That Second Chance Series by Mary Campisi

She'll risk anything to save her child…even the truth. It’s taken nine years and a cross-country move, but Audra Valentine Wheyton has kept her secrets safe. She’s created the perfect life—a husband who loves her, a daughter she adores, and a position as head writer for an award-winning daytime soap... moreShe'll risk anything to save her child…even the truth. It’s taken nine years and a cross-country move, but Audra Valentine Wheyton has kept her secrets safe. She’s created the perfect life—a husband who loves her, a daughter she adores, and a position as head writer for an award-winning daytime soap. When her husband dies suddenly, Audra returns to her hometown for the funeral and faces a community that has not forgotten her meager beginnings and a man who has never forgiven her for marrying his brother. Jack Wheyton is a successful pediatric neurosurgeon who is about to become engaged when Audra walks back into his life with her daughter. He forgave his brother long ago for taking something that had been his, something he hadn’t even realized he wanted until it was gone. But forgiving Audra is another story…and forgetting her? Near impossible. When a shattering illness strikes Audra’s daughter, she turns to Jack to save her child and risks exposing a secret that will change their lives forever. less

He hasn’t spoken her name in fourteen years. She keeps a journal hidden in the back of her closet and permits herself to write about him once a year—on the anniversary of the first and only time they made love. They promised to love one another forever, but tragedy tore them apart. Now, destiny may just bring them back together. At eighteen, Rourke Flannigan and Kate Redmond thought they’d spend the rest of their lives together—until a family tragedy tore them apart... moreHe hasn’t spoken her name in fourteen years. She keeps a journal hidden in the back of her closet and permits herself to write about him once a year—on the anniversary of the first and only time they made love. They promised to love one another forever, but tragedy tore them apart. Now, destiny may just bring them back together. At eighteen, Rourke Flannigan and Kate Redmond thought they’d spend the rest of their lives together—until a family tragedy tore them apart. Fourteen years have passed and they’ve both carved out separate lives hundreds of miles apart—hers as a wife and mother, his as a successful, driven businessman. But once a year, on the anniversary of her daughter’s birth, Kate pulls out a red velvet journal and writes a letter, which she’ll never send, to the man who still owns her heart. Once a year, on the anniversary of the first and only time they made love, Rourke permits himself to read the annual investigative report detailing an ordinary day in Kate’s life. When a subcontractor at one of Rourke’s holding companies is killed, Rourke decides to pay the widow a visit and offer condolences, never dreaming the widow will be Kate. As they embark on a cautious journey of rediscovery, one far greater than they could have imagined, secrets and lies threaten to destroy their new-found closeness—forever. From the Author As with all of my books, THE WAY THEY WERE underwent several revisions. I clipped and tweaked, added on, deleted, and pretty much drove myself crazy trying to get just the right feel, tone, and words for this story. When I finished, I happened to read some of the earlier versions and thought readers might like to glimpse deleted passages. I've included sections from Kate's journal and Rourke's file at the end of the book. You can also take a peek at that night at the lake when Kate and Rourke were eighteen and blissfully planning their future together. Then morning came and tragedy tore them apart... less

If you enjoyed the small town sense of community and caring in A Family Affair (Truth in Lies Series) you'll experience that same coziness in Simple Riches. There's heartache, betrayal, forgiveness, and redemption, all wrapped up and waiting for you.It's all about that second chance...Simple Riches is Book Three of That Second Chance Series. (These are stand-alone books tied together by a common theme--belief in the beauty of that second chance... moreIf you enjoyed the small town sense of community and caring in A Family Affair (Truth in Lies Series) you'll experience that same coziness in Simple Riches. There's heartache, betrayal, forgiveness, and redemption, all wrapped up and waiting for you.It's all about that second chance...Simple Riches is Book Three of That Second Chance Series. (These are stand-alone books tied together by a common theme--belief in the beauty of that second chance.)Alexandra "Alex" Chamberlain is a big city girl who knows nothing about close-knit families, sibling rivalry, or receiving an unsolicited opinion in the name of family. She's been raised by an aunt and uncle who've provided her with a wealthy lifestyle and a fancy education, but have withheld what she craved most--love and acceptance. Her uncle has taught her to disregard everything but the bottom line on a balance sheet and she'll do anything to earn his approval. She prides herself on excelling at her job which is selecting small towns to buy, flatten, and replace with luxury resorts.When Alex decides to investigate Restalline, Pennsylvania, as a potential site for the next resort, she enters the town under the guise of a researcher gathering information for a documentary. Her uncle wants this project badly, and she's not going to disappointment him.This town should be like all the others. Only it isn't. This town has the Androviches, a family who values hard work, honesty, and doing the right thing. And this town has Nick Androvich, the town doctor with a battered heart who doesn't quite trust her, but can't deny the mutual attraction.Oh, but it's going to get messy when the truth about Alex's real purpose for being in Restalline sneaks out...and the truth always does. But fear not, the town is not going to sit by quietly and watch this meant-to-be-together couple lose their happily ever after...That Second Chance SeriesBook One: Pulling HomeBook Two: The Way They WereBook Three: Simple RichesBook Four: Paradise FoundBook Five: Not Your Everyday HousewifeBook Six: The Butterfly Garden less

It's all about that second chance... Paradise Found is Book Four of That Second Chance Series. (These are standalone books tied together by a common theme--belief in the beauty of that second chance.) How does one see truly--with the heart or with the eyes? Matt Brandon has it all--wealth, power, looks, and talent. Women want him, men want to be like him... moreIt's all about that second chance... Paradise Found is Book Four of That Second Chance Series. (These are standalone books tied together by a common theme--belief in the beauty of that second chance.) How does one see truly--with the heart or with the eyes? Matt Brandon has it all--wealth, power, looks, and talent. Women want him, men want to be like him. When a freak ski accident strips him of one of life's most basic needs--his sight--he struggles to accept the possibility that his blindness may be permanent.  Enter, psychologist, Sara Hamilton, a woman who has known her own share of grief and loss and may just be the one person who can help Matt redefine his new world. Sara is every woman's woman--she's not a toothpick or a Cosmo girl, has never been prom queen, or dated the blond-haired god with the big white teeth. She's honest and decent and real...and lives on the perimeter, applauding her patients' successes, nursing them through their failures, but never acknowledging or accepting her own lackings. She's loved and lost once and has been so emotionally scarred, she's not willing to risk those feelings again.  Of course, she's never met a man like Matt Brandon. As Matt and Sara explore the delicate balance between 'blind' trust and hope, they will discover that sometimes you have to lose everything to find what you are truly looking for... That Second Chance Series Book One: Pulling Home Book Two: The Way They Were Book Three: Simple Riches Book Four: Paradise Found Book Five: Not Your Everyday HousewifeBook Six: The Butterfly Garden less

It's all about that second chance... Not Your Everyday Housewife is Book Five of That Second Chance Series. (These are standalone books tied together by a common theme--belief in the beauty of that second chance.)A wise and humorous tale of living large after 40 as women finally make peace with themselves- wrinkles, blubber, neuroses, exes, and all. Three women embark on a month long 'discovery' journey and uncover quite a few tidbits along the way.. moreIt's all about that second chance... Not Your Everyday Housewife is Book Five of That Second Chance Series. (These are standalone books tied together by a common theme--belief in the beauty of that second chance.)A wise and humorous tale of living large after 40 as women finally make peace with themselves- wrinkles, blubber, neuroses, exes, and all. Three women embark on a month long 'discovery' journey and uncover quite a few tidbits along the way...one bottle of Clairol Midnight will not cover a full head of red hair, and never talk to men wearing polyester pants hiked up with a tan belt. But most of what they unearth is about themselves--who they are, what they really want, what they really DON'T want. The center of controversy is a Maid-for-You mixer which symbolizes a boring, routine suburban life with NO second chances--then along comes insight in the form of Tula Rae, a sixty-something Salsa dancing, Dalai Lama quoting, four time widow in spandex and a gray braid who gives them a different perspective on life, love, do-overs and the real reason a man buys his woman a Maid-for-You mixer, (which she says is all about S-E-X.) That Second Chance Series: Book One: Pulling Home Book Two: The Way They Were Book Three: Simple Riches Book Four: Paradise Found Book Five: Not Your Everyday Housewife Book Six: The Butterfly Garden less

It’s all about that second chance… The Butterfly Garden is Book Six of That Second Chance Series. (These are stand-alone stories tied together by a common theme— belief in the beauty of that second chance.) Sometimes love happens when you least expect it… Jenny Romano has never been a white-picket-fence, happily-ever-after girl... moreIt’s all about that second chance… The Butterfly Garden is Book Six of That Second Chance Series. (These are stand-alone stories tied together by a common theme— belief in the beauty of that second chance.) Sometimes love happens when you least expect it… Jenny Romano has never been a white-picket-fence, happily-ever-after girl. Despite a mother who rejected her free-spirited, unique ways as irresponsible and just plain wrong, Jenny has found happiness as a photographer, flitting around the country and snapping photos of other people’s lives. Her older sister, Grace, has a husband, children, and a carpool schedule. She’s the one their mother calls “perfect.” But when tragedy strikes her sister’s carefully constructed life, Jenny must step in and offer support. Soon, she finds herself in the sort of small-town suburban life she swore to avoid… Psychologist Elliot Drake spends so much time healing other people’s pain and witnessing the backlash of caring too deeply that he prefers to keep his own relationships short and bittersweet. He’s loved and lost once and with a young daughter to raise, he’s not willing to risk his heart again. But he’s never met anyone quite like Jenny. Outrageous and unpredictable, she’s a force of nature—not at all like her well-controlled older sister. Suddenly, Elliot isn’t so sure that short-term is what he wants… Taken by surprise and unsure of the next step, Elliot and Jenny are about to discover that real life happens whether you want it to or not. Will they let real love happen, too? That Second Chance Series: Book One: Pulling Home Book Two: The Way They Were Book Three: Simple Riches Book Four: Paradise Found Book Five: Not Your Everyday Housewife Book Six: The Butterfly Garden Bonus material: Excerpt from Pieces of You, Book One of The Betrayed Trilogy...Sometimes hiding in the shadows is the only way to protect your heart. less