Book Review: Taking Chances

Taking Chances

By: Molly McAdams

Published By: William Morrow

Publication Date: April 16, 2013 (Previously released on Kindle)

Page Count: 432

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound

Source: ARC Kindly Provided by Publisher via Edelweiss

Audience: New Adult - Contemporary Romance

Unlike most of Molly's readers, I read her second novel, From Ashes, first. I loved that novel and expected the same from this novel. It was impossible to read this one without comparing it to From Ashes. The two novels have so many things in common: females who have emotional baggage due to their upbringing, two hot boys vying for the same girl's affections, ridiculous amounts of drama, a healthy dose of angst, tattoos, and some steamy moments to spice things up. In spite of the commonalities, I feel like both novels were worth my time. I enjoyed this one, but for different reasons.

One thing I disliked about From Ashes was the main female character. That was not the case with Taking Chances. I loved Harper (and might have been jealous of her as a teen). She has boys falling all over themselves trying to win her heart and she's not one of those girls who is too full of herself. In fact, Harper often doesn't even understand why guys respond to her the way they do. She is down to earth and fun. There are moments were her choices are a bit immoral and hard to swallow, but those moments didn't prevent me from liking her overall.

The love triangle in this one (well love quadrangle really) made sense to me. In fact, I don't know how Harper managed to make a choice. I found myself liking all of her options. I truly did not envy the position that she was in during the first half of the book. I can't say too much more about this aspect because it would ruin the read. McAdams does something about half way through the book that I never saw coming. This novel showed me that it is possible to love and hate a book at the same time. I must admit that neither Brandon or Chase (even though they both were deliciously appealing) was able to replace Gage (From Ashes) for me; he is still my favorite McAdams boy.

Taking Chances was one of those novels that controlled my thoughts from the moment I picked it up. Every spare moment I had was devoted to reading. I had to know how things would end up. I wasn't ready to leave these characters. I am ecstatic to know that there is a companion novel to this one, Stealing Harper, that will be from Chase's perspective.

The one thing that I liked better in Taking Chances than From Ashes was the emotion I felt as a reader. This one will put you through the gauntlet. I laughed, cringed, swooned, and came close to tears. This novel made me feel deeply and evaluate my own life choices.

McAdams' novels aren't the next great American novel, but they are my guilty pleasure. I just can't seem to get enough of her stories. I'm anxious to read more. Molly McAdams is without a doubt my favorite New Adult writer at the moment. 

One Last Gripe: Seriously, Molly? That was brutal. She knows what I'm referring to as will anyone who has read this one...

My Favorite Thing About This Book: I loved the complex relationships.

First Sentence: My face was stretched in a wide grin as I looked around my bedroom one last time.

Favorite Character: Brandon, but Harper is a close second

Least Favorite Character: Trish 

Summary:

Eighteen year old Harper has grown up under her career Marine of a father's thumb. Ready to live life her own way and 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. Some she wasn't expecting yet, and others she never knew she was missing.

She finds herself being torn in two as she quickly falls in love with her boyfriend Brandon, and her roommate's brother Chase. Covered in tattoos, known for fighting in the Underground and ridiculously muscled...they're exactly what she was always warned to stay away from, but just what she needs. Despite their dangerous looks and histories, both adore and would do anything for Harper, including stepping back if it means she's happy. 

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