How long will Edna have to wait for the love of her life? Will God reward her patience? From Linda Byler, bestselling author of Amish Romances, comes a new story with “multifaceted characters who deal with real-life issues”–Publishers Weekly “Short, dark-haired and dark-eyed, soft and round and capable, Edna was crackling with a zest for life. There was no job too mountainous for her. She had … mountainous for her. She had no husband or children, and had never had a date in her life.”
For years, Edna Miller has found herself drawn to Emery Hoschtettler with an attraction she can explain no better than she can put a stop to it. Other suitors come and go, but none make her feel the way she feels around Emery–that incredible floating feeling, as if she was walking on air, mixed with a painful desperation to be ever nearer to him. Despite the fact that Emery seldom seems to pay her much attention, she decides it would be unfair to marry anyone else when her heart longs only for him. He hasn’t seriously dated anyone else either, so perhaps he’s just waiting for the right time to ask her . . .
By the time Edna is twenty-nine, most of her family and friends have given up hope of her ever marrying. Why she didn’t give that nice man Jonathan more of a chance was beyond them. Sure, he had a bit of a limp from the tractor accident, but he was kind as could be, not to mention wealthy. Was she so vain that she could only judge based on outward appearances? Well then, she could go ahead and be a maud for the rest of her life, cooking and cleaning for other families.
When Emery finally asks Edna out, she can hardly contain her joy. Everything is coming together–God is rewarding her patience! Her family will understand why she could never settle for anyone else.
But what if Emery isn’t the man Edna was so sure he was? Is there something he’s hiding, or is Edna simply unable to accept true love after so many years of waiting? Would God really lead her all this way, just to leave her alone again?
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A Second Chance is the story of Edna Miller and her journey towards finding fulfillment. Edna is twenty-nine, single, and a hard worker. She likes working in homes where she can cook, clean and interact with people. Edna could work in one of the local RV factories and earn more money, but it is not the type of work for her. I was shocked when she only received $100 for two weeks of hard work (one family had eight children). Edna also takes care of her elderly parents (70s) when she is between assignments. Her father has diabetes and refuses to eat the proper foods. I found Edna to be judgmental, set in her ways, yet she was friendly. She likes for a home to be clean and orderly (a little obsessed with cleanliness). I like that she is a strong female woman, but her attitude left a lot to be desired. Most of the book follows Edna through her day-to-day activities (in detail). She sorts cupboards, cooks, does laundry, sweep, mop, change beds, etc. Even the food she cooked made was described down the condiments. It was tedious trying to slog through A Second Chance. I kept hoping the pace would improve, but it never did. The story lacked spark. The joyous moments were few in this story. If you were not depressed before starting A Second Chance, you will be when you finish it. Even the ending was lackluster (I wanted a happily-ever-after ending). Edna is a Christian woman who prays to God to help her and guide her. I liked the inclusion of the Serenity Prayer and the painting Edna purchased incorporating the prayer. Little Emmylou’s speech about her mother was so sweet. There was a beautiful rock garden described in the book that I want in my backyard. A Second Chance felt more like a rough draft (especially with the number of typos and inconsistencies) than a finished novel. It has some good bones, but I thought it needed a major rewrite. While A Second Chance is not my favorite book by Linda Byler, I have enjoyed her other creations. I am looking forward to her upcoming The More the Merrier.
The author does not really tell the story, she preaches all the way throught. Became boring with no real action…only “the will of God”.
Great moral story.
This was a wonderful book I could not put it down
I really appreciated the believable plot of the story and actions and reactions were very realistic.Edna had real life responses to things that happened,being a very moral person, she was not “perfect” and I could relate to that more, than a main woman in a story that walks around wearing a halo and walks on a cloud
Interesting characters and story line. Life is hard and Edna worked her way through that season.
I loved this book.
A Second Chance is not the typical Amish romance novel, a bit sad at times, maybe more realistic than most of the other amish novels. A story of a family who lost their mother at a somewhat young age leaving a teenage boy and 2 younger girls with a lost husband. In steps Edna to help out and they do not make her job to easy. Her life at home is not pleasant either with elderly parents that decide they need a puppy in the house.
Great story. Believable characters and lessons of acceptance and forgiveness is there.