Rules for Second Chances by Maggie North

Liz Lewis has always been different, socially awkward and introverted, but she tries so hard to fit in. She loves her job as a wilderness guide until she gets demoted to operations and office work to make room for more outgoing guides. Everyone seems to avoid her until Tobin. He really sees her and soon they're in love and married. Now three years later, they've drifted apart and she feels like a shadow in her own life. She's finally had enough and leaves Tobin to try and find a better version of herself. But Tobin isn't willing to give her up. "Rules for Second Chances explores the hardest relationship question of all: can true love happen twice...with the same person?"

I'm a socially awkward introvert myself so I could relate to the main character Liz. I love how Tobin treats her through their improv scenarios. He has past trauma that he has to face himself, and of course all of their horrible family members to confront. I thought this was a sweet and funny second chance story.

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15 Summers Later by RaeAnne Thayne

Fifteen summers after Ava and her younger sister Madi escaped a traumatic situation in the mountains of Idaho, they're farther apart than ever. As a way to cope with her past, Ava wrote her memoir of her experiences, never expecting that it would become the bestselling sensation all over the country. It has blown up her relationship with her husband and her sister and she can't escape the fallout as fans hound her for questions and autographs. 

Madi has a constant reminder of her traumatic past with the disabilities she deals with every day. She doesn't need everyone in town pitying her and asking questions about her sister's book. Especially her boss and friend who was there that day to help save her. She and her sister are the reason his father died that day, but Luke has never been anything less than a kind friend. Can she help wanting the impossible by wishing he could be hers? 

This was an emotional story of healing, hope, forgiveness, second chances, and romance. I liked Madi's parts of the story with her animal rescue and the sweet romance between her and Luke, the town vet. But Ava's story was just so heartbreaking and real with her broken marriage and other events I won't mention for spoilers. I felt really connected with the characters in this book and everything they were going through. 

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