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    A Chance at Forever
    A Chance at Forever
    A Chance at Forever
    Audiobook12 hours

    A Chance at Forever

    Written by Melissa Jagears

    Narrated by Stephanie Cozart

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Mercy McClain joined the school board to protect the children of Teaville, Kansas, from the bullying she experienced as a child. When the worst offender from her school days applies for a teaching position, she is dead set against it. Yet Aaron Firebrook claims to be a changed man. Can he earn Mercy's trust--and her support for the challenges to come? In early 1900s Kansas, Mercy McClain, determined to protect Teaville's children from the bullying she experienced as a child, finds fulfillment working at the local orphanage and serving on the school board. When Aaron Firebrook, the classmate who bothered her more than any other, petitions the board for a teaching position, she's dead set against him getting the job. Aaron knows he deserves every bit of Mercy's mistrust, but he's returned to his hometown a changed man and is seeking to earn forgiveness of those he wronged. He doesn't expect Mercy to like him, but surely he can prove he now has the best interests of the children at heart. Will resentment and old wounds hold them back, or can Mercy and Aaron put the past behind them in time to face the unexpected threats to everything they're working for?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateMar 6, 2018
    ISBN9781501965937
    A Chance at Forever
    Author

    Melissa Jagears

    Melissa Jagears is a homeschooling mom who writes Christian historical romance into the wee hours of the night. She’s a Carol Award-winning author and has written the Unexpected Brides series, the Teaville Moral Society series, and Love by the Letter. For more information, visit www.melissajagears.com.

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    Reviews for A Chance at Forever

    4/5

    17 ratings6 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Title: A Chance at Forever (Teaville Moral Society #3)Author: Melissa JagearsPages: 352Year: 2018Publisher: Bethany HouseMy rating is 5 out of 5 stars.George Firebrook has returned to Teaville after leaving about six years ago. He has returned to make amends for his past behavior to many of the children he bullied as a child himself. He has a list of those he bullied and has written to some, asking for forgiveness and what he might do as reparation. He hasn’t gotten very many answers. Since he plans to stay in Teaville, he needs a job. He is a math teacher and there is an opening at the local school for such. He applies for the job and must be interviewed by the school board. He enters the room only to find himself facing one of the children he taunted most, Mercy McClain. He knows his chances of getting the job are now over, but he apologizes to Mercy anyway. He is a changed man and has given his life to the Lord. Mercy glares at him, promising him he will not get the job. He knows he deserves her anger, but he longs to make things right. Since he thinks he won’t be getting the teaching job, he finds a job as a tutor and gardener at the local orphanage only to discover this is also where Mercy works and lives. He is also tasked with handling a 13-year-old orphan who is as rebellious as they come. In addition, he plans to adopt one of the younger orphans. His life is active, but he longs for Mercy’s forgiveness and love.Mercy McClain can’t believe George Firebrook, who now goes by Aaron Firebrook, has the nerve to return to Teaville. He apologizes to her for his past behavior several times. She is concerned about his interaction with the orphan children. She doesn’t want his bullying ways to rub off on any of the children. She watches him like a hawk, hoping to catch him up to his old bullying ways. She is disappointed in that endeavor as Aaron works hard and has a good influence on the children. Mercy is trying to forgive him, but it is hard to overcome the hurts of the past. She finds Aaron attractive, but doesn’t want to. How can she have feelings for someone who treated her so cruelly? What is wrong with her? She knows God has a plan for her, but does it include Aaron?This was a great story of forgiveness, learning you can’t earn forgiveness and love, as well as God’s provision when things look bleak. The two main characters were written as to be easily identified with by readers, whether the bully or the one being bullied, and the emotions engendered by such experiences. Most of us have either experienced that or known about it happening. The completely astounding change in Aaron could only be brought about by God, and it was so neat to read of Aaron’s sincerity and concern for other now. This is one not to miss! I thought this was the best book of the series and hope to read more of this author’s works in the future.
    • 2/5
      I really tried to like this book, and to be fair it was good at the first third of the story. I was hoping the plot would pick up, and there would be more development throughout, but it just wasn’t there. Which is unfortunate because although this type of plot has been done in so many countless novels, it still had the potential to be good. There wasn’t much to the characters in the book although Mercy seemed to have been the only interesting one and the only one with personality. The chemistry with Aaron and Mercy isn’t that great and as you progress throughout the novel it’s always back and forth with them. You feel like you’re watching a never ending tennis match between these two where they’re not doing anything to gain advantage in the game. And well, to be frank it’s pretty dry. Aaron seemed like an all right character to read about, a guy out for redemption and feels bad for his past treatment of a lot of people (he was the town bully so to speak) and although it was nice to see part of his development and him trying to redeem himself it didn’t quite work out as I had hoped, he ended up being mopey, weepy but to the point where you have to wonder if he’s suddenly become emo. True, he’s had some pretty awful things done to him in the past but his constant mood changes from feeling good about changing, to moping on past regrets got old pretty fast, and this contributed more to the never ending tennis match I mentioned in the previous paragraph. The secondary characters surrounding our main ones have each their own issues and problems and although Jimmy’s story was a good one, it just wasn’t enough to give this book justice. The plot was slow moving and dry with minor events happening in which it doesn’t make much of a difference to the story. Sad to say this book just didn’t quite cut it for me.
    • 4/5
      Can a person really change? What are morals? Those are some of the interesting thoughts that I had while reading this book. There are examples of cause and effect. Someone who is abused can become a bully. This book is about choices, the choice to change or live a life of unhappiness.Mercy is an amazing character. She illustrated compassion throughout the book, but knows where the boundaries are. You cannot remain compassionate and let people use you. That is her dilemma in this story. Is she being swayed unfairly because of her compassionate nature? In spite of it all, she is positive, trusts, and is someone you would want on your side.Aaron comes from a complex past. He is a contrast between being in control or being controlling. I loved that he was trying to give restitution for his mistakes. It takes a man of integrity and character to make things right, or at least try to.I mentioned morals in the first paragraph, because there are characters who give the impression of having high morals, but their characters reveal that they are only moral as long as it is of benefit to them, or just pretend to have morals. This book gave me a lot to think about. What philosophies do we speak, and what do we really believe?I should also mention that this is a fun book to read, besides thought provoking. The characters are well written, the pacing is great, and there is always some dilemma that needs to be taken care of.It is clean with kissing. There is mention of prostitution and non-graphic violence. The book contains Christian themes.Source: I requested a copy from Netgalley to read. Thanks to Bethany House for approving my request. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
    • 5/5
      Mercy grew up in Teaville and suffered a lot of bullying because of her missing hand. But the worst bully of all was a boy named George. Mercy is now an adult and serving on the local school board when a teacher, named Aaron, applies for a position. She recognizes him as her childhood bully. Aaron claims to have changed, but Mercy is going to have to see evidence to believe him. When Aaron takes a summer job with her employer she's given the opportunity to observe him up close and isn't conflicted on what she sees.This was my favorite by this author. I've enjoyed all of her books, but for some reason this one really spoke to me. The author did a great job of creating the tension and drama that the characters needed to develop. The two main characters, while flawed, were relate-able and engaging. And I fell in love with a couple of the orphans that were part of the story. There were a couple of sensitive topics that the author handled really well and the beauty of forgiveness and the ability to change by God's grace was so sweet and inspiring. The relationship between the several of characters was wholesome and romantic. Really enjoyed this story and can't wait to read the author's next book.I received a copy of this book. All thoughts expressed are my own.
    • 4/5
      We are in the early 1900’s in Kansas and the author puts faces on bullies, and by doing so we try to understand how someone does what he does. We also see how these bullies respond when God is finally in their lives, and watch transformations, and keep reading as you will be shocked!This book touches on some tough subjects, alcoholism, prostitution, bullying, and those that judge and don’t live their faith, but wait there are others that seem to be willing to share all that they have to help those less fortunate.I love that one of the main characters has been born with a disability, and you really never notice it throughout the story. The other main character was abused as a child and took out his frustration and feelings on others, why should they be happy if he wasn’t.With this complex cast of characters, we are soon caught up in this small town and the drama of one person feeling they are superior to another because of where they are born, and where they were made to live.I really love the way these people touch the lives of the misfortunate, and in the end, make their own lives better, a don’t miss read!I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.
    • 5/5
      I loved this story. It was interesting to show a disabled woman from the early 1900’s in a book. Both Mercy and Aaron must learn to show forgiveness in themselves and others. I laughed and cried throughout. I would have had a hard time working for an orphanage during this time period. I love how this story comes together. I received a copy of this book from the author and from Bethany House for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.