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California Chances #1-3
California Chances
The Chance brothers of Reliable, California, are about to have their ranch invaded by three apparent "damsels" in need of relief from their "distress." Miriam arrives from overseas not expecting to find her sister dead and nieces living in neglect of feminine supervision. Alisa is fleeing false accusations and seeking a place of quiet refuge. Delilah carries a burden of pain from her past and won't risk trusting anyone again. Will any of the rough-around-the-edges brothers stand a chance of barring their hearts from love as they offer a hand of compassion?
352 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2006
1 person is currently reading
296 people want to read
About the author
Tracey Bateman
60 books156 followersTracey Bateman is also published as Tracey Cross, is the Christy award-winning author of more than thirty titles and has nearly a million books in print. She lives in Missouri's Ozarks with her husband and four children.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 10, 2010
I really enjoyed this book. The reason I didn't give it a 5 star is because it is a compilation of several stories and I just thought that the stories went way too fast for me. I would have loved to have read more involved and developed stories about all of the characters.
September 12, 2010
9/11/2010 One Chance in a Million- Miriam comes to Reliable, CA to help her sister. She is brought to the Chance Ranch where the 6 Chance brothers live and her 2 nieces. She soon finds out her sister has died. Her brother in law, Daniel, wants her gone as she reminds him of his dead wife. The other brothers love her cooking and want her to stay. Gideon wants her gone as he has seen 2 women die already from the rough life they have.
9/11/2010 Second Chances- Tracey Bateman.
Titus proposes to one of the single girls in Reliable and she refuses so he goes off to San Francisco to work things out. On the way he is robbed and his horse taken. He takes a coach from SF and meets Alisa Worthington. Alisa was raised in an orphanage. When she finds the lady she is caring for is her grandmother, who is leaving her a huge inheritance, the woman dies. Her father is greedy and wants all the money so he accuses Alisa of murdering his mother. Great story.
9/12/2010
Taking a Chance- Kelly Eileen Hake
The town of Reliable is not too happy that another Chance gets the girl, being there are only 4 or 5 respectable women in town and two are already married to Chances. Delilah, Miriam's cousin, comes to stay at Chance Ranch after her dad dies. She don't trust men or God. Paul quickly falls in love with Delilah but will not be unequally yoked.
9/11/2010 Second Chances- Tracey Bateman.
Titus proposes to one of the single girls in Reliable and she refuses so he goes off to San Francisco to work things out. On the way he is robbed and his horse taken. He takes a coach from SF and meets Alisa Worthington. Alisa was raised in an orphanage. When she finds the lady she is caring for is her grandmother, who is leaving her a huge inheritance, the woman dies. Her father is greedy and wants all the money so he accuses Alisa of murdering his mother. Great story.
9/12/2010
Taking a Chance- Kelly Eileen Hake
The town of Reliable is not too happy that another Chance gets the girl, being there are only 4 or 5 respectable women in town and two are already married to Chances. Delilah, Miriam's cousin, comes to stay at Chance Ranch after her dad dies. She don't trust men or God. Paul quickly falls in love with Delilah but will not be unequally yoked.
February 2, 2009
This is a beautiful story chronicling the lives of the six Chance brothers in the historic frontier town of Reliable, CA and the women whose lives unexpectedly become entwined with the Chance family. A wonderful read!! Follow this with "Kentucky Chances", the continuing story of the Chance brothers and "California Brides", the further continuing story of the Chance women!! The mother/daughter Hake team have outdone themselves!!
June 19, 2021
Such a heart-warming book! I think I fell in love with the three Chance brothers as I read their stories in turn! Would definitely recommend if you're looking for a clean western romance with a little tinge of humour.
July 19, 2018
There are 3 novels here. Even though they are a bit predictable, I still enjoyed them. Nice short summer romances
May 19, 2022
Great book if your looking for cowboys, faith and clean romances!
March 6, 2016
This book has the stories of three of the Chance brothers. The six brothers all live on the Chance Ranch in Reliable, California.
Reliable, California, has few marriageable women. So when three ladies show up at the Chance Ranch, all the local men come around hoping to get a bride. But they soon find one of the Chance brothers has already spoken for them.
One Chance in a Million by Cathy Marie Hake. Miriam comes to the Chance Ranch to help her sister who is expecting her second baby. By the time she sails from the tropics where her parents are missionaries, her sister has died. Her brother-in-law doesn't want her around because she reminds him of his wife. He tells his brother Gideon to get rid of her. But she has no plans of leaving anytime soon because her 2 nieces need her. Can the spark between her and Gideon ignite into something more?
Second Chance by Tracey Bateman. Alisa was raised in an orphanage. She is hired as a companion by a wealthy woman who later tells her she is her grandmother. When her grandmother dies, accusations are made against Alisa, and she runs away. She finds herself on a stagecoach with Titus Chance. Before they make it to Reliable, the stage is robbed. With no money and no prospects for a decent job, Titus brings her to Chance Ranch to help Miriam. She doesn't want to tell about her past, but it soon catches up with her. Can Titus protect her and make her a permanent part of the family?
Taking a Chance by Kelly Eileen Hake. Delilah is Miriam's cousin and comes to Chance Ranch after her gambler father dies. After the other two ladies, the brothers know this one will be staying and wonder which one will marry her. Paul is different from his brothers. Can Delilah find trust in Paul and God?
I liked that each story picked up where the other left off, and you could continue to follow all the characters. And I just happen to have "Kentucky Chances" which has the stories about the other brothers. Hopefully, I'll be able to read it soon.
Reliable, California, has few marriageable women. So when three ladies show up at the Chance Ranch, all the local men come around hoping to get a bride. But they soon find one of the Chance brothers has already spoken for them.
One Chance in a Million by Cathy Marie Hake. Miriam comes to the Chance Ranch to help her sister who is expecting her second baby. By the time she sails from the tropics where her parents are missionaries, her sister has died. Her brother-in-law doesn't want her around because she reminds him of his wife. He tells his brother Gideon to get rid of her. But she has no plans of leaving anytime soon because her 2 nieces need her. Can the spark between her and Gideon ignite into something more?
Second Chance by Tracey Bateman. Alisa was raised in an orphanage. She is hired as a companion by a wealthy woman who later tells her she is her grandmother. When her grandmother dies, accusations are made against Alisa, and she runs away. She finds herself on a stagecoach with Titus Chance. Before they make it to Reliable, the stage is robbed. With no money and no prospects for a decent job, Titus brings her to Chance Ranch to help Miriam. She doesn't want to tell about her past, but it soon catches up with her. Can Titus protect her and make her a permanent part of the family?
Taking a Chance by Kelly Eileen Hake. Delilah is Miriam's cousin and comes to Chance Ranch after her gambler father dies. After the other two ladies, the brothers know this one will be staying and wonder which one will marry her. Paul is different from his brothers. Can Delilah find trust in Paul and God?
I liked that each story picked up where the other left off, and you could continue to follow all the characters. And I just happen to have "Kentucky Chances" which has the stories about the other brothers. Hopefully, I'll be able to read it soon.
June 26, 2014
California Chances by Authors: Kelly Eileen Hake, Tracey Bateman, Cathy Marie Hake
These stories where released individually first, before the anthology was released.
"One Chance in a Million" by Cathy Marie Hake
Gideon's story. Miriam sails across the ocean to see her sister Hannah who is married to Daniel Chance. When she arrives she finds that her sister has died and her two little nieces are being raised by these men. Daniel is unhappy with her being there because she looks so much like Hannah. Gideon wants to send her back. Miriam is determined to stay.
"Second Chance" by Tracey Bateman
Titus's story. Alisa is running from the Law for a crime she didn't commit. She is on the stage bound for Reliable and meets up with Titus. They are drawn to each other right off. However, Titus had previously asked a girl in town to marry him but she turned him down. Now seeing him with another girl...she wants to change her mind. Things do get a little complicated and cute.
"Taking a Chance" by Kelly Eileen Hake
The third story is about Paul. Miriam's cousin Delilah finds herself alone when her gambling father dies and she has nowhere to go. She decides to go see Miriam (who she has kept in touch with). Paul is the kind of strong man that Deliah needs but can she ever trust another man when her father has let her down all her life?
These stories where released individually first, before the anthology was released.
"One Chance in a Million" by Cathy Marie Hake
Gideon's story. Miriam sails across the ocean to see her sister Hannah who is married to Daniel Chance. When she arrives she finds that her sister has died and her two little nieces are being raised by these men. Daniel is unhappy with her being there because she looks so much like Hannah. Gideon wants to send her back. Miriam is determined to stay.
"Second Chance" by Tracey Bateman
Titus's story. Alisa is running from the Law for a crime she didn't commit. She is on the stage bound for Reliable and meets up with Titus. They are drawn to each other right off. However, Titus had previously asked a girl in town to marry him but she turned him down. Now seeing him with another girl...she wants to change her mind. Things do get a little complicated and cute.
"Taking a Chance" by Kelly Eileen Hake
The third story is about Paul. Miriam's cousin Delilah finds herself alone when her gambling father dies and she has nowhere to go. She decides to go see Miriam (who she has kept in touch with). Paul is the kind of strong man that Deliah needs but can she ever trust another man when her father has let her down all her life?
May 6, 2016
I loved this book!!
The cover is so plain and unassuming, but the stories are the complete opposite! The characters are vibrant and realistic and I actually, seriously dreaded it coming to an end!
Out of the three stories, Gideon and Miriam's was my favorite, they are absolutely precious together! Titus and Alisa's was my second favorite, and then Paul and Delilah's.
All of them delightful! ... I'm going to go re-read it now :D
**Update**
Re-reading them has been completely enjoyable! I think mostly because you know how their happily ever pans out, and you just get to admire them again before they knew they would even get one.
On another note, I keep thinking that it is infinitely sad that Hannah never got to be a part of this. :( ...I have a headcanon where she did survive and everything in the story stays the same, but for the fact that she gets to live.
I can't wait to read Kentucky Chances: Three Brothers Find Romance Far from Home - It's the other three brother's stories. :)
The cover is so plain and unassuming, but the stories are the complete opposite! The characters are vibrant and realistic and I actually, seriously dreaded it coming to an end!
Out of the three stories, Gideon and Miriam's was my favorite, they are absolutely precious together! Titus and Alisa's was my second favorite, and then Paul and Delilah's.
All of them delightful! ... I'm going to go re-read it now :D
**Update**
Re-reading them has been completely enjoyable! I think mostly because you know how their happily ever pans out, and you just get to admire them again before they knew they would even get one.
On another note, I keep thinking that it is infinitely sad that Hannah never got to be a part of this. :( ...I have a headcanon where she did survive and everything in the story stays the same, but for the fact that she gets to live.
I can't wait to read Kentucky Chances: Three Brothers Find Romance Far from Home - It's the other three brother's stories. :)
March 9, 2011
"I love this book. its my second reading. I love the individual stories and how they flow into each other. I love the close knit family of the Chances and when anyone new comes they are adopted into the family. These stories are about trusting God and yes we can get angry at God when things happen that we dont understand. Its about forgiveness and love, understand the situtations of others. this is a book worth reading"
January 14, 2015
I have read this books many times and each time I love it more. It is a great show of Christian love and love between two people. There are three stories in this book and the second is my favorite with Titus because he knows he loves her right away. The different authors do wonderful jobs of painting pictures of the west in the past and the life of cowboys and their tryings at a chance for true love.
June 22, 2008
I loved all the characters, especially Titus and Paul and Gideon! Also to people who didn't know, Kelly Hake is Cathy's daughter, cool huh? Thought that was an interesting fact when I found out. Thought they were sisters, but apparently not.
October 21, 2008
This was a fun story.
January 2, 2009
A friend gave me this since she loves Inspired Romances. I liked it just fine; however, I don't think it is quite my cup of hot chocolate!!!
Read
May 14, 2010What can I say, but 'ahhhh'. Very satisfying read.
March 8, 2013
Good, happy, fluff.
July 16, 2012
If you read this one, keep in mind that there are three novels in one. I can handle very few authors three books in a row. I would definitely split them up!
Read
April 3, 2013Great book!! Funny sometimes I got aggravated because I got so caught up in the story then got butterflies when the good parts came :)
November 20, 2014
Love these stories. Would love to meet Cathy and her daughter someday! Cathy's backwoods medicine woman was my favorite character of hers.
February 1, 2015
I loved these short stories.
November 3, 2022
A good story .
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews