Taking Chances Review and Giveaway Blog Tour

Taking Chances         

By Loni Flowers

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Date of Publication: March 1^st, 2012

ISBN: 978-1468184587

ASIN: B006X6FTJC

Number of pages: 382

Word Count: 86,000₊

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Blurb/Book Description:

At age twenty-three, Alex has had a hard life. His parents died when he was quite young, leaving his grandparents to raise him. Right before his high school graduation, his grandparents passed on too, leaving him all alone.

After losing everyone he's ever loved, Alex turns to the streets in a self-destructive pattern until he finally ends up in Springhill, where he tries to make a new life for himself.

Clair’s childhood was normal until age thirteen, when her father left the family and she never heard from him again. Consequently, her mother went into a deep depression, forcing Clair to grow up quickly.

After finishing high school, Clair’s heartache over her father’s absence as well as her unbearable mother drive her to strike out on her own. But having nowhere to go and no family to speak of, Clair wanders aimlessly from town to town, homeless, and without purpose. Looking for work wherever she goes and living hand to mouth on the streets is tough, Clair discovers, but living with her mother is worse.

Now twenty-one years old, Clair has found her way to the last place she and her family took their final vacation as a family--Springhill. While in town, she crosses paths with Alex and their ensuing relationship grows faster than expected. Soon Clair wonders if coming back to Springhill and meeting Alex was the best decision or the worst decision she ever made.

My Thoughts:
First I have to point out that Taking Chances is NOT a Young Adult novel. I feel like the cover leads you to believe that it is and I just wanted to be clear that it isn't. You could probably consider this one a New Adult with plenty of sexy times (nothing overly graphic). 

OK, that being said let's move on to the story.  I felt like Taking Chances started out really strong. After a while though Clair started to bug me a little and then a lot actually. However, I really liked Alex, he definitely carried me through this novel. Alex is a great character. A man with compassion, honor, and is quite sexy to boot. 

Clair comes to town basically as a vagabond, after having dinner and intending to move on through the small town she is attacked by some local losers. Alex steps in a saves her before things get as bad as they could. Clair and Alex discover that neither of them have had the easiest time of it in their young lives. Clair is hesitant to let anyone into her life, even sweetheart Roz, the town's diner owner. Roz was a wonderful character and I really hope/wish every town had a Roz. Clair's distrust of everyone really started to wear a bit thin and then the choices she started to make really bugged me. 

I really enjoyed reading Taking Chances and my lukewarm feelings toward Clair didn't keep me from getting into the story, you can't like everyone. I really liked Flower's writing style. She kept the book moving along nicely and did a great job of writing alternating points of view. 

 Want a chance to win your own ecopy of Taking Chances? Enter Here:

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Author Bio:  

Loni Flowers lives in Eastern North Carolina with her husband; two wild toddlers, who never slow down for a second; and three couch-potato dogs, who only raise an eye when foods around. She spends her days working full-time for a well-known bank. When she's not playing on the internet or chatting on Twitter or Facebook, she spends her free time with friends and family waiting for the next big idea strike.

She enjoys reading most anything, but is a sucker for a good romance story. Contemporary romance is her writing genre of choice but isn't opposed to writing something different should an excellent idea hit.

Some of her favorite authors include: L.J. Kentowski, Stefne Miller, Cassandra Clare, J.K. Rowling, and Karen Marie Moning, Nicholas Sparks, Jodi Picoult... just to name a few.

Blog: http://www.loniflowersauthor.com/

Web: http://www.loniflowers.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/LoniFlowers

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/AuthorLoniFlowers

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5405526.Loni_Flowers

Thanks so much for having me on the blog today and for allowing me the opportunity to share a little about myself.

Today I thought I give you some insight on the places I hope to visit sometime in my lifetime. There are so many more than what I have here, but there are the few that instantly popped into my mind.
Here they are, in no particular order:

Paris

The city of lights, the city of love… I’ve always wanted to visit here. I want to stay at a grand hotel, with a balcony when I can stand outside at night and take in the city and its light. I want to see the Eiffel Tower with easy from my room and walk hand in hand through the city streets with my husband. Visit the Musee du Louvre- the world’s largest museum. See the Notre-Dame Cathedral. There is just so much to see here!

           Maui

Paradise! Exotic beaches, beautiful ocean front resorts, the lush landscape, sand, tropical breezes, Hawaiian cuisine. What else is there to love?

           Crete

This island in Greece is so beautiful. It has ancient ruins and gorgeous beaches. It just looks like a beautiful place to visit. 

       Sydney, Australia

 I’ve always wanted to visit here. Traveling all the way across the world though does frighten me a bit but it’s just the price I’ll have to pay to see this city. I’d love to visit the Sydney Opera House, see the Harbour Bridge, visit the Royal Botanic Gardens, and catch some sun rays on one of their beaches.  

         Bora Bora

      There isn’t much sightseeing here. With an island that is only six miles long… there really isn’t much to do, which would be fine by me. Relaxation on a beach surrounded by lush jungles that stretch into sky high volcanoes (extinct volcanoes)… sounds amazing doesn’t it? 

           Rome 
      The Vatican Museums, the Colosseum… home to fettucine, ravioli, bruschetta and cappuccino! Sign me up NOW. I love pasta, enjoy the Roman architecture and art that dates by centuries. It’d be a dream to visit this place some day.

There you have it! Are any of these places you with to visit? Have you been to any of these before? I’d love to hear about it.

Thank you again for spending a few minutes with me today. I had a great time!