Christian Contemporary Romance

Take a Chance on Me

by Susan May Warren

Book 1 of the Christiansen Family series

416 pages · First published 2013

After losing his wife in a tragic car accident three years earlier, Darek Christiansen has devoted himself to raising his young son and helping run his family's historic Evergreen Lake Resort in Deep Haven, Minnesota. But beneath his responsibilities lies a heart hardened by grief, guilt, and resentment toward Jensen Atwood, the former best friend he blames for his wife's death. When Ivy Madison, the town's new assistant county attorney, impulsively bids on Darek at a charity bachelor auction, neither expects their awkward introduction to become the beginning of something meaningful. Having grown up in foster care, Ivy longs to find the family and sense of belonging she's never known, and the close-knit Christiansens seem to offer everything she's been missing. Yet Ivy is hiding a devastating connection to Darek's past: she negotiated the plea bargain that allowed Jensen to avoid prison. As their romance deepens, old wounds threaten their future, while Jensen and his childhood friend Claire struggle with their own painful history. And when a wildfire approaches Deep Haven, the entire community must confront what matters most. Rich in faith, family relationships, second chances, and heartfelt romance, this Christian contemporary novel is perfect for a quiet afternoon when you're craving a lakeside small-town setting, memorable characters, and a moving story about forgiveness and finding where you belong.