Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Single Mom’s Second Chance by Tara Randel, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

CB: Welcome, Tara. I appreciate you taking the time to answer these questions so readers can get to know you and your latest book, The Single Mom’s Second Chance a little better. 

You have loved books and storytelling for as long as you can remember. When did writing shift from something you enjoyed as a reader into something you felt called to pursue seriously as an author? 

TR: A friend and I decided to write a romance novel since we loved to read them. I did research on how to actually write a book. We came up with a plot and began to write, but my friend decided to drop out. That left me with a decision. Do I keep moving ahead or just enjoy reading a published book? By this time, I was hooked and continued the process. After a lot of trial and error, I sold my first book and never looked back. 

CB: You have spoken about learning the publishing world through writing organizations and local chapters. What were some of the most important lessons you learned early on that helped shape your long term writing career? 

TR: The first lesson I learned was that like anything we pursue, writing is a process. There might be some writers out there who get it right on their first draft, but I had to complete a few novels before I understood the craft.  

I also learned that as much as writing is creative, publishing a book is also a business. Being a business owner myself, it gave me a better insight into the bottom line for a publisher. They want quality books so they can make a profit. With that in mind, I write the best stories I can and make sure the manuscripts are polished so the editors can see my commitment to the craft.  

CB: With more than thirty books published, how has your writing process evolved over the years? Are there things you do now that you wish you had known when you were first starting out? 

TR: I don’t know if using what I know now would have helped in the beginning. It’s been an evolving process over the years. I do things differently than at the start of my career and every once in a while, I switch tactics when it comes to the actual sitting down and getting words on the page. As long as I increase the word count each day, I’m happy. 

CB: The Single Mom’s Second Chance centers on Addie returning home and rebuilding her life after loss. What drew you to tell a story about starting over with a new business and a new love rather than continuing life away from her hometown? 

TR: One of the things a writer needs to capture is conflict. Choosing between Addie returning home or staying where she was living are two completely different stories. I decided a change would be good, so I sent her back to Golden to restart her life. Also, an important aspect of the books in this series revolves around sister dynamics. They were estranged and are now beginning to work their way back to each other. For that, I needed Addie to come home to Golden because her sisters were there. 

CB: Finding love as a single parent is difficult because you have to balance your personal emotions with determining when or if it is time to introduce your child into the relationship. This is especially delicate since Nolan is already a part of the family dynamic. How did you balance all of those elements while still honoring both Addie’s and her son Jacob’s emotional state? 

TR: Addie and Nolan were friends before this story began. That gave them a foundation to build on, but also a question of, what do we do now that we’re falling for each other? Should we do this or not? It wasn’t anything they had planned on, but now that they realized the truth, they wanted to move forward, until circumstances intervened and placed a big question mark on their relationship.  

I loved that they were both sensitive to what Jacob’s reaction would be if they got together. It created layers in their characters that are fun to explore.  

CB: Sports, particularly baseball, plays an important role in this story.  How does baseball factor into your own life or family? 

TR: It doesn’t, LOL! But I have a friend who loves baseball and he talks about it all the time so I thought it would be a fun sport to learn about and then portray it in Nolan’s point of view. 

CB: Addie experiences tension between herself and her mother and sisters. Why did you choose this family dynamic? 

TR: I don’t have sisters and I’d already set a series around brothers, so this was new for me. Most of the time story ideas come to me and then I realize after the fact I have a cohesive theme.  

CB: Addie and Nolan’s story is weaved through a clean, closed door romance. How does writing closed door romance allow you to focus on what might otherwise get lost? 

TR: I love writing wholesome romance. To be honest, I’m uncomfortable writing graphic scenes. In this format, the romance element and emotion level is strong in the developing characters and plot line. There is also room for a secondary story that will add a layer to the plot.  

CB: When readers close the final page of The Single Mom’s Second Chance, what do you hope stays with them the longest? 

TR: My main theme is hope. We aren’t promised a perfect life and if you’ve lived long enough on this earth, you will agree. But even on our worst days there are people who love us. And when life doesn’t turn out as we planned, there is still a path that will bring joy. Like I told my girls when they were growing up, it’s all about the journey. 

CB: Thank you for sharing your time, your experience, and a glimpse into your story. I wish you the best of luck on your book launch! 

TR: The Hometown Cop’s Forever Family available on April 28, 2026.