Chance at Redemption
(Madison Square #3)
Published by: Limitless Publishing
Publication date: May 23rd 2017
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
☆☆➹⁀☆ 3.5 stars☆➹⁀☆☆
What it’s about:
Gwen Stevens had a privileged life until her father spoke three little words that turned her world upside down. “You’re cut off.”
Broke and desperate, Gwen is forced to accept a waitressing job, but this glimmer of hope has a price. As if being a cocktail waitress isn’t bad enough, she has to do it in a dive bar called The Den, and her bad luck doesn’t stop there. She also needs to deal with the new owner, a blue-eyed, self-righteous ass determined to make her life miserable.
Liam Sinclair walked away from the entitlement and obligation his family planned for him, vowing to make his own way in the world…
Adjusting to life as a new business owner, Liam has experienced more than his fair share of setbacks. When his only waitress breaks her leg, his sister takes it upon herself to hire a replacement—a spoiled, self-indulgent hothead with too much makeup and more than enough attitude. Gwen represents the world he’s trying to escape, a world of excess and greed that he was never cut out for.
Appearances can be deceiving, and first impressions aren’t always right…
Despite their apparent differences, the tension between them turns to a fiery passion that neither of them can resist. Together they find balance and learn to appreciate the simpler things in life. But Gwen soon discovers that old habits die hard, and one mistake is all it takes to ruin everything.
Forgiveness must be earned, but even a villain deserves a chance at redemption
👠 👜 👠 👜
My thoughts:
Samatha Harris continues her Madison Square series with Chance at Redemption, in which Madison Buchanan’s brother, Liam Sinclair, finds his soul mate. Sadly, his soul mate, Gwen Stevens is a whiney, entitled debutante who is completely unlikable. Senator Stevens daughter is financially dependent on him for her designer handbags, Louboutin shoes, and a plush penthouse apartment. When he finally shows her some tough love by cutting her off financially, Gwen lives down to his expectations and falls apart. It only takes her about three weeks, because that is how long it takes her to spend her last two-month allowance check from daddy. Do-gooder, Madison Buchanan, offers Gwen a job at her brother’s bar. Desperate and completely broke, she accepts the offer. She is so cantankerous that she almost doesn’t get the job. Beyond the unbelievable job offer from Madison, it is highly unlikely that anyone would hire a surly, insubordinate, snob in stilettos to wait tables at a local dive bar. Madison must have a lot of influence over her brother!
Liam has found peace and happiness in the building/bar he purchased. His lack of interest in following into the family business has gotten him disowned by his parents, but he was never after their money or the strings attached to it. When Gwen walks into his bar, his peace is permanently disrupted. In fact, she represents everything that he has walked away from. There is no rhyme or reason to his agreeing to hire Gwen especially given her unfathomable sense of entitlement and disagreeable attitude.
Chance at Redemption is about Gwen. It is about her owning her past mistakes and misinterpretations. She does become less dislikable, however, her epiphany was not substantial enough to make her empathetic to me. Liam is grounded and completely likable, but his decisions to take on and stick by Gwen were not quite believable. With every altercation Liam and Gwen had, I couldn’t understand why he didn’t fire her let alone why he became romantically involved with her. His acceptance and grooming of her was a bit like Professor Henry Higgins taking on Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, yet his character was not old enough to have developed that level of maturity.
Gwen’s bestie from her prior life is an odd addition to the story. Daria is another unlikable debutante living off her parents’ wealth without any plans for her life beyond her next cocktail and conquest. She provides some story tension and conflict as well as an example to compare and contrast the new and improved Gwen. It is no surprise that Gwen’s decision to go out with Daria leads to problems. With friends who think a good time is slipping you a little somethin’- somethin’ in your drink, who needs enemies?
The characterization of Liam and Madison’s parents provides a bit of unintentional humor. What could possibly go wrong when you’ve got your girlfriend stripped to the waist and sitting on the bar with the door unlocked? Of course, your estranged, drama-queen mother just happens to walk in a day earlier than she is expected in town. Oops! That might change the dynamics of the meet-the-parents brunch!
Chance At Redemption is a good second-chance read. It is about second chances at life as well as love. Are many scenes overplayed or a bit contrived? Yes. Are some characters exaggerated characterizations? Yes. While a little overplayed at times, I did enjoy Gwen’s reinvention through forgiveness and second-chances to her presumed nemesis. Chance At Redemption is a light, easy read that will have you wondering why so many people avidly follow “celebutantes” and their ridiculous antics.
GIVEAWAY
About the author: Samatha Harris lives near Baltimore, Maryland with her husband David and daughter Ava. Born in Florida, she migrated north which most people agree was a little backwards. She has been an artist all of her life, a Tattoo Artist for more than ten years, and a storyteller since she was a kid.
Book Junkie Reviews 
Thanks for posting
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Great review! This sounds like a fun, entertaining read overall, with some humor mixed in it which is always refreshing! 🙂
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