Taking Charge by Mandy Baggot (Review and Giveaway)

Title: Taking Charge
Author: Mandy Baggot
Publisher: Sapphire Star Publishing

About the Book: 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: I hadn't previously read anything by Mandy Baggot and can't say that I am a fan of sports romances, but this one was a lot of fun!

Robyn may have been a little outspoken and over-the-top, but I enjoyed her 'take charge' attitude.  She shows you what she's made of right in the beginning when she gives a steamy good-bye kiss to Cole Ryan, a guy she met right before they both boarded the same plane to Portage, Michigan.  

Robyn is coming home after 9 years in England because her dad has fallen ill and someone needs to step in to take care of his bar and his hockey team.  Both are failing badly.  Nancy, her father's fiancee, isn't helping the bar business any and Robyn does not lose any sleep not-liking her soon to be step-mom.  Robyn hasn't been back to her hometown before now because of an incident that happened when she was a teenager.  She thought she had put it behind her, but the past always has a way of rearing it's ugly head. 

Cole Ryan has some baggage in his past as well.  He lost his girlfriend and his brother in the same blow -yep, you guessed it - they were sleeping together.  He is still a little shell-shocked over the break up, but when the whirlwind that is Robyn blows into his life, he might have to actually move forward.  

I loved the humor infused through out the book and will definitely be watching for more Mandy Baggot in the future.

Author bio: Mandy Baggot is a self-confessed Twitter addict who likes to sing on You Tube. She regularly guests on book blogs and is a featured author on the innovative website loveahappyending.com. She is also a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.
Taking Charge is her fifth novel. Mandy lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband and two daughters.

Follow Mandy on Twitter and on Facebook.  
Buy Taking Charge on Amazon. 





*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

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Taking Charge

Publisher/Publication Date: Sapphire Star Publishing, May 2012

ISBN: 978-1938404023

382 pages