Bewitching Book Tours Book Review: Another Chance

Author: Michelle Beattie
Title: Another Chance
Publish Date: Nov 23, 2011
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: Bewitching Book Tours and the author
Book Blurb: Being a veterinarian in the late 1800’s is difficult enough, but for Jillian Matthews it’s impossible. Not allowed in the vet schools, she trained at her father’s side until she had the skills needed to move west. Jillian accepts an advertisement for a position in Montana, using only her initials which happen to be same as her father’s. Convinced that in the untamed west, her skills will be valued and appreciated, regardless of her gender, she’s quickly proved wrong.

Wade Parker is sure the pretty redhead claiming to be the vet he sent for is one of his ranch hands’ practical jokes but the fiery woman very quickly puts him in his place and proves him wrong. His impression, however, turns south when the animal she operated on later dies. With a ranch on the verge of bankruptcy, losing an animal was the last thing he could afford and he can’t help thinking the old vet, the male doctor, wouldn’t have let his animal die.

With Wade’s initial reaction guiding them, the town is quick to want Jillian out. But the more Wade gets to know Jillian, the more he sees her grit and compassion, the harder he falls for her. When Wade realizes he was too hasty in his judgment and urges the town to give Jillian another chance, he makes more than few enemies. Enemies that would do almost anything to get her out, and to make sure Wade doesn’t take her side again.

Soon threats turn to violence and both Wade and Jillian must make a stand. The problem is, at what cost?

Review: I'm usually not a fan of western historical romances, but the strength of Jillian's character really made me rethink my feelings about this sub-genre. Jillian as the lead character and Silver as a secondary character were two women that knew their own minds. They did what they wanted even if it totally went against the thinking of the time.

It was easy for Jillian to endear herself to me. She is a true animal lover. When Whisker was killed, I cried. I hated the close minded men that wanted to run her out of town, yet I understood that this kind of thing would happen in that time period. A woman vet was something that simply didn't happen, because it was a "man's" job.

Even Wade, who was easy to love as a hero wasn't immune to that way of thinking, even though he did come around in the end, so that there would be a happily ever after. At times I almost felt sorry for him, because he felt his first wife didn't love him enough, because she wanted the fulfillment of a job. It was nice that when his eyes opened that he realized that he was loved fully both by his first wife Amy and Jillian.

The children in the book are absolutely adorable. Wade's daughter Annabelle is a total handful and Steven's son Jacob is a sweetie. It is hard to believe that such a sweet tempered child came from such a nasty man.

Michelle really created some great characters that you really connect with, whether good or bad in the story. I particularly loved Silver, who owns the saloon. I'm really hoping Michelle is planning to write her story soon.

If you love historical westerns, this is a book not to be missed!

Rating:  5 flowers