Wes and Addie Had Their Chance by Bethany Turner is a second-chance romance between Addie Atwater-Elwyn, a former CIA analyst, and Wes Hobbes, senator and possible presidential candidate.

Sad to say, I just couldn’t get into this book. I’m all for a second-chance romance, but this one left me feeling a little “meh”. And honestly, I found the story depressing for more than one reason. Yes, there was an HEA, but at the reader’s expense.

Addie has suffered three major heartbreaks in her life: the death of her mother, the death of her husband, and being left at the altar at age 18. It has been two years since she was widowed, and everyone walks around her on eggshells, looking at her with what she interprets as pity.

Enter, Wes, the former runaway groom, again running away, but this time from a political career he is not sure he wants to continue. He returns to his hometown to immediately run into his ex-fiancée and finds that he isn’t welcome there anymore after everyone sided with Addie when he left.

What ensues is three days of them reconnecting and coming to terms with what has happened in their lives and what is still happening. I don’t want to spoil some of the revelations in these interactions, but with two people who have lost both a beloved parent and a significant partner, well, the conversations are heartfelt yet very sad.

I found Addie’s character likeable as well as some of the side characters. I also enjoyed the fact that this was about a couple in their 40s (gasp, not old people!), but that was about all. Wes’ character felt too over the top. With a presidential bid and his marriage of convenience as part of his background, I just couldn’t like him. Their reunion felt rushed, especially after so many years of resentment that had built up between them and also between Wes and the town itself. In the end, this wasn’t quite the emotional payoff I’d hoped for.

If you’re looking for a bittersweet story of love, loss, and second chances, you might still find something to connect with here, but be prepared for more sadness than swoon.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. Many thanks to the publisher Thomas Nelson Fiction, the author, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.