Taking a Chance by A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Title: Taking a Chance
Authors: A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: 28 pages



Doctor Jacob Davison has outgrown the hookups of his younger days and wants to settle down. When he’s abandoned by the side of the road, a leather-clad stranger stops and offers him a ride. Chance Renton is different from anyone Jay’s ever met. He’s caring and helpful, yet cynical and world-weary.

From the first moment of their shared motorcycle ride, an attraction begins to simmer between them. Between Jay’s ex-boyfriend showing up and the misconceptions they have about each other, does this relationship have a chance?

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In keeping with the Leather theme for this year’s Torquere Charity Sips collection, with author and publisher proceeds benefitting NOH8, A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder offer us a little fun in a motorcycle jacket and boots. Taking a Chance is a good thing for Dr. Jacob Davidson.


The story is basically a romp from an unsatisfactory new romance where Jay and his soon to be ex find that they aren’t at all on the same page about a lot of things, including basic human kindness. How else to explain getting left on the side of the road with a case of nausea? When ex drives out of Jay’s life, it’s “good riddance!”

There’s still a matter of getting home, so enter Chance, whose humanity isn’t so doubtful. In fact, the back of his motorcycle gives Jake a good perch for getting an armful and deciding that a better acquaintance, up to and including the sweaty, is a wonderful idea.

I found the speed of Jake and Chance hooking up to be dizzying; a pause for a toothpaste break would have been nice, and maybe Mexican food would have been better another night. They are quite sexy together, but it really doesn’t look like a relationship, given the less than 24 hours from needing a ride to “my man.” Chance is a much nicer guy in all ways than awful ex, and Jay is showing his best decision making of the whole story in making his preference clear.

The story is cute, but everything happens too fast to be really satisfying, and a few things seem thrown in for no apparent reason. Plot points mentioned in the blurb don’t feel present in the story. Still, if you want a short and sexy read, you could Take a Chance on this one, and help a worthy cause at the same time.  2.5 Marbles