REVIEW: The Certainty of Chance by Jacquelyn Middleton

The Certainty of Chance by Jacquelyn Middleton: When Madeleine finds out that flights are cancelled to Paris and neither she nor her sister will be able to make it to their trip, she immediately feels pain. She has been avoiding the Christmas spirit for the month due to loss the previous year, and now she’s stuck in London until the volcanic ash passes.

Julian meets Madeleine when she catches his cab in London. He’s immediately drawn to her and after he drops her off at her hotel, he wishes he had a way to see her again. Luck is on his side when he sees her again a couple days later, and they strike up a friendship.

Through many adventures throughout London, they build a bond and help each other recover from their past. Madeleine from losing a friend and Julian from the betrayal of his fiancée. By helping each other through their dark times, they find that they are falling for each other.

Madeleine was such a dynamic character. She was dealing with loss on such a strong level that she was constantly fighting her demons for most of the story. Julian is a turning point for her, and he helps her to understand her grief and how to manage it.

Julian is the perfect partner for Madeleine in every aspect. She was judged for her grief by many people in her life, but he accepted her grief and helped her understand it better. He had been through trauma in his past, but his experiences helped him be able to move past them. He helped Madeleine with the same thing.

Overall, I loved the book. It definitely took turns that I didn’t see coming, which is refreshing. In addition, it didn’t just glaze over the grief that Madeleine was going through and instead dealt with it head on. There was definitely some steam, but it was the appropriate amount for the course of the book. You’ll be rooting for Julian and Madeleine the entire way.

Book Info:

Publication: October 14, 2021 | Kirkwall Books |

HERE’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 thirtysomething’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, his corgi 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.