Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

I devoured this book in a singular sitting - the perfect amount of pining and yearning with aa thrown in bit of third act betrayal. There was a great groveling scene - although I do kind of wish she had held out just a minute more, or we had slightly rewritten that scene for his grand gesture. But all in all, it made sense that she switched from reacting out of anger to forgiveness, I think, which is a huge pet peeve in a third act like this one. Highly recommend for a fun historical romance read with a touch of spice.

Emily never lets me down. Loved the story. John and Florence, having a history, meet again at a house party. John kissed Florence years ago and fled due to the feelings he was experiencing. Now he is on the hunt for a rich bride and Florence just happens to be one. Will Florence find out why John is again pursuing her? Will they get their HEA? I recommend reading this wonderful story to find the answers.
Thank you Emily EK Murdoch, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

This historical romance is part of a series concerning siblings. That means that while you can read any of them on their own, the series is better read in order.
Our hero in this one is the second son who has made it mission in life to annoy his older brother and scandalise the ton. This has landed him in a lot of bother. Now it's time to get his a** in gear, and fix his own problems.
Our heroine is painfully shy. So much so she can hardly speak. Her overbearing mother just makes matters worse. She does have to courage to refuse the fortune hunters who just see a plie of coins.
You will need the tissues out for this one. It is a steamy read with more than a few giggles. I do like these mischievous Chance brothers but would not want to try and love one. That takes a very courageous heart.
Great fun.

The Dowry, Sweet Kisses, the Letter:
First off house parties are not fun for everyone, especially Florence who has a speech impediment when nervous., but it was nice to get away from her demeaning mother and try to relax.
Then there is John, the second Chance who needed more than a second chance with Florence. I say he really did some growing up throughout this love story
The Wallflower and the Rake made this an enjoyable story with a lot of emotions between several of the characters. Their romance story moved along with the usual bumps, ups, and downs. It did hold my interest well enough but last few chapters did pick up speed and finished off the story with great satisfaction.
There's another Chance brother just waiting for his story to come along, and I certainly will be looking forward to his story.
💋Mature Advisory🔥🔥

4,5 stars

I really enjoyed this new installment in the Chances series. As the title suggests, it's literally and figuratively about the second Chance brother and the second chances he needs/gets. The plot is well written, witty and heartwarming. Both main characters are endearing. I liked the sizzling chemistry between them, how they accepted their weaknesses and supported each other and how their characters and their relationship developed as the story progressed. I also enjoyed meeting the characters from the previous book and the dynamic between the Chance brothers, although I thought Cothrom was a bit hard on John.

The book can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading it in order as all the Chance brothers have been introduced previously and their interactions are therefore easier to understand.

John Chance, Marquess of Aylesbury, is a notorious rake, addicted to gambling and just like his younger brother Lindow and to the displeasure of his older brother Cothrom, happy when he can cause another scandal.
He lives a carefree life with the allowance and financial support of his older brother Cothrom and has no intention of looking after his own estates. Until Gothrom suddenly refuses to continue paying for his lifestyle and debts and declares that this is John’s second chance.
John doesn't want to disappoint Cothrom and accepts an invitation to a house party. There, however, he unexpectedly meets Florence Bailey, a young lady he wooed two years ago but then dumped before their relationship became more serious. Circumstances change when John learns that Florence has a large dowry that he could put to good use.

Florence has always been an almost painfully shy wallflower who can't talk to anyone without stuttering with nervousness, but her strict mother always forces her to attend social gatherings. She is shocked when she meets John again at the Knights' house party, the man she fell in love with two years ago and who broke her heart. But what is even more shocking is that she is still attracted to John, he is flirting with her again and John seems to be the only person who understands her shyness.
But he could also be the solution to her problems. Florence is willing to give him a second chance as she does not want to become the victim of a fortune hunter or continue being forced to attend future societal events, so she offers John a marriage of convenience: Respectability for him in return for her peace...

If you like books with scandalous rakes, shy wallflower, lots of banter and great character development, you are sure to enjoy this one.

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

Great book! At first it was a slow start for me and it did take a few chapters for me to get pulled into the book, but it was well worth it!

I found the premise super engaging and that's why I decided to read it, but along the way I got lost in descriptions of emotions that seemed repetitive to me.
.
I felt the slow in the pace at which things happened. I loved Florence and every time I read a chapter from her point of view I was waiting for something to happen, thinking something was going to happen and that hooked me on continuing to the next chapter.
.
After three years in society, Florence is tired of being dragged to parties and social gatherings. Her shyness and stuttering do not help her much when it comes to defending herself. That's why when she is at a house party she is counting the days until she could return home where she can take refuge in her books. But that's when something unexpected happens and the Marquess of Aylesbury arrives.
.
Jhon is on his second and last chance with his family.He has to behave, stay away from the betting tables and forget his rogue behavior. But when he sees Florence at the same house party he can't believe that two years have passed and as he gets closer he realizes that they didn't part ways on the best terms. Indebted and unable to draw on his family's money, getting married could be his only solution, that is if Florence decides to talk to him again.
.
It was entertaining and I enjoyed reading the story of Florence and Jhon, I think Emily E.K. Murdock is one of those writers in which her characters capture you from the beginning and once her characters got you, you need to know what is going to happen next, and the book is impossible to let go until you reach the end.
.
Thanks to Emily E. K. Murdock and Dragonblade Publishing team for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my hones and voluntary opinion.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyable, and I love how the shy heroine was portrayed.

Miss Florence Bailey had four seasons and no proposals. Extremely shy, she has difficulty having a conversation with anyone, especially the man who broke her heart two years ago. John Chance, Marquess of Aylesbury, is a scoundrel, gambler, drunkard and womanizer. At a house party he encounters Florence again. As drawn to her as he was before, he realizes he was a fool to walk away. Maybe this is his second chance. He takes it and woos the woman that makes him feel like he never has before, until he makes a mistake.
A very emotional love story with two people hoping for a happy ending.
Descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Florence was beautiful yet so painfully shy that she would stutter. Until John can a long, captured her heart and then left her. A lovely twist to second chances, this second book in the series is about John Chance getting a do over in life all the way around. By a talented author, who's stories allows are fun, filled with creative ideas and fabulous characters. If you are a true intervert, like me, you will love Florence and appreciate her struggles. She's smart, intelligent, clever, wise and utterly glorious. John has a lot to do to live up to and needs to mature that is until he runs into Florence again. Don't miss book two.

John Chance, Marquis of Aylesbury, has most unfortunately run out of second chances. That’s why he’s turning up at a house party in search of a wealthy wife. Anyone will do. The Aylesbury coffers are empty, and his older brother has given him a second chance to set gambling aside and find some respectability. John doesn’t expect Miss Florence Bailey to be there. The woman he courted two years ago. The woman he should have proposed to…and ran away from.
The second book in the series & a fun entertaining romance. I really liked both John & Florence, the chemistry sizzled & they both had feelings for each other but she’s shy, he’s charming. This is a delightful, witty romance. I loved how they came to really know each other on their way to a HEA
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

Such a good book. Emily EK Murdoch is an amazing author. Her characters are enchanting but strong. This book is fantastic!
I don't like giving anything away. Just read it and enjoy!!
I know I will recommend this book to friends and family.

The second book in 'The Chances' series, and a funny, sweet and spicy second chance at love for Florence & John!

She’s a very bright but painfully shy young heiress. Her inability to string three words together when in company has relegated her to wallflower row - not that she minds, at least it’s quiet there. But what she really wants, is to be loved - for herself, flaws and all, and not her dowry, and preferably by him, the marquess who stole her heart two years ago…
He’s that marquess - a bit of a careless brat, a himbo and the king of second chances. His coffers are empty and his older brother, the duke, is finally done picking up his tab. He wants him to clean-up his act, find a wife and give his title some respectability… at a house party… where he runs into her, the girl who made him feel and thus scared him witless two years ago.

This story follows their untraditional courtship - she offered him a marriage of convenience, now all his has to do is not screw it up… and of course he does.
It's a trainwreck waiting to happen and I simply couldn’t look away!
He’s this adorable charming screw-up and she’s not just a wallflower, but an entire bouquet once she opens up. Their chemistry is through the roof, and sticking to those well-defined rules surrounding their union quickly becomes more than a little inconvenient. These two are secretly so head-over-heels for each other, leaving them endearingly awkward and uncomfortable. That and the fact they truly see and understand each other - at their best and at their worst - make for a deliciously sizzling and fascinating tale!

With a fair bit of conflict, conquering and grovelling to do, this book was heartwarming, witty and fast. A true page-turner, an excellent read and a great stand-alone!
Even better when you’ve read book 1 'A Fighting Chance', and I can hardly wait to find out what life has installed for the other Chance brother and a half!

In spite of Miss Florence Bailey suffering from overwhelming shyness and a stutter when agitated, she does seem to be the more mature party to this couple. John Chance is witty and charming and his playfulness carries him through most difficult situations, however, he did have some growing up to do and Florence is the one woman who makes him examine himself. The novel is a mixture of comedy and tragedy and evoked a number of feelings in me, especially when Florence had to suffer her abrasive mother's tirades. After accidental exposure, it seemed that any second chances Florence and John may have had were blown to pieces, but in some ways, it was a good thing as it brought clarity of thinking and new beginnings for both of them. The novel is a standalone and comes to a sweet and happy conclusion. I received a copy of this romance as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and this is my honest and voluntary review.

John is the Marquess of the four Chance brothers.
He is a gambler and womanizer but when he met and courted Florence years ago, he ran away from the commitment.
But now he literally on his last “chance” to make amends with his brother, his finances, and Florence.
He needs her dowry but does he need her more?
Florence is shy, loves John but wants to be more than her money.
Tough to reconcile but lots of emotion and family dynamics.
Really enjoy the brothers and their banter/arguments.

I’m really enjoying this series and I loved the second Chance brother - John .. although wasn’t as big a fan of Florence - she was a bit too shy for my liking although I did appreciate she started to standing up for herself . Definitely looking forward to the next two books

3.5 ⭐️

Second or Third Chance!

John Chance, Marquess of Aylesbury always needed a second chance. He needed to change his ways and quickly, meeting Florence Bailey again after he had run away from her two years ago was an opportunity he couldn’t miss. What started out as a proposed marriage of convenience soon became something he wanted with all his heart.

Florence, a wallflower who was painfully shy and stuttered had been devastated after John had left her wanting two years ago couldn’t believe it when he turned up at the last house party she was to attend.

Wonderful characters with personalities that shine and lots of steamy moments make this an entertaining romantic read.

I always enjoy Ms Murdoch’s books. She takes romance to the limit and gives everyone a chance at a HEA.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wallflower Florence stutters when she is around strangers and crowds. Having her heart broken several years ago, she hopes to not attract any attention and become a spinster. When John, the rake who walked away from Florence years ago, shows up at the house party she is at she panics even more. John can’t forget Florence and wants to reunite with her, especially when he learns of her large dowry. Can Florence give them a second chance? I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing.