Review: Reviewed for Scandalicious Book Reviews
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 7, 2013
Diane Alberts Take a Chance Bundle consists of all four of the novellas in her Take a Chance series.  They vary in length and can be read as standalones, but once you get started, you may not be able to stop.See the full review at Scandalicious Book Reviews[...]TRY ME (#1) - 3 StarsJeremy Addison is a 27 year old Marine who has found himself in Las Vegas for a little R&R;… Erica Jones is a successful attorney and the object of Jeremy's affection.  She broke his heart seven years ago but after coming to his aid when she finds him stumbling, dehydrated and beat up along the side of the road, they reconnect.  They are both still attracted to each other but they both have some self-worth issues to work through.Diane Alberts writes a great little novella that sucks the reader in and had me continually guessing what secret Erica could be so terrified of revealing that she would intentionally push away the man she loved.  My heart broke for Jeremy, the Marine with zero hero-complex, and how unworthy he thought himself to be.  This novella is on the short side with only seven chapters and an epilogue but the story takes place over a few days so it never feels rushed.  The only thing I found lacking was that as a Marine, I would expect a few more alpha tendencies and a little less running but I’m going to chalk that up to his lack of self-worth due to his upbringing.  When it matters the most, Jeremy stands firm and is all about the sweet.LOVE ME (#2) - 4 StarsThomas Jones is the older brother to Erica from Try Me and has come to a crossroads in his life.  As a miserable but successful head marketing executive he finds himself back in the godforsaken land of Sin City where his career hangs in the balance of an important meeting that will make or break his rising star status.  Thomas’ only goal is for the elusive Brianna to sign the contract he needs so he can get the hell out of Vegas and if he’s lucky, never look back. Well… best laid plans and all… the moment he gets a look at Brianna Falk, he finds himself undeniably attracted to her.  Although Brianna tries to decline his advances repeatedly, he makes himself perfectly clear, he goes after what he wants and what he wants is her.Thomas is the dominant I was expecting to get out of Jeremy but he has an ex-wife that robbed him of his dignity and his best friend, leaving him emotionally drained, unhappy, cynical and unwilling to express any real emotion.  Brianna doesn’t put a lot of stock in her own beauty and is suspicious that Thomas’ interest in her is purely to land the account.  Brianna’s career and responsibilities are also riding on the success of their business venture and she doesn’t want to put their working relationship at risk.  Although Brianna tries to keep Thomas at bay, he is a force unto himself.What I love about this story… I can’t tell you.  Suffice to say, Thomas is in a whole other league of amazing and extraordinary men.  Thomas and Brianna are both scared to put their hearts on the line again but they are going to have to move beyond their hurtful pasts and grasp their happily ever after if they want it.PLAY ME (#3) - 4 StarsKiersten Worth is Brianna’s sister from the previous Love Me story and we only got a brief glimpse of her, as in, that’s my sister, she’s here to babysit, let’s go.  I liked both characters but prepare for my hero-apologist side.  Actually, there is nothing to apologize for; Garrett Kelly is all kinds of perfect.  He is a math teacher and middle school basketball coach with his best friend Mike Worth, Kiersten’s brother.  He is an all-around good guy that has been in love with Kiersten since they were in high school.Kiersten is pretty amazing in her own right.  Thirteen years ago and barely legal, she took over guardianship of her infant nephew Chris, raising him as a single parent when her sister was killed in an accident.  Her dreams of a complete family have recently come crashing down.  On her would be wedding night she sets out to Seduce Garrett.  She isn’t looking for anything more than a good time and she is sure Garrett is over that silly little crush he had on her in high school.  Just two friends scratching an itch… or not.Heartbroken over the one-night stand, Garrett decides it is time to distance his self from the woman he will never have.  That is, until Garrett and Kiersten become a statistic due to failed condom use.  This is where Garrett steals the story for me.  Garrett does not do deadbeat dad and devises his plan to move in with Kiersten and create their own type of modern family.  Not only does he want to be there to help raise Chris, he plans to be there for every single moment of the pregnancy and every second of his child’s life.  Garrett is hopeful that after time, Kiersten will be able to see that not all men are like her ex and she will trust him enough to give him a chance.  I get that Kiersten is wary and battle-scarred but I wanted to choke her every time she tap danced on Garrett’s heart with her indecision.  Garrett Kelly is all kinds of swoon worthy. He is the man you want by your side while you are round and hormonal, so devoted and invested in the whole experience.TAKE ME (#4) - 4 StarsDiane Alberts gives you a whole range of life circumstances throughout the series but she may have saved the best couple for last.  The biggest playboy of all may have finally met his equal.Mike Worth caught my attention in Play Me as Garrett’s womanizing best friend and Kiersten and Brianna’s overprotective older brother.  His motto might be ‘death before marriage’ but he loves women.  All women.  Every size, shape and color. Even the crazy restraining order kinds if their hotness skews the crazy scale.  He does not discriminate.  What dominant Mike is not expecting is to meet his match in the stubborn redheaded Irish spitfire Morgan Collins who has no intention of ever sacrificing her dance career for a relationship.  The attraction is instantaneous and these two know how to heat up a bedroom as they fight for dominance.  After three amazingly well delivered o's, Morgan tells Mike not to let the door hit him in the ass on the way out.  Never giving a second thought to his own systematic treatment of women, it suddenly doesn’t sit so well with Mike when the roles are reversed.Another chance encounter and a night spent boozing finds Mike and Morgan waking up married in the honeymoon suite of his sister’s casino.  Annulment you say?  Not after mind-blowing consummation happens.  Whoops!  It’s suddenly important to Mike to figure out why he married Morgan in his drunken state.  He has been drunk on many occasions and has managed to not get himself married so what is it about Morgan that made him do it?  Maybe drunken Mike and drunken Morgan were on to something?  Mike pleads his case to Morgan convincing her that there must be some deeper underlying reason why two people hell bent on never marrying suddenly find themselves married to each other.  But what will happen when the grownups are done playing honeymoon at the end of the week?  Sometimes, we’ve got to set the ones we love free.