Hi, my name is Lawn & I’m a book-aholic… I jump from book to book in search of the best follow up to what I’ve just read and I’m usually not satisfied ’til I have one of those heart dropping, “what the fuck?! Did that just happen?” moments. I often compare every book to Thoughtless, Beautiful Disaster & The Mighty Storm… all equally ah-maze-ing books that I hold up high on a pedestal. Since finishing them, I’ve probably read about 10 other books; some romance, some dystopian, some thriller… unfortunately they’ve all been kinda “eh” and not worthy of a review. Then along came…

Taking Chances by Molly McAdams

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.

You know when you’re reading a book and thinking in your mind, “ok, when is it gonna get juicy?” OR when you refer a book to a friend and say, “keep reading… it’s gets really good after the 4th chapter.” Well, “Taking Chances” is NOT one of those books… It had me on edge right from the get, all the way up until the very end.

I swear Molly McAdams should’ve put a disclaimer in the beginning of the book… like this:

Warning: “Taking Chances” will take you on a turbulent emotional roller coaster ride, filled with thrills, chills, high highs, low lows, twist and turns… very sharp turns that’ll blow your mind and leave you breathless.

Yup, that just about sums it up… just kidding, there’s waaaaaaay more to this new edition to my pedestal of fave books. It’s an intense story about a girl named Harper who for the first eighteen years of her life, was raised by her uber-strick, non-emotional marine father & jar head “brothers.” Eager to discover herself, she moves clear across the country to San Diego ( my home town… woot woot!!! bonus points for McAdams!) to attend SDSU.

Almost immediately, Harper is thrown into a new world of partying, hot boys, drinking, dancing and did I say hot boys?! All of which introduced to her by her new roomie and first girl friend ever, Breanna… and guess what, she just so happens to have a ridiculously hot, bad boy brother, Chase… of course! And and and… there’s immediate chemistry. Only thing is… Chase doesn’t think he’s good enough for her… womp womp!!! Que… Brandon, Chase’s buff, underground fighter housemate and whaddaya get?! The best love triangle ever!!!

However, right when you think you’ve got the book all figured out… her old best friend, Carter from the barracks back home pops up… ummm, love square?!

Then there’s the weekend that changes everything & after that comes the most insane twist… gheezzz talk about twist and turns!!! Then there’s just one thing after the other that’ll just engage you. From the characters that I grew to LOVE instantly, to the love and relationships between all of them… Molly McAdams out did herself with this one… kudos to you Miss McAdams… you’ve gained a new fan in me!

Again, I wish I can get into deets but I’m not about spoilers and I’d hate to ruin the many surprises this book entails. But to best sum up this book into words, I’d say “Taking Chances” is full of the following:

intrigue. love. excitement. loss. hope. happiness. family.

Read this book asap… if you’ve loved any of the other books I’ve referred, you’ll definitely LOVE this one!!! Now I’ll leave yah with who I envisioned as my lead characters for Chase, Harper & Brandon…

Team CHASE baby!!!