Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Blocked by Jennifer Lane ~ Tour Stop & Giveaway

Blocked 

 

By Jennifer Lane



New Adult Contemporary/Sports Romance

Released October 21, 2014


College freshman Lucia Ramirez has a secret crush on Dane Monroe. He’s a tall drink of water — blond, brash, and one hell of a volleyball player. Hijole. Lucia hopes her volleyball scholarship to his school will make him notice her.

Too bad what’s noticeable is Dane’s obvious hatred for Lucia. Her family’s politics contradict everything he stands for. And politics are front and center in both their families. Dane’s mother is about to face Lucia’s father in the race for US President.

When Secret Service throws them together, Dane can’t deny his frustrating attraction to Lucia’s athletic curves and sweet faith in the world. Amid the intense pressure of college athletics and presidential politics, can opposites not just attract, but overcome overwhelming odds to be together? Or do their differences block their match from the start?


Review...


I enjoyed this book.  It has a coming to understand different believes kind of feel to it.  Though I don't see it as New Adult but closer to Young Adult.  Here are my impressions...

It's a great book for seeing different points of view.

It's a great book for finding common ground.

It's a great book for taking it slow and finding a friendship first.

It's a great book for seeing how the choices of one person have such huge impacts on others.

It's a great book for understanding eating disorders.

It's a great book for understanding those with anger management issues.

It's a great book for getting help to deal with your problems.

It feels YA to me, with a sweet relationship that develops over months.

It feels sweeter than the cover implies.

It feels different with the secret service and presidential election playing such a huge role.

It feels sad as you see what the media can do to innocent peoples lives. 

As for the characters, I like them both.  Dane starts off being mean to Lucia and fighting his attraction to her.  He's dealing with some family issues that cause him some interesting problems.  I grow to like him as his gentle side helps Lucia get through some panic attacks and the pressure of being an athlete and the daughter of the Republican nominee for President.  I wish I'd seem more of his sexy side.  He has one.  That's clear when his past pops up.  But I so wanted that boy to be shirtless and that didn't happen.

Lucia is struggling with her body image.  A muscular athlete, she sees herself as fat.  Her coach doesn't help that problem and she struggles for a lot of the book with that.  I adored the scenes where Dane helps her with this.  In one scene, he feeds her a bite of his birthday cake.  It's adorable how he distracts her and cares for her.

Overall, the book is enjoyable.  I was a bit taken back with the ending.  I can see why the author did it but I wanted something different.  I supposed a reader can choose for themselves with the ending that way.  Don't get what I mean?  Guess you'll have to read it.  Then we can talk.

This is a great book for young people to read.  It's great for overcoming differences and tolerance.  Readers who enjoy the younger side of NA or YA books will enjoy this one.



       

About the Author...


Get psyched for romance with psychologist/author (psycho author) Jennifer Lane! By day she witnesses growth in her psychotherapy clients, and by night she wrangles misbehaving fictional characters as she writes sports romance and romantic suspense with a psychological twist. She can’t decide which is more fun.

 A swimmer and volleyball player in college, Jen wove some of her own experiences into Streamline—a military mystery about swimmers. And readers can dip their toes into Jen’s world of swimming romance by sampling her free New Adult novella Swim Recruit.

 College volleyball romance Blocked is Jen’s newest release, launching 10-21-14. Peek inside big-time college sports and even bigger national politics when the offspring of two presidential candidates find out whether opposites really do attract, or their match is blocked from the start.

 Stories of redemption interest Jen the most, especially the healing power of love. She is also the author of The Conduct Series, a romantic suspense trilogy that includes With Good Behavior, Bad Behavior, and On Best Behavior. Ultimately, whether writing or reading, Jen loves stories that make her laugh and cry.

In her spare time she enjoys exercising, attending book club, hanging out with her plus-size, “I’m not fat, I’m big-boned” Izzie cat, and visiting her sisters and their families in Chicago and Hilton Head.



Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter 

Giveaway...


(1) $15 Amazon Gift Card
(1) eBook of BLOCKED
(1) BLOCKED cover cookie
(1) BLOCKED bookmark


a Rafflecopter giveaway


 

19 comments:

  1. The closest thing to a favorite sport I have is the super bowl. :) Loved the review also. Made me want to check out this book. Thank you!

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  2. What a wonderful, detailed, well balanced review, Val. Thank you! Maybe I'll write a shirtless Dane scene for you, hehe.

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  3. I want to read this book! Thanks for the giveaway and review!

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  4. love that cover :) thanks for sharing!

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  5. Thanks for the review, I don't think I've read anything volleyball related yet so that does makes it more interesting and I'm intrigued about that ending.

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  6. I've only played volleyball once as an adult. I was decent but ended up playing with my arms and had little bruises everywhere.

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  7. Looks interesting! Sometimes it is good to take it slow. Thanks for your thoughts!

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  8. I do like to watch beach volley ball.

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  9. favorite sport would be football

    tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

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  10. You got it right, volleyball is my fav!

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  11. Volleyball was actually my favorite part of gym class in high school. This makes me nostalgic for the guys I had a crush on back in those days... :)

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  12. My favorite sport to watch is NFL football.

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  13. I was always a swimmer and mountain biker.

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  14. This sounds like a great read. My daughter just started running cross country, and we both fell in love with the sport!

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  15. Soccer is my favorite sport (I live in Europe)

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