The Hard Count Review

Author:Ginger Scott

Genre: ,Young Adult, Sports, Romance, High School

Rating: 5+stars

I love my home. I just hate what living here makes people do. 

Ginger Scott needs to stop making me cry. No, seriously. This needs to stop. I have read five of her novels and I haveBAWLED with each one of them. I don't know how she does it. It feels personal, like she is targeting just me, like she knows JUST what to write to make eyes water. 
“There’s this great thing that happens, though, when you don’t have everything. You find something deeper." 

There aren't enough words to convey how BEAUTIFUL The Hard Count is. Ginger Scott creates a story that is so thought provoking, so enlightening and so subtle in its beauty. 
My family’s success gives me pleasure—even when it’s killing us. 
The Hard Count follows the story of Reagan Prescott, the daughter of the football couch and the sister of the leading quarterback, Noah. Reagan Prescott has a love for film and her submission video for college focuses on the infamous football team and most importantly the sacrifices and pain that come from holding that Prestige. Her film showcases what football and an elite (cough cough shady) school does to her family, to her relationships. There is this idea of perfection; Being the perfect daughter, the perfect sister, the perfect family. I honestly think the word "perfect" should be erased from the english dictionary, it would save us the trouble. 

And I will be what you need because I know what it’s like to need…to need someone. To need to believe again. I believe… 

While Reagan delves deeper into her documentary, she realises Nico Medina is the heart of her story. After a tragic game, that leaves Noah with a fractured leg, Nico Medina has to step into the big shoes left by the injured quarterback. The football team is all about Honor, Respect and Brotherhood. Despite this, most of the team does not accept Nico's place on the team. There is the school board, the boosters, the coaching team, the school politics who are all against him. But football has never been about anyone else but himself, he plays because HE loves it. 

I want my camera. I want the safety of living this part through the lens. I don’t want to be part of the story, but I am. 

Through this journey, Nico and Reagan change from being class enemies to each other's confidants. They build a foundation made of respect, empathy for one other and love. Reagan watches through her lens as different elements and people try to break Nico. But they don't know him. Reagan begins to see who he really is. He is one of the smartest individuals she has ever met, he is also the kindest. He has so much love for his family, his home. He is loyal, he is strong, he is so so so STRONG (I am trying really hard not to cry). There are so many curveballs thrown. I honestly don't know how someone can continue to stand up after being shoved down several times.

This—this is hard. The quiet. It’s too honest. 

The Hard Count focuses on perspectives and lenses. The way different people see the world. How sometimes we only see our mistakes when we critically look at ourselves. How people we love see all our redeeming qualities. It is all about your outlook on life. It is about switching out lenses to have the one that magnifies the world YOU believe in. 

Nico is the twist in the tale. He’s the element of good. He’s what humanity should be—the lesson to be learned. He is hope. 

The Hard Count made me feel thinks I didn't think I could. I was taken back by the force of emotions. Ginger Scott definitely did what she set out to do. She made me feel. 

“We failed to learn from the stories that warned us that if we create environments that perpetuate poverty, that force the people in them to beg and steal, then we’re equally to blame for many of their outcomes.”

Find this novel on Amazon and Goodreads.

Goodreads | Tumblr | Instagram | Photoblog

Holding You Review

Author: Jewel E. Ann

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: 4.5 stars

Holding You by Jewel E. Ann, is just like all her other stories, EPIC. I honestly wonder how Jewel does it, because every single story I have read so far is so unique and engaging. She has definitely become one of my favourite authors in Contemporary Romance. Now if she would just release Dawn of Forever , I would be eternally grateful. 

I felt significantly insignificant, as if my presence in the world, albeit small, was still necessary. 

Holding You begins at the peak of life of Addy, a thirty year old vegan chef in Milwaukee. She has reached the point in her life where she is truly who she wants to be. She has an amazing best friend, Mac, and a great restaurant. She mediates, runs and sails.Her life has not always been perfect, but she is slowly allowing herself to live again. Addy loves being close to nature. One day, she steps out of her restaurant on to the street and allows the winds and the scenery around to carry her. In those moments, her life drastically changes. 

My soul is injured. My heart is shattered but won’t stop beating. You see the person I want to be, not who I am. I don’t fear death, I fear the pieces of my heart could be further shattered and it will still be beating. 

Quinn is a latin businessman from New York. He is visiting Milwaukee for a business venture. On his way to a meeting, he almost crashes into Addy who stands in the middle of the street embracing nature. He thinks she is crazy at first and belongs in the set of Sound of Music. This is the case where opposites attract. Quinn is money and power driven while Addy just wants to live her life. But Addy realises she misses being sexually attracted to a man. She then propositions him for sex.

“You’re like my favorite dessert,” I confessed.“I crave you constantly, borderline addiction, but I fear the consequences of overindulging.” 

This is where Addy and Quinn's story begins. It is a relationship purely based on sex at the beginning. However, the more time they spend with each other, the more comfort they gain. There is a companionship that is built. Both characters have dark pasts and are reluctant to fully commit. They are both damaged and slowly begin healing each other. It is a beautiful thing to watch. It is paradoxical that Addy and Quinn bring out the best and worst in each other. 

You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. “Te amo.” 

Jewel E. Ann wrote Holding You as close to a true relationship as possible. I could honestly believe this happens in real life. It isn't the type of HEA where everything is perfect after the characters are together. She shows the work, passion, drive and strength that goes into maintaining a relationship. She also highlights all the flaws and pain that can come from the same relationship. There was a lot of REALNESS going on. 

“Your caveman thoughts of jealously are the only distraction. They are distracting you from the naked woman trying to seduce you, so let it go, stop wasting time, and take me already.” 

Each character stole my heart! Mac, Addy's best friend, is a firecracker and adds humour to the story. She is as crazy as Addy and so intelligent and supportive of her friend and her family. Addy personality really made Holding You . She embodies all the strong characteristics a heroine should have. She is strong, self-assured and unique while still being vulnerable and personable. Quinn is literally sex on a stick. Despite his physical features, I fell in love with his emotional and contemplative side. He genuinely cared for his family and his friends, making him more swoon worthy. 

His expression was indifferent and his self-assured posture said he owned the place, and worse than that, his look said he owned me. 

While reading Holding You , I had permanent butterflies in my stomach. I genuinely cared for each of the characters wellbeing. I can't wait to start the second novel (it ended in a cliffhanger). I advise you all to read this. If you are looking for a contemporary romance with a twist, Holding You should be right up your alley. 

“I would … I would give it up for you. I would choose you with nothing, than everything without you.”


Find this novel on Amazon and Goodreads.

Goodreads | Tumblr | Instagram | Photoblog

True Love Way Review

Author: Mary Elizabeth

Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Mental Illness

Rating: Definitely more than 5 stars

Have you ever woken up one day and just felt sad? Not the everyday emotion but the deep rotted emotion that literally weighs tons on your back? It takes everything out of you. You are left feeling fragile, tired and bare. But you know what happens? We wake up the next day and we are reminded about all the love and light in our lives. The darkness slowly shies away and light becomes a dominant force. We forget about that sadness...

What happens when that sadness never leaves? Never gives you a break? What happens then? 

True Love Way is a powerful read. Not because of it has crazy action or over the top plot. It is powerful because of its words and the feelings it conjures. It is a perspective I have never read before. There were so many layers, so much darkness, so much light, so much life; it was stifling. Because of that, I will never True Love Way again. I honestly can't go through it again. I honestly think I lost a part of myself to this novel. 

True Love Way revolves around a town, Castle Rain, near Washington. There is nothing too special about the town expect for the fact that it rains and the cliffs by the shore resemble a castle barrier. Dillion and his family have been living in this small town for years. They aren't used to new comers. One day, the house that has been empty for years next to theirs welcomes a new family. One summer day, a few days before 8th grade starts, Dillion watches as a family moves into the house next to his. More importantly, he focuses on a little girl with heart shaped red glasses and bubble gum all over her face. He is instantly fascinated. 

We lie in the dark, in the middle of the day, making silent promises and voiceless convictions. 

Penelope and Dillion become fast friends. There friendship is built on truth. When school starts, they ride bikes to school together and altogether click. However, it isn't all easy. Dillion soon finds out that there are days where Penelope can't get out of bed. She is sad. She wear sunglasses everywhere she goes to feel invisible. The problem is the darkness within her does not ignore her. It taunts her, breaks her. The sadness is all consuming. 

Other times she threw up on herself or pounded on her chest until she bruised because she said it hurt on the inside. 

Dillion realises something is wrong from a very early age. He makes it his life to make her smile and always support her. Their bond is powerful. There is genuine love and adoration for each other. They bring out the best in each other. But the issue remains, will their bond be able to beat the darkness? It is a long journey, with ups and down, rights and lefts, happiness and sadness. I don't want to go more into it. Just know True Love Way is a story to be read and experienced. I am warning you it is a bit tough to get through. But so worth it. 

She trusts me enough to let me have her love. Penelope comes to me when she needs help.

But I can’t save her. 

I don't think I have ever loved a hero as much as this novel. I challenge anyone to find a better hero than Dillion. He encompasses everything good in the world; he is kind, loving, supporting and loyal. He is also human and there were scenes where my heart broke for him. But nothing compares to how my heart felt for Penelope. It was such a shock seeing the world from her perspective. It was almost chilling. But most importantly, I loved the LOVE in this story. Not only the love of a boy and a girl. But the love of a wife and husband, father and daughter, a friend. 

Sending my fist into the glass one more time, it splinters completely until my reflection is unrecognizable. I’m nothing but razor-sharp fragments, a kaleidoscope of wreckage. 

What Mary Elizabeth does so well is embrace life with all its faults and all. There is nothing else an author can do but be honest with the readers. True Love Way will stay long in my heart. Whenever I feel happy and light, I will make sure to be grateful for those moments. This was a bit of a personal review but I don't think I could have delivered it any other way. So please show this author some love, and read True Love Way . 

“Dillon,” Penelope whispers. “Sometimes I’m so sad.”

“That’s okay.”

“I don’t know how to fix it,” she admits. Emotion pools in her brown eyes.

“I’ll help you,” I say.

Find this novel on Amazon and Goodreads.

Goodreads | Tumblr | Instagram | Photoblog