Double Clutch

Brenna Blixen #1

by Liz Reinhardt

What happens when you fall for the perfect guy...twice...in one day? Brenna Blixen spent her freshman year homeschooling in Denmark; now that she's back in the States, she's determined to make her sophomore year unforgettable. And by unforgettable, she imagined awesome classes, fun friendships, and maybe a little romance. What she got was a whole lot of romance, and all at once. The same day that dark, brooding Saxon Maclean charmed her with his killer good looks and whip-smart wit, Jake Kelly stole her breath away with his heart-wrenching smile and intelligent, thoughtful focus. But Saxon is a proud player who makes it clear that he doesn't know why he can't get Brenna off of his mind and out of his system, and Jake's sweet and humble attitude hides a secret past life that might be more complex than Brenna's willing to handle. Complicating the matter is the fact that Saxon and Jake were once best friends and are now arch-enemies...and the more Brenna finds out about their connection to each other, the more intrigued and worried she becomes. Between keeping the peace with her lovingly over-protective parents, designing t-shirts for her high school's rising punk band, juggling split classes between academic and technical high school, and running the track like a maniac, Brenna has enough to worry about without juggling two guys who make her heart thud and drive her crazy all at the same time. She has to make a choice, but how is she supposed to do that when giving her heart to one of them might mean breaking the other's? Recommended Age Older YA

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, New Adult, High School, Chick Lit, Realistic Fiction

467 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 6, 2011

About the author

Liz Reinhardt is a perpetually homesick NJ native who migrated to the deep South a decade ago with her funny kid, motor-head husband, and growing pack of mutts. She's a fanatical book lover with no reading prejudices and a wide range of genre loves, but her heart will always skip a beat for YA. In her spare time she likes to listen to corny jokes her kid reads to her from ice-pop sticks, watch her husband get dirty working on cars, travel whenever she can scrape together a few bucks, and gab on the phone incessantly with her bestie, writer Steph Campbell. She likes Raisinets even if they aren't real candy, the Oxford comma even though it's nerdy, and airports even when her plane is delayed. When she isn't writing, Liz Reinhardt teaches a fantastic group of diverse 8th graders in Savannah, GA. Rebels Like Us, her latest YA novel, is full of hot kisses, angst, homesickness, and laughs that are almost as good as the ones that come from the stick of a melty ice-pop.​

Reviews

[Wendy Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gosh, this book is so freaking cute, I can't even stand it. We all can use a little romance now and then, but not many contemporary YA love stories stand out as anything particularly memorable, which is why I normally prefer to see them cloaked among werewolves and angels and other such distractions.

Brenna Blixen doesn't need supernatural beings to keep our attention, however. This smart and focused heroine has plenty of drama in her life, what with starting all over again at her school after being abroad for a year. She's also attracted to two very different boys: the arrogant, too-sexy-for-his-own-good Saxon, and the hot but shy Jake. Both boys pursue Brenna with enjoyable focus, and as things heat up in the two different relationships, she discovers that everyone's hiding secrets...and the two boys even have a complicated history of their own.

I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did, but it quickly became one of my favorite guilty pleasures. Love triangles are rarely well-done, but it's easy to see why Brenna likes both boys in different ways--and why they like her, too. She's smart-mouthed but kind, responsible but spontaneous, and just seems like an all-around nice girl who'd be fun to hang out with. I liked that even though the story is very much centered on the romance, Brenna has a balanced life and cares about things other than just boys. Her parents and friends are great, she thinks about school and about her future, and she doesn't allow herself to be walked all over. Ever.

I love that Brenna goes on blessedly normal dates, sneaks her boyfriend into her room, and tries to be a good person in handling her attraction to these guys without being a boring old goody-goody. One of the things debut author Liz Reinhardt deserves big credit for is that this is probably the most explicit and realistic depictions of teen sexuality I've ever read. It's also HOT. And fun. And the characters actually talk about sex, which is fantastic.

The two boys are also mouth-wateringly adorable. They're both seriously cute, Saxon with his careless demeanor and how he's attuned to Brenna's personality, and Jake with his sweet uncertainty and absolute devotion. (I almost hate to say this, but the name *whispers* Tucker Avery floated into my head more than once...) Neither boy is even close to perfect, though, which makes for some uncomfortable moments and history, but also some fairly realistic ones, including some wince-inducing bluntness from Saxon in particular. I liked that, aside from a number of hot and heavy make-out scenes, there is also unexpected depth and emotion in this story. These characters are layered and feel very real; this book pushed a number of buttons for me, since it makes me terribly sad to hear about kids who don't have enough to eat, as well as incredibly angry when I hear of anyone being mocked for their lack of education or intelligence.

If there's any room for improvement, I'd say that Brenna might be a little too adult sometimes in her thinking and her actions, even though I really enjoyed not wanting to smack the heroine for a change. Jake's past is also perhaps explained away a little too simplistically, and there are a lot of references to films that might be considered a bit dated when they're all taken together. None of this really bothered me all that much, however, as the narrative voice is so fresh and funny and thoroughly winning. It just worked for me as a YA romance in a way that few others have ever done. The sequel, Junk Miles, wasn't quite as successful for me, but this first installment was one that I really enjoyed.

The next time you're in the mood to wriggle your toes over some adorable dates or swoon over some cute guys, consider giving Double Clutch a try! I think most fans of contemporary YA romance will fall in love with it in a big way.

About the Book:

Double Clutch is available for ereaders for just $4.99 for Kindle or as a paperback from Amazon.

That's right, this is a self-published novel, and aside from a couple of minor typos, it's actually more polished than many traditionally published books on the market. Although I do support indie authors, I rarely respond to indie review requests these days since I receive so many. What caught my attention about Liz's note, however, was her warm and personalized approach, her reference of the Oxford comma in her author profile, and my sneaking suspicion that Brenna's name was a nod to the writer Karen Blixen, aka Isak Dinesen. I was right about that reference, and I was right to give this book a chance. I hope that if you're a romance lover, you will, too.

This review also appears in The Midnight Garden. A review copy was provided by the author.

[Kristin (KC) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 Stars*

Double Clutch takes a commonly used topic, such as a love triangle, and swings it from the ordinary into the extraordinary. I was entranced by the natural feel of the dialogue and the realistic ease of the characters' interactions. I certainly had a hard time putting this book down. 

I absolutely love Brenna and felt she was the perfect portrayal of a teenaged girl in high school. She's smart, strong, and has a refreshingly healthy relationship with her mother. She's mature, but to a believable extent that I feel a lot of YA books tend to lack. She has self-respect and shows concern for her grades, but becomes conflicted when she meets two amazing boys on the very same day...

Saxon is your typical bad-boy: crude, arrogant, sexy, and so alluring that Brenna finds it difficult to breathe normally in his presence. He's bad news, but there's some definite sweetness beneath his rough persona.

Jake is gorgeous, kind-hearted, caring, and protective without being possessive. He's incredibly vulnerable and is also hiding a mysterious past. These two heroes could not be more different, but they're both vying for the attention of Brenna. 

Reinhardt really knows how to paint a picture with words; those little flirty, nervous, uncertain-what-the-other-is-thinking moments transported me back to my teen years and made me giddy. The level of steam definitely turns this into a mature read with generous descriptions that provided endless ear-to-ear grins! 

This story presents the ultimate love triangle without taking the betrayal and lies to an unforgivable level. It's executed gracefully, and although its purpose forms the plot, it also poses a question: When deciding on love, is the obvious, sensible, least threatening choice always the right one? Although Brenna does choose one boy over the other in this story, the author leaves her option for the other intriguingly open. I cannot wait to see how this triangle develops in the books ahead! 

Book Stats:
▪ Genre/Category: YA Mature
▪ Steam Caliber: Moderate/Very sexy
▪ Romance: Love triangle
▪ Characters: Believable, life-like, lovable.
▪ Plot: Two boys struggle for the love of one girl.
▪ Writing: Engaging, addictive, fluid.
▪ POV: 1st Person: Heroine
▪ Cliffhanger: Mild. Story left open.
▪ Next Installment: Follow up.

[Abbi Glines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy freaking CROW! I'm completely torn. I love Jake and Saxon. There must be another book on the way because this story is sooo not over. Loved it! A must read. Trust me!!!

UPDATE: Okay here is my review… sort of…
I won't go into details since other reviewers have but this book was fabulous. I bought it and thought I'd read a little here and there while I took writing breaks but that didn't happen. I ended up getting so sucked in I spent the day reading Double Clutch. I have NEVER read a love triangle where I didn't have a "team" I was on by the end of book but this one managed to make me love both Jake and Saxon. They both have the "bad boy" thing going for them, they both are incredibly hot and they both want the same girl. It's crazy good. I can't wait for the next one. You must read it!

[Reynje · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the things I love most about books and reading is the fact that they’re so subjective. Each person brings to their reading experience something personal and unique, and leaves with a slightly different interpretation. Add to this individual tastes and preferences, and the field of opinion gets fascinatingly broad. For every person who loves fantasy, there is someone who prefers contemporary. For every person who thinks the love interest is mysterious and enticing, there’s someone who thinks s/he’s a swaggering arse-hat.

And for those of my friends who adored Double Clutch (and whose opinions I respect and value), there’s me.

I have mixed feelings about this story and overall, while I thought it was fun and rather cute in parts, I didn’t love it.

But credit where credit is due: this is a solid contemporary, upper YA romance that will probably appeal to fans of Jennifer Echols’ work. Double Clutch incorporates a new slant on the general high school scenario, and Brenna is a girl with clear interests and goals. There is a compelling dynamic between the three central characters and the tension between them is well-crafted, the triangulated attraction maintaining enough strength to carry the plot. The love interests are both flawed which includes some truly jerk-ish behaviour on both their behalves, to be honest and interesting in their own ways, which keeps the realm of possibility wide open and both options viable, rather than the lop-sided and clearly biased triangles to be found in some YA novels.

The story could have been finessed with some tighter editing, particularly of the descriptive and expositive passages, which at times get repetitive and tedious. There are portions that go a little too far into the minutiae of Brenna’s clothes, surroundings and actions, filling us in on each moment of her day when it’s not necessary and slowing the pacing down to a crawl. (This is also the first time I’ve seen the adjective “awesomely” used in print. Or e-ink. Whatever.)

Conversely, Reinhardt writes great dialogue – the voices of her teen characters feel authentic and lend a sense of normality to a situation which feels, honestly, more wish-fulfilment than strictly realistic. (Unless I am just the odd one out here, and everyone else found themselves at the centre of a steamy attraction-fest at 15?) But if the intention is to create an, er, gripping scenario balanced on a knife edge of secrets, past conflict and undeniable chemistry, then I think the goal is achieved and then some. It will be interesting to see whether this strong tension can be sustained over the course of two additional books without labouring the triangle into torturously back-and-forth territory.

Yet, there is something about this story that I balked at. For a book that I believe is intended to be sex-positive and up-front about physical intimacy, I found that message was muddied by some conflicting and unflattering portrayals of other characters. I really don’t want to start on a particular scene where a group of girls are described as practically “clawing and hissing” in their jealous rage and generally depicted as one-note, scantily-clad, “back-stabbing hooker want-to-be’s” because I could talk for hours about how much this bothers me. Particularly as it seems to serve to highlight the division between Brenna as “good” and these girls from Jake’s past as “bad”. While Brianna is accepting of Jake’s past sexual experiences and their “love” conquers any reservations she has about his widely known history, I feel like that is damaged by the (conscious or unconscious) demonising of the girls who took part. It (possibly unintentionally) reinforced an archaic and stereotypical double standard, and undoes much of the book’s otherwise positive and open attitude.

Interestingly I found the story between Jake and Saxon more intriguing than their respective interactions with Brenna, and I hope that the sequel delves further into their relationship, rather than just spinning out the romantic angst.

I’m willing to chalk this one up to just being “not for me”. A few of my friends have enjoyed this, and I’d recommend it to those looking for an entertaining YA romance with good chemistry between the characters.

[Limonessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every time I decide to delve into self-published shaky territory I get worried. My experience in this field is quite limited and truly I am not sure I feel like actually getting more. This year, I was certainly heartened by instances such as Flat-Out Love but I am still burned by previous wrist-slitting catastrophes.

Thankfully, Double Clutch is a keeper. Mind, it is not perfect (then again, not even the traditionally published ones are) but this series and this author are certainly worth keeping an eye on.

Our Brenna, soon to be 16, has just come back from a year abroad - in Denmark - with her family. She's been home-schooled in that period and has now decided to do Share Time, attending both her regular high school and Tech school, where she's chosen graphic design. Trouble arise when, on her very first day, she meets Saxon, resident smart-ass bad boy and Jake, sweet, dyslexic, gorgeous techie, and is captivated by both. These two guys seem to have some shared history they don't want to talk about and Brenna is becoming the catalyst for the inevitable to happen.

What surprised me - pleasantly - about this book is that, despite the presence of some clichés which would normally put me in eye-rolling mode (insta-love, love triangle, new girl in school who sucks at PE, gorgeous guy with tousled hair), they are limited to beginning of the story, which then becomes interesting and fairly original.
Liz excelled at characterization in this case: the teenagers portrayed sound pretty believable, they're even occasionally goofy and certainly they don't sound like adults in the skin of teens, as it often happens. Sometimes, you can really detect the author's voice in such young characters and I think Liz pretty much managed to avoid that here.

Saxon and Jake are two charming and interesting characters and what I appreciated most is that, ultimately, the story is not about Brenna or the love triangle but rather about them: two friends who grew apart and who are obliged to come to terms with one another again because of/thanks to a girl. There are some secrets between them and gasp! even an interesting twist towards the end. I liked their stories, their personalities (Saxon is definitely reminiscent of Adrian from VA. Enough said.) and their quirks (photographic memory and dirt bikes? I liked that!).

But let's talk about something that is far from clichéd in this book: I have never EVER read such explicit make-out scenes in YA lit comparable to the ones in this book. It was an unsettling feeling and I am most definitely not used to it. I'm used to it in paranormal romance, not in this genre!
The result is pretty much to my taste, - but might NOT be to everybody's - there is no sex since the kids are kinda young but the scenes are steamy, graphic and just... stunningly and embarrassingly real. I say embarrassingly because I seem to recall myself some centuries ago.

The one missing star from my rating has to do with, you guessed it, the editing. There are a few typos and grammar mistakes here and there which could have been avoided with the help of a clinical eye. Also, in my opinion, some parts should have been tightened up, especially the internal monologues and the descriptive parts, while the dialogues are very, very good. Brenna has a clever, witty mind and I liked her very much.

Aside from that, a very pleasant and enjoyable book. I will surely read the sequel/s to Brenna, Jake and Saxon's story and I am glad Liz Reinhardt gave me the possibility to read Double Clutch.

[Calia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhh.... thats the sound of me relishing over this ah-mazing book.

I can't say that there is ONE character or scene that kept this book together. Because lets admit that, that usually happens in novels. We love one scene, or something in the book, and it keeps us going in the end. And when you've finished reading, something felt "off" so you give it a 3 or 4 stars.
Umm, won't happen here. Everything combined in this book: the characters, plot, tension, and romance makes it a perfect read.
And thats a lot for me, because I'm the pickiest reader out there. I'm horrible at flipping through many pages, if I'm bored, or just annoyed by a character.
I finished this book within a few hours, and then suffered through a morning with bleary eyes. I wasn't even able to duck from the many blocks and toys being thrown back and forth from my 2 year to my 1 year old. My game was off, and I was left with a Tonka truck floating in my coffee, but all's right in the world when you've read a GREAT book.

I think one of the MAIN reasons I loved this book so much was that there was NO paranormal nothing in this book. Now I love my paranormal books as much as the next person, but it becomes a little too much when thats all there is to read. It was relaxing to read about a NORMAL girl, dealing with average issues.

OH! With a healthy balance of parents? Did I understand that correctly? I enjoyed Thorsten (her step-father) and Brenna `s mom very much. They were a constant in this book. And many times I laughed aloud when Brenna's mom would mention something about her friend Kelsi's low forehead, probably because I remember my mom making a comment about one of my friends. Her mother was concerned and loving, and it was so refreshing.

Brenna. First off was a realistic voice for all girls. Spunky, sarcastic, smart, and went to the beat of her own drum. And the funny thing is, you as the reader SEE that everyone sees that. You don't have to question, "Hmm, why do these two boys like her so much?" It's plain to read, that she's interesting.
It's a unique twist to have her travel abroad for a year, to Denmark. She seems older than her 15 years, and for good reason. Traveling around the world, opens yours eyes in a different way! (Believe ME. At 19, and never stepped foot anywhere. My 5'11" self stuck out like a sore thumb in South Korea.)

Let's move on to this little love triangle, eh?
Saxon. I enjoyed this perfect bad boy from the start. I'm pretty sure if you look up the word "Bad" in any thesaurus, you'll see a picture of Saxon MacLean in the corner, smoking a cigarette. It's a nice little picture.)
He's pretty much the school's man whore. But there is so much more to him than people see. And Brenna is the person who ends up seeing right through it.

And there's Jake. Sweet, hott Jake. I just wanna hug him!
Brenna meets him at Techinical School (gasp!). But it's there that we get to see the sweetest character ever. Some of the best scenes (IMO) are there. And nothing is more sweeter than when Brenna writes Jake a letter. (Read it, you'll see!) You can see how much he adores Brenna. And I loved it.

You won't really be able to pick a favorite guy, because both are gorgeous, have their own bad boy behaviors and show a side of themselves that no one else has ever seen. And they're both gorgeous...

This is when we bring Saxon and Jake together; these two have a tense history that of course didn't end well at all. Ensue the tension, drama, and romance. And you have a TOP READ for 2011, and for many years to come.

Let's not forget the most important thing about this book. Liz writes this book with YA and mature YA in mind. There's no "kiddie feel" to this book. I went into this book a little skeptical because Brenna is only a sophmore, so I was bracing myself for the "kiddie feel". I was pleasantly surprised. I actually think it's the most truest to form YA book I've read, because it deals with the real emotions, urges, feelings that happens when you're that age.

The most depressing issue is that I'm now gonna have to wait before I dig into another book, because it's just a known fact that when you read one of those perfect books, the one after that can't compare. I think I'll just re-read through my favorite parts like an obsessed stalker.
Now I'm just hoping for a sequel to this book!

If you enjoyed Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire or Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens, you'll adore this book.

[~Tina~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you think it's possible that one person, the right person, can make you better know matter what your past was like?
I believe it can happen and Double Clutch is a great example of exactly that.

Brenna Blixen is the new girl in town, but it doesn't take long before a guy...or two are competing for her heart. Brenn is a great character, totally knows how to handle her own, knows what she wants and she'll be damned before anyone tells her otherwise. I respect that in a character. She also has quite the delimma since she's attracted to two very appealing boys.
Lets meet the boys. Jake Kelly has a shady past, but he's open and honest with Brenn. He's sweet and kind. He's good for her and she's good for him. Mr.Right. Safe.
His rivial? Former best friend Saxon Maclean. Full of issues and sarcasm, tough and rough, makes toxic intoxication and would put a snake charmer to shame.
But these boys have there own sordid history which makes it harder for Brenna since she feels like she's in the middle. She cares for both guys, ultimately picks one but lying about how she feels about the other. This is story of who you should be with and who your scared to want to be with. It's a story about love. Complicated...messy...real, exactly what love is suppose to look and feel like when your new and young.

At first I struggled with this book in the beginning, but as it started to unfold it was pretty hard to not fall for these characters. I had a really hard time picking which guy to root for since they are both really really great guys.
Jake has a lot of smooth swoon-worty moves and the things that he and Brenn explore was tasteful and sexy.
But then there's Saxon who is totally my kind of guy. Funny, witty, a total bad boy and definitely earned a few warm smirks along the way. But it's when he finally shows his true colors that really made my heart go out to him. It means more coming from him somehow which makes it more bittersweet.

Liz Reinhardt does a really great job of writing a realistic and convincing book filled with angst, jealousy and the complexity of young love. Say what you want about love triangles but when done right it could be one of the most alluring elements in literature. Liz did it right. She nailed that flavor of being confused and conflicted. I also liked that my affections weren't so easily placed. These boys both come with emotional baggage but they are both just as genuine when it comes to how they feel for Brenn. It reminded me of when I was young and in love for the first time. The late night phone calls, going to the movies, introducing you to friends and then there's the physical part and how explosive it feels for the first time with someone you actually care about. Due to some of those heated scenes I think this book is more for the mature reader. It's not overly graphic but it might make some uncomfortable, so be warned.
I also really liked that I had to guess which guy was the real-deal since they would play off versions of one another to Brenn and it was tough to figure out what story was the truth. It also has a neat little twist in the end, nothing overly heavy, but enough to tangle things up even more in later books.

All in all, I really enjoyed myself with this one. It took me back to a time and place I haven't remembered in a long time. First love is a powerful emotion and when your attracted and scared to want something else it makes it even more crazy, especially when that person has so much potential and yet you seem to be the only one who knows it.
It's quite the intriguing situation and I'm really looking forward to seeing how things play out for Brenna, Jake and Saxon in the next book.

Good stuff!

Special thanks to Liz for giving me the opportunity to read and review your story. There's a sequel right?;)

[Kellie Maddox-Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars

What happens when you fall in love with the perfect guy... twice... in one day?

I know what you’re thinking…. Another YA Love triangle

Well yes and no…
It is a love triangle. But not really, not your normal one. On one hand the 2 guys are polar opposites (which is a given for a triangle) But on the other they are actually quite the same.

Meet Brenna Blixen


(Liz mentioned that she had bangs and mentions converse a lot, I auto thought of this photo so she became Demi Lovato in my head )
Brenna is 15 going on 16 and in most ways wayyyyy more mature than she should be at that age.
Brenna and her mother and Stepdad (Fa) have just moved back to the US after a year abroad in Denmark.
Brenna has decided that she is going to do “timeshare” which is half a day at normal high school and half a day at the tech school so she can focus on her love of art and graphic design. The thing I liked most about Bren is that she was real. She wasn’t an annoying whingy bitch stuck in the middle of a love triangle where you want to throw things at her every 2 seconds! (eg- Keira from Thoughtless)

First day of High school she runs into Saxon Maclean ….
HEELLLOO SAXON!

BANG! Instant attraction! Funny Flanter (flirty banter) quick comebacks, photographic memory, insanely smart, full of badassness, charismatic, hard to breathe around, type of guy that could get you pregnant just by kissing you! Basically everything your mother ever warns you about.

After her half day at high school it’s off to Tech and then BANG..
HEEEELLLLLLLOOOOOOO JAKE KELLY!

Jake is dyslexic hence why he is at the tech. But he is Insanely gorgeous, funny as hell, great with the flanter, smart, but shy, a gentlemen, caring and vulnerable. BUT Turns out to be a reformed BAD BOY!

We then enter into the journey of Saxon vying for Blix’s attention, Jake falling madly in love with her and not knowing how to handle it with his past. Brenna trying to be a teenager in love for the first time and handle everything else that society expects her to do. As well as her Mum.
Throw into the mix that Jake and Saxon actually used to be best friends, but Jake now hates Saxon with everything he has. Meanwhile Saxon is holding onto a dark secret about Jake that he shares with Blix but makes her keep secret! *Phew*

Liz Reinhardt has done an excellent job with this book. Honestly, it was just the right amount of everything. No betrayal nor lies so bad it couldn’t be forgiven. The right amount of awkwardness and gushing, transporting you back to a teenager, those awkward first kisses, touches, heavy petting.
It really was hard to pick a guy. You fell head over heels for both of them!
Especially when Saxon gave her the book for her birthday, and the note! *sigh!*

Just brilliant! It was exactly what I was looking for a change of pace.
On to the next!

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fantastic book! I wouldn’t have thought that a YA book about a (pretty much drama-free) love triangle would pack such a punch, but it absolutely does.

Brenna is new to town, and on her first day at school she meeds moody bad boy, Saxon. She feels an instant connection to him, but is disappointed to see him with a girl hanging off him, talking about their date that night. Later that day she meets the boy from the wrong side of the tracks, Jake. Also drawn to him, Jake immediately puts her at ease, and they fall into an easy relationship. But as things progress with him she discovers that the two boys in her life share a troubled past, and Saxon just refuses to go away...

What I loved about this book is that it’s so real, and incredibly honest. The characters are all great, likeable and realistic, and they actually speak like their age! In so many books, teenagers talk and banter like witty 20-30 year olds, but these kids actually sounded like kids - intelligent and mature, sure, but still very much teenagers. And it was so nice to read a book for a change where nobody is deeply traumatised, or dealing with major issues (although the boys aren't exactly pure and innocent, and there are secrets revealed which throw some twists into the storyline). Brenna is just a normal girl, with a happy family life. She is confident, honest and straightforward, and she’s torn between two great guys – both of whom I love just a little bit… okay, I love them heaps.

Oh I’m torn, I’m sooooo torn!! I can usually spot the perfect couple in a love triangle straight away, because I always fall for the guy that ends up with the girl, and in this case I thought I had it picked early, but as I got to know Saxon and Jake, I loved them both and suddenly it wasn’t so clear. Then as things started to develop I strongly leaned in one direction, and suddenly it all shifted and I didn’t know what the hell to think! I’m pretty sure I have a favourite, but the thought of either of these guys getting their hearts broken just devastates me! They are both amazing in their own ways, and I can absolutely sympathise with Brenna’s dilemma over having strong feelings for one guy while dating another. Her actions and thought processes are so well explained, that you understand what she’s feeling and why she makes the decisions that she does. And through it all there is no stupidness, and no games. Everybody is up front and honest and I love that!

"It’s not just a damn game. Whatever it is that I feel for you is more real than anything I’ve ever felt before."

...

"I don’t want to be your God damn friend"

The writing is beautiful. It flows easily, and the pacing of the story is perfect. Reinhardt really captures the feeling of first love (and a few other firsts) so brilliantly, it was like living it all over again. And even though the story is told from Brenna’s POV, the openness of the characters lets you know exactly what they’re going through, and you experience everything right along with them.

I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to continue on with the next book.

4.5 gorgeous stars!

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS AT READING, EATING AND DREAMING I WAS BLAIR WALDORF

Double Clutch is a realistic young adult romance about a girl who is caught between two guys. I’m a hard critic when it comes to love triangles because I hate it when you have A) the obvious right choice and B) the obvious wrong choice. Golly Gee…Who should I pick? Come on, there’s no fun in that! Well, Reinhardt got it right with Double Clutch. There are two guys in this story. Both of them have their flaws, and they both have their charm. There was no obvious right choice for me, and that’s what I loved about this novel. Reinhardt kept things realistic, relatable and current in her exciting and fun debut novel.

I think Double Clutch laid a sturdy foundation for a promising series. I really enjoyed the authors voice and style. The characters are also very capturing. My only complaint about this novel is that there wasn’t any major conflict. There were some minor conflicts and struggles throughout the novel, but there was no explosion.

Like I said before, one of the best things about this novel is that both of the guys are flawed. I didn’t see one “bad” character and one “good” character. Honestly, some people may read it that way; it’s possible. But in my book, Jake and Saxon are on an even playing field. Both guys have their faults. One of the characters shortcomings are definitely broadcasted more than the other characters, but they both have their flaws. The other characters flaws just aren’t given as much attention. (Hopefully I am making some sense. Stay with me.)

Saxon Maclean is your super smart, bad-boy. Did I mention that he is totally good looking? Too bad he knows it. He is used to getting everything he wants by using his charm or manipulating people. He knows how to stir things ups. Crap, he either has a good heart hidden underneath it all or he manipulated me too. Hopefully I will find out which in the books to come!

On the other hand, you have Jake Kelly. Jake has a bad reputation and a wild past. He is also very self-depreciating, but he’s also a hard worker and has very good manners.

Personally, I like both guys. I am glad I’m not in Brenna’s shoes because 1) Converse make my feet look HUGE! 2) I can see how hard it would be to choose between the two guys. There is something about Jake that screams comfort and easy, but Saxon is the sexy unknown and things with him would be exciting. I can see why Jake would be the one to choose, but I am rooting for Saxon. I can’t help but root for the bad-boy with the hidden heart. (Dang, those bad boys get me every time!!)

Regardless of my favorite, I think both guys have A LOT of growing up to do, and I don’t think either is ready for a serious lead-to-marriage relationship. Nor do I think that either guy is good enough for Brenna yet. That’s why I think this is going to be a great series because over time we can watch them grow and mature.

I love Brenna. She is one of my favorite young adult protagonists. She’s smart. She doesn’t spend too much time thinking about what other people think of her. She cares about her family and friends. She deeply loves and respects her parents. (I love seeing that in a YA novel. Thank you Reinhardt for showing young adults that it’s okay to love and respect your parents!) She is really wise for her age. She is admirable. She is world traveled. She is appreciative. She’s a good girl, but she is also strong, sarcastic and smart. She also says what’s on her mind and calls people on their bull. Did I say I love her?

I gave Double Clutch by Liz Reinhardt 4 STARS. I honestly went back and forth between 3 STARS (GOOD) and 4 STARS (GREAT), and here is why:

I considered rating Double Clutch 3 STARS because there wasn’t a lot of conflict and action. I felt the characters individual struggles, especially Brenna’s, but it didn’t really have a HUGE explosion or conflict. If this novel were a stand-alone novel then it would only be 3 STARS. I think that because this was the first book in the series Reinhardt spent a lot of time introducing background information, key players and establishing relationships. I hope this novel was her way of setting the stage for more to come.

I am giving this book 4 STARS because I really enjoyed reading this novel and I think this series has a lot of potential. I am REALY looking forward to the next book. The main thing I am looking for in Junk Miles, the sequel to Double Clutch, is some conflict and some action.

-XOXO

READING, EATING AND DREAMING

[Sofija · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is nothing I love more than a good old love triangle. Reading about two wonderful guys fighting for a girl makes me very happy. And this is what “Double Clutch” is essentially about. But surprisingly I found it lacking.

To start with, it lacked good editor work. It has too many little discrepancy.
Read this for example:

“I took a long shower and got dressed, then straightened my room. I was just thinking about calling Jake when I heard the mechanical whine that had scared me before. I checked my makeup in the mirror, then burst through the door and into Jake’s waiting arms”

Why was she wearing a makeup? She just got out of shower!
You can say that I cavil at every word but there were a lot of such errors. I couldn’t help but notice them.

Then, it lacked realistic main heroine. Brenna is just too perfect. She is beautiful (and she knows it), smart, talented (her designs are amazing), good at sport, has great relationship with her mother and stepfather. She kept telling Jack that she is not some ideal girl, but we couldn’t see it. I kept expecting a halo to start glowing over her head at any minute. All that perfection just made her seem unreal and hard to connect to.

And what was the deal about picking on Denmark? Why every one of Brenna friend don’t know anything about it? Was is just author imagination or is American education really this bad? I was in six grade when we learned every word country with their capitals and biggest rivers and mountains.
And the phrase:

“Why did Thorsten have to be from the least recognized of all of the European nations?”

It is just offensive! I am sorry for being bitchy, but I am from the small European county too, so I am sensitive about this subject.

In the end, I also think that for a YA genre it had pretty detailed description of make out (almost sex) scene. I don’t think that it will give teenagers right ideas.

It wasn’t a bad book. I think that I would love it if I was fifteen years old. Now I found it a little naïve and overdramatic. I am pretty cynical and I want love being shown by actions and not words. Some moments were just too sweet for my taste. And a lot of sweet is not good for my teeth.

[Tough Critic Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series had me rolling around in a one big pile of indifference. I honestly couldn't pin point how I felt about Double Clutch. I swear the author gave me temporary bipolar disorder. I loved the teenage drama, but wasn't the biggest fan of the story. However the writing... Oh sweet mother of babies the writing!!!!

Okay, how do I put this. The "hook-up" scenes left me speechless!! Did he just-Did they-He asked what!?!He actually...OH. MY. HOLLY. HELL!! Liz Reinhardt, I know you just didn't. Oh yes you did!!! This is what I call uncensored teenage reality.

The parts I didn't like about the series were my own personal issues. Brenna Blixen had me making up my own swear words out of complete frustration. MAKE UP YOUR FRABBIN MIND GOOBERHOLE!! I hated the back and forth. I'm a huge NON-fan of love triangles which brings me to Jake. I really wanted to love the good ole country boy, but he was more whipped than Anastasia Steele from Fifty Shades of Grey. Someone needed to FedEx him a pair of balls, seriously. He does come into his own a little more in Junk Miles showing us his vengeful side and giving us a little peek of bad boy Jake in Slow Twitch. I love sweet, but there is such a thing as too sweet.

Finally there's Saxon; the proverbial bad boy. I was completely raped by that cliché. Fell for it one hundred percent!! I don't necessarily want him and Brenna together, but I do love me some Saxon!!! I wasn't a huge fan of his storyline in Slow Twitch because I never warmed up to the new characters Evan and Cadence. It's just hard to throw new people in the story so late in the game.

Liz Reinhardt is an author with edge. Even though I had some "issues" with the actual story, I completely lusted over her writing. She doesn't just push the limits; she has none. Individually I rated the books 3 stars, but the series as a whole deserves 4. I will most definitely read ANYTHING written by Liz and can't wait to see how she shocks me in the future.

[Elizabeth Reyes]

What's not to love about two hot guys fighting over a girl? I won't go into the description of the story as that's already been done enough. I'll just say I kept falling for one and then the other. Just when I thought I picked my favorite something would happen and AARGh! I'd be swayed the other way. Ms. Reinhardt did an excellent job of fleshing each of the leading men so that it was impossible to completely dismiss either.

The only thing that threw me was the age. At 15 it was a bit hard to believe Brenna could handle a guy like Saxon. I'm not sure I could handle a guy like that and I'm ... well let's just say I'm older than 15. *fanning myself* Not only did she handle him but she did it like a seasoned pro!

In the end I think I know who she SHOULD be but I'll admit I kept hoping Brenna would give into temptation. My oh my what I'd give to read a hot scene between her and Saxon. Since there is another I'll keep my fingers crossed that it happens in the next one.

Overall I enjoyed this very much and being an alpha lover I looved how Jake was so ready to kick some A$$ for his girl! Can't wait to read more of that! =)

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: This book will leave you BREATHLESS!

My Rating: 10 of 10

My Cover Thoughts: I love the cover! It showcases what the story is about. It is of a beautiful girl in the background standing in between two boys. Who will she chose? Who will love her? Read on to find out!

My Thoughts/Review: When I saw this book on goodreads I just knew I had to read it. One girl, two boys what a love triangle mess. Secrets, lies and feelings no one can control screamed at me from the blur. So when I saw they were having a virtual book tour I had to sign up!

Liz had weaved a story that will have you laughing, crying, and throwing the book and screaming at the book. I did all those things when I read it. Once I picked it up I could not put it down and read it in five hours. Lord I could not put it down!

Brenna has been gone for a year overseas with her parents in Denmark and now it is time to come back to their home. She is nervous about coming back because she is not so sure if her old friends will remember her. So she decides she is going to do Share Time at school which is she will do half day academics at one school and do a trade at another school. She is excited but scared but she feels like having a trade will do her good.

The first day of school is one of chaos because she has to go to two new schools and have different friends and schedules. When she arrives at the first school she finds that her old friends remember her and her old best friend picks up where they left off. Then she meets Saxon tall, sexy and brooding and she is instantly taken in by him. She likes him until she realizes her best friend likes him. Saxon and Bren share a class together and hit it off right off the bat and become fast friends. Spending the class time joking and flirting they really dig each other.

Then Bren goes to her Tech school where she meets the Jake who is gorgeous and smart and has a heart of gold. She melts when she meets him and they are soon laughing and joking and flirting. She really likes him but she can’t get Saxon out of her mind, nor can she seem to get Saxon to stop stalking her.

What is a girl to do? Who is she to be with? Bren will experience lots of loves ups and downs. She will need to figure out who is good for her and who is bad. Will she go with her heart or will she go with her feelings? Take this journey with Bren, Saxon, and Jake. See what happens when you dare to love someone for the first time. This story is so entrancing it will leave you breathless and wanting more.

I NEED the second book coming out soon called Junk Miles: A Brenna Blixen Novel

I really loved this book so much so and the love story that after you read it listen to this song by Birdy called Skinny Love and tell me if you agree with the lyrics and who they pertain to, Saxon or Jake…….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT67li...

Memorable Quotes: Finally, there was nothing else I could do to stall. And just when I was getting desperate, the phone rang.
Jake, I said automatically, but it wasn‘t Jake.
Brenna. The voice on the other end slurred.
Saxon? My head spun. Why was he calling so late? I could hear music and laughing and yells in the background. Where are you?
Partying. His voice was heavy and angry around the word. I want you.
Enough, I hissed. I‘m with Jake, I love him. I don‘t love you.
He laughed, a hard sound. I don‘t love you either. He had obviously been drinking.
I just want you.
I‘m hanging up now. I was irritated I hadn‘t checked the number before I dove for the phone.
What if I change my mind about telling Jake? he threatened.

Advice: This series is seriously EPIC! Man who doesn’t like a good love triangle! This is a must must read!

[Zemira Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised how much I liked Double Clutch.

Brenna is a likable leading lady in a world of insecure angsty girls. She has her own style and pretty much doesn't care what others think about her. I would say she is what I need the main character to be. Brenna also has a great relationship with her mother and step-dad. So Liz gets a thumbs up for giving the parents a chance and to let them actually be in the book.

Now to the boys. First of all lemme say I love love triangles. People are saying they are getting old. Please,that is so not true. They are dramatic and make us fangirls fight for out teams. Obviously one boy wins the girl and other will have to wait for the second book to get his chance. Jake was the boy I was rooting for and I thought Saxon was a duche because he was trying to break Jake and Brenna apart(almost till the very end when he suddenly changed his mind). Jake is this sweet guy with a difficult past(and present) while Saxon is a smart,rich and mysterious bad boy. We all know he will get what he wants in the end. I just don't like him. Mrs. Reinhardt I dare you to make him a better person in the second book so I can say I was wrong about saying these things about him.

Believe me when I say this book is a page-turner and I can't wait to read the sequel-Junk Miles.

[Alexis *Reality Bites* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler free Review
4.5 STARS
Genre: Mature YA
Setting: New Jersey

Feelings
Ooooooo how i enjoyed this Ya Romance. I so recommend to all YA Romance lovers but be advised this is YA-Mature. Yes it has that pesky YA love triangle but it's HOT!! And good luck trying to pick btwn the two because it's not easy!!!!!

Book Summary
This book is about a young girl name Brenna who is returning back to New Jersey(America) after spending a year abroad in Denmark with her mother and stepfather. Brenna is 15 going 16 and on her first day back to school she meets two really hot guys in the form of Saxon and Jake. Tho Brenna is attracted to both guys she quickly realizes that one is a badboy that likes to play games(Saxon) and the other is kinda shy but still shows her he is interested(Jake). Brenna of course picks Jake the shy guy, but soon learns he is actually a reformed badboy WITH baggage. Brenna and Jake fall for eachother but Saxon tries to squirm his way into Brenna's life. Of course!

Thoughts
I loved reading how this young girl juggled these two boys like a pro you would never think she was 15... The best part is that this was book 1 so i will soon be starting book 2 like 2nite!!!!:D
Off to the next book!!!!!!

My Ratings
Characters- Lovable
Writing Style- First Rate
Plot/Storyline- Excellent
Steam Factor- Very Steamy
Overall- I loved it!!!

-Warning: This book has teens in sexual situations.

[Samantha Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

A seriously addictive read, Double Clutch is narrated by the likeable, forthright Brenna Blixen as she shares her return to American high school after a year abroad. With beautifully smooth prose and realistic dialogue, Reinhardt has created one of my favourite ya contemporary reads yet. This is no simpering, run-of-the-mill love triangle. Real issues, deep, past hurts and impossible secrets all contribute to the tangle Brenna ends up in as she takes her steps into first love. I couldn't help but admire and like Brenna - her disappointments and vulnerabilities made it easy to relate to her and her gutsy bluntness, honesty and wit made her stand out in a genre swamped with shy heroines. Yes, she makes mistakes but that only makes her human... and a teenager. As for the two heroes, Jake and Saxon... I started out truly torn over these two incredibly likeable characters - one so open, kind and loyal, the other so charming and suave. However, I've finished book one firmly on one hero's team. It was difficult though, because Reinhardt does an excellent job of making her characters so three-dimensional you can't help but root for them all.
I really loved this read. It took me away somewhere else for a while which is the best kind of book.
So eager to read book two I'm off to download it right away!

Five massive, massive stars!

[Katie Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brenna Blixen is living a double life. She goes to two different schools- regular public school in the morning and the technical institute in the afternoon as a participant of the program ‘Share Time’. She has two sets of teachers, two sets of friends and two very different boys vying for her attention.

But what happens when the two worlds collide? Brenna might discover that the lines that connect Saxon and Jake could make or break her relationship with either.

The pacing in Double Clutch was fantastic, the characters charismatic (Jake and Saxon were just awesome. I totally wanted them both. I mean *ahem*I wanted her to end up with both. Of course.) and the dialogue authentic. I honestly enjoyed every minute.

This book has officially become my love-triangle crack-- totally addictive, sexy, and Reinhardt captures the exhiliration of falling in love for the first time perfectly.
'Double Clutch' is the oreo cream without the cookie; made up of only the good stuff I find myself constantly looking for in other books.

Congratulations Liz on a job well done! Wishing you tons of success and I look forward to reading your future books!

[Lisbeth Avery {Domus Libri} · Rating 3 out of 5]

PRE-REVIEW:

While going through the review for DOUBLE CLUTCH, I came upon a review that compares DOUBLE CLUTCH to BEAUTIFUL DISASTER. Before I actually go into my review, I'd like to say that there is absolutely no comparison.

Travis is an awful volatile person who manipulates Abby. He's emotionally unstable, clingy, controlling, self absorbed, and he likes to beat up guys who look at his girlfriend the wrong way. Neither of the love interests in DOUBLE CLUTCH could be called that, unless you count Jake who started acting like that by the end of the book.

REVIEW:

It seems as if I have been confined to play the part of the black sheep. While conformity is always worse, it does get lonely being the only one who doesn’t love a book.

To all the 1,651 five and four star ratings, there are a few people who don’t like this book but we are few and far between.

I do see where the fans of DOUBLE CLUTCH come from. This is a pretty well done New Adult book with a (mostly) likable main character and a cute romance, which is more than I can say for most NA books.

DOUBLE CLUTCH was meant to be a book that tells people not to be afraid to show sexuality. It’s very pro-intimacy. However I, like others, found this to extremely hypocritical because of the blatant double standards. It seems as though the rampant slut shaming undid all the positive messages.

One scene towards the end was especially bad. As I can’t share every horrible quote from this scene, I will show two of the worst:

I was being taunted by a corset-wearing, gum-cracking hoe with straw for hair.

I was practically deafened by the combined hissing of a dozen rejected hussies.

There are so many things wrong with this. I can’t.

These “hussies” and “hoes” were previously described as “scantily-clad” and “backstabbing hooker-want-to-bes”. Brenna had no background information about them but from looking at what they were wearing, she concluded that they had to be backstabbing hookers.

They were also described as “hissing and clawing” (yes, hissing was used twice) and “hoochie-looking”.

I should stop talking about slut shaming (even though I haven’t even covered how Brenna is the good one because she doesn’t want to have sex) so I will.

Characters
Despite everything I talked about already, Brenna is actually a fairly good character. For once, I can actually see why the love interest likes the main character, even if his level of absolute adoration is a bit out there.

Brenna is bubbly and cute. One of my biggest peeves with heroines is when they adore classic literature because it’s often only added to make them seem smart. Even though Brenna loved classic lit, I found her genuinely intelligent.

Brenna was definitely the reason I kept reading the book.

Jake was very annoying because he was the “good one”. His personality entirely revolved around how the other love interest was the “bad one”. For most of the book, he was sweet and cute to a nauseating extent.

But towards the end, he turned into one of those guys who pick a fight with everyone. Jake got into at least three fights with Saxon, the other love interest. The fights often started because Saxon was talking to Brenna.

He was just talking to Brenna and then without warning Jake punches in the face.



Dude, why? He was talking to Brenna. He didn’t do anything!

Saxon, in my opinion, was the better man. Granted, he was obsessed with Brenna, but honestly both of them were. At least Saxon didn’t beat guys up! While I didn’t like him for the longest time (because he was controlling and a stalker), I sort of warmed up to him.

I’m not really sure whether a controlling stalker is better than a controlling fighter but at least Saxon wasn’t bland and lifeless.

Plot and Writing
Plot
As for plot, DOUBLE CLUTCH was about Brenna trying to make it through high school. This was another purely character driven romance book. There was no central plot, but that was to be expected.

Writing
The writing had its flaws and its strengths.

Reinhardt is very good with dialogue. The conversations between the characters felt very realistic. They weren’t stilted or fragmented. I really enjoyed the character interaction in the book.

Conversely, there were many typos and grammatical mistakes which made me really annoyed. I do not think it is because this is an ARC copy as this is a republish.

Likes and Dislikes
Likes
- character interaction
- dialogue
- Brenna

Dislikes
- characters
- Jake
- sexism and slut shaming

Conclusion
DOUBLE CLUTCH is actually a pretty good NA book compared to the rest of the mini genre but compared to a normal YA book, it falls short in a lot of categories. I can’t really recommend this book but I probably will read the second one.

[Racquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review also posted on my blog: The Book Barbies

Liz Rienhardt is the first ever author to ask me to read and review their book so from the beginning this book was special. I was kind of anxious to read it though because I was scared I wasn’t going to like it and since Liz is just THE sweetest person ever, she’s so nice and I’m so glad I got to talk to her it would have been plain awful writing negative review. But thank goodness, I was spared from having to deal with that because this book ROCKS!

What I love about this book:

*It’s about as realistic (from MY perspective) as realistic YA fiction can get.

-Brenna wears make up. I know this is not big deal but as a make up freak that just adores make up I’m actually glad for once that a character doesn’t describe herself as plain Jane. Brenna knows she’s pretty though she’s not arrogant about it. I’m so tired of every female MC not caring or not knowing how to deal with their looks and they think they’re ugly and end up with THE hottest guy imaginable. Good for you plain Jane but the other girls have stories too.

-Brenna has a backbone. I’m sure you don’t know what that is because the majority of the books you and I read have plain Janes as MC’s and usually they keep to themselves and their outspokenness is limited. I will tell you what a backbone is, it’s the factor that makes you stand up for yourself, say what’s one your mind and take no bullshit from anybody at all cost. Brenna has this so very rare backbone and the only other MC I can think off who does too is Rose Hathaway from Vampire Academy series.

-I can relate with the book! More then once I came across a scene which I have been in the situation as or said the same thing/had same reaction.

Ex: “‘HAGS’ in my yearbook at the end of eight.” If I wasn’t lazy, I would get up right now and take a picture of my eighth grade yearbook and show you all the HAGS over you.

Ex 2: “Even though it was about a bunch of killer school boys, I never managed to get into this one.” Lord or the flies was one of the books I had to read last year and I definitely couldn’t get into either!

Ex 3: “Run, forrest run.” I say this phrase everyday I’m at school and see someone running. So those words per year come out my mouth approximately 555 times per school year, I thought I was the only one making Forrest Gump references,

Ex 4: “I checked your Facebook page.” Let’s face it, we all have Facebook’s. You’re probably going to go write your status right now about how you read the world’s stupidest review but in the end we (REALTIY) use the site known as facebook but how come it never shows up in realistic fiction books? Uhmmm, people propose to other people to facebook nowadays. It’s basically the most important communication tool in world. You see those riots in the Middle East? Wonder how they were planned? If you guessed Facebook good for you, if not then go back to the cave you live in. Just kidding:D

More things I love:

-As I told Mary from @anxirium about this book, Brenna did not come about this earth through random pollination. She has parents, yes a father (well a step dad but nonetheless, there mention of the sperm donor) and a mother (once again, yes a mother body) who carried her in her womb for nine months and these parents are HEXA-GASP! present in the book. Good god, an actual YA book with ACTUAL guardian’s or and parental figures who actual play a role in their child’s life in it? 2012 is real; get ready for an apocalypse…!

-The mature and realistic way sex was handled in the book. To be honest, I’m starting to like adult contemporary romance more because sometimes YA books get me so mad from how not YA they are! They take place in an ideal world and are nowhere near what actually happens in a teenager’s life but thanks to Reinhardt, Double Clutch doesn’t suffer from that. The book doesn’t shy away from tackling sex to what it is and I love that. No it’s not graphic, but it’s honest it’s portrayal of sex which made me so damn happy I can combust! For once sex in YA is not just “it happened and then later…” I would kiss Reinhardt if I can.

Overall: I can go on and on about all the things I loved about this book, it’s absolutely one of my favorites of the year. It was funny, cute and realistic and I personally believe if you don’t like it, you should get yours head checked. From the writing, to the characters, the dialogue and the details I couldn’t find anything wrong:D And this is coming from a person who hates hype!

-thank you&come again.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can I...". He stopped and his jaw relaxed. "Can I kiss you?" I didn't answer, and he didn't wait for me to. His hands caught me gently behind the neck and he pressed his mouth to mine, softly but firmly. Then he moved one arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him. As the space between us disappeared completely, he deepened the kiss, urging my mouth open and sliding his tongue in."

Aww...what a cute book. When Liz Reinhardt contacted Donna and I about reviewing her book Double Clutch, I accepted because I hadn't read anything with a love triangle in a long time.

Everything about this book is adorable. The story, the characters. Double Clutch was such a fun and light read that pretty much had me from chapter 1.

Brenna is a great protagonist, even though she is only 15 in the book; she does seem a lot older. She's pretty mature and she grows through out the book when trying to deal with her feelings for Saxon and her feelings for Jake. Saxon and Jake. Ahh well, let's start with Saxon. He pretty much makes a big impression from the start. He gives off this bad boy vibe immediately and you instantly fall for his charm and quick wit. I didn't think Liz could make me want another boy. Then she introduces us to the sweet Jake Kelly. Ahhhhh Jake! He's a good boy with a baaaaad past and he regrets his past. But he's incredibly gorgeous and he treats Brenna the way every girl should be treated. As always in a love triangle, you pretty much have to settle on one team if you can. And at first I wasn't sure, but I leant towards Saxon because he was bad, but eventually I went with Jake. Its a done deal...right now. That could all change when we see more (hopefully) of Saxon in the sequel. We'll see.

I loved that this story was nothing paranormal. Its just about a small town girl dealing with every day issues, juggling school, homework, parents, and 2 boys vying for her attention. It was refreshing to read, and I'm glad of who Brenna chose, because it was the right one. I wouldn't have it any other way. I especially loved Brenna's relationship with her parents. Her mother, although over protective is a great woman who loves her daughter no matter what, and supports her in everything. But I have to say that her step-dad Thorsten really stood out for me. He's taken on the role of a Dad and his relationship with Brenna is one to be envied, I'm sure every girl would love to have that sort of relationship with their dad (step or not), I know I do.

There isn't a lot of action in this book. There are a few arguments but nothing blown up. And that's fine. If you want a light read this is a good one. This is written for Older YA, and I could see why! Brenna finds herself in some sexual situations which I found odd for a 15 year old, but it was handled beautifully. I will warn that Liz Reindhardt does NOT sugar coat the intimate scenes so I do urge that only readers of 17+ read this.

Anyway, if you want a book about a normal girl with normal issues. Then read this. If you want a book without anything paranormal, then read this. If you want a book that's fun, light and easy then read this. Ohhh just read it anyway. Double Clutch has been added to my top 2011 reads for this year and I am now waiting to get my hands on the sequel Junk Miles.

Thank you to Liz for asking me to review this.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review @ www.obsessionwithbooks.blogspot.com

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

15 year old Brenna Blixen has recently returned from a year spent in Denmark with her parents and has returned to New Jersey for her sophomore year. She will be commuting on her trusty bike between two schools as she is doing share time; it is on her first day at both schools that she meets two gorgeous yet very different boys who are about to be make her life a tad bit more complicated.

Brenna is the sort of protagonist I adore! Fun, stylish, witty and sarcastic and doesn’t tolerate rubbish, the bond she has with her parents was wonderful and certainly rare in the YA books I have read recently, parents are generally absent and show no guidance whatsoever but Brenna’s are supportive and openly show their love and care.

Jake Kelly and Saxon Maclean (I love their names) are ex best-friends and both eager to gain Brenna’s attention, while Jake is sweet, good-looking and thoughtful but with a bit of a wayward past, Saxon is confident, irritating and a sexy player who can’t seem to get Brenna (Blix) out of his mind. I was quite eager to find out the reasoning behind their rift and was surprised by what it was, I am also surprised by Saxon’s revelation and am curious to see how it will be explored in the sequel - I wont reveal what this was as it is a major spoiler.

Double Clutch is a realistic contemporary romance that held my attention from page one right to the very end, it is sweet, romantic and the drama is detailed and entertaining and thank goodness for no insta-love declarations – although they did eventually come – I won’t reveal with whom.

Each of the characters are well-developed, they are flawed, practical and believable and you get a glimpse into the fascinating secondary characters as well, I loved Brenna’s mother and best friend Kelsie, I also enjoyed how Brenna befriended Devon – he seemed sweet.

Double Clutch is well paced and engaging and Ms Reinhardt’s writing allowed me to become immersed and focused on the story – which is something I love.

This book literally has everything and I really hope I won’t have to wait forever for a sequel.

I would recommend Double Clutch to the more mature teen; it does have a few scenes which may be too sexy for the younger reader.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I realized that I'd used the word "smexy" in several of my last few reviews I started worrying that maybe I was using it wrong. I decided I'd better look it up on Urban Dictionary, and whoa, right next to it was a picture of Brenna Blixen, the MC of this romantic dramarama. This is Brenna's story, and she is quite a girl. After spending a year in Denmark with her mom & stepdad (he's Danish, bit of a backstory) she returns to her old school in New Jersey, but she's changed. Something about her - her sense of herself, her style, her emotional maturity? sets her apart from her classmates, but also makes her irresistible to two guys she meets on the very first day of school. Yes, it's one of those "torn between two hot guys" books, and man Liz Reinhardt knows how to bring that old song to life. Both of the boys are pretty swoon-worthy, and Brenna, while drawn to nice guy Jake despite his sketchy past, is also unable to put snarky, sexy Saxon out of her mind. Brenna has lots to deal with besides the boys, two former best friends who now inexplicably hate each other - school, her t-shirt business, the track team, and her Mom's sensitive attention (she's determined Brenna won't make the same mistake she did, the one that resulted in Brenna). She manages to squeeze in some super sexy times with Jake (yowza, Louisiana hot sauce warning!) and to get to the bottom of the emnity between the two guys. This isn't really a plot book, though, it's a character and emotions book, and by the time the last page rolls around you are so infused with both that you almost have to shake it off to rejoin the real world. I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to more Brenna (yes, there's a teaser chapter for the sequel). This is a self published e-book, and delivers great reading value for a reasonable price. It's the kind of book that gives self-pub a good name!

[Tessamari ♥Many Waters...♥ ~ Sweet Spot Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I can't believe this book has been sitting around on my Kindle since December and never got around to reading it until now. WTF is wrong with me? I really enjoyed this story. Like Brenna, I fell head over heals in love with Saxon, then a minute later, fell in love with Jake. Oh the dilemma she has! This is why I love to read because I can vicariously live through these characters.

I really don’t need to recap this story in length since its pretty simple. Brenna just returned from Denmark after a year absence. She’s going to two different schools. During the first half of the day, she attends a regular High School and in the afternoon, she attends a Technical school for Graphic Design. She meets bad boy Saxon in class and sparks immediately fly between the two. They get into each other’s skin like no other and immediately form a kind of twisted connection to each other. No worries, it’s not a bad connection to have. Then Brenna goes off to Tech school and meets Jake. He’s pretty much the opposite of Saxon, but in his own charming and sweet way, makes Brenna’s heart flutter. The two boys were best friends at one point in their lives, but have since fallen out of their friendship. However, only one of the boys won her heart. Which one, I won’t tell, but the connection she still has with the other is threatening her current relationship.

This was definitely a roller coaster ride. The only reason why I didn’t give it the full five stars is because of the characters' ages. They seemed way more mature for their ages, especially Brenna. She’s only suppose to be fifteen, going on sixteen, in the story. It was a little unbelievable, so part of me had to make their characters a little older in my head. No biggie. This is a Mature YA story, so expect a little steam and a little bit of cursing, which was just peachy with me. Moving onto the next book...

[Melanchallina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Очень типичный и банальный любовный роман про идеальную пай-девочку попавшую в любовный треугольник.

Честно говоря, читать книгу было довольно скучно: герои неинтересные, повествование не цепляющее, автор злоупотреблял описанием совершенно неинтересных деталей и слишком часто напоминал, какая героиня красивая, умная, талантливая... как будто нам не хватило предыдущих 1005698 напоминаний.

Автор действительно перестарался с героиней (да и с героями), все три основным персонажа… СЛИШКОМ. Бренна – СЛИШКОМ хорошая. Саксон – СЛИШКОМ наглый. Джек – СЛИШКОМ деревенщина.

И Боже правый, может хватит уже писать о том, как «он посмотрел на нее и влюбился без памяти»… серьезно, это даже уже не смешно. Я человек – разума. Я считаю, что влюбляются за что-то.. за глубокий внутренний мир, за непохожесть на других. И пусть автор пытался выставить героиню именно такой, НЕ ПОЛУЧИЛОСЬ. А даже, если на взгляд Лиз и вышло, Саксон и Джек не могли все это понять лишь взглянув на нее. И одна лишь прямая челка, не делает девушку супер модной (и вообще с каких пор челка нереальная редкость?). И как же меня раздражала мама главной героини…. «Дорогая, ты такая красивая, твоя подруга ничего, но высокая линия волос все портит», ахахахаха что??? Или «они выберут тебя, ты жила заграницей!», да уж показатель, так показатель.

А секс? Боже, я, правда ненавижу, когда парни в книгах «ломаются». Не бывает так, или очень-очень редко. К тому же, секс нормальная сторона жизни, если герои так любят друг друга, то простите, чего выделываетесь? И да, заменить секс ублажением руками (неправда ли бред?), и при этом не считать это сексом – полная хрень.

В общем я ожидала нечто романтичное, легкое и милое, но получила полную фигню. Продолжение ни за что читать не буду.

Моя оценка: 3/10

[Tanja (Tanychy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say that I was pretty much surprised when Liz asked me to read her book. Thank you Liz for sending me this book.

So, this is a story about young girl Brenna, she is 16, growing up, falling in love, you know how it goes. Only the thing is she has a two boys interested in her, so who is she going to chose? Of course I won't tell you, you have to read a book to figure it out by yourself. I have to say that I really liked the beginning of the book, meeting the characters was interesting. Also I have to say that I expected some changes at the end, something big to happen. But there is gonna be book2?? I'll make a mental note to read it, when it comes out, and I'm really looking forward to reading it.
I won't say anything else about the book, read it and explore it by yourself.

And good work Liz Reinhardt, this is your first book, so it's really good. I know that every next book will be even better.

[Tandie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange love triangle. One guy is golden, bad past but now he's Gary Stu. The other guy is a total a-hole, and a creeper to boot. A hot, manipulative creeper. I wasn't exactly rooting for Creeper, but he was more interesting than the New Gary Stu.

I did enjoy the main character, Brenna Blixen. She has this terrific relationship with her mother and step-fa.

It was a bit wearing listening to her lovesick thoughts & mooning over her eventual lover boy. Their relationship seemed awfully needy for their young ages. Cheesiness aside, it was a fun read.

[Laura's Book Addiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love YA love triangels Double Clutch is the book for you. Breena meets to boys on the same day and both want her but the trouble is Brenna wants them both and finds it hard to pick. Liz Reinhardt keep me reading to the very end because I was so in to it. I can't wait for book two to see who she picks and I loved the ending even tho it leaves me needing it NOW. who will Brenna pick Saxon or Jake. I say team Saxon all the way.

[Say · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m kinda nervous writing a review for this particular book. Why? Well, seldom does an author writes you and ask if you would like to read his/her book and make a review on it. And you have to ask yourself, what if I don’t like the book? Oh my gosh, I would have to write how awful it is and the author would feel really bad and might as well curse me for eternity. And what if I find it really really good? Much harder I think, coz I have to really write an amazing review in parallel to how amazing the book really is. And I guess I don’t know if I could really do that. So, with that being said, did I like this particular book or not…..I DID!!! I DID LIKED IT A LOT!!! Now, here’s my dilemma can I write a good review at least something passable for how great the book is….so here goes…..

THE STORY: I really liked it….reading the opening line of: Can you fall in love twice in the same day? Hmmm….interesting. We just love reading a good story wherein there are two guys vying for the same girl. I know, I know there are a lot of books out there with the same story. But I guess as a reader we can’t help but pick out these types of book and see how the author twists it in order for us readers to like it. And I would have to say I really liked how the author wrote the story of Saxon/Brenna/Jake. It has a lot of things happening around each and every one of them. Wherein I can’t stop reading coz I want to find out how the story goes.

THE CHARACTERS:
1. BRENNA: I would have to say, the girl ain’t perfect. At times you like her just fine and there were times that you would love to hate her, especially having some sort of a relationship with two boys at the same time. But hey if I were in her place I would probably be out of my mind choosing from two hot boys. So I guess, I understand her. But in my opinion she did just fine handling the attention of Saxon and Jake, which I think is really hard to do.
2. JAKE: The good boy with a dark past. Ooohhh, don’t we always fall for this particular guy. At first Brenna thought Jake was the polar opposite of Saxon. For one Jake is shy, looks down on himself, lacks self confidence, poor and studies in a tech school. But as the story goes Brenna discovers that there’s more to it than Jake is letting her see. He was indeed a wild child a year ago and he has this certain reputation.
3. SAXON: My Saxon (hahaha!!!), the total bad boy package. He is hot, he smokes, doesn’t care about rules, dresses like he just got out of his bed (which is hot btw) and to top it off he is quite smart (hey, he has a photographic memory…how cool is that!). Hence, the instant attraction of Brenna with him.
THE DILEMMA: If I were in Brenna’s shoes I would definitely have a hard time choosing. But well, Brenna did chose Jake. In my opinion, since he is the safer choice. But despite that she can’t get off her attraction with Saxon (how can she not) and because of that goes behind Jake’s back to have her moments with Saxon. And another thing that confuses Brenna’s feelings….the history the two guys have with each other and of course the great secret Saxon has to reveal to Brenna towards the end (read it to know it!)

I would have to say kudos to Ms. Reinhardt! I’m glad I was given the opportunity to read this book and hoping to be given the chance to read the upcoming books (yep guys this is not the end!). She has written a wonderful story on love, friendship and family. She has created believable characters, characters whom we get to adore, love and understand. This is a MUST read book!!! And again as I’ve said earlier to Ms. Reinhardt, thanks for creating Saxon…now I have another guy to swoon over!!!

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I have to say I really liked this book. "Double Clutch" expresses exactly the way teens really are. There were parts in the book that I would read and think. Yup, I definitely would have done that or I remember doing that. It reminded me how love is an emotion and can deeply affect us at all ages. What Brenna was going through at fifteen years old, is easily something adults can go through as well. The feeling of liking two guys so deeply that it confuses you. That both guys can reach something different inside of you, that is something I feel you can experience at any age. However, it does take wisdom and maturity to make the right decisions or know the difference between what's real and what's not.

Brenna spent a year in Denmark and when she came back to the States, she had no difficulty finding her way back to normal again. Upon her first day of school, she meets sexy bad boy Saxon. And while attending Share Time, she meets cutie heartthrob Jake. Both complete opposites from the other. Saxon is the bad boy and unstable one while Jake is the bad one turned good. They both show interest in her and make their feelings known. Now she's stuck with the dilemma of choosing one over the other.

Now while both are charming, both had bad reputations. Which would make me run the other way. But choosing one wasn't too hard for Brenna. One pulled at her heartstrings more than the other. And of course, since both Jake and Saxon are former friends. They can't keep their negative comments and thoughts about the other to themselves. Brenna is stuck in the middle of defending her new boyfriend's honor and her friendship with the other. She learns the real reason behind the rivalry. It runs deeper than what her boyfriend thinks. But can she salvage the both before the beat themselves up over her? That's the real question.

Despite having a hot boyfriend, she still continues to do good in school. She doesn't let her hot and steamy relationship interfere with her school projects or her academic studies. Some of my favorite scenes are the one with Brenna and her boyfriend. Those two can get hot. And to be honest, as much as some readers may not like those scenes. It's reality. Teens now a days don't play too safe. They tend to get careless. I really want to tell you who she ends up with. But I don't do spoilers. However, I can say. That the guy she picks is whose team I'm on! I'm Team......

I really enjoyed this book, even though I get a little skeptic on reading books about teens as young as fifteen and sixteen. Liz didn't sugarcoat teens today. Teens today have problems just like adults do. Peer pressure is out there and some fall into the trap and get swallowed in with the bad crowd. I've already asked Liz if I can read the second book in series. So I'll be updating you soon about Brenna, Saxon and Jake. I give this book a 5/5 stars and a definite Good Choice for Reading.