~ Book Review: Take a Chance on Me ~

Author: Susan Donovan

They’ve Got Nothing In Common…
For animal behaviorist Emma Jenkins, romance has been at the bottom of her daily “to do” list since making it through a messy divorce. But everything changes the day six-feet-of-gorgeous Thomas Tobin walks into her office with a quivering Chinese Crested named Hairy, a canine that looks more like an underfed rodent than a dog. Sure Thomas is sending her mixed signals-but that charming smile just sent Emma’s dormant sex drive through the roof…

But Animal Attraction-
Thomas isn’t looking for a fling. In fact, he wants nothing to do with women. He just wants to know if Hairy witnessed his owner’s murder. But something tells him that asking Emma to help him with the case will spell nothing but trouble-trouble in the form of serious temptation.

And the Willingness To Take A Chance On Love
Thomas knows that relying on Emma’s expertise-and her soft touch with a weird dog that has somehow become his-may be a crazy way to track a killer. Especially when Emma’s down-home warmth makes him want to believe that anything is possible-even true love.

Take a Chance on Me actually first caught my eye because it shares a title with an ABBA song. The story follows Emma Jenkins, an animal behaviorist, who divorced fellow behaviorist and vet, Aaron. She goes to live with her father along with her adopted daughter Leelee, whose mother was Emma’s best friend and passed away. Thomas Tobin pretends to be an assassin while working for the state police. When his best friend, Scott is murdered, he takes care of Scott’s dog, Hairy, a Chinese Crested. Thomas takes Hairy to Emma to try and solve Scott’s murder. Hairy actually has his own POV, which adds a new unique dimension to the story. His part added some nice humor to the story, and I liked that Donovan included it.

While the two have an attraction, there are complications that prevent them from getting together right away. Each is going through their own baggage as Emma has her divorce and Thomas has his past relationship. Since this novel was released years ago, I think I would have read it differently if I had read it then. There is something in the writing that doesn’t quite captivate me as it would if I read it years ago. I do still think it was well done in many ways and the concept itself was fun. The characters and their relationships (past and present) do need a little more exploration as I feel they are underdeveloped in some areas. I this Donovan’s writing was fun and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.