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.
Publication Date: October 16, 2012
What a crazy book! I was going to write my review yesterday,
but I needed another day to process the whole thing. I can’t honestly say I
loved the novel, but the author did take me on an emotional and heartbreaking
ride. Since I think it’s hard to review this book without posting spoilers,
there will be several below.
WARNING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
The beginning of the story starts out innocently enough: a sheltered
girl named Harper meets two AMAZING guys, both of whom seem to fall madly in
love with her within minutes of meeting her. She starts dating one of the boys,
Brandon, but then ends up cheating on him with the other boy Chase. She only
has sex with Chase because although Brandon is her boyfriend and she lurves
both boys so much, it just didn’t feel right with Brandon.
Because there’s so much heated passion between Chase and
Harper, she sleeps with him even after he tells her that he doesn’t have a
condom. She ends up pregnant— lucky a baby is all she ended up with since Chase
is a known womanizer. (Side note, why is it so popular these days to have the
love interest sleep with girls and not let them sleep in the guy’s bed or room?
Only their true love ends up allowed to, WTH?)
Since she still loves Brandon, she continues to date him and
only breaks up with him after she found out she’s pregnant with Chase’s baby.
Chase loves her so much too that the two of them make plans to move in
together, get married and raise the baby together.
Sounds like enough drama to fill up a book, right? But no, the big twist is that Chase dies. I’ve read reviews and it seems that some readers hated the twist so much that they rated the book with one star. To be honest, the twist was heartbreaking, but I thought it could’ve turned the book into a great read as Harper heals and tries to raise the baby on her own.
Unfortunately that doesn’t happen. Instead, Harper continues
to be codependent and gets engaged to Brandon a couple of months after Chase
dies. She’s never forced to take responsibility for her actions or grow as a
character by being forced into single motherhood. To be honest, I couldn’t
stand Harper. Besides her codependency issues, she came across at the biggest
hypocrite. She was so quick to call other girls’ tramps and sluts, when she was
the one to cheat on her perfect boyfriend.
The boys were INCREDIBLE. I loved them both, but especially
Brandon. I doubt a guy like him actually exists, but he’ll definitely have
readers swooning. He had such a tough exterior, but the sweetest and kindest
spirit. The way he was with Harper’s son was so touching. Chase was great too
and the random accident that took his life will make readers tear up.
Besides my dislike for Harper, I found some of the reactions
of the characters really off. Everyone, including Chase’s entire family, is
thrilled that Harper cheated on Brandon and became knocked up. No one even
mentions the possibility of her not keeping the baby. Then when Chase dies, his
family is all totally fine with her moving on with Brandon a couple of months
after the funeral. Brandon’s family is also totally onboard with their relationship.
Not one person is angry or hurt over her decisions.
The drama made the book a page-turner, although the last
quarter of the book dragged on and probably could’ve been cut altogether. If
you are looking for a book that will make you scream and cry, then I’d
recommend this book.
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book for review!
Sounds like Beautiful Disaster, doesn't it? Very well written review, Heather, as always. WRITE ON!!
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