Thursday, June 26, 2014

Second Chances

I believe in second chances. In fact, I love second chances. A few months ago, Sweet Romance Reads writer Aileen Fish (whose historical romances I just adore!) wrote a post about how she prefers stories of new romance between strangers. I've been thinking about that for quite a while. 

There's definitely much to be said for not revisiting the past. Anyone who's ever had the urge to Google an old flame (don't tell me you've never done it!) must suspect some things are best left behind.

I'm all for appreciating what I've got right now, this moment, in front of me. Wondering what might have been, who I might be if ... and where the people from my past are now isn't really a pick me up. If anything, I've learned it is usually a sign that there's something in my present that I'm avoiding dealing with.

In fact, although the first book I ever published was a reunion romance, I don't even write them anymore. (At present, anyway.) Like I said, I do best when I focus on the now.

But if I think of the romances I've loved, the ones I read over and over again, the ones that stick with me and warm my heart, year after year, there's an obvious overrepresentation of second-chance, long-lost love stories. Remember Far Pavillions? Catch me as I swoon.

There are few things I love more than a real-life reunion story. Like that of my friend's mother who is getting married next month. She and her fiancé met in 1951. They went to the same school, the same summer camp, the same college. They studied related fields. They were active in similar volunteer programs. They dated. They married -- other people -- and even visited with their families and exchanged holiday cards. Then they lost touch in 1976.

Unbeknownst to each other, she moved from the East Coast to California. So did he. She got divorced. So did he. She changed careers and became a spiritual counselor. He changed careers and became a pastor. She moved to New Mexico. So did he.

Then in 2013, he looked her up on Facebook. (Yeah, I know ... trolling the past. I guess it doesn't always backfire ...)

It turned out they lived only miles apart. And now ten months later, they're finally engaged to be married. It only took them 63 years to get together. Some might mourn the decades they might have had with each other. But they prefer to look at the present and their future. They might not have forever past, but they've still got forever after.

Which is what matters.

I think the reason the story makes me so happy is that it shows that sometimes, things really can be corrected and made right. We're not perfect. Even in long lasting marriages, there's room for second chances at getting things right and occasionally rediscovering the person we first fell in love with.

So here's to second chances. Or however many of them we may need to craft our happily ever after!

What's your favorite second-chance novel? 

And you authors out there - have you written any recently? I'm always on the lookout for more to read! 


reclaimin home by milou koeningsMilou Koenings writes romance because, like chocolate, stories with a happy ending bring more joy into the world and so make it a better place.

Her new release, Reclaiming Home, A Green Pines Romance, is available at Amazon. You can find her on her website, www.miloukoenings.com, on Facebook, Goodreads or Twitter.

11 comments:

  1. Facebook stalking!! Love it. (Well, it's not really stalking, is it....)
    One of my fav stories ever is a Silhouette novella called Kismet by Fiona Brand which was a reincarnation story that began at the time of the crusades then the present day and that was a fantastic second chances story.

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    1. Off to go look for Kismet now!

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  2. Milou--I hope I won't have two comments post. My original suddenly disappeared. Anyway, thank you for sharing the story of your mother's friend. I love all the "coincidences" throughout this couple's lives! Funny thing--the title of your blog gave me a momentary pause, because I have a novella called "Second Chances" that comes out in August. :D

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  3. I love second chances stories, though right now, I can't think of one that stands out in my mind -- mostly because I always remember plots of books but not necessarily their titles. One of my sons is soon to marry his high school sweetheart. They hadn't seen each other for more than a decade but reconnected on -- you guessed it -- Facebook. Best of all, as far as I'm concerned, is that now she comes equipped with three wonderful kids. Ready-made grandkids. Love it!

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    1. What a great story, Patricia! May you all be very happy :)

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  4. Glad to inspire a blog post! I know I said I don't look for second chance romances to read, but my brother found a girl he'd dated in high school through Facebook and they've since married. So, in real life, second chances are awesome!

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  5. My favorite second chance romance is Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Wow!

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    1. Definitely - I reread that one at least once each year!

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  6. I love books about second chances, especially if they were childhood sweethearts. You are probably not going to believe this, but it has never occurred to me to Google an old flame--a man I used to be engaged to actually. Off to do that now. Purely out of academic interest, of course. :)

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  7. I hope my comment doesn't show up twice. I put it in then logged in, and it didn't show. Anyway, I loved your mother's second chance romance story. I have written several. In fact, I have one coming out in Jan. 2015, SECOND CHANCE REUNION. I loved writing this story and hope readers will love it, too.

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  8. Oh what fun - not one but TWO Second Chance romances coming up soon for me to read! Merrillee and Magdalena, I look forward to reading them!

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