Synopsis
One city of two million people and only three months to find her.
What are his chances?
Isabel Antunes is content with her life as director of the English Academy in Lisbon. Then she’s hit by a man on a bike—a man her boss just hired to be her assistant. Despite Simon Ackerley’s repeated assurances to the contrary, Isabel believes he’s after her position, but she won’t hand it over without a fight. As if dealing with him all week is not enough, he shows up at church as well. Her only solace is in writing to the pen pal she knows as “Elliot”.
Simon Ackerley told his father that he was moving to Lisbon for the job. But that isn’t the only reason. Simon is looking for Amélie, the pen pal he’s written for fifteen years. A woman he knows everything about—except her real name and address.
When the biking accident reveals that Simon’s prickly co-worker Isabel is the elusive Amélie, he knows he has to win her trust before he can confess his true identity. If only he could tell her the actual reason why he’s come, he’s sure Isabel would treat him differently. But she’s not ready for the truth.
One Small Chance is a standalone novella of 43,000 words and it’s set in Lisbon, Portugal. It’s a clean and wholesome contemporary LDS romance in the A Love Story from Portugal series.
Review
This may be a novella but it is not short on character development, has an intriguing story line and inspiring romance. Oh and some delicious food too!
This is also a very clean romance and since the two main characters are of the LDS faith, that is to be expected. But I like that because it makes the author be creative and use other situations and language to reflect emotions.
I like how Isabel and Simon were penpals for 15 years before Simon took a chance to try and find her, and an accident throws them together. It must have been fate.
There is even a little mystery in this book, who is stealing from the school that Isabel directs. Simon is hired to figure it out so that helps him try to woo Isabel before revealing who he truly is, her penpal of 15 years.
I really loved every element of this story and recommend it to everyone!
We give this 5 paws up.
About the Author
Lucinda Whitney was born and raised in Portugal, where she received a Master’s degree from the University of Minho in Braga, in Portuguese/English teaching.
She lives in northern Utah with her husband and four children. When she’s not reading and writing, she can be found with a pair of knitting needles, or tending her herb garden.
Thanks for the great review, Leslie!