Take a Chance on Me by Jill Mansell is the first book of hers that I’ve read but it certainly won’t be the last. What a great and fun read! This was a really good book to just sweep you away for a while and give you more than a giggle or two although it has its serious moments too.
Cleo lives in the small English town of Channings Hill where she grew up and works as a chauffeur. She’s happy with her lot in life and has finally met the man of her dreams in Will. He’s perfect – good looking, attentive, and seemingly in love with her! What more could a girl want? All I can say is never put all your eggs in one basket – the dream guy may not be quite everything you’re looking for.
Then Cleo’s old nemesis Johnny arrives back in town. He teased and bullied her like crazy when they were in school. The worst thing is, in Cleo’s view, is Johnny managed to make it big as a sculptor so now he’s good looking and rich. To top it off he seems to have everyone in town gravitating towards him because of all that dripping charm he oozes. Not Cleo though – she isn’t going to be sucked in. She knows what Johnny is really like – or does she? Will she too fall under the charms of Johnny Laventure?
Then we’ve got Cleo’s sister Abbie who has her own problems. She thought she was happily married to the love of her life but then she finds a letter that turns her life upside down. Did she ever really know her husband? Just what has he been up to? Abbie is steaming mad and upset – is she upset enough to do something she may regret later? Abbie is in for more drama than she knows what to do with.
Then there’s Ash, Cleo’s best friend, who is a great character. He’s a DJ and a really good one too with plenty of personality – everyone loves him. However, if you put him in front of a woman such as Fia who he has a huge crush on, he becomes this other person who can’t even form a coherent sentence. Yet he’s got the beautiful Georgia chasing after him and he can be himself with her and yet she just doesn’t pull at his heartstrings like Fia. Poor Ash!
Take a Chance on Me by Jill Mansell is full of fantastic characters and good story lines. I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more by Jill Mansell. You can pick up your own copy of Take a Chance on Me here in the US and here in Canada. Be sure to pop in and visit Jill Mansell’s website and check out all her other books too!
Disclosure: My copy of Take a Chance on Me by Jill Mansell was provided by Sourcebooks to me for a fair and honest review.
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