Take a Chance on Me
by Susan May Warren
A Christiansen Family Novel: Book 1
Tyndale House Publishers
Available 3/22/2013
ISBN: 9781414378411
Publisher's 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.
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.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Set in a small town in Minnesota, Ivy dreams of belonging. Belonging to a family, a community, and yes, that one special man. The upheaval in her youth has her questioning God's part in her life. Now, as she embarks on a new chapter of her life, can she work through her past and see all that God has for her present and future?
With a wonderful cast of characters, the reader is pulled into the charm of small town life where everyone knows everyone else's business. The story is not preachy, but the reader will walk away with the gospel message: forgiveness, love, and redemption. Susan May Warren has written another wonderful story of romance and suspense.
In today's economic times, many families are returning to multi-generational homes. It is refreshing to read a novel centered around parenting adult children. So many books are written around the premise of parents and young children that it is harder to see yourself in the characters lives when you no longer have small children or teens living at home.
I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the Christiansen Family series.
My rating:
A- or 4.5 out of 5 stars
I received a complimentary copy of Take a Chance on Me from Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review.
Blessings,
Ellen
I loved this book too! Like you said, it was fun to read a story about parenting adult children - or about a big family still hanging out together. :)
ReplyDeleteEllen, thanks for adding this good one to the "library". Cheers
ReplyDelete