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  • Second Chance

  • By: Jay Northcote
  • Narrated by: Hamish Long
  • Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (24 ratings)

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Second Chance

By: Jay Northcote
Narrated by: Hamish Long
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Summary

Everyone deserves a second chance.

Nate and his teenage daughter need a fresh start, so they move back to the village where he grew up. Nate’s transgender and not used to disclosing his history, so it’s hard living where people knew him before.

When Nate reconnects with Jack - his best friend from school and unrequited crush - his feelings return as strong as ever.

Jack’s returned home to get his life in order after an addiction to alcohol caused him to lose everything: his job, his driver’s licence, and nearly his life.

He’s living with his parents, which is less than ideal, but rekindling his friendship with Nate - or Nat as Jack once knew him - is an unexpected benefit of being back home. Jack is amazed by Nate’s transformation, and can’t deny his attraction. Trying for more than friendship might ruin what they already have, but the chemistry between them is undeniable.

Doubting his feelings are reciprocated, Nate fears he’s risking heartbreak. Jack’s reluctance to tell his parents about their relationship only reinforces Nate’s misgivings. With both their hearts on the line and their happiness at stake, Jack needs to make things right, and Nate has to be prepared to give him a second chance.

This story is a stand-alone and has a satisfying, happy ending.

©2018 Jay Northcote (P)2020 Jay Northcote
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: LGBTQ+
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What listeners say about Second Chance

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  • Overall
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Beautiful love story

I always enjoy Jay Northcote stories. They give me the warm fuzzies without too much angst. Sometimes pleasant and easy-going is best. That being said, this book is layered and textured in just the right way.

Nate is living a simple life. He lives at home with his mother and his daughter. Although his daughter has struggled in the past, it seems moving to the idyllic countryside has soothed her, and she’s settled in nicely. Nate might not be overly enthusiastic about living at home, but he’s carved out a nice life for himself and those he loves.

He’s especially grateful that he’s been able to leave behind Nat. See, Nate used to be a woman. After years of not feeling comfortable in his own skin, he saw a documentary about transgender people and it changed his life. Suddenly he understood. Suddenly things were much clearer. Choosing to transition at any age is a huge and brave decision. Nate was forty when he made the choice and now, five years later, he has no regrets. He recognizes himself in the mirror – be it the flat chest or the hair that now grows freely. His voice has deepened, and he’s usually perceived as a man. His daughter and mother have certainly embraced the transition and that’s important because family support means everything.

Jack is also back to living in the small town he grew up in. But he’s not loving the bucolic life. He sees the same circumstances that hemmed him in as a teenager. He’d escaped as soon as possible and planned to never return. When his life went tits-up in Manchester, though, he’s forced to return to his parents’ home. A little battered. A little bruised. A little broken.

When he first spots Nate, he doesn’t recognize the man. Of course he wouldn’t associate the handsome man with his best friend Nat. He and Nat spent most of their childhood together, as close of confidantes as ever there were. Jack is intrigued by Nate, but it’s only a chance encounter that leads him to see that Nat is now Nate. Ever respectful, especially as a gay man himself, Jack immediately uses the right pronouns and works hard to perceive Nate as he is now, not how he used to be.

There’s a problem (isn’t there always – it’s the hallmark of every good romance, after all). Nate has loved Jack for their entire relationship and those feelings haven’t abated. As teenagers the love had been impossible – Jack was gay and Nate was a girl. Now, of course, things are very different. Jack is still gay but Nate is a gay trans man. A man Jack finds himself attracted to. But there’s too much history, right? Too much friendship to risk on a love affair that could go wrong. However, friends with benefits works. Or so the two tell themselves. Of course in the end they realize there’s more to the relationship. There are obstacles. Jack fears his parents’ disapproval and Nate has his daughter and mother to worry about. There is still plenty of stigma around being gay, let alone being trans. So where does that leave them?

Hopefully with a happily ever after, right? I mean, this IS a Jay Northcote romance. Had to have a dark moment, though.

I’ve always enjoyed Mr. Northcote’s writing, but this book had an extra layer of depth. Mr. Northcote has been open about his own transition and this book felt very personal. There were plenty of gentle lessons to those of us who are curious but uninitiated. After all, the internet probably has as much false information as correct stuff. In this book, I knew I was getting the real truth and that meant a lot. I’m a firm believer in reading own voices whenever possible.

Hamish Long narrated this beautiful story and I think he did a laudable job. I always enjoy his narrations and this book is one I can highly recommend.

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I loved this so much!

I really enjoyed reading Second Chance two years ago and gave it 4-stars. As often happens for me, if the narrator is good, experiencing the book a second time as an audio will raise my rating and that's exactly what happened with Second Chance.

Hamish Long has performed several audiobooks for Jay Northcote over the last 6 months or so and I've listened to all of them. I really love his voice; it's soothing and the different characters voices he does really bring Jay's books to life. He has quickly become one of my favorite British audiobook performers.

Below is a copy of my original review from when I read Second Chance back in May 2018.

Educational and romantic - great story.

This is the first book I've read with a female-to-male (FTM) transgender character. Anyone who follows Jay Northcote knows that he is transgender. While I understand this story isn't autobiographical, I have to think that some of the more descriptive prose must come from first-hand knowledge; it just feels really authentic.

Putting aside the fact that this is a story about a transgender character, it's simply a great second chance story. While the two lead characters weren't really romantically involved when they were younger, they were best friends and Nate, before his transition, had a crush on Jack that Jack never knew about.

In addition to being a great story that uses one of my favorite romance tropes, I also found the details about being a transgender man very informative and educational. There are a lot of things that I just never gave a lot of thought to and I'm glad that Jay didn't skimp on the details.

I also learn a lot of British terms by reading books from Jay Northcote; I enjoy that they aren't set in the U.S. and that my vocabulary is always enriched reading his stories. 😊

I almost forgot to say how much I enjoyed the fact that Second Chance is a story with MCs in their mid-forties. Don't pass this one up folks.

A copy of this audiobook was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author or narrator.

***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com*** (Posting on 17 May 2020.)

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Love Is love...

The book is amazing! It is romantic, sweet, easy to read, low angst and very, very interesting. The transgender's topic is managed in a very knowledgeable and respectful way. If you added to the mix a narration in a smooth acting voice, that helped to bring to life the feelings of the characters you got this wonderful book.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

sweet romance

This is a very well written tale, and also a very intimate story. It's obvious that it was written from the author's heart. The way the MCs reconnect, after years apart, seemed very organic and came across as meant to be. Their respect for one another was clear, as was their affection.

The telling is gentle, containing no unnecessary drama or angst. It also read very realistically, any misgivings Nate and Jack had about their relationship were authentic, in fact the whole story just felt very real and personal. Hamish Long narrated the book beautifully, he speaks both with emotion, and gives the impression that he totally sympathises with the protagonists, with both their joys and concerns.

The epilogue, when it came, was just perfect, it's a glance into the future of Nate and Mac, a lovely HEA which to left me with a big smile. Highly recommended.

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Wonderful Second Chance Love 💕

Firstly, it’s so fantastic to read about guys in my age bracket falling in love, most writers think we’re dead by now! Bravo Jay!

This was a great tale about a getting your second chance with your first crush and was beautifully written. Both characters were fully developed and I was captivated from the start. Nate and Jack had both struggled in their lives, I liked the fact that this book didn’t gloss over that fact. The guys deserved their happily ever after and I ended this listen with a smile on my face.

Hamish Long is a lovely narrator, I’ll definitely be looking him up to see who else he narrates for. A well recommended Listen.

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EXCELLENT

I LOVED this story. narration by Hamish was amazing as usual and the story, perfection. an uplifting struggle. just, so excellent

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Great story about a trans relationship

Jay Northcote does it again with yet another great book. A trans relationship that spans decades, the turbulent times with relationships.
Very well done, with enough angst, love and thankfully an HEA.

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Brilliant story well narrated

I really enjoyed this book and thought the narrator did a great job on telling the story without ever taking me out of the setting which isn’t always the case with audiobooks.

The story itself kept me listening and wanting to know what happened next. I was willing a happy ending pretty much from the start.

As ever, a great story well written by Jay Northcote.

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A refreshing listen

The narrator, Hamish Long, has fast become a favourite of mine. His crisp tones slip easily into a West Country burr as he brings each character to life. I listen as I work and become so comfortable with his narration that I forget that I am wearing headphones, not always possible with my hearing impairment.

I read Second Chance when it first came out and it was a joy to revisit. I love how this author writes about the little things that then come together to make up the bigger picture. The descriptions are so true to life. Examples include the rice boiling over and leaving a starchy stain on the hob, or Jack's mother overeating and having a cup of peppermint tea to try to avoid indigestion. I have done both of these on numerous occasions, so the story immediately becomes more personal.

Neither Nate or Jack are perfect, nor do they pretend to be. Their journey from friends to lovers is told with refreshing honesty and educates without being preachy. 5 stars all round.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully written,expertly narrated story💕

I absolutely loved this book!
Beautifully written,expertly narrated, second chance romance.
Hamish Long has the kind of voice that I can listen to all day.
Nate and his teenage daughter move back to the village where Nate grew up,for a fresh start. Being transgender and being in a village where everyone knew him as Nat is very hard.
Meeting Jack,his best friend from school and unrequited love,reignites all of Nate's feelings.

Jack has returned home too. He needs to straighten himself out after a breakdown and subsequent alcohol addiction,cost him everything and nearly his life too.
Meeting Nate,Jack,at first,doesn't recognise him,but,a chance second meeting,reveals to him,who Nate is.
Amazed by Nate's transformation,Jack can't deny his attraction.

Rekindling their friendship leads to benefits they both enjoy,but,will it lead to more?
This is a beautiful story,gentle,sweet,steamy,informative and I highly recommend you dive in to find out if Jack and Nate get their happy ending💕

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