So This is Love
Time to find your next happily ever after!
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Review from Novels Alive
Review from Novels Alive
Chance Meeting by Christine Columbus is a rom-com with laugh-out-loud moments, likable characters, and romance.
Mel is a widow and a workaholic, caring for her six-year-old niece while her sister is deployed.
Multiple stories are told, with twists, turns, surprises, and action. The story has a quick pace, good flow, and some interesting secondary characters—Mel’s niece, Kansas, love interest Clay, and Paula, her assistant at work, who always adds some comedy to every situation. Mel’s sister, Opal, is always in the background but is present in Mel and Kansas’ thoughts. Sometimes, Mel needs to focus on herself, but will she?
We see corporate politics at work, high stress levels and the issues caused by them, truths uncovered, injuries and illness, family time, and love on different levels. Baseball plays a part in a cute way, and Kansas keeps her auntie on her toes. There is closure and a happily ever after, and I would love to see this be the start of a series or at least a connected story. Opal and Paula definitely need their own stories to be told.
Chance Meeting is a fast-paced rom-com with loads of comedic relief as Mel and Clay are drawn to each other.
Chance Meeting
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Melody is fostering her niece while her sister, Captain Opal Erickson, is deployed to Kuwait. A chance meeting at work with Clayton, a construction manager, awakens feelings of the love and romance. Everything is perfect until Opal reveals a family truth and swears Melody to secrecy.
To honor her sisterly pledge, Mel attempts to reject any advances from Clayton, until he guesses the truth. Torn between loyalty to Opal and love for Clayton, she pours herself into work, making a mess of everything. When the dust settles, Mel is left wondering if she’ll be able to put the pieces of her life back together.
Coming January 8, 2025.
Chance Meeting - will be available January 8, 2025. Order your copy now.
Melody is fostering her niece while her sister, Captain Opal
Erickson, is deployed to Kuwait. A chance meeting at work with Clayton, a
construction manager, awakens feelings of the love and romance.
Everything is perfect until Opal reveals a family truth and swears
Melody to secrecy.
To honor her sisterly pledge, Mel attempts to reject any advances from Clayton, until he guesses the truth. Torn between loyalty to Opal and love for Clayton, she pours herself into work, making a mess of everything. When the dust settles, Mel is left wondering if she’ll be able to put the pieces of her life back together.
To honor her sisterly pledge, Mel attempts to reject any advances from Clayton, until he guesses the truth. Torn between loyalty to Opal and love for Clayton, she pours herself into work, making a mess of everything. When the dust settles, Mel is left wondering if she’ll be able to put the pieces of her life back together.
REVIEWS
Chance Meeting
Chance Meeting by Christine Columbus
May 9, 2025 By Leave a Comment
Chance Meeting by Christine Columbus
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by MistflowerMelody is fostering her niece while her sister, Captain Opal Erickson, is deployed to Kuwait. A chance meeting at work with Clayton, a construction manager, awakens feelings of the love and romance. Everything is perfect until Opal reveals a family truth and swears Melody to secrecy.
To honor her sisterly pledge, Mel attempts to reject any advances from Clayton, until he guesses the truth. Torn between loyalty to Opal and love for Clayton, she pours herself into work, making a mess of everything. When the dust settles, Mel is left wondering if she’ll be able to put the pieces of her life back together.
Chance Meeting was such a fun and heartwarming read. I completely agree with the praise comments shared at the beginning of the book. Melody is a relatable heroine as she navigates the challenge of living a balanced life. Like many of us, she struggles to juggle work, family, responsibilities, and making time for herself. It’s all too easy to become overwhelmed and burned out—and sometimes, it takes hitting rock bottom to recognize your limits. I admired Melody’s dedication, persistence, and strong moral compass. I found myself truly invested in her love story because she genuinely deserved a happily-ever-after.
The hero, Clayton, felt almost too good to be true. He’s handsome, successful in his career as a construction manager, romantic, and a natural with kids. Melody is fostering her niece, Kansas, while her sister, Opal, is deployed. Watching Clayton step in and help—especially when he pulled off an adorable camping-themed sleepover for a group of girls—was both entertaining and endearing. It was beautiful how Melody, Clayton, and Kansas seemed to fit together so naturally, like a ready-made family.
Chance Meeting is an easy, engaging read with a smooth-flowing plot. Things progress without major complications—until Melody’s sister drops a family bombshell and swears her to secrecy. The drama that followed had me on edge, especially the impact it had on Melody’s relationship with Clayton. Just when you think Melody has reached her breaking point, another plot twist emerges, pushing the story into even more emotional territory. I was completely hooked, wondering how she would pull her life back together.
All the tension only enhanced my enjoyment of the story. The chemistry between Melody and Clayton was both tender and sensual, and I loved watching them open their hearts to the possibilities of a shared future. They both value family, share common interests, and are thoughtful and respectful toward one another’s feelings.
The best part? The ending. Every plot thread was wrapped up beautifully, leaving me fully satisfied and smiling. I couldn’t have asked for a better conclusion. I highly recommend taking a chance on Chance Meeting—it’s a sweet, emotionally rich romance that’s well worth the read.
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Chance Meeting by Christine Columbus is a rom-com with laugh-out-loud moments, likable characters, and romance.
Mel is a widow and a workaholic, caring for her six-year-old niece while her sister is deployed.
Multiple stories are told, with twists, turns, surprises, and action. The story has a quick pace, good flow, and some interesting secondary characters—Mel’s niece, Kansas, love interest Clay, and Paula, her assistant at work, who always adds some comedy to every situation. Mel’s sister, Opal, is always in the background but is present in Mel and Kansas’ thoughts. Sometimes, Mel needs to focus on herself, but will she?
We see corporate politics at work, high stress levels and the issues caused by them, truths uncovered, injuries and illness, family time, and love on different levels. Baseball plays a part in a cute way, and Kansas keeps her auntie on her toes. There is closure and a happily ever after, and I would love to see this be the start of a series or at least a connected story. Opal and Paula definitely need their own stories to be told.
Chance Meeting is a fast-paced rom-com with loads of comedic relief as Mel and Clay are drawn to each other.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2025
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2025
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Just finished Chance Meeting. I enjoyed it and didn't want it to end. I've been a book lover forever but never read romance novels. My mother would have loved it!!! You need to keep writing. Please! Your style and ability to keep a readers interest is wonderful. Maybe i was just in the mood for this book, but of how I enjoyed it.
Marie
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I think the readers will find Mel very
relatable. Who hasn’t felt, when it comes to life’s decisions, that it seems like
everyone else’s welfare and happiness comes first. Through heart felt and
clever dialogue, you follow along as Mel comes to the realization that she
needs to take responsibility for her own happiness before it’s too late.
Colleen R.
I thoroughly loved the story. A good
writer allows you to envision each character even without ever seeing them and
I hated saying good bye to them at the end of the book.
Patricia F.
I loved Chance Meeting.
Amanda F.
Re-releasing Christmas Mischief - review was from 2008.
Christmas Mischief
Night Owl Romance Book Review – Top Pick
Ms. Columbus writes with such humor. I was cracking up with Charlie’s innocent antics and feeling so sorry for Amber not having the easiest of times trying to get to Grandma’s house. I love Ms. Columbus’ writing style and I look forward to reading more stories from her. You will not be disappointed if you pick this one up for yourself.
Paula P.
Previously published -
The Perfect Country and Western
Story
Christine’s voice is engaging; her
dialogue is believable. The Perfect Country Western Story would make a great
Lifetime Channel movie."
Ana Morgan
Heroines With Hearts
Booksellers' Best Award 2010 Finalist
2011 More Than Magic - 3rd Place Single
Title
Coffee And Love To Go
Fallen Angel
Reviews – Recommended Read
Christine Columbus
hits a nerve with the two shy characters that need help coming together. They find it with help from a radio talk show. Coffee and Love
To Go is a must read. My only regret is it didn’t last long enough. I look forward to reading
more by Christine Columbus.
Reviewed by: Tracey
Uncle Mike’s Love
As I have come to expect from Columbus'
works, a certain depth of character and a hint of compassion all leave the
reader with the impression of a far longer and more involved tale.
Nancy A.Lindley-Gauthier,
Reviewer
for Long and Short Reviews
Ms. Columbus'
tone is
realism with a heart.
This story is too good to put down until the reader finishes. The author should take
pity on her fans and add a remote
control with a pause button for those moments
when life interrupts reading her delicious
stories.
Jade Taylor - Harlequin
Superromance
Amazon Author Page
Last night after meeting with a few Wilmington, NC writers. I set a goal of creating my author page on Amazon.
My Bio:
Eighteen years ago, while living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and waiting for my ship to come in. I published several short stories and a novel with The Wild Rose Press. After that, I took an Adult Gap Year from writing...it lasted thirteen years. In 2024, I signed a contract with The Wild Rose Press for my sweetheart romance novel, “Chance Meeting,” and have self-published two children’s stories. I am excited to be back writing.
This morning on our 5 mile walk - what did we see?
My ship has come in…
Even though you're a leader - you can follow me on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/christinecolumbus
or
Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1453048.Christine_Columbus
Working?
Lazy Writer
Also working on edits for Chance Meeting - contacted with The Wild Rose Press.
Believe
I heard an old song on the radio last week by Rare Earth from the 70’s “I just want to celebrate another day of living … I just want to celebrate another day of life”. I hadn’t heard the song in probably 40 years & I thought the lyrics are still relevant. So my word for 2024 is “Believe ”
Chance Meeting
I signed a contract with The Wild Rose Press for my Sweetheart story. I took a ten-year break from writing and during that time we have been traveling, camping, and volunteering at NWR and state parks. Now, that I am not spending my day planning routes to make sure our 40-foot, 5th wheel camper doesn’t go under a low bridge and get stuck. I am using my free time to write. We are currently living in a stick and brick in Wilmington, NC and I have been working on edits in the river shack
I also recently self published a Children’s Story. Living Things available on Amazon.
Waiting….
I went on the haunted pub crawl while waiting To hear from The Wild Rose Press. Hopefully the news is better than the ghost 
stories…
stories…
Focus
When you don’t feel like writing anymore - Do you just try to power through putting random words on the page or shut the laptop and call it a day.
Today, I switched my projects and went from my short story to a blog…but with 30 minutes left of writing time and guilt beginning to pile up…I need to get back to my story.
When I don’t know exactly where the story is going I get anxious. I want everything to fit together and I don’t want the characters to suffer. Instead of placing the characters up a tree and throwing rocks at them…I want to make them happy and remove all the obstacles and stumbling blocks from their path.
This attitude does not serve my goal or write and submit.
Wish me luck at being mean to Clay and Mel.
The Write Goal
Normally, my goal would be a daily word count, to be published or hit a best seller list.
But for 2023 my goal is to write, submit and repeat. I had a teacher tell me writing is 10% talent and 90% perseverance.
For the first time in over six years I won’t be sleeping with wheels under my bed.
We have rented an apartment in Wilmington for the next 13 months and the view is inspiring.
I thought…
32 years ago, I thought I would have money when…
I didn’t need to buy formula…then it was diapers…I thought for sure when I no longer had daycare expenses….
And lately, I have been thinking when Covid is over…
First time at a campground in 5 months….
But another camper told me they got his loaded pistol, other lost weapons, money, cellphones…
And then we went and got fuel, $4.37 a gallon…2 days later, the same station was $4.99 a gallon.
Creativity?
Today, I failed to trick myself into doing stretching or strengthening, but I did walk 4.5 miles. 😊 I generally walk 10,000 steps a day, but I break the steps up into 3 walks. Which is very easy to do, but walking all 10,000 steps at once was a little more difficult.
I did use my creative power to create dinner…I add a can of dice tomatoes into the bullet mixer with can of tomato paste - and after a minute, I had spaghetti sauce. Of course I add ground beef, onions, celery and angel hair pasta. And for desert I added a packet of Emergen C to no-fat Greek plain yogurt.
So, five more days to use my creativity to find ways to trick myself into strengthening and stretching. On today’s walk I passed by white pelicans, of course it was towards the end of my walk and I was too tired to enjoy the site.
No Surprise…
Today I am starting my class assignment over, partially because I stopped halfway through the week and because I have decided instead of creatively blogging I am going to use my super power ‘creativity’ to improve my life.
I want to lose fifteen pounds, increase my strength and flexibility.
I am in my 60’s, so I know exactly what to do…but knowing and doing are two different things. And I am lazy.
So, I am going to use (notice I didn’t use the word attempt this shows I am fully committed to this idea) I am going to use my creativity to get what I want. A slightly smaller and stronger version of myself.
Because today is Valentine’s Day and I wanted something sweet, (like dark chocolate hearts) - but instead of buying a bag of candy. I bought a box of Larabars, they are made with dates and nuts and of course the one I choose has chocolate chips and are 250 calories or 8 WW points…not a great creative choice because Dove dark chocolate hearts have 150 calories for 4 hearts or 8 WW points.
But, then I used my creative power to make a healthy snack. Carrots, celery and belly peppers with drizzled coconut, lime, habanero balsamic vinegar.
This is where the creativity comes in (habanero’s are hot)…I am going to have to drink a lot of water, which will increase my steps going to the bathroom…downside is we live in a 350 square foot, 5th wheel camper. No matter where I am sitting in the trailer, I can get to the bathroom in 10 steps.
Non-Birder
Labels aren’t for lazy people. I am lazy so I like to generalize. Below are pictures of birds I have taken at the NWR where I volunteer. Some people study the birds shape, size and habits in order to label them with their correct or even scientific name.
Whereas, I too see color, shaper, size and habits, but instead of placing them in a category, wading bird, shore bird-I take the lazy approach. They are all birds.
Calling a kettle black…
I am a volunteer and today I answered the phone and a woman said, “There is a manatee dead on the beach.”
I said, “call CROW.”
She said, “The manatee is dead, not injured.”
CROW is a clinic for rehabilitation of wildlife, but she did dial a National Wildlife
Refuge. Not a National Dead Life Refuge…so, this is a classic example of calling the kettle black.
Day 3 of trying to use my super power ‘Creativity’
There is no creative way to do 7 loads of laundry. My husband has a severe reaction to poison ivy. In less than a year he has had to go on steroids, three times.
So, just in case we have an oil called urushiol on any of the bedding, clothes, dog beds, blanket, or dog. I washed everything in our trailer.
To use my super power to solve the problem of living on an island with an abundance of poison ivy, I created a vision board and I checked to see where we were on the waitlist for housing.
We applied to three places,,,number 30, 27 and still waiting to hear back.
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Melody is fostering her niece while her sister, Captain Opal Erickson, is deployed to Kuwait. A chance meeting at work with Clayton, a const...
