Cocktails and Books

TAKE ME FOR GRANTED was one of those books where I wondered if I was ever going to really like Grant McDermott. He lived up to his manwhorish ways and I couldn't figure out just how ManWhore Grant was ever going to work with bookish Aribel. But K. A. Linde did a great job of proving opposites attract. These two were virtually exact opposites, but together they fit and had explosive chemistry.

Aribel is a tough character to get into, mainly because she's so closed off. But there is a reason for that. Her wealthy, Boston society parents aren't overly emotional and pressure has been put on Ari to fit the mold of their expectations for her. Being the dutiful daughter, she buries herself in her school work. But underneath her tough exterior is a girl who hates the spotlight and uses her sharp tongue as a defense mechanism to keep people away. It works with most people, but the moment Grant sets his eyes on her he pushes her. And despite what she may say to him or how she might act, Aribel likes the attention. She likes that this hot guy is pursuing her. And she likes that he lets his walls down so she can see the real man he is.

I couldn't help but love Grant. Even when he was being a complete douchebag. He uses his charm, sex and alcohol as a way to deal with the pain and guilt he feels over his parents. It numbed him. But then Ari blows into his life and he starts to become someone different. I really loved him with her. He didn't let her stay so serious, but because of her he wanted to become more, even if he didn't know it at the time. Despite his manwhore past, he stopped all of that the minute he found Ari.

Ari and Grant didn't have a perfect relationship and their explosive chemistry often manifested itself into some spectacular screaming matches, but they worked at it and finally got it right.

I'm hoping the next book in the series is a continuation of Ari and Grant's story (based on how book 1 ended). While I enjoyed the other members of ContraBand, I think there is more to Ari and Grant's story and hope we get more. If we don't, this was still an great start to a new series and one I can't wait to continue.