Ryder’s on the company bonding trip from hell, five days of competitive cycling with competitive colleagues and an even more competitive boss. Faced with yet another vertical climb, he ignores his uninvited, insistent inner cheerleader. No, he cannot keep up, and what’s more, he’s had enough. And the weather appears to agree he should stop, when sun turns in an instant to thick fog. Callan’s at …
Callan’s at Whittaker’s Auction House to bid on fae land that his werewolf pack need as their new home, when an unsuspecting human stumbles through the door. Ryder is out of breath, out of luck, way out of his depth—and apparently the newest item on the auctioneer’s block. Unexpectedly tempting, if Callan had the money.
As the bidding heats up and Ryder proves dangerously irresistible to the assembled supernatural creatures, the situation grows more and more precarious. When Callan interferes, he puts his pack’s future in peril. Despite knowing how devious faeries can be, desperation makes Callan accept a deal, a chance to win the land for his pack and a future with Ryder. But it’s a risk. Possibly a deadly one.
This is not ‘just another Valentine’s story’, it’s a Barbara Elsborg Valentine’s story (ish). So don’t expect the usual sonnets and flowers and Cupids, but do expect the unexpected – vampires, weres, witches and warlocks. Oh, and a vengeful fae. Things are not quite as they may seem. You have been warned!
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Title: Second Chance
Author: Barbara Elsborg
Publisher: self published
Format: e-book
Release Date: 2/10/2020
Genre/ Trope Themes(s): Gay Urban Fantasy; Contemporary; Fated Mates; Paranormal; Shifters; Fae; Love beyond Fate
SteaMMy Swordplay: 4 out of 5
Sharonica-Stars: 4
Goodreads avg: 4.30
MMy Thoughts and Review:
At first I thought the MC might drive me to drink with all his “inner dialogue,” but then it sort of grew on me. **giggle… We all talk to ourselves some more than others, but in books, authors have to be careful or their audience will become twitchy. There was a method to Elsborg’s madness however and man oh man was it a cool thing.
Even though you were able to work somethings out in this shifter/ human paranormal romance suspense heart racing OMG I really wanna spit in that Fae’s eye, I don’t care if he is hot and can kill me, what the WHAT is up with this weird tattoo and can a person die from too many orgasms? **BREATHE…Can I have butterfly appliques on my straight jacket, and are these wolves gonna eat me? There were still twists you don’t see coming, and fun things you can chuckle at imagining how you might act/ react in the same scenario. The final moments were sweet without being syrupy. I liked that.
My first read by Elsborg, even though I properly own four of her books. **sigh… If only I didn’t need sleep, I could get so many more books read. Perhaps in the next life.
This was cute and quirky, but know there is quite a gratuitous steaMMy swordplay scene near the beginning that lasts quite a few pages… at least it seemed that way using my TTS.
4.00 heart-studded-stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange I am offering an unbiased review.
Even if I read a lot and one of my favorite topics is shifters’ stories, I’d never read before the interesting premise featured in this book. Of course I am not going to mention it because I don’t want to spoil it for you but the way Ms Elsborg manages the plot is amazing. Ryder and Callan’s path to their forever made for a wonderful reading, with some angst but with a nice resolution. Loved it!!
I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
Barbara Elsborg is an auto one-click author for me. She writes it, I read it!
I love me some shifters, and Second Chance did not disappoint. Mrs Elsborg balance of smart, witty and snarky characters had be reading Second Chance in one sitting.
Second Chance is an unique book with shifters, faeries, vampires and humans. It’s a compelling story with twist and turns that had me on the edge of my seat.
It’s a well written, medium angst, outstanding short-ish novel with endearing characters.
If you love paranormals, then Second Chance is a must read.
Barbara Elsborg is one of my favorite (MM) authors. I especially love her PNR books and Inigo (Bloodline) is one of my all-time favorite characters. So when I found out she was releasing a new PNR story, I had to get my grabby hands on it
Second Chance is a shifter story and damn do I love me some werewolves. Which is what Callan is. Ryder meets Callan when a team-building excursion (bicycling really??, the horror), turns into him ending up for auction…
I had a lot of fun reading this one, which is a given when reading one of Barbara’s books. She can make me laugh my ass off, but she can also make me cry my eyes out. You never know what you’re going to get, but you are always guaranteed to catch some feels. This book managed to make me laugh and cry…almost simultaneously 😛
This one definitely has a case of insta-lust, but I don’t really mind it since it is a PNR.
It also doesn’t lack any steamy parts. Hot damn is all that I can say. I almost caught fire while reading.
If you’re a fan of hot and steamy paranormal reads, with a dose of sweetness and a touch of quirkiness, then you should definitely give this one a try.
I myself especially liked Ryders’ inner talking…
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review
The mysteries of love
I love, love, love shifters and the paranormal and this book was a fascinating combination. It was unique and compelling. I am not English but if I may borrow a phrase, Ryder’s boss is a wanker. Oh the fae, sometimes I love them; others well you’ll need to read this book. I learned a lot of facts while reading this and they fascinated me as did the story.
“You made me smile when I thought I’d forgotten how.” Oh these two. They both elated and hurt my heart. Ryder is smart, snarky and so brave. Plus I love his attitude. Callan is yummy, protective and his heart is in the right place. I would want no other by my side, but others I’m not so sure about. All in all I want to hug these two and never let go. I do have a new found appreciation for cherries and snow though. Once I started I couldn’t put it down. An amazing, engrossing and captivating book.
4 stars for this fascinating, intriguing, and heart-warming story. It’s a story about werewolves, faes, and other magical creatures, but different. It’s a story about second chances, but different. I have to be vague here because I don’t want to give spoilers away.
There are some surprising plot twists. The biggest one of all I saw coming, but the way the author leads the reader to the end is, again, different and very satisfying.
The characters are wonderful, especially Ryder. I was laughing so hard from reading his inner thoughts. His snarkiness toward and taunting of the fae was hilarious. Very daring and so funny. He even managed to joke during sex, which in this case was just the right touch and made the hot scenes, which I found a bit too long and dragging, still worth reading.
But when Ryder and Callan are really tested as a result of good (by their loved ones) and bad intentions (by a scorned lover), the tone of the story turned more serious. And with it came the emotions and a tear here and there. It was sad and heart-wrenching but also uplifting. The way these boys maneuver through their hardships was well described with honest feelings, doubts, and ultimately love. And they may have some help from an unexpected source, which made for funny and emotional moments.
Every book by Barbara Elsborg is an automatic want to read for me. That’s why I went into this book blind,without reading the blurb. I didn’t know what to expect, and wow! What an incredible experience!
I loved Ryder from the first pages. His inner dialogue made me laugh out loud, even when the poor guy was obliviously distressed by his circumstances. He’s sassy, full of snark and tongue-loose when upset, which guaranteed a lot of entertainment throughout the book.
I appreciated the humor,because the story put me through the whole gamut of emotions, and at a certain point it darn near broke me to pieces. I felt the entire Ryder/Callan/Nico situation like a blow to my heart, their despair and dejection so intense and harrowing.
I loved every single page of Second Chance, every feeling it emanated, and all the amazingly depicted characters . Another intense, soul-crushing, beautiful story written by Barbara Elsborg.