Release Blitz + Review: "Fighting Chance" by Lea Coll

I'm thrilled to join the release blitz celebrating "Fighting Chance" by Lea Coll, book #1 of the Second Chance Harbor series. It's a spinoff of the Annapolis Harbor series and features appearances from past characters, but each of the books works as a standalone. There is also a short prequel (currently free) to "Fighting Chance" that provides additional context on the events of the first chapter, but it's not critical to understanding the story.

Single mom Savannah St. James runs her mother's gift/clothing store on Main Street in Annapolis, Maryland and lives in a small apartment upstairs with her young son, Miles. The building has recently been sold, and she's worried that the new owner will raise their rent or evict them altogether. It's a lot to deal with when her mom is already fighting her on making any changes to the store, which is struggling because it's not keeping up with current trends. Savannah is surprised to learn that the new owner is someone she already knows: Ethan Pierce, the boy she tutored in high school. Unfortunately, he's not happy to see her again. He claims it's because her store is cluttered and unappealing, which may turn off potential customers for the hardware store he plans to open next door. The truth is that Ethan had a huge crush on Savannah back in high school, and he's still bitter because she turned him down when he asked her out. It's not long before he realizes that not everything was as it seemed back then, and that he still has feelings for Savannah. While Savannah is equally drawn to Ethan, she's been burned in the past by men who weren't interested in navigating the challenges of dating a single mom. Can Ethan prove that he's worthy of her trust?

I enjoyed this book for a lot of reasons, but I think the main one is that the conflicts between Ethan and Savannah felt so realistic and relatable. They were both trying to balance their responsibilities to their families with building their businesses and their relationship, and unfortunately, they didn't always align. Beyond that, I really liked that they didn't rush the relationship, and that they were both cognizant of the realities of dating as a single parent. I'm sure it helped that Ethan grew up with a single mother, so he understood some of the challenges Savannah faced. Finally, I loved Ethan's sweet relationships with his little sister Ruby and Savannah's son Miles. He did a wonderful job of stepping up as a role model for them in the absence of their biological fathers, and even when he doubted himself, it was clear that they responded to his efforts.

Overall, "Fighting Chance" was a sweet, heartwarming story with the perfect touch of steam. I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and look forward to the next book in the series.

 

*Review copy provided by the author via Buoni Amici Press. All opinions expressed are my own.  

 

About "Fighting Chance"

He was all business until he fell head over tool belt for the sexy, single mom.

I’m not bitter that Savannah St. James rejected me in high school. It's her cluttered storefront I have a problem with. Still, it’s hard to stay mad at her when she’s more beautiful than I remember and her son keeps finding new ways to sneak over to my hardware store every chance he gets.

While I admit he needs a male figure in his life, I’m the wrong guy for the job. Despite my reluctance, the little guy brings us together even as our pasts keep us apart. I’m falling deeper for this woman, and the more I get to know Savannah, the more I realize I misjudged her.

What if I’ve been wrong this whole time? Can we find a second chance after a rocky beginning?