Review: Take a Chance on Me by Jennifer Dawson

Title: Take a Chance on Me by Jennifer Dawson
Something New Book One
Publisher: Kensington
Imprint: Zebra
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Gorgeous runaway brides. . .

When Maddie Donovan runs out on her high school sweetheart moments before walking down the aisle, she ends up at a bar in the small town of Revival, Illinois, with only the wedding dress on her back, fifty dollars to her name, and her “good girl” reputation in tatters. Not ready to return to Chicago and face the music, she accepts hot bartender Mitch Riley’s offer to stay at his place. But sharing such close quarters is driving Maddie insane with desire.

Always drink for free. . .

Mitch thinks he’s seen it all–until Maddie strides into his bar in full wedding attire and downs three shots of whiskey. Though the gorgeous knockout seems tough as nails, he also senses her vulnerability. With a troubled past of his own, Mitch has no interest in ties of any kind–yet he can’t help falling for Maddie. Now he’s got to find a way to convince her to give love a second chance.

The Review:

Debut author’s Jennifer Dawson’s Take a Chance on Me is a sweet and very sexy runaway bride romance. The premise is cute but I was pleasantly surprised to discover this is not just a fluffy love story. Lead characters Maddie Donovan and Mitch Riley have real problems to work through and the fact that they fall in love along the way is just an added bonus. I adored Maddie and Mitch, but I also fell for the secondary characters as well so I was delighted to learn it is the first installment in the Something New series!

Maddie is in her late twenties, but in some ways, she seems much younger. She has lived a pretty sheltered life and she has fallen into the habit of letting everyone make her decisions for her. In the beginning she sometimes annoyed me with her immaturity but once her past is revealed, it is easy to overlook. It also helps that Maddie is aware her behavior is immature and that she is serious about taking charge of her life. Running away from her wedding is just the first step along the road to independence and although Maddie sometimes falls back on her old habits, she does a pretty decent job of finding her way.

I loved Mitch right from their first meeting. He is very charming with a fantastic sense of humor. Despite his intense desire for Maddie, he is also quite chivalrous which of course just adds to his appeal. Although at first, his life seems like an open book, Mitch too has a past he has been trying to escape. In the end, he is the character with the most to overcome and even though he is resistant to Maddie’s efforts to help him, her perseverance eventually pays off.

I am a hard sell on the love at first sight plot device, but I have to admit, I did not have any problem with that part of the storyline. There is a lot of chemistry between Maddie and Mitch and their connection is deeper than just desire. They enter into the relationship with a clean slate and they get to know each other before they reveal who they used to be. No expectations to live up to makes it easy for them (but Maddie especially) to not only figure out what they want, but it helps them become who they want to be as well.

A well-written story with a well-developed and likable cast of characters, Jennifer Dawson’s Take a Chance on Me is an easy to read and engaging romance. There is plenty of heat between Maddie and Mitch and their sex scenes are super hot. But it was the sweet, get to know you moments that convinced me this couple has what it takes to made it in the long haul.