Second Chances by Rita Oberlies
Release Date: May 15th, 2012
Will the past keep them apart…
High-powered attorney Luke Braden knows that perfection only comes once in a lifetime, and for him it came and went in the form of his college girlfriend, Brenna Morgan. Circumstances beyond his control separated them before, but now that she’s back in Boston, Luke won’t let her slip away again.
…or give them a second chance at love?
For Brenna Morgan, returning home is the very last thing she wants, especially when it means facing the man who once became her salvation—and then dumped her at the first sign of trouble. But Luke is determined to make up for his past mistakes, and Brenna finds herself weakening against him. A decade of deceit lies between them, and he’ll have to fight if he wants to keep his second chance at love.
1) What inspired you to write “Second Chances”?’
I have a mild obsession with second chance romances. They are sort of my ‘go to’ theme. This story first popped into my head when I was reading my college alumnae magazine. I saw an update on a couple that I had known years ago. They had an on-again, off-again relationship back then but wound up getting married.
2) How long did it take to write?
The original story probably took about four months. I ended up scrapping the whole thing because I decided to go in a completely different direction with the core conflict. That was the first time I’ve ever done that with a book. My next attempt took even longer – maybe six months before I felt it was ready for submission.
3) Who was your favourite character to write?
I think I enjoyed writing Luke most of all. In my mind he was a perfect mix of alpha and beta hero. Brenna was more difficult because she came from a dysfunctional family and while I wanted her to be a sympathetic character, I also wanted her to be strong and independent.
4) Are the characters based on anyone in real life?
No. I’ve never actually written a character based on a real person. I think that might inhibit my ability to flesh them out in my head. To be honest I’m more apt to pick up a kernel of a storyline idea from a headline in the paper or a two second scene from a television show.
5) What’s your favourite quote from the book?
That is a wicked tough question. Reading my own work puts a knot in my stomach. Maybe this exchange because it shows Luke’s vulnerability:
“I’m not kicking you out,” she said, shrugging her arms into her discarded shirt.
“Sure you are.” He brushed his index finger across her lower lip to stop her from responding. “And if that hurts my feelings...well, that’s my problem.”
“I don’t regret having sex with you.”
He lowered his head, breaking eye contact with her. “Fair enough. And I don’t regret making love with you tonight.”
6) What are your thoughts on the book cover?
Book covers are tricky because it’s almost impossible for the artist to recreate what was in your head. I won’t lie – it’s easier to be disappointed than it is to be happy. Second Chances is the first cover I’ve had that I’ve genuinely loved without reservation. In my mind it fit the mood of the story and captured the image I had of both Brenna and Luke.
7) What are you working on now?
I am desperately trying to wrap up a sports themed story that I’ve been tweaking for the past month. As soon as I reached the final chapter I realized I wanted to rewrite an important secondary character. For better or worse it’s having a huge impact on the plot, which means some major revisions.
Fun questions:
Favourite Season?
Spring. I love the promise of summer even more than I like the actual season.
Favourite Ice-cream flavour?
Watermelon Sherbet
Favourite Movie?
Say Anything
Favourite Song?
“I’ll Stand By You” from the Pretenders
Favourite Outdoor Activity?
Visiting the zoo. I’ve had a membership for the past eight years because my husband and I take our boys there all the time.
Favourite Food?
Chicken Fajita Wraps from Applebees
Favourite Drink?
Diet Dr. Pepper
Thank you for joining us Rita and good luck with the book.
About the Author: Rita Oberlies grew up in the Boston area, the youngest in a family of six children. At an early age she developed an addiction to books, baseball and the beaches of Cape Cod.
After graduating from Villanova University with a degree in English, Rita spent almost a decade pursuing a professional career in Employee Development. With the arrival of two children, Rita began writing stories during those brief periods of time when her young sons were sleeping.
Today Rita resides in Western New York with her husband, their young boys, and a pair of adopted shelter dogs. Despite her best efforts, she remains addicted to books, baseball and the beaches of Cape Cod. Her novel, Second Chances, is her third published book.
