Book Review: Taking Charge by Mandy Baggot

Taking Charge
Author: Mandy Baggot
Publication: Sapphire Star Publishing (May 2, 2012)

Description: Is going back Robyn’s only way forward? American-born Robyn Matthers is going home. With her dad in hospital, his roadhouse in ruins and the ice hockey team slipping down the league, she needs to take charge. But does she have the strength to do it? Cole Ryan is a hockey player on a personal mission. He’s tall, dark, hot and Robyn’s noticed! But can she trust her feelings - or his? And what will Cole do when he finds out the truth about her? Robyn returns to Michigan and things aren’t quite the same. Her best friend has grown up and is thinking about marriage and babies, the ice hockey team is no longer the life blood of the community and her father is engaged! When Robyn’s twin cousins drag up past events that hold painful memories for her, she and Cole are forced together. But are either of them ready to start something new? With an ill father, a trailer trash almost step-mom and ex-boyfriend Brad desperate for another chance, does Robyn have time to contemplate a relationship? Does she really want one? And is it physically possible for two people to fall in love in just three days?

My Thoughts: TAKING CHARGE was a nice romance. Robyn Matthers is, in the words of Cole Ryan, "straight talking, unpretentious, bossy, opinionated, determined" and just the girl for him. Cole Ryan meets her in the airport when the strap on her backpack breaks and he helps her pick up her stuff. They find out they are going to the same place - Portage, Michigan - and they spend the flight talking. Robyn is a real motor mouth who uses constant conversation to keep from worrying about the trip. She is on her way home to see her sick father. She has been gone nine years. She left with her mother and hasn't made trips back.

Cole is going there to work at a medical research lab. He has suffered the recent trauma of having his girlfriend dump him for his brother. He isn't ready for another relationship since he is still getting over the fallout of the last one. He not only lost a girlfriend but he lost his relationship with his brother too. But when Robyn says good-bye with a hot kiss, he may have to rethink this no relationship plan of his.

Robyn finds that lots has changed in the time she has been gone. Her father has a new fiance that Robyn is determined not to like, his roadhouse has gone downhill and become a hangout for bikers and druggies, and his beloved hockey team is now the worst in the league. Robyn needs to take charge and use all of her organizational skills to get things back on the right track. Keeping busy will also keep her from thinking about the reason she left town. She was raped on her way home from one of the hockey games and had to go through a trial where a neighbor boy who had a crush on her was convicted of the crime.

Now he is back in town and still proclaiming his innocence. New evidence has come to light that allows a new trial. And DNA evidence proves that he wasn't the rapist. That means the rapist is still around and Robyn is guilt stricken that the wrong person was convicted of the crime.

Cole and Robyn have a great relationship because each of them accepts the other despite their flaws and quirks. I really liked both Robyn and Cole and was pulling for them to get it right. Readers looking for a fun, light read that still has some emotional depth will enjoy this story.

Favorite Quote:

"Robyn, life's too short to worry about everything, you know...what people say, what people do, what people think is right or wrong. Some people in life just aren't going to like what you do. Some people are going to be with you your whole life long and others are going to fall by the wayside for one reason or another. I want to be there your whole life long," Cole told her.

I received the ebook from the Marketing Coordinator of Sapphire Star Books in exchange for an honest review. You can buy a copy here.