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All I Want #6

Take a Chance on Me

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Tanner

I had no idea when Sadie Cole caught my eye, that she would also steal my heart. My daughter’s new dance teacher with her jet black hair and haunting blue eyes intrigued me. Her tight outfits and bare skin taunted me. Most importantly, she was amazing with my daughter.

But Sadie’s reputation proceeded her... and I couldn’t afford any entanglements that would cost me custody of my daughter.

The more I spent time with her the more I realized the rumors were wrong— the town was wrong. I wanted to be the man she could count on. When what’s best for my daughter and what’s right for Sadie are in direct conflict, I hope I make the right choice.

Sadie

I left my hometown right after high school to escape a scandal. Returning home, seeing the way they all still looked at me, I realized coming back was a mistake. Until sexy, single dad, Tanner Green glanced my way.

Those blue eyes saw too much, they looked right through me in search of the truth.

His kind heart and stacked body tempted me to stay and face the rumors. But I’ve never let anyone get that close—especially a cop, with the sweetest daughter in the world, because my secrets ruined everything and everyone.

With him by my side things could be different... his love was worth taking the chance.

302 pages, Paperback

First published May 21, 2021

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About the author

Lea Coll

85 books817 followers
Lea Coll is a USA Today bestselling author who writes sweet and sexy happily ever afters. She worked as a trial attorney for over ten years. Now she stays home with her three children, plotting stories while fetching snacks and running them back and forth to activities. She enjoys the freedom of writing romance after years of legal writing.

She grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania and currently resides in Maryland with her family.
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Lea Coll ist eine Bestsellerautorin von sexy Liebesromanen mit Happy-End-Garantie. Sie arbeitete über zehn Jahre lang als Prozessanwältin. Inzwischen lebt sie mit ihrer Familie in den USA und genießt nach Jahren als Juristin die Freiheit, sich völlig dem Schreiben widmen zu können. Lea Colls prickelnde Geschichten entstehen, während sie sich um die Aktivitäten ihrer drei Kinder und deren Snacks kümmert.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
Profile Image for Vaishali • [V.L. Book Reviews] .
289 reviews195 followers
June 23, 2021
R A T I N G: 4 stars to Take a Chance On Me ★ ★ ★ ★

“I knew you were special. You were an untapped person who was full of love—if only someone took the time to get to know you.”

‘I came to these meetings to hear stories similar to mine. To hear pain similar to mine. I was like an addict waiting for my next fix of you’re not alone.’


Sadie Cole is at the shallow end of faith: in people, the system and of ever living for herself. Her name is enough to open up a can of worms and start up the scornful chatter that damns her as the self-serving bad egg that covered up what had quickly become a media blizzard. In their small town, a teenaged Sadie was right at the centre of it. Years later, with a law degree under her belt and a decade between her and a crime that defaced her reputation, she's still the talk of whisper town, the disgraced girl whose silence sentenced her and left an entire town to guess.

When single dad Tanner Green finds out who his daughter’s dance teacher is, both his official and fatherly instincts signal the sirens. He's heard the adverse speculation but as a non-native to their small town, he was nowhere near the furore. At 28, he never expected to be a father but he also never saw himself co-parenting with a woman who fails to put their daughter first. That's why he'd do anything for Rylan's welfare; a happy upbringing, a steady life and devoted role models to show her what parental love feels like. It's also why, much as he believes in the one woman nobody in Chestertown trusts, he can't fly sightless to a possible menace.

A mistake that haunted her through high school, college and up until today, desperate to shed herself of a wrongdoer’s skin, Sadie Cole only ever believed the woman she became by version of theory and repute. When Tanner walks into her life with a little girl on his arm and without the distaste she's so familiar with, Sadie doesn't want her past to reach his ears, this man with honest eyes who might be the one to see more. Everything he is to his daughter is everything she's never had in a parent, in a family. In simple words, he’s a pie in the sky and she’s she rock on the ground who might never have the chance to touch the sky.

Take A Chance On Me is my first Lea Coll novel and where many romances misfire with traceable romantic developments combined with a carefully ferried plot that discusses important matter, Lea Coll writes a sweet, tense slow-burning story with emotional complexities that circumvent complicated situations. In other words, this story asserts and accentuates both while an honest love connection chimes steady, sweet and true blue.

With some heavy themes, readers who have been close to/ have indirectly experienced substance abuse and have been hurt by the stigma of misunderstanding will find a relatable situation to empathise with in Take a Chance On Me. Through misunderstood Sadie, we can see how she was failed by law enforcement, the domain of public perception and the people she trusted with her safeguard. To be pulled into her tragic situation is to see the strength of this woman who has led a life alone, by her own hand and still handles every difficultly with courtesy.

Sadie has a complicated life, attorney by day, dance teacher by night and supports her alcohol dependent mother who has manipulated and fearmongered her into a life of secrecy and distance. A life of walking backwards where the past, the guilt, the scrutiny and never being vindicated as a survivor with a story to tell has trapped her in what feels like an impossible, no-win situation... and through it all, her sense of moral culpability never leaves her. Although Sadie’s thoughts are geared towards the way she’s been made to feel, which is completely valid, I love that in improving her life, that also means to confront her response to the way she’s been treated. That she realises responsibility for the way she hid herself.

Mistrust, in others and herself, is her biggest conflict, and with all that in mind she’s a character who makes leaps and tough choices. Her trust has been exploited and torched but as the story takes its course, we watch her slowly but surely take her life back by establishing limits, opening up and as the title suggests taking chances to love and be loved.

The abandon in being raised by a negligent mother with a dependency for men and alcohol, for never having a true support system, the claustrophobia of being captive to a life hitched to abuse easily makes a reader root for Sadie’s independence and acceptance. To see her to get the guy who accepts her without condition, the one that observes her with believing eyes and sees over and above grapevine temptation. Who looks for the truth. Through her loneliness and Internalised self-accusation she still keeps close the sympathy of backing even those who deserted her while needing a life independent from the source of her problems: her mother and her addiction.

While I can swoon standing still at the strength and poise of a man in uniform, Tanner is a lot more than the badge that adorns his official wear. Without being uncomfortably overbearing, he's the sort of alpha lead that has a natural readiness for protecting the people In his life with a warm, wrap-around heart - one that patiently wraps around Sadie until they become more than just two people who indulge in late night phone calls and private looks. I loved gliding steady with the intimate interlude of their romance.

With Rylan at the heart of Tanner’s decisions, his fatherly worry pushes him to file for sole custody. He bears the assurance of someone who knows what he’s doing but I love that he’s written as man with real distresses too. If you can't treasure a doting father, openly gracious and reassuring, you might need a heart-kickstart to appreciate this hero.

The author uses potential break-up content to challenge Tanner and Sadie's relationship but they always end up doing right by each other. Kudos to you Ms. Coll for the curveballs that never quite curb the relationship. If I did have some issues with this one, it’s largely confined to repetitious content. I realise that with Sadie’s shortage of self-belief she needs to be reassured and reassure herself from emotional blame. There are times though where the plot and pace become overtired with repetitive speculation/reflection, drawing out passages that have already made the same point. These slumbering moments felt heavy.

Just like any woman misread, Sadie only wants to be seen where it matters; to have the family she’s never had, to nurture real relationships and with all the hope available, to even feel the weight of love. It’s a lot to ask for when you have a curdled reputation. It’s only that permanence - the things that last - have been hard to come by. With her attention sucked dry by problems that aren’t even hers, she accepts the worst, not the amazing efforts of being a self-made woman. But a woman with a sceptical fallback is one who can’t flee the storm as long as her reputation is intact; an incident that was never forgotten, never forgiven.

Take a Chance On Me is a redemptive romance set in a small town where mud sticks and silence hurts. Where a 17-year-old’s silence demonised her and admitted a town to fill in the gaps. She’s a wild card, if only by speculation but never by truth. She’s the misfit everyone sidesteps who meets a man open to staying side-by-side. The woman behind the stories and bad faith is the woman Tanner Green wants to know.

Lea Coll’s sixth in series suggest a lot more about where the past should stay and how people can do better by virtue of open minds. If the past is supposed to remain in shadow, mistakes are not who we are but what we once might’ve made; to suffer what one might have already paid a price for, blameworthy or not (In this case, definitely not). This one looks at acceptance, forgiveness, family, trust, responsibility, stigma, and of course, the love we read for in a romance novel.

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T W I T T E R: @VicariousHearts
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C O N T E N T_W A R N I N G: Alcohol addiction/abuse. Mentions post-partum depression. Mentions underage drinking and vaguely details a sexual assault. Also mentions depression, suicide by overdose and mixing pills with alcohol. Minimal use of profanity and some bedroom scenes.

E X T R A_T H O U G H T S:

1) The author mistakes Rylan’s name in place of Tanner’s ex wife, Bree a few times.

2) I was a bit disappointed by the first sex scene. It felt more like a play by play than really taking the opportunity to solidify the passion in a palpable way. Sure, I was told it was Intense and passionate and something real clicked into place, but it was written more than felt. I had an expectation that their coming together would be tailor made, their chemistry given a chance to spark? The type you really hope for when an author sets the scene for a true slow burner.

3) I like the realness and the questions surrounding addiction and responsibility. About parental worry, from Sadie’s perspective as a daughter and Tanner’s as a father, and how they've both manage emotional complexities of living/dealing with an addict.

4) At first, I did find it odd that Sadie is demonised by a whole town. An entire town? That seemed very extreme. Later, when we realise that a lot of how she lived her life was also enabled by how she perceived it, it was suggested that while some stayed indifferent and might even have been unbiased to her reputation, she fixated on the ones who had something bad to say. One thing about Sadie is she’s very principled so it doesn’t surprise me that she put every bit of blame on herself for what went wrong. In this case, I think it would have been really important to bring forward some people who might have believed in her? Made her see from a different perspective? I don’t just mean from Tanner and her grandparents but from the pool of the public. It didn’t really help that she was also abandoned by her grandparents too - something I found surprising because knowing how negligent her mum was, I did believe they could have done so much more.
Profile Image for Mel  (whilemelwasreading).
1,006 reviews94 followers
May 21, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”Why did this town hate Sadie for something that happened when she was a girl? What was it like to have no one on your side?”
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If you enjoy:
⚖️Single Dad Romance
⚖️Slow Paced
⚖️Police Officer Hero
⚖️Heavy Topics
⚖️Dual POV
Then this may be the book for you!
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Have you ever felt like you have the world on your shoulders? Your doing everything for everyone and there’s no one in your corner? Unfortunately, I think there are many who can relate to this at one time or another. I know I can. That’s Sadie’s life. Not only is she caring for an absent mother, who has made her life more than complicated. But she’s dealt with a traumatic event that only caused backlash, rumours, and guilt.
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Insert Tanner. And if he isn’t book boyfriend extraordinaire, than I don’t know who is. He supports her in a way no one ever has. Helping to heal her. And I loved it. Total swoon. Plus he’s a sexy man in uniform. Enough said. They really took their time. It was emotion provoking to see her unsure if she could trust in him. Oh, and there’s definitely a little sexy steam if you just hang tight.
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This book deals with difficult topics. It’s heavy at times. It also feels like it’s moving at a snails pace at times. Especially the beginning. I struggled a little there. But I think it’s one that just needs to go slow to appreciate. And I know once you get to that hospital scene, you’ll be ALL IN like I was. And not only will Hunter steal your heart, but little Rylan will too. Check it out if you enjoy a slower paced, emotion provoking, single dad romance!
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I received an ARC for my honest review!
Profile Image for Stephanie.
1,070 reviews150 followers
May 22, 2020
4.5 stars. another yummy single dad romance and I LOVE that there was no separation and they actually talked about their issues!
Profile Image for Flavs is Mrs David Gandy♥~♥’.
3,119 reviews2 followers
May 19, 2020
4.80 Stars

Oh man, I am so tired this morning, as I stayed up till after 1am finishing this read. I was hooked from the first page until I finished it
My heart just broke for Sadie, there were some tears I have to admit.
Sadie was basically the black sheep of the town she grew up in. When she was younger something really bad happened and now she was sort of an outcast to the town. However Sadie was a lawyer and she teached dancing to little girls. And this is where she met Tanner. Tanner was the father of one of her students, and also the first man she has really been attracted to for a very long time. But Sadie has too much baggage. She has a mother who is basically an alcoholic, but Sadie for the life of her can't seem to leave her on her own. And Tanner has a little girl that she is sure he wouldn't want her to be around all that negativity.

Tanner met Sadie when he picked up his daughter from dance class as his ex flaked out again. And boy was he glad as he met Sadie. She was sweet and he knew that she could be someone special to him. But there were some secrets in her past that a lot of the Town just couldn't get past. But Tanner was a patient man and he would wait until Sadie was ready to confide in him. But will the Town be able to let it go and Tanner had his own baggage with his ex. Will all this bring them closer together or will it just push them apart and make Sadie leave Town for good?



Like I said I was hooked on this story and I just couldn't stop reading until I found out what happened. I loved Tanner. He was so patient with Sadie and never pushed her or let other influence him in how he felt. All Sadie needed was to know that she had people in her corner and that the mistake she made in the past doesn't define the person she is now. I really enjoyed this book and I'm not at all sad about the lost sleep❤ 😊

Reviewed on behalf of
Fay's Corner
May 26, 2020
I love everything about Lea Coll's All I Want series. I had my favorite book of the series picked out - but then I read Take a Chance on Me. I absolutely loved Sadie and Tanner's story. Sadie is so raw, guarded, and misunderstood. She has built up strong walls because she feels knocked down everywhere she turns. Tanner swoops in and simply wants to show Sadie just how amazing she is - even when she doesn't want to believe it. Add in sweet Rylan, and this book was a page-turner. It was so tough for me to put it down but I also didn't want it to end. I could have kept reading about Sadie, Tanner, and Rylan for many, many more chapters. This is definitely a must-read! Put it on your TBR list and pick it up as soon as it releases!

~Brianne💜
Profile Image for Jenna.
1,902 reviews23 followers
May 13, 2020

Thanks to hidden gems for this freebie book in exchange for a review.


while i liked the characters, the story dragged.
Tanner & Sadie had good sexual chemistry build up. But i thought the set-up was too quick & convenient.
i think for those who have an alcoholic family member, this was very relatable. but it spent so much time discussing it, it became repetitive.
the daughter was cute and i liked how she related to Tanner & Sadie. that was very believable.

Overall it was ok.
Profile Image for Demetra .
559 reviews15 followers
May 23, 2020
4.5 stars

“Take a chance on me” was my first book from Lea Coll. It was quite an introduction to be honest! Single-parent is one of my favorite tropes, so I couldn’t pass this book and I’m glad that I didn’t. Tanner and Sadie’s story was a real winner!!

Sadie Cole had a rough life so far. Growing up with her alcoholic mother and her series of questionable boyfriends, her childhood wasn’t the best. Then something happened in senior year and from then on, she’s been a pariah in her small town. A decade after the incident she’s back again to help her mother makes ends meet, working two jobs to pay for her debt.

Tanner never though he’ll be a single father so early in life, but he couldn’t change his little girl for the world. Rylan is his heart and he’ll do anything for her, even attend her dance classes! What he didn’t anticipated was to feel attracted to Rylan’s dance teacher, Sadie. She’s infamous in the small town and with him being a cop he hears things involving her.

Sadie is resigned in her life of solitude. She can’t do anything since people judge her only by hearing her name. Tanner is the first to give her the benefit of the doubt. He’s the first one that wants to get to know the real her, despite the rumors. Little Rylan is so cute and gave me the purest emotions! Sadie and Tanner’s relationship has its ups and downs. Both have things in their lives happening. She has to escape her mother’s emotional guilt trip and he has to do the best for his little girl.

Their story gave me the perfect feel-good vibes. I was invested in their HEA from the start and I was eagerly waiting for it. I mean I stayed awake just to finish the book because I wanted to see them happy after all! If you are looking for a single-father romance with feel-good vibes and the right amount of drama to keep you going, then you just found it!!!

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Profile Image for All Booked Out.
464 reviews22 followers
May 21, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sadie is trying to live her life as best she can whilst holding a lot of guilt and shame over something that happened almost a decade ago. My heart broke for her and the way she was treated for something that wasn’t even her fault. Not only did she have to deal with the whispers and stares from the entire community, she also had to deal with her alcoholic mother and her manipulation and deceit. It took incredible strength to pick herself up and to make something of her life even though it felt like everyone was against her.

Ah what an incredible and beautiful man Tanner is. Not only does he love his daughter fiercely, but he also wants the best for his ex, even though she is dealing with addiction. Straight away he feels a connection to Sadie, and he shows her kindness, no judgement and takes the time to get to know her and make his own opinion although people try to warn him away.

I really, really enjoyed Take A Chance on Me. It was heart-warming, emotional and beautiful. It carries the message to not judge someone based on half-truths and rumours. Lea is a new to me author and I will definitely be reading more of her work.

ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Becky.
1,062 reviews104 followers
May 13, 2020
Sadie -dance teacher, lawyer, the center of a decade old scandal she can’t out run.
Tanner – New to town, Single father, Sheriff Deputy.
Raylan-daughter to Tanner, Dance student of Sadie, sweet funny six year old.

I previously had not read anything by Lea Coll. I am really glad I read Take a Chance on Me. The characters are rich in character and multifaceted. I really enjoyed them. Sadie’s struggle is so real for many. Her struggle of having no one that sticks in her life and learning to depend solely on herself. The trauma of an alcoholic mother and her own assault along with that of her friends profoundly affected her. But even in her lonely existence she was able to finish college and law school. While her life choices haven’t always been the best; she has learned from her mistakes and is trying to keep her head above water.
This was such a profound read for me. It was a very emotional story. This was a 4.5/5 star read for me. My issues were with some of the outlying relationships, but I am really being kind of not picky. I would highly recommend this book. It is a slow burn romance with a pretty rocky bath to the HEA.
876 reviews5 followers
May 20, 2020
I was immediately drawn into Sadie and Tanner's story and could not stop reading. Tanner is a single dad to the most adorable little girl, Rylan, and meets Sadie when his ex signs Rylan up for dance class. Tanner has heard the rumors and speculation about Sadie but luckily he saw more to her than most people. Sadie is sweet, caring, a hard worker and desperately trying to put the past behind her. The connection between Tanner and Sadie is unmistakable and pulls you right in. Absolutely wonderful read!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Mari (Mystics & Metaphysics Book Blog).
7,756 reviews169 followers
May 21, 2020
Oh my heart! I felt so much for Sadie. This week seems to be the week for emotional stories as I don't think I've cried more before from reading. She has had a hard road and the people she knows don't make it any easier. But comes in Tanner and his love and devotion for his daughter sucked me in. I am a sucker for a single dad. He's conflicted but their chemistry is amazing. I couldn't put this down and I might have stayed up just to finish it.
Profile Image for Racheli Zusiman.
1,632 reviews54 followers
February 8, 2021
הספר השישי בסדרה הרומנטית של הסופרת ליאה קול המתרחשת בעיירה צ'סטרטאון. הספר הזה עוסק בדמותה של סיידי, שמפציעה לראשונה בספר השלישי, כעורכת דין שעובדת עם אשלי ולוגן ומתחרה איתם על משרה בחברת עו"דים פרטית.
הספר הזה מאוד ריגש אותי ואפילו מצאתי את עצמי דומעת בכמה סצנות.
דמותה של סיידי בספר השלישי לא היתה חיובית במיוחד, וכך גם נפתח הספר הזה, אבל בהמשכו אנחנו מתוודאים לסיפורה האמיתי של סיידי, להתמודדותה עם אמא אלכוהוליסטית שרימתה אותה ופגעה בה, לכך שהותקפה מינית בנערותה ומאז העיירה נידתה אותה משום שלא שיתפה פעולה עם החוקרים, ועוד. סיידי עובדת כעו"דית ביום וכמדריכת ריקוד אחרי הצהריים, ופוגשת את טאנר, שוטר ואב יחידני של אחת הילדות שהיא מלמדת. הם מתקרבים ובזכות טאנר היא מצליחה להתמודד עם העבר שלה ועם אמה, ולהתחיל מחדש. כמי שמכירה את הסדרה וקראה את הספרים הקודמים, עברתי כקוראת טרנספורמציה ביחס לדמותה של סיידי, כמו שבספר עצמו יש טרנספורמציה ביחס שסיידי חווה מהסביבה ובחייה. בספר מתוארת גם החוויה של נערה צעירה שהותקפה וכיצד היחס של המשטרה ושל הסביבה מונעים ממנה מלשתף פעולה עם החוקרים, כך שהפושע יוצא באישום מופחת ולאחר מכן ממשיך בחייו, תוך שחייהן של הנערות שתקף נהרסים. הערכתי מאוד את הטיפול של הסופרת בסוגיות אקטואליות וחשובות כאלו למרות שמדובר בספר רומנטי (עם סצנות סקס). זה משהו משותף לכל הספרים בסדרה וזה יפה ומוערך מאוד בעיניי. ממליצה על כל הסדרה וספציפית על הספר הזה.
Profile Image for Janeen.
855 reviews
May 26, 2020
This is my first book by this author but it certainly won’t be my last.

It’s an amazing story of love, trust, hope and family. The sentiment that one shouldn’t be judged by past actions is very prevalent.
Profile Image for Maggie Robinson.
191 reviews16 followers
May 23, 2020
Lea Coll is a new author to me, and I loved this book.

Set in a small town Sadie Cole battles against the entire town thinking they know her. Single dad Tanner is a transplant and meets Sadie at his daughter’s dance class.

Tanner is drawn to Sadie even with his friends warming him about her, his cop instincts telling him something is wrong, and battling with the mother of his child who has addiction problems.

The plot wraps around small town gossip, parental pressure, addiction problems, dealing with unsupportive and destructive parents as well as learning to trust others.

Characters within this book appear in other books from the series, but this book can be read as a stand alone. The town and the major characters grow, change, and learn to react differently in this book in relation to what they thought they knew in the past. Lea works in a great theme of forgiveness and acceptance - this runs the gambit from self to others.

There are some touching scenes in here that will pull at your heart.

One of the things that stood out to me the most was Tanner and his approach to his daughter’s mother.
We know that Tanner and Bree were in a limited relationship that resulted in the birth of their daughter, Rylan.
Though no longer together the two share joint custody of Rylan.
Tanner and Bree struggle with the custody as Bree is addicted to antidepressants and alcohol.
Tanner struggles with what the best decision is for his daughter. Should Bree remain in her life or is it too risky from a physical and emotional perspective.
Sadie is able to help Tanner through this as he learns more about Sadie’s past and present.
Tanner continuing to push to have an arrangement for Bree to remain in Rylan’s life in a healthy way is something I haven’t come across in novels before and I thought it showed a depth of empathy that isn’t typically portrayed. Particularly in the lead male character. This large piece of the story line held my interest as much as the relationship between Tanner and Sadie.

Take a Chance on Me wraps up the Take a Chance series that Lea has written. This book can be read as a stand alone, however there were parts of the story where I wished I’d read the earlier books, but the plot was filled in nicely so it isn’t necessary in order to enjoy Tanner and Sadie’s story.
Profile Image for B-Books Review.
609 reviews26 followers
May 21, 2020
I didn't read all of the author's books, but of the ones I read, this is my favorite. It’s was full of romance, some funny situations, quite informative, angst and the slow burn between Sadie and Tanner was killing me.

The story between them was very organic and I could feel how they were building their relationship, from attraction, to friendship and then to love. Tanner was a cop who had a sweet and lovable 6 year old daughter Rylan, with Bree, an alcoholic. He does everything he can to protect Rylan, at the same time trying to give her everything she deserves at life, including a caring mother.

Sadie is an attorney at the public’s defender’s office and at night a kid’s dancer teacher. She doesn’t have an easy life, since she was a teenager, she had to deal with her alcoholic and manipulative mother and her boyfriends, dealt with a case of assault, then she got fired from a previous job out an action of desperation. She also think that the whole city judge and hate her.

What I liked the most about Tanner was how from the beginning he didn’t judge Sadie, and give a chance to her explain her things at her time, he was slowly cracking her armor, protecting and caring for her. Also loved how he included her in his family activities, giving her a family she never had.

I was so in awe with Sadie, and I felt so connected to her. She was so strong and it must had be difficult to never have someone on her side. She had a heart of gold, she didn’t trust her decisions and at some point was afraid for Tanner and Rylan security and protection, even if she was broken by the end. I also enjoyed how she reconnect with her grandparents, it was so sweet.

The book also gave some important lessons on how to deal with an alcoholic relative. At the end, both Sadie and Tanner had their happy ending. It was sweet and loving, and so deserving! I love how at some point Sadie found out that she had more people at her side then she thought.
Profile Image for World Of Books 65.
2,477 reviews46 followers
May 16, 2020
"Good things never lasted - especially not for girls like me."


When the main character thinks that about herself you know that you are in for an emotional story; and Sadie Shaw's story is certainly that.

Growing up wasn't easy for Sadie; drunk mother never knowing who her father was so when her mom gets what she things is a decent boyfriend Sadie at 17 thought she might have the family she had always dreamed of. Wanting to belong at school she decides to have a party at her house - and that is where it all went wrong for Sadie Shaw! One mistake and then doing what her mother told her - cause your parents are suppose to love and protect you right? Ensured that Sadie would never be seen in the same light with the town folk's ever again.

10 years on and Sadie is holding down two jobs - teaching kids to dance and a lawyer by day. But the whispers never go away. But then she meets delightful Rylan and her father Tanner Green local policeman new to the town who doesn't really know anything about Sadie past but even when he does his instinct is telling him that the town have it all wrong about the shy Sadie and the more time they spend together the more he believes he is right.

But Sadie is waiting for the shoe to drop no one has ever stuck up for Sadie in the past; she has hardly any friends and has been alone for so long just caring for a mother who doesn't deserve it that when Tanner promises to stand by her she doesn't really believe it and when Tanner finals has to put that promise to the test will he stand up for her or walk away as everyone else in Sadie life has.

I really enjoyed this storyline it was something slightly different. Tanner was having problems of his own with the mother of Rylan but through it all he stayed true to his believe in Sadie.
485 reviews1 follower
June 2, 2020
Tanner met Sadie at his daughter's dance class. There was an immediate attraction but Sadie knew better than to act on it. Not when half the town hates her for something that happened ten years ago. And Tanner being a police officer just makes it harder because keeping her distance from the police was something her mother ingrained in her. Her mother who was an alcoholic who kept her from speaking the truth about what happened on that night which eventually cost Sadie the love ofnher grandparents and made her an outcast by the townspeople. Knowing a little about her past Tanner saw something in her and the more he got to know her, the more he believed that she was a good person. He showed her that he believed in her and thatbhe supports her and slowly she let herself open up to him and came to believe that they may have a future. But then reality struck - Tanner was in a custody battle and when his attorney learned of their relationship it became clear that she may be an obstacle in him win in the case. And just like that her fears came true, everyone she cares about gets hurt because of her. There was no way that she could jeopardize his case and she would rather give him up and leave town before she let that happen. But he wants her to stand and fight with him. Will she be strong enough to do that? And what if he looses because of her - will he be able to forgive her? This is a story of a young girl's shame and guilt, of a young girl who was neglected by her mother and though she was left by everyone she cared about. It is also a story of faith in another person, of forgiveness and to let yourself accept help from other people. Sadie is such a strong character and I loved the emotion in the book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Angela.
414 reviews2 followers
May 16, 2020
Yet again, Lea Coll has created a story that will pull at your heartstrings and make you fall in love with her characters. This story follows Tanner and Sadie and how they both took a chance on one another. This is such a beautiful story of love and acceptance of people for who they are.

I loved being able to see the dynamics of this story. How a tragic incident that happened years ago can still control the mind and shape a person into who they are. Without knowing the entire truth and story, the people in town have come up with their own thoughts about who Sadie is. Tanner is immediately drawn to Sadie and looks past all the ugly words thrown out about her. He can tell that she is not the person that people say she is. He is a cop after all and has a good tell on people and Sadie isn't bad. He knows she has a story to tell and wants to hear it.

This story shows how we shouldn't judge a person by the actions that they make but rather their reasoning behind it. There are many sides to a story and to only look at one side will leave you blind and ignorant to every thing else. Sadie was also a victim and she let the thoughts of others push her away and make her feel as if she isn't worth it. Her own mother made her feel like there was no one to turn to and that it was them against the world. But the one person she should have trusted only manipulated her.

Tanner helps Sadie see her true potential and helps her realize that she is so much stronger than she lets on. She has been through so much and hasn't had anyone to confide in all these years. To finally find that one person that opens not only their arms and mind to you, but also their heart is such a great reward. They both turn out to be the rock they needed to help one another through their hard times.
Profile Image for Trish (Beautiful Chaos Reviews).
882 reviews22 followers
May 21, 2020
Sadie Cole has been around. She's a character from earlier in the series who did some things she's of which she's not proud. I've not read the earlier books in this series, but one of the BIG plusses for this book is its ability to stand alone. I really appreciated that not everyone from the previous books was super willing to all be Team Sadie. There was a reveal of the true nature of Sadie's life and the motives for her actions. When you ask why a lawyer is working two jobs, we discover this as we come to know and like Sadie.

Tanner is new to town, and he's a single dad. He doesn't know of Sadie's past, and he's doing what I think a lot of us wish would happen. He sees Sadie with a clear vision of no preconceived notions. Everyone in town has their opinion of Sadie, and those opinions are based not on facts but speculation. Tanner decides to form his own opinion, and it is a life-changer for Sadie.

The book deals with being the family member or significant other of an addict, including a couple of visits to an Al-Anon group. This subject is tough to deal with, but I appreciate the author not painting all addicts with a broad brush of the bad guy, but more a person who needs to want to get better. The subject tied in strongly with both Tanner and Sadie's stories.

I enjoyed Tanner and Sadie's story, and I am sure it provides another HEA for fans of this series. Kudos to Lea Coll for addressing those who attend Al-Anon groups. We often forget these people who walk that difficult path of loving an addict and the hard choices.
Profile Image for Patty .
1,141 reviews7 followers
May 12, 2020
Wow! Just Wow!

This story was an intense and emotional read from the very first pages. I could not put this book down, even for one second feeling like I would miss out. Sadie's character is a strong and withdrawn persona. She carries around a lot of guilt from her messed up childhood. With a addict mother whom never cared for her, she felt she had to take care of her. But all that changes when a tall, dark and handsome cop makes an appearance in her life.

Tanner is a cop. He is a single father who is co-parenting with a absent mother. He worries for his daughter and has a caring nature. But some days he wonders if there is something missing in his life or better yet someone.

The day he meets Sadie he is immediately drawn in. There is something about her that appeals to him. Intrigues him. But the rumors around their small town don't paint her in a good light. But even though the rumors give him pause and may raise red flags, he feels she is different than the whispers.

This story is a true testament of how rumors and wrong reactions can ruin lives. How addicts will tear people down to feed their addictions. Sadie is a true warrior. She has weathered the storm and one day will find her happy ending.

Overall this book is amazing. A deep and soulful story. A book that reflects on bad things turning to something wonderful when we put our foot down and stand up for ourselves. Even when people are painted out to be the villain doesn't always mean they were not a victim.

I do warn you this book will make you cry. It will reach in and grab your heart and slam it on the ground and stomp on it. It is an emotional and meaningful read. So grab a tissue box and get to reading because you won't want to miss out.
Profile Image for NICUnurse Stephanie .
849 reviews30 followers
May 19, 2020
I loved Lea Coll’s book, Easy Moves. It was the first book of hers that I’d read. So I was excited to dive into Sadie and Tanner’s story in Take A Chance on Me. And I got more than I bargained for. This is a story of perseverance, unconditional love, redemption, and healing. Sadie has to be one of the strongest heroines I’ve ever read in a story. And Tanner is just simply one of the good guys…always striving to do the right thing even when he makes mistakes. Able to look past the labels this small town has insisted stick with Sadie, he’s just…swoonworthy!

NICUnurse’s Rating: If you love small-town contemporary romances that are full of emotion, you will love this book. I was swept along with the rising and falling of the waves of Sadie’s emotions. Yet, in the end, with unconditional love and support despite the rumors of her past, she rose above it all. All she needed was just one person to wholly love her, wholly believe in her, and wholly stand beside her come what may. Take A Chance on Me will tug at your heartstrings, leave you in tears in some moments, and then have you standing up and cheering for unconditional love and acceptance. It’s about who you become, not who you were.

I give Take A Chance on Me by Lea Coll 4 out of 5 stars!
Profile Image for Anelise | 2kidsandagoodbook .
389 reviews18 followers
May 21, 2020
I loved this book so much. Tanner is a transplant to the small town and a police officer and single dad was so swoony. Sadie grew up in the town and there are rumors surrounding her. Between the rumors and how she was raised she tried to keep her head down and not let anyone in. All it took was seeing Sadie for the first time and Tanner was taken with her. This story takes you through the time it took to forge a friendship, start a relationship and for them to fall in love. Tanner’s glass half full perspective helps show Sadie she doesn’t need to keep her defenses so high. Sadie’s story is heartbreaking on how she got to where she is in life and Tanner doesn’t judge her at all and is just there for her when no one ever has been before. Then add in an adorable little girl who is smitten with her dance teacher who becomes her dad’s girlfriend and you can’t help but fall in love with Tanner and Rylan and hope Sadie sees what could be if she takes a leap. I was glued to this book to see what the rumors were about, how everyone would react and what would happen next. This was such a sweet book where Sadie got everything she deserved from growing up with an alcoholic mother and feeling like an outsider.
Profile Image for Katrece Nelson.
306 reviews5 followers
May 23, 2020
I love Lea Coll and her damaged characters!! With each book of hers that I've read, she has quickly become a favorite of mine. I absolutely love that she is on a hot streak and releasing a book every month right now. Tanner and Sadie are my all time favorite couple. This story just hit me in places I never thought a book would be able to reach.

Sadie has been given a tough hand. Most of it stems from her being afraid to speak up but given her circumstances you can't really blame her. Watching her learn to trust herself and trust others was such an empowering process. I felt such a kinship with Sadie's character that I haven't felt with a fictional character in a long time. Her relationship with her mother is so tragic and disheartening but I felt that in my soul dealing with a recovering alcoholic as a mother with signs of dementia.

Another aspect of all of Lea Coll's stories is that despite how wounded or tortured the characters may be she always gives them the chance to learn how to live for themselves. Love stories are great but seeing love stories where people grow and shine give me all the warm fuzzy feelings.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5 out of 5 stars) I can't say enough good things about Take A Chance On Me. I loved seeing how despite how strong you have to be to survive this world it is still possible and very much ok to let those walls down and let love in.
Profile Image for Sharrice.
1,189 reviews65 followers
May 21, 2020
Blog tour post with giveaway going on now (5/21/2020): https://reesesreviews.blogspot.com/20...

I freaking loved this story. I can't believe this is my first time reading something from Lea Coll!!! I'm in love.

Tanner only wants what's best for his daughter. Being a mostly single-dad and a cop comes with his struggles and he'd definitely not looking for love when he walks into the dance studio with his daughter. That is until he meets Sadie, his daughters' dance teacher. Tanner starts off wary about getting into anything with Sadie due to the rumors swirling around her. When they get thrown together to help set up some fundraisers around the dance studio Tanner starts realizing that there's more to Sadie's story.

Sadie has had a rough life. Her mother is an alcoholic and has never been much of a mother. After the tragedy that struck her when she was in high school, she's never had a moment's rest. She escaped town but came back to help her mom and now she feels stuck.

I loved Sadie. She struggled so much and my heart just ached for her time and time again. She has been knocked down so often that she doesn't feel like she deserves anything good in life and never gives herself a break. I just felt for her so much and just loved her. She was just one of those good people who had been knocked down so much that she is a little cynical of any good things and thinking that good things don't last.

This was a beautiful story and I just loved it. I can't gush enough over it and have to say this is a beautiful story and an absolute must-read!
Profile Image for Payton Box.
908 reviews15 followers
May 9, 2020
I highly recommend this book!

This book touches on some heavy topics but they fit wonderfully into the story. I absolutely loved how Lea Coll handled all the situations and showed how easily many parts of your life and your personality. Sadie hasn't had an easy life and I love how she handles so much with such grace and doesn't let it hold her down. She was a great example of someone handling hard situations with their parents, partners, and community.

I loved Tanner and how open-minded he was and how he was willing to work with Sadie and her problems. Tanner was adorable with his daughter and I loved how he handled the custody issues and made the right choices even when they were harder than other choices.

I loved how Take A Chance on Me showed how we sometimes assume people are thinking the worst about us, but most people are not thinking those things and willing to help. This book took me through a roller coaster of emotions as I read Sadie and Tanners story and got to see them work through so much in such a little time!
Profile Image for Britt Chaotic Creatives.
1,414 reviews95 followers
May 14, 2020
I’ve read a lot of books where my heart has ached for characters before, but none have ever made my heart ache quite way it did for Sadie. I hurt for her from practically the moment I met her and continued to feel every bit of pain she endured as I became more and more attached to this incredibly strong and kind hearted woman. It seems like the entire world is blind to just how good of a person she really is until Tanner walks into her life and sees what everyone else is oblivious to.
Tanner’s ability to see Sadie beyond what everyone else thinks is what made me start to fall for him, but ultimately what really made me fall head over heels was his unconditional love. No flaw, no rumor, no bit of her past was every held over her head by him. He accepted her with no judgement through every hurdle life threw at them. I could not get enough of how devoted he was.
If you’re looking for a read that’s going to hit your right in the feels and leave you with your heart overflowing with love then grab this one
Profile Image for JudyAnnLovesBooks.
1,732 reviews69 followers
May 16, 2020
I’m madly in love with Tanner! I’m going to add him to my Top 5 list of favorite book boyfriends!! He is such an amazing man. Honestly I can’t get over how absolutely perfect he is. He’s a single dad and a police officer and when it comes to his daughter he will do anything and everything to make her happy and keep her safe.
Sadie is such an unbelievably strong woman. Raised by an alcoholic mother who made poor life choices, leaving a teenage Sadie prey to a man that would shatter her life - fast forward 10 years and Sadie finds herself back in the small town that had turned its back on her and still paying the price for the unfortunate event from her past. Shunned by pretty much everyone until a certain sexy police officer see’s her - all of her, the real woman and falls hopelessly in love with her *swoon*.
Take A Chance On Me was my first book by Lea Coll and it proved to be a fantastic romance read. I look forward to reading the other books in this series and can’t recommend it enough. TBR and enjoy.
Profile Image for Trish.
1,570 reviews6 followers
May 18, 2020
Man, I loved this book. It hit all the feels. My emotions were on a roller coaster and I couldn’t put it down. It can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend grabbing the other books in the series. I’ve only read a couple now, but I will be going back to read some of the other stories.

Tanner is new to town and a sheriff’s deputy. His daughter Rylan is in Sadie’s dance class. Sadie is back in town to take care of her alcoholic mother and she’s teaching dance to supplement her income as a lawyer. She’s the person everyone loves to hate in town. Tanner sees something in Sadie that no one else does and pursues a relationship with her despite the warnings he’s getting from friends to stay away from her. Their relationship starts and blooms and over time Sadie comes to trust Tanner with her history and secrets, but their relationship is threatened when Tanners ex tries to use Sadie’s past to gain custody of Rylan. Will Sadie stay and fight to be with Tanner, or will she walk away to keep him from losing the custody battle?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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