Release Blitz + Review: "Take a Chance with Me" by Kristen Proby

Congratulations to author Kristen Proby on today's release of "Take a Chance with Me," book #5 of the O'Callaghans series (a sub-series of the With Me in Seattle series). It's supposed to be a standalone (and technically it is, in that it focuses on a different couple than the ones featured in previous books of the series), but I honestly felt as if I had started in the middle of a duet while reading this book. There seemed to be a lot of background information missing, particularly in reference to the situation with main character Maggie's deceased husband. I've actually read all but one of the books in this series, so I'm not sure if the missing details were included in that story or if they weren't ever explained. At any rate, I wouldn't recommend this particular book as a starting point for readers new to the series. 

After her husband died, Maggie O'Callaghan learned that he had fathered a child with another woman while they were married. His entire estate went to his daughter, leaving Maggie with nothing. A month or so later, after years of suppressed mutual attraction, Maggie nearly hooked up with her older brother Kane's best friend, Cameron Cox. Unfortunately, Cam got a call from his mysterious employer and had to leave just as things were heating up, and Maggie has been angry with him ever since. Two years later, Cam is back to living on the island full-time and determined to patch things up with Maggie. Just when he convinces her to give him a chance, new information about Maggie's late husband comes to light, and Cam's highly classified job once again proves to be an obstacle because he's had to keep so many secrets from Maggie and her family. Can Cam convince Maggie that he's worthy of her trust so that they can finally build a future together? 

Cam and Maggie's eventual romance has been hinted at throughout the series, so I was looking forward to seeing how they finally ended up together. Unfortunately, their story was kind of a letdown for me. As much as I wanted to empathize with Maggie because of everything her late husband put her through, she did a lot of things that annoyed me. I couldn't help but wonder why Cam, who was by all accounts a pretty great guy, kept putting in the effort to win her over. First, she completely overreacted by holding a grudge for two years because Cam had to leave her to go to work. Would she have reacted the same way if he had been a doctor or firefighter called to an emergency? When confronted with the realities of Cam's job later in the story, she overreacted yet again, even though they had just had a conversation a few hours earlier in which she said she understood why he couldn't always tell her about his work. Her lack of faith in Cam was incredibly frustrating because he hadn't done anything to make her doubt him, and it wasn't fair that she continued to treat him as if he were the same as her late husband.

 

I have mixed feelings about this story. I enjoyed the last 25% of the book because it was basically an extended epilogue for the series as a whole, giving readers a chance to catch up with Maggie's siblings and providing closure on everything that was going on with her family. However, the central relationship between Cam and Maggie was a major disappointment, especially after it had been built up so much in previous books. Overall, I'd recommend "Take a Chance with Me" for readers who've been following the O'Callaghans from the beginning, but as previously stated, IMO it's not a good starting point for those who are new to the series.

 

*Review copy provided by the author via Valentine PR. All opinions expressed are my own.   

 

 

About "Take a Chance with Me"

Take A Chance With Me by Kristen Proby is now live!

A friends to lovers, soulmates story from Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author Kristen Proby, set in her beloved With Me In Seattle Series!

Cameron Cox has mastered the art of keeping secrets. His talent for computer hacking means he's been recruited for highly classified jobs since leaving the military. He travels the world, risking his life. But his biggest secret isn't from a government job or a foreign spy.
It's Maggie O'Callaghan.
He's loved her from afar, always standing by as the friend. He's been her rock through the hardest days of her life. But after his dangerous past comes crashing into his life and threatens the only woman he's ever loved, he has a choice to make.
Give up the secrets and win her heart.
Or watch Maggie walk away with his.