The Golden Chance

If you're looking for a book that is filled with smart wit and keen observations, "The Golden Chance" is it. Philadelphia Fox is the trademark JAK heroine, a quirky do-gooder a step shy of being beautiful. Philadelphia is a burnt-out social worker, traumatized from her last case which involved an ex-mercenary and his wife taking in foster children for profit. Nick Lightfoot, the ex-heir apparent to C & L, a profitable arms manufacturing corporation, and Philadelphia meet on shaky grounds. Nick has been sent by the C & L clan to retrieve C & L shares that Philadelphia inherited from her best friend Crissie Masters. Philadelphia, however, is unlike most women Nick has met. Her shares can't be bought. Philadelphia can't be bought either for that matter. Thus begins a matter of the heart. Philadelphia accompanies Nick to the quaint fictional town of Port Claxton, Washington, home of the C & L clan. She wants answers to Crissie's untimely death. She also wants to find out more about the tortured C & L clan. Members of the clan are so very close and yet so very distant from each other. Appearances are everything, leaving no room for authentic conversation. Nick and Philadelphia ("Phila") are an unlikely couple. But that is often the case in romance novels. Nick is a savvy businessman from a conservative family while Philadelphia is a leftish bleeding-heart liberal do-gooder (yes, perhaps redundant!). However, in matters of the heart, it is often compassion, passion, loyalty and sexual attraction that overcome these vast differences. Like so many JAK heroines, Philadelphia eventually endears herself to those around her. Overall, "The Golden Chance" is a wonderful, heart-warming read. I highly recommend!

This is, as far as I'm concerned, one of the best contemporary romances ever written. The heroine isn't a flake like most of Krentz's heroines, but is smart and very feisty. The hero, Nick, is what's special, though: Instead of her usual man of mystery or engineer with frozen emotions, Krentz has created a vibrant hero who's loving, humorous, and strong but not pushy; he's a masterpiece, and the tenderness of the relationship between him and the heroine, Philadelphia, is deeply moving. Among my all-time favorites.

It is true that Jayne Ann Krentz is one of my favorite authors,and this is one of my favorite books! Jayne has written one of her most memorable female characters: Philadelphia Fox. She is a combination vixen, gamine, everygirl, and passionate lover. One of her best qualities is her loyalty to her best friend, especially in the face of opportunity. The hero is also an exceptional person, who is honest and fiery. Both are stubborn, but they are stubborn together. What a wonderful love story and testamonial to love, loyalty and honor. Who would have thought that combination would be so exciting?

I think I have read every Jayne Ann Krentz book and this one definitely stands out as my favorite. The characters are down-to-earth and believable (as much as I like the dark-man-of-mystery, I never really find him very convincing). The relationship is so carefully built, step by step. Truly a romance story, not just a series of lustful glances and bedroom scenes.

I've read most of Jayne Ann's books but this one in particular stood out. Though it was pretty formulaic in principal characters (strong, independent heroines and men who can only be tamed or should I say trained? by them), and the familiar plot of family loyalty and intrigue, I thougth Phila Fox and Nick Castlefoot worked very well together. If you've read her books before this is a must read. If new to Krentz you'll discover what she does so well!