(Finished March 29th, 2018) themusicaddict's Review of L.A. Kelley's "Second Chance City"

Hello,

Thanks to NetGalley, L.A. Kelley and Wild Rose Press for free access to "Second Chance City". In my return this is my honest review. 

"Second Chance City" is a novel that's both a spoof of and homage to comic books. The story is set in Coldwater Bay, the two main characters are Nate Hammond and Elisabeth (Libby) Parrish. Libby's boss is in town to do an event. Small town cop, Nate Hammond, and his former child friend, Libby Parrish join together to track down the evil comic book villain Scribe. That wasn't their intention but their unintended adventure starts when Nate and Libby realize that Libby's boss is missing and they search for him. They go to the book store where Libby's boss, comic book author Payton Debolt, did a signing that same day. While there they get sucked into a different dimension and go to a mirror city of Coldwater Bay, called Second Chance City. 

The two cities have a lot in common including pretty much the same cast of characters. Although basically the same characters, the characters aren't the same. First of all Second Chance City is set in a comic book world. There are superheroes and super villians, even on entering this dimension Libby (Mighty Light) and Nate (Good Citizen) have superhero powers. We follow the two heroes through their adventures as they head to a predictable finale. Theirs is a classic romantic storyline of will they or won't they when clearly we can see they'll be getting together. That's was so predictable and telegraphed that I hoped something was going to happen to change what seemed so inevitable. Did it? Well I guess you'll have to read the book to find out.

Bad things about this novel is that it's simplistic, predictable and the end works out way too perfectly. In a world of superheroes and super villains, not so many people should make it out alive as do in this novel. 

Good things it's decent quality, has some funny moments, has a heart and it makes fun of some comic book tropes. It's also not very long and I read through it quickly. There wasn't a long drawn out story line, it was perfectly compact. It doesn't over explain things, but you're also not left in the dark.

I know some of my criticism can come off as being harsh, but honestly I enjoyed this book. It's not a complex novel that will challenge your intelligience. But it also won't bore you. You'll like the characters, the story, the humor and the twists and turns. Yes, I said it was predictable, but there are also some satisfying twists and turns. 

Would I recommend that you read this book? Why yes I would!! But I suggest you read it knowing that it has weaknesses. But those weaknesses won't prevent you from enjoying it.  Don't over think it and just read for the enjoyment of reading a fun novel.

themusicaddict