Latest in the popular Thunder Point series, where the Oregon coast setting forms a majestic backdrop to Robyn Carr's characters. Laine Carrington featured in The Hero as an undercover FBI agent. She was injured in a shooting and has come to Thunder Point incognito while her shoulder recuperates. Life is a lot more peaceful here, and that's just the way she wants it. In fact, she thinks it's time to explore her work options.

THE CHANCE of happiness for this brave lady comes when she meets a garage owner and mechanic, Eric Gentry, who restores classic cars as a hobby. He's still settling in to Thunder Point, working too hard for female company, and she has to ask him if he'd like to have dinner somewhere. They get on really well but Eric isn't sharing his whole history just yet, and next day Laine discovers that he has a daughter from a high-school romance with Gina, a recently married lady who runs the diner. Is there anything else he's not telling her?

THE CHANCE is an adult romance novel so the relationship swiftly takes off, as the couple sensibly work through their problems. I liked Eric a lot. He's practical, helpful, not egotistical, and he has a strong respect for ladies. He went through a troubled patch in his youth but he's grown out of that, and just hopes to keep his past quiet long enough for townsfolk to get to know the mature man. We see restored classic cars as well as the aftermath of mountain road crashes. Laine, a well-drawn character, is bossy compared to the women he's used to meeting, with her law- enforcement background. She's also estranged from her father, who was disappointed when she didn't follow him into medicine, and he now develops Alzheimer's. Amusingly, Eric's daughter Ashley thinks Laine is a really cool girlfriend for her dad, telling him that the whole town is speculating as to just what she does for a living.

Followers of Robyn Carr will want to read this story and catch up with Cooper and Sarah at the beach bar, Devon and her daughter and the other good folks. The earlier books had more interwoven tales, while THE CHANCE focuses on Laine and Eric who find that life isn't simple. There is no great drama but many readers will identify with the issues raised. A newcomer could easily get into the story and they might find the realistic adult series addictive.