MY REVIEW:
At first glance, the dusty little New Mexico town of Last Chance would seem to live up to its name for all the wrong reasons. Fortunately, the warm and loving residents of the community, especially Elizabeth Cooley, have helped a few people find a future and a hope even when things looked pretty hopeless for them.
Third book in the A Place to Call Home series, “At Home in Last Chance” features Kaitlyn Reed and Steven Braden. Kaitlyn has made some huge mistakes and bad choices in her life and sees no hope in overcoming her past. Back in Last Chance with her brother and the daughter she left behind, Kaitlyn is often tempted to run again but this time she just cannot bear to abandon her daughter. Steven has also returned to Last Chance, hoping to prove to his family that he can be responsible and dependable. He too has a history of running from his troubles and this time his love for his grandmother keeps him in Last Chance. Although both Kaitlyn and Steven have been warned about each other, as they become better acquainted, they find an empathy and understanding that draws them together. Can either of them trust the other – or even their own hearts?
Strong characters and a realistic plot held my interest in “At Home in Last Chance”. I have particularly enjoyed the character of Elizabeth Cooley in this and the previous books in the series. Her love and wisdom has played a pivotal role in the lives of Kaitlyn and Steven as well as the lives of the primary characters in the other books. It was also fun to catch up with the other familiar faces in Last Chance. A strong theme about letting go of the past and letting the Lord have the future was predominate.
I have enjoyed my time spent in Last Chance and would love for the series to continue for several more books. “At Home in Last Chance” can easily stand on its own but would be even more enjoyable if read after the previous two books. They are all worth the time.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
What happens when the life you’re running from won’t let go of your heart?
Kaitlyn Reed and Steven Braden have always had a similar philosophy of life: when the going gets tough, they get going–out of town and away from the problem. Now they are both back in Last Chance, New Mexico, and trying to start over.
Kaitlyn is working to reestablish a relationship with the seven-year-old daughter she left behind six months earlier. Steven is trying to prove to his family that he is not the irresponsible charmer they have always known him to be. As Kaitlyn and Steven find themselves drawn to one another, one big question keeps getting in the way: How will they learn to trust each other when they don’t even trust themselves?
With emotional depth and characters who leap off the page and into your heart, Cathleen Armstrong invites you to return once more to the dusty and delightful town of Last Chance.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cathleen Armstrong lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, Ed, and their corgi. Though she has been in California for many years now, her roots remain deep in New Mexico where she grew up and where much of her family still lives. After she and Ed raised three children, she returned to college and earned a BA in English. Her debut novel Welcome to Last Chance won the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for Women’s Fiction. Learn more at www.cathleenarmstrong.com.
