Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Dare You To (Pushing The Limits #2) by Katie McGarry ~ Review

Available May 28th 


Book Description:

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."


If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....



Source:  Received an eBook copy through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

My Thoughts:



5 stars - Loved it even more than Pushing The Limits

Looking for a tough girl? You have found her in Beth - don't be calling her Elizabeth, either,  unless your interested in getting told to F off.  Living at her Aunts, Beth has survived a life that most can't even imagine.  Trust is something she doesn't do except with her BFF Isaiah and his friend Noah.  But when she's pulled away from all she's survived only to be thrown into normal, will her strength survive? 

I love Beth.  She really has trust issues and her defense mechanizes are always to lash out at people.  What's makes this book so compelling is that Ryan can see something more in Beth.  Attracted to her but cautious, Ryan becomes interested after a dare.  He doesn't lose dares.  He hates loses anything...baseball games, contests, girls he likes.  And he does like Beth even though he's not sure it's a good idea. 

Ryan isn't perfect though everyone thinks he is.  He has his own hidden issues plaguing him.  His father has scripted his life making his decisions for him.  When Ryan decides he likes Beth, he has some growing to do.  Who will he allow to decide what happens in his life.

The very best part of this book was that this couple didn't take one look at each other and drool all over the place.  The beginnings were full of bitterness and anger.  Both of them making mistakes.  Both of them try very hard to resist.  No one seems to think they can work.  But the attraction is clear and it spurs growth and trust on both sides.

The pages flew by and I could have read it in a day but alas my day job got in the way.  Regardless, the 462 pages never dragged.  I loved every minute and could have read more.

There was one baseball game I'm still wondering the results of, but besides that Ry and Beth's story was nicely tied up.  I hope to see them hanging around in book three.  It was great to see Noah and Echo in this book, though they really weren't around a lot.  The whole Isaiah issue is left hanging but I'm sure that will be the subject of the next book.  At least I hope it is.  Isaiah needs his book.

If YA is your thing, then pick this one up May 28th and plan on reading it upon delivery.  Definitely worth it.

13 comments:

  1. Fabulous review!! I am going to be reading this one this week! (I hope) I can't wait to get to it!

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  2. Thanks for the review. I usually do not read YA but you are so convincing on this book I think it will be worth a read!

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  3. I'm so looking forward to this book! This was a definite "must buy" for me after reading Pushing the Limits :-)

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  4. I just started PtL, and love it. I can't wait to read this one, too. Great review!

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  5. I still haven't read Pushing the Limits. I really need to because this one sounds just as awesome.

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  6. OMG, I loved this one more than PtL too! And I LOVED PtL! I feel guilty for even saying that. I read this a month ago and I still can’t write a review on it…

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  7. I still have not read this series but I love the sound of it. Glad there is no insta love. I'll take resisting, bitterness and anger any day over insta love <3 wonderful review.

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  8. Great review! This a highly anticipated book. I can't wait to read it my self. <3

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  9. Oh, I love this book SO much! Ryan is just...sigh! I really enjoyed their story and thought Beth was a great character. Great review!

    Vi
    Confessions of a Vi3tBabe
    Deity Island

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  10. I have seen a couple of really good reviews of this book. Thanks so much for another great review :)

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  11. I LOVED this book! I loved PtL equally though. The characters are so different and their stories so different. My review is posting tomorrow!

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  12. I just LVOED this book to pieces! :D

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  13. I can't wait to get Beth's story. I feel so badly for Isaiah, though. I did see in a character interview with Noah, that he and Echo will be around when Isaiah needs them. It'll be coming! I know it!

    Great review! I can't believe it's over 400 pages! Wowzas!

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