Take a Chance on Me

by Jennifer Dawson

Runaway bride Maddie Donovan bursts into a bar while still wearing her wedding dress, and into the arms of bartender Mitch Riley, who offers for her to stay at his place until things settle down.

• ISBN10: 1420134264
• ISBN13: 9781420134261
• Publish Date: 4 February 2014 (first published 1 January 2014)
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Zebra Books
• Format: eBook
• Language: English

Reviews

[kimbacaffeinate]

Coffee dates with Take A Chance

First Date: We meet Maddie Donovan as she is walking down a rural rode on the outskirts of Revival, Illinois. She is wearing a wedding dress and has blisters on her toes. A sign ahead says “BAR” and she is determined to make it there. Right away, I am curious about why she thinks she deserves the blisters on her feet. When she walks into the bar, she gets a little nervous. It caters to bikers and truckers, but standing behind the counter is Mitch Riley and Maddie and I have to lift our drooling jaws of the floor. Turns out Mitch owns the joint, and he takes one look at Maddie and realizes she is in trouble. Conversation, a little laughter and he impulsively decides to offer her a room for the night. Ooo things are about to get interesting and I am all in.

Second date: Well, well, well both Mitch and Maddie are not at all, as they appear. On the surface, she appears to be a good Catholic girl and Mitch a blue-collar hard working bar owner. Both are damaged by the past and fear. It was delightful watching these two interact. I giggled, shook my head and felt flutters of excitement at their growing attraction. Secondary characters are brilliant with snark and it is clear that both Maddie and Mitch have a strong network of family and friends. We slowly learn why Maddie ditched her groom and it felt genuine. We get some heat and it was intense, beautiful and hot.

Third date: I love Mitch, but he needs to let people in and seeing him realize how much Maddie has opened him up was heart-warming. Maddie is blooming, taking a stand and the more she does the more I adore her. I could totally see myself hanging out with them and their crazy friends. Dawson keeps the drama and angst low, with just enough to make my heart skip and have me reading non-stop. I love when a book gets me completely caught up and I lose track of time. Mitch made me swoon and while at times, I wanted to slap him on the back of the head, Gibb’s style (NCIS) he also made me melt into a puddle. I closed this book with a satisfied smile on my face. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Cocktails and Books]

TAKE A CHANCE ON ME is a captivating, lighthearted story from the first page to the last. Maddie Donovan escapes from the church just before her wedding ceremony is about to begin. She feels bad about leaving without telling anyone, but she can’t go through with it. She jumps in her car and drives without any destination in mind, until her car breaks down. This leaves her stranded in a little town called Revival and the only place within walking distance is a dilapidated bar. That’s where she meets Mitch Riley, the owner of the bar. Mitch is a gorgeous, sexy man who has secrets he doesn’t want to share and Maddie finds herself instantly attracted to him. When Mitch sees Maddie walk into his bar, still dressed in her bridal gown and veil, he feels like a breath of fresh air has walked into his life. I loved the way Mitch treated Maddie, he understands her and accepts her for who she. Slowly, Maddie starts to feel more like the girl she used to be, not the repressed, unhappy twenty-eight year old woman she’s become. This story focuses on Mitch and Maddie, but is interwoven with a great cast of secondary characters which adds to the charm of this book. This includes three of Mitch’s childhood friends who are always giving him a hard time and their unwanted opinions. Then, there are Maddie’s friends and family, who think she needs their help, whether she asks for it or not.

Jennifer Dawson writes an enchanting story with all the elements I love in a book. The dialogue is witty, the pacing is perfect and the buildup to their relationship is believable. Even though Mitch and Maddie are both dealing with painful pasts and make some life changing decisions, it’s not full of angst; it’s a fun-filled read. I felt an immediate connection with Mitch and Maddie, enjoyed the snappy banter between them and was often laughing out loud at their verbal battles. From the moment Mitch and Maddie meet, they are drawn to each other, their chemistry is smoking hot and the sex scenes between them are well written. What a gem!

Reviewed by Karen for Cocktails and Books