Love by Chance by Kacy Cross is a fun, light, breezy, romantic novel that delighted me from beginning to end.

I enjoyed Claire and Eric. I thought they were like able and had chemistry. I also liked that they both had professions and identities outside of each other. I also feel they complimented each other well.

I enjoyed the “sparring” and banter between Claire and her mom, Helen. I think they have a good relationship despite her mom’s meddling. I think Helen truly has Claire’s best interests at heart, but doesn’t know exactly how to help without sometimes coming off as pushy. If Helen would have dialed back some of her mannerisms, she would have probably come off as a more enjoyable mom overall. However, I still liked the fact that there were flaws amongst the characters that were presented throughout the book, as it made them more endearing to me.

I enjoyed the connection and romance of Claire and Eric. I enjoyed the plot, subplot, and the sweet ending. I will definitely read more from this author.

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, Amazon, and B&N accounts immediately.

Thank you again!

How do you solve a problem like an overbearingly pushy mother who’s absolutely determined to matchmake you with a nice man so you can start pushing out grandbabies? Claire loves her mum, but Helen’s getting more and more impossible… to the extent of joining dating apps posing as her daughter to try and find Claire a man.

To be honest, I thought Helen was an absolute nightmare and Claire was a pushover. Helen had absolutely no respect for any boundary Claire set - every time Claire would get angry, Helen would apologize, and then go and do something even more outrageous behind her back. “I love you and I know what’s best for you” is the excuse used by manipulative parents the world over, and it made me absolutely sick to see Claire falling for it repeatedly.

Eric, the love interest, is a sweet enough guy, and in fact he’s just trying to be nice when he ends up talking to Helen after she went to a blind date with one of the guys from the dating app (who rightly freaked out when he got to meet the mother rather than the daughter). Eric’s obviously a bit lonely and at a time in his life when he does want to meet ‘the one’, but really he’s just humouring Helen when he agrees to meet Claire. Falling for her was an unlikely outcome, but now it’s happened, he needs to tell Claire the truth about how they met, because she’s convinced it’s fate and her mother wasn’t involved at all.

I wanted to tell Eric to stop being so wishy-washy and order Helen to butt out. I didn’t really believe in the happy ending because it was so obvious that the next thing Helen would be doing was pushing them to start a family, right as Claire’s business was just starting to take off. The eventual success of her scheme obviously only convinced her she was Right to interfere in the first place, justifying her never, ever stopping being a micro-managing helicopter mom.

This book is based on a movie which I haven’t seen, and it’s possible the romance might be the main focus there, but honestly the book seemed to be more about the relationship between Claire and her mother, a relationship I felt was horribly unhealthy. As a romance, this really missed the spot as far as I’m concerned. Two stars.

Love by Chance is the novelization of the Hallmark Channel Original Movie – and it hits very close to home on bringing a movie into book form. While Claire has set aside any romantic aspirations for right now during her busy career her mother certainly has no such reservations. Helen is not above meddling, interfering, and outright lying about her matchmaking efforts to the point of now endangering her own secure, long-lasting marriage.

Eric is a sweet guy who kind of got caught up in Helen’s matchmaking to the point of faking a chance first meeting with Claire – and continuing to grow closer, care more for, and want a future with the woman who he’s basically lied to throughout their relationship. Awkward anyone?

Okay, so let’s be frank here – I wanted to throttle (in the kindest way) Helen on so, so many occasions. Overlooked boundaries much? It’s obvious she loves her daughter and wants a happy ending for her but… really? She went beyond, way beyond and I’ll admit that small lie grew bigger and bigger to me as the story went on.

The interesting (to me) part of this story was watching two people fall in love and one knowing they have something huge to confess and being afraid to do that because everything they want in life could be part of the falling apart of their relationship. I liked Eric and Claire individually and as a couple. I really wanted there to be a way to get past that first lie – and eventually, there was but not before some serious hurt and harm were done to people who should have been treated better by those that “love” them.

I enjoyed myself in this world – I had not seen the movie before reading the book so I went into that world through the author’s words. If you love having a favorite Hallmark Movie in book form then you’ll want to add Love by Chance to your collection.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Love by Chance is an entertaining romance. Well written plot with believable characters. Readers of romance will enjoy this book. My thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

Love by Chance is a delightful novel by Kacy Cross. Claire’s mother, Helen, is driving her crazy with her interference in Kacy’s love life. Helen is determined that her daughter find true love and has set up Claire in any way imaginable, but what Claire doesn’t know is that she has also put her on a dating site, even after being told to butt out in no uncertain terms.

Amused by the conversation he overhears while Helen tries to explain the situation to an online suitor, Dr. Eric Carlton is somehow drawn in to Helen’s world and is convinced to meet Claire at a catering event she is doing through her restaurant, Gilded Sweets Bakery. Eric is taken with Claire, who thinks it is fate that brought them together. However can a real relationship develop when Eric feels so guilty for his deception?

This is a cute story of mishaps and mistakes that is entertaining from beginning to end. I enjoyed this book and do recommend it.

Love By Chance is a novelization of the Hallmark movie of the same name, released a few years back. I must admit that while I am a HUGE Hallmark movie fan and have seen a LOT of them, this was actually one that I have never heard of before reading. Now that I've read the book, I am hoping to have the chance to watch it soon.. I absolutely loved it!

As a Hallmark book, one might expect it to be predictable--- to fit the Hallmark romance formula to a T.... but that's far from the truth. This was a unique story that had me laughing right from the start! While she may be overbearing and well--- over the top, there is something about Claire's mom Helen that will draw you right in. Is it crazy to think about a mom setting up a dating profile to meet men for her daughter? Absolutely! But it was also sweet in it's craziness. When Eric meets this over the top woman, he cannot imagine getting roped into her crazy scheme, but it seemed love had different plans. This story is a fun reminder that sometimes love finds us in the craziest of ways...and I for one could not get enough!

As a Hallmark book, you know that you can expect a sweet and heartwarming romance with no language or inappropriate content...and the included recipe at the end is one I will certainly be putting to the test too!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.

This was the first book I've read from this author and I really enjoyed it. The story was different from anything I've read recently and really captured my attention.

Pastry chef Claire Michaels is doing everything she can to make her struggling restaurant a success. Dating is the last thing on her mind. But that doesn't stop her mother Helen from playing matchmaker. Helen is married to the love of her life and wants the same for her only child. When she meets Eric, a pediatrician, she knows immediately that he's the one for her daughter. Despite her promises to stop her matchmaking efforts, Helen can't help herself. She convinces Eric to meet Claire.

When Eric and Claire meet for the first time, there's an immediate connection between them. But as their relationship progresses, he starts to feel guilty about hiding the fact that her mom set them up. Claire thinks that she met Eric by chance. How will she react when she learns the truth?

I absolutely loved this book. It has all the wonderful things I have come to expect from a Hallmark romance. Heartwarming family relationships, a sweet romance, and relatable characters. Kacy Cross's engaging writing style made it very easy to become engrossed in the story. I really liked the restaurant setting and the delicious descriptions of food. I wasn't sure how I would feel about the multiple POVs, but I ended up really enjoying it and became just as interested in Sam and Helen's relationship as I was with Claire and Eric's. If you are looking for a lighthearted, feel-good story, then I highly recommend this book. As an added treat, the author includes a delicious recipe at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#LoveByChance #NetGalley

While a sweet, endearing romance, this novel felt forced in places. The story itself is solid, but the multiple points of view, while gave you insight, were confusing at times. The romance itself happened quickly, not a lot of slow burn.

Thank you to Hallmark Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy. The ideas and opinions expressed are my own.

Love by Chance
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
You can preorder your copy here or get it on December 26th, 2019:
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Chance-Hallmark-Channel-Original-ebook/dp/B07VJ9JYPK

This is a book that was a Hallmark movie turned book. I have yet to see the movie, however I am looking forward to it. I am sure once all of the holiday season movies are done airing, this will air shortly into the new year.
Have you ever had an overbearing parent that wants nothing but happiness for you? As a parent, I can understand going to extra lengths for your child’s happiness, but this book was comedically over the top! I was crying at some of the antics that this mother goes to in order to make sure her daughter gets the best.
This book is set in Seattle, where Claire owns her very own bakery with her partner Marcus. A bakery with an oven that acts up and some quirky little things that happen, but it is all theirs. They have a few catering events scheduled and they are banking future business on these events. One in particular is a crucial one in their near future – a fundraiser at the art gallery. Little does Claire know that this event has some happenstance in the making that simply is not kismet, but a setup. Hellen, Claire’s mom has quite the shenanigans up her sleeve.
This book was a quick read, but at the same time, it had me on a roller coaster of emotion complete with screaming at the book-“what were you thinking?” “NO!” and many more things. I loved the ending, as it tied everything up into a neat little bow.

I loved this adorable cozy romance. I had not watched the movie before I read this book; I hadn’t so much as even heard of it! But now I can’t wait to check on the on-screen versions of Claire Michaels and Eric Carlton.

And maybe I’ll make some of Claire’s coconut lime tarts to snack on while I watch it!

I am always a book-first kind of girl, so it’s rare to have this opportunity read the book first, since there’s already a Hallmark movie! It was a good move, as I found this little novel delightful. It’s pure sweet romance, and all that it entails—meet-cutes, kismet, quirky and lovable side characters that get into sticky situations (or, rather, force the main characters into them. *Ahem.* I’m looking at you, Helen Michaels).

Claire’s mom, Helen, takes her matchmaking a little too far by creating an online dating profile for her daughter. But before she can take the profile down, she snags the attention of an innocent bystander, Eric, who witnesses her rather embarrassing in-person fiasco with “Claire’s” online date. The online match-up may have been Mr. Wrong, but Helen manages to snag a winner after all. Hellooooo, doctor!

Eric can’t believe that he’s been shanghaied into a date with Claire, but he has bigger problems: He didn’t have a plan in place in case he actually liked her! Claire is everything he’s been looking for, but how can he tell her that her interfering mother is the one responsible for bringing them together?

Charming and delightful, with a delicious subplot, I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a breezy, lighthearted romance.

This book is perfect for those times when you want to read a sweet, clean, light-hearted romance. I loved reading this story. The main setting of the book is a bakery (the descriptions of the food made me crave an eclair) and that just added to the charm of this story. The main characters were fun to read about, especially Helen. Her match-making abilities seemed to be working well for other people, but not her own daughter. She goes to great lengths to get Eric to “accidentally” meet Claire. Eric and Claire are immediately drawn to each other, but from that point, as in any good romantic novel, complications threaten their relationship. I had to keep reading to see what Helen would do next to try to “fix” Claire’s life. I was not disappointed, and I was still smiling as I finished the last page.

Hallmark Movie Channel lovers, this is the book for you! I’m hoping to read more by this author.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Awesome book! Who would have known that a meddling Mom (Helen) would have successfully found a happily ever after for her daughter (Claire). Yes at first Eric thought he was falling in love with a whole lot of crazy, but love does crazy things! Helen also had a hand in the bakery’s success!

Kacy Cross helps ward off the chill of winter with this sexy, sweet, heartwarming romance story that you can cozy up with on a cold winter day. It was beautifully described, well developed and engaging characters make this an enjoyable read. A storyline that flows well and holds the reader’s attention right to the end and was very entertaining read. Loved it and would totally recommend!! Happy reading!!

I loved this book, it's entertaining and well written.
When I get a Hallmark book i know I'm going to read a highly entertaining book and this one was no exception.
I loved the enjoyable and gripping plot, the fleshed out characters and I rooted for them.
An excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I absolutely loved this book. It was a fun romp through a meddling but well meaning mother who was just trying to get her daughter settled with the right man. Matchmaking doesn’t work... or does it? I recommend reading Claire and Eric’s story to find out. You will laugh and swoon and be totally enthralled!!!!

This was a cute romance. Helen just can't stand it that her daughter, Claire isn't married yet. So she sets out to rectify the situation. Eric is a pediatrician who just happens to to become the object of Helen's machinations.

This is way fun. The antics Helen gets into trying to see Claire married and the dance she and Eric do trying to tell Claire the truth. The characters are sweet and and the story is a joy to read. If you love sweet, romantic comedies, this is the book for you.

This is a fast, fun read. If you like clean fun romance stories, you will love this book. It will make you laugh out loud, It's definitely a feel good book. At the end of the book there is a wonderful sounding recipe, Claire's Coconut Lime Tarts. Thank you Hallmark Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this delightful book. All opinions expressed are my own.

All Claire wants to do is find love on her own terms which means she doesn't need her mother's help. If she's going to have a great love story, she wants it all to be by chance. If only her mother would stop setting her up with clients, friends of friends, sons of friends...and the list goes on.

Claire is everything her mother said she would be and that's why keeping her mother's secret is so difficult. Truth is, Eric didn't meet and fall in love strictly by chance. So how can he convince her that they were made for each other, even if rate did need Claire's mother to give it a boost.

Baking, secrets, meddling mothers...this book has it all folks. I am a big supporter of the Hallmark Channel and I was excited to be able to review this book. I watched the movie a few years ago and after reading this book, I do admit that I went back and watched it again.

I do recommend this book for everyone. Like all Hallmark content, this book is appropriate for all ages. No sexual content, violence, or profanity to worry about.

And make sure to watch the Hallmark Channel Original Movie "Love By Chance."

This was cute, almost exactly like the movie. If you enjoy Hallmark Movies, or those styles of romances. You will enjoy all the books from Hallmark Publishing.
Thank you to Hallmark Publishing for the copy.