title: Chance Developments: Unexpected Love Stories
author: Alexander McCall Smith
description: [C]omforting, touching and often funny. . . . [T]hese stories trust in the liberal, humane values that are at the heart of all McCall Smiths fiction. Can one have too much of that hopefulness? I doubt it.<i><b><i>The New York Times</i><br /><br /></b></i>[<i>Chance Developments</i>]is vintage McCall Smith and if anyone is looking for an early Christmas gift, they should look no further. A reader may wonder whether if there were noAlexander McCall Smith, he would have to be invented. <i><b><i>The Washington Times</i><br /><br /></b></i>McCall Smith once again exhibits his versatility with this vibrant and delightful collection of short stories all centering on the themes of love and happenstance.. . . Both uplifting and at times bittersweet and emotional, this collection is sure to delight both Smith fans and newcomers alike. <b><i>Publishers Weekly</i></b><i><b><br /></b><br /></i>[B]eautiful book. . . . Like all his writing, these stories are full of insight and empathy. . . . [W]orks of depth and beauty that would not be shamed in the company of the world's great short stories.  <i><b><i>The Sydney Morning Herald</i></b><br /><br /></i>In all these stories, love and goodness ultimately win out, but the charming details and bittersweet human cost are what resonate. <i><i><b>Kirkus Review</b><br /><br /></i></i>The two most memorable stories are Angels In Italy and He Wanted To Believe In Tenderness. Its impossible to say much about the former without giving away the ending, but the latter is a profoundly moving exploration of the idea that, sometimes, love really can conquer all. <b><i>The Scotsman</i></b><br /><br />I love [McCall Smiths] books that are set in Botswana, and his ability to create a good story shines in these short stories. <b><i>Missoulian</i> </b>(MT)<br /><br />Alexander McCall Smith has transformed five forgotten photos into a discovery of delight. <b><i>Lovereading</i></b><br /><i><i><br /></i></i>McCall Smiths latest is a collection of five short stories each based on an old black-and-white photograph. The true origin and context of these images is unknown, but through them McCall Smith is abledelightfullyto bring each character to life. . . . McCall Smith writes with clarity, humor, and thoughtfulness. He understands his protagonists well, and succeeds in letting the reader share part of their journey. . . . McCall Smiths tone is so constant and reliable that readershappilycan feel him with them, wherever his characters may go. <b><i>The Christian Science Monitor</i></b><br /><br />[Alexander McCall Smith] comes up with highly believable scenarios for his characters, complete with a back story that explains the exact moment of their capture on camera. <b><i>The Sydney Morning Herald</i></b><br /><br /><br /><b>PRAISE FOR ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH:<br /></b><br />"McCall Smith's accomplished novels [are] dependent on small gestures redolent with meaning and main characters blessed with pleasing personalities."<i><b>Newsday</b></i><b><br /></b><br />McCall Smith is prolific and hes habit-forming. Hes the crystal meth of popular fiction. <i><b>The Globe and Mail</b></i><br /><br />Alexander McCall Smith is an excellent, old-fashioned storyteller. <i><b>The Gazette</b></i><br /><br />Scotlands one-man novel factory. . . . Smiths writing has tons of charm and kindly wisdom.<b><i>The Times</i><br /></b><br />McCall Smiths talent for dialogue is matched only by his gift for characterization. <i><b>Chicago Tribune</b></i><br /><br />McCall Smith makes the sublime look easy. . . . [He] has few peers in capturing the quiet moments of peoples lives. <i><b>Publishers Weekly</b></i><br /><br />McCall Smiths characters are well-drawn and alive. . . . A writer . . . who charms many readers. <i><b>Providence Journal</b></i><br /><br />A prolific, popular and wonderfully peculiar writer. <i><b>The Independent</b></i><br /><br />"McCall Smith is a wonderful storyteller, and his stories are characteristically filled with humour and an innate, affectionate disposition towards the human race. <i><b>The Sydney Morning Herald</b><br /></i>
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  Two fan-favorite tales of romance and suspense from New York Times bestselling
  author Linda Howard
  
  A Game of Chance
  
  On the trail of a vicious criminal, agent Chance Mackenzie finds the perfect
  bait for his trap: the target’s daughter, Sunny Miller. Chance makes himself
  the only man she can trust, and then arranges for her elusive father to find
  out about them. But Chance doesn’t know that Sunny has her own reasons for
  hiding from her father. His deception puts them in danger of losing
  everything—including their hearts.
  
  Loving Evangeline
  
  There’s no doubt that the woman calling herself Evie Shaw is the key to the
  high-tech conspiracy that’s threatening Robert Cannon’s computer company—and
  he means to take her down personally. But trailing her into the heart of a
  long, hot Southern summer, he finds himself questioning everything he thought
  he knew. Can she really be innocent? Or are Robert’s feelings clouding his
  judgment when it comes to the woman who