Christine Columbus's Blog

 

 

 River sunsets, romantic campfires, and summer love. Willautumn leave Sally with bittersweet memories or a broken heart?

       Available September 15, 2025

Sally has sworn off relationships. At forty-seven, she findsherself stuck in a rut and feels as if she’s going nowhere. Until her motherneeds help to fix up her house, now Sally spends her weekends driving threehours to plaster and paint walls.

Ty is also lending a hand with the repairs, and theirattraction simmers just beneath the surface. As the house takes on a new life,so does Sally’s heart. By day, they work on the house, but in the evenings,they escape to a local campground, overlooking river sunsets and diving into asummer romance.

What does Sally do when summer fades to fall, and Typrepares to leave?

 

While watching a rabbit and tortoise race, a young boy learns the differences between reptiles, plants, animals and people. He also discovers even though we all have differences. We are all the same. We are all living things.
Living Things available on Amazon 






Boo Bear is un-Bear-able and needs to go to bed. Help Anders gets Boo ready for bed. by counting down from ten to one. Bedtime for Boo Bear available on Amazon 

 

Chance Meeting by Christine ColumbusMay 9, 2025 By Long and Short Reviews Leave a Comment

Chance Meeting by Christine Columbus
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Melody is fostering her niece while her sister, Captain Opal Erickson, is deployed to Kuwait. A chance meeting at work with Clayton, a construction manager, awakens feelings of the love and romance. Everything is perfect until Opal reveals a family truth and swears Melody to secrecy.

To honor her sisterly pledge, Mel attempts to reject any advances from Clayton, until he guesses the truth. Torn between loyalty to Opal and love for Clayton, she pours herself into work, making a mess of everything. When the dust settles, Mel is left wondering if she’ll be able to put the pieces of her life back together.

Chance Meeting was such a fun and heartwarming read. I completely agree with the praise comments shared at the beginning of the book. Melody is a relatable heroine as she navigates the challenge of living a balanced life. Like many of us, she struggles to juggle work, family, responsibilities, and making time for herself. It’s all too easy to become overwhelmed and burned out—and sometimes, it takes hitting rock bottom to recognize your limits. I admired Melody’s dedication, persistence, and strong moral compass. I found myself truly invested in her love story because she genuinely deserved a happily-ever-after.

The hero, Clayton, felt almost too good to be true. He’s handsome, successful in his career as a construction manager, romantic, and a natural with kids. Melody is fostering her niece, Kansas, while her sister, Opal, is deployed. Watching Clayton step in and help—especially when he pulled off an adorable camping-themed sleepover for a group of girls—was both entertaining and endearing. It was beautiful how Melody, Clayton, and Kansas seemed to fit together so naturally, like a ready-made family.

Chance Meeting is an easy, engaging read with a smooth-flowing plot. Things progress without major complications—until Melody’s sister drops a family bombshell and swears her to secrecy. The drama that followed had me on edge, especially the impact it had on Melody’s relationship with Clayton. Just when you think Melody has reached her breaking point, another plot twist emerges, pushing the story into even more emotional territory. I was completely hooked, wondering how she would pull her life back together.

All the tension only enhanced my enjoyment of the story. The chemistry between Melody and Clayton was both tender and sensual, and I loved watching them open their hearts to the possibilities of a shared future. They both value family, share common interests, and are thoughtful and respectful toward one another’s feelings.

The best part? The ending. Every plot thread was wrapped up beautifully, leaving me fully satisfied and smiling. I couldn’t have asked for a better conclusion. I highly recommend taking a chance on Chance Meeting—it’s a sweet, emotionally rich romance that’s well worth the read.

 

 I signed a contract with The Wild Rose Press for my new novel and I am working with the editor to get the story ready for publication.  

Sally is forty-seven years old, lives in Minneapolis, and has sworn off relationships. A week ago, Sally would have said she was going nowhere, but her unpredictable and strong-willed mother, Mabel, needed help. So now Sal drives weekly to River Town, WI.
She meets Ty, and their feelings simmer beneath the surface. By day, they work to complete the repairs in Mabel’s house. At night, they retire to a local campground, watching the sunset over the Mississippi River and diving into a summer romance.

 

So This is Love    Virtual Book Fair.

Time to find your next happily ever after!

 Please stop by:

https://www.oklahomaromancewritersgui...

 

 

 

 

 

 Review from Novels Alive

Chance Meeting by Christine Columbus is a rom-com with laugh-out-loud moments, likable characters, and romance.

Mel is a widow and a workaholic, caring for her six-year-old niece while her sister is deployed.

Multiple stories are told, with twists, turns, surprises, and action. The story has a quick pace, good flow, and some interesting secondary characters—Mel’s niece, Kansas, love interest Clay, and Paula, her assistant at work, who always adds some comedy to every situation. Mel’s sister, Opal, is always in the background but is present in Mel and Kansas’ thoughts. Sometimes, Mel needs to focus on herself, but will she?

We see corporate politics at work, high stress levels and the issues caused by them, truths uncovered, injuries and illness, family time, and love on different levels. Baseball plays a part in a cute way, and Kansas keeps her auntie on her toes. There is closure and a happily ever after, and I would love to see this be the start of a series or at least a connected story. Opal and Paula definitely need their own stories to be told.

Chance Meeting is a fast-paced rom-com with loads of comedic relief as Mel and Clay are drawn to each other.

 

 

 

 Available through these fine retailers…

 Amazon     Walmart       BooksAMillion     Indie Bound     Kobo

Barnes & Noble       ITunes    Google Books

Melody is fostering her niece while her sister, Captain Opal Erickson, is deployed to Kuwait. A chance meeting at work with Clayton, a construction manager, awakens feelings of the love and romance. Everything is perfect until Opal reveals a family truth and swears Melody to secrecy.
To honor her sisterly pledge, Mel attempts to reject any advances from Clayton, until he guesses the truth. Torn between loyalty to Opal and love for Clayton, she pours herself into work, making a mess of everything. When the dust settles, Mel is left wondering if she’ll be able to put the pieces of her life back together.

 

Chance Meeting  - will be available January 8, 2025.  Order your copy now. 

Available through these fine retailer:Amazon, Walmart, Indie Bound, ITunes

 Melody is fostering her niece while her sister, Captain Opal Erickson, is deployed to Kuwait. A chance meeting at work with Clayton, a construction manager, awakens feelings of the love and romance. Everything is perfect until Opal reveals a family truth and swears Melody to secrecy.
To honor her sisterly pledge, Mel attempts to reject any advances from Clayton, until he guesses the truth. Torn between loyalty to Opal and love for Clayton, she pours herself into work, making a mess of everything. When the dust settles, Mel is left wondering if she’ll be able to put the pieces of her life back together. 

 

Chance Meeting

 

I think the readers will find Mel veryrelatable. Who hasn’t felt, when it comes to life’s decisions, that it seems likeeveryone else’s welfare and happiness comes first. Through heart felt andclever dialogue, you follow along as Mel comes to the realization that sheneeds to take responsibility for her own happiness before it’s too late.

Colleen R.

 

I thoroughly loved the story. A goodwriter allows you to envision each character even without ever seeing them andI hated saying good bye to them at the end of the book.

Patricia F.

 

I loved Chance Meeting.

Amanda F.

 

Re-releasing Christmas Mischief - review was from 2008.

Christmas Mischief

Night Owl Romance Book Review – Top Pick

Ms. Columbus writes with such humor. I was cracking up with Charlie’s innocent antics and feeling so sorry for Amber not having the easiest of times trying to get to Grandma’s house. I love Ms. Columbus’ writing style and I look forward to reading more stories from her. You will not be disappointed if you pick this one up for yourself.

Paula P.

Previously published - 

The Perfect Country and WesternStory

 

Christine’s voice is engaging; herdialogue is believable. The Perfect Country Western Story would make a greatLifetime Channel movie."

Ana Morgan

Heroines With Hearts

 

Booksellers' Best Award 2010 Finalist

 

2011 More Than Magic - 3rd Place SingleTitle

 

Coffee And Love To Go

 

Fallen AngelReviews – Recommended Read

Christine Columbushits a nerve with the two shy characters that need help coming together. They find it with help from a radio talk show. Coffee and LoveTo Go is a must read. My only regret is it didn’t last long enough. I look forward to readingmore by Christine Columbus.

Reviewed by: Tracey

 

Uncle Mike’s Love

 

As I have come to expect from Columbus'works, a certain depth of character and a hint of compassion all leave thereader with the impression of a far longer and more involved tale.

Nancy A.Lindley-Gauthier,

Reviewerfor Long and Short Reviews

 

Ms. Columbus'tone isrealism with a heart.This story is too good to put down until the reader finishes. The author should takepity on her fans and add a remotecontrol with a pause button for those momentswhen life interrupts reading her deliciousstories.

Jade Taylor - HarlequinSuperromance

 

 

 $16.99  for Print Book

Also available as an eBook, Kindle

Chance Meeting

by Christine Columbus

 Available through these fine retailers…

 Amazon     Walmart       BooksAMillion     Indie Bound     

Barnes & Noble        ITunes

Melody is fostering her niece while her sister, Captain Opal Erickson, is deployed to Kuwait. A chance meeting at work with Clayton, a construction manager, awakens feelings of the love and romance. Everything is perfect until Opal reveals a family truth and swears Melody to secrecy.
To honor her sisterly pledge, Mel attempts to reject any advances from Clayton, until he guesses the truth. Torn between loyalty to Opal and love for Clayton, she pours herself into work, making a mess of everything. When the dust settles, Mel is left wondering if she’ll be able to put the pieces of her life back together.