Chance

Sydney Jones #2

by Carolyn M. Bowen

They took her lover. Getting him back could be the last thing she ever does…
High-powered Atlanta attorney Sydney Jones never backs down from a case. So when her bodyguard and boyfriend is accused of murder, she’s determined to fight for him in court. Instead, the charges are suddenly dismissed, and he vanishes without a trace…

Suspecting CIA involvement, Sydney takes on a lawsuit with Chinese Black Society ties and finds a startling connection to her missing man. But as she digs deeper, she discovers that someone may kill to keep the secret.

Will this dangerous cat-and-mouse game reveal the truth or put a bullet in Sydney’s head?

Chance is the second book in the Sydney Jones psychological thriller trilogy. If you like fearless heroines, page-turning action, and shocking twists, then you’ll love Carolyn Bowen’s gripping story.

Buy Chance to board a wild roller coaster ride today!

Genres: Mystery

176 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 5, 2019

About the author

CAROLYN BOWEN is a mystery author who calls on her life escapades and an adventurous, imaginative spirit to inspire and entertain. Bowen uses travel as a muse to explore cultures and dialogue to bring her stories to life. Her writing credits include Cross-Ties, a romantic adventure; The Long Road Home, a contemporary crime fiction mystery; The Sydney Jones Mysteries, and The Family Legacy Series.

Reviews

["Avonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

CHANCE (Sydney Jones Series Book 2) by Carolyn M. Bowen is a new fast-paced thriller. This is the second book in the trilogy, but it is easily read as a standalone.

Sydney Jones is a powerful, independent and tough attorney, who heads her own law firm in Atlanta. She will take any case she believes in and up until this latest case her bodyguard boyfriend, Walker would be right by her side on the job and at home. Walker has been framed for a murder so the CIA can get him back on their payroll. He abruptly leaves the love of his life and can have no communication with her.

As Sydney moves on, she accepts the case of a woman accused of murdering her lover, who was the head of the Chinese Black Societies in Atlanta. Sydney’s life is increasingly at risk as she digs deeper into the case. While at the same time, Walker is in Cuba facing life-and-death situations of his own.

Sydney and Walker are on separate dangerous paths. Will either or both survive for any future together?

This is a fast-paced read that will keep you turning the pages. I love Sydney and her strength, no nonsense, take charge character traits. Walker is a great match for her. I did find it a little difficult to get into this author’s writing style. It is very bare-bones and action-oriented with very little in-depth description or dialogue, but the tension and urgency kept me turning the pages. I was pulled into the plot and just had to keep reading until “The End”.

I am looking forward to reading the next book.

[Shiny Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Psychological Thriller novel by Carolyn M Bowen. I have read the first book of this series and I was waiting to read the second one. Since I was quite familiar with her writing and drama I was equally thrilled to read the second series.

I somehow enjoy the fancy attorney thriller novels. There are lots of twist and turns in this novel. The main character Sydney Jones who is a lawyer by profession has never given up on any case and this time this case this so more important because her own bodyguard and boyfriend are accused of a murder.

As the story grows there is a major twist in the novel followed by her missing boyfriend. What is the twist and where is her boyfriend? Will Sydney be able to crack the secret and the mystery? Find out more by reading this beautiful mysterious novel.

CAROLYN M. BOWEN is a mystery author who calls on her life escapades and an adventurous, imaginative spirit to inspire and entertain.

[Isobel Blackthorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chance is a gripping psychological thriller that takes the lid off the underbelly of Atlanta, Georgia, the various cultures at play, the sleaze, the Chinese mafia. Adding to the intrigue, the involvement of the CIA. Meet tough, no-nonsense lawyer Sydney Jones, her beefy bodyguard-lover Walker and washed-up rock star Roxanne who attempts to lure Walker back to her side and ends up accidentally dead for her trouble. I particularly enjoyed the complexity of Sydney’s unexpected and unwanted pregnancy.

The narrative has a strong forward drive that makes for very fast reading. Written in third person personal, the story flits seamlessly from character to character in a fluid jump cut style, an approach that takes a moment to get used to but works well. Bowen’s pastiche of character-led vignette’s adds to the tension, lending a sense of urgency. Sacrificed is the deep point of view of the contemporary thriller – this technique applies especially to psychological thrillers – and Chance is light on dialogue and long action scenes, again, key drivers of the thriller genre. Nevertheless, Bowen has deployed a narrative style that captures the reader and keeps them turning the pages until the very end. Well written with good plotting and pacing and enough intrigue and twists to keep you on your toes, Chance will keep you guessing, waiting for the pay off at the end. Recommended to those after a lighter read in the thriller genre. Chance will also appeal to those after strong female leads.

[Thomas Muriuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The must-read psychological thriller of 2019!


Carolynn Bowen's a master chief in crafting a rich story world with
true-to-life characters, relatable and intriguing plot twists; all driven by
a strong narrative drive to give the reader a first-seat in the arena of
the novel's action.
Sydney Jones Series Book
"Chance" is a golden novel with romance and action playing warp and woof in a style that delivers page-turning suspense!


With a headstrong lover tied to the dangerous world of the CIA missions,
Sydney is not only a loveable heroine but a champion of gutsy demeanor that
throws caution to the wind to achieve her dreams and bend fate to her favor.

I can't wait to read book 3 of the Sydney Jones' trilogy!

[Honestmamreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though this is the second book in the Sydney Jones series it can be read as a standalone.

Sydney Jones is one of those feisty, strong willed characters that won't let anything stand in her way. Even when someone is out to kill her she doesn't bat an eyelid, she just does what is necessary and deals with it.

I like the fact that we have a strong female character who can stand up for herself and doesn't need a man to hold her hand when things go bad. Sydney does have a love interest, Walker who also happens to be her head of security and personal bodyguard. But, things aren't plain sailing in this story when Walker is accused of murder. Being a high-powered attorney, Sydney is willing to stand and fight for her man. But, the CIA have other plans.

With Sydney and Walkers lives being parted the book follows both their stories and we get to see how despite being apart they are still very much closer than they think.

Now let me say one thing, if you like your books fast paced and no fluff. Then this book is a sure fire hit for you. I tell you, this story gave you all the action and details that you needed to know what was going on and scene setting. But it cuts out all the padded out descriptive language that can sometimes seem unnecessary.

This is a great tale of two people who are the best in their field. Packed with tension and action, it was a pocket rocket of a story to read.

Thank you to Blackthorn Tours for allowing me to be a part of the blog tour for this fantastic book.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was sent an ARC to review.
Solid 3.5 stars.

Pros: I enjoyed the plot and became incredibly invested in the characters. I wanted them to succeed and I want the romance to happen.

Cons: It felt pedantic and repetitive at times. The pacing could get off, and overall the writing style wasn’t for me.

I would definitely recommend it for those who like easy, quick reads. Overall an enjoyable book!! Looking forward to the third!

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in a soon to be trilogy. I hadn’t read the 1st book but it was ok to read as it is.
Sydney Jones is the lead and is a no nonsense and straight up character.
A fast paced lighter thriller that takes you on a journey with the mafia and sleazy sides of life

(Tea, Toast & Books)

[_sassy_39 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chance by the author Carolyn M Bowen is a psychological thriller. It is the second book in the Sydney Jones Series. Protagonist of the story is Sydney Jones. Walker is the head of security at her office and personal bodyguard. He is also Sydney's boyfriend. Before becoming Sydney's bodyguard, Walker was the bodyguard of the singer-songwriter Roxanne. Roxanne had developed a drug habit and Walker had left the security job there. But now, Roxanne is constantly troubling Walker to be her bodyguard but Walker was ignoring her calls. When Roxanne didn't stop, Walker decided to meet her and tell her personally that he didn't want to take the job.

Unfortunately, when Walker reached Roxanne's condo, she was already dead. Walker's fingerprint was found at the crime scene and now he is in trouble. He is accused of murder but Sydney knew that Walker is innocent and she wants to prove him innocent to the law. But Walker disappeared. He signed a confidentiality agreement with the Government stating to never contact her again. The government has declared Roxanne's murder as a suicide. Will Sydney be able to know the truth?

Story is intense and I didn't felt like putting it down without finishing it. Sydney Jones is a strong female protagonist. This book has crime, thrill, mystery. I enjoyed this novel from the first page till the last full stop. Carolyn has nicely penned down this story. Language of the book is simple and narration was easy to follow.

Even though this book is a part of series but one can read it as a standalone also. Looking forward to read the third book in the series.

[Roma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Chance, A Novel

Author: Carolyn M Bowen

Length: 176 pages

Publisher: Self published

Genre: Fiction, Thriller

My rating: 3.5/5

Summary:

The book is the second book in the Sydney Jones Trilogy and the story revolves around Sydney Jones and Walker who get separated by circumstances.

My Take:

I would like to thank the author for providing me with an Advanced copy of the book for reading and reviewing. I also state that the views mentioned in the post are my own and am not being paid for this review.

The book even though second book in the trilogy can be read as a standalone book. However, I would love to read the third book to know the fate of relationship of Sydney and Walker, the protagonists. I loved the character of Sydney, who is a strong and independent woman taking her own decisions and leading life on her terms.

The book is a well researched one as the details about Chinese culture are mentioned discreetly. The happenings in the book are narrated in a manner making one ponder whether the author has actually witnessed it in real. The book is Super-fast paced. The story is good and it can be converted into a web series.

The book has very few dialogues exchange which I expected more as I felt like reading a newspaper on the events in the book. More dialogues could have enhanced the reading pleasure. Characterizations of other characters could have been more vivid. The element of thrill I felt was missing with very few adrenaline rush moments.

Overall a good read but a little editing would have made the book more worthy.

[Prashant Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when someone takes away the love of your life?

That feeling is the basis of where this all started. A great story line presented in Chance - A Novel: Psychological Thriller by Carolyn M. Bowen.

Powerful Atlanta lawyer Sydney Jones never throws in the towel from a case. So when her security guard and love of life is blamed for homicide, she's resolved to battle for him in court. All things being equal, the charges are abruptly excused, and he goes missing suddenly.

Being doubtful about the intervention of CIA, Sydney takes on a claim with Chinese Black Society ties and finds a surprising association with her missing man. In any case, as she burrows further, she finds that somebody may murder to stay discreet.

The contention in the novel is increased by the force the enemies yield. The tale starts with a ground-breaking opening scene, of the homicide of Roxanne, which draws consideration directly from the earliest starting point. The incorporation of various settings in the book including the Caribbean, China, and the US makes the story drawing in as peril follows Walker and Sydney here and there. The force of the activity scenes in the book makes it significantly all the more enamoring.

An unquestionable requirement read puzzle spine chiller and enthusiastically suggested by @who_prashant

*Available on Amazon*

[Antonella Vigliarolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I found myself reading this book without knowing about the prequel, but I have to say that not only I did not find the story hard to follow but I enjoyed entering almost midstage- it added to the mystery.

Sydney and Walker are two characters whose company is easy to enjoy - Walker with his grounded practicality and intelligence, a moral character that is not too idealistic but far from cynical, with a good heart, and Sydney with her resilient strength and spunk.

I liked the way the novel moved back and forth between their POVs and I liked following their parallel journeys until the eventual reunion with that ‘will they make it or they won’t?’ Suspence hanging over the mystery plot, that definitely was interesting and well thought out.

Spoiler:

Not every novel can allow to successfully pull off a recurring narrative trope like the ‘separated lovers and surprise pregnancy’ twist without going banal and soap-operish, but here Sydney having the baby without Walker beside her and having to face motherhood alone really worked to underline the best qualities of her character, and the twist enriched the story with a deeper mood.

[oohlalabooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have not read the first book in the series but I feel this book can be a stand alone. I wanted to enjoy this book but the repetitive writing made it difficult to read for example character description: cab driver, Euquerio; Attorney, Sydney, her cousin Euquerio.
It was slow to start and didn’t pick up until after a few deaths: Roxanne’s & Isabella’s. I will read another of this author’s work hoping it was just with this book. Thank you to the author and Goodreads for an ebook copy. This is my honest review.

[BD Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't stop reading this second book about Sydney Jones. The woman is a true hero who has had to sacrifice so much of her life for the law. She endures heartbreak, attempted murder and loss through this story and comes out stronger for it. The narrative bounces between several characters in the story which brings to life the many stories being told and enthralls the reader. A must read for crime thrillers and fans of strong female characters.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sydney Jones is an Atlanta attorney. After her boyfriend, accused of murder, vanishes, Sydney finds herself caught up in a conspiracy and a psychological mystery. I like this author's writing and the fact she gives the role of a strong character to a woman. This is the second book in the series but I recommend readers check out all this authors wonderful stories.

[Melissa Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced thriller filled with action, mystery and intrigue. I look forward to reading more stories by this author. I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required.

[Raman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second in the Sydney Jones series, Chance-A Novel via Carolyn M. Bowen is a relentless spine chiller that follows Sydney and Walker as they attempt to avoid demise and destruction their steady foes.

They took her darling. Getting him back could be the exact opposite thing she actually does… Powerful Atlanta lawyer Sydney Jones never withdraws from a case. So what happens in the story line?

A planned gathering with Roxanne, a vocalist musician whose music was once top of the pop graphs, drives Walker to a frightful homicide scene. The CIA outlines him for it and Walker realizes very well he will be accused for her passing on the off chance that he doesn't yield to the CIA's requests. He leaves Sydney, the lady he is infatuated with, to take on his new task. After Walker's abrupt takeoff, Sydney gets a hold of herself and attempts to proceed onward.

Sydney takes on Nancy Lynn's case. Lynn is a prime suspect for the homicide of Liu Chang, an individual from the Chinese Black Societies. The case twistings into a nerve racking chain of functions as Sydney's life is undermined. The steady feeling of threat that shows up all through makes the work much more sensational.

The contention in the novel is elevated by the force the opponents yield. The consideration of various settings in the book the story drawing in as peril follows Walker and Sydney here and there. This is the second book in the set of three, yet it is effectively perused as an independent.

CAROLYN M. BOWEN is a riddle creator who approaches her life ventures and a gutsy, innovative soul to move and engage. This is a relentless perused that will keep you turning the pages. I was maneuvered into the plot and just needed to continue perusing until "The End".

Lastly, I like the way that we have a solid female character who can defend herself. Chance will keep you speculating, sitting tight for the result toward the end. Happy reading!

[Stacey Carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chance by Carolyn M. Bowen is a 256 page psychological thriller. It has an interesting premise. Sydney Jones (attorney) is in a relationship with her bodyguard (Walker) when he’s accused of murder. Instead of seeing his murder case unfold, he’s recruited by the CIA and taken away from Sydney.

It is a very interesting read and worth the time to read it. However, it’s worth noting that it covers an extremely long timeframe. In the first 50 pages, you’ll learn of the murder, Walker’s “disappearance”, Sydney’s pregnancy and birth! And some stuff with the Chinese mafia. Because it covers such a massive timeframe, it can feel like the book is being told to you rather than shown to you.

Unfortunately, being an author myself, that’s the only way to do it when you are covering months instead of days or weeks. I also felt like a lot of things were being skipped. However, this is book 2 of this series, so those items may have been covered in book 1. I don’t know. I got this as an advanced reader copy more than a year ago (Yes, I am that slow at reading.) and haven’t read book 1, so I can’t tell you for certain if some of the things I noticed being glossed over or skipped are actually in book 1 and dedicated readers of the series already know these things.

What I can tell you is that the characters are extremely likable, and the plot is interesting. I give this a good 3 stars out of 5. It’s also worth noting that you can read this as a stand-alone book. If you feel like there are gaps, it may be worth going back and reading book 1 to see if that information is there.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 2 out of 5]

A former pop star that was hooked on drugs turns up dead, a past catches up, and a future that could be in danger.

Sydney Jones had been dating her body guard, Walker, for a while. The last thing anyone expected was for Walker to find the body of the dead singer and be a suspect.

To top it off, Sydney, a lawyer with a dangerous job, found out she was pregnant with Walker’s child.

Story had a lot of government and lawyer jargon, which made it kind of slow and complex. It had an interesting story line. I just wished it would’ve been quicker and to the point. I thought that we would focus more on the celebrity murder and Walker’s conviction. Actually, we don’t even hear about it again after like the first 2 chapters. In fact, the two don’t even work together on a case. They’re not even in the same country for most of the story. The book practically deviates from what I thought was the main story. It’s almost two different stories going in several directions (Walker in Cuba working some covert op and Sydney working a mafia case while raising a child – seriously, how much time had passed that the kid was already grown?)

Although there was some level of intrigue and excitement, story ultimately loses the reader with its maze of complexity and abundance of characters. As much as I wanted to like it, I just kept getting lost and losing interest.

[Sarah Wolfe · Rating 1 out of 5]

I stopped reading this novel after about a chapter and a half. I was not overly fond of the writing. It was more like a checklist of things happening. There was not an easy flow of events. I was not reading a story. I was being told a summery of one. However, that was not the reason I stopped. I can slog through some pretty terrible writing and still find small gems of good storytelling.

Why I stopped reading this novel was that it was incredibly racist. My first warning should have been when Sidney didn't want to tell the father of her deceased husband that she was romantically involved with her black bodyguard, Walker, because she was afraid her father in law was racist. By hiding the fact that you are in a relationship with a black man is a form of racism. You are treating him as if he is less than by hiding him because of how someone else would react to the color of his skin. But I let that slide. Then a few pages later Sidney found out she was pregnant by Walker and started stressing the fact that her baby would be "the blackest baby ever born." She was acting like it was the worst thing that could happen happen to her. I CAN NOT with this shit. No thank you.

I received a free copy of this free from the Goodreads giveaways.

[Patty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Goodreads, the author & publisher for a copy of this book. I feel very bad about posting a bad review. I know the author put a lot of hard work into this & I don't like putting down someone else's work. The premise of this book is something I'm interested in but I just could not get into this book. I'd read a couple chapters & several eye rolls later put the book down. After some time elapsed I would pick it back up & try to read it & still couldn't get into it. After many failed attempts I've just given up. I don't know what it is. I really didn't like the main character & the story was just ridiculous in my eyes. Maybe just not my year to read it. I see other positive reviews & I'm glad others are enjoying the read.

[Marta Moran Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chance by Carolyn Bowen is a dangerous psychological thriller that will keep you turning the pages to find out the truth. Attorney Sydney Jones up to the task? Will she survive this wild ride through danger, as she digs deep in an attempt to find her missing boyfriend? I adored the thrill of this book, and the character development.

[Julie Porter · Rating 3 out of 5]

New Book Alert: Chance (The Sydney Jones Series Book 2) by Carolyn M. Bowman; An Exciting Plot Needs Better Writing



By Julie Sara Porter



Bookworm Reviews





Spoilers: Carolyn M. Bowen’s Sydney Jones Mystery Thriller novel, Chance has the earmarks of being a good thriller. It has a suspenseful plot that veers into some personal drama for the protagonists. But it needs a tighter structure and better writing for it to be a truly great work.





Attorney, Sydney and her lover Secret Agent lover, Walker are about to settle down into a real relationship when stuff happens. Walker's ex-girlfriend turns up dead and his employers send him into hiding.



Left alone without any means to contact her boyfriend, Sydney discovers that she is pregnant right when she is given a particularly dangerous assignment. She decides to take on a case representing the American mistress of a member of the Chinese mafia. Of course this case puts her right on the mafia's target list and Walker has to deal with his own dangerous situation while hiding in the Caribbean.



Chance is your standard thriller and mystery plot with plenty of tense and suspenseful moments. There are car chases a plenty and enough dead bodies to fill a house party at the local cemetery. There are many chapters where Sydney and Walker are being followed by scary dudes. In one particularly tense moment, Sydney's son and housekeeper are stalked by someone after Sydney causing her to question her career and ability as a mother.



The main characters are well written. Sydney is a particularly admirable protagonist. She is always willing to help people and even though she has to face single motherhood, she compartmentalizes her life to commit herself to her job and to caring for her son.



Walker is also a great character. He is more cautious than Sydney, but he is still dedicated to his job. He also sincerely regrets his circumstances. He misses Sydney and wants to be part of hers and their son's lives, even though he is on the run. He is also something of a knight in shining armor protecting others like a young woman with whom he develops an emotional attachment.



Bowman also writes the supporting characters are a mix. The antagonists are your usual grab bag of mobsters, double agents, stalkers, and assassins mostly one-dimensional and interchangeable.



However, one supporting character that stands out is Nancy-Lynn, the aforementioned mistress. In most books, she would be a manipulative gold-digger/Trophy Wife. In this one, she is a sweet naive girl who realizes that she is in over her head and needs assistance to get out. The moments where Sydney helps Nancy-Lynn gain a new career and independence are genuinely heartfelt and touching.



However, the book has some serious drawbacks. It takes place over a large span of time almost two or three years, judging by the age of Sydney's and Walker's child. With some books a large passage of time is fine, but with a suspense novel it needs to be shorter and tighter. Characters discussing the same case for years might be true to life but stretches credibility in literature.



It doesn't help that the characters don't develop with what would be expected in such a long time. They are well-written but they are the same people in the same situation year after year. Surely, such a long time in passing requires a bit more depth.





The other problem is with Bowmen's writing style. It is almost all description and summary. The book has minimal dialogue. Instead it delves into summarizing events as though the book were an extended outline of ideas that Bowman had rather than an actual book. After awhile it gets repetitive to read paragraphs like



“His contact Euquerio meaning 'surehanded’ went straight to the point. Yes, the former agent was killed when learning about sources causing the medical illnesses at the embassy. His informant was the mistress was one of the top-ranking military commanders. She was found with him and taken to an unknown location for questioning. He wasn't sure what happened afterwards, but hadn't seen her in the bars she frequented. He suggested not looking for her, for if alive and found, she'd attract the government for him.”



The writing goes on like this. The phrase “show, don't tell” definitely comes to mind.





There is a lot with this book that could be salvageable: lots of suspense and some interesting protagonists. But the writing needs to improve before Carolyn M. Bowen and Sydney Jones can receive a second chance.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chance is the second novel in the Sidney Jones series. Carolyn Bowen takes her readers on adventures all around the world, and the settings are fabulous!

I will fully admit that I did not read the first novel in the series, Primed for Revenge, and I feel that I should have read it before reading Chance. I am confident that I missed a lot from the first novel that may have made me feel better about Chance.

Now, that is not to say that I didn’t enjoy Chance. On the contrary, I thought it was a great novel. Bowen has a way with words that make you feel like you are there with the characters sitting on a Barbados white sand beach.

Unfortunately, without having the background on Sidney and Walker’s relationship, I was incredibly upset at the way he behaved through the novel. A guy as smart as Walker could have arranged any number of situations where he could have made a difference. Instead, he went in a direction that made me perpetually mad at him.

I won’t let that shadow my rating, though, because the writing is fantastic. My anger at the characters does not take away from the phenomenal writing and how well Bowen describes her world to us. So, with that in mind, I award Chance a full 5 out of 5 stars.

I do recommend that you read the novels in order, as Chance was not a standalone novel, nor is it meant to be. I will be going back and reading Primed for Revenge to up my knowledge before the third novel is released.

Special thanks to the author and Blackthorn Book Tours for gifting me a copy of Chance in exchange for an honest review.

[Lel Budge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is #2 in the Sydney Jones series but can easily be read as a stand-alone.

Sydney is an attorney, strong and independent. When her boyfriend is accused of murder the investigation begins. She is determined to prove his innocence but then he disappears.

This is part conspiracy tale and part psychological thriller. With murder and intrigue woven into a fast paced, exciting and thoroughly gripping read.

There’s also the little hope of a romance too. Brilliantly entertaining.

Thank you to Blackthorn Tours for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour, for the promotional material and a free ecopy of the book.

[Amy Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grand thriller

Bowen pens a thrilling and suspenseful story in Chance - A Novel. This is the first book of Bowen's that I've read, and I really enjoyed it. I love crime thrillers and Bowen can really tell a story. The story runs at a great paced, and the characters had a lot of depth, and were more than just one dimensional names on a page. Filled with intrigue and conspiracies, this book hits all the right notes. This book made me want to go and read other work from Bowen. I look forward to reading more by this author. This read is definitely recommended by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews.

[Gina Rae Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carolyn M. Bowen knows how to write a crime thriller. Chance: Sydney Jones Book #2 is fast-paced & engaging. It's a quick read that will leave you ready to grab the next in the series.

When you mix Sydney and Walker with the Chinese Black Society and the CIA, you are bound to get excitement, drama, murder, and intrigue.

Chance is an excellent book for fans of police-procedurals, crime fiction, and thrillers with a hint of romance.

[Brian Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chance (Sydney Jones Series Book 2) by Carolyn M. Bowman is a fantastic read. The story is filled with twists and turns, beginning when her lover's ex girlfriend is discovered dead. Walker vanishes leaving no way to contact him, and then Sydney discovers that she is pregnant. The mystery and suspense continue to unfold in what proves to be a well written, engaging novel. Chance is a classic thriller/mystery plot with lots of tense and suspenseful moments.

[Tricia De Jesus-Gutierrez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast-paced with relatable characters, a treat if you like criminal law or police procedural primetime shows. A substantial read to tuck into your purse for a quick read at the cafe, on the train, or the beach.

[Nolcha Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carolyn Bowen does a fantastic job of weaving the lives of different characters together into an international web of revenge, unresolved love, and hope for the future. I never knew what was going to happen next. The ending left me wanting more!

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced crime fiction with scenic details within a great romantic adventure.