Near Baltimore, Maryland - Present Day

The Second Chance Farm is a rescue center for old and mistreated horses. Hope Farrier runs the farm on a shoestring, always looking for donations. Devlin Temple, who is temporarily heading up Temple Equine Supplements (TES) in his mother’s stead, drops by to tell Hope that his company’s donations of equine supplements will no longer be available, but Hope begs him to supply the supplements for three more weeks to give her time to hold her open house and to find another donor. Devlin agrees. Suddenly, firecrackers go off nearby spooking the horses. What could that be all about? Hope has no idea that someone has evil plans for her and her dilapidated farm.

Devlin’s mother, Lillian, has supported The Second Chance Farm and intends to continue until her dying breath. Ill with cancer, she tells Devlin and Hope that she has changed her will giving money and some of her TES stock to Hope with the stipulation that Devlin will manage The Second Chance Farm. Lillian also would like Hope to vote Devlin in as CEO of TES. Both Devlin and Hope are stunned -- the stock is worth millions of dollars. Although Devlin is attracted to the beautiful redhead, he isn’t too sure he wants to give part of his inheritance to her!

Someone has skimmed money and is sabotaging TES; Devlin is trying to find the culprit. Someone also continues to stalk and create malicious mischief to harm Hope and her horses. Could Devlin’s cousin, Ray, who wanted to be CEO, be behind it all?

Although Devlin and Hope are strongly attracted to each other, Hope vacillates -- should she or shouldn’t she get involved with Devlin? Her sister Paige tries to discourage her because of Devlin’s reputation as a playboy, and Hope gets warned off by his former girlfriends. Will Devlin break her heart? She is totally dedicated to her horses. As Devlin and Hope get acquainted, the thief is operating behind the scenes, causing a lot of trouble and getting angrier when things don’t go his way. Devlin is concerned about Hope and wants to protect her. Secondary characters help move the story to its conclusion: Lillian, who wants her son to find the right woman; Myrna, who is interested in her boss more than her secretarial duties; Ray who is jealous of Devlin; Ray’s wife, Devlin’s former fiancée, wants him back; and the person in the shadows is willing to cause havoc and worse.

NO SECOND CHANCE has equal parts of suspense and romance with no indication who the thief could be (Ray seems a little too obvious). Devlin and Hope are both likeable characters, and the story moves along at a good pace. It is a tale that will please most contemporary romance readers.

Marilyn Heyman