"A second chance at family"

T.J. Cauthen is newly released from prison, and set in his determination to fully clear his name, while getting the people who put him in prison to be held accountable for their actions. In this quest he has established a new identy for himself...that of Joe Coughlin.

As he arrives in Silver Springs Wyoming his plan is well thought out, and he thinks nothing can make him stray from his course. As we know life never works as we think it should, and Joe's life is no exception.

His brother has had temporary custody of his 10 year old daughter and now has to give her back to Joe as he has issues at home he needs to now concentrate on. Joe not only now with the custody of a child also finds himself the owner of a bad case of lust for someone whom he considers to be a prime suspect in his case...boarding house owner Abby Hilliard.

Abby is not at all what Joe expects her to be, and he finds himself falling for her. He worries that the stories he has told to hide his true identity will ruin any chance of future happiness, but his determination to clear his name is overwhelming.

Rarely in this story does Joe put his daughter or Abby first however neither Joe's daughter nor Abby made themselves easy to love, and they both believe he can't or won't commit to them.

Operation: Second Chance is a quick read with some humor to it, and a nice suspensful element. This was my first read by Roxanne Rustand, but I will be looking for other stories by her.

Reviewed by Sandi Shilhanek
Posted March 16, 2004

Summary

From special agent to ex-con... T. J. Cauthen spent five years in jail. He lost his career, his honor and the chance to watch his daughter grow. Now he's out, and he's determined to get back his life and his child.

But first he has to figure out who set him up. So he's taken a room at Abby Hilliard's boardinghouse in Silver Springs, Wyoming.

Because—whether she knows it or not—his very attractive landlady holds the key.