Blog Tour - Jesse's Girl by Miranda Kenneally + Giveaway!

Title: Jesse's Girl (Hundred Oaks #6)

Author: Miranda Kenneally

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: July 7, 2015

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / B&N / Indigo

Practice Makes Perfect.

Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya Henry said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she’d get to shadow *the* Jesse Scott, Nashville’s teen idol.

But spending the day with Jesse is far from a dream come true. He’s as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he’s accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya’s lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse’s pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya’s playing back up to other people’s dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart—and go solo?

It should be no secret by now that any time Miranda Kenneally’s name appears on a book, I will read it. In the last few years, she’s become one of my favourite authors and I eagerly await each one of her new releases. It was no different with Jesse’s Girl and, no surprise there, I loved reading it.

Maya Henry has always been into music. In fact, she wants to make a career out of it. So when career mentoring day comes around, Maya says she wants to be a rock star. Everyone at school knows, the day is a bit of a joke and Maya never in a million years expected they would pair her up with an actual rock star. Well, country music star. It would all have the makings of a fantastic day if Maya were actually a Jesse Scott fan. But the more time she spends with Jesse, the more Maya realizes that the Jesse the world knows is not the same Jesse she’s getting to know. And the more she’s around him, the more Maya realizes that maybe she doesn’t need other people’s help to make her own dreams happen, that she’s capable of doing it all on her own.

In my books, Miranda Kenneally can do no wrong. Everyone of her books I read, I love and I will keep reading her stories as long as she keeps writing them. It’s as simple as that. So, yeah, I was totally excited about reading Jesse’s Girl. Though I was a little worried because Breathe, Annie, Breathe, Miranda Kenneally’s previous release, it pretty much my favourite out of all of her books and I was scared that whatever book would follow it just wouldn’t be as good. But I was worried for nothing. Miranda Kenneally just knows how to write a story that is both fun but also goes a little deeper than you might expect. And Jesse’s Girl was all of those things and it should go without saying that it absolutely did not disappoint me. I got sucked into the story right away. The music aspect of the story totally did it for me with this book. It was just so fun and I loved all the references to the 80s music Maya would make throughout the story. And like with any good Miranda Kenneally book, my favourite part was of course the romance. Jesse and Maya didn’t particularly like each other when the story started but it grew to be something more (obviously), and that’s one of my favourite tropes to read about it romance. So yes, the romance was exactly what I wanted when I read Jesse’s Girl.

I loved Maya Henry. And yes that last name should look familiar if you’ve read Miranda Kenneally’s other books, because she is Sam Henry’s little sister (more on that momentarily). Maya was interesting to read about. When you meet her one on one, she comes across as this super confident, comfortable in her own skin girl who knows exactly what she wants to do in life. But then you put her in front of a group of people and that all seems to melt away. It’s like she didn’t trust herself and her abilities anymore when she was in front of a crowd. So I loved seeing her growth over the course of the story, see her gain confidence and become more sure of herself when performing by herself. And that’s where Jesse comes in. Jesse was able to help Maya see herself in the way he saw her. And with Maya, Jesse was able to realize that he could still have fun while playing music, something he’d sort of forgotten about as his career got bigger and bigger. And they were just adorable together and they put a smile on my face. But as much as I loved Maya and Jesse, one of my favourite parts of Jesse’s Girl was how much I got to see Jordan and Sam. Every time they would make an appearance in the story, I would just get this goofy smile on my face, and five books later I still love them as much as I did when I first read Catching Jordan.

If you’re thinking that I loved Miranda Kenneally’s Jesse’s Girl, you totally guessed right. I got sucked into this story and didn’t want it to end. I loved getting to know new characters while also getting to reconnect with some familiar ones. Jesse’s Girl was the romance I was looking for and it absolutely delivered.

About Miranda Kenneally

Growing up in Tennessee, Miranda Kenneally dreamed of becoming an Atlanta Brave, a country singer (cliché!), or a UN interpreter. Instead, she writes and works for the State Department in Washington, D.C., where George W. Bush once used her shoulder as an armrest. Miranda loves Twitter, Star Trek and her husband. 

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

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Blog Tour - Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally + Giveaway

Title: Breathe, Annie, Breathe (Hundred Oaks #5)

Author: Miranda Kenneally

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: July 15, 2014

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / B&N / Kobo / iTunes

Annie hates running. No matter how far she jogs, she can’t escape the guilt that if she hadn’t broken up with Kyle, he might still be alive. So to honor his memory, she starts preparing for the marathon he intended to race.

But the training is even more gruelling than Annie could have imagined. Despite her coaching, she’s at war with her body, her mind—and her heart. With every mile that athletic Jeremiah cheers her on, she grows more conflicted. She wants to run into his arms…and sprint int he opposite direction. For Annie, opening up to love again may be even more of a challenge than crossing the finish line.

“Breathe, Annie, Breahe is an emotional, heartfelt, and beautiful story about finding yourself after loss and learning to love. It gave me so many feels. Her best book yet.” — Jennifer Armentrout, New York Times bestselling author of Wait for You.

You all know by now that I absolutely LOVE Miranda Kenneally and her books. With every book of her’s that I read, I just love her even more. It was no different with Breathe, Annie, Breathe. I devoured this story and it quickly became a new all-time favourite.

Annie never thought she would be training to run a marathon. But then again, Annie never thought her boyfriend would die and she would finish high school in a haze of grief. This marathon, Annie is running it for Kyle. To honour him since, he was the one who was planning to race in it. But training for a marathon is hard work. It’s more difficult than Annie could have possibly imagined. As she’s getting stronger and her heart starts healing, Annie meets Jeremiah Brown, an adrenaline junkie she can’t seem to stop thinking about. Before long, Annie is finding herself doing something she thought would never happen again: she’s falling for Jeremiah. But will Annie be brave enough open herself up to love and let Jeremiah in?

I can’t even begin to explain how much I loved Breathe, Annie, Breathe. But I will do my best. Even if it won’t even come close to doing the book justice. Because this book was just SO PERFECT. I had been looking forward to reading it for such a long time, and when I finally got my hands on a copy, there was no stopping me. I was reading it RIGHT THAT INSTANT. And so I did and I loved it right away. I loved EVERYTHING about Breathe, Annie, Breathe. It was just a fantastic story. In a way, this story was a little different than Miranda Kenneally’s other stories. The sport aspect was there, and it was quite central to the story, but the person taking part in the sport was very much reluctant to do so. In a way, the story was more about getting over grief and opening yourself up to love after having been hurt.And the romance was definitely there in Breathe, Annie, Breathe. It might actually be my favourite out of all of Miranda Kenneally’s romances. The best part of it was that it started out as a friendship before it became more. Well, there was that one (hot) scene by the river that took me by surprise but was completely appropriate and fitting in the context of the story. But Annie and Jeremiah were friends. And I loved them. And they’re pretty much the reason that I loved this story as much as I did.

I absolutely loved Annie. There were so many reasons to love her and I could relate to her in so many ways. I’ve never run a marathon but I was a cross-country and track runner all through middle and high school. All those thoughts and feelings Annie has about running over the course of the book? I’ve had those and more. Because of that, Annie just felt very real to me. I could feel her pain, how much she was hurting because of Kyle’s death. But I could also see that she was trying to find a way to move forward, even if she didn’t realize it herself at first. And I loved the relationship she had with Jeremiah. And I ADORED Jeremiah. Out of all of Miranda’s boys, Jeremiah is officially my favourite, having replaced his older brother, Matt (who is still a close second…there’s just something about those Brown boys). I don’t even know if I can put Jeremiah into words. He was a player but he was also the sweetest person. He cared so much for everyone in his life, but at the same time he was willing to do just about anything to get an adrenaline rush, even if it meant putting his life in danger. All of Jeremiah’s flaws and imperfections are what made him so perfect. So there you have it, I might be a little bit in love with Jeremiah Brown. It couldn’t be helped. And like with all of Miranda Kenneally’s other books, I loved all the cameos by characters from the other books. I love the way I’m able to see them in each new book, just to make sure that they’re okay and are getting the happy ending they deserve. Hopefully, there’ll be glimpses of Annie and Jeremiah in future books. Especially Jeremiah (Yes, I have a one-track mind. Sue me).

If you hadn’t guessed it, I more than loved Miranda Kenneally’s Breathe, Annie, Breathe, I ADORED it. It was even better than I hoped it would be and I couldn’t help but fall in love with this story and these characters. If you haven’t yet read any of Miranda Kenneally’s books, you are seriously missing out.

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Waiting on Wednesday (82)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to reading.

THIS WEEK'S PICK:
BREATHE, ANNIE BREATHE BY MIRANDA KENNEALLY

From the best-selling author of Catching Jordan comes a brand new contemporary YA you won't forget. 

Eighteen-year-old Annie Winters can barely run a mile without wheezing. Still, she's training to run the Music City Marathon in October. That's only seven months away. Running is so not her thing, but she has to finish what her boyfriend started…before he died.

Annie feels guilt that she's still alive and blames herself for his death; she has to do this to honor him. Plus training gives her something to do, it's a distraction. So is Jeremiah Brown. He's an adreline junky who runs marathons backwards. He flirts with Annie on the trails and it makes Annie feel alive and happy and guilty all at the same time. She wants to race into his arms and print in the opposite direction--because loving is a risk she's not ready to take again.

It's no secret that I'm a HUGE Miranda Kenneally fangirl. Every book of her's that I read just makes me love her even more and those books are among my all-time favourites. So really it shouldn't be a surprise that I'm beyond excited at the prospect of reading Breathe, Annie, Breathe (this excerpt might also have had something to do with it). At any rate, July just can't come soon enough so I can get my hands on this book! 

Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally will be published July 1, 2014 by Sourcebooks Fire.

Racing Savannah Blog Tour - Interview with Miranda Kenneally

As part of the blog tour for her upcoming book Racing Savannah, I have the pleasure of having author Miranda Kenneally here on the blog today to answer some questions about her books and her writing process. Without further ado, here is what she had to say!

All of your characters, and what they go through, feels incredibly real. How much is taken out of your own experiences or from the people around you?

Ideas and jokes from all over the place have definitely made their way into my books in some form or another. I can't say that I've ever met a girl football player, but Jordan's feelings for Sam Henry are definitely pulled from crushes I've had in the past.

Real-life experiences inspired Things I Can't Forget. The situation wasn't anywhere near the same, but I did have a friend get an abortion and it affected me more than I thought it would. 

To make my books feel "real," I imagine the scene in my mind as I'm putting words on paper. I've found that helps my book pop.

Except for Things I Can't Forget, your books all have a sports element. Why did you choose to write about female athletes and those specific sports that aren't typically associated with girls.

To show girls they can do anything they want to do as long as they work hard.

What is your writing process like: do you outline and do a lot of research or just start writing and see where the story takes you? Or is it different for each book?

It depends on the book. Before I started writing Racing Savannah, I did research for two months and even took a trip to Kentucky to visit some big farms. With Catching Jordan and Staling Parker, I just started writing and did tons of drafts. For Catching Jordan, I researched football and went to some college and NFL games along the way. With Stealing Parker, I played softball for 8 years, so that made things easier. Things I Can't Forget had an outline, and I actually stuck to it for the most part. I didn't have to research camping at all because I'm foot at that, but I did do research on Planned Parenthood and other family planning issues. I sort of outline each book, but I rarely stick to it. I just go wherever the story takes me. 

Can you tell us anything about what you're currently working on or what we can expect from your future book(s)?

Yes! My July 2014 book, most likely titled BREATHE, ANNIE, BREATHE, is about a girl training to run a marathon in honor of her boyfriend who died. Before he passed away, he had been training for a marathon, and now Annie is going to attempt to finish on his behalf. But it will be hard because she can barely run two laps around the high school track.

Emilie: I personally CANNOT WAIT to read this!

How would you describe your Hundred Oaks books to someone who has never heard of them before?

My books are teen romances featuring a girl football player, a girl horse jockey, and a slightly naughty, misunderstood former softball player who goes after the school baseball coach.

Can you describe Racing Savannah in five words?

Badass girl horse jockey rocks!

About the Author

Miranda Kenneally is the author of CATCHING JORDAN, STEALING PARKER, THINGS I CAN'T FORGET, and RACING SAVANNAH. Her fifth book, most likely to be titled BREATHE, ANNIE, BREATHE, is doing out in July 2014. She enjoyed reading and writing young adult literature, and loves Star Trek, music, sports, Mexican food, Twitter, coffee, and her husband.

Find Miranda online on her Twitter or visit her website to find out more about her and her books.

Racing Savannah by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Racing Savannah (Hundred Oaks #4)

Author: Miranda Kenneally

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: December 3, 2013

Source: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository

They're from two different worlds.

He lives in the estate house, and she spends most of her time in the stables helping her father train horses. In fact, Savannah has always been much more comfortable around horses than boy. Especially boys like Jack Goodwin--cocky, popular and completely out of her league. She knows the rules: no mixing between the staff and the Goodwin family. But Jack has no such boundaries. 

With her dream of becoming a horse jockey, Savannah isn't exactly one to follow the rules either. She's not going to let someone tell her a girl isn't tough enough to race. Sure, it's dangerous. Then again, so is dating Jack...

I absolutely adore Miranda Kenneally and everything she writes. So when Racing Savannah landed in my inbox, I couldn't help myself, I just had to start reading it right away. And unsurprisingly, I tore through the book and loved every single page of it.

Savannah has always loved riding horses and working with them. When her father gets a job as a trainer at one of the most prestigious stables in the country, Savannah is ecstatic. If she's lucky enough, she might even get to ride the horses. As it turns out, the horses are easier to deal with than boys. No sooner has Savannah arrived at Cedar Hills Farms does she run into Jack Goodwin. And Savannah knows better than to get mixed up with the owner's son. But resisting Jack's charm is proving to be more difficult than Savannah thought. 

Have I mentioned that I loved Miranda Kenneally? Because I really, really do. She writes these stories that just completely grab my attention and steal my heart. Racing Savannah quickly had me hooked. The story is set in the Hundred Oaks world but takes place a few years after the first three books. In this sense I was introduced to new characters, but also had the opportunity to get a glimpse at some old ones. And that was reason enough for me to love the book. But beyond that, I loved reading Savannah's story and discovering the world of horse racing through her eyes. Seeing how that world worked and how hard it was to break into just made me admire Savannah that much more. But like with all of Miranda Kenneally's books, it's the romance aspect of the story that completely stole my heart. Seeing the romance between Jack and Savannah develop just warmed my heart, even if at times it wasn't always smooth going. But at the end of the day, I knew that it would all work out for them and that's what I love about Miranda Kenneally's stories. 

Savannah was a character I came to really admire. Miranda Kenneally often writes about girls the are breaking the mould. That's exactly what Savannah was trying to do when it comes to horse racing. All she really wanted was to be able to be a professional jockey, but pretty much the entire world was against her. But I really admired her dedication, her perseverance and her stubbornness when it came to getting to where she wanted to be. And it helped that she eventually had Jack in her corner, even if at times I wanted to slap him and make him come to his senses. But he eventually came around and by the end I no longer had the urge to slap Jack, so that was good. I have to admit I also loved that I got to meet and get to know some of the previous characters' younger siblings. But more than that, I love that I got to see where the characters I already know and love now are. I won't reveal anything but there are some Will/Parker, Kate/Matt and Sam/Jordan moments that will just melt your heart.

Racing Savannah has only serve to solidify my love for anything Miranda Kenneally writes. Her stories are just the perfect mix of fun and romance, but also so much more. If you haven't picked up one of her books yet, you are seriously missing out!

Summer Reading - 2013 Edition (1)

Among my friends, I'm known as the book person. As a result, whenever someone is looking for a book recommendation they come to me. This time of the year, this happens a lot since summer is fast approaching and a lot of my friends are typically seasonal readers--as in they read when they have time to do so and that time is often summer. Like I did last year, I thought I would post these recommendations--by genre--her on the blog as well. First up, some contemporary recommendations.

- Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally - Last year I recommended Catching Jordan and I would still stand by that recommendation for anyone looking for a great contemporary read. But this year I read Things I Can't Forget and I have to admit I loved it even more. Like Kenneally's other books, Things I Can't Forget is different from other YA contemporaries out there, so if that's what you're looking for then I strongly recommend this one.

- Just One Day by Gayle Forman - Everyone has been raving about Gayle Forman's Just One Day and that is totally warranted. If you're an older YA reader, then I would strongly recommend Just One Day. The story will pull at your heartstrings and take you on a crazy emotional ride. Be prepared to scream at the characters and want to throw your book across the room at certain parts. But it's totally worth it.

- Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach - Once again, if you are looking for a contemporary that is completely different from any other out there, than give Geoff Herbach's Stupid Fast a try. This one can also appeal to male readers as the story is very much boy-centric, with the may character being a slightly socially awkward teenage boy. And if you pick up this book, I can guarantee you will be in for a laugh.

- Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson - Second Chance Summer is one of those books that will pull at your heartstrings. There is no way you can read this book and not tear up at least a little. But it's not necessarily a depressing story, just a very emotional one. But be prepared to be greatly surprised by this story, because I was. But it's completely worth your time.

- Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry - Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry took me completely by surprise. This is an incredibly touching and surprisingly deep story that may or may not keep you up reading half the night. This is definitely one of those less happy contemps though, so be warned. But it's still a fantastic one.

This is by far not an extensive list of contemporary recommendations. There are just so many fantastic contemps out there and this list could go on forever. You can always check out last year's post for more contemporary recommendations. And be sure to come back next week for some paranormal recommendations.

Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Things I Can't Forget (Hundred Oaks #3)

Author: Miranda Kenneally

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: March 1, 2013

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository

Some rules were meant to be broken.

Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to doe people at school--although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different…

This summer she's a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He's the first guy she ever kissed, and he's gone from a geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt…with her. 

Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn't that easy...

So far, I have loved everything Miranda Kenneally has written. But then a friend was having some concerns with Things I Can't Forget so I decided to pick it up sooner than I had planned to. And then proceed to sit in my desk chair the entire evening, reading it. And I LOVED it. Things I Can't Forget is definitely different from Miranda Kenneally's other books, but it's a different that really works.

Kate has been brought up with strong Christian values. Every Sunday her family goes to church. And more than anything Kate believes in what she has been taught her whole life. But when she has to do the one thing that goes against everything she believes in, Kate doesn't really know what do believe in anymore. She feels guilty and she hopes that a summer working as Cumberland Creek summer camp will help her move forward and leave the past behind. But at camp Kate reconnects with Matt, the boy who gave Kate her first kiss. With Matt, Kate feels like she's able to move forward. But Matt also makes Kate question everything she has every believed in. And now Kate is even more confused than ever before.

The thing about Miranda Kenneally's Things I Can't Forget is that it's quite different from the other two books she's written. The subject matter is a little more serious and there are a lot more religious undertones to this book. And this had me a little weary at first. But once I started reading, I realized I didn't have anything to worry about. Yes, there was definitely a lot more religion in this book than in the other ones. But it wasn't the type of book that preaches at you. It fits in with the story, it makes sense. Without it, it wouldn't have been the same story and that would be a shame. Because this story worked. Everything made sense. And it also stole my heart in the process. It did not take long at all for me to find myself unable to put the book down. While reading Things I Can't Forget I found myself going through a whole range of emotions. There was just so much to feel. And this characters? They were most certainly responsible for a lot of those emotions.

Oh Kate. You puzzled me, you annoyed me and then somewhere along the way, you found a way to make me love you. I'll be the first to admit that at first I really wasn't sure how I felt about Kate, especially when it came to how strongly she held on to her beliefs. But the more I read, the more I understood that they were part of who Kate was. But the best thing about Kate was seeing her growth over the course of the novel. While still holding on to her beliefs she managed to come to terms with what she did and who she was becoming. I loved seeing that change happen in her, and that is what made me love Kate. With Matt, on the other hand, I didn't stand a chance. How was I supposed to resist a boy who goes around without shoes in preparation for running a marathon barefoot and also happens to be just about the sweetest person ever? I was powerless against him. Right from the start Matt stole my heart and I was just waiting for the same thing to happen to Kate's heart. Because there is no way she could resist Matt. And of course I was happy to see Parker and Will again, because who wouldn't want to see those two?

Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally is definitely different. But that doesn't stop the book from telling a beautiful story. Don't let yourself be scared of this book because you will be missing out. Believe me, this is not a story you want to miss. I know it stole my heart and I will be putting Things I Can't Forget in the hands of everyone I know. 

Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Stealing Parker (Hundred Oaks #2)

Author: Miranda Kenneally

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: October 1st, 2012

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository

Red-hot author Miranda Kenneally hits one out of the park in this return to Catching Jordan's Hundred Oaks High.

Parker Shelton pretty much has the perfect life. She's on her way to becoming valedictorian at Hundred Oaks High, she's made the all-start softball team, and she has plenty of friends. Then her mother's scandal rocks their small town and suddenly no one will talk to her.

Now Parker wants a new life.

So she quits softball. Drops twenty pounds. And she figures why kiss one guy when she can kiss three? Or four. Why limit herself to high school boys when the majorly cute new baseball cache seems especially flirty?

But how far is too far before she loses herself completely?

I pretty much adored Miranda Kenneally's debut Catching Jordan so I was very excited at the prospect of finally being able to read Stealing Parker. And once again Miranda Kenneally completely captured my heart with the story she wrote in this book. 

Parker always thought she would go on to being the valedictorian of her class, and as star of the softball team she was sure she would be able to play in college. But when her mom's secret comes out and causes a scandal in their small town, Parker turns her back on softball for fear of being told she's just like her mom. And to prove she's not like her mom, Parker decides the best way to do so if by kissing boys. Lots of boys. But that doesn't mean she doesn't want a relationship. So when the new baseball coach comes into town, Parker things that maybe he will finally be the one she's been looking for and the one she'll fall far. But what if it means losing herself in the process?

I started reading Stealing Parker one relaxing Saturday afternoon. The next thing I knew it was a few hours later and I was hugging the book to myself. Because that's exactly the kind of story it is. Right from the start you'll find yourself getting immersed in the story, picturing the characters as real people you are just spending time with. But I'll get to the characters later. On the surface, the story Miranda Kenneally wrote in this book sounds like a nice, fun, light story but it ends up being so much more than that. This is a story about a girl trying to find a place in a small town where everyone is judging her for things she hasn't done. It's also a story about faith, and figuring out when not to give up faith even when it seems like there isn't much to hold on to. And of course it's a story about friendship and romance. And that's what makes Stealing Parker so amazing. It's this mix of all these different stories and how they have been woven together perfectly by Miranda Kenneally.

Oh Parker. I feel for you, I really do. But sometimes you made some truly questionable decisions. Like the baseball coach for instance. But it's not really something I can hold against you in the grand scheme of things. But seriously, Parker from now on holds a place in my heart. It was great being able to see her growth over the course of the book, especially when it came to her faith and her relationship with others, in particular with her mom. And with Corndog/Will. This book has made me realize that I need Will Whitfield in my life. I just do. He is possibly the sweetest person ever and just seeing him with his little brother made my heart melt. And though he wasn't a main character in Stealing Parker I may just love Sam Henry even more than I did after reading Catching Jordan. For no reason in particular other than just because he is who he is. So moral of the story, I want Will Whitfield and Sam Henry in my life. That's really all I need to say about these two characters. 

Miranda Kenneally's Stealing Parker simply stole my heart, there's no other way to really explain how I feel about this book. From start to finish it was amazing and it truly felt like I was living it all with the characters at my side. I simply cannot wait for Miranda Kenneally's next book, Things I Can't Forget. 

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Catching Jordan (Hundred Oaks #1)

Author: Catching Jordan

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: November 18, 2011

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

ONE OF THE BOYS

What girl doesn’t want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn’t just surrounded by hot guys, though—she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that’s just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.

But everything she’s ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he’s also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan’s feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart’s on the line?

It's been close to a month since I read Catching Jordan and I still don't know how to put into words how much I loved this book. It has definitely found a place on my list of favorite books of all time. It was simply fantastic and I loved everything about it.

Jordan has always wanted to play football and wants nothing more than to play at the college level. Except that Jordan is a girl and not many universities will accept a girl on their team. But she's been lucky enough to play quarterback and be captain of her high school football team. And she's one of the best quarterbacks the school has had. Not only that, but she fits in on the team and all her best friends are her teammates. But then Ty Green shows up in town and he wants Jordan's position on the football team. Now not only is Jordan worried about playing college football, she also has to worry about Ty taking her sport on the team. But Jordan may have to protect more than just her position as quarterback. Because when Ty is around, all of a sudden Jordan feels more like a girl than ever.

Before I say anything else, I will say that I will try to limit the gushing. But I will say that I absolutely loved this book. Right from the start I fell in love with the story, with the characters and with Jordan's voice. I even enjoyed the football. Football isn't usually one o my favorite sports, but with Catching Jordan, it might as well have been. It was just perfect with this story and I couldn't imagine it with another sport. But in the end, football wasn't what was important in the story. What really matters is Jordan's story and how that story works with the story of the other characters. Really, all that to say that I absolutely adored this book.

Like I've said, what's important in this book are the characters' stories. Even though Jordan is the one who is telling the story, the book revolves around more than just her. But that doesn't mean I didn't like Jordan, because I loved her. It was refreshing to read about a girl who was into sports more than anything else. I loved seeing her struggle with feelings she didn't really understand and then seeing her act on those feelings once she figured them out. And of course, boys were definitely not lacking in this book. And my favorite was Sam Henry. I would love to have him as a best friend, Jordan was definitely lucky to have him in her life. Sam Henry was pretty much as good as they come, he was loyal and would have given his life for Jordan. And I'm glad things ended the way they did for everyone. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect ending.

Catching Jordan was a perfect read. I loved absolutely everything about the book and plan on rereading it over and over again. Definitely pick this book up if you get a chance, odds are you won't regret it.