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The Blackhawk Boys #3
Going Under
GOING UNDER is a sexy and emotional STANDALONE sports romance set in the world of the Blackhawk Boys.
~ ~ ~
If I met Alexandra DeLuca for the first time today, I would only need one word to describe her: MINE.
She's everything she was when we said goodbye. Beautiful, stubborn, sweet...and off-limits.
After two years leading separate lives, our worlds have collided. Now that she's back home working and taking classes beside me, she's bound to make me lose my mind.
She's all I've ever wanted, all I've ever dreamed of, and the one thing I can never have.
Not because she's my best friend's sister.
Not because all four DeLuca brothers would come at me with fists swinging if I hurt her.
Not even because she's way better than I will ever deserve.
I keep my distance because we didn't meet for the first time today. We met five years ago when I was a different person. When my demons ruled me. Even though I've changed--even though I've gotten my life together and become a better man—I can't change the past. And the secrets that haunt me would destroy her.
But I'm not the only one with secrets, and when the truth comes out, I don't know where to turn. What do you do when your world washes away beneath your feet and you feel like you're drowning? What do you do when the woman you promised yourself you'd never touch is the only thing that can keep you from going under?
GOING UNDER is a standalone novel and the third in The Blackhawk Boys series.
Football. Secrets. Lies. Passion. These boys don’t play fair. Which Blackhawk Boy will steal your heart?
Book 1 - SPINNING OUT (Arrow's story)
Book 2 - RUSHING IN (Christopher's story)
Book 3 - GOING UNDER (Sebastian's story)
Book 4 – FALLING HARD (Keegan’s story, coming summer 2017)
Book 5 – IN TOO DEEP (Mason’s story, coming fall 2017)
**All books can be read as standalones!**
~ ~ ~
If I met Alexandra DeLuca for the first time today, I would only need one word to describe her: MINE.
She's everything she was when we said goodbye. Beautiful, stubborn, sweet...and off-limits.
After two years leading separate lives, our worlds have collided. Now that she's back home working and taking classes beside me, she's bound to make me lose my mind.
She's all I've ever wanted, all I've ever dreamed of, and the one thing I can never have.
Not because she's my best friend's sister.
Not because all four DeLuca brothers would come at me with fists swinging if I hurt her.
Not even because she's way better than I will ever deserve.
I keep my distance because we didn't meet for the first time today. We met five years ago when I was a different person. When my demons ruled me. Even though I've changed--even though I've gotten my life together and become a better man—I can't change the past. And the secrets that haunt me would destroy her.
But I'm not the only one with secrets, and when the truth comes out, I don't know where to turn. What do you do when your world washes away beneath your feet and you feel like you're drowning? What do you do when the woman you promised yourself you'd never touch is the only thing that can keep you from going under?
GOING UNDER is a standalone novel and the third in The Blackhawk Boys series.
Football. Secrets. Lies. Passion. These boys don’t play fair. Which Blackhawk Boy will steal your heart?
Book 1 - SPINNING OUT (Arrow's story)
Book 2 - RUSHING IN (Christopher's story)
Book 3 - GOING UNDER (Sebastian's story)
Book 4 – FALLING HARD (Keegan’s story, coming summer 2017)
Book 5 – IN TOO DEEP (Mason’s story, coming fall 2017)
**All books can be read as standalones!**
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2016
338 people are currently reading
2340 people want to read
About the author
Lexi Ryan
64 books8,419 followersAward-winning author Lexi Ryan is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of hot contemporary romance and sexy, action-packed YA fantasy. Her books have sold over a million copies. A former English professor, she considers herself lucky to have traded stacks of grading for emotionally charged storytelling. She is happiest when at home in Indiana with her husband and two children, where you can find her lifting weights, reading copiously, hanging out with her family, and thanking her lucky stars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
dnf
November 24, 2016
Unfortunately, this was a DNF at 50%. (I skimmed the last half.) The hero I'm sorry that is just nasty and SO not something I enjoy reading about in my romance books.
Moving on...
February 6, 2017
4 "under my skin" stars
It's been awhile since I've read book 1 and 2 of the Blackhawk Boys, and I really liked them, so I'm kinda eager to see what will happen in this installment!
and like I stated before, I love NA angst, hell i love angst in general, it gives me the thrill of anticipation and sometimes it riles me up too but it makes me vivid and tempered and alive...and that's not only a good thing, that's actually the point! *wink*
Alexandra/Alex DeLuca had a crush on her best friend Sebastian Crowe for years but he always kept her at arms length...
Sebastian Crowe is the kind of tattooed bad boy who likes classic cars and wild girls, who parties hard but is fiercely loyal to his family.
which made her insecurities even more hightened but she got used to being "one of the guys" lingering with her brothers and Sebastian and working on cars...until one night something terrible happened and her twin sister and her total opposite died in a fire, while Alex tried to save her, running into the burning building after her.
Until one night, Sebastian almost kissed her...but then he didn't...until one night it was too late to change the course of action...and then Alex was gone...
Two years later, Alex comes back to town and finds Sebastian not only living there (when he was leaving as well two years ago) but playing for the football team at the same university she transferred to.
Yeah, she still hasn't gotten over him...and his "attempt" of a kiss, that night two years ago...
the game of push and pull is more intensified than ever, but now Sebastian won't hesitate any longer and yet he must clear out the terrible facts and actions that scarred his past and are the very reason why he was holding back all this time...
Alex might be wearing the physical scars from the burns BUT Sebastian's secrets not only mar their potential relationship but also the memory of Alex's late twin sister Martina...as she was troubled beyond comprehention and the secrets she carried with her to the grave, were left behind in a diary...a diary that will seal the fate of several people but it will also set some of them free!
Sometimes the secrets are there to keep you safe from the horrible truth that is hard to handle, BUT most of the time secrets are the greater burden to carry, they eat you alive until you recognize that to handle your own fear you have to put the trust into the people that love you, to carry that burden with you...
but will the secrets ruin the regained trust and friendship between Alex and Sebastian?
Until her life gets thereatend...the emotional barriers will linger around them, testing them, and the lines between friendship and something more have never been so clear to everyone else but to the two of them...and the time is slowly ticking away
"Just friends."
"That's not all," I whisper against her mouth.
"That's never been all."
"I cup her face in my hands and kiss her for all I'm worth. I kiss the way a man kisses a woman he's wanted for five years. I kiss her the way a guy kisses a girl when he needs her to know she's beautiful. If a kiss would speak, this one would say she's everything and I'm nothing.
The story is nothing new...BUT it's masterly crafted into an emotional, angsty and suspensful turmoil of secrets, lies and truths, with a bit of an awkwardly and abrupt resolve of the mistery.
November 17, 2019
This NA book does not work with me. The story is very promising with a hint of some dark forbidden secret. That secret is revealed around 85% of this book. While the first 85% is wasted on push and pull between Alex and Sebastian.
And that push and pull is dull. No twist nor dimension nor chemistry on that banter. To be honest i was bored to death listening to this book. I even day dreaming while listening to this audio book.
What a disappointment to such promising story.
2 stars
And that push and pull is dull. No twist nor dimension nor chemistry on that banter. To be honest i was bored to death listening to this book. I even day dreaming while listening to this audio book.
What a disappointment to such promising story.
2 stars
November 21, 2016
We break, and we heal. Our scars can make us more beautiful than we were before.
Going Under feels like a runaway train, a sinking ship. You can feel the intensity growing with every turn of the page. You know you're headed somewhere you REALLY do not want to go. You know the impact is going to kill you, and yet you hang on and hold out hope because you simply can not look away, because the ride feels too damn good. I read this story with knots in my stomach. I had such a visceral reaction to everything Lexi Ryan was throwing at me. I both loved and hated every bit of it. This story hurts. I can't remember the last time I read a story where I just kept thinking "No! Please, please, just NO." the entire time. But that's what happened here. There are hints dropped. There are secrets unearthed bit by bit as the story evolves, and with each glimpse into the truth, my heart rebelled. I didn't want the truth to be the truth. This time, I preferred the lies.
I want to brush my fingers over that space where demons I know too well reached beyond their boundaries and caught an innocent.
I LOVE every single book in this series. Love. I think, with each new book, I fall even harder in love with this author's writing, with her storytelling, with these characters. Ryan's writing is stunning, her words just gut me. And these stories are nothing short of intoxicating. I just get lost. Each standalone is better than the last, more intense, more emotional, more gripping. And wow, Going Under might be the best one yet. From the first page, I was hooked. I love the forbidden nature of a girl falling for her brother's best friend, a friend that respects boundaries and refuses to ever go there with his friend's younger sister, despite his obvious affection for her. I was ready for that storyline, excited for it. The prologue, the first few chapters, I was addicted. I was over the moon with the push and pull of their attraction, with the knowledge of what once was and what will never be. I was addicted to this new dynamic created by Alexandra moving home to go to BHU, the same school Sebastian Crowe attends, plays football and where they'll finally be face to face almost everyday after walking away two years ago. I was IN this story immediately. But this story is SO MUCH MORE than that. This is a seriously complex storyline that grows heavier with each passing page, becomes so much more than just a forbidden romance. It becomes something so much heavier, so much more heartbreaking, a story full of lies and deceit and impossibility. I was absolutely gripped by this story, by each new twist and turn. I both hated and dreaded where it was going, yet I turned each page hungrily. I couldn't look away.
“Here’s to impossible relationships,” she says. “And to love always being bigger than our mistakes.”
Each standalone in this series follows a different Blackhawk football player and a romance that is typically paved with tragedy, uncertainty and heartbreak. Lexi Ryan brings her A-game to every single story, pulling and pushing the reader to their emotional limits with what these characters have gone through. Loss. Addiction. Death. Betrayal. Forgiveness. Redemption. Love. Going Under is no different, with Alexandra and Sebastian navigating such a heavy, tragic course as they struggle with their past, their promises, their scars. But this book... THIS BOOK... truly gut punched me in ways I both loved and hated. I love a well-written story that delivers romance, sensuality, and emotional hits that tug at the heart strings. But this story pushed me to the limits, making me feel things I didn't want to feel, things my heart just didn't want to accept. It is hard to read, this book. It's also WHY I read, this book. Going Under is beautiful and sexy and riveting. It's also suspenseful, dark, and painfully tragic. It's a masterfully woven story that just blew me away. If you have not read the previous books in this series yet, you should RUN, don't walk. This is a MUST read series by a MUST read author. And Going Under is the best one yet!
Going Under feels like a runaway train, a sinking ship. You can feel the intensity growing with every turn of the page. You know you're headed somewhere you REALLY do not want to go. You know the impact is going to kill you, and yet you hang on and hold out hope because you simply can not look away, because the ride feels too damn good. I read this story with knots in my stomach. I had such a visceral reaction to everything Lexi Ryan was throwing at me. I both loved and hated every bit of it. This story hurts. I can't remember the last time I read a story where I just kept thinking "No! Please, please, just NO." the entire time. But that's what happened here. There are hints dropped. There are secrets unearthed bit by bit as the story evolves, and with each glimpse into the truth, my heart rebelled. I didn't want the truth to be the truth. This time, I preferred the lies.
I want to brush my fingers over that space where demons I know too well reached beyond their boundaries and caught an innocent.
I LOVE every single book in this series. Love. I think, with each new book, I fall even harder in love with this author's writing, with her storytelling, with these characters. Ryan's writing is stunning, her words just gut me. And these stories are nothing short of intoxicating. I just get lost. Each standalone is better than the last, more intense, more emotional, more gripping. And wow, Going Under might be the best one yet. From the first page, I was hooked. I love the forbidden nature of a girl falling for her brother's best friend, a friend that respects boundaries and refuses to ever go there with his friend's younger sister, despite his obvious affection for her. I was ready for that storyline, excited for it. The prologue, the first few chapters, I was addicted. I was over the moon with the push and pull of their attraction, with the knowledge of what once was and what will never be. I was addicted to this new dynamic created by Alexandra moving home to go to BHU, the same school Sebastian Crowe attends, plays football and where they'll finally be face to face almost everyday after walking away two years ago. I was IN this story immediately. But this story is SO MUCH MORE than that. This is a seriously complex storyline that grows heavier with each passing page, becomes so much more than just a forbidden romance. It becomes something so much heavier, so much more heartbreaking, a story full of lies and deceit and impossibility. I was absolutely gripped by this story, by each new twist and turn. I both hated and dreaded where it was going, yet I turned each page hungrily. I couldn't look away.
“Here’s to impossible relationships,” she says. “And to love always being bigger than our mistakes.”
Each standalone in this series follows a different Blackhawk football player and a romance that is typically paved with tragedy, uncertainty and heartbreak. Lexi Ryan brings her A-game to every single story, pulling and pushing the reader to their emotional limits with what these characters have gone through. Loss. Addiction. Death. Betrayal. Forgiveness. Redemption. Love. Going Under is no different, with Alexandra and Sebastian navigating such a heavy, tragic course as they struggle with their past, their promises, their scars. But this book... THIS BOOK... truly gut punched me in ways I both loved and hated. I love a well-written story that delivers romance, sensuality, and emotional hits that tug at the heart strings. But this story pushed me to the limits, making me feel things I didn't want to feel, things my heart just didn't want to accept. It is hard to read, this book. It's also WHY I read, this book. Going Under is beautiful and sexy and riveting. It's also suspenseful, dark, and painfully tragic. It's a masterfully woven story that just blew me away. If you have not read the previous books in this series yet, you should RUN, don't walk. This is a MUST read series by a MUST read author. And Going Under is the best one yet!
March 24, 2020
4 estrelas
Três livros em três dias! Tô chocada comigo. Mais um livro dessa série maravilhosa. Já tô virando fã da Lexi Ryan.
Apesar de serem casais diferentes com suas próprias histórias, a premissa de cada casal é a mesma. Segunda chance no amor, casal que se conheceu/ficou/amou/ ou era só um crush 5 anos atrás e agora se reencontram e a faísca tá lá ainda. Você percebe que todos querem ficar juntos, mas algum segredo os impede. Então vou dar um tempo pra terminar de ler a série, só pra não se tornar cansativa. Mas eu adoro esse tipo de história, também. De casais que não importa a distância, o tempo, o que for, eles se amam meeeeesmo. E vc vê isso nas histórias dessa autora, amor de verdade. Dá pra sentir pelas páginas. Recomendo muito essa homens maravilhosos.
_______
4 estrelas
Three books in three days! I'm shocked with myself. Another lovely book from this wonderful series. I'm becoming a fan of Lexi Ryan.
Although the story is with different couples, the base of each book is the same. Second chance, couple that met/hook up/love or was just a crush five years before and now they meet again and the sparkle is still there. You can feel they want to stay together, but some secret is stopping them. So, I'm gonna give a break in this series for now, because of this. But I love this kind of story. Couples that no matter the distance, the time, or whatever, they are still in love. And you can see it in the stories of this author, real love. You can feel it through vthe lages. I really recommend this amazing boys.
Três livros em três dias! Tô chocada comigo. Mais um livro dessa série maravilhosa. Já tô virando fã da Lexi Ryan.
Apesar de serem casais diferentes com suas próprias histórias, a premissa de cada casal é a mesma. Segunda chance no amor, casal que se conheceu/ficou/amou/ ou era só um crush 5 anos atrás e agora se reencontram e a faísca tá lá ainda. Você percebe que todos querem ficar juntos, mas algum segredo os impede. Então vou dar um tempo pra terminar de ler a série, só pra não se tornar cansativa. Mas eu adoro esse tipo de história, também. De casais que não importa a distância, o tempo, o que for, eles se amam meeeeesmo. E vc vê isso nas histórias dessa autora, amor de verdade. Dá pra sentir pelas páginas. Recomendo muito essa homens maravilhosos.
_______
4 estrelas
Three books in three days! I'm shocked with myself. Another lovely book from this wonderful series. I'm becoming a fan of Lexi Ryan.
Although the story is with different couples, the base of each book is the same. Second chance, couple that met/hook up/love or was just a crush five years before and now they meet again and the sparkle is still there. You can feel they want to stay together, but some secret is stopping them. So, I'm gonna give a break in this series for now, because of this. But I love this kind of story. Couples that no matter the distance, the time, or whatever, they are still in love. And you can see it in the stories of this author, real love. You can feel it through vthe lages. I really recommend this amazing boys.
nfmaa
June 15, 2018Spoiler (note to self)-------------H was with h' s twin
December 11, 2016
Voici encore une romance qui se déroule dans le milieu du sport mais dans un genre un peu différent que ceux que l’on peut voir. C’est écrit par Lexi Ryan, auteure que l’on connaît bien et qui a un vrai talent pour le new adult, pour ces jeunes couples au passé compliqué et lourd, la marque de fabrique du genre. C’est aussi le cas ici et le football qui unit tous les héros masculins est assez peu évoqué.
Les personnages sont connus surtout si le lecteur a déjà lu le premier et second tome, ils sont apparus alors. Sebastian et Alex se connaissent bien ; ils ont le même âge et ont partagé beaucoup notamment à l’école. Ils auraient même pu devenir un couple. Alex a craqué très vite sur Sebastian et réciproquement. Puis, un drame est intervenu dans la vie d’Alex. Sa sœur jumelle est morte dans un incendie qui a failli l’emportée elle aussi. Elle en garde de profondes cicatrices. Sebastian est très lié à ce drame et tous deux ont fui leur petite ville. Sebastian vient d’y revenir pour des raisons très personnelles et familiales. Alex qui avait passé deux ans loin de là, également. Ils vont se retrouver dans la même université, confrontés l’un à l’autre. Mais tout semble impossible entre eux, du moins du point de vue de Sebastian.
http://romance-bluemoon.com/2016/12/g...
Les personnages sont connus surtout si le lecteur a déjà lu le premier et second tome, ils sont apparus alors. Sebastian et Alex se connaissent bien ; ils ont le même âge et ont partagé beaucoup notamment à l’école. Ils auraient même pu devenir un couple. Alex a craqué très vite sur Sebastian et réciproquement. Puis, un drame est intervenu dans la vie d’Alex. Sa sœur jumelle est morte dans un incendie qui a failli l’emportée elle aussi. Elle en garde de profondes cicatrices. Sebastian est très lié à ce drame et tous deux ont fui leur petite ville. Sebastian vient d’y revenir pour des raisons très personnelles et familiales. Alex qui avait passé deux ans loin de là, également. Ils vont se retrouver dans la même université, confrontés l’un à l’autre. Mais tout semble impossible entre eux, du moins du point de vue de Sebastian.
http://romance-bluemoon.com/2016/12/g...
October 2, 2020
Wow. This was a roller coaster.
There was so much going on that you felt like the truth was right in front of you, and it was, but it wasn't what you thought. I love books like that.
At the same time it was hard for me to get into this book. I felt like the first third to half was really slow meanwhile the last quarter was super jam packed. It just felt a little unbalanced.
There was so much going on that you felt like the truth was right in front of you, and it was, but it wasn't what you thought. I love books like that.
At the same time it was hard for me to get into this book. I felt like the first third to half was really slow meanwhile the last quarter was super jam packed. It just felt a little unbalanced.
January 3, 2017
Well written. Just couldn't get past the immaturity of the main characters. Too much angst for me!! Great read if you like that kind of trope.
August 4, 2022
TW & possible spoilers The way bottom.
After the flop that was the previous book this one was very good, very emotional, angsty slightly dark it's gonna keep you guessing. Lots of push and pull with Sebastian and Alexandra. But I couldn't put it down. I will say towards the end it did drag. I'm gonna put 2 spoiler type things that happen that aren't so much trigger warnings but maybe more like tropes vibes which could be considered as spoilers. Again if you don't want to be spoiled don't read the bottom part.
TW: drug abuse, drugs, abuse, rape. Violence, death.
Spoiler: he has sexual encounters with the MFC twin sister but not sex.
After the flop that was the previous book this one was very good, very emotional, angsty slightly dark it's gonna keep you guessing. Lots of push and pull with Sebastian and Alexandra. But I couldn't put it down. I will say towards the end it did drag. I'm gonna put 2 spoiler type things that happen that aren't so much trigger warnings but maybe more like tropes vibes which could be considered as spoilers. Again if you don't want to be spoiled don't read the bottom part.
TW: drug abuse, drugs, abuse, rape. Violence, death.
Spoiler: he has sexual encounters with the MFC twin sister but not sex.
September 7, 2022
So here’s what happened …. I read book two of the series, Rushing in, last year for a blog tour. If you read the review you will know that I FUCKING LOVED IT. And I meant to go back to book one, Spinning Out, and then life happened or something and out of nowhere, book three, Going Under is happening and I’m like whaaaaaaaaaaat … but wait, life again and book FOUR, Falling Hard is coming up for promo and #anxiety And then
the best thing happened
… I met Lexi Ryan in person a couple of weeks ago at the Romantic Times Convention and got to spend some time with her chatting about books and life! *happy sigh* (
she is BEYOND lovely
) SO, I get back from the convention and #bingereading began! :)
So I’m gonna roll these last four books out for you in one review by saying Lexi is CRAZY WITH HER WORDS! Lol
So I’m not going back and doing an individual review of the stories I haven’t reviewed but I will say that ….
Okay, so this turned out a little longer than I expected but I mean every word. These are NOT just sports romance stories and these are NOT just new adult stories. You just have to trust me on the power that Lexi Ryan has with a pen!
Copies of all books provided by NetGalley at some point. Some for review only and some for blog tour reviews
So I’m gonna roll these last four books out for you in one review by saying Lexi is CRAZY WITH HER WORDS! Lol
1. The #FuckingFeels have #Feels that sometimes have #Feels (I aint even playin)
2. She loooooooooooooooooves her triangles that sometimes are possibly pentagons hiding in a hexagon (I’m seriously not playin)
3. Her books are NOT short so prepare yourself :) But every word in her books means something. Every event will lead to something. But pay attention because she’s crazy with her words ;)
4. No matter where YOU are in life, these stories will touch you. They will resonate in your heart and it will sing! LOUD. You may not prefer New Adult (as I mostly do not) but you will still love the heck out of these kids. And you will root for them. EVERY.STEP.OF.THE.WAY. #TRUST
5. This series is more than just a series of HEAs … It’s a series of friendship and family. It’s a series of growth and forgiveness and redemption. It’s a series of regrets and broken promises. There are twist and turns and sometimes some cliff diving that will keep you glued to your kindle. I promise you this! But most of all it is a story of love and unity and cohesiveness and trust!
So I’m not going back and doing an individual review of the stories I haven’t reviewed but I will say that ….
• Arrow and Mia, you weighed heavy on my heart. Your road was not an easy road for such young kids but you made it just fine to the other side! Well done!
•Grace, you touched my heart the hardest. I’m really happy you found Chris to stand by you, but I’m even happier you learned to stand on your own!
•Alexandra, I am in awe of you and you inspire me. You touched my soul the hardest. Your journey is/was unfathomable to me and you made it to the other side tall and strong.
•Emma and Keegan … If I had to read a story after yours right now I just would not be able to. Keegan, you are inspiring to all young men out there! I wish more read romance fiction because you are and exceptional young man! Emma … your journey gutted me from beginning to end. I saw it all coming and I was powerless to the havoc it playing in my heart. I cannot think of a more deserving couple than you two for a second chance at getting it right. #ditto <3
Okay, so this turned out a little longer than I expected but I mean every word. These are NOT just sports romance stories and these are NOT just new adult stories. You just have to trust me on the power that Lexi Ryan has with a pen!
Copies of all books provided by NetGalley at some point. Some for review only and some for blog tour reviews
December 4, 2016
4.5 stars
Sebastian Crowe has regrets. Had he met Alexandra DeLuca today, he would pursue her no questions asked. But he met her five years ago when he was a different person, when he didn’t deserve anyone as good as she. Even though he has changed his choices, he still knows she isn’t for him, no matter how much he may be attracted to her.
Alexandra is back after two years away. She knows she doesn’t want to be a mechanic forever, so moving home in order to go to college seems the best course of action. But returning also puts her near Sebastian once again, and the crush she held in high school returns as she gets to know the new Sebastian.
They each have secrets and their own grief and regret to deal with. What surprised me was what a tangled mess the secrets were, and how much they each had to learn about what they thought they knew. The secrets fed the challenges each character must face, and at times seemed to amplify the insecurities each held tightly.
As they slowly begin to rely on each other, putting aside the time apart, the tension of the secrets they hide kept things interesting. With each new bit of information I couldn’t help but hope things wouldn’t shake down the way they appeared to be. I was also surprised by the direction several of the secrets led, as the story took on a bit of suspense about what was going on in Alex’s sister’s life at the time of her death.
Each of these characters were likeable and intriguing. Sebastian’s past was a cloud that hovered over him, providing him with so much guilt that shadowed him even years later. I loved the lengths he tried to go in order to protect Alexandra from his past and the connection to her own pain.
Once again this series has pulled me into the family aspect of the team. I love the way they support each other despite mistakes and forgive without prejudice when they learn the darkest secrets of their own. Keegan, Mason, and Bailey have had portions of their stories play out in the background of the series, and I can’t wait to see inside each of their heads in their own stories.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Sebastian Crowe has regrets. Had he met Alexandra DeLuca today, he would pursue her no questions asked. But he met her five years ago when he was a different person, when he didn’t deserve anyone as good as she. Even though he has changed his choices, he still knows she isn’t for him, no matter how much he may be attracted to her.
Alexandra is back after two years away. She knows she doesn’t want to be a mechanic forever, so moving home in order to go to college seems the best course of action. But returning also puts her near Sebastian once again, and the crush she held in high school returns as she gets to know the new Sebastian.
They each have secrets and their own grief and regret to deal with. What surprised me was what a tangled mess the secrets were, and how much they each had to learn about what they thought they knew. The secrets fed the challenges each character must face, and at times seemed to amplify the insecurities each held tightly.
As they slowly begin to rely on each other, putting aside the time apart, the tension of the secrets they hide kept things interesting. With each new bit of information I couldn’t help but hope things wouldn’t shake down the way they appeared to be. I was also surprised by the direction several of the secrets led, as the story took on a bit of suspense about what was going on in Alex’s sister’s life at the time of her death.
Each of these characters were likeable and intriguing. Sebastian’s past was a cloud that hovered over him, providing him with so much guilt that shadowed him even years later. I loved the lengths he tried to go in order to protect Alexandra from his past and the connection to her own pain.
Once again this series has pulled me into the family aspect of the team. I love the way they support each other despite mistakes and forgive without prejudice when they learn the darkest secrets of their own. Keegan, Mason, and Bailey have had portions of their stories play out in the background of the series, and I can’t wait to see inside each of their heads in their own stories.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2016
4.5 Stars
This is one of the stories I've been waiting for. From the moment Sebastian Crowe entered the picture in Spinning Out I had hope that he would one day get his own book. And he finally has. Of all the guys in the series, he is the one I've been most attached to from the beginning. In Going Under, we finally get his whole story... and while his background was a little disappointing to me, the love he has for Alex more than makes up for it. I'm a sucker for a guy that can make a woman feel beautiful.
Alex is such an intriguing character from the start. She loves classic cars and works as a mechanic. While in high school, Alex ran into a burning house to try to rescue her twin sister, Martina. She was unsuccessful and ended up not only losing her sister, but having to be hospitalized for severe burns that left her with extensive scarring. She left town after graduating from high school, because she needed to get away from all the feelings surrounding her at home. Now she's back and surprised to discover that not only will she be working with Sebastian, but they have a class together as well.
Secrets are a big deal in these books, and everyone's got them. Alex doesn't know Sebastian's secrets, and he believes that they are the reason he needs to stay away from her. The secrets of her dead sister are a heartbreaking thing, and survivors guilt is real.
I enjoyed the small mystery within the book and completely fell for the red herring. The next book in the series will be called Falling Hard, but doesn't come out until the summer of 2017. I was surprised to hear that it will follow Keegan's story and even though every book has made me detest Olivia... I'm sure that I will love her by the end. The story I have been anticipating the most, hasn't been announced (that I know of). There HAS to be a 5th book, because I NEED Bailey and Mason's story.
I received an advance review copy of this book that I have chosen to review.
This is one of the stories I've been waiting for. From the moment Sebastian Crowe entered the picture in Spinning Out I had hope that he would one day get his own book. And he finally has. Of all the guys in the series, he is the one I've been most attached to from the beginning. In Going Under, we finally get his whole story... and while his background was a little disappointing to me, the love he has for Alex more than makes up for it. I'm a sucker for a guy that can make a woman feel beautiful.
Alex is such an intriguing character from the start. She loves classic cars and works as a mechanic. While in high school, Alex ran into a burning house to try to rescue her twin sister, Martina. She was unsuccessful and ended up not only losing her sister, but having to be hospitalized for severe burns that left her with extensive scarring. She left town after graduating from high school, because she needed to get away from all the feelings surrounding her at home. Now she's back and surprised to discover that not only will she be working with Sebastian, but they have a class together as well.
My heart races as if I've run the length of the field, and I'm just standing here, watching her, itching to touch, to take, to claim what I can't have. I want to follow the scar down her neck and over her breast and examine the juncture of smooth, unmarred ivory skin and textured scar. I want to brush my fingers over that space where demons I know too well reached beyond their boundaries and caught an innocent.
Secrets are a big deal in these books, and everyone's got them. Alex doesn't know Sebastian's secrets, and he believes that they are the reason he needs to stay away from her. The secrets of her dead sister are a heartbreaking thing, and survivors guilt is real.
I enjoyed the small mystery within the book and completely fell for the red herring. The next book in the series will be called Falling Hard, but doesn't come out until the summer of 2017. I was surprised to hear that it will follow Keegan's story and even though every book has made me detest Olivia... I'm sure that I will love her by the end. The story I have been anticipating the most, hasn't been announced (that I know of). There HAS to be a 5th book, because I NEED Bailey and Mason's story.
I received an advance review copy of this book that I have chosen to review.
dnf-lost-interest
February 3, 2017DNF
December 5, 2016
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
I was introduced and started falling in love with both Lexi Ryan's writing and the Blackhawk boys at the same time. With each one of these hot jocks she has introduced me to, I have fallen farther and harder. Lexi has the perfect mixture of want, forbidden, and suspense to keep my heart hanging in the balance waiting for the next steamy scene or mystery to unfold. She kept me riveted by giving the reader not just one or two point of views but three! She takes us into the heart and drama of Sebastian, Alexandra, and her twin sister Martina, and keeps us holding on for dear life until the very end anxious to absorb every facet of their story. Sebastian and Alexandra are a turbulent, emotional mess filled with guilt, wonton desires, and an unfulfilled fantasies.
Sebastian Crowe was introduced in the previous books in the series, so I was already curious to find out more about this bearded and broody football player who keeps his feelings and desires to himself. Sebastian is multifaceted and as each layer was peeled away, Lexi showed us the troubled young man underneath who has always been deeply in love with Alexandra. I adored Sebastian from the beginning. I couldn't wait to uncover the man under all those delicious muscles, smoldering looks, and find out what his self loathing was about and uncover his reasoning for staying away from Alexandra. Add in the forbidden attraction with his best friend's sister and you have a steamy, over the top romance that I couldn't resist.
Alexandra DeLuca is a young woman who has been living in her dead twin sister's shadow for years. She is filled with guilt for not saving her from herself and for living on without her. Alex has spent years away, nursing a broken heart that still pines for Sebastian but she is tired of running and is back in town. Little does she realize that Sebastian is back in town also and is as hot as ever. Now she either needs to move past her love for Sebastian or step out of her sister's shadow and learn to love herself and pursue her attraction with Sebastian. It was profound watching Alex grow as a person and learn to be herself and stop dwelling on the past. Discovering the ins and outs of not only her relationship with Sebastian but also her sister was enthralling and revealed so much about each of them!
Lexi Ryan delivers another football throwing, drool worthy hero wrapped up in a pulse pounding heat and suspenseful read. I couldn't get enough of these two and their painful, twisted past. Lexi had me hanging on to every word, waiting for the next panted breath, rush of need, or whispered secret to surface. I highly recommend Going Under along with Spinning Out and Rushing In, in the Blackhawk Boys series for stories that will pique your interest and keep you salivating for more! There is so much more than muscles to this group of mysterious athletes that keep readers addicted to both their hearts and their tight ends!
I was introduced and started falling in love with both Lexi Ryan's writing and the Blackhawk boys at the same time. With each one of these hot jocks she has introduced me to, I have fallen farther and harder. Lexi has the perfect mixture of want, forbidden, and suspense to keep my heart hanging in the balance waiting for the next steamy scene or mystery to unfold. She kept me riveted by giving the reader not just one or two point of views but three! She takes us into the heart and drama of Sebastian, Alexandra, and her twin sister Martina, and keeps us holding on for dear life until the very end anxious to absorb every facet of their story. Sebastian and Alexandra are a turbulent, emotional mess filled with guilt, wonton desires, and an unfulfilled fantasies.
Sebastian Crowe was introduced in the previous books in the series, so I was already curious to find out more about this bearded and broody football player who keeps his feelings and desires to himself. Sebastian is multifaceted and as each layer was peeled away, Lexi showed us the troubled young man underneath who has always been deeply in love with Alexandra. I adored Sebastian from the beginning. I couldn't wait to uncover the man under all those delicious muscles, smoldering looks, and find out what his self loathing was about and uncover his reasoning for staying away from Alexandra. Add in the forbidden attraction with his best friend's sister and you have a steamy, over the top romance that I couldn't resist.
Alexandra DeLuca is a young woman who has been living in her dead twin sister's shadow for years. She is filled with guilt for not saving her from herself and for living on without her. Alex has spent years away, nursing a broken heart that still pines for Sebastian but she is tired of running and is back in town. Little does she realize that Sebastian is back in town also and is as hot as ever. Now she either needs to move past her love for Sebastian or step out of her sister's shadow and learn to love herself and pursue her attraction with Sebastian. It was profound watching Alex grow as a person and learn to be herself and stop dwelling on the past. Discovering the ins and outs of not only her relationship with Sebastian but also her sister was enthralling and revealed so much about each of them!
Lexi Ryan delivers another football throwing, drool worthy hero wrapped up in a pulse pounding heat and suspenseful read. I couldn't get enough of these two and their painful, twisted past. Lexi had me hanging on to every word, waiting for the next panted breath, rush of need, or whispered secret to surface. I highly recommend Going Under along with Spinning Out and Rushing In, in the Blackhawk Boys series for stories that will pique your interest and keep you salivating for more! There is so much more than muscles to this group of mysterious athletes that keep readers addicted to both their hearts and their tight ends!
December 6, 2016
"Touching you is never difficult. The hard part is letting go."
Going Under è il terzo capitolo della serie The Blackhawk Boys e, devo dire, che più Lexi Ryan ci racconta i personaggi di questa squadra di football, più mi fa innamorare dei sui libri e del suo stile.
Amo i romanzi sulle secondi occasioni e questo, che racconta la seconda possibilità tra Alexandra e Sebastian è un crescendo di emozioni pagina dopo pagina.
La trama, lo stile, la tensione fra i due ti catturano nella loro rete fino alla fine.
Alexandra è la ragazza che Sebastian ha sempre desiderato ma che considera off limits perché non merita un ragazzo come lui. Inoltre è la sorella della sua migliore amica e del suo migliore amico.
Dal canto suo, pure Alexandra ha una cotta da sempre per lui, ma crede di non essere la ragazza che un giocatore di football guarderebbe.
Vive per anni all'ombra della sorella: lei è quella intelligente, timida, con la testa sulle spalle. La ragazza perfetta, ma ai suoi occhi imperfetta.
Si rincontrano dopo anni. Alex è tornata in città dopo aver perso la sorella in un incendio e le cicatrici di quel giorno glielo ricordano ogni giorno, marchiandole la pelle.
Sebastian non è più il cattivo ragazzo di un tempo, ma a causa di una promessa fatta anni prima al padre cercherà in tutti i modi di tenerla lontana.
"Sometimes we hide the truth to protect people we love. Sometimes it's the only choice we have."
Ma i due saranno a stretto contatto sia a scuola che nell'officina del padre. Complice una festa, le loro due vite si incroceranno di nuovo e da quel momento in poi dovranno fare i conti con i segreti, le paure e le cicatrici interne che entrambi nascondono.
Going Under credo sia al momento il mio libro preferito fra i tre.
Perdono.
Perdita.
Tradimento.
Passione.
Morte.
Vita.
Lexi Ryan ci fa viviere un viaggio sulle montagne russe con la storia di Alex e Sebastian, una storia sempre in crescendo che vi intrappolerà. Un romanzo d'amore emozionante e passionale, con una leggera pennellata di dark e suspance.
December 6, 2016
4.5/5 Stars!!
Lexi Ryan does it again with Going Under, the next book in the Blackhawk Boys series. This time it is Sebastian’s story.
Sebastian has always been a bit of a mystery, so I was excited to get his story and see what all that mystery was about. Sebastian keeps to himself. He is battling demons from his past, including his attraction to off-limits Alexandra DeLuca. Alex is his friend’s little sister. He has been attracted to her since high school, but when he had a moment back then to show her how he felt, he left her alone and confused in her bedroom. Then, she left town. Now they are both back and things are confusing.
Sebastian is a complicated character. His family is sort of falling apart. He blames himself for a tragedy in the past that affected Alex. He’s been keeping secrets from her…some big ones. As with most secrets, things come to light and it is kind of tragic. I love Sebastian. I love that he feels guilt and shame and yet still can’t stop thinking of Alex.
Alex was quiet and shy in high school, but she fell in love with her friend Sebastian. She didn’t know his secrets. She feels guilt over not being able to save her sister from drugs. She feels guilt over not being about to save her sister from the fire that killed her and left Alex with scars as a lifelong reminder. She left town after high school to find herself and to get over Sebastian, but one look and all those old feelings returned. Alex finds herself in this book. She is no longer the shy girl, but one who is finding some self-confidence and it was a joy to read.
Alex and Sebastian have this palpable chemistry. I rooted for them to get over their fears and just get together already. But, I also liked that they were both flawed, both afraid. It made their relationship real and raw and, oh, so good.
When the secrets finally came out, it was heartbreaking. I felt for Alex, but I felt for Sebastian even more. His guilt was a heavy weight on his neck.
Lexi Ryan does a great job of giving us angst and drama, a sexy hero and a heroine who finds herself. You can’t go wrong with this series and you don’t want to miss Sebastian’s story!
Lexi Ryan does it again with Going Under, the next book in the Blackhawk Boys series. This time it is Sebastian’s story.
Sebastian has always been a bit of a mystery, so I was excited to get his story and see what all that mystery was about. Sebastian keeps to himself. He is battling demons from his past, including his attraction to off-limits Alexandra DeLuca. Alex is his friend’s little sister. He has been attracted to her since high school, but when he had a moment back then to show her how he felt, he left her alone and confused in her bedroom. Then, she left town. Now they are both back and things are confusing.
Sebastian is a complicated character. His family is sort of falling apart. He blames himself for a tragedy in the past that affected Alex. He’s been keeping secrets from her…some big ones. As with most secrets, things come to light and it is kind of tragic. I love Sebastian. I love that he feels guilt and shame and yet still can’t stop thinking of Alex.
Alex was quiet and shy in high school, but she fell in love with her friend Sebastian. She didn’t know his secrets. She feels guilt over not being able to save her sister from drugs. She feels guilt over not being about to save her sister from the fire that killed her and left Alex with scars as a lifelong reminder. She left town after high school to find herself and to get over Sebastian, but one look and all those old feelings returned. Alex finds herself in this book. She is no longer the shy girl, but one who is finding some self-confidence and it was a joy to read.
Alex and Sebastian have this palpable chemistry. I rooted for them to get over their fears and just get together already. But, I also liked that they were both flawed, both afraid. It made their relationship real and raw and, oh, so good.
When the secrets finally came out, it was heartbreaking. I felt for Alex, but I felt for Sebastian even more. His guilt was a heavy weight on his neck.
Lexi Ryan does a great job of giving us angst and drama, a sexy hero and a heroine who finds herself. You can’t go wrong with this series and you don’t want to miss Sebastian’s story!
December 11, 2016
Going Under is book three in The Blackhawk Boys series. This time is Sebastian's turn to tell his story. Since book two (Rushing In) I was very drawn to him. He seemed like the ultimate bad boy and his story was one I wanted to hear.
Just when I thought it was going to be a light-hearted story, I was surprised to find that it was a bit dark. Sebastian and Alexandra's lives have been plagued by death, drugs and unrequited love. Reading this book was intense and a bit exasperating. The shadows of their past were hunting their presents so the love story they were waiting to write together took its time.
I definitely expected more from this story but I didn't think would be this emotionally heavy.
Sebastian made mistakes, but I think he was too blinded by them. The constant reminder to himself that he wasn't enough for Alexandra made me angry. We as humans make mistakes, lots of mistakes. But we are allowed to heal and to find redemption. What he did, he definitely deserved love in his life. Maybe the decisions he took were not the best ones, but he needed to heal.
Alexandra, such a sweet and scarred girl. She took a lot from everyone and the events in her past marked her not only emotionally but also physically, through all she was strong, but like Sebastian she needed to find a way to forgive herself.
I enjoyed the book. But the constant conflict and some things Sebastian did made me not love so hard this book. If I'm honest I feel that he didn't fight enough for her. Too bad Logan was the bad guy all along, I kinda preferred him. But at the end they had to be together. I accept that. The final part had enough action to not dislike entirely the book.
December 4, 2016
Ooh. So much angst! Angst that I wasn't expecting, It was like watching a train wreck, I knew what was coming but I couldn't do a thing about it, the train was going to derail no matter what. I was just hoping there would be survivors, namely Alex and Sebastian. Well written in dual POV with some pretty intense characters. A 'sort of' friends to lovers story with Alex and Sebastian having so much baggage and history between them, I'm not sure how strong their original friendship was. My heart ached so much for them both, Alex as she hid her love for Sebastian and Sebastian as he struggled with his guilt and kept his past hidden away from Alex. Add in to the mix family and friends both helping and hindering and it turns out we have a heartbreakingly intense love story with quite a few twists. This definitely kept me on my toes.
December 6, 2016
4.5/5 Maintenant j'ai vachement envie de lire les deux premiers tomes!! Très belle écriture, très jolie histoire, des personnages très attachants, que ce soit les personnages principaux ou les secondaires...
Mon avis : https://leslecturesdesab.wordpress.co...
Mon avis : https://leslecturesdesab.wordpress.co...
July 13, 2018
4.2 estrellas
Caraaaaaaay... El drama solo mejora con cada libro. De aquí al de Mason, porque sí, muero por leer el de él, estaré dispuesta a dar las 5 estrellas.
Sebastian, tenía tantas reservas sobre él pero solo pff las hizo nada.
Lleva el puesto número 3 en mi lista de estos chicos😍
Caraaaaaaay... El drama solo mejora con cada libro. De aquí al de Mason, porque sí, muero por leer el de él, estaré dispuesta a dar las 5 estrellas.
Sebastian, tenía tantas reservas sobre él pero solo pff las hizo nada.
Lleva el puesto número 3 en mi lista de estos chicos😍
January 21, 2019
3.5 🙈No puedo negar que me engancho, como para terminar de leerlo en un día, lo cual es mucho decir con todo lo que tenia que hacer. sin embargo, a ratos (muchos ratos) me desesperó Alex y su continua auto insuficiencia, comparándose con su hermana muerta que no era más que una perra, que tomo una mala decisión tras otra, llevándose a su gemela por el medio. Aunque en algún punto se entiende por qué era como era, Alex pasa mucho del libro dando vueltas sobre lo mismo, si, es la psicología del personaje, pero me desespera la idealización que sólo ella hace de su hermana, porque de lo poco que se sabe de los demás (familia, amigos), nadie la veía tan maravillosa como Alex. Mientras la otra actuaba por cochina envidia por su hermana. Demasiado cliché tal vez.
Sebastián es lindo, pero también vive demasiado en el pasado.
Me choca un poco que la trama de esta serie hasta ahora, tenga a los protagonistas tan apegados a lo que ya fue y muestre muy poco de lo que el camino podría tener preparado para ellos, aún siendo “estrellas del fútbol”. Se vuelve un poco demasiado dramático. Todos vienen de vidas destruidas. Normal, también, pero pareciera que aprecian poco lo que han logrado a pesar de sus pasados hasta que llega el desenlace y todo se vuelve maravilloso.
Como historias de amor, si me gustan mucho. Afortunadamente los finales son felices, y al fin sale el sol en unas vidas que hasta ese momento fueron bastante oscuras.
Sebastián es lindo, pero también vive demasiado en el pasado.
Me choca un poco que la trama de esta serie hasta ahora, tenga a los protagonistas tan apegados a lo que ya fue y muestre muy poco de lo que el camino podría tener preparado para ellos, aún siendo “estrellas del fútbol”. Se vuelve un poco demasiado dramático. Todos vienen de vidas destruidas. Normal, también, pero pareciera que aprecian poco lo que han logrado a pesar de sus pasados hasta que llega el desenlace y todo se vuelve maravilloso.
Como historias de amor, si me gustan mucho. Afortunadamente los finales son felices, y al fin sale el sol en unas vidas que hasta ese momento fueron bastante oscuras.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2018
So the series still has almost nothing at all, whatsoever, to do with football, besides that the men apparently play football (not that you ever really see that or hear about it).
That doesn't matter to me, but since this is sold as a sports romance in a football world, I figured I should throw that out there.
This one is dark and twisty, but it's also a bit convoluted and unbelievable at times. However, I still enjoyed Alex, even if some of her drama is too surface level.
Book 301 read in 2018
Pages: 274
That doesn't matter to me, but since this is sold as a sports romance in a football world, I figured I should throw that out there.
This one is dark and twisty, but it's also a bit convoluted and unbelievable at times. However, I still enjoyed Alex, even if some of her drama is too surface level.
Book 301 read in 2018
Pages: 274
June 2, 2018
4 Stars
Audible
Review to come ❤️
Audible
Review to come ❤️
January 24, 2019
Love it!
August 2, 2021
Angsty new adult romance with guilty secrets, hopeless yearning and past addictions, all while the characters deal with college, jobs and each other. It's a good read. I liked it.
February 3, 2020
3.50
The ending was rushed. 80% of the book was wasted on God knows what. They got together for 2 chapters probably and then fought again. Everything ended beautiful though.
The ending was rushed. 80% of the book was wasted on God knows what. They got together for 2 chapters probably and then fought again. Everything ended beautiful though.
March 2, 2018
This plot line was almost the same as book 1. Just saying.
February 20, 2017
3.75/5.
I liked this book… then I didn’t like it at all.
I wanted to take note of all the things wrong with it but couldn’t stop reading it at the same time. It confused me good so I had to read on and find the solution, and it confused me bad so I had to stop and try figure it out myself, try to make sense of what was happening. I think that’s why I couldn’t rate thing any higher. I wanted to love this book, and I’ll probably read the other books- I am interested in Keegan & Olivia and Mason & Bailey’s books. But, I had so many problems that just took away from my enjoyment of the book.
Let’s start with the main problem: this book was over-complicated. For those of you who’ve read this, you may say “that was the point”, “it made the story better” etc. but let me explain. This book follows Alex and Bash, each both completely in love with the other, although not together. We know Alex had a crush on Bash for a long time and, since returning from Colorado where she had been living for two years, has realised her feelings never left. But, Bash wants nothing more than friendship but we don’t know why. We find out near the end why he “couldn’t” be with her and, it wasn’t all that complicated or bad. I think it was dragged out a little too long. And, just when everything is going to be okay, another thing is stopping them from being together. Another thing that Bash should have just come clean about when he was telling her everything else. I think it was a bad excuse to drag this book out that little bit longer.
While Bash is dealing with all of his problems as to why he can’t be with Alex, we also learn of a lot of problems Alex’s dead twin sister had. Alex had gone to Colorado to get away from all these problems but soon came back, realising she needed to deal with them where they began. To be honest, with me explaining it right now, it doesn’t sound as complicated as it actually was. But, I can’t really go into any more detail without spoiling it. One little thing that also added to this problem was there were too many people involved. It wasn’t just about Alex, Alex’s sister and Bash… it was about a whole host of people. It was like each little dark corner of everyone’s past made up one big room full of secrets. They all intertwined, even sometimes to the extend where you had to draw it out in your mind and connect the dots, make a mind-map of everyone’s secrets.
What I will say with this “complication”, it did me guessing. I’d get an idea in my mind about something, read a chapter and completely think the opposite. And, sometimes it would turn out to be my second guess but sometimes it turned out to be my first.
Also, near the start of the book, I got confused between Mia and Olivia, it made it sound like Mia was his sister when Olivia was. It made it sound like it was only one girl. I got confused. The book sometimes just assumed we knew things. Like it assumed we knew why Bailey was in pain when talking about Mia’s dead brother, Nic. It turned out they were dating. (Now, reflecting back on this, I realise this is the third book in the series. They are stand-alones but their characters inter-connect. Possibly readers learned these facts in the previous two books but I wasn’t one of those readers.)
A good thing about this book was I had so many pink highlights. (I colour-code my tabs and highlights, and pink is for quotes/scenes etc. I love.)
In short, I think the problems I had with this book affected my reading experience to heavily. The book kept me engrossed, I can’t deny that, but I also spent was too much of my time trying to figure out things that weren’t explained. I really like the characters of Alex and Bash but I the same time I feel like I barely know them. (I know in the earlier books you do see a bit of Bash.) Bash spent a lot of time trying to draw Alex away from his past when that was part of who he is.
This was the book I finished 2016 with and the book I started 2017 with. (I literally finished at 12:02.) I’m sad to say I was disappointed. (I appreciated all the football though. But, now thinking about it, I don’t actually remember the football.)
I liked this book… then I didn’t like it at all.
I wanted to take note of all the things wrong with it but couldn’t stop reading it at the same time. It confused me good so I had to read on and find the solution, and it confused me bad so I had to stop and try figure it out myself, try to make sense of what was happening. I think that’s why I couldn’t rate thing any higher. I wanted to love this book, and I’ll probably read the other books- I am interested in Keegan & Olivia and Mason & Bailey’s books. But, I had so many problems that just took away from my enjoyment of the book.
Let’s start with the main problem: this book was over-complicated. For those of you who’ve read this, you may say “that was the point”, “it made the story better” etc. but let me explain. This book follows Alex and Bash, each both completely in love with the other, although not together. We know Alex had a crush on Bash for a long time and, since returning from Colorado where she had been living for two years, has realised her feelings never left. But, Bash wants nothing more than friendship but we don’t know why. We find out near the end why he “couldn’t” be with her and, it wasn’t all that complicated or bad. I think it was dragged out a little too long. And, just when everything is going to be okay, another thing is stopping them from being together. Another thing that Bash should have just come clean about when he was telling her everything else. I think it was a bad excuse to drag this book out that little bit longer.
While Bash is dealing with all of his problems as to why he can’t be with Alex, we also learn of a lot of problems Alex’s dead twin sister had. Alex had gone to Colorado to get away from all these problems but soon came back, realising she needed to deal with them where they began. To be honest, with me explaining it right now, it doesn’t sound as complicated as it actually was. But, I can’t really go into any more detail without spoiling it. One little thing that also added to this problem was there were too many people involved. It wasn’t just about Alex, Alex’s sister and Bash… it was about a whole host of people. It was like each little dark corner of everyone’s past made up one big room full of secrets. They all intertwined, even sometimes to the extend where you had to draw it out in your mind and connect the dots, make a mind-map of everyone’s secrets.
What I will say with this “complication”, it did me guessing. I’d get an idea in my mind about something, read a chapter and completely think the opposite. And, sometimes it would turn out to be my second guess but sometimes it turned out to be my first.
Also, near the start of the book, I got confused between Mia and Olivia, it made it sound like Mia was his sister when Olivia was. It made it sound like it was only one girl. I got confused. The book sometimes just assumed we knew things. Like it assumed we knew why Bailey was in pain when talking about Mia’s dead brother, Nic. It turned out they were dating. (Now, reflecting back on this, I realise this is the third book in the series. They are stand-alones but their characters inter-connect. Possibly readers learned these facts in the previous two books but I wasn’t one of those readers.)
A good thing about this book was I had so many pink highlights. (I colour-code my tabs and highlights, and pink is for quotes/scenes etc. I love.)
In short, I think the problems I had with this book affected my reading experience to heavily. The book kept me engrossed, I can’t deny that, but I also spent was too much of my time trying to figure out things that weren’t explained. I really like the characters of Alex and Bash but I the same time I feel like I barely know them. (I know in the earlier books you do see a bit of Bash.) Bash spent a lot of time trying to draw Alex away from his past when that was part of who he is.
This was the book I finished 2016 with and the book I started 2017 with. (I literally finished at 12:02.) I’m sad to say I was disappointed. (I appreciated all the football though. But, now thinking about it, I don’t actually remember the football.)
November 14, 2017
3.5 stars
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