Customer Reviews

Never Again Good-Bye (Second Chances Series #1)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Adoption, romance, trust, and truth interweave in this book about second chances from the "Second Chances" series by Terri Blackstock.

Laney Fields returns to the town of her youth in a journey to recover the child she gave up for adoption several years before. The child's adoptive mother died recently of cancer, and her father, Wes Grayson, is struggling to make his construction company cover the costs of the medical bills.

Wes meets Laney as she surreptitiously takes pictures of his daughter playing at a playground. Suspicious and worried about a possible kidnapping, he calls the police and arrests Laney. From the beginning, Wes finds it difficult to trust the woman who may be trying to steal his child from him. They both realize that they're attracted to each other, but Wes can't trust Laney and she doesn't share his faith in Christ.

Their budding relationship is threatened by their pasts and their links to one little girl who carries the key that could bring them together or tear them apart.

In addition to confronting issues of adoption, Blackstock also suggests the consequences of relationships between Christians and non-Christians. The fact that this occurs at all suggests that Blackstock is not afraid of controversy. That a Christian man would knowingly enter into this type of relationship, no matter what the end results are, shows disobedience to God.

Throughout this book, the character of Laney is far more sympathetic than that of Wes. Wes, as a Christian man, shows far more weakness, sin, and stubbornness than Laney. He thinks through his decisions and makes purposeful choices about anger and distrust. Laney admits to confusion about religion, yet makes far fewer mistakes than Wes. She has one honorable goal, to love and care for her daughter. Unlike Wes, Laney's errors are accidental. Perhaps the non-Christian showing greater Christian attributes than the professed Christian is closer to reality than many would like to admit.

Nevertheless, many readers will find "Never Again Good-Bye" to be an enjoyable read with a light tone throughout. It is a fast-read with a clean storyline and happy ending that make it a great summertime read.

--- reviewed by Terri Pilcher for Christian Bookshelf

Once again Terri Blackstock has penned a winner with her novel
'Never Again Good-Bye.' Combining the issue's of: losing your life partner and looking for and finding the child given up for adoption. Mss. Blackstock has written a captivating narrative that will keep you turning pages clear to the end. How refreshing to read a well-written entertaining novel without having to put up with unnecessary verbal garbage.
Blackstock is a talented author. I will continue to seek out
books she has written.
Beverly J Scott author of Righteous Revenge

I thoroughly enjoyed reading all Ms. Blackstock's other books, but this series, Second Chances, has left me disappointed. The character development is slow and shallow. It's actually difficult to like the woman who cares more for herself than her child. Wes comes across as wimpy. There is no suspense or action in this book that makes her other novels more enjoyable. I would much rather recomment her Newpoint 911 and Sun Coast Chronicles series.

I had not read much from this author except her 4 book series with Beverly LaHaye, but when our library had this one in large print, I just picked it up "accidentally" and decided to read it. I had not gotten into many pages when I was grabbed by the plot.

I did not even know there WAS a second chance series and I rather wondered how a secular book could be re-written sucessfully as a Christian Fiction book, but this one was wonderful.

When Wes first met Laney, he suspected her of being a stalker and/or kidnapper of children, and he had her arrested. His fears seemed rational until he heard her story. The child of Wes and his deceased wife Patrice, was adopted right after birth, and Laney, the birth mother had finally found them through illegal means. The story then unfolds of two people who have absolutely nothing in common except their love for one little girl, Amy. Through it all the ghost of Wes' dead wife Patrice hangs heavily over both their heads as well as Amy's.

I felt Terri Blackstock drew upon some incredible experience as an author to format and carry through with this suspenseful, love-hate story and the twists and turns which led to a very, very strange and almost unbelievable bond between Wes and Laney.

I wish to thank the author for re-writing this book and for using her talent for her new "boss", God. I am now searching for other second chances books by this author.

This book is a great, sweet story of overcoming grief and struggles and giving it all to God in love. I love this book and I would recommend it to anyone who want to read a the sweet story of Wes and Laney as they both go through trials and hard times for the love of their daughter Amy. Read this book!

Other sweet recommendations:
Robin Jones Gunn- The Glennbrooke Series

you what they say! "Never judge a book by its cover" well to be totaly Honest thats exactly what i ended up doing. Ladies you know how it is you walk into your favorite Christian book store and that awesome wellcrafted cover just jumps out at you. and to top it all off the words you read the words on the back cover and your like oh man this sounds really Good. one things for sure Terri Blackstock is a very talented writer that can give a good helping of romance with a life changing message.

A woman named Elaine (Laney) has a daughter that has been adopted by a man, and as her daughter has been growing up, she has been wondering how well Amy's been getting along and wishes just to get on glimpse of Amy. As Amy is in school, Amy's father meets Laney in an interesting way and the mystery unfolds of how everything comes together. In this wonderfully put together book, romance and mystery rise together, as the readers are drawn into the story. Once you've begun to read this book, schedule time to read it, for it's a never-want-to-put-down- book. A true novel. If you haven't read a Blacstock book, and you think you've read a story, you have to try a Terri Blackstock novel. They are enjoyable and a must read. You'll ALWAYS be satisfied with any of her stories. As this delightful book wraps up in the ending, Laney is happy, Amy is happy, and most of all Amy's father, Wes, is happy also. Their dreams come true in the end and more. Truely a book anyone would want to read and an exciting adventure from our world, into Laney's, Amy's and Wes' world. A must read. Enjoy reading! Take my word for it, you'll enjoy every word from being suspensful to emotional. Have fun!

Being adopted myself, the main female character in this book made me shutter. Is the author sure about Laney Fields being the protagonist? She acts more like the villain with her selfishness and her lack of concern for her daughter's well-being. While well-written, I couldn't get past the characterization and have to give it a poor rating for that reason alone.

As the first book in her Second Chances series, Terri Blackstock set the stage for her Shreveport, LA characters. I was instantly drawn to Wes & Laney's determination of making a family work. Of how their love grew for each other, but determined to make it God's will.

Like all of Terri Blackstock's books, Never Again Good-Bye compels the reader to finish the book in one sitting. A wonderful love story full of hope!!