Review: Taking Chances by Molly McAdams

Taking Chances 
By Molly McAdams
Published October 16th 2012
by William Morrow Paperbacks

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Her first year away is turning out to be nearly perfect, but one weekend of giving in to heated passion will change everything.

Eighteen-year-old Harper has grown up under the thumb of her career marine father. Ready to live life her own way and to experience things she's only ever heard of from the jarheads in her father's unit, she's on her way to college at San Diego State University.

Thanks to her new roommate, Harper is introduced to a world of parties, gorgeous guys, family, and emotions. She finds herself being torn in two as she quickly falls in love with both her new boyfriend, Brandon, and her roommate's brother, Chase. Despite their dangerous looks and histories, both men adore Harper and would do anything for her, including taking a step back if it would mean she'd be happy.

     Before I say anything about the book, if anyone says they didn't hate Harper at least once after reading this book, I say we somehow didn't read the same book. Harper (don't know if we ever knew her last name) is a Marine brat freshman in college. Sound familiar? Ok good, because (for me) that's where "I've read this before" ends. Harper meets Chase at a party where he teases her says he isn't for her, YET won't leave her alone...EVER. She meets his best friend Brandon (TEAM BRANDON) a week later and they are dating a day later. Oh, ok. Brandon and Chase live in the same house so Chase has to see them together and it drives him crazy, and the two friends fight A LOT. Oh let's also enter the creepy Carter, one of her father's marines. So Harper must deal with 3 different guys in love with her. She does a HORRIBLE job dealing with it.

     Such a hard review to write without giving much away, but I literally kept reading for Brandon (TEAM BRANDON). The entire storyline got so outlandish to a point I kept saying "are you kidding me". Let's talk about Brandon more, he is an MMA fighter-- which I now find hot and want to watch actual fights! He seemed the best match for Harper since the beginning, his only flaw was he was TOO forgiving and came off as a punk after that to me. Chase was cool in his own way, and I loved how he changed after a MAJOR event with Harper; we got to see a funny, and brand new side of him. Harper is a wreck, selfish, and I'm not above saying my least favorite female lead in a book Chase's sister and Harper's roommate Breanna was funny and loved her ditzy, means no harm persona. This book is a standalone, but there is a Chase's POV book out as well. My rating is not one star because I finished the book, loved Brandon, and the author FOR SURE gave the WOW factor throughout.

     RATING 2 STARS FAVORITE LINE: "Her bubble gum voice made me want to gag. I’m pretty sure I hadn’t even sounded like that when I was five." -Harper