Chance of a Lifetime by Marissa Clarke – a Review
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Description:
Sometimes the biggest risk is playing it safe.
Gen Richards is tired of living down to her family’s expectation of the helpless blind girl. Resurrecting her high-school bucket list that begins with “kiss a total stranger” seems just the thing until she finds herself in a panty-melting lip lock with her big brother’s best friend.
Chance Anderson thrives on adrenaline, but Genny’s the one risk he’s not willing to take. His recklessness a decade ago landed her in the hospital and ejected him from her life. He’s bad for her and everyone knows it—especially her big brother.
Chance reluctantly helps Gen complete her bucket list in order to keep her out of trouble. Running through a freezing fountain, playing spin the bottle while fending off a mad horde of stinging insects, and skinny dipping with homicidal attack swans don’t hold a candle to the real danger: falling for the one person he can never have.
Review:
Today had brought home just how misdirected her entire life had been to date.
When Genevieve takes stock of her life and decides to live it, exhilarated and carefree, she tackles her bucket list. Who could have ever imagined #1, kissing a stranger, would involve the object of her obsession aka her big brother’s best friend aka the a-hole who humiliated her at the age of 15?! Thankfully, Marissa Clarke is at the helm of Chance of a Lifetime, and she gives us a thoroughly romantic story of two people who finally got honest.
Misunderstandings. Too often they muck up a perfectly reasonable explanation. When Chance (the a-hole heartbreaker) allows the problem to go unresolved for 10 long years, let’s say Gen is in no mood to listen. Let’s also assume her hurt feelings have festered into rage. Gen is bitter. Gen can’t speak to Chance without snapping. Like a coin, however, there are always two sides and Ms. Clarke gives Chance a chance to make it right.
-and he was going to pay the price…again. All because he couldn’t stay away. He’d never been able to stay away. She was like a drug. He needed more. He always had. He was addicted, but had been able to control it and hide it… Until last night when she’d kissed him. He’d fallen off the wagon.
Truth is, Chance has been smitten with Gen for years, but has kept it a secret to honor the “bro code”. Problem is Gen was unaware. What happened to being honest about your feelings or, at the very least, keeping it a secret from big brother?! Chance is too honorable for that. Plus, that incident of epic proportions from 10 years ago was supposed to keep Chance away permanently, so his declaration wasn’t of the utmost importance. Until the fated kiss, however. A kiss so charged, is either willing to take a dive? (Incidentally, skinny-dipping is also on her list!)
It wasn’t easy to like Gen. The chip on her shoulder was beyond off-putting. Her defensive posture, full of barbs and low blows, was intended to drive away Chance. Out of loyalty, however, he agreed to assist her and Chance is unwilling to walk away without finally revealing his heart. Gen isn’t immune to Chance and when she accepts he’s as vulnerable, the teenaged attraction evolves into something curious, something fierce and hungry. Throwing caution to the wind would be something akin to a freefall (skydiving…who doesn’t have it on their list?!)
I did not expect such an outpouring of emotion! Chance stopped taking chances and put himself out there for all, especially Gen, to believe. His words, his professions of love, swept me away. I genuinely hugged my Kindle! Marissa Clarke created a swoon-worthy man. Not only will he satisfy all your needs (in abundance), he will offer his whole heart. Ms. Clarke addresses love gone wrong, but she also endowed Gen with courage to face her own personal dilemma; “dirty laundry” you’re not supposed to talk about in mixed company. It was life-affirming and empowering.
What more can I say but tell you that second chances make for a splendid forever?
Reviewed by Carmen
Copy provided by Publisher
