Second Chance Christmas: A Twilight, Texas Novel

Jana and Joel are co-workers and friends. They find a baby abandoned in a manger in front of the church. A hastily scrawled note on the diaper says the mother will return for little Gabriel by New Years. Jana decides to give the mother a chance to return and promises to care for the baby and Joel agrees to help. This time together allows the couple to talk about their pasts and heat up the sparks that are between them. This book is the 12th novel in the Twilight series by the author and there are also 7 additional novella's. I read it as a stand alone but clearly there is a lot of history with the various characters and couples in the story. If you're a reader of the series this is a must read. As a holiday romance for someone who has not read the series this is decent story but there are issues. The book is a little slow at peeling back Jana's history, explaining why she is such a private person. Also I didn't like that when Joel shares her secrets with his twin brother he brushes it off with, I share everything with my family, instead of validating her feelings of betrayal. Lastly, other than the baby in the manger the story seemingly could have taken place anytime. This is sweet and steamy without being overly graphic. I enjoyed the book but the 3 star rating reflects the fact that I didn't immediately put the series on my TBR list. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I am questioning myself why this is the first book I've read by this author and why I've just been introduced to the Twilight, Texas series. This book is an emotional overload and I LOVED it! I have a lot of catching up to do as this is the twelfth book in the series and I want to read them all. If you haven't read an author before I believe reading a Christmas book by them is a great way to try them out as I believe author's make their Christmas books a little more special. We start out at Christmastime in Twilight,Texas. It's a beautiful time,cold,twinkling lights,everyone in a festive mood. Care takers of the living manger, friends Joel and Jana make a shocking discovery in the manger. A days old baby with a note from his mother saying she'll return when she's able to. As we get to know Joel and Jana we discover some baggage Jana has that's she's kept hidden all her life. As the couple take care of the baby jointly they make discoveries not only about each other but about themselves and how letting go and learning to trust can be accomplished. Who is the mother of the baby though and why has she abandoned her baby? Will she return to claim her baby? This is an emotional book with the responsibility of the baby along with Joel having such a profound effect on Jana, bringing to the surface memories she thought she had tucked away for good. If you read no other Christmas books this year I suggest you read this one! Pub Date 26 Oct 2021 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.

Twilight, Texas, is a book world I fell in love with years ago. This gifted storyteller has a way of creating a fictional small town that's quirky and interesting yet warm and inviting. It had been a while since I spent any time there, so I was excited to read an early copy of this one. Add in the Christmas setting and fresh premise and I was halfway in love before I opened the cover. Joel and Jana may be employer and employee, but they've both volunteered to watch the town's live nativity and take the animals back to the barn at the end of the night. There may also be some interest on one or both of their parts, but Jana is a mess of tough complications. Before they can get the animals back to their homes they find a real, live human baby in the manger. With nothing more than a note asking they look after him, Joel and Jana work together to care for little Gabriel. Jana grew up in the system, so she'll do anything to keep this innocent baby out of foster care. She'll gladly spare anyone the experiences she had, especially an innocent baby. Of course, this is Twilight, Texas, so something like this doesn’t happen in the small community without most everyone in town getting involved. And as they work together on behalf of Gabriel, Jana and Joel grow closer to each other, but it's not an easy road. Jana’s upbringing influences most everything in her life, and Joel has some serious challenges in getting Jana to lower her walls. This talented lady knows just how to weave a story that draws the reader in, making her part of everything that happens from beginning to end. Settle in and gird your heart, but prepare to have these authentic, vulnerable characters make themselves at home in it. Sweet, compelling and full of feels, this wonderful heartwarming story will fill you with joy and remind you of the very best parts of the Christmas season.

Absolutely loved this book , couldn’t put it down