{"id":17381,"date":"2014-08-11T21:54:37","date_gmt":"2014-08-12T02:54:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=17381"},"modified":"2014-08-11T21:54:37","modified_gmt":"2014-08-12T02:54:37","slug":"second-chance-cafe-by-brandy-bruce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=17381","title":{"rendered":"Second Chance Cafe by Brandy Bruce"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour<\/a><\/strong><\/span> book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Today’s Wild Card author is: <\/strong><\/div>\n

\u00a0Brandy Bruce<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0and the book:<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0Second Chance Cafe<\/a> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Heartsong Presents\/Love Inspired (July 2014)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
***Special thanks to the author for sending me a review copy.***<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n

\"BrandyBruce\"Brandy Bruce was scribbling stories in spiral notebooks by the age of 12. Her love for books never left her. She graduated from Liberty University, married the one person she could never get enough of, then started working as a book editor for a publishing house. Brandy and her husband, Jeff, live in Colorado with their two children. She can be reached through her blog at http:\/\/www.brandybruce.blogspot.com.<\/p>\n

Visit the author’s website HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

ABOUT THE BOOK:<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

ISABELLA ROMANO HAS GIVEN UP ON LOVE
\n<\/strong>
\n\"SecondBetween her demanding work as a nurse and her father’s poor health, Isabella has no time for distractions. So when a handsome firefighter practically falls at her feet, she keeps him at arm’s length. But Ethan Carter is determined to win her over. Orphaned at a young age, Ethan longs for a family of his own\u2014and he’s sure Isabella is his match. But when he opens a caf\u00e9 near his firehouse, Isabella is less than thrilled. She knows firsthand the strain of being a restaurant owner, and she wants no part of that life. Can Ethan convince the busy nurse they can overcome any obstacle and have their happily ever after together?<\/p>\n

Product Details:<\/strong>
\nList Price: $4.99
\nPublisher: Heartsong Presents\/ Love Inspired
\nLanguage: English
\nISBN-13: 978-0-373-48719-6<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/div>\n

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:<\/span> <\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Chapter One<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, people. We\u2019ve got a firefighter with possible fractures and trauma to the spine. ETA is five minutes.\u201dNurse Isabella Romano\u2019s ears perked up and her pulse quickened. The mood in the emergency room shifted to one of controlled urgency. Isabella slipped on gloves and followed the attending physician, Dr. Nichols, to the Denver Health Medical Center\u2019s ER entrance. Sirens rang out in the distance, and within minutes, the familiar sight of flashing lights sped toward them.<\/p>\n

The back doors of the ambulance flew open and the paramedics jumped out. \u201cMale, late twenties, fell from second-story landing to first floor and landed on his back. Multiple burns on his arms and a laceration on his right thigh. Hypotensive. Tachycardic. We administered one liter of saline through an 18 gauge IV in his left AC. Patient has maintained a pulse ox of 96 percent on 10L of oxygen via facemask.\u201d<\/p>\n

Isabella grabbed the left side of the stretcher, helping push the gurney to trauma room 1. At the sound of a low moan, she looked down at the firefighter strapped to the backboard. A neck collar kept him immobile and an oxygen mask covered his mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s his name?\u201d Isabella called out to the EMT across from her.<\/p>\n

\u201cEthan Carter. Company 51. Those guys will be filling up the waiting room as soon as they clear the scene.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEthan, I\u2019m Isabella. Can you hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n

His gaze met hers and Isabella could see his intense pain.<\/p>\n

\u201cEthan, you\u2019re going to be okay. We\u2019re going to take good care of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, everyone, on three,\u201d Dr. Nichols ordered.<\/p>\n

Everyone stopped what they were doing at Dr. Nichols\u2019s instruction and lifted the backboard with Ethan on it, transferring him and the backboard to the hospital bed. He moaned. \u201cWe\u2019re going to need 50 mcg of fentanyl,\u201d Dr. Nichols called out. Maggie, one of Isabella\u2019s colleagues, began cutting off Ethan\u2019s burned clothing.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get some X-rays, Isa,\u201d Dr. Nichols stated. \u201cI want a CT scan. His thigh obviously needs stitches.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m on it,\u201d Maggie said as she inspected the burns on Ethan\u2019s arms. Isabella moved to order the X-rays but Ethan reached out for her. She stepped back toward him, preparing to explain to him that she\u2019d be back and he was going to be all right. But the look in his blue eyes stopped her. He tried to reach for his oxygen mask, but Isabella shook her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, don\u2019t move,\u201d she said; then pulled away his mask for a moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t leave me,\u201d he said, his voice dry and raspy. Isabella was pretty sure that even covered in dust and blood, with a brace around his neck, he was the most attractive man she\u2019d ever seen. Her heart tugged. In that moment, he just seemed so alone.<\/p>\n

She replaced his oxygen. \u201cI have to go for a minute, Ethan, but I\u2019ll be coming right back. And we\u2019ll get through this together. I know you\u2019re scared and I know you\u2019re hurting. But it\u2019s going to be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n

He just stared at her, his eyes pleading for her to stay. Isabella couldn\u2019t help it; she reached down and brushed his brown hair from his forehead.<\/p>\n

\u201cI promise I\u2019ll be back,\u201d she told him.Ethan Carter\u2019s eyes fluttered open and then shut again quickly.<\/p>\n

Who in the world turned on that blinding light?<\/p>\n

He could hear a voice, someone saying his name. He turned his head to the side.<\/p>\n

What happened?<\/p>\n

He heard that voice again, saying his name. Then it came back to him, playing through his mind like a movie reel. The house fire. The roaring sound of the blaze. The sensation that he was falling. The impact of the ground floor. The rush into the ER.<\/p>\n

\u201cEthan?\u201d<\/p>\n

He opened his eyes and blinked, trying to focus on the woman\u2019s face in front of him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi there,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to see you again.\u201d<\/p>\n

He blinked again. \u201cNurse . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIsabella. We met under rather tragic circumstances, I know.\u201d<\/p>\n

She was teasing. He could hear it in her voice. Now that he could focus on her clearly, he remembered seeing her in the ER.<\/p>\n

\u201cIsabella,\u201d he repeated. Dressed in blue scrubs, she stood next to the bed, her brown hair tied back in a knot. She smiled down at him and Ethan felt better at the sight of her smile. She checked the monitors, her eyes darting toward the door of the hospital room.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid they get the family out of the house?\u201d Ethan asked. Isabella nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. One of the other firefighters\u2014I think his name was Blake\u2014told me to let you know that everyone made it out safely.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExcept me, I guess,\u201d Ethan said grimly. But Isabella\u2019s smile didn\u2019t fade.<\/p>\n

\u201cC\u2019mon, tough guy. You\u2019ve got this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ethan studied her warm smile and playful tone. \u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d he conceded. \u201cGod was watching over me in that burning house. He won\u2019t abandon me now.\u201d<\/p>\n

She blinked in surprise at his statement. \u201cI suppose He was,\u201d she agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen can I go home?\u201d Ethan asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d Isabella answered. \u201cDr. Nichols will be here any minute to talk to you,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you stay?\u201d Ethan asked immediately. Her face softened.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, if you want me to. Is there anyone you want me to call for you? The guys from the firehouse were here all night, off and on, in the waiting room. There are a few guys out there now. They can come in as soon as Dr. Nichols speaks to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ethan nodded. \u201cThanks. But there\u2019s no one else for you to call.\u201d<\/p>\n

Isabella frowned. \u201cYour family?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ethan just shook his head, turning his attention to the gauze covering his forearms. \u201cThere\u2019s no one. Just the guys.\u201d He hoped she\u2019d drop the topic. He hated the pitiful looks he got whenever he explained to people that other than a few distant relatives out in California, he had no one. It was part of why he\u2019d joined Company 51. A whole firehouse with the brothers he\u2019d never had. He wondered if the chief was in the waiting room.<\/p>\n

The door slid open and a doctor wearing black rimmed glasses and holding a clipboard walked in. He looked to be in his mid-forties.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood morning, Ethan. How are we feeling today?\u201d<\/p>\n

We? I have a feeling you\u2019re doing a lot better than I am, doc.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m hurting, but I\u2019m guessing that medication is dulling the real pain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Nichols nodded. \u201cYou had a bad fall, Ethan. You know that. There were second degree burns on your arms, and a gash on your thigh that took about twenty stitches. You lost some blood, but we\u2019ve given you IV fluids and you\u2019re vitals have stabilized. You\u2019re pretty banged up and bruised all over, but unfortunately, your back took the impact of the fall.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ethan\u2019s chest constricted with fear.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow bad is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Isabella stepped closer to his bedside.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt could have been worse. You have a lumbar\u2014lower back\u2014spinal fracture. The X-ray showed an L4 compression fracture. The positive aspect of this is that you still have good movement and feeling. Also, there doesn\u2019t seem to be any neurological damage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo I need surgery?\u201d Ethan asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think so. The X-rays indicate a clean fracture. I\u2019m going to recommend we move forward with outpatient treatment. But you\u2019ve got a long, arduous healing journey ahead of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long until I can be back on active duty?\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Nichol\u2019s eyebrows furrowed. \u201cThe spine is a tricky thing, Ethan. And everyone heals at a different pace. You\u2019re going to need rest, pain medication, lots of therapy, a back brace\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long?\u201d Ethan insisted.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re talking months, Ethan. And that\u2019s assuming that everything heals as it should. While in a few weeks you\u2019ll be able to continue with most day-to-day activities, I don\u2019t see you going back to active duty for probably six months. It could be less; it could be more. Perhaps they can transfer you to a desk job until you\u2019re ready. After a few weeks of therapy we could reevaluate and consider light duty. But as of right now, your life is going to look different. You need to understand and accept that. Your priority needs to be healing properly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Months? Desk job? Light duty? Ethan tried to swallow the boulder in his throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, eventually, I\u2019ll be back to normal. I\u2019ll be able to be on active duty, right?\u201d Ethan pressed. Dr. Nichols folded his arms across his clipboard.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf all goes as it should, I think you\u2019ll make a full recovery. But as I said, this is going to be a one-day-at-a-time healing process. We\u2019ll start with rest. I want you on complete bed rest for the next few days. No strenuous activity. We\u2019ll fit you for a back brace, which I want you to wear for six to eight weeks. We\u2019ll do an X-ray after six weeks and see if the bone has healed. Then, once the bone has healed, you\u2019ll need to begin physical therapy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ethan took a deep breath. He felt a soft hand squeeze his arm and he looked up at Isabella.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, it\u2019s going to be okay,\u201d she said, her voice encouraging. \u201cYou\u2019re here, you\u2019re alive, you can walk\u2014those are all good things.\u201d He stared at her, trying to hold on to the sense of calm emanating from her.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s right, Father, he prayed. But what am I going to do for months if I\u2019m not fighting fires? And what if \u2018the healing process\u2019 doesn\u2019t go as it should and I can\u2019t go back? Company 51 is all I have.<\/p>\n

That last thought was too much. Ethan felt tears welling up in his eyes. He blinked fast to keep them at bay, mortified that he might cry in front of this nurse who not only was kind and smart and had a great sense of humor, but also looked stunning in blue scrubs.<\/p>\n

I will never leave you.<\/p>\n

The words were just a whisper in his heart, but they were enough. He clung to them. It had only been six months since one of his brothers at the firehouse, Caleb, had lead Ethan to Christ. Six months of a changed life. He still struggled to accept that God loved him like a father. That he could turn to God at any time. But it got easier. Accepting Christ as his Savior had filled Ethan with something he\u2019d known was missing since childhood. Now he treasured that faith more than anything else.<\/p>\n

Ethan closed his eyes.<\/p>\n

I have You, Father. Whatever comes, I have you. Help me through this.<\/p>\n

Isabella watched as Ethan closed his eyes. His lips moved silently, and she knew without a doubt that he was praying. She looked over at Dr. Nichols who stood waiting without a word. Prayers were common things in the hospital. Sometimes people cried out loudly for help. Sometimes it was a desperate whisper. And sometimes, like now, it was a silent request. She\u2019d seen people blame God. She\u2019d seen them beg for His comfort. She\u2019d even seen them try to barter for what they wanted. Isabella wondered which one Ethan was doing now.<\/p>\n

She also considered the fact that without all the dust and blood, Ethan Carter was even more attractive than she\u2019d found him to be in the ER.<\/p>\n

He had no family to call. That\u2019s odd. The firefighters have filled up the waiting room, of course. But no one else. No relatives. No girlfriend. No one.<\/p>\n

Isabella stared at the handsome firefighter\u2019s brown hair and dark brown eyebrows. His sturdy jaw and those lips. She watched him pray. She wasn\u2019t sure if it was appropriate to think so or not\u2014but the fact that he was praying made him even more attractive.<\/p>\n

I was wrong. He\u2019s not completely alone. He has faith.<\/p>\n

Ethan drew a breath and opened his eyes. He looked at Isabella before turning his attention to Dr. Nichols.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, what\u2019s my next step, doc?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"divider2\"<\/p>\n

MY REVIEW:<\/strong><\/p>\n

I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with the Romano family again in “Second Chance Cafe”. With Leo’s younger sister Isabella as the featured character, I not only got to know her better but I got to catch up on what was going on with Leo and Mandy from “A Table for Two” as well as the Romano parents. What fun!<\/p>\n

The pace of\u00a0 both the plot and the romance were just perfect. Character development was superb. I enjoyed how both Isa and Ethan each struggled with things in their lives but became stronger spiritually as a result. I so appreciated the way Brandy was able to weave a strong Christian message into conversations throughout the story. Details from both the medical field and restaurant business kept the story interesting. Descriptions of dishes prepared by both Ethan and Isa left me wanting to either visit the Second Chance Cafe or to gain a copy of their recipes. So tempting!<\/p>\n

I love these short but sweet books when they are filled with such strong characters and plot with a bonus of great spiritual content. Way to go Brandy! I look forward to your next offering.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8,60,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17381","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books","category-contemporary-fiction","category-romance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17381"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17381"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17381\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17389,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17381\/revisions\/17389"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}