Review: Breathe, Annie, Breathe (Hundred Oaks #5) by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Breathe, Annie, Breathe (Hundred Oaks #5)
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Series: Yes
Finished or ARC: ARC
Source: I won it

Goodreads: Annie hates running. No matter how far she jogs, she can’t escape the guilt that if she hadn’t broken up with Kyle, he might still be alive. So to honor his memory, she starts preparing for the marathon he intended to race.

But the training is even more grueling than Annie could have imagined. Despite her coaching, she’s at war with her body, her mind—and her heart. With every mile that athletic Jeremiah cheers her on, she grows more conflicted. She wants to run into his arms…and sprint in the opposite direction. For Annie, opening up to love again may be even more of a challenge than crossing the finish line.

Review:

The first thing that really hit me when I read this book is how far along the characters from the first book, Catching Jordan, are. Jordan is now the coach for Hundred Oaks football team and the Health teacher. Sam is an SEC agent for the Titans. I hope in the next book see more of them. Then there is Matt Brown and his fiance, Kate, from Things I Can't Forget. Matt is a big part of Annie's goal. What I hate is that he went for a literature degree, and now he's not doing much with it. (Well, maybe he's writing a book that Kenneally didn't tell us about). I'm happy he's engaged to Kate though. 

Anyway, I loved this book. Annie is a great character and running a marathon for her dead boyfriend is amazing. It's sad how he died, but it's amazing what Annie is doing to honor him. What I hate is how she feels guilty about what happened. It's like when a person feels horrible for something bad that is not directly related to them, but they find that one little thing that gives them enough reason to feel guilty. I don't like people who do that to themselves.

The dynamics of Franklin, TN, really has affected the characters of the Hundred Oaks series. There was Parker, and how the Christians of the town looked down on her lesbian mother, which in turn turned Parker into who she was. Then there is Ty, who didn't like hand outs since he was poor. And now Annie, with the way her friendship with her former best friend turned out. It's sad to see what did happen to their friendship, but what really ticked me off was Annie didn't express how she felt about her situation with her friend. 

Jeremiah. I'd probably have a relationship with him like the one Annie did. I'd love him for how free and fun-loving his personality is, but I would be deathly afraid he's going to get himself killed from what he does to earn money (no, it's not the Mafia or stripping). His relationship with Annie is a complicated one. Yes, complicated. I said it. Annie has issues and Jeremiah has issues. Jeremiah is more willing to fight through his than Annie is, but Jeremiah helps her get through them. What I loved is that he is willing to do what Annie wants to do without pushing her. 

There is much comedy in this book. It's mostly Jeremiah, but every now and then Annie thinks of something funny.

I loved (can you tell how much I love the Hundred Oaks series?) how besides the characters from the first three books, we get to see the characters from the previous book, Racing Savannah. Tie-ins, they are great.

Now I have to sit and wait a YEAR for the next one, Best Day Ever. Though I'm disappointed this doesn't include the title character's name (like Catching Jordan, Stealing Parker, Racing Savannah), at least I know her name and her love interest's name: Maya and Jesse. You can find them here: Hundred Oaks Peep Diorama 

Rating:

The Big Kahuna

Cover: 

Not a fan of the clouds for the background.

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Review: Racing Savannah (Hundred Oaks #4) by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Racing Savannah (Hundred Oaks #4)
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Series: Yes
Finished or ARC: Finished
Source: I think I bought this, but I'm not sure. I might have won it.

Goodreads: They’re from two different worlds.

He lives in the estate house, and she spends most of her time in the stables helping her father train horses. In fact, Savannah has always been much more comfortable around horses than boys. Especially boys like Jack Goodwin—cocky, popular and completely out of her league. She knows the rules: no mixing between the staff and the Goodwin family. But Jack has no such boundaries.

With her dream of becoming a horse jockey, Savannah isn’t exactly one to follow the rules either. She’s not going to let someone tell her a girl isn’t tough enough to race. Sure, it’s dangerous. Then again, so is dating Jack…

Review:

Moral: not all rich people are stuck up snobs and that social class shouldn't matter when it comes to love.

Like all of Miranda Kenneally's books, there is a heroine that is pretty awesome and a guy that has some issues. Jack's issue: the fact he is forced to pretend to like someone he doesn't like, and he can't have Savannah because of it and the fact she is him employee. Classic love story situation. Yes, cliche. No, it's not cheesy. This situation between them is funny, but sweet in a way.

I loved the comedy in this book. Kenneally never fails to make me laugh. What I love is that when things are going horrible for Savannah, she inserts a bit of humor in to lighten up the mood. 

Savannah is a great character--funny, smart, and kind. What I love about her is that she doesn't take crap from anyone and is very strong willed when she wants something. I love that she was willing to do anything to make sure her unborn sister had a good life, even if she didn't like Cindy, her father's girlfriend, all that well. 

There are some really, really sad moments in this book that made me want to cry. I'm not going to indulge you on what they are, but those moments are ones that can happen in real life, which is what I like about Kenneally's novels. She creates real situations and turns them into amazing stories. 

Jack. I have mix feelings about Jack. I thought he was really sweet, but he could be the biggest jackass. I did believe that Jack truly cared for Savannah, but during one scene, I wanted to jump into the story and beat him. He asked a question that was so rude that I can't believe Savannah went back to him. Of course, Jack redeemed himself and everything worked itself out.

Overall, this book was a great read and I loved it. 

Rating & Cover:

The Big Kahuna

I love the cover of this book. I love Savannah's outfit.

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Review: Things I Can't Forget (Hundred Oaks #3) by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Things I Can't Forget
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Series: Yes
Finished or ARC: Finished
Source: Christmas gift. Thank you, Mom!

Goodreads:
Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different…

This summer she’s a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He’s the first guy she ever kissed, and he’s gone from a geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt--with her.

Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn’t that easy…

Review:
I'm not going to rave on and on about how much I loved this book. yiou can read my reviews of Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker to know how much I love Miranda Kenneally an her books. This book doesn't disappoint.

In the book, Katie is a very religious girl dealing with the gulit of helping a friend get an abortion, and the feelings she has towards Matt, which are a little more intense than she would like. Obviously, she has issues to deal with that really suck. 

In Stealing Parker, Kenneally addressed the issue of people discriminating against gay people and adults having affairs with minors and both affect everyone. She really pushed the issue out there, like she did in Catching Jordan with girls in football. In this book, she pushed the issue of religion and modern relationships to the limit. 

What I mean is that Katie, being very religious, dealing with the way sex is viewed in the world and in relationships and at her age. Today we know many media outlets involve sex somehow, and it affects the youths of today (no, I am not an old middle age adult. I'm 19, but if you heard some of the things I did from kids younger than me, you'd say this too). This means that kids are having sex at a younger age or are doing other stupid things. Katie believes marriage should come before sex and that it should be only a man and woman. She comes around to gay people and their lifestyle, but she struggles with this desire she has for Matt that makes things complicated. He wants to have sex, but she wants to wait, and she struggles to tell him. I feel that there are many woman like that today, even if media doesn't show it. 

One thing I liked a lot about Matt was that he understood Katie's desire to wait and didn't push her. I feel many breakups today involve a girl not wanting to put out. Even though it is fiction, this book could be very real, and it's nice to know that there are guys like Matt out there. 

I was happy in the end. From the beginning, Katie changed a lot and nothing felt fake about the plot. I think everyone should read this, especially young girls. 

Rating:

The Big Kahuna

Cover:

I love how they are holding hands!

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A Hundred Oaks Valentine's Day Giveaway

YES! A special treat is here on Reading in Paradise.

To make up for no Floating Books Along last month, I've decided to do a little Valentine's Day Giveaway.

Recently, I read Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally. I loved it.

 So I decided, with Valentine's Day coming up, to hold a giveaway featuring my favorite couples.

First:

The Books:

Goodreads:
What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.

But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line?

Goodreads:

Parker Shelton pretty much has the perfect life. She’s on her way to becoming valedictorian at Hundred Oaks High, she’s made the all-star softball team, and she has plenty of friends. Then her mother’s scandal rocks their small town and suddenly no one will talk to her.

Now Parker wants a new life.
So she quits softball. Drops twenty pounds. And she figures why kiss one guy when she can kiss three? Or four. Why limit herself to high school boys when the majorly cute new baseball coach seems especially flirty?
But how far is too far before she loses herself completely?

Goodreads:

Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different…

This summer she’s a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He’s the first guy she ever kissed, and he’s gone from a geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt…with her.

Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn’t that easy…

Gooreads:

Author of CATCHING JORDAN, Miranda Kenneally’s RACING SAVANNAH, about an underprivileged girl training to be a jockey while working in the barn at a high-stakes horse farm whose on-again, off-again relationship with the owner’s son has an upstairs/downstairs effect on race day. 

So, you know our books....

The Couples:

Sam Henry and Jordan Woods:

Sweet but a tough couple, Sam, aka Henry, and Jordan are stars of their football team. Best friends since grade school, Jordan and Sam bonded over their love of football, and along the lines, Sam fell for Jordan. Yet, Jordan being Jordan, couldn't see that Sam loved her, and fell for someone else, aka, Ty. But Ty ended up trying to be a bit controlling (or at least in my eyes) and then Jordan realized that Sam was the one. Thank the Lord! Now they are the happy couple in the rest of the books.

Parker Shelton and Will Whitfield (aka. Corndog):

Parker and Will are two smart cookies. Both competed for the title of valedictorian, and Parker came out on top. From there, Will tried to be friends with Parker, but because of Parker's bitch of a friend, now ex-friend, she didn't go for him. But after hanging out and going through the emotion roller coaster of Parker's life, their true feelings came out and BAM! Happy ending.

Kate and Matt:

Not much is known about this couple, but I have a feeling that there story will have me falling for Matt. What I find odd is that Kate's name isn't in the title.

Savannah and mystery boy:

On and off again relationship? I have a feeling there's a third boy involved that will make Savannah see that she's worth more than an on and off again relationship.

Now, the giveaway:

For this giveaway, one winner will win their choice of book from the Hundred Oaks series.

And this is for International readers too!
The only book that isn't up for grabs is Racing Savannah, which isn't available for pre-order international on TBD. Sorry!
But that means Catching Jordan, Stealing Parker, or a pre-order of Things I Can't Forget are up for grabs!

The Rules:
1. Only one winner! Sorry, I'm not that rich.
2. Open INT.
3. 13 years or older please.
4. I'm not responsible for the book if it gets damaged or lost.
5. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, or I'll have to pick a new winner.
6. Just use the rafflecopter to enter.
Easy huh? Well, get to it.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

That's it!

 Hope you have a great Valentine's Day!

Until Next Time!

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Review: Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

Goodreads:
Parker Shelton pretty much has the perfect life. She’s on her way to becoming valedictorian at Hundred Oaks High, she’s made the all-star softball team, and she has plenty of friends. Then her mother’s scandal rocks their small town and suddenly no one will talk to her.

Now Parker wants a new life.

So she quits softball. Drops twenty pounds. And she figures why kiss one guy when she can kiss three? Or four. Why limit herself to high school boys when the majorly cute new baseball coach seems especially flirty?

But how far is too far before she loses herself completely?

Source: Christmas gift

Review:

Plot: When reading the back of the book, it may seem like the cheesy story of a girl falling for an older man. Yet, Kenneally takes it to the next level. She bring in the classic drama of everyday life, conflicting views, and religion. It's not everyday an author brings in religion.

One's preferred sex is a conflicting issue in our nation. Religion is one too sometimes. Put them together and major conflict! In this book, Kenneally addresses gayness and how religion really views it. How though the Bible tells us God loves us all, he frowns on those who do not love the opposite sex. Through this book, you really see how prejudice people truly are, despite saying they are 'true Christians'. In my opinion, there are no 'true Christians'; for, along the line, we all sin. I don't go to church every Sunday but I believe in God. Stealing Parker really brings out the true beauty of how gays are viewed. I'm a supporter for gays. Some of my friends are gay, one of my teachers is gay, and I have cousin that's gay. They are just people. Nothing truly extraordinary about them.

There is so much emotion in this book. It goes deeper than Catching Jordan, which focuses on girls in sports and how they are viewed differently than boys. All the raw emotions that come out in this book are so real that you fell Parker's pain and all the crap that has happened to her. It's emotional. End of story.

And besides the emotional turmoil, Stealing Parker also shows what happens when you cling to the past. Brian sounds awesome, but his desire to be young again ruined his life. This is a lesson everyone needs to read.

Characters: Like I said before, a lot of emotion. Parker is a girl who bottled up all her emotions about her mom coming out and everyone picking on her and her church turning away from her and she tries to get through it by hooking up (makeout sessions) with a bunch of guys to show everyone she isn't like her mom. She's complex with her emotion, but yet forward--wanting to be accepted back yet not wanting people to think she's gay. She's a roller coaster.

The rest of the character are very emotional/stereotypical. I say stereotypical because most of the characters have the typical view of gays and those associated with them. Also emotional because of those who are or don't care about gayness. there's so much prejudice against them and others that the characters are so real because of it.

The two characters I did love were Will and Drew. Will was an absolute gentleman and the one guy your dad would like. He's much like Sam, same situation with his home life, and a sports guy. He was wonderful. And I get how he felt when he found out about everything. But he could at least hear Parker out first. Drew reminds me of my friend Aaron, who is much like Drew, except doesn't do sports. But the fact Drew becomes like everyone else after the big climax peeved me off, but he redeems himself.

Romance: Parker, because her mom left and her dad and brother truly don't pay attention, she's looking for somone to love and love her back. In Brian, I believe she saw an older man who would be maturer than boys her age and would want more than sex. This isn't true. Brian is 23! He's not grown up anymore than I am! He was a stupid man using the desire of a minor to feel young again.

And it's true: Love is Blind. I say this because Parker was so blinded by Brian that she couldn't see Will, and Will is just like Sam Henry--sweet, nice, a gentleman. That really ticked me off.

Ending: It was happy. Brian got what he deserved. Parker's life turned around. It was a good ending.

Rating:

The Big Kahuna.

I loved it that much

Cover:

I think there should be a bit more baseball in the cover. Maybe homeplate?

Ending:

Keep On Reading!

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Review: Catching Jordan (Hundred Oaks #1) by Miranda Kenneally

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Goodreads: What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though - she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team... and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.

FIRST, I know it's not February, but I have a lot of Contemporary novels I'd like to finish before the end of February get here.

Review: Well, I have to say, ever since I started blogging, I think this has been fastest I've ever read a book. 1.5 days! Why the .5? Well, I had to sleep sometime. :D

Anyway, I absolutely loved this book. IT WAS FANTASTIC! Comedy, romance, and teenage drama go so well together. Really, they do. They make the best characteristics for a romantic comedy.

 I think it's awesome someone finally stepped up to the plate and wrote about girls and football. Sure, there are girls that do play, but how many are the QB? Probably none.

The over all plot was kinda lost to me at first, but then it's like: Oh, it's Jordan's journey with her team to State and her dealing with two boys that are incredibly sweet.

Now, the only thing I have bad to say about this book is the way Ty and Jordan's relationship started.

The first thing they did was Ty tried to kiss her and then she got advice from the guys. That's not bad. But when she actually decided to go out with him, what's the first thing they do?

THEY HAVE SEX!

GOD, why can't people just go on dates? Why does sex have to come first? Oh, and then after they had sex, they made it official. Why couldn't they make it official then wait to have sex after a few months of dating. And their dating, yeah: just making out in public or tossing around the football. Sure, they went on ONE date that was utterly romantic, and they did go to the homecoming dance, but still! Making out isn't going out. It's just two people kissing non-stop. Gag me.

One other thing. In the book, Kenneally does point out there are sexist people in the world. That's the reason why Jordan wouldn't have been able to play with Alabama like she dreamed of. Not only was the coach and the team sexist, but so was the Director of Athletics. I hate people that like. Don't let anyone tell you you can't do something because of your gender. Women can do anything men can do.

Characters:

• Jordan: Kick ass type of girl. The true essance of a toyboy. Awesome football player. And a true represenation of a girl that has no clue that a guy likes her, especially her best friend. Though she doesn't show it, I think if the author did write it, she would have shown up that Jordan has some insercurites, like being a girl in general. But I love it how she over comes the rumors and the drama and the fact she is very tall to come out on top. SPOILER: Towards the end, I'm happy she started to realize her feelings for Henry and finally get it together to try to win him over.
• Henry/Sam: First, he's actually name is Sam Henry, but some people call him Henry or Sam. I like Henry, since that's what everyone mostly calls him. Anyway, in the beginning, he's a man-whore. Not going to hide it, but he is. I honestly think that using sex as a way out of a breakup is stupid. (at least it was safe sex). And when it came to Jordan, well, he's an idiot. Why not just tell her you like her? No, he, and like everyone else, just assumed she knew and she showed no interest. IDIOTS! At least by the end he gets he's head screwed back on.
• Ty: Or Tyler, he is the new kid. He's back story is very sad, but that back story (Oh, not going to say what it is) changes him. Whatever he was before, I want to say he is different. In the book, I'm happy that he cares for Jordan, and that he really likes her (though after what? A month, he said he's falling of her. No, after six then you say that type of crap), (SPOILER) but he's really controlling. On the field and off. We've never seen him on the field, but the other guys on the team have told Jordan about him. No boy should try to be controlling of his team or his girlfriend (which he does in some parts of the book).
• JJ: I really like him. Funny and an idiot. Good player. Cares about Jordan as a sister. But he's an idoit when it comes to women. All he does is look for a good fling. No commitment, no strings attached. I was shocked to hear that he was going with Lacey (cheerleader) for sometime, but of course, he never told her the three words. In a way, I think something must of had happened to him to cause himn to be like he is, or that he's just not ready. :D
• Carter: LOVE HIM! He's the only one that's not a man-whore it think. Unlike the rest of his friends, he doesn't want to be a professional football player. He wants to play, honoring his dad's wishes, but he also wants to be a chief. Honestly, I wish he got together with Jordan sometimes. He's nice and sweet.
• Carrie: She is a cheerleader and becomes one of Jordan's closest girlfriends after talking to her a bit. She's the one that broke up with Henry because--SPOILER--she believed he was in love with another person, and he was. Later one, she starts to date Carter, and it's so sweet that he actually really likes her and is NOT looking for a hook-up.
• Marie: She is a cheerleader and becomes one of Jordan's closest girlfriends too. In the beginning, she and Henry had a thing, but she knew he loved Jordan and tried to get them together. She never gets with anyone, but if there was another character in the book, I'd bet that she would be with him. She's an awesome best friend.
• Dad (a.k.a. Donovan Woods): Big NFL football player. Doesn't really like Jordan playing football and doesn't support her like her mom does. At first, I didnt' like him. I hate that one parent that doesn't support one child but does the other (Mike, the brother, plays football too), but the only reason he doesn't is because he doesn't want Jordan to get hurt. And I can see where he's coming from. Football is tough, and the guys in it are huge. He's girl, only a 170 lbs. He doesn't want her hurt. SPOILER: Thank God he turns around in the end. It was either that or have a horrible relationship with his daugher for the rest of her life.

Future: As most of you know, the companion to the book, Stealing Parker, is set to come out this far.

Here's the pic and the blurb.

Goodreads: About a 17-year-old girl named Parker who falls for the new 23-year-old coach of the baseball team.

Love the cover, and it's basically like Vampire Academy, but without the vampires. I can't wait!

Quotes: The entire book, especially the chapter titled Jerry Rice. :D

Rating:
The Big Kahuna

I debated about this one. I wanted to give it a 5 because of the sex thing, but the pros outweigh the cons. :D I LOVED THIS BOOK.

Cover & Ending: 

I believe I won this book. Forget from who though. :D

Keep On Reading!

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