The Certainty of Chance by Jacquelyn Middleton

Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. A positive review is not required.

Published: 14 October 2021
Published by: Kirkwall Books
Type: standalone, HEA
Genre: Contemporary Romance Tropes: Forced Proximity, Opposites Attract, Vacation, Hero With an Accent, Workplace Romance, Slow Burn, Holiday, Older Heroine, Road Trip
Author: Jacquelyn Middleton
Print Pages: 381 pages
Read: 29 September 2021
Shelved: 02 October 2021
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Get it here: Amazon US | UK | CA | AU | FR | ES | IT | DE
Other retailers: Apple Books | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Indigo CA | Bookbub
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Synopsis

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT DECEMBER…

Madeleine Joy is feeling more meh than merry. When an Icelandic volcano erupts six days before Christmas, hazardous ash congests European airspace, canceling flights indefinitely—including the thirty-something’s connection to Paris. Stranded alone in London, separated from her sister, and with the devastating one-year anniversary of her best friend’s tragic death just days away, Madeleine has never felt less festive. And as if things couldn’t get worse, the cute guy driving the cab to her hotel won’t shut up about carolers and tinsel…

Julian Halliwell is one of life’s sunny optimists. A former music journalist, he’s embraced his love for London by starting his own black cab business, enthusiastically ferrying passengers from one historic landmark to another. But life hasn’t always been easy for Julian. Having navigated several life-changing setbacks including a cruel betrayal by his former fiancée, Julian remains hopeful that he’ll meet somebody kind, who shares his love of music, a corgi dog named Winnie – and, of course, the magic of Christmas time in London.

Despite being an unlikely match, fate seems determined to throw them together. But can the grieving American find joy again in a world where the lights have all but dimmed?

From Jacquelyn Middleton, the award-winning author of UNTIL THE LAST STAR FADES, comes a heartwarming Christmas story of love, loss, serendipity, and the belief that what’s meant for you won’t pass you by.

Content/trigger warnings: coarse language, closed-door sex scenes, disenfranchised grief, unexpected death of a loved one (backstory), cheating partner (backstory), therapy, loved up mentions of Love Actually and The Holiday, zero mentions of any pandemics.

Review

Moominmamma
Winnie
Covent Garden, Regent Street, Tower Bridge

Note: trigger warnings indicated by the author are:- “coarse language, closed-door sex scenes, disenfranchised grief, unexpected death of a loved one (backstory), cheating partner (backstory), therapy, loved up mentions of Love Actually, and The Holiday, zero mentions of any pandemics.”

Madeleine “Maddie” Joy is supposed to be spending the holidays with her sister, Shantelle. Unfortunately, a volcano’s volcanic activity thwarts their plans by not allowing any flights to enter to or fro London until further notice.

On the other hand, Julian “Jules” Halliwell is a taxi driver that picked up Madeleine when she arrived in London. His former job is in the music industry, and coincidentally, Maddie’s idol!

From the very start, Maddie’s and Jules’s attraction between each other is palpable. The connection between them that follows through serendipitous events is magnetic. What happens next is a whirlwind of taxi rides, fascinating and unique tourist spots, and an undeniable bond between rider and passenger at Christmas in London!

The Certainty of Chance is a wonderful read! Told from both Madeleine and Julian’s POVs, both characters are rich in personality, personal baggage, varying outlooks, and experiences.

From the very beginning, readers will know this is a heavy book. Told from both Maddie and Jules’ POV, the story hints/mentions/states heavy topics: loss, angst, depression, infidelity, healing, redemption, etc. Initially, I was worried about the story’s direction because it is tricky and possibly overwhelming, but my concern was unfounded. The author expertly built up the story with a wanderlust escapism approach and brave characters who were kind and understanding enough to create safe spaces for each other and the readers. I love how the main characters approached each other’s issues with respect and kindness. They understood each other in their way but still acknowledged the difference in their stance. A lot happens in the book, but I expect everything from this author based on her past books – exploring locations, people, and culture. I love how the author creates beautiful characters that make readers want to invest time and emotions against the backdrop of London and during the Christmas season.

I love both characters. Maddie and Jules were the perfect fit for each other. They may not be for their previous partners, but they are each other’s healing and redemption. They are both caring, emphatic, and charismatic. Their connection is infectious that it will be impossible not to be swept by their charm and hilarious banter. I appreciate the “quiet, reflective” moments between both main characters, and their feelings grew organically, even in a short time.

In the true style of the author, the supporting casts were terrific. I love how family and friends were integral in pushing Maddie and Jules to realize how their serendipitous encounter is MEANT-TO-BE and that they needed each other to be “whole.” I also enjoyed seeing past characters mentioned in the author’s previous books who lend a hand or two to the story.

Overall, The Certainty of Chance BLEW ME AWAY!

For the usual readers of my blog, this statement is HUGE. I do not state this often, most especially because I recently read many excellent books. This book has imprinted itself on my subconsciousness.

My reaction was very unexpected because initially, my reaction to the summary was only lukewarm, but upon finishing the book’s first chapter, there was no turning back. I felt the pull of the storyline, the escapism, and the characters made the book a real page-turner. This book TOPS the author’s previous book by a considerable margin!!! Floored by the addicting nature that sprang out from me because of this book, I savored each page and made sure I took my time instead of speeding it through. It is an all-encompassing book that dove into the facets of humanity – physically, mentally, and emotionally stimulating!

PROS:

Great world-building through Madeleine’s and Julian’s eyes: an expert and novice of the area
Many excellent musical references from various era
Wanderlust effect from exploring London’s tourist spots and a few hidden gems
Christmas movies, British eats, and slang galore
Sensitive and poignant discussion on mental health and grief handling
Cute Winnie, the corgi!!! *enough said*

CONS:

Absolutely nothing! The book is perfect as it is – an outstanding balance of sweet and sultry scenes.

Tropes: second-chances, soul-mates, friends-to-lovers, tragic past/trauma, Christmas / holiday romance, shared pasts

Meet Jacquelyn

Jacquelyn Middleton is a multi-award-winning author of love stories for hopeful romantics—‘hopeful’ because her novels are always optimistic and she believes ‘happily ever afters’ are more important now than ever before. But life is messy, relationships are messy, and her books aren’t afraid to go there, too. If you enjoy character and relationship-driven stories about people dealing with the triumphs and disasters we all face, Jacquelyn’s books are for you.

In 2019, she was named BEST CANADIAN AUTHOR at the RWA’s Toronto Romance Writers ‘Northern Hearts’ Awards for UNTIL THE LAST STAR FADES. She is also the author of LONDON BELONGS TO ME, LONDON, CAN YOU WAIT? and SAY HELLO, KISS GOODBYE, all published by Kirkwall Books.

An own voices author, Jacquelyn has dealt with anxiety, panic attacks, and depression all her life, and is dedicated to depicting mental health challenges realistically and empathetically in her novels.

Jacquelyn’s books have been featured by The Hollywood Reporter, NBC News, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Daily News, USA Today, Cosmo, Redbook, and the Huffington Post.

A life-long Maple Leafs fan and Anglophile, Jacquelyn previously worked in television broadcasting and as an award-winning freelance writer. She loves comic cons, London, and theatre, and lives in Toronto with her British husband and her Japanese Spitz.