Inn at Last Chance

I really liked the beginning of this book, but then it became a

I really liked the beginning of this book, but then it became a different kind of in a sort of sudden fashion, so that through me and took me out of the story. The problem I had is somewhat of a spoiler, but I feel it needs to be mentioned so be forewarned that I am going to write about a slight spoiler, so stop reading now if you do not want that. Ok, so I actually really enjoy Jane Eyre, and at first I wasn't minding some of the references, but then it just became too much and it really took me out of the story. I was so enjoying the mystery and the spooky aspect of the story. I didn't, however, enjoy some of Gabe's actions to deter Jenny, but I was still interested in the story. I liked the romance; what little of it there was, and I liked Gabe and Jenny together; I thought they were sweet and she was good for him. I just really wish the ending wasn't mainly Jane Eyre; it really came out of left field for me. I also wanted Gabe to actually show Jenny he really wanted her; instead of just always giving up; he should have gone after her in the end. With that being said I still enjoyed this book and I like some of the other books in this series, and I sometimes find Ramsay's writing a bit tame, but I still enjoy the stories, so I will continue to read other books by Ramsay.

Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

I received from NetGalley for my opinion on this book. This book

I received from NetGalley for my opinion on this book. This book is both a Romance story and a Ghost Story. I found this book to be interesting as it was more than your normal romance book. I was hooked in with the Ghost Story. I have read a lot of romance books and really enjoyed that it didn't go in the same direction as every other one with the added addition of the ghost story. I didn't know this was a book in a series when I read the book but that was okay because this book can stand alone. I really did enjoy this story and was done reading it in less than 5 hours as i couldn't put it down. I know I keep saying it about the ghost story part of this book but it really did make it so much more interesting with it in there. I have not read a romance book with a ghost story but I really hope I come across more books like this one.

Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is

I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.




I finished this book in mid-July and forgot to write a review quickly for it which means some of the details are pretty fuzzy.  I did enjoy the book.  Jenny and Gabe were great characters and I enjoyed some of the supporting cast as well.  It's a romance book and a pretty standard one.  I liked it and will be looking into books in the rest of the series as I enjoyed Ramsay's writing.  I almost always enjoy a romance series set within a small community.

Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite Inn at Last Chanc

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

Inn at Last Chance was written by author Hope Ramsay and read by Kristin Kalbli. The citizens of Last Chance, SC consider Jenny Carpenter a spinster. Not only have they given up on her ever finding a mate, but so has Jenny. She has turned her attention to creating a bed and breakfast from an old house. Things seem to go awry when former owner, horror writer Gabriel Raintree shows up on her doorstep one dark night in the midst of a thunder storm. He insists not only on staying there, but on purchasing the inn from Jenny. The inn is haunted and the resident ghost is very strong willed. Jenny finds herself attracted to the cantankerous Gabriel. Will Gabriel allow himself to take a chance on love?

Inn at Last Chance is Book 7 in the Last Chance series. This is the first book I have read in the series and I am hooked. How did I ever miss this delightful, humorous romance author? The characters had dimension and were likeable. It was fun watching the romance develop between Gabriel and Jenny. Being a dog lover, of course I fell in love with the dog. There is a secondary budding romance in Inn at Last Chance that adds another dimension to the plot.  Author Hope Ramsey writes romance with a twist; she adds a touch of humor and a smidgen of the supernatural. Put that all together and she has a real winner. Fans of romance won’t want to miss this one.

Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Inn at Last Chance Hope Ramsey Book Summary: Jenny Carpenter

Inn at Last Chance
Hope Ramsey




Book Summary: Jenny Carpenter is the unrivaled pie-baking champion of Last Chance, South Carolina's annual Watermelon Festival and the town's unofficial spinster. With her dream of marriage and children on hold, she focuses on another dream, turning the local haunted house into a charming bed-and-breakfast. But her plans go off course when the home's former owner shows up on her doorstep on a dark and stormy night . . . Mega-bestselling horror writer Gabriel Raintree is as mysterious and tortured as his heroes. His family's long-deserted mansion is just the inspiration he needs to finish his latest twisted tale, or so he thinks until he learns it's been sold. The new innkeeper proves to be as determined as she is kind, and soon Gabriel finds himself a paying guest in his own home. As Jenny and Gabe bring new passion to the old house, can she convince him to leave the ghosts of his past behind-and make Last Chance their first choice for a future together?




Review: I am torn on this book. There were some things I did like and some things I did not like. Jenny and Gabe were as different as night and day. Ms. Ramsey almost succeeded in making Gabe so dour that I did not like the entire fighting and strife that was the first 25% of the book. I almost stopped reading it. I liked parts of the middle when things were moving along with the inn and the dog. I could have done without the ghost. I liked the secondary characters of Zeph, Nita, Sheriff Rhodes, and Maryanne. They helped the book along tremendously. I loved the setting of Last Chance, SC to be fun the description were well written and painted vivid pictures of all the settings. Overall the book was not as much my style of reading that I thought it would be. I do think the author is a talented writer. Her use of words and description were vivid and well done. Her storyline was consistent and well developed. 




I would like to thank Net Galley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.

Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Maybe it was just me I have so many mixed feelings about this b

Maybe it was just me

I have so many mixed feelings about this book. The writing was great and the setting and descriptions were fantastic. But for me to love a book, I have to connect to the characters and I really didn’t do that with these.
The book is about Jenny Carpenter who returns to Last Chance to open up a bed and breakfast in the old Raintree house. The B&B isn’t anywhere near being ready for customers when bestselling novelist Gabe Raintree comes back to Last Chanceto relax and get some writing done on his newest book. Jenny allows him to stay because he practically threatens to barrel his way into the house and even wants to buy it back from her. She should’ve given it to him.

Jenny is a likable enough character but she doesn’t really come off the page. She’s obsessed with her mother’s china, I guess because of her upbringing, she was very worried about wrecking her mother’s stuff or something. But it made her come across as being about ten rather than thirty six. She also constantly refers to herself as a spinster. Unmarried women in their 30s are not spinsters.

Gabe kind of got under my skin with the way he was so mean to Jenny and it was under the guise of “oh he’s hurting” or “he’s just a loner and recluse”. There’s no excuse for the way he treated her. He was mean, abrasive, and cruel. At one point during the book, after Jenny had worked so freaking hard to get the B&B to look nice (she spent a TON of time and money), he makes fun of how the house looks. That’s not a hero.

Also, the book blurb says “They must face the ghosts of their past”. The blurb means literal ghosts, not figurative ones. Again, I was not in for a ghost story and if I had known it contained paranormal stuff, I wouldn’t have accepted it from Netgalley.

The characters in this book are in their thirties so it’s entirely possible that the reason I didn’t connect as well is because they’re over my age range by about a mile. Like I said before, the writing was great and the descriptions were phenomenal. This was my first Hope Ramsay book and I may look into her other ones.

I was given a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

A light easy Southern small town read!

A special thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for providing a complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My first book by Hope Ramsay, as was drawn to the B&B sign (nice cover), as tend to gravitate to this subject, as a marketing consultant, having worked with many bed and breakfast inns across the country, as well as hotels. There is always some sort of action (guests and owners) within the walls of these quaint establishments.

The Inn at Last Chance, SC definitely adds some flavor for the "haunted" and mystery inn lovers at the old Jonquil House, when persistent Gabriel shows up on a rainy stormy night at Jenny's door step, prior to opening her charming inn.

Jenny does not like this annoying interruption to her plans for establishing her new business, and all her well laid plans and preparations for baking, website, gardens, marketing, and all the fun things to do when running a new B&B.

However, mysterious Gabrielle (the former owner's grandson), is a successful mystery thriller writer and best-selling author, in dire need of seclusion (writers's block) and wants to rent a room long term to finish his next twisted book, in order to meet his deadlines, as he feels the old family mansion would provide inspiration.

Jenny is torn, as she does not want this rude and demanding guy intruding on her space; however, the money will be good, as he can afford it.

She allows him to move in and shortly thereafter the ghost and haunting begins (a light version), just to make the novel interesting. There are secrets from Gabrielle's past he has to confront, regarding a tragedy and his brother's death some twenty something years ago. Zeph, another characters- the family handyman was involved with a connection to ghosts and battered animals.

Through all of this drama, somehow Gabrielle and Jenny provide some romance and sparks to this old haunted house, and become close while they figure out the mystery, and learn more about themselves in the process. Jenny has to convince Gabrielle to leave his ghosts behind in order to move forward.

A light easy Southern small town read with quirky characters, some romance, and newfound writer, which I enjoyed. Look forward to reading more from this author, and may go back and pick up the earlier books in the Last Chance series.

Fans of Sherryl Woods, Mariah Stewart, Susan Mallery, Debbie Macomber, and Nora Roberts would enjoy this author and Home Sweet Home.

Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Good

Have enjoyed all of the authors books this is a good read

Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

When Jenny Carpenter hits a crossroads in her life and realizes

When Jenny Carpenter hits a crossroads in her life and realizes marriage is not in the cards, she embraces her spinsterhood, gives up her teaching job, and buys an old run down B&B that she fixes up. As she’s finishing the former owner, Gabriel Raintree arrives. He’s grumpy, unkind, and tries to push his way in the inn and buy it back. Jenny declines quite forcefully but Gabe is a well renowned writer and in return for him giving a speech to help save the local library, Jenny allows him to stay with her. But there’s a ghost haunting this house, Luke Raintree, Gabe’s brother, who died years ago when they were kids who is trying to get everyone’s attention. Gabe knows it has something to do with Luke’s death, the circumstances of which Gabe can’t remember. But when Jenny is victimized by non-ghostly forces and towns people butt into his affairs, Gabe realizes he needs to finally face his secrets head on.

One of the best things about this story is Jenny. She’s strong, practical, and doesn’t let people push her around. I loved when she slammed the door in Gabe’s face at their initial meeting. But she’s also sweet and unsure and a great friend all around. She tries desperately to take care of Gabe while he’s at the inn, as a test and because she wants to. She also fends off her well meaning friends who always think they know best.

I haven’t read any other books in the series but I don’t think that detracted much. The townspeople are written very colorfully and I felt I knew them fairly well with just a few sentences.

Those and Jenny were pluses but there was much that detracted.

Gabe is a mixed bag. He's pushy, grumpy, and an all around pain. He's a mystery writer so I did expect that to a certain extent. He cares about Jenny but is caught up in his writer’s block and his own personal demons. At first he resists the idea of a ghost but when the facts are too many to dispute, he accepts and the ghost, his brother, seems to try and help him. However I could never warm up to Gabe and in the end felt little sympathy for him. He keeps too much secret even to the point it's ridiculous like not telling Jenny he's diabetic though he knows she's trying desperately to bake something he will eat.

I became frustrated with the side story with Zeph and Nina, two very annoying people who get involved in other people’s business, Nina especially who makes decisions for Gabe that are none of her business.

I often wondered what this story wanted to be. A romance? Well that moved so slowly and required the inclusion of Gabe’s oversexed editor and Jenny’s attack to get it to move anywhere. A ghost story? Well Jenny sums it up well that the ghost is a child who needs to get over himself. Besides breaking things and hurting people the story behind it is quite thin and not explained in sufficient detail. Then we have the end where Jenny’s kitchen is vandalized that forces the reveal of Gabe’s big secret which comes out of nowhere and the story takes care of that secret so quickly that I wondered why it was there in the first place. I lost a lot of respect for Gabe for not telling Jenny the secret before they get together. An inspirational story? Well I these characters are far less than inspiring.

It’s certainly not a bad book. As stated, Jenny stole the show. And I liked the idea of the ghost story, I just wish it has been executed better.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.

Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Hope Ramsay rocks her Last Chance Series with book 7!   INN

Hope Ramsay rocks her Last Chance Series with book 7!  




INN at LAST CHANCE has it's usual southern charm and hospitality I enjoy.  Jenny Carpenter the towns local spinster decides to turn a local HAUNTED house into a bed and breakfast; however the resident ghost has something to say. 




Horror writer Gabriel Raintree wants his family's mansion back. Get caught up in passion, laugh, cry, a twist of mystery and love. 

Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

This was my first book by Hope Ramsay. I really liked it a lot a

This was my first book by Hope Ramsay. I really liked it a lot and will be going back to read the other books in the Last Chance series.
Jenny does not like this annoying interruption (Gabrielle) to her plans for her new business.

Gabrielle is the former owner’s grandson and is a successful mystery thriller writer and best-selling author and he is in desperate need of seclusion to see if it will help with the writer’s block that he is currently suffering from. He wants to rent a room long term so that he can work on his writing and he feels the old family mansion would provide the inspiration that he needs, so that means that he may be around for a while.

Jenny is torn because she doesn’t want him intruding on her space; however, she needs the money and he can definitely afford it. So she allows him to move in and that is when the ghost and hauntings begin and it just adds an extra level of interest to the book. Gabrielle has secrets from his past he has to confront, regarding a tragedy and his brother’s death some twenty something years ago.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

With it's quirky characters and crazy goings on Last Chance is n

With it's quirky characters and crazy goings on Last Chance is never a dull place. In this latest installment of the series Jenny is opening an Inn but will the ghost living in her home be ok with that? Gabe Raintree returns to Last Chance for some peace and quiet to finish his latest novel. Dealing with the past may keep that from happening. This is a good read but if you haven't read the prior books in the series I would think it would be confusing.

Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Charming B&B Southern read with a little mystery

My first book by Hope Ramsay, as was drawn to the B&B sign (nice cover), as tend to gravitate to this subject, as a marketing consultant, having worked with many bed and breakfast inns across the country, as well as hotels. There is always some sort of action (guests and owners) within the walls of these quaint establishments.

The Inn at Last Chance, SC definitely adds some flavor for the “haunted” and mystery inn lovers at the old Jonquil House, when persistent Gabriel shows up on Jenny’s door step, prior to opening her charming inn.

Jenny does not like this annoying interruption to her plans for establishing her new business, and all her well laid plans and preparations for baking, website, gardens, marketing, and all the fun things to do when running a new B&B.

However, mysterious Gabrielle (the former owner’s grandson), is a successful mystery thriller writer and best-selling author, in dire need of seclusion (writers’s block) and wants to rent a room long term to finish his next twisted book, in order to meet his deadlines, as he feels the old family mansion would provide inspiration.

Jenny is torn, as she does not want this rude and demanding guy intruding on her space; however, the money will be good, as he can afford it.

She allows him to move in and shortly thereafter the ghost and haunting begins (a light version), just to make the novel interesting. There are secrets from Gabrielle’s past he has to confront, regarding a tragedy and his brother’s death some twenty something years ago. Zeph, another characters- the family handyman was involved with a connection to ghosts and battered animals.

Through all of this drama, somehow Gabrielle and Jenny provide some romance and sparks to this old haunted house, and become close while they figure out the mystery, and learn more about themselves in the process. Jenny has to convince Gabrielle to leave his ghosts behind in order to move forward.

A light easy Southern small town read with quirky characters, some romance, and newfound writer, which I enjoyed. Look forward to reading more from this author, and may go back and pick up the earlier books in the Last Chance series.

Fans of Sherryl Woods, Mariah Stewart, Susan Mallery, Debbie Macomber, and Nora Roberts would enjoy this author and Home Sweet Home.

A special thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for providing a complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

No text was provided for this review.