Chance of a Lifetime

by Marissa Clarke

November 16, 2015 · Entangled: Lovestruck

Buy →

B+

More Info →

View Book Info Page

This RITA® Reader Challenge 2016 review was written by PamG. This story was nominated for the RITA® in the Short Contemporary Romance category.

Here is PamG's review:

Chance of a Lifetime is the third in the Anderson Brothers trilogy. I chose it at random, being unfamiliar with the series, but once I’d read it, I immediately sought out the earlier books. This series entry stands on its own very well. There is no sense that the reader is missing any vital background, but some details (e.g., Michael’s dogs) are definitely teasers. I really enjoyed this novel. It worked for me on a number of levels, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to any lover of a lively contemporary romance.

The novel opens with Gen sitting in a bar with her friend and feeling frustrated by her sheltered life. It’s clear that Gen is a fully functioning adult who has some history of fragility and longs for greater independence from her loved ones. By the end of the first chapter, the reader has learned that Gen is blind, but Clarke introduces her in such a way that Gen is a multifaceted character not defined solely by her blindness.

In her quest to spread her wings, Gen resurrects her ten year old bucket list and tackles—almost literally—item one, kiss a stranger. Much to her shock, the “stranger” turns out to be the old, dear friend and former crush who betrayed her when she was fifteen. The kiss is, of course, outstanding, but doesn’t prevent Gen from smacking Chance upside the head.

Chance, described as “her brother’s best friend,” has carried a torch for Gen for years. However, according to her brother Walter, although Chance is a good looking, clean living, corporate lawyer for the Anderson family businesses, his penchant for extreme sports and physical challenges makes him a poor associate for Gen. Chance is a regular in Gen’s favorite bar because of his concern for her, not to be stalkerish. He has no intention of revealing himself to her because. . . wait for it. . . he made a promise to her brother. Gen’s kiss makes his promise moot, but leaves him with a dilemma. In order to prevent Walter from finding out about the kiss, he needs to reconnect with Gen and actually break that decade old promise. From that unpromising start, Chance somehow becomes the facilitator of Gen’s bucket list.

Chance of a Lifetime contains some very familiar tropes and plot devices: second chance at love; overprotective brothers; betrayals that really aren’t; a bucket list. None of this is wildly original stuff, but Clarke does really good things with it. Gen and Chance are truly likable and extremely well-realized, interesting characters. Alternating first person POV (past tense, thank gawd!) between Gen and Chance works well to create a distinctive voice for each of them.

I haven’t the background to determine the authenticity of Gen’s situation, but I like the way that Clarke introduces her in a setting that puts her unique personality first, rather than showcasing her blindness. There is a great deal of descriptive detail that involves senses other than vision and it emphasizes the multidimensional, layered nature of Gen’s experience. One of the most endearing traits that Chance has is his willingness to see Gen in all her multi-facetted, strengthy, stubborn goodness, an ability he’s had since both were kids. When he and Gen set up parameters for executing her bucket list, he is respectful, but practical, refusing to put her in unnecessary danger but finding alternative ways to achieve her goals. While Gen protests somewhat, she too is practical, aware that her life requires a balancing act between safety and freedom. There is no TSTL here.

Another thing that Clarke does well is develop peripheral characters who are interesting on their own yet enrich the reader’s perception of the main couple. From Andy, the bartender who prevents Chance from chasing Gen after their first encounter, to Sherri, Gen’s best bud, through assorted brothers, each contributes valuable elements to the story. I would have liked to see more of Gen functioning in her work environment and generally getting shit done, but bucket lists are just too damned time consuming, I guess.

The only character who is kind of problematical is Walter, whose over-protectiveness shades into bullying when he threatens to pull the plug financially in order to manipulate her ‘for her own good’. Walter doesn’t spend all that much time interacting with the characters in this story; the reader sees him indirectly through Gen and Chance’s references to their shared past and as a threat in the present. One can understand Walter’s protectiveness–sorta–but one can’t understand why a devoted brother would be such a remote figure in little sister’s life. He keeps tabs on her and monitors her activities but doesn’t seem very affectionate. Walter is, or was, Chance’s “best friend” yet has such a low opinion of him that he forbids him to have any contact with his sister. Yes, there was a huge traumatic event in their mutual past, but 10 painful years of big misunderstanding seems to stem directly from Walter as deus ex machina. I was not comfortable with this, because Walter became the issue rather than the main couple’s internal conflicts. It almost seems like the goal is to solve Walter, rather than real problems. However, Walter does get solved in a highly satisfactory way en route to the HEA.

Gen and Chance are a delightful couple. There is a warmth in all their interactions, and the love scenes are hot and refreshingly non-generic. Their chemistry is electric and their dialog is natural, clever, and damned funny at times. As they pursue item whatever on the B list, skinny dipping at night (Quelle surprise!), Gen gets a little. . . nervous.

“There’s something in the bushes or weeds to our right, and I’m scared it’s going to jump out at us.”

He cleared his throat. “Honey, there’s something in my pants, and if you don’t turn loose of where you’re holding me, it might jump out at us, too.”

“Oh.” She giggled and released him. “Sorry. I’m kind of excited.”

“Clearly, so am I.”

Passages like this kept me smiling through the whole novel. In spite of my minor aversion to the whole Walter thing, I had no problem grading this a solid B+. Though Chance of a Lifetime didn’t quite reach the sigh-worthy heights of an A grade, I absolutely expect to reread it with a great deal of pleasure.