Taking Chances (Taking Chances, #1)

by Molly McAdams

[Raven]

Review originally posted at my blog

Harper grew up with her father, a career Marine, after her mother died. Her father was rather tough on her, treating her more like a soldier than his child. Deciding that she wants to break out and live her own life, she chooses a college across the country. Her new roommate immediately takes her under her wing and helps her figure out who she is. She quickly finds herself falling for her roommate's brother Chase, who seems like the worst guy in the world for her, but the one she wants the most. She meets Chase's roommate Brandon shortly after and finds her heart split in two as she also falls for him. They would both do anything for her, even stepping aside to make sure she is happy.

I want to say first off, that this is a tear-jerker. Don't read this outside of the house, people will think you are a blubbering mess. Make sure you have tissues handy. At about midway through, you will need them. I got to the point where I was crying so hard, from the good points and the bad, that I had to stop and wipe the tears from my eyes or blow my nose about every three pages.

I really liked Chase and Brandon. Even when they were being stupid or aggressive, I loved them. They are two wonderful men, and you get to the point where you really want Harper to have both of them. Obviously, she can't truly have both of them, and the "solution" to this problem was just.. yeah. Tissues. I refuse to spoil it.

Harper I wasn't crazy about at first. I mean, I can understand her breaking out like she did, but I felt like she jumped into things rather quickly. It's one thing to indulge, but it is another to forget common sense, and I felt like she had. I ended up liking her, it was hard not to, but she irked me at first.

The story is fabulous and tragic. Some of it seemed rather predictable, but it was told in a way that made that acceptable. You wanted to keep reading. The characters and writing were engaging enough that a predictable plot was nothing.

Most people who recommended this to me did so because of my love for Easy by Tammara Webber. I think I cried harder for Taking Chances but I liked Easy more. A fabulous novel and I highly recommend it.