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Out of Play
Rock star drummer Bishop Riley doesn't have a drug problem. Celebrities—especially ones suffering from anxiety—just need a little help taking the edge off sometimes. After downing a few too many pills, Bishop wakes up in the hospital facing an intervention. If he wants to stay in the band, he’ll have to detox while under house arrest in Seldon, Alaska.
Hockey player Penny Jones can't imagine a life outside of Seldon. Though she has tons of scholarship offers to all the best schools, the last thing she wants is to leave. Who'll take care of her absentminded gramps? Not her mother, who can’t even be bothered to come home from work, let alone deal with their new tenants next door. Penny’s not interested in dealing with Bishop’s crappy attitude, and Bishop’s too busy sneaking pills to care. Until he starts hanging out with Gramps and begins to see what he’s been missing. If Bishop wants a chance with the fiery girl next door, he’ll have to admit he has a problem and kick it. Too bad addiction is hard to kick…and Bishop’s about to run out of time.
Hockey player Penny Jones can't imagine a life outside of Seldon. Though she has tons of scholarship offers to all the best schools, the last thing she wants is to leave. Who'll take care of her absentminded gramps? Not her mother, who can’t even be bothered to come home from work, let alone deal with their new tenants next door. Penny’s not interested in dealing with Bishop’s crappy attitude, and Bishop’s too busy sneaking pills to care. Until he starts hanging out with Gramps and begins to see what he’s been missing. If Bishop wants a chance with the fiery girl next door, he’ll have to admit he has a problem and kick it. Too bad addiction is hard to kick…and Bishop’s about to run out of time.
320 pages, ebook
First published August 6, 2013
149 people are currently reading
7574 people want to read
About the author
Nyrae Dawn
33 books3,909 followersI am a compulsive reader and writer who loves YA fiction.
I love nothing more than writing about young adults. There is something so fresh and fun about it. You can pretty much always find me with a book in my hand or open document in front of me.
I live in Southern California with my husband and two children.
I love nothing more than writing about young adults. There is something so fresh and fun about it. You can pretty much always find me with a book in my hand or open document in front of me.
I live in Southern California with my husband and two children.
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August 1, 2013(Note - this is YA from Entangled Teen)
Yay, yay, YAY!!! *runs around dancing* I love this book!!! These are two of my critique partners and I bugged them to let me start reading it before they were finished writing, and I swear, I stalked them after every chapter for more! "Hurry, hurry!" It's soooo good. Bishop and Penny rock.
Oh, and don't let the "sweetness and softness" of this cover fool you - this is one of those instances when I really hope people don't judge the book by its cover. I was hoping for a cover with a little more zing and wow, but ah well. Silly publishers.
Yay, yay, YAY!!! *runs around dancing* I love this book!!! These are two of my critique partners and I bugged them to let me start reading it before they were finished writing, and I swear, I stalked them after every chapter for more! "Hurry, hurry!" It's soooo good. Bishop and Penny rock.
Oh, and don't let the "sweetness and softness" of this cover fool you - this is one of those instances when I really hope people don't judge the book by its cover. I was hoping for a cover with a little more zing and wow, but ah well. Silly publishers.
August 1, 2013
This book was so much fun to write! I got to incorporate many of the things I LOVE about writing and reading YA books.
September 18, 2013
Initial reaction: Not one of the better contemporary tough subject books in its genre that I've picked up. Honestly I found it rather...boring, and while it had several parts in the right place, I just couldn't get into it. I'm going to look through it again to see if my mind changes, but honestly - I wish it could've been better than what it was.
Full review:
Jolene Perry and Nyrae Dawn's "Out of Play" should've been a book that I loved. It revolves around sports, it has a female character that breaks genre stereotypes (purportedly), it deals with some tough issues, and it had the potential to be a decent coming of age story, with perhaps some elements of romance.
But I was bored collectively by this narrative, not to mention underwhelmed. Granted, there are two considerations I want to make with this. I haven't read either author before "Out of Play", and this might've been a terrible introduction to the both of them because I have no knowledge of what their narrative styles are like. That probably would've made a difference in terms of what to expect from this book, but I'm not sure.
Another, I have read so many books with this kind of setup that were excellent, and to come across this one underwhelmed me in that I was unimpressed with the characterizations and the dealing of the tough issues that were highlighted.
*still writing, long review*
Full review:
Jolene Perry and Nyrae Dawn's "Out of Play" should've been a book that I loved. It revolves around sports, it has a female character that breaks genre stereotypes (purportedly), it deals with some tough issues, and it had the potential to be a decent coming of age story, with perhaps some elements of romance.
But I was bored collectively by this narrative, not to mention underwhelmed. Granted, there are two considerations I want to make with this. I haven't read either author before "Out of Play", and this might've been a terrible introduction to the both of them because I have no knowledge of what their narrative styles are like. That probably would've made a difference in terms of what to expect from this book, but I'm not sure.
Another, I have read so many books with this kind of setup that were excellent, and to come across this one underwhelmed me in that I was unimpressed with the characterizations and the dealing of the tough issues that were highlighted.
*still writing, long review*
April 5, 2016
ARC requested through Netgalley, and kindly provided by Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Very satisfying story of opposites attract. I really like Nyrae Dawn’s writing style so I was excited to read this story, co-written with Jolene Perry.
The setting — Alaska, a rock star trying to get a drug problem he won’t acknowledge under control and a hockey playing girl trying to find her way in life despite everyone else thinking they know what’s best for her.
I’ll start off by saying that I love reading stories that take place Alaska. I don’t know why, but I love reading about the scenery and weather in Alaska. It seems like it would be a wonderful place to visit.
On their own, outside the romance that developed, Bishop and Penny’s stories were so well developed. I loved each point of view and getting to know how their damaged pasts led them to the circumstances where they met. I couldn’t help but laugh at their early interactions. Both were so determined to NOT like one another, despite their mutual attraction, that they went out of their way to be rude. It made me cringe for them. When they both decided to acknowledge their attraction, I loved their sweet romance that developed.
Gramps was one of my favourite characters in the book, though Rebecca and Gary came in a close second. I loved what Gramps gave to Bishop in the form of acceptance and love. It was very heartwarming.
Gary was the support Bishop didn’t know he needed. And Bishop’s made up last name, which stuck with him cracked me up every time it was mentioned. Rebecca was a surprising support to Penny, used to only having guys in her life.
Though the climax was quite dramatic and emotional, the angst factor was super low in this book, which is my preference! It made for a very enjoyable read!
Very satisfying story of opposites attract. I really like Nyrae Dawn’s writing style so I was excited to read this story, co-written with Jolene Perry.
The setting — Alaska, a rock star trying to get a drug problem he won’t acknowledge under control and a hockey playing girl trying to find her way in life despite everyone else thinking they know what’s best for her.
I’ll start off by saying that I love reading stories that take place Alaska. I don’t know why, but I love reading about the scenery and weather in Alaska. It seems like it would be a wonderful place to visit.
On their own, outside the romance that developed, Bishop and Penny’s stories were so well developed. I loved each point of view and getting to know how their damaged pasts led them to the circumstances where they met. I couldn’t help but laugh at their early interactions. Both were so determined to NOT like one another, despite their mutual attraction, that they went out of their way to be rude. It made me cringe for them. When they both decided to acknowledge their attraction, I loved their sweet romance that developed.
Gramps was one of my favourite characters in the book, though Rebecca and Gary came in a close second. I loved what Gramps gave to Bishop in the form of acceptance and love. It was very heartwarming.
“Gramps's eyes light up. "He's got history, you know? But those people are the best kind because they already know what's out there and are ready to figure out what they really want. Do you know what you really want?”
Gary was the support Bishop didn’t know he needed. And Bishop’s made up last name, which stuck with him cracked me up every time it was mentioned. Rebecca was a surprising support to Penny, used to only having guys in her life.
Though the climax was quite dramatic and emotional, the angst factor was super low in this book, which is my preference! It made for a very enjoyable read!
June 15, 2021
'Pero incluso cuando todo estaba perfectamente bien con nosotros, yo seguía resistiendo apenas. Tuve que pedir ayuda... tenía que mejorar, para que tuvieras lo que mereces. Lo que ambos nos merecemos'.
•Mi opinión puede contener Spoilers
•Esta destinada a ser un descargo personal no para que alguien más lea pero si lo haces y te ofende, me disculpo porque sé lo que es que te guste un libro y otros lo critiquen
Out of play de Nyrae Dawn y Jolene Perry
Argumento:
El baterista, estrella de rock, Bishop Riley no tiene un problema con las drogas. Las celebridades, especialmente las que sufren de ansiedad, a veces solo necesitan un poco de ayuda para salir del borde.
Después de haber tomado demasiadas pastillas, Bishop despierta en el hospital, enfrentando una intervención. Si quiere quedarse en la banda, tendrá que desintoxicarse mientras cumple arresto domiciliario en Seldon, Alaska.
La jugadora de hockey, Penny Jones no puede imaginar una vida fuera de Seldon. A pesar de que tiene un montón de ofertas sobre becas en las mejores universidades, lo último que quiere es irse. ¿Quién cuidaría de su despistado abuelo?
Ciertamente no su madre, quien ni siquiera puede molestarse en ir a casa después del trabajo, y mucho
menos hacer frente a sus nuevos inquilinos de al lado.
Penny no está interesada en tratar con la actitud de mierda de Bishop, y él está demasiado ocupado escondiendo pastillas como para preocuparse. Hasta que empieza a pasar tiempo con el abuelo, y comienza a ver lo que se ha estado perdiendo. Si Bishop quiere una
oportunidad con la ardiente chica de al lado, tendrá que admitir que tiene un problema y superarlo. Lástima que una adicción es difícil de superar... y Bishop está a punto de quedarse sin tiempo.
Mí humilde opinión:
Un romance YA con temática de deporte, hockey en este, ligero y con mucho drama intenso...
Me gustó la idea de la historia, toca problemas reales como la adicción y la enfermedad de Alzheimer. Alaska era una lindo entorno, la heroína era una patea traseros en el hockey donde jugaba con todos chicos, el abuelo era un personaje increíble y no solo él, otros personajes secundarios fueron de gran apoyo al libro y me gustaron mucho.
Pero...
La historia en general no fue algo emocionante de leer, fue para mí difícil terminarla, tuvo sus momentos pero no llegué a comprometerme con ella.
Esperé más romance, Penny y Bishop me dejaron algo fría. Me gustaron algunas de sus escenas juntos pero no fue suficiente. Esperé al menos una escena vaporosa pero sorprendente no la hubo y muy pocos besos lo que fue algo decepcionante. La pareja me gustó, empezaron muy abajo, no se gustaban pero comenzaron a construir de a poco su relación hasta ser algo más, lo que estuvo muy bien, pero no me volaron la mente como pareja. Sentí que algo faltaba para unirlos.
Penny fue un personaje que me resultó completo, ella era decidida, fuerte y valiente, me encantó toda su lucha por lograr lo que quiere. Su historia era interesante individualmente.
Ahora Bishop tambaleó como estrella de rock, no vi más que su lado sobre la adicción a las pastillas y su constante negación. Me hubiera gustado también verlo lidiar con la banda y todo lo que viene con la fama solo obtuve que era el gran baterista de una banda famosa. Sí que mostró su pasión por la batería y eso estuvo bueno. Su historia era difícil y lo resolvió bien pero no era un personaje que gustara del todo. Necesité más de él para estar a la altura de alguien como Penny.
Incluso el final me fastidió, realmente esperaba algo más.
Esta es una de esas historias YA por las que muero leer y disfruto mucho pero a esta le faltaron muchos condimentos para hacerla de mí total agrado.
Mis ⭐⭐⭐ fue porque el libro no fue malo, estaba bien y hubo mucho que como mencioné al comienzo de mí opinión me gustó.
July 15, 2020
Es más como un 3.9 o un 4 (aún no me decido. Creo que nunca lo haré.)
Out of Play me ha gustado. Fue una lectura fresca, agradable y me entretuve mucho con ella. Los personajes me han parecido geniales, con mucha personalidad y diferentes. Bishop fue un personaje muy interesante de leer y esta fue la primera razón por la que decidí leer este libro. Me gustó mucho su evolución como persona y ver su lucha con las drogas y la ansiedad.
Sobre Penny no tengo que comentar mucho. Me ha parecido inteligente, graciosa y decidida, aunque un poco not like other girls.
Pese a que me gustó y disfruté mucho este libro, estos fueron algunos puntos que no me gustaron o que noté y que, sin duda, afectaron a la puntuación final dada:
1. Insta love: sentí que los personajes de Bishop y Penny se enamoraron tan pronto se conocieron. A diferencia de otras personas, esto no me molestó tanto pero aveces me sentía extraña cuando leía sobre su relación porque no la vi desarrollarse como hubiera querido.
2. Penny como un cliché de una película del año 2000 en adelante: Penny aveces tenía esta actitud de ser "femenina es malo", de "las chicas femeninas son unas sin cerebro", etcétera.
3. Poca credibilidad: Había leído en algunas reseñas aquí en Goodreads acerca de que algunas personas no pudieron comerse la historia de amor entre estos dos. Y sí, en algunos momentos yo también dudé de esta, pero no tan fuertemente como algunos.
A pesar de todo esto, fue un buen libro y disfruté bastante leyéndolo. Me encantó Bishop, me gustó mucho su historia y la manera en que se trató en este libro. Fue muy interesante de leer.
También hubo una serie de citas que me gustaron bastante y fueron las siguientes:
"Y podría jurar que con cada toque, ella derrite el hielo en mis venas."
"Odio las pastillas en mi bolso, pero también las amo. Quiero botarlas, pero no puedo obligarme a hacerlo. "
"Necesito aire fresco. Para ver cómo es ese gran mundo y darme cuenta que mis problemas no son el fin."
"Más tropiezos y luego llego a mi habitación. No sé por qué voy ahí, ni lo que quiero. En realidad sé lo que quiero, pero no puedo tenerlo."
Out of Play me ha gustado. Fue una lectura fresca, agradable y me entretuve mucho con ella. Los personajes me han parecido geniales, con mucha personalidad y diferentes. Bishop fue un personaje muy interesante de leer y esta fue la primera razón por la que decidí leer este libro. Me gustó mucho su evolución como persona y ver su lucha con las drogas y la ansiedad.
Sobre Penny no tengo que comentar mucho. Me ha parecido inteligente, graciosa y decidida, aunque un poco not like other girls.
Pese a que me gustó y disfruté mucho este libro, estos fueron algunos puntos que no me gustaron o que noté y que, sin duda, afectaron a la puntuación final dada:
1. Insta love: sentí que los personajes de Bishop y Penny se enamoraron tan pronto se conocieron. A diferencia de otras personas, esto no me molestó tanto pero aveces me sentía extraña cuando leía sobre su relación porque no la vi desarrollarse como hubiera querido.
2. Penny como un cliché de una película del año 2000 en adelante: Penny aveces tenía esta actitud de ser "femenina es malo", de "las chicas femeninas son unas sin cerebro", etcétera.
3. Poca credibilidad: Había leído en algunas reseñas aquí en Goodreads acerca de que algunas personas no pudieron comerse la historia de amor entre estos dos. Y sí, en algunos momentos yo también dudé de esta, pero no tan fuertemente como algunos.
A pesar de todo esto, fue un buen libro y disfruté bastante leyéndolo. Me encantó Bishop, me gustó mucho su historia y la manera en que se trató en este libro. Fue muy interesante de leer.
También hubo una serie de citas que me gustaron bastante y fueron las siguientes:
"Y podría jurar que con cada toque, ella derrite el hielo en mis venas."
"Odio las pastillas en mi bolso, pero también las amo. Quiero botarlas, pero no puedo obligarme a hacerlo. "
"Necesito aire fresco. Para ver cómo es ese gran mundo y darme cuenta que mis problemas no son el fin."
"Más tropiezos y luego llego a mi habitación. No sé por qué voy ahí, ni lo que quiero. En realidad sé lo que quiero, pero no puedo tenerlo."
August 5, 2013
Take 2 incredible authors, put them together and what happens? Magic. I loved this book so much. Rock star and hockey romances are among my favorite stories and this one has both.
The characters and story were strong and relatable. I both laughed and teared up. I heard it was a real thing to do BUT I would never want to break my nose around Penny ;)
I highly recommend this book and will be posting links to it everywhere I can once it is live.
The characters and story were strong and relatable. I both laughed and teared up. I heard it was a real thing to do BUT I would never want to break my nose around Penny ;)
I highly recommend this book and will be posting links to it everywhere I can once it is live.
June 23, 2016
3/5 stars
I liked it just didn't love it. The characters were okay, the relationship was okay, and how everything developed plot-wise was okay. It was easy to read but I felt something was missing.
I liked it just didn't love it. The characters were okay, the relationship was okay, and how everything developed plot-wise was okay. It was easy to read but I felt something was missing.
September 18, 2013
Review: Out Of Play I love girl who have snarky attitude and smart words. I adore girls who re-define who they are. This story is exquisite.
Plot: You have this girl, Penny who plays a tough game both on and off the field of ice hockey. She doesn’t let anyone be soft on her. Then Riley comes along. A smart kid who has geared off the path into hard times. Putting this two together is a smart choice for an excellent read. I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoyed reading it. The plot flowed well with significant amount of memories that lay down the foundation for love and friendship. It’s easy to get lots in the book and find yourself among a couple who learns to fight for each other and love they never have before.
Love: Putting these two together has got to be the funniest thing ever. You can’t even imagine how much I snorted, sighed and of course laughed my butt off. Every line of sarcasm that Penny delivers to Riley just amped up the romantic tension between the two. And when they slowly let down their walls down and became friends ….Now that is beautiful.
Past: If you don’t deal with your broken past it will come back to bite you. In this case, both Penny and Riley deal with past hurt. Both past is what I expected it to be, its how they dealt with it that really ticked me off. I’m glad that even with the past coming back to them, its good to see them work through it together…..eventually.
Verdict? AWESOME! AMAZING! SUBLIME!
It’s takes a path created by two authors, to readers who yearn for a romantic yet fulfilling love. Accomplishing drama with cheeky sarcasm enough to make you snort, Out Of Play connects with readers with sentimentality and friendship. A collaborative duo, clever in capturing a great story, Out Of Play is full of WIN!
Plot: You have this girl, Penny who plays a tough game both on and off the field of ice hockey. She doesn’t let anyone be soft on her. Then Riley comes along. A smart kid who has geared off the path into hard times. Putting this two together is a smart choice for an excellent read. I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoyed reading it. The plot flowed well with significant amount of memories that lay down the foundation for love and friendship. It’s easy to get lots in the book and find yourself among a couple who learns to fight for each other and love they never have before.
Love: Putting these two together has got to be the funniest thing ever. You can’t even imagine how much I snorted, sighed and of course laughed my butt off. Every line of sarcasm that Penny delivers to Riley just amped up the romantic tension between the two. And when they slowly let down their walls down and became friends ….Now that is beautiful.
Past: If you don’t deal with your broken past it will come back to bite you. In this case, both Penny and Riley deal with past hurt. Both past is what I expected it to be, its how they dealt with it that really ticked me off. I’m glad that even with the past coming back to them, its good to see them work through it together…..eventually.
Verdict? AWESOME! AMAZING! SUBLIME!
It’s takes a path created by two authors, to readers who yearn for a romantic yet fulfilling love. Accomplishing drama with cheeky sarcasm enough to make you snort, Out Of Play connects with readers with sentimentality and friendship. A collaborative duo, clever in capturing a great story, Out Of Play is full of WIN!
August 9, 2013
Warning you will cry in this book, if for some reason you don't you are heartless. This book had my two favorite things in it, rockstar bad boy and Hockey. Yes I know I am obsessed with Hockey.
I fell in love with Gary and Troy. Yes you heard me right I know that they are not the main characters in the book, but I think they are amazing. Now onto the main characters.
Lucky Penny, she is damn determined to prove everyone wrong and to show everyone that she can do whatever the hell she wants. She is after all a badass hockey player from Alaska. She has had a lot of people let her down so of course she tries not to let anyone or anything affect her.
Bishop Ripe or Riley whatever it is he calls himself is your typical bad boy rocker but with an extremely big heart. I was so mad at him for not just doing what needed to be done in the first place, but then again isn't denial one of the emotions that you go through. I am so glad that he finally found that person that he could trust with all his secrets and boy did he have a lot of them.
Did I mention that there is a crazy old man that makes pies and dances naked, no well there is and his name is Gramps and he is the backbone for the entire story for me. Without him this would have been just any other read.
Boy oh boy did these two authors make me cry, I mean like a sobbing mess. So badly I had to tweet them about it. Then I had to let them know that I was okay and that the book was an amazing read.
Brandi @ Dirty Girl Book Club
I fell in love with Gary and Troy. Yes you heard me right I know that they are not the main characters in the book, but I think they are amazing. Now onto the main characters.
Lucky Penny, she is damn determined to prove everyone wrong and to show everyone that she can do whatever the hell she wants. She is after all a badass hockey player from Alaska. She has had a lot of people let her down so of course she tries not to let anyone or anything affect her.
Bishop Ripe or Riley whatever it is he calls himself is your typical bad boy rocker but with an extremely big heart. I was so mad at him for not just doing what needed to be done in the first place, but then again isn't denial one of the emotions that you go through. I am so glad that he finally found that person that he could trust with all his secrets and boy did he have a lot of them.
Did I mention that there is a crazy old man that makes pies and dances naked, no well there is and his name is Gramps and he is the backbone for the entire story for me. Without him this would have been just any other read.
Boy oh boy did these two authors make me cry, I mean like a sobbing mess. So badly I had to tweet them about it. Then I had to let them know that I was okay and that the book was an amazing read.
Brandi @ Dirty Girl Book Club
August 1, 2013
“He’s got history, you know? But those people are the best kind because they already know what’s out there and are ready to figure out what they really want. Do you know what you really want?”
I was drawn to this book for two main reasons: Penny and Bishop. Penny sounded like such a kick-ass girl in the description. I have what just might be an unhealthy obsession with the troubled “bad boy” actor/musician/fighter that is so common in YA and NA lit these days. Additionally, as I may have mentioned a time or two before on this blog, I love reading about romance between a regular girl/famous boy.
I did love Penny. She was awesome. She truly was the kick-ass girl I thought she was given the description of the book. I’d like to think she and I would be friends if she a) was real and b) didn’t live in Alaska. Bishop just didn’t really interest me. I honestly felt he was boring. Yes he was troubled and vulnerable, but i just couldn’t connect with him. I didn’t care. Or, I didn’t care until that thing happens in the book – once you’ve read it, if you chose to, you’ll know exactly which “thing” I’m talking about. At that point, I felt so much for him. He was in so much obvious pain and was so vulnerable and unable to control his actions, it broke my heart.
The side characters were rather well-developed in this book. Gramps was amazing. He was a firecracker. He reminded me of my own grandfather in a lot of ways, so it was painful to read about his decline into dementia. Penny’s mom was a well-written character, but not one that I enjoyed reading about. I have a wonderful relationship with my mother. I know I’m lucky. Not everyone does. Penny’s mom was too controlling, manipulative and close-minded for me.
I know you should never judge a book by its cover, but trust me when I say I do. Still. I can’t help it. After seeing this cover and reading the blurb on Goodreads, I thought I was in for a fluffy New Adult romance novel with a Happily Ever After. Instead, I learned this was a book about growth and self-discovery, with a side of romance. The journey, so to speak, was great, but I found the romance lacking. I won’t say it wasn’t believable, necessarily. I just didn’t care. I didn’t connect enough with Bishop to care or want to see them fight for their relationship.
It wasn’t a bad book. I don’t regret reading it. It just really wasn’t what I thought I was getting.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. There were a lot of distracting cosmetic issues with the galley copy. It was incredibly difficult to read. The spacing was weird and when the document was sent to my Kindle app the first time, half the letters were missing. I converted it myself with Calibre and there weren’t as many missing letters, but there were weird paragraph and sentence breaks. I didn’t base my review on these issues, but I thought it worth mentioning. It did detract some from my ability to enjoy it.
This review can also be found on my blog.
I was drawn to this book for two main reasons: Penny and Bishop. Penny sounded like such a kick-ass girl in the description. I have what just might be an unhealthy obsession with the troubled “bad boy” actor/musician/fighter that is so common in YA and NA lit these days. Additionally, as I may have mentioned a time or two before on this blog, I love reading about romance between a regular girl/famous boy.
I did love Penny. She was awesome. She truly was the kick-ass girl I thought she was given the description of the book. I’d like to think she and I would be friends if she a) was real and b) didn’t live in Alaska. Bishop just didn’t really interest me. I honestly felt he was boring. Yes he was troubled and vulnerable, but i just couldn’t connect with him. I didn’t care. Or, I didn’t care until that thing happens in the book – once you’ve read it, if you chose to, you’ll know exactly which “thing” I’m talking about. At that point, I felt so much for him. He was in so much obvious pain and was so vulnerable and unable to control his actions, it broke my heart.
The side characters were rather well-developed in this book. Gramps was amazing. He was a firecracker. He reminded me of my own grandfather in a lot of ways, so it was painful to read about his decline into dementia. Penny’s mom was a well-written character, but not one that I enjoyed reading about. I have a wonderful relationship with my mother. I know I’m lucky. Not everyone does. Penny’s mom was too controlling, manipulative and close-minded for me.
I know you should never judge a book by its cover, but trust me when I say I do. Still. I can’t help it. After seeing this cover and reading the blurb on Goodreads, I thought I was in for a fluffy New Adult romance novel with a Happily Ever After. Instead, I learned this was a book about growth and self-discovery, with a side of romance. The journey, so to speak, was great, but I found the romance lacking. I won’t say it wasn’t believable, necessarily. I just didn’t care. I didn’t connect enough with Bishop to care or want to see them fight for their relationship.
It wasn’t a bad book. I don’t regret reading it. It just really wasn’t what I thought I was getting.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. There were a lot of distracting cosmetic issues with the galley copy. It was incredibly difficult to read. The spacing was weird and when the document was sent to my Kindle app the first time, half the letters were missing. I converted it myself with Calibre and there weren’t as many missing letters, but there were weird paragraph and sentence breaks. I didn’t base my review on these issues, but I thought it worth mentioning. It did detract some from my ability to enjoy it.
This review can also be found on my blog.
August 4, 2013
Review: 4 ½ out of 5 stars
Out of Play by Jolene Perry and Nyrae Dawn was kindly provided to me by Entangled Teen and kept me riveted right from the very first page with its exciting premise and amazing characters.
Bishop Riley is the drummer for a famous award winning band and has been sent to Seldon, Alaska after nearly overdosing to think and sort out his priorities. Bishop was a broody character who was a bit of a mystery, I wanted to know more about him, his anxiety and addiction and what had sent him on a downward spiral and as the book progressed I enjoyed getting to know more about him.
Tomboy Penny Jones plays with the school boys hockey team and can’t imagine life outside of Seldon, she loves her lifestyle and her family and is hesitant when it comes to making a decision about college, she comes to be intrigued by the moody boy who has just arrived at her families rental cabins, his arrival shrouded in secrecy.
These characters couldn’t have been more different, Bishop with his cockiness and partying ways and Penny with her kick-butt sass and attitude who really cared about those around her, they ended up melding in a way which worked really well and the attraction between them was hot! I must say though, I was so anxious as I was reading along about how one beer only Penny would feel towards Bishop once she knew the truth about not only who he was but why he was there.
The secondary characters were fabulous! I absolutely adored Gramps, he was such a wise old man and I really felt for him with his dementia; Gary and his advice was amazing; we all need a Gary in our lives with his positive affirmations and guidance I think and I liked the protective relationship Bishop shared with his mother.
This is my favourite kind of romance, no insta-love, just a slow (probably a little too slow) build up and mutual attraction which had me hoping for a HEA but it wasn’t to come without a few misunderstandings, drama and a lot of self-discovery, especially on Bishop’s part.
The writing is brilliant and the details we are given vivid, you are drawn into the scene along with the characters and feel their emotions and their experiences which I think is a sign of amazing story-telling.
Jolene Perry and Nyrae Dawn have written an entertaining page-turner with amazing characters, a wonderful storyline and really sweet romance. Dementia, addiction and anxiety were dealt with in a way which was believable, compassionate and extremely well done.
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable read by two fabulous authors.
Thank-you to Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read and review Out of Play.
Out of Play by Jolene Perry and Nyrae Dawn was kindly provided to me by Entangled Teen and kept me riveted right from the very first page with its exciting premise and amazing characters.
Bishop Riley is the drummer for a famous award winning band and has been sent to Seldon, Alaska after nearly overdosing to think and sort out his priorities. Bishop was a broody character who was a bit of a mystery, I wanted to know more about him, his anxiety and addiction and what had sent him on a downward spiral and as the book progressed I enjoyed getting to know more about him.
Tomboy Penny Jones plays with the school boys hockey team and can’t imagine life outside of Seldon, she loves her lifestyle and her family and is hesitant when it comes to making a decision about college, she comes to be intrigued by the moody boy who has just arrived at her families rental cabins, his arrival shrouded in secrecy.
These characters couldn’t have been more different, Bishop with his cockiness and partying ways and Penny with her kick-butt sass and attitude who really cared about those around her, they ended up melding in a way which worked really well and the attraction between them was hot! I must say though, I was so anxious as I was reading along about how one beer only Penny would feel towards Bishop once she knew the truth about not only who he was but why he was there.
The secondary characters were fabulous! I absolutely adored Gramps, he was such a wise old man and I really felt for him with his dementia; Gary and his advice was amazing; we all need a Gary in our lives with his positive affirmations and guidance I think and I liked the protective relationship Bishop shared with his mother.
This is my favourite kind of romance, no insta-love, just a slow (probably a little too slow) build up and mutual attraction which had me hoping for a HEA but it wasn’t to come without a few misunderstandings, drama and a lot of self-discovery, especially on Bishop’s part.
The writing is brilliant and the details we are given vivid, you are drawn into the scene along with the characters and feel their emotions and their experiences which I think is a sign of amazing story-telling.
Jolene Perry and Nyrae Dawn have written an entertaining page-turner with amazing characters, a wonderful storyline and really sweet romance. Dementia, addiction and anxiety were dealt with in a way which was believable, compassionate and extremely well done.
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable read by two fabulous authors.
Thank-you to Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read and review Out of Play.
August 6, 2013
Out of Play isn’t the typical rock star romance, following a band on tour and some lucky girl who tames the untamable playboy musician. This is a Young Adult novel co-written by Jolene Perry and Nyrae Dawn, so aside from drug use, it’s fairly tame for a story with a rock star protagonist. At its core, Out of Play is about the relationship between two teenagers on the brink of major life changes who come into each other’s lives when they most need someone. Overall, Out of Play is a sweet read with mildly intense situations and a strong connection between protagonists, Bishop Riley and Penny Jones.
The book is told through dual perspectives, providing insight into the minds of both characters and allowing readers a glimpse behind their tough exteriors. To his band mates, Bishop is a drug addict whose aversion to large crowds drives him to self-medicate. To her ice hockey teammates, Penny is the lone female in a male-dominated sport and as such, is thought of as one of the guys, despite her obvious beauty. Penny and Bishop are from two different worlds yet their chemistry is undeniable. I always enjoy when love interests start off despising each other (or some lesser form of dislike), building tension until their desire for each other makes it impossible to ignore their feelings any longer.
Penny and Bishop are two characters that are likable individually, but together, they are captivating. Their playful banter and good-natured ribbing provide many entertaining and light-hearted moments. Moments of pain and heartache are interspersed throughout Out of Play, set at a steady pace so as not to be overwhelming, until the book’s climax when the conflict implodes from many different directions at once. After that, everything unfolds quickly, leading up to a satisfactory ending.
Out of Play isn’t so much a “rock star” novel as it is a book about a guy who happens to be a rock star. The story is very character driven, exposing the strengths and weaknesses of both Penny and Bishop, which makes their characters more relatable. I am a huge fan of both Nyrae Dawn and Jolene Perry and I think they make a solid writing team, as evidenced by their previous co-authored book, Dizzy, as well as Out of Play. I’d love to revisit this couple in a follow-up novel to find out what’s in store for their future.
The book is told through dual perspectives, providing insight into the minds of both characters and allowing readers a glimpse behind their tough exteriors. To his band mates, Bishop is a drug addict whose aversion to large crowds drives him to self-medicate. To her ice hockey teammates, Penny is the lone female in a male-dominated sport and as such, is thought of as one of the guys, despite her obvious beauty. Penny and Bishop are from two different worlds yet their chemistry is undeniable. I always enjoy when love interests start off despising each other (or some lesser form of dislike), building tension until their desire for each other makes it impossible to ignore their feelings any longer.
Penny and Bishop are two characters that are likable individually, but together, they are captivating. Their playful banter and good-natured ribbing provide many entertaining and light-hearted moments. Moments of pain and heartache are interspersed throughout Out of Play, set at a steady pace so as not to be overwhelming, until the book’s climax when the conflict implodes from many different directions at once. After that, everything unfolds quickly, leading up to a satisfactory ending.
Out of Play isn’t so much a “rock star” novel as it is a book about a guy who happens to be a rock star. The story is very character driven, exposing the strengths and weaknesses of both Penny and Bishop, which makes their characters more relatable. I am a huge fan of both Nyrae Dawn and Jolene Perry and I think they make a solid writing team, as evidenced by their previous co-authored book, Dizzy, as well as Out of Play. I’d love to revisit this couple in a follow-up novel to find out what’s in store for their future.
August 1, 2013
Mmmkay... this book? Totes awesomazing! Hot and sexy, but also kinda cute and innocent too. It pretty much goes through the spectrum of butterfly emotions. *sings Colbie Caillat's Bubbly*
Let's start with Penny, who is my favorite of Jolene's girls ever! Okay, okay, maybe I'm lying because I've loved all her girls, but this chicka, she'll kick your butt and look good doing it. She hangs with the boys, knows how to take a good hit, and delivers it right back. She's the girl I wish I was in high school. Tough, athletic, hot (cuz, yes, I want to be a freaking thin blonde that catches the attention of a sexy drummer next door), and knows how to be a kickbutt friend. The best thing about being in her head? She was FUN. Her voice was killer. I laughed and felt for her. She was freaking amazing.
Bishop... okay, he's a drummer. Bam, that pretty much does me in right there, but he's also hilarious. Yes, he's got his problems that run deep. He needs help and he's in denial a whole lot, but gosh, I loved this guy. His voice jumped off the page and right into book boyfriend material. And I think one of the reasons why I loved Penny so much was because of how HE SAW HER. I'm like, dude, I know you're talking about her, but can I imagine it's me out there in that bikini and hot tub making your temperature rise? Heh heh. :)
The story was cute, fun, and also heartbreaking... so like, my favorite kind. Bishop's inner struggle with drugs and Penny's family relations tugged at my heart, but their cute friendship and ultimately loving relationship kept things lighter as well. It was a beautiful blend. I loved seeing them both become different people around each other, but still keeping the best parts of themselves. Great love story.
And the writing, of course no complaints, because we're talking Dawn and Perry here. They should come up with a theme song and pose like Charlie's Angels cuz they are the buttkickers of collaborations.
A perfect book to fan-girl (or boy) over.
Let's start with Penny, who is my favorite of Jolene's girls ever! Okay, okay, maybe I'm lying because I've loved all her girls, but this chicka, she'll kick your butt and look good doing it. She hangs with the boys, knows how to take a good hit, and delivers it right back. She's the girl I wish I was in high school. Tough, athletic, hot (cuz, yes, I want to be a freaking thin blonde that catches the attention of a sexy drummer next door), and knows how to be a kickbutt friend. The best thing about being in her head? She was FUN. Her voice was killer. I laughed and felt for her. She was freaking amazing.
Bishop... okay, he's a drummer. Bam, that pretty much does me in right there, but he's also hilarious. Yes, he's got his problems that run deep. He needs help and he's in denial a whole lot, but gosh, I loved this guy. His voice jumped off the page and right into book boyfriend material. And I think one of the reasons why I loved Penny so much was because of how HE SAW HER. I'm like, dude, I know you're talking about her, but can I imagine it's me out there in that bikini and hot tub making your temperature rise? Heh heh. :)
The story was cute, fun, and also heartbreaking... so like, my favorite kind. Bishop's inner struggle with drugs and Penny's family relations tugged at my heart, but their cute friendship and ultimately loving relationship kept things lighter as well. It was a beautiful blend. I loved seeing them both become different people around each other, but still keeping the best parts of themselves. Great love story.
And the writing, of course no complaints, because we're talking Dawn and Perry here. They should come up with a theme song and pose like Charlie's Angels cuz they are the buttkickers of collaborations.
A perfect book to fan-girl (or boy) over.
July 25, 2013
My blog received and ARC of this book for an honest review
This book had to be good - Nyrae Dawn & Jolene Perry?!
Well it didn't disappoint plus the female mc plays hockey! and you know I love my hockey books!
While the mc's were great - my favorite characters were Gramps and Gary. These two authors made them real. I pictured that would just be how a grandpa & sober assistant would act.
It is a worthy read and entertained me well.
This book had to be good - Nyrae Dawn & Jolene Perry?!
Well it didn't disappoint plus the female mc plays hockey! and you know I love my hockey books!
While the mc's were great - my favorite characters were Gramps and Gary. These two authors made them real. I pictured that would just be how a grandpa & sober assistant would act.
It is a worthy read and entertained me well.
July 20, 2015
I absolutely loved this book! It's rare for me to have much time to read these days, but when I pick up a book that sucks me in, I make time! I thought it was well-written and I loved the main characters: the beautiful, balsy, hockey-playing Penny and the moody, gorgeous, incredibly talented drummer Bishop, but the supporting characters were great as well. I can easily see this being made into a movie and can't wait until it is!
August 18, 2013
I was anxiously awaiting this book after meeting both authors at SFINE in San Francisco. I love both of their work and together they slay..Dizzy! Add in a tomboy who plays hockey and a rockstar drummer = me reading and loving!
March 8, 2018
This book was a surprise to me. I went into it expecting a light teenage romance - but I got a real good developed story that felt real. If the Blurbs sounds interesting to you - I would encourage you to read it.
March 31, 2017
Why I haven't read this book sooner? I absolutely loved it! It even made me cry
June 23, 2015
Como todo libro de Nyrae, PERFECTIRIJILLO <3.
August 4, 2014
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Out of Play by Nyrae Dawn and Jolene Perry
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: August 6, 2013
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from the publisher (for the tour)
Summary (from Goodreads):
Rock star drummer Bishop Riley doesn't have a drug problem. Celebrities—especially ones suffering from anxiety—just need a little help taking the edge off sometimes. After downing a few too many pills, Bishop wakes up in the hospital facing an intervention. If he wants to stay in the band, he’ll have to detox while under house arrest in Seldon, Alaska.
Hockey player Penny Jones can't imagine a life outside of Seldon. Though she has tons of scholarship offers to all the best schools, the last thing she wants is to leave. Who'll take care of her absentminded gramps? Not her mother, who can’t even be bothered to come home from work, let alone deal with their new tenants next door.
Penny’s not interested in dealing with Bishop’s crappy attitude, and Bishop’s too busy sneaking pills to care. Until he starts hanging out with Gramps and begins to see what he’s been missing. If Bishop wants a chance with the fiery girl next door, he’ll have to admit he has a problem and kick it. Too bad addiction is hard to kick…and Bishop’s about to run out of time.
What I Liked:
I'm on the blog tour for this book, but I would have requested to read this one early anyway, because I absolutely love Jolene's books, and Nyrae's books! I was so excited to see how this collaboration would turn out - I believe it's their first. Jolene and Nyrae both have a way of creating broken yet beautiful stories, so when you put them together... well, let's just say that this book is DOUBLE the broken/beautiful-ness!
Bishop has been taking drugs to help with his problems with crowds and anxiety. He thinks he doesn't have a problem - but he definitely does. He almost dies, and is sent off to quiet Alaska, to recover from his drug problem with the media knowing.
He and his "babysitter" rent cabins from Penny's mother - which is how Bishop meets Penny/Penny meets Bishop. Penny is a tough girl - she's the only girl on a men's hockey team. She's a high school senior looking to go to a college that she wants, and not what everyone else wants for her. Everyone wants her to go to a university with a top ice hockey women's team, but she wants to stay in Alaska, and play on a men's team.
Penny basically carries a chip on her shoulder for a lot of the book. This isn't a bad thing, but she walks around with an attitude. She gets mad about her mother never being around. She gets mad about having to leave parties to take care of Gramps. She gets ad because she's had a crush on her teammate and best friend Mitch, but he's dating someone, and he's totally in love with his girlfriend.
When Bishop and Penny meet, they don't instantly fall in love with each other. Both of them recognize the chemistry between them, but Penny lets her attitude shield herself, and Bishop would rather not deal with her finding out about who he really is. Eventually, Penny starts to hang out with Bishop, because Gramps tell Penny to be nicer to him.
I love the character of Gramps. I think that despite the onset of his disease, he is very astute and intelligent. He saw right through Bishop from the start, I believe, which is why he wanted Penny to be nicer to Bishop. Gramps likes Bishop, and he lets Bishop help fix Penny's car (which, at first, Penny does NOT appreciate). I was glad when Gramps had such a large role in Bishop's healing/recovery process.
The romance in this book is very... wonderful. Penny and Bishop slowly learn to trust each other, like each other, need other. Bishop doesn't tell Penny everything, but Penny trusts Bishop to tell her when he's ready. I LOVE that. No one is obligated to tell a virtual stranger EVERYTHING, all at once. That's something that people always expect, in YA lit, that they shouldn't. I liked seeing this level of trust come from Penny, when it finally did.
The plot of the book is really centered around Penny and her ice hockey tournament. We all know what to expect coming down to the end of the book. Penny's team will make it to the championships... and Bishop will have to go back. For good? Temporarily? Find out when you read it!
The ending is great! I liked it, but I can't say anything specific about it, without giving anything away. I totally saw it coming, but that's okay. It's a predictable ending, but good nonetheless.
What I Did Not Like:
I kept mentioning how Penny has this attitude, right? It's a great display of tough-girl, especially since she's surrounded by hardcore males all day... but sometimes, it rubbed me the wrong way. I have a feeling that Penny and I wouldn't be friends in real life, if she weer real. I'm not a girly girl that freaks out about hair and makeup and clothes, and I'm a die-hard sports fan and athlete... but I'm not as rude and harsh as she is sometimes.
***Possible general spoilers coming in the next paragraph***
I also sort of hate the ending. While I absolutely love it, it's predictable, and there's something specific that I hate about it. You know when the guy bends over backwards to please the girl, and he changes his life for her? Yeah. That. I hate that Penny makes zero effort to be with Bishop, whereas Bishop drops everything for her. And himself, sort of, but for her. She's such a "tough girl", but she lets others conform to what she wants, rather than compromising. I hate people like that.
***End possible spoilers***
Would I Recommend It:
Despite the things that I disliked, I would totally recommend this book to YA readers! Youths and adults alike will enjoy this refreshing contemporary romance novel. I really enjoyed it, especially the sport aspect of the book, which usually isn't featured in YA books! Especially when it's the girl. Love it!
Rating:
4 stars. Definitely worth the read! Two fantastic authors come together and make magic!
Out of Play by Nyrae Dawn and Jolene Perry
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: August 6, 2013
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from the publisher (for the tour)
Summary (from Goodreads):
Rock star drummer Bishop Riley doesn't have a drug problem. Celebrities—especially ones suffering from anxiety—just need a little help taking the edge off sometimes. After downing a few too many pills, Bishop wakes up in the hospital facing an intervention. If he wants to stay in the band, he’ll have to detox while under house arrest in Seldon, Alaska.
Hockey player Penny Jones can't imagine a life outside of Seldon. Though she has tons of scholarship offers to all the best schools, the last thing she wants is to leave. Who'll take care of her absentminded gramps? Not her mother, who can’t even be bothered to come home from work, let alone deal with their new tenants next door.
Penny’s not interested in dealing with Bishop’s crappy attitude, and Bishop’s too busy sneaking pills to care. Until he starts hanging out with Gramps and begins to see what he’s been missing. If Bishop wants a chance with the fiery girl next door, he’ll have to admit he has a problem and kick it. Too bad addiction is hard to kick…and Bishop’s about to run out of time.
What I Liked:
I'm on the blog tour for this book, but I would have requested to read this one early anyway, because I absolutely love Jolene's books, and Nyrae's books! I was so excited to see how this collaboration would turn out - I believe it's their first. Jolene and Nyrae both have a way of creating broken yet beautiful stories, so when you put them together... well, let's just say that this book is DOUBLE the broken/beautiful-ness!
Bishop has been taking drugs to help with his problems with crowds and anxiety. He thinks he doesn't have a problem - but he definitely does. He almost dies, and is sent off to quiet Alaska, to recover from his drug problem with the media knowing.
He and his "babysitter" rent cabins from Penny's mother - which is how Bishop meets Penny/Penny meets Bishop. Penny is a tough girl - she's the only girl on a men's hockey team. She's a high school senior looking to go to a college that she wants, and not what everyone else wants for her. Everyone wants her to go to a university with a top ice hockey women's team, but she wants to stay in Alaska, and play on a men's team.
Penny basically carries a chip on her shoulder for a lot of the book. This isn't a bad thing, but she walks around with an attitude. She gets mad about her mother never being around. She gets mad about having to leave parties to take care of Gramps. She gets ad because she's had a crush on her teammate and best friend Mitch, but he's dating someone, and he's totally in love with his girlfriend.
When Bishop and Penny meet, they don't instantly fall in love with each other. Both of them recognize the chemistry between them, but Penny lets her attitude shield herself, and Bishop would rather not deal with her finding out about who he really is. Eventually, Penny starts to hang out with Bishop, because Gramps tell Penny to be nicer to him.
I love the character of Gramps. I think that despite the onset of his disease, he is very astute and intelligent. He saw right through Bishop from the start, I believe, which is why he wanted Penny to be nicer to Bishop. Gramps likes Bishop, and he lets Bishop help fix Penny's car (which, at first, Penny does NOT appreciate). I was glad when Gramps had such a large role in Bishop's healing/recovery process.
The romance in this book is very... wonderful. Penny and Bishop slowly learn to trust each other, like each other, need other. Bishop doesn't tell Penny everything, but Penny trusts Bishop to tell her when he's ready. I LOVE that. No one is obligated to tell a virtual stranger EVERYTHING, all at once. That's something that people always expect, in YA lit, that they shouldn't. I liked seeing this level of trust come from Penny, when it finally did.
The plot of the book is really centered around Penny and her ice hockey tournament. We all know what to expect coming down to the end of the book. Penny's team will make it to the championships... and Bishop will have to go back. For good? Temporarily? Find out when you read it!
The ending is great! I liked it, but I can't say anything specific about it, without giving anything away. I totally saw it coming, but that's okay. It's a predictable ending, but good nonetheless.
What I Did Not Like:
I kept mentioning how Penny has this attitude, right? It's a great display of tough-girl, especially since she's surrounded by hardcore males all day... but sometimes, it rubbed me the wrong way. I have a feeling that Penny and I wouldn't be friends in real life, if she weer real. I'm not a girly girl that freaks out about hair and makeup and clothes, and I'm a die-hard sports fan and athlete... but I'm not as rude and harsh as she is sometimes.
***Possible general spoilers coming in the next paragraph***
I also sort of hate the ending. While I absolutely love it, it's predictable, and there's something specific that I hate about it. You know when the guy bends over backwards to please the girl, and he changes his life for her? Yeah. That. I hate that Penny makes zero effort to be with Bishop, whereas Bishop drops everything for her. And himself, sort of, but for her. She's such a "tough girl", but she lets others conform to what she wants, rather than compromising. I hate people like that.
***End possible spoilers***
Would I Recommend It:
Despite the things that I disliked, I would totally recommend this book to YA readers! Youths and adults alike will enjoy this refreshing contemporary romance novel. I really enjoyed it, especially the sport aspect of the book, which usually isn't featured in YA books! Especially when it's the girl. Love it!
Rating:
4 stars. Definitely worth the read! Two fantastic authors come together and make magic!
March 27, 2016
Where do you send a pill head drummer for a band that has Grammies under their belt and he needs to get his stuff together? Alaska?! This seems like a great idea for everyone but Bishop. So yeah, maybe he did almost die by downing too many pills this last time and yeah, maybe he has been letting his band down by not showing up to places he was supposed to be…but Alaska? His mom, who he loves very much, and his manager have come up with the idea for Bishop to take a couple of months off with Gary by his side. Gary has helped someone else who had addiction problems through this and he has been by Bishop as his bodyguard for quite some time. Gary knows too that Bishop has to do this if he wants to keep living. Too bad Bishop doesn’t realize that this trip is a life or death matter. It’s easy to brush off the concept of having a pill addiction when some of the meds are prescribed and you just don’t see for yourself what is happening around you. Bishop agrees to go to appease his mom and to get his manager off his back so that they get over this idea that he has a problem. But Alaska? What the hell do you do there? There are no food deliveries even if you get an idea you want pizza or Chinese!
One thing Alaska does have and that is Penny Jones who is a tough as hell girl who is not only beautiful but is one of the best hockey players on her all boy high school team. Penny works hard and takes no shit from anyone and she is also loved and admired by the guys on her team. She is getting a lot of looks from some of the best women’s hockey colleges out there but Penny doesn’t want to leave Alaska. She actually likes it there for a few different reasons; 1-she wants to play on a men’s team and if in Alaska she can, 2-she really likes where she lives because there is some much to do, and 3-her Grandpa is there and he means the world to her and he is in the beginning of dementia. Since her dad was killed in a motorcycle accident it’s just her mom and her grandpa who share a put together house and run cabin rentals. Usually people only come up and rent in the summer but there are two guys who rented out all of the cabins and it’s the dead of winter.
Bishop does catch Penny’s eye but because of his bad attitude and he can’t even wave back to her she figures he isn’t worth the time. It’s just too bad that he’s so damn good looking. Penny has no idea who this moody guy is even though she is a fan of his band Burn which he is the drummer for. As the walls slowly come down Penny shows Bishop all of the things that you can actually do in Alaska and have fun doing them. The competition between these two is funny because both like to give it everything they have and end up on top. Who knew riding snow machines around could be so much fun?! Bishop also spends his time working on fixing up Penny’s old corvette with Gramps and they form a really close bond which is something that Bishop hasn’t had in his life since his dad is actually a scumbag. He finally trusts Gramps enough to let him in on his story and Gramps is the only one who knows the real Bishop Riley.
What’s it going to take to get Bishop to tell Penny who he really is and why he is up in Alaska in the middle of winter renting a bunch of cabins with one other guy? Even if Penny realizes that she is having actual feelings for Bishop is he worth giving up her college aspirations for or will what he tells her end their relationship for good? What tragedy happens that pushes Bishop to the edge and will he and Penny every have that chance to have the relationship that they both surprisingly want? This book had you feeling some pretty intense things; there was a sweetness that was forming between Penny, Bishop and Gramps, there were times that my eyes filled with tears because of some of the heartbreak, and there was that feeling that you get when you finally have found someone that you are attracted to and makes you think about life in the future.
This book was provided as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
One thing Alaska does have and that is Penny Jones who is a tough as hell girl who is not only beautiful but is one of the best hockey players on her all boy high school team. Penny works hard and takes no shit from anyone and she is also loved and admired by the guys on her team. She is getting a lot of looks from some of the best women’s hockey colleges out there but Penny doesn’t want to leave Alaska. She actually likes it there for a few different reasons; 1-she wants to play on a men’s team and if in Alaska she can, 2-she really likes where she lives because there is some much to do, and 3-her Grandpa is there and he means the world to her and he is in the beginning of dementia. Since her dad was killed in a motorcycle accident it’s just her mom and her grandpa who share a put together house and run cabin rentals. Usually people only come up and rent in the summer but there are two guys who rented out all of the cabins and it’s the dead of winter.
Bishop does catch Penny’s eye but because of his bad attitude and he can’t even wave back to her she figures he isn’t worth the time. It’s just too bad that he’s so damn good looking. Penny has no idea who this moody guy is even though she is a fan of his band Burn which he is the drummer for. As the walls slowly come down Penny shows Bishop all of the things that you can actually do in Alaska and have fun doing them. The competition between these two is funny because both like to give it everything they have and end up on top. Who knew riding snow machines around could be so much fun?! Bishop also spends his time working on fixing up Penny’s old corvette with Gramps and they form a really close bond which is something that Bishop hasn’t had in his life since his dad is actually a scumbag. He finally trusts Gramps enough to let him in on his story and Gramps is the only one who knows the real Bishop Riley.
What’s it going to take to get Bishop to tell Penny who he really is and why he is up in Alaska in the middle of winter renting a bunch of cabins with one other guy? Even if Penny realizes that she is having actual feelings for Bishop is he worth giving up her college aspirations for or will what he tells her end their relationship for good? What tragedy happens that pushes Bishop to the edge and will he and Penny every have that chance to have the relationship that they both surprisingly want? This book had you feeling some pretty intense things; there was a sweetness that was forming between Penny, Bishop and Gramps, there were times that my eyes filled with tears because of some of the heartbreak, and there was that feeling that you get when you finally have found someone that you are attracted to and makes you think about life in the future.
This book was provided as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
June 2, 2016
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Out of Play is the sort of book that deals with tough issues really well but doesn't completely mangle your heart in the process. Not that I'm not a fan of the occasional heart-mangling (you know I love a good cry now and then), but I think it's great to have books that tackle these types of issues in a somewhat lighter, more accessible manner as well. A book that gives you the feels, but doesn't tear you to shreds in the process. This is that book.
What Fed My Addiction:
Addiction handled well.
Like I said, this book tackles its issues well. Bishop struggles with an addiction to pills. He doesn't see it as a problem - after all, he just needs a little help to clear his head around the crowds and there are plenty of rock stars doing a whole heck of a lot more partying than he is. He doesn't want to face the fact that he's dependent on those little pills and that he's lost control - that he needs them. So, when Bishop is sent to Alaska to cool off and get clean, he's just going through the motions. He'll do what he needs to for appearances sake, but he knows he doesn't really need to make an actual life change. It isn't until a good portion of the way through the book that Bishop realizes that he's been lying to people around him - and, more importantly, lying to himself.
Gramps' Alzheimer's.
Penny's grandfather suffers from Alzheimer's, and it's incredibly tough on her because a lot of the responsibility for taking care of him falls to her. She can't stand to see this man she loves falling apart before her eyes, and she doesn't always know what to do when things go bad with him. She's (rightfully) scared by his erratic behaviors, and she sees that they're just getting worse. Gramps is a fantastic character, though. When he's lucid, he's such a strong positive influence in both Penny and
Bishop's lives. The friendship that forms between Gramps and Bishop is incredibly sweet and made me love Bishop just that much more.
Slow burn romance.
I loved that the romance between Penny and Bishop was anything but instalove. Penny was still hung up on her best friend, Mitch (who can't seem to see her as more than a friend) and Bishop didn't want any messy entanglements to make his life (and his cover) any more complicated. But, these two started to understand and support each other in ways that no one else ever had. Penny realized that Bishop was hiding things about himself, but she didn't push him to reveal everything. She knew that he needed to share his burdens and life with her on his own terms. Bishop supported Penny's dreams in a way that no one else really had - Penny felt like everyone in her life was pushing her toward a future she didn't want. Bishop was the first person to really understand who she was and why she wanted to pursue her own dreams and goals. They were perfect for each other!
The ending.
The way things played out in the climax of this book was pretty much heartbreaking - and incredibly realistic. I loved where the authors took this book in the end!
What Left Me Wanting More:
Not much.
There were points in the book where I didn't absolutely love Penny, but for the most part these characters captured my heart, and I was engaged in their story.
This was a quick read that kept me turning the pages (I read it on a flight and finished it by the time I arrived at my destination). I give this book a solid 4/5 stars.
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
Out of Play is the sort of book that deals with tough issues really well but doesn't completely mangle your heart in the process. Not that I'm not a fan of the occasional heart-mangling (you know I love a good cry now and then), but I think it's great to have books that tackle these types of issues in a somewhat lighter, more accessible manner as well. A book that gives you the feels, but doesn't tear you to shreds in the process. This is that book.
What Fed My Addiction:
Addiction handled well.
Like I said, this book tackles its issues well. Bishop struggles with an addiction to pills. He doesn't see it as a problem - after all, he just needs a little help to clear his head around the crowds and there are plenty of rock stars doing a whole heck of a lot more partying than he is. He doesn't want to face the fact that he's dependent on those little pills and that he's lost control - that he needs them. So, when Bishop is sent to Alaska to cool off and get clean, he's just going through the motions. He'll do what he needs to for appearances sake, but he knows he doesn't really need to make an actual life change. It isn't until a good portion of the way through the book that Bishop realizes that he's been lying to people around him - and, more importantly, lying to himself.
Gramps' Alzheimer's.
Penny's grandfather suffers from Alzheimer's, and it's incredibly tough on her because a lot of the responsibility for taking care of him falls to her. She can't stand to see this man she loves falling apart before her eyes, and she doesn't always know what to do when things go bad with him. She's (rightfully) scared by his erratic behaviors, and she sees that they're just getting worse. Gramps is a fantastic character, though. When he's lucid, he's such a strong positive influence in both Penny and
Bishop's lives. The friendship that forms between Gramps and Bishop is incredibly sweet and made me love Bishop just that much more.
Slow burn romance.
I loved that the romance between Penny and Bishop was anything but instalove. Penny was still hung up on her best friend, Mitch (who can't seem to see her as more than a friend) and Bishop didn't want any messy entanglements to make his life (and his cover) any more complicated. But, these two started to understand and support each other in ways that no one else ever had. Penny realized that Bishop was hiding things about himself, but she didn't push him to reveal everything. She knew that he needed to share his burdens and life with her on his own terms. Bishop supported Penny's dreams in a way that no one else really had - Penny felt like everyone in her life was pushing her toward a future she didn't want. Bishop was the first person to really understand who she was and why she wanted to pursue her own dreams and goals. They were perfect for each other!
The ending.
The way things played out in the climax of this book was pretty much heartbreaking - and incredibly realistic. I loved where the authors took this book in the end!
What Left Me Wanting More:
Not much.
There were points in the book where I didn't absolutely love Penny, but for the most part these characters captured my heart, and I was engaged in their story.
This was a quick read that kept me turning the pages (I read it on a flight and finished it by the time I arrived at my destination). I give this book a solid 4/5 stars.
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
August 4, 2013
When I saw Out of Play on netgalley I knew I had to request it, and kept my fingers and toes crossed that I got accepted. When I received an email saying I had been accepted to read it I was beyond excited
The very first chapter is intense, Bishop goes home after a concert and is trying to find peace, quietness, escape from the noise and attention. His chosen form of escape is pills and alcohol, until he wakes up in hospital and discovers he could have died. With the shocking discovery comes the unwanted decision from his manager and his Mum, sending Bishop to Alaska to get himself together, or end up out the band, or dead if he carries on with this path. Bishop is sent to live in Alaska with Gary, who is there to supervise and make sure he doesn't stray from the path chosen for him.
Penny is hockey player on mans team, she shows all who doubt her who is the boss as she consistently assists in goals. She lives with Mum and Granddad and they own the cabins that Bishop is sent to for recovery.
I love that although Out of Play is set in Alaska, and Bishop mentions a lot that it is isolated, I didn't feel isolated, the surrounding area they describe sounds magical and it would be a perfect place for me to be isolated. It also helps that Penny is constantly surrounded by her small group of friends, and you find yourself falling into this group and feeling like you are actually there, the times she is alone is still doesn't feel lonely. One other thing that I love is the hockey aspect, I have no balance and no co-ordination, so my dreams of being a fantastic hockey player are obviously just dreams, but I love how Penny has it all, she is the best hockey player in her team, she is the only female in her team and plays against tougher, taller, stronger opponents and comes out fighting. Nothing can stop her following her dreams and I love how she is sure of herself, and her dreams, and is prepared to fight for what she wants. She is true epitome of girl power.
After the initial misunderstanding between Penny and Bishop, I loved how he was there to help Penny with her Granddad when she needed it. The ups and downs between this duo are normal for every relationship, and THAT is what makes the story, the realism of their problems, secrets and feelings for each other. It's not rushed, hurried or fake, it's all real, the slow burning friendship that slowly grows and becomes flames of passion, feelings and romance. The sledding that Bishop participates in sounds crazy ass scary, and while I am a snow person and pray for snow constantly, I doubt I would have the guts to do that.
Although Penny and Bishop do stand out, another character that does is Gramps, he see's behind Bishops disguise and tells him what's what. He is a sweet, old man that pulled on my heartstrings.
I loved every single page of Out of Play, but with two amazing authors at the helm it's no surprise there. Out of Play was an easy book for me to love, the characters are real and feel like firm friends a few pages in. The setting alone makes you want to stay there forever. I could not put this book down, and if I had a physical copy and not an e-copy I would have finished it in a few hours, rather than having to read it only at home. I was instantly drawn into the pages of this book, I loved the characters, the area it is set, and I am looking forward to seeing what else these authors have to offer, either as a team or alone.
The very first chapter is intense, Bishop goes home after a concert and is trying to find peace, quietness, escape from the noise and attention. His chosen form of escape is pills and alcohol, until he wakes up in hospital and discovers he could have died. With the shocking discovery comes the unwanted decision from his manager and his Mum, sending Bishop to Alaska to get himself together, or end up out the band, or dead if he carries on with this path. Bishop is sent to live in Alaska with Gary, who is there to supervise and make sure he doesn't stray from the path chosen for him.
Penny is hockey player on mans team, she shows all who doubt her who is the boss as she consistently assists in goals. She lives with Mum and Granddad and they own the cabins that Bishop is sent to for recovery.
I love that although Out of Play is set in Alaska, and Bishop mentions a lot that it is isolated, I didn't feel isolated, the surrounding area they describe sounds magical and it would be a perfect place for me to be isolated. It also helps that Penny is constantly surrounded by her small group of friends, and you find yourself falling into this group and feeling like you are actually there, the times she is alone is still doesn't feel lonely. One other thing that I love is the hockey aspect, I have no balance and no co-ordination, so my dreams of being a fantastic hockey player are obviously just dreams, but I love how Penny has it all, she is the best hockey player in her team, she is the only female in her team and plays against tougher, taller, stronger opponents and comes out fighting. Nothing can stop her following her dreams and I love how she is sure of herself, and her dreams, and is prepared to fight for what she wants. She is true epitome of girl power.
After the initial misunderstanding between Penny and Bishop, I loved how he was there to help Penny with her Granddad when she needed it. The ups and downs between this duo are normal for every relationship, and THAT is what makes the story, the realism of their problems, secrets and feelings for each other. It's not rushed, hurried or fake, it's all real, the slow burning friendship that slowly grows and becomes flames of passion, feelings and romance. The sledding that Bishop participates in sounds crazy ass scary, and while I am a snow person and pray for snow constantly, I doubt I would have the guts to do that.
Although Penny and Bishop do stand out, another character that does is Gramps, he see's behind Bishops disguise and tells him what's what. He is a sweet, old man that pulled on my heartstrings.
I loved every single page of Out of Play, but with two amazing authors at the helm it's no surprise there. Out of Play was an easy book for me to love, the characters are real and feel like firm friends a few pages in. The setting alone makes you want to stay there forever. I could not put this book down, and if I had a physical copy and not an e-copy I would have finished it in a few hours, rather than having to read it only at home. I was instantly drawn into the pages of this book, I loved the characters, the area it is set, and I am looking forward to seeing what else these authors have to offer, either as a team or alone.
August 6, 2013
Bishop Riley is a drummer, and not just any drummer at that. He’s the drummer for a celebrity band…and the drummer who may have a pill addiction. He doesn’t think it’s an addiction though, so when his parents ship him off to Alaska to get clean after an accidental overdose, he’s more than a little mad. Female hockey player Penny Jones, resident of Alaska, is a little mad too. Her family is pushing her to accept a hockey scholarship away from Alaska, but Alaska is exactly where she wants to be, even if it means watching her best friend Mitch drool over his girlfriend who isn’t her. When her and Bishop meet, both are going to realize they need each other to work through the problems they have.
This book was a wonderful surprise for me. I thought/hoped it would be enjoyable, but I fell in love with this story and these characters. Penny and Bishop are my favorite kind of main characters. They have some personal problems they need (really need, Bishop) to work on. Both have flaws. Both are imperfect. Had I met them in real life, at first, I wouldn’t have wanted to be either of their friends. But once they were put together, the character development went out of the roof. Penny and Bishop fed off of each other and together, their characters flew, and I fell in love with them both. Their relationship progressed so smoothly (well, the writing of the relationship did, the relationship itself certainly was not smooth!) and it took the time to develop.
The plot was wonderful. It kept my attention the whole time. It had a good balance of action and transitioning that I liked, but my favorite part about it was the realism of it. Their story, maybe minus Bishop being a celebrity, was easily imaginable. I can’t say what happens in the ending, but I was so, so glad the authors chose it to end that way, and to lead up to the ending that way. This isn’t a story that you know from page one or page one hundred what will happen with them, but it wraps up beautifully and answers all my questions.
Basically: hockey+kissing+snow+Alaska+drumming=Out of Play. If you like any of that, give this a try! 5/5 stars
I received a free ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a wonderful surprise for me. I thought/hoped it would be enjoyable, but I fell in love with this story and these characters. Penny and Bishop are my favorite kind of main characters. They have some personal problems they need (really need, Bishop) to work on. Both have flaws. Both are imperfect. Had I met them in real life, at first, I wouldn’t have wanted to be either of their friends. But once they were put together, the character development went out of the roof. Penny and Bishop fed off of each other and together, their characters flew, and I fell in love with them both. Their relationship progressed so smoothly (well, the writing of the relationship did, the relationship itself certainly was not smooth!) and it took the time to develop.
The plot was wonderful. It kept my attention the whole time. It had a good balance of action and transitioning that I liked, but my favorite part about it was the realism of it. Their story, maybe minus Bishop being a celebrity, was easily imaginable. I can’t say what happens in the ending, but I was so, so glad the authors chose it to end that way, and to lead up to the ending that way. This isn’t a story that you know from page one or page one hundred what will happen with them, but it wraps up beautifully and answers all my questions.
Basically: hockey+kissing+snow+Alaska+drumming=Out of Play. If you like any of that, give this a try! 5/5 stars
I received a free ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2022
No es un secreto que me encanta cómo escribe Nyrae Dawn y la mayoría de sus libros me fascinan. Así que Out of play no iba a ser menos.
Penny no es la típica protagonista, sino que es dura, fuerte, sabe lo que quiere en su futuro y no va a dejar que otras personas tomen decisiones sobre ello. Es verdad que es un poco cliché lo de estar-enamorada-de-tu-mejor-amigo, pero por suerte se da cuenta de que lo quiere sólo como su amigo relativamente pronto, así que eso también me ha gustado.
Por otro lado, Bishop oh Bishop <3 me ha encantado todo él porque, bueno, tiene algo que atrae. A pesar de ser miembro de una banda famosa, no le gusta las multitudes y eso le lleva a tener ataques de ansiedad, y es por eso que necesita tomar pastillas. Da igual de qué tipo, si consiguen hacer que desaparezca la ansiedad. Entonces, después de un concierto, casi tiene una sobredosis. Me ha gustado mucho, mucho su evolución como persona, porque tampoco es el típico protagonista que se cree que puede comerse al mundo. No, sabe que tiene problemas (aunque al principio no quisiese admitirlo), lo afronta y pone remedio.
La relación entre los dos es muy mona y adorable. Cuando toda la verdad se destapa... Penny lo pasa fatal y me gusta incluso más por ello. La actitud que le planta a la vida, que aunque le hayan pasado cosas duras y lo haya pasado muy mal, ella sigue adelante.
Lo que no me ha gustado nada, pero nada, ha sido la madre de Penny. De verdad, no la entendía nada. Echándole en cara a Bishop que lo que él quería era apartarla de un futuro brillante, cuando la que quería quedarse en Alaska era la propia Penny. O prácticamente prohibiéndole que no lo viera y cosas así.
Así que eso, que se lee rapidísimo y además engancha. Espero poder leer más de Nyrae pronto <3!
Penny no es la típica protagonista, sino que es dura, fuerte, sabe lo que quiere en su futuro y no va a dejar que otras personas tomen decisiones sobre ello. Es verdad que es un poco cliché lo de estar-enamorada-de-tu-mejor-amigo, pero por suerte se da cuenta de que lo quiere sólo como su amigo relativamente pronto, así que eso también me ha gustado.
Por otro lado, Bishop oh Bishop <3 me ha encantado todo él porque, bueno, tiene algo que atrae. A pesar de ser miembro de una banda famosa, no le gusta las multitudes y eso le lleva a tener ataques de ansiedad, y es por eso que necesita tomar pastillas. Da igual de qué tipo, si consiguen hacer que desaparezca la ansiedad. Entonces, después de un concierto, casi tiene una sobredosis. Me ha gustado mucho, mucho su evolución como persona, porque tampoco es el típico protagonista que se cree que puede comerse al mundo. No, sabe que tiene problemas (aunque al principio no quisiese admitirlo), lo afronta y pone remedio.
La relación entre los dos es muy mona y adorable. Cuando toda la verdad se destapa... Penny lo pasa fatal y me gusta incluso más por ello. La actitud que le planta a la vida, que aunque le hayan pasado cosas duras y lo haya pasado muy mal, ella sigue adelante.
Lo que no me ha gustado nada, pero nada, ha sido la madre de Penny. De verdad, no la entendía nada. Echándole en cara a Bishop que lo que él quería era apartarla de un futuro brillante, cuando la que quería quedarse en Alaska era la propia Penny. O prácticamente prohibiéndole que no lo viera y cosas así.
Así que eso, que se lee rapidísimo y además engancha. Espero poder leer más de Nyrae pronto <3!
July 30, 2013
Bishop Riley knows all too well that being the drummer of a successful rock band isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. The pressures are crashing down on him and he has formed a pill habit to cope. After waking up in hospital from a near overdose, Bishop is faced with an intervention. Either be shipped off to Alaska to detox out of the public eye, or be kicked out of the band. Bishop is in denial about having a problem. He just needs a pill occasionally to take the edge off. If he wanted to stop he could. Music is everything to him though, so he agrees to go to the middle of nowhere.
Due to her talent on the ice, Penny Jones has her choice of scholarships. She loves hockey, but doesn’t want to travel to pursue it. Why can’t everyone around her see that she is perfectly happy attending a local college and staying in Seldon, Alaska? They all insist it’s her fate to move on to bigger and better things though.
“When was life last simple for you Bishop Riley?”
You don’t need to be in the big city to make things happen.
Bishop and Penny both discover that it’s the simple things in life that are the most satisfying. When you concentrate on those, everything else falls into place. Together they learn what is important to them, and it’s not necessarily what they expected.
This story made my heart feel light and happy. It had the perfect balance of heartfelt emotions and fun, carefree moments. Nyrae and Jolene were able to capture the feelings of young love, heartbreak and angst flawlessly, and the characters complimented each other really well. Such a cute book! 5/5 stars!
Due to her talent on the ice, Penny Jones has her choice of scholarships. She loves hockey, but doesn’t want to travel to pursue it. Why can’t everyone around her see that she is perfectly happy attending a local college and staying in Seldon, Alaska? They all insist it’s her fate to move on to bigger and better things though.
“When was life last simple for you Bishop Riley?”
You don’t need to be in the big city to make things happen.
Bishop and Penny both discover that it’s the simple things in life that are the most satisfying. When you concentrate on those, everything else falls into place. Together they learn what is important to them, and it’s not necessarily what they expected.
This story made my heart feel light and happy. It had the perfect balance of heartfelt emotions and fun, carefree moments. Nyrae and Jolene were able to capture the feelings of young love, heartbreak and angst flawlessly, and the characters complimented each other really well. Such a cute book! 5/5 stars!
August 8, 2013
I have really enjoyed Nyrae's solo efforts so far, and Out of Play was no different. It takes place primarily in Alaska after the story is set up, so for anyone expecting to read about a rockstar on the road meeting a girl in the audience/ backstage etc who catches his eye, this book is not that type of story.
After nearly dying, Bishop is sent to Alaska to get his act together and off pills unless he wants to be kicked out of his band. Penny's family owns the cabins where he and his "babysitter" Gary are going to be staying.
Penny is one kick-ass chick- literally. Since the age of 10, she has played hockey with the boys and is currently the only girl on her high school hockey team- and she is a star in her own right, able to keep up with the boys and, in a lot of cases, outshine them. As a result of spending so much time with the boys, she has no idea how to relate to other girls her age or even if she wants to. She has the eye of pretty much every guy around and she knows how to use it to her advantage, but she is not overtly obnoxious about it- more like she is the little sister to all of them.
Bishop turns her world on its head and she struggles with how to deal with it, particularly when he understands her so much better than all of her friends and family. Bishop's struggle with addiction felt very real as I was reading it- his internal monologues very effectively provided insight into his fight to decide what he wants in all aspects of his life.
A few twists and turns pop up along the way that I won't spoil for anyone, but it was definitely a great read and one that I would recommend for YA lovers out there.
After nearly dying, Bishop is sent to Alaska to get his act together and off pills unless he wants to be kicked out of his band. Penny's family owns the cabins where he and his "babysitter" Gary are going to be staying.
Penny is one kick-ass chick- literally. Since the age of 10, she has played hockey with the boys and is currently the only girl on her high school hockey team- and she is a star in her own right, able to keep up with the boys and, in a lot of cases, outshine them. As a result of spending so much time with the boys, she has no idea how to relate to other girls her age or even if she wants to. She has the eye of pretty much every guy around and she knows how to use it to her advantage, but she is not overtly obnoxious about it- more like she is the little sister to all of them.
Bishop turns her world on its head and she struggles with how to deal with it, particularly when he understands her so much better than all of her friends and family. Bishop's struggle with addiction felt very real as I was reading it- his internal monologues very effectively provided insight into his fight to decide what he wants in all aspects of his life.
A few twists and turns pop up along the way that I won't spoil for anyone, but it was definitely a great read and one that I would recommend for YA lovers out there.
July 25, 2013
I was SO FREAKING EXCITED to get an ARC from a book by Nyrae Dawn and Jolene Perry. Love them so hard!!
Out of Play is a book about self discovery. I loved Bishop - hot, intense, tortured drummer - what's not to love?? Well, I guess there is one thing. Um, Bishop has a problem with pills. So he's far from perfect. His band manager and mom send him to Alaska to get himself together.
Penny is the female lead. I want to be friends with her!! She is very adventurous. She plays hockey on the guys team. She rides snowmachines (not snowmobiles) and she doesn't let being a girl get in her way of doing what she wants. She has to make some tough decisions about what to do after graduating and everyone else seems to know what is best for her.
It turns out Bishop and Gary (his babysitter for this trip) rent on Penny's families' property. Bishop and Penny meet...and connect.
I loved watching Bishop grow as a character. And Gramps!!! I want one of him in my family.
This story had me turning the pages until the wee hours of the morning. Could not put it down. Made me think about how I live my life. Gary and Gramps gave sound advice. I was completely swept away into the story. It made me laugh...and cry.
Bishop learns he has to make decisions to make himself proud of who he is. Is he strong enough??? I was cheering him on, come on Bishop! You can do this! I'm definitely team Bishop.
Highly recommend, you must read this book.
No CH! (Thank you ladies!!)
HEA (Thank you ladies!!)
Out of Play is a book about self discovery. I loved Bishop - hot, intense, tortured drummer - what's not to love?? Well, I guess there is one thing. Um, Bishop has a problem with pills. So he's far from perfect. His band manager and mom send him to Alaska to get himself together.
Penny is the female lead. I want to be friends with her!! She is very adventurous. She plays hockey on the guys team. She rides snowmachines (not snowmobiles) and she doesn't let being a girl get in her way of doing what she wants. She has to make some tough decisions about what to do after graduating and everyone else seems to know what is best for her.
It turns out Bishop and Gary (his babysitter for this trip) rent on Penny's families' property. Bishop and Penny meet...and connect.
I loved watching Bishop grow as a character. And Gramps!!! I want one of him in my family.
This story had me turning the pages until the wee hours of the morning. Could not put it down. Made me think about how I live my life. Gary and Gramps gave sound advice. I was completely swept away into the story. It made me laugh...and cry.
Bishop learns he has to make decisions to make himself proud of who he is. Is he strong enough??? I was cheering him on, come on Bishop! You can do this! I'm definitely team Bishop.
Highly recommend, you must read this book.
No CH! (Thank you ladies!!)
HEA (Thank you ladies!!)
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August 6, 2013
Bishop, a drug addict, almost overdosed...
Penny has a lot going on...
As well as looking after her grandfather who has Alzheimer's, her mums hardly around and she's crushing on her best friend...
They meet in Alaska where Bishop is trying to recover...
My thoughts
Being in a band, Bishop is a drug addict and we find this out from the very beginning. I was actually glad with the way things went in this book.
The relationship between Bishop and Penny is a slow building one from flirty friendship to romance.
I love it when two characters slowly get to know each other but I felt like their story at the end was a bit rushed and maybe there could have been more to the story.
A great YA book x
ARC received from the author
Penny has a lot going on...
As well as looking after her grandfather who has Alzheimer's, her mums hardly around and she's crushing on her best friend...
They meet in Alaska where Bishop is trying to recover...
My thoughts
Being in a band, Bishop is a drug addict and we find this out from the very beginning. I was actually glad with the way things went in this book.
"It's hard when so many people expect so much."
The relationship between Bishop and Penny is a slow building one from flirty friendship to romance.
I love it when two characters slowly get to know each other but I felt like their story at the end was a bit rushed and maybe there could have been more to the story.
A great YA book x
ARC received from the author
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