Steve Gaspa’s new release strips belief of its polish and lets the questions stay loud.
There are prayers in The Second Chance, but they aren’t nice. They don’t come with a guarantee or a sense of comfort. Some of them sound more like accusations than beliefs. That’s the point.
In his new book, Steve Gaspa tells a sports story that doesn’t use faith as a reward for good behavior. Faith manifests as conflict. As a form of resistance. As something to think about at 2 a.m., when everything seems to be going wrong, and the stakes are very high.
Michael Stevens, a professional baseball player whose life looks great from the outside, is the main character in the book. Records. There are a lot of people. Clapping. The highlight reel doesn’t show the grief he’s been carrying since his fiancée died years ago or how that loss broke his relationship with God. Michael didn’t politely lose faith. He lost it loudly, in anger, with blame, and in long periods of silence.
Gaspa lets that stress out. There are no quick fixes or neat verses to explain things here. When Michael finally goes back to church, it’s not because he wants to, but because he has to. He makes an argument. He asks questions. He makes deals. And when that doesn’t work, he falls apart.
The book’s view of spirituality is different because it doesn’t try to impress. Faith is not shown as a way to avoid pain. It doesn’t take away sadness or fix tragedy. It just shows up and asks Michael if he will stop running. The book’s most important conflict is the choice between giving up and taking charge.
Gaspa’s own experiences in competitive sports help make the story feel real. You can still see that the book started as a screenplay in its pacing and dialogue, but the emotional core is quieter and more personal. Talking to a priest doesn’t give you answers; it gives you space. There is no explanation for God. You can’t earn grace. It’s given, but not evenly, with no explanation.
Early readers have said that it feels very rare to see faith shown this way, especially in a sports story. The Second Chance fits into faith fiction, but not the kind that is based on certainty and success. Instead, it talks about spiritual tiredness. To readers who are tired of pretending that faith is easy. To those who pray with their teeth clenched or not at all, and wonder if that still counts.
Gaspa’s novel goes against the grain of a culture where spirituality is often sold as wellness or personal branding. It lets doubt exist without having to say sorry. It allows people be angry with God without judging them. And faith, at its most honest, may not start with answers but with just showing up.
Major online stores and some independent bookstores now carry The Second Chance.
Today, major booksellers have the book that readers who want a story that treats belief as a struggle instead of a slogan can find and learn more about.
Contact:
Author: Steve Gaspa
Amazon: The Second Chance
Client’s Email: stevegaspa@rocketmail.com
