Guest Review: Chance of a Lifetime by Jodi Thomas

Posted January 7, 2013 by Tracy in Reviews | 0 Comments

Tracy’s review of Chance of a Lifetime (Harmony Series#5) by Jodi Thomas

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 Harmony’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…

Emily is just your average Harmony citizen. She is the local librarian and just goes about her business without too much excitement in her life. She used to be best friends with Tannon Parker but after she was attacked in the school parking lot years ago they drifted apart as Tannon thought the attack his fault. Now Tannon is taking the steps to making Emily not only his best friend but trying to get the woman he’s loved for years to see him once again.

We also have Rick Matheson who is family to a ton of the citizens of Harmony and one of its local lawyers. After what he thinks is an accident on the back stairs of his office building he realizes that someone is trying to kill him or run him out of town – whichever comes first. He is guarded by Trace Adams who is doing a friend a favor but the couple can’t keep their attraction to themselves.

Ms. Thomas has once again given us a wonderful novel set in a town that I personally would love to live in. The people who live in Harmony are friendly (except for that person who’s trying to kill Rick) and they stick by each other. The thought of this small town and the way that its written makes me want to move there immediately. It’s described so well it seems like a real place!

The story with Emily and Tannon is just so incredibly wonderful in its simplicity. Tannon and Emily were once inseparable and now Tannon is finally breaching that divide that he pretty much created. He’s love Emily for years and though he tells her he just wants to be friends he slowly moves his way into her life. Of course Emily loves him as well, no matter what she tells herself and I loved seeing this couple make their slow, unsure way towards togetherness. They were a shy and awkward pair that was perfect for each other!

Rick’s little mystery stalker was interesting but it really took a backseat in my book to the burgeoning feelings between him and Trace. Trace had cut herself off and didn’t have time for relationships but Rick wasn’t letting her get away with throwing him to the wayside after being with her. Seeing Rick kind of come out of his shell and having Trace soften – but not too much mind you – toward Rick was kind of electric.

There was also a side story about Beau who sings at the local bar though he’s not old enough to drink there. He’s incredibly musically talented and lets the notes flow through him while he plays. He “meets” a girl who’s daddy calls her Trouble and they share some moments. This was a very unfinished story in that we really don’t know what’s going on with these two and what might happen in the future. It turned out to be a quiet attraction that told me there will be more in the future – at least I hope there will be.

I have to say that I loved almost every moment of this book. The Harmony series, for me, is one that I just can’t get enough of and I hate when I get to the last page of each book. I want more! This is a definite must read.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

The Series: