Review of Take a Chance on Me by Susan May Warren

Take a Chance on Me by Susan May Warren Book Review
"Publication Date: March 22, 2013 | Series: Christiansen Family


Book Description from amazon.com

"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."


My review:
This is the first book I have read by Susan May Warren and it did not disappoint. Based on the North Shore in Minnesota in the fictional town of Deep Haven. (There is a Deephaven, Minnesota close to the Twin Cities.)
Ivy Madison has moved to the small town of Deep Haven from Minneapolis to become the new assistant county attorney. She is excited to be living in a small, secluded town. Ivy gets involved right away in the local auction when she bids on a local bachelor as the town has a charity auction. She thinks it is Owen, who is a brother of Darek Christensen.
Ivy finds right away that Darek has a problem with grief, guilt and not being able to forgive his old friend, Jensen. Darek had been a hot shot firefighter and was gone a lot of the time during his marriage; now he regrets he was not at home more.
There is a fire in the Boundary Waters and the firefighters have come to Deep Haven to fight the fires. These are old friends of Darek when he was a forest firefighter. Concerns are for the lodge and cabins of the Christensen family resort.
There are four main characters in the book and the chapters go from one character to another. At one time Claire, Felicity, Darek and Jensen were close friends.
Ivy has been in foster homes since the age of 9 and finds a welcome reception with the Christensen family.
Claire loves and adores her grandfather and wants him to be able to live in his own home.
Jensen carries the guilt of the car accident that killed Felicity. He tries his best to be liked by the locals but this is a small town.

List of some characters:
Ivy Madison- the new assistant county attorney
Darek Christensen- a bitter man who has lost his wife in an accident he believes could have been prevented.
Tiger- 5 year old son of Darek and Felicity
John- father of Darek
Ingrid- mother of Darek
Grace-sister of Darek
Owen- brother of Darek
Casper- brother of Darek
Amelia- youngest sister of Darek
Claire- works at Pierre's Pizza; her parents are gone as missionary doctors.
Gibs- grandfather of Claire; she calls him Grandpop
Jensen Atwood- the man who hit and killed Felicity in a car accident.

The parents of Felicity want custody of their grandchild, Tiger, who they called him Theo. Tiger loves all his grandparents and family members. He is so much part of the story.
The book goes into a custody battle over Tiger as well as community service for Jensen; he pled guilty even thought he said he was not. Failing to finish his three thousand hours could put Jensen in jail for four years. Ivy was the attorney who made the plea bargain for Jensen but Darek is unaware of it.
This is a good read. Susan May Warren has done her research and I did learn about forest firefighters. There is a map in the front of the book and I think adds to the book. I like maps in books because of the visual effect and helps make a connection to the story.
The back of the book has discussion questions that could be used for a book club. I checked this book from my library.
I will give it a 5 star because I learned from the book and enjoyed the characters, especially Tiger. Published by Tyndale Fiction 2013.
Susan May Warren may be reached at: www.susanmaywarren.com
Leona Olson

mnleona.blogspot.com