Chances Are

Rating:
Summary: Chances Are You'll Like This
Review: I am a big fan of Barbara Bretton I confess. This story, which is a continuation of Shore Lights, but can be read by itself, was a great read. The character development was just as interesting as in the first book and I very much look forward to the next installment. If you enjoy family relationship drama involving characters of all ages the story line Ms. Bretton has developed will suit your fancy.

Rating:
Summary: fun second chance at love story
Review: In Jersey Shore town Paradise Point Maddy Bainbridge and Aidan O'Malley are getting married. The twosome knows that they must also work extra hard to form a family unity that includes her five years old daughter Hannah and his seventeen years old daughter Gina. However, neither was prepared for the nuttiness of her family who are driving Maddy to think of eloping. All this lunacy is occurring in front of PBS as historical journalist Pete Lassiter is doing a series of shows on the town.

However, Maddy learns a secret that Gina is hiding from her father. When she informs the teen that she must tell her father, Gina reacts by threatening to run off to New York to take care of business. Worried that the child will be all alone at a dark pivotal moment when she needs love and support, Maddy agrees to hide Gina's secret from her dad even though it costs her the trust of her beloved and potentially the relationship.

CHANCES ARE overwhelmingly that Barbara Bretton's myriad of fans will appreciate this solid contemporary sequel to SHORE LIGHTS that continues the second chance at love story of two delightful protagonists. Gina's crisis is a fabulous subplot that strains the relationship of the lovebirds even as Maddy's family adds humor by sending the bride's blood pressure to the stratosphere with their demands and intercession on how the nuptials will play out. Ms. Bretton provides a fine return to the Jersey shore with this warm family drama.

Harriet Klausner


Rating:
Summary: Proceed with caution
Review: This book is a continuation of Shore Lights, and follows the same characters as they now prepare for the wedding of Maddy DiFalco and Aiden O'Malley. I'm not sure why this book was necessary, because it didn't further the relationship, didn't end with the wedding, and was filled with family squabbles and bickering. I 'think' Bretton is setting us up for a story about Claire and her own love life, but I don't think it'd be very interesting based upon her character in this book. The story contained a lot of in-fighting between family members, lots of bad blood between relations and future relations, and turned a great character (Kelly O'Malley) into a bad one for the sake of the storyline. Actually, the story was quite dependant upon Kelly and her life to propel the action. I wouldn't recommend this book - it's a family drama with no romance. No romance, no sincere story, and a lot of drivel.