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Chance Of A Lifetime
When security agent Abraham Chance implicates her sister in an embezzlement scheme, Rachel Wilder takes a job posing as his housekeeper to find out the truth and clear her sister's name
250 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
3 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
About the author
Jayne Ann Krentz
398 books7,178 followersThe author of over 50 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 11, 2022
Big Jayne Ann Krentz fan as a rule, although I try not to read too many of her books a year because they do have a sameness for me. Her Grand Passion is in my Top Ten Favorite Romances (Not Written By Heyer or Hill) List.
This one isn't going to make any list of favorites, let alone that one. Just for starts I would have threatened this guy with a sexual harassment lawsuit so fast I can't tell you. Although to be honest I was far more bothered by the fact that the heroine didn't see what he was doing as all that wrong, than I was by what he was doing. I was a working woman in the 1980s. We knew very well what sexual harassment was, and a woman who held the job the heroine did should have recognized precisely how outrageous his actions were.
That was my first big problem with the book. Second, while I've never had any problem with the British thing of cousins marrying cousins that squicks some romance fans, I find the idea of making love to a guy who seduced and betrayed my step sister just all kinds of ick. Granted, by that point the reader knows he didn't do it, but the heroine is still telling herself that's what happened.
And my third gripe probably wouldn't have bothered me if I wasn't so annoyed with the first two, but personally I don't know any woman who'd run off to the bathroom and leave her purse at the table with some guy she just met. Everyone I know hauls her purse along, first because it's got her wallet in it, and second because they might want a comb or something out of it once they get sight of themselves in the mirror. It's second nature.
Krentz's heroes and heroines tend to kind of blend in my mind in terms of personalities, but I usually can believe in them as characters while I'm reading the book, assuming I haven't read too many of hers in too short a time. Normally I can buy the heroine falling in love with a guy she's just met pretty easily as well, but this heroine had too many unrealistic aspects for me to believe in her.
The book still entertained me, it was perfectly readable, but I couldn't lose myself in the story or characters because I kept getting knocked out by little unrealities. Not the best Krentz out there.
And, no strike against the author, but the art behind the stepback cover may be the worst ever on a book I've purchased. And I have some Fabio ones. I confess I am not a huge romance cover art fan, but this is the first one I've picked up where the art is this bizarre. It's of a woman alone in a strange semi-balletic pose (although she's supposed to be sitting), who looks like she's been awkwardly photo shopped onto a landscape done by someone who has never seen the Sierra Nevadas, but is trying to do an impressionist painting of same anyhow. Just dreadful.
This one isn't going to make any list of favorites, let alone that one. Just for starts I would have threatened this guy with a sexual harassment lawsuit so fast I can't tell you. Although to be honest I was far more bothered by the fact that the heroine didn't see what he was doing as all that wrong, than I was by what he was doing. I was a working woman in the 1980s. We knew very well what sexual harassment was, and a woman who held the job the heroine did should have recognized precisely how outrageous his actions were.
That was my first big problem with the book. Second, while I've never had any problem with the British thing of cousins marrying cousins that squicks some romance fans, I find the idea of making love to a guy who seduced and betrayed my step sister just all kinds of ick. Granted, by that point the reader knows he didn't do it, but the heroine is still telling herself that's what happened.
And my third gripe probably wouldn't have bothered me if I wasn't so annoyed with the first two, but personally I don't know any woman who'd run off to the bathroom and leave her purse at the table with some guy she just met. Everyone I know hauls her purse along, first because it's got her wallet in it, and second because they might want a comb or something out of it once they get sight of themselves in the mirror. It's second nature.
Krentz's heroes and heroines tend to kind of blend in my mind in terms of personalities, but I usually can believe in them as characters while I'm reading the book, assuming I haven't read too many of hers in too short a time. Normally I can buy the heroine falling in love with a guy she's just met pretty easily as well, but this heroine had too many unrealistic aspects for me to believe in her.
The book still entertained me, it was perfectly readable, but I couldn't lose myself in the story or characters because I kept getting knocked out by little unrealities. Not the best Krentz out there.
And, no strike against the author, but the art behind the stepback cover may be the worst ever on a book I've purchased. And I have some Fabio ones. I confess I am not a huge romance cover art fan, but this is the first one I've picked up where the art is this bizarre. It's of a woman alone in a strange semi-balletic pose (although she's supposed to be sitting), who looks like she's been awkwardly photo shopped onto a landscape done by someone who has never seen the Sierra Nevadas, but is trying to do an impressionist painting of same anyhow. Just dreadful.
April 1, 2015
fun and enjoyable.A very fast paced story with not too much of detailing. Loved the straight to the core theme in this.
February 20, 2021
I usually re-read Jayne Ann Krentz's books annually, so this is possibly my tenth time through this book. It holds up well to re-reading. The characters and situation are amusing and fun. I particularly like Ms. Krentz's male characters. Chance, while cleaning out his barn, keeps finding excuses to keep junk like a hammer with a broken handle, so that almost nothing but empty boxes goes in the discard pile. I find this so typically male that I laugh every time I read it.
This is a good read when you just want to relax. (Note: I got my copy from half.com since it is currently out of print.)
This is a good read when you just want to relax. (Note: I got my copy from half.com since it is currently out of print.)
July 22, 2016
The plot was grabbing and a little unpredictable , and the characters were intriguing .. I really liked Rachel .. she was upfront , bold and demanding .. kept Chance on his toes all the time , Chance was just so male .. in a rolling my eyes a lot kind of way but I kinda of liked that. Very entertaining !!
May 30, 2024
This one is lousy with consent issues. I also don’t believe they would fall in love with each other when there was mistrust on both sides. If they had communicated and started working together before the love making and love thoughts I might have found it more believable. As it was I was just annoyed.
January 20, 2019
it was ok.....
March 25, 2024
An older book, but I really like her books.
August 22, 2019
One of the extremely few books oh hers dating back that is actually worth reading
July 5, 2011
The heroine was quite good in this one - sparky and set for revenge. The hero is doing up a house and so takes her for a housekeeper and she takes the job to spy on him, but, you guessed it, falls for him. Her emotional journey is well charted, and just as she realises she's falling for him, there's a new plot twist in the form of blackmail and then his family come to stay. I like that - it's so boring when THE SAME misunderstanding keeps them apart for a whole book. What I didn't like was it was all the little sister's fault. She lied and he's perfect.
In theory, it was another link between them, they both had a spoilt and demanding little sister, but there was an air of we're perfect and it's all their fault which I don't like - what about co-dependency and equality & diversity and all that stuff? So that's why the book only gets 2 stars.
Flicking through it again, I see that the hero's POV was used, but I'd forgotten that. He's also a bit of a pack rat, which was played for its comedy.
In theory, it was another link between them, they both had a spoilt and demanding little sister, but there was an air of we're perfect and it's all their fault which I don't like - what about co-dependency and equality & diversity and all that stuff? So that's why the book only gets 2 stars.
Flicking through it again, I see that the hero's POV was used, but I'd forgotten that. He's also a bit of a pack rat, which was played for its comedy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2018
One of my favorites from JAK's Temptation days. Great protagonists - Abraham Chance, security consultant currently renovating the old family mansion in the middle of nowhere, staunchly opinionated, pulls no punches and an unlikely hoarder; Rachel Wilder, manager, out to seek revenge on Chance for placing the blame of an embezzlement scam on her younger stepsister, erstwhile housekeeper for Chance.
These two learn to trust each other, deal with each other's family, escape from being killed & solve the embezzlement case, and, oh yes, fall in love.
These two learn to trust each other, deal with each other's family, escape from being killed & solve the embezzlement case, and, oh yes, fall in love.
October 10, 2011
the story was quite good and very straight to the story and plot. there was no dallying of what when or where the story goes. loved how the story goes, it was simple yet very well written to make the reader part of the book, at least that was how i felt about it. i was really moved by how chance and rachel love story goes.
December 28, 2015
Chance of a Lifetime penned by Ms. Krentz is an excellent read full of adventure, love and characters that are realistic. Well written novel with all of the sensory elements that makes spending an afternoon reading so enjoyable. Jayne Anne Krentz is no stranger to the world of drama and storytelling. This is a narrative you can really sink your teeth into.
June 11, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It had some laughter, some suspense, some sex, and some just plain fun. It wasn't into someone being the master (sexist). It was nicely written and we'll put together.
Second read - Quite fun! It was truly a nice fun read. Keeping this for rereading in the future.
Second read - Quite fun! It was truly a nice fun read. Keeping this for rereading in the future.
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September 11, 2008F Kre
January 2, 2012
There's a seriously bizarre makeout/mauling scene near the beginning, but otherwise it's a pretty fun, light romance in classic JAK style
May 15, 2012
Another oldie from JAK. Typical straight-shooting hero and feisty heroine. Very readable.
October 30, 2016
3.5 stars for stuff on dealing with spoiled younger sisters :)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews