REVIEW: A Second Chance Road Trip for Christmas by Jackie Lau
Greg Wong hates when things don’t go according to plan, so he definitely doesn’t appreciate it when his mother insists he drive Tasha Edwards back to Mosquito Bay for the Christmas holidays. He likes peace and quiet when he’s in the car, and that’s the opposite of what he’ll get with Tasha, his high school sweetheart. The first woman he ever loved.
Not that he has feelings for her now. Of course not. Though while he’s trying not to smile at her laughter and terrible singing, he can’t help noticing how beautiful she is.
And then his plans veer further off course when a snowstorm forces them to spend the night in an unheated motel room with only one bed…
Dear Ms. Lau,
“A Match Made for Thanksgiving” introduced me to the Wong family – four siblings, and matchmaking grand/parents. Brother Nick has found his One and now the mothers of eldest brother Greg and his high school girlfriend Tasha have, during a meeting in the grocery store, arranged for him to give her a ride back from Toronto where they both live to Mosquito Bay (which is not a town name that lends itself to tourist brochures).
Greg and Tasha are both engineers though they went to different universities after dating for a few years in high school. Neither felt that they should hold the other back from a desired program and eventually they fell prey to that dreaded cause of breakups – the long distance relationship. It wasn’t due to a big argument, meeting someone else, or anything else irrevocable. Greg felt that Tasha should have a chance to experience more of life than staying with a high school love and … it ended. Now fifteen years later, they’re starting for home (twenty six minutes late) and into a snowstorm that has intensified way faster than predicted. With traffic at a standstill and the snow still whomping down, a quaint (they still use actual keys) motel is the safest bet. Only there’s just one room, with one bed, and the heat isn’t working. What will they do overnight to keep warm?
Their families have always said that Greg and Tasha “fit” together and complement each other although they are quite different. He’s very methodical and listens to CBC radio, watches documentaries, birdwatches, and actually has a model train. She loves to sing to her Christmas carols list (though not that well) and is more laid back about time (remember they started out twenty six minutes late and that wasn’t due to Greg). But he can make her laugh and knows his way around an orgasm. Plus he thinks that her not being subjected to unsolicited dick pics isn’t too much to ask of any man.
I adore Greg as I, too, tend to overthink and plan for the worst. Yikes, the guy is prepared.
She couldn’t help but laugh, though she was still wrapping her mind around the fact that he traveled with all those things. “What else do you have in your car?”
He gestured toward the chairs. There were two sleeping bags, an extra blanket, a couple hats and gloves, and… Oh My God.
“A space heater!” She could kiss him.
He also remembers just how Tasha takes her coffee and what her favorite candy bar is.
Tasha was the one to initiate their friendship (physics lab), their first kiss (at a picnic during their first date) and tonight’s hot, hot sex (with condoms). It might have been a while since Greg last had sex (much longer than her but he’s not bothered that she’s gained a lot of experience since they broke up) but he’s not at all rusty in that department (“Someone should give that man’s tongue a prize.”). Tasha can still push him a little past his comfort zone (eating powdered donuts while wearing his favorite argyle sweater) but she’s not sure she wants more. True she feels at home with Greg but she’s tried giving another ex a second chance and it was a disaster. Greg, however, has a plan and he’s got the Wongs backing him up with it.
I’m ready to accept this couple being apart for fifteen years (both moving on and dating) yet discovering and rekindling their relationship over the course of about three days. They did love each other then, separated for realistic reasons (your first love can’t be your last love, right?) but nothing happened between them that was shitty or assholic. They like what they see in each other now including the extra twenty pounds, the bit of gray hair, and the experience in life the other has had. Maybe they needed this time apart to be ready to accept that maybe first love can be forever love. And they’re so darn cute together and fit together so well. I inhaled this remarkably angst free novella and enjoyed it immensely. Give it a chance and discover what happens with
“Ethel!”
“Herbieee!”
And if anyone can give me a hint about Ah Yeh’s famous noodles and how to make them, I’d love it. Geeze, I’m going to weigh two hundred pounds before I get through this series. A-
~Jayne
Right – so if you’re interested in this novella there are three possible ways to buy it. Options, people! The first is solo for $2.99
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The second is by buying all four of the Wong family novellas for $6.99
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Or, behind door number three (if anyone remembers Monty Hall and Let’s Make a Deal) there are three novellas from different series one of which is this one for $4.99
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This sounds like a fun read! Thanks for your review, Jayne.
@Kareni: It’s been a good series so far. I’m dying to know if most Canadians pack this much survival gear in their vehicles in the winter!