Surrounded by loved ones and in her own soon-to-be-amazing home, Gemma felt rich with happiness. The New Year was here at last. She could hardly wait to get started.

A story of New Year and new starts, but, of course, nothing ever goes to plan. Take a woman who fears she’s losing her husband, throw in a girl who realises she’s not who she thought she was, add a surprise arrival for another – and you’ve got a Lucy Diamond treat.

Title: The Year of Taking Chances

Author: Lucy Diamond

Genre: Chick Lit

Published in paperback: 1 January 2015

Publisher: Pan Books

ISBN: 1447257783

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The Year of Taking Chances follows three main characters – Gemma, Caitlin, and Saffron. Each of them struggling with major, life-changing scenarios, but finding time to forge lifelong friendships along the way.

Gemma’s husband has an accident, changing their family dynamic. Caitlin discovers her parent’s secret, which throws everything she ever believed to be true out of the window. Then there’s Saffron, who’s trying to hide her own secret, which will be visible to all soon enough. They’re all at a crossroads, but need each other to move forward.

Sometimes confusing, with so many characters and storylines intertwining, this isn’t an easy read to put down and go back to after a day or two. Maybe it’s more suited to a holiday read, when you’ve got more time to devour the story completely without interruption. But don't take this as a poor impression of Lucy Diamond, normally her novels leave me wanting more. But this one is more complex in its delivery. However, in true Lucy Diamond style, it does have you rooting for your heroines, even though there are three of them!

If you want a novel where you’re persuaded that taking a chance, taking a risk could help you achieve your greatest dreams – then this is the one for you.  

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