Take a Chance on Me (Christiansen Family Series #1)
By Susan May Warren
Description:
Darek Christiansen is almost a dream bachelor—oldest son in the large Christiansen clan, heir to their historic Evergreen Lake Resort, and doting father. But he’s also wounded and angry since the tragic death of his wife, Felicity. No woman in Deep Haven dares come near.
New assistant county attorney Ivy Madison simply doesn’t know any better when she bids on Darek at the charity auction. Nor does she know that when she crafted a plea bargain three years ago to keep Jensen Atwood out of jail and in Deep Haven fulfilling community service, she was releasing the man responsible for Felicity’s death. All Ivy knows is that the Christiansens feel like the family she’s always longed for. And once she gets past Darek’s tough exterior, she finds a man she could spend the rest of her life with. Which scares her almost as much as Darek learning of her involvement in his wife’s case.
Caught between new love and old grudges, Darek must decide if he can set aside the past for a future with Ivy—a future more and more at risk as an approaching wildfire threatens to wipe out the Christiansen resort and Deep Haven itself.
Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ (5 out of 5 stars)
My Thoughts:
Ivy Madison is the new assistant county attorney in Deep Haven, Minnesota. When she bids on Darek Christiansen at a charity bachelor auction, she has no idea that she just bought time with the most unavailable bachelor in town. Darek is a single father who lost his wife in a tragic accident. He’s angry and bitter at life and at God. As Ivy and Darek grow closer, Ivy realizes that she is the one that arranged the plea agreement that kept Darek’s wife’s killer out of jail. Will their love story fall apart when Darek finds out the truth? Will they be able to move on from their pasts? And will the town survive the wildfire heading their way?
Wow. This book was incredibly beautiful. I was smiling practically the entire time while I was reading! Insightful writing, compelling characters, a beautiful setting, cute dialogues, adorable romances, and thought provoking lessons are just a few of the things that makes this book so wonderful–and one of the best contemporaries I’ve read.
The characters were amazing–real people with real emotions. I connected with Ivy, Darek, Jensen, and Claire almost immediately and on a level I didn’t expect to. Ivy is looking for a place to call home. Darek wants to be able to breathe again and move on from the pain and anger. Jensen is tired of always being on the defense. Claire is scared of being a failure. When they set aside their distrust, fear, anger, bitterness, self-righteousness, and hurt and realize that grace and redemption come from a kind, loving God–well, it’s a beautiful thing.
Susan May Warren is an amazing storyteller. She makes you feel what the characters are feeling. Your heart will ache, rejoice, and laugh along with the them. My favorite part of this book was how much I could identify and connect with the characters and all of their situations.
A story of forgiveness, grace, and living your life, Take a Chance on Me will make you laugh, cry, and thankful for a God who gives us second chances. If you enjoy contemporary fiction, please check this book out! I cannot wait to read more from this stunning series and the Christiansen family!
What are some of your favorite reads this year so far?
I really liked this book, with exception to the large part Jensen and Claire played. Their characters were fine, it was more the time they took up that I objected too. Going in, I had the mentality that it was all about Ivy and Darek only to realize that it felt like TWO primary romances. Not sure, but something about that just didn’t “work.” That being said, I still loved it, and Susan is a master storyteller, and the rest of this series has become favorites! 🙂
Good points, Rissi. I agree, it did take me aback as well when it switched to Jensen and Claire’s perspectives! I am the sort of person who gets “attached” to a particular character and that’s it. 🙂 For me though, I enjoyed seeing Claire and Jensen’s story play out because I immediately “connected” with them and their situations, so surprisingly I ended up liking it!
Agreed, Susan is incredible. I am trying to finish the books already on my plate because I want to read It Had To Be You and When I Fall in Love so badly. *sigh*
Thanks for reading!! 🙂