Taking Chances

Learning to Love #1

by L.J. Baker

Lexi James doesn't believe in love. In her eyes, all relationships are doomed to fail and she's given up on them for good. She likes safe, logical, and anything that keeps her heart protected. Her best friend, Kat has no problem with her decision. According to Kat, all Lexi really needs is a little one-on-one fun every once in awhile.

When Lexi takes Kat's advice and meets a stranger, who also happens to be a smoking hot stripper, for a one-night stand, she thinks she may have found the solution to her situation. That is until Sebastian Michelson works his way into her world.

Sebastian is insanely sexy, married to his work, and wounded. Exactly the kind of guy for a no strings attached fling. Lexi has no intention of getting involved with Sebastian, but the more she is around him, the less control she seems to have. And despite his secrets and the very real chance that he is like every other idiot man she's ever met, she is unable to listen to logic. Instead, she decides to go with her heart and finds herself taking chances she never would have imagined.

305 pages, ebook

First published April 27, 2014

About the author

L J lives on the Jersey Shore with her husband, four kids, two cats, and an inherited dog from hell (a.k.a. the sewer gremlin). Though writing has always been her first passion, she got a degree in psychological counseling and worked in the mental health field for awhile, which she finds very helpful in dealing with her crazy family. She is a lover of all different types of music and books, switching between genres so wildly it sometimes makes people wonder if she has multiple personalities. She is most likely to be found writing romance stories of all kinds (contemporary, erotic, new adult, young adult, fantasy, paranormal, etc.) . When she's not writing, she prefers to spend her time reading, taking photos, watching Doctor Who or Supernatural, or spending time with her family. She loves to hear from readers so visit her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorLJBaker or check out her website at www.lj-baker.com

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a different kind of story for author, LJ Baker, but don't worry! this one will grab a hold of you and pull you in just like her other books! I loved the family and friend dynamics in this story. The bonds were so strong, you could easily believe this was a real group of family and friends that had known each other for years, just the story suggests. And the fact that things get pretty steamy between two characters was definitely a bonus! I highly recommend this book!

[Paranormal Tendencies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lexi James doesn’t believe in love. I’m no Pollyanna, but to not believe in love?? That seems so... jaded. But that’s exactly what she is. Her parents’ relationship was so royally screwed up that their divorce and the ensuing brainwashing destroyed her ability to believe in love. Then add in her own bad relationships and she has just given up.
The story begins with Lexi and her best friend and roommate Kat getting preparations finalized for their mutual friend Jamie’s wedding. A wedding that Lexi believes is doomed to fail. She has nothing against Jamie and her soon to be husband Justin, she just believes all marriages are doomed to fail. But then Sebastian Mickelsen walks into her life and throws her world off kilter. Will he be the one to make her believe in love again?
I admit, if I’m going to read a romance I tend to stick to paranormal romance, but occasionally i need to cleanse my palate, so to speak. I’m starting to realize that I am a sucker for a sweet love story. But this isn’t really a sweet love story. It’s sexy, and frustrating at time, but its a good love story. I personally can’t relate to Lexi, but I’m sure there are a lot of people that can. I like how despite her background and her own experiences, she was able to melt that cold hard heart of hers. I really enjoyed this story. In fact, I breezed through it in less than 2 days. I just go so engrossed with Lexi that I couldn’t put it down.
If you’re a fan of a good sexy love story then I know you’ll enjoy this one. I give it 4.5 stars. It was the perfect mix of great story and hot sexy scenes.

[Mayas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lexi and Bas was a heated mix of confusion and lust. Although their paths cross at a place where love is in the air they fight to be close and apart all at once. Their mind and past playing a huge part in the push and pull that is their budding relationship but a talk with Larry puts things into reality for Lexi. Only to find her biggest push was grom her brother, Matty, who just can't catch a break. A clear misunderstanding in his life that caused him to take charge and give advice and take action so his sister can get what she want and need.

This was an enjoyable book and I look forward to seeing what will happen with the sub-story Lexi was in the middle of. Great chemistry with the characters and lots of emotional back and forth pull.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new Genre for LJ Baker and she knocks it out of the park! Taking Chances is exactly that. It's all about Lexi James stepping out of her comfort zone and taking new chances on life and love. With her best friend Kat and her big brother Matty in her corner, Lexi finds herself in situations she would have never imagined herself to be in. Especially when she meets Sebastian... Oh... Sebastian.... He makes her unravel at the seams and I can't blame the girl! This book is a must read!

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend recommended and gifted me a copy of this book and I am so glad she did. It got me out of a reading slump I was in. This book was great. I liked how Lexi's personality was relatable. The way that she grew up and how she feels about love was unfortunate. I don't want to give anything away for other people so all I can say is I can't wait for the second book and am looking forward to reading more from L.J. Baker.

[Brandy Rivers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me reading. Take one cynical, beautiful young woman who's been burned, add a heartbroken successful man who's ready to move on but hasn't quite realized it yet and you have seriously hot chemistry. Lexi and Sebastian have their ups and downs but you won't want to stop reading because you're going to want to know what happens.

[Nykki · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this book sucked me up from the start and didn't let me go until Baker was finished with me.
I loved the characters and they all had an captivating dynamic!
LJ Baker has yet to disappoint and she did a wonderful job breaking into a new genre!!! I can't wait for more!

[Wulan Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

first i guess i'm in love with this cover.and after open that book i realize that its kinda book that i read i was little confuse about sebastian.and he makes me curious too.the plot is too fast and i hope in the next book i found something different.but at least o like this book.

[Tina Manuel · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5