The Queen of Second Chances is the story of a young woman who champions seniors' hopes and dreams while challenging their worst enemies: regret and abuse.
Carraway (Carra) Quinn is a free-spirited English major confronting an unreceptive job market. Desperate for cash, she reluctantly agrees to her realtor stepmother's marketing scheme: infiltrate a local senior center as a recreational aide, ingratiate herself with the members, and convince them to sell their homes.
Jay Prentiss is a straitlaced, overprotective attorney whose beloved but mentally fragile Nana attends that center. More creative than mercenary, Carra discovers she loves working with the seniors and convinces Jay to finance innovations to the Center's antiquated programming. Her ingenuity injects new enthusiasm among the seniors, inspiring them to confront and reverse the regrets of their past.
An unlikely romance develops. But when Carra's memoir-writing class prompts Jay's Nana to skip town in search of a lost love, the two take off on a cross-country, soul-searching chase that will either deepen their relationship
or tear them apart forever.
PURCHASE INFORMATION FOR LIBRARIES AND BOOKSTORES
The Queen of Second Chances (Champagne Book Group, 2021):
ISBN: 978-1771554039
Paperback Price before Discount: $14.99
Discount to Booksellers, Libraries: Yes, Inquire
Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance, Rom Com, Chick Lit
Plot: Carraway (Carra) Quinn is a free-spirited English major confronting an unreceptive job market. Desperate for cash, she reluctantly agrees to her realtor stepmother’s marketing scheme: infiltrate a local senior center as a recreational aide, ingratiate herself with the members, and convince them to sell their homes. Jay Prentiss is a straitlaced, overprotective elder attorney whose beloved but mentally fragile Nana attends that center. More creative than mercenary, Carra convinces Jay to finance innovations to the Center’s antiquated programming. Her ingenuity injects new enthusiasm among the seniors, inspiring them to confront and reverse the regrets of their past. An unlikely romance develops. But when Carra’s memoir-writing class prompts Jay’s Nana to skip town in search of a lost love, the two take off on a cross-country, soul-searching chase that will either deepen their relationship or tear them apart forever.
Darcia Helle of Quiet Fury Books says: The Queen of Second Chances is a feel-good, humorous read with surprising depth. Carra, our main character, is young and still trying to find her way in life. When she reluctantly takes a job as a recreational aide at a senior center, all sorts of unexpected things happen for her and the seniors. I enjoyed every aspect of this story. We have a blossoming romance that provides all the romcom vibes. But the heart of the story is a look at aging, life choices, regrets, hopes, and resilience. Old age doesn’t mean we stop living, and I absolutely loved how this story portrayed seniors. This is an easy read that will leave you smiling. (Waiting on Kirkus Review)
Available as: Paperback, eBook
Purchase through: Champagne Book Group, Smashwords, Author
ISBN: 978-1771554039
Paperback Price before Discount: $14.99
Discount to Booksellers, Libraries: Yes, Inquire
Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance, Rom Com, Chick Lit
Plot: Carraway (Carra) Quinn is a free-spirited English major confronting an unreceptive job market. Desperate for cash, she reluctantly agrees to her realtor stepmother’s marketing scheme: infiltrate a local senior center as a recreational aide, ingratiate herself with the members, and convince them to sell their homes. Jay Prentiss is a straitlaced, overprotective elder attorney whose beloved but mentally fragile Nana attends that center. More creative than mercenary, Carra convinces Jay to finance innovations to the Center’s antiquated programming. Her ingenuity injects new enthusiasm among the seniors, inspiring them to confront and reverse the regrets of their past. An unlikely romance develops. But when Carra’s memoir-writing class prompts Jay’s Nana to skip town in search of a lost love, the two take off on a cross-country, soul-searching chase that will either deepen their relationship or tear them apart forever.
Darcia Helle of Quiet Fury Books says: The Queen of Second Chances is a feel-good, humorous read with surprising depth. Carra, our main character, is young and still trying to find her way in life. When she reluctantly takes a job as a recreational aide at a senior center, all sorts of unexpected things happen for her and the seniors. I enjoyed every aspect of this story. We have a blossoming romance that provides all the romcom vibes. But the heart of the story is a look at aging, life choices, regrets, hopes, and resilience. Old age doesn’t mean we stop living, and I absolutely loved how this story portrayed seniors. This is an easy read that will leave you smiling. (Waiting on Kirkus Review)
Available as: Paperback, eBook
Purchase through: Champagne Book Group, Smashwords, Author
Charming, funny, and heartwarming, The Queen of Second Chances is not just a love story where two people discover each other, it is a story of self-discovery. Like all good romances, this one starts with the two main characters loathing each other before slowly realizing that they are perfect together. But before either Jay or Carra can come to that realization, they have to work through their personal shortcomings. Carra feels like a failure and is unable to get past her mother's desertion of her as a child. Jay, while his helping people who desperately need rescuing demonstrates his fundamental goodness, puts a little too much emphasis on wealth and status. Helping a group of seniors find fulfillment is the catalyst that allows both the main characters to embrace changing their own lives and then ultimately embrace each other. A joy to read, The Queen of Second Chances is the perfect mood lifter in these stressful times. -
S. Lee Manning, author of the critically acclaimed thriller, Trojan Horse
FIVE STARS!
The Queen of Second Chances by D.M. Barr is a beautifully written story of two lost souls brought together by fate. Carra was such a wonderful character, her warmth and kindness towards others were admirable. She also put others' needs before her own safety and this was highlighted during the car scene outside the Garrison house. She was perfectly matched to Jay. Although he seemed to enjoy a materialistic lifestyle, I feel he had a really good heart and when he met Carra, he found the missing piece in his life. My absolute favorite character was Helen; she was extremely insightful and wise even though she was suffering from the onset of dementia. Her words of wisdom throughout were poignant and powerful, especially her views on looking back in life: "It's more important to heed the present because that's what it is, a gift. Nothing lasts long in this life, which is why every moment matters. You can't take anything or anyone for granted." I found the relationship between Jay and Carra developed gradually and the dialogue exchanges between them were very realistic. I loved the twist towards the end concerning Jay's background and the nail-biting ending was brilliant. I feel there are so many underlying messages throughout too. For example, live for the moment, never be afraid to chase your dreams, and forgive yourself for mistakes you have made in your past. I highly recommend this novel.--Lesley Jones, for Readers' Favorite
FIVE STARS!
Hats off to D.M. Barr for managing to preserve the happily ever after element of the genre without being predictable as the story progresses. In the real world, many people are becoming cynical about relationships that have pushed many of us to believe there is no more 'til death do us part. A story like The Queen of Second Chances acknowledges the flaws in human relationships but does not celebrate them. Instead, it tries to find a way to work through such flaws to renew our faith in those dramatic moments. Here we have imperfect characters, but such imperfections, like Jay being a control freak, are part of their allure. The great thing about love is that it comes when you least expect it--from the most unlikely people in the most unlikely places. The Queen of Second Chances would make a great sleeper film, and as a novel, itis an awesome example of navigating the turbulent waters of modern relationships. -- Vincent Dublado, for Readers' Favorite
FIVE STARS!
Author D.M. Barr has created in Carra the quintessential strong, opinionated, and somewhat aggressive young woman of today, who despite being outwardly confident in her own abilities still harbors doubts and fears about rejection and abandonment dating back to her childhood. I particularly enjoyed the premise that two modern people, so different in many ways, were equally lost in their romantic relationships because of difficulties in their childhoods. That they could be attracted to each other and be prepared to confront and address their individual demons in order to make this relationship work was a triumph in the writing. The ability of the author to tap into the deepest parts of the characters' psyches and to uncover their true motivations in their actions was part of why this story succeeded so well. The highlight for me was the reminiscing of many of the seniors, as Carra made them address and deal with their own pasts, their own regrets, and their own perceptions of their lives. This is easy reading; it is beautifully written and the sort of book you can read in front of the fire on a lazy Sunday afternoon. I'm always a sucker for a sweet romance, with a touch of sarcasm and bite thrown in, and this fits the bill nicely. For that reason, I can highly recommend this book. -- Grant Leishman, for Readers' Favorite
FIVE STARS!
The Queen of Second Chances by D.M. Barr is an endearing romance story based on two unalike characters. Their relationship's unfolding is not seamless and includes some compelling, tense moments. Told from Carra's point of view, the style provides a deeper sense of Carra as a character. Her charm, wit, and vulnerability are revealed as she narrates the story. Her opinions of other characters including Jay also provide details about them. Both of their backgrounds are also explored which adds other interesting sub-plots in the novel. One of the sub-plots includes that of Jay's grandmother who is determined to revisit someone from her past and rekindle what they once had. The story is developed well. It is humorous, exciting, and moving. The Queen of Second Chances by D.M. Barr is a lovely, deftly written romantic comedy that fans of the genre will love.--Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite