Book Review: Across the Line (In the Zone, #2) by Kate Willoughby

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Buy: Amazon UK | Amazon US | 

Format: Kindle

Publishers: Carina Press

Published: 11th August 2014

Pages: 287

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sport Romance

Main Characters: Calder, Becca
Date Read: 11th May - 14th May 2016

Rating Given:

Synopsis:
Book two of In the Zone
Calder Griffin needs to get back in shape. Sidelined last season by a knee injury, he's determined to return to the San Diego Barracudas and play the best hockey of his career. This might even be the year he gets out of his talented older brother's shadow.
For months, Becca Chen has poured her energy into Cups, the restaurant she owns, desperate to prove to her parents that she can succeed in the career of her choice, not theirs. But after she spends a five-hour plane ride flirting with charming, magic-on-the-ice Calder, she tells herself she needs a fling.
Becca and Calder can't keep their hands off each other, but they know the relationship can't last. They live on opposite coasts, and they're both too devoted to their careers. All they have to do is prevent their feelings from crossing the line from lust to love…
See how Calder's teammate Tim found love in On the Surface.

 I received a review copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not a fan of this cover as even though the setting is perfect for this book I just don't see that guy as Calder. Yes that body is hot and definitely a Calder looking body but it's the models face that puts me of this being Calder as he seems far too old for Calder.

When I first started this book I really enjoyed it but there was a few dips in the story but the rest was a lot better than the first book as I felt a bit more invested in the story. The romance between Calder and Becca felt a bit one sided at times as it felt like Calder would do anything for Becca but Becca came across as a bit stand-offish with him. The chemistry did improve the more I got into the story to the point I thought they where cute together. I liked that this book wasn't all revolved around the romance but also family relationships which I thought was a great addition however, the relationship between Calder and his brother was a little too tedious for my liking. I kind of liked the ending as things felt wrapped up but I do think it all happened far too quickly.

There was moments when I loved and hated all of the characters in this book especially the two main characters. It took me a while to warm up to Becca as she was hard to get a read on and was very closed off which I understood why she was the way she was up to a point. I liked that she was a strong and independent woman but I think she took it too far to the point where I felt like she was taking it all out on Calder. For the most part I liked Calder but there was moments when he really annoyed me especially how he and his brother was.

Overall, I enjoyed this book but it didn't blow me away, I am still looking forward to continuing on with this series and hopefully it will get a little bit better.

Book of the Month - May

I've read quite a few books in May but I haven't fallen head over heels for any of them plus I had a couple of DNF books which hardly ever happens to me.

Here's what I read in May:

• Blurred Lines (Love Unexpectedly, #1) by Lauren Layne - 3.5/5
• Wild Crush (Wild Cards, #2) by Simone Elkeles - 2.5/5
• Sleepless in Manhattan (From Manhattan With Love, #1) by Sarah Morgan - 4/5
• Across the Line (In the Zone, #2) by Kate Willoughby - 3.5/5
• Chasing Crazy by Kelly Siskind - 3.5/5
• Mortal Obligation (Dark Betrayal, #1) by Nichole Chase - 3.5/5
• The Natural History of Us (The Fine Art of Pretending, #2) by Rachel Harris - 3/5
• Talon (Talon, #1) by Julie Kagawa - 3/5

Also I DNFed Third Base by Heidi McLaughlin as well as Stacked Up by Sidney Halston.

The book of the month goes to...

Sleepless in Manhattan (From Manhattan with Love, #1) 

by Sarah Morgan

So no five star books this month so I had to go to my only four star book which was a good book and I am looking forward to continuing with the series.

What's your book of the month?

Book of the Month - March

Overall my reading throughout March was better than what I originally thought.

Here's what I read in March:

• I Wish (I Wish, #1) by Elizabeth Langston - 4/5
• Silver Shadows (Bloodlines, #5) by Richelle Mead - 4.5/5
• Exiled (Immortal Essence, #1) by RaShelle Workman - 2/5
• Red by Alyxandra Harvey - 3/5
• Play (Stage Dive, #2) by Kylie Scott - 5/5
• My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick - 3/5
• On the Surface (In the Zone, #1) by Kate Willoughby - 3.5/5
• Wicked (A Wicked Saga, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout - 4.5/5
• Get Lucky by Robin Corvington - 2/5
• Down London Road (On Dublin Street, #2) by Samantha Young - 5/5

And the book of the month goes to...

I only had a couple of five star rating books but this one for me outshone every book I read in March even the other five star book so naturally Play had to be my BOTM.

What was your BOTM in March?

Book Review: On the Surface (In the Zone, #1) by Kate Willoughby

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Buy: Amazon UK | Amazon US |

Format: Kindle 

Publishers: Carina Press

Published: 14th April 2014

Pages: 272

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, 

Main Characters: Erin, Tim
Date Read: 22nd March - 25th March 2015

Rating Given:

Synopsis:
NHL player Tim Hollander lost his temper one time and threw a water bottle at an abusive fan. After "Bottlegate," he's traded to the San Diego Barracudas, where he'll need to keep the bad publicity to a minimum while proving he can still compete with the younger guys on the ice.
Erin Collier is a paediatric nurse who's never seen a hockey game, but gets in line for Tim's autograph at a PR event in hopes of impressing the doctor she has a crush on. When an obnoxious fan gets pushy toward Erin, Tim rushes to defend the pretty stranger, throwing a punch in the process.
Grateful for the rescue, Erin agrees to stand by Tim during the resulting press conference and host him at a hospital charity event. Their chemistry is palpable, and soon their lives are intertwined. But Erin doubts a hockey player is capable of anything resembling a real relationship. And if Tim can't get her to see beyond what's on the surface, they'll never last longer than a single season… 

 I was given a review copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not a lover of this particular cover as the model I just don't see as Tim. I do like the background colour though.

I really enjoyed reading this book but there was moments when I thought something huge would happen but it never happened the way I thought it would. I don't usually mind that I book isn't predictable but in this case I think it would have added more to the story because at times it was a little dull it just needed more excitement. What I also wasn't a fan of was the time period as it kept skipping day/weeks/months making me get a little lost on what was happening. I kind of liked the romance between Erin and Tim as it was sweet but also smoking hot chemistry, however, I do feel like it was too much too soon it felt like they where in love straight away especially Tim whereas Erin's feelings where at a slower pace which was nice. There was so many cute and romantic moments towards the end half of the book which I found myself saying aww out loud. What annoyed me the most about this book is that I don't feel as though there was enough background information on the characters especially Erin. I kind of liked the ending as pretty much everything was cleared up with a few exceptions but I do feel like it was rushed as one minute Tim was saying one thing then the next minute everything was fine and he couldn't wait (I know that's a bit vague but I don't want to give anything major away).

I pretty much liked all of the characters as there was no bad person there was a few moments that I thought was a bit annoying but I have a feeling that they will probably get their own book so maybe they would seem even more likable. I kind of liked Erin at the beginning as she seemed sweet enough but she did annoy me with the way she acted around a certain doctor, but she seemed to be better once she started having feelings for Tim. Tim I liked from the beginning he came off sweeter than I thought he would.

Overall a good enough start to the In the Zone series and I can't wait to read more to see if they get even better.