12 August 2014

Book Review: Off Sides (Off, #1) by Sawyer Bennett

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17407683-off-sides
(Click image to take you to Goodreads)
Buy: Amazon UK | Amazon US |

Format: Kindle 
Publishers: Big Dog Books
Published: 21st February 2013
Pages: 166
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Main Characters: Danny, Ryan
Date Read: 6th August - 12th August 2014
Rating Given:
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Synopsis:
“I'm not sure what possessed me to do it. Maybe it was the impossible expectations I faced, maybe it was my own self-loathing. But I just knew I needed something different to happen. I needed someone... something... to derail me from my current path. Otherwise, I would become lost... a hollowed out shell of a man. So I did it. I approached her, then I pursued her, then I made her mine. And my life was saved...”
Ryan Burnham is the privileged son of a U.S. Congressman and captain of his university’s hockey team. While he is on the verge of fulfilling his dreams to play in the NHL, his parents want him on a different course. One he is expected to accept for the sake of his family’s public image.
Forced her to abandon her music career after the heart breaking death of her parents, Danny Cross exists on the opposite side of the tracks from Ryan. She is struggling to make her own way, working two jobs, attending college part time and volunteering in a homeless shelter. She is on a mission to build her own success.
With a chance meeting, their vastly different worlds collide, causing each to evaluate whether they are truly on the correct path to self-fulfillment and happiness. Can their relationship survive? Particularly when others are against them every step of the way. A lot can happen in just ten short days...


"She definitely is not dating material because my parents would have a fit if I showed up in the media with her on my arm. This thought is disappointing to me. It's been a really long time since someone has interested me like this and now I'm pissed off that I have to live by my parents' standards."

I found this book for free ages ago on Amazon so I obviously got it as it sounded like something I would very much enjoy and I wasn't wrong...

I like the top half of this cover as it's more interesting but the bottom half I felt just added those things as an after thought and even though it's in keeping with the book I (surprisingly) didn't like it. I love the use of colour as I am a sucker for black and white with one other colour as I think it looks so artistic and this is no different plus purple is used in the book so it fits with the story.

It has taken me well over a year to actually start this book and I do wish I had started it sooner as I loved it so much. The reason why I actually got around to reading it was after reading and loving one of Sawyer Bennett's other books and as soon as I picked it up I didn't want to put it down. The only thing I can think of that is wrong with this book is the length at only a 166 pages everything felt rushed and a few things that where a little on the unbelievable side. As soon as Danny and Ryan meet one another they instantly fall in lust and within a week they are madly in love and after two weeks there is also talk of marriage, usually I don't mind this instant love but I just felt like in this case it was too much too soon. Even though I was too sure on their quick feelings I still enjoyed them together as there was definitely chemistry and maybe if it was a longer book then maybe the love would have had a longer timeline to grow instead of instantly. It was a predictable book but I don't mind guessing what is going to happen next as long I don't guess everything as I do like a few things that take me by surprise which in this case it does. I loved the blend of music and sport but then again I do love my athletic men! I did like the ending as all the questions where all answered and after the 'The End' part it also said we will get more from Danny and Ryan so I'm pleased about that.

I loved Danny and Ryan and a few of their friends but there was a lot of other characters that where pure evil. Danny was a strong independent women who had a lot of bad things happen in her life but this just makes her stronger. She may seem like she doesn't care about what anyone says about but we soon find out that that wasn't the case. Ryan was just amazing he was so sweet and he was always there for Danny, I just loved everything about him and what I love about him the most is that he isn't the one that screws everything up. Paula and Mike were a great addition to the story as they was so funny I just wish we would've got to see more from the both of them. Ryan's sister wasn't in it that much but when we first met her I didn't like her but then we see her again and she seemed to be a bit nicer so I'm hoping that this change will be here to stay as it's her book next.

Overall a short but sweet book it just could've done with being a bit longer so there would be more depth to the story.

"You are more important to me than anything else in the world. As long as I have you, I don't need anything else. It's you Danny. It will only ever be you."