Land of Last Chances (She Writes Press) by Joan Cohen may be a novel, but it’s about real-life situations. Drawing from some of her own personal and professional experiences, Ms. Cohen crafts a complex and fast-paced story that forces us to examine our own values and beliefs.
While the reader journeys into the mind of forty-eight-year-old, single, marketing executive Jeanne Bridgeton and sees her world view unravel, our own philosophy and principles are challenged with each turn of the page.
What if we discovered family secrets that could directly impact our present as well as our future health and well-being? What if our work environment and career weren’t as secure as we thought? What if the people we counted on had secrets of their own? What if every aspect of our life exploded in a nanosecond?
What would we do…if…?
Further, this is a story of discovery. Both literally and figuratively. After discovering she’s pregnant, Jeanne unpacks a box her late mother had left behind. Symbolically, the carton becomes her own Pandora’s box, leading her to fear her life and that of her unborn child may be in danger.
With each unforeseen turn of events, Jeanne constructs a risk/benefit analysis, attempting to make the absolute right decisions. Though she’d like to, Jeanne cannot control everything. She learns that sometimes life throws us more than one curve ball at a time. When that happens the best decision could be a mac and cheese casserole.
Though Ms. Cohen sprinkles light-hearted moments and colorful secondary characters, she tackles the agony and impact Alzheimer’s has on its victims and their descendants with compassionate consideration. Land of Last Chances is always relevant, often poignant, and sometimes heartbreaking. Did I mention the golden retriever?
Because this story deals with real life issues, it’ll surely linger longer than most novels do, as we instinctively put ourselves in Jeanne Bridgeton’s place. I keep asking myself: What if she didn’t open the box?
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Emotional!
s an interesting story about a woman named Jeanne Bridgeton. She is in her late 40s and is married to her job. She thought she was going through menopause but it turns out she is pregnant. She also doesn't know who the father is. When it comes to work, she is always sure of what to do, but not when it comes to her personal life. She debates on having the baby after she discovers she may have the Alzheimer's gene. She doesn't want to bring a baby into the world when she may not remember who she is in a few years. While navigating this aspect of her life, she is also trying to navigate issues at work. The CEO of her company is dealing with PTSD after serving in Afghanistan. This book goes through the intense journey that will lead her to make life-altering decisions.There is so much happening in the story. It is almost hard to believe that all this can happen to one person. I really enjoyed the main storyline of Jeanne trying to figure out if she should risk having the baby. I felt that she is trying to think of what is best for the baby. For those who are pro-life, this may not be the book for you. Even though, I think there is something everyone can learn from reading about different experiences. I feel that the author really grasped Jeanne's anxiety and conflicting thoughts. I also appreciated that the author talks about issues like PTSD, and how it can affect someone and those they love around them. There is also a friend who struggles with diabetes. I have actually never read a story about someone who struggles with diabetes before and it is very eye-opening. It really captured the seriousness of the disease.However, the only character I liked is the dog. Yes, there is a dog in this story. Yes, you should have tissues. While I appreciated the issues surrounding the characters, they were all selfish. They only thought of themselves. There wasn't one character who I felt was likable. They all overreact. Every conversation seems to end in an argument and it became quite tedious.This book a women's fiction book and does discuss many important topics, but it is not a page-turner. If you are looking for something that is a little more fast-paced, then this book is not for you. The pacing is quite slow. So overall, I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I appreciate the issues discussed. It just seems like so much put into one story. But there is also so much emotion. Readers will definitely need tissues for this book!Thank you JKS Communications for a copy of this book!
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2019
Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2019
s an interesting story about a woman named Jeanne Bridgeton. She is in her late 40s and is married to her job. She thought she was going through menopause but it turns out she is pregnant. She also doesn't know who the father is. When it comes to work, she is always sure of what to do, but not when it comes to her personal life. She debates on having the baby after she discovers she may have the Alzheimer's gene. She doesn't want to bring a baby into the world when she may not remember who she is in a few years. While navigating this aspect of her life, she is also trying to navigate issues at work. The CEO of her company is dealing with PTSD after serving in Afghanistan. This book goes through the intense journey that will lead her to make life-altering decisions.
There is so much happening in the story. It is almost hard to believe that all this can happen to one person. I really enjoyed the main storyline of Jeanne trying to figure out if she should risk having the baby. I felt that she is trying to think of what is best for the baby. For those who are pro-life, this may not be the book for you. Even though, I think there is something everyone can learn from reading about different experiences. I feel that the author really grasped Jeanne's anxiety and conflicting thoughts. I also appreciated that the author talks about issues like PTSD, and how it can affect someone and those they love around them. There is also a friend who struggles with diabetes. I have actually never read a story about someone who struggles with diabetes before and it is very eye-opening. It really captured the seriousness of the disease.
However, the only character I liked is the dog. Yes, there is a dog in this story. Yes, you should have tissues. While I appreciated the issues surrounding the characters, they were all selfish. They only thought of themselves. There wasn't one character who I felt was likable. They all overreact. Every conversation seems to end in an argument and it became quite tedious.
This book a women's fiction book and does discuss many important topics, but it is not a page-turner. If you are looking for something that is a little more fast-paced, then this book is not for you. The pacing is quite slow. So overall, I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I appreciate the issues discussed. It just seems like so much put into one story. But there is also so much emotion. Readers will definitely need tissues for this book!
Thank you JKS Communications for a copy of this book!
There is so much happening in the story. It is almost hard to believe that all this can happen to one person. I really enjoyed the main storyline of Jeanne trying to figure out if she should risk having the baby. I felt that she is trying to think of what is best for the baby. For those who are pro-life, this may not be the book for you. Even though, I think there is something everyone can learn from reading about different experiences. I feel that the author really grasped Jeanne's anxiety and conflicting thoughts. I also appreciated that the author talks about issues like PTSD, and how it can affect someone and those they love around them. There is also a friend who struggles with diabetes. I have actually never read a story about someone who struggles with diabetes before and it is very eye-opening. It really captured the seriousness of the disease.
However, the only character I liked is the dog. Yes, there is a dog in this story. Yes, you should have tissues. While I appreciated the issues surrounding the characters, they were all selfish. They only thought of themselves. There wasn't one character who I felt was likable. They all overreact. Every conversation seems to end in an argument and it became quite tedious.
This book a women's fiction book and does discuss many important topics, but it is not a page-turner. If you are looking for something that is a little more fast-paced, then this book is not for you. The pacing is quite slow. So overall, I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I appreciate the issues discussed. It just seems like so much put into one story. But there is also so much emotion. Readers will definitely need tissues for this book!
Thank you JKS Communications for a copy of this book!
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Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2020
Top reviews from other countries
Catherine Bookworm
Accurate description of a late-in-life pregnancy
Reviewed in Canada on November 16, 2020