The Chance

Really good book. Laine first appeared in the previous book, The Hero, as the undercover FBI agent who helped Devon and others escape from the commune. She was shot during the operation and has returned to Thunder Point to recover. She had been put on desk duty which she hated, so she has taken a year's leave of absence to finish her recovery and decide what she wants to do now. Eric sold his business in Eugene and has moved to Thunder Point to be closer to his daughter. Neither is looking for a relationship, but the chemistry between them is too strong to ignore.

I loved both Laine and Eric. Laine is trying to figure out what she wants to do next. The undercover operation took a lot out of her besides the injury she sustained and she show more isn't sure that she wants to continue as an agent. She liked what she saw of Thunder Point and has gone there for her recovery time. It also gets her away from her father, who has always given her grief about her profession. She is drawn to Eric from the first time she met him, and she can see that he's interested too. I loved the way that she asked him out when he didn't move fast enough for her.

Eric is a pretty laid back kind of guy. After a less than stellar youth that earned him a stint in prison he has turned his life around. He spends most of his time building his new business and trying to spend time with his teenage daughter. He encounters Laine several times and is more attracted each time. He doesn't consider himself a good bet relationship wise, so he tries to keep his distance from Laine. That doesn't work, and they are soon deeply involved with each other.

I really liked to developing romance between them. They are honest with each other about their expectations, which reduces their chances of conflict. Those that they do have they are able to resolve fairly easily by talking things out. She is surprised by his prison record, but she doesn't let it stop her from getting to know Eric better. Laine's job as an FBI agent surprises Eric, and he has a hard time at first accepting that she constantly puts herself into dangerous situations. I loved her demonstration of how well she can take care of herself and Eric's reaction to it. It was a great illustration of how well the two of them suit each other. Though they started out as simply two adults enjoying each other's company, they soon found themselves in a much deeper relationship than they expected. I loved Eric's support of Laine as she dealt with her issues with her father. Laine's difficult relationship with her father takes an interesting turn when he shows up in Thunder Point. When those issues pulled them apart, their unhappiness at being separated was obvious. Eric worries that Laine won't be able to return to Thunder Point and he can't leave as he gets to spend time with his daughter. I was really rooting for them to get their HEA, and loved the way it worked out at the end.

I loved seeing Laine's relationships with various members of her family. As her relationship with Eric changes her, her relationships with her family change also. I loved seeing the discussions she had with her sister-in-law as they finally got to know each other. The changes she went through also affected the way she looked at her father and their relationship. Her pain as she deals with him is heartbreaking but also makes the resolution of that story line very satisfying.

There are also two wonderful side stories. An old friend and employee of Eric's shows up to work with him and takes a liking to Ray Anne. She has always been an interesting character with her flamboyant clothing and direct attitude. She and Al hit it off in an unexpected way, and I really enjoyed seeing the way she changes around him. Al is an interesting guy who has some issues that cause him some insecurity around her. Al also takes an interest in helping a teenage employee of Eric's who is dealing with some major family issues. He does what he feels he can, but those same issues make him feel that he can't do more. I loved seeing him finally get the courage to reach out for a second chance. show less

Audio book version:

Although I have not read the prior three books in the Thunder Point series, and knew nothing of these characters, I was easily submersed into their lives and unpretentious town. I really enjoyed the main characters and the secondary characters reminded me of people I know. That’s what books should do—produce scenes, characters, and storylines that readers can relate to.

Robyn Carr is a new-to-me author. I enjoy her tone and the ease of imagery. Her narration isn’t wordy, and her ability to emote the character’s emotions is appreciated.

Thérèse Plummer, the voiceover artist who narrates this book, has a pleasant voice and superb inflection, which makes this audio book more engaging than many other audio books show more I’ve read.

I enjoyed this contemporary romance. The relationship between Laine and Eric is believable, and overcoming the past is a strong foundation of this story. I’m pleased to discover Robyn Carr’s books and plan to read the previous installments of this story, and I’m also encouraged to seek out more audio books with Therese Plummer as the narrator.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received The Chance, by Robyn Carr in audio format from the Library Thing Early Reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review and the options I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. show less

FBI agent Laine is recovering from a gunshot wound in Thunder Point. Eric is new to town, after finding out about his now teen daughter, he wants to get to know her. A reformed criminal, he buys the gas station in town & moves his detailing/restore work to town. He meets Laine at the diner, and then with chance meetings....keeps seeing her around. What does an ex-FBI have in common with a mechanic/"body man" - the double entendres throughout were fun.

Robyn Carr writes moving, compelling contemporary romance. The Thunder Point series features characters who are dealing with the struggles and challenges of everyday life. In this book, Laine, a wounded female FBI agent, falls in love with Eric, who owns a gas station in town. The relationship progresses naturally and realistically. Overall, I really enjoyed this story.

The Chance by Robyn Carr was an unusual read for me. It was one of the first “romance” books I have read in quite some time and I enjoyed it. It is the story of Laine Carrington, an injured FGI agent who goes to the Thunder Point, a small town on the Oregon coast, both to recover from her on the job injuries and make some decisions about the direction of her life. Laine is unmarried and young and is still haunted by a negative relationship with her physician father. She is also saddened by the loss of her mother. She has a twin brother who appears to be the favored child, following the foot steps of their parents by becoming a doctor. In the small town Laine makes new friends and a local mechanic Eric bring a new twist to her show more life.
My main criticism of the book is its abrupt ending, as if the author had to hurriedly cut it off to write another book or the continuing story of these characters. At lease it is my assumption that another book will follow for there were too many unresolved issues for it to be ended in this manner. I gave it a 4 star review because it kept me interested in the outcome of the characters and it was well delivered. I appreciate the copy provided by LibraryThing for review. show less

I had enjoyed reading the Virgin River series by Robyn Carr, and was delighted to win this audio book through Librarything in exchange for an honest review.

As with the previous books in both the Virgin River and Thunder Point series, the setting of the story is a small town where everyone knows everyone in town. It was an extra bonus to touch on the characters introduced in the previous books I had read in the series.

The Chance centers around Laine, an FBI agent who was injured in an undercover operation and has moved to Thunder Point to recuperate and take stock of her life. She meets Eric, and though he has a dark past, they quickly become involved. Laine's domineering father has caused her heartache for years, and she has never had show more his approval. Laine has had enough of her father's criticism and has basically told him to stay out of her life. Eric's non-judgmental caring and concern is just what Laine needs when her father shows up on her doorstep. Her father needs her and she must forgive as him as she struggles with decisions about the next path to take in her life. It is an interesting story, with no surprises and a predictable outcome. The strength of the book is the small town feel and the characters who live there.

The audio version of the book was well done, though I think I prefer reading rather than listening to this type of book. I didn't think the dialog worked as well when spoken aloud. show less

The Chance takes readers back to Thunder Point and revisits a character, Laine Carrington, who appeared in a previous book in the series. Laine meets Eric Gentry, a mechanic and this is their story. Each of them has past issues to deal with and once again Robyn Carr is good at moving the plot along at a believable pace. Recommend for fans of Robyn Carr. Review based on an ARC from NetGalley.