Rating: 
Summary: Another great one from Susan Donovan!
Review: Last year I read Donovan's "Knock Me Off My Feet," and really enjoyed it a great deal. I didn't learn that it was her first book until afterwards, and then I was even more impressed! So it was with great anticipation that I greeted the arrival of "Take a Chance on Me" at the bookstore. And whoah, was my anticipation justified! "Take" is a great contemporary romance, with wonderful secondary characters, a dog you just want to take home yourself, and a well-paced romance between characters you can really love.I must admit it took me a few minutes to get into "Take," but once I did, I enjoyed it thoroughly. That's not to say that it's a perfect book... Donovan still does a much better job with characters and relationship development than she does with the whole "suspense/mystery" element. Some of the book's "coincidences" are a bit too much to be believed, and the romantic development was so well-crafted that sometimes the whole suspense plot seemed tacked-on. Not only that, but Donovan moves between Thomas' and Emma's voices a great deal, which can be confusing. I wish the people laying out the book had put a bit of whitespace in whenever she switched, because it took my brain awhile to catch on. Still, if you're into contemporary romances, especially ones with a sense of humor, you'll definitely want to "Take a Chance on Me." (Bad pun, but I couldn't resist!)
Rating: 
Summary: Starring a Six-Pound Chinese Crested
Review: No question but that the star of TAKE A CHANCE ON ME is "Hairy" the dog, a six-pound Chinese crested. The purported thoughts that author Susan Donovan puts into this tiny animal's head are hilarious. The rest of the book is kind of strange, but it makes for easy reading. There are too many coincidences--no, it wouldn't be fair to give them away in a review--and the whole romance is too quick and too facile, even for a fairytale. Still, Ms. Donovan writes well. The background detail that she provides on her hero and heroine is nicely done. The heroine is an animal behaviorist and the hero is an...well, mentioning his career would reveal too much, too soon, and doing this might spoil the story for other readers. It is obvious, however, that Ms. Donovan has done her homework on the two rather unique careers into which she's placed her main characters. From the plot, it is equally obvious that Susan Donovan has a fertile imagination. Again, the Hairy subplot is fresh, funny and, yes, weird. The sex scenes sizzle as well, putting this author in the same category as many better-known romance writers. Ms. Donovan is an author to be watched.
Rating:
Summary: Take A Chance...You Won't Be Sorry!!!
Review: Susan Dononvan has offically been added to my must read list!!!! This author without a doubt writes fast paced, funny, sexy stories. In this off beat romance you have two people that have experienced pain by their significant other and as a result, Emma and Thomas are not prepared for the electrical connection that they both feel at their first meeting. Try as the might they just can't fight off their attraction and when they finally get together it is beyond explosive!!! The characterization is great. Thomas is big, bad, and blonde and has become the owner of what he considers the to be a mutant of a dog (he's a Chinese Crested) and on top of that his new pet has a bladder problem and has to wear a sports sock with a maxi pad! As if this is not enough Thomas trusts no one. He works as an undercover hitman and he has seen the worst that humanity has to offer. No one is good at heart, at least that's what he thinks until he meets Emma. Emma's Hairy's behavioral vet and seems to be the only bright side of the whole mess! Emma on the other hand knows trouble when it walks in the door and trouble with a capital T has just walked into her office. There is no way that this guy could be not only eye candy, but a good person to boot. He looks to hard and unmoving and he has a thing for Rugby that she just dosen't understand. That is until she sees him in action. But can she trust him with her heart... This was a great book with wonderful characters...you'll love Hairy and you will find yourself not being able to put this book down. Ms. Donovan is a great talent and I now buy books simply because her name is on the cover! You really need to add this book to your must read list if you like romance, laughs and fast paced story telling!
Rating:
Summary: Take A Chance on Thomas and Hairy
Review: This book was wonderful. It lived up to the standards set by Susan Donovan in Knock Me Off My Feet. Thomas Tobin was an undercover killer for hire working for the Maryland State Police. He comes across the body of Scott Slick, and next to the body is little Hairy, a Chinese crested, a very tiny dog. So starts the hilarity that is Take A chance on Me. Hairy is a mess, so Thomas (not Tom!) takes him to animal behaviorist Emma Jenkins. They immediately connect, but both are busy finding reasons why they shouldn't take a chance on each other. Emma has just gotten divorced from her louse of an ex husband Aaron, who is also an animal behaviorist. She also has taken in her deceased best friend's daughter LeeLee, a genius who is busy adjusting to Emma, her new life in Maryland, and her lack of a mother. Thomas sees his life as unfit to be with any woman, and he got burned very badly by his previous girlfriend. His inability to get past this, and Emma's busy schedule lead to a very mixed up courtship. When Thomas hires Emma to help figure out why Hairy is acting so strangely, things really begin heating up between them. The secondary characters of Hairy (who has his own thoughts in the book, which is very cute and funny and not over used by the author), LeeLee and Emma's father Beck add a lot of good laughs and tender moments to the book. The romance between Thomas and Emma sizzles and the disco dancing is one of the best scenes in the book. If you enjoyed Susan Donovan's previous book, you will love Take A Chance on me. If you are new to Susan Donovan, you will love Take A Chance on me. Her combination of romance, sensuality, hilarity, and plain fun make for a great read. A definite keeper, and the excerpt of her next book, Public Displays of Affection, also sounds equally promising.
Rating:
Summary: I laughed, I Cried!
Review: This is the first book I've read from this author, and I have to say I found it to be a mixed bag. I really enjoyed Thomas and especially Hairy (who I think, stole the show). But sometimes the action left a bit to be believed. I think the author shouldn't have let on who the killer was so early, but I did thoroughly enjoy the story, and really liked the intense scenes between Thomas and Emma. I look forward to reading more of this author's work.
Rating:
Summary: I laughed, I Cried!
Review: This is the first book I've read from this author, and I have to say I found it to be a mixed bag. I really enjoyed Thomas and especially Hairy (who I think, stole the show). But sometimes the action left a bit to be believed. I think the author shouldn't have let on who the killer was so early, but I did thoroughly enjoy the story, and really liked the intense scenes between Thomas and Emma. I look forward to reading more of this author's work.
Rating:
Summary: a fun read!
Review: This was my first Susan Donovan novel and will not be the last. This is the story of Emma...an animal behaviorist who has had a run of bad luck lately. She is just getting divorced, her best friend died and left her twelve her old daughter in her care and her finances are dwindling. And now before her in her office is a tall and very handsome man(Thomas) with a Chinese Crested dog who is having some problems....Thomas Tobin is an undercover investigator who found Hairy (the ugly dog) near the body of his dead owner. Thomas thinks that this dog can help find the person responsible. Hairy the dog brings together two very different people, both who have had enough of bad relationships and are in no way looking to start a new relationship....But the attraction they both feel for one another will finally take over and will bring them to a new begining in their lives. It is a very unique and cute story. The character's were very realistic and were people you could relate to very easily. My only bad thought about this book was the first five or so pages were a little cheesy and almost made me put the book down....but get through them and a great book awaits you. The sex was a little less poetic and more aggressive than I noramlly read, but it was an overall great read. I look forward to reading more my this author!
Rating:
Summary: I took the Chance!!!
Review: This was my first Susan Donovan. It was most entertaining and I laughed all the way thru. The banter back and forth was so funny. It was a light read and a good laugh. I finished it one way to Atlanta!!!!
Yes, I will try to find more of SD when I need to brighten my day!!!
Rating:
Summary: Move Over, Jennifer Cruisie!
Review: Unless you have four or so hours to read this book, don't start it because won't be able to stop! Prepare to laugh and to be enchanted. I kept expecting Susan Donovan to make a false step and she NEVER did! If you love dogs and romance, you'll love this book! The hero is a great combination of machismo and vulnerability, and the heroine is unselfish, loving, but a little insecure. Each person helps the other with the difficulty and the end of perfection!
Rating:
Summary: So much FUN!!! ( 4 1/2 stars)
Review: What a funny little book! The story was so sweet and the characters had soo much chemistry..wow! It is rare for me to read a book where I equally enjoy the h/h...Emma and Thomas were so perfect together and I adored both of them so much. There was a lot of laughter in this tale as well. I especially loved getting in to little Hairy the dog's head. What a cute idea! My only quibble with this book that kept me from giving it 5 stars was that I felt the beginning was dragged out a bit. There was a gap when Emma and Thomas werent together that just felt like forever. Other than that, once this book got rolling, it was truly delightful. Id definitely recommend it :o)
| 
