This Christmas story covers the adult life of Faith and Rome reuniting after 15 years post teenage break-up after a horrible car accident tears both families apart and their relationship.

Having grown up and figure out themselve, both go through their difficult life. Rome with his sick mother in Sageport and Faith, with a divorce and twin daughters, returning to Sageport to take care of her sick father.

The two reuniting adults find their spark for love and life again, in each other, and it is an HEA.

The main reason for a 3 star review is, while the story is great, I noticed a few typos and long with the fact that Faith's father's name switched from Carl to Clyde throughout the story, leading it to be very confusing. It would 'take' me out of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Black Odessey Media for the ARC.

This started off strong with two kids in a small town dealing with issues they shouldn’t have to at their age. Fast forward, fifteen years later, and they’re still struggling with issues from their childhood. The foundation was strong but then the character’s internal monologue became repetitive which took away from the story. But once the two MCs reunited, I loved how it was just an instant reconnection and the story picked back up.

I loved the MCs and I could feel their emotions when they were happy, sad, angry, frustrated, and even nostalgic. My emotions were all over the place which was the best thing about reading this. I felt Faith had the most character development and I was so happy for her to end up on top.

In the end, I felt like there were some elements missing that could’ve made me really love this. For one, I needed more out of Rome’s character. Maybe an epilogue that was at least 6 months in the future would’ve made a difference for me. Also, I felt like Faith’s friend Tierra was just forgotten. She was a small character but I felt like she deserved to know her friend found happiness.

This is an great read. I am a sucker for a good happily ever after, and this book delivers.

I love all the characters, and I enjoyed the storyline as well.

My favorite character is Faith. She was one of those characters I know I will not forget so easily. She's charming, respectful, and kind to those who are around her.

This is a nice, quick read. 4 out of 5 stars from me.

I rated this book 3.25 stars.

This was a cute quick second chance romance that I enjoyed. It follows Faith and Rome from teenagers into adulthood.

Faith and Rome had there future planned out together as most teenagers do little did they know their lives would forever be changed on their prom night. I always loved second chance romance books especially when the main characters are able to heal their younger selves.

Faith didn't deserve the hate she had to carry at such a young age especially when all she wanted was one night to be able to just be a care-free teenager. I completely understood Rome's point of view and grief has no bounds you can only see your pain and no one else's but in that moment he failed Faith and that hurt the most.

In the end Rome & Faith got their happily ever after and it shows that if you love someone it's okay to let them go and if it was meant to be you both will always find your way home.

I will say with this book I didn't feel the connections with the characters in the book and that is why I rated 3.25. I didn't fall in love with him but I did cherish their story!

I really liked the Rome/Faith story but Ashton’s pov was unnecessary for the overall plot. It would have been important if his life with Francis and his family was explored to show the effects of divorce and blended family. I did love how the author didn’t involve cheating as the reason for the divorce. I appreciated that it showed Faith lost herself trying to be the perfect wife and mother.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opinions expressed are my own. I really enjoyed reading Second Chance Christmas by Jahquel J. This is a story of heartbreak, reliving painful memories, rekindled love and new and happy memories being made. This story will make you laugh, cry and then be happy again. I highly recommend this book!

This is my first time reading anything by Jahquel J. or Black Odyssey Media whose goal is to help shine a light on minority storytellers. I knew it was going to be a good book when the prologue alone left me absolutely seething. It’s (if you couldn’t tell) a second chance romance set around Christmas time. I will say it’s not too heavily Christmas themed, you could definitely read this any time of the year and it not be weird.

Faith and Rome were the perfect couple, destined to be together, until one night a tragic accident caused Faith’s mother and Romeo’s brother to lose their lives, ultimately leading to their breakup. Heartbroken, Faith fled from the small town of Sageport, never wanting to return. That is until over a decade later when the newly divorced, single mum to twins, returns after her father suffers a stroke.

I loved the multiple POV’s in this, other than Faith and Rome we also get to see Ashton, Faith’s ex husband. It’s really nice to see two ex spouses who don’t hate each other and genuinely want the other person to move on and be happy.

At first I thought the second chance between Faith and Rome moved a bit fast, but you quickly realise that they never stopped loving each other and just picked up where they left off. The spicy scenes are quite short, I’d have liked them to be a little bit more detailed but that’s personal preference.

The writing style was so different to what I’m used to. Obviously the author, Jahquel J. and I come from two completely different cultures and ethnic backgrounds so this is expected, but I really enjoyed it. Even things like the character’s dialect is different to what it’s like where I live in England. It’s really nice to have some diversity in the romance genre. I definitely will be looking into reading more from Jahquel J.

I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Second Chance Christmas is a heartwarming and emotional second chance romance that will tug at your heartstrings. It's a wild emotional rollercoaster ride, and I loved every minute of it!

Fifteen years ago, Faith Stone and her high-school sweetheart, Rome Atkins, both experienced something devastating that tore them apart. Rome's brother died in a car crash, with Faith's mother being the drunk driver behind the wheel. Having lost the love of her life and feeling there was nothing left for her in Sageport, Faith moved to Atlanta and never looked back.

One day, Faith receives a call from her father's fiancé, asking her to come back to Sageport to help her father after he suffered a mild stroke. Faith has not been back to Sageport since the accident 15 years ago. As difficult as it is for her, Sage agrees. She leaves her twin daughters with their father, whom she divorced almost a year ago, and heads down to Sageport.

Being back in her childhood home triggers a lot of hurtful memories for Faith, and being around her father who changed drastically after his wife's death doesn't make it any better. And then Faith sees Rome and all the old feelings come rushing back. Faith finally accepts that there are certain things she needs to face while she is down in Sageport in order to heal from her past.

I absolutely loved this book! It is a very realistic second chance romance, with the characters facing very real problems and overcoming them. Faith and Rome are strong characters from the very beginning, with dreams and aspirations that they had to put on hold to take care of their families. I loved how the spark was always there between the two, even while dealing with hurt and grief. Faith and Rome are not the only two dealing with grief in this book either. It was beautiful watching the characters come together and heal from the pain through communication and with the help of the loved ones. I was so happy when Faith rekindled things with Rome, especially after feeling like she wasn't good enough after her divorce. I was rooting hard for these two and I was so happy when they got their happy ending. They both deserved it!

Thank you NetGalley, Black Odyssey, and Jahquel J. for such a beautiful ARC!

This. Is . What. I'm Talking. About. When. I. Say. We. Need. More. Black. stories. I ate this up. Give me more more more more more more more.

Second Chance Christmas is a gorgeous romance story that had me hooked from the beginning. At times I felt the plot was rushed, I would have loved to see more of a build up or a conflict rather than rehashing past chapters, but it was still an enjoyable read.

This book was a very sweet second chance romance. 15 years have passed between Faith and Rome both dealing with the pain that caused them to drift from each other. Faith trying to heal her inner child and Rome trying to heal from his past and from losing Faith. The ending of this one was bittersweet and left you wanting more. I highly recommend reading this Book!

This book had me hooked from the prologue. I went into this thinking it was going to be a light hearted happily ever after. I was wrong! This book touched on some very sad and deep topics. The perseverance Faith showed to be the mother she didn’t have for her girls was beautiful. Her childhood was rough and to finally see why was heartbreaking. The twist made me look at some of the characters in a more forgiving light. <spoiler>Rome and Faiths love is the definition of soul ties. </spoiler>

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this Advance Readers Copy ebook in exchange for my honest review


****review posted on StoryGraph link attached****

Second Chance Christmas is a story about a girl who left her town on bad terms and years later has to come back to help her father while revisiting her painful past. Will she end up staying or leaving it all behind once more?
This book has great characters and an emotional story line that makes you want to keep reading.
The middle of the book did drag out a little and I almost felt that the plot was lost. Some of the dialogue felt a little forced and random.
Overall, if you are looking for a book about forgiving the past, finding love, and close family characters, this book is for you!

Thank you to the publisher and author for allowing me to read your book.

Faith and Rome shared a young love in high school, but an unfortunate accident drove them apart. Now, after fifteen years, fate reunites them.

In the present, Beth, now a divorced mother, must return to her hometown to aid her father after years away. Her relentless pursuit of the ideal family and role of the perfect spouse led her to lose herself in the process. It's unjust for her to carry such burdens from a tender age, especially when others wrongly accuse her, while her father fails to intervene.

Rome dedicated his life to caring for his mother, yet despite his efforts and even with hired assistance, there came a point where he couldn't meet her needs adequately.

While I often critique second chance romances for the protagonists' lack of humility, this time I won't, despite Rome's past mistakes and his role in their separation. The events of that fateful night left deep scars, clouding his judgment, and making his subsequent actions understandable. Unfortunately, Faith bore the brunt of the fallout, enduring lasting trauma for deeds she didn't commit.

Although Beth's ex-husband isn't inherently malevolent, his work obsession blinds him to his daughters' growth, a realization that may come too late.

The pacing in the final chapters felt uneven, and the conclusion seemed abrupt.

I extend my gratitude to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for furnishing the ARC in exchange for my honest appraisal.

3.5
⭐️
Es el primer libro que leo de Jahquel y me gustó.


Faith y Rome fueron novios en high school, pero un accidente los separó, 15 años después se vuelven a reencontrar.

En la actualidad Beth es madre, está divorciada y por primera vez en años tiene que regresar a su pueblo para ayudar a su padre. Estaba tan obsesionada con tener la familia perfecta y ser la esposa perfecta que se perdió.
No fue justo con la responsabilidad con la que tuvo que cargar a tan temprana edad. No puedo creer que la gente la señalará como la culpable de cosas que ella no hacía, y el padre la dejó cargar con todo.


Rome estaba viviendo su vida para su mamá, si bien me pareció excelente que la cuidara, llegó a un punto en la que no le podía dar los cuidados que necesitaba aunque le contratará enfermeras.

Siempre me quejo de que en los second chance el protagonista no se humilla lo suficiente por la protagonista, pero en esta ocasión no lo haré aunque Rome haya sido un idiota con Faith y el culpable de su separación, lo que pasó esa noche fue algo muy fuerte dejando mucho dolor y nublando la mente de él, es entendible su reacción. Lo único malo es que Faith sufrió por algo que no hizo y le dejó traumas.

El ex esposo no es mala persona, pero por estar tan metido en su trabajo se perderá ver crecer a sus hijas y cuando se de cuenta será muy tarde.

Siento que los últimos capítulos perdieron el ritmo y además él final fue muy abrupto.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.