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summermusings's review against another edition
5.0
Classic Linda Howard & Mackenzies
I remember when this book first came out. I'm a huge fan of the Mackenzie series. I have no idea how many times I read the paperback so I was happy to see the Kindle version on sale the other day. This is a 5 stars because I love the series, love this book as it was a great end to the series and I've reread it many times.
I remember when this book first came out. I'm a huge fan of the Mackenzie series. I have no idea how many times I read the paperback so I was happy to see the Kindle version on sale the other day. This is a 5 stars because I love the series, love this book as it was a great end to the series and I've reread it many times.
tacuazin's review against another edition
3.0
More like 3.5, but I enjoyed more Joe's or Zane's stories. The fact that Chance spends most of the book deceiving Sunny is not as easily forgivable, in my opinion.
In any case, I'd reread it any day.
In any case, I'd reread it any day.
authorbgillilan's review against another edition
5.0
Love this book!
Chance is one of my favor books!
Chance is one of my favor books!
ccgwalt's review against another edition
4.0
TBR Challenge 2012: Personal Challenge-- books on my list prior to 2011. A Game of Chance has been on my to-read list since August 2010.
3.5* rounded up to 4*
Grade B
A Game of Chance is a book I didn't expect to like as much as I did. All the Mackenzie family books have been enjoyable, but none have been great. A Game of Chance isn't great either, but it's a whole lotta fun! Even when I tell myself it's over-the-top and unbelievable, I still like it. Chance has just enough edge to be a great Linda Howard hero, but with some truly good-guy qualities that insure the reader respects him. Sunny was a well-written character with enough believability to make her a sympathetic heroine.
There was failure to communicate between the characters, but that is integral to the plot, so it made sense instead of being annoying. Good book!
3.5* rounded up to 4*
Grade B
A Game of Chance is a book I didn't expect to like as much as I did. All the Mackenzie family books have been enjoyable, but none have been great. A Game of Chance isn't great either, but it's a whole lotta fun! Even when I tell myself it's over-the-top and unbelievable, I still like it. Chance has just enough edge to be a great Linda Howard hero, but with some truly good-guy qualities that insure the reader respects him. Sunny was a well-written character with enough believability to make her a sympathetic heroine.
There was failure to communicate between the characters, but that is integral to the plot, so it made sense instead of being annoying. Good book!
buuboobaby's review against another edition
1.0
1.5 stars
This was a great big NOPE for me. The story was way too complicated for the allotted pages, and I never got a feel for the characters. Chance is the most unprofessional undercover agent ever, and getting the daughter of the international terrorist you are trying to catch pregnant isn't really good form. I had a problem with his background story, too. If he was a feral kid living on the streets until he was 14, he must have had one heck of an awesome tutor to get him all caught on the schooling he missed out on so he could join the Navy, become a SEAL, and learn his super-duper computer hacking skills. I guess anyone can learn how to fly a plane, especially a SEAL, but crashing it into a mountain and not getting a dent on it, despite all of the rocks it scraped up during the crash landing - I just didn't buy that. I wish I had his spy budget and could crash a plane in a remote area for a little downtime (I of course would make sure all of my Kindles were charged prior to takeoff.) And how convenient that Sunny carries an emergency kit complete with first aid kit, rations, water, blankets, and a....tent? NOPE. That just seems like an awful lot of stuff to drag around every day, even if your father is an evil terrorist trying to catch you.
I didn't care for the art, either. Character proportions were awkward and the artistic style was more minimalistic than I care for. It's functional, and that's about it. Glad I only paid .99 for this.
This was a great big NOPE for me. The story was way too complicated for the allotted pages, and I never got a feel for the characters. Chance is the most unprofessional undercover agent ever, and getting the daughter of the international terrorist you are trying to catch pregnant isn't really good form. I had a problem with his background story, too. If he was a feral kid living on the streets until he was 14, he must have had one heck of an awesome tutor to get him all caught on the schooling he missed out on so he could join the Navy, become a SEAL, and learn his super-duper computer hacking skills. I guess anyone can learn how to fly a plane, especially a SEAL, but crashing it into a mountain and not getting a dent on it, despite all of the rocks it scraped up during the crash landing - I just didn't buy that. I wish I had his spy budget and could crash a plane in a remote area for a little downtime (I of course would make sure all of my Kindles were charged prior to takeoff.) And how convenient that Sunny carries an emergency kit complete with first aid kit, rations, water, blankets, and a....tent? NOPE. That just seems like an awful lot of stuff to drag around every day, even if your father is an evil terrorist trying to catch you.
I didn't care for the art, either. Character proportions were awkward and the artistic style was more minimalistic than I care for. It's functional, and that's about it. Glad I only paid .99 for this.
cranberrytarts's review against another edition
4.0
My heart breaks for Sunny every time I reread this book. Although Chance tried to justify his actions, it's hard for me to accept that he did what he did. I didn't dislike him, but I had a hard time letting it go. I think Sunny forgave him too quickly.
I liked her enjoyment in life and the way she made the best of every situation. I liked Chance's intensity and the way his emotional ties baffled him.
He needed to grovel more.
I liked her enjoyment in life and the way she made the best of every situation. I liked Chance's intensity and the way his emotional ties baffled him.
He needed to grovel more.
thenia's review against another edition
4.0
The story of Chance, the last single Mackenzie sibling.
Chance has a dark past that he's terrified of letting into the Mackenzie's loving family. He always found it hard to accept their love, but can't make himself distance himself from them either. What he does, is making sure that they live in a world as safe as he can make it, by capturing the worst criminals and terrorists humanity has to offer.
It's during one such investigation where he comes across Sunny Miller, the daughter of a vile terrorist that is suspected of working with her father. Chance decides to go undercover and earn her trust, and use her to capture her father.
Through an elaborate plan, he manages to get them stranded in a canyon, where she believes they might not be able to escape from. The danger of their situation, aided by the strong attraction between them that he hadn't anticipated, brings them close and changes both their lives forever.
Chance does not feel right using Sunny like that, but hopes she'll manage to forgive him one day, after he's taken care of her father and made sure she was free to live her life safe from him. He has developed feelings for her, despite knowing that their relationship will come to an end shortly, but can't help but indulge in her as long as he has her.
The sting takes place and Sunny's father is no longer a threat, but Sunny finds out the truth and is devastated. Before Chance has a chance to talk to her, she disappears, and he is frantic to find her, especially when he discovers that she's been shot.
He finds her unconscious and spends some terrifying moments in the hospital, where he discovers that she's pregnant. Unable to let her go, he does everything he can to give her space at first, and then try to explain and hopefully make her forgive him.
Two flawed people that manage to heal each other and get their well deserved happily ever after.
A very enjoyable series.
Previous book reviews:
✦ Mackenzie's Mountain (Mackenzie Family #1)
✦ Mackenzie's Mission (Mackenzie Family #2)
✦ Mackenzie's Pleasure (Mackenzie Family #3)
✦ Mackenzie's Magic (Mackenzie Family #4)
Chance has a dark past that he's terrified of letting into the Mackenzie's loving family. He always found it hard to accept their love, but can't make himself distance himself from them either. What he does, is making sure that they live in a world as safe as he can make it, by capturing the worst criminals and terrorists humanity has to offer.
It's during one such investigation where he comes across Sunny Miller, the daughter of a vile terrorist that is suspected of working with her father. Chance decides to go undercover and earn her trust, and use her to capture her father.
Through an elaborate plan, he manages to get them stranded in a canyon, where she believes they might not be able to escape from. The danger of their situation, aided by the strong attraction between them that he hadn't anticipated, brings them close and changes both their lives forever.
Spoiler
Sunny has been on the run from the father she's never met all her life, determined not to allow him to betray her sister's location. She hasn't let herself become close to anyone, needing to be able to disappear in a moment's notice, and is reluctant to trust anyone. When the two get stranded, the situation allows her to indulge in Chance and experience intimacy and safety for the first time. Her shields are lowered and she confides in him, making his mission a success, but placing her in danger, since she now becomes the bait.Chance does not feel right using Sunny like that, but hopes she'll manage to forgive him one day, after he's taken care of her father and made sure she was free to live her life safe from him. He has developed feelings for her, despite knowing that their relationship will come to an end shortly, but can't help but indulge in her as long as he has her.
The sting takes place and Sunny's father is no longer a threat, but Sunny finds out the truth and is devastated. Before Chance has a chance to talk to her, she disappears, and he is frantic to find her, especially when he discovers that she's been shot.
He finds her unconscious and spends some terrifying moments in the hospital, where he discovers that she's pregnant. Unable to let her go, he does everything he can to give her space at first, and then try to explain and hopefully make her forgive him
Two flawed people that manage to heal each other and get their well deserved happily ever after.
A very enjoyable series.
Previous book reviews:
✦ Mackenzie's Mountain (Mackenzie Family #1)
✦ Mackenzie's Mission (Mackenzie Family #2)
✦ Mackenzie's Pleasure (Mackenzie Family #3)
✦ Mackenzie's Magic (Mackenzie Family #4)
nellgrey's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyable read once I got past the hugely irritating children scene- nearly abandoned it but so glad I didn’t.
fleurette's review against another edition
2.0
The fourth book in series about Mackenzie that I read and probably the last one. I definitely liked it more than the first two books in this series but I preferred Zane's story over it.
The thing is that Chance, as much as I liked him in the previous book, is cheating. For the whole book Sunny thinks he is someone else and she falls in love with a different man. I expected something more from Chance story, since he is such an interesting and complicated character.
As all the others books in this series, at lest the ones I have read, this is also a love almost at the first side story. I generally don't like that idea and I didn't like it this time.
Like I said this is probably the last book in this series I have read.
The thing is that Chance, as much as I liked him in the previous book, is cheating. For the whole book Sunny thinks he is someone else and she falls in love with a different man. I expected something more from Chance story, since he is such an interesting and complicated character.
As all the others books in this series, at lest the ones I have read, this is also a love almost at the first side story. I generally don't like that idea and I didn't like it this time.
Like I said this is probably the last book in this series I have read.
gamma's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
What can I say? I really like Linda Howard's stories. This is the final one in the Mackenzie family saga. I've read all of them several times in the past 20+ years. Love the family!