"A mainstream relationship drama-quite good"
When Kate Rivers was a very little girl, her father walked
out on her mother and her. Her mother had a nervous
breakdown and was unable to take care of her. Instead,
Kate acted more like the adult in their relationship,
making sure her mother ate, bathed and got out of bed. By
the time she was seventeen, Kate was an adult taking full
responsibility for her mother. Kate moves to London to become an actress and over the
years, she has had some success in her chosen profession.
At forty-three, she has lived with her significant other
for several years, but the pair plan to marry soon. When
her mother dies in Wales, she goes to the funeral alone
because her lover is involved in a crisis with his ex-wife
and their daughters. In the midst of the gloom, Kate meets
her first cousin once removed and falls in love with him.
The only problem is that he is a farmer tied not only to
the land in Wales, but to his wife and three children with
one more on the way. Just when she thinks her lot in life
will never get any better, a miracle occurs that gives Kate
a second chance at a new and different existence if she
grabs it. Sian James is a born storyteller who makes Wales come alive
in the imaginations of her readers. All of the characters
are very complex and realistically portrayed. The audience
will empathize with them ever though they might not agree
with all the choices they made. SECOND CHANCE lives up to
its title while inspiring the readers with hope for the
future. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted July 7, 2001
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