History professor, Rhiannon Thorson, flees her life in Milwaukee to pursue research in Southern Wales and get a new start in life. Ramsey Macleod, international rock star, is burned out from life in the fast lane and is looking for a new lease on life. When they meet in a small village in Glamorgan, sparks fly, music is made, and they may get a second chance at love, life and happiness. WHY I WROTE SECOND CHANCES Second Chances was born from three forces that melded together in my life at the time. The first was a desire to spend more time with my family. In particular, I wanted to be more available for my children. I wanted to chaperone their field trips and just be present when they got home. I was working as a lawyer who represented children in family and abuse and neglect cases. I did other legal work as well, but the majority of it was child focused. At times I felt as if I was caring more about other people’s children than my own, (guilt thy name is mother) so I decided to do something that would change my life. I started writing stories. The second force was I fell in love with a voice on the radio. It was some voice. I’m smiling and sighing as I feel the voice wash over me in my head. I heard that voice, loved that song, and made up a character to go with it. Shazam! Ramsey Macleod was born. Now I had to pair him with someone who wouldn’t normally travel in his circle or appear on his radar. Rhia wanted to change her life and expand what she considered her career ~ just like me ~ but she needed to be her own marvelous person. The third force that kept circling in my life was the relationship between older women and younger men. I was close friends with two men at the time who had chosen older women as life-mates. In one instance the age difference was fifteen years and in the other, twelve years. Both men wanted children, but one would have been fine with or without them. I will never forget his plain statement that still warms my heart; he said, and I’m paraphrasing, If I marry someone my age or younger, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we will be able to have children of our own. I love her and I’m going to make a family with her. Still gets me. What a man he was then. What a wonderful husband, father and friend he is now. He needed a mate equally wonderful and he found her. So there I had it: younger man, older woman, child issues, ex-issues, and just to add some more to the mix, child sexual orientation issues and coming out stress. Ram and Rhia are not my friends with new names. They are products of my imagination. I picked some of the best and some of the worst traits from my world as it was then and mixed it all up into a story that I wanted to live in for a while. I chose Wales ~ specifically Pontrhydyfen ~ as a setting because I love Ponty and my Welsh family. I also love Welsh myth and the very real magic that comes from visiting such a lyrical place. My life is different now. I do spend more time with my children, my husband, and with my characters. Many days I can also show up to work in my pajamas, which is a huge change. One thing that will never change is the love of place I feel for Scotland, Wales and England. That love lives within me always and will continue to color my stories. I love Ram and Rhia and hope you enjoyed sharing their story. If you did, or even if you didn’t, I’d love to read your review. Until next time, my friend, happy reading! Leigh Morgan