Book Review: Chance of a Lifetime by Jodi Thomas

Chance of a Lifetime by Jodi Thomas
Release date: December 31, 2012
Publisher: Berkley
Paperback, 336 pages
ISBN: 9780425250525
Harmony, Texas #5


My Review:
As we re-visit Harmony, Texas in book five of this wonderful series, I am reminded in Chance of a Lifetime that each book doesn't tell just one story but interweaves multiple stories. Sometimes it finishes those stories off and sometimes it leaves them open to continue somewhere else along the way in the series. But no matter what the journey in the story will be enjoyable. And it continues here in Chance of a Lifetime.

Two couples are the star of this book, Emily and Tannon, who were best friends growing up but grew apart and Rick and Trace who find themselves thrown together by the suspense thread that Ms. Thomas weaves in Chance of a Lifetime. I enjoyed both couples and getting to know them in this book. Rick is the only one I really remember from earlier books, Trace is new to the story as an outsider to the town, but if Tannon and Emily had any roles before they were just cursory roles. So it was really four new characters to get to know. I felt I got to know Emily and Tannon the best and I really enjoyed their story. They are both scarred people trying to come to term with the problems they face so they can come together. A theme that is often used, but I really like how it is used with these two.

As far as Rick and Trace, I felt their story (as in romance and character development) was secondary to the suspense element that Ms. Thomas built up around them. With Emily and Tannon it was all about the romance and character development. With Rick and Trace it was suspense and then character development which was great. It was kind of like getting two stories all in one, yet they meshed together perfectly. The suspense was good, I figured out about 2/3 of the way through who it was but that was okay, I think the reader was meant to, because there was still the element of catching and stopping the person. It was a good suspense plot and I cared about Rick enough to want the person caught. I liked Trace and learning about her as well. She was definitely an interesting addition to the story and I hope to see more of her in the future.

There were some other storylines in the book that I hope will continue in future books, but you'll have to read to see what those are. Of course there are appearances by previous book characters as they are major people in Harmony. All-in-all it's like going back to your hometown and seeing all the people you know and love and some you don't. A visit to Harmony is like seeing your old friends and being enveloped in a warm hug. I love my visits to Harmony and can't wait for the next installment later this Spring. Ms. Thomas continues to hold my attention, bring me interesting characters and great suspense plots with each novel and that will keep bringing me back for more.

My rating: 5.0/5.0

And as a wonderful bonus, Jodi Thomas' Chance of a Lifetime hit #20 on the NY Times Bestseller list! Congrats Jodi!

About Chance of a Lifetime
NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Jodi Thomas takes us back to Harmony, Texas, in CHANCE OF A LIFETIME. The fifth book in her popular Harmony series presents a story where big dreams are brewing—and anything and everything is possible…

Emily, the local librarian, has started a writing group, but as the group stumbles through both the fiction and reality of their lives, they’re learning much more than how to write. But Emily suddenly has other things on her mind when a friend from her past shows up in Hamony's
library. Now she must deal with a secret she’s kept for fifteen years—a secret that changed her life and threatens to shatter her future.

Meanwhile, new lawyer Rick Matheson thinks he’s in charge of his world until accidents start happening all around him. Just when he realizes someone is trying to kill him, he meets a beautiful U.S. Marshal named Trace Adam. Now that the marshal has given him an even stronger reason to go on living, he must learn to take a chance on life to dream bigger—and love better—than
he ever has before...




About Jodi Thomas:
Jodi Thomas is the NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of 36 novels and 11 short story colections. In June 2011, WELCOME TO HARMONY, the first book in the Harmony series, won a RITA, the highest award for women’s fiction. Jodi currently serves as the Writer in Residence at West Texas
A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

www.jodithomas.com
www.facebook.com/JodiThomasAuthor
www.twitter.com/jodithomas

***I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***