The future can be frightening. Especially if you know when you’re going to die.When Tara McPherson steps into her office, destiny stares her in the face. The malevolent Tom Spencer enters her life, determined to exact vengeance against the Gifted Three: a group with powers to see the past, present and future. To save their lives, Tara must overcome her fear and recall long-repressed visions.After … long-repressed visions.
After their world collapses, the girls’ combined gifts become more critical than ever. With the help of a supernatural presence from the past, they unite against their enemy.
But can you really change your fate?
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By Chance, written by E. Denise Billups, focuses on three women who have a shared, unknown connection in the beginning of this supernatural story. Although they start out as colleagues working on a TV home remodeling show that gives a house away each year to one lucky entrant, they become friends over time and support one another through multiple difficult, personal situations. They also have varying degrees of paranormal abilities, enabling them to predict what might happen and to recall memories from long ago. When they each receive a peculiar gift one holiday morning, they turn to each other to protect themselves from a harmful entity seeking vengeance.
Enter Tom and his family. He appears to be a man suffering from something awful that occurred in the past. He previously won the home giveaway contest, but after time, things went awry. We never quite know what happened, but he wants to punish the show for its lies and the unfairness it’s caused in his life. He makes a difficult decision to leave his family in order to travel around the country to get revenge against the show, stalking and hunting down the three women (and a few others) who were part of his downfall.
Told from different perspectives, we learn the history leading up to Tom’s anger through the eyes of different situations and characters. At the same time, we watch the women try to discover who is out to get them, as Tom’s notes and presents are purposefully confusing. The women are also unable to clearly see Tom’s identity, and nothing indicates he is past winner, at least in the beginning. As the events unfold, and Tom unravels, he makes mistakes which lead to someone figuring out his identity. But then, they can’t actually find him. They just foresee the final encounter, which doesn’t bode well for their futures. What can the trio do to stop him?
While the supernatural abilities are important to the story, they aren’t what made this such a great read for me. Billups created memorable characters with painful history and wonderful, outgoing personalities. I believed the kindred spirit and friendship among the three primary women, and they kept my attention throughout the tale. The concept of the story was intriguing–a home giveaway contest gone wrong. Or did it? There is a heightened psychological aspect to this story because at times, we are unsure who might be involved in the entire situation. It creates good suspense and makes for a very easy read.
This isn’t a whodunit tale, nor is it focused on what actually went wrong with the house that was given away. It’s more a story of perspective and overcoming challenges. The main plot takes place over about a year, and the subplots are plenty–we see all the new relationships and events in the women’s lives while the stalking continues to occur. Sometimes it’s the things you don’t know that will haunt you in the end.
Tom suffers through a lot, but we won’t find out all the details until much further in the book than you’d expect. I turned the pages quickly on a flight halfway across the country, and before long, it’d ended. Pacing and timing were strong, and I found myself invested in the outcome. The ending was a nice surprise, and I realized how much I enjoy Billups’ writing style. A definite recommend from me for fans of something that blends a few genres and turns out a solid story.
Another great read!
I was hooked from the first – seriously, I had all the right “whys, whos and whats” to keep me turning page after page after page.
And then came the supernatural, mystical aspect and I kind of fell in love.
The theme is mysterious at times, suspenseful at others, a little creepy at some – but that’s probably because I’m a little faint at heart.
In some parts I’d think “oh, I know what’s coming” and then I’d be completely caught off guard.
And the ending? A twist I totally hadn’t seen coming.
The writing, as I’d come to expect is a mixture of simple and complex, a unique style I’ve come to enjoy from this author.
Totally recommend it!
By Chance
This novel was an intriguing mix of suspense, mystery and the mystical.
There were times I longed for even more of the backstory, as it was about a place I enjoy immensely, old Charleston, with a nod to its complex history. I travel there often and could easily picture the influential families, the Alcott’s and the Gowan’s. One of the houses in the story named, “The Pink Lady” was one of the grand residences out on the Battery and held a family secret hidden in the attic for generations. Lake Tahoe was also relevant to the plot and kudos to the fabulous ending with a deep understanding of the psychological aspects that Tom, the antagonist was experiencing.
The mystical elements of the story were the coolest part for me. The author has an enviable knowledge of the beyond, the use of protective crystals, visions and unusual gifts that connect us to our ancestors. My favorite expression concerning this focus was called, “Shushing.”
By Chance was a truly entertaining read that will keep you guessing until the very end! I am looking forward to reading more of this authors’s work.
By Chance: E. Denise Billups
An intriguing story of three girls who, between them, possess the power to see into the past, present and future. They must work together to outwit Tom Spencer, a stalker with a motive for murderous revenge.
While two of the girls are used to their powers, it is imperative that Tara learns to unblock visions long repressed if she is ever to be able to save them all.
This well written book has a storyline and setting which I found to be quite original. These held my attention throughout the book. I also appreciated the unexpected ending – one that even the girls with all their powers of perception hadn´t envisaged.
Don´t miss out on this paranormal thriller. Highly Recommended.
E. Denise Billups is an absolutely fantastic author. This is my second read from her, and she is now definitely on my auto-buy list!
By Chance had me hooked from the beginning and kept me invested all the way through. There’s a bit of mystery and suspense, and even when I thought I knew what was happening, I was caught off guard. Brilliant.
I absolutely love the journey we are taken on from the past to the present to the future and back again. It’s written seamlessly, and I love that we get to know each of the leading ladies this way.
The setting was beautiful. I absolutely love E. Denise Billups’ writing. She brings you into the story and really makes you feel like you’re part of the world.
I highly recommend checking By Chance out. It’s on my favorites of 2019!
* I recieved a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
By Chance by E. Denise Billups is psychological supernatural suspense at its best. There’s no need to worry about the bog down of backstory; it’s ALL story. Billups takes the reader on a journey from present to past to future and back again seamlessly through the minds of heroines/protagonists, Leanne, Tara, and Laura. There’s a lot going on here, but Billups does a masterful job putting it all together through descriptive writing and perfect pacing. There’s an unspeakable crime that’s been committed or about to be committed (you have to read it!), and Billups wields multiple POVs from beginning to end, also putting us in the mind of psychotic madman, Tom.
From Charleston South Carolina to Lake Tahoe and the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains, Billups descriptions and imagery are brilliant; they will suck you into the story and keep you grounded there. “In South Carolina, Mother Nature overlooked winter and soared full-fledged into spring, blitzing December with unusual warmth and balmy breezes. Along Charleston’s Battery Promenade, Palmetto trees sway from coastal winds, and early risers, though stunned, welcome the warmth as they start their morning ritual.” “The Village at Northstar stands surreal. In the center of the village, lights shine heavenward, revealing snow-covered mountains.”
Billups is subtle in her writing, but all the element demands your attention just the same. The supernatural doesn’t bang you over the head but finds its way into the story quietly and then wraps itself around you. It’s the same with the chemistry between Michael and Laura revealed also with a supernatural flare, arguably the best I’ve read: subtly sensual but persuasively powerful. I wanted more. The beauty and strength of this novel are in its layers, story depth, and complex character development. The pacing is such that I felt like I was watching JFK at the end, the tempo lightning fast and the tension at its highest. I was literally on edge. And the resolution was anything but predictable. Finally, I like that the story stands alone, but the mention of descendants, Ariel, Darra, and Destine tells me there may be more. Fingers crossed!