Lovin' los libros

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Review: Stealing Harper by Molly McAdams

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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


Chase Grayson has never been interested in having a relationship that lasts longer than it takes for him and his date to get dressed again. But then he stumbles into a gray-eyed girl whose innocence pours off her, and everything changes. From the minute Harper opens her mouth to let him know just how much he disgusts her, he's hooked.

But a princess deserves a Prince Charming who can make her dreams come true. Not a guy who can turn her life into a nightmare.

All good intentions go out the window when Harper starts to fall for the guy Chase has come to view as a brother. He wanted to protect her by keeping her away, but he can’t stand to see her with anyone else, and he’ll do anything to make her his. But when it comes down to Harper choosing between the two, will Chase have the strength to step back from the girl who has become his whole world if it means she’ll be happy?

Lines will be crossed. Friendships will be put to the test. And hearts will be shattered.
                                                                           -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.

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12 comments

  1. I decided to stay away from this book because I read Taking Chances... or more like DNFed it after 55% because I just couldn't deal with Harper anymore(I heard that something major happens with Chase shortly after that but won't mention it here because of spoilers). No reason for me to go through all this again from Chase's POV. As far as I can tell from reading your review, you had some of the same problems with this book that I had with the other one and apparently Chase and Harper deserve one another (and Brandon is a poor dude). So yeah... I get you.
    My DNF post about Taking Chances is here by the way in case you want to compare experiences.

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    1. Whew! I'm not the only one who felt the way I did then! I'm glad to hear that! I will definitely hop over and check out your DNF post because now I'm curious as to what you have to say about Harper!

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  2. The guy code is a strange thing...Great review!
    Jackie

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    1. Thanks Jackie! Yeah, I will never get the guy code. LOL.

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  3. I haven't read Taking Chances yet either. Chase sounds like a real winner though. Sometimes I really like a guy when he is a little protective and possessive but he has to be written right. Sounds like this may not be the case. Not sure if I should read Taking Chances first or not. Hmm.

    Great Review :-)

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    1. Thanks Chelsea. :D Yeah, I normally like guys like that, but I think there was too much overall drama and going back and forth that it didn't work for me. If I had to do it over, I wonder if I would've liked to read Taking Chances first. I don't know. Haha.

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  4. Thanks for the honest review, I'll be skipping these for now anyway.

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    1. Yeah, I definitely am not pissed that I read it, but had I known I probably would have pushed it to a later time.

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  5. I think this would be an interesting read without having read Taking Chances first and I am not sure it would have the same effect. I can however assume how this one ends considering what happens in Taking Chances and I will say that there is definitely resolution in the first book that you are probably missing out on.
    With that said, I definitely understand the points you didn't like about the book and they are some of the same things I didn't like in Taking Chances (unneccesary drama and unlikeable character behaviors). I am still curious to read this one but I definitely think I am making the right decision but pushing it to the back of the pile.

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    1. I figured as much there would be more resolution since it was from Harper's POV. And Chase, well, we know how that went.

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  6. I have decided I cannot read this book. I read Taking Chances, and that one thing...yeah, the spoiler/plot twist thing, totally happened to my mom so I was all gung ho when I thought TC would end one way and then was emotionally wrecked on a personal level so since I know the only way this could end...I just can't do it!

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    1. Oh wow, Courtney. I am sorry to hear that. I don't blame you for not wanting to read it and go through that scene again. I was NOT expecting McAdams to take these books where she did at all.

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