Review by Sliced Open Reviews

New-Adult Contemporary Romance...YES PLEASE!

I really have overly mixed emotions on this one. It hit every spot that I like in a good Contemporary Romance, even edged into the New Adult. It had a great romance, a great plot and characters with so much potential. The theory between the sparked romance was excellent and what I thought was going to be a complicated love triangle, well was, but didn’t cause me to run screaming the hills. Overall it was a quick refreshing read that was a perfect “in-between” book to give some downtime to my paranormal stacked TBR pile.

Things I loved? I loved the intensity in each relationship. You could feel it all the way down in the pits of your stomach. From the loss of Caroline's college friend, the relationship with her best friend and the relationships with Caroline and Jackson and Caroline and Clay. Being able to convey the depths of relationships between characters can be hit or miss for a lot of authors but this book hit the nail on the head. Providing a deeper sense of emotion behind each aspect of the story.

But there was some “oomph” that was missing. I never quite connected with Caroline, something through the story and writing kept me detached and wanting from her character. In all honesty I really did want to pull her hair out a couple of times, I also really wanted to like her, but just could never fully get to that point. Though, I will say that I absolutely loved Jackson and Clay. Both characters offered so much to the story that it helped to balance out my iffy feelings for Caroline.

The other thing that I really haven’t been able to decide if I loved or hated was the INSTA-LOVE. Ok, so I get the theory between the first meeting but, it was just a little much for me. Or was it? Being a New-Adult romance, I get it. I’ve always been the type to like to go out and enjoy myself, and pending meeting the right person in the right place in the right time, I could possible do a LITTLE of what they did on their first encounter. For me though, it would be in all fun and I think theirs was a bit too passionate for a first meeting. Or maybe I’m just a huge Debbie Downer and disbeliever in love at first sight.

Either way, I enjoyed it; I fell for the romance and both men so makes it a successful Contemporary Romance to me. ( )

Review originally published on my blog: AWordsWorth.blogspot.com
eBook provided by author for review.

Caroline Weber had the dream life. You know the kind: successful college graduate with an internship she loves, and the world's greatest boyfriend, Clay, who is in agreement about their five-year-and-then-forever plan. But sometimes, things are too good to be true. Or maybe just too good to let you see the deeper truth. After a chance encounter with the devastatingly handsome Jackson, Caroline can't fight the magnetism between the two. Meeting Jackson sparked something deep inside her heart, way down in her soul. She doesn't know what to call it, doesn't even want to label it, and struggles to balance the intensity of her attraction to Jackson with the knowledge that she has all a girl could ask for in Clay. When Clay proposes, Caroline finds herself at the center of a minefield, and all of her choices start to catch up with her. She finally admits some truths to herself, and with the help of her best friend Bailey, tries to keep her head up and her heart in some sort of repair. She's the lucky girl - she has the picture perfect life. The details are not important. And then she gets a phonecall, and everything becomes crystal clear. Life is messy, and so are relationships. But that's what makes them worth fighting for.

Chance Encounters is a quick read. Caroline is a likable character, even as she struggles so fiercely in the midst of this "love triangle." Rather than just blindly following passion, Caroline really does try to figure out how to do things right -- it just takes her a while to figure out what "right" is. While I've never been in her situation, I was able to understand her. And Bailey is awesome! As are Tommy and Alex (you'll have to read it yourself to find out who and why). I'd definitely recommend this as a quick read for when you want something fun but not fluffy. ( )