Last Chance
9 total works
This next three novels in this series will center around the women of the Last Chance Book Club as they meet to discuss literature and love. In each novel, the book club will be reading a classic novel, with the same themes playing out in the modern-day story.
While the Last Chance Book Club reads Pride and Prejudice, divorced mother Savannah White returns to Last Chance to attend her Great Uncle Harry's funeral and to visit her Aunt Mim after the death of her husband. Savannah hasn't visited Last Chance in ten years, so it comes as a shock to discover that her kissing cousin Dash Randall has everything taken care of. Savannah doesn't much like her cousin by marriage. When they were kids they fought like cats and dogs.
Dash is not so wild about this turn of events because Savannah and her bratty son end up staying at Aunt Mim's house and generally making his life miserable. Dash is determined not to help Savannah in any way . . . until Hettie Marshall asks him to. And Dash would do anything for Hettie, especially now that Hettie is a widow. In fact, Dash wants to turn himself into the kind of guy Hettie could love.
But a funny thing happens during the renovation when Aunt Mim goes into matchmaking mode and tries to match Savannah up with Reverend Bill Ellis. Hettie's not so wild about that turn of events. And, as it turns out, neither is Dash.
Mike Taggart has always been willing to take a gamble. But these stakes are just too high - there's no way he's prepared to become a legal guardian to his five year-old niece. His only option is to head from Las Vegas to Last Chance to sort things out as quickly as possible. Problem is, he arrives to find an inconsolable little girl, her sick cat and a gorgeous vegetarian he can't get out of his mind.
Charlene Polk has two talents: healing sick critters and falling in love with the wrong men. Mike has trouble written all over him, but she can't leave him in the lurch. And the more time she spends with the sexy high roller, the more she sees that this ready-made family is the best stroke of luck they've ever had...
Clay is disillusioned with his professional music career so he has returned home to nurse a broken heart and to help out at Uncle Pete's hardware store, while Pete seeks treatment for cancer.
Jane has used her last dollar to buy a ticket to Last Chance, South Carolina. When she wakes up beside Clay in the no-tell motel she knows she's made a cosmic mistake. She talks her way into a job at the Cut and Curl, the beauty shop owned by Clay's mother and this time, she's not going to look for rescue - she's going to rescue herself.
Clay deals with the physical attraction he feels for Jane by denying it. A matchmaker believes she has a pipeline to the Almighty, and the Lord has told her that Clay should be watching the 9:30 pm bus from Atlanta. Miriam is certain his future bride will arrive on that bus. Over the next several days, two of Clay's ex-girlfriends also arrive on the 9:30 bus. Rekindling old flames is seductive, but Clay can't seem to put his one-night stand with Jane out of his mind. Which of the three women is the right one for him?
Dear Reader,
I've been wishing for a miracle for my oldest boy, Stone, and this Christmas my prayers might just be answered!
Her name is Lark, and she's here in Last Chance, looking into her father's past-and stirring up a whole mess of trouble without meaning to. As the chief of police, Stone sure has his hands full trying to keep up with her. Ever since his wife died, Stone's put everything into raising his daughters and dodging the Christ Church Ladies' Auxiliary matchmakers. And it's clear Lark has been through some trouble and could use a place to finally call home. I only hope Stone can let go of the past soon enough to keep her . . .
Goodness, I need to stop talking and finish up Jane's highlights so we can make the town tree-lighting. You come back by because the Cut 'n' Curl's got hot rollers, free coffee, fresh-baked Christmas cookies-and the best gossip in town.
See you real soon,
Ruby Rhodes
Tulane Rhodes is furious because National Brands has painted his stock car pink and put a bunny on the hood in order to advertise Cottontail Disposable Diapers. The company also expects him to officiate at baby-changing races across the country. Tulane is embarrased but he either behaves or he's going to find himself back in Last Chance, S.C., racing dirt track cars for Lovett's Hardware.
Sarah Murray, a publicist for National Brands, is sent on tour with Tulane to ensure that he makes his personal appearances. Sarah, a prim Yankee, is ill-equipped to manage the hotheaded good ol' boy but her job is on the line.
Tulane quickly determines that Sarah is a nice girl, and Tulane has always given nice girls a wide berth ever since Last Chance's infallible matchmaker, Miz Mirian Randall, told him he would one day marry a minster's daughter.
For Sarah, it's an old story. Guys are always turning her down because she's too nice and a minister's daughter. How's a girl ever supposed to learn anything if the bad boys won't be bad?
Dear Reader, Gracious me, my beautiful daughter Rocky sure could use my help. I always knew she wasn't much interested in the local boys - but who'd have thought she'd come home with English royalty?
Trouble is, Hugh wants to buy some of our folks' land. We don't want to sell but Rocky's job depends on her closing the deal. And though Hugh's obviously smitten, I'm not sure he's right for my Rocky. Oh, he's classy and handsome - and you should've seen the way he judged pies and fixed stock cars at our Watermelon Festival! - but what do we know about him, really? I know I sound like a nervous mother hen but after forty happy years with my Elbert, all I want is to see my little girl find the same.
Well, time for me to quit chattering and get back to Miss Bray's wet set. Always nice talking to you, and remember: the Cut 'n Curl's got hot rollers, free coffee and the best gossip in town.
See you real soon,
Ruby Rhodes
'Last Chance captures the essence of Southern charm and quirkiness. I'm totally captivated!' - Sherryl Woods, New York Times bestselling author.
Molly Canaday wishes she could repair her life as easily as she fixes cars. She was all set to open her own body shop in Last Chance when her mother ran off and left her to manage the family yarn shop instead. Now guided by the unsolicited-though well-intended-advice of the weekly knitting club, Molly works to untangle this mess. But her plan unravels when the new landlord turns out to be difficult-as well as tall, dark, and handsome.
Simon Wolf returns to quickly settle his father's estate and then leave Last Chance for good. Still wounded by a broken heart, Simon is surprised when the town's charming streets and gentle spirit bring back good memories. Soon the beautiful, strong-willed Molly sparks a powerful attraction that tempts him to break his iron-clad no-commitment rule. Can Simon and Molly find a way to share work space-and build a future together in Last Chance?
'Last Chance captures the essence of Southern charm and quirkiness. I'm totally captivated!' - Sherryl Woods, New York Times bestselling author
Jenny Carpenter is the unrivaled pie-baking champion of Last Chance, South Carolina's annual Watermelon Festival and the town's unofficial spinster. With her dream of marriage and children on hold, she focuses on another dream, turning the local haunted house into a charming bed-and-breakfast. But her plans go off course when the home's former owner shows up on her doorstep on a dark and stormy night . . .
Mega-bestselling horror writer Gabriel Raintree is as mysterious and tortured as his heroes. His family's long-deserted mansion is just the inspiration he needs to finish his latest twisted tale, or so he thinks until he learns it's been sold. The new innkeeper proves to be as determined as she is kind, and soon Gabriel finds himself a paying guest in his own home. As Jenny and Gabe bring new passion to the old house, can she convince him to leave the ghosts of his past behind-and make Last Chance their first choice for a future together?
Ross Gardiner has had his fill of difficult relationships. Returning to Last Chance after a rough divorce, the town's handsome new fire chief just wants safety and stability-a tall order given his dangerous job and the way he has the attention of all the single women in town. All except Sabina Grey, the girl who stole his heart when they were teenagers.
Sabina knows a lot about playing it safe. Always the good girl, she's now responsible for her antiques store and caring for her sister. But having Ross in town brings back the memory of one carefree summer night when she threw caution to the wind-and almost destroyed her family. Now that they are both older and wiser, will the spark still be there, even though they've both been burned?