Book Review: Taking Charge

Title:  Taking Charge
Author:  Mandy Baggot
Where I got it:  From the author, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
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:
Robyn is my hero!!!!  She works on cars, she knows hockey, and she can participate in a turkey shoot!  Seriously, if I was a boy, I’d want to marry her!

Moving on.  Robyn meets Cole on the plane as she’s going home to take care of her father, who’s in the hospital.  She’s been living overseas since she was a teen and she and her mother moved after she was raped, and hasn’t been back since.  However, she knows her father is in poor health and needs a kick in the pants, not to mention help running the local hockey team and his failing bar and grill.  She and Cole continue to be thrown together, and despite their reservations and their challenging pasts, they connect extremely deeply.

I’m not generally a fan of the “insta love” phenomenon, but I absolutely adored Cole and Robyn in a flirtation/relationship.  They are so stinking cute together, it just made me all squidgy inside.  The rest of the cast of characters were similarly awesome and endearing – each in their own way and bringing their own challenges to the table.  From early on, I liked the characters so much that I only wanted the best for them – this was definitely one I was praying for the HEA on!

I also loved the mystery that kept the plot moving forward and the the drama high – the small town atmosphere and camaraderie in the face of challenging circumstances was extremely well done – I felt like I was there.  This is a great, fun summer romance that you won’t be able to put down for sure!