I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: NetGalley
Want It
by
Jennifer Chance
contemporary romance that was published by Loveswept on December 9, 2014 and has 234 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Risk It
Third in the Rule Breakers romance series. The couple focus is on Erin Connelly and Zander James.
This ARC was provided by NetGalley and Loveswept in exchange for an honest review.
I’m torn between a “2” and a “3” on this. The number of errors was tremendous. I realize this is an ARC, and I rarely, very rarely, come across an ARC from a traditional publisher that has this many problems: the wrong words; misspellings; missing prepositions, pronouns, and articles; extra and missing words; and, verb disagreements galore. Combined with the lack of depth…
My Take
This is sweet with a cute story and some hot love scenes. Chance did a nice set-up, making me worry and wonder so many things right off. What does she do for a living? Why would Zander not speak to her? Who is held hostage? How did she disappoint Erin so many times??
The conflict in this story primarily comes from years of miscommunication. Well, more like no communication. It’s a reasonable error, as they were young and the situation was dramatic and confused. It didn’t help that Erin has spent most of her life learning to “not communicate”, and Chance makes us feel their frustration, anger, fear, and that horrible sense of humiliation when they do meet up after all these years.
Both Zander and Erin were wrong all those years ago, and it’s the shortsightedness and callow anger of youth that tore them apart and may keep them apart today. A car rolls like that, and he doesn’t think the cops will be involved, at least eventually? Just proves his immaturity in this. Erin took off without saying a word and simply disappeared. Not the most mature reaction here, either. Not that Zander’s screaming at her and leaving the next day left much room.
It’s also a disconnect for me. Chance is pushing this bit of drama, and it’s not until the very, very end that either character concedes anything. It’s just one example of small things that don’t make sense. That leave little blips along the way. This story has great possibilities, and her editor didn’t help her out here.
“Zander kissed Erin’s mouth so softly, so gently, that her entire world seemed to balance on its edge, precariously wobbling, just begging to fall.
‘Zander, I—’
‘Shhh,’ he murmured. ‘I’m a trained professional.'”
That miscommunication doesn’t stop with Erin and Zander, as it encompasses Zander and his dad as well. What is it with parents being unable to tell their kids they’re proud of them?
It does sound to have been a somewhat idyllic childhood for the two of them, leaving out her mother and his father. Phew, Chance left me in the dark about that mother, right up until the last minute. Nicely done.
That “hired help” scenario was predictable — and still cute. And, damn, Zander did know his stuff! I sure liked Rey as well.
On the negative side, there’s more melodrama than I like, and Erin’s thinking is fairly juvenile. For someone who’s had to take care of herself and her mother for so many years, I’d think she’d be more grown-up. This conversation Zander has with Jackson doesn’t feel real. Zander’s only been in the army for four years, and he’s already a staff sergeant, AND being courted by a mercenary unit? Pretty impressive. Jackson sure is willing to spend a heckuva lotta money on this boy. I find myself curious as to how good Zander really is!
I gotta say, I despise Erin’s mother. Erin should’a cut her off a long time ago. As it is, she’s simply enabling the idiot. I appreciated the acknowledgement moment, but I gotta wonder how long that’ll last. How could any mother do this to her child year after year after year…?
I felt like I was being jerked around at the end. Maybe it was more real life, and I wasn’t expecting it, but I felt as though Chance was trying to work some more melodrama in before she closed down the story.
Like I said…it’s a fun read with a promise of depth if Chance had worked at it.
The Story
It’s the colonel’s funeral that gives Erin the impetus and opportunity to take this chance, to hope that Zander may have forgiven her for destroying his future.
She just needs a few tips to save her mother.
The Characters
Erin Connelly is an artist who works in an art gallery and loves HGTV. The fiercely loyal Dani Michaels is the only housemate still with her — Lacey has hooked up with Dante Falcone and Anna is traveling with Jake Flynn. Gran Ginny was her mother’s mother, and the real “mother” who raised Erin. Mike is her mom’s boyfriend. Mom is a nurse.
Staff Sergeant Alexander “Zander” James is an adrenaline junkie and an Army Ranger with a specialty in incendiary devices; he was also Erin’s only love until she couldn’t take it any more. Sarah is Zander’s mother. Karen is his older sister and has a son, Caleb, and a daughter, Lexi. Colonel William James was his strict dad who taught at the Army War College. Zander has an older brother as well.
Glen Jackson was one of the colonel’s friends. He’s also an independent contractor, Jackson Security, providing security for Army intelligence.
Miss Grainger is with the bank in Laredo. Reymundo “Rey” Torres is a “driver” who meets up with them in Laredo. Rand “R-Four” Sterling Winston IV owns the company for which Anna used to work.
Mateo is one of the kidnappers.
Back in the day
Kevin Anders was a jerk in high school.
The Cover and Title
The cover is simple: a bare-chested, well-muscled man wearing dog tags. Gotta be Zander.
I’m guessing the title is about both Zander and Erin, for they both Want It, even if neither of them wants to reach for it.
