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Chance
Best friends Mary and Kai share the morning and evening commute, and an abiding sense of being out of place in the world. But when Kai's girlfriend and a secret from his past cause him to withdraw even further into himself, Mary has to reevaluate the lines in the sand between them.
27 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 19, 2013
9 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
N.M. Lombardi
18 books14 followersN.M. Lombardi is a Bucks County, PA writer with a lifelong interest in crafting short, impactful fiction and original fables. In addition to writing, Nicole enjoys art, animal rescue, travel and cooking.
Nicole lives in Quakertown, PA with her husband Marc and a probably inadvisable number of cats.
Nicole lives in Quakertown, PA with her husband Marc and a probably inadvisable number of cats.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 15, 2017
★★★★! Chance (stand-alone). A poignant & sweet short story about friendship, life & love!
"Do you like being ignored?"
Another pause, one hand flinching on his knee. "It's what I know."
What a gem! There are several reasons why this Amazon freebie might not have been for me! First off it’s very, very short, secondly the hero is not a jaded alpha and thirdly there is no steam. But none of that really matters because this poignant story has Kai and he was so very, very special that in under 100 pages he managed to touch my heart and put tears in my eyes.
Chance is the story about two close friends, Mary and Kai who share the commute to and from work every day until one day when Mary discovers that Kai has been keeping secrets - some touching and sweet others heartbreaking…
Hero: Kai/25-30 years/research assistant - pharmaceutical company/Dark hair/dark eyes.
Four words to describe Kai: lovable, sweet, introverted and private.
Heroine:Mary/25-30 years/Bridal shop employee.
Four words to describe Mary: insightful, endearing spunky and loyal.
Chance, albeit short, gave a glimpse into Kai’s and Mary’s lives, friendship and future. It starts off focusing on the dynamics of their friendship, but quickly evolves into much more. Memorable and sweet Kai and his secrets drove this story.
Beautifully told it’s a story about life and about making the best out the cards one was dealt. My only regret would be that their story wasn’t longer - not because it did not have a HFN, because it did! - but because I wanted more of Kai! He moved me, their story touched me and I am recommending!
"Don't leave."
He turned his eyes up, half-focused, as she stood. "I still have to say things to you."
***
Hero rating: 4.5 stars
Heroine rating: 4 stars
Sex scenes rating: N/A
Storyline concept rating: 4 stars
Storytelling skills rating: 4.5 stars
Story ending rating: 4 stars
************************************************
Overall rating: 4 stars
Would I re-read this book: Yes!
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
September 22, 2013
3.5 Stars! An unexpected delightful short!
Let's just say it takes a lot to surprise me, I thought I knew, but I had no idea how this would play out. I just wish it had another one or two sentences at the end...a teensy weensy bit more closure...although the last line was beautiful! I'm not going to say anything else, this is a freebie, so it won't cost you anything to read and it will definitely leave you smiling!
Thanks to SueBee for her beautiful review which prompted me to read this.
September 25, 2015
Perfection!
My favourite novella, EVER.
My favourite novella, EVER.
February 6, 2020
Wow. Just wow.
This is so tender you can just feel your heart being squeezed.
Too short though :(
This is like a snapshot of the life of 2 very normal (yet not your usual normal) people that you can meet everyday and maybe not know. But there is so much love in it that you want to pause it and just live it. And you feel so happy at the end of this and so sad it is over.
So you read it again..and maybe again..
I must have read it like what.. 20 times?
And oh. The last line ❤❤
This is so tender you can just feel your heart being squeezed.
Too short though :(
This is like a snapshot of the life of 2 very normal (yet not your usual normal) people that you can meet everyday and maybe not know. But there is so much love in it that you want to pause it and just live it. And you feel so happy at the end of this and so sad it is over.
So you read it again..and maybe again..
I must have read it like what.. 20 times?
And oh. The last line ❤❤
October 25, 2015
A great short story. I do love stories that take place on a train. There is something romantic about making a connection on a train.
November 28, 2025
Nicole M. Lommbardi has written a suspenseful short story where the ending is a beautiful surprise when Kai tells Mary his secrets and lets her in on how he feels. His secrets come as a surprise and I loved the pinches Mary uses to get his attention. The last line in Chance was perfect.
May 28, 2013
What a sweet and lovely short story!
Kai and Mary are so engaging, and the depth of their relationship is made obvious as the story progresses. I really enjoyed Kai's story--his history, his struggles past and present, and his determination. But this, by far, is my favorite part of the story, where Kai asks Mary to say "I love you" and why:
"I want to hear you say it," His hands grasped the small of her back, pulling her to him. "I want to hear it so many times that I don't forget the sound of it when I can't hear anything else."
Kai and Mary are so engaging, and the depth of their relationship is made obvious as the story progresses. I really enjoyed Kai's story--his history, his struggles past and present, and his determination. But this, by far, is my favorite part of the story, where Kai asks Mary to say "I love you" and why:
"I want to hear you say it," His hands grasped the small of her back, pulling her to him. "I want to hear it so many times that I don't forget the sound of it when I can't hear anything else."
June 23, 2013
N.M Lombardi proves it is possible to pack a wallop in a story as short as 27 pages.
Kai, such an unusual name, in my language it means food. However that aside, this was a sweet romance, Kai was such an endearing H and you cannot help but feel his confusion as the world batters him with noise from all sides.
Mary was sweet too although it would have been nice to see a few longing lances or grinding jealousy when Kai hooked up with Chrystal. It might have made Mary’s declaration a bit more believable.
Still, a lovely uba short story.
March 26, 2013
This was a very short, very cute read. I liked it. I would've liked for the story to be a little longer. Even with them being best friends, it felt a little awkward that they professed their love to each other and decided to get married without so much as a kiss between them. It also ended oddly......I was seriously wondering, "huh? That is the end? That is the last sentence?" Not a bad ending, just didn't really feel "wrapped up".
April 1, 2013
Okay- this little novella surprised the heck out of me by presenting a perfect short story. It was a clip in time that was perfectly done presenting two characters, Mary and Kai, in a thirty minute read. I was fulling invested in the story and the plot from the first page through the last. Excellent job, and I highly recommend the novella... I wish all shorts could be done this well.
October 18, 2015
This was a sweet short story.It was a little sad to know you are going deaf in your late years.After hearing all kinds of things and not to be able to hear nothing at all.I really liked this short story.
October 1, 2013
WOW! I didn't think you can pack that much emotion into a short story but dang it!! I love it! Short and sweet.
September 12, 2016
Chance by N. M. Lombardi can be read in one sitting. It's a solid and unique story with a great voice.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews