Stefan Deblin is immediately attracted to Alice Hansen. Hoping to become better acquainted with the beautiful American student at the University of Warsaw, Stefan's dangerous overseas engineering missions and bizarre issues with his audacious rival Ziggy interrupt opportunities for them to get together. It only gets worse when Stefan returns from Afghanistan to realize that Alice and his best buddy Daniel are in a relationship. Surprisingly, Daniel abruptly cuts it off, but only Stefan knows why. When Stefan goes to inform Alice, he discovers that she's returned to America without any way of contacting her. Determined to find her, it is matter of time whether or not other run-ins with Ziggi and emigration complications will keep Stefan from finally connecting with the woman he loves.

Janus Ivering scripts a gripping love story in his second historical novel. Inspired by true events, Ivering's third person narrative is set during the turbulent times of the 1980s. While much of his plot centers on communism in Poland, Ivering places emphasis on the Solidarity Movement. Known as "a broad anti-bureaucratic social movement, using the methods of civil resistance to advance the causes of workers' rights and social change," (Wikipedia) this movement was one of a series of radical changes that led to the weakening of the communist party and the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989). Ivering also balances his story by spotlighting unrest in other parts of the world, such as the Angola Civil War and the Soviet-Afghan War. Amid his well-developed characters, Ivering's writing style reflects the stiff evasive dialogue associated with a time period when people veered away from political discussions for fear of retribution. Ivering keeps his plot fluid by carefully weaving in the above-mentioned literary tools with alternating un-clichéd character scenes. Chance of Happiness is beautifully written and a wonderful read for history aficionados.

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