I feel a little bad for the reviews this book is getting.  A lot of the negative comments are based on what the readers expected from the book, which is for it to be like the author's previous religious love stories.  They are understandably a bit upset that instead they got a "clean" contemporary romance that included cursing and more amorous moments than her previous books.  I'm there with them that when a book is not what you thought it would be, it will usually lower the enjoyment of it.  And I can even see why they would expect a certain thing if that is what the author always delivered before.  (Who doesn't get a little thrown when a favorite author changes things up significantly?) 

Fortunately for me, I didn't come in with any expectations and I really enjoyed it.  

Gray's writing is very smooth, which made for an easy read, and I found myself engrossed in the characters and everyone's lives.  There are actually 4 POVs for this story - Kurt, Emily, Sam, and his classmate Kay.  They all come across as super realistic and have to deal with some pretty difficult situations. 

Take a Chance is as much about the Holland boys as it is a love story between Kurt and Emily ... and is all the better for it.    I found myself rooting so much for those two as they try to get their footing in a new situation & a new town, finding love and friendship as well as the hope for something better.  Things aren't easy for them but they deal the best they can, giving readers a wonderfully heartwarming tale.  I'm really looking forward to what Gray has in store for us next.    

**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**