Taking Chances by Molly McAdams
October 16, 2012 by William Morrow (Harper)
Kindle- 432 Pages
Review Copy

Harper has never known anything outside of military life, her father a high ranking marine has lived by the code. He also has lived ignoring his daughter after her mothers death and let most of her guidance and upbringing be dominated by other marines, needless to say Harper has always been surrounded by men, ones who looked out for her and protected her from doing stupid things. Her best friends have always been marines and Harper never got to much into the girly thing, never dated, never wore makeup or fancy clothes. She's always been pretty and far from dorky but has lived a very sheltered life, knowing about the world but a little unprepared for it. When the chance to escape that life offers itself through college, Harper doesn't hesitate to move and fly across the country to sunny California to do it. Scared but thrilled she seeks out this new life with a sense of adventure.

From almost day one her life changes, she meets her roommate Bree, puts on her first application of makeup and attends her first college party. Its exasperating to finally have freedom and independence in such a rush but its also exciting and a breath of fresh air. Its no surprise that iimmediately there is guy drama when she meets bad boy Chase and semi-bad boy but good guy Brandon, both who spark a reaction from her but only one openly pursues her. When Brandon and Harper begin dating (even with her hidden feelings for Chase) its magic. Brandon is so love with Harpers smile, her kindness and wants to be super serious (like marriage serious) and Harper while madly in love with Brandon wants all of that too, but cant seem to take things to the next level, due to the intense feeling she gets around Chase.

Chase feels the same for Harper but has kept his distance not wanting to be the cause of more problems, due to the fact that Brandon lives in his house and knows that Chase has feelings for his girl. Even worse is finding out a marine from Harpers past has followed her to try and win her over too, it seems the more he hides the worse it gets and Harper is all sorts of confused due to the overwhelming feelings she has for Chase. Those feelings eventually do take over and launch Harper and Chase into a decision that not only changes them and Brandon, but Chase's family as well. What seems beautiful and right becomes a tragedy none of them could have ever expected. As the characters walk through fire, love will be tested, hearts will be broken, and the strength will shine for some as the true meaning of loyalty, friendship and forgiveness is explored in a world were pain and second chances are no stranger.

Love, hate, love, hate, love, hate.......

That's the type of reaction I had with this book. While I loved some parts, I hated others and when I first started reading this my immediate response was "way to Beautiful Disaster" and I love that book, I just don't want to reread it from another authors viewpoint, so at first I was having some issues attaching to the story in general. After 100 pages or so and getting deeper into the plot I could see the slight differences and twists McAdams was throwing around and once I got used to her style and seeing where the story was heading I was able latch on and enjoy the rollercoaster that was coming. What I didn't expect was being on that rollercoaster and getting hit by tree and thrown off it, because rarely does a book make me gasp audibly like the way this one did. When the shocking twist came, I actually had to go back and reread the paragraph four times, I thought my mind was playing a trick, I thought NOOOOOO, this couldn't possibly be the twist, this isn't what the author intended right......RIGHT? To my shocked readers heart and the journey into these characters life, I realized this was the mangled outcome the author did surely intend and I was pissed!!!!

This story shook me up and twisted my emotions, I had a wonderful and terrible time getting to know and love the world McAdams created. All the same though, the writing itself frustrated me with its too many endings and too many crammed in issues during the last hundred pages. The dialog at times seemed to transition awkwardly and I felt sometimes disconnected from Harpers sheer immaturity and the over the top plot scenario that three gorgeous guys all wanted her and each was willing to turn his life inside out for this Helen of Troy dimwit. Yet at other times the writing was so fantastic, the characters were like little friends that I wanted to come live with me, and Harper showed amazing strength and vulnerability that made me love her. In the end, Taking Chances was just that, a chance at reading a moving, frustrating and overall break your heart and put it back together again story.

Rating

Recommended to readers 18 and up. Contains: Violence (mostly male on male and boxing) strong language, drinking/drug use and graphic sexuality.

3/5- New Adult-Contemporary
Thanks to William Morrow for Review Copy