In the novel Chances Are by LaVerne Thompson, Kayla Michaels is the branch manager of a bank and accused of being a co-conspirator in stealing several million dollars from client accounts. Talbert “Tal” Reynolds, President and owner of the bank, only met Kayla days before the discovery but he’s confident of her innocence. He sees Kayla for the exceptional worker and wonderful woman she is. Kayla is fighting her attraction to Tal but she’s never felt more strongly for a man. Tal is six-foot-three inches of sexiness with dark blue eyes, Kayla finds mesmerizing. His frankness and caring nature also lure her in. As the FBI works to get to the bottom of the theft, Kayla and Tal’s passion increase and despite knowing each other for a short time, it seems destiny has brought them together. It takes time to unravel the case of the missing money and in the aftermath, Tal almost loses the woman he’s come to care for more than anything. However, Tal is a very astute man and when his instinct leads, it never steers him wrong and his instinct tells him Kayla is the one.

Chances Are by LaVerne Thompson is a contemporary interracial romance. It is a fairly quick read with an intricate plot involving bank fraud and embezzlement. The plot is easy to follow and intricacies of the banking and computer world are explained with enough details to make it easy for a person with little knowledge to follow easily. Kayla Michaels is a faithful employee of the bank wrongly accused of assisting in theft of bank funds. She happens to be dating Tal, the president of the bank at the time of the discovery but he believes in her innocence. This is interesting because at first I thought Tal would be disbelieving. Kayla’s character is educated, doing okay for herself career wise but unlucky in the love department until Tal comes along. Tal is a great character who, despite his wealth and privilege, comes across as very down to earth. Together they make a colorful couple not just because she is Black and he is White but also their different socio-economic status, their working relationship and different personality types. However, for all their differences they are a believable couple and the chemistry feels genuine. The sexual scenes are not numerous but very sensual and their romance is fast and furious.

Other characters who help to shape this memorable novel are Kayla’s sister Nessa, Zach the computer tech who unravels the mystery and clears Kayla, and the FBI agent who has a thing for Tal and would like nothing better than to see Kayla take the wrap. There is a strong sexual connection between Nessa and Zach, the hint of some instant sexual action inferred. A story is definitely there for these two. The novel is a relatively quick read and the plot unfolds over a short time. There is a suspenseful climax when the man accused of taking the money is confronted and he holds Kayla at gunpoint. Tal and Kayla experience so much in their short time together, it seems they’ve known each other forever. When they finally consummate their relationship it appears natural and right. LaVerne Thompson has written many entertaining and strong novels and Chances Are will be added to my shelf of favorites.

~ Susan for ARe Cafe ( )