Publication Date: January 8, 2025
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.
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. Â 
I am thrilled to be back writing and eagerly anticipating the release of Chance Meeting on January 8, 2025, and I’d Rather Kiss You Goodnight to be released in 2025 or early 2026. These novels culminate my passion for storytelling, and I can’t wait to share them with you. Eighteen years ago, while living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, I published several short stories and a novel with The Wild Rose Press. Then, I took a brief hiatus that lasted thirteen years, traveling the United States in a 40’ 5th wheel camper with my husband. This journey, from the Midwest to the West Coast to the East Coast, has inspired my writing. Now, we’re settled in North Carolina, living the dream in a stick and brick dwelling (apartment). But I am back to doing what I love-spinning tales that captivate and inspire.
