Lovin' los libros

Stealing Harper (Taking Chances #2)
   by: Molly McAdams

Publication Date: May 21, 2013
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received from Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review
Page Count: 400 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2.5/5 stars

                                                                           -goodreads.com description
 

I guess I'd better preface this with the fact that I did not actually read Taking Chances. I saw this on Edelweiss and thought it was a stand-alone book discussing a new set of characters and not that it was the same exact book but from Chase's POV. So- minus one for me.

My biggest problem with this book was that I could not bring myself to like the characters. Chase is your ultimate, womanizing bad boy and Harper is your sweet, wholesome, innocent girl. When she first meets Chase, she is repulsed by him. And why wouldn't she be? She's seen him hanging around and ogling at least 3 girls at his party. She has him pegged from the get-go. Chase can't figure out why he's drawn to this girl, but he's always up for a challenge. But her gray eyes haunt him and soon he is starting to question himself and his feelings for her.

This drove me crazy. Chase's good friend Brandon, on multiple occasions, asked Chase if it was ok if he pursued Harper. Every time Chase was all nonchalant, saying she was just another girl, she didn't matter to him, when in his head he was claiming his territory. And then to top it all off, once Chase saw that Brandon and Harper could have something, he acted like a complete douche, saying he needed to be the one to 'protect' her. The back and forth in Chase's head before he actually admitted to himself that he did have feelings for her drove me batty.

I know I'm not a guy and so I don't understand the guy code, but to watch Chase treat his best friend, someone he calls his brother, like complete and utter shit, really bothered me. Brandon had asked multiple times if Chase was ok with him going after Harper and Chase never stated otherwise. But as soon as they are together, Chase becomes vulgar, constantly saying things about him and Harper, just to get a rise out of Brandon.

I'm not Harper's biggest fan either. Again, I haven't read Taking Chances to see what her thought process was during all of this, but she was a girl who wanted it both ways in my opinion. She claimed she liked Brandon and wanted to be friends with Chase, but she sure had a funny way of showing her friendship. She really didn't put up much of a fight when Chase was putting the moves on her. Chase is constantly pulling some dick move and hurting her feelings. I know we can't choose who we love, but to choose a person who continually hurts you? I personally don't get it.

Don't get me wrong, Chase has some really sweet moments, where he really is thinking of her well-being and what's best for her. He pays attention to subtle things about her and what she likes and then surprises her by showing he knows what those things are. When she finally admits she's in love with him too, he is patient, kind, and genuinely loving. There's also a point where Chase finds out some big news in regards to Harper and he handles the information like a champ, where I would be mad as a hatter. (So, those moments are why I kicked my rating up a half of a star)

Oh, I also kicked it up a bit, because I loved Marissa. She made a very small appearance, as Brian's- a fellow friend and co-worker of Chase's- wife. She was sassy and wasn't afraid to tell Chase that he was being a complete moron for letting Harper walk away from him.

So why Ms. McAdams, did you have to take the storyline the way you did? I felt the "plot twist" as you may call it, was thrown in and completely unnecessary. I like drama and angst in my books, but only when they serve a purpose. We already saw the transformation in Chase's character. I found it completely unnecessary to have what happen, happen. (Sorry folks- no spoilers from me!)

And then... the ending. What? I mean, really? It ends like that? Are you kidding me? I know I haven't read the first book, but I needed some plot resolution here. That was a cop-out if you ask me.

Overall, this was one love triangle I could not stand. As I read in another review, "Harper loved Brandon. And wanted Chase." Yes, Akanksha, I must agree with you there.  If you liked Taking Chances, then hey. You might like this book, since you already know what's going to happen. Too much unnecessary drama and angst that didn't serve a purpose for me.