REVIEW: Second Chances

I found myself reading Second Chances in a period in which I had precious little time to devote to reading… and after the first few pages I was so hooked that I started carving out every possible moment to go on reading… during meals and even in the bathtub, something I never do for fear of damaging the reader!

Today, I finished the book, and I must confess I did not read the incipit for the following book, Threads that Bind, because I want to be surprised and enchanted again by the dexterity with which Dannye Williamsen manages to bind the reader, both with the plot and with her fluent, rich style, full of beautiful descriptions so well calibrated that they become precious ornaments to the story without suffocating it.

Another gift this book has to offer is the underlying philosophy of the eternal struggle between good and evil, faced here from a new, original perspective, that of two twins, parted at birth and forced by life along totally different paths. Is evil something we are born with? And is there something good even in the most evil person? These are some of the questions Dannye Williamsen addresses in her book, and while she gives, of course, her own answer to them, Second Chances offers the reader the possibility of lingering and pondering on the mystery of ying and yang, present in each of us, but that we often tend to ignore.

Add to all this a plot that verges on horror in a very new way, which reminded me of Dan Simmons’ Carrion Comfort (for Darian has something in common with the “mind vampires” we find there, even if he uses his power in a very self-centered and distorted way) and you have the recipe for the perfect book to keep you company in a long and cold January evening!

A five star book, no doubt!

Review by Annarita Guarnieri http://annaritaguarnieri.blogspot.com
January 9, 2012

REVIEW: The Yin and Yang of Terror!

Dannye Williamsen presents a classic and terrifying battle between good and evil in Second Chances. Fredrika thinks she is losing her mind as unexplained happenings begin to pile up around her. Darian can't explain why Fredrika is so compelling to him. As the mystery and terror grow and grow, Fredrika and Darian identify and then confront the yin and yang of good and evil. The adversaries learn that every heart holds both good and evil, and none of us are willing to destroy any piece of our own heart. Will Fredrika survive her challenges? Will Darian devolve into pure evil? You'll have to read to the very end to find out. And after turning that last page you'll be reaching for the first page of the sequel, The Threads That Bind.

Review by JT Kalnay, Author of The Pattern and Mina's Eyes
October 13, 2011

REVIEW: An Enthralling Read!

Second Chances is what I would term a paranormal suspense with a touch of romance. This is a genre that is new to me; at least since I read Anne Rice’s vampire series years ago. But I’m not comparing the two as there are no vampires in this story.

Second Chances is a story of good versus evil. What comes to the fore, however, are the qualities of forgiveness and love.

In this story, the two main characters take totally different paths in life—one goes down the road of good; the other becomes evil. Now most of us would take the stance that the evil one “gets what he deserves”, but in this story we see that love is ever expanding and that not only can it overcome evil, but it can actually transform evil into something that is pure love. In the end, what I took away from this riveting story is that there really is no evil in the universe—there is only love. We all travel down paths of our own making; some of these paths might be good while others might be negative or evil, but in the end there is no condition (whether physical or spiritual) that cannot be transformed by love.

This wonderful story comes with a strong message that while subtle, cannot be dismissed. The story holds the reader spellbound with its tale of paranormal events, evil deeds, suspense, friendship and romance. At the end of the day, however, the message comes through loud and clear. Everything is love; everything can be transformed by love.

I said I wasn’t going to compare this to Anne Rice’s vampire books because this book is not about vampires, but I will say that in Rice’s stories while the reader was held in enthralled suspense about what would happen next, evil usually won the day. In Second Chances, Dannye Williamsen doesn’t allow this to happen. So while I was enthralled, held in suspense and even enchanted—in the end I came away feeling inspired and opening my heart to the fact that love truly does conquer all.

Review by Sylvia Massara, Lit Chick Show, Authors Helping Authors, Tudor Business Services
February 7, 2011

REVIEW: My Dear Nora Roberts, Move Over!

When I have previously read a book for review, I tend to read with an inquisitive eye. After reading a few paragraphs, I encountered a beautiful description of a tree’s insides: “differences in shade between the hollow shells of the trees, barely distinguishable to the eye, created concentric borders.” It was very difficult to take breaks, especially after being introduced to a pattern of swinging between fantasy and reality – sometimes distorted.

I liked Ms. Williamsen’s fluid prose. I am sure the plot was carried superbly. I was swooned by the continuous, almost perfect content. My dear Nora Roberts: Move over!

Review by Alex Canton, Book Junkie Reviews

REVIEW: Second Chances

“Hate the sin and love the sinner” is a suggested attitude to have in life towards other people and, in fact, it is an attitude that has everything to recommend it. However, this maxim needs quite some understanding as do so many other bi-polar considerations. Hating the sin can be immediate, firm and strong but loving the sinner can be quite difficult if not quite repellent. Then there is a further difficulty. One has to see redeeming forces at work, one has to see positive responses and one has to see that there emerges a restorative power and a healing grace.

If “hating the sin and loving the sinner” is ever taken on as a theme for a serious thesis, then Dannye Williamsen’s Second Chances would present itself as a work of great significance and of utmost importance - and for very many reasons, not least because it stretches out to the very limits, out to the sheer edges, the power of the sinner. This is particularly so in the case of the antagonist, the willful Darian.

The author presents a surreal world closely in contact with the real wherein engagements continue to happen within and without. While this approach challenges credibility it never displeases. In fact as one enters more and more into the tensions of the story one becomes more involved, one’s appetite grows wanting to know what will happen and what outcomes could possibly be presented. And while the approach to structure is certainly daring the writing style is lovely throughout. It is easy. And every now and then little gems appear that sparkle - for instance: “with the ignorance of an insect being eyed by a toad”, and another, when referring to processed coffee as having “an aftertaste as if it had been lightly seasoned with melted plastic”.

The power of redemption is focused on the protagonist, Freddie but this redemption takes some time in coming, but come it does. A not unimportant person in this development is Garrison McCrary. He engages with Freddie in serious discussions on the differences between different religions, eastern and western. He presents a thought-provoking explanation on the meaning of evil as “the inevitable expression of anyone who doesn’t have a more mature understanding of God.”

And it is with mature understanding that Freddie becomes a heavenly redemptive force. That is why Freddie is able to open out her “empyreal arms” for Darian in the end.

Review bv Patrick Moynahan on Amazon.com
April 8, 2011