September 4, 2014

REVIEW: One More Chance (Rosemary Beach #8, Chance #2)

One More Chance (Rosemary Beach #8, Chance #2), by Abbi Glines
Published September 2, 2014
Publisher: Atria Books
Format: paperback, purchased
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 

Rating: 4 STARS

(From Goodreads) Grant Carter did everything in his power to convince Harlow Manning that he was a good guy. More than a smooth-talker and someone she could trust. He had to overcome his reputation as a playboy, and his history with Harlow's half-sister, Nan, a woman with a reputation of her own.

Harlow had taken the chance, falling hard and fast for the guy who thrilled her with his all-consuming desire. After a lifetime of avoiding bad boys like Grant, she had opened herself to the possibilities of love...

But a life-changing secret has torn them apart, and now Grant and Harlow must decide if they have enough fight to make it work - or if the pain of betrayal has permanently destroyed their future.


I have loved Grant since the very beginning when Blaire pointed a gun in his face and he laughed it off. What kind of guy does that? Grant was definitely special - he had to be to put up with the likes of Nan for as long as he did. He deserved his happily ever after just like his BFFs Rush and Woods. 

Grant is truly lost without Harlow in his life. He's determined to win her back at any cost. He's ready to face life with Harlow, no matter what that looks like. As long as he can get her to talk to him. Meanwhile Harlow is hiding out several states away from Rosemary Beach in Florida. She hasn't shared all her secrets with Grant yet, and after how he reacted to secret #1, she's scared to share more. Their connection is too powerful, though, and after they find one another again, it seems that Grant is ready to face up to secret #2. Until he realizes what that really means.

You know, Harlow wasn't really my favorite character of Abbi's. In Take a Chance, I thought she was so cold, and I wasn't sure why Grant was so into her. Thankfully, I saw a different side of Harlow in One More Chance. It did take awhile, though. I spent the first 25% of so of the book absolutely furious with her. She did something that I hate almost as much as cheating. And, to be honest, when Grant finds out, he lets her off the hook way too easily. It was frustrating. 

But, after that, I saw a new, inspired Harlow. Her strength and determination were impressive. Her dedication to Grant and to staying with him this time was exactly what I needed to be endeared to her. And, her method of coping with her illness and the complications from it brought me to tears again and again. 


 Grant was so... amazing. Incredible. Fierce. Take your pick. Once he decided he was all in, he was ALL IN. He resolved to save Harlow in any way he could. And, when things got really hairy, Grant stuck. He's almost a little too perfect, you know? Although I was glad that he got over the waffling and the fear, Harlow did some stuff that was really not cool. And, because he was so wrapped up in her, he let it all go without a word. 


 One thing that Abbi Glines excels at is a slow-burn set up. We've been leading up to Bethy and Tripp's story in You Were Mine for many books now. Bethy was introduced in Rosemary Beach #1; Tripp in Rosemary Beach #5. A few more lead-ins to their story were dropped in One More Chance. And, there was a sample chapter in the back of the book from their book. I really can't wait for it!

The super surprising thing was, it appears that Abbi might be setting up a book for... wait for it... NAN. She wasn't completely hateful 100% of the time in One More Chance. I know - strange, right? And, a new character was introduced - Major, who is Mase's wild-child cousin. Maybe Nan... and Major? Stranger things have happened. 

I was so glad that I read One More Chance and gave Harlow a chance to be awesome. 

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