Spin-off Saturdays: On Saturdays, I will review a series that is a spin-off series. It is recommended that you read the original series first in order to get the most out of the spin-off series. Here is this week’s offering:
Second Chance Series is a spin-off of the Kylie Ryans
Series: Second Chance
This is a spinoff of the Kylie Ryans Series.
Author: Caisey Quinn Caisey Quinn
# of Books: 3 (Full Reading Order Here)
Book Order: Connected
Complete?: No
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Heat Rating: Hot (Kink: mild)
Point of View: Third Person, Alternating
Publication Date: May 2014 – ??
Source & Format: Kindle Unlimited—eBook
WARNING: If you have not finished the original series, this review may have spoilers!
My Expectations?
I’ve had this series on my TBR for YEARS because I fondly remember reading the Kylie Ryans Trilogy when I first started this blog and found the New Adult Genre for the first time. And because this spin-off is really only connected by the location (the Second Chance Ranch rehab that Trace goes to then later owns), it didn’t matter than I read it years later. So I was looking forward to getting a solid romance read under my belt.
How Does It Compare To The Original?
–Different Execution–
The original Kylie Ryans Trilogy was a 3 book epic following our two romantic leads. In this series we only get one standalone novel for each romantic duo so their romances feel rushed in some ways despite being the main focus. But their “love at first sight” and forbidden situations is the only thing that really connects these two stories besides a brief mention of Second Chance Ranch in Finding Fate (#2) where Last Second Chance (#1) takes place.
The romances are passionate from the start — but maybe not so deep? I felt like all the romances were more of the “you’ll know instantly when you find your person” variety and this instant innate connection when I wanted more of a super deep, character-driven story about healing.
–Alpha Males–
I’ll touch on this a little more below but I remember Trace being a strong personality and I’d say these heroes are too (maybe Van more so than Dean).
Anything I Didn’t Like?
–Heroine Loses Herself in her Partner–
This is more true about Last Second Chance (#1) than Falling for Fate (#2) but it still applies to a certain extent. Given the situations the heroines find themselves it, they are a little all over the place for me. I think it’s because they are so lost inside themselves that they just seems to morph into whatever the hero needs and I wasn’t convinced that was who they really are. But I suppose the idea is that they couldn’t be their true selves until they met their romantic partners; but for me, that just makes the romances seem a tad unhealthy — especially in Last Second Chance (#1) when our hero is attending rehab.
When to Read the Novella #1.5 Falling for You:
This novella was included at the very beginning of my version of Falling for Fate (#2) and it is best read as a prequel. I think you might be a little lost if you skipped it as it really helps give context for Fate’s mindset and shows you how the characters meet for the first time. I think you’d be lost if you didn’t read it honestly.
My Expectations for the Rest of the Series:
I’m very disappointed that it seems like we might never get to read One Last Ride (#3). After finishing the first book, I thought the leads for this book would be the leads for Book #2 but that wasn’t the case. It’s too bad because I think that would have made this series more cohesive because it takes place at Second Chance Ranch rather than a linking of themes. But it has been over a decade since the last book in the series and the author has been publishing many other books in the time since, I’m sure we will never see this book.
Series Rating: 3/5
Last Second Chance 3/5 | [Falling for You 3/5] | Falling for Fate 3/5 | One Last Ride N/A
If you want passionate, forbidden romance where the connection is more an innate feeling rather than a developing connection, this is a good series for you to grab — even if it is unfinished as they are all standalones. But for me, I just didn’t enjoy these love at first sight novels.
Read if You Like: forbidden romance, love at first sight
Avoid if You: dislike contemporary romance
- Little Sweet Thing by Abbi Glines (Sweet Series #1)
- Boomerang by Noelle August (Boomerang Series #1)
- Bright Lights and Summer Nights by Kat Singleton (Black Tie Billionaires Series #3)
Synopsis for Last Second Chance (from Goodreads):
When Stella Jo Chandler gets an offer to work at the Second Chance Ranch celebrity rehab facility right after graduating from Texas A&M, she’s tempted to turn it down. She wants to help real people with real problems, not spoiled celebrities going on vacation for publicity. But growing up on her family’s ranch left her with a love of horses that draws her to the opportunity. How bad can babysitting a bunch of strung out celebrities be?
What she didn’t count on was being roped into a tangled mess with infamous rocker and three-time rehab drop out Van Ransom on her first day. And she sure didn’t expect to feel the overwhelming attraction that pulls her to the man who has more issues than she can count on both hands. Like the hotel rooms and tour buses he’s famous for trashing, the havoc he could wreak on Stella’s heart would be irreparable.
Van isn’t at Second Chance for publicity or because he’s suffering from “exhaustion”. He’s on the brink of destruction, and he needs the kind of help Stella isn’t sure she can give. But without her, he’ll lose everything. Because he’s on his last second chance.
