Review: Last Second Chance
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 05 13, 2014
I was hooked on that blurb, even though it sounded like a typical New Adult novel about bad boys and the love that heals them. Last Second Chance was a little bit more than that, but not by much.Honestly, the whole Van being at rehab and trying to overcome his addiction did not feel believable to me. It's the whole point of the book; how this is his last second chance before he destroys his career and his life. But the author didn't focus on it enough; his development from the infamous druggie to the kind of man that's worthy of love went from A to Z in such a short time. I thought he would have more problems, that it'd be harder for him. But it wasn't, really. What this book focused on was Van's personality, his darkest demons and how he can't let go of his past. Instead of making this a book about addiction, it could easily have been one about finding the strength to move on. One about therapy and taking the steps to overcome life's hardships. The addition of rehab for drug addiction could have been taken out altogether. (Or, at the very least, it could have been more pertinent to the story-line).But I did love his character development. Aside from the whole being there because he has to be, and his Alpha personality, Van was a guy drowning in grief and regret who just wanted to find a foothold in sanity. He's been through a lot, which is why he uses drugs and alcohol like they're his lifeline. The numbness is what he craves, what he needs. Until he literally bumps into Stella Jo Chandler.Stella was sometimes a flat character. Her development was sorely overshadowed by Van's. I wished it were equal. She had much more room to grow and blossom, but the author didn't let that happen until well past the halfway point. And the deal with her parents was smoothed over and everything ended perfectly. Almost too perfectly.Their romance was the main focus of this story, but I liked that it also intertwined with Van's development, and even Stella's a little bit. A little BDSM, a little sweet, their romance was overshadowed by the fact that it's forbidden for employees and clients to have relations. They have to sneak around, try and curb their addiction for each other. These two had such great chemistry, and I enjoyed where their relationship went.However, I grew bored throughout the book. I almost skimmed chapters. Not much happens, especially after Stella and Van finally seal the deal. Then it's focused on their romance and not much else. Even their pasts were kind of smoothed over like it was that easy to leave behind. It honestly could have improved with a little more drama, especially since they had to sneak around behind everyone's backs and only two people actually said something about it. They weren't being that discreet.Last Second Chance was about two broken characters finding the kind of love that heals all. The two main characters had great chemistry, and I loved how Van's development happened. I just wish there'd been more to this story. This was the first book I've read by Caisey Quinn, but it definitely won't be the last.