A Fighting Chance
Author: Shannon Stacey
Reviewer: Jen Twimom
Rating: A-
What I’m Talking About:
Adeline (Del) Kendrick is looking forward to a long weekend of fun and shopping with her best friends. Arriving at the casino resort one day early, she plans to put on her new flannel PJs, order room service, and watch Netflix. Yet everything changes when she runs into Brendan Quinn, the love of her life who walked out on her six years ago.
Brendan Quinn is overcome with emotion when he runs into Del at the same casino where he is scheduled to fight. Although he left her six years ago, doing what he thought was the “right thing,” not a day passes that he doesn’t think of Del. Now that he’s found her again, he hopes maybe they can catch up, but what he doesn’t expect is to end up back in her bed.
A Fighting Chance is a delightful, fast-paced romance that relies on the couple’s previous history to tug at heartstrings and create all the warm-fuzzies. Ms. Stacey does an excellent job creating their off-page past, allowing the reader to feel connected to the couple right from the start. The alternating POVs provided insight as to how much both Del and Brendan still loved one another. Both of these things, coupled with excellent storytelling, gives this shorter-length book the rich feel of a full-length story.
Overall, I enjoyed the chemistry between Del and Brendan. Although their story is easy and things wrap up neatly, it is entertaining and heartfelt. Once again, Ms. Stacey combines all the right ingredients for a wonderful contemporary romance.
P.S. Big props to Angela James and Carina Press for putting a note in the front of the book that the story ends at about the 70% mark because of the inclusion of a long excerpt at the end. I wish more publishers did this. It made the reading experience so much more delightful!
My Rating: A- Enjoyed A Lot
About the Book:
All work and no play makes Adeline Kendrick a dull girl, so when she heads to a casino resort for a friend’s bachelorette weekend, she’s ready to have a good time. Until she runs into Brendan Quinn, professional fighter and the one who got away—the one her family drove away—and things take a turn for the interesting.
Running into his ex won’t shake Brendan. Even if it brings up the old pain of loving her when she was only slumming. Even if she looks really good. In fact, what better way to get over the past than to take advantage of the still-sizzling chemistry running hot between them? He’s there to win an MMA fight, but he won’t say no to a little physical relief of a different kind.
But when the weekend is over, Adeline isn’t ready to give up her second chance that easily. Brendan is still the one for her, no matter what her family thinks. Now, if only she can convince him of that…
Release Date: February 1, 2016
Publisher: Carina Press
ASIN: B00XPSTEU6
Genre: Contemporary Romance, novella
Format(s): e-book, audiobook
Book Source: Publisher/NetGalley
Purchase Info:
A Fighting Chance
This appears to be a stand alone, is that correct?
Yes. It’s a standalone story and novella. Although, I learned after the fact that there are a couple characters from another standalone novella that make a cameo appearance!
I think I have tried her books before, hmm, must see 😉
I love her work. It’s all good!