Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts
Pain is the price we pay for love, he once told me. But Jace... he has so much love in his heart that I fear the people he offers that love to aren't worthy of it. Most days, I'm certain that I was one of them.
Chasing Harlow by Jay McLean
Standalone
Rating -
Genre - New Adult Contemporary Romance / sports
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - a couple of descriptive scenes, the rest closed door
Source - Kindle Unlimited
Length - 426 pages
Moving to the middle of nowhere right before my senior year wasn’t ideal.
Then again, neither was my brother dying.
The move was supposed to be a fresh start.
A new town, a new school, a new mindset.
Too bad my past indiscretions followed me.
Enter Jace Rivera, the literal boy next door.
Jace is loved by the town. Admired by his peers. Worshipped by his teammates.
On the basketball court, he’s a god amongst men.
Off the court, he’s… nothing at all like I expected.
He’s profound and pure and… devastatingly tortured.
Yet somehow, he offers me light while I offer him hope.
In the end, we’ll either hurt or heal each other.
There’s no in between.
“Pain is the price we pay for love,” he once told me.
And a broken heart is the consequence of it.
Then again, neither was my brother dying.
The move was supposed to be a fresh start.
A new town, a new school, a new mindset.
Too bad my past indiscretions followed me.
Enter Jace Rivera, the literal boy next door.
Jace is loved by the town. Admired by his peers. Worshipped by his teammates.
On the basketball court, he’s a god amongst men.
Off the court, he’s… nothing at all like I expected.
He’s profound and pure and… devastatingly tortured.
Yet somehow, he offers me light while I offer him hope.
In the end, we’ll either hurt or heal each other.
There’s no in between.
“Pain is the price we pay for love,” he once told me.
And a broken heart is the consequence of it.
Thank you, Kat @Kitty Kats Crazy About Books, for putting this book on my radar.
There is something to be said about Jay McLean's writing that I can't capture properly with the right words.
I can laugh and cry and bite the shit out of my nails to get through her stories and enjoy the heck out of it.
I can absolutely HATE one of the main characters... looking at you, Harlow... and still love the story SO. MUCH!
For me, Chasing Harlow was all about Jace. He was this young man on the verge of greatness and his life was a mess. He was a mess. And he had this great support network he had no idea how to use. These people were basically throwing themselves at him, wanting to help, and he was blind to it until it was almost too late.
The author captures such strong emotions with her characters. These broken, bruised, incredible characters.
Can I just say that I freaking loved Jonah so much? He was the friend that Jace deserved.
Writer. Reader. Mom. Wife. Master of awkward Sarcasm.
Jay McLean is a full-time reader, writer of New Adult and Young Adult romance, and skilled procrastinator. When she’s not doing any of those things, she can be found running after her three boys, investing way too much time on True Crime Documentaries and binge-watching reality TV.
She writes what she loves to read, which are books that can make her laugh, make her hurt and make her feel.
Jay lives in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, in her dream home where music is loud and laughter is louder.
Today's flashback is the Wrecked and Ruined series by Aly Martinez. This is an emotional contemporary romance that involves very hot athletes and the women that love them. There is pain and strife and I fell in love with this author's writing before the end of book one.
Have you ever read these books? Are you interested?
Changing Course
I met Sarah Kate Erickson when I was twenty-one years old. I was lucky enough to keep her for seven years before a tragic accident stole her from me. She didn’t die, but sometimes I think it would have been easier if she had.
I lived in a haze for those four years after the accident. Catering to her every need, even though she hated the very sight of my face. I tried to hold on to her and the future that we were supposed to build together. But you can’t hold on to someone who doesn’t exist anymore.
It wasn’t until I met Jesse Addison, a barista at the local coffee shop, that I realized I didn’t just lose Sarah that tragic night, I lost myself as well. Jesse taught me how to let go of the past and learn to love again. But what happens when your past haunts your present, and the woman you used to love refuses to accept the woman you can’t live without?
My Review - ★★★★★
Wow!! What an emotional ride!! This book was truly amazing. I heard somewhere that this was the first book by Aly Martinez. I have to say that I see a very bright and successful future for this author. Her writing hit every point I look for in a good book. From the drama, the tears, the pain, the laughs, the sex, etc. This book is definitely a WIN!!
I cannot say that the relationship between Brett and Sarah wasn't annoying and frustrating. I imagined this 6'5" man being manipulated by this woman. She had him by the balls and he allowed it. I know he had misappropriated guilt and loyalty to her but in so many ways she proved that she was undeserving. I loved that he got a second chance with Jesse. I loved Jesse. She was the type of woman Brett deserved. To be honest, the beginning of the book shows us who Sarah is before the accident. I truly didn't like her before so I knew I wouldn't like her after. I think she was always a manipulative bitch. That's just my opinion.
I have some favourite parts that I just have to list because c'mon the book was superb!!
"Benissimo!" When this was mentioned the second time in the book, I was rolling!!
“First off, you sound like an idiot right now. I didn't do shit to steal anything from you. You're doing a bang up job of ruining this all on your own. Secondly, I'm jealous that you're moving on? Where can I preorder tickets to your new comedy show? Because you should take this shit on the road. Moving on? If you really think you’re moving on after what went down this morning, apparently Sarah isn't the only delusional one. Nothing happened between Jess and I, so the next words out of your mouth better be a fucking apology.” Caleb cracked me up so much in this book. I cannot wait to read his book!
“He's lounging on my bed fully nude, and I've see never seen anything sexier in my life. I want to pull a Leonardo DiCaprio and whip out my sketch pad to draw this Adonis, Titanic style. Although, with my artistic abilities, he would end up a sick man with an over-grown mushroom between his legs.”
“Sarah, I have no recipes to share with you, nor do I have any desire to kiss and make up. You can make whatever the heck you want to tomorrow, but just know that at the end of the night he will be in my bed."
Was it dirty to say that to her? Heck yes! Did it feel better than winning the lottery? Heck yes! Did it hurt like crazy when she slapped me across the face? Hell yes!”
I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romance with a HEA that is achieved after overcoming painful obstacles. The journey is worth it!
Wow!! What an emotional ride!! This book was truly amazing. I heard somewhere that this was the first book by Aly Martinez. I have to say that I see a very bright and successful future for this author. Her writing hit every point I look for in a good book. From the drama, the tears, the pain, the laughs, the sex, etc. This book is definitely a WIN!!
I cannot say that the relationship between Brett and Sarah wasn't annoying and frustrating. I imagined this 6'5" man being manipulated by this woman. She had him by the balls and he allowed it. I know he had misappropriated guilt and loyalty to her but in so many ways she proved that she was undeserving. I loved that he got a second chance with Jesse. I loved Jesse. She was the type of woman Brett deserved. To be honest, the beginning of the book shows us who Sarah is before the accident. I truly didn't like her before so I knew I wouldn't like her after. I think she was always a manipulative bitch. That's just my opinion.
I have some favourite parts that I just have to list because c'mon the book was superb!!
"Benissimo!" When this was mentioned the second time in the book, I was rolling!!
“First off, you sound like an idiot right now. I didn't do shit to steal anything from you. You're doing a bang up job of ruining this all on your own. Secondly, I'm jealous that you're moving on? Where can I preorder tickets to your new comedy show? Because you should take this shit on the road. Moving on? If you really think you’re moving on after what went down this morning, apparently Sarah isn't the only delusional one. Nothing happened between Jess and I, so the next words out of your mouth better be a fucking apology.” Caleb cracked me up so much in this book. I cannot wait to read his book!
“He's lounging on my bed fully nude, and I've see never seen anything sexier in my life. I want to pull a Leonardo DiCaprio and whip out my sketch pad to draw this Adonis, Titanic style. Although, with my artistic abilities, he would end up a sick man with an over-grown mushroom between his legs.”
“Sarah, I have no recipes to share with you, nor do I have any desire to kiss and make up. You can make whatever the heck you want to tomorrow, but just know that at the end of the night he will be in my bed."
Was it dirty to say that to her? Heck yes! Did it feel better than winning the lottery? Heck yes! Did it hurt like crazy when she slapped me across the face? Hell yes!”
I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romance with a HEA that is achieved after overcoming painful obstacles. The journey is worth it!
Stolen Course
I fell in love with Manda Baker eight years ago, and I loved her to the core of her soul. We were supposed to have that elusive happily ever after and spend a lifetime together. But that was all before she was STOLEN from me.
Her best friend, Sarah Erickson, killed her. It wasn’t intentional. It was far worse. Everyone claims it was just an accident, but I can see through the lies. Even if it’s with my dying breath, I will make her pay for what she did.
Fate hates me. It robbed me of my first love and left me to navigate through this world emotionless and numb. Then, one day, spiteful fate gave me a woman to fill my shattered soul and make me feel again. It gave me Emma Jane Erickson. Now I spend my days searching for the answers that will ruin Sarah and my nights falling in love with her sister—the one person who is bound and determined to save her.
But what happens when everything you know to be true explodes around you? Who will be left to pick up the pieces, and who will need to be saved from the wreckage?
My Review - ★★★★★
Holy crap I love Caleb and Emmy!! They were so beautiful together. I love that there wasn't much drama between them but I hated that drama did exist. Aly Martinez wrote this book in such a way that you felt the emotions of all of the characters involved. How could you not? Caleb's grief over losing Manda was real. We got more than a glimpse of it in the first book. This man just had so much hate inside of him. I'm so happy that he was able to get past it and finally move on with Emmy. The balloon scene was extremely bittersweet!
Fave lines:
“Don’t be a dick just to keep me at a distance,” she says, shocking the shit out of me. I pull the phone away and look at it as if Siri is going to explain to me how the fuck she just read my mind.”
“Now that part is up to you. You can continue to hate Sarah or you can let it go and choose Emma. That’s a choice you have to make.”
“Don’t you think if it were that easy I would have done it a long time ago?” I say, rubbing a hand over my tired eyes.
“Then make it that easy.” He leans forward like he just unlocked the secrets of the universe when in actuality he just said the equivalent of Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign.”
There were many more but then I'd just be giving the book away for free. Can't have that! Go read it!!
Holy crap I love Caleb and Emmy!! They were so beautiful together. I love that there wasn't much drama between them but I hated that drama did exist. Aly Martinez wrote this book in such a way that you felt the emotions of all of the characters involved. How could you not? Caleb's grief over losing Manda was real. We got more than a glimpse of it in the first book. This man just had so much hate inside of him. I'm so happy that he was able to get past it and finally move on with Emmy. The balloon scene was extremely bittersweet!
Fave lines:
“Don’t be a dick just to keep me at a distance,” she says, shocking the shit out of me. I pull the phone away and look at it as if Siri is going to explain to me how the fuck she just read my mind.”
“Now that part is up to you. You can continue to hate Sarah or you can let it go and choose Emma. That’s a choice you have to make.”
“Don’t you think if it were that easy I would have done it a long time ago?” I say, rubbing a hand over my tired eyes.
“Then make it that easy.” He leans forward like he just unlocked the secrets of the universe when in actuality he just said the equivalent of Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign.”
There were many more but then I'd just be giving the book away for free. Can't have that! Go read it!!
Among the Echoes
My name was Dr. Erica Hill. I was a victim, then a witness, and then I ceased to exist altogether.
I may still be breathing, but stripped of my identity, I have long since stopped living. I am invisible, and my life depends on my ability to stay in the shadows.
But he sees me.
Slate Andrews is the embodiment of everything I have been taught to avoid. He’s rich and famous, and one image of him with a woman would earn millions for any paparazzi lucky enough to snap it. He has vowed to protect me with his life, yet he exposes me with his every breath. I should be stronger and walk away. I should disappear. But I’m terrified he would come after me.
I’m on the run, determined not to take him down with me but absolutely unable to let him go.
My name is Riley Peterson… at least for today.
My Review - ★★★★★
Holy freakin crap that was good!! This book was amazing from the first scene. I cannot believe I slept on Aly Martinez but damn this chick can write!!
All of Erica's fears and awkwardness were completely understandable. Shoot, I was scared too. But Slate... oooh sexy Slate... took that fear and made it his bitch. I loved loved loved his devotion and patience with her. It was beautiful to watch their love story unfold. Slate was definitely Erica's Prince Charming!!
Now Leo... Her relationship with him seemed pretty Stockholm-y but I got it. Beauty can be borne from darkness so I kind of understood. Didn't make it easy to swallow but the love they shared was comparable to that of blood kin. I love how protective he was of Erica and I'm glad the repercussions of his actions were realistic. He should feel guilty but I think he has redeemed himself. He just needs to see it.
The epilogue was toooooo sweet. I hope we get to see more of Erica and Slate in Leo's book. I'm not sure how this book is going to be considering his love interest is Sarah Erickson. I still haven't forgiven her for what she put Jesse through, brain injury notwithstanding. I'm going to read it anyway because I do hope she redeems herself. Maybe that book will be the closure all of the characters need.
Holy freakin crap that was good!! This book was amazing from the first scene. I cannot believe I slept on Aly Martinez but damn this chick can write!!
All of Erica's fears and awkwardness were completely understandable. Shoot, I was scared too. But Slate... oooh sexy Slate... took that fear and made it his bitch. I loved loved loved his devotion and patience with her. It was beautiful to watch their love story unfold. Slate was definitely Erica's Prince Charming!!
Now Leo... Her relationship with him seemed pretty Stockholm-y but I got it. Beauty can be borne from darkness so I kind of understood. Didn't make it easy to swallow but the love they shared was comparable to that of blood kin. I love how protective he was of Erica and I'm glad the repercussions of his actions were realistic. He should feel guilty but I think he has redeemed himself. He just needs to see it.
The epilogue was toooooo sweet. I hope we get to see more of Erica and Slate in Leo's book. I'm not sure how this book is going to be considering his love interest is Sarah Erickson. I still haven't forgiven her for what she put Jesse through, brain injury notwithstanding. I'm going to read it anyway because I do hope she redeems herself. Maybe that book will be the closure all of the characters need.
Broken Course
Seven years ago, my life changed forever. One accident and the person I saw in the mirror no longer resembled the woman I used to be. I was lost and confused inside my own body. I felt alone and disconnected from the world, carrying the incredible weight of guilt and loss that wasn't even mine to harbor.
Then fate led me to Leo James. He taught me that crazy could be perfectly normal and it shouldn't hurt to breathe. Don't get me wrong. Leo isn't perfect. He has his own cross to bear, and the truth is, that might be why I fell for him in the first place. But despite everything he does for me, learning to forgive myself is infinitely harder than overlooking the flaws of another.
Now, the secrets and lies of our past have begun to dictate our future—threatening to ruin us before we get the chance to try. Perhaps we were cursed from the start. Or maybe, just maybe, the remnants of our fractured lives will fit together to form one whole, where love isn’t questioned and being happy is…well, easy.
Can a second broken soul be enough to fill the voids of my own? Or will such scarred pasts prove too much for our love alone to overcome?
My Review - ★★★★★
Ok. It's official. I love the literary genius of Aly Martinez!! How could I not?! She made me truly fall in love with both Leo and Sarah. I truly had some doubts that these two could be redeemed enough in my eyes to merit a HEA. I should've had no worries. These two characters blasted themselves enough and didn't need my help. I'm glad that their ugly mistakes were not brushed under the rug or made to seem inconsequential. That made it easier to love them despite their past actions and look at the phoenix that rose above that. The remorse they both felt was so deep. It needed to be felt in order for this couple to get my acceptance. And they have it. I started cheering for them pretty quickly. I think it was as early as their first night together. Food poisoning has a way of bonding people together lol.
That epilogue? I am so grateful for that. It was the best closure we could ask for. All of the characters are at different stages of acceptance (though I completely get Brett's hesitance but I'm so happy he's still hanging in there. Beautiful man.). I love that they can all come together and live, laugh, and love.
Fave lines:
“Every single day, good people do bad things. And I’m no different. The hardest part about life is putting one foot in front of the other to move past that pain. But I swear to you, inch by inch, you will get past it. It doesn’t disappear, but it’s no longer staring you in the face. You’ll see—just like I did.”
“No matter how fucked up it may be, in this moment, I’m thankful for the broken course that led me to here. All of the wrongs somehow feel right. And if Leo James is all I ever get, I can honestly still say that this life would be an absolute win.”
Ok. It's official. I love the literary genius of Aly Martinez!! How could I not?! She made me truly fall in love with both Leo and Sarah. I truly had some doubts that these two could be redeemed enough in my eyes to merit a HEA. I should've had no worries. These two characters blasted themselves enough and didn't need my help. I'm glad that their ugly mistakes were not brushed under the rug or made to seem inconsequential. That made it easier to love them despite their past actions and look at the phoenix that rose above that. The remorse they both felt was so deep. It needed to be felt in order for this couple to get my acceptance. And they have it. I started cheering for them pretty quickly. I think it was as early as their first night together. Food poisoning has a way of bonding people together lol.
That epilogue? I am so grateful for that. It was the best closure we could ask for. All of the characters are at different stages of acceptance (though I completely get Brett's hesitance but I'm so happy he's still hanging in there. Beautiful man.). I love that they can all come together and live, laugh, and love.
Fave lines:
“Every single day, good people do bad things. And I’m no different. The hardest part about life is putting one foot in front of the other to move past that pain. But I swear to you, inch by inch, you will get past it. It doesn’t disappear, but it’s no longer staring you in the face. You’ll see—just like I did.”
“No matter how fucked up it may be, in this moment, I’m thankful for the broken course that led me to here. All of the wrongs somehow feel right. And if Leo James is all I ever get, I can honestly still say that this life would be an absolute win.”
Where Good Girls Go to Die by Holly Renee
Standalone - Good Girls #1
Release - April 13, 2017
Genre - Contemporary Romance / second chance
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat 4 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook from Amazon
Length - 340 pages
It was a bad idea from the beginning.
He was my brother's best friend and the definition of unavailable.
But I didn't care.
I had loved him for as long as I could remember.
He was worth the risk. He was worth everything.
But then he broke my heart as easily as I fell for him. He watched me fall, spiraling out of control, and as I reached for him, he wasn't there to catch me.
So I ran.
Four years later, I never expected to see him again.
He was still my brother's best friend, and he was more unavailable than ever.
He looked every bit the bad boy I knew he was, covered in tattoos and a crooked smile.
Guarding my heart from him was top priority because Parker James was where good girls go to die.
Unfortunately for him, I wasn't a good girl anymore.
My Review (3 stars) ~ I still don't know how I feel about this book. If you don't like cheating, stay away from this book. It's messy. Really messy. One girl becomes a stripper because the boy broke her heart. The boy doesn't know how to be a good guy. He constantly cheats on others with this girl. Constantly. Liv was annoying. Parker was a tool. The end.
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In Deep by Callie Harper
Standalone - All In #1
Release - August 5, 2016
Genre - Sports Romance
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook from Amazon
Length - 256 pages
Chase is an Olympic swimmer going for gold.
Focused.
Driven.
Intense.
Emma is a blogger going for the scoop and she has the perfect in.
She’s gotten herself hired as his physical therapist.
With all that intimate time together -- the secrets
from his past don’t stand a chance --
And neither does she ...
My Review (3 stars) ~ I found it hard to get into this story, which was surprising because I'm a fan of this author and her writing. I just didn't like either Emma or Chase. They kinda felt plastic to me. I know that explains nothing, but I missed the usual sparks that are familiar to me. Emma turned out to be a liar, even if by omission, but the big reveal still didn't touch me. It could be that contemporary feeling romance isn't really my jam anymore.
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Part of Your World by Liz Braswell
Standalone - A Twisted Tale
Release - September 4, 2018
Genre - Young Adult Fantasy
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Heat - 0 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 475 pages
What if Ariel had never defeated Ursula?
Five years after the (twisted) events of the film, Ariel is now the queen of Atlantica, and Ursula is running Eric's kingdom on land. But when the sea witch threatens Atlantica once more, Ariel finds herself returning to a world (and a prince) she thought she'd left behind forever.
My Review (3.5 stars) ~ This was such a cute read and I believe that it should be listed as a book for all ages. If you would allow your child to watch the movie, The Little Mermaid, then they would be absolutely fine reading this. It wasn't as dark as the movie.
Ursula has always been one of my favorite Disney villains and the author only made me love her more with the way she was re-imagined. She had Eric and his entire kingdom under her thrall while she waged war with everyone else. She was hilarious!
Obviously the good guys won and the journey was such fun!
I've been falling since the day we first met.
And I'm fully in it now.
And I'm fully in it now.
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Risk on Ice by S.R. Grey
Standalone - Boys of Winter #11
Release - October 11, 2022
Genre - Sports Romance / brother's friend / forced proximity
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat - 3 out of 5 / a couple of semi-descriptive scenes
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 181 pages
Publisher - Indie
Release - October 11, 2022
Genre - Sports Romance / brother's friend / forced proximity
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat - 3 out of 5 / a couple of semi-descriptive scenes
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 181 pages
Publisher - Indie
I, Alex Hartwell, just screwed up big-time.
Now the hockey team I was traded to, the Las Vegas Wolves, have me on a short leash.
You’d think a hotshot defenseman like me would have known better.
Guess not.
But I’m trying real hard to behave now.
Why else would I agree to stay at my teammate’s house for the next three months in order to keep the team happy?
It should be a breeze, as Sebastian Alderman is cool. Only problem is I didn’t count on his hot sister, Kelsi, staying there too.
FML, as Hockey Code 101 says sisters are off-limits.
Yeah, I can’t take the risk. Even if Kelsi and I are wildly attracted to each other. Not to mention, she’s pretty effing cool.
But I better behave.
Or not only will the Wolves be breathing down my neck, but Sebastian will be too.
My Two Cents
4 "Easy Peasy" stars
You want sweet? It doesn't really get sweeter than this story.
You want smooth? The love that blossomed between Alex and Kelsi couldn't have been easier.
The author made these characters seem genuine and realistic. What happened between them felt organic and necessary. There was absolutely no muss and no fuss. Imagine a story that is about what the couple shares, without the drama.
Risk on Ice was a sweet and beautiful story. It won me over with how utterly simple and natural it was.
So if you're looking for an adorable couple who do adorable things... look no further than this!
About the Author
S.R. Grey is a USA Today Bestselling Author of the popular Boys of Winter hockey books and Men of Fall football novels. Both series can be read in any order or as standalones. Other New Adult and Romantic Suspense works of hers include the Judge Me Not books, the Promises series, the Inevitability duology, A Harbour Falls Mystery trilogy, and the Laid Bare series of novellas.
Ms. Grey resides in Pennsylvania. When not writing, she can be found reading, traveling, running, or cheering for her hometown sports teams, sometimes all at the same time.
Check out https://www.srgrey.com for more information
“I’m not ashamed of being trans. I was, for too long. Not anymore. I told you I shouldn’t have to hide. I changed my face, my chest, my voice and my groin—everything I can physically change— for myself. Not for anyone else. For me. But even if I hadn’t , I would still be a woman. Let them dig up dirt about me. Let them say what they want. I know who I am and now so will they.”
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Unbroken II by Aaron L. Speer
Undisputed #3
Release - April 30, 2022
Genre - Sports Romance / MMA / FF Romance
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - a couple of descriptive scenes
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - TBD (approx. 300)
Publisher - Indie
Release - April 30, 2022
Genre - Sports Romance / MMA / FF Romance
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - a couple of descriptive scenes
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - TBD (approx. 300)
Publisher - Indie
Ava Beckinsale is living her dream. She's the new World Champion and determined to defend and honour the belt she worked so hard to win.
As soon as she thinks she has a handle on her reign, out of the shadows comes Tanika Taniela. An undefeated fighter held down for years, hidden away with a secret she was told to keep buried.
But Tanika is done hiding, and she's craving a chance to claim Ava's belt.
When the unknown fighter unleashes her rage, revealing her secret to the world on international TV, the fighting world erupts, battle lines are drawn, and Ava is dragged into the last place she wants to be, once more a pawn in the MMA machine.
Now, the new champion's emotions and principles are getting in her way, but allies emerge from the unlikeliest places, and Ava has to return to a lesson she thought she'd already learned: sometimes your greatest opponent is yourself.
My Two Cents
4 "Unbreakable" stars
Ava's the female MMA Champion of the world and as you can imagine, she's on top of the world. However, being so high only means that the fall could hit harder. And yet, she's determined, fierce, and simply so amazing that life's hurdles and the politics of the game are going to have a hard time getting her down.
She's a freaking badass! The author did an incredible job of bringing Ava to life for me and I found it so easy to like her. Her heart... this woman's heart was beautiful!
To be honest, I'm not the best at perfectly imagining what a character would look like in real life, but for Ava, I did find myself constantly picturing one real person...
Paige VanZant
Athletic, beautiful, competitive, generous, kind. loyal, relatable, and smart. She was my kind of heroine. She outshone almost everyone in this book. Almost.
Because it was IMPOSSIBLE to not see Tanika. She was loud, she was proud, and she definitely wanted to be seen.
Seriously. She was a hot mess, but for some reason, all of her mad schemes, yelling for attention, controversial behavior, and randomness worked. I can't imagine being trans and trying to fit into a world that doesn't want to accommodate you, but that's just what she did. And not only did she do it, she succeeded. And the way it was captured for us to read... utterly captivating.
Even when it got really messy.
And don't even get me started on the romance between the champion and the former champion. Can you imagine getting it on with someone who not only kicked your ass, but you kicked her ass right back?
I truly enjoyed these characters and their journeys. They were so different and yet not so much. Their trials, their tribulations, their support teams, their yearnings all forced them to face exactly what they wanted. For Tanika, that was acceptance. For Ava, it was more about feeling complete. Aside from a bit of yuri anime back in the day (or a lot lol), I haven't read girl love before. At least not in a contemporary way. However, it's Aaron L. Speer and I trust him. Good call on my part because this story... it just works!
About the Author
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I wasn't the guy girls ended up with, and I was okay with that.
I was okay with being the f--king experiment.
I was okay with not being perfect.
I was okay with not being the son my father chose.
I was okay with being alone.
Not everyone had someone who accepted them with all their glaring flaws, and I had a shit ton of them.
I was okay with being the f--king experiment.
I was okay with not being perfect.
I was okay with not being the son my father chose.
I was okay with being alone.
Not everyone had someone who accepted them with all their glaring flaws, and I had a shit ton of them.
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Pucked series comes a romantic comedy about instant attraction, second chances, and not-so-little white lies.
Successful, high-profile sports agent Matt Kingston thinks he can handle anything. Then soccer player Parker Speedman shows up at his door. She is young and gorgeous, has natural talent, and is looking for a team. She’s also a hothead with a punchy past who floored her last coach on live TV. Despite his misgivings, Matt agrees to be both her agent and her coach. Professional common sense says she’s off-limits. But what can he say about the raw attraction between them?
Parker plays soccer with her heart and soul. But after the events of the last year, she’s shaken. She’s already seen what a powerful man can do to a female athlete’s career. And her beloved dream is in the hands of a sexy, gorgeous man with the uncanny ability to slip past her defenses…and into her heart.
Now Matt and Parker are about to learn that when it comes to love, the only way to win is by breaking every rule they know. And by playing nice. Real nice.
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Boys of Winter #7
Release Date: May 28, 2019
Genre: New Adult Sports Romance
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat: 3.5 out of 5
Format: eARC provided by author
About the Book
Confession time:
My name is Noel Sandlund and I play professional hockey—defense to be exact.
I lead a pretty good life. I’m not hurting for money and the ladies seem to like me.
And now things have gotten even better—I think I may have fallen in love.
See, while I was in Sweden playing in the world hockey championships this off-season, I met Maisie Troy.
And, man, she’s it for me.
Casper's Ghost by Kerri AnnMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
After re-reading this book, I had to change my review. I don't know if I was going through something the first go round or what, but I actually enjoyed it this time. I'm leaving my previous review below as a reminder that some books DO deserve a second chance. This was definitely one of them.
Wyatt - a championship racer, he took advantage of all of the perks his lifestyle offered. His days were filled with women and the fame brought him everything he thought he was looking for... until Circe.
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