Kristie J’s review of A Fighting Chance by Shannon Stacey
Contemporary Romance novella published by Carina Press 01 Feb 16
One of the things I most enjoy when it’s raining or snowing and I’ve nothing that has to be done is sit back in my reclining chair, cover myself with a warm throw, call my kitties to sit on my lap where they drift off while purring, and either read a book or drift off myself while looking out the window thinking I’m glad I’m not out in that.
I get the same kind of feeling while reading a Shannon Stacey book. I’m cozy and I know I’m going to love what’s coming.
A Fighting Chance is the newest book by Ms. Stacey. I didn’t realize at the time, but this one is a novella, not a full novel. I kind of wish it wasn’t, not because I didn’t like it, I really did, but because the enjoyment was so short. It was kind of if it stopped raining before I was ready.
Del, or Adeline, is in a casino resort waiting for her two girlfriends for a weekend of bachelorette partying. She’s the first to arrive and has plans to stay in her room in her jammies for the night. But, first of all, she needs to eat. While wandering around the resort looking for some place to eat, she notices quite a few people hanging around the clues in that there is some kind of event going on and she’s walked into a signing. It’s an MMA fight, and when she glances up she sees a large poster with a picture of her first love, Brendan Quinn, who, it turns out, is one of the fighters. When he comes out for a signing, he sees her and tries to talk to her, but she’s not interested.
Years ago Brendan broke Del’s heart. One day he’s telling her he loves her, the next he is gone without an explanation. Although Del has moved on, she still has strong feelings for him, so she does give in with much persuasion. Brendan has never forgotten Del either, she’s still the only woman he has ever loved. And seeing her again brings the feelings rushing back.
Can Del forgive him for the hurt he gave her and do they have a second chance? Those are the question this novella answered. Considering its short length, I think the author did a pretty decent job in creating her characters. She’s a good writer and this has always been one of her strong points for me. But Brendan’s excuse for leaving Adeline all those years ago is a bit lame. But then he was young and prone to do the wrong thing for the right reasons. I think we all made choice when we were young that we wouldn’t make give the maturity age gives us. A Fighting Chance is a good book that will tide me over until her third book in the Boston Fire series comes out.
Grade: B-
Summary:
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…
Read an excerpt.
