"A Second Chance" is listed as a sequel to the trilogy "Promises to Keep", but it feels to me more like an essential part of the ongoing story. It has a lighter tone than its predecessors, as old wrongs are put to right and characters find a well-deserved joy. I really, really enjoyed this. The setting switches back and forth between a rural farm community in New Zealand and life in the big city (Auckland) in the first decade of the twentieth century. The well-researched details of life a hundred years ago are fascinating. It's sweet to watch one of the characters, who had lived all her life on the farm, react to the wonders of modern life: electricity and indoor plumbing. And it's especially sweet to see her artless gratitude as she enjoys some modern comforts (and well-deserved love) after what has been a very difficult life.

There is a love story between two of the second-generation characters, who we met as children in the earlier books. And there is a wonderful surprise at the end, in which one of the tragedies of the previous books is partly overcome by a great unexpected joy. But for me I think the best joy in the book was when one of the characters was able to realize a long-abandoned childhood dream.

In some ways this book reminded me of one of my favorite authors, Louisa May Alcott. (There's even a little surprise reference to one of Alcott's characters, for those familiar enough to recognize it.) It's satisfying to see the women take their places in the twentieth century. They vote, and manage their own business affairs, and learn about birth control, and make the revolutionary statement that a husband doesn't have complete rights over his wife's body. Some of them come to the conclusion that they are happy living independent lives and not marrying, while others find happiness with tender, loving husbands. And there are some wonderful men, too, who stand up for the rights of the women they love.

This is definitely my favorite book in the series so far. I'm looking forward to the next one!