Gold Star Chance by CJ Murphy

2019 Rainbow Award Winner

Lesbian Book

— Another Win for CJ Murphy!

CJ Murphy has the skill, knowledge and ability to write beautiful, engaging and endearing stories that you can’t help but love.  This book is no exception!! There is so much going on in this book.  There is danger, drugs and dastardly deeds, shootings, Sheriffs and stitches, kidnapping, killers and K-9s, rescues and rejects, horses and Highway Patrol, friends, family and fallen heroes. There are search and rescue teams, paramedics and doctors, demented and otherwise, and a lovely veterinarian named Jax.  At the center of all this chaos is Sheriff Chance Fitzsimmons.  Chance is an amazing, dynamic, charismatic and complex woman who feels everything deeply and will do everything in her power to keep those who depend on her safe and sound.  After more than 30 years apart, the love of Chance’s life, Jax is back and they are ready to pick up where they left off. Together the couple grow closer and deeper in love while the dangers of big city life encroaches on their county.  I was fascinated by the story all the way through and when I got to the end, I was so excited to see that while Ms. Murphy drew things to a satisfying end, she left enough unsolved and unanswered to write a sequel.  I cannot wait!!!

I received an ARC for an honest review

— Chance is a highly encouraging woman, specifically in the way she always found a way to get back on her own two feet and keep on moving forward despite the circumstances. Her strength and devotion to the ones most important to her is what makes Chance such a wonderful woman. A woman to admire and look up to. Chance cares deeply for her friends and family. She is definitely the person you want next to you if you’re faced with an unfortunate event of any kind. This book really shows what emergency services work is all about and much more. There are life-threatening situations, heartwarming interactions, a second chance at love, an unforgettable cast of strong-minded women (whose flaws make them so very real), dedicated dog teams, a kidnapping and it all take place in a perfect setting. Both the suspense and romance aspects of the storyline are masterfully dealt with. An exciting and emotional story that highlights the lives and loves of those who choose to serve as emergency responders. Chance is the heart of this story and she loved her job as a sheriff. Her job is stressful and potentially dangerous. The imminent danger is a constant source of worry to the mothers of Chance and not unjustifiably given the scars that Chance has sustained. The moms are amazing women full of humor and their banter with Chance are hilarious. I really liked the family atmosphere and the respect they have for each other.  When Chance has an unexpected encounter with a woman from her past, the only woman who’s ever swept her off her feet, Chance life changed. The delicious chemistry between them is breathtaking and together they form a solid team. I hope I get to spend more time with Chance, her family and friends in the future. An excellent start to a new series and definitely a Gold Star worth.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

— After reading an advance review copy, I can honestly say that I loved this book.

She fell in love when she was 18 and stayed in love for 36 years. But Sherriff Chance Fitzsimmons continued to live her life serving the communities where she lived, loving her two Moms, caring deeply for a partner for several years, and willing herself back from life-threatening injuries. Her love of the outdoors, her horses, and most of all her K9 brother, Zeus, kept her focused and content. But despite that, Chance’s heart still ached for the woman who left her alone many years

ago without any explanation.  A successful rescue of a young girl from a fall into a

deep crevice ended with a heart-stopping discovery of the new vet in town and the

woman who had loved her for 36 years.

This is a story of never letting go of what the heart holds. It shares the life, the

commitment and the love of a small county Sherriff. CJ Murphy gives us hope that

happily ever after is possible through brilliant characters and the intimacy of their lives. I say this with every one of her releases, but Gold Star Chance,without a doubt, is her best book so far.