The Chance by Karen Kingsbury

Narrated by January LaVoy

Whenever I get the chance to listen to a Karen Kingsbury book, I get really excited! After all, she is my very favorite author.  If you read/listen to Inspirational fiction, chances are you have heard of Ms. Kingsbury. So when Lea (a.k.a. my mother) asked me to review The Chance, I was like, “Sign me up!”

I guess what I enjoy most about her books is the fact that they are Christian in nature but in a we-messed-up-we-are-human-here’s-our-story-of-redemption kind of way. Her characters are Christians, yes, but they are flawed, human, and real. Ms. Kingsbury writes of shattered lives that are gradually rebuilt relying on faith in God to make one whole again.

The Chance is no exception to the rule. We began in the summer of 2002 and meet a sweet, innocent Ellie Tucker who is all of 15. She is waiting for her mother to come home, but she’s late again. When she finally arrives, her mother brings shameful news that tears her family apart. Ellie’s dad flees their Georgia home in anger, headed for California taking Ellie with him, and away from her best friend, and potential love of her life, Nolan Cook.

Ellie and Nolan have always been inseparable and this news is devastating for them both. Nolan is shocked that the “girl he is going to marry” is being pulled from his life overnight. Before Ellie leaves, she meets Nolan beneath the large oak tree in the park where they have met all their lives. They each write a letter to the other, place it in a box, and bury it beneath the tree vowing to return in 11 years if they haven’t seen each other before then.

Fast forward to 2013. Nolan Cook is a household name, a NBA star who loves the game, but most importantly loves God. He’s experienced a lot of heartache but has always stayed faithful. However, the fact that he was never able to find Ellie still haunts him.

Ellie, residing in California, is a single-mom trying to make it on her own. She is filled with shame, regret, and hurt that she can’t seem to get past. The only bright spot in her life is her daughter Kenzie.

The planned date to meet in June is drawing near but neither Ellie or Nolan think the other will even remember. And then there is the box of letters – the box that will change everything.

Once again, Ms. Kingsbury delivers an outstanding book. I fell in love with the characters, and was amazed as I watched God put the pieces back together, understanding what was happening long before any of the characters did. I found myself rooting for Ellie and Nolan early on – they are extremely likable characters and so well written.

I honestly loved everything about this book. Karen Kingsbury usually includes some sort of sports in her books. After all, it is part of her actual life, being the mother of five boys who play sports. And for this non-sports fan, it works on every level.

When it comes to audio format, this is one author who consistently draws great narrators. And such is the case with January LaVoy – she is outstanding. She clearly distinguishes each character – the most important consideration for me when listening to an audiobook. You can have an amazing book, but if you have a poor narrator, it’s not worth my time. Thankfully, the audio version of The Chance is high quality all the way around.

This was my first time to listen to LaVoy – she has a pleasant speaking voice and is easy to listen to. Her male characters sound like men and are distinct making it easy for me to not only differentiate from the female characters but one male character to another. Even though the narrator herself does not have an accent, most of her characters speak with a believable southern accent. Of course, her female characterizations are the best and all are easily distinguished as well. And her portrayal of the children, both male and female, was exceptional.

Being such a fan of Ms. Kingsbury, I was sad to see that The Chance is a stand-alone title. One of her more well-know families, the Baxters, was featured throughout a number of books. I was hoping to see more of Ellie and Nolan in future books, but still, the ending left me with that “happily ever after” feeling, so I guess I can’t complain.

Katherine

Narration:  A-

Book Content:  A+

Steam Factor:  You can play it out loud

Violence:  None

Genre:  Inspirational Romance – Contemporary

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster