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Game On #1
The Hook Up
#SpicyTok sensation and New York Times bestselling author Kristen Callihan’s sexy Game On football romance series � with exclusive bonus content.
The no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone and above all...no falling in love.
Anna Jones just wants to finish college and figure out her life. Falling for star quarterback Drew Baylor is most definitely not on her to-do list. Confident and charming, he lives in the limelight and is way too gorgeous for his own good. If only she could ignore his heated stares and stop thinking about doing hot and dirty things with him. Easy, right?
Too bad he’s committed to breaking all of the rules...
Football has been good to Drew. It’s given him recognition, two National Championships and the Heisman. But what he really craves is sexy yet prickly Anna Jones. Her cutting humour and blatant disregard for his fame turn him on like nothing else. But there’s one she’s shut him down. Completely.
That is...until a chance encounter leads to the hottest sex of their lives, along with the possibility of something great. Unfortunately, Anna wants it to remain a hook up. Now it’s up to Drew to tempt her with more sex, more satisfaction, more time with him. Until she’s truly hooked. It’s a good thing Drew knows all about winning.
All’s fair in love and football...game on.
The no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone and above all...no falling in love.
Anna Jones just wants to finish college and figure out her life. Falling for star quarterback Drew Baylor is most definitely not on her to-do list. Confident and charming, he lives in the limelight and is way too gorgeous for his own good. If only she could ignore his heated stares and stop thinking about doing hot and dirty things with him. Easy, right?
Too bad he’s committed to breaking all of the rules...
Football has been good to Drew. It’s given him recognition, two National Championships and the Heisman. But what he really craves is sexy yet prickly Anna Jones. Her cutting humour and blatant disregard for his fame turn him on like nothing else. But there’s one she’s shut him down. Completely.
That is...until a chance encounter leads to the hottest sex of their lives, along with the possibility of something great. Unfortunately, Anna wants it to remain a hook up. Now it’s up to Drew to tempt her with more sex, more satisfaction, more time with him. Until she’s truly hooked. It’s a good thing Drew knows all about winning.
All’s fair in love and football...game on.
352 pages, ebook
First published September 7, 2014
2,439 people are currently reading
60.5k people want to read
About the author
Kristen Callihan
39books13.8kfollowersKristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she'd rather be. She is a RITA winner and three-time nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer's Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine's Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher's Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,912 reviews
January 26, 2022
Re-read:
1/25/22
Re-read: Continuing my book/life slump re-read extravaganza...
Re-read: 5/22/15
What a satisfying read! I really enjoyed this one. Drew and Anna were both great characters and I really enjoyed their story. They had a lot of chemistry and a lot of passion.
I liked Anna a lot. She was pretty level-headed and didn't act like a dumbass and do dumbass things.
And I always consider not hating or being irritated to death by the heroine to be a win.
The writing was also very good and you could really tell the author did her research. It was nice to read a collegiate sports romance that seemed to more accurately reflect the life of a collegiate athlete.
So many times you read college sports romances and the athlete seems to have all this free time broken only by the occasional "big game," which is definitely not the case.
Or they have the athlete also being a member of a frat.
*
*
*
I was a college scholarship athlete and pretty much across the board, coaches prohibited their athletes from rushing or pledging.
It might be different depending on the school, but typically coaches think it would be too much of a distraction and, quite honestly, it would be veritably impossible to do both.
I knew ONE person in ALL my years in college that tried both. And she was pretty much an Alpha Phi (or whatever she was) in NAME only. She was NEVER there and was NEVER able to do anything with the sorority house - because PRACTICE, CONDITIONING, WEIGHT TRAINING, REQUIRED STUDY TABLES, and oh yeah, GAMES - and she ended up just quitting.
There just isn't enough time in the day or energy in the body.
And if you're on scholarship, you are being paid to play your sport, not attend toga parties and haze freshman.
So, like I said, college athletes being depicted as dual athlete/frat peeps?
As much as it kinda worked in books like Sweet Home, which I LOVED?
S.T.U.P.I.D.
Here the author mentions Drew's early morning weight/conditioning sessions, afternoon classes, game film study sessions, and heavy class load.
So I found that to be refreshing.
Also refreshing was that Drew wasn't a raging man-whore up until the very moment he meets "oh my God the one." Yes, it's mentioned he was skank at one point, but that he had supposedly shown no interest in that behavior long before meeting Anna.
Sometimes it gets old having leading men that have their dick in one girl before breakfast and in a different one after dinner. I get it, they are supposed to be SO desirable, SO magnetic, and oh SO awesome, but sometimes it's nice to have a little less dick swinging and a little more dick zipping.
Anyway, I loved this and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from this author.
Re-read: Continuing my book/life slump re-read extravaganza...
Re-read: 5/22/15
What a satisfying read! I really enjoyed this one. Drew and Anna were both great characters and I really enjoyed their story. They had a lot of chemistry and a lot of passion.
I liked Anna a lot. She was pretty level-headed and didn't act like a dumbass and do dumbass things.
And I always consider not hating or being irritated to death by the heroine to be a win.
The writing was also very good and you could really tell the author did her research. It was nice to read a collegiate sports romance that seemed to more accurately reflect the life of a collegiate athlete.
So many times you read college sports romances and the athlete seems to have all this free time broken only by the occasional "big game," which is definitely not the case.
Or they have the athlete also being a member of a frat.
*
*
*
I was a college scholarship athlete and pretty much across the board, coaches prohibited their athletes from rushing or pledging.
It might be different depending on the school, but typically coaches think it would be too much of a distraction and, quite honestly, it would be veritably impossible to do both.
I knew ONE person in ALL my years in college that tried both. And she was pretty much an Alpha Phi (or whatever she was) in NAME only. She was NEVER there and was NEVER able to do anything with the sorority house - because PRACTICE, CONDITIONING, WEIGHT TRAINING, REQUIRED STUDY TABLES, and oh yeah, GAMES - and she ended up just quitting.
There just isn't enough time in the day or energy in the body.
And if you're on scholarship, you are being paid to play your sport, not attend toga parties and haze freshman.
So, like I said, college athletes being depicted as dual athlete/frat peeps?
As much as it kinda worked in books like Sweet Home, which I LOVED?
S.T.U.P.I.D.
Here the author mentions Drew's early morning weight/conditioning sessions, afternoon classes, game film study sessions, and heavy class load.
So I found that to be refreshing.
Also refreshing was that Drew wasn't a raging man-whore up until the very moment he meets "oh my God the one." Yes, it's mentioned he was skank at one point, but that he had supposedly shown no interest in that behavior long before meeting Anna.
Sometimes it gets old having leading men that have their dick in one girl before breakfast and in a different one after dinner. I get it, they are supposed to be SO desirable, SO magnetic, and oh SO awesome, but sometimes it's nice to have a little less dick swinging and a little more dick zipping.
Anyway, I loved this and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from this author.
October 12, 2021
4.5 stars
The Hook Up is one of those books that has been on my TBR for FOREVER! All my friends loved it, and here I am, picking it up well over a year after it’s release. This, my friends, is a fail moment for me. I seem to be having a lot of those in the book world. Too many books and not enough time I say. My point- if you are a NA fan and are in the same boat as me, READ THIS BOOK! It was swoony, sweet, and sexy. Everything I love in a romance.
Anna Jones is a dedicated college student and the last thing on her mind is a relationship. When Drew Baylor, the hottest guy on campus and star quarterback, starts showing her attention, she doesn’t know what to think. Anna is different than any girl Drew’s met and he’s enamored with her from the start. I love their relationship. How it starts as just a hook up (because that’s all Anna is willing to give) and turns into so much more (due to Drew’s unwillingness to back down and declare he wants more from her).
Drew and Anna have crazy hot chemistry. But their relationship is so much more than that. I loved the tension between them, the push and pull and their banter. Both Drew and Anna were great characters. Drew is super charismatic and you can’t help but to love him. He’s not your typical man-whore athlete. He has a big heart and is truly a great guy. Anna is a bit feisty and snarky and she is the way she is because of how she grew up. I loved seeing Drew tear down her hurdles. I loved that they were both there for one another when they needed each other.
Besides Anna and Drew, I loved Drew’s friend Gray. I know he has a book, too and here’s to hoping I don’t wait for forever to read it! Anna and Drew’s love story wasn’t easy. The path wasn’t always clear and things were bumpy at times, but aren’t the best love stories always a little rough at first? It just makes the ending that much sweeter!
The Hook Up is one of the better NA books I’ve read this year. It gets 4.5 stars from me and I highly recommend it to readers of this genre!
The Hook Up is one of those books that has been on my TBR for FOREVER! All my friends loved it, and here I am, picking it up well over a year after it’s release. This, my friends, is a fail moment for me. I seem to be having a lot of those in the book world. Too many books and not enough time I say. My point- if you are a NA fan and are in the same boat as me, READ THIS BOOK! It was swoony, sweet, and sexy. Everything I love in a romance.
Anna Jones is a dedicated college student and the last thing on her mind is a relationship. When Drew Baylor, the hottest guy on campus and star quarterback, starts showing her attention, she doesn’t know what to think. Anna is different than any girl Drew’s met and he’s enamored with her from the start. I love their relationship. How it starts as just a hook up (because that’s all Anna is willing to give) and turns into so much more (due to Drew’s unwillingness to back down and declare he wants more from her).
“You’ve destroyed me, Anna Jones.� I know exactly what he means, because he’s destroyed me too.
Drew and Anna have crazy hot chemistry. But their relationship is so much more than that. I loved the tension between them, the push and pull and their banter. Both Drew and Anna were great characters. Drew is super charismatic and you can’t help but to love him. He’s not your typical man-whore athlete. He has a big heart and is truly a great guy. Anna is a bit feisty and snarky and she is the way she is because of how she grew up. I loved seeing Drew tear down her hurdles. I loved that they were both there for one another when they needed each other.
Besides Anna and Drew, I loved Drew’s friend Gray. I know he has a book, too and here’s to hoping I don’t wait for forever to read it! Anna and Drew’s love story wasn’t easy. The path wasn’t always clear and things were bumpy at times, but aren’t the best love stories always a little rough at first? It just makes the ending that much sweeter!
The Hook Up is one of the better NA books I’ve read this year. It gets 4.5 stars from me and I highly recommend it to readers of this genre!
August 25, 2020
4.5 daisy up your ass stars.
Really enjoyed this one.
First off, the cover for this book is totally off-putting. This is not at all how I imagine Drew to look like.
Second off, I usually avoid NA books. Why? Well I am a 48 year old mother of a son who just started university. Don’t want to be reading about that age group. But I do dip in, now and again, especially if I see some trustworthy friends have enjoyed - J*, Alexandra, Lana, being the case here.
I know some had issues with Anna - not me. Takes a lot for a heroine to annoy me but, hey, she was young, 22, give her a break.
I loved Drew. Yeah, he was a jock, obviously he was revered. I am not American but I know Football is BIG in America! My kids go to an International School with a lot of Americans and the fuss they make about Homecoming - Jeez! But you do get into it. Even if I haven’t a clue about the rules. I understand a Touchdown but that’s about it. And I love looking at the Cheerleaders - seriously, who would let their daughter be a cheerleader - no offense meant to anyone.
I was the fat kid in school, I didn’t have a boyfriend. It does mark you. I am now happily married to Tate Jackson - being the fat kid makes you kind of delusional.
As I said, I am not American and don’t follow football. But I have read about jocks. And jock bunnies. Yes, they have the world at their feet. But all could change in the blink of an eye.
Anna thinks Drew is a typical JOCK - cocky, full of himself, loves the ladies, puts out for the ladies.
She was insecure.
We had drama.
We had tears.
We had laughter.
We had HOT SEX!
A very enjoyable read. I look forward to Gray’s story, which is up next.
Really enjoyed this one.
First off, the cover for this book is totally off-putting. This is not at all how I imagine Drew to look like.
Second off, I usually avoid NA books. Why? Well I am a 48 year old mother of a son who just started university. Don’t want to be reading about that age group. But I do dip in, now and again, especially if I see some trustworthy friends have enjoyed - J*, Alexandra, Lana, being the case here.
I know some had issues with Anna - not me. Takes a lot for a heroine to annoy me but, hey, she was young, 22, give her a break.
I loved Drew. Yeah, he was a jock, obviously he was revered. I am not American but I know Football is BIG in America! My kids go to an International School with a lot of Americans and the fuss they make about Homecoming - Jeez! But you do get into it. Even if I haven’t a clue about the rules. I understand a Touchdown but that’s about it. And I love looking at the Cheerleaders - seriously, who would let their daughter be a cheerleader - no offense meant to anyone.
I was the fat kid in school, I didn’t have a boyfriend. It does mark you. I am now happily married to Tate Jackson - being the fat kid makes you kind of delusional.
As I said, I am not American and don’t follow football. But I have read about jocks. And jock bunnies. Yes, they have the world at their feet. But all could change in the blink of an eye.
Anna thinks Drew is a typical JOCK - cocky, full of himself, loves the ladies, puts out for the ladies.
She was insecure.
We had drama.
We had tears.
We had laughter.
We had HOT SEX!
A very enjoyable read. I look forward to Gray’s story, which is up next.
May 7, 2015
4.5 BATTLE BUTT BAYLOR LOVIN' STARS
{BR with Alice, Dee, Sophie, and Stephanie}
"You shine so brightly, Drew. And it's beautiful to me, but I didn't know how to live under your light."
"What people see? That is only gloss. But, Anna, you light me up. I don't have a light anymore unless you're there."
Now this is what I call NA at its best!!
I'm asking myself why in the hell did I wait so long to read this book??!! I was told that this was similar to "The Deal". Yes, there were a couple similarities but the two stories are vastly different in my opinion. If it weren't for the "insta-love" factor in the beginning , I would have given this a solid five stars, but other than that I found myself laughing, swooning, and even shedding a few tears while reading this book. It took me on a very emotional and equally enjoyable journey.
I loved Drew from the get go. He's the golden boy of his college. The adored and worshiped Quarterback, "Battle Baylor". One day he is literally knocked on his ass when he lays eyes on Anna Jones on their first day in Philosophy class.
While Drew is Mr. Big Man on Campus, Anna is one of those students who just blends in, or so she thinks. She is like so many young women these days who have experienced some sort of bullying or body shaming due to their weight and even though she's no longer that chubby, awkward teenager from her High School days, that is exactly how she still views herself. She caught her last boyfriend in the act of cheating on her. This guy was just a regular nerdy dude and so when Drew starts to make the moves on her, not only does he make her weak in the knees, he also has her keeping her defenses up. There's no way this beautiful man is not going to end up shredding her heart into tiny pieces.
They both end up having a series of hook ups, in which I swear I could literally feel my panties melting!!! Anna tries to keep things strictly physical and for most of the story she doesn't allow Drew to kiss her on the lips, as she feels that it would lead to intimacy and so much more. Never have I felt like I was almost DYING from anticipation for two characters to have that first kiss!! I was screaming from euphoria when it finally happened!!
This isn't just a light hearted tale of a popular jock falling for the nerdy plain Jane. There is deep tragedy that these two have endured, and I loved how they eventually end up turning to each other for comfort. Anna ends up becoming fiercely protective over Drew and eventually will find the strength to battle her inner demons in order to save their relationship.
The angst that develops in the story at times became unbearably painful but I actually live for the angst, so it only made this book that much better for me!! Gotta have that angst!!!
I didn't think much of Drew's best-friend, Gray, in the beginning of the story, and I wondered how I would even want to read his story, but towards the last quarter of the book he proved to be more than a one dimensional character and I am so very excited to be starting his book next!!!
Overall this was a FANTASTIC read and I HIGHLY recommend it to all of you who haven't picked this one up yet!!
{BR with Alice, Dee, Sophie, and Stephanie}
"You shine so brightly, Drew. And it's beautiful to me, but I didn't know how to live under your light."
"What people see? That is only gloss. But, Anna, you light me up. I don't have a light anymore unless you're there."
Now this is what I call NA at its best!!
I'm asking myself why in the hell did I wait so long to read this book??!! I was told that this was similar to "The Deal". Yes, there were a couple similarities but the two stories are vastly different in my opinion. If it weren't for the "insta-love" factor in the beginning , I would have given this a solid five stars, but other than that I found myself laughing, swooning, and even shedding a few tears while reading this book. It took me on a very emotional and equally enjoyable journey.
I loved Drew from the get go. He's the golden boy of his college. The adored and worshiped Quarterback, "Battle Baylor". One day he is literally knocked on his ass when he lays eyes on Anna Jones on their first day in Philosophy class.
While Drew is Mr. Big Man on Campus, Anna is one of those students who just blends in, or so she thinks. She is like so many young women these days who have experienced some sort of bullying or body shaming due to their weight and even though she's no longer that chubby, awkward teenager from her High School days, that is exactly how she still views herself. She caught her last boyfriend in the act of cheating on her. This guy was just a regular nerdy dude and so when Drew starts to make the moves on her, not only does he make her weak in the knees, he also has her keeping her defenses up. There's no way this beautiful man is not going to end up shredding her heart into tiny pieces.
They both end up having a series of hook ups, in which I swear I could literally feel my panties melting!!! Anna tries to keep things strictly physical and for most of the story she doesn't allow Drew to kiss her on the lips, as she feels that it would lead to intimacy and so much more. Never have I felt like I was almost DYING from anticipation for two characters to have that first kiss!! I was screaming from euphoria when it finally happened!!
This isn't just a light hearted tale of a popular jock falling for the nerdy plain Jane. There is deep tragedy that these two have endured, and I loved how they eventually end up turning to each other for comfort. Anna ends up becoming fiercely protective over Drew and eventually will find the strength to battle her inner demons in order to save their relationship.
The angst that develops in the story at times became unbearably painful but I actually live for the angst, so it only made this book that much better for me!! Gotta have that angst!!!
I didn't think much of Drew's best-friend, Gray, in the beginning of the story, and I wondered how I would even want to read his story, but towards the last quarter of the book he proved to be more than a one dimensional character and I am so very excited to be starting his book next!!!
Overall this was a FANTASTIC read and I HIGHLY recommend it to all of you who haven't picked this one up yet!!
February 18, 2020
4.5 Stars
If you're looking for your next NA Romance that's guaranteed to make you swoon, make you sweat, and make you smile, then you have definitely found your next read. Kristen Callihan is a new to me author, but will now be gracing my auto-buy shelf because she weaved a story that technically should have been 'been there, read that', yet managed to suck me in so thoroughly that I couldn't bring myself to put it down.
Now if you're a half-assed blurb reader and occasionally make assumptions like me, you probably read this:
and just assumed that this was referring to another man-whoring hero as opposed to the heroine. No? That was just me then? Well...this is awkward. But I digress...
Meet Anna Jones
Anna just wants to finish college and figure out what she wants to do with her life. She's not looking for a relationship, and she tends to have a type...of the poetic and emo variety. So when the school's football golden child and resident playboy starts sending her the lusty eyes, she wants none of it...or so she tells herself.
Meet Drew Baylor
Star quarterback, and the hot commodity on campus that can have any girl he wants without even trying...except Anna. Inexplicably drawn to the prickly redhead, Drew finds himself tongue tied and blushing whenever their cross path, and it certainly doesn't help that Anna never spares any feelings to cut him down at the knees. He's not her type, he gets it, he just can't seem to stay away from her.
But chemistry like the one they have, can only be denied for so long, and when something burns that hot it's bound to explode eventually, right?
What first begins as a scorching hot hookup, soon begins to develop into something so much more, something that Anna is not ready to face.
The author did an amazing job building a sexual and emotional tension and chemistry that is so palpable you can almost taste it. It's not often when I'll pick up a book where the MCs are going at it pretty much straight away, but that sexual tension continues to not only remain but build between them. The writing was that good.
Drew was such an endearing character, I fell for him straight off the bat. He wasn't perfect, and he wasn't at all what he seemed. He was not the asshole playboy that Anna assumes he was, he's sweet and charming and at times his emotional struggles never failed to pull at every heart string I had.
Anna was a different story. This is a girl that due to her dysfunctional family dynamic avoids relationships as a rule...especially with guys like Drew. Throughout much of the book she attempts to keep him at arm's length and with a very clear 'hook up only' label. But before she knows it, she begins to see the man beneath her initial assumptions, and she can't help but start to fall for him.
I was not expecting this book to be as hot as it was, but the sex was never too much. The chemistry between Drew and Anna was absolutely sizzling, and the best part? It was like that every time they get together.
Their path to a real relationship was not easy and not without struggle, and I just gobbled it up. Luckily all of the emotion and angst was fitting and there was no manufactured drama that ever took away from the story. By the second half I was so invested in their relationship, I couldn't bring myself to put the book down.
This is definitely a book I would recommend to any fans of the NA genre, and a series I can't wait to continue with. Really looking forward to Gray's book next. But don't just take my word for it, read this book and find out for yourself what all the fuss is about. You won't regret it, I promise.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews visit
Love, when it came for me, did not creep. No, it walked up to me, bold as you please, you know, just in case I wasn't paying attention. It did, however, slap me upside my head.
If you're looking for your next NA Romance that's guaranteed to make you swoon, make you sweat, and make you smile, then you have definitely found your next read. Kristen Callihan is a new to me author, but will now be gracing my auto-buy shelf because she weaved a story that technically should have been 'been there, read that', yet managed to suck me in so thoroughly that I couldn't bring myself to put it down.
Now if you're a half-assed blurb reader and occasionally make assumptions like me, you probably read this:
The rules: no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone, and above all� No falling in love.
and just assumed that this was referring to another man-whoring hero as opposed to the heroine. No? That was just me then? Well...this is awkward. But I digress...
Meet Anna Jones
Anna just wants to finish college and figure out what she wants to do with her life. She's not looking for a relationship, and she tends to have a type...of the poetic and emo variety. So when the school's football golden child and resident playboy starts sending her the lusty eyes, she wants none of it...or so she tells herself.
Meet Drew Baylor
Star quarterback, and the hot commodity on campus that can have any girl he wants without even trying...except Anna. Inexplicably drawn to the prickly redhead, Drew finds himself tongue tied and blushing whenever their cross path, and it certainly doesn't help that Anna never spares any feelings to cut him down at the knees. He's not her type, he gets it, he just can't seem to stay away from her.
But chemistry like the one they have, can only be denied for so long, and when something burns that hot it's bound to explode eventually, right?
What first begins as a scorching hot hookup, soon begins to develop into something so much more, something that Anna is not ready to face.
The author did an amazing job building a sexual and emotional tension and chemistry that is so palpable you can almost taste it. It's not often when I'll pick up a book where the MCs are going at it pretty much straight away, but that sexual tension continues to not only remain but build between them. The writing was that good.
Drew was such an endearing character, I fell for him straight off the bat. He wasn't perfect, and he wasn't at all what he seemed. He was not the asshole playboy that Anna assumes he was, he's sweet and charming and at times his emotional struggles never failed to pull at every heart string I had.
Anna was a different story. This is a girl that due to her dysfunctional family dynamic avoids relationships as a rule...especially with guys like Drew. Throughout much of the book she attempts to keep him at arm's length and with a very clear 'hook up only' label. But before she knows it, she begins to see the man beneath her initial assumptions, and she can't help but start to fall for him.
I was not expecting this book to be as hot as it was, but the sex was never too much. The chemistry between Drew and Anna was absolutely sizzling, and the best part? It was like that every time they get together.
Their path to a real relationship was not easy and not without struggle, and I just gobbled it up. Luckily all of the emotion and angst was fitting and there was no manufactured drama that ever took away from the story. By the second half I was so invested in their relationship, I couldn't bring myself to put the book down.
This is definitely a book I would recommend to any fans of the NA genre, and a series I can't wait to continue with. Really looking forward to Gray's book next. But don't just take my word for it, read this book and find out for yourself what all the fuss is about. You won't regret it, I promise.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews visit
May 5, 2015
4%
This is a new low for me...
Insta-love of EPIC PROPORTIONS
Anna:
Drew:
Ummm...NO. This was in the first 2%. Just NO.
And then every time she sees him her nipples get hard, her thighs clench, gets hot and achy, can't breathe right, her pulse skyrockets...
And I just can't...
Why you ask? BECAUSE THIS WAS ALL BEFORE I HIT 5%.
I refuse to submit myself to 352 pages of this. I'm not a masochist by any means.
This is a new low for me...
Insta-love of EPIC PROPORTIONS
Anna:
The second our gazes connect, hot tingles zap through me, making my breath catch and my nipples harden. The sensation is so unnerving that I can only sit there, my hand fluttering to my chest where my heart struggles to break free(...) Stranger still, it feels as if I know him, have known him for years.
Drew:
“Anna Jones.� Just her name. That was all she’d said. It was like a hot finger stroking down my spine. My head snapped up. And there she was, so fucking pretty that I couldn’t think straight(...) One word was playing a loop in my head: mine.
Ummm...NO. This was in the first 2%. Just NO.
And then every time she sees him her nipples get hard, her thighs clench, gets hot and achy, can't breathe right, her pulse skyrockets...
And I just can't...
Why you ask? BECAUSE THIS WAS ALL BEFORE I HIT 5%.
I refuse to submit myself to 352 pages of this. I'm not a masochist by any means.
May 12, 2015
"You'll see Drew. One day, love will creep up and smack you upside the head. Then you'll understand."
"Never force something, Drew. A bolt, a pass, a game, whatever. Force it and you'll lose. Patience and persistence is how you win in life. Take your time, look for the solution, and if it doesn't come to you, fall back, reassess, and try again."I was rereading this one to prepare myself for Glamour Gray and got a little ashamed that I haven't written my review earlier because, clearly, I forgot how freaking amazing it was. It was even better the second time around. I knew I highlighted the shit out of this one the first time and I was surprised to highlight even more while rereading.
No need to say about a plot here because there are so many wonderful reviews out there so I'll just stick to what I loved about it.
First and foremost - Drew "Battle" Baylor.
For realz, Ultimate. Fantasy. Boyfriend.
Oh yes, he was a popular, hot jock, but a smart one to that. He not only succeeded on the football field but was also a good student. He had his goals and life planned and strived to make it happen. Once he had his sight on Anna, he didn't give up, he was patient in getting what he wanted. When Anna was guarded, he unnoticeably staked his claim. What I liked the most is the fact that he wasn't whoring around. Did I mention that he was a sexy beast? Oh yes, he was and such a dirty dirty talker, YUM! Absolutely swoon and drool worthy.
"But you won't let me kiss you. Why won't you let me kiss you, Anna?
It's too much.
Not when I want everything. And I want everything with you, Anna."
"What people see? That is only gloss. But, Anna, you light me up. Drew. Not the player. You didn't know how to live under my light? I don't have a light anymore unless you're there."
Second, Anna "Banana" Jones.
She was such a likeable heroine, every girl's best friend material for sure. She was sassy, witty, smart and sweet-natured. Curvy, red hair girl, who used to be invisible, didn't believe that a guy like Drew would choose a girl like her. She had insecurities and let them rule for a while, she even pushed Drew away because of them. She wasn't annoying though, when she finally got her shit together, she fought for Drew and helped him through rough times, she was there for him when he needed her most.
"You shine so brightly, Drew. And it's beautiful to me, but I didn't know how to live under your light.(...)
Don't you understand? I felt like an impostor. I kept waiting for you to realize that you'd got it wrong. That I was the girl you were never supposed to see."
And third, their relationship.
Now, there was insta lust here, but it worked so perfectly. There was such a great chemistry between those two, you could literally feel sparks flying.
"I'm not going to say it was love at first sight. No, it was more like oh, hell-yes-please, I'll have that. With a helping of right-the-fuck-now on the side."They had fantastic banter going on, there was so much humor and warmth in their interactions. Not to mention that the sex was off the charts hot and steamy. They slowly, but consequently moved their relationship to next levels. Apart, they were both lacking something, but together, they were so strong and perfect, so intense. That fighting scene at the end, so epic! And that first kiss, OMG that first kiss!
"Holding his gaze, I lean in. My lips brush his. So gently it's barely a touch. But it's everything. I feel it down to my toes. Drew sucks in a sharp breath, his body going tight. So I do it again. Stronger. More sure. Clinging just a bit to his lower lip. And then he groans."
"You're it for me, Anna Marie.I can honestly say it is one of my top books ever! If you're into college sport romances with sassy heroines and amazeballs heros you can't miss this one. The writing was refreshing and outstanding, a real gem amongst NA books. I was simply amazed, stunning job , keep this up and you have yourself a new admirer/stalker.
You're my home Drew."
Buddy read with my favorite hoochie Nikki. <3 you girl.
October 12, 2021
Re-read on 10/12/2021
Listening Length: 12 hours 37 minutes.
_______________
HOOK, LINE AND SINKER - I � THIS ONE!
I was hooked from the first chapter with this college romance. The Hook Up had the right mix of drama, sexy times and swoony moments. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a college romance because they all seemed to be very similar. But this one reminded me of why I love a well written new adult book.
The Hook Up begins with an opening scene where it seems to be ‘lust-at-first-sight� but we quickly find out that our heroine, Anna, is a sassy girl who doesn’t take any crap from cocky football players. Drew has been hit by the dumb stick when it comes to Anna. His mother warned him: ’My mother once told me that the most important moment in my life wouldn’t be when I won the National Championship or even the Super Bowl. It would be when I fell in love.�
Well, Drew’s first words to Anna proved his mom’s point:
“Hey there, Big Red.�
I actually laughed when I read that because I knew this boy was in trouble when those words fell out of his mouth. But no fear, Anna, isn’t a pushover girl.
”What did you just call me?�
Poor Drew. Now, he is trying to fix what he said.
”Ahh� If I say ‘nothing�, can we move on and pretend it didn’t happen?�
Anna
”N.�
Drew
”Relax, I was only trying --�
Anna
”Do not, tell me to ‘relax� when you’ve insulted me, bud.�
Drew
ܻ?�
Anna
”I’m not big.�
Drew
I wasn’t trying to insult you. Believe me, I was referring to the best places.�
Anna
Eyes up, asshole.�
Drew
”Sorry. I’d like to say it won‘t happen again, but I honestly can’t promise that, Red.�
Anna
”Jesus, you’re unbelievable.�
After that interaction, in the first few pages, I knew I was going to love The Hook Up. I was digging the whole vibe of this story.
Drew is a big deal. He’s the QB and the town worships him and his team mates - The Church of College Football. Anna is struggling with not wanting to live in his shadow and also feeling like she doesn’t belong in his world.
I was in heaven reading this story. It was one that I didn’t want to end. And I’m happy to see that Ms. Callihan has plans for more books. I got a sneak peek at the first chapter of the next book and I’m so happy we are getting Gray’s story. Yay!
SERIES:
| |
Can be read as standalones. Each following book is secondary characters from the first book. To find out when more will be released click here.
**Complimentary copy courtesy, from the Publicist, in exchange for an honest review.**
Listening Length: 12 hours 37 minutes.
_______________
HOOK, LINE AND SINKER - I � THIS ONE!
I was hooked from the first chapter with this college romance. The Hook Up had the right mix of drama, sexy times and swoony moments. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a college romance because they all seemed to be very similar. But this one reminded me of why I love a well written new adult book.
The Hook Up begins with an opening scene where it seems to be ‘lust-at-first-sight� but we quickly find out that our heroine, Anna, is a sassy girl who doesn’t take any crap from cocky football players. Drew has been hit by the dumb stick when it comes to Anna. His mother warned him: ’My mother once told me that the most important moment in my life wouldn’t be when I won the National Championship or even the Super Bowl. It would be when I fell in love.�
Well, Drew’s first words to Anna proved his mom’s point:
“Hey there, Big Red.�
I actually laughed when I read that because I knew this boy was in trouble when those words fell out of his mouth. But no fear, Anna, isn’t a pushover girl.
”What did you just call me?�
Poor Drew. Now, he is trying to fix what he said.
”Ahh� If I say ‘nothing�, can we move on and pretend it didn’t happen?�
Anna
”N.�
Drew
”Relax, I was only trying --�
Anna
”Do not, tell me to ‘relax� when you’ve insulted me, bud.�
Drew
ܻ?�
Anna
”I’m not big.�
Drew
I wasn’t trying to insult you. Believe me, I was referring to the best places.�
Anna
Eyes up, asshole.�
Drew
”Sorry. I’d like to say it won‘t happen again, but I honestly can’t promise that, Red.�
Anna
”Jesus, you’re unbelievable.�
After that interaction, in the first few pages, I knew I was going to love The Hook Up. I was digging the whole vibe of this story.
Drew is a big deal. He’s the QB and the town worships him and his team mates - The Church of College Football. Anna is struggling with not wanting to live in his shadow and also feeling like she doesn’t belong in his world.
I was in heaven reading this story. It was one that I didn’t want to end. And I’m happy to see that Ms. Callihan has plans for more books. I got a sneak peek at the first chapter of the next book and I’m so happy we are getting Gray’s story. Yay!
SERIES:
| |
Can be read as standalones. Each following book is secondary characters from the first book. To find out when more will be released click here.
**Complimentary copy courtesy, from the Publicist, in exchange for an honest review.**
June 11, 2024
This story is a well done entertaining read. I have read this plot of the hot quarterback falling for the non-Barbie type of girl with issues many times over. However, the author brings her own flare and incorporates great banter and hot sex scenes to the tale.
When Anna is hit on in her college classroom by the star quaterback of the school's football team she tries to resist. Finally she caves to Drew's charms and attempts to keep him in a hook up category.
"If she thinks she can hide behind sex, then I'll let her hide until she realizes I'm safe, that actually being together could be something transcendent. And damn if I won't have a good time doing it. Because while I might be patient, I'm no saint."
It must be stressed that the author more than delivers the swoon with Drew Baylor. His pov was well done and his feelings for Anna were butterfly inducing. I also found myself feeling very protective of him for the majority of the story he was such a sweetheart.
"I want you. You want me." A wry laugh escapes me. "Though I think want is too weak a word here. 'Crave,' maybe. 'Am insane for,' definitely."
While it isn't the most original story, it was fun and I liked the characters. I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series about Gray the hot jock who can cook.
”My world lives in your palm, Anna.�
September 12, 2014
4.5--It Was Never Just a Hook Up--Stars!!
This book! Gah! It made me feel so much! Butterflies, angst, fear, love, hope, pain! I loved every minute of Anna and Drew's love story. The good, the bad and the ugly!!!
Anna:
The girl who holds on to the insecurities of her past...
Drew:
The larger than life football star...
A love story that starts as a hook-up because the girl can't ever imagine that the boy would choose her.
A love story where the girl makes the boy feel whole, feel alive for the first time since the death of his parents.
A love story filled with fear and insecurity. With want and desire. With pain and longing and hope.
A love story filled with ups and downs. A slow burn. Two people growing, learning and accepting how they feel. A connection so strong that they couldn't stay away.
A stubborn love story, filled with mistakes and wrong choices. Too much pride to admit defeat and too much insecurity to take a chance.
A perfect love story of the girl no one sees and the boy who only sees the girl.
This book! Gah! It made me feel so much! Butterflies, angst, fear, love, hope, pain! I loved every minute of Anna and Drew's love story. The good, the bad and the ugly!!!
Anna:
The girl who holds on to the insecurities of her past...
Drew:
The larger than life football star...
A love story that starts as a hook-up because the girl can't ever imagine that the boy would choose her.
"I don’t just see Drew. I see the star too. And I’m just Anna. I don’t like the light. I need the dark.
A love story where the girl makes the boy feel whole, feel alive for the first time since the death of his parents.
“You’ve destroyed me, Anna Jones.�
A love story filled with fear and insecurity. With want and desire. With pain and longing and hope.
“Why won’t you let me kiss you, Anna?�
I can’t breathe.
“Why, Anna?�
“It’s too much,� I rasp.
“Not when I want everything.� He says it so deep and strong, a staking of a claim. “And I want everything with you, Anna.�
A love story filled with ups and downs. A slow burn. Two people growing, learning and accepting how they feel. A connection so strong that they couldn't stay away.
"I'm not going to say it was love at first sight. No, it was more like oh, hell-yes-please, I'll have that. With a helping of right-the-fuck-now on the side."
A stubborn love story, filled with mistakes and wrong choices. Too much pride to admit defeat and too much insecurity to take a chance.
“Don’t you understand? I felt like an impostor. I kept waiting for you to realize that you’d got it wrong. That I was the girl you were never supposed to .�
A perfect love story of the girl no one sees and the boy who only sees the girl.
September 12, 2014
5 STARS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT----just ignore the cover! It's NOTHING like how the hero is!
I have a tumultuous relationship with NA. I was about to avoid it completely with it's overdone tropes and over-the-top drama. But then I read this book and it changed my perspective completely because sometimes...sometimes you read something so wonderful it reaffirms your faith in an otherwise tired sub genre.
I won't explain what this book is about, just read the synopsis. But I will get into why I loved this so much and why it's worth reading!
This was a beautiful love story, a lovely, fantastic and sexy love story. Drew, being the star quarterback at college falls for the quiet and reserved Anna Jones. She's had a rough time during her teen years and tries to stay away from Drew, the most popular, most coveted person on campus. Their hook-up changes everything and in the most wonderful of ways. This book had an emotional depth not found in other NA books I've read. It had a maturity that puts it ahead of it's genre. The character growth was probably my most favorite thing to watch. The way Drew's and Anna's relationship developed and evolved was tender, realistic and had my heart doing backflips.
Forget overdone drama, the angst here was on a whole other level. It was relatable, REAL, evocative and crushing at the same time. AND I LOVED IT. The sex scenes were incredible and although plenty, they were done in a way that never got boring or mistaken for filler. They were sexy, raw, intense and dripped emotion. But the real winners here were Drew and Anna.
Drew has to be one of the most lovely and excruciatingly beautiful characters I've read in a long time. He never crumbled under the spotlight but remained aware of who he was and that was a different man from the all-star player. I can't say enough about him, so many things that he said left me sighing and tearing up. His emotional commitment to Anna was nothing short of extraordinary. He was so vulnerable, so willing to put everything on the line to be with her that I wanted to scream over how amazing he was.
Anna was a fantastic character as well. I often have a hard time with NA heroines because they seem to be all alike. Anna was different. And her growth, her eventual realization over what truly mattered left me speechless. Watching her grow into the woman she was meant to be was like coming home. Her and Drew together was electric, charged and completely satisfying.
Things happen here and the plot twists had me literally hanging off the seat of my pants. So many emotional scenes that were so intense, so distressing...but they ultimately gave Drew and Anna the ammunition to evolve together and grow into a beautiful and committed couple that could weather anything, if together.
GAH! Just read this!
The epilogue was everything I wanted it to be, it was just lovely, just perfect. I can't say enough how much I loved this book! The secondary characters were fantastic and the second book is about one of Drew's best friends, which I really look forward to. THIS IS HOW NA IS DONE, this is what I expect from ANY book I read. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from this incredible author!
Thanks so much Jill, had you never read this and convinced me to do the same, I would have missed out on a truly amazing read! ;)
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT----just ignore the cover! It's NOTHING like how the hero is!
I have a tumultuous relationship with NA. I was about to avoid it completely with it's overdone tropes and over-the-top drama. But then I read this book and it changed my perspective completely because sometimes...sometimes you read something so wonderful it reaffirms your faith in an otherwise tired sub genre.
I won't explain what this book is about, just read the synopsis. But I will get into why I loved this so much and why it's worth reading!
This was a beautiful love story, a lovely, fantastic and sexy love story. Drew, being the star quarterback at college falls for the quiet and reserved Anna Jones. She's had a rough time during her teen years and tries to stay away from Drew, the most popular, most coveted person on campus. Their hook-up changes everything and in the most wonderful of ways. This book had an emotional depth not found in other NA books I've read. It had a maturity that puts it ahead of it's genre. The character growth was probably my most favorite thing to watch. The way Drew's and Anna's relationship developed and evolved was tender, realistic and had my heart doing backflips.
Forget overdone drama, the angst here was on a whole other level. It was relatable, REAL, evocative and crushing at the same time. AND I LOVED IT. The sex scenes were incredible and although plenty, they were done in a way that never got boring or mistaken for filler. They were sexy, raw, intense and dripped emotion. But the real winners here were Drew and Anna.
Drew has to be one of the most lovely and excruciatingly beautiful characters I've read in a long time. He never crumbled under the spotlight but remained aware of who he was and that was a different man from the all-star player. I can't say enough about him, so many things that he said left me sighing and tearing up. His emotional commitment to Anna was nothing short of extraordinary. He was so vulnerable, so willing to put everything on the line to be with her that I wanted to scream over how amazing he was.
Anna was a fantastic character as well. I often have a hard time with NA heroines because they seem to be all alike. Anna was different. And her growth, her eventual realization over what truly mattered left me speechless. Watching her grow into the woman she was meant to be was like coming home. Her and Drew together was electric, charged and completely satisfying.
Things happen here and the plot twists had me literally hanging off the seat of my pants. So many emotional scenes that were so intense, so distressing...but they ultimately gave Drew and Anna the ammunition to evolve together and grow into a beautiful and committed couple that could weather anything, if together.
GAH! Just read this!
The epilogue was everything I wanted it to be, it was just lovely, just perfect. I can't say enough how much I loved this book! The secondary characters were fantastic and the second book is about one of Drew's best friends, which I really look forward to. THIS IS HOW NA IS DONE, this is what I expect from ANY book I read. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from this incredible author!
Thanks so much Jill, had you never read this and convinced me to do the same, I would have missed out on a truly amazing read! ;)
June 23, 2020
Title:The Hook Up
Series:Game On #1
Author:Kristen Callihan
Release date:September 8, 2014
Rating:4.5 stars
Cliffhanger:No
HEA:
This is not a debut author, but she's new to me. Although she's written several books, they are in the historical/paranormal/steampunk genres and I don't dabble much in those. This is her first attempt at New Adult and I have to say, I was completely impressed with this book. The writing was fantastic. It was emotional, it was funny, it was gripping in a way that I was unable to set this bad boy down once I took a peek at it! You know exactly what I'm talking about, I know you do. Your curiosity is aroused so you turn to the first few pages to get a sample of the writing and before you know it, you're chapters in and promising yourself, "Just a few more pages." True story here. Looking at the cover, sorry but I wasn't too crazy about it. He looks goofy as hell! But please don't judge the book on that smarmy guy. I'm so glad I decided to try this one out.
This book has all the signs of a superior book:
#1...Un-put-down-able
#2...Freaking fire alarm steamy-don't read this in public H.O.T. (This is not your typical NA fare)
#3...An abundant amount of #2
#4...Made me laugh multiple times
#5…My highlighting finger got a really good workout.
#6…Supporting characters were just as well built that now I am auto-reading the next book
And the most important one, I just really, really liked this authors words.
On to the story....
A bad first impression, a heroine with a past that has shaped her to be prickly and sensitive, and a hero not used to getting immediate adoration because of his football stardom (not that he enjoys it, he's a pretty humble guy)...a very bad combination. At first sight, Drew is thunderstruck and speechless over Anna. It's not insta-love. In his own words:
I'm not going to say it was love at first sight. No, it was more like oh, hell-yes-please, I'll have that. With a helping of right-the-fuck-now on the side.
Anna is not impressed by his adulation. In fact, it has the opposite effect. She’s an introverted type of person and he’s so popular, he’s followed on Twitter and Instagram. They take football seriously down south, and his talent has them clambering for a piece of him.
Anna is a complicated girl. She throws off a tough girl vibe that screams strength, but inside, because of bullying in high school, has body and confidence issues. Her body has changed since then, but her mind hasn't. Though she had her insecurities, I still liked her. She was funny, independent, intelligent, and loyal. She was the complete package, but doesn't do serious relationships. So when she has a similar reaction to Drew upon meeting him, she puts up a fortress around herself that's she's determined to keep up around him.
But eventually, one night at a party, it happens.
The Hook Up.
It was the single, most electrifying, life changing experience for both of them. And Ho-lee Hell. Two words. They're hooked. The problem is, she doesn't want to be.
Tonight was obviously an ill-advised hook up for her. And I'm so screwed up because it was the best thing that has ever happened to me.
After realizing she can't stay away from him, she erects "The Rules" to keep them from getting too close. No kissing, no staying the night, no telling anyone, and no falling in love. Drew's willing to gamble that he can make her break all those rules. Game on. They really had some combustible chemistry. And the fact that they couldn't kiss added so much sexual tension to the mix. When they finally do break that rule, it was AMAZING. Never before has so much importance and heat been put into a single first kiss. It's significance is unspoken but plain as day. They give each other untold pleasure but both secretly yearn to explore the intimacy and everything that giving that piece of themselves symbolizes. Best first kiss ever.
And Drew? Perfection. He had a tragic past, but he doesn't obsess over that, he's hot yet sweet, and he's not a manwhore. Yet he was still strong and determined when it came to what he wanted. And that would be Anna. Her complete surrender.
Before you know it, not only their sexual connection is drawing her in, but she's found a best friend in him. They talk long into the night, they debate with each other, their sense of humor is the same, and she finds herself not just wanting him but needing him. Just as he needs her.
His entire body seems to light up. Like he's plugged in to me. And that energy bounces back over me, lifting the little hairs along my skin, tripping up the steady beat of my heart. Lost. I know that now. I've lost myself to him.
Drew presses my hand against his sweaty chest where his heart still beats a fierce rhythm. His voice is whisper-quiet but crystal clear. "My world lives in your palm, Anna."
This book was a lot more than I was planning on. Of course, I had hoped it would be good, but it exceeded my expectations in many ways. More emotion, more steam, more humor, it was simply more. I must mention however, I did have one pet peeve in this book and that was the hero blushing. FYI, that's not hot-he's not a bride or a virginal heroine. But other than that, I couldn't think of a thing to complain about. The characters weren't perfect, but showed real human emotions and even when I wanted to break out something really hard and smack Anna upside her stubborn little head, I was rooting for them all way. I loved how this couple grew together and learned a lot about themselves and what they were capable of. They gave each other strength and I loved spending time with them!! I'm really excited for the next book in the series with Drew's best friend.
FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:
June 11, 2024
OMG Why the hell I wait to read this book? IT.WAS.AMAZING!!!! Ahhhh I'm so in love with Drew. :) Drew & Anna were so sweet and funny together. But also their chemistry was so freaking hot too. :) I laughed, I cried. My God, this book was pure perfection. ;)
And please do not waste any more minutes and go start this book asap! You won't regret this, trust me!!! xoxo
Ps. I'm definetly gonna read the other books very soon. :-D
"You're so beautiful to me," he says against my mouth.
I pull back to look him in the eyes. "To you?"
He often says that, and part of me wonders if others have said something contrary to him.
"To me." His fingers trace the curve of my shoulder, brushing a lock of hair over it. "When we're together, it's just you and me. No one else exists.�
And please do not waste any more minutes and go start this book asap! You won't regret this, trust me!!! xoxo
Ps. I'm definetly gonna read the other books very soon. :-D
"You're so beautiful to me," he says against my mouth.
I pull back to look him in the eyes. "To you?"
He often says that, and part of me wonders if others have said something contrary to him.
"To me." His fingers trace the curve of my shoulder, brushing a lock of hair over it. "When we're together, it's just you and me. No one else exists.�
June 29, 2018
4.5 Stars (Re-Read 6/29/2018)
4 Stars (Originally Read 9/14/2014)
Overall Opinion: This was another book that I had just left a star rating and not an actual review for, so I decided to give it a re-read. I don't remember it being so deep! We get into these characters on a deeper level then I'm used to with college athlete books. I think that was a good surprise! I love their dialogue. I also love how deeply they cared for and knew each other. I'm increasing my rating from 4 stars to 4.5, because I was emotionally invested enough to cry a few times -- and the fact that I've already read this tells me that it's simply that good! I'm still frustrated with the ending, but you know -- blah blah needs a farther glimpse into the future blah blah -- can you tell I'm tired of writing this?! 🙄...Maybe I just need to expect less with endings or something since I'm writing this complaint so much lately 😕🤷🏻♀�
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Anna and Drew's story. They meet in a class their senior year of college. Drew is the star quarterback for the college team, and Anna is not interested in jocks. Drew is instantly interested and starts a strong pursuit of Anna that results in a hook-up. Anna isn't interested in being in the limelight by dating the football player, so she convinces him to keep it casual and not a relationship even though Drew wants it all. There are some funny moments, some hot sexy times, some sad scenes...and they get a HFN ending.
POV: This alternated between Anna and Drew's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. It's on the longer side, but I thought it flowed well and I never skimmed.
Instalove: Not in the usual way. It takes a while for the h to develop stronger feelings, but the H feels strongly right away (doesn't express love or anything until way later).
H rating: 4 stars. Drew. I liked him. I appreciated how he pursued the h. He was also pretty hot!
h rating: 4 stars. Anna. I liked her. She was sassy, smart, and I liked how she came to care for the H.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I did shed a few tears, but I never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes, but when separated
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This has not enough closure for me. I wanted more! Shocking for me, right?! 😜 I would call this a HFN ending, but others might consider it a HEA
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences.
4 Stars (Originally Read 9/14/2014)
Overall Opinion: This was another book that I had just left a star rating and not an actual review for, so I decided to give it a re-read. I don't remember it being so deep! We get into these characters on a deeper level then I'm used to with college athlete books. I think that was a good surprise! I love their dialogue. I also love how deeply they cared for and knew each other. I'm increasing my rating from 4 stars to 4.5, because I was emotionally invested enough to cry a few times -- and the fact that I've already read this tells me that it's simply that good! I'm still frustrated with the ending, but you know -- blah blah needs a farther glimpse into the future blah blah -- can you tell I'm tired of writing this?! 🙄...Maybe I just need to expect less with endings or something since I'm writing this complaint so much lately 😕🤷🏻♀�
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Anna and Drew's story. They meet in a class their senior year of college. Drew is the star quarterback for the college team, and Anna is not interested in jocks. Drew is instantly interested and starts a strong pursuit of Anna that results in a hook-up. Anna isn't interested in being in the limelight by dating the football player, so she convinces him to keep it casual and not a relationship even though Drew wants it all. There are some funny moments, some hot sexy times, some sad scenes...and they get a HFN ending.
POV: This alternated between Anna and Drew's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. It's on the longer side, but I thought it flowed well and I never skimmed.
Instalove: Not in the usual way. It takes a while for the h to develop stronger feelings, but the H feels strongly right away (doesn't express love or anything until way later).
H rating: 4 stars. Drew. I liked him. I appreciated how he pursued the h. He was also pretty hot!
h rating: 4 stars. Anna. I liked her. She was sassy, smart, and I liked how she came to care for the H.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I did shed a few tears, but I never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes, but when separated
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This has not enough closure for me. I wanted more! Shocking for me, right?! 😜 I would call this a HFN ending, but others might consider it a HEA
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences.
May 7, 2015
4.5 Battle Butt Baylor stars
Anna is a regular girl who doesn't know what she wants to do in her life. She is in college now, trying to stay as unnoticed as possible, but this seems impossible, especially when the quarterback from the football team, Drew Baylor, sets his eyes on her.
Drew may be a local star, but he's not the guy everyone thinks he is. How is he going to make Anna see that, when she's so stubborn and wants nothing from him? Especially after their hook up, which only proves that she also wants him, but doesn't want a relationship with him?
The Hook Up was a book that I owned for a while now and I still don't understand why I hadn't read it earlier! It was really amazing, even though the first part of the book had left me disappointed, thinking 'oh shit insta love is on the menu'.
But thankfully the plot had me changing my mind and most of all Drew. His character was so flawless that had me drooling all over him, thinking 'I wish there were guys like him in real life.' Maybe there are, I just hadn't been lucky enough to find my personal flavor of Drew ;)
Anyway, thanks to now I have another book boyfriend to add to my list. Because let's face it, Drew was perfect. He was so romantic, every time he opened his mouth my heart was melting. Every time he did something, I would look like a puppy to my screen, thinking:
He broke my heart to pieces and his story was so heartbreaking and his character was so well shaped, I just can't find a flaw in his character and I would gladly have his babies.
I have to admit that I didn't feel the same affection for our dearly heroine, Anna. I could understand her fears and I supported her, but she was pissing me off. Yes, I got where she was coming from, but Drew was so perfect to her and since day 1 he was crystal clear about what he wanted, she was just trying to keep that distance and her whole insecurity just had me in rage, since my heart was aching for Drew.
I may be unfair and harsh and I have to admit that I pitied her by the end, but it was too late for me to consider her likeable when she finally got her shit together.
Anyhow, I would definitely recommend to my friends this book, because it was cute, funny, steamy and even if it had a little bit drama, it was still a beautiful book. And you definitely have to meet Drew! ;)
**BR with Alice, Patty, Stephanie & Dee** :))
"You've destroyed me, Anna Jones."
Anna is a regular girl who doesn't know what she wants to do in her life. She is in college now, trying to stay as unnoticed as possible, but this seems impossible, especially when the quarterback from the football team, Drew Baylor, sets his eyes on her.
Drew may be a local star, but he's not the guy everyone thinks he is. How is he going to make Anna see that, when she's so stubborn and wants nothing from him? Especially after their hook up, which only proves that she also wants him, but doesn't want a relationship with him?
The rules: no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone, and above all� No falling in love.
The Hook Up was a book that I owned for a while now and I still don't understand why I hadn't read it earlier! It was really amazing, even though the first part of the book had left me disappointed, thinking 'oh shit insta love is on the menu'.
But thankfully the plot had me changing my mind and most of all Drew. His character was so flawless that had me drooling all over him, thinking 'I wish there were guys like him in real life.' Maybe there are, I just hadn't been lucky enough to find my personal flavor of Drew ;)
Anyway, thanks to now I have another book boyfriend to add to my list. Because let's face it, Drew was perfect. He was so romantic, every time he opened his mouth my heart was melting. Every time he did something, I would look like a puppy to my screen, thinking:
He broke my heart to pieces and his story was so heartbreaking and his character was so well shaped, I just can't find a flaw in his character and I would gladly have his babies.
I have to admit that I didn't feel the same affection for our dearly heroine, Anna. I could understand her fears and I supported her, but she was pissing me off. Yes, I got where she was coming from, but Drew was so perfect to her and since day 1 he was crystal clear about what he wanted, she was just trying to keep that distance and her whole insecurity just had me in rage, since my heart was aching for Drew.
I may be unfair and harsh and I have to admit that I pitied her by the end, but it was too late for me to consider her likeable when she finally got her shit together.
"I like you just the way you are, Drew Baylor."
Anyhow, I would definitely recommend to my friends this book, because it was cute, funny, steamy and even if it had a little bit drama, it was still a beautiful book. And you definitely have to meet Drew! ;)
**BR with Alice, Patty, Stephanie & Dee** :))
November 19, 2014
5 Blow me Away Stars
Wow just wow, I read a lot of erotica and to be honest its not always out of choice but you know I kind of end up falling into those reads which I love but recently I was in the need to a NA college romance/Sports Romance I mean this is one of my go to reads when I want to go back to college to remember KWIM?? I'm a 34 wife/mum so its not something I read all the time just occasionally saying that, please don't judge this book by its cover which I kind of of did a few months back when I first cast my eyes on it but hey I was in the need of a sports romance themed story and bam here I am blown away by this book, the words and thoughts of these characters were just so mature I honestly was hooked from page one.
Anyway I digress...
drews Mum once told him that...
And....
You see Drew is a football player he is the main one, the one everyone wants to see the 'ONE' everyone wants. But hey that doesn't mean he's happy, then one day he see's one girl this girl namely Anna Jones is then ALL he see's but she's a nothing in her eyes, a small fish in a big pond concerning Drew in her eyes. Here we have two people who are moving forward in their lives but not necessarily enjoying what they have cause they have a big whole to fill.
Drew has his team and he's happy he works extremely hard, he trains he plays and he studies but he doesn't drink and he watches out for his boys so when his eyes meet Anna HE WANTS HER FOR HIM.
You know there's that moment when you need and want its definitely the case for Drew the only thing is Anna rebels and may want him back but won't admit it so there are rules and they go like this:
no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone, and above all� No falling in love.
So can Drew break that rule and turn Anna around to his thinking??
Anna Jones doesn't know what she wants to do with her life she's at college and all but the only thing she would like is to be in New York, She lives with her friend and enjoys her little life of contentment studying, working but after a not great break up in her past she doesn't do relationships she doesn't want the feelings that go with it nor has she been out recently that is until her friends get her out where she bumps into Drew and where they start their Hook Up now I'm not going to tell you much more about the story just lets say emotions obviously get involved and its time to take a chance when you just know right??
My thoughts
Here I am sitting trying the fathom the right words to express how much joy this book gave me, its has the sweet romance and getting to know you feel and then there's the whole I NEED YOU NOW feel, friendship, love and sex its all there, there chemisty was off the charts and majority of this read I was panting in my seat and wondering whats going to happen next I never got bored of it too, really this NA was not inappropriate or unrealistic the maturity of the story gripped me and I was thinking about it throughout the day which to means a good story to me.
I loved how it was a gradual process I say mature again cause this really is a LOVE STORY TO ITS CORE
I was asked yesterday if this story was generic and I suppose yes it is but please don't let that put you off, I enjoyed it for what it is don't expect lots of plot twists but if your in the mood then please grab it.
To Sum Up
The author did a great job at building the tension at the beginning and making me smile at the end Job well done Kristen I'll be awaiting for Grays book coming next.....
Read it, that is all.....
Wow just wow, I read a lot of erotica and to be honest its not always out of choice but you know I kind of end up falling into those reads which I love but recently I was in the need to a NA college romance/Sports Romance I mean this is one of my go to reads when I want to go back to college to remember KWIM?? I'm a 34 wife/mum so its not something I read all the time just occasionally saying that, please don't judge this book by its cover which I kind of of did a few months back when I first cast my eyes on it but hey I was in the need of a sports romance themed story and bam here I am blown away by this book, the words and thoughts of these characters were just so mature I honestly was hooked from page one.
Anyway I digress...
drews Mum once told him that...
Life, She insisted, is how you live it and who you live it with, not what you do to make a living.
And....
"You'll see, Drew. One day, Love will creep up and smack you upside the head. Then you'll understand."
You see Drew is a football player he is the main one, the one everyone wants to see the 'ONE' everyone wants. But hey that doesn't mean he's happy, then one day he see's one girl this girl namely Anna Jones is then ALL he see's but she's a nothing in her eyes, a small fish in a big pond concerning Drew in her eyes. Here we have two people who are moving forward in their lives but not necessarily enjoying what they have cause they have a big whole to fill.
Drew has his team and he's happy he works extremely hard, he trains he plays and he studies but he doesn't drink and he watches out for his boys so when his eyes meet Anna HE WANTS HER FOR HIM.
You know there's that moment when you need and want its definitely the case for Drew the only thing is Anna rebels and may want him back but won't admit it so there are rules and they go like this:
no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone, and above all� No falling in love.
So can Drew break that rule and turn Anna around to his thinking??
Anna Jones doesn't know what she wants to do with her life she's at college and all but the only thing she would like is to be in New York, She lives with her friend and enjoys her little life of contentment studying, working but after a not great break up in her past she doesn't do relationships she doesn't want the feelings that go with it nor has she been out recently that is until her friends get her out where she bumps into Drew and where they start their Hook Up now I'm not going to tell you much more about the story just lets say emotions obviously get involved and its time to take a chance when you just know right??
My thoughts
Here I am sitting trying the fathom the right words to express how much joy this book gave me, its has the sweet romance and getting to know you feel and then there's the whole I NEED YOU NOW feel, friendship, love and sex its all there, there chemisty was off the charts and majority of this read I was panting in my seat and wondering whats going to happen next I never got bored of it too, really this NA was not inappropriate or unrealistic the maturity of the story gripped me and I was thinking about it throughout the day which to means a good story to me.
I loved how it was a gradual process I say mature again cause this really is a LOVE STORY TO ITS CORE
I was asked yesterday if this story was generic and I suppose yes it is but please don't let that put you off, I enjoyed it for what it is don't expect lots of plot twists but if your in the mood then please grab it.
To Sum Up
The author did a great job at building the tension at the beginning and making me smile at the end Job well done Kristen I'll be awaiting for Grays book coming next.....
Read it, that is all.....
November 5, 2015
These bloody good NA books are making a liar out of me.
I'm pretty sure my profile on ŷ says something along the lines of - NA are not for me. The Hook Up proved me wrong. I AM into books that suck me in, make me laugh, blush, cry and grumble, teach me something (how's that headache Sparkles?) and leaves me with a big smile on my face. New Adult books seem to have turned a corner. We are not bombarded with chicks who lose their mental capacity because they want a certain blokes attention. It's not just assumed that a guy ONLY thinks with his bits and pieces. This book grabbed my attention with characters that have goals and work bloody hard to reach them and feel satisfaction when their hard work pays off.
Big Red...what was Drew thinking? I cringed as soon as I read the words. He certainly picked the wrong girl to say it to. Anna, is not afraid to put Drew in his place when he assumes she'd jump at the chance to be with him. After all he is the star quarterback and practically famous. Neither of them can deny their overwhelming attraction to each other, but while Drew is keen, Anna is friggin petrified. Both Anna and Drew have reasons for their eagerness and hesitations. We see their relationship stutter and start from the beginning to the end. Both of them are not as confident as they would have everyone believe.
I loved the characters in this story, especially with Anna and Drew's friends playing pivotal roles. There were some deeper issues dealt with that made it seem more realistic. I also liked the way the author showed Drew's reaction, to someone else's reaction, to being on the receiving end of a 6 ft 4 muscle bound man who's angry. More times than not he cools his jets to make sure they don't feel threatened. Nice to see a football player portrayed with intelligence, control and sensitivity.
I'm still not ready to call myself a NA fan, but with this caliber of work, I can't help but be a little keen to try some more. This was my first book by Kristen Callihan and with that much talent, it will definitely not be my last.
To buy The Hook Up from Amazon -
I'm pretty sure my profile on ŷ says something along the lines of - NA are not for me. The Hook Up proved me wrong. I AM into books that suck me in, make me laugh, blush, cry and grumble, teach me something (how's that headache Sparkles?) and leaves me with a big smile on my face. New Adult books seem to have turned a corner. We are not bombarded with chicks who lose their mental capacity because they want a certain blokes attention. It's not just assumed that a guy ONLY thinks with his bits and pieces. This book grabbed my attention with characters that have goals and work bloody hard to reach them and feel satisfaction when their hard work pays off.
Big Red...what was Drew thinking? I cringed as soon as I read the words. He certainly picked the wrong girl to say it to. Anna, is not afraid to put Drew in his place when he assumes she'd jump at the chance to be with him. After all he is the star quarterback and practically famous. Neither of them can deny their overwhelming attraction to each other, but while Drew is keen, Anna is friggin petrified. Both Anna and Drew have reasons for their eagerness and hesitations. We see their relationship stutter and start from the beginning to the end. Both of them are not as confident as they would have everyone believe.
I loved the characters in this story, especially with Anna and Drew's friends playing pivotal roles. There were some deeper issues dealt with that made it seem more realistic. I also liked the way the author showed Drew's reaction, to someone else's reaction, to being on the receiving end of a 6 ft 4 muscle bound man who's angry. More times than not he cools his jets to make sure they don't feel threatened. Nice to see a football player portrayed with intelligence, control and sensitivity.
I'm still not ready to call myself a NA fan, but with this caliber of work, I can't help but be a little keen to try some more. This was my first book by Kristen Callihan and with that much talent, it will definitely not be my last.
To buy The Hook Up from Amazon -
August 4, 2017
I am going
all in
on this one...
5 Seductive Lip Bites
Because this book gave me ALL. THE. FEELS. All of them.
I know, I know... C'mon, Angie... get your shit together!
When a book can run me from one end of the emotional scale to the other and actually make me feel the characters emotions, well... it's a 5 star read for me. Stellar writing with great attention to detail, well fleshed out and relatable characters, an emotional journey, and steaminess as well... I loved it! Can't wait to read more from this author! Well done, Kristen Callihan. Well done.
5 Seductive Lip Bites
Because this book gave me ALL. THE. FEELS. All of them.
I know, I know... C'mon, Angie... get your shit together!
When a book can run me from one end of the emotional scale to the other and actually make me feel the characters emotions, well... it's a 5 star read for me. Stellar writing with great attention to detail, well fleshed out and relatable characters, an emotional journey, and steaminess as well... I loved it! Can't wait to read more from this author! Well done, Kristen Callihan. Well done.
January 11, 2021
“Some people never understand the gift they have.
And some people wait a lifetime to have someone to love.�
So out of blue, I chose this book
Because
The Blurb,
1.It is super catchy
2. It sounded like ?
So I was missing Dean Di Laurentis and in the name of Dean Di Laurentis I picked up this book real quick 🥳.
And After reading it tho
I dare not to say I found
Drew "Battle" Baylor(H) is more like
Garrett Graham and I somehow ended up liking it more than The Score solely because I liked Anna ( h) 20000 times better than the Score's female protagonist.
This book isn’t a Rom-Com in the traditional and typical sense, but it is highly highly highly entertaining and the plot is phenomenal 💕
Of course, the MCs were magic and we will talk about it later but lemme take a moment to appreciate the side characters please 🥺 before it slides off my mind and I go batshit crazy from gushing about the Main Leads 😂
The side characters are a bunch of morons 🤣 and freaking amazing at the same time😭 and 🥺 I was also in awe with the detailing of the book.
That insta lust tho 🥺🤯🤯🤯🤯 there is sooo much passion between Drew and Anna 🌋🌋 and suffice to say they have sizzling chemistry both in and out of the bed 💕
“Keep talking to me,� he whispers.
I pause. “Doesn’t noise hurt your head?� Thick lashes cast shadows at the tops of his cheeks. “Your voice isn’t noise. It’s a song I want to hear over and over.�
My guy Drew Pins for Anna so hard 🥺🥺🥺 how could I not love him Gezzzzz 🥺🥺🥺
His protectiveness, cavemen tendencies, the way he is attracted to Anna is so raw and almost brutal, and not for a second he is scared of commitment,
and Let's admit this a guy without a commitment issue is like a Unicorn even in our beloved Romantic fiction world 🧐.
You know Drew is "That Guy" the prom king type, girls fall at his feet and he never has to go after anyone and work hard for it
So naturally, at first, his courtship game was weak, but he quickly picked it up 😍 and slayed it �
He is soooo persistent and upfront about his feelings.
And my girl Anna played her part so well. I love a girl who isn’t easy, who doesn’t force a guy to be in a relationship. I love Anna's approach where she is trying to protect her heart and her insecurities are so real and relatable 💕. Finally, it felt good to meet a female protagonist who doesn’t keep her cards wide open and doesn't wear her heart on her sleeves. She traded carefully and it is commendable.
But the only complaint I've with this book is that the epilogue felt impersonal, the ending seemed rushed? 😪 and not so satisfying for my taste 😭 after the ups and downs, pain, heartache, the struggles Drew and Anna have to go through I really wanted a more settled and assuring epilogue for them. Never mind this is my first Kristen Callihan book so I will let that slide and I wanna read more of her books for sure. Let's see what else she has for me in the store 💕
So yeah anyone who is looking for some smutty yet oh so heartwarmingly romantic College Sports Romance this is the book for you�
And lastly here are my concluding thoughts - I hope we all find our
Drew "Battle" Baylor who can make You feel that his world revolves around you and only you
and most importantly make you realise that
Home is not a place
Home is a Person
Happy Reading xoxo
January 7, 2016
Perfectly sweet, perfectly sexy and perfectly addictive! Drew Baylor is the star quarterback on a winning football team. I am from the South where footballs king, so I totally understood the allure of Drew. The star football player on a winning football team is everything here, and Battle Baylor is everything there too.
Naturally Anna assumes Drew is just like every other jock, perhaps even worse since he is the star quarterback. Anna decides her and Drew can hook up, but she won’t offer him anything else, nothing real. To her surprise, Drew proved to be anything, but typical and I fell in love with him. I didn’t love Anna as much, she was much more frustrating since I was so in love with Drew, sigh. However, I didn’t let that deter me since her insecurities were realistic and I can relate.
This book is super fun, but also had so much heart. I loved that it had both, so few books do.
Naturally Anna assumes Drew is just like every other jock, perhaps even worse since he is the star quarterback. Anna decides her and Drew can hook up, but she won’t offer him anything else, nothing real. To her surprise, Drew proved to be anything, but typical and I fell in love with him. I didn’t love Anna as much, she was much more frustrating since I was so in love with Drew, sigh. However, I didn’t let that deter me since her insecurities were realistic and I can relate.
This book is super fun, but also had so much heart. I loved that it had both, so few books do.
January 20, 2018
What I liked
� Drew was surprisingly decent and kinda cute? Can I have a Fuck Yeah?
� The sex scenes were pretty hot, I'll admit ;
� The characters finally got some layers during the second half ;
� Compared to most new adult novels, the writing was pretty good - not that it's saying much, because eh, there's a lot of crap out there.
What I didn't like
� I'm just gonna warn you that the first 20% are filled with insta-love/lust of epic proportions - prepare yourself to roll your eyes something FIERCE ;
� I've read too many romances to stand another Let's fight and break up for absolutely no reason drama feast - we didn't go into Anna's self-esteem issues in depth so it made it very hard to understand her attitude?
� I'm sorry, but Iris and Anna were terrible friends in my opinion, and I never got the impression that they even cared about each other ;
� There was a distinct Not Like Other Girls fuckery going on and I just can't stand that shit, okay? Anna did say that most women were awesome, though, hence why I didn't rage ;
� I've said that the sex-scenes were hot but unfortunately they were also very repetitive and I might have stifled a yawn several times ;
� This is probably on me and my propensity to read romance novels lately but the you are my home felt so cheesy to me, I couldn't help but laugh ;
� The plot was really long-winded, so much that I had to check the percentages and frown on a hourly basis?
� I'll probably forget the whole thing very soon ;
� Actually I think I'll have a hard time to remember it tomorrow ;
� What am I even talking about right now? Is that a book review?
� Bleh. Go on with your life, you're not missing anything without . Now I need to read great books because my average rating is a bitch.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
March 9, 2015
♥♥� 4.5 STARS ♥♥�
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
“Why won't you let me kiss you, Anna? Why, Anna?"
"It's too much," I rasp.
"Not when I want everything." He says it so deep and strong, a staking of a claim. "And I want everything with you, Anna.�
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
This was another New Adult winner for me. I really enjoyed this a lot!
Drew "Battle Baylor" is the star quarterback of his team. With the title, comes the unavoidable fame and attention. As a result, woman fawn over him. A life changing meeting with Anna, has him wanting for the first time ever to pursue someone to have something serious. Unfortunately, Anna doesn't have serious on her mind. She wants him to be a hook up and nothing more. Drew has other plans, and won't give up until he makes Anna his.
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
“I think you’re beautiful,� he says softly.
“Beauty fades,� I choke out.
“Not when it comes from inside.�
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
Oh, Drew...he was super swoony! I really loved him. For a guy that had everything and everyone at his disposal, he was quite down to earth. Sure, at times he could be a bit arrogant but in a very sexy way. I loved the relationship he shared with his teammates. What I loved the most was seeing him try to sway Anna into being in a relationship with him the was more than just sex. He could be so sweet and so caring. He was also very hot, sexy, and alpha.
Anna, I kind of liked at first. She has gone through some things that make her quite insecure about why on earth a guy like Drew could want her. This insecurity is what caused me to not like her so much. She was just so stubborn and it frustrated me that she kept trying to keep Drew as arm's length emotionally. Then at the end, I liked her again because I liked that she finally did something good. She challenged and cared Drew when he needed it the most. It was so beautiful watching these too interact, especially during those sweet moments that melted my heart.
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
“Anna, baby, you would never be the girl I didn't see, whether we had met now or in high school." He pulls me in close, rubbing his nose along the tip of mine. "Don't you understand? I know you wouldn't be because, since the moment I laid eyes on you, you're all I can .�
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
The story overall, was very good, and romantic. There wasn't any over the top drama that dragged things out. There was some angst in this book but it was a good amount. It wasn't all the color of roses as there were some intense moments between the main characters that tugged at my heart strings. I couldn't put this book down because I loved all of those emotional scenes. I really did like this book, and it's definitely one I would recommend you give a read. Especially to those who love the New Adult genre. I can't wait to see what is next in the series.
December 8, 2015
***4 "Big Red" stars for Baylor and Jones***
I really don't know how to start this review... I feel i'm in loss of pretty words and it's difficult for me to describe the situation that Drew and Anna caught themselves up!!
This was a very nice story that made me pass from many stages while i was reading it...
I had heard so many good words about this book and i wanted so badly to read it, but at the same time something was holding me back and then one day i decided that it was about time...
And i started it!!! And i felt rush and excitement and then i started to feel annoyance toward Anna... and so much sympathy for Drew...
And the annoyance continued because Anna was so damn stubborn and i wanted to shake her up to open her eyes and see the truth that was lying inside her heart...
But Anna and Drew made it a fuckin' mess and i was with Drew's side...
(Okay that's an understatement because i was almost all the time with Drew's side!!! Soooorry, Anna!!!)
And God, something bad happened and finally followed something good and i felt relief and almost happiness, but then for first time Drew disappointed me!!!
But after all those shit that i had to get through, everything went good!!! Thank God!!!
As you can understand those two were so fuckin' messed up, but who isn't???
But i will have to admit that this story was feeling like reality!!!
It wasn't something extraordinary that nobody from all of us wouldn't do...
And i like that!!!
Drew and Anna were two normal people with their fears, their insecurities, they ups and their downs, with dark days and beautiful days, with sex and snuggling, with fights and overeacting...
In many points it reminded me of myself...
And i liked that it seemed so real...
I won't tell you much about the story.
Drew was the star of the campus, he liked Anna and he went after her.
Anna had her issues, she had a bad opinion of Drew and she didn't want anything more than a hook-up...
They hooked up but Drew was insisting for more, but Anna wasn't agree.
So, they made this deal... they gonna only hooking up...
Anna preffered to refuse her feelings and she even refused her kisses to Drew because this action was too intimate.
And Drew fell hard for Anna and he was tiptoying around her from the fear to lose what little she was giving to him.
You think that this deal could be successfull??? Or everything will go to hell???
I can't tell you more... so you have to find all about their relationship by yourselves!!!
"She didn’t even let me kiss her. That burns the most. As if kissing me was so personal that she couldn’t bear it. As if she needed to relegate me to some random, near faceless fuck...
I’ve just experienced the hottest, most erotic, life-changing sex of my life, and I don’t think I’m going to get a repeat. Tonight was obviously an ill-advised hook up for her. And I’m so screwed because it was the best thing that has ever happened to me."
Drew "Battle" Baylor seemed like the usual stereotypical joke, but he was far away from that role.
I saw a sweet and caring man and i couldn't do anything than sympathize him. He was a very good man.
And he had true feelings for Anna. But she was hurting him with her attitude and i was furious for her behalf.
Who wouldn't want a man like him around her??? Not me, for sure!!!
I wanted to punch Anna for the insecurity that she was causing him!!! He didn't deserve to get through all those shits that she was throwing to his way.
But to be fair, near to the end, he made me mad too!!!
He was a little bit irrational, but i forgive him!!!
He deserved for once to be the one who was a little bit... off!!!
“You’ve destroyed me, Anna Jones.�
I know exactly what he means, because he’s destroyed me too."
As for Anna Jones??? I have to admit that in the most part of the book, she was irritating me very much.
I know that she was having feelings for Drew from the first moment, but this denial was driving me crazy and it was hurting Drew!!!
Yep, at some point i understood her reasons for all this insecurity and attitude but i think that Drew never gave her the opportunity to doubt his feelings.
So, she was unfair to him and i didn't like that!
They could be so perfect together from the first moment, but she didn't aloud it!!
"An insidious voice in my head shouts Danger, I’d Turn Back If I Were You! This is too close to a relationship. I don’t want one. Not with him.
The worst part is, I’m lying to myself. He isn’t the arrogant jerk I thought he was. I want him. Constantly."
But at the last 60 pages, i really liked that woman... She stood by her man's side and she fought for him...
I really liked how she stood to Drew at their biggest fight.
I admired her for that and for some other things before that...
Drew and Anna were having great chemistry and when they were together everything was smooth and beautiful...
When they were apart everything was dark and meaningless.
And that's why i was mad with them... For the lost time...
“You’re my home, Drew.�
“We’ll be each other’s home.�
I will admit that Gray Grayson intrigued me a lot and now i can't wait to see what is his deal!!!
He was funny and a little bit meathead, but i really liked how close he was with Drew and how he was handling all the bullshits that Drew pulled out at him near to the end!!!
I can't wait for his turn!!!
“What’s the matter? Red didn’t respond to the ‘Battle� cry?�
“Fuck off, Gray.�
(Bahahaha.... That was very funny!!!)
I really don't know how to start this review... I feel i'm in loss of pretty words and it's difficult for me to describe the situation that Drew and Anna caught themselves up!!
This was a very nice story that made me pass from many stages while i was reading it...
I had heard so many good words about this book and i wanted so badly to read it, but at the same time something was holding me back and then one day i decided that it was about time...
And i started it!!! And i felt rush and excitement and then i started to feel annoyance toward Anna... and so much sympathy for Drew...
And the annoyance continued because Anna was so damn stubborn and i wanted to shake her up to open her eyes and see the truth that was lying inside her heart...
But Anna and Drew made it a fuckin' mess and i was with Drew's side...
(Okay that's an understatement because i was almost all the time with Drew's side!!! Soooorry, Anna!!!)
And God, something bad happened and finally followed something good and i felt relief and almost happiness, but then for first time Drew disappointed me!!!
But after all those shit that i had to get through, everything went good!!! Thank God!!!
As you can understand those two were so fuckin' messed up, but who isn't???
But i will have to admit that this story was feeling like reality!!!
It wasn't something extraordinary that nobody from all of us wouldn't do...
And i like that!!!
Drew and Anna were two normal people with their fears, their insecurities, they ups and their downs, with dark days and beautiful days, with sex and snuggling, with fights and overeacting...
In many points it reminded me of myself...
And i liked that it seemed so real...
I won't tell you much about the story.
Drew was the star of the campus, he liked Anna and he went after her.
Anna had her issues, she had a bad opinion of Drew and she didn't want anything more than a hook-up...
They hooked up but Drew was insisting for more, but Anna wasn't agree.
So, they made this deal... they gonna only hooking up...
Anna preffered to refuse her feelings and she even refused her kisses to Drew because this action was too intimate.
And Drew fell hard for Anna and he was tiptoying around her from the fear to lose what little she was giving to him.
You think that this deal could be successfull??? Or everything will go to hell???
I can't tell you more... so you have to find all about their relationship by yourselves!!!
"She didn’t even let me kiss her. That burns the most. As if kissing me was so personal that she couldn’t bear it. As if she needed to relegate me to some random, near faceless fuck...
I’ve just experienced the hottest, most erotic, life-changing sex of my life, and I don’t think I’m going to get a repeat. Tonight was obviously an ill-advised hook up for her. And I’m so screwed because it was the best thing that has ever happened to me."
Drew "Battle" Baylor seemed like the usual stereotypical joke, but he was far away from that role.
I saw a sweet and caring man and i couldn't do anything than sympathize him. He was a very good man.
And he had true feelings for Anna. But she was hurting him with her attitude and i was furious for her behalf.
Who wouldn't want a man like him around her??? Not me, for sure!!!
I wanted to punch Anna for the insecurity that she was causing him!!! He didn't deserve to get through all those shits that she was throwing to his way.
But to be fair, near to the end, he made me mad too!!!
He was a little bit irrational, but i forgive him!!!
He deserved for once to be the one who was a little bit... off!!!
“You’ve destroyed me, Anna Jones.�
I know exactly what he means, because he’s destroyed me too."
As for Anna Jones??? I have to admit that in the most part of the book, she was irritating me very much.
I know that she was having feelings for Drew from the first moment, but this denial was driving me crazy and it was hurting Drew!!!
Yep, at some point i understood her reasons for all this insecurity and attitude but i think that Drew never gave her the opportunity to doubt his feelings.
So, she was unfair to him and i didn't like that!
They could be so perfect together from the first moment, but she didn't aloud it!!
"An insidious voice in my head shouts Danger, I’d Turn Back If I Were You! This is too close to a relationship. I don’t want one. Not with him.
The worst part is, I’m lying to myself. He isn’t the arrogant jerk I thought he was. I want him. Constantly."
But at the last 60 pages, i really liked that woman... She stood by her man's side and she fought for him...
I really liked how she stood to Drew at their biggest fight.
I admired her for that and for some other things before that...
Drew and Anna were having great chemistry and when they were together everything was smooth and beautiful...
When they were apart everything was dark and meaningless.
And that's why i was mad with them... For the lost time...
“You’re my home, Drew.�
“We’ll be each other’s home.�
I will admit that Gray Grayson intrigued me a lot and now i can't wait to see what is his deal!!!
He was funny and a little bit meathead, but i really liked how close he was with Drew and how he was handling all the bullshits that Drew pulled out at him near to the end!!!
I can't wait for his turn!!!
“What’s the matter? Red didn’t respond to the ‘Battle� cry?�
“Fuck off, Gray.�
(Bahahaha.... That was very funny!!!)
January 24, 2021
Second re-read January 2021
This book has shown up twice on my newsfeed this week, so I'll take that as a sign that it's time for a re-read!
Most of this book I read with a shit-eating grin on my face, the heart-wrenching parts are just as heart-wrenching on my second re-read, and I still absolutely love every cheesy moment of this book even though I still think the first 50% of this book is better than the last 50%. Now could someone please tell me where I can find my own Drew Baylor?
First re-read December 2019
This book is still one of my favourites! The writing is just so good, the story is entertaining and the characters are, in my opinion, credible. And let's face it, Drew Baylor might be perfect.
My Drew Baylor is with out a doubt Jimmy Garoppolo:
This book has shown up twice on my newsfeed this week, so I'll take that as a sign that it's time for a re-read!
Most of this book I read with a shit-eating grin on my face, the heart-wrenching parts are just as heart-wrenching on my second re-read, and I still absolutely love every cheesy moment of this book even though I still think the first 50% of this book is better than the last 50%. Now could someone please tell me where I can find my own Drew Baylor?
First re-read December 2019
This book is still one of my favourites! The writing is just so good, the story is entertaining and the characters are, in my opinion, credible. And let's face it, Drew Baylor might be perfect.
My Drew Baylor is with out a doubt Jimmy Garoppolo:
May 3, 2016
Find all of my reviews at:
Drew Baylor is the star quarterback for the football team who has a reputation for being a player both on and off the field. Anna Jones is a curvy girl-next-door type who has zero interest being another notch on Baylor’s bedpost. You know what that means, right?
I noticed Mrs. Joseph reading another book in this series and it peaked my interest because of . . .
Mmmmmmmm, beard. Unfortunately the porny liburry did not have that one available on Kindle so I had to settle for this one instead. Allow me a moment to go off the rails here (so unusual for me, I know). Praise Jeebus the library had THIS cover . . .
Because YUM and I’ll take that with cheese. If the alternate cover would have been my option . . .
I probably would have skipped it. I don’t want to make the sexy with that guy. Just a note to authors that books are indeed judged by their covers. Especially pornos. You have two options � abtastic with an “accessory� (a football, motorcycle, tattoos, beard, whatevs) or “I wanna bang that tiger in the hoodie� like such . . .
I really need to buy that book. Alright, enough of that. Let’s get back on track � or as much on track as is possible for me. So Caleb and Anna meet in philosophy class or some crap that I can’t be bothered to remember because really I just read these for . . .
#sploosh.
His reputation proceeds him, she has body issues and whatever that she seriously needs to work out because damn girl high school ended quite some time ago and no one ever bothered you at college until you started banging superstud because DUH jealous hos. However, lucky for us readers they see each other at a party and both have an itch that needs scratching so you know what that means . . .
And let me tell you, those bathroom sexytimes were H.O.T. Whoooooooooo doggy . . .
Of course, this being NA there had to be that little thing that gets in the way called an attempt at a plot. While Drew (did I call him Caleb somewhere because I seriously keep wanting to type Caleb and I’m not even gonna go check myself) and Anna quickly realize that much like the Usher song, they got it they got it bad . . .
(#droooooool #homersimpsonnoise)
It is not without angst and manufactured drama that is supposed to make you all . . . .
But instead makes me more like this . . .
The Game Plan could have earned 4 Stars, but I’m sticking with three because seriously enough is e-mothereffing-nuff with the drama llama and this could have easily been a hundred pages shorter and wrapped up without me getting stabby.
Drew Baylor is the star quarterback for the football team who has a reputation for being a player both on and off the field. Anna Jones is a curvy girl-next-door type who has zero interest being another notch on Baylor’s bedpost. You know what that means, right?
I noticed Mrs. Joseph reading another book in this series and it peaked my interest because of . . .
Mmmmmmmm, beard. Unfortunately the porny liburry did not have that one available on Kindle so I had to settle for this one instead. Allow me a moment to go off the rails here (so unusual for me, I know). Praise Jeebus the library had THIS cover . . .
Because YUM and I’ll take that with cheese. If the alternate cover would have been my option . . .
I probably would have skipped it. I don’t want to make the sexy with that guy. Just a note to authors that books are indeed judged by their covers. Especially pornos. You have two options � abtastic with an “accessory� (a football, motorcycle, tattoos, beard, whatevs) or “I wanna bang that tiger in the hoodie� like such . . .
I really need to buy that book. Alright, enough of that. Let’s get back on track � or as much on track as is possible for me. So Caleb and Anna meet in philosophy class or some crap that I can’t be bothered to remember because really I just read these for . . .
#sploosh.
His reputation proceeds him, she has body issues and whatever that she seriously needs to work out because damn girl high school ended quite some time ago and no one ever bothered you at college until you started banging superstud because DUH jealous hos. However, lucky for us readers they see each other at a party and both have an itch that needs scratching so you know what that means . . .
And let me tell you, those bathroom sexytimes were H.O.T. Whoooooooooo doggy . . .
Of course, this being NA there had to be that little thing that gets in the way called an attempt at a plot. While Drew (did I call him Caleb somewhere because I seriously keep wanting to type Caleb and I’m not even gonna go check myself) and Anna quickly realize that much like the Usher song, they got it they got it bad . . .
(#droooooool #homersimpsonnoise)
It is not without angst and manufactured drama that is supposed to make you all . . . .
But instead makes me more like this . . .
The Game Plan could have earned 4 Stars, but I’m sticking with three because seriously enough is e-mothereffing-nuff with the drama llama and this could have easily been a hundred pages shorter and wrapped up without me getting stabby.
October 29, 2014
“I’ve just experienced the hottest, most erotic, life-changing sex of my life, and I don’t think I’m going to get a repeat. Tonight was obviously an ill-advised hook up for her. And I’m so screwed because it was the best thing that has ever happened to me.�
I think I’m too old for college-themed stories. Or at least I like to tell myself that I am. The truth is that they rarely have the emotional complexity and substance that I now, as someone who is no longer of college age, seek in my reads. I do love some trademark elements present in this genre of books—the hesitation of the characters when faced with the inevitable transition from early adulthood to full-grown maturity, their struggle to accept the future before them, and the people they are becoming—but stories like these often do not have the multilayered character development that I, personally, need in order to connect with those characters and to immerse myself fully into their journey. However, once in a while, a book comes along that proves me wrong by showing me that, when flawlessly written, any story, regardless of its main themes or the age of its characters, can pull you in and blow your socks off. This is one of those books. Nothing about this story is predictable, everything is just perfect, and apart from being phenomenally written, it is one of the most refreshing and surprisingly touching tales I have come across. Do yourself a favour and allow this book to rock your world, because mine is still shaking from the aftershocks of reading something truly awesome.
“I loved being one of thousands, not one of a hundred. Because I could start fresh, be myself without being told that being myself wasn’t good enough.�
Anna Jones is the girl no one sees. After years of social isolation in high school where she was made to feel inadequate, ugly, unworthy of attention, she might have blossomed into an attractive, seemingly confident young woman, but the scars from having survived such a childhood still run deep and make her apprehensive of people’s eyes on her. She also grew up watching her unlucky-at-love mother getting her heart broken time after time by men who came and went, vowing never to allow herself to become that vulnerable or let a man become her all. Her new college life has given her a fresh start in life, far away from the misguided reputation she painfully carried all throughout her younger years, and apart from her two best friends, she fiercely guards her anonymity.
“No one knew the old me. I was no longer that weird loner who everyone assumed was smoking up before class.�
Drew Baylor is the popular jock, the football superstar that everyone wants to know or be, but under his perfect exterior hides a lonely young man, the untimely death of his parents having left him alone in the world and craving a true connection with someone. When the voluptuous redhead sitting next to him in class catches his eye, one look at her leaves him utterly breathless. She leaves him tongue-tied and uncertain of himself, but with every word they exchange, he knows he wants to know her more.
“I want her. The whole prickly-mouthed, sweetly curved, irresistible package.�
What starts as an irresistible boy-pursues-girl scenario, quickly turns into a sizzling friends-with-benefits arrangement between them, initially simply a casual ‘hook up� of sorts to appease their bodies, but before they know it, those moments spent in each other’s arms, selflessly giving their bodies to one another and sharing secrets, are their happiest moments on any given day. Unfortunately, their willingness to embrace that happiness differs from the very beginning—while Drew sees what his life would be with someone like Anna in it and wishes to capture it forever, Anna remains emotionally distant, her growing need and feelings for him overwhelming her and making her want to run in the other direction.
“I’m not worth it. I want to shout it to him. I’m not worth his pain. He has the world in his palm. He doesn’t need the burden of me.�
Anna’s reluctance to let Drew in, to give herself permission to love him and entertain the idea of them as a couple, stands in stark contrast to Drew’s ever-growing fondness for the woman who refuses to be seen in public with him. He gives her space, time, bends backwards to make her as comfortable as possible with their little arrangement, but he secretly craves for more. He craves to claim her and let everyone know that she is his.
“Life has more color, more flavor, and heat in the few hours I’m with Anna, than I’ve experienced in all the years I’ve partied� With Anna, I feel like I’ve landed right where I want to be.�
This story might appear predictable at this point, cliché in a way from this deceivingly simple storyline, but it is the unique character development, the precious opportunity we are given as readers to hear both our characters� inner voices, their innermost fears and doubts, that make this story so different. Our heroine is a young woman who is so terrified of being judged by others by living in the limelight with Drew, that she would rather break her own heart than come out of the shadows in which she hides. She cannot help but feel the disapproving eyes of everyone around them, watching them, wondering what Drew sees in someone like her, and that awareness cripples her.
“It’s happening already. The disbelief. The questioning. Why would Baylor pick me?�
This might have started as a captivating little college romance, but it became quite clear to me from very early on that this book did not follow any given formula. This story is incredibly multi-layered, so flawlessly written that I found myself re-reading passages just so that I would fully absorb the beauty of the prose, and it moved me deeply. The inherent vulnerability of both these characters, the powerful connection they share, the way they express with their bodies what they won’t or can’t in words, their humbling self-awareness—this story had everything that makes a true must-read for me, and then some. Ms Callihan has also given us a rare type of hero in a young man like Drew Baylor—he is unafraid to express his feelings, to become emotionally exposed before the woman he loves, and his kind of love is awe-inspiring. As much as I loved and understood the heroine, Drew was definitely the highlight of the book for me. I never expected to like a story like this, but some books are written so well, you cannot help but break away from your own preconceptions. A superb read.
“Don’t you understand? I felt like an impostor. I kept waiting for you to realize that you’d got it wrong. That I was the girl you were never supposed to .�
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Amazon US:
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Amazon CA:
December 4, 2015
3.5 stars
Meh. Typical angsty NA . . . but not so angsty that I got fed up with it, so I count it a win.
Meh. Typical angsty NA . . . but not so angsty that I got fed up with it, so I count it a win.
November 16, 2016
In a world of stories with predictable plot twists, characters with haunted pasts, and unnecessary shock value thrown in for good measure, I personally have found it SO HARD to find a light read that isn’t beyond cheesy or just�.well, boring.
So when one comes along with one of the most fantastic heroes I have read about, I want to scream “YES FINALLY!!!!!� from the top of my lungs.
Basic plot - Drew is Mr. Popular Star Quarterback of his college, and Anna catches his eye on their first day of class. While Drew is sweet, charismatic, and confident, Anna has some insecurities and can’t seem to understand why Drew would want her. They hook up, but Anna tries to keep Drew at a distance for fear of being consumed by her attraction to him and getting her heart broken.
I must admit, the beginning of The Hook Up had me feeling a tad iffy. I am not a fan of insta-love, and can count on one hand the amount of times I have read it and felt it was actually believable or without making me want to roll my eyes. When Anna and Drew meet that ‘insta-connection� was there, but I was able to look past it because I found Drew’s opening lines humorous and his endearing charm just reeled me in.
Without a doubt, Drew is what undeniably made this book. He is absolute PERFECTION. I cannot stress enough how much I adored his character. He was everything you could ask for in a hero. Sweet, SEXY AS ALL FREAKING HELL, patient, understanding�.I can go on and on. With his amazing character and Kristen Callihan’s FANTASTIC writing, I was definitely hooked. I haven’t read anything by this author before, and was pleasantly surprised with how smooth, witty, and touching her writing was. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Dialogue is what makes or breaks a book for me. The conversations, texts, and ESPECIALLY the romantic lines in here were GOLD. I must have highlighted every word that came out of Drew’s delicious mouth.
I would also like to point out, while I am a fan of the dirty talk, I found it so refreshing to have a male character who didn’t spew one liners the whole time they were having sex. Nope, not Drew *le sighhhh*. Their chemistry was so off the freaking charts HOT words weren’t really needed. Instead, Drew would dish out one sexy ass command and BOOM, there went Anna’s panties. And mine. I honestly feel like writing a good sex scene takes talent and I LOVEEEDDD how Kristen handled and wrote them. They were so steamy but at the same time so emotionally charged.
I Should Note �. Though I tried to understand Anna’s feelings, I kept going back and forth between being annoyed and sympathizing with her. By the time we got a deeper look into her insecurities, though, the annoyance waned. I’ve never understood or been a fan of the whole “you can fuck me but we can’t try anything more� and “even though we’re fucking and you shower me with love and attention, I’m still going to be a snot because I think you’ll hurt me� bit. And because Drew made it SO obviously clear he adored Anna and was nothing short of amazing it made it hard for me to understand her reluctance. It would have been easier to sympathize with her more if he was a known jerk or player with a seedy past, but Drew was someone anyone and everyone would pine for. He’s THAT amazing. BUT (and this is a pretty big BUT) Anna most definitely earned back points towards the end of the book. I grew to like her so much more as the book progressed. I also really would have loved more chapters in Drew's POV. But mainly because I just couldn’t get enough of him.
All in all, I enjoyed this read SO MUCH and have found a new book BF in Drew. I am utterly obsessed with this boy. I would highly recommend this to others, especially if you’ve been having a hard time finding entertaining books that aren’t predictable and cheesy. The story got better and better with each page. I really loved Drew and Gray’s friendship so I will definitely be continuing with this series and am excited to get to know Gray in the next book!
Find Me On:
� � �
May 3, 2021
Anna had been the awkward ugly duckling during most of her teen years, until one day her braces came off, she lost (most of) her baby fat and learned how to tame her wild curly red locks.
Anna is in her senior year of college and has finally hit her stride. She tends to go for Emo Boys, so when Drew Baylor (a popular football jock) makes the moves on her, she is all red lights and stop signs. Hell no!! (Those first few chapters were hilarious!) But before long Anna cannot deny the super hot chemistry between them: one thing leads to another and .... oh my!... that scene in the book stacks on the top floor of the reference library!! Whoa!!!
Anna decides to enjoy their sizzling hot encounters and not take the relationship seriously. She has all kinds of rules: no kissing, no PDA, no dating: this is strictly a physical relationship for her. But Drew Baylor is actually a decent guy: he wants MORE from Anna.
Things come to a head when Drew wants to make their relationship public and Anna, too self-conscious, puts the brakes on everything. Fed up, Drew walks away, and Anna is left heartbroken.
There was some great writing in this story. One line, uttered by a distraught Anna, stayed with me long after I finished reading this highly entertaining story:
"Don't you understand? I felt like an imposter. I kept waiting for you to realize that you'd got it wrong. That I was the girl you were never supposed to see."
Obviously, there was still a bit of an ugly duckling complex buried beneath Anna's pretty swan facade. I loved the dramatic ending and epilogue. I highly recommend this one: it was satisfying on so many levels and was great storytelling as well.
Anna is in her senior year of college and has finally hit her stride. She tends to go for Emo Boys, so when Drew Baylor (a popular football jock) makes the moves on her, she is all red lights and stop signs. Hell no!! (Those first few chapters were hilarious!) But before long Anna cannot deny the super hot chemistry between them: one thing leads to another and .... oh my!... that scene in the book stacks on the top floor of the reference library!! Whoa!!!
Anna decides to enjoy their sizzling hot encounters and not take the relationship seriously. She has all kinds of rules: no kissing, no PDA, no dating: this is strictly a physical relationship for her. But Drew Baylor is actually a decent guy: he wants MORE from Anna.
Things come to a head when Drew wants to make their relationship public and Anna, too self-conscious, puts the brakes on everything. Fed up, Drew walks away, and Anna is left heartbroken.
There was some great writing in this story. One line, uttered by a distraught Anna, stayed with me long after I finished reading this highly entertaining story:
"Don't you understand? I felt like an imposter. I kept waiting for you to realize that you'd got it wrong. That I was the girl you were never supposed to see."
Obviously, there was still a bit of an ugly duckling complex buried beneath Anna's pretty swan facade. I loved the dramatic ending and epilogue. I highly recommend this one: it was satisfying on so many levels and was great storytelling as well.
October 10, 2014
** 5++ "My world lives in your palm, Anna" STARS **
"You've destroyed me, Anna Jones."
~ DREW
Such a beautiful story...
GOD, I'm so glad I picked this one up after resisting it for so damn long. Once again, I am reminded of the stupidity of prejudice. I normally try to refrain from NA Romance, because they're mostly...well, the same sh*t with slight subject differences.
But this one was GOLDEN . Somehow I felt totally sucked into the story and had to abandon all my earthly responsibilities to see how this messy little love story wraps up, anxious to get to the next page.
When Anna Jones hurried to take her seat in the classroom after being a bit late, how could she have known that the king of college football and the boy coloring every damn girl’s dreams on campus, Drew Baylor, would sit right next to her? And that’s not even the good part: After the minute their eyes meet, Drew never takes his away from her, staring at her with lusty eyes and acting all awestruck and sh*t!
Anna feels a pull like she has never experienced before. She wants to jump onto this guy’s lap and cling to him like a koala� until he opens his mouth and starts speaking, that is.
Drew knows the second the words “Big Red� leave his lips that he has colossally f*cked up. After all, they’re not the best words to use for a curvy redhead like Anna. And Anna is not exactly as calm and quiet as she seems, apparently, because she immediately gives Drew a piece of her mind for the ridiculous nickname. What a first impression, right?
Anna wants nothing to do with Drew. He’s not her type anyway. She is into the emotional and poetic guys, not the popular playboys with cocky grins. So what if she can’t get him out of her mind and that she gets all hot and bothered when he is near? He is definitely not good for her, so she tries to avoid Drew like the plague.
But Drew is goddamn stubborn and will not give up till he gets Anna. All of her. He is used to girls throwing themselves at his feet, but not Anna. No, she acts like she couldn't care less about him. For the first time in his life, he actually has to work for it.
When these two finally give in to their desires, it’s the best sexual experience either one has ever had. Now that they have tasted from the forbidden fruit, they want more and they will never be able to get enough, it seems.
Anna is terrified though. She has never been the center of attention of any boy before. She was a shadow and a subject of jokes in high school. She was the girl that no one even noticed, except for the times that she was bullied. She doesn't believe that someone like Drew can ever care for her. She has to protect herself. But she can’t stop herself from wanting him either, so she comes up with rules for their “relationship�: No kissing on the mouth, no staying for the night, no telling anyone and no falling in love.
I've just experienced the hottest, most erotic, life-changing sex of my life and I don't think I'm going to get a repeat. Tonight was obviously an ill-advised hook up for her. And I'm screwed because it was the best thing that has ever happened to me.
~ DREW
Drew wants more. He wants everything with Anna. And he will get it� He just has to be patient and prove to her that he is not the Drew that everyone else sees. He has to prove that he can be the right guy for her.
Will Drew manage to open Anna’s eyes to see the love emanating from his? Will Anna be courageous enough to trust Drew and give him her heart in exchange for his? It’s a battle of insecurities and trust. Let’s see which gets to come out the winner.
GAME ON!
Drew was perfection. His tough exterior combined with the interior vulnerability and loneliness just stole my breath away. His determination to persuade Anna, despite her mistakes and bad choices and his heartbreak when he gets rejected, just made my heart melt. His charming ways were the best thing about this book.
I want her here forever. I'm twenty-three years old, my carefully built life has just been smashed to pieces, yet I know with complete clarity that I never want to be parted from Anna Jones.
~ DREW
"You have my heart, Anna. And every time I had to walk away from you, every time you walked away from me, it felt like it was being ripped out of my chest. It f*cking hurt, Anna."
~ DREW
At times, I wanted to smash Anna’s face into a glass and scream at her for being a complete fool. I didn't exactly like her for most of the book, but that changed once she didn't give up on Drew when he started making huge mistakes because of the stinky mood he was in. She stood up for herself, for Drew, for their love. I adored that about her and she instantly won my heart.
I’d like to add that the interaction between Drew and his teammates was also a good reason for me to fall for this book. All the guys were adorable and interesting and so much fun! I can’t wait to read the stories of each and every one of them! Gray is up next and I simply can’t wait!
This is a story full of emotion and angst but there is no exaggerated and pointless drama, which makes it perfect and puts it into a separate shelf from other NA Romance books for me.
I recommend it to EVERYONE that likes to read a sweet but sexy-as-hell romantic story!
I thought I had lost myself in Drew. But the truth was that I'd found myself in him.
~ ANNA
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