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Just Sam
All Sam dreams of is being the next big tennis champion.
But when she suffers a great loss at such a young age, she finds it hard to believe in herself.
She becomes so scared of losing people that she hides her feelings to protect her heart.
Will she ever let anyone close enough to truly love her?
She never realised, her toughest match would be against life itself.
Just Sam is a standalone YA Contemporary Romance that may appeal to readers of The Summer I turned Pretty, and To All the Boys I've Loved Before. With strong themes of grief, love, family, ambition and friendship, this story will pull on your heartstrings.
But when she suffers a great loss at such a young age, she finds it hard to believe in herself.
She becomes so scared of losing people that she hides her feelings to protect her heart.
Will she ever let anyone close enough to truly love her?
She never realised, her toughest match would be against life itself.
Just Sam is a standalone YA Contemporary Romance that may appeal to readers of The Summer I turned Pretty, and To All the Boys I've Loved Before. With strong themes of grief, love, family, ambition and friendship, this story will pull on your heartstrings.
- GenresSports
204 pages, ebook
Published February 18, 2018
3 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Kristy Brown
17 books230 followers Hi I'm Kristy and I live in the U.K. I have always written short stories and poetry. I went to university to study acting which I loved, but my real passion has always been writing. So, now I write the kind of stories I would have wanted to read as a teen. "Kiera's Quest- part one & two," a Middle-grade/ teen fantasy series, is now available on e-book and paperback. If you like shape shifters, magical realms and a chosen one, then this may be for you!
My YA contemporary romance book, "Just Sam," about a young tennis star who loses someone important and has to trust in life and love again, is available on Amazon in print & on Kindle, as is my YA/NA fairy-tale retelling, "Cinderfella." Cinderfella has all roles reversed and is aimed slightly older, as there is a little passion and darkness to this tale, but still keeps the magic of the original.
I also have a YA Paranormal Romance trilogy, 'The Summer Solstice series.' "Summer's End," book one, "Summer's Lost" (2) and "Summer's Time," are all available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited, as are all my titles.
My latest is a Modern day retelling of Romeo and Juliet with an 80's obsessed gymnast and a dyslexic rep, "The Brightest Stars."
I love reading of course. I have lots of new projects in mind, and I'm currently working on a New Adult Contemporary Romance...
https://www.amazon.com/Kristy-Brown/e...
My YA contemporary romance book, "Just Sam," about a young tennis star who loses someone important and has to trust in life and love again, is available on Amazon in print & on Kindle, as is my YA/NA fairy-tale retelling, "Cinderfella." Cinderfella has all roles reversed and is aimed slightly older, as there is a little passion and darkness to this tale, but still keeps the magic of the original.
I also have a YA Paranormal Romance trilogy, 'The Summer Solstice series.' "Summer's End," book one, "Summer's Lost" (2) and "Summer's Time," are all available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited, as are all my titles.
My latest is a Modern day retelling of Romeo and Juliet with an 80's obsessed gymnast and a dyslexic rep, "The Brightest Stars."
I love reading of course. I have lots of new projects in mind, and I'm currently working on a New Adult Contemporary Romance...
https://www.amazon.com/Kristy-Brown/e...
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 11, 2018
When young Sam lost her mother, she lost her own will to live and grow, to chase her dreams and to reach out for young love. No longer did she dream of playing at Wimbledon, it just wouldn’t be right with her mother no longer there to encourage her and share in her joys.
JUST SAM by Kristy Brown is a story of love and loss, second chances, letting go of the pain of the past and embracing what was precious about those times. It is a story of moving forward and opening up to life’s possibilities, both the good and the bad. It is a story of letting go of fear and the things we cannot control.
For Sam, learning to take risks and moving on was to honor her mother’s memory and all she had wanted for her. It wasn’t the tennis, it was happiness and at only sixteen years old, Sam finally found the strength to reach for that happiness, for friendships with their ups and downs and for the sweetness of romance.
Kristy Brown has created a cast of characters that feel real, that are flawed and who struggle with their own lives. She gives Sam hope, lessons to learn and a second chance at living. Sam is amazing in her own right, stronger than she realizes and more mature than many her age in so many ways.
The romance is fresh, sweet and perfectly mimics that of young teens with their “fairy tale” visions. It also balances the imaginary with reality. Wonderfully written for all ages, but perfectly written for tweens and teens. Simply delightful and heart-warming!
I received a complimentary copy from Kristy Brown!
Publication Date: February 18, 2018
Publisher: Kristy Brown
Genre: YA
Print Length: 204 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News: http://tometender.blogspot.com
JUST SAM by Kristy Brown is a story of love and loss, second chances, letting go of the pain of the past and embracing what was precious about those times. It is a story of moving forward and opening up to life’s possibilities, both the good and the bad. It is a story of letting go of fear and the things we cannot control.
For Sam, learning to take risks and moving on was to honor her mother’s memory and all she had wanted for her. It wasn’t the tennis, it was happiness and at only sixteen years old, Sam finally found the strength to reach for that happiness, for friendships with their ups and downs and for the sweetness of romance.
Kristy Brown has created a cast of characters that feel real, that are flawed and who struggle with their own lives. She gives Sam hope, lessons to learn and a second chance at living. Sam is amazing in her own right, stronger than she realizes and more mature than many her age in so many ways.
The romance is fresh, sweet and perfectly mimics that of young teens with their “fairy tale” visions. It also balances the imaginary with reality. Wonderfully written for all ages, but perfectly written for tweens and teens. Simply delightful and heart-warming!
I received a complimentary copy from Kristy Brown!
Publication Date: February 18, 2018
Publisher: Kristy Brown
Genre: YA
Print Length: 204 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News: http://tometender.blogspot.com
February 18, 2019
A beautifully written story highlighting the issue of loss. I absolutely adored reading this book! Another wonderful book by Kristy Brown!
Read
March 4, 2019I really loved writing this. :)
June 11, 2018
Nothing is set in stone, you may make plans but there are so many factors that are too unpredictable and unstable that we don’t control that can affect them. Sammy’s mum had always encouraged her daughter to play tennis and without a doubt she definitely had talent that with the right coaching could have possibly seen her at Wimbledon one day. But when Sammy’s mum became ill with cancer and died Sammy simply couldn’t carry on without her. Her sister and father dealt with the death in their own self-destructive ways, leaving Sammy’s feelings to fester in a mind that couldn’t cope either.
This is a very well crafted story that sort of shouts ‘you are not on your own’ as its characters face so many issues of growing up through teenage years often facing adult problems. It is difficult to lose a parent at any age but to see that parent suffer through a terrible illness and die is such a heart wrenching experience that deprives a child of love, encouragement and support at a vulnerable and impressionable time.
Sammy has to face bullying, relationships and learning that it is ok to live her life without feeling sad and guilty without her mum and to try to connect with her dad and older sister and grieve together. Sammy isn’t the only one having problems as she discovers but don’t think for one minute that this book is all doom and gloom because it isn’t.
There are some lovely characters in this story and chapters that made me smile as little chinks were chipped away for Sammy to find her way, as well as others in the story. There is such a lot of very relevant topics touched on of problems that teens go through. It makes for pretty good teenage reading where I feel sure they could connect with a lot of the characters. Very well written on some difficult subjects besides a cracking engrossing story line in its own right!
This is a very well crafted story that sort of shouts ‘you are not on your own’ as its characters face so many issues of growing up through teenage years often facing adult problems. It is difficult to lose a parent at any age but to see that parent suffer through a terrible illness and die is such a heart wrenching experience that deprives a child of love, encouragement and support at a vulnerable and impressionable time.
Sammy has to face bullying, relationships and learning that it is ok to live her life without feeling sad and guilty without her mum and to try to connect with her dad and older sister and grieve together. Sammy isn’t the only one having problems as she discovers but don’t think for one minute that this book is all doom and gloom because it isn’t.
There are some lovely characters in this story and chapters that made me smile as little chinks were chipped away for Sammy to find her way, as well as others in the story. There is such a lot of very relevant topics touched on of problems that teens go through. It makes for pretty good teenage reading where I feel sure they could connect with a lot of the characters. Very well written on some difficult subjects besides a cracking engrossing story line in its own right!
April 27, 2018
When a young, tennis playing girl struggles to deal with growing up after losing a parent, she learns the world may not have chosen her as the exclusive recipient of tragedy.
Full Review On YouTube Here: https://youtu.be/7gaup2XM0Nk
Changing schools and homes to adapt to a single parent income, she realizes she can make new friends and life goes on – just differently - despite her sad past.
She also has to come to terms with her hesitant feelings for boys and accept the fear that life has no guarantees, but letting fear hold you back in relationships is not the answer.
This is a great story that will tug on your heartstrings!
Full Review On YouTube Here: https://youtu.be/7gaup2XM0Nk
Changing schools and homes to adapt to a single parent income, she realizes she can make new friends and life goes on – just differently - despite her sad past.
She also has to come to terms with her hesitant feelings for boys and accept the fear that life has no guarantees, but letting fear hold you back in relationships is not the answer.
This is a great story that will tug on your heartstrings!
March 17, 2018
A touching story about loss, family, friendship, and believing in your dreams. Sam will really give you all the feels as she suffers through the loss of a parent, struggling with her dreams of becoming a tennis pro, and makes new friends she learns from, including a swoon worthy boy with dreams of his own. Kristy Brown gives us a beautifully written coming of age story that so relatable, it's a must read.
August 18, 2018
Shows potential
May 30, 2018
With many thanks to Kelly at LoveBooks for the opportunity to be included in this book tour in return for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Sammy is growing up within a loving family and just showing herself to be a real tennis talent. Her future,as she enters her teens, seems set when her world is blown wide apart in the cruellest way and her mother is diagnosed with and dies from cancer. Life will never be the same again as each member of the family – Sammy, her father and her older sister – deal with their own grief and the difficulties of living on. A house move, a new school and new peers all present Sammy with additional challenges, alongside an increasingly distant sister and a father working long hours. Her love and enthusiasm for tennis, which was encouraged by and shared with her mum, suddenly feels meaningless so she stops pushing herself and misses out on a big chance for sponsorship.
Her life feels like it is spiralling as she tries to navigate the uncertainties of the secondary school playground, new friends, romantic friends, the school prom and her tennis. Added into the mix is an eight-year-old girl who comes to Sammy for tennis coaching and an unlikely relationship develops. But without her mother how can she possibly cope? She needs to become a different person and to do this Sammy becomes “Just Sam”.
This is a poignant young adult/teen novel which tells a story of love, loss, grief, relationships and moving on during the tough years of adolescence. The author explores tough subject matter and there is no sugar coating. Sam’s grief is raw and tangible, but it is also very private and not something that she wishes to share. Without her mother to be her cheerleader through life, she feels unable to move forward, so it is a nice touch from the author that it is a young girl, lavished with all that money can buy yet starved of parental attention, who helps Sam reconnect with the important things in her life. The family dynamic is well examined as Sam, her sister and their dad all grieve individually, in the mistaken belief that by not talking about their feelings will protect the others. No spoilers but there are several nice twists toward the end of the story.
The teenage relationships are depicted well with rival friendship groups, petty jealousies, miscommunication, envy, sexuality, feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. Ms Brown has built a rich cast of real teens, not from a glitzy teen soap opera, but rather young people with flaws and problems, hopes and dreams growing up in ordinary, often dysfunctional, families. They feel deeply, as only teens can, and struggle to balance their relationships, school, home life and hormones. The romances are full of teenage joy and angst in equal measure – the feeling of first love for Sam as her heart beats loudly when she glimpses the neck of a particular young man or how one youngster feels after trying to discuss sexuality and coming out with parents.
As mum to three adolescents (and having been one myself although they can’t believe this!) I do relate to this story. I can empathise with the situations that all the parents face – they are all very different, yet all very relevant. I enjoyed watching the young characters grow, particularly Sam as she learns for herself the importance of moving forward from her mother’s death. With time her increasing maturity shines through as she accepts that her tennis isn’t something to hate because of the connections to mum, but rather her success in her burgeoning tennis career is a wonderful way to honour her mother’s memory. The characters all move on in life – as we all do – and the younger cast are learning to go forward no matter what is thrown at them. If I were to be very picky, I would say that for an adult novel I would have liked the end to have been fleshed out more – but I would describe this as adolescent/YA fiction and as such the tying up of loose ends is entirely appropriate.
I definitely recommend this novel and applaud the author for tackling some difficult life situations – bereavement, loss, love, sexuality, eating disorder, mental health, relationships – but giving young readers a very positive message for the aspects of life that cannot be controlled. A well written, heart-warming and insightful look at the informative years!
May 19, 2018
Just Sam is a read which will touch your heart, and invoke memories of your teenage years. Good or bad, you'll just be thankful you got through them!
Samantha Jenkins is a teenager with a happy family life; living with her mother, father and sister Claire. With a five year difference, the sisters aren't close but Sammy, as she is known, has a wonderful relationship with her mother through their shared love of tennis. Sammy is a rising star in the game and the life of a future champion seems to be hers for the taking. But then disaster strikes close to home and life serves Sammy a curve ball.
Oh, the angst of the teenage years! Even if you don't think you can remember anything, it will all come flooding back. This is a well-written book, and a very touching one at that. With a good, well-plotted story and a fast moving narrative it is not only readable but very enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed the tennis analogies at the end of each chapter - so perfect! Kristy Brown has done an excellent job in producing a true-to-life story written in such a beautiful manner. There are a lot of good lessons in this story, and it's definitely one I would recommend to everyone and especially for teenagers who feel lost and alone. It may give some timely reminders to parents too!
My grateful thanks to the author for my copy. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.
Samantha Jenkins is a teenager with a happy family life; living with her mother, father and sister Claire. With a five year difference, the sisters aren't close but Sammy, as she is known, has a wonderful relationship with her mother through their shared love of tennis. Sammy is a rising star in the game and the life of a future champion seems to be hers for the taking. But then disaster strikes close to home and life serves Sammy a curve ball.
Oh, the angst of the teenage years! Even if you don't think you can remember anything, it will all come flooding back. This is a well-written book, and a very touching one at that. With a good, well-plotted story and a fast moving narrative it is not only readable but very enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed the tennis analogies at the end of each chapter - so perfect! Kristy Brown has done an excellent job in producing a true-to-life story written in such a beautiful manner. There are a lot of good lessons in this story, and it's definitely one I would recommend to everyone and especially for teenagers who feel lost and alone. It may give some timely reminders to parents too!
My grateful thanks to the author for my copy. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.
April 3, 2018
Sammy had just discovered a love for tennis. It was a love she shared with her Mother. Sammy wanted to play at Wimbledon one day and take her place along side some of the best players in the world. However, life changes and doesn't always ask our opinion when it does.
This book will warm your heart and make you believe in love again. Well written with well defined, love-able characters, you'll get lost in this book. Ms. Brown gets right to the heart of a story and then encourages it to open and allow others to see. The message of this book is one we all need to remember... Love is worth the risks. Add this one to your TBR pile or gift it to a friend.
I found no issues.
I gave this one 5 cheers out of 5 because I'm sure this happens to people everyday! ~Copy of book provided by author and I voluntarily reviewed it.
This book will warm your heart and make you believe in love again. Well written with well defined, love-able characters, you'll get lost in this book. Ms. Brown gets right to the heart of a story and then encourages it to open and allow others to see. The message of this book is one we all need to remember... Love is worth the risks. Add this one to your TBR pile or gift it to a friend.
I found no issues.
I gave this one 5 cheers out of 5 because I'm sure this happens to people everyday! ~Copy of book provided by author and I voluntarily reviewed it.
March 20, 2018
Story of Second Chances
Just Sam is the story of a girl with great talent who reevaluates everything when she loses her mother.
She's afraid of love and more loss but for pretty sixteen year olds, it's impossible to avoid the former and the latter isn't something one can control.
Sam realizes her mother's greatest wish was that she be happy, not a tennis star, allowing her to repair not only her own relationships and misunderstandings, but to help others achieved what they want through example.
A sweet story of second chances for love, friendship, and life ambitions.
Just Sam is the story of a girl with great talent who reevaluates everything when she loses her mother.
She's afraid of love and more loss but for pretty sixteen year olds, it's impossible to avoid the former and the latter isn't something one can control.
Sam realizes her mother's greatest wish was that she be happy, not a tennis star, allowing her to repair not only her own relationships and misunderstandings, but to help others achieved what they want through example.
A sweet story of second chances for love, friendship, and life ambitions.
April 10, 2018
Just about everything
Just Sam is about everything a teenager could possibly go through, written with sensitivity. Some of the minor characters are just as intriguing as the main ones.
Just Sam is about everything a teenager could possibly go through, written with sensitivity. Some of the minor characters are just as intriguing as the main ones.
February 12, 2019
This is a brilliant coming of age book. The start of the book is heartbreaking and I can only imagine how difficult Sam finds it to overcome her loss. This is a really sweet book about young love and life goals. I also loved the Disney references!!
February 20, 2018
A touching story about pushing your limits and being able to dig deep to find your strength in the face of loss.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews