationships. Thanks for writing this series! Love it so far!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Life She Choses. I appreciate the fact that there are familiar Characters and places from the first book, but that it's a stand alone book in itself. I also appreciate the fact that the intimate details are left to your imagination, and not graphically described. I love reading novels about mature folks and can relate to the children and grandchildren and their relationships. Thanks for writing this series! Love it so far!
February 18, 2020
Great read
This is the second book in the Granite Springs series,. Once again Maggie doesn't fail with a great story set in a location I can visualise with memorable characters that you just want to know what happens in their lives. Reading Maggie's books is like a friend sitting telling you a story, I look forward to the next book which is coming out soon.
This is the second book in the Granite Springs series,. Once again Maggie doesn't fail with a great story set in a location I can visualise with memorable characters that you just want to know what happens in their lives. Reading Maggie's books is like a friend sitting telling you a story, I look forward to the next book which is coming out soon.
February 13, 2020
A wonderful story, dealing with life in general. Kay ‘s husband had passed away a few years ago. The accusations still seem to plaque her. Will she find love and happiness. A not to be missed story.
March 19, 2025
love the series
I can’t seem to stop reading this series from Maggie Christensen. Another seven to go, better download the next one.
I can’t seem to stop reading this series from Maggie Christensen. Another seven to go, better download the next one.
October 12, 2026
Is there room in Kay’s life for a second chance at love. Does it include her new boss, professor Nick, and his teenage kids?
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