Book Review: Taking Chances by Molly McAdams

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Taking Chances
Taking Chances #1
Author: Molly McAdams
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Released: October 16th 2012
Review Source: Purchased

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.

Where to begin with Taking Chances. I have mentioned this before that I have yet to cry when reading a book. Taking Chances didn't bring tears, but I'll tell you my eyes did get watery. So the fact that Taking Chances did that, should tell you alone how EPIC this story is. Don't get me wrong though, its not that I don't feel emotions, Oh I do. Seriously inside I'm doing the ugly girl cry. If Taking Chances were a movie, I would have left the theater drenched. But enough about tears, and more about how amazing this book was from start to finish. This book caused all sorts of emotions, I was physical drained from the high's and low's (and the reading till 6am). Molly writes with such intense passion and love. She's created a story so realistic, it can happen to anyone. You don't sit there and say, yea that's not believable. You actually can relate to the characters and the real life drama. Now when you read Taking Chances make sure you are prepared for major emotional turbulence and love that will knock the socks right off your feet. 

In Taking Chances we get to know Harper. Harper is daughter of a Marine and has always lived on base with her dad. You can pretty much say she was raised by Marines. Girl has more brothers than you can imagine. The problem though is not that she was always surround by jar-heads, the issue is her father. He is not very connected to Harper. So when she gets the chance to go to San Diego State University many many miles from her father, she jumps on that bandwagon immediately. Harper has saved every cent she ever earned while working on base. She has her goals and what she expects to accomplish attending college. Never does Harper imagine that moving away to school and starting life as an adult would turn upside on her almost overnight. Harper is introduced to college parties and college frat boys. She ends up going to a party with her roommate, that's at her roommates brother's house. Yea the instant connection Harper has with Chase, you find yourself having it too. Why don't these fictional guys exist in real life or at least when I was in College. Chase is the bad boy you wanna hate but want more than a glass of water in the Sahara desert. I'm sayin', its that bad. So back to the story and Harper, she ends up fighting her attraction to Chase and begins dating one of the other roomies, Brandon. Swoooon, Brandon is too good to be true. He is Hot, smart, Hot, sweet, Hot, well you get my  drift. So what happens when a girl is torn between the guy she should stay away from and the gentleman hottie who is perfect for her. Ha, sometimes staying away just brings people even closer together, even when they are not suppose to be. Harper's choices will bring huge consequence and a big game change to her life and the lives of Brandon and Chase. And just when it seems like things might make sense and work themselves out, Molly McAdams delivers the most heart/gut-wrenching event ever. This is where your a crier, you will ugly cry. I wished I could warn you and tell you what happens, but heck if I had to suffer and hurt, you do toooo. Now don't let this scare you off from reading Taking Chances, because you will fall hard for this book. Every single event that takes place in these pages were needed to create such a memorable story of love, heart ache and passion. 

Bonus you get to read about probably 2 of the hottest fictional guys out there in books. The fact that this is New Adult too, there is nothing that needs to be tamed down. Taking Chances will stay with you for a long while after you finish reading it. I STRONGLY suggest that you read it if you have not yet. When you do read it just remember to go in with a open mind and prepare your heart, then at the end your heart and yourself will be highly rewarded. This book even with the heart-wrenching events, puts you in a wonderful place. Teaches you how powerful love is. It teaches you the meaning of Family, which doesn't always have to be blood related. 

One of the hardest things I come across as a book reviewer is writing a review that will express every single emotion I feel for that "IT" book. I worry that I won't get my point across on how amazing the book was. Books like Taking Chances are the hardest ones to write reviews for and make sense when finally writing it. So if what I wrote above makes no sense or doesn't really sell, then just believe me now when I say to go buy this book. 

p.s.: As of today (1/18/13) you can download Taking Chances for only $.99¢ - Buy It HERE