C is for Chance Roosevelt-Sutton. Chiseled jaw. Smug attitude. Wild ways. Chained to his ego—or so everyone thinks. Except his personal assistant, Brook. He knows better. Chance is challenged to make his father happy for once, but he needs Brook’s help. Choosing honesty is too risky, so instead they choose secrecy. Choked by their pasts, they dream of a better life . . . and Charm each other into submission.
Will their pasts ruin what they have, or will they grow together?
C is for Challenging Chance.
Tropes: Alpha male, millionaire bad boy, athlete, help/comfort Themes: Basketball, coming out Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance
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Feisty. Nerdy. Sexy. Secretive. Greenville has them all. A small town with big hearts, Greenville awakens at the mercy of Millionaire Row, the wealthy neighborhood across the tracks from Poplar Low. Bad-tempered boys meet cheeky lovers. Colliding worlds spark a fire of emotion. Heat rages. Hearts mend. Love is lost. And found.
Love Letters are playful, sexy, contemporary M/M stories that can be read as standalones. Welcome to Greenville. Come for the sexy boys. Stay for the HEA.
Specialising in slow-burn romances where emotions reign, intimacy lingers, and chemistry sizzles—stories that leave you holding your breath and cheering for love, with just a splash of spice to sweeten the journey.
GAH! I absolutely LOVED everything about this story.
Book 1 was good, book 2 was even better, but the story that made me the most nervous, what Chance was going to do to redeem his asshole ways... Simply the best.
My biggest fear was that Chance would somehow fuck up the HEA between Landon and Ben (from book 2), but that fear was entirely unfounded. Did Landon and Ben still have hard feelings toward Chance? Oh, you betcha. But did it turn into a huge 'thing'? Nope. : )
Instead, Chance's "one and only" person turned out to be Brook, a snarky personal assistant who took no shit and made no apologies for holding Chance's feet to the fire to be a decent human being. A better one, worthy of being loved.
The slow burn and attraction in this story felt entirely organic and oh so real. Nothing felt forced or intentionally over-the-top, which is something that I find happening way too often in books to add interest.
The addition of Brook's amazing grandmother was one of my favorite parts of the story. She added a much-needed motherly element, and a good deal of humor, without feeling like she was just another gimicky plot device.
Also, the flip-floppy sexy bits were ON FREAKING FIRE. Very steamy, without feeling like the author was trying too hard.
Lastly, I was thrilled to see that the book didn't fall back on the (overly) tried and true "big misunderstanding" at the 11th hour. Instead, the MC's acted like adults and met their challenges (fairly) head-on.
So yeah, all of my previous cursing of Chance's name in the first two books? I take it all back, because Anyta redeemed him so hard for me.
This story was for sure my favorite of the three, so I'm rating "Challenging Chance" at 4.75 stars and can't wait for this series to continue.
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I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Challenging Chance can be read as a standalone. Ben and Landon from book 2 are marginally present, but they don't add anything to the story. What you'll miss if you skip books 1 and 2 is Chance's thoughtless, cruel behavior toward Landon, whom he used and discarded like a holey pair of socks.
Seriously, I kind of hated Chance before reading this book, but I think that's the point. Like all the people in Chance's life, I was looking at Chance from the outside and judging him based on the playboy, douchebag facade he presents to the world.
But deep down inside, Chance is insecure and lonely. He wants a closer relationship with his father and brother, who dismiss him at every turn. He doesn't have any friends, not really. The guys on his team only hang with him because he pays for everything.
Chance is bi (really closer to a 4/5 on the Kinsey scale) but unwilling to out himself. When he hires Brook as his personal assistant, he worries Brook will be a temptation he can't resist.
Brook isn't entirely honest with Chance about his professional experience, but he's one hundred percent real with his feelings. Brook sees Chance, really SEES him, and he likes what he sees.
This is a slower burn, mostly feel-good story with a few very sexy scenes (which, hell YEAH!). The push/pull (Will he? Won't he?) adds necessary tension to the story, but the angst isn't overwhelming.
Brook doesn't allow Chance to shove him away. He introduces Chance to his amazing grandmother, who's a hoot, and makes Chance believe that the only way to be happy is to be himself.
In the end, Chance's redemption is a pretty big thing. He apologizes and changes. It may all have been too easy and not entirely believable, but I'm willing to go with it because Chance and Brook are so amazing together.
Love is about finding the person who makes you laugh, stands up for you, and doesn't mind that you hide in the library. It's about forgiveness, tree houses, and lingering looks. It's about jumping in and taking a Chance.
Leo cientos de libros al año, libros muy diferentes, cada uno tiene su momento y se corresponde con mi estado anímico, con lo que necesito en ese instante. Después de haber leído los tres primeros libros de esta serie, puedo decir que está escrita para cuando necesitas leer algo ligero, que te haga sonreír y sentir bien y con un toque sexy. Qué necesarios son a veces este tipo de libros y qué poca importancia les solemos dar. De los tres publicados hasta el momento este es el que más me ha gustado. Los dos cabroncetes que luego no lo son tanto. Algún suspirito me ha arrancado :). Muy muy agradable de leer.
Another modern/classic romance in this new series and I felt in love instantly.
Loved the couple. Loved the sweet little angst. Loved the necessity to fit, to find a way. I empathize a lot with characters who don’t know their place in the world or in the lives of others. Characters who look like assholes but have a good soft heart in need of some exercise. They just need to find the right person to tell them: you are great, you deserve happiness, money doesn’t define you (neither cars, flings or whatever job you’re good —or not— at) you are you, and that should be enough for your partner, friends and family. If not, they do have a problem, not you.
Wow... I feel better now...
Chance and Brook —our main characters— are two faces of the same coin. Two playboys trying to redeem themselves. The rich and the poor. The family guy and the lonely one. The openly gay and the closeted bi trying to be better.
I thought I was going to ask for more groveling and redemption after Chance’s behavior in book one and book two, but nope, even loving Landon as I do (and believe me, I do) he got me the second I saw a glimpse of good in him and that moment came in the first pages, so it was pretty easy.
He’s bratty, he is a rich boy trying to keep daddy’s money. He’s the Lamborghini guy and he can’t see himself past that. He wants that. Or at least, he thinks he wants that life. I’m not judging him because he doesn’t know love or caring, he only knows this healthy life getting everything he wants. A material world instead of love. He is scared and he’s a coward but he’s a lonely and not that bad one and I didn’t dislike him at all.
Honestly, I didn't expect to end up liking Chance this much as a person. Congrats to the author for turning a character around in such a spectacular way!
What we had seen so far of him was just his way to hide and protect himself. On the inside he was a wounded and lonely person and the only one who cared enough to see that was his brand new PA, Brook.
Some of Chance's personal moments were very touching and the way Brook noticed the little things and the momentary cracks in Chance's act made it all be more real. Chance was someone who at first glance seemed to have everything. Under closer inspection though it was clear that he was missing the most important things.
Brook managed to give him some of the human contact and connection he craved so much and made him want to make some changes in order to be happy and enjoy his life.
The fact that Brook was the one helping Chance out doesn't mean that he had everything figured out. He was on the brink of losing his house and ending up homeless along with his grandmother as a result of some bad choices he had made in his past.
Together they managed to figure out their lives and move on to a better place. The way their connection formed was interesting to witness, there is a coming out trope and it was painful to read about Brook acting as though he was just the help. Thankfully that scene didn't last very long before Chance decided to do something about it.
There's no info, as far as I know, about what comes next in this series but I'm very curious to find out!
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me in exchange for an honest review. *
Ι liked this slightly better than the first two but I'm beginning to think that this might not be the series for me.
Chance managed to redeem himself, for sure. I even ended up liking him. But still, I'm confused. Chance was a major asshole to Landon for so long and now he lets it slip that he might like men to a complete stranger? I also thought he played for a big basketball team but apparently not. It didn't even pay his living expenses.
Bottom line, I believe that the bones of these stories are great but they needed a few more chapters and smoother transitions. And come on, Anyta Sunday is the queen of UST. I hope the next stories have a bit of that.
I thought Chance was a professional basketball player? I am just so confused. Didn’t Landon attend all his games, never missing one? He has a team and practice. Why is this not a high paying career? Why does the book even state that basketball is not a way to make a living. Um, yes it is. I think professional basketball players make a mint. Right?
Ok, so yeah, I need to understand that because if that isn’t his job and he doesn’t really have a job then why does he need a PA?
This book really made me realize this is not taking place in the US though (the whole what kind of gas thing). So, maybe basketball is different wherever this takes place and maybe it is just like a rec league or something?
I’ll be the first to admit I didn’t think Chance deserved, well, a chance. I didn’t think he should get a book. What a dick. But, so far out of the three, this one was the least frustrating to me.
The Chance we meet in this book is a completely different character than what was presented to us in the first two books. This book was setup to make you just feel so bad for him but I only kind of did. Definitely the way his Dad and Brother were, yeah, I hate when the family members are jerks but the rest? I dunno. He was supposed to be a spoiled rich playboy and well, he didn’t have to be, he could be anything he wanted, so I don’t feel that bad for him really.
Brook. What to say about Brook. I think he’s supposed to be this completely reformed bad boy but well, I don’t know. I mostly liked him, I at least liked his sense of humor, but his setup was awkward as Hell and his story was all set on lies and that is probably wrong, wrong, wrong while trying to better yourself, yeah?
I just feel such a disconnect with this series and it is a huge bummer. I was hoping I would love this new series like I love her Signs of Love series but I just don’t think it is going to happen.
Bummer.
**ARC provided by A Novel Take Promotions in exchange for an honest review.**
Going into the third book in this series I was starting to enjoy not knowing anything about the book or what was going to happen. Going by the previous two books I did expect to read a sweet love story that would brighten my day just a little bit.
I didn't like Chance much from the previous books, the way he treated Landon was not okay. At the same time, I knew that I was going to read his story next, so there had to be some reason or other for his behaviour. And in the end I was probably going to end up liking him.
The verdict? Well, starting out, I still didn't like Chance, but I expected that. I didn't really know him, his motivations or what drove him. Getting further along into the book I got to understand him better. Never to the point where his behaviour was ok and could be excused, because it can't, but to the point I understood why he acted the way he did. The constant rejections and put downs from his family, the team that doesn't really care about him - other than that he pays for everything they do of course.
Brook needs to atone for past mistakes. He needs to grow up. And all that starts with getting a job so that he can pay the rent and food for him and his grandmother. Lying through his teeth he manages to land himself a job as a PA for Chance - well on a month’s trial basis. He is tasked to plan the most wonderful and perfect rehearsal dinner for Chances brother, and not only that, but he also needs to find a date for Chance that his disapproving father would actually accept - oh and that date must be female.
There were a lot of similarities between Brook and Chance, and it's one of the things that made them work so well together, They could relate to each other. Add in some really nice sexual tension and Brooks days working as a PA is interesting for sure. And I just have to add that I just love Brooks meddling grandmother, and I kind of hope to see more of her in the books to come.
This series started out a bit rocky with the first book. But the second and third was such sweet stories and I've had a wonderful time reading them. I'm looking forward to what else this series will bring in the future, because these novellas are perfect for days you want something short and sweet. Highly recommended.
A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
I went in skeptical as soon as I knew who the main character would be. Luckily, I can always trust Anyta Sunday to make a believer out of me. So, of course, given the impeccable record I’d had with both its predecessors, I knew I had to give this story a chance (pardon my silly pun, couldn’t help myself. You could say I… saw the chance and I took it xD) Okay, moving on. I won’t deny it, both of the previous stories had made me curious about Chance. I think I was secretly, subconsciously waiting for his story. And fortunately, this one delivered wonderfully! It didn’t only add depth to a character that, given his previous appearances, you’d think you’d have to put under a microscope to find some substance; it also managed to get the reader to truly sympathize. Sure, Chance was every bit of a dickhead in the past, and of course that behavior shouldn’t be excused. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t get the same right to grow into a better version of himself that everybody else deserves.
Sure, if Chance’s character development wasn’t already delightful enough in its realistic evolution and pace, you can also add the element of the environment he gets to do it in: not only his relationship with Brook was heart-warming to read, but also how naturally he fit into Brook’s world. It was so refreshing to see two characters come from such different backgrounds (but with a somehow common factor in their stories) mesh so naturally: also, every interaction Chance and grandma had was pure gold! It definitely helped matters that she was a charming lady who reminded me of my own favorite grandma, so I had a sort of soft spot for her from the start.
So, in conclusion, this story manages to engage even the most reluctant and dubious reader. Needless to say, something was definitely done very right!
Classic "misunderstood" millionaire with a douse of redemption. This is my favorite so far, because, well, who couldn't resist bad boy turns into a good one ^^. Chance is not as bad as he is described before. I love Brook's determination. They do have chemistry and I like them together.
Plus I adore Brook's grandmother, she's awesome.
I only wish that I see more of Chance tending his gardens or teaching the teens -- but that's me being a little nitpicky :)
I really didn't think I would like Chance, given how he acted earlier in the series, but so far, this has turned out to be my favorite in this series! I really like the pairing of two assholes who had enough of themselves and decided to turn their lives around.
I wasn’t sure it was possible to redeem Chase with how horrible he was with Landon but somehow — mission was accomplished.
This new series is great - quick little books that feel fully developed and have the signature style of this author: banter, quirky characters, fantastic secondary characters and usually one or more completely clueless main characters.
For people who like the heat, this series has more than the usual for Anyta Sunday, but it’s not all all excessive and it seems to move the stories forward.
If you haven’t read the previous books, this review spoils them ridiculously. You’ve been warned.
So, first off, I’m just going to say that I don’t know if Chance did something that would justify Landon thinking that a romantic relationship was in the cards at some point. It’s possible he did; it’s possible he didn’t. I’ve not seen anything in the books to say one way or another. What I do know:
1) Landon was super into Chance. 2) Chance was emphatically not out of the closet. 3) Chance and Landon had a weeklong sex marathon. What kind of parameters were set up before or during (if any) or discussion that went on before or during (if any), I don’t know. 4) After the sex marathon, Chance did not want a sexual relationship with Landon. At all. 5) After the sex marathon, Landon did want a sexual relationship with Chance. A lot. 6) Chance made 4 clear, and Landon made 5 clear. 7) Landon did not back off for over six months after the sex marathon, even though everyone knew Chance didn’t want a sexual relationship with Landon. Landon justified this for various reasons.
I wasn’t comfortable with much of how this was handled in the previous books. While I was incredibly unclear on what exactly Chance did, it didn’t actually matter to the extent that even if Chance had been a massive jerk (possible), Landon needed to leave Chance alone once Chance had made it clear where his romantic and sexual boundaries were. Landon didn’t and that never seemed to be addressed. How Landon hurt Ben is brought up, but how Landon’s behavior towards Chance isn’t acceptable is ignored. But I pushed on. And then, in this book, we get the scene that destroys my ability to continue with this series:
Chance says, “[I’m here] to apologize for what happened between us. For stringing you on,for blowing up at you when you wouldn’t back off.”
No, no, no, no. If Chance “strung Landon on” (possible, I didn’t see the part of the story where it would have happened if it did happen), Landon still has to back off when Chance makes it clear he wants Landon to back off. If Landon doesn’t and Chance says some harsh words in an attempt to get Landon to back off, that doesn’t mandate an apology by Chance. Landon is the one who owes an apology for not backing off. Chance could choose to apologize to be nice if Landon apologized first, but when someone is violating your intimate boundaries, they aren’t owed an apology when you verbally “blow up” at them. The fact that no one seems to understand that it was horrific for Landon to not back off and that Landon actually, legitimately owes Chance an apology boggles me. The way that Chance is forced into apologizing to someone who violated his boundaries (and who never apologized to him) because of a legitimately precarious situation for someone he cares about is sickening. I am so angry at this book that I’ve had trouble writing this review for months. I'm so angry.
If someone really, truly “strings me on,” that is shitty. I have the right to be angry and hurt. I have the right to want nothing to do with them. I do not have the right to force them into a romantic and/or sexual relationship with me. I don’t have the right to keep making advances at them when they’ve made it clear in every possible way that they want me to stop. If I don’t stop and they get mad at me and say things that upset me, I am still in the wrong.
I’m rating this book because I got most of the way through it and I loathe it with a deep hatred. I'm so angry that I can't even finish the final small bit. I'm so disappointed because I've very much loved some of this author's works.
As much as I absolutely adore Anyta Sunday’s slow burn, sometimes it’s nice to mix it up a little. And Challenging Chance does just that. It’s a bit of a different take on slow burn; Chance and Brook start to feel things for each other fairly early in the book, whether they admit it to the other or not. But neither really go into it wanting a relationship. So, while the physical side amps up pretty quickly, the relationship itself takes time to build. The trust takes time to build.
Chance is the stereotypical millionaire playboy; his dad pays the mortgage on his mansion and gives him a more-than-generous monthly allowance. He can get anyone he wants into his bed, and has crazy parties all the time. On the surface, he’s a cocky, spoiled rich boy. But he’s lonely. His friends aren’t even really his friends. His dad is disappointed in him. His brother is the perfect son - job, fiancee, toes the line. And there’s nobody he can open up to and show the real him; the closest he got was Landon (from Begging Ben) before he completely blew up that friendship. And then Brook comes into the picture. Brook’s a different kind of playboy. He partied so hard he ended up losing his grandmother her house and spent some time in prison. But now he’s trying to get his life back on track, and cons his way into a job as Chance’s personal assistant.
This book surprised me. I started out not loving it as much as I expected to; I had trouble connecting with Brook and Chance. But a little over midway through, I found myself glued to my Kindle, hoping and cheering for them to open up and stop being stubborn and admit their feelings to the other already! I was surprised by how much emotion actually hit me, between Chance’s friendships, his dad’s and brother’s reactions, and Brook’s (super awesome) grandma.
Anyta Sunday writes really great characters - main and supporting - and Challenging Chance is just further proof of that. Along with the other two books, I definitely recommend checking it out.
An advance copy of this book was received for review on OMGReads.
I'm sceptical about Challenging Chance, am I suppose to fall in love with the asshole Chance who was so deep in the closet and also the reason for Ben and Landon's drama? I can't wait to see how he redeem himself. He might need to grovel and crawl on glass. Alas, I can't believe I'm saying this but Challenging Chance turned out to be my favorite among the 3 books.
Chance is the cliche trust fund brat, who only worry about disappointing his dad because he might cut him off. Chance live on the family mansion alone and with his latest PA being fired, he got himself a new PA, who turned out to be male. Chance was reluctant because he is deep in the closet and Brook prove too much of a temptation.
Brooke had a bad record in the past, but this is a new and improve Brook who want to be responsible and do the right thing. He prove to be a positive influence to Chance by showing him how to stand up for himself and value things that are more important in his life. I'm glad to see the transformation in Chance, from someone I loathe to someone I get to admire. He finally grow some backbone, stay true in himself and make some great life choices.
When Chance hires a male PA, he never expected to fall in love.
Deeply closeted to the point he ruined a good friendship because of his insecurities, Chance doesn’t want to hire Brook because of the temptation he poses. Over the course of a month, the two become best friends and more.
Generally sweet, with a few stumbles along the way. May be favorite of the series so far.
A bit different story, the way it’s written was also different. Chance is a rude rich son of a bitch and in need of a PA, the umpteenth. When Brook appears he doesn’t want him but somehow Brook convinced him to try. Brook is desperately in need of a job, with his past he can’t get a job, so he needs to lie. With the help of his grandma Brook can do this difficult job for Chance. Chance has some action to do to beholds get his dads financial support. Brook and Chance two totally different men and also so alike...both trying not to be the assholes the were. An emotional story with two men who try to redeem, it had nice steamy scenes and a lot of tension I just loved to watch. Nicely written and it had absolute no slow burn in it, more the opposite ;)
This series is not my favorite of Anyta Sunday's but it's still pretty decent for shorter books. There's angst but not too much. I really liked Brook and Chase was OK in the end but man was he a douche-nozzle in previous books and the beginning of this one. Grandma was a great secondary character too. Hopefully the next book is going to be decent as well.
In this third installment of the Love Letters series, I was thoroughly prepared to hate Chance, and not give him a chance, so to speak. He was so dreadful to Landon in book 2, Begging Ben, that I just couldn’t see a way that he could be redeemed. I underestimated Ms Sunday because by the end of this book I loved him. Chance is a poor little rich boy who is surrounded by hangers-on who just want him to foot the bill for everything, a father who has never been proud of him, a perfect brother who can do no wrong, and people who are willing to sell him out for cash. He has never been able to come out as bisexual because he knows that will be one more nail on the coffin in his father’s regard. The book starts with an epic fail on the part of Chance, who brings a completely inappropriate date, Bunny Sparkelz, to his brother’s engagement party. The unfortunate date is not only highly criticized by Chance’s father but also manages to sink Chance’s Lamborghini into the pool. Not only that but he finds out that his personal assistant has been paid to spill all the dirt on Chance to his father. Well, then, can only go up from there, right? Chance is a basketball player who’s teammates all take advantage of him and use him. He’s really only had one friend in his life, Landon, and he slept with him over the course of a week and then tossed him out, so that relationship is over. “Landon might have his life together but he didn’t want Chance anywhere near it just in case he messed it up again. Another relationship he’d screwed up …” Dad threatens to cut Chance off and insists Chance plan his brother’s rehearsal dinner. I was already feeling sympathy for Chance by this time because he really does want to be a better person and he just wants his father to be proud of him but “No matter how closely Chance followed in Danny’s footsteps, he always pissed his dad off rather than amused him.” Funny enough, Danny is the younger son. Usually it is the other way around. Chance is trying and getting nowhere. “He needed to mature. Not only for the money –he had no skills to afford his lifestyle on his own- but for one look of pride from his dad.” Since Chance has fired his PA for spilling to dad, he ends up hiring (sort of against his will) Brook. Brook has to convince Chance to hire him, mainly because Chance is worried what he will do when faced with a handsome man day in and day out. Can’t be bi, remember, or dad will be upset. “Brook reminded him of his ex-friend Landon – and the one week Chance had given in to what his body craved.” Brook knows something about mistakes and wanting to be a better person. He’s made his share of them, some big, and he’s trying to make up for them. He has a secret but he needs this job and he will work hard to make it happen. And he does. He is so good for Chance, seeing through the “friends” who step all over Chance and he sees the Chance that is inside. Brook tries to do what is good for Chance. Chance is a vegetarian and Brook’s first effort at cooking for him ends up a disgusting soupy mash, Chance still realizes it was the effort that the kindest thing. “It’s been so long since he appreciated how hard others died. When Landon had been there for him, he’d taken it for granted. He scooped up the mash and brought it to his lips.” He’s growing, our boy. He broke my heart, Chance did, and I was cheering on Brook to help. “Brook had walked in on Chance in bed, tossing a ball towards the ceiling. Up and down, the telltale sounds of a wheezed sob.” I admit, I was super ticked at dad, expecting the worst always and in one case, moving out the mansion to a bigger one and only taking Danny with him, leaving Chance to his money and lonely huge house. Chance does everything he can to not give in to what he feels for Brook. He keeps him a secret and fights everything he feels. He hurts Brook multiple times. “Brook’s shoulders dropped as he lurched for the door. Chance hated that he was disappointing another person in his life.” But it takes time to grow as a person, to realize that you are worthy of being happy and living your own life. Chance is working on it and Brook helps. I loved getting to see it. The ending is sweet and perfect, just what I would have wished for these two. Cover art by Natasha Snow continues the pattern of the others in the series, a colorful background (this one in shades of orange) with the MC on the front, in this case Chance, looking cocky.
I was sent this book as an advanced copy for reviewing purposes, but all opinions are my own.
This book follows millionaire Chance, who is desperate to impress his father and to have his approval, and his newly hired personal assistant Brooke.
We had already seen Chance in the first two books and had gotten the impression of him that the rest of the world has: basically, a rich entitled asshole. But Brooke pretty soon is able to see past Chance’s façade and learns there’s more to him.
This is the shortest book in this series so far but it managed to grab my attention immediately and I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. Differently from the first two books, this had a coming-out element that was very dear to my heart, especially since Chance comes out in his mid-twenties, and I’m so glad we finally had a bi MC after three books.
There’s also an element of hurt/comfort which made some of the scenes really cute and really made me feel for Chance and for Brooke. I also loved Brooke’s grandma!!! She’s just a clever and witty woman, and on that note I really appreciate how Anyta Sunday’s books always feature at least one supportive family (of one of the MC) and how there’s always some amazing and strong female relative that are there for the MC(s). I only wish there were more girl friends and specifically sapphic girls because let’s be real, wlw/mlm solidarity is A Thing in real life.
Anyway, so far I’ve had an absolute blast with this Love Letters series and I can’t wait for there to be more!
I was provided a copy of this novella for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Challenging Chance was the novella that I had been waiting for since Admiring Ash. Bad boy millionaire Chance was featured in both the previous novel, but always as the villain: an asshole who is horrible to Landon, dismissing Landon's feelings for him. But, as I love a bad boy, I knew there was more to him. And, oh boy, is there.
Chance lives off his father's money and tries so hard to be like his younger brother, their father's favourite son, but he seems to keep messing it up. His jokes aren't any good, the women he brings home aren't good enough for his father, and he's often the butt of many jokes among his basketball teammates, who only use him for his money. He feels unloved and he's incredibly lonely. Yeah, I want to hug him too.
Enter Brook Kalson, a reformed bad boy who's trying to do better in life after setting himself and his grandmother back with his gambling debts. Brook needs a job to keep his apartment, and he has absolutely no experience as a personal assistant, but that doesn't stop him from applying as Chance's. He gets the job and he and Chance spend a good portion of their time pretending they're not attracted to one another, while Chance also has to come to terms with his bisexuality.
I love that Chance is bisexual, but I love that he has a preference. That's not something you really see in fiction: bisexual characters announcing they have a gender preference, and I'm so glad that Sunday included this aspect because it shows the multitudes of bisexuality, and that there's no 'one way' to be bi.
Challenging Chance is a fantastic novella that will simultaneously break your heart and then mend it. Brook and Chance are amazing love interests who work so well together: they support one another unconditionally, once they finally admit their feelings for one another.
This one worked better for me than the first two, even though I was not amused that Chance is getting a chance. He was just such a dick in the first two books and I didn't really want to get to know him better. I guess you're supposed to feel bad for him, since he also has a jerk brother and father, but in the end it's still his decision to act the way he's acting.
There are some things I don't quite get. 1.) I thought he's a professional basketball player. Landon went to every game. So why does Chance think he can't keep his lifestyle? Here's a list of the NBA player's salaries: http://www.espn.com/nba/salaries/_/se... That should be enough... 2.) Just like Landon, Ben and River Chance doesn't seem to work that much at all. I can't recall that he had a game or even practice in the book, he doesn't seem super busy at all. So why does he need an assistant? 3.) He can do whatever he wants to do and I don't get why he just can't do that. So he basically always wanted to be a good guy who likes to teach basketball to kids and who likes gardening and reading... but he wanted to impress his dad, so he was a jerk who fucked around and was basically unhappy? His dad seemed to be quite okay in the end. Which I liked...I think in the end he just wanted the best for his son... and didn't want him to cause negative press all the time with his escapades. I get that Chance wanted attention, but I guess at some point (I mean he's almost 30...) I'd say "fuck it" and do whatever I want instead of trying to impress my dad. Especially when I feel lonely and unhappy.
Things i liked: 1.) Brook and the grandma. :) 2.) That Chances family was not that bad in the end. Chance just needed to show them his true self. 3.) That Chance found his true self... he changed a lot throughout the first 3 books and I liked that he made up with Landon, since he seemed to care for him after all.
2.5 stars. It was OK. Third in the series and doesn't actually get any better but isn't any worse than the second book.
These books continue to suffer from a weird sense of "where the hell is this?" syndrome. They don't present as Americans at all, really. First, they all drink way too much hot tea (coffee is never mentioned) but more compelling is that through all these books Chance has been characterized as a Basketball player. A televised basketball player. Unless he is a professional (which is what I assumed during the first two books) or a college player, basketball is not broadcast on TV regularly and Landon would not have been able to watch his games that way (and it seemed like he had away games in earlier books) In this book, it seems more like a local amateur team with no Coach anywhere to be seen and no daily practice as Chance seems at loose ends most of the time. Where would Landon be going to watch them play all the time in the first two books? Anyway, these weird discrepancies totally throw me off and I wander around in my reading brain trying to reconcile these things that don't add up and it's very, very, distracting.
There was a credible job to try and redeem Chance but it was rushed and it's hard to believe a leopard would change its privileged spots so quickly and thoroughly. We also skip ahead a year in the epilogue so we miss a whole bunch of Chance actually living a redeemed, poor life. I also ended up skimming some of the sex scenes. They were really drawn out much too long.
I am so annoyed at the feel of these being a KU page turning money making rush job that I am probably going to continue to read them and see if they get better or, as expected, worse and then have an opinion. So far, I don't think they are up to the level of writing this author is capable of, at all.
In the last two books we’re supposed to hate Chance, but here we see things from his perspective. Brook sees the real Chance, but will Chance give up comfort for happiness? Typos: missing comma, capitalization of a trademark, confusing line.
Anyta Sunday a réservé une belle surprise à ses lecteurs en nous proposant une nouvelle série, Love by letters, avec le projet un peu fou de nous faire découvrir une histoire d’amour pour chacune des lettres de l’alphabet. Un sacré challenge et une idée originale ! Les écrits d’Anyta Sunday ne m’ont jamais déçue et Admiring Ash, Begging Ben et Challenging Chance ne dérogent pas à la règle. Ces courtes histoires sont pleines de peps, d’humour mais elles réservent aussi des passages très sexy. Voilà des lectures parfaites pour l’été ou tout simplement pour se faire du bien. Les répliques sont particulièrement réussies, j’ai adoré les dialogues des personnages : c’est piquant, savoureux, nos garçons ont vraiment l’art de la répartie et cela fait partie intégrante de leur jeu de séduction.
Je ne détaillerai pas les intrigues de chacune des nouvelles pour laisser le plaisir de la découverte mais elles ont en commun le même univers, celui de la ville de Greenville. Les personnages sont tous plus ou moins liés et même si chacune des histoires peut se lire en standalone, ce serait dommage de se priver de la vue d'ensemble !
Challenging Chance porte sur celui qui a brisé le cœur de Landon en le traitant comme un moins que rien. Je n’étais pas forcément enchantée de retrouver ce personnage que j’avais détesté lors des premières nouvelles et en même temps il a titillé ma curiosité.
Chance est le parfait playboy arrogant et sûr de lui et pour ne rien gâcher il est riche et jette l’argent de son père par les fenêtres mais cette façade d’enfant gâté cache une tout autre réalité. Son nouvel assistant, Brook ne sera pas dupe et il tâchera de faire sortir le vrai Chance de son cocon (et de son placard !) quitte à le secouer gentiment. Car Chance est un mec bien, il fallait juste qu’il rencontre la bonne personne pour en prendre conscience et devenir adulte. Et au final, et bien je me suis mise à craquer pour Chance dont la solitude m’a vraiment fait mal au cœur.
L’attraction entre Chance et Brook est présente dès le départ et s’est tout naturellement que leur relation glisse du professionnel à l’intime lorsque, peu à peu, la confiance s'installe et Chance se transforme grâce à l'influence de Brool. Leurs interactions sont très réussies tout comme les scènes torrides, ces deux-là se sont bien trouvés, leur alchimie est indéniable.
La grand-mère de Brook est un sacré personnage secondaire, j’ai adoré cette mamie si drôle et pleine d’énergie et qui prend sous son aile Chance !
Bref trois premières nouvelles très agréables, soooo cute et j’ai évidemment très hâte de découvrir les suivantes qui devraient débarquées en février prochain <3
Well well, Chance is not that straight, is he ? We finally get to meet Landon’s (former) crush. Chance is in trouble : he parties too hard, shames his family and his father had enough. That is why he gives Chance an ultimatum : organize the perfect rehearsal dinner for his brother’s wedding and get the perfect date, or he will cut him off. Chance must hire a competent PA to organize the dinner. This is when he meets Brook : a cocky young fellow who needs this job to pay rent for him and his grandma, after losing the house because of his gambling debts. But Brook is a man and Chance don’t want a male PA : he always hired females because he could keep his desires in check. But Brook is an handsome man and Chance can’t help but notice.
« Brook reminded him of his ex-friend Landon—and the one week Chance had given in to what his body craved. »
They both had the same kind of lifestyle : drunk, sex-filled with random strangers, where money could buy you the best. Brook lost everything because of this lifestyle and Chance is on the verge of having the same fate. They both want to become better men for their families, to fix their mistakes. Chance seems to redeem himself when in contact with Brook grandma, Patricia, which is the funniest character in this series. She is witty and sassy, exactly what our characters need to get their head out of the sand.
From the moment we learnt about Chance I wondered why he would hide his homosexuality : was it because his family would be embarrassed ? Is he ashamed of being gay ? So I was really excited to read his story to find out. Chance never tried to tell his family he way gay : he was already a disappointment to his family, so he didn’t want to add something that could make them hate him forever. The truth is behind his asshole façade, Chance is a very lonely person : he wants his family’s approval more than anything, and wants to be loves by people. So he uses money but it doesn’t work. His basketball team despises him, only using him for money. And he lets them, just to have a feeling of belonging.
It was a story about redemption : Chance, making for once the right choices in his life, and asking for forgiveness to Landon, whom he hurt pretty badly. And Brook, who helped Chance in his path towards redemption, gained his own, he finally forgave himself. It was a very sweet, funny and romantic story. But it is also one of the sexiest story Anyta ever written ! get ready for so hot, sexy time with Chance and Brooke <3