Second Chance Christmas by Lori Wilde | Book Review

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

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New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde returns to Twilight, Texas, with a love story filled with the magic of the season, about a couple who discover an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve-Eve.

It’s Christmastime in Twilight, TX. The lights are twinkling, carols are being sung, and the cookies are baking. And this year, best friends Joel and Jana discover a shocking surprise: as they are organizing the living Nativity, they find a sweet little baby in the manger with a note saying the mother will return...soon.

Jana tucks the infant into her arms, and she and Joel make the impulsive decision to take the baby home. Jana is spontaneous, Joel is a planner, but they agree that it’s better to care for this precious bundle for the holidays, in hopes that the mother really will come back by New Year’s.

As the days pass, the pair begins to fall in love with the child and they’re also forced to face facts: their relationship goes far deeper than friendship. As the spirit of Christmas—and the magic of Twilight, TX—takes over, this unlikely couple must open up to the feelings they’ve been hiding from each other all along. 

I really never regret picking up one of Lori Wilde’s Twilight, Texas series. Second Chance Christmas is twelfth in the series and really lived up to my expectations. I went into this book with hopes that it would keep my attention all the way through and that I’d be feeling Christmas cheer after reading. So, I thought I would remember some of the characters from the other Wilde books I’ve read, but turns out I don’t remember any. That’s fine though, the characters that do make an appearance were wonderful and I felt like I wanted to eventually check out their stories too.

Second Chance Christmas opens up with a young girl who is in a tight spot. She has no place to stay and no way to take care of her newborn boy. So, she’s near the church and sees this young couple. The girl decides they will be perfect to take care of her baby and quickly scrawls a note on his diaper promising to return for him by New Year’s Eve. Jana and Joel are really good friends.

Occasionally, Jana works for Joel. As the book opens they are volunteering at the live nativity and are rounding up the animals for the night when they hear a baby’s wailing. They find a baby in a manger, named Gabriel, and decide to take care of him. Luckily the whole town pitches in. And while taking care of Gabriel, the two begin to fall for each other, as well as for the baby.

I really genuinely enjoyed my time reading Wilde’s Second Chance Christmas. Sure some parts were a little melodramatic. However, I was so caught up in the story and what would happen. I ended up reading this book like the wind. Isn’t it wonderful when you have a hard time setting a book down? Also, I really enjoyed the character development that Jana and Joel go through — learning to trust and to listen as well as giving into love. This was really a sweet book.

@aprilbooksandwine

Thoughts on Second Chance Christmas by Lori Wilde @Avon Books #MyAncestryStory #DealGuesser #christmasbooks #over30booktok #momsofbooktok

♬ Away in a Manger – Piano Man Tom

On A Scale Of One To Buddy The Elf, How Much Christmas Spirit Does Second Chance Christmas Have?

Overall, this book really made me feel filled with holiday spirit. There’s special cookies that tell you who your soul mate is. Also, there is a whole nativity. Plus we see people pitch in to help each other out and I love that. Oh and did I mention a parade? Plus there is the appearance of a Christmas tree. This book just made me feel so warm inside. I’d definitely recommend.

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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