Book Info
Kindle Edition, 304 pages
Expected publication: June 1st 2014 by Harlequin Teen (first published May 27th 2014)
original title Take Me On
ASIN B00GKBIPFK
edition language English
series
Pushing the Limits #4other editions (6)
Source:Netgalley EARC
Book Buy Links
AmazonB&NBOOK SYNOPSIS
Acclaimed author Katie McGarry returns with the knockout new story of two high school seniors who are about to learn what winning really means
Champion kickboxer Haley swore she'd never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can't stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honor. Suddenly, Haley has to train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she'd stay away from. Yet he won't last five seconds in the ring without her help.
West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. But helping her—fighting for her—is a shot at redemption. Especially since it's his fault his family is falling apart. He can't change the past, but maybe he can change Haley's future.
Hayley and West have agreed to keep their relationship strictly in the ring. But as an unexpected bond forms between them and attraction mocks their best intentions, they'll face their darkest fears and discover love is worth fighting for.
My Thoughts
Proving once again that words carry power the author takes us on an emotional roller coaster ride with Haley and West that ends triumphantly!
Picking up where
Crash Into You</> left off we find Rachel in ICU gravely injured, West feels so much guilt over his sisters accident that he falls deeper into the escape offered from alcohol, girls and smoking pot. Ultimately he ends up in Haley Williams neighborhood one night looking to score from his dealer and instead almost ends up running over Haley as she is trying to escape a confrontation.
The two start off on rocky ground, the boy whose wealthy family has no idea who he is and the young woman whose family is floundering to try and stay together form a bond as they find over time they have much more in common regardless of their differences.
The entire time I was reading this book when we spent time in Haley’s grandfathers gym it was as if the smell of old sweat and testosterone leaped out at me from the pages, it made the training for West more realistic in my mind for sure.
This was a great mixture of different aspects of how our decisions can cause long term effects, some of the decisions made by both Haley and West in their past truly set the stage for what obstacles they are each facing. Haley has spent the last 6 months of her life in torment caused by her memories of the night she broke up with her abusive boyfriend, especially the memories of how she had to defend herself which caused her to quit the sport of kickboxing. West is living with the guilt that he blames himself for the accident 3 months prior that caused his younger sister Rachel to end up fighting for her life and his way of coping has his father left with no choice but to issue an ultimatum that changes not only West’s academic venue but his very lifestyle.
This is a very well thought out look into family dynamics, taking responsibility for ones self rather than solely depending upon others, the value of honesty and integrity and above all it is a great addition to
Pushing the Limits series which just keeps getting better and better as we learn more and more about the characters, both primary and secondary,
Katie McGarry has brought to life for us in her works!
[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for honest review]