First things first... Valerie, (I'm not talking to myself, she's a friend and fellow bookworm, and she is responsible for this in every way. I didn't even know who Molly McAdams or Chase Grayson were before she introduced us.) please don't read this review until after you've read this book. We both know how you feel about spoilers.
Now, what did I think of this book?? That is what I have been trying to figure out since I read it. I read the book in less than 24 hours, but it's taken me two weeks to try to pinpoint exactly how I feel and try to put it all into words. All I know is I don't usually write harsh reviews, and I'm afraid this review is going to be as raw as my emotions were.
I've seen a couple of other reviews using the word "torn", and I have to say, that's pretty accurate. There is a definite dichotomy in my head and heart. I feel very strongly pulled in two different directions, and I have never had a book make me feel so bi-polar. My head and my heart are very torn, and usually when that happens it's because they're on opposite sides of the argument, but this time they are in complete agreement, and it all hinges on which perspective I take to view this story.
With that in mind, I've decided to write this review from both perspectives -- as a brand new story, blocking out all the history I have with these characters as if Taking Chances didn't happen, and as a continuation of Taking Chances, still reeling from all the emotions that book made me feel. Believe me it changes everything.
If you have not read Taking Chances... then this book (Stealing Chances) is a lovely story. Great writing. Great characters. Lots of feelings. Well edited. Great pace. It's a good read! 4.5 stars in my opinion. It's a story about fighting for true love and winning. Chase Grayson is willing to do that, and so is his fiance. They had a hell of a mountain to climb, and lots of heartbreaking hurdles along the way, but their happy ending is everything it should be.
*** Warning - Spoilers and RAW emotion ahead for both Taking Chances and Stealing Chances ***
If you have not read this book yet, but you have read Taking Chances and you were like me - raw, DEVASTATED, haunted, unable to move on - you may want to stop here because I am not responsible for what I say from here. My emotions are driving this vehicle, I'm just along for the ride.
This book makes me cuss. As sad, devastated, angry, and raw as I felt reading Taking Chances. I'm right back there again. At this point, I'm honestly not sure what game this author is playing, but I don't like it. Here's why:
This Chase Grayson is not the same. He doesn't feel the same AT ALL. His vibe is different. The emotions I get reading his thoughts, words, actions...different. He's watered down, and he deserves better.
Chase Grayson only belongs to Harper. He only belongs with Harper. Any other storyline is BULLSH*T. Period. I said what I said.
The Facebook post I read announcing this book being a surprise release said this was 10 years in the making, and it's fixing things or righting wrongs. THIS BOOK DID NOT FIX SH*T.
Chase deserved better.
THIS is not Chase's story. I refuse to accept that THIS is how it goes.
Taking Chances didn't just give me a book hangover. It haunted me for 10 years. No other book has EVER made me feel the range of emotions I felt. And no other book has stuck with me the way that one has. Then that one abrupt, heart-wrenching scene changed everything, and only one thing would have made it right. This book didn't deliver. So as a sequel to Taking Chances... zero stars.
The only thing this book did was make me wonder WHY in the hell I have spent 10 years mourning the loss of Chase Grayson, grieving for the life he wanted with Harper that was ripped away at the worst possible time, in the worst possible manner. Who the hell hurt Molly McAdams?? Because she is has a gift, but she tried to kill me with Taking Chances, and for what?? Why cause all that heartbreak only to be like "haha just kidding" ten freaking years later??? Unforgivable. It feels like everything from their love story, to the emotions of your readers, to the loyalty of your fans was completely disrespected. If you thought readers were unhappy with you before... breaking us, leaving us broken for 10 years, letting this HAUNT us for that long, then erasing an ENTIRE relationship... not okay. Super sadistic though.
I know it's impossible to please everyone. I know that the story and characters are owned by the author to do with as they please, but I can't help but feel like they also belong to each reader in their own way. And I know that these characters and stories are works of fiction. But, this literally could have gone in so many directions. I'm not sure why this is the direction you chose. I feel played. Lied to and used. Because you knew dangling a second chance with Chase would cash in, but this isn't what I bargained for. Your readers didn't deserve a bait and switch followed by a sucker punch, and that's exactly how I feel. Like everything about Taking Chances and Chase Grayson was just vandalized.
Sometimes things are better left as they were, and Taking Chances is the one book I never thought I'd say that about.