"I watched her silently and felt the protective streak in me roar to life when I thought of someone else looking up and seeing her in my T-shirt, looking like a sex goddess. I didn't want anyone looking at her. She was mine."
My complete adoration of Abbi Glines knows no bounds. She gave me my first taste of a book boyfriend in Beau Vincent and keeps my coming back for more with every new book she writes. Take A Chance is honestly a story I couldn't wait to see written. What can I say about Grant Carter? Other than.....why can't I be Harlow Manning?
Grant is the sort of brother of Rush (bats eyes....swoons)Finlay. At one time in their lives some of their parents were married to each other and the two while not biological, became as close as brothers. And then there was Nan (but we'll get to her sorry self later).
Grant is the first "sibling" to meet Blair in Fallen Too Far. To be perfectly honest I thought Blair and Grant were going to be together and I was fine with that. But that match was not meant to be. Because try as he might, Rush could not fight the feelings he had for Blair. That's fine though, because it made Grant available.
Grant appears in all of the Too Far books and even Woods Kerrington's story. You get that he's hot, he likes to have a good time and he's kind of a player. All good reasons for me, or well, every female to love Grant Carter.
And then in Forever Too Far, Grant does the most ridiculous thing ever invented. He hooks up with Nan! Why, I'll never understand. But, well, we all make mistakes. I thought for a second if Grant liked her maybe she had redeemable qualities, but nah, Nan is an uber bitch. She'll never change.
Anyway, enter Harlow Manning, the shy, stunning half sister of the dreaded Nan. Grant meets her at Rush and Blair's wedding and she totally rocks his world. But he's got this whole sex thing going on with Nan, so you kind of think Grant and Harlow aren't going to happen.
Lucky us, Abbi gave Grant and Harlow their own story and of course it's hot. Our boy Grant doesn't seem to be relationship material, but for Harlow, he really wants to be. Harlow is special and she makes Grant want something he thought he could never have. Only Grant's got some demons and he's afraid of a relationship with the girl of his dreams.
Grant pursues Harlow and starts breaking down her walls. Grant gives Harlow her first real kiss and also takes her virginity. That night Grant gets the phone call about Jace and leaves Harlow. Grant was special to Harlow. Didn't he feel the same way? After the shock of Jace's death, the two don't speak again until.....
Harlow winds up coming to Rosemary Beach when her dad Kiro of the legendary Slacker Demon goes on a world tour. Wait Rosemary Beach? Weeks and weeks in the same house with Nan? No thank you. While everyone else welcomes Harlow to Rosemary Beach, Nan is a horror and makes her half sister more than uncomfortable. Not only that but Harlow arrives at the house and hears some very loud sex taking place in her sister's bedroom (Guess who Nan's partner of the night is?)
Harlow finds her way to the Kerrington Club and meets Bethy (Who I am still very unhappy with. And although I did feel a drop sorry for her, it's hard to forgive.) Anyway, she also meets Adam one of the clubs tennis pros. He is immediately attracted to Harlow. She is not ready to began a relationship but would like to make a friend.
Harlow is so sweet and kind. She just makes you like her from the start. She's led a sheltered life and she's so innocent. But, Harlow also has a secret and it something that makes her worry about ever having a relationship.
In Take A Chance, we learn more about Harlow and Nan's dad Kiro. Even though he's this hard core rocker, he loves Harlow and takes care of her. He also has a secret we find out and damn it's huge. It blows up and holy plot twist Batman! We also learn that Harlow has a half brother. Mase is Kiro's son and he lives a quiet life out of the spotlight in Texas. Thank goodness Mase comes to stay with Harlow and save her from the wrath of Nan. All three of Kiro's kids in one house? Yikes!
By the way, you get the sense Kiro is not too keen on a Harlow/Grant relationship. And as sort of flaky and out of it as Kiro seems, he does something kind of sneaky to try and keep them apart.
Even though Grant is scared to death to fall in love with Harlow and she is afraid of having a relationship, these two find their way back to each other. Rush makes Grant understand his fear of losing Harlow is keeping him away from having a really great thing. He scared to death to lose her, but he won't really know happiness without her.
"If you think she could be the one then it's time you take a chance. If I lost all that I have tomorrow, I wouldn't regret one single minute. Ever. They're what makes my life worth it." Rush Finlay to Grant.
Just when you think everything will be ok for Grant and Harlow...plot twist. This one blows Harlow out of the water. Thank goodness Grant was there for his woman, because she needed him.
Then of course the evil Nan rears her ugly head and plays upon Harlow's insecurities, trying to make her think she'll never be enough for Grant. But this time, Grant is done with Nan and lets her know it.
I hate to say our story ends on a cliff hanger. So please Abbi, hurry and finish the rest of Grant and Harlow's story. I don't know how much I can take. PS I'd love a happy ending.
I love that Abbi includes all our Rosemary Beach friends. I love reading about them and how all of their lives intertwine.
A five lipstick kiss review for Take A Chance. And another book boyfriend in Grant Carter.
.jpg)
