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Providence Falls #1
Chance of a Lifetime
In one century she loved him madly, and in another she wants nothing to do with him
In 1844 Ireland, Liam O’Connor, a rogue and a thief, fell madly in love with a squire’s daughter and unwittingly altered the future. Shy and naive Cora McLeod thought Liam was the answer to her prayers. But the angels disagreed and they’ve been waiting for the right moment in time to step in.
Now Liam finds himself reunited with his beloved Cora in Providence Falls, North Carolina. The angels have given Liam a task. He must make sure Cora falls in love with another man—the one she was supposed to marry before Liam interfered. But this Cora is very different from the innocent girl who fell for Liam in the past. She’s a cop and has a confidence and independence he wasn’t expecting. She doesn’t remember Liam or their past lives, nor is she impressed with his attempts to guide her in any way.
Liam wants Cora for himself, but with his soul hanging in the balance, he must choose between a stolen moment in time or an eternity of damnation.
In 1844 Ireland, Liam O’Connor, a rogue and a thief, fell madly in love with a squire’s daughter and unwittingly altered the future. Shy and naive Cora McLeod thought Liam was the answer to her prayers. But the angels disagreed and they’ve been waiting for the right moment in time to step in.
Now Liam finds himself reunited with his beloved Cora in Providence Falls, North Carolina. The angels have given Liam a task. He must make sure Cora falls in love with another man—the one she was supposed to marry before Liam interfered. But this Cora is very different from the innocent girl who fell for Liam in the past. She’s a cop and has a confidence and independence he wasn’t expecting. She doesn’t remember Liam or their past lives, nor is she impressed with his attempts to guide her in any way.
Liam wants Cora for himself, but with his soul hanging in the balance, he must choose between a stolen moment in time or an eternity of damnation.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2020
About the author
Jude Deveraux
147 books6,592 followersJude Gilliam was born September 20, 1947 in Fairdale, Kentucky. She has a large extended family and is the elder sister of four brothers. She attended Murray State University and received a degree in Art. In 1967, Jude married and took her husband's surname of White, but four years later they divorced. For years, she worked as 5th-grade teacher.
She began writing in 1976, and published her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977) under the name Jude Deveraux. Following the publication of her first novel, she resigned her teaching position. Now, she is the author of 31 New York Times bestsellers.
Jude won readers' hearts with the epic Velvet series, which revolves around the lives of the Montgomery family's irresistible men. Jude's early books are set largely in 15th- and 16th-century England; in them her fierce, impassioned protagonists find themselves in the midst of blood feuds and wars. Her heroines are equally scrappy -- medieval Scarlett O'Haras who often have a low regard for the men who eventually win them over. They're fighters, certainly, but they're also beauties who are preoccupied with survival and family preservation.
Jude has also stepped outside her milieu, with mixed results. Her James River trilogy (River Lady, Lost Lady, and Counterfeit Lady) is set mostly in post-Revolution America; the popular, softer-edged Twin of Fire/Twin of Ice moves to 19th-century Colorado and introduces another hunky-man clan, the Taggerts.
Deveraux manages to evoke a strong and convincing atmosphere for each of her books, but her dialogue and characters are as familiar as a modern-day soap opera's. "Historicals seem to be all I'm capable of," Jude once said in an interview, referring to a now out-of-print attempt at contemporary fiction, 1982's Casa Grande. "I don't want to write family sagas or occult books, and I have no intention of again trying to ruin the contemporary market." Still, Jude did later attempt modern-day romances, such as the lighthearted High Tide (her first murder caper), the contemporary female friendship story The Summerhouse, and the time-traveling Knight in Shining Armor. In fact, with 2002's The Mulberry Tree, Deveraux seems to be getting more comfortable setting stories in the present, which is a good thing, since the fans she won with her historical books are eager to follow her into the future.
Jude married Claude White, who she later divorced in 1993. Around the same time she met Mohammed Montassir with whom she had a son, Sam Alexander Montassir, in 1997. On Oct. 6th, 2005, Sam died at the age of eight in a motorcycle accident.
Jude has lived in several countries and all over the United States. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and has an additional home in the medieval city of Badolato, Italy.
She began writing in 1976, and published her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977) under the name Jude Deveraux. Following the publication of her first novel, she resigned her teaching position. Now, she is the author of 31 New York Times bestsellers.
Jude won readers' hearts with the epic Velvet series, which revolves around the lives of the Montgomery family's irresistible men. Jude's early books are set largely in 15th- and 16th-century England; in them her fierce, impassioned protagonists find themselves in the midst of blood feuds and wars. Her heroines are equally scrappy -- medieval Scarlett O'Haras who often have a low regard for the men who eventually win them over. They're fighters, certainly, but they're also beauties who are preoccupied with survival and family preservation.
Jude has also stepped outside her milieu, with mixed results. Her James River trilogy (River Lady, Lost Lady, and Counterfeit Lady) is set mostly in post-Revolution America; the popular, softer-edged Twin of Fire/Twin of Ice moves to 19th-century Colorado and introduces another hunky-man clan, the Taggerts.
Deveraux manages to evoke a strong and convincing atmosphere for each of her books, but her dialogue and characters are as familiar as a modern-day soap opera's. "Historicals seem to be all I'm capable of," Jude once said in an interview, referring to a now out-of-print attempt at contemporary fiction, 1982's Casa Grande. "I don't want to write family sagas or occult books, and I have no intention of again trying to ruin the contemporary market." Still, Jude did later attempt modern-day romances, such as the lighthearted High Tide (her first murder caper), the contemporary female friendship story The Summerhouse, and the time-traveling Knight in Shining Armor. In fact, with 2002's The Mulberry Tree, Deveraux seems to be getting more comfortable setting stories in the present, which is a good thing, since the fans she won with her historical books are eager to follow her into the future.
Jude married Claude White, who she later divorced in 1993. Around the same time she met Mohammed Montassir with whom she had a son, Sam Alexander Montassir, in 1997. On Oct. 6th, 2005, Sam died at the age of eight in a motorcycle accident.
Jude has lived in several countries and all over the United States. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and has an additional home in the medieval city of Badolato, Italy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 322 reviews
April 5, 2022
3.5
This is my first ever book by the acclaimed author Jude Deveraux. I know it’s probably not exactly reminiscent of her true style as this one is also co-authored with Tara Sheets. My friend kindly gifted me this book over the holidays so I was excited to read it. I read the physical copy and at times also listened to the audiobook that was wonderfully narrated.
This is a time-travel story with a very eye-catching premise. In 1844 Liam O’Connor, who is a thief in Ireland falls in love with a Squire’s daughter, Cora McLeod. In doing so he alters her fate. In present day (2020) North Carolina, USA, Cora is now a police officer and Liam is sent there by the angels to help set things right and allow Cora’s true destiny to finally take place. She must fall in love and marry a man named Finn in which she has been destined to be with since 1844.
I liked the story and was entertained throughout but I feel like it missed in the romance department. I was expecting a great time-honoured love and didn’t get all the feels of that. Plus I wanted more backstory of the happenings in Ireland.
Still this book kept my attention but ends with no resolution. There is a book 2 I will read as I do want to see how this all ends.
This is my first ever book by the acclaimed author Jude Deveraux. I know it’s probably not exactly reminiscent of her true style as this one is also co-authored with Tara Sheets. My friend kindly gifted me this book over the holidays so I was excited to read it. I read the physical copy and at times also listened to the audiobook that was wonderfully narrated.
This is a time-travel story with a very eye-catching premise. In 1844 Liam O’Connor, who is a thief in Ireland falls in love with a Squire’s daughter, Cora McLeod. In doing so he alters her fate. In present day (2020) North Carolina, USA, Cora is now a police officer and Liam is sent there by the angels to help set things right and allow Cora’s true destiny to finally take place. She must fall in love and marry a man named Finn in which she has been destined to be with since 1844.
I liked the story and was entertained throughout but I feel like it missed in the romance department. I was expecting a great time-honoured love and didn’t get all the feels of that. Plus I wanted more backstory of the happenings in Ireland.
Still this book kept my attention but ends with no resolution. There is a book 2 I will read as I do want to see how this all ends.
September 29, 2020
I was so excited after I read the blurb to this book. I couldn't wait to listen to it.
The blurb reminded me of Outlander by Diana Gabaldon or What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon. Epic Romance with some time travel nuances.
After I finished this book and realized that I just spent over 8 hours and there was no conclusion and no epic love story. I was quite salty.
The blurb reminded me of Outlander by Diana Gabaldon or What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon. Epic Romance with some time travel nuances.
After I finished this book and realized that I just spent over 8 hours and there was no conclusion and no epic love story. I was quite salty.
January 3, 2022
Chance of a Lifetime by Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets is the first book in the Providence Falls series. This series is a mix of genres with it being a romantic historical science fiction fantasy involving time travel and soul mates. The series is one that continues onto the next book so they do need to be read in order.
Liam O’Connor finds himself standing before the angels being judged on his life and finds that he has come up short. You see Liam was told he stood in the way of two soul mates finding on another when he fell in love with Cora McLeod in Ireland in 1844 so he must return to make it all right to get into heaven.
Liam awakens in a world much different than the one he knew back in 1844 and finds that Cora’s father still knows him in this lifetime. It’s suggested that Liam become Cora’s new roommate but Cora is not all that excited about this idea not remembering Liam the way he remembers her. As much as Liam remembers and still loves Cora he knows that it’s job to get her to fall in love with another man.
Boy, for someone that likes to read a lot of genres and loves books that mix and match them Chance of a Lifetime by Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets almost exceeded my expectations. There’s a little bit of everything in this series as on top of the romance, time travel and look back at another time in history it also has a bit of a thriller side with some mystery there too. Genre soup!! And I definitely love that side of this story. The characters were likable but I would have liked a deeper look at the past with all the current characters crossing over from there it was hard to picture old life/new life with some side characters. Overall though I did enjoy this one and would like to see what happens in the next book.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Liam O’Connor finds himself standing before the angels being judged on his life and finds that he has come up short. You see Liam was told he stood in the way of two soul mates finding on another when he fell in love with Cora McLeod in Ireland in 1844 so he must return to make it all right to get into heaven.
Liam awakens in a world much different than the one he knew back in 1844 and finds that Cora’s father still knows him in this lifetime. It’s suggested that Liam become Cora’s new roommate but Cora is not all that excited about this idea not remembering Liam the way he remembers her. As much as Liam remembers and still loves Cora he knows that it’s job to get her to fall in love with another man.
Boy, for someone that likes to read a lot of genres and loves books that mix and match them Chance of a Lifetime by Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets almost exceeded my expectations. There’s a little bit of everything in this series as on top of the romance, time travel and look back at another time in history it also has a bit of a thriller side with some mystery there too. Genre soup!! And I definitely love that side of this story. The characters were likable but I would have liked a deeper look at the past with all the current characters crossing over from there it was hard to picture old life/new life with some side characters. Overall though I did enjoy this one and would like to see what happens in the next book.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
July 27, 2020
I just love Jude Deveraux books, but this book does not feel like a Jude Deveraux book. The summary of the book sounded very promising, but it kind of fell flat.
The past life of Liam and Cora storyline was very good and felt like just like Jude's previous romance novels. Liam is a thief and Cora is rich and engaged to be married to Finn, but she really loves Liam.
However, the present day Liam and Cora was kind of strange. Two angels bring Liam back to life and his goal is to get Cora and Finn together since he needs to pay his penance for breaking their prior life engagement. Otherwise he will be condemned. That part is great. However, Liam and Cora become roommates and police partners. A murder happens and it comes to light Liam may have had a part in it. So they need to absolve him and clear his name.
This book was just not what I expected and it didn't have a resolution at the end. So I'm guessing there will be a book two in the future?
Oh well. I still can't read to the next book Jude writes!
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!!!
The past life of Liam and Cora storyline was very good and felt like just like Jude's previous romance novels. Liam is a thief and Cora is rich and engaged to be married to Finn, but she really loves Liam.
However, the present day Liam and Cora was kind of strange. Two angels bring Liam back to life and his goal is to get Cora and Finn together since he needs to pay his penance for breaking their prior life engagement. Otherwise he will be condemned. That part is great. However, Liam and Cora become roommates and police partners. A murder happens and it comes to light Liam may have had a part in it. So they need to absolve him and clear his name.
This book was just not what I expected and it didn't have a resolution at the end. So I'm guessing there will be a book two in the future?
Oh well. I still can't read to the next book Jude writes!
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!!!
October 1, 2020
Well, to be honest, it was better than I expected BUT it is the first in a series. Not just a series like like the Medlars or the Velvets where is segues from one story to the next. This one literally just... STOPPED! They are in the middle of a murder investigation and they didn't even solve the crime. Literally it just stopped and NOTHING was wrapped up. It was a cliffhanger. I got towards the end and turned a page and it said "Epilogue" and I was like WHAT??? An epilogue ties up the ending and we're in the middle. I don't know who's idea that was but it was the WORST and now I'm just annoyed😠 There isn't even a title or publication date for the 2nd book so who knows how long we have to wait to finish the story. I would have given 3 stars but lowering to 2 because of the TERRIBLE way they broke up the story.
October 20, 2021
CHANCE OF A LIFETIME grabbed me from the first chapter and kept me up too late that night and the next day I couldn’t wait to jump right back into Cora’s life. Absolutely riveting and at no point was I even the least bit bored! I’m not much into magical realism, but Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets didn’t shove any of this down my throat. They made it interesting, believable, and even exciting. The characters are believable and real and people you would actually like to know and hang out with. I found myself cheering them on and laughing right along with them! Hang on my reading friends, it’s going to be a crazy ride!
CHANCE OF A LIFETIME is the exact reason why I have always enjoyed Jude Deveraux stories! Trust me, as you read it you will be shaking your head, saying “no way” over and over again. Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets write about characters that become real right before your eyes. In their writing, they give you a pathway toward getting invested in their lives and all they are going through. The past life of Liam and Cora storyline is very good and feels just like Jude’s previous romance novels. Liam is a thief and Cora is rich and engaged to be married to Finn, but she really loves Liam. I grew up reading Jude Deveraux’s books and they always leave me emotional.
CHANCE OF A LIFETIME is a heart tugging and wonderful tale and I loved it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading CHANCE OF A LIFETIME. It is heart warming and filled with so many different emotions. There is so much going on in this story, but Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets do a wonderful job of weaving all the pieces together. When angels drop Liam into the present day and tell him he must convince Cora to marry a man named Finn. All of the characters will have you feeling sad and then giggling on the same page. Once you finish devouring their stories you are going to want to tell everyone you know about this awesome book. All of the characters are very interesting and believable, so much so that I felt as if I’ve known them for a long time. I’m not usually a fan of time travel books but this one seemed to call out to me and really held my interest.
CHANCE OF A LIFETIME is the exact reason why I have always enjoyed Jude Deveraux stories! Trust me, as you read it you will be shaking your head, saying “no way” over and over again. Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets write about characters that become real right before your eyes. In their writing, they give you a pathway toward getting invested in their lives and all they are going through. The past life of Liam and Cora storyline is very good and feels just like Jude’s previous romance novels. Liam is a thief and Cora is rich and engaged to be married to Finn, but she really loves Liam. I grew up reading Jude Deveraux’s books and they always leave me emotional.
CHANCE OF A LIFETIME is a heart tugging and wonderful tale and I loved it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading CHANCE OF A LIFETIME. It is heart warming and filled with so many different emotions. There is so much going on in this story, but Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets do a wonderful job of weaving all the pieces together. When angels drop Liam into the present day and tell him he must convince Cora to marry a man named Finn. All of the characters will have you feeling sad and then giggling on the same page. Once you finish devouring their stories you are going to want to tell everyone you know about this awesome book. All of the characters are very interesting and believable, so much so that I felt as if I’ve known them for a long time. I’m not usually a fan of time travel books but this one seemed to call out to me and really held my interest.
September 15, 2020
I honestly don’t know how I feel about this book, so just bear with me.
When I first came across this book, I instantly fell in the love with the cover and the synopsis. The cover was just so stunning and the synopsis just pulled at me, pretty much begging for me to read it.
For me, this book started off pretty promising. I liked the idea of the story and found it to be unique and refreshing. I loved the way Liam and Cora fell in love in 1844 and the tragedy of it. However, as the story went on, I felt like it lost some of its spark. I didn’t feel the connection with Liam and Cora in modern times. I didn’t get those feels and those moments of undeniable chemistry. Somewhere along the way, I lost my connection to this story and struggled to get it back. I don’t know. Maybe it’s just me, but this story didn’t work for me at all.
Chance of a Lifetime sounded promising, but in the end, it just didn’t work for me. While this book wasn’t a hit for me, I’m still glad to have checked it out and given it a chance.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via the publisher & NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*
When I first came across this book, I instantly fell in the love with the cover and the synopsis. The cover was just so stunning and the synopsis just pulled at me, pretty much begging for me to read it.
For me, this book started off pretty promising. I liked the idea of the story and found it to be unique and refreshing. I loved the way Liam and Cora fell in love in 1844 and the tragedy of it. However, as the story went on, I felt like it lost some of its spark. I didn’t feel the connection with Liam and Cora in modern times. I didn’t get those feels and those moments of undeniable chemistry. Somewhere along the way, I lost my connection to this story and struggled to get it back. I don’t know. Maybe it’s just me, but this story didn’t work for me at all.
Chance of a Lifetime sounded promising, but in the end, it just didn’t work for me. While this book wasn’t a hit for me, I’m still glad to have checked it out and given it a chance.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via the publisher & NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*
August 17, 2020
“I’m nothing but a thief, my love.”
“So, steal me away…”
In 1844 Ireland, Liam O’Conner is a devilishly handsome rogue and thief. Using his charm and wits to steal for a living in order to feed his extended family, Liam has never had a change of conscience…until his gang of unruly thieves set their sights on robbing the squire’s home and burning it to the ground. Determined to spare the man who had been kind to his family the loss of his home, Liam sneaks through a window with a plan to find the squire’s hidden jewels to deliver back to his thieving friends. But on the other side of the window was a gem Liam hadn’t counted on…one with a soul as kind as her beauty…Cora McLeod, the squire’s daughter. Cora and Liam make for unlikely friends, but as they sneak time together, their friendship turns towards something much stronger…a love that will carry on from one life to the next…
Skip forward to present day Providence Falls, North Carolina. It’s just Liam’s luck that the woman he loved was fated to be with another, and now the angels are determined he fix his meddling with destiny. So now Liam is forced to play matchmaker or his soul will forever be damned…
*Spoiler Alert*
This book has a major cliffhanger!! So, if you are looking for a complete romance with a HEA, you have been warned, it’s not gonna happen! I’m assuming it will be concluded sometime in the next installments (fingers crossed), and I’m seriously hoping for a wee bit more romance between Cora and Liam (there is little to none in this book).
Did I enjoy the story? Took me a bit to get over being peeved over the cliffhanger, and still not overly happy with so many loose threads just unraveled with no conclusion…*pulling hair and using many sentence enhancers*…ok, I’m over my tantrum…maybe… Yes, I enjoyed the story and now that I know this series will most likely read like chapter books with no ending till the conclusion of the series, I’ll be better prepared.
Do I recommend? Oh, that’s a tough one…yes, I would recommend because it is an enjoyable story, and I’m so rooting for Liam and Cora to get their HEA!! #TeamLiam
Apologizes for a rambling review, but this one was difficult to summarize and put thoughts onto paper without ranting over the cliffhanger (I guess I’m still not over it.) Read and draw your own conclusions…it is a good story!!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **
“So, steal me away…”
In 1844 Ireland, Liam O’Conner is a devilishly handsome rogue and thief. Using his charm and wits to steal for a living in order to feed his extended family, Liam has never had a change of conscience…until his gang of unruly thieves set their sights on robbing the squire’s home and burning it to the ground. Determined to spare the man who had been kind to his family the loss of his home, Liam sneaks through a window with a plan to find the squire’s hidden jewels to deliver back to his thieving friends. But on the other side of the window was a gem Liam hadn’t counted on…one with a soul as kind as her beauty…Cora McLeod, the squire’s daughter. Cora and Liam make for unlikely friends, but as they sneak time together, their friendship turns towards something much stronger…a love that will carry on from one life to the next…
Skip forward to present day Providence Falls, North Carolina. It’s just Liam’s luck that the woman he loved was fated to be with another, and now the angels are determined he fix his meddling with destiny. So now Liam is forced to play matchmaker or his soul will forever be damned…
*Spoiler Alert*
This book has a major cliffhanger!! So, if you are looking for a complete romance with a HEA, you have been warned, it’s not gonna happen! I’m assuming it will be concluded sometime in the next installments (fingers crossed), and I’m seriously hoping for a wee bit more romance between Cora and Liam (there is little to none in this book).
Did I enjoy the story? Took me a bit to get over being peeved over the cliffhanger, and still not overly happy with so many loose threads just unraveled with no conclusion…*pulling hair and using many sentence enhancers*…ok, I’m over my tantrum…maybe… Yes, I enjoyed the story and now that I know this series will most likely read like chapter books with no ending till the conclusion of the series, I’ll be better prepared.
Do I recommend? Oh, that’s a tough one…yes, I would recommend because it is an enjoyable story, and I’m so rooting for Liam and Cora to get their HEA!! #TeamLiam
Apologizes for a rambling review, but this one was difficult to summarize and put thoughts onto paper without ranting over the cliffhanger (I guess I’m still not over it.) Read and draw your own conclusions…it is a good story!!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **
September 16, 2020
Chance of a Lifetime by Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets is the first novel in the Providence Falls series. This book reminds me of Jude Deveraux’s early novels which I just loved (Wishes, A Knight in Shining Armor, Sweet Liar). I thought the story contained good writing and it moved along at a steady pace. The story has humor, drama, mystery, and, of course, romance. I liked the characters with my favorite being Liam O’Connor. He is a thief, a charmer, and a rogue. I like that Chance of a Lifetime combines the present in Providence Falls with Liam and Cora’s tale from 1844. The parallels between the two time periods was intriguing. And let us not forget the two heavenly judges determined to keep Liam on task. I liked the humor in the story as it added lightness and levity. I enjoyed reading Chance of a Lifetime until I got to the end and realized the story was incomplete. I must now wait for the next installment in the Providence Falls series to find out the identity of the killer (I have an idea and want to see if I am right) and Liam’s fate. Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets combine history, romance, mystery, and heavenly intervention into one engaging tale.
September 19, 2020
I’m not usually a fan of time travel books but this one piqued my interest. The story alternates between present day and Ireland in 1844. Liam, a thief and a poor commoner falls in love with Cora who comes from an upper crust family. Cora is also madly in love with Liam in 1844. Fast forward and Angels drop Liam into present day and tell him he must convince Cora to marry a man named Finn. Although this breaks his heart Liam attempts to encourage Cora to fall in love with the boring Finn. In 1840 Cora was a sweet shy girl. In 2020 she is anything but. She is a cop and a completely independent woman who is often annoyed by Liam but also intrigued. She feels a connection to him but isn’t sure why. Does Liam succeed in doing what the Angels wanted? We don’t know as this is Book One. Looking forward to the next book to find out how the story ends.
October 7, 2021
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
It’s been awhile since I have read a book written by Deveraux and Chance of a Lifetime reminded me of the reason I enjoyed her books. Narrated by Susan Bennett, Chance of a Lifetime is the first book in the Providence Falls series which tells the story of Liam, a rogue, thief and a charmer who faced the challenge of righting a wrong which occurred almost two centuries ago.
Fast forward almost two hundred years later, to Providence, North Carolina. Liam got a second chance by the angels to get Cora to fall in love with Finn. A task which would prove a challenge as Liam’s love for Cora did not fade with time. However, failure to complete his task placed his soul at risk of eternal damnation.
Chance of a Lifetime was told in two timelines, with the majority of the story occurring in the present. I enjoyed both timelines. Liam possesses the same personality in both timelines, but Cora was different. She was no longer the demure young lady Liam knew from his years in Ireland. Now she was a no nonsense police officer who do not wish to have her decisions influenced by anyone.
I had fun watching Liam trying to navigate the modern world where he was a police officer and Cora’s partner. Liam’s friends and acquaintances from the past are present in the current timeline. He remembers each and everyone of them, but they have no recollection of him. They played different roles in both timelines. The ever present angels monitor his every move to ensure he sticks to the plan.
We also got a murder to solve. I am not sure how what connection it has to the story overall. Hopefully, the book two would provide further details in this regard. Not everyone will be pleased with the ending, which left the overall story arc unresolved. Again, hopefully, the second book will provide the answers.
Narration
This was my first experience with Susan Bennett, and she did a wonderful job with the narration. She pulled me into the story with how she brought the characters to life. She captured their emotions, and I loved the authenticity of her Irish accent.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Overall, I found Chance of a Lifetime to be a wonderful introduction to the Providence Fall series. A fun read which will keep you entertained.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
April 20, 2023
Šoreiz ļoti vīlos, lai arī labprāt lasu Devero darbus. Mani galīgi nepārliecināja nepieciešamība mainīt laikus un smieklīgi šķita, ka gan esošajā laikā, gan pagātnē dzīvo identiski cilvēki (viens pret viens - sākot no vārda un uzvārda, līdz īpašībām un pat laulātajiem). Bieži ven tēli arī ir pavisam plakani.
Pat ņemot vērā to, ka šī ir tikai pirmā daļa, tā beidzas nekā, karājoties gaisā un nav noslēguma.
Vilšanās!
Pat ņemot vērā to, ka šī ir tikai pirmā daļa, tā beidzas nekā, karājoties gaisā un nav noslēguma.
Vilšanās!
September 3, 2020
It's been a while since I've read anything by Jude Deveraux. This roller coaster ride I've been on while reading this book is incredible. Not to mention the whodunit aspect of the plot. As for the person behind all of the crimes, I have my suspicions. In addition, the characters just jump of the page. I cannot wait to read the next one.
~Clare💜
~Clare💜
September 1, 2020
I fell in love with this book!
In this magical novel, two sardonic angels give a condemned soul named Liam a chance to right a wrong that happened centuries ago - with a few conditions.
Liam has a bit of difficulty fitting into his new role in modern society, and gets himself into more than a few frustrating situations. But with his soul in jeopardy, and under the watchful eyes of the angels, he cannot afford too many mistakes.
The third person narrative gave all the characters in this book so much personality! The conflicts between their internal thoughts vs. what they say is written with such wit, that I was completely charmed by their interactions.
So well written! This entertaining novel has everything, but not too much. Secret love, clever banter, a variety of characters, and a suspenseful situation. It was such a fun book to read, and I'm eagerly awaiting book #2 in the series!
*Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Publishing, Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets for the opportunity to read this ARC. It was a pure delight.
In this magical novel, two sardonic angels give a condemned soul named Liam a chance to right a wrong that happened centuries ago - with a few conditions.
Liam has a bit of difficulty fitting into his new role in modern society, and gets himself into more than a few frustrating situations. But with his soul in jeopardy, and under the watchful eyes of the angels, he cannot afford too many mistakes.
The third person narrative gave all the characters in this book so much personality! The conflicts between their internal thoughts vs. what they say is written with such wit, that I was completely charmed by their interactions.
So well written! This entertaining novel has everything, but not too much. Secret love, clever banter, a variety of characters, and a suspenseful situation. It was such a fun book to read, and I'm eagerly awaiting book #2 in the series!
*Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Publishing, Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets for the opportunity to read this ARC. It was a pure delight.
June 18, 2021
Devero ir viena no manām mīļākajām lubeņu autorēm, tāpēc man patiktos domāt, ka patiesībā šo
vairāk rakstīja Tāra Šītsa (bet kas to lai zina, kā tur īsti ir). Ideja, protams, interesanta, bet
izpildījums šoreiz varētu būt daudz labāks. Gribētos vairāk nodaļu par 19. gs. un vairāk apspēlēt Līama
izbrīnu par 21.gs., jo tās likās romāna stiprās puses. Bet kopumā palika tāds nepabeigts iespaids-
nepaspējam tēlus iepazīt, kas notika pagātnē paliek neatbildēts, un arī tagadnes notikumi apraujas
pusratā - un nevis tā, kā grāmatu sērijā pienāktos, ar lielu "klifhngeru", bet vienkārši rodas iespaids,
ka autorēm likās, ka ar šo nodaļu beidzam pirmo grāmatu, nu mums ir gana lapu.
Vērtējums ir 2,5, ko apaļoju uz 3, jo 2 nozīmētu, ka turpinājumus noteikti nelasīšu, bet nevaru tomēr
to tik droši apgalvot - cerība, ka tālāk paliks labāk jau ir, jo šis liekas tikai sākums. Bet kā būs ar to
nākotnes lasīšanu, ja tuprinājuma vēl nav pat angliski, tiešām nezinu.
vairāk rakstīja Tāra Šītsa (bet kas to lai zina, kā tur īsti ir). Ideja, protams, interesanta, bet
izpildījums šoreiz varētu būt daudz labāks. Gribētos vairāk nodaļu par 19. gs. un vairāk apspēlēt Līama
izbrīnu par 21.gs., jo tās likās romāna stiprās puses. Bet kopumā palika tāds nepabeigts iespaids-
nepaspējam tēlus iepazīt, kas notika pagātnē paliek neatbildēts, un arī tagadnes notikumi apraujas
pusratā - un nevis tā, kā grāmatu sērijā pienāktos, ar lielu "klifhngeru", bet vienkārši rodas iespaids,
ka autorēm likās, ka ar šo nodaļu beidzam pirmo grāmatu, nu mums ir gana lapu.
Vērtējums ir 2,5, ko apaļoju uz 3, jo 2 nozīmētu, ka turpinājumus noteikti nelasīšu, bet nevaru tomēr
to tik droši apgalvot - cerība, ka tālāk paliks labāk jau ir, jo šis liekas tikai sākums. Bet kā būs ar to
nākotnes lasīšanu, ja tuprinājuma vēl nav pat angliski, tiešām nezinu.
July 29, 2020
Chance of a Lifetime is another magical manifestation of Deveraux. It's reminiscent of a couple of her other books that involve interfering angels and love across time. Liam loves Cora and is sent into the present to correct a previous wrong. He's already interfered in her life in the nineteenth century so he has to fix it in the 21st century. Liam stumbles along, replete in some knowledge of the modern world, but he still washes his shirt in the sink and has very outdated mannerisms. Those parts of the story were humerous. He's a rake and a rogue and he makes good kind Finn look exceedingly dull. I can't wait for the next book and there better be a next one since there's more trouble brewing at the conclusion. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 24, 2020
Oh my gosh, this book. Such a fantastic book by two very talent authors. Told in third person, this book has to much to offer the reader. The world in which the authors take you is so rich, the characters leap off the pages. Heartbreaking,poignant and breath taking are all words I would use to describe this book.
The impossibility of these characters being in love brings a whole new meaning to the word, star-crossed.m the beauty in which the words were laid out reminds me again of what a huge fan I am of Jude Deveraux and her words. This was my first introduction to Ms. Sheets, but I will for sure be reading her other works. This book was pure joy to read.
The impossibility of these characters being in love brings a whole new meaning to the word, star-crossed.m the beauty in which the words were laid out reminds me again of what a huge fan I am of Jude Deveraux and her words. This was my first introduction to Ms. Sheets, but I will for sure be reading her other works. This book was pure joy to read.
March 13, 2023
I'm new to Libby app that's why I'm very excited to browse all the books I can borrow from my library.🤩 I've heard about Jude Deveraux before and also tried to read one of her books: Remembrance, unfortunately, I wasn't a fan.✌️ BUT the synopsis of this book is very catchy for me, so I tried.
Liam is given a chance to redeem himself. The task given by the angels is to make Cora, the previous love of his life, fall for her true destined love - Finn. The premise is quite absurd, not gonna lie. The angels are telling Liam because he 'stole' Cora, a lot of destinies were messed up, and he needs to fix them.😑
I have mixed feelings while reading this. Liam is very unlikeable for me and majority of the book, we are on his point of view. I think my reading experience improved when I decided to not treat this book as a romance book. Liam and Cora of the present times are police officers so they were solving crimes and catching thieves and what nots. I love the community of Providence Falls and the characters introduced on the first book of this trilogy.👍
Cora and Liam are sufficiently fleshed out on my opinion. There are parts when I wanted them to be together and there were also parts where I think Cora is better off alone or actually better off with her 'destined' love, Finn. I think (so far) Finn is more attractive than Liam. I think he's a 'better' match for Cora. But Liam is still okay, I guess. He has his own circumstances that he can't mentioned to anyone and this forced him to lie sometimes.
Overall, an interesting read. And I love the writing, it was engaging and a quick read.❤️
PS: This is more of a 3.75⭐️ for me but the writing is really good and I do think it deserves a round up.👌
Liam is given a chance to redeem himself. The task given by the angels is to make Cora, the previous love of his life, fall for her true destined love - Finn. The premise is quite absurd, not gonna lie. The angels are telling Liam because he 'stole' Cora, a lot of destinies were messed up, and he needs to fix them.😑
I have mixed feelings while reading this. Liam is very unlikeable for me and majority of the book, we are on his point of view. I think my reading experience improved when I decided to not treat this book as a romance book. Liam and Cora of the present times are police officers so they were solving crimes and catching thieves and what nots. I love the community of Providence Falls and the characters introduced on the first book of this trilogy.👍
Cora and Liam are sufficiently fleshed out on my opinion. There are parts when I wanted them to be together and there were also parts where I think Cora is better off alone or actually better off with her 'destined' love, Finn. I think (so far) Finn is more attractive than Liam. I think he's a 'better' match for Cora. But Liam is still okay, I guess. He has his own circumstances that he can't mentioned to anyone and this forced him to lie sometimes.
Overall, an interesting read. And I love the writing, it was engaging and a quick read.❤️
PS: This is more of a 3.75⭐️ for me but the writing is really good and I do think it deserves a round up.👌
September 21, 2020
This book puts a spin on a time-traveling romance in a way that makes it intriguing and thoroughly plausible. I liked the simplicity of the set-up of the initial meeting between Liam and Cora (told via Liam’s memories). I really enjoyed Liam the most, because he was the one with the task. I thought it was funny that the angels gave him just enough knowledge to get by in the modern world, which made some of his revelations highly amusing. For me, it was a great illustration that there are many things we don’t know about the universe. I’m not going to give you the ending, but you don’t want to miss this unique perspective on undying love. For a full review, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to Harlequin Books (MIRA) for a digital ARC of the book.
September 3, 2020
It's been a while since I've read anything by Jude Deveraux. This roller coaster ride I've been on while reading this book is incredible. Not to mention the whodunit aspect of the plot. As for the person behind all of the crimes, I have my suspicions. In addition, the characters just jump of the page. I cannot wait to read the next one.
September 22, 2020
I love Jude Deveraux’s books. This one, however, had no real ending. Really? Ugh. Is there another book coming? Four stars for story, no stars for ending.
September 14, 2020
I'm not a big reader of time travel novels (although one of my favorite books of 2019 is Lisa Grunwald's Time After Time) but something about Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets' novel Chance of A Lifetime called out to me.
Agon and Samael are two angels who work for the Department of Destiny. They summon the soul of Liam O'Connor, an impoverished petty thief from Ireland in 1844 who fell in love with Cora, the daughter of wealthy landowner. Cora was engaged to marry Finn Walsh, and their child was destined to help the world.
But Liam disrupted those plans when Cora fell in love with him and broke off her engagement to Finn. Because of that, "Cora's soul has never found peace, and in each new life she has been given, she has been afraid to fall in love in" with Finn and fulfill her destiny to help the world. (I hope this is not responsible for all of the problems we are having in 2020.)
The angels send Liam to Providence Falls, North Carolina in the present day where Cora is a police investigator. Finn Walsh is there too, a "reserved and somewhat stuffy" defense attorney who has a crush on Cora. But Cora is not interested in Finn.
Cora's father calls her to tell her that he has found a roommate to replace the woman moving out of Cora's apartment. His name is Liam, and he is the newest member of the police department, where he will be Cora's new partner.
If Liam wants his soul to enter heaven, he has to convince Cora to fall in love in Finn and fulfill their destiny. The only problem is, now that Liam sees Cora in the flesh again, he realizes he still has feelings for her. What if she feels the same way?
Liam has to learn all about life in the 21st century- cars, cell phones, computers, etc.- and now he is on the other side of the law, which is amusing. People he knew in 1844 Ireland are also here in Providence Falls- his fellow petty thieves, and the wealthy married woman he had an affair with is now a wealthy married woman who wants to have an affair with Liam.
Chance of A Lifetime is the first novel in the new Providence Falls series, so the reader is introduced to the small city and all its residents. It's an enjoyable read, a cross between TV's The Good Place and Diana Galbadon's Outlander novels. Can Liam sacrifice his happiness to achieve his mission? You'll have to stay tuned, because there is no answer to that question in this novel. That may be my biggest criticism of this charming novel, it ends rather abruptly with a lot of unresolved issues. I'll happy return to Providence Falls to find out what happens next.
Thanks to Harlequin for putting me on their Women's Fiction & Romance Fall Reads Blog Tour.
Agon and Samael are two angels who work for the Department of Destiny. They summon the soul of Liam O'Connor, an impoverished petty thief from Ireland in 1844 who fell in love with Cora, the daughter of wealthy landowner. Cora was engaged to marry Finn Walsh, and their child was destined to help the world.
But Liam disrupted those plans when Cora fell in love with him and broke off her engagement to Finn. Because of that, "Cora's soul has never found peace, and in each new life she has been given, she has been afraid to fall in love in" with Finn and fulfill her destiny to help the world. (I hope this is not responsible for all of the problems we are having in 2020.)
The angels send Liam to Providence Falls, North Carolina in the present day where Cora is a police investigator. Finn Walsh is there too, a "reserved and somewhat stuffy" defense attorney who has a crush on Cora. But Cora is not interested in Finn.
Cora's father calls her to tell her that he has found a roommate to replace the woman moving out of Cora's apartment. His name is Liam, and he is the newest member of the police department, where he will be Cora's new partner.
If Liam wants his soul to enter heaven, he has to convince Cora to fall in love in Finn and fulfill their destiny. The only problem is, now that Liam sees Cora in the flesh again, he realizes he still has feelings for her. What if she feels the same way?
Liam has to learn all about life in the 21st century- cars, cell phones, computers, etc.- and now he is on the other side of the law, which is amusing. People he knew in 1844 Ireland are also here in Providence Falls- his fellow petty thieves, and the wealthy married woman he had an affair with is now a wealthy married woman who wants to have an affair with Liam.
Chance of A Lifetime is the first novel in the new Providence Falls series, so the reader is introduced to the small city and all its residents. It's an enjoyable read, a cross between TV's The Good Place and Diana Galbadon's Outlander novels. Can Liam sacrifice his happiness to achieve his mission? You'll have to stay tuned, because there is no answer to that question in this novel. That may be my biggest criticism of this charming novel, it ends rather abruptly with a lot of unresolved issues. I'll happy return to Providence Falls to find out what happens next.
Thanks to Harlequin for putting me on their Women's Fiction & Romance Fall Reads Blog Tour.
September 16, 2020
A Rogue Tries Save His Soul from Damnation
In 1844 Ireland, Liam was a thief. He did it to save his family from starvation, but he was still a thief. Then he met Cora, daughter of the squire. They became friends and fell in love, but that wasn’t the plan the angels had in mind. Cora was supposed to marry Finn.
Now it’s the present day and the angels are giving Liam a second chance. Cora is a police officer. Liam becomes her partner and the angels tell him that he must convince her to marry the man she was destined for in the 1800s. This isn’t easy. Liam wants her for himself, but on the other hand does he want to spend an eternity in hell?
This book is told in two time periods. As usual, I found one to be more interesting than the other. The historical romance is very well done. I’m not so sure about the modern counterpart. Cora is much different. She’s now a determined police officer who doesn’t want anyone to influence her decisions and that includes Liam.
The angels are a constant presence monitoring Liam’s behavior and trying to keep him on track to accomplish his goal of getting Cora married to the right man. They are amusing. I enjoyed the comic aura they gave to the story.
This is the first book in the Providence Falls series and sets up the action for a follow-on.
I received this book from Harlequin for this review.
In 1844 Ireland, Liam was a thief. He did it to save his family from starvation, but he was still a thief. Then he met Cora, daughter of the squire. They became friends and fell in love, but that wasn’t the plan the angels had in mind. Cora was supposed to marry Finn.
Now it’s the present day and the angels are giving Liam a second chance. Cora is a police officer. Liam becomes her partner and the angels tell him that he must convince her to marry the man she was destined for in the 1800s. This isn’t easy. Liam wants her for himself, but on the other hand does he want to spend an eternity in hell?
This book is told in two time periods. As usual, I found one to be more interesting than the other. The historical romance is very well done. I’m not so sure about the modern counterpart. Cora is much different. She’s now a determined police officer who doesn’t want anyone to influence her decisions and that includes Liam.
The angels are a constant presence monitoring Liam’s behavior and trying to keep him on track to accomplish his goal of getting Cora married to the right man. They are amusing. I enjoyed the comic aura they gave to the story.
This is the first book in the Providence Falls series and sets up the action for a follow-on.
I received this book from Harlequin for this review.
September 10, 2020
If you enjoy love stories that stretch through time, this book is the perfect addition to your summer reading list!
Reincarnation is introduced into the hero’s story when he is brought before the angels on his Judgement Day, but it doesn’t go as he would have planned. They have another story for him to endoure, and this book is the journey through time, changing the course of history forever.
The love story has heartbreak and heartwarming moments. But are second chances enough to save “soulmates?”
I liked how the authors played around with time travel between POVs in the 1800s and present day. It was just the right mashup to get me invested in how in the world this was going to play out!
A solid 4 out of 5 star read from me, and I would recommend this one if you liked the idea of opposites attract, a roller-coaster plot, and secret loves. The conflict throughout the novel made me fly through the book in just one sitting
*Disclaimer: I requested a free copy of this book from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions only and are not influenced in any way.*
Reincarnation is introduced into the hero’s story when he is brought before the angels on his Judgement Day, but it doesn’t go as he would have planned. They have another story for him to endoure, and this book is the journey through time, changing the course of history forever.
The love story has heartbreak and heartwarming moments. But are second chances enough to save “soulmates?”
I liked how the authors played around with time travel between POVs in the 1800s and present day. It was just the right mashup to get me invested in how in the world this was going to play out!
A solid 4 out of 5 star read from me, and I would recommend this one if you liked the idea of opposites attract, a roller-coaster plot, and secret loves. The conflict throughout the novel made me fly through the book in just one sitting
*Disclaimer: I requested a free copy of this book from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions only and are not influenced in any way.*
September 3, 2020
The story opens in 1844, with Liam as a thief. He breaks into his landlord’s house to steal jewels when he runs into Cora, the landlord’s daughter. From there Liam is quickly brought to the decision point with angles deciding if his soul will go to heaven or hell. He’s told he has one chance to get Cora to fall in love with Finn because Cora and Finn have any important part to play in life. Since Liam stole Cora’s heart in 1844 when is was meant for Finn, he has to make it right. If he fails, Cora will continue to die early in her lives and Liam’s soul will go to hell.
I was not sure about this book when I first read the description but I’m so glad I picked it up. I loved the scene with the angels in the beginning! I love the idea that people live again and again. It’s referenced many times in the book how the people in Liam’s current life are the same as in his 1844 life.
Liam gets a chance at life in the present. He is a police officer, which is ironic given he was a thief in 1844. In addition to getting Cora to fall in love with Finn, he has to solve a crime in which he is a suspect. The entire book draws you in.
The only disappointment in the book was the ending. I got to the end and had to check to make sure I had not skipped some of the book because it ended so suddenly. This book is part of a series and I can’t wait to read the next one. I have so many open questions and I wish some of them were cleared up in this book.
I was not sure about this book when I first read the description but I’m so glad I picked it up. I loved the scene with the angels in the beginning! I love the idea that people live again and again. It’s referenced many times in the book how the people in Liam’s current life are the same as in his 1844 life.
Liam gets a chance at life in the present. He is a police officer, which is ironic given he was a thief in 1844. In addition to getting Cora to fall in love with Finn, he has to solve a crime in which he is a suspect. The entire book draws you in.
The only disappointment in the book was the ending. I got to the end and had to check to make sure I had not skipped some of the book because it ended so suddenly. This book is part of a series and I can’t wait to read the next one. I have so many open questions and I wish some of them were cleared up in this book.
September 6, 2020
Cora was engaged to Finn in Ireland in 1844 until she met Liam and, well, Finn was history,. Now it's the present, in North Carolina, and Liam is an angel who must reset the past. Or the future. Whatever- he's got to get Cora, who in this lifetime is his colleague as a law enforcement officer, back with Finn. Oddly, the. best parts of this book were, for me at least, Liam's struggles with being in the 21st century. This has a lot of tropes going on- the love triangle (of sorts), angels, past lives, and so on- but the characters are likable and the dialogue is fun,. It's also quite different from Deveraux's usual. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. This is one for when you want some romance- and know the the story doesn't end here.
September 9, 2020
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars.
Chance Of A Lifetime by Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets is for the most part a very sweet second chance romance / loosely formatted police procedural. Heavy on the romance. Kinda?!
Confused yet?
Yes?
Thought so...
Picture it!
Ireland 1844.
Liam O'Connor is a young and impoverished commoner with sticky fingers. Heading a gang of thieves bound and determined to rob the local Squire's house. While he and his household are away.
Only Liam, wary of the plan because the Squire had done his brother and his family a kindness the previous winter. And secretly hoping to thwart other dastardly deeds sure to be associated with it. Decides that he will be the one to burgle the noble house well ahead of the proposed date. And thereby prevent an unnecessary damage that the others of his crew intend.
Only to find that it is he who has hos heart stolen. When upon scaling the house and entering an open upstairs window. He finds himself face to face with Cora McCleod. The daughter of the Squire. And apparent 'love at first sight' to our Liam.
The problem...
Young Cora, it seems has been fated to marry her father's solicitor, Finley. And Liam's suit derails that. Thereby not allowing for the birth of a child destined to help humanity.
A crime which Liam must answer for at judgment.
Bring on the reincarnation...
Along with the all too convenient story set up.
Wherein Liam is transported from 1844 Ireland, to heaven, and then on to present day Providence Falls, North Carolina.
Without so much as a GPS, 21st century tips and tricks guide, or at least a list of the latest slang and technological advancements.
Only a duffle, some clothes, some money, A cell phone...
(Which he knows how to use. Strangely enough.)
And one directive.
Get Cora to fall for Finley Walsh at all costs.
Although I'm quite sure that they did not intend that he become a murder suspect in the process.
Go figure.
As mentioned before. This is a very sweet romance turned mystery.
Albeit with a few flaws.
The first of which is the fact that quite a few people from Cora and Liam's shared past have all managed to settle in the same North Carolina town. And now either work together or know each other personally.
Really???
Also...
Liam is a cop with no training, no knowledge of procedure or law. But he can just waltz into the local police department and immediately be partnered with his reincarnated long lost love.
What?????
Annd the coincidences just keep coming.
The only thing that works to save this story is the fact that Liam and Cora are extremely likeable. And readers spend the majority of the book hoping for some sort of "happily..."
The attainment of which this reviewer is at liberty to neither confirm or deny. Although one may be in sight by book two.
This is a light read. With just enough readability to keep one on the hook til the end. But sadly lacking the staying power to leave a lasting impression beyond the last page.
Reviewer's Notes
I would like to thank Netgalley and Mira for providing the review copy on which this honest critique is based.
This book is the first in what appears to be a related series.
It is recommended that this series be read in its intended order.
Chance Of A Lifetime by Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets is for the most part a very sweet second chance romance / loosely formatted police procedural. Heavy on the romance. Kinda?!
Confused yet?
Yes?
Thought so...
Picture it!
Ireland 1844.
Liam O'Connor is a young and impoverished commoner with sticky fingers. Heading a gang of thieves bound and determined to rob the local Squire's house. While he and his household are away.
Only Liam, wary of the plan because the Squire had done his brother and his family a kindness the previous winter. And secretly hoping to thwart other dastardly deeds sure to be associated with it. Decides that he will be the one to burgle the noble house well ahead of the proposed date. And thereby prevent an unnecessary damage that the others of his crew intend.
Only to find that it is he who has hos heart stolen. When upon scaling the house and entering an open upstairs window. He finds himself face to face with Cora McCleod. The daughter of the Squire. And apparent 'love at first sight' to our Liam.
The problem...
Young Cora, it seems has been fated to marry her father's solicitor, Finley. And Liam's suit derails that. Thereby not allowing for the birth of a child destined to help humanity.
A crime which Liam must answer for at judgment.
Bring on the reincarnation...
Along with the all too convenient story set up.
Wherein Liam is transported from 1844 Ireland, to heaven, and then on to present day Providence Falls, North Carolina.
Without so much as a GPS, 21st century tips and tricks guide, or at least a list of the latest slang and technological advancements.
Only a duffle, some clothes, some money, A cell phone...
(Which he knows how to use. Strangely enough.)
And one directive.
Get Cora to fall for Finley Walsh at all costs.
Although I'm quite sure that they did not intend that he become a murder suspect in the process.
Go figure.
As mentioned before. This is a very sweet romance turned mystery.
Albeit with a few flaws.
The first of which is the fact that quite a few people from Cora and Liam's shared past have all managed to settle in the same North Carolina town. And now either work together or know each other personally.
Really???
Also...
Liam is a cop with no training, no knowledge of procedure or law. But he can just waltz into the local police department and immediately be partnered with his reincarnated long lost love.
What?????
Annd the coincidences just keep coming.
The only thing that works to save this story is the fact that Liam and Cora are extremely likeable. And readers spend the majority of the book hoping for some sort of "happily..."
The attainment of which this reviewer is at liberty to neither confirm or deny. Although one may be in sight by book two.
This is a light read. With just enough readability to keep one on the hook til the end. But sadly lacking the staying power to leave a lasting impression beyond the last page.
Reviewer's Notes
I would like to thank Netgalley and Mira for providing the review copy on which this honest critique is based.
This book is the first in what appears to be a related series.
It is recommended that this series be read in its intended order.
September 15, 2020
I love Jude Deveraux books and any with a time travel plot even more. This was a page turner for me . I enjoyed the book, the characters and look forward to the next one. I wasn’t expecting this book to end like it did tho.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy
September 2, 2020
There are going to be many readers who enjoy this book, and although my star rating reflects my overall dissatisfaction when I reached the final page, there were some things that I very much liked about this book. There was great dialogue, humor, and interesting secondary characters.
Ultimately, I had an extreme dislike for the way this book ended. It felt as if the story were written in a continuing soap opera or serial installment, and nothing was resolved with this book. More than a cliffhanger, it was as if the story was chopped off with the rest to come. This will not bother all readers.
I am interested in reading the next book to see how this story progresses. I hope that the romance element will be stronger than it was in this book. I also hope that the reason for the angels becoming involved their confusing rules will become clear. I hope that this love story can be resolved in the next book. Finally, I want to mention the beautiful cover and how it perfectly captures the mood of the book.
Ultimately, I had an extreme dislike for the way this book ended. It felt as if the story were written in a continuing soap opera or serial installment, and nothing was resolved with this book. More than a cliffhanger, it was as if the story was chopped off with the rest to come. This will not bother all readers.
I am interested in reading the next book to see how this story progresses. I hope that the romance element will be stronger than it was in this book. I also hope that the reason for the angels becoming involved their confusing rules will become clear. I hope that this love story can be resolved in the next book. Finally, I want to mention the beautiful cover and how it perfectly captures the mood of the book.
Shelved as 'dnf'
January 29, 2021DNF @18%
2020; Mira/Harlequin
I loved this pretty cover and the idea of romance through the times. It was giving me Outlander and The Time Traveler's Wife vibes so I was very eager to start this one. I may have put too much expectations on it, as I just couldn't get into the story. I kept turning the audio off, and wanted to listen to something but kept putting it off. I have enjoyed Deveraux's writing and books in the past, so maybe it's the dual authors....or just me.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2020; Mira/Harlequin
I loved this pretty cover and the idea of romance through the times. It was giving me Outlander and The Time Traveler's Wife vibes so I was very eager to start this one. I may have put too much expectations on it, as I just couldn't get into the story. I kept turning the audio off, and wanted to listen to something but kept putting it off. I have enjoyed Deveraux's writing and books in the past, so maybe it's the dual authors....or just me.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
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