Customer Reviews: Read 8 more reviews...
 A Selfish Female Character December 8, 2008
Being adopted myself, the main female character in this book made me shutter. Is the author sure about Laney Fields being the protagonist? She acts more like the villain with her selfishness and her lack of concern for her daughter's well-being. While well-written, I couldn't get past the characterization and have to give it a poor rating for that reason alone.
 Not an Accidental Read at all! December 4, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I had not read much from this author except her 4 book series with Beverly LaHaye, but when our library had this one in large print, I just picked it up "accidentally" and decided to read it. I had not gotten into many pages when I was grabbed by the plot.
I did not even know there WAS a second chance series and I rather wondered how a secular book could be re-written sucessfully as a Christian Fiction book, but this one was wonderful.
When Wes first met Laney, he suspected her of being a stalker and/or kidnapper of children, and he had her arrested. His fears seemed rational until he heard her story. The child of Wes and his deceased wife Patrice, was adopted right after birth, and Laney, the birth mother had finally found them through illegal means. The story then unfolds of two people who have absolutely nothing in common except their love for one little girl, Amy. Through it all the ghost of Wes' dead wife Patrice hangs heavily over both their heads as well as Amy's.
I felt Terri Blackstock drew upon some incredible experience as an author to format and carry through with this suspenseful, love-hate story and the twists and turns which led to a very, very strange and almost unbelievable bond between Wes and Laney.
I wish to thank the author for re-writing this book and for using her talent for her new "boss", God. I am now searching for other second chances books by this author.
 Christian cotton candy September 16, 2005
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
I like to support Christian authors, however reading this book was like eating cotton candy. It was easy to do, but left me feeling slightly sick to my stomach.
The character development was poor at best. The whole story was rather contrived and just not credible.
I spent an afternoon reading it, but somehow wish that I'd used the time more wisely.
Another one for Terri Blackstock July 20, 2005
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
As the first book in her Second Chances series, Terri Blackstock set the stage for her Shreveport, LA characters. I was instantly drawn to Wes & Laney's determination of making a family work. Of how their love grew for each other, but determined to make it God's will.
 An enjoyable read with a light tone throughout August 27, 2003
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
Adoption, romance, trust, and truth interweave in this book about second chances from the "Second Chances" series by Terri Blackstock.Laney Fields returns to the town of her youth in a journey to recover the child she gave up for adoption several years before. The child's adoptive mother died recently of cancer, and her father, Wes Grayson, is struggling to make his construction company cover the costs of the medical bills. Wes meets Laney as she surreptitiously takes pictures of his daughter playing at a playground. Suspicious and worried about a possible kidnapping, he calls the police and arrests Laney. From the beginning, Wes finds it difficult to trust the woman who may be trying to steal his child from him. They both realize that they're attracted to each other, but Wes can't trust Laney and she doesn't share his faith in Christ. Their budding relationship is threatened by their pasts and their links to one little girl who carries the key that could bring them together or tear them apart. In addition to confronting issues of adoption, Blackstock also suggests the consequences of relationships between Christians and non-Christians. The fact that this occurs at all suggests that Blackstock is not afraid of controversy. That a Christian man would knowingly enter into this type of relationship, no matter what the end results are, shows disobedience to God. Throughout this book, the character of Laney is far more sympathetic than that of Wes. Wes, as a Christian man, shows far more weakness, sin, and stubbornness than Laney. He thinks through his decisions and makes purposeful choices about anger and distrust. Laney admits to confusion about religion, yet makes far fewer mistakes than Wes. She has one honorable goal, to love and care for her daughter. Unlike Wes, Laney's errors are accidental. Perhaps the non-Christian showing greater Christian attributes than the professed Christian is closer to reality than many would like to admit. Nevertheless, many readers will find "Never Again Good-Bye" to be an enjoyable read with a light tone throughout. It is a fast-read with a clean storyline and happy ending that make it a great summertime read. --- reviewed by Terri Pilcher for Christian Bookshelf
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