In early 1900s Kansas, Mercy McClain, determined to protect Teaville’s children from the bullying she experienced as a child, finds fulfillment working at the local orphanage and serving on the school board. When Aaron Firebrook, the classmate who bothered her more than any other, petitions the board for a teaching position, she’s dead set against him getting the job.Aaron knows he deserves every … deserves every bit of Mercy’s mistrust, but he’s returned to his hometown a changed man and is seeking to earn forgiveness of those he wronged. He doesn’t expect Mercy to like him, but surely he can prove he now has the best interests of the children at heart.
Will resentment and old wounds hold them back, or can Mercy and Aaron put the past behind them in time to face the unexpected threats to everything they’re working for?
more
George Aaron Firebrook has returned to Teaville to try to make restitution for the wrongs he committed as a child. He knows that God has forgiven him, but will any of the others? He hopes that applying to teach will also give him an opportunity to help young boys who are like he used to be. But, when he realizes that the woman on the school board used to be one of his victims, he can only plead for her to live up to her name, Mercy.
Mercy McClain is torn. Does she expose Mr Firebrook for who he used to be or does she give him a chance to prove himself as he begged her to do? How can she believe that anyone as bad as he used to be could ever change? But, when he shows up at the orphanage as the new tutor and gardener, she can’t help but try to warn Mr Lowe. Unfortunately, Mr Lowe is willing to give him a chance!
What follows is one of the most amazing stories of forgiveness and allowing God to change you from someone bent on evil to one seeking to spread the love of God to everyone around. It clearly depicts those characters who choose to allow God to love through them vs those who are hypocrites or prejudiced. It’s a complex story with multiple back story elements going on at the same time. The reader gets to follow up with several characters introduced in the previous books.
Themes include – Bullying, forgiveness, hypocrisy, revenge, prejudice. Also, the topic of morality / fidelity is touched upon.
Romance – PG – kissing only
Language – PG – nothing offensive
Violence – One fight scene and references to abuse
My rating – 5 stars
When I first started reading this book I was a little impatient with Mercy McClain. She was very unyielding in her belief that Aaron Firebrook did not deserve to be hired as a teacher and she was also very hesitant when he became a gardener at the orphanage where she worked. But, as the story continued, I saw how protective she was of the youngsters that were residents at the orphanage in Teaville, Kansas and I began to wonder how I would have felt to have been a young girl with an underdeveloped arm. Probably shy, self-conscious and always wondering what people were thinking. And if I also had to worry about a boy who bullied me at every opportunity? I found myself softening toward Mercy because the boy who bullied her in her youth was George “Aaron” Firebrook, he was guilty of bullying everyone in those days and suddenly Mercy was now forced to be in contact with him everyday! Aaron was back in Teaville seeking to correct his mistakes so that he could ask for forgiveness of those he had wronged and I couldn’t keep from rooting for him. All actions have a cause and all actions should be capable of forgiveness and I wanted Aaron Firebrook to be given a chance!
“A Chance at Forever” is the third book of The Teaville Moral Society series but it can be read as a standalone novel. I grew to love both Mercy and Aaron and there are some children in the orphanage who also tugged at my heart strings. This story touches on letting go of past hurts, making wrong choices, trying to correct our mistakes and searching for forgiveness. It is a book that features romantic love, love for our fellow man and the “love that passeth all understanding” that we can receive from God.
Author Melissa Jagears has given readers an entertaining story filled with realistic characters and some situations that are very pertinent even today. I recommend “A Chance at Forever” for readers who enjoy Christian romance and historical fiction.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher but I was not obligated to give a review. This is my honest opinion.
I think I loved Mercy’s story the most in this series. It is a story of mercy, grace, healing from past hurts, love, and even a little mystery. It shows how hurting people hurt people and what the love of others and Christ can do to make a difference in someone’s life. Healing and forgiveness of others and yourself can sometimes be long in coming but when we trust God with our life it is possible. I received so much from this story that I hated for it to end. My favorite quote from the book is ….. and the taste of his tears proved the hard heart he’d once possessed had been softened by the omnipotent God who could lovingly use the worst days of a person‘s past to make their future exquisite, for he could make all things work together for good to them that love God.
This book is well written, engaging, and the characters are so real you feel like part of the town. I recommend this entire series.
I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
I loved this book! The history of the time was well researched, but more than that author Melissa Jagears wrote a book that has heart. The characters faced such things as bullying, prostitution, and stealing but God’s redemption was the theme woven through out. Through Him, we see that lives can be changed and made into what He desires. While it’s not a smooth path, hurts can be healed if we are willing to pray and give second chances.
This book is full of emotion and surprises. I never knew what was coming next, and that kept me turning pages as quickly as possible. There are also some laughs along the way, which helped the story from being too heavy.
I highly recommend you read this book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
A Chance at Forever takes an unlikable character and transforms him into a sweetheart of a hero. How many lives could be changed if we would pray for our enemies instead of badmouthing them? Aaron requests mercy from Mercy, who he had tormented during their childhood. It takes a while but she eventually sees that he has indeed become a new man. This book reminds me of how much I’ve changed through the years yet I don’t often give others that benefit of the doubt. This is such an entertaining and convicting book. I highly recommend it. I received a free copy of this book. The opinion is my own.
“You shouldn’t let the voices of your past or present define who you are. Let God do that.”
Aaron embarks on a journey to try to make up for hurts he caused others in his childhood. The one person in the world Mercy McClain could go without seeing again is Aaron Firebrook. It seems God has plans for these two in spite of their painful pasts.
Melissa Jagears does it again with this emotionally charged tale of forgiveness, redemption, and becoming new in Christ in spite of your past sins. I loved seeing the character growth in them both, especially Mercy as she begins to accept herself as God sees her. Aaron is our wounded hero. Humble to the core, knowing he doesn’t deserve grace or mercy in the people he hurt. But yet he knows he received it from God who looks at the heart of man. These two certainly spark whenever they are near each other & not always in a good way. When both of them begin to understand the forgiveness God extends, then healing can come and love can grow! Two unlikely people put together by God with a bond that is unbreakable, beautiful and lasting. A wonderful redeeming love story to touch heart & soul!
What a great book! Melissa Jagears never disappoints. I love the characters and how each one had had a sinful past. God’s mercy and forgiveness changes them. I enjoyed how the characters were used to become what God intended although others still held them to their past. This story had many characters who had a story and I wanted to be apart of each one. The ending was amazing, I would never had thought that it would end in such a beautiful way! This is a must read!
Was given a copy by Bethany Publishing House/ Melissa Jagears for a honest review. All opinions are my own