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Taking Chances (Taking Chances Series Book 1) by [Molly McAdams]

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Molly McAdams

Taking Chances (Taking Chances Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Molly McAdams (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

1,519 ratings

Book 1 of 2: Taking Chances and Forgiving Lies

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

Eighteen year old Harper has grown up under her career-Marine 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.

She finds herself being torn in two as she quickly falls in love with Brandon, who becomes her boyfriend—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.

Length: 466 pages	Word Wise: Enabled	Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
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Book 1 of 2 in Taking Chances and Forgiving Lies

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Editorial Reviews

Review

A potent coming-of-age love story with an unpredictable twist that will strip your emotions bare before propelling you to the most heartwarming high.

-- "A. L. Jackson, New York Times bestselling author" --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From the Back Cover

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

Eighteen-year-old Harper has grown up under the thumb of her career marine father. Ready to live life her own way and to 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. She finds herself being torn in two as she quickly falls in love with both her new boyfriend, Brandon, and her roommate's brother, Chase. Despite their dangerous looks and histories, both men adore Harper and would do anything for her, including taking a step back if it would mean she'd be happy.

--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

ASIN : B009NFFVL6
Publisher : William Morrow Paperbacks; Reprint edition (October 16, 2012)
Publication date : October 16, 2012
Language : English
File size : 1055 KB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 466 pages
Lending : Not Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #265,925 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #916 in Read & Listen for $14.99 or Less
- #1,767 in Read & Listen for Less
- #2,995 in Coming of Age Fiction (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
1,519 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		62%
4 star		14%
3 star		9%
2 star		6%
1 star		9%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Ashley S

!!!!!! 100% SPOILERS !!!!!!

Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2015

Verified Purchase

I HATED how everyone put Harper in a pedestal! And I do mean everyone. It made me sick it was so overdone. I have never hated a book as much as I hate this one.

The way Chase's family was okay with her after the accident pi$$ed me off!! I would never be okay with naming my son's child after another man.. not only the first name, but the last as well!!!!!!! Chase's mom asked her when they announced the baby's name if they were going to tell his son about Chase and made it clear that it would be okay if she chose not to. WTH?!?!?! No! I would not be okay with not telling my grandchild about his father!!!!! He|| NO!!!!!!

16 people found this helpful

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Harper, Chase and Brandon

Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2017

Verified Purchase

3.5-4 stars. Going into this book, I knew exactly what would happen. I didn't set out to find out spoilers on purpose, but it happens inadvertently at times so I braced myself in advance. But if you want a book that is a conversation starter or one that people have a very strong reaction to (positive or negative), just say that you are reading Taking Chances. Harper is finally going to college, out from under the thumb of her Marine father who may have raised her, but has done so in a militant and detached fashion, so she's eager to spread her wings. Having been homeschooled in a structured environment surrounded by men, Harper is new to the college social scene, which explains a lot about her innocent and naive behavior. She's looking to discover herself, seek adventure and have fun experiences.

Immediately, Harper meets two different guys, Chase and Brandon. They attract her in completely different ways. And thus begins Harper's journey into adulthood as she navigates her feelings towards both of them. Chase is her roommate's brother and Brandon is her boyfriend. If you are sensing a love triangle, or maybe an impending disaster, then you would be right. Truthfully, I liked all 3 of them. Sometimes the writing and dialogue was a little bit jagged or excessive in the monologues, but I could appreciate the strengths in each of the characters. I kept an open mind with Harper, because it would have been easy to immediately slam her for her mistakes while wondering what other people saw in her that was so great. I had to keep her social inexperience in mind at all times, even if that didn't excuse her actions. As for Chase, I wasn't his biggest fan initially and could see why Harper gravitated towards Brandon. But then the real Chase, the one that was easy to love, began to surface and he changed from his bad boy ways because of Harper. As for Brandon, he had more than infinite patience, he seemed like a saint at times, except he was packaged in the form of an MMA college fighter.

And then *that* happened and that derailed everything, although Harper had already been on the course towards disaster, but managed to make the best of the situation with so much love and support around her. She also got the best of both Chase and Brandon and these guys would do anything for her, even stand aside and let the other be with her if that's what she wanted. So I'm a little bit conflicted about this book because there are some really emotional parts that push the button on feels. Then there are other parts that just dragged. Once the dust settled from the aftermath of the main pivotal event and Harper had settled into the life she was going to live, there was about another 80 pages left to read and that remaining portion could have been an extended epilogue or separate novella because I'm not exactly sure what that added to the main book except to make sure no stones were left unturned, that all characters' loose threads were resolved to the satisfaction of HEA standards (given the bomb earlier) and to finally give the guy without flaws a few flaws in order to balance out Harper. Up until that point, I was engaged, but then the last part sort of waned my interest. Otherwise, for a coming of age story, this one is fairly angsty, emotional and has good hidden messages about living life and loving.

4 people found this helpful

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Danielle

Ummmmmmmmm

Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2016

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Spoilers****££*
The first part of the book hooked me but then the constant back and forth between carter and Brandon just pissed me off. I'm not a fan of Harper at all. To go from a Virgin sheltered girl to a player in a few turns of the page was too much for me. Carter and Brandon were amazing guys. She played them hard core. Then they both are just waiting around like pick me. Haley gets pregnant during one of her first two times having sex ever and tears our Brandon's heart but still loves him. Then the crazy bulls*** with that trish chick I could have told you carter was drugged it was that predictable. But then carter is dead and like a week later she kisses Brandon. What the ever loving crap.... Then Jason is back and after she's married Brandon and Brandon suddenly trusts her and is all like come over for a cookout. Then Bree... If my brother had a Harper in her life. Friend or not id have my brothers back. I'd never be saying aw you love them both. I don t understand the rave reviews.....

6 people found this helpful

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D. Hite

Molly McAdams is a skilled writer, but I just couldn't like this love triangle.

Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2016

Verified Purchase

I feel horrible saying this, but I hated this book. Hated it. It really should have been a 1 star review for me. Taking Chances is getting 2 stars for one reason alone:

Molly McAdams can write.

While I hated the story, I still wanted to know what was going to happen. Molly McAdams' tale twisted and turned so quickly I didn't know what end was up. It was liking watching a train wreck. I couldn't take my eyes away from it. It made me so mad because I didn't want to finish reading the book. I was constantly uncomfortable and crabby.

Taking Chances was one of the worst love triangles I've ever read. It started out okay. I thought I was really going to like Harper with her military single dad upbringing, but she quickly became someone I loathed. I never once empathized with her. She just wasn't a good person. What she did throughout the whole story was really immature and wrong. Her lack of guilt was horrible.

Harper wasn't the only character I couldn't stand, though. There was something seriously wrong with Chase. You don't chase after your friend's woman. I don't care if you saw her first or love her or whatever. I'm probably going to get flack for saying that because a lot of readers loved his sweet ways, but he should have backed off.

As for Brandon...I never connected with his character. I felt sorry for the guy, but that was about it.

The only character I rooted for at all was Carter. That definitely didn't turn out the way I had hoped.

The characters weren't the only thing messed up about this story. All I could do at the end was shake my head. It was all sorts of crazy.

I don't know if I would recommend this book at all or not. I guess if you don't mind cheating and love crazy situations, then go for it. I will say that I think Molly McAdams is a skilled writer, and I will try another one of her books in the future.

2 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Kindle Customer

An unexpected story!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 24, 2016

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Wow so I just finished the book and I was completely drawn in, the story is beautifully written and is not your regular love story the twists it takes are so unexpected. I didn't love Harper but I think that's the point; - she was selfish but she grew up neglected lacking maternal love, she was insecure again she grew up with a dad who didn't talk to her let alone tell her she was loved. She had no identity when growing up, not really so a little bit of freedom and attention and Harper is completely overwhelmed by it. The character fit the story and her journey I felt was believable. Some of the characters were a little too nice and a little too forgiving through this book but it just reinforced the focus onto Harper.

Now chase and Brandon what a pair of men who are hard not to fall head over heals in love with, I couldn't blame Harper for being completely caught up and confused by them. They were both amazing and unique but good men. Harper was still an 18 year old sheltered and emotionally stunted girl and these two were men not boys and they didn't play around they went in for the kill and were hard and fast - she never stood a chance.

At 30% through the book I thought I had it figured out and I thought yes this is the guy she should be with and will be but then a twist you just were not expecting got thrown in. I was left as a reader devastated and from then on I still loved the story but completely gutted by who she ends up with, not because the ending didn't fit but because I had picked a team and just wasn't expecting that to happen! But that's what makes this such a good read, I was involved, I was invested in the story and I wanted a happy ending and everyone to find peace. Now that is what happens but just not the way you expect.

This maybe a traditional college romance with a love triangle but that's about as traditional as it gets, expect the unexpected and just go with it. By the end of it you'll either be like me and happy for the ending but still feel a little sad as it isn't how you wanted it to end, or you'll be happy that's the way it worked out because that's how you saw it from the start! I can't say anymore than that or I would completely ruin the story.

Laura Robertson

The item came in perfect condition and safely packaged

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 21, 2017

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Item description:
The item came in perfect condition and safely packaged. The quality of the cover is not very strong, it is thin and bent easily. The paper inside is thin but okay quality. The writing size and font is easy to read and overall the item is good.
Story rating:
I'm an emotional wreck right now. I think I'm going to need therapy after reading this book. I am devastated and distraught with too many emotions that I can hardly think straight. but i LOVED it!!!!! 4 stars

Sarah

Very emotional, lots of tears!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 21, 2013

Verified Purchase

** spoiler alert **

I'd like to say from the beginning that I usually don't like love triangles, I just can't imagine being in love with two people at once. It goes against what I feel 'love' is to me. That said, I really did enjoy this book. I bizarrely wish it could have existed just as it is but without her being in love with two men! Impossible I know! Of course, I did know it was a love triangle before I started it so I couldn't really hold that against the book.

How I usually react to love triangles is getting exceptionally annoyed at the female character. I just want them to make a choice and get on with it already. In this case though I actually liked Harper. Molly McAdams did a great job of allowing me to feel it how she felt it, to empathise with Harper, to want the best for Harper. There were times I was reading with a big grin on my face because I was so happy for her, and times where I was anxious, angry, distraught. I felt it all. It was a very emotional book.

I was Team Chase all the way and expected to dislike Brandon. I find I always pick a side in a love triangle and the other character, the one they rarely end up with, I find boring, often too 'perfect'. In this case Brandon was a little too perfect for my tastes, I mean no-one is that thoughtful (male or female), but I ended up feeling quite warmly about him. I think it was the desperate emotions portrayed when Harper left after the fight and the fact that he did actually make a mistake once in awhile.

Obviously I cried when Chase died but I think it was brave of the author to do this. I was sure of where the book was going up until that point and was just confused that I was only half way through. Boy was I wrong.

My reason for not giving the full 5 stars is twofold. Firstly, I couldn't fully stomach Harper loving them both and her going back to Brandon to quickly and everyone being all happy about it. It just seemed too quick and weird everyone just accepted it. Where do all these selfless, understanding people live? I'd like to know. If it had been my brother I might have come round eventually, but not that quick. Secondly, I felt that tying up all the loose ends of Carter and Sir and following them the next 4 years just dragged a bit. The momentum of the story and my interest in the characters wained a bit after they got married. I'm not sure I needed more out of the story.

To sum up I feel that the author did a great job of painting characters, main and side characters, that felt real and that I cared about. I think I'll be still thinking about them for a few days, like they're family. This was an emotional read full of love and heartache, just perhaps a little too long for my tastes.

L. Carter

Emotionally Powerfull

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 24, 2013

Verified Purchase

I once told myself I would never write a review of Taking Chances. Simply because sometimes a book comes along that is so incredible no words can do it justice. This is one of those books.

I read a lot of books, most of which are good but nothing particularly special. Eventually most books blur together so only the truly amazing ones stand out. Almost five months after reading Taking Chances I can still remember all the little details and every single emotion the book made me feel. Five months and I still can't get this book out of my head.

Taking Chances is a book that I want to erase the memory of ever reading just so I can experience reading it for the first time all over again. I know some people who didn't like this book - i think the sheer amount of emotion just isn't for everyone - but i LOVED it.

If you like romance, drama and lots of emotion in books then this is perfect for you. A great New Adult book that focuses more on the romance and character development than just sex. Though if you like steamy sexy scenes don't worry as there is the occasional one. The book starts good then keeps getting better, even when you think it couldn't get any better it proves you wrong.

This book has a sexy tattooed bad boy. In fact it has two! Chase and Brandon are two of my favourite male characters in a New Adult book; they are both the perfect mix of bad boy and romantic, both willing to give up the girl they love if it will make her happy.

Harper doesn't always make the best decisions and sometimes I just wanted to shake her but she comes across as realistic. We're not all perfect, we sometimes do stupid things and occasionally we may mess up big time. Despite her slightly odd back story she comes across as a real person; the girl we could all be though i highly hope my life will never be quite that dramatic.

If you have ever heard about this book before you probably know that it has a huge unexpected twist. I was so stunned I found myself blankly staring at my kindle for so long that it turned itself off. I found myself wanting to yell at the author "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!?!" whilst simultaneously giving her a massive hug and a round of applause.

The characters will work their way into your heart and you will find yourself experiencing their every emotion and really feeling for them. This book was such a roller coaster of emotions that after I finished reading I felt drained. I have hardly ever cried so much whilst reading a book, some were tears of sadness, devastation and despair whilst others were tears of joy and me marvelling over how beautiful a chapter was.

There was the odd little thing that wasn't perfect but this book was too incredible for me to be bothered by them. For a book to get me that emotionally involved and to care that much about the characters I couldn't possibly give it anything less than 5 stars. It took over a week before i could read again and no book i have read since has been quite as good. I wish i had an extra star to give.

I want to do something i have never done before which is thank the author for writing this book, Molly please never ever stop writing :) And now I am off to reread this book, because I simply have to.

Jade

Take a chance and read this book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 4, 2014

Verified Purchase

I thought this book reminded me of a book version of the movie pearl harbour in many ways. It was a long book but good.
Harper has always imagined a life without rules and regulation. Growing up with only her dad who was a sergeant she had to call him Sir. She dreamed of the day when she could escape to college. When she got to college she made friends with but it was her brother Chase who immediately caught her eye. Chase was the bad boy and tatoo artist but was loyal, then there was his best friend Brandon, the underground fighter. Both intensely hot but she had to choose one.

After an accident the love she shared was shattered but she still had a part of him growing inside her. The gentleman who she never picked understood she needed help and swooped into help her.

It is a really good book with twists and turns. Its difficult to review and not give anything away. I would read if you like romances but if you do not like love triangles this is not the book for you. It was a page turner and I did feel bad for Brandon at points and sad of the tragedy.
Please read, you may need tissue.