Now isn’t the time for a beautiful single mom to steal my heart.
Especially not one that I’ve loved before.
I’m not that boy anymore, though. Life has been less than kind.
My father abandoning us and leaving me to be the man of the house at a young age started the chip growing on my shoulder.
He moved on to another life and I helped my family mend as best I could.
Fate has a way of shining down on those that work hard for their dreams.
I carved out my own path and earned the right to buy a portion of the firm I helped build.
It’s time to claim my success and focus on myself.
But then she shows up and my world turns around in circles. Just having her in the room leaves me wanting a softness in my life that feels foreign.
The problem is, we’re both afraid of something deep, but life has a way of bringing you to your knees. Sometimes love is the only thing that can bring you back alive.
I messed up the first chance with my girl. I’m not letting the second one go by without a fight.
Ali Parker is a full-time contemporary and new adult romance writer with more than a hundred and twenty books behind her. She loves coffee, watching a great movie, and hanging out with her hubs. By hanging out, she means making out. The man is hot. Hello. She’s a creative at heart and loves coming up with more ideas than any one person should be allowed to access. She lives in Tennessee with her hubs, teenage son, two grown daughters, and two love-of-her-life grandbabies! Telling a good story that revives hope, reminds us of love, and gives a vacation from life is all she’s up to.
This is a well written book with a cast of strong characters centering on Krista and Thomas. High school sweethearts meet again twenty years later. He has a successful career but is still unhappy. She's a widow with a nine year old son. They have a second chance at love. The spark is still there but will their love be strong enough? The author does a great job moving the story fluidly with her detailed and descriptive writing and had me glued to the pages from start to finish reading their story. Loved and highly recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
Thomas Grier was the first born of Art Bancroft but was abandoned with his two brothers when they were young. They had a rough life growing up. Art never sent support or anything to their living expenses. So they had a rough upbringing. Thomas met Kristi in high school and were a couple but part ways when she went to college and he went his own way. His way wasn't always the right way. He had to support his Mom and his brothers. His Mothers choice in men didn't help his anger issues. She picked the wrong men. Her husband Ron, was a piece of work and was abusive to her. Thomas didn't sit by and let him get away with it. It Finally broke and he beat up Ron. One of the times he left his Mom's house he was upset and wasn't paying attention and almost hit a car in an intersection. The woman came out of the car and chewed him out for putting her son in danger. Once she was done, he realized it was Kristi Shores, his girlfriend from high school. He wanted to apologize but he didn't know how to reach her. But he found out and brought a gift basket and as they say it got his foot in the door. Lot of sparks and misunderstandings but the attraction is still there. One night he is receives a call from Jensen, his youngest brother to bail him out of jail. He thinks he's going to move in with Thomas and is told No. Instead Thomas takes him to their Mothers house and she treats Thomas badly. This triggers such anger in him. He gets in his car and speeds away. A storm hits and he is still driving crazy and he spins out of control and gets in a bad accident. He is hanging upside down in the car. He's hurt bad. He keeps going in and out. But one of the times he calls Kristi. She gets him to send the location from his phone to hers. She sends the location to the ambulance. But she gets to the scene and he is being brought up in a basket from the side of a cliff. He has a bad concussion, cracked ribs and broken fingers plus hypothermia. She goes with him in the ambulance. She stays by him when he wakes up he tells her he doesn't want her in his life. That she's too good to be involved with someone like him. Too people that have been hurt go their separate ways but still care. They find their way and get stronger for it. Great story of losses and fighting for the love that pulls them together. Ali Parker hit it out of the park again. The Bancroft men and their strong women.
Oh WOW!!! Now we get to see how the "other Bancroft boys" make their way through life and hard decisions. Thomas Grier is actually the oldest of Art Bancroft's sons, except he and his two brothers grew up without the Bancroft privileges. Even with that bad boy persona, Thomas has made something of his life, and that life just got a bit more exciting. Kristi Shores, single mother with a nine year old son has turned her tragic life into becoming an awesome women's life coach, and lifting women out of bad situations to become something....more. Oh did I mention she is also Thomas' first love and confident growing up??? Their backstory is enough to intrigue you into reading but the present will make your jaw drop, your heart thump and your eyes leak!! After twenty years Thomas almost crashes into Kristi and her son Wesley...literally, and that bad boy vibe and sexy grin isn't working like it did all those years ago...or is it??? Join Thomas, Kristi and Wesley as they try to manage lifes curve balls and minefield of dreams to get their HEA!!! Absolutely LOVE Thomas and Kristi and Wesley too!!! Great characters that you'll get to watch grow into the people they are meant to be even with their past colliding with their present. You'll even want to smack Thomas upside has heat a time or two. What will happen when the past repeats itself and Thomas breaks Kristina heart the second time?? A MUST READ!!! I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book and happily purchased a copy for my favorites collection. Looking forward to the next story.... Maybe Oliver???
This is the 7th book in this series, but can be read without the previous books. Thomas is actually the oldest of the Bancroft children, but was not raised by his birth father, Art Bancroft, in fact he along with his mother and 2 brothers were abandoned by him. Kristi is from his past, 20 years earlier they were in highschool and dated. Kristie, wow I liked her. She is a single mother, and her and her son have been through a lot, but wow she is a strong women. I loved the chemistry between these two, they were so different but so good for eachother. Im looking forward to reading about Thomas brothers...
For those of you that have read The Bancroft Brothers Series you know Ali has written about them all but she mentioned that Art had another family and this book is about Thomas Grier the oldest of three in this family. It can be read as a standalone but better if you know the background. HEA. Thomas and Krista went to High School together and were sweethearts then but broke it off when she went off to college. This is a second chance romance story but with a lot of a lot of but what if this happened ...fantastic story ..Ali doesnt disappoint but then she never dies. Loved the read.
Thomas and Krista have been cornerstones in each other’s lives. She was his high school sweetheart that got away. Coming from a dysfunctional home has had its effects on Thomas the most and Krista was there for him. Now that they have reconnected Thomas and Krista have a chance to rekindle what they once had but Krista is still struggling with the death of her fiancé. Do they have what it takes to take things to the next step that may lead to a happily ever after? I voluntarily agreed to receive an ARC of this book for an honest review.
A liberal dash of bad boy that has a splash of gooey center
Kristi, a women’s life coach, and Thomas, a business financial analyst, reconnect in after he almost runs into her while driving erratically. As the story progresses he tries to rekindle their past, she tries to define the present while dealing with her ghosts from the past, and his demons could put a halt to everything just when she attempts to slow things down. Ali Parker continues the Bancroft brothers series with a liberal dash of bad boy that has a splash of gooey center. The road each character traveled before reconnecting was so filled with bumps it was surprising that they even made it to meet again.
I received a free copy of the book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
Lord have mercy I adore these Bancroft boys, even the illegitimate ones!!
Thomas Grier may not have the name, but he has everything else. He's a fantastic character and the woman who brings him to his knees is absolute perfection.
I guess it can be read as a stand alone but reading the original "boys" will give you a glimpse of exactly where he's coming from and why he's the way he is. Either way, this is a fantastic read that I highly recommend.
I loved it from start to finish. It was hilarious, sensitive, romantic and "keep you on your toes " edgy. I would love to have second chance of love just. like. this. 💕
Also, I enjoyed the entire book being a standalone and reasonably priced at that. Keep many more future books like this Ali without the series and your fan base would grow . Readers, go grab your book, for you would not be disappointed 😊
I’ve read multiple novels by this author and normally love her writings. This book was the exception. I loved the story lines she attempted to develop but they fell short of target. Ron the husband needed to be more abusive to be believed. The brothers character develop in the story was weak to me. They all were damaged by their mother’s neglect but it appeared to be handled on a superficial level. This book is worth reading but it is not at this author’s normal outstanding level.
Oh I just loved Thomas and Kristi and her son Wesley!! Kristi is exactly who Thomas needs in his life. She and Wesley showed him how to love and be loved!! They dated in high school and he didn’t want to hold her back so he broke up with her back then. But a chance encounter brought her back in his life!! I would recommend this book to everyone!!
Thomas and Kristi have a love affair like no other. Thomas is the oldest of the Bancroft brothers but is technically a Grier. Will they be able to overcome the obstacles they’ve faced or will they have to give up on their love all together. Ali has done an exceptional job on this series. The Bancroft brothers are ones you don’t want to miss out on. A phenomenal read
Wow, this book was a good book I was a little disappointed that James and Rory weren’t in it or Kathy. I mean Thomas made the news and nobody reached out. Other then that this book took me back and a lot of his emotional state hit home. I enjoyed the whole series.
Another brilliant book by Ali Love this series. Loved Kristi and Thomas together and the connection between them both. Wesley is absolutely adorable. Brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant
This a wonderful second chance story. It is well written with wonderful characters. High school sweethearts, after difficulties and challenges, find each other again after twenty years. This is such a heartfelt and emotional story with a bit of drama. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I had not read the whole series do I don't really know all the other brothers. I read this as part of a April mini-challenge prompt -- (Never Gonna) Give You Up. Second Chance Love Affair seemed to fill the bill. It was a decent book, it is probably 3 1/2 stars but I round up. It was a little bit long, but it the characters had growth and there was a good resolution. The epilogue was nothing but a set up for the next book, not any additional clarification of the book, that was underwhelming.
Thomas and his 2 brothers were deserted by their father when very young. His father went on to marry another and father 6 sons. Thomas and his brothers had many issues. He reconnected with a childhood friend who he loved
More Bancrofts! It’s sad how some relationships get so messed up and how generations are affected. There are so many dynamics in this story but still a HEA!
We met Thomas Grier, briefly, in The Bancroft Brothers' Series book 6 by the best selling author, Ali Parker. He seemed to be a bit of a 'rough diamond' with a major chip on his shoulder. In this book we meet the 'real' Thomas who had a damaging childhood with not an easy start in life. But, at high school, he met Kristi who was a few years younger than him but who became his best friend and first love. The one person he could turn to when things got bad at home with his mother's many 'boyfriends'. But Kristi left to go to college and that wasn't on the cards for Thomas. He struggled and made a life for himself when he found he was good working in finance and now has a couple of partners in their very successful business. Thomas does, however, need to go on an anger management driver course in my opinion. For this is how he meets Kristi again after twenty years and her young son Wesley. This is where their HEA begins although there are a few ups and downs including one dreadful car accident! Kristi and Thomas balance each other out - she provides the calm that he needs and he provides her strength to lean on. They both have history from the twenty years apart but they have arrived at a time in their lives that a HEA may be possible. Can the emergency services get to Thomas in time or is it too late? I really enjoyed this book. If you haven't read the previous Bancroft Brothers books then don't worry as this can be read as a standalone. I've read them all so I can appreciate some aspects of this that wouldn't be so obvious to someone who hadn't, but that does not mean that you'd enjoy it any the less. I am looking forward to reading Thomas's younger brothers Oliver and Jenson with anticipation! This is so well written and drew me in right at the start and kept me absorbed in the storyline right to the very end - and what an ending! If you want a great, well written, feel good, funny, se@y and romantic story with some twists then this is the book for you. I received a reader's copy of this book and voluntarily leave my honest opinion of it here. Most Definitely Recommended!!!
Book 7: Second Chance Love Affair: 5 stars I received a free copy of the steamy New York based full length novel Second Chance Love Affair (Bancroft Brothers Book 7): Thomas and Kristi by Ali Parker and this review was given freely. As promised, book 7 features the three Bancroft’s stepbrothers, Thomas, Oliver and Jenson Grier plus their dysfunctional family life but except for a few brief references, there is no inclusion of the current Bancroft family that we have come to know and love in the prior sequels. A roller coaster of emotions can be found in this complex novel which blends the tragedies of abandonment, abuse, death and a near fatal accident with the stories of a web based woman’s empowerment emotional life coach, Kristi’s close relationship with her neighbors, and a steamy second chance at love romance for former high school sweethearts: brash, emotionally insecure forceful and at times reckless millionaire financial analyst Thomas Grier with “ widowed” single mother Kristi Shores. Contains a hopeful and happy ending. 18+ for dark themes, some violence, and intimate scenes.
Thomas Is the oldest of the Bancroft Brothers, but his last name is Grier. Art Bancroft was his dad but he left his mom with nothing but three young sons to raise alone; and went on to marry and father six more sons all of whom are billionaires. Thomas and his brothers had a hard upbringing. A mostly absent mother after their Dad left with a string of abusive boyfriends! Both to her and her boys! This has made him a distant man with a deeply ingrained belief that he isn’t good enough to be in a relationship because he’s never seen a functional one up close and personal! Despite his upbringing he’s become a wealthy man and has everything he has always wanted! In a near accident he caused Thomas runs into (almost literally) his high school girlfriend Kristi who was his safe haven in his youth! She’s single with a nine year old son who’s Dad had died suddenly. She tells him in no uncertain terms how angry she is about his driving and near miss! Once again he’s drawn to her, but lots of emotional obstacles stand in the way of a relationship! A wonderfully poignant Second Chance Love Affair!
Oof! The Bancroft legacy of dysfunction wasn’t confined to only the six sons raised as his heirs. I’m a sucker for a second chance and a wounded warrior. And while Thomas doesn’t fit the conventional description of “warrior”, he’s been a fighter all his life: looking after his mother and protecting his brothers from her bad decisions. He repeatedly broke my heart in this book. He’d been told and shown by the people that were supposed to value him just how worthless they believed him to be. I loved the way Krista was able to see past all the walls Thomas put up to protect himself, and I’m glad we got to know more about him through her eyes. I also really enjoyed watching this little family as they finally started to come together as a unit. I’m not completely satisfied with the with the relationship with his mother, though. I thought the wrong person took the blame and apologized for the problems. However, I’m hoping that in the brothers’ books we’ll see further growth and resolution to the situation. I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author.
Great continuation of the Bancroft billionaires. Thomas has never been loved so he has no idea how to. He had to grow up really fast, really quick and really young. He took care of his family, but never himself. So when he meets up with Kristi, he realizes what he is missing. Kristi was his life boat in high school, making him feel confident, and always taking care of him. Still, he doesn’t think he’s good enough for her. She is good and sweet and kind and loving and he is as rough as sandpaper. This book will have you tied up in knots waiting for Thomas to get out of his own head and let life and love just happen. So emotional. Thomas needs love and acceptance and Kristi is there to shower him with it. Can Thomas ever completely let go and allow himself to love. Yes, he can, and you will love, love the way it happens. A fantastic book. I can’t wait to read about the two other brothers. You won’t be able to put this book down. Excellent.