Taking Chances

By B.J. Daniels

USA Today bestselling author B.J. Daniels offers three short stories about love and mystery beginning with Taking Chances.

Ranch hand Chance Rawlins realizes his boss, the shapely Ms. A.J. Murphy, is trying to rope him into staying when she brings home a wild stallion from an auction and sets about gentling it.

In Best Friends, Jenna gets caught in a rainstorm with her best friend Cooper McCleod and it becomes clear things are about to change.

The third short story, Breakfast at Betty’s, inspired my three-book Harlequin Intrigue series, Cascades Concealed. Meet Mitch and Charity and follow the rest of their spirited romance in these Intrigues: Mountain Sheriff, Day of Reckoning and Wanted Woman, all available online.

• Language: English
• Publisher: B.J. Daniels
• Release date: Jun 14, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458074423

B.J. Daniels

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author B.J. Daniels lives in Montana with her husband, Parker, and three springer spaniels. When not writing, she quilts, boats and plays tennis. Contact her at www.bjdaniels.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/BJ-Daniels/127936587217837 or on twitter at bjdanielsauthor.    

Book preview

Taking Chances

By B.J. Daniels

Copyright 2011 B.J. Daniels

Smashwords Edition

Table of Contents

Taking Chances

Best Friends

Breakfast at Betty's

Chance Rawlins leaned against the log railing in front of the ranch house and studied the slim silhouette of the woman moving along the lake shore.

The sun’s dying rays slanted through the pines, casting the water behind her in bronze.

She walked with her head down, her dark hair down and flowing free around her shoulders. At first glance, she looked as if she was searching for something along the shore, but Chance knew that what A.J. sought couldn’t be found in the washed stones.

He groaned softly to himself as he watched her. No matter how much he denied it, she’d cast a spell on him worse than any gypsy fortuneteller ever could.

He felt the tug of her ties to the land trying to hold him down.

Oh, boss lady, he whispered and quickly reminded himself he was a wanderer, always looking over the next mountain, never staying long enough to plant roots.

That was why he had to leave. Because lately he’d been thinking about what it would be like to stay. Here. With A.J.

He’d tell her this evening, then he’d pack up and be gone in the morning before breakfast, before she could stop him. He smiled to himself at his assumption that she would try to stop him.

He watched A.J. stop to pick up a small stone from the beach. She turned it in her fingers as if she were studying the stone, then tossed it into the lake.

Ripples circled the splash, growing larger and larger, not unlike the ripples A.J. started the day she brought the stallion home to the ranch.

That was the day Chance knew it was time for him to move on. He’d been in the tack room when he’d heard the rattle of the horse trailer and the pickup doors slam.

He’s the most beautiful horse I’ve ever seen! A.J. exclaimed, her voice full of pride and excitement. In the four months since Chance had hired on at the ranch, he’d never heard that wistful lilt to her voice. Before then, he had believed that A.J. Murphy not only ruled with a fist of iron, but an iron

Reviews for Taking Chances

[love2readnovels_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Abie Halloway is a PR person who puts herself totally into her work. In trying to obtain her goal for a higher position, she sets her sights on getting Tyler Davidson (a country singer) to perform live at a small gala she's in charge of. Tyler Davidson has his reasons for not accepting small engagements but Abie is relentless. Tyler's heart is in the ranch he owns where troubled children can come for a two week stay. Now, because of Abie, he's in danger of loosing that ranch. There is an attraction between them. So will this be the event that draws them closer or will it sever it for good?I'll start by saying that I really like the cover of Taking Chances. That's what originally drew me to want to read the book. The story was enjoyable and easy to read. I really liked Tyler and felt like he was fully developed. Abie, however, was not a character that was particularly endearing to me. I did like her more toward the end but unfortunately never really seemed to connect with her. The ending was cute but I felt like it was wrapped up a little too quickly. I did enjoy seeing the ranch, meeting the kids and seeing the impact it made in their lives. It was interesting to learn about Tyler's background and what motivated him to do what he did. There was an underlying message of faith and reliance upon the Lord, which I always appreciate. Overall it was good story. If your looking for a light and easy read, Taking Chances just might fill the bill.Format: Kindle EditionFile Size: 366 KBPublisher: Smashwords (June 8, 2011)Paperback: 198 pagesPublisher: CreateSpace (September 12, 2011)ISBN-10: 1463638000ISBN-13: 978-1463638009