Emily's Chance

Emily's Chance: A Novel (The Callahans of Texas) is a heart-warming Christian Romance novel.

About the book: Emily Rose may be in the tiny West Texas town of Callahan Crossing for the moment, but it's just a rung on her ladder to success. Her work at the Callahan Crossing historical society will look good on her ever-growing resume as she attempts to break into the prestigious world of a big city museum curator. Little does she know cowboy and contractor Chance Callahan has decided that he can convince her to stay--both with the town and with him. As he helps Emily restore the town's history after a devastating fire, he also helps her uncover her own hidden worth and the value of love. The second book in THE CALLAHANS OF TEXAS series, Emily's Chance is a heartwarming story of letting love take the lead. Readers will come away wishing they lived in Callahan Crossing.

My Comments:  Since I really enjoyed the first book in the series, Jenna's Cowboy: A Novel (The Callahans of Texas) (see my review) I was pleased to accept when the publisher offered me a complimentary review copy of this one.  Like Jenna's Cowboy, Emily's Chance: A Novel (The Callahans of Texas) is a Western-themed Christian romance whose characters are real people with real flaws.  While the book contained some of what I'd term "gratuitous religion"--faith elements that serve no purpose in the plot but seem to be there solely to remind us that it is a Christian book--it wasn't overwhelming.  Emily is a young woman out to prove herself in a competitive world.  She doesn't need the money, but has picked a field--museum curator--where there are few plum spots, and she wants to prove to her parents that she can get one.    

After the fire that was the climax of Jenna's Cowboy Emily is invited to stay at the Callahan ranch, since her rental home was destroyed.  While there she falls in love not only with Chance but also with the whole family, whose life is about as different from her family's as possible.  Still, getting involved with Chance means giving up her dreams; is he worth it?  Chance is about as close to the perfect guy as possible without becoming too good to be true.  Sharon Gillenwater does a great job of showing the romance and sexual tension while remaining chaste.  As I've said before, that can be more romantic than a blow-by-blow of who does what to whom.  

Emily's Chance: A Novel (The Callahans of Texas) is a fun romance that I really enjoyed reading.  Grade:  B+  It is available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.