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3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
Not your typical love story/triangle. Very poignant, but a breath of fresh air nonetheless.
Can't read stealing harper after this book. I was devastated. I almost didn't read any more Molly McAdams because I HATE it when things get wrapped up in neat little packages. However I'm glad I didn't just turn away, because From Ashes was really good. I am looking forward to more from Molly McAdams
This book keeps me up at night because I hate it so much.
Spoilers ahead. So our book follows Harper, and she’s SPECIAL because she was home schooled, has red hair, and most importantly, a virgin. And she is different from all other girls at college (insert eye roll here). She meets her roommate, Bree, and they become bffs on sight and then she meets her brother, Chase, who you know is her love interest, whose personality is the cliched bad boy trope, and he knows she is SPECIAL because she refuses to sleep with him and tells him he’s a man-whore. Then she meets Brandon, whose personality was similar to a cardboard cut out, but they are IN LOVE. And you can tell because she refuses to sleep with him (side note: I wouldn’t be upset with this if the later events in the book didn’t happen, in fact, I would even be supportive of it) and makes a big deal how she needs to lose her virginity at the RIGHT time with the RIGHT guy. And then they break up and get back together because other girls keep sexting Brandon and trying to make Harper jealous because that’s how life works. And she goes crying to Chase and they have A MOMENT but then she goes back to Brandon (hold on, it gets worse). So after they get back together, she spends Christmas with Bree and Chase, and they have MOMENTS (and he creates he a tattoo and I’m pretty sure she didn’t see it before he put it on her and it’s also really huge?? And it makes no sense??). And so they sleep together because Harper decides he is SPECIAL and they don’t use birth control (I bet you can guess the next part), but she goes back to Brandon anyways and doesn’t tell him, and low and behold, she gets pregnant. (Like, she doesn’t even realize for like four and half months, despite gaining weight and not having her period, and neither do the two guys??) (Oh, and she still won’t sleep with Brandon???) And so then everyone slowly finds out, baby daddy last of all, she breaks up with the first bf to get with the second (meanwhile, throwing fits when either of then so much as look at another girl, despite her being the one who cheated) and they are HAPPY and then there’s a FAKE LESBIAN (not a bisexual woman, a fake lesbian) who drigs Chase and sends Harper pics of the two of them together (sexual abuse, fyi) and Harper goes berserk and when Chase finds out what happens, he rushes home, runs a red light and dies (if only the rest of the cast had gone with him). Now, I stopped reading after the funeral when the fake lesbian told Harper she was sorry and blah blah blah. But the epilogue is them (Harper and Brandon) married with two kids (one who was Chase’s) talking about how they are grateful life turned out this way and whatever.
It’s terrible, I seriously dream about ripping this book up.
Spoilers ahead. So our book follows Harper, and she’s SPECIAL because she was home schooled, has red hair, and most importantly, a virgin. And she is different from all other girls at college (insert eye roll here). She meets her roommate, Bree, and they become bffs on sight and then she meets her brother, Chase, who you know is her love interest, whose personality is the cliched bad boy trope, and he knows she is SPECIAL because she refuses to sleep with him and tells him he’s a man-whore. Then she meets Brandon, whose personality was similar to a cardboard cut out, but they are IN LOVE. And you can tell because she refuses to sleep with him (side note: I wouldn’t be upset with this if the later events in the book didn’t happen, in fact, I would even be supportive of it) and makes a big deal how she needs to lose her virginity at the RIGHT time with the RIGHT guy. And then they break up and get back together because other girls keep sexting Brandon and trying to make Harper jealous because that’s how life works. And she goes crying to Chase and they have A MOMENT but then she goes back to Brandon (hold on, it gets worse). So after they get back together, she spends Christmas with Bree and Chase, and they have MOMENTS (and he creates he a tattoo and I’m pretty sure she didn’t see it before he put it on her and it’s also really huge?? And it makes no sense??). And so they sleep together because Harper decides he is SPECIAL and they don’t use birth control (I bet you can guess the next part), but she goes back to Brandon anyways and doesn’t tell him, and low and behold, she gets pregnant. (Like, she doesn’t even realize for like four and half months, despite gaining weight and not having her period, and neither do the two guys??) (Oh, and she still won’t sleep with Brandon???) And so then everyone slowly finds out, baby daddy last of all, she breaks up with the first bf to get with the second (meanwhile, throwing fits when either of then so much as look at another girl, despite her being the one who cheated) and they are HAPPY and then there’s a FAKE LESBIAN (not a bisexual woman, a fake lesbian) who drigs Chase and sends Harper pics of the two of them together (sexual abuse, fyi) and Harper goes berserk and when Chase finds out what happens, he rushes home, runs a red light and dies (if only the rest of the cast had gone with him). Now, I stopped reading after the funeral when the fake lesbian told Harper she was sorry and blah blah blah. But the epilogue is them (Harper and Brandon) married with two kids (one who was Chase’s) talking about how they are grateful life turned out this way and whatever.
It’s terrible, I seriously dream about ripping this book up.
3.5 Stars
WARNING you will need the biggest tub of Ben & Jerry's you can find and a multi pack of Kleenex when reading this story.
When I moved here I wasn't planning on falling in love with the first two guys that came along. Hell, I wasn't planning on falling in love during College at all. I wanted to have dysfunctional relationships and flings, but did that happen? Nope.
Harper was brought up by her strict Marine father and surrounded by her Marine 'brothers' with no real life to call her own. So at eighteen years old she decides to move away to attend San Diego State University where she meets her roommate Bree, who takes her under her wing and introduces her to make-up, girly clothes, boys and parties. It's not long before Harper catches the eyes and hearts of sexy, muscled, tattooed, bad boy best friends, Chase and Brandon.
I felt like Elena from The Vampire Diaries. She has two insanely hot men who are in love with her and would do anything for her. One of which, she would give almost everything to be with, and the other she continues to push away, even though she can't ever actually stay away, so she won't have to admit she was in love with him too.
My initial thought on this was 'She's so lucky!!!!' but it wasn't long before I realised just how much of a tough situation Harper was in. Having strong feelings for two different guys - who are best friends!!! - that are both intent on having her to themselves, is not something I'd like to deal with in reality. The author portrayed the characters conflicting emotions perfectly, and I was in a near constant anxious state about how it would all play out.
"You're all over the place, I don't know how to act around you, I don't know what you want!"
"I want you! All I've ever wanted is you."
Chase or Brandon? Brandon or Chase? It took me a while to decide, but I finally chose Chase. He was so unbelievably cute, thoughtful and caring when it came to Harper, their life and their possible future together, that I was then 110% Team Chase. But someone else wanted Chases attention and was willing to go to extreme lengths to make it happen, which resulted in some pretty hurt-filled scenes.
"I love you Princess." with tears falling freely from his eyes, he kissed me quickly and walked out the door.
And then it happened. What I had been warned about. My heart was torn from my chest; ripped in to tiny pieces. Stomped on. Driven over by an eighteen wheeler. And then for good measure, set on fire. I cried so hard and for so long that the entire next day my head was pounding. The events that happened were so incredibly painful it was hard to concentrate on the rest of the book, which made it feel like it was dragging and went on too long. Don't get me wrong, the story was great, there is a HEA and the epilogue is fantastic but I was still hurting and kept finding myself crying and wanting things to have worked out different.
People fall in and out of love all the time, and sometimes people have numerous loves throughout their lives. But you have two epic loves and no matter who you were with, I don't think you'd ever get over or forget the other.
I know that I for one, will never get over or forget the love that was lost in this story and I dare any of you to read this story and not be effected by it in some way. Whether you're heartbroken, angry, or heal and revel in the other tale of love in this story, it takes a special writer to have you so invested in their characters and the events that take place, that will bring out such strong emotions in you. Molly McAdams is that special writer and TAKING CHANCES is a book that will never let you go.
WARNING you will need the biggest tub of Ben & Jerry's you can find and a multi pack of Kleenex when reading this story.
When I moved here I wasn't planning on falling in love with the first two guys that came along. Hell, I wasn't planning on falling in love during College at all. I wanted to have dysfunctional relationships and flings, but did that happen? Nope.
Harper was brought up by her strict Marine father and surrounded by her Marine 'brothers' with no real life to call her own. So at eighteen years old she decides to move away to attend San Diego State University where she meets her roommate Bree, who takes her under her wing and introduces her to make-up, girly clothes, boys and parties. It's not long before Harper catches the eyes and hearts of sexy, muscled, tattooed, bad boy best friends, Chase and Brandon.
I felt like Elena from The Vampire Diaries. She has two insanely hot men who are in love with her and would do anything for her. One of which, she would give almost everything to be with, and the other she continues to push away, even though she can't ever actually stay away, so she won't have to admit she was in love with him too.
My initial thought on this was 'She's so lucky!!!!' but it wasn't long before I realised just how much of a tough situation Harper was in. Having strong feelings for two different guys - who are best friends!!! - that are both intent on having her to themselves, is not something I'd like to deal with in reality. The author portrayed the characters conflicting emotions perfectly, and I was in a near constant anxious state about how it would all play out.
"You're all over the place, I don't know how to act around you, I don't know what you want!"
"I want you! All I've ever wanted is you."
Chase or Brandon? Brandon or Chase? It took me a while to decide, but I finally chose Chase. He was so unbelievably cute, thoughtful and caring when it came to Harper, their life and their possible future together, that I was then 110% Team Chase. But someone else wanted Chases attention and was willing to go to extreme lengths to make it happen, which resulted in some pretty hurt-filled scenes.
"I love you Princess." with tears falling freely from his eyes, he kissed me quickly and walked out the door.
And then it happened. What I had been warned about. My heart was torn from my chest; ripped in to tiny pieces. Stomped on. Driven over by an eighteen wheeler. And then for good measure, set on fire. I cried so hard and for so long that the entire next day my head was pounding. The events that happened were so incredibly painful it was hard to concentrate on the rest of the book, which made it feel like it was dragging and went on too long. Don't get me wrong, the story was great, there is a HEA and the epilogue is fantastic but I was still hurting and kept finding myself crying and wanting things to have worked out different.
People fall in and out of love all the time, and sometimes people have numerous loves throughout their lives. But you have two epic loves and no matter who you were with, I don't think you'd ever get over or forget the other.
I know that I for one, will never get over or forget the love that was lost in this story and I dare any of you to read this story and not be effected by it in some way. Whether you're heartbroken, angry, or heal and revel in the other tale of love in this story, it takes a special writer to have you so invested in their characters and the events that take place, that will bring out such strong emotions in you. Molly McAdams is that special writer and TAKING CHANCES is a book that will never let you go.
There aren't any hard spoilers in this review, but it hints to things that occur in the book. That in itself could spoil the book for you.
I don't usually write reviews... I might say a few words but something about this book changed that for me.
First off, the cover of this book is very misleading, the description, too. While this book does have a "love triangle", it's not about the love triangle in the sense that I am used too. I give this book 3.5 stars. Some parts, I would give 5, and some parts I would give 1. This was a very emotional book for me. Before I started reading the book I accidentally read a review that revealed the ending. I decided to go ahead and read the book. I had pretty much figured out what would happen, but I wasn't prepared for the emotions that would come with the tragedy. I was heartbroken.
I really liked and disliked this book. I thought Harper made decisions based on her emotions. Most girls her age do this and do it often. I believe she was very mature in trying to clean up the mess she made. She wasn't a whiny, poor me girl who thought the world was out to get her. Brandon is too good to be true and if there are really guys out there like him, girls you better snatch them up and hold them close. Chase was the bad boy everyone couldn't help but love. I wished there was a little more from him but I am not sure I could have handled it once everything happened.
All in all, it's a great read. It's different from all the other love triangles out there. A nice change of pace. But be ready to be devastated.
ETA: I wanted to add that I gave the book 3.5 stars because I didn't like how some of the things were handled after the tragedy. I feel like things could have and should have been handled differently.
I had to change it to 4 stars. The more I think about it, the more I like the book that much more.
I don't usually write reviews... I might say a few words but something about this book changed that for me.
First off, the cover of this book is very misleading, the description, too. While this book does have a "love triangle", it's not about the love triangle in the sense that I am used too. I give this book 3.5 stars. Some parts, I would give 5, and some parts I would give 1. This was a very emotional book for me. Before I started reading the book I accidentally read a review that revealed the ending. I decided to go ahead and read the book. I had pretty much figured out what would happen, but I wasn't prepared for the emotions that would come with the tragedy. I was heartbroken.
I really liked and disliked this book. I thought Harper made decisions based on her emotions. Most girls her age do this and do it often. I believe she was very mature in trying to clean up the mess she made. She wasn't a whiny, poor me girl who thought the world was out to get her. Brandon is too good to be true and if there are really guys out there like him, girls you better snatch them up and hold them close. Chase was the bad boy everyone couldn't help but love. I wished there was a little more from him but I am not sure I could have handled it once everything happened.
All in all, it's a great read. It's different from all the other love triangles out there. A nice change of pace. But be ready to be devastated.
ETA: I wanted to add that I gave the book 3.5 stars because I didn't like how some of the things were handled after the tragedy. I feel like things could have and should have been handled differently.
I had to change it to 4 stars. The more I think about it, the more I like the book that much more.
This book keeps me up at night because I hate it so much.
Spoilers ahead. So our book follows Harper, and she’s SPECIAL because she was home schooled, has red hair, and most importantly, a virgin. And she is different from all other girls at college (insert eye roll here). She meets her roommate, Bree, and they become bffs on sight and then she meets her brother, Chase, who you know is her love interest, whose personality is the cliched bad boy trope, and he knows she is SPECIAL because she refuses to sleep with him and tells him he’s a man-whore. Then she meets Brandon, whose personality was similar to a cardboard cut out, but they are IN LOVE. And you can tell because she refuses to sleep with him (side note: I wouldn’t be upset with this if the later events in the book didn’t happen, in fact, I would even be supportive of it) and makes a big deal how she needs to lose her virginity at the RIGHT time with the RIGHT guy. And then they break up and get back together because other girls keep sexting Brandon and trying to make Harper jealous because that’s how life works. And she goes crying to Chase and they have A MOMENT but then she goes back to Brandon (hold on, it gets worse). So after they get back together, she spends Christmas with Bree and Chase, and they have MOMENTS (and he creates he a tattoo and I’m pretty sure she didn’t see it before he put it on her and it’s also really huge?? And it makes no sense??). And so they sleep together because Harper decides he is SPECIAL and they don’t use birth control (I bet you can guess the next part), but she goes back to Brandon anyways and doesn’t tell him, and low and behold, she gets pregnant. (Like, she doesn’t even realize for like four and half months, despite gaining weight and not having her period, and neither do the two guys??) (Oh, and she still won’t sleep with Brandon???) And so then everyone slowly finds out, baby daddy last of all, she breaks up with the first bf to get with the second (meanwhile, throwing fits when either of then so much as look at another girl, despite her being the one who cheated) and they are HAPPY and then there’s a FAKE LESBIAN (not a bisexual woman, a fake lesbian) who drigs Chase and sends Harper pics of the two of them together (sexual abuse, fyi) and Harper goes berserk and when Chase finds out what happens, he rushes home, runs a red light and dies (if only the rest of the cast had gone with him). Now, I stopped reading after the funeral when the fake lesbian told Harper she was sorry and blah blah blah. But the epilogue is them (Harper and Brandon) married with two kids (one who was Chase’s) talking about how they are grateful life turned out this way and whatever.
It’s terrible, I seriously dream about ripping this book up.
Spoilers ahead. So our book follows Harper, and she’s SPECIAL because she was home schooled, has red hair, and most importantly, a virgin. And she is different from all other girls at college (insert eye roll here). She meets her roommate, Bree, and they become bffs on sight and then she meets her brother, Chase, who you know is her love interest, whose personality is the cliched bad boy trope, and he knows she is SPECIAL because she refuses to sleep with him and tells him he’s a man-whore. Then she meets Brandon, whose personality was similar to a cardboard cut out, but they are IN LOVE. And you can tell because she refuses to sleep with him (side note: I wouldn’t be upset with this if the later events in the book didn’t happen, in fact, I would even be supportive of it) and makes a big deal how she needs to lose her virginity at the RIGHT time with the RIGHT guy. And then they break up and get back together because other girls keep sexting Brandon and trying to make Harper jealous because that’s how life works. And she goes crying to Chase and they have A MOMENT but then she goes back to Brandon (hold on, it gets worse). So after they get back together, she spends Christmas with Bree and Chase, and they have MOMENTS (and he creates he a tattoo and I’m pretty sure she didn’t see it before he put it on her and it’s also really huge?? And it makes no sense??). And so they sleep together because Harper decides he is SPECIAL and they don’t use birth control (I bet you can guess the next part), but she goes back to Brandon anyways and doesn’t tell him, and low and behold, she gets pregnant. (Like, she doesn’t even realize for like four and half months, despite gaining weight and not having her period, and neither do the two guys??) (Oh, and she still won’t sleep with Brandon???) And so then everyone slowly finds out, baby daddy last of all, she breaks up with the first bf to get with the second (meanwhile, throwing fits when either of then so much as look at another girl, despite her being the one who cheated) and they are HAPPY and then there’s a FAKE LESBIAN (not a bisexual woman, a fake lesbian) who drigs Chase and sends Harper pics of the two of them together (sexual abuse, fyi) and Harper goes berserk and when Chase finds out what happens, he rushes home, runs a red light and dies (if only the rest of the cast had gone with him). Now, I stopped reading after the funeral when the fake lesbian told Harper she was sorry and blah blah blah. But the epilogue is them (Harper and Brandon) married with two kids (one who was Chase’s) talking about how they are grateful life turned out this way and whatever.
It’s terrible, I seriously dream about ripping this book up.
Incredible book .. a amazing roller coaster ride of emotions. This book will forever be one of the best I have ever read. Simply awesome!!
March 24 2017 ... Still to this day, this book is my favorite and the best roller coaster of a book I have ever read! Read it!
March 24 2017 ... Still to this day, this book is my favorite and the best roller coaster of a book I have ever read! Read it!
It was cute. But honestly throughout the whole story I felt as if the author just played out some sort of high school fantasy she had because it was so unbelievably unrealistic, and that’s compared to other unrealistically ridiculous books like Twilight. But it was a nice read, I will most likely read it at some point in the somewhat near future.
Check out more reviews here.
Check out more reviews here.
First half of the book is really good and then it does drag a little bit while you are trying to figure out whether you want to keep reading and what might happen next. Glad I pushed through to the end, as it was nice closure for the book.
Ohh.. I really wanted to like it. I’ve been wanting to read something by this author for awhile and I saw this was available in my library so I took a chance….
I didn’t like Harper. I just couldn’t and it had nothing to do with the choices she made I just couldn’t like the character. Maybe it was because everyone adored her or maybe it was she was kind of a hypocrite.
As for the guys.. Well Brandon was sweet mountain of a gentleman while Chase was the tattooed bad boy with the artistic sweet side.. He was misunderstood. And you know what that is fine with me. A lot of stories have these guys and I enjoy reading those stories. I actually enjoyed reading about these guys. I think they fell a little to fast and a little too strong but whatever its the story. Carter, I actually liked Carter of course he fell for the beautiful ever perfect Harper and got hurt he made some mistakes and acted immature but I liked him in the end.
I didn’t like the story. I’m all for second chance stories. Sometime they come off as sweet and you’re like “Yay! they forgive each other and are happy together now YAY!” but towards the end of this one I could have cared less what happened to these characters.
I suppose the Happily Ever After ending was cute… I like those sometimes. I kind of wish Harper wasn’t a part of it but whatever she was the main character and I suppose no matter my dislike she deserved an HEA.
I have to say at times though even if I didn’t care for this book it played with my emotions ( not as severely as some books but a little tugging here and there)
I can see others enjoying this book. It has your love triangle. It can definitely tug at the heart strings at times. A big twist in the middle with a HEA ending. I just couldn’t get into it but I did finish it.
I’ve heard a lot of good things about this author and I’m going to try another series she wrote when I get in the mood for this kind of book again. I really wanted to like this one but sadly I didn’t.