{Blog Tour} Review+Giveaway: Love and Other Theories

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Title: Love and Other Theories

Author: Alexis Bass

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: December 31st 2014

Purchase from: Amazon || B&N || Book Depository || iTunes || Kobo

Synopsis from Goodreads:

If you want more, you have to give less.

That’s the secret to dating in high school. By giving as little as they expect to get in return, seventeen-year-old Aubrey Housing and her three best friends have made it to the second semester of their senior year heartbreak-free. And it’s all thanks to a few simple rules: don’t commit, don’t be needy, and don’t give away your heart.

So when smoking-hot Nathan Diggs transfers to Lincoln High, it shouldn’t be a big deal. At least that’s what Aubrey tells herself. But Nathan’s new-boy charm, his kindness, and his disarming honesty throw Aubrey off her game and put her in danger of breaking the most important rule of all: Don’t fall in love.

Advance Praise

“Careful, subtle and aching. ” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Warning: Bass’s debut novel will ignite ALL your feelings!” - Wendy Higgins, New York Times bestselling author of the Sweet Evil trilogy

“I loved LOVE AND OTHER THEORIES. Alexis Bass writes a compelling critique of the ways society expects girls to behave in their relationships, the lies girls tell each other–and themselves–to keep from getting hurt, and, when all is said and done, how only the heart knows the truth.” – Kristin Halbrook, author of Nobody But Us and co-founder of YA Highway

“Alexis Bass masterfully captures all the complexities of high school relationships. A lovely debut.” – Amanda Maciel, author of Tease

“A bold debut that authentically captures the frenzy of love, lust, and senior year of high school!” - Julie Murphy, author of Side Effects May Vary

“Love and Other Theories challenged my assumptions, dared me to think differently and burrowed into my heart. A heart-achingly beautiful story about whether it is better to protect your heart or to take the biggest risk of all.” - Daisy Whitney, author of The Mockingbirds

“In her debut novel, Bass provides honest, incisive, and sometimes uncomfortable insights into the complicated intersections of friendship and romance, the ways sex can be wielded as a weapon, and the measures some teens take to protect themselves from pain.” — Publishers Weekly

“Bass’s debut is an entertaining perspective on the battlefield of the teen dating world.” —Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

Quote Excerpt

My Thoughts

I am torn between loving and hating this one.

I love how Love and Other Theories captures the feeling of what a typical teenager would experience. I love how it depicts the reality of what is happening in high school. I love how it was a romance story, but it wasn’t the fairy tale kind of thing. I love how the characters ended up kind of realistic. I love how the plot developed in a way that I can’t bring myself to stop reading. I love how the writing was so amazing that it could make me laugh and cry all in a matter of a few minutes. I love how honest and real and strong the emotions were. I love how I love a lot of things, and I can go on forever.

But there are also a lot of things that I didn’t like. It was okay for me to have characters that are mean, but I think that this was over the top. It was disappointing to see how almost everyone was being mean, and nothing was being done. And the few people that are good, well, they’re being bullied or what-not. It was so sad. Also, there were too much negativity that made me want to just stop at some point in the book. I also didn’t like how the girls (Aubrey, and her best friends - Shelby, Danica and Melissa) were just influencing others with their own opinions and stuff, and it was as if that you have to follow them or else. I didn’t like how the book primarily used the foundation of drinking and sleeping around. I didn’t like how it managed to question my principles and opinions. I didn’t like how it portrayed the girls as players. I didn’t like how it showed the selfish side of friendship.

(mild spoiler alert) The ending wasn’t a happy ending one, but it was the best one. It was realistic, and I love it that way. It didn’t give any false hope or any fairy tale what-so-ever aspect. It was just that. It was the high school life. By the end, Love and Other Theories just strengthened the principles I have. Sure, it made me doubt myself, but it made me even more sure of the things that I stand for. This was a heck of a roller coaster ride for me, but I wouldn’t have it like any other else. Absolutely stunning, completely amazing, totally heart-wrecking with all the feels and emotions. I definitely recommend reading this one!

My Rating

Real Rating: 4.5

About the Author

Website || Goodreads || Twitter || Facebook || Pinterest || Tumblr

Alexis Bass grew up in Washington, went to college in Arizona, and spent her early twenties in Seattle. She currently lives in Northern California with Dylan McKay, her gorgeous and rambunctious golden retriever. She loves good fashion and good TV as much as a good book, and is a huge advocate of the three C’s: coffee, chocolate, and cheese. LOVE AND OTHER THEORIES is her first novel.

Giveaway

Win (1) book of your choice written by Wendy Higgins OR Kristin Halbrook OR Amanda Maciel OR Julie Murphy OR Daisy Whitney (US Only)

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Typography Tuesday #5: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

Introduction here

Typography Tuesday is a new feature where I will post my lettering works of book quotes. Works will usually be black and white, but there may be at times that colored ones will be posted. All works are scanned but created by hand through markers and fine liners.

I've been skipping on Typography Tuesdays, and I'm so sad. I'm starting to hate college because it's taking away my time to read books and to make hand lettering. :< But, anyway, this one's from SPLFS (which is super cute!!! I love it!!) and I tried a new style by making the text all script and diagonal. :D

{Blog Tour} Review+Giveaway: Beautiful Curse

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Title: Beautiful Curse
Author: Jen McConnel 
Release Date: December 2014
Genre: Swoon Romance

Purchase from Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Mya Jones is cursed.

She is, hands down, the most beautiful creature on earth. But beauty can wound, and Mya finds herself reviled and shunned by her peers. If there is even a chance that she could start over, Mya longs to take it, no matter the risks.

So when the strange Mr. Merk offers her a new life away from home, Mya is hesitant but hopeful. Only she didn't count on the mysterious Ross, or her feelings for him.

BEAUTIFUL CURSE is a contemporary retelling of the myth of Psyche and Cupid.

My Thoughts

The thing with this novel, Beautiful Curse, is that it captured my attention right away. Presented with idea of beauty, and what it can do to people is unbelievable. There is no doubt that there is a side to beauty that receives destruction. In the case of Mya, her sudden transformation to a model-like beautiful features caught the attention of her peers, which caused her to become bullied. With this introduction, I thought that this one will be something typical, but I was wrong.

A story incorporated with magic and Greek mythology, plus romance = love. Absolutely incredible. Right now, I may not even making much sense because I really don't know what to write. I love the pacing, the romance and the development. The pacing of this novel didn't leave me wanting for more, but it didn't made me feel that it was draggy either. The pacing is perfect, and there are just moments when I kept on telling myself that I have to stop reading (so that I should sleep already) but it just did not happen. By the time I knew it, I was already finished reading. It was amazing. And even though it wasn't really heavy on Greek mythology, it wouldn't have been complete without this aspect.

The romance? The feels. Beautiful Curse presents the usual line, beauty is in the eye of its beholder, and this is actually true. I love how the romance between Mya and Ross bloomed not because of physical attributes, but because of their personalities. Although there were a lot of secrets hidden, they just made the novel even more interesting. Both characters of Mya and Ross were also good, and I especially loved Mya. She may seem like a typical teenage girl, but she is a strong one and she knows what her own principles are. She believes in herself. She believes in others, and really, I believe that the world needs more people like her.

The plot might be just simple, and kind of predictable (although there were some that caught me by surprise,) I still enjoyed reading this one. There were just some points like Mya's transformation that were left unanswered. Nevertheless, it was a light and easy read. It was simply awesome. I absolutely recommend reading Beautiful Curse! Go grab a copy now! ;)

My Rating

About the Author

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

Jen McConnel first began writing poetry as a child. Since then, her words have appeared in a variety of magazines and journals, including Sagewoman, PanGaia, and The Storyteller (where she won the people’s choice 3rd place award for her poem, “Luna”).

She is also a former reviewer for Voices of Youth Advocates (VOYA), and proud member of SCBWI, NCWN, and SCWW.

A Michigander by birth, she now lives and writes in the beautiful state of North Carolina. A graduate of Western Michigan University, she also holds a MS in Library Science from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. When she isn't crafting worlds of fiction, she teaches college writing composition and yoga.

Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time.

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Typography Tuesday #4: The Truth About Forever

Introduction here

Typography Tuesday is a new feature where I will post my lettering works of book quotes. Works will usually be black and white, but there may be at times that colored ones will be posted. All works are scanned but created by hand through markers and fine liners.

This quote is from Sarah Dessen's The Truth About Forever, and is really one of the ones that I remember because it's short. And true. It reminds me of a lot of things in the past, and that we should just stop living in the past. It happened; it's over. The past is the one that makes our present, and it's because of the past that we grow as a person. I think we should stop living in the past and thinking about all the should have's, what if's, and all those stuff. Don't you think so? :D

Release Day Launch: Breaking the Rules

We are so excited to bring you the Release Day launch for Katie McGarry's BREAKING THE RULES! BREAKING THE RULES is a Young Adult contemporary romance published by Harlequin Teen, and is the follow-up book to Katie's PUSHING THE LIMITS. You do not want to miss Noah and Echo's story! Grab it today!

Title: Breaking the Rules
Author: Katie McGarry

Amazon || Barnes & Noble || Books-A-Million || Kobo || iBooks || Google Play

Synopsis:

A summer road trip changes everything in this unforgettable new tale from acclaimed author Katie McGarry. For new high school graduate Echo Emerson, a summer road trip out west with her boyfriend means getting away and forgetting what makes her so... different. It means seeing cool sights while selling her art at galleries along the way. And most of all, it means almost three months alone with Noah Hutchins, the hot, smart, soul-battered guy who's never judged her. Echo and Noah share everything--except the one thing Echo's just not ready for. But when the source of Echo's constant nightmares comes back into her life, she has to make some tough decisions about what she really wants--even as foster kid Noah's search for his last remaining relatives forces them both to confront some serious truths about life, love, and themselves. Now, with one week left before college orientation, jobs and real life, Echo must decide if Noah's more than the bad-boy fling everyone warned her he'd be. And the last leg of an amazing road trip will turn... seriously epic.

 

And don’t forget to read the first books in the Pushing the Limits Series…

PUSHING THE LIMITS

CROSSING THE LINE

DARE YOU TO

CRASH INTO YOU

TAKE ME ON

      

Excerpt

From Noah’s POV

“Did you fall into some paint, Echo?” Isaiah asks, changing the subject.

Echo’s shoulder slumps as she pivots toward the mirror. She groans as she touches her cheek and forehead that are more red and pink than skin. “Dang it. Why am I such a mess?”

“I think it’s sexy as hell,” I say.

“I think I’m going to barf,” Beth mocks my tone.

Death radiates from the look I send her way. Enough that it should melt her. “Ever sleep in a tent, Beth?”

Beth focuses on the screen while raising her middle finger in my direction.

“Screw it.” Echo turns away from the mirror. “I need a shower.”

I smile, Echo blushes, then I laugh. Damn me for inviting Isaiah and Beth to share our room.

“Anyhow.” An excited glint strikes Echo’s eyes. “Are you ready? I hope you like it. It’s sort of…for you. But it’s not done, okay? I mean, something like this would actually take a while to perfect, so I guess I’m saying—”

“Echo.”

“Yeah?”

“It’s all good.”

“Okay.” Her fingers drum nervously over the top of the canvas before she repeats, “Okay.”

“I’m assuming that’s not the constellation Aires?”

“No. I’ll have to start on that tomorrow.” With a deep inhale, Echo pulls out a chair from the table and rests the painting on the arms and leans it against the back so it will stay upright.

Air rushes out of my body, and I sink onto our bed. It’s the same damned shock as when she drew my parents this past spring. There’s awe and joy and this ache that hits deep in my gut. I bend forward and rest my joint hands on my knees and stare at the sight in front of me.

Fuck me, my eyes burn. I shut them, attempting to get my shit together. It’s a painting. Only a painting. I reopen them, and it’s the same disorientation as a right hook to the head. It’s more than a painting, and that’s the reason my throat swells.

Last night meant as much to me as it did to her and she painted it, capturing it in a way unique to Echo. She’s right, it’s not done. It’s a skeleton compared to her other work, but I see enough to know what she desires, what she plans to design. Up close all those colors would look like chaos, but when viewed as a whole it creates this beautiful picture. In the end, that’s the best way to describe me and Echo, our relationship. Our love.

The bed dips as Echo eases onto it, settles behind me and props her chin on my shoulder. Her signature scent that reminds me of walking into a bakery becomes an invisible blanket surrounding me. “What do you think?”

“It’s us,” I whisper, and knots form in my stomach. From Noah’s POV

“Did you fall into some paint, Echo?” Isaiah asks, changing the subject.

Echo’s shoulder slumps as she pivots toward the mirror. She groans as she touches her cheek and forehead that are more red and pink than skin. “Dang it. Why am I such a mess?”

“I think it’s sexy as hell,” I say.

“I think I’m going to barf,” Beth mocks my tone.

Death radiates from the look I send her way. Enough that it should melt her. “Ever sleep in a tent, Beth?”

Beth focuses on the screen while raising her middle finger in my direction.

“Screw it.” Echo turns away from the mirror. “I need a shower.”

I smile, Echo blushes, then I laugh. Damn me for inviting Isaiah and Beth to share our room.

“Anyhow.” An excited glint strikes Echo’s eyes. “Are you ready? I hope you like it. It’s sort of…for you. But it’s not done, okay? I mean, something like this would actually take a while to perfect, so I guess I’m saying—”

“Echo.”

“Yeah?”

“It’s all good.”

“Okay.” Her fingers drum nervously over the top of the canvas before she repeats, “Okay.”

“I’m assuming that’s not the constellation Aires?”

“No. I’ll have to start on that tomorrow.” With a deep inhale, Echo pulls out a chair from the table and rests the painting on the arms and leans it against the back so it will stay upright.

Air rushes out of my body, and I sink onto our bed. It’s the same damned shock as when she drew my parents this past spring. There’s awe and joy and this ache that hits deep in my gut. I bend forward and rest my joint hands on my knees and stare at the sight in front of me.

Fuck me, my eyes burn. I shut them, attempting to get my shit together. It’s a painting. Only a painting. I reopen them, and it’s the same disorientation as a right hook to the head. It’s more than a painting, and that’s the reason my throat swells.

Last night meant as much to me as it did to her and she painted it, capturing it in a way unique to Echo. She’s right, it’s not done. It’s a skeleton compared to her other work, but I see enough to know what she desires, what she plans to design. Up close all those colors would look like chaos, but when viewed as a whole it creates this beautiful picture. In the end, that’s the best way to describe me and Echo, our relationship. Our love.

The bed dips as Echo eases onto it, settles behind me and props her chin on my shoulder. Her signature scent that reminds me of walking into a bakery becomes an invisible blanket surrounding me. “What do you think?”

“It’s us,” I whisper, and knots form in my stomach. Echo always finds a way to blow my mind. She tenses behind me and I continue, “It’s where we spent last night.”

“It is.” Echo relaxes, and her fingers curl around my biceps. “Do you like it?”

Struggling for composure, I place my hand over hers and pause. “It’s…”

I’m not Echo. I don’t have words for what happens inside me. If I did, I’d fail at describing this. I shift to rest my forehead against hers. “I don’t deserve you.”

“That’s my statement,” she says so only I can hear. “I wish we were alone again.”

I press my lips to hers, slide my hand through her hair and watch as the curls bounce back into place. “Me, too.”

Echo always finds a way to blow my mind. She tenses behind me and I continue, “It’s where we spent last night.”

“It is.” Echo relaxes, and her fingers curl around my biceps. “Do you like it?”

Struggling for composure, I place my hand over hers and pause. “It’s…”

I’m not Echo. I don’t have words for what happens inside me. If I did, I’d fail at describing this. I shift to rest my forehead against hers. “I don’t deserve you.”

“That’s my statement,” she says so only I can hear. “I wish we were alone again.”

I press my lips to hers, slide my hand through her hair and watch as the curls bounce back into place. “Me, too.”

About the Author

Website | Twitter @KatieMcGarry | Facebook

Goodreads | Pinterest | Tumbler | Instagram

Katie McGarry was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan. Katie is the author of full length YA novels, PUSHING THE LIMITS, DARE YOU TO, CRASH INTO YOU, TAKE ME ON, BREAKING THE RULES, and NOWHERE BUT HERE and the e-novellas, CROSSING THE LINE and RED AT NIGHT. Her debut YA novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS was a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction, a RT Magazine's 2012 Reviewer's Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel, a double Rita Finalist, and a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick. DARE YOU TO was also a Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Best Book Award for Young Adult Contemporary fiction in 2013.

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Review: The Death Cure

Title: The Death Cure
Author: James Dashner
Publication Date: 2011
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction

Synopsis from Goodreads:

It’s the end of the line.

WICKED has taken everything from Thomas: his life, his memories, and now his only friends—the Gladers. But it’s finally over. The trials are complete, after one final test.

Will anyone survive?

What WICKED doesn’t know is that Thomas remembers far more than they think. And it’s enough to prove that he can’t believe a word of what they say.

The truth will be terrifying.

Thomas beat the Maze. He survived the Scorch. He’ll risk anything to save his friends. But the truth might be what ends it all. 

The time for lies is over.

My Thoughts

I'm not sure how to feel about The Death Cure. For the most part, I enjoyed the first two installments of this trilogy, so I was expecting that this would be some sort of grand finale to the whole thing, that after reading this, everything would just fall into place... but that didn't happen.

The story basically revolves around Thomas and his friends escaping and finally taking action to bring down WICKED. The group goes to Denver to find answers and make a plan, which they manage to do with the help of an anti-WICKED organization called the Right Arm. Now all this is intriguing enough to read about; the thing is that by the end of the book, there are still so many things left unresolved! I would think that with this being the last installment, there would finally be explanations for all the questions posed by the previous novels, but no. The ideas just keep on piling up, and they don't even really tie all that well together. The characters get their version of a happily ever after (if it can even be called that) while us readers are left hanging. I don't see how that's fair.

Speaking of the characters, there is once again almost no character development here. Being with these people for three books should have made me so much more attached to them. I guess I have some fondness for Minho and Newt, and I gained some appreciation for Teresa, but the other characters? Not so much. None of them ever really got the chance to make an impact on me, and I just find that sad, because I think I would've liked them had I been given more insight into what they’re really like. 

Considering that there was so much potential behind the idea for this series, it’s a bit of a downer that it was ended this way. Nevertheless, it’s a decent read with its own strong points as well (there’s a lot of action and a few sad moments here and there), and I don’t regret trying it out.

My Rating

{Blog Tour} Review+Giveaway: Inside Out

Title: Inside Out (Off the Map #3)
Author: Lia Riley
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Publication: December 2nd, 2014

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Synopsis from Goodreads:

When Talia first moved from California to Australia to study abroad, she never dreamed she'd find the love of her life. Bran understands her like no one ever has before. And despite the numerous challenges they've faced, they've always managed to figure out how to stay together. But this time they'll face their toughest hurdle yet. Is their love strong enough to keep them together?

My Thoughts

I am disappointed, actually. Not in the sense that because the book isn't nice or that I didn't like it. It wasn't like that. It was more of like, I loved the first book, Upside Down. And this one? Not so much. It was so-so.

Again, I was thrusted to Talia and Bran's world. It was a crazy adventure. Not for a second that something didn't happen. Maybe it was just that that's why it was a little bit tiring to read. Maybe it was because everything was just endlessly happening. Conflict after conflict, problem after problem, stress after stress. It was as if there was no end, which seemed kind of unrealistic, for me. Because, how unlucky you should be for you to undergo that cyclic conflict events.

Moreover, the way Talia and Bran handled things irritated me. Especially Talia. I know that I shouldn't be judging her or whatever because I really have no idea how OCD is like. But, she got to the point that she became overbearing. And I didn't like how she took things so seriously and thought about them so hard, and being so problematic and all, and then boom. Suddenly, she was okay again, and all that stuff. Again, it felt unlikely to happen and it took me by surprise.

However, there is no denial that the love between Talia and Bran was authentic. For them to stick with each other through everything was really admirable. I love the way that each gave strength to the other, and helped each other go pass all the problems and stress. Their relationship was built on trust and support, nurtured with love and united as one. It was beautiful.

After everything they went through, I'm glad that it was a happy ever after. I'm not a person that has to have an HEA, but this time around, I felt that they really deserved it. And I'm glad they were able to have one. It wasn't exactly an HEA, but it was life. The ending was beautiful. That's just it.

My Rating

About the Author

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Lia Riley writes offbeat New Adult Romance. After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, she scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. She counts shooting vodka with a Ukranian mechanic in Antarctica, sipping yerba mate with gauchos in Chile and swilling XXXX with stationhands in Outback Australia among her accomplishments. When not torturing heroes (because c'mon, who doesn't love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about as-of-yet unwritten books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. She and her family live in Northern California.

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{Blog Tour} Review+Excerpt+Giveaway: A League of Her Own

This is my stop during the blog tour for A League of Her Own by Karen Rock. This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The blog tour runs from 1 till 14 December, you can view the complete tour schedule on the website of Lola’s Blog Tours.

Title: A League of Her Own
Author: Karen Rock
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age category: Adult
Release Date: 1 December 2014

Purchase from:
Amazon (Kindle) || Barnes & Noble
Kobo || eHarlequin

Synopsis from Goodreads:

He was attractive, talented…and way off limits.

Heather Gadway may have been a world-class college pitcher and a top university coach, but she's a rank amateur when it comes to managing the Falcons, her father's struggling minor league team. And when it comes to managing her aggravating attraction to Garrett Wolf, their talented new pitcher. It's going to be difficult enough to make it as the first female manager in the league and prove to her overly critical father she's worthy. No distractions. No missteps. And certainly no romances with players. Everything stands between them—including their troubled pasts—even as Heather's world falls apart and Garrett's the one who's there to catch her…

Excerpt

Heather flushed, remembering how she’d warned him that she could never trust him or any addict. Had pushed him away when he’d kissed her. So why, then, was she telling him things she hadn’t even shared with her father?

“How many times did you go to rehab?” she asked.

“Once.”

“How long were you an alcoholic before that?”

“Five years. I was twenty-one when Manny got shot.”

Heather stiffened in his arms, realization spiking through her. He’d turned to alcohol because of Manny.

“You drank so you wouldn’t think about it.”

“Basically.” She felt his head nod against hers. “And, after a while, because I had to.”

“And now you’re never tempted.” She tried keeping the skepticism out of her voice and failed.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. But I’m committed.” He lifted his head, tipped up her chin and looked her directly in the eye. “I can only promise one day at a time. But I’ll keep that vow. Continue renewing it. I want more out of life than a bottle.”

Heather reached up and touched the sides of his face, unable to stop her impulsive action. It was sending him mixed messages, the same ones she felt.

“What else do you want?” The question came from a part of her she didn’t recognize. Asking a man like Garrett a flirtatious question was playing with fire.

Garrett groaned, longing sharpening his features. “You.”

Without waiting for her response, his lips captured hers. She knew she should push him away, but instead her head fell back, her pulse leaping in her throat. The pressure was exquisite as he nibbled and explored. Soft. Warm. Gentle. His lips moved slowly, gradually exerting more pressure.

This felt incredible. Better than the last time. She had to stop this, but need seized her, shoving aside her good intentions.

Her body hummed and a fuzzy sensation filled her head, making it hard to focus on anything but the feel of him, the evergreen scent of the forest and his aftershave heightening her senses.

His hands gripped her waist as she swayed against him, holding her as his mouth sampled her lower lip, then put pressure on the top. Nerves sent small shock waves through her chest, and her hand rose to stroke the back of his neck, making him tremble against her.

Suddenly his kiss intensified, growing fierce and demanding. His lips moved fast against hers, their tongues tangling, causing warmth to explode in her body, melting every piece of her.

She moaned and Garrett’s arms tightened, bringing her closer still. Her lips maneuvered against his in response, loving his sweet taste. Garrett shuddered, curling his fist into her hair with a groan. She loved how her touch affected him, how it affected her.

At last his lips let her go, and he looked down at her tenderly, pleasure in his eyes, his chest rising and falling hard.

“I wasn’t getting involved with anyone. Planned to focus only on baseball,” he said when his breath came easier. “But I can’t stay away from you. You follow me, even in my sleep. Your eyes.” He kissed each lid. “Your smile.” He pressed his lips to each corner. “These freckles.” His warm mouth brushed her cheeks.

Her chest expanded, taking in his beautiful words. This incredible moment. And then it hit her, reality a cold shower.

She opened her eyes and scooted away. “Garrett. I don’t know.”

His eyes moved out over the falls, tracking the sprays of water as they hit the jutting rocks and tumbled to earth. “You don’t trust me.”

Her mouth opened and closed. He was right. While he touched a chord inside that’d never sounded for anyone else, she still couldn’t put her heart in harm’s way again. And she knew without a doubt that if Garrett let her down, he’d devastate her as much as her mother had. Even more. She’d loved and lost too many times to try again, especially with her father gone so recently.

“I’m sorry,” she said inadequately as he stood and helped her to her feet.

His blank expression gave little away. She wondered if, deep down, a part of him was relieved they weren’t taking things further. He’d said he hadn’t wanted distractions. And now she wouldn’t be one.

“I can’t make you believe in me, Heather.” His voice was steady and strong. “I need someone who’ll give me a chance to earn her trust.”

She crossed her arms and looked down at the falls, speaking from her heart. “You could be sober a hundred years and I’d still be waiting for the one day you slipped.”

Air escaped him. “I’ve never had a drink as long as you’ve known me. Put you in danger.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m sorry.”

“Me too,” he said as they wandered back to the path. “But better to be up front now. So…this is for the best.”

She wasn’t sure if it was pride talking, or she’d convinced him that they were wrong for each other. Either way, incongruously, she felt let down. Had she wanted him to push it harder? Make her change her mind? If he had, she’d only have distanced herself more. No. He’d made the right call.

Only it felt completely and absolutely wrong. 

My Thoughts

The first time I read a work of Karen Rock's was unbelievable. I had a lot of hesitations and doubts that I would love the book because the characters were older than the ones I usually read. Reading 'Wish Me Tomorrow' made me less hesitant in trying books that aren't in my comfort zone. Still, I wasn't in that phase that I would read any book with older characters. So, I didn't. This time around, I figured I would try again, just because A League of Her Own is also by Karen Rock.

And I was not disappointed. It was unbelievable and unexplainable. The way “A League of Her Own” threw me off was different. It wasn’t in the sense that it made me bawl like a baby or made my heart beat so fast. It wasn’t because there were too much feels, either. It wasn’t anything at all, and it was really incomprehensible for me on why I love this novel, which gave me a hard time writing a review for it. Now, I think what made me love this was because it was heartwarming. Everything was sincere, and it gives the sense of what every day life can be like. No magic, no fairy tales, no alterations, no what-so-ever’s. Whatever life is like, that’s what’s shown, and that’s the thing that I like the most.

Both Garrett and Heather had their own problems to deal with, own goals to achieve, and own expectations to meet. Both were trapped in a sense that only them could help themselves. The things they are both dealing with aren’t large, exaggerated problems. Instead, these are the things that happens anytime, to anyone. No exceptions. And that's what made this novel so real and so relatable. Plus, even at their age, they still endlessly grow up and become better individuals. It just shows that no one can just stop growing. And, they grew together. They were dependent on others. A lot of the lessons in this novel are probably the ones that we know so clearly, and yet, it does not fail to emphasize the importance of these lessons and how much we need the people around us.

I really don't think I can do justice to this novel with my review. But, my thoughts are still muddled, and even up to now, I don't think I still know exactly why I love it, and maybe that's the most amazing of all for me because even though the reason is unclear, I still love it all the same. Although it was mostly about baseball and I had zero background about it, I didn't get lost in reading this one. The writing was just splendid.

I absolutely recommend reading A League of Her Own! And while you're at it, Karen Rock's Wish Me Tomorrow is also a good one! :D Go, go, go! Grab a copy nowwww! :)

My Rating

About the Author

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Karen Rock is an award-winning YA and adult contemporary romance author. She holds a master’s degree in English and worked as an ELA instructor before becoming a full-time writer. Currently she writes for Harlequin Heartwarming and her first novel for the line, WISH ME TOMORROW, has won the 2014 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, the 2014 Golden Quill Contest and a finalist in the Published Maggie Awards. The first novel in her co-authored YA series, CAMP BOYFRIEND, has been a finalist in the Booksellers Best and Golden Leaf awards.

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