Take A Chance On Me

Take A Chance On Me by Susan May Warren.  Part of the Deep Haven series.

Darek Christiansen has a history in the small town of Deep Haven. He is a widower. His wife, Felicity, was killed in a vehicle accident by his best friend, Jensen Atwood. All Darek wants is to save his family's resort and raise his son, Tiger, without ever having to encounter Jensen.

Assistant district attorney, Ivy Madison, has moved to Deep Haven looking to find somewhere she can finally put down roots. She hasn't had anything resembling a home that she can remember. In an effort to integrate herself into small town life in Deep Haven, she buys Darek in a charity bachelor auction.

As Ivy begins to settle into her new home, she is caught between the justice her job demands of her and her feelings for Darek. Anger and blame are forcing everyone in Darek's life into two separate corners. There are those who blame Jensen for Felicity's death and there are those who blame Darek. Ivy's pivotal role in Jensen's plea bargain could force her out of Darek's life. Darek's anger could force Tiger to be removed from his custody.

Take A Chance On Me is a love story. The typical elements of a romantic love story are present but at the heart of this story is the beauty of God's love. Jensen Atwood is a murderer. Darek Christiansen hasn't forgiven Jensen and is swift to anger. Ivy Madison believes that she is incapable of being loved. They each forge the battle of deserving God's love versus receiving God's love.

What I really enjoyed about this book is the insistence that God loves us regardless of how we come to him. He doesn't love us because we've redeemed ourselves. He redeems us because He loves us. When you take  a chance on loving someone romantically, you are risking that at some point in time you won't meet their expectations. When God loves He loves us as we are. He'll meet us where we are at, cover us with His grace, and walk beside us as we traverse life.

Susan May Warren crafts fictional tales that really drive home the principles that Scripture has laid out.