4.5 Smooches
Synopsis
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack follows up her trio of hits—Losing It, Faking It, and Finding It—with this thrilling first novel in an explosive series bursting with the Texas flavor, edge, and steamy romance of Friday Night Lights.
In Texas, two things are cherished above all else—football and gossip. My life has always been ruled by both.
Dallas Cole loathes football. That’s what happens when you spend your whole childhood coming in second to a sport. College is her time to step out of the bleachers, and put the playing field (and the players) in her past.
But life doesn’t always go as planned. As if going to the same college as her football star ex wasn’t bad enough, her father, a Texas high school coaching phenom, has decided to make the jump to college ball… as the new head coach at Rusk University. Dallas finds herself in the shadows of her father and football all over again.
Carson McClain is determined to go from second-string quarterback to the starting line-up. He needs the scholarship and the future that football provides. But when a beautiful redhead literally falls into his life, his focus is more than tested. It’s obliterated.
Dallas doesn’t know Carson is on the team. Carson doesn’t know that Dallas is his new coach’s daughter.
And neither of them know how to walk away from the attraction they feel.
Review
“God do they make WD-40 for flirting? Because I am rusty.”
All Lined up by Cora Carmack was a fun and flirty NA venturing on YA novel. This is a football themed story of a dancer who meets a football player at a college party and sparks fly. One small catch, Dallas doesn’t date football players . . . oh and her dad is the coach!
“I’ve had my hands up your skirt, Daredevil. I think that qualifies me as an acquaintance at least.”
Dallas and Carson are a sweet couple trying to figure out if this relationship can work and if it is worth giving it a try. There was a lot of back and forth of can we do this and we should stop but ultimately it all comes off as endearing and fun. Deciding it is best to keep what is happening between them a secret was a fun twist. I liked the tension the secrecy caused and watching them find ways to get together when no one was looking was both hot and fun. Also his nickname for her, Daredevil, is ADORABLE!
“Sometimes it’s hard to see past our own broken pieces.”
While I do feel like there was a good amount of drama in this book it was not overly angsty. Sometimes you need an easy fun read with an HEA and this is just that book. It was a good book and I read it in one sitting on a Saturday afternoon. The characters were fun and well written and I loved them immediately. Cora Carmack has an amazing skill in writing a character you can both relate to and want to be like. I loved Dallas and Carson was as swoon-worthy as they come!
“Carson McClain, you scare me like nothing has ever scared me before. You drive me crazy and make me laugh and push buttons on purpose. You make me feel safe and smart and pretty. Sometimes I think I might actually melt when you wrap your arms around me, and right now I feel a little bit like I might die if you don’t kiss me.”
To be honest, I struggled with the rating for this book between a 4 and a 4.5. My main reason for this is that it was a little too YA for me (no real “Heat” till the epilogue.) Ultimately I decided that it would not be fair to deduct some from this book for being what it is supposed to be a New Adult book that ventures on the border of YA. Now, had there been a bit more heat in this book for me it would have been phenomenal but that being said I still enjoyed reading it and look forward to reading more from this series.
~miranda
