I was his lucky Penny. He was my light in the dark, hope in despair. Our bond was one of survival, friendship… first love.
But then we were ripped apart and Blake Weston became the memory I turned to when everything else in my life fell apart.
Seven years later, a summer working at Camp Chance is supposed to be my fresh start. Beautiful scenery and the chance to better the lives of foster … the lives of foster children – kids like me. But when my eyes land on him across the fire, time stands still and feelings come rushing back to the surface. I thought I’d moved on, tucked him away in my heart. One look into his soulful blue eyes and I know I’m wrong. Blake Weston can heal the broken parts of me. Restore my hope. Love me.
It’s our second chance. A sign we are supposed to be together.
Isn’t it?
I was twelve when I survived the accident that killed my parents. Fourteen when I survived the devil. And sixteen, when I survived a heartbreak of the worst kind.
But in my twenty-three years, Blake Weston might just be the first thing I won’t survive.
WARNING: This book contains references to abuse that some readers may find distressing.
more
Blake and Penny dream of their future, both in foster care, Blake said Penny was his lucky Penny and in eighteen months they would be free, but it didn’t work out that way.
Years later Penny works at a foster camp, hoping to give the kids there the chances that she never had. Penny is still working through some of her issues and hopes this will give her a new start. Never once did she expect to see Blake working at the camp as well.
When the camp comes to an end so does her time with Blake again, but Penny’s determined not to stop the progress she’s made with healing and move on with her life, taking small steps, although she didn’t expect them to land her right into Blake’s new life.
Blake knows he has to find Penny, they need to talk about what happened, which they should have over summer. When the truth comes out will they still choose each other or have their lives become too complicated.
I was expecting this to be a light sweet romance, but was really happy that it had a bit of angst. I just love second chance romances and especially ones where the characters met when they were kids. Penny and Blake started out as friends when Penny came to live at the foster home where Blake was already living. Blake became Penny’s protector from day 1. He made her laugh and forget about the bad things happening in their lives. I just loved the flashbacks told from Blake’s POV. It showed the development of their friendship.
I just loved that Penny and Blake were reunited at Camp Chance. I never read a book where a part of the book took place at a camp. It was great seeing penny coming out her shelf at the Camp. I love seeing character developments. Blake and Penny never got over each other but there are some things that they are hiding from one another. I was feeling so bad for Penny, and even hated Blake a little bit (not for long though!). The ending was a bit rushed, and I wish there was more!!
Love me or hate me, both are in my favour
Love me and I’ll always be in your heart,
Hate me and I’ll always be in your mind. ~Unknown
If you’re not prepared to read about some of the tough facts of the foster care system, this book may not be for you. I’m not quite sure what I was expecting when I picked this one up, but I think I got more than I was bargaining for. This isn’t your typical sweet summer read. Nope. There are some pretty hard things to read here. However, it’s not overdone, more like an evil lurking in the background.
Penny went into the foster system at the age of twelve when both of her parents were killed in an accident. Blake had been in the system for several years and was already a resident of the Freeman group home. He knew the ropes. When he saw how lost and alone Penny was when she was brought to the home, he decided he’d befriend her. By the time they were sixteen their friendship was developing into much more. Fate always seemed to hand Penny a raw deal, but never more so than when Blake suddenly disappears without a word. It’s like he’s disappeared off the face of the earth.
Seven years later he suddenly reappears at Camp Chance…. This is, and isn’t, your typical second chance romance. It wasn’t what I was expecting. It was more than I was expecting.