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Westland University #1
Full Count
Anyone who says they’re having the worst day hasn’t met me. My girlfriend cheated, I blew out my knee, and probably trashed my chance of going pro. All in one day. Then my jerk professor tells I’m almost on academic probation.
Awesome. Now I get to find a tutor.
Enter Mallory Fine, quiet, a little intense, and my kind of gorgeous. Who also happens to hate baseball and any guy who plays it.
Hello, curiosity.
I tell myself this will be nothing more than a tutoring relationship. I’m a liar. I want this girl. How hard can her secrets be to unravel? It might be a challenge, but so is getting back on the ball field and I’m determined to make that happen—no matter the cost.
Awesome. Now I get to find a tutor.
Enter Mallory Fine, quiet, a little intense, and my kind of gorgeous. Who also happens to hate baseball and any guy who plays it.
Hello, curiosity.
I tell myself this will be nothing more than a tutoring relationship. I’m a liar. I want this girl. How hard can her secrets be to unravel? It might be a challenge, but so is getting back on the ball field and I’m determined to make that happen—no matter the cost.
280 pages, Paperback
Published June 19, 2017
45 people are currently reading
622 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
June 20, 2017
3.5*
This one took me by surprise. I thought it was going to be a low angst romance with some humor and a cute romance thrown in. WRONG. Well, not completely wrong. I didn't expect the heavy undertone the book had. I really didn't expect Mallory to have such a sad past. So I wouldn't say the surprise was pleasant, but it was definitely surprising and made the story that much more interesting.
Aaron was a great character. He was charming, nice, and had a good heart. He's on a fast track to be a professional baseball player but an injury takes him out of the game. As if the injury and surgery on his knee wasn't bad enough, he gets more bad news when he's told by his history professor that he's close to being on academic probation for his low grade in his class that came from him missing so much. The man had no compassion for the injured baseball star. So Aaron decided the only way he might have a passing chance is to hire the best tutor on campus. This is were he meets the serious and skittish, Mallory.
There was attraction on both sides and Aaron was a very patient man when it came to Mallory and all of her hang ups. But she did a lot more running than I liked and it got to be annoying. I understand she had bad stuff happen in her past and she had a lot of issues with trust, but I couldn't help yelling at my kindle, "Give the guy a break already!". Yeah. I was frustrated. Then Aaron does something so ridiculously stupid and of course by reading about Mallory's past I knew it was going to end horribly for them. I won't spoil it. You'll have to read the book to find out.
I really liked how the author dealt with what Aaron did. I liked all the information she gave to someone like me who knew little about it, and what effects it has on one's body.
This was my first book by this author and I honestly wanted to read this book because I thought it would one of those easy romance reads. But I am still happy with how the book turned out even if it did get bumpy and quite angsty. I'm not a huge fan of angst and I didn't enjoy it here either. The back and forth Mallory kept up throughout the book became tiring and I had moments of wanting to throw in the towel. But like a trooper and stuck it out and ended up liking the book in the end.
Give this one a go dolls! xx
**I received an ARC from Netgalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review**
This one took me by surprise. I thought it was going to be a low angst romance with some humor and a cute romance thrown in. WRONG. Well, not completely wrong. I didn't expect the heavy undertone the book had. I really didn't expect Mallory to have such a sad past. So I wouldn't say the surprise was pleasant, but it was definitely surprising and made the story that much more interesting.
Aaron was a great character. He was charming, nice, and had a good heart. He's on a fast track to be a professional baseball player but an injury takes him out of the game. As if the injury and surgery on his knee wasn't bad enough, he gets more bad news when he's told by his history professor that he's close to being on academic probation for his low grade in his class that came from him missing so much. The man had no compassion for the injured baseball star. So Aaron decided the only way he might have a passing chance is to hire the best tutor on campus. This is were he meets the serious and skittish, Mallory.
There was attraction on both sides and Aaron was a very patient man when it came to Mallory and all of her hang ups. But she did a lot more running than I liked and it got to be annoying. I understand she had bad stuff happen in her past and she had a lot of issues with trust, but I couldn't help yelling at my kindle, "Give the guy a break already!". Yeah. I was frustrated. Then Aaron does something so ridiculously stupid and of course by reading about Mallory's past I knew it was going to end horribly for them. I won't spoil it. You'll have to read the book to find out.
I really liked how the author dealt with what Aaron did. I liked all the information she gave to someone like me who knew little about it, and what effects it has on one's body.
This was my first book by this author and I honestly wanted to read this book because I thought it would one of those easy romance reads. But I am still happy with how the book turned out even if it did get bumpy and quite angsty. I'm not a huge fan of angst and I didn't enjoy it here either. The back and forth Mallory kept up throughout the book became tiring and I had moments of wanting to throw in the towel. But like a trooper and stuck it out and ended up liking the book in the end.
Give this one a go dolls! xx
**I received an ARC from Netgalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review**
June 26, 2017
**2.5 Stars**
One wrong move, and not even on his part, changed the course of Aaron's life. A mishap, as in a teammate's leg hitting Aaron just right, may result in not only surgery and therapy, but also ending Aaron's dream of playing baseball professionally. As if that isn't devastating enough, he learns he's on academic probation, requiring a tutor to help him pass history, and, oh yeah, his girlfriend of four years, Trish, breaks up with him. Poor guy can't catch a break. Then again, maybe there's a silver lining somewhere in all this.
Mallory, the best tutor available, won't waste time on helping someone that won't follow through. After chatting online with Aaron for a few minutes, she has him pegged as such a person. Yeah okay, she may be a little biased regarding his sport, as evidenced by essentially turning him down upon hearing he plays. But she has reasons. Sad, tragic reasons.
Thankfully, Mallory agrees to tutor Aaron, but she has strict guidelines he has to follow, otherwise she can't help him.
And honestly, twenty percent in, I stopped reading when Aaron kissed another girl, one he now decides it wouldn't be a bad idea to sleep with, when before it was all "a quick release isn't worth it, I don't know them well enough to date, my parents raised me better than that." The only reason he didn't? She didn't know the answer to a baseball trivia question, showing she wasn't in to baseball players, and now all of a sudden he's labeling it as not happening because she isn't girlfriend material. Um, what now? That bothered me on so many different levels that I no longer wanted to continue. But please, give the book a try for yourself, don't let me personal safety issues deter you. The premise is interesting, as are the main characters, but once the hero and heroine meet, I don't want anyone else involved. Oh and yeah, he kisses Mallory like the next day, or perhaps two days after, kissing the other chick. Gross. And it gets even worse, he slept with a waitress from a place they frequent, twice, that same night after kissing Mallory, and apparently either talked with her about Mallory, called her Mallory, or something along those lines because chick says "Mallory's one lucky girl." Oh, and I skimmed out of curiosity, the waitress, after Aaron and Mallory are together a few months after the fact, snidely informs Mallory that she slept with Aaron, and he called out Mallory's name. I am done and unbelievably grossed out. My opinion does not negate the author's talent in any way, it just reflects my personal preferences regarding my reading choices.
**I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**
One wrong move, and not even on his part, changed the course of Aaron's life. A mishap, as in a teammate's leg hitting Aaron just right, may result in not only surgery and therapy, but also ending Aaron's dream of playing baseball professionally. As if that isn't devastating enough, he learns he's on academic probation, requiring a tutor to help him pass history, and, oh yeah, his girlfriend of four years, Trish, breaks up with him. Poor guy can't catch a break. Then again, maybe there's a silver lining somewhere in all this.
Mallory, the best tutor available, won't waste time on helping someone that won't follow through. After chatting online with Aaron for a few minutes, she has him pegged as such a person. Yeah okay, she may be a little biased regarding his sport, as evidenced by essentially turning him down upon hearing he plays. But she has reasons. Sad, tragic reasons.
Thankfully, Mallory agrees to tutor Aaron, but she has strict guidelines he has to follow, otherwise she can't help him.
And honestly, twenty percent in, I stopped reading when Aaron kissed another girl, one he now decides it wouldn't be a bad idea to sleep with, when before it was all "a quick release isn't worth it, I don't know them well enough to date, my parents raised me better than that." The only reason he didn't? She didn't know the answer to a baseball trivia question, showing she wasn't in to baseball players, and now all of a sudden he's labeling it as not happening because she isn't girlfriend material. Um, what now? That bothered me on so many different levels that I no longer wanted to continue. But please, give the book a try for yourself, don't let me personal safety issues deter you. The premise is interesting, as are the main characters, but once the hero and heroine meet, I don't want anyone else involved. Oh and yeah, he kisses Mallory like the next day, or perhaps two days after, kissing the other chick. Gross. And it gets even worse, he slept with a waitress from a place they frequent, twice, that same night after kissing Mallory, and apparently either talked with her about Mallory, called her Mallory, or something along those lines because chick says "Mallory's one lucky girl." Oh, and I skimmed out of curiosity, the waitress, after Aaron and Mallory are together a few months after the fact, snidely informs Mallory that she slept with Aaron, and he called out Mallory's name. I am done and unbelievably grossed out. My opinion does not negate the author's talent in any way, it just reflects my personal preferences regarding my reading choices.
**I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**
June 16, 2017
This book knocked my socks off and then some! It had me running the full range of emotions.
This may be a book about two college students but the dialogue and interaction reads very much adult, so don't by shy. Jump right in.
The book takes off fairly quickly with Aaron playing a pick up game of soccer with his baseball teammates and ending up with a career threatening injury, requiring surgery. Add to that he's on academic probation and won't be able to play unless he passes his history class and his girlfriend has just dumped him. (the girlfriend dumping him was a blessing, you'll see that). He needs a tutor and he needs the best. So he meets with her, Mallory Fine on line where she interviews him. She won't take on a student who's going to waste her time. She talks to Aaron about 3 minutes and shuts him down, especially after hearing he's a baseball player, but she takes him on. She sets the schedule and he is expected to fall in line.
Aaron's injury and subsequent therapy is grueling, his Dr visits are rough and he's a bright guy, but history just stumps him. Aaron's over his ex, who is now dating a football player, for the moment.
Mallory comes up with some hilarious comebacks about her and her type, when the girl is nasty to her. Mallory is very closed off and with good reason. She doesn't mind when Aaron shares and he tells her things to try and get her to open up only to have her change the subject. Mallory is an expert at baseball which they all find out the night they watch the world series and she's calling the pitches.
Mallory's history is a rough one. You have to read the book, but it effects everything she does and how she behaves. Her reluctance to let anyone close etc. There's often friction between the two.
As time goes on the two grow closer, Aaron is frustrated that he's not improving fast enough so he makes a bad judgement call, thinking he can control things. Baseball is his life, he's got his whole life planned out, now including Mallory and needs to be ready for the new season because the scouts are watching him. No doubt, he's a great player. His own Dad played balled until an injury took him out his first year of college. There are some dynamics that go on in Aarons family too, his younger sister, who I loved and the two Grandma's who were totally sassy.
When the story starts to spiral out of control it does so almost gracefully, but very emotional as well.
It's sad, just damn sad. Lynn wrote these characters so well you almost felt like you knew them, you got a great sense of who both Aaron and Mallory are as people as well as together as a couple.
Lynn wrote an amazing book. I'd give it 10 stars. It is so much more than just a story about two college kids or a baseball player. I loved the dialogue and the reality checks she puts in here.
Read this book, I guarantee you will love it.
Great book Lynn, it's got it all going on!
**arc from NetGalley and Entangled in exchange for a fair review**
This may be a book about two college students but the dialogue and interaction reads very much adult, so don't by shy. Jump right in.
The book takes off fairly quickly with Aaron playing a pick up game of soccer with his baseball teammates and ending up with a career threatening injury, requiring surgery. Add to that he's on academic probation and won't be able to play unless he passes his history class and his girlfriend has just dumped him. (the girlfriend dumping him was a blessing, you'll see that). He needs a tutor and he needs the best. So he meets with her, Mallory Fine on line where she interviews him. She won't take on a student who's going to waste her time. She talks to Aaron about 3 minutes and shuts him down, especially after hearing he's a baseball player, but she takes him on. She sets the schedule and he is expected to fall in line.
Aaron's injury and subsequent therapy is grueling, his Dr visits are rough and he's a bright guy, but history just stumps him. Aaron's over his ex, who is now dating a football player, for the moment.
Mallory comes up with some hilarious comebacks about her and her type, when the girl is nasty to her. Mallory is very closed off and with good reason. She doesn't mind when Aaron shares and he tells her things to try and get her to open up only to have her change the subject. Mallory is an expert at baseball which they all find out the night they watch the world series and she's calling the pitches.
Mallory's history is a rough one. You have to read the book, but it effects everything she does and how she behaves. Her reluctance to let anyone close etc. There's often friction between the two.
As time goes on the two grow closer, Aaron is frustrated that he's not improving fast enough so he makes a bad judgement call, thinking he can control things. Baseball is his life, he's got his whole life planned out, now including Mallory and needs to be ready for the new season because the scouts are watching him. No doubt, he's a great player. His own Dad played balled until an injury took him out his first year of college. There are some dynamics that go on in Aarons family too, his younger sister, who I loved and the two Grandma's who were totally sassy.
When the story starts to spiral out of control it does so almost gracefully, but very emotional as well.
It's sad, just damn sad. Lynn wrote these characters so well you almost felt like you knew them, you got a great sense of who both Aaron and Mallory are as people as well as together as a couple.
Lynn wrote an amazing book. I'd give it 10 stars. It is so much more than just a story about two college kids or a baseball player. I loved the dialogue and the reality checks she puts in here.
Read this book, I guarantee you will love it.
Great book Lynn, it's got it all going on!
**arc from NetGalley and Entangled in exchange for a fair review**
June 18, 2017
This was not you typical jock meets nerd, college romance. There is a serious undertone to the story which caught me unaware.
Aaron is having a bad time, her hurt his knee and his girlfriend dumped him. He risks losing his spot on the baseball team and his history professor is out for his blood. He needs a tutor and Mallory Fine is the best in the college.
This story started nicely with the whole shock meets Nerd. But soon Aaron realizes that Mallory does not care about his status. He does everything to win her over. But her aversion to Baseball and Baseball players runs deeper. Soon however, she can help but love everything about Aaron.
The ending was so different from your usual stories and I appreciate the author for taking it there. A nice read.
*~*~*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange of an honest review *~*~*
Aaron is having a bad time, her hurt his knee and his girlfriend dumped him. He risks losing his spot on the baseball team and his history professor is out for his blood. He needs a tutor and Mallory Fine is the best in the college.
This story started nicely with the whole shock meets Nerd. But soon Aaron realizes that Mallory does not care about his status. He does everything to win her over. But her aversion to Baseball and Baseball players runs deeper. Soon however, she can help but love everything about Aaron.
The ending was so different from your usual stories and I appreciate the author for taking it there. A nice read.
*~*~*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange of an honest review *~*~*
June 22, 2017
Talk about teenage angst and turmoil - this YA romance is packed with it - even when you’re near the end, it doesn’t feel like things can work out happily! Aaron Betts thought he’d got his future sorted - great girlfriend and a real chance of going pro in the sport he loves - then it all came a-tumbling down. His girlfriend cheated on him, he sustained a serious knee injury and, to top it all off, one of his professors told him he was in danger of failing his class. That’s when he was told to get a tutor - Mallory Fine. She’s a feisty, no nonsense, determined young lady who really wants nothing to do with a player like Aaron. So why are they so attracted to each other? With so many temptations around, can they keep to the straight and narrow or will they fall by the wayside? Will he overcome her very real negative views on sportsmen?
Life is certainly throwing some serious challenges their way in this fast paced story which explores many issues in a realistic manner, demonstrating how temptation and trusting the wrong person can lead to your downfall… The finale is very moving and leads the reader with a sense of hope that things can be sorted, even if initial plans have been totally derailed. There are many lessons to be learnt as the story progresses. There are injuries, treachery and disaster, as well as romance in this heartwarming tale which is also a warning to others about the danger of succumbing to temptation and losing your way. I was particularly impressed with how so many tough issues were handled in this story and have no hesitation in recommending it, especially to young adult for whom the advice could be particularly pertinent.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this novel via NetGalley; this is my honest opinion after choosing to read the book.
Life is certainly throwing some serious challenges their way in this fast paced story which explores many issues in a realistic manner, demonstrating how temptation and trusting the wrong person can lead to your downfall… The finale is very moving and leads the reader with a sense of hope that things can be sorted, even if initial plans have been totally derailed. There are many lessons to be learnt as the story progresses. There are injuries, treachery and disaster, as well as romance in this heartwarming tale which is also a warning to others about the danger of succumbing to temptation and losing your way. I was particularly impressed with how so many tough issues were handled in this story and have no hesitation in recommending it, especially to young adult for whom the advice could be particularly pertinent.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this novel via NetGalley; this is my honest opinion after choosing to read the book.
February 4, 2021
I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review
If You like J Lynn and Jamie McGuire you will love this book
let me just put this out there i absolutely love Mallory and Aaron
some semi spoilers ahead
Things i liked
-the way Lynn Stevens handled the whole HGH stuff
-the way she handle the way Mallory's character handles grieve or getting to close to people for the fear of them leaving you (i related to her more because of that)
- All the baseball stuff (im a huge St Louis Cardinals and a even bigger Yankee's fan
Things i didnt like
-the ending. Why? because i never wanted it to end
If You like J Lynn and Jamie McGuire you will love this book
let me just put this out there i absolutely love Mallory and Aaron
some semi spoilers ahead
Things i liked
-the way Lynn Stevens handled the whole HGH stuff
-the way she handle the way Mallory's character handles grieve or getting to close to people for the fear of them leaving you (i related to her more because of that)
- All the baseball stuff (im a huge St Louis Cardinals and a even bigger Yankee's fan
Things i didnt like
-the ending. Why? because i never wanted it to end
June 16, 2017
Loved, loved, loved this one. No insta-love, no everything works out perfectly. Just a great story and a message that sometimes life gets messy, stupid decisions are made, and you just have to own it and move forward. The author tackled a very delicate subject and handled it superbly. This is absolutely a book I would recommend.
Aaron Betts had his life all planned out. Perfect girlfriend, star of the college baseball team, on his way to the big leagues. Then "poof" gone! Girlfriend's a cheater, knee's blown out, possibility of playing in the spring slim. Oh and his professor has it out for him for now he's searching for a tutor. That's where Mallory Fine comes into his life and nothing will ever be the same.
Aaron Betts had his life all planned out. Perfect girlfriend, star of the college baseball team, on his way to the big leagues. Then "poof" gone! Girlfriend's a cheater, knee's blown out, possibility of playing in the spring slim. Oh and his professor has it out for him for now he's searching for a tutor. That's where Mallory Fine comes into his life and nothing will ever be the same.
June 19, 2019
I really liked Full Count by Lynn Stevens. I love the writing and the story. I would have loved a dual POV so you get to know Mallory better and the ending was cut short, that's how it felt at least. I would have loved a epilogue.
August 24, 2019
Wow!
Mallory and Aaron story was everything. You have really knew where the story was going to go at first. But then when they both open up I saw something I absolutely enjoyed.
Mallory and Aaron story was everything. You have really knew where the story was going to go at first. But then when they both open up I saw something I absolutely enjoyed.
June 19, 2017
This book completely stands alone and *does not* end on a cliffhanger. There is both cursing and a couple of on-screen sex scenes in this book, so if those would cause you to leave a bad review, you should skip this one. But if you do that, you'll be missing one heck of a book.
Wow. That was my first reaction after reading this book. As a die-hard baseball fan, I picked this book up with some trepidition expecting it to be a sexy little love story with some sketchy baseball stuff thrown into the background as a plot device. Instead of a fluffy love story, this book was a really beautifully written, incredibly realistic story of two damaged characters who slowly build a beautiful relationship together and a character who makes one bad decision that ripples down and changes his whole life. It was also evident that this author didn't just do baseball research – Ms. Stevens very obviously knows and loves the game of baseball. Seriously, there wasn't a baseball term used improperly or anything said about the game that wasn't factual – her knowledge shown through in every baseball-related passage. That NEVER happens in sports-themed romance novels and I loved it.
Another thing that I loved about this book was that although it was told in the male POV (which I loved) and Aaron was a sports star, he wasn't the stereotypical swaggering, sex-obsessed 20-something jerk who gets labeled an “alpha male” that often dominates sports-related romance novels. He was a seriously good guy who didn't treat women as objects meant just for his sexual gratification, he was a smart guy who treated not only women, but *himself* with respect and I LOVED that. His patience with in his pursuit of Mallory was incredible, and his devotion to her never wavering was swoon-worthy. (My kingdom for an epilogue!) *SLIGHT SPOILERS to the end of paragraph* And even though there was a hopeful ending, there was no white-washing the things that happen in this book. There was no fakey-fake happy ending where everything turns up sunshine and rainbows. It was realistic and it absolutely perfectly fit this story.
Mallory was a tough cookie, but her walls and hesitation made total sense. I had complete respect for the way she conducted herself, not so much the throwing up the walls, but the way that she kept herself safe and didn't just fall for Aaron's charm from the start. Although I was frustrated with her toward the end, I understood where she was coming from and her hurt made total sense.
If you're a baseball fan, I PROMISE you that you can read this book without cringing every time baseball is mentioned. If you like a love story that develops over time in a very organic way, and a happily ever after that is hard-earned and might make you shed a few tears along the way, you should definitely give this one a read. I am so glad that I did. I very much look forward to reading more books by this author.
This review is verified because although I requested and was granted an ARC of this book, I enjoyed it so much that I spent the last of my monthly book budget to purchase it.
Wow. That was my first reaction after reading this book. As a die-hard baseball fan, I picked this book up with some trepidition expecting it to be a sexy little love story with some sketchy baseball stuff thrown into the background as a plot device. Instead of a fluffy love story, this book was a really beautifully written, incredibly realistic story of two damaged characters who slowly build a beautiful relationship together and a character who makes one bad decision that ripples down and changes his whole life. It was also evident that this author didn't just do baseball research – Ms. Stevens very obviously knows and loves the game of baseball. Seriously, there wasn't a baseball term used improperly or anything said about the game that wasn't factual – her knowledge shown through in every baseball-related passage. That NEVER happens in sports-themed romance novels and I loved it.
Another thing that I loved about this book was that although it was told in the male POV (which I loved) and Aaron was a sports star, he wasn't the stereotypical swaggering, sex-obsessed 20-something jerk who gets labeled an “alpha male” that often dominates sports-related romance novels. He was a seriously good guy who didn't treat women as objects meant just for his sexual gratification, he was a smart guy who treated not only women, but *himself* with respect and I LOVED that. His patience with in his pursuit of Mallory was incredible, and his devotion to her never wavering was swoon-worthy. (My kingdom for an epilogue!) *SLIGHT SPOILERS to the end of paragraph* And even though there was a hopeful ending, there was no white-washing the things that happen in this book. There was no fakey-fake happy ending where everything turns up sunshine and rainbows. It was realistic and it absolutely perfectly fit this story.
Mallory was a tough cookie, but her walls and hesitation made total sense. I had complete respect for the way she conducted herself, not so much the throwing up the walls, but the way that she kept herself safe and didn't just fall for Aaron's charm from the start. Although I was frustrated with her toward the end, I understood where she was coming from and her hurt made total sense.
If you're a baseball fan, I PROMISE you that you can read this book without cringing every time baseball is mentioned. If you like a love story that develops over time in a very organic way, and a happily ever after that is hard-earned and might make you shed a few tears along the way, you should definitely give this one a read. I am so glad that I did. I very much look forward to reading more books by this author.
This review is verified because although I requested and was granted an ARC of this book, I enjoyed it so much that I spent the last of my monthly book budget to purchase it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2017
Wow, just wow. Full Count is so much more than I had been expecting. Usually I find that NA college romances are fun, flirty and naughty with not a whole lot of emotional depth. Full Count is just the opposite.
Aaron is a baseball player with an eye on the draft. But first, he has to get through a serious injury thanks to an ill conceived soccer game, and find a tutor to help him get his history grade up so he won't fail the class. When Aaron's tutor turns out to be serious, beautiful Mallory, he's smitten, but she's not having any of his charming ways. You see, she dislikes baseball players, very vehemently dislikes them, for very serious, tragic reasons. As Aaron does everything in his power to get Mallory to open up to him and be receptive to him, they find themselves in an unlikely relationship. But, when Aaron screws up, not in a small, inconsequential way, he knows that any chance he had at living out his dream with his girl has been thrown out the window.
The emotional consequences, and the financial and physical consequences of Aaron's actions are what dreams, book dreams, are made of, and here, Lynn Stevens handles those consequences with a serious, but not heavily depressing hand. I love Full Count. It's a tragic tale, to be sure, but with a glimmer of hope right at the end when it seemed all hope was lost. Mallory and Aaron are both realistic, fully drawn characters with emotional depth and maturity, especially Aaron, toward the end. The way he handled his mistake makes for some serious character growth, and it's much appreciated in this time of mostly shallow NA sports romances. Kudos to Lynn for this emotional, well written story!
I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.
Aaron is a baseball player with an eye on the draft. But first, he has to get through a serious injury thanks to an ill conceived soccer game, and find a tutor to help him get his history grade up so he won't fail the class. When Aaron's tutor turns out to be serious, beautiful Mallory, he's smitten, but she's not having any of his charming ways. You see, she dislikes baseball players, very vehemently dislikes them, for very serious, tragic reasons. As Aaron does everything in his power to get Mallory to open up to him and be receptive to him, they find themselves in an unlikely relationship. But, when Aaron screws up, not in a small, inconsequential way, he knows that any chance he had at living out his dream with his girl has been thrown out the window.
The emotional consequences, and the financial and physical consequences of Aaron's actions are what dreams, book dreams, are made of, and here, Lynn Stevens handles those consequences with a serious, but not heavily depressing hand. I love Full Count. It's a tragic tale, to be sure, but with a glimmer of hope right at the end when it seemed all hope was lost. Mallory and Aaron are both realistic, fully drawn characters with emotional depth and maturity, especially Aaron, toward the end. The way he handled his mistake makes for some serious character growth, and it's much appreciated in this time of mostly shallow NA sports romances. Kudos to Lynn for this emotional, well written story!
I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.
June 20, 2017
another day, another sports romance, or is it? it's actually kind of hard to categorize this new adult story because while there is romance, it's not really all sunshine and rainbows. this one has a lot of dark clouds.
full count is about up-and-coming baseball star, aaron betts, a star player on the westland university baseball team who is injured in a pick up game welcoming rookies to in his junior year. aaron has a plan, and a knee injury seriously intereferes with those plans. all of a sudden he's battling academic probation, dealing with a break-up with his high school girlfriend, and facing the possibility that he won't play his junior year and will miss the draft.
to deal with the academic probation piece, aaron hires mallory fine as his history tutor. she isn't a fan of baseball players, but also seems to know an awful lot about the sport, moreso than the average fan. aaron is interested in mallory from the get-go, but she is hesitant and pulls away anything things get too serious between them.
their romance is definitely a slow burn. aaron is pretty much all-in, but it takes him a long time to win over mallory.
a third of the way through the novel though, aaron makes a morally questionable choice. and this choice drags down the story. i spent the entire rest of the book waiting for that shoe to drop and wondering how the writer was going to write herself out of this. because it's almost irredeemable. and so this was my struggle, because as a character i loved aaron. he's a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve, and i just felt like he was smarter and better than the choices he makes. and he was being so extraordinarily stupid.
and after so much build up and so much stressing about that shoe dropping, when everything does blow up, there's almost not enough time to deal with the consequences. and as the book closes, it's not entirely clear where things will end up between the characters. which is fine, except this romance was already such a slow burn, to end up with only some embers that could possibly spark something or possibly die out feels like a letdown. so actually it's almost better to think of this as fiction, rather than a romance.
**full count will publish on june 19, 2017. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (embrace) in exchange for my honest review. more information on the book follows the jump.
full count is about up-and-coming baseball star, aaron betts, a star player on the westland university baseball team who is injured in a pick up game welcoming rookies to in his junior year. aaron has a plan, and a knee injury seriously intereferes with those plans. all of a sudden he's battling academic probation, dealing with a break-up with his high school girlfriend, and facing the possibility that he won't play his junior year and will miss the draft.
to deal with the academic probation piece, aaron hires mallory fine as his history tutor. she isn't a fan of baseball players, but also seems to know an awful lot about the sport, moreso than the average fan. aaron is interested in mallory from the get-go, but she is hesitant and pulls away anything things get too serious between them.
their romance is definitely a slow burn. aaron is pretty much all-in, but it takes him a long time to win over mallory.
a third of the way through the novel though, aaron makes a morally questionable choice. and this choice drags down the story. i spent the entire rest of the book waiting for that shoe to drop and wondering how the writer was going to write herself out of this. because it's almost irredeemable. and so this was my struggle, because as a character i loved aaron. he's a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve, and i just felt like he was smarter and better than the choices he makes. and he was being so extraordinarily stupid.
and after so much build up and so much stressing about that shoe dropping, when everything does blow up, there's almost not enough time to deal with the consequences. and as the book closes, it's not entirely clear where things will end up between the characters. which is fine, except this romance was already such a slow burn, to end up with only some embers that could possibly spark something or possibly die out feels like a letdown. so actually it's almost better to think of this as fiction, rather than a romance.
**full count will publish on june 19, 2017. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (embrace) in exchange for my honest review. more information on the book follows the jump.
June 20, 2017
I loved the dynamic which is Mallory and Aaron. The relationship had to be worked for, it had to work through a lot of stages before it would be just right. Aaron thinks life is baseball and fun. He thinks his plan is easy and will be followed until he has an injury. This injury is the beginning of a downward spiral that only has the ups when Mallory is around.
Mallory is a quiet loner that wants to forget her past and move onto her future: alone. That is until Aaron needs a tutor to pass a class and she's it.
The relationship that is formed, is good for them both. Aaron gets over himself and really invests in his feelings for Mallory. I loved that he worried so much about her, traveling early in the morning to make sure she was able to enjoy Christmas. He wanted her to have a family and enjoy the closeness that he has with his. He really looked out for her and she took his heart.
When it all comes to a head and Aaron really finds out who his friends are, what real life can become, and how it feels to have the bottom fall out, Aaron turns it to make himself a better person.
At the end, my heart was beating fast waiting for these two to find one another again, but will Ms. Stevens give us that happily ever after? No clue, the end broke my heart though and now has me on the edge to find out will Mallory forgive Aaron, Maybe....
Mallory is a quiet loner that wants to forget her past and move onto her future: alone. That is until Aaron needs a tutor to pass a class and she's it.
The relationship that is formed, is good for them both. Aaron gets over himself and really invests in his feelings for Mallory. I loved that he worried so much about her, traveling early in the morning to make sure she was able to enjoy Christmas. He wanted her to have a family and enjoy the closeness that he has with his. He really looked out for her and she took his heart.
When it all comes to a head and Aaron really finds out who his friends are, what real life can become, and how it feels to have the bottom fall out, Aaron turns it to make himself a better person.
At the end, my heart was beating fast waiting for these two to find one another again, but will Ms. Stevens give us that happily ever after? No clue, the end broke my heart though and now has me on the edge to find out will Mallory forgive Aaron, Maybe....
June 16, 2017
I've read young/adult romance stories that were mere fantasy--either full of hype or were just lackluster. But FULL COUNT is a home run hit! It's a perfect realistic, romantic fiction! Lynn Stevens has written a book that is proof that the great modern love story is alive and well! (Ya!)
FULL COUNT has all the essentials: The sexy main character, Aaron, (super hot!) is a college baseball star, and a good guy with a secret. The story is told from his not-so-innocent point of view. (I loved being “in his head” when the heat was on!) The object of his affection is a geeky goddess, Mallory. But Mallory’s life isn't so squeaky clean either. Their secrets, social pressures, and of course, their escalating romance, kept me turning the page!
I admit, I'm not avid baseball fan, and a story that features words like “World Series” and “last inning” always throw me a curve-ball, but the baseball details fit perfectly. The author used just enough to pull the story together without making it feel like I was reading any old “baseball story.”
If you love a good romance (even if you're a sports rookie like me), you will love this book!
FULL COUNT has all the essentials: The sexy main character, Aaron, (super hot!) is a college baseball star, and a good guy with a secret. The story is told from his not-so-innocent point of view. (I loved being “in his head” when the heat was on!) The object of his affection is a geeky goddess, Mallory. But Mallory’s life isn't so squeaky clean either. Their secrets, social pressures, and of course, their escalating romance, kept me turning the page!
I admit, I'm not avid baseball fan, and a story that features words like “World Series” and “last inning” always throw me a curve-ball, but the baseball details fit perfectly. The author used just enough to pull the story together without making it feel like I was reading any old “baseball story.”
If you love a good romance (even if you're a sports rookie like me), you will love this book!
June 23, 2017
I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting before breaking open Full Count to read. Maybe the typical new adult sports romance with the opposites attract storyline. That is so not what you get with Lynn Stevens' Full Count.
From the beginning, I was quickly pulled into Aaron's story. With his injury, Aaron's history grade has fallen and his athletic standing is now in jeopardy. Although Mallory has misgivings working with Aaron, she takes on the job as his history tutor. There's more to both characters than the other knows. Learning what keeps Mallory to herself is a revelation. Aaron's POV is refreshing and kept me turning the pages.
Stevens breaks away from the typical and really gives a realistic portrayal of a student athlete with big dreams. We have characters that make decisions and live with the results of those decisions. I loved that Stevens gives readers complex characters that still grow and develop as we are reading their story.
From the beginning, I was quickly pulled into Aaron's story. With his injury, Aaron's history grade has fallen and his athletic standing is now in jeopardy. Although Mallory has misgivings working with Aaron, she takes on the job as his history tutor. There's more to both characters than the other knows. Learning what keeps Mallory to herself is a revelation. Aaron's POV is refreshing and kept me turning the pages.
Stevens breaks away from the typical and really gives a realistic portrayal of a student athlete with big dreams. We have characters that make decisions and live with the results of those decisions. I loved that Stevens gives readers complex characters that still grow and develop as we are reading their story.
June 21, 2017
4.5*
When I started reading this I thought it would be your usual boy meets girl story, but it was much more than that. It took me by surprise that it had such a serious undertone running through it, it makes you think about the pressure athletes are under from their families and when injured to heal quick and get back to what they were before being injured. I also wasn't expecting Mallory's past to be what it was, it explains why she was so closed off to Aaron but I wish she had let him in sooner. I really liked Aaron, he was so patient with Mallory, going at her pace. He made one stupid mistake, trusted the wrong person and paid a life altering price. Mallory was a likeable character but I lost patience with her toward the end! I enjoyed the story, I read it in one sitting and thought about it long after I finished reading it. The ending was not what I expected either but it fit the feel of the book.
*** reviewed for sweet & spicy reads-ARC provided for honest review ***
When I started reading this I thought it would be your usual boy meets girl story, but it was much more than that. It took me by surprise that it had such a serious undertone running through it, it makes you think about the pressure athletes are under from their families and when injured to heal quick and get back to what they were before being injured. I also wasn't expecting Mallory's past to be what it was, it explains why she was so closed off to Aaron but I wish she had let him in sooner. I really liked Aaron, he was so patient with Mallory, going at her pace. He made one stupid mistake, trusted the wrong person and paid a life altering price. Mallory was a likeable character but I lost patience with her toward the end! I enjoyed the story, I read it in one sitting and thought about it long after I finished reading it. The ending was not what I expected either but it fit the feel of the book.
*** reviewed for sweet & spicy reads-ARC provided for honest review ***
June 21, 2017
Wow, this story blew me away! This is the 1st time I have read any of this authors work, and my word, it will not be the last! Aaron has a carer threatening injury, his girlfriend is cheating on him, and he is about to go on academic probation, not one of his best days! He contacts Mallory to tutor him, and despite hating jocks, she agrees. No spoilers from me; give this one a chance for yourself, you will not be disappointed!!
This talented author has written a beautiful and emotional storyline, which had me hooked from the very beginning, and in my opinion, is worth so much more that the 5 stars allowed! I cannot wait to read more of this authors work.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book!
This talented author has written a beautiful and emotional storyline, which had me hooked from the very beginning, and in my opinion, is worth so much more that the 5 stars allowed! I cannot wait to read more of this authors work.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book!
June 9, 2017
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book
This is one of those books that once you start reading you cannot put
down until you finish it, It was completely NOT what I was expecting either
This story is about a college baseball player who has hurt his knee badly and
has to have surgery, This may even destroy his dreams of a career playing for
the MLB. and has just found out he may even flunk out of his history class which may
keep him from playing if he even heals in time for the new season add to that
his girlfriend of 4 years just dumped him, Okay he is having one HELL of a week.
Then he meets his history tutor, Mallory Fine, and well she may be shy and standoffish
butAaron cannot help his attraction to her. This book really broke my heart, Mallory's back
story shows why she is they way she is, Aaron really messes up not only his knee again while
he is healing but everything, when I got close to the end I thought NOOOO this cant be how this
story ends. PLEASE. I think the author did an amazing job telling this story and also with
the issues that both Aaron with his knee and what Seth did for him or to him?? and then Mallory OMG what happens at the end of the book just had me bawling. I would LOVE to read an extended epilogue or a part 2
This is one of those books that once you start reading you cannot put
down until you finish it, It was completely NOT what I was expecting either
This story is about a college baseball player who has hurt his knee badly and
has to have surgery, This may even destroy his dreams of a career playing for
the MLB. and has just found out he may even flunk out of his history class which may
keep him from playing if he even heals in time for the new season add to that
his girlfriend of 4 years just dumped him, Okay he is having one HELL of a week.
Then he meets his history tutor, Mallory Fine, and well she may be shy and standoffish
butAaron cannot help his attraction to her. This book really broke my heart, Mallory's back
story shows why she is they way she is, Aaron really messes up not only his knee again while
he is healing but everything, when I got close to the end I thought NOOOO this cant be how this
story ends. PLEASE. I think the author did an amazing job telling this story and also with
the issues that both Aaron with his knee and what Seth did for him or to him?? and then Mallory OMG what happens at the end of the book just had me bawling. I would LOVE to read an extended epilogue or a part 2
April 14, 2020
I really liked Aaron's character. He had his faults, but he owned up to them and made things ok. The romance between Aaron and Mallory was a typical sports romance and was what originally drew me in. However, the story became about so much more than their romance. I'm not sure if Aaron and Mallory show up in any other books of Ms. Stevens', but I'd sure like to see where they ended up.
June 13, 2017
Aaron knows how to treat a lady, “no buts, Mallory. I’m walking you to your car.” With a grin, I added, “Deal with it.” Aaron like to give his girl options, “you know, I can think of a way to help you process this situation.” I pressed my lips against her neck. “The cab of the combine is bigger than you think.” Mallory’s head fell back and a moan escaped her lips. “There’s a hayloft we can explore.” I kissed along her jaw. “And Dad’s office has a couch, too.” I liked this book, but the ending left a little more to be desired.
October 11, 2017
Not bad... but that ending tho'... I felt like it ended when there should have been more :(
August 25, 2017
Three and a half stars.
Aaron Betts had it all until a rookie led him to bust his knee, now his future as a professional baseball player is receding fast, his girlfriend has dumped him for one of his teammates and he is on academic probation for history. But hey, he's still a big man on campus, fawned after by all the girls and looked up to by the rest of the team.
Aaron pursues what seems to be the best tutor in college, Mallory Lines, but she hates everything to do with baseball and baseball players. Almost against his will Aaron is drawn to Mallory and the secrets she keeps, but as his recovery gets delayed he becomes increasingly desperate not to fail before he even gets a chance.
This was an unusual book, I started off disliking Aaron and his entitled attitude, the way that he becomes irrationally irritated when Mallory won't have dinner with him (when she has a prior engagement), his attitude towards women and his questionable taste in friends. But as the book progressed he grew on me, I could see him making mistakes but I understood his actions. Mallory on the other hand felt too much like a stereotypical NA heroine. I could just tick off the cliches: super clever, check; tragic past, check; keeps secrets, check; doesn't trust anyone, check. As the book progressed Mallory became less of a person and more of a caricature.
But characters aside (and I get why the characters act the way they do in order to drive the plot/ make it credible), I found this had a little bit of a twist, things didn't quite work out the way I was expecting, it was more bittersweet than sweet. And I liked that.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Aaron Betts had it all until a rookie led him to bust his knee, now his future as a professional baseball player is receding fast, his girlfriend has dumped him for one of his teammates and he is on academic probation for history. But hey, he's still a big man on campus, fawned after by all the girls and looked up to by the rest of the team.
Aaron pursues what seems to be the best tutor in college, Mallory Lines, but she hates everything to do with baseball and baseball players. Almost against his will Aaron is drawn to Mallory and the secrets she keeps, but as his recovery gets delayed he becomes increasingly desperate not to fail before he even gets a chance.
This was an unusual book, I started off disliking Aaron and his entitled attitude, the way that he becomes irrationally irritated when Mallory won't have dinner with him (when she has a prior engagement), his attitude towards women and his questionable taste in friends. But as the book progressed he grew on me, I could see him making mistakes but I understood his actions. Mallory on the other hand felt too much like a stereotypical NA heroine. I could just tick off the cliches: super clever, check; tragic past, check; keeps secrets, check; doesn't trust anyone, check. As the book progressed Mallory became less of a person and more of a caricature.
But characters aside (and I get why the characters act the way they do in order to drive the plot/ make it credible), I found this had a little bit of a twist, things didn't quite work out the way I was expecting, it was more bittersweet than sweet. And I liked that.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
July 7, 2017
I picked up this book one night, intending to read just a few pages. An hour later, I was still reading and couldn't get enough.
Aaron and Mallory's story is a slow burn that keeps things smoldering at just the right pace. It starts with flirty text messages about baseball and history but takes things to a deep, emotional place. A perfect read if you're looking for something that will make you think and feel. Can't wait to see what Lynn Stevens does next.
Aaron and Mallory's story is a slow burn that keeps things smoldering at just the right pace. It starts with flirty text messages about baseball and history but takes things to a deep, emotional place. A perfect read if you're looking for something that will make you think and feel. Can't wait to see what Lynn Stevens does next.
June 22, 2019
Good college romance
Good love story with a great story line for young athletes tempted by PEDs. Characters are believable. Humor, sadness, disappointment and love are all in this short stand alone romance.
Good love story with a great story line for young athletes tempted by PEDs. Characters are believable. Humor, sadness, disappointment and love are all in this short stand alone romance.
September 17, 2018
Love this book
I read lots of romance books. This is a rare find. I would read this one again and again. I want to know what happens between two characters.
I read lots of romance books. This is a rare find. I would read this one again and again. I want to know what happens between two characters.
Want to read
March 28, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (3/28/2020)! 🎁
June 20, 2017
Aaron Betts must pass the one subject he hates - Modern American History. Asking Mallory Fine to tutor him isn't easy, but she agrees. However, the more time they spend together, the more Aaron wants to get to know Mallory on a more personal level, yet she's determined to keep things strictly in the tutor and student zone. But when Aaron discovers the truth about why she's so closed off and realizes what he's doing to get back to playing baseball quicker is wrong, will she be able to forgive his stupidity or will Aaron lose the woman he loves?
This had all the makings of a five-star read for me until I got to the final chapter, and it ended in a way that left me disappointed. Still, Ms. Stevens has delivered an interesting and entertaining read with the rest of this story, which started off with me feeling sorry for the hero due to what he is going through. Not only does he have his injury, but if he doesn't begin to understand the things his professor is teaching in his Modern American History class then he has no hope of getting back out on the diamond to play again. Will Mallory be able to help him? Will he learn enough to be able to pass the class?
As for the dialogue, it was riveting due to the main characters back stories, especially that of the heroine. She's lost everyone she's ever loved, and believes that getting close to anyone isn't worth the heartbreak for fear of losing them. Will Aaron be able to change her way of thinking? The dialogue was also intense due to the situation with Aaron's ex who is determined to cause trouble between the pair by making Mallory jealous, what Aaron is doing to get back onto the diamond quicker that Mallory will hate him for, and what happens to the hero towards the end that had me concerned for him.
Both the main characters had me hooked due to their growing relationship and whether Aaron would win Mallory over. However, they also had me captivated because Mallory's back story isn't a happy one, and what Aaron is doing to recover from his injury quicker will make her so disappointed with him. Enough so she'll believe that baseball will always take his number one spot as the thing he loves most. Will he be able to make things right between them when their relationship falls apart?
Moreover, the heroine is strong and brave in giving the hero a chance and I liked how she finally opened up to him about why she was scared to give him a chance. I also liked how kind, caring and determined she was to win Aaron's family over when she meets them. Certainly, she finds a way by what she asks the grandmothers to tell her. While the hero, I liked how he handled things when it came to his ex and that he didn't allow her to worm her way back into his life. I also liked that he didn't push the heroine until the moment where he thought he was losing her to another guy; a guy that has been in her life a lot longer. Furthermore, he's determined to do whatever it takes to get the chance to play again as quickly as he can, and I felt sorry for him for how things turned out. Because it goes to show that trying to recover quickly from his injury in an illegal way can lead to serious consequences; consequences not just for his college life, but for his future.
Overall, this was a really good read where the chemistry between this couple was intense and illustrates how much Mallory trusts him. However, although I enjoyed this story, the ending frustrated me because of how things ended between Mallory and Aaron. It ALMOST felt like a cliffhanger, and certainly wasn't the happy ever after I was expecting. Will Mallory ever be able to forgive Aaron? However, I did like that Mallory was finally able to let go of the past and forgive those that she believed did wrong by her. I would recommend Full Count by Lynn Stevens, if you enjoy second chance romances, sports romances, or books by authors Cindi Madsen, Robin Bielman, Shae Ross or Rebecca Yarros.
This had all the makings of a five-star read for me until I got to the final chapter, and it ended in a way that left me disappointed. Still, Ms. Stevens has delivered an interesting and entertaining read with the rest of this story, which started off with me feeling sorry for the hero due to what he is going through. Not only does he have his injury, but if he doesn't begin to understand the things his professor is teaching in his Modern American History class then he has no hope of getting back out on the diamond to play again. Will Mallory be able to help him? Will he learn enough to be able to pass the class?
As for the dialogue, it was riveting due to the main characters back stories, especially that of the heroine. She's lost everyone she's ever loved, and believes that getting close to anyone isn't worth the heartbreak for fear of losing them. Will Aaron be able to change her way of thinking? The dialogue was also intense due to the situation with Aaron's ex who is determined to cause trouble between the pair by making Mallory jealous, what Aaron is doing to get back onto the diamond quicker that Mallory will hate him for, and what happens to the hero towards the end that had me concerned for him.
Both the main characters had me hooked due to their growing relationship and whether Aaron would win Mallory over. However, they also had me captivated because Mallory's back story isn't a happy one, and what Aaron is doing to recover from his injury quicker will make her so disappointed with him. Enough so she'll believe that baseball will always take his number one spot as the thing he loves most. Will he be able to make things right between them when their relationship falls apart?
Moreover, the heroine is strong and brave in giving the hero a chance and I liked how she finally opened up to him about why she was scared to give him a chance. I also liked how kind, caring and determined she was to win Aaron's family over when she meets them. Certainly, she finds a way by what she asks the grandmothers to tell her. While the hero, I liked how he handled things when it came to his ex and that he didn't allow her to worm her way back into his life. I also liked that he didn't push the heroine until the moment where he thought he was losing her to another guy; a guy that has been in her life a lot longer. Furthermore, he's determined to do whatever it takes to get the chance to play again as quickly as he can, and I felt sorry for him for how things turned out. Because it goes to show that trying to recover quickly from his injury in an illegal way can lead to serious consequences; consequences not just for his college life, but for his future.
Overall, this was a really good read where the chemistry between this couple was intense and illustrates how much Mallory trusts him. However, although I enjoyed this story, the ending frustrated me because of how things ended between Mallory and Aaron. It ALMOST felt like a cliffhanger, and certainly wasn't the happy ever after I was expecting. Will Mallory ever be able to forgive Aaron? However, I did like that Mallory was finally able to let go of the past and forgive those that she believed did wrong by her. I would recommend Full Count by Lynn Stevens, if you enjoy second chance romances, sports romances, or books by authors Cindi Madsen, Robin Bielman, Shae Ross or Rebecca Yarros.
June 30, 2017
Hot baseball player.
Check.
Sexy Tutor.
Check.
Everything you need for a great book all wrapped under one cover is what Lynn Stevens gets you when you read about her newest release Full Count. With baseball season in full swing, there is nothing better than to read a good sports romance novel about a baseball who lost everything he ever dreamed of, but gained everything he never knew he wanted. Both Aaron and Mallory are fully developed characters with lots of stuff going on underneath the surface. Mallory seems to know everything about baseball, but stays as far away from it as possible. Aaron is getting over losing the one thing in life he was sure off and trying to rebuild his career after a devastating accident.
Lynn Stevens does a great job in creating a story line that sets the stage for real life. Life is about choices, choices that we make and that sometimes others make for us. The choices we make lead to opportunities and sometimes they also close doors, depending on the choice that was made. Full Count is about the choices that we make in life and the choices that Mallory made after something happened to her to alter the way she chose to deal with situations. I loved the way Stevens made the characters come alive and struggle with the choices that were in front of them. It relates to every day life and made the book that much better.
The chemistry between Mallory and Aaron was off the charts. From the moment that Aaron saw Mallory, he was smitten. She was the polar opposite of his ex-girlfriend, which may have made her more appealing, but nevertheless, it was great to see the two of them find each other and grow as individuals. It was also heartbreaking to see them come apart after the truth was revealed.
If you are looking for a good summer read and want to get lost in a whole other world, then Full Count is the book for you. Lynn Stevens will capture your heart and mind, making you think about the choices we hae all made one time anotehr that could have been questionable. Makes sure you add to your To-Be-Read- Shelf.
June 20, 2017
Finally, a sports book that focuses on sports!
This review is going to be hard to write because something major is going on in this book that I can’t discuss because the synopsis doesn’t mention it. The synopsis leads into a contemporary romance with a focus on sports. However, there is a lot more to the story than the romance between Aaron and Mallory, the main characters. That “lot more” ties into Aaron and Mallory’s relationship, but it’s more sports-related. Moving on…
I liked Aaron’s character. He isn’t a player, manwhore like a lot of male characters out there. He has goals and dreams, and one of those is finding the right woman and settling down. I will say that I think he wanted to settle a little too fast. Not a week (maybe two) after his girlfriend of 4 years dumps him, he meets Mallory and instantly wants to start something with her. Despite that, he is a nice guy who wants to do right by everyone. He gets frustrated easily, but there is a reason for that, something that comes out in the end. Overall, he is an all-American farm boy with dreams of playing in the major leagues.
Mallory is a strange character to describe. She has a past that is the opposite of Aaron’s, which she is jealous of. She’s closed off, intelligent, determined, and secretive. She only has her grandmother, who isn’t even around, having to take care of another family member. That’s where Mallory’s jealousy over what Aaron has comes into play. She even admits to being jealous of Aaron’s relationship with his sister. She never acts vindictive over it. She just wishes she had that, too.
Aaron’s ex, on the other hand, is a major spoiled, nasty, mean b****. As soon as she opened her mouth, I hated her. She’s not major in the story, just someone who comes and goes, putting a nasty taste in your mouth.
The book was sweet, clean, and a calming read, despite the drama that unfolds. There wasn’t too much tension or an overload of drama. It was a fast-paced read that is pretty light compared to most books. I enjoyed the relaxing feel of it, if that makes sense. The book reminds me of Adrienne Torissi’s Accident Crush series, a NA contemporary romance.
This review is going to be hard to write because something major is going on in this book that I can’t discuss because the synopsis doesn’t mention it. The synopsis leads into a contemporary romance with a focus on sports. However, there is a lot more to the story than the romance between Aaron and Mallory, the main characters. That “lot more” ties into Aaron and Mallory’s relationship, but it’s more sports-related. Moving on…
I liked Aaron’s character. He isn’t a player, manwhore like a lot of male characters out there. He has goals and dreams, and one of those is finding the right woman and settling down. I will say that I think he wanted to settle a little too fast. Not a week (maybe two) after his girlfriend of 4 years dumps him, he meets Mallory and instantly wants to start something with her. Despite that, he is a nice guy who wants to do right by everyone. He gets frustrated easily, but there is a reason for that, something that comes out in the end. Overall, he is an all-American farm boy with dreams of playing in the major leagues.
Mallory is a strange character to describe. She has a past that is the opposite of Aaron’s, which she is jealous of. She’s closed off, intelligent, determined, and secretive. She only has her grandmother, who isn’t even around, having to take care of another family member. That’s where Mallory’s jealousy over what Aaron has comes into play. She even admits to being jealous of Aaron’s relationship with his sister. She never acts vindictive over it. She just wishes she had that, too.
Aaron’s ex, on the other hand, is a major spoiled, nasty, mean b****. As soon as she opened her mouth, I hated her. She’s not major in the story, just someone who comes and goes, putting a nasty taste in your mouth.
The book was sweet, clean, and a calming read, despite the drama that unfolds. There wasn’t too much tension or an overload of drama. It was a fast-paced read that is pretty light compared to most books. I enjoyed the relaxing feel of it, if that makes sense. The book reminds me of Adrienne Torissi’s Accident Crush series, a NA contemporary romance.
June 18, 2017
“This wasn’t good. Not at all. Either I was desperate for any chick’s touch, or this woman was more dangerous than I imagined.”
Aaron Betts is recovering from a broken heart and a serious injury. He’s also failing Modern American History. He approaches Mallory Fine to tutor him. When he meets her in person, he’s completely blindsided by her beauty. However, Mallory has a thing against baseball players. She’s smart, straightforward but skittish, and even though she detests baseball players, she seems to know the game inside out. Aaron finds her a fascinating enigma.
“I really like you, Mallory. You don’t put up with my bullsh*t. I don’t have enough people in my life like that. If that means I can only be your friend, I’m okay with it. But I’d like to be something, anything you want me to be. We can take our time. Get to really know each other.”
In spite of being burnt in love by an ex-girlfriend, Aaron finds himself drawn to Mallory. He wants to know her and he desires her. He’ll take her any way that he can have her. He’s willing to wait. What he’s not willing to wait for is his injury to heal, which leads him to make bad decisions. When Mallory starts to open up to him, revealing her secrets to him, he finds himself in a terrible situation withholding his own secrets from her, which could ruin their burgeoning relationship.
“I’m no saint, Mallory…but I’ll f*cking burn the world to make this right between us.”
This was an interesting story – I found it took a turn down a path that I wasn’t expecting at all. Yes, it’s a sports romance. Yes, it’s a jock and girl-nerd story. However, it was surprisingly intense and angsty. Aaron is a pretty thoughtful guy with infinite patience. I found Mallory quite hot and cold, which she completely acknowledges, but there’s a quirkiness and vulnerability to her that I found endearing. I loved how much she came to trust Aaron.
Overall, this was a great slow burn romance, dealing with a problem fairly common in the sports world. My only issue with the story was that I felt the ending was a little bit abrupt. I'm not clear if there's supposed to be sequel? I hope so or, at least, a novella about the couple.
Aaron Betts is recovering from a broken heart and a serious injury. He’s also failing Modern American History. He approaches Mallory Fine to tutor him. When he meets her in person, he’s completely blindsided by her beauty. However, Mallory has a thing against baseball players. She’s smart, straightforward but skittish, and even though she detests baseball players, she seems to know the game inside out. Aaron finds her a fascinating enigma.
“I really like you, Mallory. You don’t put up with my bullsh*t. I don’t have enough people in my life like that. If that means I can only be your friend, I’m okay with it. But I’d like to be something, anything you want me to be. We can take our time. Get to really know each other.”
In spite of being burnt in love by an ex-girlfriend, Aaron finds himself drawn to Mallory. He wants to know her and he desires her. He’ll take her any way that he can have her. He’s willing to wait. What he’s not willing to wait for is his injury to heal, which leads him to make bad decisions. When Mallory starts to open up to him, revealing her secrets to him, he finds himself in a terrible situation withholding his own secrets from her, which could ruin their burgeoning relationship.
“I’m no saint, Mallory…but I’ll f*cking burn the world to make this right between us.”
This was an interesting story – I found it took a turn down a path that I wasn’t expecting at all. Yes, it’s a sports romance. Yes, it’s a jock and girl-nerd story. However, it was surprisingly intense and angsty. Aaron is a pretty thoughtful guy with infinite patience. I found Mallory quite hot and cold, which she completely acknowledges, but there’s a quirkiness and vulnerability to her that I found endearing. I loved how much she came to trust Aaron.
Overall, this was a great slow burn romance, dealing with a problem fairly common in the sports world. My only issue with the story was that I felt the ending was a little bit abrupt. I'm not clear if there's supposed to be sequel? I hope so or, at least, a novella about the couple.
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