Love Sidelined (Jennings #3) by Tiffany Odekirk + Win A Copy of This Book!

 

Jason Jennings made a tough call two years ago when he left behind his status as a
hard-partying star quarterback in order to serve the Lord. Recently returned from a mission now, he's ready to get back on the football field at UCAL. But despite turning his life around, his bad boy reputation is proving hard to shake.

Allie Hollis is everything a cheerleader should be--beautiful, outgoing, and smart--but her brilliant smile hides a devastating secret. So when Jason begins to show interest in her, there's no question: her answer is no.

Yet, in the face of Allie's chilly response, Jason's gentle persistence pays off, and a tentative friendship grows. Their chemistry is obvious, but Allie's determination to steer clear of a relationship with Jason goes deeper than he realizes. When the truth of her painful history comes to light, the couple must decide whether they will remain on the sidelines or jump back in the game of love.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book *

I've been looking forward to this book for months, watching it move up the pile as I got closer.  It's been tough to wait but finally, FINALLY, I got to read it!

I think one of the things I love most about Tiffany Odekirk's books is how she is able to make her characters feel so real.  They are imperfect.  They struggle.  There are good moments and bad moments but all the while I feel like I know them.  I am invested in them and I'm rooting for them.  Jason and Allie could be any one of us.  There is bits in each of their stories that every person can relate to in some way or another.  I love when I can connect with characters emotionally and with Jason and Allie it came gradually as I got to know more and more about them.  It was fantastic.

There is real struggle in this book.  Not just between Jason and Allie but in their own personal lives as they battle their own demons.  Even though there was struggle, it never felt overwhelming to me as a reader.  It was balanced nicely with happy moments of fun and love.  There was always hope threaded through every page and I really felt that.  Jason really stole the show for me.  He was so endearing and so all in with Allie.  He was persistent, fun loving and kind.  I loved how those same attributes crossed over to his family and teammates as well.  Yeah, I just loved Jason.

I'm a fan of Tiffany Odekirk's stories.  I'd love to see her branch outside her LDS specific writing and delve into a more secular contemporary clean romance genre.  But, until then, I will continue to enjoy the Jennings series and hope another book is coming!  Baby brother needs a book, I think!

Content:  LDS religion specific, Christian (talk of God, praying, attending church), talk of after effects of rape and alcohol abuse, kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

 

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Love Unscripted by Tiffany Odekirk + $25 and Book Giveaway

 

Evie Jennings doesn't believe in happily ever after—it's been a year since moving home to Los Angeles to gather the pieces of her broken heart after her divorce, but she is only going through the motions. That is, until a chance encounter on her college campus brings about an unexpected turn of events: Evie finds herself face-to-face with the heartthrob whose poster decorated the wall of her teenage bedroom. And he's desperate for her help.

Hollywood sensation Ridge Dashly is facing a career crisis—a bad review threatens his A-list status. Desperate to win back the favor of the media and his fans, Ridge reluctantly agrees to enroll in college, never dreaming he'll meet someone who can see past his fame to his true self.

As their paths continue to cross, Evie's seeming disinterest intrigues Ridge, and the pair form a tentative friendship that slowly grows into something more. But when confronted with the unrelenting paparazzi and the nagging shadows of their pasts, will they follow everyone else's script or fight for their own happy ending?

 * Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book * 

When I picked this book up I was so excited because this is a nice thick book and I knew if the story was a good one, I was in for a treat.  And yay!  It was a good one- a journey of forgiveness, love and new beginnings.

Evie is a broken and hurt woman.  She's made some mistakes, she's been burned by love and now she is lost and aimlessly drifting along instead of really living.  She is trying to find her footing again.  Enter Ridge, who challenges Evie and helps her begin on the path to find herself and forgive herself.

Both of these characters are vulnerable which is what connected me to them.  It was their flaws that helped me relate, and their strengths that helped me admire them.  I felt so connected to their stories.  I loved the beginning meeting (in a bathroom!) and I loved the ending.  This was a very satisfying read.

Content:  This is an LDS specific book so there are many religious elements (talk of God, repenting, forgiving, praying), kissing, mention of a couple different forms of addiction (prescription meds, pornography) 

- I was given a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

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*Sept. 24^th: http://mybookaday.com/

*Sept. 25^th: http://fireandicereads.com/, https://brightlystreet.com/, https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/, http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/, http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/

*Sept. 26^th: http://thoroughlyhere.blogspot.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/, http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://lifeiswhatitscalled.blogspot.com/

*Sept. 27^th: http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, https://www.wishfulendings.com/, https://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/

*Sept. 28^th: https://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/, http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/


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