Blog Tour - Make It Last by Megan Erickson + Giveaway

Title: Make it Last
Author: Megan Erickson
Series: Bowler University #3
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Publication: January 6th, 2014 by William Morrow Impulse
Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

After graduating from Bowler University, the last place Cam Ruiz ever expected to find himself is his hometown. A bad job as a bouncer and worry over his mom’s health make living in Paradise anything but. There’s only one thing that can make his return any harder—running into the only girl he’s ever loved.

Tate Ellison made a mistake when she was eighteen, one that cost her the best thing she’s ever had. She’s always hoped the regret of losing Cam would fade over time. Too bad it’s only grown. She took comfort in the fact she’d never have to face him again, so his presence in Paradise throws her for a loop.

The pull between them is instant and when the truth of what happened years ago tumbles out, they share a mind-blowing kiss...which leads to more. But the past has a way of repeating itself. When all the cards are on the table, Cam and Tate must decide what they are willing to do to make it last.

In 2014, New Adult became a favourite of mine. So many awesome NA books came out and I loved them. The best part, is that so many of them are contemporary romance which is my absolutely weakness. And among my favourites, are Megan Ericsson’s Bowler University books. The third one, Make It Last, might even just be my favourite.

Cam Ruiz had a plan. He signed up for the military so that he could go to college. He would finish his degree and then he would get his dream job working for a security company. But that’s not exactly what happens after he graduates from Bowler University. Instead of taking his dream job, Cam Ruiz finds himself back in his hometown of Paradise, working at a job he hates, and helping his mother through her health troubles. And that’s when he comes face to face with Tate, the only girl he’s ever loved. Tate never expected to see Cam again. She made a mistake, and that mistake cost her Cam. But now he’s back and Tate can’t deny that she still has feelings for him. Feelings she doesn’t want to have. Before long, Cam and Tate are both trying to fight back against old feelings. But how long can they deny what’s really between them? But more importantly, can they make it last?

It’s not a secret that I LOVE Megan Ericsson’s books. I gave rave reviews to the first two books in the Bowler University series, Make It Count and Make It Right. So it really shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise that I loved the final book in the series, Make It Last, just as much. Megan’s stories are always so fun. There’s always a healthy dose of humour sprinkled throughout the story and that always manages to make me smile. But what also makes me love Megan’s books is that there’s more to the stories than just humour and romance (and by romance, I mean sexy times, let’s be real). There’s always a more serious undertone to the story. The characters don’t just have to worry about themselves and their love lives. They have more going on in their lives that’s out of their control. And that adds another layer to the story. Sure it’s still a fun romance with many funny moments, but it’s also more than that. And that’s because she writes great stories that are fully fleshed out.

Unlike the couples in the previous two books, Cam and Tate had a history dating back to long before the events of Make It Last. That alone, made for interesting dynamics between these two. At the start of the story I was still a clueless observer while Tate and Cam clearly had more going on. It was definitely interesting to watch. What made it even more interesting, was that I already sort of knew Cam. Or at least I’d gotten glimpses of him in the previous two books. But I still didn’t know what made him tick, what his story was. Tate was completely new to me, but I took to her right away. She was strong, ready to do whatever it takes for her family. Almost too ready to do it sometimes. She just needed to spend a little more time thinking about herself. And that was kind of true for Cam too. So when you think about it, these two were kind of perfect for each other. They just had to work their issues out and see it for themselves. But I was totally rooting for them as I was reading. Aside from Cam and Tate (who were totally and absolutely awesome), I was so happy to see everyone from the other two books. And a certain part in New York City towards the end totally made me squeal out loud. As a side note, can we please have a YA story all about Tate’s little brother Jamie? Because I would totally read that.

I loved Make It Last. Megan Erickson wrote a fantastic story to conclude her Bowler University series. Sure, I’m sad to see this story end. If it were up to me, I would keep reading books in this world forever. But I’m still excited to see what Megan Erickson comes up with next.

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About Megan

Megan Erickson grew up in a family that averages 5’5” on a good day and started writing to create characters who could reach the top kitchen shelf.

She’s got a couple of tattoos, has a thing for gladiators and has been called a crazy cat lady. After working as a journalist for years, she decided she liked creating her own endings better and switched back to fiction.

She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids and two cats. And no, she still can’t reach the stupid top shelf.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

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Giveaway

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Make It Right by Megan Erickson

Title: Make It Right (Bowler University #2)

Author: Megan Erickson

Publisher: William Morrow Impulse

Release Date: September 9, 2014

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

Max Payton lives by two rules:

Size and strength win any fight, and never show weakness.

When a rash of assaults sends Bowler University for a tail spin, Max volunteers to help teach a self-defence class. One of the other instructors is the beautiful pixie-faced girl he keeps butting heads with…and who challenges everything he thought he knew. 

Lea Travers avoids guys like Max—cocky jocks who assume she’s fragile because of a disability caused by a childhood accident. She likes to be in control, and something about being with Max makes her feel anything but. But during the moments he lets his guard down, Lea sees a soul as broken inside as she is outside. Trusting him is a whole other problem…

When the assaults ramp up and hit close to him, Lea and Max must learn, before it’s too late, that true strength can come from vulnerability…and giving in to trust is sometimes the only way to make things right.

Last June I discovered Megan Erickson and her Bowler University series. I tore through the first book and absolutely loved it. I was really excited at the prospect of getting to read more stories set in this world so I jumped on the Make It Right, the second book, when it landed on my Kindle. And I loved it just as much as the first book.

Max has never been one for attachments. His last relationship didn't end particularly well, and he almost lost his best friend over a girl. But ever since he met Lea, a girl who challenges him in every way possible, he can't seem to stop thinking about her. Lea is different from all the other girls Max has been with and slowly she's changing everything he thinks he knows and wants. Lea knows better than to get involved with someone like Max. His reputation speaks for itself. But the more time she spends with Max, the more she finds herself wanting to let go of that control she has held on to for so long. When a series of assaults on campus leads to Max and Lea teaching a self-defence class together. But teaching the class together, means trusting the other. Something neither one is quire reading to do.

I LOVED Megan Erickson's debut Make It Count when I read it. In fact, I pretty much raved about it in my review. Because of that, I was extremely excited to read Make It Right. Any time Megan would release another teaser for the book, my level of excitement would go up exponentially. When the release day finally arrived I made sure to hop online so I could get a copy of the book on my Kindle. And by the end of that day, I was done reading Make It Right. It was just that good and engaging. It didn't take long at all for me to get wrapped up in this story and these characters. It helped that I already knew the world and some of the people in the story. Once again, I loved the humour that was present through out, and how it was mixed with the more serious aspects of the story. One thing I appreciated about the story was how the assaults that are present throughout aren't just affecting the female students at Bowler, male students were also getting attacked. It was just refreshing to see that the victims were mixed and everyone was dealing with it. On a lighter note, Megan Erickson completely delivered with the romance in Make It Right. I loved seeing Max and Lea's relationship develop. It was sweet, it was hot, it was intense, and it was what I hoped it would be.

Unfortunately, I was too late to call dibs on Max Payton by the time I tried to do so. But that won't stop me from talking endlessly about how much I loved him. Because I loved him. A LOT. Probably more than I should admit considering he is a fictional character, but that's just a minor detail in the grand scheme of things. And, I mean, who hasn't fallen for a fictional character before? I can't be the only one who fell under Max's spell. But aside from me loving him SO FREAKING MUCH, Max was just a fantastic character. I had seen him in Make It Count and let me just say that he hadn't really made a great impression. But any bad things I could have thought about him at the time, I take back. There was so much more going on with Max than I would have thought and I loved seeing that softer side of him come out whenever he was around Lea. Or around his rescued cat for that matter. But Lea. She was so completely different from what I thought she was going to be. I had briefly gotten a glimpse of her in Make It Count but it didn't even brush the surface. She was a complex character and I could definitely understand why she was the way she was. It was nice to see her learn to let other people in,  especially Max because they were so right for each other. And much like in the first book, one of the best parts of seeing Max and Lea together was the banter. It was perfect and sweet and adorable and just put a smile on my face. Especially when Alec and Kat would make an appearance and join in on the fun. 

Just like with the first book in this series, I absolutely loved Megan Erickson's Make It Right. It was the perfect mix of light and serious and I honestly loved every page of it. I can't wait to read the next book in this series, but at the same time I don't want it to end.

Make It Count by Megan Erickson

Title: Make It Count (Bowler University #1)

Author: Megan Erickson

Publisher: William Morrow Impulse

Release Date: June 3, 2014

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

Kat Caruso wishes her brain had a return policy, or at least a complaint hot-line. The defective organ is constantly distracted, terrible at statistics, and absolutely flooded with inappropriate thoughts about her boyfriend’s gorgeous best friend, Alec…who just so happens to be her brand new tutor. Who knew nerd was so hot?

Kat usually goes through tutors like she does boyfriends—both always seem to bail when they realize how hopeless she is. It’s safer for her heart to keep everyone at arm’s reach. But Alec is always stepping just a little too close.

Alec Stone should not be fantasizing about Kat. She’s adorable, unbelievably witty, and completely off limits. He’d never stab his best friend in the back…

But when secrets are revealed, the lines of loyalty are blurred. To make it count, Alec must learn messy human emotions can’t be solved like a trigonometry function. And Kat has to trust Alec may be the first guy to want her for who she is, and not in spite of it.

Guys, I love my fun and flirty New Adult. You’ve heard me say it before, but here I am saying it again. The reason I’m reiterating this fact is Megan Erickson’s Make It Count. This was a fun story that kept me turning the pages almost faster than I could read them. It was everything I wanted it to be.

Kat Caruso has always struggled in school. There’s nothing she can do about it, her brain just won’t cooperate. But she’s made it this far, and she’s determined to graduate from college. If only she could figure out what’s going on in her statistics class, she would be doing just fine. But every tutor she gets gives up on her when the going gets tough. Something changes though when Alec Stone becomes her tutor. Alec is smart, charming, and absolutely gorgeous. Kat would totally be interested if she didn’t already have a boyfriend…and if Alec didn’t happen to be that boyfriend’s best friend. Alec shouldn’t be thinking about Kat the way he is. He should just be focusing on helping her pass statistics. But Alec can’t help it, every time he sees Kat, his mind goes where it shouldn’t. Both Kat and Alec are drawn to each other, but first they have to work through messy emotions, emotions that can’t be fixed with a simple equation. 

I said it on Twitter after I finished reading the book, but here it is again: Megan Erickson’s Make It Count was just a fantastically fun read. There wasn’t a page of it that I didn’t enjoy. I will admit, though, that I was a little worried before I started reading. From the synopsis, it wasn’t clear whether or not cheating would be part of the story and that made me hesitant. As much as I’ll read just about anything if the premise appeals to me, cheating is one of the things I’m always on the fence about (when it comes to books and stories, I’m 100% against it in real life). But I decided to just go for it and see where the story would go. And I’m so glad that I made that decision. The whole cheating thing, in the way that I thought it was going to work, ended up being a non-issue. Beyond all that, I just really enjoyed this story. The romance was what I was hoping it would be, and so much of it was mixed in with Kat’s special brand of humour. Make It Count also went deeper than I thought it was going to be. I loved how it touched on learning disabilities and how the way that these can sometimes be perceived affects those affected by them. It made for a story that had more substance. But really, what I loved was the romance and everything happening with Kat and Alec.

How much did I love Kat and Alec? Let me count the ways. Okay, not really. But you get what I’m saying. I loved Kat and Alec. Both as individuals and together. I loved Kat for the way she didn’t take crap from people. Maybe it was sometimes a defence mechanism, but it still made me love her. But at the same time I felt for her because she was clearly struggling and was often a lot harder on herself that she really should have been. And that’s one of the reasons I loved Alec so much. He saw Kat in a way she didn’t think anybody could see him. I mean, Alec was great in other ways too, don’t get me wrong. But I really liked the way he was with Kat, how he saw the smart person she was under the bad grades and how he allowed himself to laugh whenever she was around. And the best part of Kat and Alec? The banter. Oh how I loved the banter between these two. Kat always seemed to catch Alec by surprise and Alec just went right along with it once he caught up. It was fantastic. The last thing I will say about these characters is that I can’t wait to find out about more of them in the next books.

In case it wasn’t clear, I really enjoyed Megan Erickson’s Make It Count. It’s the perfect light and fun read for summer. And if you’re looking to dip your toes into the New Adult pool, then this book will make a fantastic starting point!