Review: Taking Chances by Molly McAdams

Title: Taking Chances
Author: Molly McAdams
Publication Date: September 1, 2012
Source: Bought
Summary (from Goodreads):
 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.

I feel as if I should apologize for the review that you’re about to read since I’m sure it will come off as a major rant than an actual review. And, just a heads up before you read much further, this review will contain spoilers. Not that I’m sure it matters since everyone and their grandmother has apparently read it, but if you are one of the few that haven’t, and haven’t sneaked a peek at spoilers, then stop now and save yourself the rage your about to embark on.

I finished this book a few days ago and I really just had to take some time and hope that I cooled off enough to write a proper review, but the more I waited the more upset I become. This book still haunts me; I’ve had dreams about these characters. And it’s not because I loved it so much that I can’t stop thinking about. No. It’s because I feel we as readers were emotionally shredded by a character’s demise.

Let me start by saying how much I loved the first half of this book. I. Loved. It. If I was rating just the first half, than it would have been at least 4 stars. But unfortunately I didn’t listen to the part of me that was dying inside and finished the book. The last half you would have to pull a single star out of my death grip. I would not be giving up that simple rating easy.

So, before I get all negative and bitchy, let me tell you what I loved. Okay, first let me tell you what I found unbelievable.

Harper has never been to a mall? Really? How is that even possible? Where did she buy her clothes? I’ve known the strictest parents and even they let their kids out once in a while. And why would Bree (the roommate and new best friend) be shocked to learn that she’ never had a boyfriend or been kissed if she’s never been to a mall? Clearly, if one hasn’t stepped foot out of the house one hasn’t at the opportunity to lock lips.

I was kind of irritated by how fast Chase and Brandon were taken with Harper. I mean, what was so special and amazing about this girl that they tripped over their own feet within seconds of meeting her? It was just another story with a selfishly boring female character that everyone fell in love with for no apparent reason. (Really, what was Carter’s role in this story besides ANOTHER man who wanted to bang her?)

But I could over look that because of Chase. Chase had my heart from the second his bad boy attitude was written on the pages. Sure, Brandon’s a good guy—but he’s too good of a guy. He’s was just too perfect all of the time. What guy is that fucking perfect?

Now, I’m glossing over and skipping some things because I really just want to tell about the part that made me swoon and forget how to breathe.

The build-up to Harper and Chase’s kiss was amazing. I burst into tears at the New Year’s Eve party where he grabbed her hand and rubbed his finger over the ring. I just couldn’t take it anymore! And it made it so much worse because (stupid me reading spoilers) knew what was coming and it was killing me. Yes, I ugly cried right there. But OMG that kiss. I couldn’t…I just… He was so… I had no words so I cried some more.

And how sweet was Chase with that tattoo? I fell even more in love with him then. And I hated how the author made you care about this character like that. I hate knowing that in a few pages my heart was going to be ripped out, stomped and spit on.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. There are still a couple of more things that I loved.

Okay, one last warning about the spoilers. This is where I’m really going to get into them……

I hated how Harper handled finding out she was pregnant. I hated that she told everyone but Chase about it. But I loved, I loved!, his reaction when he found out.

“Is it—is it mine?”

“Of course it is.”

“We’re going to have a baby?”

“Yes.”

“This is our baby?” He reached for the photo in my hand

I smiled, “Yes.”

His expression was so beautiful, tears instantly poured down my cheeks. “We’re having a baby.”

I laughed through my tears and nodded my head.

Chase ran a hand through his hair and huffed out a laugh. He looked from the picture to my stomach once more. “I love you so much.”

I’m getting teary eyed just thinking of that moment again. He was so excited about the baby, and about loving her—which she totally didn’t deserve! It goes without saying that I hated Harper. I hated how selfish she was, how she couldn’t make up her mind between Brandon and Chase. I hated that while she was with Chase—a man who loved her beyond reason and wanted to marry her and raise their family together—she still loved Brandon more, the guy she cheated on. I. Hate. This. Character.

And I completely blame her for Chase’s death. If she wasn’t so fucking stupid! Why wasn’t Harper smart enough to realize if Chase had in fact screwed around with Trish why the hell would he send her a text to come see him the next morning? Why didn’t she catch on how fucking stupid and set up the whole thing was? Why doesn’t this woman think?!

But no, she doesn’t think and because of her stupidity for falling for lies and not using her fucking head, we lose Chase. I don’t care how it happened, Harper killed Chase.

If you haven’t guessed this is where I start to get pissed. I’m still fucking pissed days later. Oh, and another warning: if the f word offends you, you will be offended a ton from here on out. I’m not only emotionally damaged for life because of this book but I’m also so unbelievably mad. And it’s not only because of what McAdams did, it’s also because of why she did it. All throughout the book, Harper went back and forth about her feelings for Brandon and Chase, saying she loved them both. But even once she was with Chase, she told Bree she loved Brandon even more than she did when she broke up with him. Hmm that right there is a clue something horrible is about to happen to the other one. Because no, it would be too simple to have this fucking girl make up her mind once and for all, be with only one of them and let the other move on. No. She had to still want both of them, had to love Brandon even more than she did Chase, and because of that the author decided she would give her a “free pass” and make the final decision something Harper really didn’t have to choose at all. Because with only one option left who needs to choose, right? That’s what pisses me off! Everyone could have had a HEA here. Everyone could have moved on. But did they? No. Why? Because the author didn’t want to make this girl accountable for any of her choices!

There’s a line in the book that made me see red. “This family is hurting, but they’re all trying to cope and move on. You need to too.” Said by Brandon FIVE days after the accident. Five. Days. Who moves on after only five fucking days when something like this happens? No one!! People are still in denial, they’re still hurting, they still don’t know how the fuck to feel. But they’re not ready to move the fuck on!

Another thing I hated. Chase was gone just over a month and Harper is making out Brandon? Fine, you can rationalize it however you like. She had never stopped loving him, she obviously loved him more than Chase when they were together, she was young and had years of her life a head of her and Chase would want her to move on and be happy, blah blah blah. No! I hate how Chase’s memory was cast aside, by not only Harper but his own family! We saw a few tears shed and then life went on with a happy little skip and a jump that brought Brandon into everyone’s lives. As a replacement for Chase! No. Just no! And do we actually think Chase would be happy that Harper moved on with Brandon? Um, I’m guessing not. I wanted to scream bull shit every time Chase’s family opened their mouths and encouraged her to go running back to Brandon. What about Chase?! What about Harper thinking of the baby and not who can fill her bed now that it’s cold? What about just concentrating on being a fucking mother and respecting your baby’s father’s memory by being alone for a while! What about Chase?! Go ahead and rationalize it however you want.  I still think she’s a stupid, selfish cunt.

Oh and give me a break! His mother is going to sit there and ask for details about Harper’s kiss with another guy? With everything these people were saying and doing I was amazed they hadn’t told Harper to jump Brandon as soon as they had gotten the news about Chase. Because really, that’s how little these people respected their son. I just…this is where I wanted to throw the book away. This is where it started to lose me and I wanted to pull a Joey and hide it in the freezer where all evil should be.

Another line that had me wanting to strangle every single character left in this novel. “Do you still plan to tell him (the baby) about Chase? If for whatever reason you didn’t that would be fine, no one would blame you for that.” Said by Chase’s own mother! WTF? I would blame her for that! This line is just total bull shit! Why would Chase’s own fucking mother think it was okay if her grandchild didn’t know about his real father! It’s just… UGH!! I can’t even express how much this pissed me off.

Let’s take a moment to talk about Harper’s pregnancy. Bed rest means BED REST! It doesn’t mean going to fights and running around getting pedicures. If she can’t even help with the cooking why the hell would it be acceptable for her to do those other things? I was on  bed rest when I was pregnant, and aside from getting up to pee my happy ass was planted on the couch or in bed ALL DAY LONG. I didn’t have a life; I didn’t get to go places because bed rest means STAY THE FUCK OFF YOUR FEET!

And the entire time Brandon is driving Harper to the hospital and coaching her during labour all I could think was, “That should have been Chase. Why isn’t it Chase?” And don’t even get my started on the size of the baby! With how worried the doc was about his size that should have been at least an eight pound buddle of joy. But more importantly, why the fuck wasn’t there any mention of him looking like Chase? Why wasn’t even Chase thought of in that moment? Sure, whatever, we get that she loves Mr. Perfect, but she just gave birth to another man’s child; the thought of him would cross any woman’s mind.

The wedding? Yeah, my heart ached that it wasn’t Chase. I actually had to stop and just put the book away for a couple of days because I just couldn’t read anymore. I hated how Harper kept calling Brandon the love of her life, and how everyone had gone off and not once thought about Chase. No, I take that back. Brandon, out of everyone!, thought of him when he told Liam about his dad. Brandon.

Like I said, Brandon was too perfect for my taste, but the guy had class. And the scene where he defies Harper and goes to one more fight is my absolute favourite in the last half of this book. Why? Because for once his character was real. He was doing something that pissed off Harper and not made her so damn giddy and excited all the time.

I still have a problem with the ending. Everything was just so nicely wrapped up and they all went on and lived their happy little lives. The one consistent thing in the book was Harper’s dad attitude towards her, the way he treated her. And I liked that. I liked that there was actually one person in the entire world who didn’t think the sun shone out of her ass. But alas, no one can hate poor little Harper, can they? Because even her strict father came around and told her how much he loved her and how wrong he was. Ugh!

I’m just going to stop there. I have pages and pages of notes from this train wreck and could go on forever. But thinking of all this over again seriously leaves a girl exhausted.

Do I think Harper should have mourned Chase forever and stayed single until her dying day? No. But I think she, as well as the rest of his family, should have had more respect for his memory. I hate how the author had her jumping all over Brandon a week after Chase was gone. I. Hate. It. I would have liked them together so much more if Harper had waited an appropriate amount of time to go after Brandon. If he was really the love of her life they would have found their way back to each other after a year or two or whatever. Why couldn’t she just focus on her baby? Why couldn’t she just respect how much Chase loved her by honoring his memory properly? Why, Molly McAdams? Why did you do this to us?

In the Spotlight #4

In the Spotlight today is author B. Lloyd. We also have a special guest post from the author who is currently on a Haunted House Tour!

About the Book

Tell us a bit about your novel. 

 

It’s really a novelette,(I have a full-length novel in preparation at the moment); a ghost tale set between the 16^th century and  1930. The traditional haunted house is the theme – only I hope with a bit of a chill and a splosh of humour.

What gave you the idea for your book? How long did it take you to write?

It started with an image: a skeletal figure (probably left over from Thurnley Abbey and other tales) – dressed in cobwebs, holding out a rotting bouquet . . . I wanted to see how quickly I could write a novella/novelette of publishable length; it took a few weeks to complete, even so( that is, of time broken up between other commitments).

Which character was your favourite to create? Why?

 I think most of them were my favourites: Lydia, ‘cause she has to act as hostess and find room for everyone on top of dealing with hysterics and unnerving incidents; Gregory perhaps, because he works it all out, is plucky and at the same time, gentle in a quiet way. But I think Gerry Torbin the historian , that ‘baggy haystack in tweeds,  has a special place.

 If you were asked to make a soundtrack for your novel, what songs would be on it?

I suppose anything from the 20s, like Charleston, Somebody Stole My Gal – as well as the music used in the trailer, by the talented Kevin Macleod :  an excellent atmospheric piece : “Oppressive Gloom” : (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tJkOUmwMIk&feature=g-upl)

If your book was turned into a movie, who would you choose to play the leading characters?

Tricky – there are so many good UK character actors about ... I suppose if the budget could stretch from half of the  Downton Abbey cast to half

What’s your writing process like? Was there a part that was difficult to write?

 I tend to write in sections which then need to be sewn together; that can be ticklish but usually if I sleep on it . . . things tend to  roll together.

Do you ever use real life experiences in your books?

Perhaps unconsciously something gets filtered through – not something I deliberately attempt to do.

About the author

What is a normal day for you? Take us through your usual routine.

Very mixed up – depends what I am doing – preparing a trailer, organising a tour, preparing a spotlight, writing (hah! Yes – even that . . . ) painting/illustrating . . .

When you’re not writing, what else do you like to do?

Would be nice to have time to read properly – painting too; would like to focus on Chinese painting and sculpture, and tons of other things – including gardening.

How do you balance real life (work, kids, getting prepared for the zombie apocalypse) with being an author?

Everything gets slotted together according to priority – and real life for me does also mean being an author. Every day is different ,so planning will vary – as will results!

Tell us about the day you found out your book was going to be published. How did you react?

It was rather quiet and all done by email; I think I felt  a sense of relief – but because of the way things are, I don’t rely on anything until I see it out there – whether on a physical bookshelf or a virtual one.

Is there a certain book that has made a lasting impression on you?

Probably Wilkie Collins’s Moonstone; it has travelled with me everywhere; more recently , Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell – but then, what about all the others? . . . impossible to choose really.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what five things would you want to have with you?   

If I couldn’t have my laptop with internet access (;) ) then at least pen and paper. Probably an empty bottle too . . . and perhaps some seeds for growing vegetables. Might be a long winter there . . . and a tabby cat.

Going back to your high school years, what were they like? Do you think they shaped the person you are today?

Schooling was necessarily a patchwork affair, as my father’s work took us to various continents, so no very fixed memory of anything specific. Reading books – all books – I would say was the main aspect of the shaping process.  I feel that if people are taught to at least read and write, they need never be bored or lacking creativity unless they choose to.

Bonus Questions

Red or white wine?

Red, from the Veneto : pinot nero or raboso.

Favourite movie/TV show/food/season?  

Enjoying the latest season of New Tricks, Dr Who, and waiting impatiently for the next Sherlock series.

Author website 

Ungentle Sleep on Goodreads 

Publisher's Website 

Available on Amazon US and UK

(B.Lloyd's author in crime, V.R. Christensen, will be spotlighted in a couple of weeks!) 

Guest post from author B. Llyod

As part of the Haunted House Virtual Tour promoting our ghost novellas Blind and Ungentle Sleep (by V.R.Christensen and B.Lloyd respectively), here is a quick, light-hearted fictional ‘visit’ to somewhere a little different; not strictly gothic, but still ghost-related …

***

Ah. There you are. Come closer. Closer. Come on, don’t be shy. New here, aren’t you? Well, we have all been new here, at some time or another. What’s that ? Oh, where you like. No pre-booked places here, everyone can pick and choose. What about this one, here – nice, isn’t it; cushions belonged to a duchess from one of those eastern places. Grand, ain’t they. Like the paintings. I prefer landscapes myself, but we’re here this evening, so it’s portraits, portraits, portraits. Yes, a little imposing, I agree. Altogether rather a grand house. I believe the owner is here, somewhere. Oh, look who’s arrived – one of the family relatives, lady Alice – now this should be interesting; grew up here, has any number of anecdotes about the place – good evening, ma’am, and how is it with you ? How time flies, eh ? And you have your nephew with you this time. What’s that ? Ah yes, we’re about to begin - now, we all need to be a bit quiet, and wait till we’re spoken too. Don’t worry, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Think of it as more a kind of etiquette. Hush! There comes our interlocutor for the evening. Yes, the little round lady dressed like a pin cushion. Madame Pashka. And this evening, we have the gentleman as well ! I’ve only seen him a couple of times before; quite good he is too – what’s his name again, Shirley, Shepherd? Something like that -  and here come the other guests. Yes, try not to get in the way, give them time to sit down. No, not there. Whoops. Never mind, it does happen. Don’t think anyone noticed. Excuse me while I pay my respects . .

 . . . Just been chatting to Lady Alice: apparently, there has always been some story about a lady in grey wandering the upper landing; seems she was abandoned by her husband during Charles II’s reign and pined away. I shall be most interested to see if Madame Pashka or Mr Sharlaton experience anything this evening . . .Ah, Madame Pashka is in her usual chair. Makes her look even more like a pin cushion, don’t you think? What’s that? - Who starts first ? Well, we take it in turns – though half the time, she doesn’t appear to hear much ...

Yes, they tend to turn the lights down for this kind of thing. They say it helps. I don’t know what with, I am sure. Bumping into the furniture, haha, bless me, I know I shouldn’t say that – well, you know the old saying about things going bump in the night and all that, haha. Hem.

Eh? What? Yes, they usually start by asking that question. We try not to confuse them by knocking all at once – we usually leave that to whoever our hostess is – oh, but Missy Pincushion has beaten her to it – naughty naughty! Banged the table with her knee, Tom says. (Tom’s the one with the neckerchief tied around his neck rather tight – yes, well, it’s to stop his head falling off) – Now, I say we give her a little fright for doing that. This is supposed to be a serious séance, after all. What say we all take hold of the table – yes, damned heavy, ain’t it, and we all go, one two, three – HEAVE !

Hahahahahahahahhahahahahaa – that was fun ! See how they run !

***

Madame Pashka was quite happy with the general result; admittedly, the rush from the room caused people to trip over each other (she had her foot trodden on a couple of times) but by the time things had settled, she could claim to have held a magnificent séance – impressing her guests, including some acting friends from the Big City, who chatted about it freely on their way back to their lodgings.

‘Quite the thing to write a play about,’ said one of them, in plummy tones as he drew on his cigarette. ‘A comedy, naturally.’

‘With Madame Pashka in it? Oh surely, you must put her in it – and will you write a part for me as well?’ replied his companion.

‘But naturally, darling – I have just the thing for you; but we’ll have to change Madame Pashka’s name. Something … more … Mediterranean. Suggestive of the Midi, I think.’

‘And who does she speak to, in this play? You don’t think it might upset people, what with the War on and everything?’

‘Nonsense – a light-hearted romp, and the embarrassing consequences of calling up unwanted relatives … it will be just what people want. I have something outlined in my head already – a playwright – no, we’ll make him a novelist, looking for material for his next book -’

‘Rather like you, this evening, then.’

‘And it worked! Only our novelist, whom we shall call Charles for now, not only gets his material but an unexpected visitor from his past … It will be a tour de force d’esprit … hmm, perhaps I should call it that …’

‘Oh no, people will think it’s some re-hash of Moliere and keep away, won’t they?’

‘Tour de force, Tour d’esprit…Spritely… Spirit … Spirits… I shall think about it. Here we are. A little nightcap? That was quite a performance Madame Pashka gave; I feel ready to start on my comedy straightaway.’

‘So you don’t think there was anything in it? The séance, I mean.’

‘Heavens, no, they have so many tricks up their sleeves, as Mr Houdini often demonstrated. Still, most entertaining.’

And so saying, the playwright opened the front door and ushered in the actress. Later that same night he wrote in his diary: “… Very gay, superficial comedy about a ghost. Feel it may be good.”

A week later it was finished and ran for 1,997 performances. Not a bad record for ‘an improbable farce in three acts’.

***

No prizes for guessing who wrote the play, nor what its title is – but can anyone remember where he wrote it?

Anagram to nudge the old grey cells: Root me in RIP

Giveaway alert! Both Blind and Ungentle Sleep will be free on Amazon 5^th and 6^th of October

Links to the two ghost novellas :

Blind  US

http://www.amazon.com/Blind-a-novella-ebook/dp/B007E3SNJ6

Blind  UK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blind-V-R-Christensen/dp/0615598005/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347371543&sr=1-1

Ungentle Sleep UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ungentle-Sleep-ebook/dp/B008VIJFLI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344584088&sr=8-1

Ungentle Sleep US http://www.amazon.com/Ungentle-Sleep-ebook/dp/B008VIJFLI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344586329&sr=1-1&keywords=ungentle+sleep

Thanks for joining us on the tour! Happy Haunting!