This one I'm not sure about. On one hand I really liked the suspenseful thriller but on the other hand the romance bit. Well that's what makes me doubtful.
I feel that neither the storyline nor the characters were fully developed. For me it all felt a little rushed.

Also I felt there was something missing. Problem is I couldn't tell you what that is exactly. Don't get me wrong the book is well written. It was as if I was waiting for something and it never happened.
Read it yourself and let me know.

A second chance romance - with a murder thrown in for good measure. How could I resist? Lucy returns to her hometown as a journalist, chasing down the story. Of course, the woman she let get away, Erica, is a police officer involved in the investigation. There's a lot going on in this book - romance, thriller and a bit of mystery - but all the different threads just didn't meld together for me. Jackie D writes well and I enjoyed the book, but I didn't connect as much as I thought I would to Lucy and Erica and their relationship.

I really like the storyline of these two women. The characters were believable and the secondary characters helped the storyline. This the second mystery book I have read that I kept thinking this person is the villain but it is to obvious. I love when a storyline gets me all crazy. I definitely recommend this book.

Stevie‘s review of Lucy’s Chance by Jackie D
Contemporary Lesbian Romance published by Bold Strokes Books 12 Dec 17

Most stories involving the hunt for a serial killer tend to fall into the category of romantic suspense, which I’ve said before is not one of my preferred subgenres. The blurb for this book, by a new-to-me author, however, suggested more of a straightforward romance overlaid onto a police procedural cum journalistic clash with authorities, so I decided to give it a go. Throw in the trope of long-estranged lovers reunited when one returns to the town that the other never really left (not always a hit for me, though I do keep looking for small-town romances that may hit all the right buttons for once), and this was either going to be a great skyrocketing success for me or a bit of a damp squib.


Lucy Rodriguez and Erica Chance were best friends turned lovers, but Lucy ended the relationship after she went away to college because it seemed to be what all her classmates were doing: abandoning their high school sweethearts in favour of the freedom to explore life and play the field, and because she thought Erica wanted to do that same thing too. In the following decade and a half, Lucy has travelled the world as a journalist, before returning to the US to cover local stories after she was caught up in a terror attack in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Erica has remained in their hometown, working for the local police department alongside Lucy’s brother. The pair have avoided each other all these years, but neither has ever stopped regretting what might have been.

When the body of a college student is found, Erica is assigned to investigate the murder case, and Lucy is sent down by her editor to cover the story. The pair discover that the case bears remarkable similarities to a pair of murders that took place twenty-five years earlier, but were never solved, and when the cousin of Erica’s on-off girlfriend also disappears, the race is on to find the girl before she becomes the next victim of a killer who has either returned to town after a long absence or is copying the actions of the earlier murderer.

This book really didn’t know what it wanted to be. It had a lot of elements of romantic suspense, including our heroines making bad choices and getting into trouble for reasons that did more to advance the plot than to reflect their characters. However, it also had a lot of elements closer to those found in a small-town romance or a cosy mystery with romantic elements. In the end, none of the plot threads hung together in a way that satisfied me, and I found myself wishing we could have seen more of the relationships between various of the background characters, rather than that of the heroines, since they just annoyed me.

Not an author I’ll be watching out for in the future, unless she comes up with something a lot more coherent in terms of subgenre.

Grade: C

An honest review thanks to NetGalley. This was a good book, the plot was great, the idea of small city detectives solving their first murder case. The long lost never forgotten love and the family dynamic was worth continuing reading for. The reason for not a higher review is the relationship between Lucy and Chance; I wanted to know more about their past and feelings. I felt as if I was being told about all of this lost love and not shown; I felt as if I missed out a lot with and found myself wanting more. It was a good mystery, and the secondary characters were worth the read.

It was a good book about old love and friendship and coming home but there was just something missing for me. It didn’t have that special excitement that I looked for when I read the plot. The book itself is well written with well developed characters it just is missing that special something.

Lucy’s Chance’s storyline involves a serial killer who targets college students. Lucy is a Pulitzer winning reporter and her high school sweetheart and first love is Erica Chance, a detective. Erica is totally heartbroken when Lucy decides to end their relationship while in college. However, twelve years later, they reconnect professionally as they try to capture a serial killer.
The police action storyline was good, but I had trouble understanding Lucy’s reasoning for breaking up with Erica. It seemed kind of out of place and juvenile given Lucy’s personality, intellect, and magnetic attraction to Erica. But aside from that, the secondary characters were interesting, especially Grayson, who added comic relief to an otherwise serious storyline.
Overall, this was a good read.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36684786-lucy-s-chance" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Lucy’s Chance" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1513067145m/36684786.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36684786-lucy-s-chance">Lucy’s Chance</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12941239.Jackie_D_">Jackie D.</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2214724644">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I rec'd an ARC from NetGalley/Bold Strokes Books for review.<br />Erica and Lucy are the main characters in this romantic thriller. An intriguing story that dragged slightly in spots but delivered the goods in the end. Not a bad read at all!!<br />3.5 stars.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/31134832-gail">View all my reviews</a>

Lucy Rodriguez has loved Erica Chance since she was a little girl. She wants to see the world and she ends up seeing more than she counted on when she becomes a reported covering all the dangerous places in the world. In doing this she leaves Erica behind. Erica becomes a police officer in their hometown of Clearbrooke. When a serial murder starts killing in Clearbrooke it gives Lucy a reason to return and to discover she's still in love with her first love. But it's not smooth going. Jackie D gives us a story well worth our time. Having read other books by J D it's easy to say this is one of her best.

A very basic story, not fully developed. It felt to me that the author took the story line from 3 other books and combined them into this one. (Serial killer, damaged war reporter and lover left behind) unfortunately none of the 3 were developed fully. The serial killer was not detailed much, we know very little about him. (Spoiler: how was he at the exact spot when Lucy was let out of Erica..'s car?). Lucy didn't seem that disturbed by the war experience, and I didn't feel much chemistry between Lucy and Erica.
What was there was written well. I enjoyed the banter between some of the characters and the dogs were cute....yet disloyal to owners 😊
I will look forward to reading a future book by this author, in hopes their writing matures a bit.

Lucy is a reporter and finds herself heading back to her hometown to cover a story there. She begins helping local law enforcement to uncover the mystery. Lucy's teenage girlfriend, Erica, is now a detective in the small town police force, and the two women find themselves working in close proximity. They race to discover answers in the case, and along the way discover old attractions that never quite went away.

This book is solid. I could read at least a hundred other books from the author, just like this one. Please and thank you. It's everything I love in romance/crime novels. There was a perfect balance of romance and mystery. The characters are all fascinating, and the town itself adds it's own personality to the mix. There were so many secondary characters that surprised me with their unique characteristics that remind me that there is good in this world. The romance isn't without a whole lot of baggage, and the women have their own personal baggage to deal with as well. And more than romance, this was a story about coming home, and finding your family.

The little moments where we saw glimpses of teenage Lucy and Erica's story were the sweetest things. They were so precious. Ah, young love.

I will definitely have to read the other books by the author, and I will send out some wishes to the universe that she will write a hundred more books like this one.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Good romantic thriller, with a backstory that enhanced the difficulties between the women, but did not detract from the core mystery. A hurried ending diminished my overall satisfaction with the novel, but set the foundation for what will likely be subsequent entries in a series.

Lucy’s Chance by Jackie D was just what I needed after a long week of craziness that just won't quit. A great escape, that didn't overthink what it really was, two ladies with a life-long bond that even after twelve years of separation, the love was still there.

Lucy Rodriguez made a terrible decision at the age of twenty. Caught up in the razzle-dazzle of undergrad she decided to break up with her girlfriend to see what dating life was all about. She has regretted that decision every day thereafter. She broke her true love's heart and has spent every day thereafter paying the price. She works and she works with very little else in life. A renowned journalist who covers the crime beat for San Diego and has Pulitzer for her stories from the Middle East, her works is her lifeblood.

Erica Chance is a small town police officer in Northern California. Erica has spent the last decade of her life trying to repair the hole in her heart Lucy left behind. She doesn’t let any woman close to her heart anymore. Four months of casual dating and then that relationship must end. Erica’s regimented life is thrown out of orbit when dead college-age women appear in rapid succession. It also brings Lucy Rodriguez back into her life.

Add a bit of conflict, add a bit of angst, a derail killer and you have a really good read. Is this anything revolutionary? Not so much. What this book is a great escape. You have a few hours to decompress from real-life's craziness, and enjoy a quality story with interesting characters. Well minus the psychopath murderer, but you know what I mean.

The romance/broken hearts relationship between Lucy and Erica was interesting and kept me reading, waiting for these two accomplished women to move beyond events in their past and acknowledge their mutual attraction in the present. I wished more time was spent explaining the reasons for their original breakup.These events shaped the women Lucy and Erica have become yet we only get hints at why Lucy did what she did.

Revealing the mind of the killer throughout the novel instead of holding back most of his motives until the final big reveal made this a weak thriller. I’m fine with hearing the voice of the serial killer. Many authors use this device to ramp up tension in a novel. Problem is, if your serial killer tells you every single thing he is thinking,planning and his motives behind his plans the thrill is not only gone, but eye rolling and obvious.

Jackie D is a fine storyteller. Lucy’s Chance may not be the best thriller I’ve read this year but the author’s talent at pulling emotions from her characters makes her books an automatic read for this reader.
3.5 stars

ARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for review.

Personally I would have liked to feel a stronger attraction between the two main characters and more “ahem” action. The emphasis came over as being more about the murder, which was fine as I do enjoy a good murder mystery too! A good easy style of writing and my only criticism would be the sexual and mystery tension/suspense could do with being turned up a good few notches. I will read this author again.

Definitely an endearing book. Was worth the time and energy and I’m thankful I took the time to read it. It pulls you in until you’re done. So worth it.

This was a great book! I'm actually hoping it becomes the first in a series, as I'd love for these characters to come back and work together again on another case. I'd also like to see them rekindle their relationship more since things seemed to take a bit longer than other books to really get going again. I liked the pacing and the characters were well thought out, so no issues there.

Minor spoiler ahead.......The one thing that annoyed me was the letter being delivered to Starbucks. Lucy is literally there checking cameras and she doesn't think to go back and see what the kid looked like to try and track him down? It seemed kind of obvious to me.

Overall I read through this one pretty fast because I found it very enjoyable. I'd recommend others to read it.

That is most likely an starting episode of a series involving cop Erica and reporter Lucy. They have a common story that goes since they were kids, having had a romantic relationship that Lucy broke suddenly when she went to college, although all of their past is not completely explained, and you must figure it out through bits and pieces here and there.The book starts with a fact that forces a reunion between both women after twelve years being apart. In this years Erica has remained in her hometown but Lucy has been traveling around the world, mostly in conflictive areas, in wich she has developed her career as reporter. Buth both women have not been able to overcome their relationship and due to the actual circumstances, they have the oportunity of reevaluate their past acts. Their story goes interlaced with the case of the serial murderer in wich both are working in, that is important in the plot but, given the necessity of explain Erica and Lucy's past, it is a little superficially trated and hastily ended. The book is entertaining and well developed, Lucy and Erica have interesting personalities and form an apealing couple that I hope we could follow in the future.

I really enjoyed Jackie D’s last two books, so I was looking forward to reading this one. Unfortunately, I have to rate this just in the okay zone. It wasn’t bad in any way; it just was missing the excitement and character connection I am used to in her books.

When a murder rocks a small California town, newspaper reporter Lucy is forced to go home to cover the story. At home is her ex-girlfriend Erica, who Lucy can’t stop thinking about. But it has been over a decade and Lucy is sure she has missed her chance. When Lucy’s work brings them closer together, Lucy must decide if Erica is worth fighting for.

In Jackie’s last book Pursuit, she did a wonderful job of making an action packed story that still had a great romance. That is along the lines of what I was hoping for here. A suspense filled mystery, with a great romance. Unfortunately, that wasn’t really what I found this book to be. There is no real mystery around who the killer is, and nothing that made the book very suspenseful for me. I didn’t feel that immediate danger or that heart pounding excitement I was hoping for.

When it came to the romance, I had similar problems. Lucy and Erica were basically supposed to be soulmates, the “one who got away”. I just didn’t feel that big, powerful connection between them. I also didn’t feel the chemistry either, it made me question if they really are meant to be. There is nothing wrong with either of the characters, but also nothing that made them really likeable either.

I do like Jackie D as a writer, this one just was not any better than okay for me. I am fighting off a reading slump, so maybe I’m being a little hard on this book, it just didn’t meet my expectations. I will absolutely keep reading her books and hopefully her next will be more up my alley.