Laura’s Review of Take Me for Granted (Take Me, #1) by K.A. Linde

If you have read and enjoyed Music of the Heart (Runaway Train, #1) by Katie Ashley, Rock My Bed (Black Falcon, #2) by Michelle A. Valentine, and Come Away with Me (With Me in Seattle, #1) by Kristen Proby

Basic Summary

         Grant

            Manwhore. Adrenline junkie.  Lead singer of ContraBand.  What you see is what you get. I make no apologies for my actions, and by now n on expects any from me.  I live my life the way I want and as long as it pushes the demons back, then I’m solid.  I’ve never needed a chick for more than a good lay.  Why would I need just one when I can a have a different one every night?

            Until she walks into my world.

            Aribel

            Mouthy.  Perfectionist.  Princeton student.  Chemistry major.  Yes, that pretty much describes me.  Oh, and virgin.  But I’m only nineteen, and have more important things to concern myself with.  What really matters is finishing my degree and getting a good job.  I’ve worked hard for what I want, and do what’s expected of me.  I don’t need anyone to get in my way.

            Until he opens up my world.

            But if I give you my world, whatever you do…don’t TAKE ME for granted.

First Impressions

                Okay well, this is the first time in HISTORY that I have ever almost instantly hated the female lead in a book!  Right off that bat, I have no love for this girl at all.  Not that I love Grant any better, but I can deal with his asshole status, but if someone doesn’t yank that stick up Aribel’s ass soon I’m going to scream.  I worship that PC K.A. Linde types on because she knows just how to stir up extreme emotions in me instantly and this book has definitely stirred up several emotions.  I’m happy to see Aribel coming around little by little, but I hate how she thinks she’s better than other people just because of a rich family and perfect GPA!

What I Love

          

           I really enjoyed this story a lot.  First and foremost how can I hate a book that takes place in my own backyard?  Any book that takes place in Jersey gets an automatic A in my book!   At first I really hated Aribel because of “I’m better than everyone else” attitude.  But as the story went on she definitely grew on me and I actually really love that in a story.  The character development was right on point as far as Aribel goes and because it was so evident how she had changed throughout the book it made me love her a little bit more

            I really loved the constant switch between Grant’s point of view, and Aribel’s because to me I got to fall in love with not just one character but both, and because of that you get to follow grow with each one as well. 

            I also loved Grant’s vulgarity towards women and booze, because it just seemed very real to me.  I felt like Grant could be a real person because he was so grounded in reality, even if his reality is kind of twisted.  It’s very much what a person’s life would be shaped like if this sort of thing really happened to them.  Running to drugs and women as distractions from a messed up past, is realistic and I loved that he was such a believable human being.

Not SO much

            I wish there were more details in this book.  I felt like a lot of things as far as background details were just completely brushed over.  I have no idea what Aribel’s apartment looks like, or even her room and so goes for Grant’s place.  There was tons of detail of what they were wearing at times and I love that those were included, but I would've appreciated more background detail.

            Also I felt like there were some holes in the plot that could’ve been filled in.  For example Grant goes away for a week to visit someone and it’s literally mentioned in a paragraph that he left and came back after a week.  I would've appreciated some detail about his week away, what Knoxville means to him presently and stuff. 

This Book Was...

            Freaking awesome!  K.A. Linde has definitely done it again!  I loved this story and of course I am hooked and impatiently waiting for the next one.  There is a bit if a cliff hanger but not so much where everything is left up in the air.  I love that because it leaves you intrigued for the future while giving you closure at the same time. 

            There are lots of ups and downs in this story and you go right along with them while you’re reading.  There were times when I wanted to scream throw my iPad across the room, while other times I wanted to cry and comfort someone.  I am addicted to books that not only show you the ups and downs of a story but force you to go right along with them.  I do wish there were more details in this book though, for example Grant’s tattoos.  I know he has them and where some of them are on his body, but what is the design or what are they of?  The details are really my only complaint because this book was great.  I cannot wait for the next one!!