Let It Go by Brooklyn James

Let It Go on Goodreads
Let It Go on Amazon

We meet sweet, sassy Savannah Bondurant an hour after she's signed the paper to officially free herself from Jack Brigant, the man from whom she's been separated for the past year and a half.

"Has it escaped your attention that you are a marriage columnist?" her quirky boss, Willow, exasperates upon hearing the news.

Savannah creatively decides to use this new development in her life to appeal to those who've gone through, or are going through, the same thing. She's excited to share with her readers her experiences as she begins this new, unexpected chapter in her life. You see, there was no huge, explosive breakup. No cheating scandal. No sordid affairs. Savannah and Jack simply grew up and grew apart.

"People grow, they evolve, and not always in the same direction." Savannah tells Jack, after he shows up, in shock, that she's actually signed the papers.

It simply just wasn't working anymore, and Savannah refused to spend her life in an unhappy marriage. Savannah, although nervous, is eager to move on begin this new journey, adamant that she's not looking for anything other than friendship.

"I'm not going to be that girl, hopping out of one relationship and right into another. I am not afraid to be alone."

Famous last words, right? Enter Gym Boy,  the smoking hot stranger that Savannah's secretly noticed at her gym four days a week, every week, for the past year.

Standing about six-foot-four, weighing in at two-hundred-twenty-five pounds, with a chest and shoulders out to there, his waist and hips narrow, chiseling his form into a delightfully attractive V.

"There's this guy at my gym. I swear it's like an episode of Clash of the Dinosaurs: Mating Season on the Discovery Channel every time I'm near him." Savannah hilariously reveals to her sister, Jac.

Fate. Coincidence. The universe aligning. Call it what you want, but there's something to be said for the fact that on this day, the first day of the rest of Savannah's life, Gym Boy, speaks to her for the first time, finally introducing himself as Brody McAllister. After a playful, flirtatious exchange, they part ways, but not before Brody can leave a note with his number inviting Savannah to join him for a run anytime she wishes. She soon finds herself contacting him, and they fall into comfortable conversation as they begin to get to know one another.

As there is an undeniable attraction between the two, Savannah and Brody quickly find themselves unable to fight the scorching chemistry that radiates whenever they're together.

His intuition magic, he reads her, every part of her like his favorite book, knowing exactly how to touch her, taste her, enchant her.

As they spend more time together, it becomes to clear that there are feelings between the two. Savannah's apprehensive to begin another relationship out of fear that she'll end up in the same spot again. For now, Brody's comfortable enough to let her set the pace, his own experiences having allowed him to understand the need for time.

"We all have scars, Savannah. Wounds. They take time to close. To heal. But in the meantime, you'd be better off to stop second-guessing yourself. Beating yourself up over past mistakes. Trust me."

The question remaining is how long will it take Savannah to allow herself to give in to her feelings for Brody...and how just how long is Brody willing to wait?

Savannah: I really enjoyed Savannah in this book. She was so down-to-Earth and comfortable in her own skin. She had such a positive outlook on like that I admire, especially when she could be drowning in post-divorce blues. She knew what direction she wanted to take her life in and she made it happen, no matter how hard it hurt. In the end, she came out a better person, with a better relationship, and a more beautiful view on life, love, and the art of letting go.

Brody: Brody was a fantastic male lead. Three years after his divorce, Brody chooses to be picky about the woman he plans on settling down with. He has a "checklist" of sorts, and darnit if he doesn't find himself mentally clicking off items every time he's with Savannah. Even though Savannah is the relationship columnist, Brody is akin to a modern day love guru. Rather than wallow in self pity, he used his relationship experiences and let downs to provide the insightful, heartfelt guidance that Savannah needs as they navigate the unknown waters of post-divorce dating.

Jack: Jack Brigant is an irritatingly sympathetic character, and he's ultimately an understandably lost man who is having trouble coping with the fact that he's now divorced. Although he did nothing to try and keep her, he didn't want to lose her, and now he's wallowing in self-pity. He cannot accept that his marriage is over, or that he had any responsibility in the breakdown of it. I'd actually really be interested in reading another story with Jack working through his issues and finding the woman he'd actually be willing to fight for and do anything to keep her.

The supporting cast truly made this book remarkable. Every character was relatable in one way or another. At times, I had to set my Kindle down and contemplate on various situations with which I could associate some of my own life experiences to better understand the character. Throughout the course of the story, we're given an incredible group of women whose stories are woven beautifully with Savannah's. We have many interactions with her sisters, mother, and nieces. The female dynamic amongst the Bondurant women is beautiful, heartwarming, and at times, laugh out loud funny. The extraordinary display of love and affection between the three Bondurant girls brought tears to my eyes. They loved each other fiercely, creating an undeniable support system as each sister dealt with real life issues that had them questioning everything they've ever known.

Overall, this was a refreshing, realistic take on modern relationships. We've all known someone whose suffered through divorce, or perhaps you have yourself. It can be painful. It can be lonely. It can be so agonizing that you're filled with pain with every breath you take. But it can also be exactly what you need. It can be revitalizing. It can rejuvenate your soul and revive your heart. That's the message I got from this beautiful story of taking the reigns and finding happiness if you can just find a way to Let It Go.

Collide by Gail McHugh

Goodreads: Collide by Gail McHugh
Amazon: Collide by Gail McHugh

A missed first encounter…

Colliding with a second chance…

On the heels of graduating college and trying to cope with her mother’s death, Emily Cooper moves to New York City for a fresh start.

While harboring secrets of his own, Dillon Parker takes care of Emily through her grief. Knowing he can’t live without her by his side, he’s sweet, thoughtful, and everything Emily has ever wanted in a man.

Until she meets Gavin Blake—a rich and notorious playboy who is dangerously sexy and charming as hell. Emily tries to deny the instant connection she feels, but Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome is not inclined to let go so easily. Recovering from his own painful past, Gavin will stop at nothing to win Emily over.

This unexpected encounter compels Emily to question her decisions, forcing her to make a choice that will destroy friendships, shatter hearts, and forever change her life.

Phew, wow, what a rollercoaster!

Emily Cooper, a recent college graduate, is trying to get over the death of her mother as she moves to New York to be near her boyfriend, Dillon, and to move in with her best friend, Olivia. While she searches for a teaching job, she takes a position as a waitress at a local Italian restaurant. After a delivery boy quits, she's sent on a order run to Blake Enterprises where she encounters Gavin Blake, with whom she has an instant connection.

Take-your-breath-away good looking. Want-to-strip-your-body-naked-and-let-him-devour-you-alive good looking. Certified-eye-candy good looking.

The next day Mr. Tall, Dark, and Fuckable Handsome, the more than appropriate moniker Emily's bestowed upon Gavin, shows up at her restaurant. Although in love with Dillon, she's drawn to Gavin and his sexy smile, beautiful blue eyes, and incessant charm. After a flirtacious exchange, in which Gavin expresses his definite interest, Emily gives him a fake name and sends him on his way, but she can't stop thinking about him all the while.

Several nights later, Dillon talks her into meeting his at a club to meet some of his buddies. Little does she know that Gavin happens to be one of those buddies. As she approaches the table, she's shocked to find him there: Mr. Tall, Dark, and Fuckable Handsome.

Situations continue to push Gavin and Emily together, while Dillon becomes increasingly controlling, possessive, and begins working extremely late nights. As Dillon's neglect continues, Gavin's always right there to lavish Emily with the attention he knows she deserves. He promises to just be looking for friendship, but he can't seem to stay away, can't seem to keep his hands to himself, and can't help falling for her. Emily is not far behind. As she begins to realize that Dillon is not the man she thought he was, she finds herself wanting Gavin more and more with each passing day.

Will Emily realize that Gavin's the man she's meant to be with, or will she make the biggest mistake of her life and stay with Dillon?

 

I loved this book and the incredible, intense, passionate chemistry between Emily and Gavin. From the beginning, it's clear that Dillon has a few screws loose, but Emily has a misguided notion that she owes him and loves him because of how caring he was during her mother's illness. Unfortunately, the further we get into the story, the more unraveled, erratic, and creepy Dillon becomes. At the same time, Emily's struggling to fight the gravitational pull she feels whenever Gavin is around. It was so abundantly clear which man was perfect for her, which man found love, cherish, and protect her, and you find yourself rooting for him from the very first encounter.

Gavin. I absolutely adored Gavin. He treated Emily with more passion, love, and respect that her boyfriend of the last year. There wasn't a single second that I questioned his motives. He knew what he wanted, no qualms about it.

I'd never hurt you, Emily. Stop fighting me. Stop fighting what you already know.

I want to take my time with you, brushing my fingers over the sports he's neglected. He's never loved you the way you need to be loved.

Say it with me now...Dillon Who?!

And Emily. Oh, Emily, I love to hate you. Honestly, I liked Emily and her interactions with Gavin, but there were so many times I wanted to smack her over the damn head. The girl drove me nuts!!

There were so many signs and indications that Dillon was so wrong for her, but she either ignored them or rationalized them. I couldn't imagine being Olivia, having to sit back and watch your best friend in such a destructive relationship.

I won't say much more because I don't want to give anything away, but it really bothered me that Emily couldn't see Dillon for the lying bastard that he was, but she was so quick to believe that absolute worst of Gavin without a second thought.

Again, I loved this book, finished it in a day. I can't stop thinking about this story and what's going to happen next. I'm on pins and needles until Pulse comes out!!

 

Escorted by Claire Kent

Review is intended for mature audiences, 18+.

Synopsis:

She hired him to take her virginity...but now she wants even more.

Lori might be a popular romance writer, but she's never been anything but a flop with sex and love in her personal life. Still a virgin at twenty-six and increasingly frustrated by her inexperience, she decides to take matters into her own hands. She hires a talented, sexy male escort to take care of her inconvenient virginity.

She assumes one time with Ander will be enough, but she never dreams how much pleasure he can make her feel. Once isn't nearly enough. Twice isn't enough either. Soon, she becomes one of his regular clients.

Lori knows that nothing would be as foolish as falling in love with her paid escort, but she's never been wise with her heart. And, despite his professionalism, he doesn't seem entirely immune either.

My rating: 4 Stars

As an Amazon freebie, I wasn't really sure what to expect with this one. I'm pleased to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Lori is best selling romance author who is known for her steamy sex scenes. She's also a twenty-six year old virgin who is ready just get it over with already. Instead of waiting for a real man, she decides to hire an escort to take her virginity and maybe teach her a thing or two.

Ander is the perfect man for the job. He's bald, sexy, and oozes sensuality. It also doesn't hurt that this man totally knows his way around the bedroom.

Seriously, the perfect Ander. Who wouldn't want this bedroom tutor?

The initial encounter yields some promising results, but it's clear that Lori could benefit from Ander's expertise a few more times.

The way this book was written was very interesting to me. For the most part, the interactions between Lori and Ander are in the hotel room. The author did a fantastic job at slowly showing the progression and the changes in the relationship from client/escort to a fast friendship to even maybe something more.  She dropped subtle hints along the way, and it was killing me every time Lori noticed a change but didn't really put much credence to it. At the same time, this is one of things that I loved about her. She went into this knowing it was going to be all business, and she didn't mind. Even as she found herself falling for him she was strong enough to keep her feelings at bay. She didn't turn into a weak sniveling heroine. She kept her head up and continued to enjoy the ride. ;)

Ander was pretty much perfect for me. From the beginning, it was so clear that he was drawn to her. He treated her like she was so much more than just a client. Watching him bring out Lori's sensuality was no where near clinical. He treated her as if she were his most coveted lover. The man that things can do in the bedroom...whew!

One of my favorite aspects of this book is that Ander and Lori interacted with such ease. It was heartwarming to watch them quickly become friends, and soon they had me chanting "TELL HER ALL YOUR FEELS!!!"

We are treated to some action outside of the hotel, and I really was left wanting more. Don't get me wrong, I loved the hotel interactions, but it was refreshing to see them in another setting. However, that doesn't affect my rating in any way. I think the point of this book is for us to see the relationship development from the hotel room, and the author did a fantastic job paving the way.

All in all, this was a really good read and I will check out more from Claire Kent!

Rocked Under by Cora Hawkes

Read March 6, 2013.

Rocked Under by Cora Hawkes

Goodreads Synopsis:

Picking up the pieces and starting again in the US, Emma enrols in college with her cousin, Ashley. She is finally free to do what she wants and live how she chooses, and no man will ever rule her decisions or emotions again.

That is, until Scott Mason walks on stage...

Intense bad boy Scott is the lead singer of a popular local rock band. A ladies’ man and Ashley's long-time friend, Scott holds an instant fascination for Emma — she finds herself drawn to him, even though he represents everything she hates and needs to stay away from in a guy. He treats females like he does a cigarette — light it, use it, and lose it.

For her cousin's sake, Emma makes an effort to get along with Scott, but she soon discovers that there is more to him than first appears, making him even more dangerous in her eyes. Behind the façade of friendship, jealousy, obsession, fear and insecurity fester — an internal battle rages as she fights her attraction and does everything she can to stop history from repeating itself.

One thing she knows for sure is that if she breaks her rule, it may destroy her.

3.5 stars from me on this one.

If I could describe this book in one word, it would be frustrating. I found myself wanting to yell at both main characters throughout the entirety of the book, to the point where I was beginning to not even care if they decided to get together.

Emma has moved from her home in England to the United States to start college with her cousin, Ashley. Almost immediately, Ashley warns Emma off of her best friend Scott, the bad boy musician who lives in the apartment above them. According to Ash, Scott doesn’t date, he just screws around with a different chick every night. Personally, this irritated the ever loving crap out of me. It's cool to look out for your girlfriends, but sweet Jesus, let the girl come to her own conclusions.
Emma and Scott’s first encounter is a very steamy, erotic dance at the nightclub where Scott’s band plays. Emma is drawn to him immediately, but pushes him away once she realizes who he is. Thus begins the game of “I want him…but I can’t… I like him….but he’s a man whore…. I reallllllllly want him…but he’ll hurt me.” Emma is so back and forth that if I’d have been in a moving car I’d have gotten whiplash.

Emma and Scott have incredibly undeniable chemistry, but she stands firm on their belief that they can only be friends. As their friendship develops, it becomes clear to everyone and their mom that Scott wants Emma more than all those other girls who’ve shared his bed. Unfortunately, Emma’s too blind to see that she’d be more than a notch in his belt, so she continues to play the friend game.

Scott’s not without his faults, either. Come on, dude. If you’re trying to prove to a girl that she’s more to you than just another lay, it’s probably wise to stop bringing home a different girl every night. You’re not really giving her any indication that you’ve changed. In fact, she may as well run for the hills. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t blame the guy for getting his rocks off after the twentieth time Emma told him she didn’t want him or that he wasn’t good enough, but in the beginning, a little self-restraint may have caused a lot less heartache.

Lastly, I really failed to connect with Scott and Emma as a couple. The lust factor was off the charts, but I really didn’t feel the emotional connection between the two.

Regardless of my rant, I did like the story. I just felt like the relationship could’ve been developed a bit more to make me really feel the love between Scott and Emma. I believe they have the potential of having a deep, meaningful, loving relationship. Perhaps I’ll feel it more in the second book.

The Boots My Mother Gave Me by Brooklyn James

Read February 17-18, 2013

The Boots My Mother Gave Me


Goodreads Synopsis
Strong-willed tomboy Harley LeBeau puts you in the boots her mother gave her, as she takes you along her journey of escape from an abusive childhood and the desire to find herself as she comes of age. Made to feel a burden to her father simply by her gender, Harley is determined to prove her worth and independence, leaving the small town she grew up in and the one boy who gave her a soft place to fall, Jeremiah Johnson. Torn between saving herself and abandoning her mother and younger sister, Harley chooses her own life in hopes they will choose theirs, too.

I found it really difficult to put into words just how deeply I loved this book. It's been days since I read it, and I still cannot get it off of my mind.

Harley's home life was terrible, to say the least. An abusive father? Check. An enabling, apologist mother? Check. Younger sister to protect? Yep, we have that, too. Incredible, swoon-worthy protective best friend of the opposite gender? Oh yeah, Miah fills that role quite well.
Jeremiah and Harley have been best friends since childhood. He was her first kiss, her first love, her first.

 

 



After high school graduation and one last beautiful night with Miah, Harley left her town and her abusive father behind, while Miah went off to join the military. Neither of them really knew where they were going, or when they'd see each other again.

Throughout the course of the book we travel with Harley as she goes from town to town, working various jobs and investing in various relationships. She keeps in close contact with her family, so we continue to learn about what's happening at home, as well. Several times Harley finds herself back in Georgia, PA, straight back into the family drama she tried to leave behind.

And then there's Miah. I swear, Miah had the patience of a saint. He always knew that Harley was it for him, and he was just waiting for her to stop running.

Overall, this story resonated within me. I cried, laughed, and found myself contemplating the various situations throughout Harley's journey. I'll remember this story for a long time, and would recommend it to anyone. I'm going to re-read and probable add to this review, because this is a book that deserves more than one pass.

Beauty From Pain by Georgia Cates

Read March 4, 2013.

Beauty From Pain by Georgia Cates

Goodreads Synopsis:

They agreed on three months...but their love knew no boundaries.

Jack McLachlan is a winemaking magnate and easily one of Australia’s most eligible bachelors. His success and wealth make him no stranger to the complications of romantic relationships and that’s why he goes to extreme measures to avoid the hassle. He prefers simplicity in the form of a beautiful female companion with no strings attached. He arranges relationships like business deals and they’re always the same. No long term relationships. No real names.

It’s his game and his rules. He’s content to play as usual, but when Laurelyn Prescott enters his life, his strategy must change because this player is like none he's ever encountered. His world is turned on its head after he begins a three month affair with the beautiful American musician. Nothing goes according to plan and as he breaks more and more of his own rules for her, she’s exceptionally close to becoming something he never thought possible. His ultimate game changer.

Not recommended for younger readers due to sexual content and language.

My Review:

My Jack:

Jack Henry McLachlan, a wealthy wine magnate and one of Australia's most notorious bachelors, is a man who doesn't do relationships, and he certainly never falls in love. Jack does anonymous, casual sex, and he's looking for his next fling.

American musician Laurelyn Prescott is spending the next three months in Australia with her best friend, Addison. Jack becomes enchanted with her when he witnesses her singing at a bar on her first night in Australia. She's beautiful, breathtaking, and best of all, she'll be thousands of miles away when he's done with her.

After a quick encounter at the bar, and another at a local wine event, Laurelyn agrees to go to dinner with Jack. Jack uses this date to extend his proposition to Laurelyn: They're together exclusively for the next three months, they use aliases, and at the end, they part ways without another glance. Initially, Laurelyn immediately says no. Hell no.

Jack, not one to give up that easily, tells her to think about it and if she changes her mind, she can meet him the next evening.

If you say yes, you'd spend the next three months having the time of your life.

The more she thinks about it, the more fascinated Laurelyn is with the idea. Addison is quick to push her to accept. Umm, the best three months of your life and fantasties coming true? It's a no brainer.  Laurelyn accepts his proposal, with neither of them realizing that this relationship will end up like neither of them expected.

Over time, they both realize that this physical, no emotions relationship isn't enough, and they both are struggling to fight the rising feelings that have developed over time. As they continue to spend their days and nights together, they inadvertently begin to learn more and more about each other, making it even harder to fight their feelings.

Their time goes by all too quickly, and eventually it's time for Laurelyn to head back to the States.

It's all good, right? This is exactly what Laurelyn signed up for, and exactly what Jack wanted. This is what was meant to be, right? Or have they invaded each other's hearts in such a way that saying goodbye is devastatingly impossible?

To put it plain and simply, I loved this book. I was pleasantly surprised with dual POVs. It was thrilling hearing Jack's side of things as his relationship with Laurelyn progressed. I loved and admired Laurelyn's strength. Even once she realized her feelings were growing, she was strong enough to accept that Jack hadn't signed up for that. I did want to shake her a bit once it was so obvious that he was head over heels for her.

The bedroom/bathroom/gym/pool scenes are some of the steamiest I've read in a while. Both Jack and Laurelyn are extremely passionate, sexual individuals and they simply ignite when they touch. Their sexual chemistry,  their chemistry in general, is explosive.

This book ends in a cliffhanger in the utmost heartbreaking fashion, and days later, I can't stop thinking about Jack Henry and Laurelyn. I need part 2 NOW!

Reckless by S.C. Stephens

Read March 5-6, 2013.

The final installment of Kellan and Kiera's fiery, passionate love story.

Reckless by S.C. Stephens

GoodReads Synopsis:

Can love survive when life gets Reckless?

When the band hits it big, Kiera and Kellan must ask themselves: Can their love for each other survive the constant pressures of superstardom? The friendships they've formed, the new family they've found, and the history they've forged will all play a part in helping them navigate the turbulent waters of the band's exploding popularity. A greedy executive hell-bent on success, a declining pop star looking for an edge, and a media circus that twists lies into truths are just some of the obstacles the lovers will have to overcome if they are going to remain together. Fame comes with a price-but will it cost Kiera and Kellan everything?


Warning: Do not read if you have not read Thoughtless or Effortless.

My Kellan Kyle:

My Kiera Allen Kyle:

I’m sitting here contemplating what I want to say, and it’s proving to be difficult. I’m not sure I can put into words how breathtakingly happy the final chapter in Kellan and Kiera’s story was. My heart is so freaking full of rainbows and butterflies and guitars, but it’s breaking at the same time as we come to an end in this incredible journey that S.C. Stephens took us on.

Reckless begins right after Kellan and Kiera’s spiritual “wedding” at Pete’s. In their hearts they are 100% in a committed marriage, although it’s they’ve not legally wed. Kellan intends to marry Kiera legally, but for now, this is enough.

Kellan and the D-Bags are headed to L.A. to work on and promote their first album. While there, a famous pop star, Sienna “slutface” (okay, that’s MY nickname for the wench) Sexton wants to collaborate with the D-Bags in an effort to jumpstart their careers.

The song becomes and instant hit, and soon the media/record label are making it appear as though they’re the next big Hollywood couple, so much so that they get a cringe-worthy combining name that’s worse than Brangelina or Bennifer. No matter how much Kellan protests, the media and the crazy fans believe what they want.

Regardless of the media story, Kiera is by her man every step of the way. Kiera really surprised me in this book. She annoyed the hell out of me in the first two books, but she really stepped up to be the loving, trusting, supportive fiancé that Kellan deserved and desperately needed to help navigate through the waters of his newfound fame.

I will always love you, Kellan. You heart is safe with me.

Kellan…who doesn’t love Kellan Kyle?! His love and devotion for Kiera shone throughout this entire book. He's torn between wanting to do the best for band, but also making sure that he doesn't jeopardize his relationship with Kiera. He'd gladly give up the fame for her, but he doesn't want to disappointed Matt, Evan, and Griffin. Kiera steps up and helps push him in the right direction, and it's incredible to see how much she's changed. In a certain music video scene, my heart absolutely broke for him, but it was so incredible that Kiera was able to walk with him every step of the way without resorting to her crazy jealousy tendencies.

I was remembering all of the reasons why I love you so much. I was appreciating everything you do, and everything you are. I was falling in love with you, all over again.

Anna and Griffin were such fantastic, hilarious supporting characters. I would love a book just based on them. They helped make even the worst situations into light-hearted messes that just made you laugh. Watching them fall for each other was an added bonus.

We get a bit of Denny, as well, and it's heartwarming to see how the relationship between the three of them, along with Abby, has survived and continues to thrive. It's amazing how far they have come since the days of Thoughtless.

Reckless was exactly the ending that Kellan and Kiera deserved. S.C. Stephens did an incredible job showing the development and growth between both characters. I felt nothing but love, trust, and support between these two. They didn’t falter once even though it seemed that all the outside forces wanted to rip them apart. They clung to each other with every breath, every heartbeat, every step of the way. Everyone moment in Thoughtless and Effortless led us to this end. And I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

You’ll never know how incredible you are to me, how desperately I love you. I would do it all over again if I needed to. I’d go back to the beginning for you.

Taking Chances

Hey everyone! This is my first post on my new blog. I've been reviewing books on Goodreads.com and figured I'd take a shot at blogging my thoughts. I'm 25 and I live in Ohio with my husband. I work as a defense contractor with General Dynamics. I read probably more than I should. I think I could super glue my Nook to one hand and my Kindle to the other and live happily ever after. It's only the end of February and I've already read 79 books. I'm a little crazy. I look forward to discussing books, sharing recipes, and wine tips. My husband, Derek, will be stopping by from time to time as he tries out new recipes.

For my first post, I'm going to review Taking Chances by Molly McAdams. It was one of my favorite books from 2012.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15739018-taking-chances

GoodReads Synopsis:
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.

This book stayed with me for a long time. This was the first book I wrote a review for on GoodReads. I sometimes have problems putting my feelings into words, so a lot of times I just give it a star rating and move on. I finished Taking Chances on September 23 and as of Oct 26 I couldn't get this damn book out of my head. I have no eloquent words or a catchy synopsis, but TRUST ME when I tell you that you need to read this story. I've never felt so off balance when reading before. My heart rate increased with every page turned.

This story will make you laugh, smile, and your heart will soar. You'll also cry, curse, feel the urge to throw things, clutch your pillow tightly, use a whole tissue box, and feel the pain of a broken heart. You'll be pulled in both directions more than once. You'll fall in love with Brandon. You'll recklessly feel passion for Chase. You'll understand Harper's struggles, indecisions, heartache. You'll also feel her moments of happiness and love. And when it's all said and done, this is a story that'll stick with you for a long time.

And if, scratch that, WHEN you read this book, I highly recommend checking out Molly McAdam's playlist after reading. She picked the perfect songs as the soundtrack to this story. (Can you guess what I'm listening to right now?)

So do yourself a favor and check out this book. Just come prepared with tissues, chocolate, and a glass of wine. You're going to need them.