My Heart to Touch

Maxwell Family Saga #1

by S.B. Alexander

A coming of age high school romance from the bestselling author of the Maxwell series.

The shy ones are diamonds in the rough.

QUINN THOMPSON

When I walk into a room, the popular kids whisper about me. I don’t own designer clothes or name-brand shoes. I don’t wear low-cut shirts or tons of makeup either. I’m as plain Jane as a girl can get. I live on a farm, where the uniform of the day is boots, jeans, and a T-shirt unless it’s winter; then I trade my T-shirts for heavy sweaters and a parka. Baggy is my style.

But I’m considered one of the nerds in school for reasons besides my wardrobe. I have my nose in books while the popular girls have their noses up jocks’ butts. I do everything I can to avoid the in crowd at Kensington High—until a new boy waltzes in. He’s tall like my brothers, handsome like Zac Efron, and disrupts my belief that boys only want one thing. My only problem is he’ll never notice me, not if my arch-nemesis has any say.

MAIKEN MAXWELL

Basketball has been my life until my dad died. I’m trying not to get depressed, but it’s hard to breathe sometimes. He’ll never cheer from the stands at any of my basketball games or shout at me to shoot that three-pointer. I promised him I would step up if anything happened to him, and now it’s time to be the man of the house.

Only I’m torn between playing for the Kensington High basketball team and finding a job—until the girl with butterscotch hair snags my attention. She’s pretty, quirky, and her presence takes my mind off my troubles. Above all else, she makes me feel things that I’ve never felt before. In my mind, girls are just a distraction. They’re nice to look at, they talk too much, and they’re extremely pushy. Yet Quinn Thompson might change my opinion that all girls are created equal.

This is clean and wholesome romance and is recommended for teens and young adults.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, High School, Contemporary, Sports, New Adult, Amazon

Audiobook

First published December 18, 2018

About the author

Navy veteran and bestselling author S.B. Alexander writes paranormal, new adult, and young adult romance. Her writing is emotional, angsty, and character-driven, and features hot heroes stealing hearts.

S.B. or Susan as she likes to be called is a navy veteran, former high school teacher, and former corporate sales executive. She’s a lover of sports, especially baseball, although nowadays you can find her on the golf course.

When she’s not writing, she’s a full-time caregiver to her soul mate of twenty-two years who got a bad deal in life when he was diagnosed with ALS. Her motto: “Life is too short to waste. So live every moment like it’s your last.”

Reviews

[Paula White · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75*

This is a spin off from the Maxwell brothers and involved their cousins. They come to live with the Maxwells after a family bereavement.

Quinn and Maiken had a connection from the start, after some HS drama they become a couple. This book introduced the reader to new characters and was a good foundation for the new series. There is quite a bit of HS drama and the typical mean girl, who will hopefully get her comeuppance!

I look forward to book 2 where it looks like Quinn has had enough and is not going to be a push over.

[Anne OK · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning of a new series from a new-to-me-author. It's very age-defined (16 years old and all the drama that high school cliques evoke). I think for some it would be a fine reading experience. For me, I'm a little too old and it didn't quite work. A Kindle Unlimited offering with a cover that brought a smile to my face and so I one-clicked. I finished it -- sometimes it dragged a bit and I certainly wasn't enthralled by the high school feel. A few of the characters were a bit unique, however. And the setting was a winter wonderland.

This is definitely one of those that falls into the category of "what doesn't work for one reader will for another."

[Jessica Fether · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, hello there, extremely abrupt ending!!!

[Mary Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story that really depicted life for a regular girl in high school. Quinn isn't popular. She is actually bullied by the most popular girl in school, her arch nemesis. She spending her time focusing on her studies and then helping at her family's farm/store. She has dreams of ice skating, but that's another thing her arch nemesis seems to be trying to ruin for her. Maiken is new in town. His large family is staying with more family after the passing of his veteran father. He is all everyone at school can talk about. Then he meets Quinn and he only has eyes for her. But the girl that hates Quinn is set to prove that Quinn is no good and she's the best pick. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Because that same bully girl's brother is making Maiken life hard on the basketball team. Maiken has to fight for what he wants while trying to show his first crush how he feels. This is a clean young adult romance. I saw a lot of my own teenage self in it. I couldn't start the next book fast enough. These narrators were the PERFECT voices for Quinn and Maiken. I'm invested!

[Secretly Adorkable Readers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Maxwells and was so excited to hear that we were going to a spin off series! This is a cousin of the Maxwell brothers, Maiken Maxwell and his siblings. This is Maiken and Quinn's story which maybe 2-3 books plus the siblings as well.

Maiken and his family move to a new town due to a death in their family and start working on the Thompson Farm. This is where we will meet our quiet, sweet Quinn Thompson. Of course this is YA but will have some bullying and angst thrown in the midst. I love this book and cannot wait to meet the "New" Quinn!

[Anjie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't even know where to start. This book ..  I'm just .. what can I say lol. I don't like writing bad reviews for books but I feel like it's unavoidable. Maybe it just wasn't for me. I should've just DNF'd it but it was like one of those car accidents on the highway that you just can't help but see what happened. I'm not that hard to impress but the majority of this book just didn't sit well with me. Frankly, it just made me so uncomfortable??? Which is weird, considering it's young adult. I don't know, maybe it's just me.

So let's begin. I wasn't a big fan of the writing. I think that was a biiiig reason as to why I was so uncomfortable. Starting with how Quinn and Maiken ran into each other in school, literally ran into each other. I understand that he's muscular or whatever but how in the world did he give her a black eye. No, TWO black eyes?!?!? What? Was he walking like a robot, his arms outstretched, fists forward??? Or walking backwards maybe with his elbows cocked back and hit her square in the eyes?? I don't know, it doesn't make any sense. It's honestly such a small detail in the book but I couldn't get over it!

I love the whole over protective brother thing and I think that it has its endearing qualities, I understand it. But this was just overbearing to the point that she can't even look at a guys direction. Don't get me started on her mom's lessons on being polite. I totally agree that you should be polite but that doesn't mean you should be a doormat either. Teach her to be assertive and stand up for herself. Her brothers aren't always going to be there to have back and defend her from bullies, she's gotta learn to fend for herself and there's a way to do that without being b*tch like Tessa. The entire family also believes that girls shouldn't chase boys and those that do are trouble. Now look, I'm mad old school and I think that a guy taking the first step is cute, but if a girl wants to go ask a guy out... who the f*ck cares! It doesn't make them trouble, it doesn't make them hussies and the fact that this book drills this over and over again just infuriates me.

Moving on, this is a young adult book. Demographics are what? 13 to 16? I don't know. Quinn is I think 15 and Maiken is 16 and that's okay but everything between them was so cringe-y for me! Quinn's point of view was very immature. Very naive. I know she's just a teen but  she sounded like she was 8 honestly. There was a point where she was describing Maiken and thinking about how good he looks. She stops herself in the middle of it and says how she's being inappropriate and impure. All she did was think he was cute, nothing about sex either. So while she was sounding like an 8 year old, Maiken was sounding like an older guy. Sometimes a normal 16 year old, sometimes sounding like a guy in a new adult book. Seriously, the whole "shes my girl and no one can touch her" was freaking weird. It's legit a line from an NA book I read. It wasn't jealousy but posession and that, I don't appreciate. It just left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Another thing, their "relationship" didn't feel right, it felt forced. No chemistry. I have more chemistry with my nonexistent boyfriend. It felt really flat to me and it didn't make my emotions rise, maybe my anger and annoyance.

I don't think there was a single thing that I liked about this book. Don't get me started on the ending. How anticlimactic. Everything was leading up to this Christmas party and it was just ... nothing really happened. People went to the party. There was pool involved and then the end?!?! Seriously??? I wasn't expecting much after the whole raccoon bruise from their run and lack of believable romatical tension but at least give me a plot. It was a bunch hog wash that didn't really make sense other than to add drama into a useless, unfounded love triangle. Then a brother goes missing??? What was the point of that?!? It was like let's add tropes into this book and maybe it'll all come together but spoiler alert, it doesn't. You win some, you lose some with Kindle Unlimited.

[Caro · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

We have Quinn and Maiken. He’s new to town with his family and she’s lived her whole life there. They’ve both never dated, for different reasons, so when attraction sparks they don’t know how to initially handle it. Too sweet.

This was a fun read, filled with teenage angst and trouble. I hated that mean girl and her brother and loved Maiken’s siblings. :-) I’d love to hear more of them in the future.

I wasn’t a fun of Maiken’s possessive attitude, tbh. He thought of Quinn as his, yet he never verbalized it and acted all macho on her, getting angry when someone (read: Chase) talked to her.

I was also surprised by Quinn’s conservative views on boys and girls, which I get, since it was her parents views; but I disliked her brothers a lot, actually (Liam maybe a little better). Never letting her do anything and pretty much doing the contrary to what their parents taught them (do you really think they went to parties just to dance?). I hated how they treated her and felt they were hypocrites when it came to ‘scolding’ her on her actions. Just wasn’t a fan.

Still, it was an overall fun story with ups and downs.

*Thank you to the author for providing a copy for which I’m giving my honest opinion*

[Claudia R. McCall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slower Than Rat and Stacey

For those whippersnappers or folks that don't get the cultural reference, Rat and Stacey were two characters in Fast Times At Ridgemont High. They had this romance that went very slow. They had great rapport, but the romance consisted of looks and hand-holding. At the end of the movie, a post-script is given on all the characters' lives a considerable time later -- "Rat and Stacey, having a passionate affair...still haven't gone all the way."

Don't misunderstand me, I know this is a YA book. I get it that we're not going to see sexual intimacy. I don't have a problem with that. But I was 35% through the book -- would it be possible for SOMETHING to happen? It took that long for Maiken to decide whether he was taking the job! Is he going to play baketball? The world may never know. I spent two hours just to get to this point, I don't think I want to spend any more time.

I wanted to like this book. I liked it that Quinn came from farmer folk. Not something that you see every day in a YA novel. But Hay-Zeus! Her overbearing brothers make it likely a long, frustrating haul before the girl will ever get to do anything besides work on the farm! And they call her shy, but where I come from, someone who stutters that much would have attracted enough attention by that age to be sent to speech therapy. Perhaps Quinn eventually grew a backbone, put on her big-girl panties, moved her brothers out of the way, kicked that snotty Tessa's butt, and rode off into the sunset with Maiken...

But I didn't want to read till my next birthday to find out.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Heart to Touch
By S. B. Alexander
Main Characters: Maiken and Quinn
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author.
5 out of 5 stars
My Heart to Touch is the first book in the Maxwell Family spinoff series. Maiken's family are cousins to (Kade, Kelton, Kross, and Kody) and move after the death of their father. Maiken is the new boy in Kensington H.S. These are the younger cousins of the other 4 guys and so I imagine we are going to see books about each one and I wouldn't be surprised to see how the other older 4 K's are doing. This is a budding H.S. romance and I think can be considered a YA book. We get to see a small glimpse of Kade & Lacy in here but this is all about Maiken and Quinn and an their unlikely coupling. Maiken is all into basketball and takes an interest in plain jane Quinn. This is a sweet story. I am really looking forward to this series. Don't miss this one!

[Ahima Booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,25 stars for Maiken and Quinn

A sweet and angsty high school romance. Quinn grew up with big brothers and a catholic farmer family. At age 16 she is very mature in her mind but extremely shy and sheltered. Maiken moves to this small town with his mom and 7 siblings after his father died. He has no interest in high school drama and is not totally convinced to try for a sport team or rather earn money to support his family. But drama finds them both and Maiken and Quinn fight with the restriction of their families, bitchy class mates and own indecisions. The book ends on a cliffhanger. When Quinn and Maiken finally know what they want, they will have to fight to keep the rest of the town out of their business.

I loved the development between Maiken and Quinn as a relationship so much. The drama around them gave the story a good plot to move through so many pages. I hope they both grow up a bit more and develop their own characters in book 2.

[Nicki - The Overflowing Bookcase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting over in a new town and in a new high school after the death of his father, Maiken wants to stay under the radar and help his mother and siblings cope with their loss. However, as with any High School drama prevails when Maiken falls for shy Quinn who is the object of bullying by the one girl who sets her sights on him. Throw in replacing the star basketball player and the drama continues. But can Quinn and Maiken's feelings make everything better or worse? Who will be the true winner in the end? With beautifully written characters and an emotional storyline this was a fabulous read. S.B. Alexander has a way of writing that hooks you in from the opening pages and you do not want the story to end. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!!

[Eva Christopherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous book by S.B. Alexander! Her books are such a great read. My Heart to Touch was another page turner I did not want to put down. This is a YA series spin off for her Maxwell series and is so well written. The book introduces us to Maiken and Quinn. Maiken is the younger cousin to Kade Maxwell and his brothers. A tragic loss has Maiken’s family moving to a new town and new school. Quinn is the shy book worm that prefers to stay unnoticed but that doesn’t happen when she is tormented by the popular girl at school. Follow the two teens in their budding relationship and see how they both grow and change. I can’t wait for the second book! You will not regret reading anything written by S.B. Alexander!!

[Karen Voitik · Rating 5 out of 5]

>Book review – My Heart to Touch
>I am an independent reviewer. This book is the 1st in the Maxwell Family Saga series and ends in a cliffhanger. Maiken’s military dad passes away, causing his mom to move him and his 7 siblings up north to live in his aunt and uncle’s home. The book has a lot of secondary characters to work with, but really only 2 siblings are really introduced and developed. Quinn is a shy, hardworking farm girl. She is bullied at school and has brothers that are super overprotective.
>This book deals a lot with jealousy and class systems. The rich, spoiled kids bully the hard working kids. There is a lot about 1st love and how to treat people. I love that the shy girl gets the guy. Maiken even teaches Quinn how to stand up for herself.
>This book is appropriate for a young adult (16+) audience. I am giving this book 5 stars. Maiken is a total gentleman and it was so fun to get in to his head.

[Heather Carver · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off I loved this book. Loved that it’s YA. And a YA I’ll let me girls read :)

This book keeps you entertained through the whole book. It keeps you wanting to turn the pages. The ending makes you wish the next book was available already.

I love Maiken. He’s a great character. I loved watching him grow in this book and I know he’s only going to get better with the next couple books!

Quinn is the shy girl. She tries to stay out of the spotlight but that isn’t always easy when people have put a target on your back. But Quinn is strong and determined to not let people drag her down.

I really hope that Liam and Celia get a book!! Carter too I guess even though he’s really protective. I can’t wait to read the next book and see what happens next!

[Astrid Rudloff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily review an ARC.
This is the first book of the YA spinoff series of the Maxwell's.
S.B. Alexander did it again: This book sucked me into the Maxwell universe until I read the last word. I wasn't able to put it aside to get some sleep.
I was sad when the Maxwell series came to an end because It felt like I had to leave a family I loved. But now they are back with some cousins and I can't wait to get to know all the new family members.
What I live most about these books is how the family members always support each other. This is a trait Quinn's family has to work on. They are loving too, but overprotective. I have to know how Quinn and Maiken will overcome their difficulties, so there's no way I will miss the rest of this YA series.
Highly recommended.

[Wendy Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the start of the Maxwell Cousins
Maiken Is the oldest of the Cousins. Him and his family moved in with their dad brother, Since they lost there dad in Iraq a few months before. He loves to play basket ball but he is not sure if he will play this year or not yet. He has someone who hates him on spot and don't not get along at all.

Quinn is the youngest of her family and she is shy and loves to read and she has trouble with someone at school. Will they get together or not who will win this battle You need to read this book and I am sure that you will love it I could not put it down till I finished the book

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a great start to this amazing series. Maiken father has died in a war zone so his family moves in with The Maxwell's to get on there feet. Quinn lives on a farm and is a quiet and shy girl. When Maiken and Quinn meet there is an instant connection but neither one of them have gone out with or kissed anyone. You have to read this book to see what happens next. This book is emotional but also full of heartache, pain, loss and bullying. I definitely recommend this book as you will not be disappointed it touches a a few subject's that have been written with such compassion.

[Kbsblogging and reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

S.b alexander is a fantastic author I love reading her books. The maxwells are my favourite. That's why I couldn't wait to devour this book.

My heart to tough was beautiful written that it had my hook from the first page.
Maiken and quinn were a cute couple but they went through some things that at times I hated the book I had to stop half way through to gather my thoughts.

I received this book as a arc for free in exchange for my honest review. I highly recommend this book you won't be disappointed. I can't wait to read the next one and I'm glad we got read about kade.

[Rebecca Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been looking forward to reading this book since first hearing that the Maxwell family was extending into new books about new relatives, and let me tell you it did not disappoint!
Susan has such a unique way of writing and manages to pull you into the story from the first line on the first page.
Maiken and Quinn's characters are no different, i could not put this book down.
Maiken is the new kid, after a major family event he is whisked off to a new town to start fresh, with a dream in mind he is determined to make the right choices.
Quinn is the quiet, shy girl that has always blended into the background, but Maiken's appearance in town threatens to change that.
There is nothing about this book that would stop me recommending it, you will not be disappointed.
Well done Susan, a 5 * read as always

[Crystal Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could NOT stop reading. Another great book by Susan!!! You will not be disappointed! Quinn draws you in with her shy, honest outlook. I think most of us ladies can sympathize and relate with her! And Maiken is every girls dream! Sweet, and a little brooding, who wouldn't fall for a guy like that? It was so easy to get caught up in their story. I cannot wait to read what happens next!!!! This will definitely be added to my bookshelf. I love all the Maxwells, and cant wait to get to know the rest of the Maxwell clan!!!

[Kenzie Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the book! I did wish that it had a few more “hot scenes” in it like in the other Maxwell books, but really did enjoy it. I love the new characters and the chemistry between Quinn and Maiken. I also loved the drama aspect between the brothers of Quinn and Maiken. I am very interested to know more about the two main characters and to see where their relationship takes them! Cannot wait to read the next one!!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maiken and Quinn were fun to get to know! Two characters both very similar in their own ways. Their views on family, love and loyalty. Such a sweet and innocent YA book.

I enjoyed getting to know the cast of characters in this book. I loved the story and watching it progress. As the book started to get to the end I was becoming aware that there would be another book because there was so much more to tell. Can’t wait for the next book.

[Latifa Morrisette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not usually into YA but when I read the blurb of this book it piqued my interest. When the Death of his father forces his family to start again, Maiken Maxwell and his family move to a new state forcing him into a new reality. Little does he know that falling for Quinn Thompson was last thing he though would happen. But in the world of high school and basketball, can they actually make it work? This book captured attention from the first chapter to the last page. I'm excited to see what's in store for book 2.

[Mariela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so cute! A highschool romance that was just so sweet! Quinn is ur quiet girl, lives on a farm and has 2 brothers who are protective and she meets new boy maiken who isn’t like the other boys in school! But her arch enemy Tessa wants maiken and chase who is tessas brother wants Quinn. What will happen with this crazy love square 😂 I loved the banter I loved the cattiness all in all a cute romance can’t wait to read next book 📖

[Leigh Grieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi, this my first time reading and ARC and I have loved having the opportunity.

I have read all of the Maxwell series and loved them all.

My Heart To To Touch was amazing! I love the chemistry between Quinn and Maiken. And also the fact that Kade and Lacey are back. I can't wait to see what Quinn has up her sleave in book 2! Hope it's quick to come out.

Thank you again x

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW
well it says give an honest review,5 stars are not enough, Susan you have done it yet again fantastic ..I cannot wait for the next installment too see what happens with Quinn and Maiken. Thank you for letting me be part of the ARC team it is a real privilege. Hopefully we will not have to wait long for the next one. The Maxwell's has got to be one of my all time favourites. 😍😍

[Lacy Aitkens hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say besides S.B. Alexander did it again. I am a huge fan of the original Maxwell serseries. I couldn’t put this book down. I loved being back in the Maxwell world. This is the perfect YA book. With the original Maxwells there was more mystery and drama, but I bet the next books have that. This was the perfect set up for Maiken and Quinn’s journey!! Definitely worth the read!

[Michelle Sprester · Rating 5 out of 5]

S.B Alexander is a truly great Author, I love her work and this book is no exception. I love the story line, how she has entered the new characters into the Maxwell family. love the instant chemistry between Quinn and Maiken, I cant wait to read more of them and see how this all pop plays out. Thank you Susan for another opportunity to be a part of this.

[Holly Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was awesome. If you are a fan of Sudan’s other Maxwell series this will not disappoint. The high school enemy angst may be more than even in Dare To Kiss. What a fantastic story and can’t wait to read more of Maiken and Quinn”s story.

[Wilmaris Lugo-santana · Rating 5 out of 5]

S.B. Alexander you did it again the love story between this two person is great and i can't wait see what about to happen in the second book. Thank you again for let me read it and I'm so glad that the Maxwell family is back with the old and new familys