Third Time’s a Charm

by Juliet Holmes

Sage Huxley escaped her troubled childhood in Lyndale, Texas and she hasn't looked back. Well. She hasn't looked back often. When would she have the time, between finals, shepherding obnoxious freshmen, her mayoral internship (and his irate chihuahua) and a part-time mechanic's gig up in the Bronx?

Then she gets the call that her estranged father has died and left her a home in major disrepair. Should she sell it for the bank's lowball offer? Or sink her entire savings into a home she'd rather demolish?

Leo Pindar was voted "Most Likely To Go To Prison" and he didn't disappoint. But five years later, Leo is a (heavily tattooed) small business owner giving others the second chances at life he's been given. So when Sage Huxley walks back into his life with a literal broken home, he's just going to fix it and send her back to her bright, shining future. He's already lied to her about his feelings once before. He can do it again.

Right?

Genres: Second Chance, Romance

191 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 10, 2021

Reviews

[Katharine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

3/5 stars

Sage and Leo are a high school crush that never got the chance to become anything more. They both have trauma and a lot to deal with. Leo is angry and Sage has emotional trauma.

I enjoyed the angst between the two of them as they fought their romance. They both had a lot going on in their life so it was understandable they weren’t jumping into a relationship. I also liked that Sage realized she shouldn’t ask Leo to change. And she would build her life without him.

I do wish we got to see a little bit more of Leo’s past so we could understand him even more. It would have been cool to see a therapist session. I also would have liked to see Leo visiting his mom with Tristan. Or visiting abroad like he did for 6 months. There was a lot of telling things in the book where I think the author could have showed us instead.

Also would have enjoyed seeing them together for another chapter. As we never got to really see them coexist as dating. They were either separate or boom engaged

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded down
This was an ok read. It wasn't so bad I wouldn't be able to finish reading it or that I'd dislike it very much but it wasn't great either, it was just ok.
This is another romance book full of really heavy, dark stuff--which, I kind of knew to expect, so it wasn't a shock but I was still hoping it would be handled differently. I think that the book should come with a trigger-warning, mostly because the blurb doesn't specify the negative stuff the book deals with. If the writing had been stronger the heavier aspects could have felt more supported. I’ve read other romances that dealt with darker themes and serious issues that managed to work for me even if I had anticipated something frothier, because the relationship was swoon-worthy and the character work was excellent. Unfortunately in this book that did not happen. The dialogue had that stilted quality that draws attention to its own artifice.
I don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t this. The beginning was interesting but the more I read the less interested in the book I was and towards the end I was skipping pages to get to the end sooner (and the book is already quite short). The characters were bland, but mostly fine. There was no chemistry between Sage and Leo, the main characters, and I didn't feel their love at all.
Honestly, the synopsis was more entertaining than the book itself. I don't think reading it was a waste of time but I was hoping for more.

***I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Desiree · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a story about finding your place in the world.

Sage had a difficult childhood with an abusive father but is on to better things. She got accepted into Yale and on the night she leaves, she has to escape from her home with the help of her friends. She returns to her hometown briefly because her father passed away and has to deal with the run down house. There, she runs into Leo again after not speaking to him over the years.

Leo was a troublemaker as a teen and hasn’t left the small town that they both grew up in. He didn’t tell Sage he loved her when they were kids because he knew she was leaving and didn’t want to hold her back.Now, he’s a small business owner who employs people who have been to jail to give them a second chance at life. In his own way, he’s trying to change the world.

Although the book was okay, I really liked how no one was trying to hold anyone back. They wanted their friends to success and move on to bigger and better things even though it means leaving the town. I did like the support that Leo and Sage’s friends gave them over the years. There wasn’t much plot-wise and I couldn’t really connect with the characters but my favorite part of the book is the fact that they’re all living their separate lives and becoming adults but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they won’t be able to join each other in their lives again in the future.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book as a free review copy from Voracious Readers Only.
It is in a genre I am happy to read, but not normally the kind of book I would gravitate to.

I liked it and for the most part it was well-written.
I, personally, am not a fan of books or movies that bounce between past and present…hence, the 4-stars.
The characters were all dealing with their own issues, but reality does have people with less issues, even as lesser characters to round out the group. Too much drama?! There was not one character that didn’t have some things to hide or work on. People are flawed but usually there is one person that can be counted on to be the solver not adding more drama to the mix…a stable presence.

That said, I would still read more from this author.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sage left Lyndale years ago, but has she really escaped her troubled past? She is dragged back to the small town, when her father passes. Leo is still living in there, although he is doing better than he did before, and no longer seems to stir up trouble with the cops. When they meet up again, will they still just be friends? Or will it be something more? Can they risk the potential heartbreak? I loved this imperfect pair, who know that are broken, but both have beautiful hearts.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Moony (Captain Mischief) MeowPoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I got this eARC from Netgalley and Juliet Holmes*

It was a sort of cute read. I adored Leo and how his life turned out, how he was as a character; he was so natural. No fake, no wierdness. Just Leo. Sage was okay, but a bit meh at times.

[TLuvs · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, let me say Thank You to Voracious Readers Only as well as Author Juliet Holmes for providing a digital ARC of Third Time's a Charm! I received this ARC for an honest review. Warning: The book contains trigger warnings for Domestic Violence.
Generally, on a review, I would follow a template or guide by Providing a Summary, Presenting an Evaluation and then Giving My Recommendation to readers. As I thought more and more about what to say for Third Time's a Charm, I found myself really not having enough material to present in such a format.
That said, I did enjoy the book! There was good chemistry between the main characters, Sage and Leo. There was a plot with good storytelling to encourage development of the plot. There was humor in needed places to counterbalance the seriousness of situations. And there was a history, providing backstory, which was logical for the conclusion.
However, the biggest feedback I can provide to increase the star rating is simply... more! This book was SO INCREDIBLY SHORT. It needed at least 50,000 more words to develop all the pros mentioned above. I am surprised no editor, friend, or loved one encouraged Holmes to delve deeper into the storytelling and character development.
Still, I would recommend Third Time’s a Charm to anyone looking for something quick and easy!

Final Rating: 2.5 Star

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written second chance romance between Sage and Leo. The author brings strong characters and weaves a heartfelt story of family and love and the choices you have to make along the way. It's a sweet romance and I enjoyed reading.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[meg_chasing_pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

In “Third Time’s a Charm” we meet Sage, a young woman destined for greatness, escaping her small-town limitations and abusive childhood. She didn’t have it easy growing up, with an absent mother and a father with a temper. Thank goodness she had a few close friends, John, Hazel, and Leo, to nurse her and feed her when her father would not. Leo, her childhood friend and the one that could be, or at least… could have been. These friends are the only reason she escapes - to college, to her future. Never to come back to Lyndale, TX… not if she can help it.
But the death of her father brings her back to town, back to the critical glares and small-town whispers demeaning her daughterly efforts. With her return, it kicks up all the old feelings - not just in her, but in Leo too. But Leo has his own struggles. Leo’s got a wrap sheet as long as his tattooed arm. He’s got an older brother who’s soberly boring, a younger brother to help raise, and a mom who’s dementia onset gets worse day-by-day. Add to that Leo’s roofing business and their bustling foster care responsibilities (mom loves every lost soul), and anyone can see how Leo feels stuck in his life. Well, at least he didn’t realize he felt stuck until Sage blew back into his life.
Third Time’s a Charm is a refreshing take on a romance story. There is authenticity in the characters: they have flaws, they seek out therapy and acknowledge their issues, and they struggle with their emotions and decisions. Leo especially, you can feel the weight of his problems and empathize with his choices - very refreshing for a MMC! The struggle between Sage and Leo feels grounded in truth - I think anyone from a small town with a first love crush will connect with Sage and her conflict in returning, in opening her heart to rejection, and at trying to make it work one more time.
**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[K.J. Sweeney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Third Time's a Charm is a small-town romance that could possibly also fall into the second chance category too. I say possibly, simply because although our hero and heroine have had feelings for one another since they were at school, nothing had ever actually happened between them.
This is quite a short book, more of a novella than a novel and in some ways, it really shows. There are some fairly meaty backstories here. Our heroine Sage has been abused, both physically and mentally by her father growing up. Then we have Leo, our hero, who has anger issues and some kind of mental health diagnosis, although it's never explicitly stated what. He's also dealing with early-onset dementia. (Incredibly early, seeing as she's only 53.) There's enough heavy material to cover a much bigger book, even without the romance element. As a result, it does feel like much of this is just hinted at, rather than any depth.
This is quite a sweet romance, but it really should have been a longer book with more chance to get to know the characters. I didn't think that we really got the chance to connect with them and be drawn into their story. It was a real shame as the bones are here, but we needed a bit more flesh on those bones.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Rachael Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This book starts out when our heroine, Sage Huxley, is leaving her abusive home because she got into Yale. The love interest, and her at the time best friend, Leo Pindar, is attempting to help her get out when her father breaks in and they start fighting. The police get called and Leo ends up arrested... I think. Then, chapter 1 jumps forward in time 4 years when Sage's father has died and she has received his worn down house. Over the course of the story, there are a few plot points that seemed random and threw me out of the book. Also, this was a relatively short book, so I understand that pacing is going to be expedited, but I felt like some of the details and relationship aspects were happening extremely quickly. I had a hard time keeping track of who all of the side characters were and how they were relevant to the story.

Overall, I liked Leo and related to Sage's work ethic. I thought that the struggles that Leo was going through and the way that he was trying to handle them were admirable, even if I was not fully here for the back-and-forth that he put Sage through emotionally.

[Wendy C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sage escaped her troubled childhood in Lyndale, and moved away for college. When her father dies she comes home and reconnects with old friends and an almost boyfriend.

The story was nice and I liked the revelations of Leo and his internal struggles and Sage’s battle with guilt and finding happiness. Was it the story I was expecting? No, but I enjoyed it. Steamy? Nope, that’s definitely a stretch, but it was sweet.

I struggled with the writing somewhat, I found that new characters weren’t introduced well and I found myself asking ‘who is that?’ at times. I also found the dialogue hard to follow when there were more than 2 characters conversing, it lacked some direction there and I found myself re reading a paragraph trying to work out who was saying what.

Aside from that though I did enjoy it and finished it quickly. The pace was good and the characters were all really like-able. Some good editing could have really helped this book.

I would recommend for anyone looking for a short sweet HEA romance.

I was gifted this book in return for an honest review.

[Laurie Tell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have very mixed thoughts on this book.

On the plus side it was a sweet romance with characters that I liked.
On the other hand, the angst felt a little manufactured - maybe because I could not relate

I liked that this was a friendship first and this journey took place over years.
On the other hand, I felt like it jumped around a bit and didn't give enough information. They are all in a bar, wait, now they are all at her house a week later? I get a little lost here and there.

I liked that there were so many stories going on at the same time - the main romance, a side romance, his mother's illness, family drama, etc.
On the other hand - it almost felt like there were too many stories going on.

If my review left yo confused, that's pretty much how I felt.

I do want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second book I have read by this author and could not put it down. The author did a beautiful job in telling the story of Leo and Sage, many times it brought tears to my eyes as things would stop them from being together. I could not stop reading and finished in one sitting. The story included instances of mental health, but did not sensationalize. Leo’s mom fostered children that had family problems. All together it was a hurtful and touching story of friends helping and understanding, love, family choices, second chances, and new opportunities. Also, Sage and Leo, the main hero and heroine were so realistic and I kept wishing things would turn out for them. I wanted the HEA for them.... I highly recommend reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angelica Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story about two friends who had always had feelings for each other coming back into each others was such an enjoyable read. There were moments when some things were a little fast paced, but it still worked nicely to keep the story going.

Leo and Sage both have dealt with a lot throughout their entire lives, and everything always seemed to ease in some sense when they were around each other. They always kept gravitating to each other even when they thought that they shouldn't.

When they finally allowed themselves to truly be with each other and to try to have something special together it bloomed and grew with ease. I really liked the way it ended with them getting engaged and two of their friends finally admitting their feelings for each other.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book.

[Mc Chanster · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read. I thought Sage and Leo fit were good mains and there was good tension between the two. Generally, I liked it, but I also felt as though the author tried to cram too much into too few pages. Everybody in the small town of Lyndale seemed to have some sort of tragic backstory and combining all of them together made the plot overly complicated. It actually pulled my attention away from the love story and split my focus between a variety of characters.

Overall, a good story, but it's scattered. There are enough ideas for a full-length novel, or, pare down and focus just on Sage and Leo. Thank you Voracious Readers and Juliet Holmes for my copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Haney Hayes Promotions · Rating 3 out of 5]

This captivating novel is tailor-made for readers who are drawn to deeply emotional romance stories set in the intimate backdrop of a close-knit small town. Prepare to be swept away by a narrative where the unavoidable circumstances of forced proximity act as the catalyst to reignite a powerful and passionate connection between two individuals with a shared history. As they are unexpectedly thrown back into each other's lives, long-dormant feelings resurface, forcing them to confront a past that still burns brightly beneath the surface. This is a story of second chances, where the comfort and familiarity of home intertwine with the undeniable pull of a love that time may have tested, but never truly extinguished.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book one in The Lyndale Lover's.Series and it is Sage and Leo's story and it is a must read. This was a absolutely great book and I loved reading about Sage and Leo and everything that they have been through and I found myself hoping that they would get a second chance of being together and having a happy ending. The characters and storyline pulled you in and I couldn't put this book down. Juliet Holmes is a new author to me and I definitely look forward to reading more of her books in the future and I recommend you read this book and you will not be disappointed.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Abby J · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a hard one for me to review because I'm torn. This book really should've had a trigger warning for some of the topics it discusses. The MCs were well-written but there were a lot of story arcs that were competing for attention throughout the book rather than focusing on one or two main challenges. I did enjoy the second chance aspect of this story and seeing how Leo and Sage have changed over the course of their lives.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 1st book I've read written by Juliet Holmes; I can’t wait to read more of her books.

This is the 1st book in the Lyndale Lovers Series. She has written a good second chance romance book. Sage left town after graduating high school; Leo has broken her heart. Now four years later and she is back after her father died to repair the house she inherited or she’ll lose everything; she is forced to work with Leo and the longer they work together the more she falls for him again.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

[Valeriem · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this copy in exchange for a review. The story line had promise, but no one thing was developed. There was just issue after issue introduced - abuse, bipolar disorder, foster families, political candidacy, Alzheimer’s to name a few- with none of them being fully developed. They were mentioned in passing in a chapter, and then something new was introduced.
The writing was a tad choppy. It took me awhile to associate characters with their names as no
one was developed enough to be memorable. The plot line was intriguing in the synopsis, but the outline is better than the execution.

[Maren · Rating 3 out of 5]

One-Sentence Synopsis : Two childhood friends reunite to work on a house.

I found this book to be an easy read. I enjoyed the characters, they all seemed pretty well developed and had their goals pretty clearly stated. I personally loved their names.

There just seemed like there were too many deep issues the characters had to deal with that the romance piece was kind of an afterthought. Even though the book was marketed as a romance. The ending also felt a little rushed and thrown together, like one minute there was serious, unfixable conflict and next it was all poof, problem solved.

But all in all it was a nice story with good chemistry between the main characters and there was a HEA which is a must have for me.

Note : I received a copy of this book through a Voracious Readers Only book giveaway!

[Shannon Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great story. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but what ever it was.. what I got was far better. This book has all the feels. It’s emotional and loving yet deals with the highs and lows of so many important topics. I won’t go into detail for fear of giving too much away. All I can say is.. Read it! lol

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elsie Pitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it but for me it was a bit fast and somewhat messy. The story was written well and the way that Miss Holmes has written makes me think that there will be more that follows. It did leave me questioning a bit. SO yes this may be about mostly about Sage and Leos relationship but it also sets up for the next book and I gotta say that I am utterly intrigued with what will happen. I enjoyed this book, I recommend it.

[Edie L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third Times a Charm by Juliet Holmes

I’m so sorry to say I had a difficult time finishing this book. It was kind of like a run on sentence the whole time and the book was so fast paced it was all over the place. The story plot was enough to keep me reading it was well thought and the way that the author has written makes me think that there will be more that follows from this book. Even though this book was about Sage and Leo I was very intrigued with what will come next.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sage didn’t always have the happiest of childhoods until one day she was able to leave because of help. Now back in town to get her dads house in order she comes face to face with Leo again. Needing his help after all this time was exactly what she needed. I enjoyed this story over all. I liked the back story of where it all began to get a sense of the reason why both were the way they were.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sage comes back to Texas after the death of her father. She helped take care of him from a distance but after the childhood she endured at his hands, close contact was not possible. She reconnected with her friends and the only boy she ever felt she could call home. She loved Leo for as long as she could remember . Do they have a chance with her going to Yale law and him in Texas?

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

How much can one person really take? Our protagonists are pushed to their limits repeatedly, all the while trying to maintain some sense of normalcy, never mind take the time to allow themselves to grow and maybe fall in love.
I do love a small town romance, this just came with a whole lotta drama first.

[Amy Schilz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read. I liked the story and plot line but it was all a little bit too predictable. I wanted more depth in the characters- more emotion. It was all very surface level. Overall I would say it was OK.

I received a free copy of this book from voracious readers which did not affect my review.

[Kat Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok read. I really liked the characters and I was really cheering for them. The angst did not feel natural and felt forced. It wasn’t enough for me not to read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.