Take a Chance on "Take a Chance on Me"!

Take a Chance on Me
by Susan May Warren
The Christiansen Family series, Book 1
Christian Fiction / Contemporary / Romance
Available May 2013
Tyndale House
416 pages

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About the Book

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 Thoughts

As a huge fan of Susan May Warren, I was thrilled to read Take a Chance on Me. As expected, I absolutely loved it! The plot, characters, and underlying themes are so rich, and I felt like I was right in the middle of everything the whole time. I loved Ivy and Darek and watching their friendship develop, and the addition of all of the drama surrounding Jensen really helped round out the story. 

If I could sum up the message of the book in one word, it would belonging. Each of the characters are searching for a place to belong and must overcome past circumstances and their own shame to find that belonging. Let me just say it's a fascinating journey. 

As a huge fan of family sagas, I'm looking forward to reading more about the Christiansen family! Whether you're looking for a romance or a deep, emotional story, Take a Chance on Me is a great choice!  [5 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my fair and honest review.

About the Author

Susan May Warren is the bestselling, RITA Award–winning author of more than forty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. She served with her husband and four children as a missionary in Russia for eight years before she and her family returned home to the States. She now writes full-time as her husband runs a lodge on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, where many of her books are set. She and her family enjoy hiking, canoeing, and being involved in their local church. Several of her critically acclaimed novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA's Inspirational Reader's Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. Five of her books have been Christy Award finalists. In addition to her writing, Susan loves to teach and speak at women's events about God's amazing grace in our lives. She also runs a writing community for authors. Visit MyBookTherapy.com to learn more. For exciting updates on her new releases, previous books, and more, visit her website at www.susanmaywarren.com

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Character Meet & Greet | Claire Gibson

It's time for a Character Meet & Greet, and I'm excited to welcome Claire Gibson from Deep Haven, Minneosta to i blog 4 books! Claire is featured in Take a Chance on Me by Susan May Warren.

Claire, I'm so glad you could stop by! Will you introduce yourself to my friends and let them know a little bit about your story?

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Hi. I’m Claire. You might have already seen me at the Deep Haven pizza joint – Pierre’s Pizza.

I make a mean Spinach Pizza. I also tend the flowers at the Deep Haven Community Gardens.

Yeah, that’s right, exciting stuff.

I’m going places.

Actually, okay, I know that’s not funny. My entire life seems to be on hold since I graduated from high school seven years ago. It’s not that I don’t want to do something amazing or exciting. It’s just that…well, I don’t know what that might be.

See, since my best friend, Felicity, died, I seem to be stuck in Deep Haven. I can’t seem to find my groove. I spend most of my time watching over my grandfather, Gibs, and looking in on Tiger and Darek. And Jensen – yes, I see him hanging around also. My heart just hurts for him, even though I can’t bring myself to talk to him.

I know the accident wasn’t his fault. Exactly. No, he has other reasons to feel guilty. And it’s for those reasons I can’t forgive him.

Even if I’ve never stopped loving him. But, he never loved me, so I’m not sure why I’m still pining for him.

No. Not pining. Just…wishing life could have been different for all of us. Wishing that once upon a time Jensen had possessed the courage to could take a chance on me. Then, maybe everything would have been different.

Maybe we all would have had a happily ever after.

So, I’m stuck here in the no-man’s land of grief, regret…confusion, and unless something changes, I guess I’ll be in Deep Haven forever, making pizza, playing in the Blue Monkeys and tending the garden.

And really, nothing exciting ever happens in Deep Haven, right?

Think you'd like to get to know Claire better? Read more of her story in Take a Chance on Me, available now from Tyndale House.

Character Meet & Greet | Jensen Atwood

It's time for a Character Meet & Greet, and I'm excited to welcome Jensen Atwood to i blog 4 books! Jensen is from Deep Haven, Minnesota, and his story is featured in Take a Chance on Me by Susan May Warren.

Jensen, I appreciate you taking the time to stop by. Please tell my friends a little bit about yourself and what you're up to in Deep Haven.

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My name is Jensen, and I’m the reason why Darek Christiansen doesn’t have a wife, why Tiger doesn’t have a mother. Just for the record, the accident wasn’t my fault, but no one is listening to me, so it doesn’t matter what I say. I just want to finish my “prision” sentence—okay, community service—in Deep Haven and leave. Dust my feet off of the dirt of this town and forget the last three years.

People have no idea what it feels like to walk around with a target on your back. It feels like no matter where I go—the VFW to listen to the Blue Monkeys, or the Shelter to walk the dogs (part of my community service—don’t get excited, I’m not that altruistic), or even the local pizza joint, I’ve got eyes on me, watching. Waiting for me to make a mistake.

Wouldn’t Darek love that. He’d like more than anything to make me pay for Felicity’s death. But how can he make me pay more than the grief I already feel? He wasn’t the only one who loved her.

In fact, we all loved Felicity. Especially Clair, her best friend. Which is probably why she can’t talk to me, can’t stand to look at me. Once upon a time, we were best friends, after all, we spent every summer together on the lake, being neighbors and all.

The truth is, I had—have—a little crush on Claire. The thought of her forgiving me makes living in Deep Haven bearable.

Not that she will. If only she’d take a chance on me, hear me out, listen to my side.

Forgive me.

But I’m not holding my breath. Because really, who could forgive a guy who killed the town sweetheart?

Think you'd like to get to know Jensen better? Read more of his story in Take a Chance on Me, available now from Tyndale House.

Character Meet & Greet | Ivy Madison

It's time for a Character Meet & Greet, and I'm excited to welcome Ivy Madison to i blog 4 books! Ivy's story is featured in Take a Chance on Me by Susan May Warren.

Ivy, I know you're busy getting settled into your new home, so thanks for dropping by! Please tell my friends a little about yourself and how you found your way to Deep Haven.

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Hey. I’m Ivy Madison and I’m super glad to be here. I’m the new assistant prosecutor in Deep Haven. The truth is, I’ve always wanted to live in a small town. Call it a idealistic dream, but the fact is, I grew up in Minneapolis, shuffling to different foster homes, and the minute I heard about Deep Haven, a little town in Northern Minnesota, I thought … hey, I could put down roots there. People would know me, and it would sort of be like … family.

Not that I need family. I’m just fine on my own, but … well, okay, someone who knows you, that you could spend holidays with might be nice. Or maybe I’ll get a dog. Whatever, I’m just glad to be here.

And yes, it happens to be the same town Jensen Atwood lives in—I might even look him up. He

doesn’t know I’m the lawyer who got him his plea bargain/community service sentence—that was a fine bit of lawyering if I do have to say so myself. But I was just a clerk back then, and no one was supposed to know. But I know, and maybe someday I’ll tell him I was the one who saved him from four years in prison.

It’s just the start of something great here in Deep Haven—a new life, a jumpstart on my career.

So what made a mistake on my very first night here. I plead ignorance—and it wasn’t exactly my fault because this nice lady named Noelle told me to bid on Owen Christiansen in the bachelor auction. Only, it wasn’t Owen, and if I hadn’t been in the bathroom, I might have heard him introduced as Darek Christiansen. His older brother.

The surly, angry one. So, he was cute … I should have listened to the quiet foreboding around me as the crowd went silent. But he looked so forlorn I know what it feels like to be the awkward center of attention.

So I bid on him. And now I have to spend an evening hanging out with him. But I’m not going to let it get me down. So what he’s a bit grumpy. I never have to see him again, do I? If he’d just let his guard down and take a chance on me, though, he’d find that I’m a pretty nice girl. I can fit in. I’ve had to.

My biggest fear is that something will happen that causes me to have to leave. But this is Deep Haven—nothing bad happens, here, right?

Think you'd like to get to know Ivy better? Read more of her story in Take a Chance on Me, available now from Tyndale House.

Character Meet & Greet | Darek Christiansen

It's time for a Character Meet & Greet, and I'm excited to welcome Darek Christiansen to i blog 4 books! Darek runs the Evergreen Resort in Deep Haven, Minneosta, and his story is featured in Take a Chance on Me by Susan May Warren.

Darek, thanks so much for stopping by! I know you're a busy guy, so we'll make this brief. Could you tell my friends a little about yourself and your story?

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Hello, yeah. Hi. So, I’m Darek Christiansen, and Susie told me I had to show up and introduce
myself. So here I am. Listen, it’s no mystery that I don’t want to be here. I really need to be getting home to Tiger, my five year old son. But apparently the resort needs a little public relations, so here I am.

I run the Evergreen Resort—a handful of cabins and an outfitting service for campers and canoeists located on a lake in the north shore of Minnesota. It’s a family operation— my parents inherited it from my grandparents. I never really wanted to take it over, but I had to do something to give my son a stable life after I lost my wife in a terrible car accident.

Unfortunately, the man who killed her lives in our town. Okay, he was actually my best friend, but that seems so long ago, it’s hard to imagine that Jensen and were ever anything but enemies.

Okay, so yes, I struggle with forgiveness. And the guilt that I never really wanted this life—I was going to be a HotShot, a fire manager, fighting wildland fires. But life doesn’t give you what you want—it gives you what you deserve.

Which means I’m not going to end up with the cute new Assistant County Prosecutor who just arrived in town. Even if she did buy me in the town fundraiser/bachelor auction. Because what she doesn’t know is that I’m the last man she should hang out with.

But deep inside, I’m hoping she’ll take a chance on me. Because what I really want (and don’t tell anyone) is to start over. To build a new life. I am just not sure how to get there.

I hope you’ll go on the journey with me in Susan May Warren’s newest novel about me, and my family, and life on a resort in the north shore of Minnesota.

Think you'd like to get to know Darek better? Read more of his story in Take a Chance on Me, available now from Tyndale House.

Character Meet & Greet | The Christiansen Family

It's time for a Character Meet & Greet, and I'm excited to welcome Susan May Warren to i blog 4 books so she can introduce you to the Christiansen family!

Welcome, Susan! Please tell us about the Christiansens.

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They’re a family like you might find next door. Or in your church. Or maybe they’re like your family. Parents trying to figure out the delicate steps of guiding adult children into responsibility, hoping to leave a legacy. When I crafted the Christiansen family, I Iooked close to home, at our family, and the family of our friends. At their challenges, and joys, and their hopes to raise children who embodied the values they were raised with. 

Then I created a family I’d like to get to know, to hang out with, and to watch. To fall in love with.  I hope you do, too. 

Here’s a glimpse of the pack ...

John Christiansen is the owner of Evergreen Outfitters and Cabin Rentals (aka Evergreen Resort). John is a former football player, and has spent his entire life running the resort, which has been in the family for three generations. It’s a hideaway in the woods, located on beautiful Evergreen lake, with canoeing, fishing, hiking and lots of quiet breezes perfect for reading. (I know I’d like to visit!)

Ingrid Christiansen has spent her life raising her six kids, building a life in Deep Haven and being John’s right hand gal at the resort. She is the backbone of this series, with her hopes and dreams written in to a letter to each of her children at the beginning of each story. Ingrid is the mother we all wish we could have.

Darek Christiansen is the oldest son, a former HotShot (wildland firefighter)—and that job fits his personality, too. “Dare”—as his siblings call him—was the family daredevil, the leader of the pack. His greatest dream was to become a Fire Boss, until he got his hometown girlfriend pregnant, came home and married her. Sadly, as we meet Darek, his wife has been killed in a tragic accident, leaving behind their five year old son, Theo (Tiger). He’s just trying to be the best father he can be as he takes over the family resort.

Eden Christiansen is the family organizer and cheerleader. She has dreams of being a journalist, but for now works in the Obits department of the Minneapolis Star/Tribune. Eden appointed herself long ago as Owen—her brother’s—keeper, and as he makes his way into professional hockey, she’s by his side to cheer him on.

Grace Christiansen is the family chef. She currently works at Pierre’s pizza, and makes a mean spinach pizza—but her dreams are to enter the Culinary Institute in Minneapolis. Out of all the Christiansen’s, Grace is the peacemaker.

Casper Christiansen is the family scamp. An archeology major at the University of Duluth, he spend more time hunting for treasure—especially on sunken wrecks. More than anything, he wants to find something rare and invaluble, but for now, he’s got Darek’s motorcycle, and drifts in and out of school and the resort, trying to find his place.

Owen Christiansen’s entire life is hockey—he’s been playing since he was four, and recently signed with the Minnesota Wild hockey team. Owen is young, brash, head-strong and has an amazing future ahead of him if he can manage not get into trouble.

Amelia Christiansen can’t wait to leave the small town of Deep Haven and become a big-named National Geographic photographer. She won’t go anywhere without a camera—or her iPhone—and if her family would stop treating her like a baby and realize she is just as capable as they are, then they’d all get along a lot better.








I hope you’ll take a chance on the Christiansens, their joys and trials as they walk into this next season with their children.  It’s a series where faith and family meet real life.

Think you'd like to get to know the Christiansen family better? Read Darek's story in Take a Chance on Me, available now from Tyndale House.

The Story Behind the Story | Take a Chance on Me

I love knowing what inspires stories that I enjoy reading. I thought it might be fun to dig a little deeper into The Story Behind the Story of some of the books I'm reading these days.

Today, Susan May Warren shares about her latest contemporary release, Take a Chance on Me! Here's The Story Behind the Story ...

We live in a blame world. For some reason, over the past two-three generations, we’ve turned into a society that points fingers, that seeks out someone to accuse. We’ve all heard of the crazy accusations—hot coffee spilled on a lap at McDonalds causes a lawsuit. People trespass onto property and the owner is sued for a slippery sidewalk. We blame creditors for extending us too much credit—as if it is their fault we overspend. But what about the big events, the ones that truly cut into our lives. School shootings. Gas explosions. Car accidents. The truth is, the chaos of the world is frightening, and when something terrible happens—accidents, mistakes, even tragedy, it simply feels better to blame rather than forgive. Forgiving takes a part of us that feels too overwhelming. It might require us to look at ourselves, and see if we have a part in the story.  One might even suggest that some sins aren’t forgivable. It’s too much to ask. More, in a society that rushes to blame, we destroy any hope of sorrow—there simply isn’t room for it when we’re too busy defending ourselves from blame.

We’re quickly spiraling into a society without mercy. Without grace. Without forgiveness.

A few years ago, we had a tragedy occur in our town not unlike the events of this story. Different players, different situations, but I used this concept to explore what happens when grief and anger takes over and ignites an ember of hatred inside. We lose perspective. We lose our hold on grace.

Hatred turns into a peet fire in our heart, burning away at our insides. The only hope to snuff it out it forgiveness. Grace. A hard look at ourselves to see if we are measuring others by the measure by which we want to be judged. Or are we measuring them by the pain they caused?

I am thankful that God doesn’t measure us by the pain we caused Him. Still cause Him. I am thankful that his measure is Jesus. His measure is Grace.

I am excited about this series! I’ve longed to write a story about a northern Minnesota family and their adult children. We’re in this season of life – parenting our adult children. As a parent, you nurture your children, then guide them, then walk beside them … and finally stand back as they walk into life. And then you really start praying! These books are about those years ... watching, hoping, praying your adult children into a legacy of faith. Thank you for taking this first step on the journey with the Christiansen family. I hope you will continue with me as we “Come Home to the Christiansens.” 

Take a Chance on Me, the first book in The Christiansen Family series, is now available from Tyndale House. 

* Originally posted on Susan May Warren's website. Re-posted with permission.